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DarwiinRemote - AWiimote Frontend for OSX

jeckil writes "DarwiinRemote is a tiny piece of software which reads data from and sends data to Nintendo Wii Remote. It detects all 3 axis sensors, all buttons (except power). You can modify which controller LED indicator is on, and send force feedback. Right now it only supports a basic front row control scheme but they should be releasing a better version in a few days. All the source code is available and compatible with latest version of xcode. One can only wonder ... If the latest apple rumor turns out to be true, things could get very interesting for apple. Someone has already released a modified version of this app. It seems there have been some problems detecting the remote so an alternate version that uses the Wiimote's sync button has been released."

18 of 74 comments (clear)

  1. WiinRemote by Phroggy · · Score: 3, Informative

    I can't read Japanese, but it looks like WiinRemote is a similar app for Windows; this page is linked from the DarwiinRemote page.

    --
    $x='S24;r)>63/* h@<5+oZ)32"5cz';$me='phroggy'x$];
    $x=~y+ -xz+\0-Tx+;print$_^chop$me for split'',$x;
    1. Re:WiinRemote by KingJoshi · · Score: 4, Informative
      --
      In times like these, it is helpful to remember that there have always been times like these. - Paul Harvey
    2. Re:WiinRemote by tarun713 · · Score: 2, Informative

      The guys over at wiili.org have a windows "driver" posted using an input emulator. There is also a python script linked to that can be used for linux input.

  2. A cheap slideshow presenter's tool? by lpangelrob · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Typical slideshow presenters: $56.00.

    Wii Remote: $29.95

    All that you're missing is a laser pointer, and the requisite freaking sharks.

    1. Re:A cheap slideshow presenter's tool? by RyoShin · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Who needs the laser pointer? Somehow integrate this software with the software being used to present the document, and suddenly your mouse turns into a pointing finger and moves with the Wiimote.

      Set it up so that - and + changes slides, and use the D-pad to control what type of pointer is being used- a hand, a grabber to draw a circle or square around an area, an underlining tool, or nothing. The A or B button controls turning that on and off.

  3. Pointer feature? by MindStalker · · Score: 2, Interesting

    What would be really great is the ability to use calibrate and use the pointing feature.
    Sure you'll need an IR source, but the ability to say, put an IR source on the floor and use a projection screen with a true pointer would be very very cool.

    1. Re:Pointer feature? by Kufat · · Score: 2, Informative

      No, it can send button presses and motion information, but not absolute position as determined by the IR camera. You can swing the remote to swing your sword in Zelda no matter where it's pointed, but you have to point it near the sensor bar to move the on-screen cursor.

  4. "Modified Version": IR based mouse movement by inio · · Score: 2, Informative

    Unfortunately the article doesn't say it, but the big deal about the "modified version" is support for sensor bar based mouse movement.

  5. Not implemented properly yet by 0x537461746943 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Notice that you don't point where you want to aim. You point the wii remote up and your aiming reticle starts going up. When to go back to level position the aiming reticle stops instead of returning to level point like the aiming portions of zelda. It seems to only use the tilt function without the triangulation to know what part of the screen you are pointing at for aiming which is useless to me because that is what makes the wii so easy to use. Point at the section of screen you want to aim at instead of just a regular joystick type aiming.

  6. 'scuse me for being a n00b... by TheSHAD0W · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...but can someone post some details on how to physically read the Wiimote from a PC or Mac? Is the controller connected via USB? (I don't own a Wii so I've no idea how things plug together.)

    1. Re:'scuse me for being a n00b... by Phisbut · · Score: 3, Informative
      ...but can someone post some details on how to physically read the Wiimote from a PC or Mac? Is the controller connected via USB? (I don't own a Wii so I've no idea how things plug together.)

      I might be wrong, but I do believe the Wiimote communicates with Bluetooth, so it's basically just a bluetooth device that your Mac or PC deals with, like a mouse or any other device.

