RANT: Why are you limited to a single remote?!?

[Wolfpup]

Nothing useful to say here, just why the heck is Apple limiting you to 1 remote?

It looks like a LAME remote. I hate that it doesn't use AA batteries. But on top of that only ONE remote? I usually end up with like 3 remotes/device...NEVER one remote.

Sucks too because I actually trust Apple TV's security. Dumped a Fire TV because it's insecure. The game systems are pretty great, but I feel weird using them just for TV (and Netflix's HDR is supposed to be broken on both Xbox One X and Playstation 4 Pro...for no good reason Netflix leaves it in HDR mode even for non-HDR (ie most) content.

I don't really trust Roku's security either, and my first attempt at a Roku couldn't stay booted for more than 2 hours without crashing (and usually less).

*sigh* I don't get how you design a product like this, limit it to 1 remote, and make it such a terrible remote without normal batteries...

 

[tjwilliams25]

The Apple TV has had the functionality to learn any remote that you want to use with it for a while. It is in the settings menu. In the past, I've used it to control my Apple TV with a DirecTV remote. Of course, it comes with the caveat that you can't use Siri or motion controls with games, but it seems like you just want to use a clunky old remote with "normal" batteries.

 

[kappaknight]

Maybe you're using it wrong? I don't see why you'd have 3 remotes per device for all of your devices... that seems a bit excessive.

With that said, you're not necessarily limited to one remote. I use the Remote App and the Remote widget on my iPhone for my Apple TV, and prefer it over the Siri remote. It's possible to hook more than one remote to your Apple TV, and also control multiple Apple TV's with one remote.

 

[Wolfpup]

Wait, so you can use normal remotes with an Apple TV? Can a Logitech Harmony remote work with it through IR?

"It's possible to hook more than one remote to your Apple TV, and also control multiple Apple TV's with one remote."

You mean by using other types of remotes, right? I'm not a fan of having to use my iPad as a remote except as a last ditch thing.)

 

[Juicy Box]

Wait, so you can use normal remotes with an Apple TV? Can a Logitech Harmony remote work with it through IR?

"It's possible to hook more than one remote to your Apple TV, and also control multiple Apple TV's with one remote."

You mean by using other types of remotes, right? I'm not a fan of having to use my iPad as a remote except as a last ditch thing.)

Yes, the ATV2,3,4, and 4K has IR and a remote learning feature. You can basically use any IR remote that you want.

I have the TVs' remotes on the remote learning feature on all my ATVs.

 

[sdwaltz]

I use a Logitech Harmony remote, Siri remote, and Remote app on my iPhone interchangeably.

 

[960design]

Wait, so you can use normal remotes with an Apple TV? Can a Logitech Harmony remote work with it through IR?

Not sure about that specific remote. But yes, with most.

"It's possible to hook more than one remote to your Apple TV, and also control multiple Apple TV's with one remote."

Yes. How the heck do you play multiplayer games with only one remote. I borrow the one from the back room so that I have two to play.

 

[kohlson]

I use a Harmony with a gen 3 ATV. The Harmony controls sound bar, Tivo, TV, BD and ATV - as advertised. This is not an unqualified endorsement of the Harmony, but it does control these things. It works better than having a basket of 5 remotes (nearly all of the time).

 

[waw74]

the aTV 3 & 4 respond to the older apple IR remotes (both metal and white plastic)
those codes are built to pretty much all universal remotes.

you can teach the appletv to listen to the commands from other remotes.. have an old DVD player that doesn't work, you can use the remote for the aTV

i'm not sure if teaching it a new remote disables the stock codes, but i'm guessing not

if your TV suppports HDMI-CEC, you can also use your TV remote to control the aTV over the HDMI cable.

 

[cynics]

Wait, so you can use normal remotes with an Apple TV? Can a Logitech Harmony remote work with it through IR?)

Yes, I used to use a Logitech remote (Harmony 880) before I started to use the Siri functionality so much.

Oddly with no programming or anything my BT Samsung remote for my TV will work with the ATV as well. So technically I have 3 remotes all working with a single ATV.

 

[2010mini]

Why do you need multiple remotes? The Apple TV has CEC Control. So it will turn on all devices that it is connected to. When I turn on my Apple TV, it turns on my home theater receiver and tv. It also switches them both to the proper HDMI ports.

 

[ActionableMango]

I usually end up with like 3 remotes/device...NEVER one remote.

