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New Apple TV Remote has—for me—a fatal flaw: noisy clicky volume buttons

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forgetcolor

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 28, 2012
53
17
Just got the new Apple TV remote, excited to finally be rid of the horrific ultra-sensitive-but-never-does-what-you-want old one.

I got it all set up, including controlling the volume of my external speakers (yay!). But then as soon as I started watching, I realized that the buttons all make a quite audible click. While I don't want any audible click, it's not a big deal for most buttons. But for the volume, I make frequent adjustments. And now every one of those is punctuated with a click sound that everyone in the room can hear. WHY??? This is so dumb ... it's a *sound* control that makes its own sound at the moment you're trying to adjust it.

Sigh. I'm tired of Apple's recent fetish w/ audible clicks. Used to be I could make my MBP trackpad click silent. Now it has to have an (artificial) click sound. The volume buttons on the old Apple TV remote weren't loud enough I noticed. But now they are. They get all of this right with the iPhone -- why do they blow it everywhere else?
 
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I remember many many years ago, my father designed testing machines for a company, he found out then if the button or switch didn't make a sound or had some tactile response, the operators would just sit there press harder and harder.
I think it is human nature, Apple could have made the clicks less obtrusive. My Harmony remote does not make any sounds when buttons are pressed, sometimes I would like a positive response.
 
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I have to put my new remote within a few inches of my ear to hear the click. Not that big a deal for me. Certainly not a “fatal flaw” by any stretch of the imagination.
 
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This is an odd one. On first item: OP should have his hearing and related items checked (not intended as sarcasm, if OP is serious about this post, this should be checked). I suspect like many people I have a box of remotes that over the years I've collected. The ATV remote is something that makes a bit more sound when clicked versus the average remote I have -- but all of the "sounds" from all remote button presses is minor to the extreme.

The second item: The angry Apple "fetish" item? Makes the whole post seem a waste of time to read/respond to.
 
forgetcolor said:
Just got the new Apple TV remote, excited to finally be rid of the horrific ultra-sensitive-but-never-does-what-you-want old one.

I got it all set up, including controlling the volume of my external speakers (yay!). But then as soon as I started watching, I realized that the buttons all make a quite audible click. While I don't want any audible click, it's not a big deal for most buttons. But for the volume, I make frequent adjustments. And now every one of those is punctuated with a click sound that everyone in the room can hear. WHY??? This is so dumb ... it's a *sound* control that makes its own sound at the moment you're trying to adjust it.

Sigh. I'm tired of Apple's recent fetish w/ audible clicks. Used to be I could make my MBP trackpad click silent. Now it has to have an (artificial) click sound. The volume buttons on the old Apple TV remote weren't loud enough I noticed. But now they are. They get all of this right with the iPhone -- why do they blow it everywhere else?
Click to expand...

i just set up the new apple tv and have the same disappointment. i too make frequent volume adjustments. the buttons are loud and sound hollow/cheap. the previous candy bar remote had its issues but the button pressing felt premium with regards to sound and tactile feedback compared to the tinny and hear-across-the-room clicks of the new one.
 
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forgetcolor said:
I got it all set up, including controlling the volume of my external speakers (yay!). But then as soon as I started watching, I realized that the buttons all make a quite audible click. While I don't want any audible click, it's not a big deal for most buttons. But for the volume, I make frequent adjustments. And now every one of those is punctuated with a click sound that everyone in the room can hear. WHY???
Click to expand...
No remote is perfectly quiet for frequent content flippers. All the content is running at different volume levels. :D
 
Apple_Robert said:
Someone should do a decibel test with the new remote.

I also think some people look for an excuse to complain.
Click to expand...
This!!^^^^^
Not a dig at the OP, just a reflection on people not being happy unless they’re having a moan about something. I’ve been involved in organising a few events and you would not believe the stuff people moan about. We have a local parkrun every Saturday, free to enter, the council provides free short term parking etc, but you can absolutely guarantee that someone will find something trivial to moan about, every bloody time. What a way to live your life, always finding fault.
 
It's all aluminum so it will certainly be louder than most plastic remotes. It's one of the disadvantages that using that material.
 
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