Urbz Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 Updated Post: I've created an Applescript which can be used to point Remote Buddy to launch AppleTV on our Intel Macs. As we all know, Remote Buddy is widely regarded as that one piece of software that enables you to get rid of your Macs mouse and keyboard and turn it into a real HTPC! However, now that we can run the AppleTV on our Intel Macs, the two pieces of software conflict, both wanting to control the IR sensor that the remote uses. Hence, when you launch the AppleTV when Remote Buddy is running, you can't do anything and have to SSH into the machine to get rid of one or both! This Applescript can be put right into Remote Buddy's menu and launching it will launch AppleTV after 30 seconds, or give you the opportunity to press the menu button on your remote and get to the AppleTV GUI. Requirements: Intel Mac that uses the Apple Remote, the "Exit" plugin for AppleTV, AppleTV set as a replacement to the default Front Row. Instructions: 1- Download the file below and unzip it! 2- Click on the Remote Buddy icon in the menu bar when it is running and click Preferences. 3- Click the Menu button/tab. 4- Select your User's Profile in the drop-down menu (it it isn't there, create one). 5- Drag the Applescript you unzipped into the menu wherever you want, and delete the existing Front Row items in the menu (they no longer work!). 6- Quit the preferences, restart Remote Buddy, and launch the script from the menu wherever you had inserted it! **There will be up to four options to launch it, simply go with the first** NOTE: Make sure that the AppleTV GUI has replaced Front Row as in the tutorial here. You also need to have the "Quit" plugin installed, so you can exit AppleTV. NOTE 2: The best way to proceed with this is to press the Menu button on the Apple Remote when the dialog prompts you to do so. I haven't always had luck with the other option... even then, sometimes it doesn't quit properly and the script will be stuck. If the volume is on, you can go up and down with the remote and you will hear the AppleTV's menu sounds. Press menu a couple of times, then press down 7 or 8 times, and press play twice. This is because on some occasions, two instances of "Front Row" are launched. Other Info: So that you know what's going on (in short), this script quits Remote Buddy, and launches (or detects the presence of) Front Row.app, the replacement that is really the AppleTV. While this is running, it monitors the system every 5 seconds to see if it is still running. If it isn't, the script re-launches Remote Buddy and quits itself. Otherwise, it re-checks in 5 seconds. I have, by the way, monitored my processor's usage, and no, the 5-second-monitoring doesn't eat up any precious processor cycles. It barely has any impact. Enjoy, and post any feedback here! -Urby Original Post: Alrighty,Got my mac mini all nicely set up and replaced Front Row with the AppleTV's Finder, all has gone smoothly, I know have a Mac and an AppleTV, it's great! One thing, however, is stopping it from reaching its true potential: Remote Buddy. Remote Buddy effectively can't control the new Front Row, no matter what. It intercepts all IR signals, and then the aTV Front Row can't be controlled! I would like to get Remote Buddy launching ATV GUI without trying to control it. It would be nice that if the system detected Front Row process running, it would quit Remote Buddy, and when neither were active, it would Launch Remote Buddy. This would mean that the Mini could be controlled at all times flawlessly without a keyboard or a mouse, no matter what was launched! Can an Applescript be written to do this? I would like to do it myself, so if anyone could point me in the right direction, i'd really appreciate it. Thanks, Urby [update] fastest update/edit ever! lol! Well I tested it a little and my theory of quitting remotebuddy to free up the IR won't work: when I ssh to the machine when both are running (when im in aTV Finder and can't control it) quitting remotebuddy doesn't fix anything. I would have to quit both and launch front row.app... just a thought! AppleTV.zip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeSuKuN Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 Better than closing rb to use FR, I'd (and probably more people would) like to control appleTV with remote buddy as it supports more remotes (like my wiimote!) and a lot more functionality. but is this possible? I don't know wich type of communication have RB with the apps, and I don't know If it would be possible to make both interact, but certainly, it would be GREAT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbz Posted April 1, 2007 Author Share Posted April 1, 2007 Original Post: I doubt that it would be possible to control it with remote buddy: the applications both take control of the IR, so bleh. It would be nice to see how they did it with the real Front Row, to see it that was any different. Bope. Back to the Applescript, does anyone know how to launch an application from a folder? Like inject a specified path to the app? This is the Applescript so far, and I need to specify the path to front row.app in coreservices. tell application "Remote Buddy" to quittell application "Front Row" to launch tell application "Remote Buddy" to launch Who knows Applescript? I need