      Ya gotta love standard interfaces when stuff like that happens :-)

      --
      After 3 days without programming, life becomes meaningless
      - The Tao of Programming
  7. GlovePie by Animaether · · Score: 2, Informative

    alternatively...
    http://carl.kenner.googlepages.com/glovepie

    I wonder why it's news when it's on a Mac :)

  8. Sensor Bar support in Linux by noretsa · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This hack is kinda limited in functionality since it uses only the tilt data for input as opposed to the pointer functionality. Although the site is hammered, someone has already supported this functionality in Linux as shown in this amazing demonstration. The functionality in that video is so good I can easily see people buying a wiimote without having the wii (although they would have to create their own LED bar).

  9. Re:Well by TheWoozle · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wow, what a bunch of humorless assholes. I was *kidding* FFS!

    I've used Apples since the II+, I own a MacBook Pro, and I love OS X.

    Jeez, some poeple around here are desperately in need of a blowjob!

    --
    Insisting on "correct" English is like saying that there is only one, definitive recipe for chili.
  10. Installed it and tried it out. . . My impressions. by n2art2 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Well, so I bit. I downloaded the app, and installed it on my laptop. It is still obviously a little buggy, but like their site says, once you get it to connect properly, it tends to stay that way. (but this took a number of program restarts)

    I don't have my IR bar accessable at the moment, so I haven't tested out the mouse functionality on it, but I'm pretty excited about it and will try it out when I get home. Just happened that today I have my wiimote at work, because I'm taking them over to a bud's house to night for a little bowling, tennis, and maybe some rabbit/carot action.

    This is great though, my only concern now is that you have to reconnect the remote upon any restart of the program. Not a biggy, but this seems like an ideal situation for connecting your PC to your flat screen TV with a VGA or DVI imput (which I have) and using front row on the TV controled with the IR bar from the attached wii, and just grabbin' a wiimote to use as well.

    --
    Self proclaimed wannabe geek. You know how it is. Most of us who read this stuff probably fit in that category.
  11. How? by Tarlus · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "If the latest apple rumor turns out to be true, things could get very interesting for apple."

    Not sure what Wiimote functionality on a Mac has to do with a possible gaming console made by Apple...

    Unless the console was running OSX at its core thus allowing use of this Wiimote utility. But then wouldn't that just be a Mac? In which case, why not just focus on a broader gaming market for Macs?

    But there is no way in hell that games for an Apple console/computer would be able to utilize the Wiimote out of the box unless Apple struck a huge deal with Nintendo.

    --
    /* No Comment */
  12. Re:Remotes movement by MustardMan · · Score: 2, Informative

    uh, huh? Since when to accelerometers only detect movement relative to gravity? Here, all along i've been thinking they sense... oh, I don't know... ACCELERATION?

    The real reason it doesn't detect anything when rotated is because the you're spinning about the axis of the sensor. If you rotate it instead about one end of the wiimote, it will detect the motion. Gravity has nothing to do with it.

  13. Aye, PC fanboi by LKM · · Score: 2, Interesting
    The only reason Macs don't have more viruses and trojans is because Macs are a niche market, and thus hardly targeted. Windows is everywhere, so it's targeted more.

    First of all, who cares? This has got nothing to do with the discussion. Even if you're right: Why should I care why there are no viruses? There are none, that's all that matters.

    Second, you're wrong. It's total bullshit. If there were few viruses, sure, the smaller market share would explain it. There were few viruses for pre-X Mac OS systems. There are few viruses for Linux. But none? Come on. There are lots of other reasons why Macs aren't targeted. First, Macs are - amongst themselves - less "monoculture" than Windows boxes. Almost all Windows users use IE and some kind of Microsoft mail application. Mac users? There are dozens of browsers and dozens of Mail clients, all with a frai market share. Second, Macs are just more secure. No auto-run on CDs, no open ports by default, no "Administrator" user with rights equal to that of a root account. Yes, the smaller market share is one reason. No, it's not "the only thing protecting me," and it's quite possibly not even the most important factor.