I need a Remote Control for my Mac

Question

Level 1

140 points

I need a Remote Control for my Mac

My Mac has replaces my television but I do not have a remote control for it.

I simply cannot be bothered to lean forward and turn the volume up or pause a movie etc. A remote would also be really good for music and even surf the web.

Have had a look on Amazon but can't find anything that looks convincing. If anyone knows if one exists I would like to know please...

In the meantime would someone from Apple please hurry up and invent one because I am getting rather exhausted with all this moving around. Thank you!

MacBook Air, macOS Sierra (10.12.1), iTunes 12.4.1.6

Posted on May 25, 2017 11:03 PM

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Answer 1

Miles Hodge Author

Level 1

140 points

May 26, 2017 12:40 AM in response to LACAllen

From what I can see the Apple Remote only works with older macs that have an Infra Red receiver which mine doesn't have.... sorry should've mentioned that....It's surprising that there isn't one for newer macs.

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Answer 2

Miles Hodge Author

Level 1

140 points

May 26, 2017 2:32 AM in response to Lanny

Nice one thanks.... iTunes Remote worked perfectly... I then saw another well reviewed one in the App Store called FullControl which seems to be able to do everything including moving the cursor.

I'm using an iPad so it is rather massive for an RC..... but still better than nothing!

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Answer 3

May 26, 2017 2:28 PM in response to Miles Hodge

If your using an older Elgato EyeTV tuner some of those had their own IR receivers and remote.

Otherwise it is possible to get a USB IR Receiver to plugin to your Mac and use a remote with that. See https://twistedmelon.com/mira/hardware.html

The only Mac still made that has a built-in IR receiver is the Mac mini. The Apple TV2 or Apple TV3 remote is compatible with the IR Receiver in the Mac mini. (I don't believe the Apple TV4 remote is.)

For what it's worth I use a Mac mini as my home DVR i.e. Digital TV receiver and recorder. I actually run Windows Media Center on it in Windows7 and use an official Microsoft Media Center remote.

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Answer 4

Miles Hodge Author

Level 1

140 points

May 26, 2017 2:36 PM in response to John Lockwood

Hey thanks... I had a look at that mira receiver and some others which would probably do the job well too.

It surprises me that they seem to be rather a niche product...I prefer it when Apple makes these things as then I know it will work well. Still they are not expensive so worth a try I suppose!

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Answer 5

Lanny

Level 6

13,225 points

May 26, 2017 1:20 AM in response to Miles Hodge

There are 2 apps for the iPhone, "Apple TV Remote," and "iTunes Remote." Try those.

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Answer 6

LACAllen

Level 8

43,590 points

May 25, 2017 11:48 PM in response to Miles Hodge

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MM4T2AM/A/apple-remote

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