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Apple Remote and New iMac

A

AnthonyCM

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 17, 2007
202
7
Does the new iMac not have an IR receiver for the Apple remote? I can't get the one I have to pair.

And, yes, I know I can use the remote on the iPhone, but sometimes I need immediate access and don't want to have to open up the app to control iTunes on my Mac.

Appreciate any help that can be given.

Thanks,
AnthonyCM
 
Last edited:
Gah! Stupid, stupid, mind numbingly stupid. Apple removing something that didn't need to be removed. They'll probably sell an iDongle that hangs off your computer in order to use the remote. Only $49.99 (not including remote).

Some of their decisions are truly questionable. I'm sure the IR will be back on the next iMac update. Of course.

Anyway, thanks for all the quick, yet frustrating, responses.
 
AnthonyCM said:
Gah! Stupid, stupid, mind numbingly stupid. Apple removing something that didn't need to be removed. They'll probably sell an iDongle that hangs off your computer in order to use the remote. Only $49.99 (not including remote).

Some of their decisions are truly questionable. I'm sure the IR will be back on the next iMac update. Of course.

Anyway, thanks for all the quick, yet frustrating, responses.
Click to expand...

hmm I thinkapple is phasing them out. Look at the Rmbps, they were the first macs not to have them, after a while, and the imac is the next new product they released without them. Shame cause I thought it was awesome having an IR receiver.
 
AnthonyCM said:
Gah! Stupid, stupid, mind numbingly stupid. Apple removing something that didn't need to be removed. They'll probably sell an iDongle that hangs off your computer in order to use the remote. Only $49.99 (not including remote).

Some of their decisions are truly questionable. I'm sure the IR will be back on the next iMac update. Of course.

Anyway, thanks for all the quick, yet frustrating, responses.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it really wouldn't have been hard to just throw it behind the black bezel somewhere....
 
seble said:
hmm I thinkapple is phasing them out. Look at the Rmbps, they were the first macs not to have them, after a while, and the imac is the next new product they released without them. Shame cause I thought it was awesome having an IR receiver.
Click to expand...

Yeah, makes 0 sense. I may not have agreed with dropping the optical drive in a desktop, but I could see their reasoning. An IR receiver? No excuse.
 
seble said:
hmm I thinkapple is phasing them out. Look at the Rmbps, they were the first macs not to have them, after a while, and the imac is the next new product they released without them. Shame cause I thought it was awesome having an IR receiver.
Click to expand...
FWIW, Apple started phasing IR back in 2009 with the white MacBooks.

AnthonyCM said:
Yeah, makes 0 sense. I may not have agreed with dropping the optical drive in a desktop, but I could see their reasoning. An IR receiver? No excuse.
Click to expand...
I'm not saying that I agree with their decision to drop the IR remote, but it seems like Apple is expecting folks to use the iOS Remote App instead.

For how I use the remote on my Mac (which is to control music), I much prefer the iOS Remote App. It has more functionality (which gives it the ability to do a lot of things that aren't possible with the IR remote), and since it uses WiFi instead of line-of-sight IR, the range is a gazillion times better.
 
aristobrat said:
It has more functionality (which gives it the ability to do a lot of things that aren't possible with the IR remote), and since it uses WiFi instead of line-of-sight IR, the range is a gazillion times better.
Click to expand...

I definitely agree that the IOS application has a lot more functionality, but sometimes I just need to mute iTunes, or change the song. To have to open up the app, wait for it to connect, and then do what I need it to do is a pain in the ass. Why couldn't they have kept both options? Guess, as always, Apple thinks it knows best. Frustrating.
 
the app has significantly improved in pairing. and if youre close enough to use a remote the keyboard short cuts would suffice just as well.
 
Improved or not, Apple needs to learn there are times that physical keys sometime trump keys on a screen. Sometimes some of us don't want to look at a screen in order to have basic functionality.

Look, I know opinions differ, but there's no reason to cut out a function that many of us have grown used to over the years when there's no obvious excuse to take it away.
 
AnthonyCM said:
Improved or not, Apple needs to learn there are times that physical keys sometime trump keys on a screen. Sometimes some of us don't want to look at a screen in order to have basic functionality.

