Bluetooth remote for Macbook Pro?

[Andy-UK]

Hi, I seem to be going round in circles over this so I'd be grateful for any advice. I've recently upgraded from an old Macbook Pro with an IR receiver, and which therefore works with the Apple Remote, to a new Macbook Pro with no IR receiver so the remote doesn't work any more. I've bought an IR dongle so in theory I can still use the Apple remote but it only works if I maintain line of sight, which I can't always do, and I know there are various apps, like Rowmote, which will turn your iPhone or iPod into a remote but they use wi-fi and I teach in an environment without a reliable wi-fi connection.

Bluetooth seems to be the answer and the best bluetooth remote I can find seems to be the Satechi but one of the reviewers on Amazon says it goes to sleep after five minutes and you lose the connection so does anyone know of a reliable bluetooth remote? I'd be happy to use either an iPhone app or a dedicated device as long as it uses bluetooth and it does turn itself off in the middle of my presentation.

Thanks for your help.

 

[JAT]

Apple Keyboard.

 

[Norbs12]

I use a PS3 remote but I had to buy a software called "remote buddy" to get it to work together. Works pretty well over all and highly customizable, my main use has been for KODI (aka XBMC). It will time out and sleep, but wakes up after pressing a key and can take a few seconds to reconnect.

 

[adam9c1]

Long ago I had a eMac running front row connected to RCA input on a TV.
I used the white Apple remote.

I bought a MacBook IrDA port and connected it to USB.
Plug and play.

This was about 7 years ago.

 

[Andy-UK]

Thanks, guys, it doesn't look like there's one single obvious solution, which is what I thought.

 

[dwig]

If you can run your presentations using a mouse, then a Bluetooth mouse such as the Apple Magic Mouse would work. Alternately, a Bluetooth trackpad (e.g. Apple Magic Bluetooth Trackpad) could work as well as a Mouse and wouldn't require a level mousing surface (mice tend to move on their own on a tilted top surface of a lectern.) Neither, though, will work hand held if need to work standing free or any desk or lectern.