On the apple TV remote, I have realized that the two buttons have a different physical design. The menu button goes invward (convex) and the play/pause one is flatter/goes more outward.

I tried to figure out why with my common sense, but failed. Does someone know?



Question: 1/4 to 1/8 jack problem
Answer: 
  when I plug the cable almost halfway of the adapter's body I can hear sound when I play


Sounds like (haw!) a mono-to-stereo problem. Look at the 1/4 inch plug. How many parts? The tip connector and the sleeve right behind the tip? Now look at the 1/8 inch plug. Two sleeves?

If yes, you are shorting out one of the channels. Go back to the shop and look for a 1/4 mono to 1/8 stereo adapter, preferably with a short cord to take the load off the laptop's input.