Look, I know opinions differ, but there's no reason to cut out a function that many of us have grown used to over the years when there's no obvious excuse to take it away.
Click to expand...

That .. and as I said on the other thread. No fancy remotes other than old school IR remote could do okay with the same batteries and no charges for 2 straight years.

Obviously iOS Apple Remote will drain the battery within only hours. Sad. Remote. App.
 
aristobrat said:
FWIW, Apple started phasing IR back in 2009 with the white MacBooks.


I'm not saying that I agree with their decision to drop the IR remote, but it seems like Apple is expecting folks to use the iOS Remote App instead.

For how I use the remote on my Mac (which is to control music), I much prefer the iOS Remote App. It has more functionality (which gives it the ability to do a lot of things that aren't possible with the IR remote), and since it uses WiFi instead of line-of-sight IR, the range is a gazillion times better.
Click to expand...

It may have been 'line of sight' in theory, but I could operate it from virtually any area in the room. I still use the remote in the docking station in my kitchen. I know the app has more 'functionality' but the convenience of the remote is better. Sometimes you need to turn it down immediately or something, and you just grab the remote. The phone well, I gotta unlock first, then allow it to connect before I can even considering adjusting my music. I know what I overall prefer.

----------
iSayuSay said:
That .. and as I said on the other thread. No fancy remotes other than old school IR remote could do okay with the same batteries and no charges for 2 straight years.

Obviously iOS Apple Remote will drain the battery within only hours. Sad. Remote. App.
Click to expand...

2 years? :O more like 5, and I used to use that sucker daily. Was also extremely brilliant for presentations on my laptop, and use to impress the heck outta my windows friends.
 
AnthonyCM said:
Look, I know opinions differ, but there's no reason to cut out a function that many of us have grown used to over the years when there's no obvious excuse to take it away.
Click to expand...

There IS a reason, as consumers we just don't know what it is. My take is Apple did some market research and found that a very small amount of people use the Apple IR remote with an iMac, mainly due to the fact that in order to use an iMac normally you need to be sitting down in front of it, therefore no need to spend the extra resources to include an IR receiver. For the rest of us they probably saw that the majority of their iMac customers have an iOS device that can operate the iMac if they so needed to.
 
HenryDJP said:
There IS a reason, as consumers we just don't know what it is. My take is Apple did some market research and found that a very small amount of people use the Apple IR remote with an iMac, mainly due to the fact that in order to use an iMac normally you need to be sitting down in front of it, therefore no need to spend the extra resources to include an IR receiver. For the rest of us they probably saw that the majority of their iMac customers have an iOS device that can operate the iMac if they so needed to.
Click to expand...

IMO, Apple is just trying to play smoke and mirrors saying IR remotes are outdated, and instead want us to use iOS remote app instead.

But again, IR remotes could going on years on same batteries, with no recharge required. And it has real buttons too for precise tactile and feedback.

Regarding your reason.. Retina MBP could use some IR remotes as it can be used for Keynote and any media playback. Yet it loses the IR receiver too. Again, my thoughts are :apple: are trying to be [magical] by pushing iOS remote. But hey, how if I have no WiFi available? ;)
 
iSayuSay said:
IMO, Apple is just trying to play smoke and mirrors saying IR remotes are outdated, and instead want us to use iOS remote app instead.

But again, IR remotes could going on years on same batteries, with no recharge required. And it has real buttons too for precise tactile and feedback.

Regarding your reason.. Retina MBP could use some IR remotes as it can be used for Keynote and any media playback. Yet it loses the IR receiver too. Again, my thoughts are :apple: are trying to be [magical] by pushing iOS remote. But hey, how if I have no WiFi available? ;)
Click to expand...

Your theory may be spot on, in fact it sounds like something Apple would do to push the industry in this direction. The TV manufacturers are following suit with this too. They are creating apps for iOS so you can use your phone to run the TV and cable tuner. My first thoughts were "This is great, I love using my iPhone rather than a multitude of remotes!!", but this idea is more trouble than it's worth. Having to wake up the phone from sleep and then navigating to the correct app, opening the app and running it. Let alone it drains the battery in the phone much more than most other apps, at least in my experience.

Well I'm glad my mid 2011 iMac still offers this function. I have 2 Apple remotes and I don't want them to become useless anytime soon.
 
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