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Hands-On With Salt's Apple TV Remote Replacement
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Weird. The Siri remote works great for me. In fact, I don't think I've ever had a remote I prefer. It's small, smooth, works great with voice, it's simple. I don't get what people don't like about it. I hope apple leaves it just like it its.
I'd like to know how MR got, or anyone else in the U.S., can get their hands on one.
I participated in the DTVN hardware beta with the Osprey box, and it has a fantastic remote, backlit with voice control, BT and IR.
It's ironic that the clowns at AT&T managed to spec a good remote to go with their Android TV box, but Apple couldn't with its box.
"Design is how it works."
I participated in the DTVN hardware beta with the Osprey box, and it has a fantastic remote, backlit with voice control, BT and IR.
It's ironic that the clowns at AT&T managed to spec a good remote to go with their Android TV box, but Apple couldn't with its box.
"Design is how it works."
I never understand why some people have an issue... works for me ALL the time. Echo works well... but depends on the device... The 5" show has terrible microphones but the basic Dot is awesome.
So I have to disagree with the dark thing once you know it the Ridges and dips on the buttons make it obvious... BUT could be a lot better.
The Mac Pro was awesome in 2013 and made me a ton of money. The fact they didn't update it wasn't
oh and calm down..you are going to blow a ****ing blood vessel.
Yeah, hahaha, there's some kind of mysterious vortex that sucks things into the spaces between the cushions ... remotes, popcorn, car keys ...
I don't think this remote is backlit, either. Is it? If I'm right, then it's not a good replacement. It doesn't offer voice control and it's not backlit, while offering more buttons (which makes it harder to memorize where the buttons are).
Personally, I don't think the current remote is bad. A lot of people hate on the touchpad (vs D-Pad) aspect, but the touchpad offers more functionality. The biggest problems with the current Apple TV remote are that it's hard to tell up from down when you're picking it up in the dark, and it's too slippery. Both of these issues are fixed via an aftermarket rubbery sleeve.
Adding a backlight would be nice, but would draw too much power from the little battery they put in it, so that would require making the remote larger (though I wouldn't object to that). And because it has so few buttons, it's not a big problem that it's not backlit, because the fewer buttons it has, the easier it is to memorize them. But adding some texture or different shapes/sizes to the buttons, might improve it a bit.
Someone commented that the remote is too small, and I do agree that Apple's obsession with making things slim/small is stupid, when applied to certain things in their lineup. Why does a remote need to be small/slim? Why does an iMac need to be slim? I'm not traveling with either of those. They also seem obsessed with making everything slippery, which is especially stupid when applied to the iPhones. The iPhones should be grippy and not easy to drop. If you've designed it so that it *requires* a case to make it less slippery, then you've designed it wrong.
Personally, I don't think the current remote is bad. A lot of people hate on the touchpad (vs D-Pad) aspect, but the touchpad offers more functionality. The biggest problems with the current Apple TV remote are that it's hard to tell up from down when you're picking it up in the dark, and it's too slippery. Both of these issues are fixed via an aftermarket rubbery sleeve.
Adding a backlight would be nice, but would draw too much power from the little battery they put in it, so that would require making the remote larger (though I wouldn't object to that). And because it has so few buttons, it's not a big problem that it's not backlit, because the fewer buttons it has, the easier it is to memorize them. But adding some texture or different shapes/sizes to the buttons, might improve it a bit.
Someone commented that the remote is too small, and I do agree that Apple's obsession with making things slim/small is stupid, when applied to certain things in their lineup. Why does a remote need to be small/slim? Why does an iMac need to be slim? I'm not traveling with either of those. They also seem obsessed with making everything slippery, which is especially stupid when applied to the iPhones. The iPhones should be grippy and not easy to drop. If you've designed it so that it *requires* a case to make it less slippery, then you've designed it wrong.
Yup. The silver remote from an ATV 3 is actually what I use with my ATV 4K, most of the time. But obviously there’s no volume control, nor can you turn the TV off with it.
The controls and UI on it are great, in my opinion - what Ive screwed up was forsaking ergonomics on the altar of elegance - he wanted it to be a lovely object without really caring about making it a useful tool (this from the same guy who was positively orgasmic about every new device being 2mm thinner than its predecessor, when no one outside of Apple cared). With a Griffin SurvivorPlay case on it (no longer manufactured, and the current crop of silicone cases aren't as good), it becomes a great remote. It would be useful to have a mute button on it (I don't need it but others do), but I don't want a dozen more buttons - with the current layout, I can find any particular control almost without thinking of it.
Within a month, the 'Siri remote' had been dropped and the screen hopelessly shattered.
I had gotten Applecare, and called Apple. Yeah, no, we do not cover the remote. 'Seriously? So there is another remote for the ATV that isn't as fragile?' Uh, no. Maybe get a case?
Griffin made The Best Case Ever for the ATV Remote, and they discontinued it!
I had gotten Applecare, and called Apple. Yeah, no, we do not cover the remote. 'Seriously? So there is another remote for the ATV that isn't as fragile?' Uh, no. Maybe get a case?
Griffin made The Best Case Ever for the ATV Remote, and they discontinued it!
It's TOO small (unless you have small hands, too), and TOO smooth (smooth edges and metal make it hard to grasp, especially in dry climates), and it's TOO simple. I'd imagine that Siri would be the same on a newly designed remote, so you'd still be happy there.
