How to use the irda port ?

Hi - and anyway, thumbdrives are faster than the IrDA transfer rates ont eh Bondi blues - that is in my personal experience. I actually had two transmitting together - and (finally) worked out how to send data across - but then it was 'horribly' slow - seemed to be slower than an ethernet connection between the two machines. So if the technology is once again available 'across the spectrum' and 'in vogue' and works real well - that would be a bonus - but perhaps a little too late for the Bondi blues.
Also I have found tht setting up the ethernet 'users' and the IrDA 'users' groups so one machine can read another, was so confusing and frustrating - and esp when connecting OS X to OS 9 - that the simple application of a plug & play thumbdrive was by far a superior solution to the transfer of data - and with less 'techo-stress' to deprive one ofthe joy of using one's iMac for life's simple pleasures.

ciao

Gregg

see ya

Gregg 🙂

IrDA was another form of networking. It was never really adopted. The original 233 MHz iMacs have the "port" on the front, but the later tray-loader revisions (266 MHz and 333 MHz) do not.

In my Panther installation, there is a Mac Help item about how to access the IrDA functions. In Finder, go Menu -> Help -> Mac Help. Search on "irda" to read an item called "Connecting to an IrDA device."

I don't think it works with any existing remote control.

Cool...

But it says "Built-In IR receiver on newer Mac models" (drawing of Mac mini, iMac, the two MacBooks), then "Manta TR1 & eHome/MCE IR Receivers for All Macs" (picture of some plug-in IR receiver devices). So it won't use the old iMac's built-in IrDA port. Plus this looks like a software product that enhances the Apple Remote Control... you don't get a remote control device.

No one spoke of an included remote, you said "I don't think it works with any existing remote control." The betas have semi working functions for various receivers not listed as fully supported. That includes the orig iMac one.

The program has only been out for a two months. Support for other devices will come so they can use the Apple remote.
Some customers may already have an IR receiver they use with another product, so we're building support into mira for a number of alternate receivers.

Even Apple gave up on it after the first 233 MHz iMacs. The barely different 266-333 MHz iMacs do not have this feature. If you take one apart, there's just a blank space where the little IrDA board used to be.

I think Apple's intent was for it to be like Bluetooth is now. A way to connect devices wirelessly over a very short range. If the technology was proven reliable, maybe there would have been an IrDA keyboard and mouse.

I don't think it works with any existing remote
control.

Not true, www.twistedmelon.com