Here's the Upcoming Apple TV 'Remote' App

[Braderunner]

I wish they'd bring back the ability in the app to scroll through your music library on the Apple TV. Somewhere along the line that function was removed. I liked having the option to choose and listen to music with the TV off. AirPlay works for streaming music from an iPad or iPhone, but it's not as smooth.

OMG YES!!!!! I miss the hell out of that too. I use to do the same thing. Leave the tv off.

 

[Waterndirt]

What about the functionality in the current remote app for controlling iTunes--will that be preserved? I'm actually really glad Remote hasn't received any updates, because I much prefer the way search works over the Music app. I don't use Apple TV.

It was my understanding that the Apple TV was quoted as the future, "center of the household". I too use my current Apple Remote App as my interface between my iTunes music library and 4 AirPlay zones. The original remote app allowed for control of the older version of iTunes with the first generation Apple Radio, etc. With the new version of Apple Remote and Apple Music, I no longer can adjust and distribute Apple Music, via iTunes, throughout my house without having to go to my iMac and change it from there. Its frustrating to say the least. Apple was ALL Music before it was TV, music made Apple into the multi billion dollar company it is today. I find it hard to believe that they don't understand the value of AirPlay and the limited control they have bestowed on us now.

 

[matrix07]

... to make it easier than ever to control a fourth-generation Apple TV with an iPhone.

I have no faith in Eddy Cue (iWorks) whatsoever to be able to do something like that.
Already I notice there's no microphone button on keyboard, so no dictation.

 

[Macwick]

It was my understanding that the Apple TV was quoted as the future, "center of the household". I too use my current Apple Remote App as my interface between my iTunes music library and 4 AirPlay zones. The original remote app allowed for control of the older version of iTunes with the first generation Apple Radio, etc. With the new version of Apple Remote and Apple Music, I no longer can adjust and distribute Apple Music, via iTunes, throughout my house without having to go to my iMac and change it from there. Its frustrating to say the least. Apple was ALL Music before it was TV, music made Apple into the multi billion dollar company it is today. I find it hard to believe that they don't understand the value of AirPlay and the limited control they have bestowed on us now.

I would be fine with ATV becoming the 'center of the household', if you could control an ATV remotely and use it to stream to multiple Airplay destinations. No sign of that though....

 

[s15119]

Great new FREE app to help control the amazing new Apple TV.

And all we hear are the negative nanny's.

This has become a depressing place to visit.

hint: apple owes you NOTHING. If you don't like their products, move on, there is too much value to life to be so miserable over so little.

 

[Karma*Police]

I don't understand what an iPhone remote brings to the table other than keyboard support.

Besides the occasional which way is up/down confusion, I honestly think the ATV4 remote is the best remote I've ever used. I can ff/rewind and navigate the interface with speed and precision that wasn't possible before.

There's also a lot of powerful features like clicking on the right/left side of the remote to ff/rewind by 10 seconds and tapping the top/left/right/bottom of the touchpad to use it like a D-pad.

 

[jermy4]

Perfect, this will work well with the new Apple TV 4th generation coming out at the end of October!

Oh wait, it's 2016. This is the app we should have had at launch. It's been fun paying Apple several thousand dollars to be a beta tester the past few years.

That's what I was thinking the whole time I was watching this video. This isn't that complicated, why didn't this get released with the Apple TV?
[doublepost=1467081455][/doublepost]

No volume button. So you need 2 remotes.
Steve wouldn't like that. And thats no joke.

It's not a software limitation but a hardware one. The iPhone doesn't have an ir blaster built into it like the Siri Remote does.

 

[x-evil-x]

I don't use the wrong side of the remote too much. The button in the left is concave and the volume button is one huge button on the right. Once you remember that you can go by feel.
Are they planning on updating the Apple Watch remote app?

 

[341328]

No volume button. So you need 2 remotes.
Steve wouldn't like that. And thats no joke.

Because Apple wants to save 10c per phone and not put in an IR blaster.

 

[CarlJ]

I'm happy with Apple 's decision to bring a back the remote app.

FWIW, I'd be pretty sure it's not so much a decision as item #93 on some checklist.
[doublepost=1467084774][/doublepost]

It's been fun paying Apple several thousand dollars to be a beta tester the past few years.

There's an easy fix for that - don't buy day-of-release. Wait for the reviews, then wait for the second wave of reviews. Then go try it in a store. Don't buy until you're satisfied it meets your needs/requirements.

 

[Carlanga]

I know this article is principally about the app, but the Apple Remote is too symmetrical.

How do you find the right end in the dark?

Perhaps I could have phrased that better...

You don't, you buy a case to fix it like I did 🙁 At least now there is an app in case you break your $70 remote.
[doublepost=1467085725][/doublepost]

No volume button. So you need 2 remotes.
Steve wouldn't like that. And thats no joke.

Its not the fault of the app that the hardware (iOS) doesn't have IR hardware.