I was just about to make fun of you for having three remotes per device when I realized that I have three remotes for the Apple TV4: Its Siri remote, an old ATV3 remote (the ATV3 itself lost in a move), and a Logitech Harmony.

You know what, I'm going to make fun of you anyway...three remotes PER device?!?!?

 

[Che Castro]

Rant fail

 

[Wolfpup]

Wow, thanks guys! I still can't fathom why Apple doesn't support multiple Apple/Siri remotes per device (nor why that remote seems so lame) but I had NO idea you could use a regular IR remote!

This seriously went from a rant to "I'm probably going to buy one now"!

FireTV isn't secure. (When it works it's good, though I ran into a lot of bugs as software got updated and would go MONTHS without Hulu, as an example).
Roku probably isn't secure either.
Xbox One is good, but Netflix inexplicatly can't code right + I feel weird about using this awesome game system as a streaming device...sooooooooooooooooooo I may just buy an Apple TV in the next few months!

Does it support HDR10 on both Amazon and Netflix?

 

[Apple blogger]

Also, you can control your tv volume up and down using the Apple TV remote, so u don't need any remote beside your Siri remote... it turns ff your tv when u turn ur Apple to sleep...

 

[Juicy Box]

I still can't fathom why Apple doesn't support multiple Apple/Siri remotes per device

Are you sure?
I thought you could use multiple Siri Remotes. I have never tried though.

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

Nothing useful to say here, just why the heck is Apple limiting you to 1 remote?

It looks like a LAME remote. I hate that it doesn't use AA batteries. But on top of that only ONE remote? I usually end up with like 3 remotes/device...NEVER one remote.

Sucks too because I actually trust Apple TV's security. Dumped a Fire TV because it's insecure. The game systems are pretty great, but I feel weird using them just for TV (and Netflix's HDR is supposed to be broken on both Xbox One X and Playstation 4 Pro...for no good reason Netflix leaves it in HDR mode even for non-HDR (ie most) content.

I don't really trust Roku's security either, and my first attempt at a Roku couldn't stay booted for more than 2 hours without crashing (and usually less).

*sigh* I don't get how you design a product like this, limit it to 1 remote, and make it such a terrible remote without normal batteries...

So hold on a minute, you're moaning because you'd rather buy with your own money AA batteries which would also thicken by a large amount the design of the remote instead of charging the remote a few times a year for 1 hour using your iPhone charger??? The less throw away environmental disaster batteries we all buy, the better. Are you for real?

Maybe Apple with their 'thinking outside of the box' approach just isn't for you.

 

[Longkeg]

The Siri remote connects to the AppleTv by Bluetooth. That’s why it doesn’t have to be in line of sight with the AppleTV. Think about it. How would Siri data work over IR. Just as the ATV can handle only one Bluetooth headset connection, it can only do one Bluetooth remote connection. You can use as many IR remotes as you want. You just won’t have Siri on them.

 

[Wolfpup]

So hold on a minute, you're moaning because you'd rather buy with your own money AA batteries

"Moaning"? Really?

And yes, of course I'm complaining about it. Rechargeable batteries are a pain. Even more so when it doesn't even use a USB connection.

which would also thicken by a large amount the design of the remote

Which would be a good thing. That remote design is terrible.

The Siri remote connects to the AppleTv by Bluetooth. That’s why it doesn’t have to be in line of sight with the AppleTV. Think about it. How would Siri data work over IR. Just as the ATV can handle only one Bluetooth headset connection, it can only do one Bluetooth remote connection. You can use as many IR remotes as you want. You just won’t have Siri on them.

Didn't say anything about the bluetooth versus IR issue. I prefer IR as it's faster and lower power, but there's no reason it can't handle more than one remote just because it's bluetooth. That's an arbitrary restriction.

But I'm really glad to hear it can use IR too, AND more remotes.

 

[Rigby]

And yes, of course I'm complaining about it. Rechargeable batteries are a pain. Even more so when it doesn't even use a USB connection.

The Siri remote lasts several months on a single charge. It's a non-issue.

Which would be a good thing. That remote design is terrible.

You should really give it a chance. IMO it's far superior to the traditional "gazillion button" remotes. The touchpad takes some getting used to, but it does have advantages (e.g. you can scrub through a movie way faster than using traditional forward/rewind buttons).

