Need a way to Scroll on my iPhone REMOTELY

[Ambrosia7177]

Okay, this time I am the one who needs help with my iPhone!

As an independent journalist, I am building a mobile studio in my car so that I can do voice-overs, podcasts, and news-reporting in real-time from the field.

Last weekend I devised this awesome voice-booth in my car with my pro broadcast XLR mic, audio interface, recorder, and my iPhone on an articulating arm so that I can read scripts.

HOWEVER, there is one missing piece to an otherwise perfect solution...

I am looking for a way to be able to SCROLL through a document on my iPhone - without having to touch the screen - so that I can read a voice-over script in one take.

For example, let's say that I have a news script or voice-over script that is in document (e.g. LibreOffice Writer, PDF, .RTF, .TXT, or even an HTML web page)

The document might be several pages.

I want a way to be able to remotely scroll through one these documents as I read and record.

When I was setting up my mobile studio this weekend, I pulled up an article from the NYT on my iPhone - which was on an articulating arm coming off my driver's side window - and I was scrolling through it with my fingers on the screen while I did a test read.

That would be problematic while doing an actual voice-over recording, because having your body in a natural position has an enormous impact to how your voice sounds!!

(To be clear, my iPhone will be positioned over my steering wheel, and so I don't want to have to reach up to scroll.)

The best solution would be to have a roller-ball trackpad (or roller-ball mouse) which I could hold or which sits in my lap, and I could comfortably scroll with my hand as I record.

I have a teleprompter app on my iPad that I use for talking head videos. Assuming it works on my iPhone, that app isn't a great solution because all it allows you to do is scroll and pause - there is no easy way to go backwards or control the scroll speed.

The best solution would allow me to physically scroll up and down with my hand/fingers - but from a control that is in my hand and or sitting in my lap.

Hope that makes sense?

 

[chown33]

Here's an Apple Support article that explains how to use a Bluetooth pointing device with an iPhone:

How to use a pointer device with AssistiveTouch on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Learn how to connect a wired mouse, trackpad, or assistive Bluetooth device to control an onscreen pointer on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

support.apple.com

A mouse with a scroll wheel would probably work, or a Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad.

Found with search terms: use mouse with iphone


If that doesn't work out, you could use your iPad, which may be more amenable to external pointing devices. That is, put the iPad over your steering wheel instead of your iPhone, and read from that, but continue using your iPhone to do the recording (I assume).


For an iPad app that can present different text documents and let you manually scroll thru them, I suggest using Files.

It can certainly present and let you read RTF and PDF docs, because I use mine regularly to do that. I made a folder in "On my iPad" and put my files there, then tap one to read it. You can test your iPad now by putting some test files on it and seeing if Files will show them to you.

I also made a prototype RTF doc in TextEdit on my Mac, and I duplicate and edit that to make new RTF docs for my iPad. I copy them across with a USB thumb drive, but AirDrop would probably work, too. The RTF prototype has preset paragraphs in the styles and font sizes that I prefer to read on the iPad.

If I made something that wasn't a file-format the iPad could read, I'd just print it to PDF and then copy it across.

EDIT

I just checked HTML and plain text files, and Files shows both of them, too. Seeing the txt file reminded me why I made an RTF prototype: I don't like the default font and size of plain text.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Here's an Apple Support article that explains how to use a Bluetooth pointing device with an iPhone:

How to use a pointer device with AssistiveTouch on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Learn how to connect a wired mouse, trackpad, or assistive Bluetooth device to control an onscreen pointer on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

support.apple.com

A mouse with a scroll wheel would probably work, or a Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad.

Found with search terms: use mouse with iphone

Thanks for the link.

I think first I need to start with the hardware aspect.

Are you familiar with a trackball mouse?

I have used them in the past, and like them because you can scroll with great precision using your finger or thumb.

Also, when you have limited space (e.g. sitting in your car), they are great. (A mouse wouldn't work because I would need a flat surface and space to move it.)

