New Apple TV 4K Remote!!!

[chrisf60647]

Good overview

 

[JoeShades]

Much better remote, this should please ATV users.

People will always find something to complain about

 

[jbachandouris]

I wonder if that < button works like the circle arrow that goes back 10 seconds.

 

[KittyKatta]

i agree with 90% of what you say. Especially the aesthetics. And I believe what you posted earlier about this Apple TV having been developed 2 years ago. It just makes too much sense for that not to be true.

but what I think you left out is this new Siri Remote is less dependent on the touchpad. Because that wheel on the new one is clicky. Have you tried clicking in the edge of the old touchpad? It usually doesn’t work right. I’m assuming that now that the new remote is clicky, it’ll work right.

That was one of the two innovations I was looking for. Less dependent on the touchpad. And the other one was Find My, which Ikve already gone over too extensively.

I agree, the wheel will be a big deal IF it works. But what makes me still skeptical is that in the past I’ve paired my old 3rd gen remote to the 4th gen and even with a dedicated D-pad many of the navigation/skimming/skipping issues still occurred. So, as much as we blame the touchpad, I think the OS itself deserves some finger pointing for a lot of these problems.

Wow! Thanks for this. Watching the event, the remote seemed so much bigger. Maybe the actor had tiny hands? 😆

Yeah, that looks like a child’s hand. I do wonder what the general public feels about remotes though. Do they actually prefer larger ergonomic remotes or do they like these thinner cutesy remotes. (Or is it yet another case where product packaging is influencing what they put in the box.)

 

[Rigby]

I wonder if that < button works like the circle arrow that goes back 10 seconds.

Most likely it's the former "Menu" button with a new icon.

 

[-Gonzo-]

I wonder if that < button works like the circle arrow that goes back 10 seconds.

It’s the back button, which is exactly the same button and functionality as the existing menu button on the current Siri Remote.

 

[dugbug]

I wonder if that < button works like the circle arrow that goes back 10 seconds.

in the current remote (Im sure you know this) you rest your thumb on the left side of the pad and when the back-15-seconds icon appears you click.

Im thinking they just use the new directional button in a similar way. Not as good as a dedicated button but better.

The '<' icon on the main button is for 'back' (like menu does now)

 

[2010mini]

Turn on yes, turn off = different story (different remote)

CEC turns on and off connected devices

 

[2010mini]

Turn on yes, turn off = different story (different remote)

CEC turns on and off connected devices

 

[subjonas]

Personally, I feel like it looks like a sloppy mix of the old slippery silver remote and the current flat edge aesthetics. Its an improvement but it doesnt actually solve any of the existing problems (ergonomics, couchability) or offer new features (find my, programmable buttons, gaming).

I‘m not saying any of this is “bad”, I’m just pointing out that this long delayed product would’ve been considered an incremental update in 2019. So in 2021, when AppleTV is now a standard channel on many TV’s and boxes, then its tough to say this $200 box is the revolutionary AppleTV upgrade that we’ve been waiting for.

I was just curious about your take on the aesthetics, but as far the function, the new design and features do solve or address (by the looks of it, we’ll see how well it works in hand) the problems I have with the current remote, namely touch pad-only navigation, and frequently holding it the wrong way due to the almost perfect symmetry. The new click wheel should solve this adequately if not ideally. As far as ergonomics and losing the remote in between couch cushions and in the dark, etc., the ~50% increase in volume and the return to silver color may end up helping significantly enough, I’ll have to see. I wasn’t pining for the added mute and power buttons but those were very nice surprises. I also wasn’t pining for Find My but it would have been nice. Perhaps it was a missed opportunity or perhaps Apple excluded it on purpose to keep cost down or to get more airtag sales. In any case, if I really end up wanting it (I probably won’t since I haven’t felt the need so far), at least I know I can always buy an airtag for it and there will likely be third party cases that will accommodate the airtag. A case may also improve ergonomics and make the remote harder to lose in the first place. The downside is of course added cost and hassle to buy, and a case may end up being uglier. I don’t have a need for programmable buttons myself; also I don’t know if most tv remotes have that function (other than maybe a few buttons dedicated to open streaming services, which Siri can do). That seems more like a function common in universal remotes. No opinions about gaming as I have no experience with that.
As far as the set top unit, I agree it’s a very incremental upgrade. It really has no appeal for me beyond my first gen 4K ATV.