The Apple Remote is a small white device which can be used to operate a number of products made by Apple.

It comes free with all new Macs, and with the desktop iMac which I own, it attaches to the side of the screen magnetically.

The unit itself is incredibly small and can control play, pause, skip and volume functions. There's also a menu button for accessing things like 'Front Row' - Apple's version of Media Center.

Costing £15 from the Apple Store, the product has received mixed ratings by users. Generally, those who use it for their desktop Mac's find it useful, as it allows iTunes to be controlled from across the room. However, those who have bought this device specifically for their iPods feel a little conned - as you can only move tracks forward and back, as the menu key doesn't allow you to browse through and select different artists.

Personally, I don't use the device a great deal, as my Apple Keyboard has iTunes controls on it anyway - but I can see that if you use your computer as your main 'entertainment system', the product could be handy.

Overall if you're an iPod user, I would recommend holding off buying one of these for a few more months, as Apple will undoubtedly release a version with added functionality.

If you're a desktop or laptop Mac user, you'll probably own one of these anyway, and will realise that it's a fairly good - albeit a little gimmicky, product.