Swiss Fiber TV Service 'Salt' Launches Alternative Apple TV 4K Remote Control for Frustrated Customers

[x-evil-x]

I dunno, during the course of yesterday afternoon I lost the tiny Apple TV remote a couple of times on the couch because it's so small, and pressed the wrong button once because it was "upside down" on the table beside me and it's pretty much symmetrical. Unless you're either staring at it, or holding it in your hand all the time, or feel all over it to find the ring around the home button first (whilst not touching whichever end is the glass touch pad of course), it's not that easy to use.

Someone mentioned using the old silver aluminium remote, that's a good shout. I have one in the cupboard somewhere. And an old white polycarbonate one now that I think about it!

I guess I find it easy to figure out the orientation because I’m used to feeling for that ring so it’s second nature to me. I like swiping over clicking. But I prefer the remote app on on my phone anyway. Better because of the pop up keyboard which I use all the time.

 

[HiRez]

This is great, how can I order it? One thing I hate about the ATV remote is there’s no mute button. It would be nice if Apple would let you remap the Siri button, which I don’t use and hit by mistake all the time, to mute.

 

[jayducharme]

Didn’t Steve Jobs say he “cracked” the ultimate TV interface? I suspect he was talking about Siri integrated with the remote. When I use my ATV, I mostly speak to it. The design of the remote itself is baffling and most of the time I’m holding it wrong. There really should be more differentiation between the touch and non-touch surfaces.

 

[SubaCherry]

I love the Siri remote. Don't understand the people who hate it(Have read about them, but have never met one).

 

[Whathappened]

I use my iPhone instead of the ATV remote >90% of the time I use my ATV.

Every time I do, I am amazed that I need to use a $750 device to control my $150 ATV because the included ATV remote sucks so badly.

What is your point? You don’t “need” to use your iPhone but you can. Your 750usd device is able to control your 150usd device. Expectable.
Definitely nothing special about it.

 

[Pupi]

To each their own, but the Apple Siri Remote is one of my favorite remotes of all time. Once you learn the ropes, it’s hard to go back to arrows. I like the LG Magic Remote as well, again not limited by arrows. Unrestrained speed of movement is the future.

 

[FaustsHausUK]

I have the nicer of the Roku remotes, and switch between it and the Apple TV remote. There are elements I dislike about the Roku one, but overall it's much easier to use than the Apple remote. No amount of adjusting the sensitivity has bent the touchpad to my will.

I like that they're open to collaborations like this, I wonder if they're going to allow access to more of the feature set for third parties in future.

 

[Whathappened]

Didn’t Steve Jobs say he “cracked” the ultimate TV interface? I suspect he was talking about Siri integrated with the remote. When I use my ATV, I mostly speak to it. The design of the remote itself is baffling and most of the time I’m holding it wrong. There really should be more differentiation between the touch and non-touch surfaces.

Typical SJ marketing BS. But since many people believe he was some sort of saint instead of a business man, that is something we don’t speak of in these forums

 

[Digital Dude]

Aside from the more functional controls, it also appears to include a matt or rubberized finish, compared to the count-drop-a-lot Apple Remote. I sure as heck won't miss what's his face 'Jony Ive.' The form over function design concept has been rediculous.

 

[adrianlondon]

Making a run down to Basel (since I live in Stuttgart- only a 1.5 hour drive) and I’ll pick up a few and put them on EBay in a week or so they can be made available to you all.

The instructions on the SALT webpage state that one must update the Salt TV app first, before attempting to use the remote. I don't have an Apple TV (I use UPC rather than Salt) but could it be possible that this remote will only work for Salt TV customers?

 

[deckard666]

I hate my Apple TV remote - any remote that needs me to look at under a light to work out in which orientation it is is a total failure plus the farce it was when you used to move it somewhere and touching the pad on it would turn it on and waste your batteries - If I taught design it would be something I use to show how not to do it. PS the iOS app is also dire.

 

[furqan8421]

The built in remote is fine for just clicking on something and pressing play but many people now use their Apple TV to watch live tv like YouTube tv, Hulu live etc.

It’s less ideal for those apps for channel flipping

 

[Beelzbub]

I would buy one. I like my Apple TV, and that is all we watch TV on (YouTube TV, Prime, Netflix...), but the remote is not very desirable no matter how we adjust the sensitivity. However one TV we have, an Amazon Fire TV, the remote for that TV will control the Apple TV (and we prefer the Apple TV over the Fire TV Apps because for us the picture is better). The only thing it will not do is turn the Apple TV on, but it does turn it off. The other TV, no dice, we have to use the Apple TV remote and it is a PITA. We were watching TV last night and the Apple TV paused all by itself because we set a coffee mug down next to it, that's how sensitive the thing is. I could use my phone, but when I get home I don't touch the phone a whole lot, this way I am not bothered by work stuff. We love our Apple TV's but not the remotes. So if I had an option to purchase these I would.