help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiaboliK Posted April 1, 2007 Share Posted April 1, 2007 I doubt that it would be possible to control it with remote buddy: the applications both take control of the IR, so bleh. It would be nice to see how they did it with the real Front Row, to see it that was any different. Bope. Back to the Applescript, does anyone know how to launch an application from a folder? Like inject a specified path to the app? This is the Applescript so far, and I need to specify the path to front row.app in coreservices. Who knows Applescript? I need help! you can also click record and do what you want it to do and then click stop and it scripts it for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssbands04 Posted April 1, 2007 Share Posted April 1, 2007 i was actually having the same thoughts.........and problems but, i think that the best idea right now it to try and copy the original front row.app behavior and modify it to work with the new atv front row (if you have it set as not the default one) like i do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbz Posted April 1, 2007 Author Share Posted April 1, 2007 Original Post: For real Macs with the Apple Remote, a solution like the one i'm working for should do the trick, though.I have a question: how hard would it be to have a plugin to Front Row (appleTV) that quits the process and also launches another one? Or that launches an Applescript, or anything else? Is it doable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbz Posted April 1, 2007 Author Share Posted April 1, 2007 Original Post: Well the script is finished, and it's wrapped up in a little app that seems to work through remote buddy. It will allow you to launch AppleTV from Remote Buddy, and when you quit, RemoteBuddy will come back! It works with real Intel Macs with Remote Buddy and AppleTV set up as a replacement to Front Row. Just put it in Remote Buddy's menu through the preferences.Theres a wierd issue that comes up when the AppleTV is launched, and that has to do with a wierd echo with the sound.... bope. I'll look further into it. could you guys test this and let me know if it worked for you? Thanks! -Urby [attachment deleted] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssbands04 Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 i don't really understand what this does..........and when i try to run it i get an error that it's not supported on this system (C2D MBP) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gumble Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 i've downloaded the app and added to remotebuddy - but when i select it i asks me how to run this app. when i start the app with doubleclick - system says it's not supported - i think the app is not working - maybe it's corrupted through download - can you try zip the file and upload it again ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbz Posted April 2, 2007 Author Share Posted April 2, 2007 Original Post: hmm its probably corrupted... works on mineill retry it! here it is zipped! -Urby [attachment deleted] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssbands04 Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 can you still explain what this is supposed to do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xfsasx Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 ive found that using sofa control 2.0 is very nice too, it has the virtual mouse built in so i can do everything i want with the remote and there is no interference when i start aTV it works flawlessly and since i added the Quit.frappliance it works even better. I never have to get up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbz Posted April 5, 2007 Author Share Posted April 5, 2007 I've updated everything and included instructions.. i guess that makes this post a BUMP! lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalbaba Posted April 6, 2007 Share Posted April 6, 2007 Is there any way you can make it so it kills AppleTV's IR sensor, and have AppleTV controlled by Remote Buddy? I would really like to use my wiimote to control this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbz Posted April 7, 2007 Author Share Posted April 7, 2007 i haven't a clue how to do that... for now this is the best solution I have. I would have to know more about how RemoteBuddy intercepts the IR signals, or how it works with Front Row. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quispie Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 ive found that using sofa control 2.0 is very nice too, it has the virtual mouse built in so i can do everything i want with the remote and there is no interference when i start aTV it works flawlessly and since i added the Quit.frappliance it works even better. I never have to get up! Does anyone have sofa control working on the original Apple TV (hacked)? I can launch it from the "application launcher app" and it is mostly running, but holding down the "menu" button doesn't bring up the Sofa Control menu. Drop downs work fine and the virtual mouse can be "run" from the script editor, but I can't seem to do it all using the apple remote. I have to remote in via VNC on a computer to enable the virtual mouse which sort of defeats the purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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