Submit Hint Search The Forums LinksStatsPollsHeadlinesRSS
14,000 hints and counting!

Logitech multimedia keys work with iTunes Apps
I realize this may have a (very) limited audience, but I recently discovered that the multimedia keys (volume up/down/mute, play/pause, stop, next track, prev track) on my Logitech keyboard can be used to control iTunes when used with the Logitech Control Center (their OS X driver suite). These keys work even when iTunes isn't the frontmost application.

I don't believe Logitech documents this anywhere and I discovered it by accident. At first I didn't think they did anything because it takes a moment or two (close to a second on my machine) for the keystroke to register back at the Mac. The volume keys affect the global sound level with no delay.

Specifics: iTunes 3.0, OS X 10.2, Logitech Control Center 1.02, Cordless Desktop Pro keyboard. I'm now on iTunes 3.0.1 & OS X 10.2.1 with no ill effects - no improvements either. I don't know what the mininum levels for this functionality would be.
    •    
  • Currently 3.25 / 5
  You rated: 2 / 5 (4 votes cast)
 
[7,440 views]  

Logitech multimedia keys work with iTunes | 5 comments | Create New Account
Click here to return to the 'Logitech multimedia keys work with iTunes' hint
The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
I wouldn't say
Authored by: mrgerbek on Sep 20, '02 11:23:00AM

I've been quite happy with the Logitech control center thing. I've had they keyboard for a year, and now it finally uses all those buttons. The default for most of the buttons is to use macos x defaults, like mail.app, Internet Explorer, iTunes, and such. Fortunately its easy to change all that.

The media controls for iTunes were the reason I started using iTunes again. They keyboard doesn't have the beautiful typing action that apple keyboards do, but it makes up for that with the scolling bar and stuff.



[ Reply to This | # ]
apple and option keys reversed
Authored by: DavidMaxWaterman on Oct 06, '02 06:12:44AM

Yeah, the logitech driver and keyboard is pretty nice. I've had one for a few months now.

The only complaint I have is that the apple(windows) and option keys are reversed on the keyboard, and when I swap between my apple keyboard and the logitech one, I keep hitting the wrong one.

It would be nice for the driver to have an option to soft-swap there keys...

Max.

PS. I think it's these two keys, but I don't have access to the logitech keyboard at the moment (on vacation and the keyboard are at home).



[ Reply to This | # ]
apple and option keys reversed
Authored by: mlm on Nov 17, '02 10:09:52AM

The keys are reversed until you install the Logitech Control Center, but with that installed they un-reverse.



[ Reply to This | # ]
apple and option keys reversed
Authored by: mlm on Nov 17, '02 10:14:10AM

P.S.: If you do have LCC installed and you still have the keys reversed, open LCC from your System Preferences and control click on the picture of the keyboard. It should present a menu that includes Keyboard Layout with a submenu giving you a choice between Windows and Mac. Make sure it's set to Mac.



[ Reply to This | # ]
Logitech multimedia keys work with iTunes
Authored by: slughead on Mar 29, '04 12:15:06AM

I didn't find this to work with OS X 10.3.x until the new LCC came out on the 17th of this month (March '04).

By the time I read (here) how to change those buttons to something that DID work, they released a fix.

They have also fixed a fatal crash bug that rarely effected me but versiontracker people were irate about.

---
http://lp.org -- that's all you need to know



[ Reply to This | # ]