iRed2 for Mac

Hi. I use a Sky Digibox in the UK and am really interested in this product. I don't know much about Macs or computers really... but I have been using OS X's automator - it is so simple and powerful! Can someone (in the UK) please explain how I can use this product to control a Sky Digibox? Thanks! This looks like a great prodcut.

I purchased iRed with the IRTrans device with iRed not use my Mac to control IR devices, but to control my Mac with IR. It works very well in this way. I use it to control DVD Player, EyeTV (HD!), Quicktime, and VLC. The fact that it can send IR codes on IRTrans' very powerful IR transmitter is convenient, too!

Fantastic piece of software / hardware. Enables me to use the Mac to control everything in the room that has an infra red remote. TV, Stereo, Projector, Cable box, DVD, VHS, etc. New function in this release of working over Bonjour / Rendezvous also means I can use a wireless Powerbook as a complete remote control wherever I am in the house or garden. Can even control iTunes on the remote computer whilst changing channel on the TV and adjusting volume on the stereo and setting the VHS - from either the main computer or Airport connected laptop. Love being able to sit in front of the TV working on a completely un-cabled Powerbook and control every other gadget in the room from the PB's desktop. Genius. Set-up used to be rather tricky, but far less so in recent releases. Be nice to see a more attractive hardware element (called the irTrans) ... maybe in a similar form and with similar mount to an iSight.

This review describes one practical application in the hope that it will inspire others to try & buy iRed, as I did. I have 3 screens on my desk, one of which doubles as an AV monitor. But I don't want to clutter my desk with remote controls for Satellite, DVD, VCR, CD and SCART switcher. Enter iRed - with a FileMaker front end. Scanned images of my 5 remotes fill each of 5 layouts. Invisible buttons are placed of the images of the buttons, and run FileMaker scripts with AppleScript commands to operate iRed. A simple mouse click on a familiar-looking virtual remote control, and (via iRed and IRTrans) instant response! But that's not all. The FileMaker database has a 6th layout which is a list (with logos) of all the satellite channels. Click on a logo - change the channel. No more remembering channel numbers or drilling & scrolling through Sky channel menus. Each layout has buttons to switch between remotes, and a button to toggle between life size and 50%, zooming the window appropriately. The FileMaker scripts couldn't be simpler - they are all the same with just 2 identical steps. The name of each script is its function (eg PAUSE, MUTE, 7, 4 etc). One step sets a global field from the scriptname; the other runs a universal subscript which sends the command to iRed. Go and have fun with iRed!

I use it since one year to automate my home. Lights, heating, audio and video deviceses. I can't live without it.