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TUAW Tip: Turn off your remote control infrared receiver
The Apple Remote is a slick little gadget, but Apple made a particular design choice that annoys the bejebus out of me: out of the box, every Mac is set up to work with any Apple Remote. If you have a couple of sleeping MacBooks in your living room like we do when you pick up a remote to watch something on the Apple TV, you could very well wake all three devices with the press of a button or two. To make matters worse, Apple isn't very forthcoming about solving this problem or giving you an easy way to bind an Apple Remote with one device or another. Fortunately, there are a few options that aren't hard to pull off.Your first choice is to completely disable the infrared receiver on your Mac. If you rarely or never use your Apple Remote, you can disable the infrared port on your Mac so it simply no longer accepts signals, intentional or otherwise. This is done with the setting you see above, accessible at the bottom of the Security Preferences Pane.Your next option is to pair your remote(s) with their respective devices, a step that I wish Apple could somehow implement from the get-go so you don't have to. Here is an Apple support doc detailing the one simple step to pair an Apple Remote with a Mac, and another on pairing and unpairing a remote with an Apple TV. In case you ever have to unpair a remote from your Mac, you can simply open the Security Preferences Pane and click the Unpair button at the bottom right (note that this button is only illuminated when an Apple Remote is actually paired with your Mac; otherwise it's faded out).For your sake, I hope you don't have too many Apple Remotes to pair, but this should solve those sudden waking moments for your Macs.
yFlicks: the 'iPhoto for your movies' is 40% off at MacZOT today only
Geeze, those MacZOT guys either have strangely coincidental timing, or I need to consider changing the locks on my house. This is either the second or third time that I discovered and thoroughly enjoyed an app, only to find it go on sale at MacZOT the next day (i.e. - I'm buying a license as I type this). The app in question is yFlicks, which we wrote about back in January (and I probably missed because of all the Macworld craziness). yFlicks is more or less a really cool 'iPhoto for your movies,' allowing you to organize and rate your movie files, as well as update the metadata associated with them. This is a great thing if, like me, you're switching from iPhoto to Aperture, because one drawback of the latter is that it doesn't import or organize movies shot with a digital camera.But yFlicks does some great stuff I've never seen in a full-on movie organizer before: it offers live video previews when you mouse over the thumbnail (so you don't have to open each movie just to get a look at it), complete support for the Apple Remote, a bookmarklet for downloading movies from popular communities like YouTube, Daily Motion and College Humor, and even a great temporary folder system that doesn't simply copy every movie into your movies folder when playing it, allowing you to pick and chose which movies you actually keep and catalog. The great thing about yFlicks is that the cleverness doesn't stop there; its developer, Peter Maurer - who Mat Lu pointed out in January has developed a ton of other great Mac apps, has sprinkled all sorts of handy magic throughout yFlicks, from a simple rotate button for movies that were shot with the camera rotated to Smart Folders for organizing your flicks and even one-click access to viewing your movie file in its location in the Finder. In fact, I'm so happy with yFlicks, I'm still buying it straight from Mr. Maurer. If you want to save some cash though, yFlicks is on a 40% sale today at MacZOT: its U.S. price is typically $20, but today-only it's just $11.95. That's a killer deal on one of the best darn movie organizing apps I've ever seen.Of course, before you decide, you can grab a demo from Many Tricks, Peter Maurer's software company, and take it for a spin before throwing down your cash.
Apple Remote Cases
Macworld's Mobile Mac blog has a post on cases to keep your Apple Remote safe and sound while on the go. First up is Tuneware's rather bright, red and white leather TuneRemote case with detachable clip ($20). You'll be pleased to know that the "TuneRemote is designed to be suitable for both casual and formal occasions" (I hate it when my Apple Remote case doesn't match my shoes, don't you?).Rather more practical, perhaps, is zCover's iSA Key silicone skin case for $14.95, which includes a removable lanyard if rocking it old school iPod Shuffle style is your thing.We've even asked before where you keep your Apple Remote. Personally, I don't worry about mine very much and I either leave it at home, or just throw it in my all purpose gadget bag and forget that it's there. What about you?
Apple Remote Tricks
Stephen Korecky has posted a bunch of handy Apple remote tricks over at MacInstruct. His post shows you how to pair your remote with a Mac, how to use the remote to send your Mac into sleep mode, and more. Who knew that holding down the remote's Menu button produced the same disk-switching behavior on an Intel Mac as pressing the option key as you boot? Some of Korecky's tricks are a bit obvious (flipping through iPhoto slideshows and controlling Keynote presentations) but most of them are gems. [Via Digg]
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"
iKana: Japanese Flash Card Learning Tool
I think iKana is pretty cool, even if you're not trying to learn Japanese, because it demonstrates how even a simple flash card tool can be done the Mac way. In addition to the built-in flash card sets, iKana lets you create your own, and then quizzes you in style. Maybe best of all is the integration with the Apple Remote for flipping cards and answering the quiz questions. In my view, ThinkMac should take the underlying basic ideas and expand them to make a general purpose flash card program that works in the same way. As someone who has filled out his share of flash cards for learning other languages, I really like the idea of sitting back with the Apple Remote and running through cards.iKana is $18 and a demo is available.[Via MacNN]
Remote Buddy supports Wiimote
We've previously mentioned my favorite Apple Remote utility Remote Buddy, but the just-released RC1 adds support for the Nintendo Wiimote in addition to a variety of other supported remotes (including obviously the Apple Remote as well as offerings from Keyspan and Griffin). We've also previously mentioned several hacks, but this is (to my knowledge) the first commercial program to support the Wiimote as a useful input device.A while back I looked at several of the Apple remote utilities, but I finally settled on Remote Buddy as being the most flexible. It includes a variety of control sets for popular programs (e.g. iTunes, VLC, QuickTime Player), without compromising access to Front Row. Perhaps my favorite thing about Remote Buddy, however, is the keyboard and cursor emulation, which I often use to scroll on screen text when I'm leaned back and reading. Remote Buddy is shareware and runs 9.99 Euros (~$13) while in beta, but will increase to 19.99 Euros upon release (which is presumably coming soon given the release candidate). I definitely recommend it. What remote utility do you use?