Do you think such a device would work with my iPhone?

And would I need to still use the accessibility stuff you mention?

Also, is there a way to use a wired mouse and how it behave like it would in macOS?

If that doesn't work out, you could use your iPad, which may be more amenable to external pointing devices. That is, put the iPad over your steering wheel instead of your iPhone, and read from that, but continue using your iPhone to do the recording (I assume).

I have a 13" iPad Air, so not sure there is enough space to do that - plus it would be too big as far as reading - I like that I can have short lines on my iPhone.

Fwiw, I will be recording on my MBP.

For an iPad app that can present different text documents and let you manually scroll thru them, I suggest using Files.

It can certainly present and let you read RTF and PDF docs, because I use mine regularly to do that. I made a folder in "On my iPad" and put my files there, then double-tap one to read it. You can test your iPad now by putting some test files on it and seeing if Files will show them to you.

Thanks to advice on MacRumors, I use iMazing to transfer talking-head scripts to my iPad. (In fact, I use iMazing to transfer data between my iPad and iPhones back and firth to my MacBook Pros.)

The thinking is that I should be able to do the same thing on my iPhone, although what I can do on iOS versus iPadOS remains to be seen.

I am thinking a simple RTF would work.

I also made a prototype RTF doc in TextEdit on my Mac, and I duplicate and edit that to make new RTF docs for my iPad. I copy them across with a USB thumb drive, but AirDrop would probably work, too. The RTF prototype has preset paragraphs in the styles and font sizes that I prefer to read on the iPad.

Good idea.

If I made something that wasn't a file-format the iPad could read, I'd just print it to PDF and then copy it across.

True.


Still trying to visualize how this would work - and even what I want.

While I hate smartphones, I have grown accustomed to quickly scrolling on my iPhone - using my middle-finger - when I am away from my laptop and want to read the NYT or WSJ on my iPhone while in my car.

I suppose mimicking that behavior/gestures would be ideal. (Could I somehow pair up my two iPhones, and put one iPhone on my articulating arm and use it as a "display" and then use a 2nd iPhone in my laptop to scroll using gestures?)

And if I could get a trackball mouse to work, how would that work with a document like an RTF or PDF?

The end goal is to be able to easily scroll using my finger or thumb - in my lap - to easily scroll up and down in a document, AND to control how fast I scroll.

 

[chown33]

I use a trackball all the time on my Mac mini. It's a Logitech Marble Mouse USB. That's not the only trackball I've used, so I'm quite familiar with them.

I don't know of any Bluetooth trackball devices, but searching should show any if they exist. A fallback might be a USB trackball connected to some kind of USB-to-Bluetooth adapter. I'm just speculating whether such an adapter might exist.

A trackpad gives you precise finger pointing, and doesn't require a flat surface like a mouse. When I use the trackpad on my MB Pro, I use the two-finger scroll gesture to scroll through documents.

If all you're doing is scrolling, then a mouse with a scroll-wheel will do that. You'd only use the scroll-wheel, so if the mouse itself is glued to a fixed piece of wood in your lap, it would still work for scrolling. It should scroll as fast or as slow as you can move the wheel.

I think you should try connecting several different pointing devices to your iPhone and learn exactly how each one works (or doesn't work). I think this will be a give better indication of whether something works in your situation than any amount of speculation or discussion. In carpentry, you can measure any number of times, but nothing beats an actual test to see how something fits.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

I use a trackball all the time on my Mac mini. It's a Logitech Marble Mouse USB. That's not the only trackball I've used, so I'm quite familiar with them.

I don't know of any Bluetooth trackball devices, but searching should show any if they exist. A fallback might be a USB trackball connected to some kind of USB-to-Bluetooth adapter. I'm just speculating whether such an adapter might exist.

Pardon my ignorance on mobile, but it's not just as simple as plugging a mouse or trackball into a USB-C port, right?

It sounds like you are saying the only way to get the pointer to behave like touch is via Bluetooth?

