TUAW Tip: Pair your Apple Remote to your Mac

Ok so i seem to have solved the problem i was having. I opened up the dock and removed the IR sensor. It doesnt affect the operation of the dock when charging, syncing, playing through speakers. i cant test the video out as i lack the correct cable but my guess is its just fine. So im happy.

.... Even with an inch of wood infront of the dock. still responds to the remote. also, sticking blu-tack all over the front of the dock dusnt work. maybe something obscure...

behind a coffe mug ... NO
inside a plastic box... NO
behind the imac... NO
as far away as i can get it in the same room... NO
out in the garden... FOR THE LOVE OF-
on the floor under desk.... NO
black card encasing dock... NO
im getting tired... any more suggestions?

Good luck with the duck tape. it wont work though, the IR signal from the remote is just too strong. i have tried everything i can think of besides from opening the dock at cutting some cables!

>bitch mode<

You'd think for the price difference Apple could have manufactured a more appropriate color for to the BlackBook remote.

>/bitch mode<

Well, I was going to point out the upside of Pairing in public places, but, well, I would be the 'prankish Mac user' (the day I accidently figured out Pairing, right after stumbling on the Sleep trick, I realized I could use it on any unpaired system.)

Also, the first thing I did was mirror the IR signals in my PDA for those odd times I might not have the remote, and also, on the side, it could make for a geeky prank some day... the evil 'Unexpected Sleep' Attack!

I have a similar issue to last last two posts, but with a digital tv tuner "Twinhan Alpha Mac Editon".

Some of the IR signals that the digital tv tuner uses are the same as the apple remote, so for example when I turn up the main system volume with the apple remote, the EyeTV volume turns down at the same time.

However, It does not work in reverse, the Twinhan remote cannot control any of the apple functions, so there must be a way to distingish between the two.

Apple need to release a tech doc so software developers can distingish between the apple remote, and a generic remote!

Ben H, I have the exact same issue! It is so annoying that whenever I use my Apple Remote to control my MacBook Pro, my iPod responds to the IR signal as well.

Anyone have a fix for this? Or am I looking at duct tape?

Ah yes this is all well and good but i still have a REALLY annoying issue with the remote.

I have an intel imac, i also have a 5G iPod that sits in its dock next to the computer.

Whenever i use the remote, BOTH the imac and ipod are activated. its sooooo annoying. i dont care for the ipod at all. i just want to control the imac. is there ANY way to stop the remote controlling the ipod dock? pairing with the mac wont do it, having the ipod at the other end of the room wont do it. plz any suggestions? thanks.

I have macbook pro and love that little remote. my only problem currently is getting it to run powerpoint. anybody have any ideas on how to get it to run with office??? or do i need to get a separate microsoft remote???

Jason, I have a swimming pool of gold.

in fact I have one imac G5 (first model), one powerbook 15 alu (first model) and one powermac QUAD (big monstrous computer , whaAAa) . I prefer to not speak about the screen...

so, no intel mac for the moment, but still 3 macintosh. I'm working with them but also play and just doing a lot of hobbyist and professionnal stuff. and I have a job I love with a good salary.

and no, I eat well, travel well and I did not buy all these mac the same day.


so, in a few years, we can imagine I will have some mac with frontrow. this hint will be useful.


and in my job, I would like to mute an entire room of mac with just one click (sometime , I cannot program shutdown or to command the macs from my desk because I have to check on people, close the schoolroom before and many things)