I seriously dislike the Siri remote.

[recoil80]

I think it is faster in every instance except one, very long list.

For example, when I go to the music app and browse my music by album (all 788) or by song (all 19,270) it is very annoying to have to continually swipe down over and over and over again. You can't just swipe down once and hold you finger at the bottom to scroll through a really long list. On the old remote you could just hold the button down and it would scroll through them really fast.

I wish they would change it so that after a swipe, if you don't move your finger and leave it on the touch surface, it would continue to scroll until you move your finger again.

Also, in the music app, I wish they would add away to jump between letters of the alphabet more quickly, like how the row of letters appears in the music app on the iPhone when you start scrolling.

I'd also like a fast scroll for very long lists of content.
It is a shame they didn't add force touch to the new remote. With force touch the scroll speed could be determined by the force applied during the swipe.
I hope this will be available on the remote app on the iPhone, if they'll ever release an updated version

 

[leesweet]

I'm confused by the 'movement' questions. On a phone you are using your fingers to move the screen. On a Mac or ATV you are moving the mouse pointer (equivalent) and that's what moves. (And that's how I have my Mac set up.)

Do you want a pointer (mouse/remote) to scroll the screen and not the 'pointer'? If that's the new paradigm for everything, it doesn't match the way PCs without touch screens have worked for years and years.

I know recent OS X have this set the other way for some reason, but it can be reversed there. Perhaps it will be a setting on the ATV also....

 

[Taco1933]

I've accidentally ff/rw several times with I picked up the remote. That's gong to get obnoxious.

 

[recoil80]

I'm confused by the 'movement' questions. On a phone you are using your fingers to move the screen. On a Mac or ATV you are moving the mouse pointer (equivalent) and that's what moves. (And that's how I have my Mac set up.)

Do you want a pointer (mouse/remote) to scroll the screen and not the 'pointer'? If that's the new paradigm for everything, it doesn't match the way PCs without touch screens have worked for years and years.

I know recent OS X have this set the other way for some reason, but it can be reversed there. Perhaps it will be a setting on the ATV also....

Sometimes I get confused too.
But the remote has to support both the scrolling of content, that is confusing us because we are used to move in the opposite direction, and the selection of buttons on the screen. They could give you the option to scroll in the opposite direction like you do on the iPhone, but you'd get confused when selecting a button or a character in the keyboard because in those cases you'd have to scroll in a different way.

 

[Justim]

3D Touch may be too soon.

I've accidentally ff/rw several times with I picked up the remote. That's gong to get obnoxious.

Right! If the movie (or whatever) didn't pause when you accidentally swipe, it would still be ok. Even if the scrubber still showed up.

 

[sb22]

I don't enjoy using the remote either. I tried on several apps, but my attempts on Crossy road proved it was pretty awful for that particular app.

 

[spinningblade]

The one function almost all remote controls have for any device is an on/off button. The fact that the Siri remote doesn't have one is a head-scratcher. And no, having to hold down the TV button for a few seconds, THEN clicking a Sleep button just to turn off the TV does not count. Apple is all about simplicity. Why does it take so many steps to power off a device that other remotes can do in one?

The layout of buttons is awkward. I am constantly accidentilly pressing the Siri button when I want to press the Menu button. When watching TV, I can't just pick up the remote and operate it while looking at the TV because the look and feel is symmetrical. I imagine many people will be squinting at the remote in the dark while watching a movie trying to figure which button is which. For $75 bucks or whatever the remote costs, I would think it would be backlit. A 20 dollar universal remote from Walgreens is even backlit.

 

[virginblue4]

I don't enjoy using the remote either. I tried on several apps, but my attempts on Crossy road proved it was pretty awful for that particular app.

I find the remote to be perfectly suited to games such as Crossy Road.

 

[spinningblade]

I enjoy it for games such as Crossy Road, JetPack JoyRide or anything else that is essentially any game that involves tapping one button.

The more complex games were a bit awkward to use. Some were very difficult. I also purchased a MFi 3rd party controller and these games played much better. Too bad Apple didn't include a game controller with the Apple TV so more developers would create games for it.

I tried using the gyroscope in the remote for games like Beat Sports. Felt like I was using the poor man's version of a Wii-mote.

