New iMac keyboard features don't work

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Level 4

1,836 points

New iMac keyboard features don't work

The dimmer/brightness buttons along with the back/play-pause/forward and volume up/down/mute keys don't work on my new keyboard

i've tried them with both the fn key presses and not, and changed it in the keyboard prefs and no go...

how do you remap a function like those?

15" 2.4ghz MacBook Pro C2D, 4gb RAM, 23" ACD, Mac OS X (10.4.10), iPhone 8gb

Posted on Aug 10, 2007 1:08 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Andy Blackburn

Level 1

109 points

Aug 10, 2007 1:11 AM in response to BrianH

did you install the Keyboard update software. this new keyboard need it and is only available from the software updater. if not try doing a software update. that should get them working.

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Answer 2

Aug 10, 2007 7:34 AM in response to BrianH

I have the new keyboard. The manual tells you to download the keyboard update from the apple website, except it isnt there, also doing a system update doesnt pick anything up.

Worrying as its unlike Apple to be sloppy like this.

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Answer 3

Dah•veed

Level 9

64,621 points

Aug 10, 2007 8:00 AM in response to BrianH

Keyboard Software Update 1.1
Install this software to use your aluminum Apple Keyboard and take advantage of the special features.

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Answer 4

Aug 10, 2007 8:06 AM in response to Dah•veed

Thanks, you know more than Apple tech support, I just called them about it and they denied there was any software for the new keyboard at all!

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Answer 5

Dah•veed

Level 9

64,621 points

Aug 10, 2007 8:09 AM in response to adeleander

De nada, amigo.

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Answer 6

Aug 10, 2007 9:47 AM in response to Dah•veed

I've installed the 1.1 keyboard software for my new keyboard, and the brightness, iTunes and volume buttons all work, but the exposé and dashboard buttons don't... I've had a good fiddle with the keyboard settings, and usually I'm adept enough to work these sort of problems out... any ideas?

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Answer 7

obeattie

Level 1

0 points

Aug 10, 2007 9:51 AM in response to Gordon Hodgson

I'm having this exact problem, too! Please help, someone!

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Answer 8

Dah•veed

Level 9

64,621 points

Aug 10, 2007 9:56 AM in response to Gordon Hodgson

I don't have the keyboard, so I can't help with that. Sorry.

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Answer 9

Aug 10, 2007 10:02 AM in response to obeattie

I should add, I'm using the British keyboard (and I imagine you are too). I tested the American keyboard types in the International settings, no difference.

I also tried deleting com.apple.keyboardtype.plist, no difference.

I can still access my old dashboard settings by pressing fn-f12... not ideal, really, though.

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Answer 10

obeattie

Level 1

0 points

Aug 10, 2007 10:14 AM in response to Gordon Hodgson

Exactly. Why can't we Brits have some fun with new features for once? 😉

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Answer 11

Aug 10, 2007 10:41 AM in response to Gordon Hodgson

I believe you need to open Preferences and change the Function Key that Expose and Dashboard use. OSX defaults them to the old keyboard.
Chris

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Answer 12

Aug 10, 2007 10:55 AM in response to Chris Caouette

I tried resetting everything to defaults, and that didn't fix anything. I think that you can only set dashboard/exposé shortcuts to the f-keys as standard-function keys, but not in their guise as 'special-feature' keys. I'd hoped that clicking restore to defaults would have fixed it...

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Answer 13

Paul53

Level 1

8 points

Aug 10, 2007 11:06 AM in response to BrianH

I have the UK keyboard and used the link. The keyboard now works fine with all the features working. Just downloaded, ran install, rebooted all was fine. Software should come with the keyboard in my opinion.

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Answer 14

obeattie

Level 1

0 points

Aug 10, 2007 11:28 AM in response to Chris Caouette

I already tried that before posting; no joy.

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Answer 15

Aug 10, 2007 11:45 AM in response to obeattie

More information that might come in handy... my old keyboard was bluetooth...

There must be a way to redo the keyboard installation from scratch, but I've tried installing the software and rebooting twice... Keyboard map does show the new keys, so that's good, it's just those two functions don't work...

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