A trackpad gives you precise finger pointing, and doesn't require a flat surface like a mouse. When I use the trackpad on my MB Pro, I use the two-finger scroll gesture to scroll through documents.

Where do your two fingers go? On the trackball? Or somewhere else?

If all you're doing is scrolling, then a mouse with a scroll-wheel will do that.

Valid point.

You'd only use the scroll-wheel, so if the mouse itself is glued to a fixed piece of wood in your lap, it would still work for scrolling. It should scroll as fast or as slow as you can move the wheel.

But would a mouse with a scroll-wheel work with an iPhone and iOS?

I think you should try connecting several different pointing devices to your iPhone and learn exactly how each one works (or doesn't work). I think this will be a give better indication of whether something works in your situation than any amount of speculation or discussion. In carpentry, you can measure any number of times, but nothing beats an actual test to see how something fits.

But you are saying the link above has a possibility to allow me to use either a mouse, or a mouse-with-scrool-wheel, or a trackpad?

 

[chown33]

Pardon my ignorance on mobile, but it's not just as simple as plugging a mouse or trackball into a USB-C port, right?

It sounds like you are saying the only way to get the pointer to behave like touch is via Bluetooth?

Please read the link. It starts with this:

Plug in your wired mouse, trackpad, eye-tracking device,* or Bluetooth device using a Lightning or USB-C port. If you're using USB-A devices, you'll need an adapter.

Where do your two fingers go? On the trackball? Or somewhere else?

I use my thumb and first two fingers on the trackball. My thumb also operates the primary switch. My little finger operates the secondary switch (right-click).

For dragging, I hold down the left or right switch with my thumb or little finger, and operate the trackball with my first two fingers (index and middle).

My little finger operates its switch with the part of the finger closest to the knuckle, not the tip.

But would a mouse with a scroll-wheel work with an iPhone and iOS?

You could get one and try it. Amazon has a fairly generous return policy. Even borrowing one should let you try things out.

I sometimes shop at thrift stores or Goodwill for used gear, especially input devices. I've picked up an old trackball, a mouse with a scroll-wheel, and a nice USB keyboard that came with a Bondi Blue iMac, all with USB connectors. Each one was only a few bucks, and if it didn't work, Goodwill was willing to take it back for a store credit. YMMV.

But you are saying the link above has a possibility to allow me to use either a mouse, or a mouse-with-scrool-wheel, or a trackpad?

Please read the link.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Please read the link. It starts with this:

I did read the article, but it is confusing.

How to connect your pointer​

Plug in your wired mouse, trackpad, eye-tracking device,* or Bluetooth device using a Lightning or USB-C port. If you're using USB-A devices, you'll need an adapter.

To connect a Bluetooth device:

1. Go to Settings > Accessibility, and select Touch.
2. Select AssistiveTouch > Devices, then select Bluetooth Devices.
3. Select your device from the list.

* Eye tracking is currently only supported on iPad.

So if you plug in a wired mouse or wired trackball, then what do you do?

The instruction above are only for Bluetooth devices.

I use my thumb and first two fingers on the trackball. My thumb also operates the primary switch. My little finger operates the secondary switch (right-click).

If you just roll the ball on a trackball, the pointer moves, right?

So what is it that signals you want to scroll? (Any trackballs I have used, rolling the ball just moves the pointer.)

For dragging, I hold down the left or right switch with my thumb or little finger, and operate the trackball with my first two fingers (index and middle).

Okay.

My little finger operates its switch with the part of the finger closest to the knuckle, not the tip.

You could get one and try it. Amazon has a fairly generous return policy. Even borrowing one should let you try things out.

Can you recommend anyone for good place to get a trackball that is NOT off of Amazon? (I have been boycotting them for 20+ years.)

I sometimes shop at thrift stores or Goodwill for used gear, especially input devices. I've picked up an old trackball, a mouse with a scroll-wheel, and a nice USB keyboard that came with a Bondi Blue iMac, all with USB connectors. Each one was only a few bucks, and if it didn't work, Goodwill was willing to take it back for a store credit. YMMV.