 

[FoxD]

I hate to say it but I liked the old remote better, even though I mainly used my iPhone and Watch as the remote. Not anymore since no remote app support with new Apple TV.

The Siri remote is not accurate with movements in games IMO and the one click feels very unnatural. Not a fan so far and don't even get me started on Siri. It's a joke on the Apple TV.

 

[Rogifan]

I hate to say it but I liked the old remote better, even though I mainly used my iPhone and Watch as the remote. Not anymore since no remote app support with new Apple TV.

The Siri remote is not accurate with movements in games IMO and the one click feels very unnatural. Not a fan so far and don't even get me started on Siri. It's a joke on the Apple TV.

What does Siri have to do with the remote? All you're doing with the remote is pushing a button to activate it.

The one function almost all remote controls have for any device is an on/off button. The fact that the Siri remote doesn't have one is a head-scratcher. And no, having to hold down the TV button for a few seconds, THEN clicking a Sleep button just to turn off the TV does not count. Apple is all about simplicity. Why does it take so many steps to power off a device that other remotes can do in one?

Holding down the TV button and selecting sleep is so many steps? Really? You hold it down for one or two seconds and select sleep. What's not simple about that? I like that the Apple TV remote isn't like every other remote covered buttons for every little thing.

 

[norge]

What does Siri have to do with the remote? All you're doing with the remote is pushing a button to activate it.

No the remote contains also the two microphones, which record your voice.

 

[Che Castro]

I like the remote

When I first got it i thought the bottom was the trackpad because is smooth glass

 

[TheAppleFairy]

We have a house full of young kids. With the previous ATVs, we went through about one remote a month.

Seriously? My house isn't full of kids, I have a 2 and a 4 year old. I have a Harmony One and 2 ATVs (Gen2) in the house. Haven't gone through a single remote. Harmony One and the 2 ATV remotes all still working. The kids will get them sticky from time to time, but I clean it with a baby wipe.

I have had the Harmony One since January 2008 and the Apple TV remotes since 2010.

 

[akuma13]

I've grown to like the remote. I've gotten used to the unintentional ff/rewind searches. If I don't press the play button it does skip.

However the remote is slippery as hell. Is their some type of case to use with it?

 

[normanfox]

I did not expect much from touch remote in general. but after spending a couple days with Siri remote, It grows on me.
For simple home theater setup, it works great.

one thing I wish it has is the Sleep button. with Sleep button, it can replace 90% of my universal remote.

 

[Rogifan]

No the remote contains also the two microphones, which record your voice.

OK but if Siri can't search for certain things or give you back certain information that isn't because of the remote. The remote has nothing to do with Siri not being able to search Apple Music.

I did not expect much from touch remote in general. but after spending a couple days with Siri remote, It grows on me.
For simple home theater setup, it works great.

one thing I wish it has is the Sleep button. with Sleep button, it can replace 90% of my universal remote.

I have no problems with the remote. But on the ATP podcast all John Siracusa did was complain about it. Then again when do the ATP guys not complain about everything?

 

[bigcahuna12c]

How do you turn off the Apple TV? What is the difference between the menu and home buttons? There are a few others, but none are a big deal.

To turn off or put to sleep: Press & hold the home button & sleep menu will pop up.
Think of the menu button as the back button & the home button as a return to home.
Double click home button to pull up list of running apps & swipe up to close.
Double click menu to start screen saver

 

[bjdraw]

To turn off or put to sleep: Press & hold the home button & sleep menu will pop up.
Think of the menu button as the back button & the home button as a return to home.
Double click home button to pull up list of running apps & swipe up to close.
Double click menu to start screen saver

Sorry, I didn't intend to ask the questions, only point out that those functions weren't intuitive.

 

[2010mini]

The one function almost all remote controls have for any device is an on/off button. The fact that the Siri remote doesn't have one is a head-scratcher. And no, having to hold down the TV button for a few seconds, THEN clicking a Sleep button just to turn off the TV does not count. Apple is all about simplicity. Why does it take so many steps to power off a device that other remotes can do in one?

