Applelust Hardware Review: Keyspan Digital Media Remote Keyspan Digital Media Remote
Price: $49.00
Requirements: MacOS 8.5.1 or later
Date of Review: April 9, 2001
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars bites of the Apple

Some might argue that the Keyspan Digital Media Remote is a solution in search of a problem, but I wouldn’t be one of them. No, this little gizmo actually has practical functionality for folks who use their computers to play DVD’s, movies, or to make presentations.

Essentially, the DMR is an infrared remote control and receiver for computer multimedia applications that can support any Mac or PC with a USB port running Mac OS 8.5.1 or Windows 98 or later. It will support remote operation of QuickTime, iTunes, Microsoft PowerPoint, and other DVD, C.D., MP 3, VCD, and other software player applications in the same way that you now control your TV and VCR.

The Keyspan Digital Media Remote controls your multimedia applications by sending them the same keystrokes that you do when you control the application from the keyboard. For example, if your program uses the “N” key to advance to a new slide, the Keyspan DMR Remote Control can send the same key to your application allowing you to control your application from across the room.

The Digital Media Remote package consists of a handheld remote unit, and infrared receiver unit, and a USB cable to connect it to the computer. A bundled CD-ROM contains an installer for the DMR driver software, and an HTML user manual.

To install the driver software, insert the CD-ROM, run the installer application “Keyspan DMR Installer” and follow the on-screen instructions. Once the installer has completed,restart your computer. You should now be able to control your player and presentation applications with the DMR.

Prior to using the Keyspan Digital Media Remote, you must start the “KeyspanDMRMapperDaemon” application. The Mapper Status item should report that the mapper is “RUNNING”. If the Mapper Status item reports that the mapper is not running, simply click on the Start button to start the “KeyspanDMRMapperDaemon” program.

Keyspan Digital Media Remote Using the Keyspan Digital Media Remote Using the Keyspan Digital Media Remote to control your programs/applications requires that you do the following:

1. Start the Keyspan DMR Mapper Daemon application

2. Select the Application you want to control

3. Control your Application with the Keyspan DMR Remote Control The following instructions will guide you through this process, step-by-step.

Controlling your Programs with the Digital Media Remote

Step 1 – Start the KeyspanDMRMapperDaemon application Prior to using the Keyspan Digital Media Remote, you must start the “KeyspanDMRMapperDaemon” application.

Note: In most cases, the “KeyspanDMRMapperDaemon” application will already be running.

To check if the “KeyspanDMRMapperDaemon” program is running, open the Keyspan DMR Assistant control panel (located in the CONTROL PANELS folder in your SYSTEM FOLDER).

The Mapper Status item should report that the mapper is “RUNNING”. If the Mapper Status item reports that the mapper is not running, simply click on the Start button to start the “KeyspanDMRMapperDaemon” program. Once you’ve clicked on the Start button, the Keyspan DMR Assistant control panel will report “Mapper Status: RUNNING”. Close the Keyspan DMR Assistant control panel once you see this message.

You can select the application that you want to control by pointing the DMR Remote to your DMR Receiver and pressing the CYCLE button until the application that you want to control is in the front. You can also select the application that you want to control by selecting a running application from the Applications menu.

The Remote buttons act differently depending on which application is in the “front” and whether or not Keyspan has created a customized setting or “map” for that application.

For example, the Menu button will access a DVD-video disc’s menu screen in Apple’s Apple DVD Player application. However, the same Menu button will STOP playing audio CD using Apple’s AppleCD Audio Player. You can change or add any settings or “map” for any application using the Keyspan DMR Assistant. Actions of this nature are called “App Specific Actions.”

You can also assign a button to a “Global” action that happens regardless of which application you are in. Global actions are especially useful for controlling system volume and launching applications.

In addition to sending keystrokes, the Keyspan Digital Media Remote also can be configured to:

Launch any file or program
Run an AppleScript
Control your computer’s System Volume
Send a Text String

Besides the required drivers, the Keyspan Digital Media Remote installer software installs an application called the Keyspan DMR Map Editor. This application is used to modify, customize, and view the Keyspan DMR’s button settings> Customized mapping is detailed in the documentation on the CD.

It is addictively convenient to be watching a movie or listening to MP3s on your computer, and able to change tracks or adjust the volume from across the room.

The only glitch I ran into is that I first forgot to remove the piece of clear plastic film placed between the remote’s battery and its contacts to preserve the battery’s life while in storage, and of course the unit would not work until my son pointed out the problem. Duh!

The remote control unit is sized to fit in your palm and comfortably shaped. It is powered by a Sony CR2025 lithium sell. My only complaint is that the 17 control buttons are perhaps just a bit small for comfortable manipulation by someone with hands as large as mine, but they are intuitively laid out and labeled with standard symbols, unlike some remotes I have used.

The receiver unit is designed to be placed on top of your monitor or CPU case, and has a soft rubber feet that keep in place nicely. It also has an aperture in its case for storing the remote-control handset when it’s not in use.

I have tested several Keyspan products over the past several months, and have been uniformly impressed by their solid design, thorough and user-friendly support bundles, and apparent quality of construction. The Keyspan Digital Media Remote is no exception.

Keyspan Digital Media Remote Features:

IR receiver connects to the USB port on a Macintosh or Windows PC
17-key IR remote transmits signals more than 35 feet • Includes “key maps” for PowerPoint, QuickTime, RealPlayer, WinAmp, Sound Jam, and other popular applications
Software can be customized to support additional applications
Requires Mac OS 8.5.1 (or later), Windows 98, Windows 2000, or Windows ME.

If you have an earlier model of the DMR, the latest DMR 2.0.1 Beta driver for Mac adds the following new features:

New Features

Improved map editor user interface.
Now fully supports 15 and 17 button Keyspan DMR remotes as well as a JVC VCR remote (which can be found on many popular universal remotes)
You can associate a button on the remote to run an AppleScript script.
You can now assign a button to open any document/file/application/scripting file
You can now use the remote to control the overall system volume (including mute and fade), not just volume in a particular application
In addition to individual key characters,you can now associate an entire string with a button on the remote.
Previously you could map all buttons for a particular application, or have a default map for unmapped applications. Now you can also have global actions for particular keys (e.g. overall system volume)