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Infrared Support on Non Windows Systems?
An anonymous reader asks: "So I've bought myself a brand spanking new dive computer to keep tabs on my dive profiles, decompression, and all the other fun things like that. Nifty! The dive shop owner assures me that it's Mac compatible; if the software isn't in the box, he'll get an appropriate disc from his supplier, and if he can't get the disc, he'll replace it with a model that does work. There's only one problem: the only connectivity it has is an infrared port. There is no Bluetooth, no USB and no Firewire...not that you'd expect any of that on something that's going to be submerged in salt water on a regular basis.
Is there a viable infrared option for the Mac? Although the support people haven't been able to tell me yet if it's Mac compatible or not, might something like the Belkin USB to Infrared Smartbeam work? Are drivers included in Mac OS X 10.3, or am I going to be SOL? Bluetooth is all very well and good, but it doesn't help you if the hardware you want to play with doesn't support it. What about Linux IRda support, for that matter -- just to make it cross platform?"
with more betterer goodness: Made4Mac product guide
I like microcars
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20030 72008542035
0 30 72008542035
and
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
Found this through a quick google: IRTrans. It's basically an IR transceiver with a USB interface. They say their software is Windows & Linux compatible, and open source. They have a number of different client programs available, so one might work on a mac. I found this site through a site for some software called iRed, which is a Mac program that can interface with this device, but alas, it isn't free. Good luck!
If you were a hot dog, and you were starving, would you eat yourself?
As for the Higoto adapter -- I actually emailed that company. They've informed me that the company they source the adapter from has changed the chipset, and that it isn't compatible with Mac OS X any more. :(
Lego Mindstorms uses an infrared transceiver. You can find Lego IR boxes in toystores anywhere in the world. They can be hacked into loving your Macintosh.
That leaves the second page. Going through methodically, and accessing every single URL mentioned on it, I removed all those that are in a language I do not understand, that do not have IrDA products that I can find relatively easily, and that do not state clearly and categorically that they support Macs on the product pages relating to their IrDA devices. That left me with just two companies: Alpha Smart and ZephIR. ZephIR's website doesn't have a working Store link; and their support information regarding OS compatibility was last updated in July 2000. Hardly a ringing endorsement.
Alpha Smart is therefore the only company left, by elimination. Checking their products reveals a couple of IR pods that may be useful. They say that they will work with Mac OS 8.6 or later. They do not say anything about Mac OS X. Given that OS X's architecture is so radically different to OS 9 and earlier's, I'm not about to buy without checking with them first.
So now I need to contact them, and ask them what's what with their IR pods. If they support Mac OS X, especially 10.3, great -- my problem's solved, at least inasmuch as hardware is concerned. If they don't, I'm back to square one. Every other page that is referenced on either of those aforementioned URLs either does not have anything remotely resembling what I want (ie: an IrDA device that hooks in via USB), or does not have a clear commitment to Mac OS X support. If you want to dispute that, put your money where your mouth is, and point to one -- just one -- website that disagrees with me. I'm not asking for a long list. Just one URL will do the trick just fine.
Because they're not IrDA!