Hi guys, I've googled the heck out of this so please don't be too disparaging :P
I want to change the volume in video playback using my AppleRemote on PlexConnect thro an ATV3.
Now, I got this working fine on my mac mini running PlexHomeTheatre by changing audio settings to analog, and just like that the up/down buttons on the remote started controlling volume throughout. YAY. But it hasn't fixed the PlexConnect experience.
There is no analog audio setting in PlexConnect settings
There is nothing (that I can see) in PlexMediaServer settings that seems to help with this either
Remapping the remote keys is surely not possible on a non-jailbreak ATV3
Guys, this may sound like a silly request to some, but I have four TV's driven off an ATV3 throughout the house, and for each I currently have to use the TV remote for volume. With 3 kids, trust me when I say that finding that one remote is tough, but finding one of many Apple Remotes I have lying around is always doable.
I use a directv remote and learn the remote into my atv(s). The tv mode is programmed to my tv so when I press volume it controls the tv. Cheap and easy to do. I also use a harmony link with iOS devices to control one of my atv(s)/tv(s). Another of my atv(s)/tv(s) has no volume on the tv since it’s just a monitor so I airplay the audio to my airport express but sometimes there is a slight delay. Even if this was possible I don’t believe it would be worth the effort just using the silver remote since there is no real control on the silver remote. Get a cheap (or expensive) universal remote of some sort and learn it to the atv and program the tv, I don’t see how plexconnect needs to/could/should control the audio of the atv realistically when there are a lot better options available built right into iOS. Another benefit is you can setup advanced playback options when learning a remote in your atv(s) which I find quite useful compared to the limited silver remote as well as the ir transmitter is terrible on the silver remote compared to my cheap Dtv remote.
Actually, the Apple remote is surprisingly usable. Been using it for months on XBMC and only need to fire up an iOS app for text entries, as it has a long-hold features on each button so there as 2x as many buttons as it seems.
So yeah, still wanna get these apple remotes working on PlexConnect's volume...
Xbmc is completely different interface that isn’t as locked down as iOS I use it on devices that can actually handle xbmc typically so I can stream hd and use heavy xbmc skins (I’m not a stranger to xbmc by any means, I’m sure a lot of users in here have used it). While it would be nice there is certain constraints that plexconnect has to work with on aTV that xbmc doesn’t. Yes you can have xbmc on jb atv2s but they come with a hefty price tag, I have two myself with xbmc on them that when streaming hd content become unreliable and reboot constantly due to the low memory at a mere 256mb same with the plex app. A atv3 jb from what I can tell isn’t gonna happen anytime soon so I wouldn’t hold your breath and even if it was out would probably suffer the same issues. I have crashed my atv3s using the heavy plexconnect themes (skins) just by going back and forth in a list of channels. Unless apple releases a iOS update with in app volume control or someone jailbreaks the atv3 you are likely out of luck. The main reason is use plexconnect is because it runs by hijacking a native app and let’s iOS do the rest basically when streaming and I have had nearly no iOS crashing using the standard Ibaa github. So unless you plan on spending $100 on airport express’s on each Apple TV and airplaying your iOS systemwide volume to them to use your silver apple remote for volume control, waiting for a jb to install xbmc on ea atv3 that would likely crash ios, airplaying xbmc from a non atv iOS device (or other xbmc host) and installing xbmc remote (or other control) for xbmc volume control, I personally wouldn’t look for this as a optional feature via plexconnect anytime soon if ever. Also it’s iOS volume control you would be after not plexconnect again if iOS doesn’t have the feature or other apps plexconnect can’t tap into a feature that’s not there. The reason plexconnect can even run is because it’s hijacking (intercepting) another app and your plexconnect host becomes the hijacked apps file server. You can want it all you like but there is certain options that cannot be integrated with the iOS ecosystem unless it’s developed. I would love theme music when I enter tv shows but it’s something I can live without. Firetv on the other hand @ $100 each can run/sideload xbmc reliably, has a native plex app with theme music, destroys the atv2/3 when it comes to CPU and memory capacity and you can use xbmc and your shiny silver atv remote for volume control.
I'm actually LOVING the plex ecosystem having come from XBMC. Especially the integration with my iPad and iPhones which include channels! Wow!
So just to be 100% clear on my understanding of this volume issue:
- Mac Mini running PHT changes volume thro apple remote cos I set output to analog
- The ATV no longer (since v1) allows volume control (googled extensively to check noone has solved this at an ATV level)
- PlexConnect cannot bypass this ATV 'feature' as it's an exploit-level app, and thus abides by the ATV's standard funcitonlity
- Thus, I have 2 choices: ditch ATV, or get a learning remote. The latter is clearly the better option.
Thanks again dude.
To other users searching for this: read the above carefully. I've truly googled the heck out of this. LOADS of confusion cos people remember it working on ATV1, and on a jb ATV2 it can be remedied, but not not not on a ATV3.
I would think not due to the way iOS is setup, plus how would you modify iOS without working for apple on a aTV3 that’s still unjailbroken to this day? Even on a aTV2 jailbroken the way iOS is designed its highly unlikely you could make it like a Mac mini that is OSX. Only way is with a aTV1 that is a modified version of OSX. PlexConnect works with the aTV acting as a 3rd party vendor (app) does by hijacking an app and serving it files but it is still limited mainly due to iOS limitations.
