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Eject DVDs with Keyspan Digital Media Remote Apps
I use my PowerBook as a poor man's DVD player and HDTV combination. To that end, I use the wonderful Keyspan DMR to control the DVD Player software from the couch. The only downfall of the DMR is the included remote's lack of an eject button.

I have, however, reprogrammed the remote's 'Toggle Application' button -- which is completely useless while watching DVDs -- to run an AppleScript I have written. This AppleScript will quit DVD Player and eject the DVD. I thought that other people using the DMR might want a way to eject DVDs, and so, would like to share the script. Here it is:
tell application "DVD Player"
  quit
end tell

tell application "Finder"
  set the_items to (items of the desktop whose kind is "volume")
  repeat with i from 1 to count of the_items
    if folder "VIDEO_TS" of item i of the_items exists then
      eject item i of the_items
    end if
  end repeat
end tell
I should think that the documentation included with the DMR should indicate how to program a button to run an AppleScript.

[robg adds: I haven't tested this one.]
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Eject DVDs with Keyspan Digital Media Remote | 6 comments | Create New Account
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Eject DVDs with Keyspan Digital Media Remote
Authored by: davedash on Mar 02, '05 12:35:21PM

I use my laptop as a movie viewer/dvd player for when I go to sleep, I use the * key to put the computer to sleep.

I'm not fluent enough in AppleScript, but I'd rather have it dim all the way, that way if the computer is doing somethign else, it can keep doing it.



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Eject DVDs with Keyspan Digital Media Remote
Authored by: sam_head on Mar 02, '05 03:37:09PM

I tried this out and it works perfectly. I had left that key to "toggle application" which only took me out of the DVD Player. This is so much better. Thanks!

While you're remapping the remote be sure to change the volume controls to:

Cmd-UpArrow w/Repeat for volume up and
Cmd-DownArrow w/Repeat for volume down.

This way the Keyspan's remote volume controls won't affect system volume, just the DVD Player volume.



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You're Welcome
Authored by: genericuser on Mar 02, '05 11:38:16PM

I'm glad the script worked out for you!

-Geoff

---
Bugmenot public account



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Eject DVDs with Keyspan Digital Media Remote
Authored by: EclecticMunk on Mar 03, '05 09:27:37AM

I have never understood eject buttons on remotes. I mean once you have ejected the DVD, you still have to get up off the couch to take it out of the machine or insert another one, so why not just push the eject button on the machine while you are up?



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An Eject Button Makes Sense
Authored by: genericuser on Mar 03, '05 03:24:24PM

Here is why an eject button on a remote makes sense: you can start the process of ejecting the DVD while you are on your way from the couch to the DVD player. That way, once you arrive at the DVD player, the disc is already ejected & sitting there waiting for you to put it away. It saves a little time and saves fumbling around in the dark (if you watch your movies with the lights low) looking for the eject button on the player itself. Neither of these are life-saving reasons for an eject button on the remote, rather they are simple conveniences.

-Geoff

---
Bugmenot public account



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Eject DVDs with Keyspan Digital Media Remote
Authored by: sam_head on Mar 03, '05 07:48:50PM

The room is darkened, my keyboard is tucked away, the couch is pulled out and the computer is in the closet on the other side of the room.

Push the eject button on the remote. Mac OS takes a little time to stop DVD Player and eject the DVD. I can either get up off the couch, go to the closet and get the DVD or just leave it. Either way I have quit DVD Player.

That is why this tip is so useful... to lazy old me.



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