DarwiinRemote lets Wiimote control your Mac
We've seen the Wiimote do its fair share of damage during its short, spunky lifespan, but the serious crowd has done its part in hacking up the Wii as well. Aside from sensor bar, um, mods, and tricky wrist strap fixes, a few engineering minds have even found the Wiimote (somewhat) useful on a PC. Per usual, the endearing Mac crowd is up to the challenge as well, as Hiroaki has unveiled an admittedly "unstable" piece of OS X-friendly software to allow Nintendo's Wiimote to mimic the Apple Remote. While the possibilities for a more fleshed-out version are certainly obvious, the current build sports a full key map to help you push aside that delayed Apple Remote purchase, and reportedly allows you to mouse around a bit (albeit shakily). While the exact details are a bit scant at this point, the DarwiinRemote will purportedly work with IR-equipped Macs, as well as ones with Bluetooth, so be sure and hit the read link to get your download on.[Via TUAW]
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]
17 inch iMac faster and cheaper, sans Apple Remote
The new 17 inch iMacs have a 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and start at the bargain basement price of $999, which is great. The odd thing, though, is that the Apple Remote, without which Front Row is of questionable use, doesn't come with it standard. If you get yourself a 17 incher you're going to have to pony up an addition $29 USD for that little Apple Remote.I would have rather have seen the Apple Remote as a standard, but optional, accessory across the board. That way if you already have an Apple Remote (I have 2) you can knock $29 off the price by deciding not to include one with your purchase. Not to include one as a standard feature seems wrong to me.Thanks to everyone who pointed this out.
mira 1.1
Twistesd Melon has just released mira 1.1, their application that makes your Apple Remote do more than just control Front Row. mira is Systems Preference that boosts your Remote by making it able to launch applications, scripts, and Front Row. Most popular apps already have a mira profile so you can control them right from the box.mira costs $16 and requires OS X 10.4 or higher.
Remote Buddy
Now that most Macs come with a remote, don't you wish you could do a little bit more with it? Now you can, thanks to Remote Buddy. This hand little application lets you control a number of items on your Mac through the magic of Behaviours, which are plugins for Remote Buddy.Check out their website for a cool video showing off some of the features. There is a 30 day demo available, while a full version will cost € 9,99 (usually € 14,99 but there is a sale if you buy before version 1.0 is released).
TUAW Tip: Pair your Apple Remote to your Mac
Now that almost every Mac (expect for that odd duck, the Power Mac) sports Front Row and an Apple Remote many more people will find them in a situation I just experienced. I am typing this post on a brand new MacBook (I'll share my opinion about that later today) and I am listening to some music on my iMac through the magic of Front Row.The song playing (Paint it Black) was a little too loud, so I picked up my trusty Apple Remote and turned down the volume. Both the iMac and the MacBook picked up on the signal and the volume on both was adjusted. Oh, the horror!There is a simple way around this though, just pair your Mac and your Apple Remote following these instructions. This way a prankish Mac user (I'm looking at you, Woz) can't go around putting your Mac to sleep with the remote and all the Macs in your room won't respond to the same remote.
Intel stumbles while stepping to Apple's 6 button remote
Honestly: I'm always down for some competition; it keeps (some) companies innovating and (hopefully) on their toes. But wow... if you're going to openly take on a device like Apple's beautiful and simple 6-button Remote, it might be a good idea to make sure you're firing on all cylinders.Check out this video at CNET of Don McDonald, Intel's VP and general manager of their digital home group, demoing a voice-activated remote for Windows Media Center. Mr. McDonald brags that the remote has absolutely no buttons, but forgets to mention it has almost no functionality either. Watch, as he tries not once, not twice, not thrice - but a whopping four times (with some serious lag on his last attempt) to ask the remote "what time is Family Guy on TV." Also, note how much they trust the abilities of their 'zero button remote'... with all the buttons it actually contains.I'd say you and your team earned an A for effort Don, but you might have to whip out those tablet PCs and get back to the drawing board on the voice-activation bit. Just be careful the next time you try using it to dictate your product design notes.[via digg]
Rig of the Day: Intel meets StrongARM
With both the Macworld Expo and the Worldwide Newton Conference wrapping up ealier this month, I thought this shot was entirely appropriate. An Intel-powered MacBook Pro and its remote flank a Newton 2100. It's nice to see these distant cousins getting along so well. I've often jokingly said that my own 2100 is "...the size of a baby dolphin," and seeing this one in relation to the Apple remote only confirms its size (hint: get a lot of cargo pants)."Intel & StrongARM" by "Splorp"If you'd like to see your own rig featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr pool. We'll select an image every day to highlight.
