AppleTV one-way IP driver available for purchase, 2-way control coming soon

November 29, 2009

Extra Vegetables is offering up a tasty solution to AppleTV control.Â From their website:

The Apple TV is a great product to use in a Control4 installation especially when the client has a collection of iTunes purchased music.Â It’s movie and TV show on demand feature is incredibly popular too.

Up to now you have only been able to control the Apple TV via IR with a bug stuck to the front of the device.Â Given that the Apple TV is designed to run hot these tend to fall off.Â That’s bad news all round.

We want to deliver fully integrated systems – which means choosing the music from the Apple TV from the Control4 touchscreens and TV display.Â Again that’s not been possible – but we are working on it.

Apple TV – IR Bug Control4 Driverworks Driver -Â contact your dealerÂ for pricing
Now released a simple driver that allows you to control the Apple TV over an IP network connection.Â It provides the same level of control as the standard Apple TV remote but with a couple of extras

The ‘Context Menu’ is available on the Info button
You can skip chapters and fast forward and rewind in movie content
With the standard IR driver when a second room selects the Apple TV the Play/Pause key is sent which causes whatever is playing to pause – this does not happen with the IP version.

Please note no feedback from the Apple TV is provided with this driver.

It saves the cost of the IR bug, frees up an IR port on the controller and prevents call backs when the IR bug falls off the front.

Apple TV – Full Two Way Control Control4 Driverworks Driver

In development is the full two-way driver for the Apple TV.Â This will allow you to choose music from your Apple TV from any of the Control4 interfaces.

The release candidate for this product is in final testing.Â It is expected to be launched on 1 December.Â We will be offering a special introductory price on this driver and you will also be able to upgrade the 1 way driver too!