Interesting.

 

[smirking]

They make Bluetooth foot pedals that allow you to page through interfaces. I'm sure you could also rig something up to plug a USB device into a BT transmitter.

 

[chown33]

If you just roll the ball on a trackball, the pointer moves, right?

Yes, that's what mine does.

So what is it that signals you want to scroll? (Any trackballs I have used, rolling the ball just moves the pointer.)

I don't have a trackball with a scroll wheel or scrolling modifier. Some probably do, but you'd have to search.

Logitech devices appear often my search results, so you could start with their website and see what they have.

Can you recommend anyone for good place to get a trackball that is NOT off of Amazon? (I have been boycotting them for 20+ years.)

I entered "Bluetooth trackball" in my search engine (DuckDuckGo) and it showed various options that weren't Amazon.

When I shopped for new gear in person, it was usually at an office supplies store. Staples is the only one I know of that's still around.

Another obvious choice is Best Buy, or any other store that sells computers.

 

[chown33]

So if you plug in a wired mouse or wired trackball, then what do you do?

The instruction above are only for Bluetooth devices.

I followed the instructions in the article using my iPad mini 5.

Once I was on the Assistive Touch > Devices page, I plugged a trackball into my USB-to-Lightning adapter, and plugged that into the iPad.

What happened is that an item appeared under the Connected Devices list named "USB Trackball" with a > that led to another page where I could customize buttons. If Assistive Touch is turned on, I can customize what each trackball button does.

If I don't customize any buttons, and just start using the trackball, a small gray circle moves around the iPad screen as a cursor. If I click things, it behaves exactly as if I tapped the screen.

I gave away my working USB mouse with a scroll wheel many years ago. I only have one with a flaky scroll wheel. When I plugged it into the iPad mini and tried it, it scrolled things, but was very jittery. It exhibits the same jittery misbehavior plugged into a Mac.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

They make Bluetooth foot pedals that allow you to page through interfaces. I'm sure you could also rig something up to plug a USB device into a BT transmitter.

Interesting idea, but not practical for the front seat of my car!

 

[Ambrosia7177]

I followed the instructions in the article using my iPad mini 5.

Once I was on the Assistive Touch > Devices page, I plugged a trackball into my USB-to-Lightning adapter, and plugged that into the iPad.

What happened is that an item appeared under the Connected Devices list named "USB Trackball" with a > that led to another page where I could customize buttons. If Assistive Touch is turned on, I can customize what each trackball button does.

If I don't customize any buttons, and just start using the trackball, a small gray circle moves around the iPad screen as a cursor. If I click things, it behaves exactly as if I tapped the screen.

Thanks for testing for me. So if I understand, it sounds like I can get the end result I want - which is getting a trackball or mouse or mouse w scroll disk to allow me to scroll up and down while reading a script from some document.

I gave away my working USB mouse with a scroll wheel many years ago. I only have one with a flaky scroll wheel. When I plugged it into the iPad mini and tried it, it scrolled things, but was very jittery. It exhibits the same jittery misbehavior plugged into a Mac.

Any brands of trackballs you would recommend where I could get one online without going to Amazon or Best Buy?

(I assume that Apple doesn't make trackballs.)

Thanks for the help so far!!

 

[cogzero]

Sounds like a ring remote control might be helpful. A device such as this:

It generally allows to scroll up/down and select in various apps.

This one specifically can be bought for around 20$ directly of their website Tzumi

Otherwise a bunch of others are available online.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

I entered "Bluetooth trackball" in my search engine (DuckDuckGo) and it showed various options that weren't Amazon.

When I shopped for new gear in person, it was usually at an office supplies store. Staples is the only one I know of that's still around.

Another obvious choice is Best Buy, or any other store that sells computers.

Sorry, I missed this response.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Sounds like a ring remote control might be helpful. A device such as this:

It generally allows to scroll up/down and select in various apps.