Didn't say anything about the bluetooth versus IR issue. I prefer IR as it's faster

How is it "faster"? The fact that the BT remote doesn't need line of sight is a huge advantage in my book. E.g. my TV is on a low stand and IR remotes only work when I lift them up because otherwise the couch table blocks the line of sight to the TV's sensor. Not a problem with the Siri remote. You can even hide the ATV out of sight behind the TV if you want.

but there's no reason it can't handle more than one remote just because it's bluetooth. That's an arbitrary restriction.

I agree in principle, but there is probably a good reason why Apple doesn't allow it.

 

[ActionableMango]

Wow, thanks guys! I still can't fathom why Apple doesn't support multiple Apple/Siri remotes per device (nor why that remote seems so lame)

I use two Apple TV remotes with my ATV4. Yes only one paired Bluetooth remote but you can use as many IR-based Apple TV remotes as you like.

So if you have any of these, feel free to use them:

 

[ZMacintosh]

Why do ou not like the built in battery? By the time you spend one on batteries you could buy another remote anyway and it’s covered under the AppleCare warranty. One less thing I have to invest batteries in and recharge it once every few months.
Plus you can pair your iPhone remote an dim sure there are apps that can do other stuff too, but I use the appletvs remote for sound, power/on and off, plus with other devices like Xbox or ps4 they auto turn on with their own controllers, makes things easier.

Bu like others said, you can pair other 3rd party remotes and have them all control it

 

[danny842003]

I don’t even use the remote, with iOS 11 having the remote so easy to access I just use my phone now.
If you don’t have an iPhone I’m not sure why you would buy an AppleTV it’s really a complementary device, this also removes the issue of it not having a USB charge point.

 

[Juicy Box]

On issue with the Siri Remote's battery is that it is essentially a throw-away device. Once that battery no longer holds a charge, it is done. I am not saying I would rather have AAA batteries in it, but this is definitely a big downside to the non-replaceable battery.

I don’t even use the remote, with iOS 11 having the remote so easy to access I just use my phone now.
If you don’t have an iPhone I’m not sure why you would buy an AppleTV it’s really a complementary device, this also removes the issue of it not having a USB charge point.

Is there anything different with the remote app on iOS 11? I am scared to upgrade, and am still on iOS 10. I hate the remote app on iOS 10, and am not sure what the appeal is.

Which would be a good thing. That remote design is terrible.

I think it is a form over function thing. I think this is generally true of Apple products over the past few years. I also wouldn't mind the remote being a little thicker. Even more so, I wish there was a D-pad.

The Siri remote lasts several months on a single charge.

This is true in my experience. The battery life on the remote is amazing to me. My family also uses IR remotes, but I generally use the Siri remote for the Siri feature and the charge lasts a very long time.

Although there are a few threads saying that the new ATV4K's Siri remotes are needing to be charged every week, I think this is an tvOS issues though, and will most likely be fixed.

You should really give it a chance. IMO it's far superior to the traditional "gazillion button" remotes. The touchpad takes some getting used to, but it does have advantages (e.g. you can scrub through a movie way faster than using traditional forward/rewind buttons).

I would say calling it far superior is a stretch. It is different, and better in many different ways, but the design, button placement, and the occasional lagginess is definitely a downside to it imo.

How is it "faster"?

On the ATV4, IR is generally faster, well, depending on what you are doing. Sometimes BT takes a while to connect when you first use it, the IR is instant. The is the occasional lag with the Siri remote, although I think this is more to do with tvOS than the remote.

IR is definitely faster when doing manual searches and manually typing in PWs. Although, I think this has more to do with the lack of a D-pad on the Siri Remote.

The fact that the BT remote doesn't need line of sight is a huge advantage in my book. E.g. my TV is on a low stand and IR remotes only work when I lift them up because otherwise the couch table blocks the line of sight to the TV's sensor. Not a problem with the Siri remote. You can even hide the ATV out of sight behind the TV if you want.

I have not personally tried this, but I have read of people mounting their ATVs on the back of their TVs, and using IR without LoS. It works by the IR light bouncing off of the walls and ceiling. I plan on trying this just to see. I have flat paint on the walls by all my ATVs so I am curious if it will work.

but there is probably a good reason why Apple doesn't allow it.

Yea, because Apple can do no wrong....

 

[McPhallus]

I find it very elegant. It’s one of the more interesting remotes I’ve seen, apart from the SHIELD TV remote. It’s functional and no larger than it needs to be.

That said, I use my harmony elite most of the time. It does everything except indexing through recorded shows on PS Vue.

"Moaning"? Really?

Which would be a good thing. That remote design is terrible.