Using the tiny, over-sensitive trackpad on the current remote is an exercise in frustration. Maybe if Apple adjusted the sensitivity settings in the Apple TV even further so that "less sensitive" is really less sensitive.
This case is good:Within a month, the 'Siri remote' had been dropped and the screen hopelessly shattered.
I had gotten Applecare, and called Apple. Yeah, no, we do not cover the remote. 'Seriously? So there is another remote for the ATV that isn't as fragile?' Uh, no. Maybe get a case?
Griffin made The Best Case Ever for the ATV Remote, and they discontinued it!
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Of all the bad things about the Apple TV remote, the one I dislike the most is the absence of volume control. To adjust the volume I need to put down that remote and pick up another one, and since the gain on one thing I watch can be very different from that on another thing, even when streaming from the same source, that happens all too often.
The Apple TV 4K is a fantastic little set-top box that has an easy-to-use interface, an App Store, and options to watch all kinds of content, but there's one major flaw with the device - the Siri Remote.
Apple unveiled its Siri (or Apple TV) Remote with touch surface in 2015 alongside the fourth-generation Apple TV, and it's never been a particularly popular accessory. With that in mind, Swiss company Salt created an alternative Apple TV Remote, which we managed to get our hands on.
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Salt is a Swiss telecommunications company that offers the Apple TV 4K in a broadband TV bundle for its customers. There's no way to order this remote in the United States or countries other than Switzerland - it's designed only for Salt customers.
According to Salt, the Salt Remote was designed in close collaboration with Apple after the Salt TV customer base complained about the poor usability of the default remote that comes with the Apple TV.
Available for just under 20 Swiss francs, the Salt Remote looks more like a traditional remote than Apple's version, and it's made from a simple black plastic with buttons for controlling multiple functions.
It is designed to connect to the Apple TV out of the box and requires no pairing to set up. It's both wider and longer than the Siri Remote, so it's harder to lose, which is probably a good thing for most people given how easy it is to misplace the Siri Remote.
Unlike the Siri Remote, the Salt Remote has no touch interface on the front, offering buttons as an alternative. On the Siri Remote, the touch surface replaces directional arrows and there are limited physical buttons available.
Salt's remote features directional arrows for navigation purposes, volume controls, multiple media controls with play/pause, rewind, and fast forward, a mute button, a menu button, and a power button. All of the buttons are responsive and easy to use.
There is no microphone button for activating Siri because Siri is not an available Apple TV function on the Apple TV set-top boxes in Switzerland. Anyone who uses the current Apple TV remote with Siri for searching for content will definitely notice the lack of a Siri button.
There's also no Home button available on the Salt remote. On Apple's version, the Home button lets you get to the Home screen quickly and access the app switcher to close out apps or swap between apps. Holding down the menu button on the Salt Remote brings you to the Home screen of the Apple TV, but there's no way to replicate the other missing Home button functionality.
Given that this is an inexpensive remote option, it is powered with two triple A batteries that need to be replaced every six months on average, but that's a minor inconvenience.
All in all, the Salt Remote is clean, simple to use, and has no fiddly touch interface to deal with. Unfortunately, given that this is developed by a Swiss company, it is unlikely to come to the United States or other countries.
Apple may have allowed an alternative remote for one telecom, but it's doubtful that Apple would allow the Siri Remote to be replaced in all countries. It's possible that we could, however, see a new Siri Remote design at some point when Apple releases an updated Apple TV.
What do you think of the Salt Remote? Let us know in the comments.
Article Link: Hands-On With Salt's Apple TV Remote Replacement
Truth to tell, I've picked up a second-hand iPad Mini which I use instead of the remote that came with my box. The Remote app that Apple supplies through the Store has the nice extra feature of automatically bringing up a keyboard when needed. But the app also lacks volume control. Go figure.
If I do use the ATV remote, that's how I do it. I find it easier to wrangle with Siri than fiddle with the remote itself. As for people wondering why there's so much hate for that remote, it's one of the least intuitive designs I've ever seen from Apple. All the buttons are in the middle and without looking at it, the top and bottom are indistinguishable. There's not enough tactile feel to separate them (at least for my hands) and the ridge around the single button isn't enough of a clue. If the buttons were nearer the bottom, leaving a larger trackpad area, it would be easier to use IMO.
No Siri
Most TV remotes already work with Apple TV (but not Siri), so we're not missing anything that Salt is providing. Great point about closing out apps... Guess the perfect remote would be a taller version of the current Siri Remote with the old navigation keypad right below the touch pad.
I personally never use Siri. That remote looks better than apples worthless sliver of crap in every possible way.
Well we are having different experiences.
In my case two common functions (scrubbing and 10 second skip) are both extraordinarily unreliable (maybe 90% unreliable). Also, simple navigational directions are somewhat unreliable (maybe 30% or so). It might be poor bluetooth reception, but I'm a fairly typical couch distance away (about 6-8 feet).
I use my iPhone and the remote app. Easy to see and use. But like the remote, would rather have arrow buttons then the swipe. The swipe a bit too sensitive. The point, hardly use the Apple remote.
You think the disdain for this remote is limited to a couple dozen people? The thing is objectively a piece of garbage. It’s entirely disproportionate to the human hand, which is, as far as I can tell, is the only part of human anatomy with which it was intended to be used.A couple dozen or even a couple hundred complainers isn’t really that much hate. It’s completely normal and to be expected here on MR forums
