3rd Party Control API - AirControl (beta)

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AirControl allows the Apple TV to be integrated with controller systems from Crestron or Control4 for IR-free control of the Apple TV. The included companion app can also be used to control the Apple TV from a Mac, no remote required. 

Note: AirControl requires Apple TV 4.4.4 or later.


Apps Using AirControl

AirControl for Mac (FireCore) - Access all AirControl features, including advanced controls and full now playing info, from a Mac. [Free]

Control4 (diamond design) - Integration for Control4 system. [$39.99]

Philips Pronto (ProntoProjects) - Integration for Philips Pronto remote controls [$25]

ATV Remote (McComber Development) - Android app [$0.99]

Web controller (Ian Redden) - HTML/web [Free]

Web controller 2 (Ted Slesinski) - HTML/web [Free]

Roomie Remote (Roomie Remote, Inc) - iOS app [$9.99]

Are you building something to use with AirControl? Tell us.


Control API

The HTTP transport can be used by third-party applications which can access the Apple TV (with AirControl installed) using the HTTP protocol. Third-party applications can send commands to the Apple TV by sending HTTP requests as described below.

URL Format

http://<Apple-TV-or-IP-Address>/<Action>=<Value>
 

Available Remote Commands

<Action> = remoteAction

  • Menu = 1
  • Menu Hold = 2
  • Arrow Up = 3
  • Arrow Down = 4
  • Select = 5
  • Arrow Left = 6
  • Arrow Right = 7
  • Play/Pause = 10
  • Pause = 15
  • Play = 16
  • Stop = 17
  • Fast Forward = 18
  • Rewind = 19
  • Chapter Skip Forward = 20
  • Chapter Skip Backwards = 21
  • List/Select Hold = 22

Example

To send a 'Menu' command to the Apple TV you would use the following URL

http://apple-tv.local/remoteAction=1

 Now Playing API

AirControl also provides a simple API for retrieving information about the video or song that is currently playing on the Apple TV.

Results URL

http://apple-tv.local/npx

Results are provided in standard XML format. A few examples are below.

Movie via iTunes

<nowplaying>
        <name>Natural Born Killers</name>
	<copyright>© 1994 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.</copyright>
	<type>movie</type>
	<studio>Warner Bros.</studio>
	<genre>Action & Adventure</genre>
	<released>1994-08-26</released>
	<credits>
		<cast>
			<person job="Producer" name="Jane Hamsher" />
			<person job="Producer" name="Clayton Townsend" />
			<person job="Producer" name="Don Murphy" />
			<person job="Director" name="Oliver Stone" />
			<person job="Actor" name="Woody Harrelson" />
			<person job="Actor" name="Juliette Lewis" />
			<person job="Actor" name="Robert Downey Jr." />
			<person job="Actor" name="Tommy Lee Jones" />
			<person job="Actor" name="Tom Sizemore" />
			<person job="Screenwriter" name="David Veloz" />
			<person job="Screenwriter" name="Oliver Stone" />
		</cast>
	</credits>
	<coverArtURL>http://a3.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/012/Video/5a/52/06/mzl.wzegqraj.400x400-75.jpg</coverArtURL>
	<certification>R</certification>
	<overview>Oscar-nominees Woody Harrelson ("The People Vs. Larry Flynt," "Wag the Dog"), Juliette Lewis ("From Dusk Till Dawn," "Strange Days") and Robert Downey, Jr. ("Wonder Boys," "Bowfinger"), Academy Award-winner Tommy Lee Jones (the "Men in Black" movies, "Space Cowboys") and an all-star cast are featured in director Oliver Stone's ("Any Given Sunday," "Nixon," "JFK") gripping and satirical look at violence, murder and the American media, from a story by Oscar-winner Quentin Tarantino ("Jackie Brown," "Pulp Fiction"), as told through the eyes of two of the most terrifying, relentless, cold-blooded (and popular) mass murderers imaginable. Co-starring Golden Globe-nominee Tom Sizemore ("Black Hawk Down," "Red Planet") and comedian Rodney Dangerfield ("Little Nicky," "Back to School") in a chillingly serious role. Time Magazine calls this film "explosive... delirious, daredevil fun." Newsweek says it's "flabbergasting, funny, enlightening, brilliantly nightmarish.</overview>
	<runtime>118</runtime>
</nowplaying>

 

Movie via Media Player

<nowplaying>
        <name>The Ides of March</name>
	<backDropURL>http://cf2.imgobject.com/t/p/w1280/fWy4ATlV8T3mYKicihloXfBeVAd.jpg</backDropURL>
	<type>video</type>
	<genre>Drama, Thriller</genre>
	<tagline>Ambition seduces. Power corrupts.</tagline>
	<released>2011-10-07</released>
	<credits>
		<cast>
			<person job="Actor" name="George Clooney" />
			<person job="Actor" name="Ryan Gosling" />
			<person job="Actor" name="Evan Rachel Wood" />
			<person job="Actor" name="Marisa Tomei" />
			<person job="Actor" name="Paul Giamatti" />
			<person job="Actor" name="Philip Seymour Hoffman" />
			<person job="Actor" name="Jeffrey Wright" />
			<person job="Director" name="George Clooney" />
			<person job="Producer" name="Grant Heslov" />
			<person job="Producer" name="Leonardo DiCaprio" />
		</cast>
	</credits>
	<coverArtURL>http://cf2.imgobject.com/t/p/w342/ncAdjHs58NhPWkwZRtqd9nXzBg4.jpg</coverArtURL>
	<certification>R</certification>
	<overview>An idealistic staffer for a newbie presidential candidate gets a crash course on dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail. Based on the play by Beau Willimon.</overview>
	<runtime>101</runtime>
</nowplaying>

 

Music via Media Player

<nowplaying>
	<name>L.E.S.</name>
	<album>Unknown</album>
	<artist>Childish Gambino</artist>
	<overview>Donald McKinley Glover (born September 25, 1983) is an American actor, writer, comedian, musician and rapper. Glover first came to attention for his work in the sketch group Derrick Comedy and is best known for his role as community college student Troy Barnes on the NBC comedy series Community.   Glover was born on Edwards Air Force Base, California, and raised in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He graduated from New York University with a degree in Dramatic Writing in 2006. Glover is known for his work on the NBC show Community alongside Joel McHale and Chevy Chase.</overview>
	<type>Song</type>
	<coverArtURL>http://cdn.last.fm/depth/catalogue/noimage/cover_large.gif</coverArtURL>
</nowplaying>

 

TV Show via Netflix

<nowplaying>
	<name>My Morning Straight Jacket</name>
	<released>Released 2010</released>
	<runtime>21 minutes</runtime>
	<certification>TV-14</certification>
	<type>Streaming video</type>
	<coverArtURL>http://cdn-0.nflximg.com/en_us/boxshots/ghd/70143809.jpg</coverArtURL>
	<overview>When Hayley goes to a My Morning Jacket concert against Stan's wishes, he crashes the show to bring her back home.</overview>
	<tagline>American Dad!: Season 5</tagline>
</nowplaying>
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