Best way to control home theatre Mac mini

[robotica]

I have reciently received a new i3 Mac mini which I want to use as a home theatre mm.

I will be using Kodi as the main interface and a K400+ for the keyboard and mouse for other computer things.

When using Kodi I don’t want to use the wireless keyboard and would much prefer a cheap remote. Something like the fire TV remote would be ideal.

Does anyone have any experience using remotes on the Mac mini and do you have any recommendations. I don’t want to spend £100’s on a Multi function remote but it would be good to hear some of the options.

Or do you think an app on the phone is the best way to go? I would definitely prefer a physical remote.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

I am quite satisfied using the Kodi remote app (iOS/iPadOS). I originally used it with a cheap Windows 10 HTPC but today I am running Kodi on an even cheaper Raspberry Pi 4.

I have the iOS app installed on my iPhone XS, an old iPad mini and and old iPod touch.

You might as well try the Kodi remote iOS app since it's free.

 

[deksawyer]

What they said ^^

 

[Cycling Asia]

I purchased an "air mouse" from Amazon for $20 (incl postage). The one I got has a qwerty keyboard on one side and "normal" RC buttons on the other. Some of the buttons are IR programmable (power button and colour buttons). Media keys can be used to control various media sites using an app called Bearded Spice.

I've written a generic plugin for Bearded Spice to find the first video element in a web page and action the media buttons on that - this works for Plex, peacock TV, tubi TV, Pluto TV, YouTube (and probably others).

I've also installed the user scripts plugin for safari and written custom scripts and css to give an even better leanback experience:

• partial dpad navigation of peacock tv (I really want to do full dpad navigation)
• automatically hide the mouse pointer after 4 seconds of no movement
• page back on right mouse button (the remote has a back key the is mapped to the RMB)

But saying all that, you can get a good result with just Bearded Spice. I've attached my file for Bearded Spice. Just extract it from the zip and import using Bearded Spice preferences.



Link to the remote: https://www.amazon.com/Rii-Multifun...d=1&keywords=rii+remote&qid=1601646533&sr=8-3

 

[robotica]

Picked up one of these for a about £13 from amazon, very similar to your one Cycling Asia. I am actually really surprised how good this thing is for how cheap it is. The actual mouse part of it is a hit miss but the general media controls for kodi are fairly good! Thanks all for your help with this .

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08F7TCRS5/ref=crt_ewc_img_dp_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AUK21CB74OPE0

 

[Cycling Asia]

For mouse reliability, I found adding the dongle to an external hub to remove it from the back of the mini resulted in better results. The hub is just sitting on top of my mini and the dongle can be seen from the couch (line of sight from remote to receiver)

 

[redAPPLE]

I am quite satisfied using the Kodi remote app (iOS/iPadOS). I originally used it with a cheap Windows 10 HTPC but today I am running Kodi on an even cheaper Raspberry Pi 4.

I have the iOS app installed on my iPhone XS, an old iPad mini and and old iPod touch.

You might as well try the Kodi remote iOS app since it's free.

highjacker here:

may i ask how good is using kodi and raspberry pi? is it good enough? fast? any disadvantages? thanks.

 

[samael morningstar]

I purchased an "air mouse" from Amazon for $20 (incl postage). The one I got has a qwerty keyboard on one side and "normal" RC buttons on the other. Some of the buttons are IR programmable (power button and colour buttons). Media keys can be used to control various media sites using an app called Bearded Spice.

I've written a generic plugin for Bearded Spice to find the first video element in a web page and action the media buttons on that - this works for Plex, peacock TV, tubi TV, Pluto TV, YouTube (and probably others).

I've also installed the user scripts plugin for safari and written custom scripts and css to give an even better leanback experience:

• partial dpad navigation of peacock tv (I really want to do full dpad navigation)
• automatically hide the mouse pointer after 4 seconds of no movement
• page back on right mouse button (the remote has a back key the is mapped to the RMB)

But saying all that, you can get a good result with just Bearded Spice. I've attached my file for Bearded Spice. Just extract it from the zip and import using Bearded Spice preferences.



Link to the remote: https://www.amazon.com/Rii-Multifun...d=1&keywords=rii+remote&qid=1601646533&sr=8-3

sorry as i am a complete noob. But i got an air mouse and added it to my mac mini. but i have to wave around my hand to go to what i want to click. Have you found a way to use the arrow keys? like when i press the left arrow key, it will move to movie left of what is selected. not sure if i was clear. I basically want to use it the same way i use the amazon firestick remote to play plex on firestick. Hope i was clear.