First look: SiriMote lets you control your Mac with an Apple TV Siri Remote

AppleInsider · December 9, 2015 3:08PM

A new, free OS X app dubbed SiriMote allows owners of the new fourth-gen Apple TV to pair the device's Siri Remote with a Mac computer, offering a new method of control.

The freeware app allows you to pair the Siri Remote with an Intel Mac running OS X 10.11 El Capitan. Once installed, SiriMote allows control of playback features on your computer, restoring functionality found in previous iterations of Apple remotes.

AppleInsider tested the new app and found that setting up the SiriMote isn't a walk in the park. While the instructions are easy enough -- ultimately just pairing the device with your computer and waiting for the app to recognize the remote -- it took several tries for SiriMote to recognize our remote.

Specifically, SiriMote required us to shut down our computer, toggle the Bluetooth on and off and tinker before ultimately accepting the connection. The Apple TV must also be unplugged during the process, which is a pain if your power cords are difficult to access.

On one attempt, after the remote was successfully paired with the Mac via the Bluetooth connection page, the SiriMote app still didn't recognize the remote more than 15 minutes later. Some reviews have also noted difficulty with setting the device up.

However, once you get the app up and running, it's smooth sailing, and the remote performs as intended. Once paired, you can play and pause media, fast forward and rewind, and adjust volume controls. The remote can also be used to control Powerpoint presentations. Unfortunately, the app does not take advantage of the new remote's touchpad interface.

If you've been looking for a remote to control media playback on your computer, need a Powerpoint clicker, or miss the option of doubling your Apple TV remote as a peripheral device for your Mac, the SiriMote is a good option.

SiriMote is free, and is available now from the Eternal Storms app developer website at eternalstorms.at.

right_said_fred · December 9, 2015 3:42PM

For a power point clicker though, its a tad expensive at $80
You can use your Apple Watch to control iTines on a mac, but I cant seem to control a power point presentation - maybe thats me?

felixschwarz · December 9, 2015 3:47PM

Hi Jason, seeing your remarks about pairing and concurrent use with Apple TV, an Apple TV app of mine might better fit your needs: It allows you to use your Siri Remote as mouse, keyboard & remote for your Mac while streaming its screen content at up to 60fps: https://www.iospirit.com/products/remotebuddy/display/#playvideo Full touch support. No Bluetooth pairing. No conflicts with Apple TV. Best, - Felix

nolamacguy · December 9, 2015 4:19PM

if this story were on MR, the comments would be: "Should have been this way from the start!" (theyre still hating on the ATV there, despite the tvOS updates)

as for this...odd button mappings. the ATV remote supports a left-click and right-click on its touch surface (typically jumps 10-seconds in either direction per-click), im surprised they didnt or couldnt use that for prev/next track mapping.

eternalstorms · December 9, 2015 4:37PM

nolamacguy said:

im surprised they didnt or couldnt use that for prev/next track mapping.

Hi all.

I'm Matt, the developer of SiriMote.
First of all, thank you so much for covering the app here, that kind of blows me away.

In response to nolamacguy, asking why SiriMote doesn't support left/right-click on the touch surface:
I haven't been able to figure out access to the touch surface as of yet. I know when a touch begins and ends, but I can't tell how many fingers there are, where they are, where they're going, etc. That's why the controls are currently the way they are. But I'm still looking into it for a future update of the app.

I hope you can enjoy the app nonetheless

Thank you,
- Matt

edited December 2015

lmagoo · December 9, 2015 7:04PM

Matt, Would this also work for a Mac Mini? I use a Mac Mini to stream my music....wanted to know if that feature extended to the Mini... Thanks Larry

eternalstorms · December 9, 2015 9:35PM

lmagoo said:

Matt, Would this also work for a Mac Mini? I use a Mac Mini to stream my music....wanted to know if that feature extended to the Mini... Thanks Larry

Hi lmagoo. If the Mac Mini has Bluetooth 4.0, it should. But it's free, so you can give it a try at no charge

mattinoz · December 10, 2015 8:08AM

Any chance of accessing the motion sensors in the remote turn it in to a cheep 3D mouse?

eternalstorms · December 10, 2015 9:22AM

mattinoz said:

Any chance of accessing the motion sensors in the remote turn it in to a cheep 3D mouse?

Hey, Mattinoz.
I've been trying to get that to work, but haven't had any luck yet. I'm still trying, though.
Take care

saltzer · February 8, 2016 6:20PM

My old front row remote from a 2004 iMac works perfectly with my Macbook Pro 2011and VLC.

guile · March 16, 2016 1:28AM

enjoy it. BetterTouchTool
http://github.com/guileschool/SiriRemoteBTT

First look: SiriMote lets you control your Mac with an Apple TV Siri Remote

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