How can I use an Apple remote control with customized actions without having the button actions happen?

Solution 1:

Remote Buddy will allow you do to this (plus a whole lot more if you wish). You can customise a range of actions for each application and assign these to the Apple remote buttons (this includes both press and press-and-hold). You can also define your own custom actions if the built-in ones don't suit. Nothing came close for me in terms of flexibility and ease of use - I tried both Mira and Sofa Control before settling on RB.

Personally, I use this to control my XBMC media centre with a range of custom button-presses and use the launch menu to start it up. It works with the white plastic remote too, I've just got the aluminium one thats shown in the screenshot.

Solution 2:

_{I've been looking for a solution to this for a long time everywhere. That is discussions.apple.com, various popular technology websites and mac forums. The only real solution that I've seen is a piece of software by Twisted Melon.}

Mira: Remote Control any Mac

This applications rests in the system preferences and customizes the apple remote buttons on a per-app basis. You can download and try the software from their website.