Hacking AirClick USB (for Mac): Part Deux
Hello AirClickers! Or is that AirClickUSBers? Anyway, with the new release of the AirClickUSB software come a couple of changes to the way things work.
Pretty much everything that I mentioned in the first entry about Hacking the AirClick USB still applies but there were a few changes to organization. First, all the scripts are now found in AirClick/Contents/Resources/scripts. Next, you’ll notice that all of the AppleScripts end in .applescript instead of .scpt. Getting text AppleScript files to end in .scpt was tripping up a lot of folks and for the life of me I’m not sure why the .scpt extension was being used in the first place.
The other changes were additions to the functions.plist file. A function definition may include the ShowInMenu key, with a Boolean value set to Yes, to display the Name of the function in the reference submenu. Unfortunately, the AirClick software only displays the primary button used to trigger a function. There’s just not a practical method to indicate things like a function that is triggered after play is held for 5 seconds with the volume up key modifier if the variable WTF is set to 3.
Finally, the AppBundle key was added at the function group level. Use this to associate a group of functions with an particular application indicated by it’s bundle identifier, ex. com.apple.iTunes. Right now this is only used to find an icon to display when changing the selected app from the AirClick remote (Volume Up/Down while holding the Play button).
With the next release, we’re thinking about adding a mode that tells the AirClick software to control the active application if it can, and if not then fall back to the application selected in the AirClick menu. The UTI described by the AppBundle key will used to make the determination as to whether the active application is controllable.
Is an official Front Row plugin going to be added to the next release? I think it could be popular.
I’ve made the attempt to modify Cursor Keys to do the trick for me, but i’m just not experienced enough to make it work. I’d much rather use an RF instead of infrared on my machine.
There are a few wrinkles to work out yet, but yes the next release will have it.
Do you have an ETA?
Is the repeated keystroke issue fixed?
Have you found a way to control slideshows in Front Row?
What about some kind of a GUI for editing the functions?
No, sorry, no ETA. I’m spread a bit thin at the moment and working on something which compliments the existing AirClick software. I can’t say much about it yet, but I think (hope) people will be pleased when they see the results.
Posted this on the other article, so asking again with clarification. Anyone got the AirClick working with any OSX below 10.3 such as 10.2.8 or 10.1.5? I’d like to give it a try using a beige G3. Would smudging the install work? Reach me at thomaswatts AT fewpb DOT net
I understand. Looking forward to it.
I have an idea for the menu item, if you haven’t thought of something already… how ’bout just a dot with lines radiating outward like a sun? It would be much more visible from far away, would take up less space and fit in with the other menu items. Just a thought.
Thanks for the great work!
Thanks for the suggestion (and the compliments!) Dylan. I’ll bounce that idea around here and see what others think. I got the idea for the current icon from Salling Clicker. Both icons are roughly the same size, though I understand the space crunch when it comes to the menu bar.