I don't know what Apple is thinking about removing one of the most useful accessories it has created for Macs. The Apple Remote is a must have for many users who want to control basic aspects of the Mac through this small remote control, in addition, the Sofa Control application greatly increases its possibilities.
When the white Apple Remote existed, some iMac had a magnetic area on its side to have the remote accessible, in addition, the remote came standard on each computer. Later, Apple removed that area dedicated to the remote control and stopped offering it as standard on its computers, charging for it in the configurator.
Now it turns out that MacBook Pros with Retina Display and iMac released in 2012 are also not compatible with the Apple Remote since Apple has decided to do without the IRDAs, an element that did not hurt anyone and whose price is ridiculous. In return, the user is affected by a decision that does not benefit him at all.
You may already know that the Apple Remote is not compatible with the latest iMac but the apple company never mentioned this point, what's more, this detail is discussed above on the remote control specification page.
In view of this movement, it wouldn't be surprising if the Mac Mini and MacBook Pros lost compatibility with the Apple Remote in the future, forcing the user to use less efficient and much more expensive alternative routes.
More information - Tip: put your Mac to sleep with the Apple Remote
My opinion is that Apple is promoting the use of the Remote application for iOS, from which you can control most of the multimedia functions of OS X and Apple TV, even combined (iTunes media playback on AppleTV by selecting them from iOS). Still, it is clear that the "mandito" was useful on Mac.
Look that I have an iPhone / iPad with the Remote application and in the end I always pull the Apple Remote, for me it is much faster and above all safer to lie on the bed or on the sofa.
I only use Remote for iOS when I'm in another room in the house because of the Wi-Fi issue. A shame about the Apple Remote.
apple wants us to exchange a 20 euro device for a 600 euro one like an iphone or ipad ... Apple remote is the most comfortable thing I have from apple ... and the Remote application does not work to control video players ...
It worked for me until I updated the system, a few days after buying it, so I don't know where the problem may be. My mac is from 2013, although I see that the link option does not appear in Security mode ... But before the update it worked perfectly ...