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Filed under: Accessories, Apple TV, Mac 101

Mac 101: Pairing/Unpairing Apple remotes

If you're like me, then you have multiple Macs with IR sensors in the same room. What happens when you push the menu button on your Apple remote? Chances are it will launch Front Row on every Mac in the room. I had this problem until I discovered Apple remote pairing.

To pair your remote with a specific Mac or Apple TV, just hold down the menu and the next (fast forward) buttons for 5 seconds making sure you're within 5 inches of the IR sensor on the device.

You can unpair a remote by going into System Preferences (Apple menu > System Preferences) and click security. From the Security System Preference pane, select the "Unpair" button at the bottom the preference pane.

Lastly, you can disable the use of remotes all together. To do this, head back to the Security System Preference pane and click the check box labeled "Disable remote control infrared receiver." This will keep rogue remotes away from your Mac.

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Multimedia, Software, Apple, iPhone

AirRemote (and other remote possibilities) for the iPhone

Just the other day I was thinking about how it might be possible to do something like this app reader Jason kindly dropped us a tip about: AirRemote is an application, soon to be released on the App Store, that's supposed to turn your iPhone or iPod touch into a television remote control. The first catch is that the app costs $99, and the second catch is that you have to buy an extra box (for about $150) to actually the signals to the TV. That's the hardest part about this whole iPhone-as-remote thing -- it's super easy to program the iPhone to do what you want, but it's much harder to get the TV or entertainment center to understand it. Most televisions aren't equipped with Bluetooth or WiFi, and Apple neglected to include an IR transmitter even in the 3G.

But surely it's got to be possible at some point, right? Apps like telekinesis easily let you do a little remote computing, so the real trick here is just getting the TV in on the communications. It's too bad Apple's own little set-top box doesn't make it too easy (though maybe the wifi might let hackers do something with a little tweaking), but then again, maybe they don't want any competition for their own remote.

Of course, buying an iPhone or iPod touch just to control your TV is a waste of money -- there are much cheaper remotes that will work much better. But in the interests of combining functions into one device, it sure would be useful to be able to do everything from one screen.

Filed under: Hardware, Peripherals, Odds and ends

Use an Apple Remote with older hardware

Iyaz Akhtar over at theappleblog points to a nifty little device from Twisted Melon called the Manta TR1, which enabled the Apple IR remote on any older Mac via USB. Just plug in the Manta to a free USB port and your old G4, etc. can rock with an Apple Remote, just like the newest Intel Macs. The Manta is meant to work with Twisted Melon's own Mira Apple Remote software, which we mentioned earlier. In addition, the Manta hardware supports IR blasting (to control other devices) but that functionality is not "used with Mira at this time." Check out Iyaz's original post for more info on RF Remotes.

The Manta TR1 sells for $19.99, and Mira runs $15.95, or you can get them bundled together for $32 from the Twisted Melon store. Of course you'll also need an Apple Remote if you don't have one already; they run $29 from Apple.

Update: chanting over and over again, "Manta"

Filed under: Hardware, Tips and tricks, MacBook

Store your MacBook remote on your display


Jealous of the iMac's ability to magnetically store your Apple Remote for safe keeping? If you're a MacBook owner, a macosxhints reader discovered that you can toss that jealousy and join your iMac Remote-storin' brethren. Apparently, the top left of the MacBook's display is magnetic enough to support and hold an Apple Remote.

I haven't tried this myself as I forgot to bring my remote out with me today, but I own a MacBook Pro so I'm not even sure if these machines have been endowed with the same abilities. Any other MBP owners out there try this out?

Filed under: Video, How-tos

Found Footage: Use iSight as an IR detector


Here's a useful tip for those that want to test the batteries of their Frontrow remote, or any IR remote for that matter. Use your iSight! Just fire up Photo Booth (or a test video window in iChat), aim the remote at the lens and press a button. The iSight can detect the infrared light just like other video cameras.

Tip of the Day

Use Spotlight as a reference tool. Type any word in the Spotlight box and one of the top entries will be a definition. Click on it, and it will bring up the dictionary application to check the word in either the dictionary, thesaurus, Apple database, or Wikipedia.


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