Apple TV Dev Tidbits: First Emulator Available, Old Remotes Work With New TV, Siri Remote Limited for Gaming

[zorinlynx]

aTV3 has never been jailbroken, so I doubt aTV4 will be. Apple figured out how to prevent it. I hope I'm wrong.

Actually, the ATV4 is a lot more likely to be jailbroken than the 3.

The ATV3 doesn't have any way to develop apps for it. The ATV4 does.

Once you have app development on the platform you have a lot of new ways to poke and prod and a lot more potential avenues to attack the system's security and jailbreak. ATV3 was mostly a closed box; heck the firmware would disable the USB port early in the boot process. ATV4 is a whole other world.

 

[rusty2192]

...or Apple recognized that some people use "one remote to rule them all" universal remotes and thus left the capability for them to not have to rely on 2 remotes. Good move IMO. Options are good... especially in the AV world.

Yep. That is my favorite feature of the current ATV. I use my LogitechHarmony for everything. I hate having to dig out the remote for the Fire TV anytime I want/need Prime video.

 

[redtapemedia]

Apple could reverse the decision, but how do they warn people to make sure they have a controller before buying the app? Could be a mess for them and making sure all games work with the Siri remote saves them some trouble.

Just require the user to purchase the game using a controller. Apple could even hide controller based games on the App Store if a controller isn't connected. They control the entire platform, it wouldn't be that difficult for them.

 

[Col4bin]

You do realize that the App Store rules still exist, and are not any less strict for tvOS than iOS right? There is no way an emulator will be allowed on the App Store.

My thought exactly.

 

[macfoxpro]

This forum is turning into The Attack Of The Whiney Asses. But, that's none of my business.

 

[4jasontv]

Is it weird that I turn off my TV when I'm not watching it? I'm not sure how motion control power buttons are very helpful unless it can also turn the TV on.

 

[akm3]

Downloaded, just in case. I hope a lot of apps that would NEVER EVER BE APPROVED BY APPLE (like this one) are publicly available for us to just put it on ourselves.

 

[balconycollapse]

I hope Taylor Swift or John Carmack make a big stink about the one button thing and Eddy Cue announces they're going to allow more buttons.

 

[TechZeke]

This forum is turning into The Attack Of The Whiney Asses. But, that's none of my business.

Don't look at me.

 

[patohi]

"So the gamepad situation is even more dire: you have dpad, accelerometer, and one button. They *really* need to revert that gamepad decision"


Ah yes, the first of many "what the heck is Apple doing?" Comments from many developers. Looks like the only way you'll get any decent Apple TV gaming experience will be by jailbreaking it...

 

[APlotdevice]

At first it baffled me why they bothered to keep the IR receiver, but then I remembered that people like their universal remotes.

 

[Seoras]

Facetime? Skype? I would love to be able to use the new Apple TV to answer calls and use for video chat on my TV.
Was hoping that micro USB on the rear could take a web cam and Apple would include FaceTime if detected.

 

[APlotdevice]

Facetime? Skype? I would love to be able to use the new Apple TV to answer calls and use for video chat on my TV.
Was hoping that micro USB on the rear could take a web cam and Apple would include FaceTime if detected.

I've been calling for this for ages. They could back-in the FaceTime app and just have it appear when a camera is connected.

Maybe that'll be a feature for the next AppleTV.

 

[Glassed Silver]

Remember that Xcode 7 lets anybody build & install any apps they want. You don't need an App Store, and you don't need to follow App Store rules. You can download, build & install the emulator linked right now from Github

You still need to pay for the Apple developer program though, because without that you won't build the application for actual hardware, but only the simulator.

Unless they have changed that, but I'd have yet to hear of that.

Glassed Silver:mac

 

[jdillings]

I'm glad the old remote works. Call me old fashioned but I think it's more of a hassle to say "Siri" this and "Siri" that.

 

[Rudy69]

You still need to pay for the Apple developer program though, because without that you won't build the application for actual hardware, but only the simulator.

Unless they have changed that, but I'd have yet to hear of that.

Glassed Silver:mac

That was changed with Xcode 7. Anyone can build for their own devices now

 

[garylapointe]

Apple is requiring the games work with their default controller. But are they allowing developers to use other third-party controllers?

A not perfect implementation on Apples doesn't mean it still won't sell.

Gary

 

[Glassed Silver]

That was changed with Xcode 7. Anyone can build for their own devices now

THANK GOD. FINALLY.

Thanks for the heads-up. This has been one of the most ridiculous restrictions ever.
Glad it's gone!
For once a REALLY good change decision coming out of Cupertino.

Glassed Silver:mac

 

[azajohns]

Am I understanding this right, all games MUST be fully controllable with the remote? I don't understand how games will be able to use a mfi controller? Does it mean most the buttons on a mfi controller will effectively do nothing at all? What's the point in even supporting them? How hard would it be to say "this game requires a controller" when you buy it? This is just such a dumbass move, we've just gone from potential console killer to useless novelty toy. It'll be like click-wheel gaming all over again.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

When your AppleTV is a $20 hdmi cable out of your MBP, there are no restrictions.

 

[verniesgarden]

I feel like this would be bad for users and the AppleTV reputation because not everyone will know that they should buy a controller to play it properly.

Apple could reverse the decision, but how do they warn people to make sure they have a controller before buying the app? Could be a mess for them and making sure all games work with the Siri remote saves them some trouble.

That being said, it means that games won't be all that great on AppleTV which is disappointing.

Have the app either show a prompt. Or just not allow it without a connected game pad. Simple solution.

 

[rdupuy 11]

I've got an Apple TV Dev Kit.

Yeah, I don't really have a point, just wanted to say that.

Got it today, not supposed to talk about it, apparently.

But I am writing an app for it - won't be game. Not supposed to talk about that either.

waaaah. I'm downloading providence, but if it doesn't work well with the remote - then I can't use it.

I'm not buying some kind of dedicated game controller.

 

[xmichaelp]

I hope the TV can be jailbroken for emulators. That's all I need from a gaming machine, not a fan of modern games.

 

[peterdevries]

I hope that remote can also switch tv channels otherwise it is pretty useless as a tv remote. I love the Apple TV but not every single thing I want to watch will be available on it.

 

[AxoNeuron]

The fact that it is $149 means it's dead on arrival. Sure, the Apple Faithful will buy it, but it will never become a truly global-scale product like Roku or the Chromecast. And really, it doesn't seem that revolutionary to me.

And now they're adding this pointless requirement. It seems like they almost want it to be a flop. Given this stupid decision, and the large amount of other astonishingly stupid decisions they've been making the last year or two, and it's really starting to seem to me like Apple is becoming a rudderless ship.