Apple to Release New Apple TV Remote App for iOS With Full Siri Functionality in First Half of 2016

[npmacuser5]

My Apple TV should arrive today. Decided to get it a month earlier then originally planned. Taking Apple to task a bit now. What have you been doing for 5 years on the Apple TV? The whole thing from hardware to software seems thrown together at the last minute. Not your typical Apple product planning and rollout. In the end I am sure things will come together. Hope this is not a view into the new Apple, that would be disappointing. Just saying.

 

[KazKam]

Siri/Search on the new Apple TV is completely useless to me until it indexes/searches my Home Shared iTunes library of over 1,000 movies. 95% of the content I watch on the ATV is content I already own and have stored locally.

It seems ludicrous that if I ask it to play "Avengers", which is among my "Purchased" movies, Apple TV wants me to stream it over the internet rather than play it from the HD on my computer which is connected to the ATV. Apple is still under the delusion that everyone has fiber run to their homes and no data caps.

 

[mdelvecchio]

This new Apple TV Remote app should have been released with the Apple TV.

in a perfect world, sure. in reality, there are more moving pieces and constrictions than you can imagine. the same reason why when a major new OS release (OS X, Windows, whatever) is released, the next point-release is already in development -- there just isnt enough time to do everything at once.

it's a childish complaint.

 

[mdelvecchio]

Now Apple needs to improve Siri by a huge margin, because compared to Google Now it is not as good. Actually Siri got dumber since launch.

nonsense. please explain how its gotten dumber.

 

[mdelvecchio]

Sounds like your ready for a remote cover for the next one. A remote like this should come with a silicon cover that protects it from falls but still give the option of taking it off if you want. I know they are available 3rd party but they should be included.

including a case for everyone would increase the cost of the device. unneeded -- its impossible to break in my carpeted room. better to let you buy one if you need one. thats just common sense...

 

[mdelvecchio]

I am surprised they've kept Cue this long.

he's bringing in a billion in revenue. how about you?

 

[CaryMacGuy]

No reason that shouldn't happen...everything that the included remote can do, the iPhone can equally do...I was a little surprised that the app didn't allow for the cool 3D effects of the interface. Also for 6s and 6s Plus users, 3D touch could introduce some interesting possibilities in the Apple TV interface. Finally the iPhone could be used as another controller for gaming...and the larger iPhone is easier to grip and control than the included remote.

 

[gugy]

Good news, I miss the Remote App.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

This new Apple TV Remote app should have been released with the Apple TV.

Apple did not have time to tweak the remote app AND roll out the new "4". After all it was only about 3.5 years since they launched the "3". Give them a break. It's hard to roll out hardware that is very similar to the prior model AND modestly update app software in only 3.5 years.

 

[mdelvecchio]

How about enabling Siri on Apple TV to be used AT ALL in the first place, that would be a good start. Siri in english and russian works just fine on my iPhone, but Apple decided that since I live in the wrong country (Finland) according to them, they won't allow me to use it on Apple TV (so far).

you dont seem to understand why it doesnt. Siri on your iphone doesnt cover an entire catalog of movies, actors, and directors, which now all have to be translated for local pronunciation recognition -- because the way you say their names isnt the same way i say their names.

this stuff doesnt code itself.

 

[gugy]

I am surprised they've kept Cue this long.

I don't like his public persona ( he tries hard to look cool) but I think he is very professional and must be very good on what he does. Apple would not keep him otherwise.

 

[freediverx]

Cant believe the remote cost half of a new AppleTv.

That was probably by design. Nothing like a fragile, overpriced remote to crank up the revenue numbers for their next quarterly report.

 

[Aldaris]

I'm confident that this 4 Gen was created with the rumored streaming service in mind, as we found out yesterday, that is still a while if not completely out. Hence the rushed/inadequate launch.

I imagine the new Gen 5 is going to head in a completely different direction, being app specific, i.e. if you want your content bring it via an app/channel without any bundle plans. No where near consumer friendly but more al la carte.

Maybe the new app will coincide with the new Gen 5.

 

[Luis Mazza]

nonsense. please explain how its gotten dumber.

Nonsense because you maybe only use it to ask time or put a timer, but many inquiries don't work if you don't ask specifically the way Siri wants.

https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/comments/3vtwg5/honestly_all_the_little_things_like_this_that/

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Siri/Search on the new Apple TV is completely useless to me until it indexes/searches my Home Shared iTunes library of over 1,000 movies. 95% of the content I watch on the ATV is content I already own and have stored locally.

It seems ludicrous that if I ask it to play "Avengers", which is among my "Purchased" movies, Apple TV wants me to stream it over the internet rather than play it from the HD on my computer which is connected to the ATV. Apple is still under the delusion that everyone has fiber run to their homes and no data caps.

It's no longer about us consumers. It's about maximize profits. Apple can't make any money if we play our own (owned) media. They want us to rent & buy.

I still miss the first generation model. It was the only one that seemed to put our own media first. After that one, Apple seemed to shift their "just works" mentality to "just working" for Apple's accounting objectives.

