Apple Releases Firmware Update for Apple TV Siri Remote

[falkon-engine]

I like this remote much better than the original. I still can't believe how bad that thing was

 

[AstroRexaur]

Using my iPhone as a remote is more snappier than the remote itself!

 

[seek3r]

i was quite fine with the old remote. haven't used the new one. i'm sure it's fine, but I feel like it went backwards in a few regards. old remote looks like the the future version of the new one.

Adding the power button? the old remote was the future where the Home button turns it all on. And totally showed that the power button was redundant.

I still feel the mute button is mostly not needed in the streaming age where people are so much on-demand that can easily be paused. If I really had to add a mute button I would incorporated it into the current volume buttons and made that into a sort of rocker switch with a clickdown in the middle. I've seen this type of triple function button on other tv remotes like I believe Samsung's.

ADding the dpad instead of touchpad. ...it just feels like it just copying what everyone else is doing. Feels like MSFT instead of AAPL. NOt that I don't think the dpad wouldn't just fine or better in some situations. But touchpad was pretty good especially as Apple tweaked some software things. The biggest downside of the touchpad was the apps themselves where the developers obviously didn't make their app for the touchpad but instead just "ported" dpad movements over to the touchpad. And in those cases, the touchpad functionality is much worse. Thus I can see how Apple "gave up" on the touchpad. Everyone has a dpad.

Clickwheel scrolling on the new remote sounded cool but if apps don't use it then the same type of problem rears its head.

Apple really should have a team working with the 10 major streaming tv app developers to better use the apple tv/remote. On the other hand, they probably don't care to some degree because it makes using AppleTV+ feel that much better in comparison. And the more money they spend on ATV+ the more they don't care about crappy 3rd party tv streaming apps.

The great thing about the mute button is it can be mapped to anything, the receiver I have on the stereo I have hooked up to the TV in my living room is too old to do CEC (it doesnt even do HDMI, all my inputs run through the TV then optical to the stereo), so being able to map the mute button to the power for the receiver is awesome.

 

[bozzykid]

does it warns you now that the battery is low? Or it still dies every other day?

I charge mine once every 3-6 months and use it every day. There’s something seriously wrong with your remote if it is dying quickly.

 

[zachz]

i was quite fine with the old remote. haven't used the new one. i'm sure it's fine, but I feel like it went backwards in a few regards. old remote looks like the the future version of the new one.

Adding the power button? the old remote was the future where the Home button turns it all on. And totally showed that the power button was redundant.

I still feel the mute button is mostly not needed in the streaming age where people are so much on-demand that can easily be paused. If I really had to add a mute button I would incorporated it into the current volume buttons and made that into a sort of rocker switch with a clickdown in the middle. I've seen this type of triple function button on other tv remotes like I believe Samsung's.

ADding the dpad instead of touchpad. ...it just feels like it just copying what everyone else is doing. Feels like MSFT instead of AAPL. NOt that I don't think the dpad wouldn't just fine or better in some situations. But touchpad was pretty good especially as Apple tweaked some software things. The biggest downside of the touchpad was the apps themselves where the developers obviously didn't make their app for the touchpad but instead just "ported" dpad movements over to the touchpad. And in those cases, the touchpad functionality is much worse. Thus I can see how Apple "gave up" on the touchpad. Everyone has a dpad.

Clickwheel scrolling on the new remote sounded cool but if apps don't use it then the same type of problem rears its head.

Apple really should have a team working with the 10 major streaming tv app developers to better use the apple tv/remote. On the other hand, they probably don't care to some degree because it makes using AppleTV+ feel that much better in comparison. And the more money they spend on ATV+ the more they don't care about crappy 3rd party tv streaming apps.

I disagree with a few points. I have the new remote at home and the previous gen at work.

My internet comes with free basic channels (usually news and local stations) plus 5 premium channels we can pick, but it's only viewable through their streaming apps. When watching live TV it's nice to be able to mute as pausing causes it to glitch. Although I do agree the rocker switch would be better, my TV is Samsung and their volume control is way easier to use without looking.

The touchpad lags in a few apps I use and freezes/crashes the app so I have to use the D-pad. Even then sometimes I brush my thumb over it and it freezes.

Clickwheel scrolling I totally forgot about until now, so haven't tried it lol thank you for reminding me -- I guess the reasons I like the extra buttons are mainly "localized" since both issues are from my local ISP, although the extra buttons do save the app

 

[melapple]

How do you update it and how do you check the firmware version?

Scouring the internet I found this:
Navigate to settings, next go to remote and devices. In the next screen go to remote. You can click to check the firmware version it’s on but this next action must be done just by simply selecting the remote UI button (without clicking). Next, rapidly press the play/pause remote button 4 times. This forces the remote to update next time the Apple TV is idle. My remote firmware was at version 0x0060 when I did this last night before going to bed. This morning firmware version is 0x0070. The latest released

 

[Ditman]

Anybody have issues where the back button takes you back to the Home Screen even if several pages into Hulu or Netflix? Happens on both my fully updates boxes (current gen). Occurs maybe once every 15 or so days. Hoping this fixes it.

Im am having the same damn problem. It's so annoying because ut happens often. It appears to happen in every app I use. Let's just hope that this new update fixes this issue.

 

[TheOldChevy]

I find this remote much more usable than the previous one. The mini track-pad was useless, so imprecise. BTW, the only thing that I dislike in the remote is the residual "tracking" feature on the button and wheel. It generates unexpected moves.

