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"Siri Remote" as Universal Remote?

CaptTCS

CaptTCS

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 13, 2013
106
73
Bainbridge Island, WA
They said, at the introduction of the new Apple TV, that you will be able to use the new "Siri Remote" to control your TV and/or Receiver (or something to that effect).

I think I have also read somewhere, (don't remember where), that the new remote will still have IR functionality in addition to Bluetooth.

Does that mean that we will be able to program the new remote, much like a "Universal Remote"?

Wouldn't that be super cool?!
 
Negative. They said they support controlling a TV via HDMI-CEC signals.

Has the same IR capability it has now.

Programming a Universal remote is cumbersome and not Apple-like.
 
I agree...bummer. I am now using the aTV3, AVR and TV w U-Verse STB with a single Harmony remote. The new aTV with it's new remote will mean going back to needing 2 remotes on hand. If Harmony can make a universal remote, Apple can too. Wish they would.
 
Menel said:
Negative. They said they support controlling a TV via HDMI-CEC signals.

Has the same IR capability it has now.

Programming a Universal remote is cumbersome and not Apple-like.
Click to expand...
Not true if the statement of another user here is correct. He said you can "learn" the Siri Remote and control an AV-Receiver via IR! (Also i think it wouldn't make sense to build an IR Transmitter into the Siri Remote other than using it for something like that!) Learning the IR Signals for the Power Toggle and Volume Up/Down is pretty easy to do and takes only a few minutes. Also it is already implemented for the Apple TV itself (using the IR Receiver) so you can use it with another Remote such as a Logitech Harmony.
 
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Wunderwally said:
Not true if the statement of another user here is correct. He said you can "learn" the Siri Remote and control an AV-Receiver via IR! (Also i think it wouldn't make sense to build an IR Transmitter into the Siri Remote other than using it for something like that!) Learning the IR Signals for the Power Toggle and Volume Up/Down is pretty easy to do and takes only a few Minutes. Also it is already implemented for the Apple TV itself (using the IR Receiver) so you can use it with another Remote such as a Logitech Harmony.
Click to expand...
Correct.
I do that now with my receiver remote, using it to control AppleTV. But OP wants the reverse.
 
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Microsoft does a great job with the Xbox One at controlling multiple devices without a Universal remote. I walk into the room and say "Xbox On." and it turns on my TV, my AV receiver, and my Xbox. Saying "Xbox Off" turns all of those devices off.

Wish Siri could do that.
 
Yes, allowing the Siri remote to act like a universal IR remote would be a game changer for the Apple TV. All they would need to do is provide an interface on the TV that could guide you through the programming and custom macros and functions.

You could say something like "Remote" and the TV would display a list of functions that could either be voice activated or selected with the touch pad on the Siri remote. Apple could even pre-program many of the IR codes with an internet-sourced data base.

But, I suspect that it will never happen because Apple will never think outside of the Apple TV box. A third-party could possible implement something, but it would have to operate as an application which would make it much less appealing and useful (and harder to use).
 
In my fantasy living room scenerio, the Siri remote would act more like a fancy Logitech Harmony remote (with a lot of macros) and you can set preset commands for different events.

For example, I could say "Siri, I want to watch a movie" and it turns on TV, opens the Netflix app (or whatever app I want to be my "movie" app), turns on my audio receiver for surround sound, and (with HomeKit) turns off the living room lights.

Or "Siri, I'm having a party" would turn on my receiver and TV, open the music app, start playing a playlist, and turn on the aerial landscape screensaver.


Maybe I should just get a Harmony remote which is capable of doing all of that now.
 
Do you guys think they will/can add the ability to use the IR for power. I mean it should be that he's since they already have it codes for volume for so many tvs.
 
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