 

[T5BRICK]

No volume button. So you need 2 remotes.
Steve wouldn't like that. And thats no joke.

Remember how the original and second gen AppleTV had a remote that could turn on the TV And adjust the volume? Steve obviously thought that function was so important that he insisted it was included.

Oh wait. None of the previous AppleTV revs were able to do this and you had to have at least one other remote to turn on the TV and adjust the volume.

I, and I'm guessing most other people, are tired of the "Steve wouldn't like that"/"Steve wouldn't have approved this" rhetoric. He made mistakes too. He's dead now. Let it go.

 

[lostngone]

I do not get the no volume thing either. The excuse that the iPhone can't control the TV because it doesn't have a IR diode is a cop-out.

1. They should have an option for a IR blaster accessory for the Apple TV. It has a usb port on it and they could make a killing on the dongle.
or.....
2. Just adjust the levels digitally on the audio leaving the Apple TV as a work around.

 

[T5BRICK]

I do not get the no volume thing either. The excuse that the iPhone can't control the TV because it doesn't have a IR diode is a cop-out.

I would never base my purchase on that single feature, but the IR blaster on my old HTC One was awful useful.

 

[CarlJ]

I do not get the no volume thing either. The excuse that the iPhone can't control the TV because it doesn't have a IR diode is a cop-out.

Wow, really? 😵 You know, they do make a special Siri Remote that works great with the Apple TV and controls the volume as well, right? In fact, they include one in the box with the Apple TV. Or you can have the Apple TV learn the volume up/down codes from pretty much any remote you care to point at it. Maybe they didn't do exactly everything you wanted, but it's hardly a cop-out.

 

[Runt888]

I do not get the no volume thing either. The excuse that the iPhone can't control the TV because it doesn't have a IR diode is a cop-out.

1. They should have an option for a IR blaster accessory for the Apple TV. It has a usb port on it and they could make a killing on the dongle.
or.....
2. Just adjust the levels digitally on the audio leaving the Apple TV as a work around.

3. At least make it work for people who use HDMI CEC to change volume.

 

[Soccertess]

Classic example of "form over function". It's like high heels...

I'm happy with Apple 's decision to bring a back the remote app.

You are right, form over functionality. For me, Apple use to be the masters of taking tech tools and making them beautiful. Very few have achieved design and technological excellence, and under Steve Apple did most of the time.

Under Tim Cook, Apple hasn't gotten it right. The remote is just another product that shows is in trouble. Personally, I think the remote is horrible, and I can't believe Timmy actually said it would be good to play games on! Applexit for tim?

 

[Zirel]

I know this article is principally about the app, but the Apple Remote is too symmetrical.

How do you find the right end in the dark?

Perhaps I could have phrased that better...

First world problems...

Seriously, you can find the orientation by the volume rocker. But only Steve Jobs would figure that out!

 

[naeS1Sean]

oh good. the "now playing" mode looks like the old apple music app layout before apple totally redesigned it from the ground up with
EXTRA LARGE FONTS

 

[Ploki]

It's not a software limitation but a hardware one. The iPhone doesn't have an ir blaster built into it like the Siri Remote does.

I'm pretty sure the volume control on Apple TV is software done. And even then if its not, you could very easily enable that in the software. Furthermore, it controls your TV via HDMI-CEC, which again, is software.

 

[Tech198]

I know this article is principally about the app, but the Apple Remote is too symmetrical.

How do you find the right end in the dark?

Perhaps I could have phrased that better...

Don't use it in the dark,, bad for your eyes 🙂

 

[allenvanhellen]

Why can't we have volume control when using AirPlay speakers with the AppleTV?
[doublepost=1467100112][/doublepost]

I'm pretty sure the volume control on Apple TV is software done. And even then if its not, you could very easily enable that in the software. Furthermore, it controls your TV via HDMI-CEC, which again, is software.

Only for compatible TVs.

 

[maverick98A]

Will it be compatible with the older Apple TVs?

 

[MDL-Steven]

Does this App work with my iOS7 iPhone 4 / iPHone 4S?

 

[ryanwarsaw]

Wow, really? 😵 You know, they do make a special Siri Remote that works great with the Apple TV and controls the volume as well, right? In fact, they include one in the box with the Apple TV. Or you can have the Apple TV learn the volume up/down codes from pretty much any remote you care to point at it. Maybe they didn't do exactly everything you wanted, but it's hardly a cop-out.

Yes,really. No volume control on a remote is sort of a big deal. The idea of a remote app is to be able to replace your existing remote. I think it will be a nice upgrade over what is there already but the lack of volume control makes it a much less elegant solution. I understand why it is like this however but was disappointed to read that this was the case. The volume button is basically the most commonly used feature on any remote used to control a television.

I suppose in the future with newer TV sets this might be fixed? I can't imagine adding an IR to the phone, just for this. First world problems...