Note: Not trolling. I've owned multiple TVs of every model (and plenty of other Apple stuff too). I just wish the sense of Corporate Apple did not seem to be getter stronger and stronger all the time.

 

[mxmgodin]

You'll also need accompanying infrastructure to handle a billion extra Siri queries each day.. And yeah, voice recognition isn't exactly "Hello World" level.

I doubt any voice recognition will be handled by the app itself. It's probably simply going to pass on the audio stream to the Apple TV, which is going to do the heavy work. That's probably how the current Siri Remote works too. And there won't be any extra Siri queries, it's just their source that's going to change (the Siri Remote, or the new app).

 

[69Mustang]

Make sure that you do that when you release your competing hardware. After all, how dare Apple not have everything ready to give you for free?

Most people tend to think as consumers. You know, because that's what we are. Release then fix/update is not consumer friendly; from Apple or any other company. It's not like people were expecting some exotic functionality like smell-o-vision. The remote app was a basic part of the functionality of the ATV3. Having the remote app ready for the release of the ATV4 was not an unreasonable expectation.

 

[Rogifan]

That was probably by design. Nothing like a fragile, overpriced remote to crank up the revenue numbers for their next quarterly report.

The many people are breaking their remotes? Wth are they doing with them??

 

[2457282]

Although I am cuban, I have not been the biggest fan of Eddy. However, it is nice to hear him validate something that I have been saying for a while. Namely that many people, the casual gamers, will use the Apple TV instead of buying PlayStation, XBOX or Wii. But I have gone further and stated that I believe those in between casual and hardcore are also migrating away from a dedicated game console. Even hardcore seem to be migrating to PCs. Bottom line, the hay days of consoles are coming to an end. Mind you, they will continue to be around, but as the iphone, ipad, and ATV eat into the bottom end and the PC on the upper end, the console is going to get squeezed into a niche. I gave them 5 years. that was about a year ago, so I am at 4. Let's say by 2020, dedicated consoles will be around but more of a niche thing than a mainstream thing.

 

[freediverx]

All the rumors said that this thing was delayed over and over again so apple can get it right, but so many things about it feel rushed. No Siri Apple Music at launch, no remote app compatibility at launch. No tv streaming service.

This is the 4th gen Apple TV, but it doesn't even feel like a first gen Apple product. It feels like something I bought on Kickstarter.

Pretty inexcusable from the largest company in the world.

I suspect that Apple has been having trouble attracting and retaining the best software developers. The core design team under Jony Ive has reportedly stayed with the company for ages, but they need an army of developers to keep up on the software side and developers will frequently career-hop in search of better pay and perks. It wouldn't surprise me if they're outsourcing much of their development work offshore to india.

 

[vreedy76]

Siri/Search on the new Apple TV is completely useless to me until it indexes/searches my Home Shared iTunes library of over 1,000 movies. 95% of the content I watch on the ATV is content I already own and have stored locally.

It seems ludicrous that if I ask it to play "Avengers", which is among my "Purchased" movies, Apple TV wants me to stream it over the internet rather than play it from the HD on my computer which is connected to the ATV. Apple is still under the delusion that everyone has fiber run to their homes and no data caps.

I hear you on that one. It would be nice to include my library in the search.

 

[kybldmstr]

Would I have to open the app to use Siri search though? Or can I just activate Siri on my lock screen and browser the TV?

 

[matrix07]

Apple did not have time to tweak the remote app AND roll out the new "4". After all it was only about 3.5 years since they launched the "3". Give them a break. It's hard to roll out hardware that is very similar to the prior model AND modestly update app software in only 3.5 years.

Yeah, because EVERYONE at Apple works on ATV and no something else or something bigger to worry about.

 

[freediverx]

That's the last thing i would do with Siri.......... and if you ment the App, I use it for pretty much everything, not just typing password.

I've never seen the appeal in using a smartphone app as a remote control. Sure, it can save the day if you've misplaced your regular remote. And again, it's the best solution on the rare ocassion when you need to type something.

But for general purpose use it's simply inefficient. A dedicated remote can be operated instantly and solely by touch. An app requires you to have your phone nearby, unlock it, search for and open the remote app, select the device to be controlled, and finally interact with it poorly since it's not as responsive as the dedicated remote.

What is so appealing about this?

 

[freediverx]

I'm confident that this 4 Gen was created with the rumored streaming service in mind, as we found out yesterday, that is still a while if not completely out. Hence the rushed/inadequate launch.

This "long awaited" tv service is another thing that baffles me. I cut the cord for a reason: to get away from all the crappy channels, commercials, and programming and focus only on the few channels and shows I like.

With Apple TV we have access to HBO, Showtime, Netflix, Hulu, PBS, and various other channels with premium, commercial-free content. Why on earth would anyone want - let alone pay $40/mo for - crappy networks like CBS, ABC, NBC, and FOX? On the rare occasion when a good show is on one of those channels, it can be better accessed, commercial-free, via other services.

This is yet another sign of Apple targeting the older baby boomer demographic, in sharp contrast to the younger audience they once catered to.