using the built in IR receiver for other than the Apple remote?

Thanks for the response Doug. The Universal remote will of course work because it is simply pretending to be the apple remote - but this is a pointless exercise since I have an apple remote. Obviously the reason you would do this is if you have numerous IR devices in the room and only want to use a single remote, but I do not.

What I want is to be able to use the greater functionality of my keyspan remote but without using the receiver that came with it. There is no reason why the IR port will not see the IR from the keyspan, its just a question of whether it can be processed in software after being received. I could understand if Apple was preventing this feature as it would mean a loss of sales of their apple remotes if you could use any old IR remote.

I suppose the question is does Apple prevent software access to the data received on the built in IR port?

Does any body have any thoughts on this? I saw some info here basically asking the same thing:

http://lists.apple.com/archives/usb/2007/Jun/msg00011.html

But I could not see any responses.

Cheers

Andy

I think he wants to ask if you can use it for another person like for example transfer documents or connect to an IR printer to print etc. I would also like to know this. Bluetooth is fine but IR is much better as far as battery consumption is concerned and this is important for a laptop.

If that's the case, then the built-in IR "receiver" will not work. This is because it is only a receiver. To set-up and run other IR functions, the IR signals have to go both directions, in and out. The built-in receiver is just that, only a receiver it can't send out signals.

-Doug

I think what is actually being asked is the following:

Is there any way that the built in IR port on the modern macs can receive commands from a non-apple remote?

I am interested in the answer to this too as I have a built in IR port on my mac and a Keyspan DMR. I would like to use the Keyspan remote as it has more functionality than the apple remote but it seems a little pointless and untidy to have to use the Keyspan receiver when one exists in my computer already.

I am aware that software exists to use the apple remote with external receivers (e.g. mira, ired, remote buddy), but is it possible to do it the other way around? I tried ired as it seemed like the most suitable in that it says it can learn from any remote, but it will not recognise the built in port for some reason.

Any help would be appreciated.

Is there any way that the built in IR port on the modern macs can receive commands from a non-apple remote?

Yes. I remote control iTunes, DVD Player, EyeTV and Front Row from a "universal" remote usually used for TVs, VCRs and DVD players. The universal remote was able to learn all the commands that are possible with the Apple remote. However, the Mac won't "learn" new IR commands from this universal remote.

-Doug

Obviously the reason you would do this is if you have numerous IR devices in the room and only want to use a single remote, but I do not.

Yes, this is exactly the case. My iMac, TV and stereo are all programmed into my universal remote.

What I want is to be able to use the greater functionality of my keyspan remote but without using the receiver that came with it.

I think this is something you should take up with Keyspan. We could probably search the Apple Developer site for some IR receiver documentation. I haven't looked for any before, but I doubt Apple is blocking it. Keyspan would have to design some software to take advantage of their remote, not Apple.

-Doug

I too would like to understand if I can use a universal remote to talk to the built in IR receiver in my mac to perform additional "customisable" functions.

Is there any software that will pick up information received on the internal IR receiver.

Thanks

Not really sure what you're asking, but any learning remote can be taught the Apple remote's commands.

I think something like this is what you're looking for:

http://www.staarcom.com/software/IRControl/index.html