The layout of buttons is awkward. I am constantly accidentilly pressing the Siri button when I want to press the Menu button. When watching TV, I can't just pick up the remote and operate it while looking at the TV because the look and feel is symmetrical. I imagine many people will be squinting at the remote in the dark while watching a movie trying to figure which button is which. For $75 bucks or whatever the remote costs, I would think it would be backlit. A 20 dollar universal remote from Walgreens is even backlit.

Are your fingers that fat you touch the wrong button all the time?

Pro tip: the Siri button has a concave shape to differ from the Menu button.

The Siri remote was meant to be used by feel not with visual input. Hence no backlighting. I use it without looking all the time. My 6 year old has mastered using this remote after just a few times.

Wow no on/off button is a problem??? Holding down the TV button and confirming with a click is too much?!?? Really????

You do the same thing on your phone every day without complain.

 

[fpnc]

Yep, the more I use the Siri remote the more I dislike it. Other than the voice control (which currently can't do much) the general design and "feel" of the new Siri remote is a definite disappointment. I'm hoping that some things can be improved with software changes, but the size and shape, number of buttons and their placement, button sculpting (or lack thereof), and the functioning of the touch surface are all poor to middling.

I'm close to going back to the old remote that came with the previous generation Apple TV.

 

[mic j]

I'd also like a fast scroll for very long lists of content.
It is a shame they didn't add force touch to the new remote. With force touch the scroll speed could be determined by the force applied during the swipe.
I hope this will be available on the remote app on the iPhone, if they'll ever release an updated version

This. It's just useless for long lists. Try scrolling though 5000 tracks using a thumb swipe and you will need physical therapy by the time you're done.

 

[boltjames]

I've accidentally ff/rw several times with I picked up the remote. That's gong to get obnoxious.

+1

Same here. For those of us who reach for our remotes in the dark, any tap or swipe along the surface makes unexpected things happen on screen like FF or REW or PAUSE, it's the downside of an always-on touch surface. Saying "pass the remote" to your kids takes on a life of it's own.

BJ

 

[digitalm3]

Same here. For those of us who reach for our remotes in the dark, any tap or swipe along the surface makes unexpected things happen on screen like FF or REW or PAUSE, it's the downside of an always-on touch surface. Saying "pass the remote" to your kids takes on a life of it's own.

I think the new remote has many advantages over the old but this exact issue is driving me nuts. Having the buttons over lap the touch pad is extremely difficult to navigate in the dark. I'm always either pulling down menus or ff/rw when picking it up, it's 50-50 crap shoot that I have it upside down. I think a very subtle back light would help tremendously.

 

[Shark5150]

...and I don't know why!

Apple made the Siri remote seem like a game changer. With the high replacement price tag, I expected more.

Design: Images online make the remote look beautiful. But as soon as I took the remote out of the box, I couldn't take my eyes off the gap between the surface and the back. I was expecting the touch surface to be more like the iPhone or the new trackpad where it is flush against the back. There's a large diving board effect when you click the touch surface. This seems like a company without Apple's resources made it. It feels cheap.

Layout: The remote has an awkward feel to it. I'm not sure why. The buttons on the bottom seem more difficult to press. I don't quite understand the point of the menu and home button combination, when the home button is the functionality of a long press of the menu button. And why call it menu anymore? It's a back button. Also, why are the home and menu buttons located inside the touch surface? Is it purely for looks, or are there sensors located around those buttons? Moving them down and out of that area could have improved many functions of apps.

Responsiveness: I can't seem to get the feel for the touch surface. It's over sensitive in too many ways, even on the lightest setting. Tapping the edges moves the selection. Swiping moves the selection. Accidental touches are read at the highest degree.

Function: Other than the seemingly duplicated function of the menu button, the remote does function well. The best part of the remote are the microphones. Siri, however, has been a pain to deal with, especially on Hulu. For example, I asked "Play the newest episode of Once Upon a Time on Hulu" only to be given a search of titles that include 'Once upon a time'. When you click the title you want, it takes you to the search page and gives options for iTunes, Netflix, and lastly, Hulu. From there you are taken to the Once Upon a Time in the Hulu app where you have to manually select the episode you want. For Netflix, this function works.

This remote seems more of a hassle than a luxury.

I couldn't disagree more! But, hey, everyone has their own opinion and view. That's just mine. I love the new remote.