How can I control iTunes with my laptop's media buttons?

September 30, 2006 6:38 PM

How can I control iTunes when it's not in focus with the media buttons on my Dell laptop?

I have a Dell laptop (Inspiron 6000, Windows XP Home), but I can't figure out how to control iTunes with these buttons when it's not in focus, meaning when I have it minimized or when I'm in some other program. The buttons I'm talking about are the ones on the front panel, separate from the keyboard. Seven buttons: Mute, Volume Up, Volume Down, Play/Pause, Forward, Backward, and Stop. When I'm in iTunes, Play+Pause/Forward/Backward/Stop all work fine. These media buttons control Windows Media Player when it's not in focus, so I assume this is possible somehow. Anyone figured this out? Thanks in advance!

posted by jroybal to technology (12 comments total)

Just a shot in the dark here, but is iTunes set as the default app for mp3 files? I've never used a Dell, but my Microsoft keyboard's media/internet buttons worked with iTunes and Firefox automagically on WIndows XP. No driver installs or configuration necessary.
posted by arto at 7:05 PM on September 30, 2006

Try this.
posted by chrominance at 7:13 PM on September 30, 2006

@arto: iTunes is set as the default MP3 player.
posted by jroybal at 7:16 PM on September 30, 2006

(Comments on the site I just link imply that iTunes 7 broke it. Consider yourself warned.)
posted by chrominance at 7:17 PM on September 30, 2006

Possible de-rail, for which I apologize: I was intrigued by this question...do you MeFites actually use the media/internet/other function buttons on your keyboards? I just bought a new PC and am wondering what advantage there is in having them.
posted by NYCinephile at 7:48 PM on September 30, 2006

I use them, and I would use them more if I could get the iTunes thing working. If I'm at my desk doing homework or something, it's convenient to have these buttons so I don't have to use the mouse. I use the keyboard as much as possible, as I don't like using the mouse anyway.
posted by jroybal at 7:58 PM on September 30, 2006

I've had the problem before (with the Fn media keys on my acer laptop) but I just discovered that on my desktop my logitech G15 successfully displays the artist/track info and the timestamp on the mini-lcd both with iTunes is up and down, and also the media keys seem to work all the time.

I know buying a new keyboard is probably not your prefered answer, but if you were going to get an external one anyway, it's something to keep in mind.
posted by tiamat at 8:14 PM on September 30, 2006

To clarify: I'm not looking into getting a new keyboard, I just want these laptop keys to function.
posted by jroybal at 8:16 PM on September 30, 2006

http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/55193#1450156

lol.
posted by ab3 at 8:29 AM on October 1, 2006

For me, installing Microsoft IntelliType did the trick. You have to choose a particular keyboard on that page to download the software, and after a touple of tries I settled on "Wireless Photo Keyboard" which grants access to all 8 keys on the front of my Dell. I am using Winamp instead of iTunes, however.
posted by idontlikewords at 7:50 PM on October 1, 2006

@jroybal: I thought this list of keyboard shortcuts might be useful to the community.

@idontlikewords: Did you install the Intellitype software on an MS keyboard, or one made by another manufacturer?
posted by NYCinephile at 3:16 PM on October 2, 2006

I'm running intellitype on my dell laptop, but the key inputs must be pretty universal. I can even map the Dell "MediaDirect" key to whatever app or function I want.
posted by idontlikewords at 6:08 PM on October 2, 2006