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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)