This one specifically can be bought for around 20$ directly of their website Tzumi

Otherwise a bunch of others are available online.

Wow! That is crazy!

So based on @chown33's advice above, you think it would work, huh?

 

[splitpea]

Please just tell me you’re not planning to do this while driving? Reading from a screen instead of watching the road.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Please just tell me you’re not planning to do this while driving? Reading from a screen instead of watching the road.

HAH!!

Um, no. It's hard enough being parked somewhere off-road, and trying to do a voice-over let alone trying to drive!

 

[Andy_2341]

Okay, this time I am the one who needs help with my iPhone!

As an independent journalist, I am building a mobile studio in my car so that I can do voice-overs, podcasts, and news-reporting in real-time from the field.

Last weekend I devised this awesome voice-booth in my car with my pro broadcast XLR mic, audio interface, recorder, and my iPhone on an articulating arm so that I can read scripts.

HOWEVER, there is one missing piece to an otherwise perfect solution...

I am looking for a way to be able to SCROLL through a document on my iPhone - without having to touch the screen - so that I can read a voice-over script in one take.

For example, let's say that I have a news script or voice-over script that is in document (e.g. LibreOffice Writer, PDF, .RTF, .TXT, or even an HTML web page)

The document might be several pages.

I want a way to be able to remotely scroll through one these documents as I read and record.

When I was setting up my mobile studio this weekend, I pulled up an article from the NYT on my iPhone - which was on an articulating arm coming off my driver's side window - and I was scrolling through it with my fingers on the screen while I did a test read.

That would be problematic while doing an actual voice-over recording, because having your body in a natural position has an enormous impact to how your voice sounds!!

(To be clear, my iPhone will be positioned over my steering wheel, and so I don't want to have to reach up to scroll.)

The best solution would be to have a roller-ball trackpad (or roller-ball mouse) which I could hold or which sits in my lap, and I could comfortably scroll with my hand as I record.

I have a teleprompter app on my iPad that I use for talking head videos. Assuming it works on my iPhone, that app isn't a great solution because all it allows you to do is scroll and pause - there is no easy way to go backwards or control the scroll speed.

The best solution would allow me to physically scroll up and down with my hand/fingers - but from a control that is in my hand and or sitting in my lap.

Hope that makes sense?

Using an adapter from USB-A to USB-C with assistive touch enabled and my 20 year old Logitech mouse connected to my 15 Pro, I was able to navigate iOS and scroll through this thread. It was a bit choppy though and not like normal scrolling with your fingers. I would highly suggest the magic mouse though. It gets a lot of hate, but for your use it would be perfect I think. Single finger scrolling is just like scrolling on the phone screen itself.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Using an adapter from USB-A to USB-C with assistive touch enabled and my 20 year old Logitech mouse connected to my 15 Pro, I was able to navigate iOS and scroll through this thread. It was a bit choppy though and not like normal scrolling with your fingers.

Why is it choppy?

Is that a driver issue, or will using any mouse or trackpad have the same issues?

I would highly suggest the magic mouse though. It gets a lot of hate, but for your use it would be perfect I think. Single finger scrolling is just like scrolling on the phone screen itself.

Is the Magic Mouse wireless?

Why do Magic Mice get so much hate?

Because I would be using this in my car, are you sure the Magic Mouse is the right solution? Doesn't it require you to have a flat surface to move it around?

 

[Andy_2341]

Why is it choppy?

Is that a driver issue, or will using any mouse or trackpad have the same issues?





Is the Magic Mouse wireless?

Why do Magic Mice get so much hate?

Because I would be using this in my car, are you sure the Magic Mouse is the right solution? Doesn't it require you to have a flat surface to move it around?

I think it is choppy because of the kind of wheel on the mouse and the way sensitivity is set. It performs the same on my mac mini. I don’t have my magic mouse with me currently, but I don’t think it will be the same. I gonna test it later. I highly doubt a trackpad would have any problems.