Concerning the upgrade, I just hope it will improve the reliable interaction with the Receiver that is used to drive the room audio, even I suspect that the culprit is more the receiver than the AppleTV remote.

 

[Jim Lahey]

I wish Apple would offer an option to manually upgrade the remote firmware from device settings. My Apple TV is almost always fully powered off when not in use so will probably never update in day-to-day running.

Overall not impressed with ATV in recent years. Its Pro pricing is incongruous with its amateurish set of options. Particularly vis-à-vis digital bitstream passthrough (i.e. none). Ideal for the average Joe as a 'dumb' streaming box but pretty lame for anyone trying to use one to view 3rd party media in an even semi-enthusiast AVR home cinema setting.

Anyway that's another discussion for another day. Hopefully if I manage to get my remote updated it will no longer lag and disconnect almost daily...

 

[dz5b609]

does it warns you now that the battery is low? Or it still dies every other day?

There's something seriously wrong with your remote if it dies every other day I use it every day and have to charge it once every 6 months.

 

[Smooch]

I hope it fixes the inconsistent latency issues with it when using it to control the volume of stereo paired HomePods.

Not just the HomePods, it's the same with my 5.1 setup. The initial 10 minutes of watching there's like a weird delay that wears off after a while.

 

[Lounge Deluxe]

Scouring the internet I found this:
Navigate to settings, next go to remote and devices. In the next screen go to remote. You can click to check the firmware version it’s on but this next action must be done just by simply selecting the remote UI button (without clicking). Next, rapidly press the play/pause remote button 4 times. This forces the remote to update next time the Apple TV is idle. My remote firmware was at version 0x0060 when I did this last night before going to bed. This morning firmware version is 0x0070. The latest released

Thanks for these instructions to update the remote, however, what is the remote UI button?

 

[bigpoppa]

Plugging it into my MBP is what updated the firmware for me.

 

[melapple]

Thanks for these instructions to update the remote, however, what is the remote UI button?

The button in tvOS settings where it shows the battery icon…just to mean that it’s not any actual buttons on the remote.

 

[lemonad]

Has anyone else have problems with their remote on the clicking buttons left and right? my is making a weird noise with everyclick like somethings is sticking or worn out somehow? Can you open them up to clean?

 

[George Dawes]

I thought I’d get used to the new one but tbh it’s awful but in other ways , the touch pad is just as inaccurate as the previous gen plus for some max reason they moved the volume and pause buttons . It’s also got horribly hard edges on the sides.

I do agree the previous one was abysmal though. Worst remote ever

How hard can it be just to design a decent remote ? Backlit too ? With air tag built in …

Considering how much the thing costs …

Then again you can control it with your tv remote as long as the tv has hdmi cec

 

[Pezimak]

How do I update the firmware of the remote? I don't seem able to do so?

 

[IgiveyoutheFBI]

Poor design, I lost mine down the side of the sofa a couple of months ago, I need to remove the lining from the bottom of the sofa to retrieve it. Using an old one at the minute, maybe I should tie a block of wood to it like old Hotel keys

 

[filchermcurr]

Mine seems to get stuck when I click in a direction and it’ll just keep scrolling in that direction… annoying!

This drives me absolutely bonkers insane. It's also weirdly inconsistent. Some days clicking will advance 30 seconds (or however long) like God intended, other days it will lock scrolling and speed past everything before you can even register what's happening. The worst.

 

[TheOldChevy]

This drives me absolutely bonkers insane. It's also weirdly inconsistent. Some days clicking will advance 30 seconds (or however long) like God intended, other days it will lock scrolling and speed past everything before you can even register what's happening. The worst.

I had that with volume control. I recharged the remote and it was back to normal.

 

[GDF]

This remote is still bad. I much preferred the other one. I thought this would work better but using it for a year I've noticed a lot of situation where its just not well thought out.
Not to mentioned that the "click" feel seems off a bit.

Yeah - the click is absolutely horrible. Not something that Apple should have ever released.

 

[Taz Mangus]

How do I update the firmware of the remote? I don't seem able to do so?

Scouring the internet I found this:
Navigate to settings, next go to remote and devices. In the next screen go to remote. You can click to check the firmware version it’s on but this next action must be done just by simply selecting the remote UI button (without clicking). Next, rapidly press the play/pause remote button 4 times. This forces the remote to update next time the Apple TV is idle. My remote firmware was at version 0x0060 when I did this last night before going to bed. This morning firmware version is 0x0070. The latest released

Those instructions are for the previous Siri remote. The update for the new Siri remote happens by itself when the Apple TV and Siri remote are not being used. I checked and my Siri remote was updated overnight sometime.

 

[Taz Mangus]

After the update, the volume up/down work better but still not as good as the previous Siri remote.

 

[nerdo]

Hope they sort out the oversensitive center button / touch surface. Super annoying if you want to select but swipe allover the place instead.

 

[potentmf]

Everybody seems to be talking about the lag in controlling volume but I don’t have that air playing to a sonos arc.

The lag issue Indo have is overall considering how powerful the atv is there is considerable lag when going into an app or especially noticing when pressing back button. I usually end up pressing it 2-3 times because I think it didn’t work and then end up going back to the Home Screen. Really annoying.

I've had this issue since the last update especially using YouTube. I've had to shut everything off and turn it back on in order to see videos loading on YouTube home screen. This usually occurs if I pause or shut the TV off while watching a video.