Infrared Remote Control Alternatives

What is your issues with WiFi and/or Bluetooth.

There are lots of remote apps for iDevices that can remote control your iMac as well as dedicated remotes that work either over WiFi or Bluetooth.

Long time ago, there was one company that made a USB Infared remote system for Macs, but these were for older 32 bit PowerPC systems. When Apple introduced their own remote in the Intel Macs models, companies stop making USB remote controls for Mac and used WiFi or Bluetooth for wireless operation.

There are no other alternatives out there, now.

If you change your mind about wireless technology, I can recomend the following:

If you want to control your iMac remotely.

If you own an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad.

Here's an app

http://regularrateandrhythm.com/apps/rowmote-pro/

or this

http://www.amazon.com/Satechi-MediaRemote-Bluetooth-Multi-Media-Control/dp/B0082 4948U/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1364328484&sr=8-10&keywords=Satechi

http://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Bluetooth-Pointer-Presenter-Control/dp/B00A3WRM5G/ ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364328551&sr=8-1&keywords=Satechi+Remotes

OR this

if you own an iPad and want to complete remote control your entire Mac, check out this on the App Store on your iPad.

Splashtop Remote 2

Other than my recommendations here, there are no longer any other type of connected solutions other than ridiculously long wired keyboard and mouse connections to your iMac.

You are missing out on a lot of flexibility by not using wireless technology.

If you own an iDevice the only way to access the Internet and streaming media is over WiFi.

No other solutions are possible.

I would rethink your position on this.

Good Luck.

coxorange wrote:

Thanks MichelPM,

I think that we're already exposed to so much radiation outside our home that I try to keep the exposure at home as low as possible, especially for the children. So infrared, cable or voice control are the only possible options I can think of.

Has anyone else found a solution?

There isn't one.

Radiation? So you don't listen to the radio or watch television?

WiFi hardly ranks as 'radiation'!

I don't hold out hope that these type of USB remotes will work with Intel Macs with newer versions of OS X or not.

The one you link definitely looks like a remote that WILL NOT work with Macs despite the title.

The seller has not listed any specs to or info to show that this device will definitely work,with a Mac or not.

It's not a simple matter of just plugging this device into a USB port and it will just work. No.

As I stated earlier ,there were companies that made USB IR remotes for Macs that didn't have remote operation capabilities.

Most Notably, Keyspan made a few models of these that worked well with older PowerMacs and the remote was customizable.

Here's the one I still have and use with my old PowerMac G4 MDD. Works surprisingly well.

It still worked under OS X 10.5.8 Leopard using OS X 10.4.11 Tiger drivers.

http://www.amazon.com/KeySpan-Digital-Remote-Control-Multimedia/dp/B0000513KE

You need proper Mac OS X drivers and software to use these. Without the correct OS X drivers and, possibly, software, these kind of remote devices maybe useless on a Mac.

Here's a newer version of the same style of USB remote re-badged by Tripp-lite( the company that bought Keyspan) that may work, also.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Keyspan-Remote-for-PCs-Laptops-URM-15T-/360657093256

I am, relatively, sure and confident that these type of USB IR remotes will no longer work on newer Mac technology or on OS X 10.6 and up.

I think you are being stubborn, to your own detriment.

It's cheap enough to try. If it doesn't work, you're not out a lot of cash.

Good Luck!

Any USB keyboards or mice will work with Macs for basic functionality.

Any special keys or special functions that the Macs needs for other Mac functions, typically won't work with out special Mac drivers.

Apple or Apple compatible keyboards have either special keys or use the keyboard's F keys for things like Dashbaord, Exposé, Spaces, brightness and volume controls, being able to eject a disc for the optical drive, etc.

That keyboard you bought is a Windows PC keyboard and not Apple specific keyboard.

Windows keyboards work on a basic level with Macs, but you will not have access to needed key combinations that are needed during issues with troubleshooting your iMac. LIke using certainkeys for selecting the optical drive for startup, key combo for manually selecting a startup drive at startup, resetting the PRAM and other, specifically, needed Mac shortcuts.

You should have a genuine Apple USB keyboard form your iMac, though.

There are Apple keyboard key combinations for troubleshooting and starting your iMac that simply will not work when using this keyboard.

Other Suppliers of Apple compatible keyboards with proper Apple keys and functionality.

Kensington

Logitech

Macally

Matias

Hello coxorange.

That's great news about the alternative remote control. I just wondered if you've since discovered any issues with it and your iMac or OS X?

Thanks,

Thanks very much.

I bought the remote you first tried but when I used it on my 2013 iMac I had some OS X problems, although the remote worked okay. I thought it might have triggered some weird installation within OS X. The problems were probably just a coincidence, but I unplugged it and hadn't used it since. Now I'm encouraged to give it a go again. I can't believe that Apple would just remove such a handy facility. I play radio, music, iTunes, YouTube and all kinds of stuff with audio that I want to control remotely and can't. I know there's the Apple iPhone Remote but it's more hassle than it's worth to use that, and I think it's iTunes only.

Thanks again for doing the research and letting the community know.

If you own an iDevice, Rowmote Pro controls the entire Mac plus, all Apple applications. Not just iTunes.

http://regularrateandrhythm.com/apps/rowmote-pro/

Thanks MichelPM.

I didn't realise that but will check it out.