The magic mouse is wireless. The get hate for how flat they are and that to charge them they have to be flipped over like turtles on their backs. This can be resolved by getting a 1st gen which has AA batteries or by charging at night. They only need charged about once a month anyways. The flatness isn’t a big deal for me since I have long fingers and a large hand, but I don’t think it would be a problem for scrolling with one finger either, since you would be touching it like a phone.

As for using it in the car, yes, it will work. I like to take my Mac Mini with me and use a 2nd gen magic mouse I got for $25 off ebay and cheap bluetooth keyboard. I normally don’t have a mousepad and sometimes don’t have a comfortable surface. I’ve used the magic mouse on my lap, the couch cushion, the back of my iPad case, and just plain on the table. I don’t have too much of a problem, besides having to pick the mouse up to continue moving the cursor around since it’s such a small space and my sensitivity is low. But for scrolling, it won’t have to move around much anyways. And it is certainly workable. The magic trackpad might could work too though, potentially better.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

I think it is choppy because of the kind of wheel on the mouse and the way sensitivity is set. It performs the same on my mac mini. I don’t have my magic mouse with me currently, but I don’t think it will be the same. I gonna test it later. I highly doubt a trackpad would have any problems.

The magic mouse is wireless. The get hate for how flat they are and that to charge them they have to be flipped over like turtles on their backs. This can be resolved by getting a 1st gen which has AA batteries or by charging at night. They only need charged about once a month anyways. The flatness isn’t a big deal for me since I have long fingers and a large hand, but I don’t think it would be a problem for scrolling with one finger either, since you would be touching it like a phone.

As for using it in the car, yes, it will work. I like to take my Mac Mini with me and use a 2nd gen magic mouse I got for $25 off ebay and cheap bluetooth keyboard. I normally don’t have a mousepad and sometimes don’t have a comfortable surface. I’ve used the magic mouse on my lap, the couch cushion, the back of my iPad case, and just plain on the table. I don’t have too much of a problem, besides having to pick the mouse up to continue moving the cursor around since it’s such a small space and my sensitivity is low. But for scrolling, it won’t have to move around much anyways. And it is certainly workable. The magic trackpad might could work too though, potentially better.

But is there some advantage that a Magic Mouse offers over a traditional wired or wireless mouse?

And if I were to buy a new one from Apple, how would that compare to older ones?

I'm still really intrigued by @cogzero's suggestion above, and plan on trying that one out.

But I will also consider a mouse - especially if it has a scroll disk wheel.

And a trackBALL would be good too.

I guess @chown33 is saying that any of these devices should work?

 

[klasma]

Why is it choppy?

Old-style scroll wheels have tactile “stops”, a bit like a cogwheel. On Windows you can configure how many “lines” one “stop” should scroll. The purpose is to be able to scroll in precise and reproducible amounts. Applications can translate that to whatever seems appropriate (some choose 1 stop = 1 document page, or for example 1 line = 1 Excel row). IOS likely translates it to some specific scroll distance.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Old-style scroll wheels have tactile “stops”, a bit like a cogwheel. On Windows you can configure how many “lines” one “stop” should scroll. The purpose is to be able to scroll in precise and reproducible amounts. Applications can translate that to whatever seems appropriate (some choose 1 stop = 1 document page, or for example 1 line = 1 Excel row). IOS likely translates it to some specific scroll distance.

So there isn't a way to tweak that in iOS so it is smoother?

 

[klasma]

So there isn't a way to tweak that in iOS so it is smoother?

What I wrote was with reference to the @Andy_2341’s 20-year-old mouse. Present-day scroll wheels are often “freewheeling”, without “stops”. I never connected a mouse to an iPhone, so I don’t know how either behaves. I don’t think there’s a setting for that.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

What I wrote was with reference to the @Andy_2341’s 20-year-old mouse. Present-day scroll wheels are often “freewheeling”, without “stops”. I never connected a mouse to an iPhone, so I don’t know how either behaves. I don’t think there’s a setting for that.

Okay, thanks.