8.10 on macbook pro apple remote absolutely will not work

[malluen]

I recently did a clean install to 8.10. Everything is great except the apple remote. Im running 2.6.27-9-generic kernel so by my understanding I would have to use the lirc since appleir is reported to be non-functional some kernels ago.

Anyways I followed the guide from:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBookPro#Apple%20Remote%20Control

When I run lsusb:
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 05ac:8240 Apple, Inc. IR Receiver [build-in]
*amongst others*

I checked my syslog and found:
Dec 10 02:09:05 Igloo lircd-0.8.3[6886]: lircd(userspace) ready
Dec 10 02:09:31 Igloo lircd-0.8.3[6886]: accepted new client on /dev/lircd
Dec 10 02:09:31 Igloo lircd-0.8.3[6886]: initializing '/dev/usb/hiddev0'
Dec 10 02:09:45 Igloo lircd-0.8.3[6886]: removed client
Dec 10 02:09:45 Igloo lircd-0.8.3[6886]: closing '/dev/usb/hiddev0'

I suspect lirc is point to the wrong /dev/usb/hiddev
Where should I go from here?

[joka.]

If you're running the new MBP 5,1 then go here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBook%20Aluminum

Try to use this:
*Follow instructions at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBook%20Air%201%2C1%20and%20Intrepid. Don't follow the instructions under More HID disabling. This will tamper with the bluetooth to USB connection and might render your bluetooth peripherals unusable.

*Install the pacakge GNOME Infrared Remote Control Properties which supports the A1156 model:

sudo apt-get install gnome-lirc-properties

[malluen]

After trying the instructions on the MacbookAir wiki still no dice. I blacklisted the modules, and changed the bootup order in /etc/modules.
I followed the instructions given on the above link (without the more usbhid options as mentioned).

When I run gnome-lirc-properties my receiver is not auto-detected. I set the IR remote control to Apple A1156.

Note that I am running a Macbook pro core duo. Not a Core 2 duo and not sure if it matters but the apple remote is just out of the box (the cat enjoyed the last one) so whatever the newest version of the physical remote is.

Any other ideas, thoughts, comments?

[_alex_]

malluen,

I've not tried blacklisting, but it does work with disabling HID handling. Follow instructions here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBookAir1-1/Intrepid?action=show&redirect=MacBook+Air+1%2C1+and+Intrepid#IR%20Remot e%20Control

(As joka. mentions don't do "More HID disabling")

Note, that your device id might not be 0x8242, but 0x8240. You can find out which by running "lsusb" at the command line. After making these modifications, don't forget to update the ramdisk, run depmod and reboot.

The volume keys work out of the box, so you can test them to see if that did it.

[malluen]

It worked! I corrected the device id and play/pause, and volue up and down work. Thanks for the replies, now where would I start looking to bind my skip and next button?

My first guess would be to try xev to find the keycode and bind them via xmodmap. However I noticed that keys that already work dont necassarily give keycodes.
Any insights?

[_alex_]

The volume not changing is a bug if you have "PCM" set instead of "Master" in Sound Preferences. You can use the lirc daemon and a config file to bind the buttons based on the application that is running. See this to get started:
http://www.lirc.org/html/configure.html

I did submit a patch a while back that made the remote work with newer MBPs as well as remapped next/forward to work out of the box with media players. However the next/forward part of the patch was dropped (I premuse someone upstream wanted to keep the current mappings for whatever reason).

[cyberdork33]

Just for future reference, please use the information in the "Before you Post" link in my signature to properly determine the version identification and appropriate documentation for your specific Mac. If the instruction there does not work, please edit it to add information that got it working. Thanks!

[Nikos.Alexandris]

The volume not changing is a bug if you have "PCM" set instead of "Master" in Sound Preferences. You can use the lirc daemon and a config file to bind the buttons based on the application that is running. See this to get started:
http://www.lirc.org/html/configure.html

I did submit a patch a while back that made the remote work with newer MBPs as well as remapped next/forward to work out of the box with media players. However the next/forward part of the patch was dropped (I premuse someone upstream wanted to keep the current mappings for whatever reason).

This is (really) an old post. Yet I would like to ask if there are any news about the next/forward patch?
Thanks, Nikos