Mira software lets all Macs use Apple Remote

Mac users rocking the latest Apple gear have one less thing to taunt their late-adopter friends with, now that the Apple Remote has been freed from the confines of the systems with which it came bundled -- giving Mac Pro users a chance to remedy Apple's curious oversight as well. The latest version of Twisted Melon's Mira, which previously just added additional functionality to the Apple Remote, now also adds hardware support for the remote to any Mac running OS 10.4. You'll need to get yourself an external IR receiver, of course (so it's not a perfect solution), but once you get your hands on that and a remote, you'll be able to control over 40 applications out of the box using the defaults settings, as well as add profiles for any other apps you see fit. Hell, if you hacked Front Row on your machine, you can get to using that from afar as well. A limited version's available for free download now, with the full version including access to updates and support running just $16.

[Thanks, Arshad]

[bob @ Sep 21st 2006 11:30AM]

kinda like http://www.iospirit.com/index.php?mode=view&obj_type=infogroup&obj_id=24&o_infogroup_objcode=infogroup-23&sid=2489373G0fe70a2462140432

[Arshad @ Oct 27th 2006 12:02AM]

Actually, I just checked the website you linked to, and they only support the Apple Remote with new Mac's using the built-in receiver. The idea of this is to allow the use of the simple but sleek Apple remote with older machines, which those guys can't do.

[lao.soup @ Sep 21st 2006 12:31PM]

White is so last august...

[Bruno Fernandes @ Sep 21st 2006 12:42PM]

Manta is black. And that's THIS August baby. ;)

[testMonkey @ Sep 21st 2006 12:53PM]

Since you prolly don't have the remote already, and picking it up @ $30 plus the cost of a receiver is spendy, might I mention the Keyspan RF Remote for Front Row (http://www.andrewescobar.com/archive/2006/05/02/keyspan-rf-remote-for-front-row/), which can be picked up for the same $30 via Amazon. Yes, it's a bit ugly but it works like a champ. It's also got better range than the Apple Remote.

[onuo @ Sep 21st 2006 4:21PM]

Perhaps a cheaper option may be this, from your local games store as you can pick them up for under a tenner now with remote.

http://www.hackaday.com/2006/06/10/computer-remote-using-xbox-receiver/

Does anyone know if this receiver would be supported and if the mac remote, would work with it - being wanting something like this for ages for my mac mini.

[Moonpig @ Sep 21st 2006 11:11PM]

Griffin Airclick USB. Works with any Mac , supports Front Row plus a host of other apps. 35 ft range and used with Griffin's free Proxi software is virtually unlimited in its applications.

[tugger @ Sep 22nd 2006 4:48AM]

Awsome! My imac G3-bondi has IR built in, so I can use my MBP remote to control it!