 

[stiligFox]

This is why the average joe shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the design and development of hardware or software. Did you really just suggest that finding your iPhone, Swiping on it, Tapping on the remote app/widget, is easier than a dedicated dumb piece of hardware that is always next to the couch?

Macrumors never seizes to amaze me

I agree, but these days the Apple TV controller shows up on the lock screen automatically, as if it were the Now Playing Music widget, so it’s simply a matter of waking up the phone for quick control. You have to tap once to get to the touchpad sure, but it’s easier than it used to be.

that said, give me a classic remote any day

 

[luigibertoni]

WANT! But I don’t see a way to order from the online store, it just directs you to a store locator in Switzerland. I’m in the USA. Can I not order this from the USA? Anyone else have any luck?

look here

It is possible with any remote control!

Why is there such a hype about the Salt remote?

I'm from Switzerland, so if you need one, just text me.

 

[Defthand]

The primary issue with the ATV remote is a lack of button illumination for dark room TV viewing. If the replacement lacks it also, it’s no better.

 

[luigibertoni]

I would buy one. I like my Apple TV, and that is all we watch TV on (YouTube TV, Prime, Netflix...), but the remote is not very desirable no matter how we adjust the sensitivity. However one TV we have, an Amazon Fire TV, the remote for that TV will control the Apple TV (and we prefer the Apple TV over the Fire TV Apps because for us the picture is better). The only thing it will not do is turn the Apple TV on, but it does turn it off. The other TV, no dice, we have to use the Apple TV remote and it is a PITA. We were watching TV last night and the Apple TV paused all by itself because we set a coffee mug down next to it, that's how sensitive the thing is. I could use my phone, but when I get home I don't touch the phone a whole lot, this way I am not bothered by work stuff. We love our Apple TV's but not the remotes. So if I had an option to purchase these I would.

I'll take four please.

The ATV touch remote is the single worst remote among all of my OTT devices of any generation. Adding the ring around the Menu button did help slightly.

I still use the aluminum ATV remote with the ATV in our house and normally keep my iPad / iPhone handy and use the remote app with my three ATVs that I use for work (testing, demos).

You can use any remote control for Apple TV!

[automerge]1575919970[/automerge]

I’m willing to pay $2000 for 10 of that remote for my commercial use. Somebody contact me.

Really? I live in Switzerland. So we can do it....

 

[DotCom2]

I HATE the ATV Remote! Anything is better. Apple, take note.

 

[arnoz]

Based on the interest mentioned in above comments, I guess I should just buy a ton of their remotes and re-sell them to people living outside of Switzerland for a 30% markup

I didn't expect so many replies to a random sarcastic comment. Anyway, my goal is not to make money out of that, I just happen to live in Switzerland. If you need one, hit me up, you'll just need to pay for it (duh) + shipping + a little thank you markup for the effort would be appreciated as well.
[automerge]1575920775[/automerge]

I love the Siri remote. Don't understand the people who hate it(Have read about them, but have never met one).

I guess one massive drawback is that it only works in the US, UK and Australia (to my knowledge). I moved from London back to Switzerland 2 years ago and using my ATV4k since then has definitely not been as smooth as before.

 

[luigibertoni]

WANT! But I don’t see a way to order from the online store, it just directs you to a store locator in Switzerland. I’m in the USA. Can I not order this from the USA? Anyone else have any luck?

Want want want!! I can’t stand the remote the ATV comes with. I sincerely hope they make one for the US.

Because I live in Switzerland, I can get you a remote. You would have to pay the delivery costs.

 

[justperry]

That's not the most surprising thing for me about this ISP - have a look at their service offering. They designed their own 10Gbit modem. You get symmetrical 10 Gbps internet, 250 TV channels, unlimited landline and mobile calls within that country, oh and a free Apple TV 4K - all for 40-50 CHF/month (plus two months free).

I pay that (about £30) in the UK just for a no-frills 80/20mbps internet connection.

False/misleading advertising, the Modem has four 1 Gb ports, wifi is 2.2 Gb Max, so in total 6.2 Gb Maximum, but you probably even don't get that.

Still a very good deal though, cheap.

Because I live in Switzerland, I can get you a remote. You would have to pay the delivery costs.

*Someone above mentioned the Salt App has to be updated, so it might not work if you don't have the Salt App.

This should be tested first, with / without the Salt App.

* = @adrianlondon

The instructions on the SALT webpage state that one must update the Salt TV app first, before attempting to use the remote. I don't have an Apple TV (I use UPC rather than Salt) but could it be possible that this remote will only work for Salt TV customers?

 

[luigibertoni]

https://fiber.salt.ch/en/fiber/equipment/fiber-box

It has one 10 Gb port.

 

[Jacquesass]

Still hoping that the TiVo app for AppleTV will include an optional TiVo remote for the AppleTV...

 

[ShadowJade]

This is why the average joe shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the design and development of hardware or software. Did you really just suggest that finding your iPhone, Swiping on it, Tapping on the remote app/widget, is easier than a dedicated dumb piece of hardware that is always next to the couch?

Macrumors never seizes to amaze me

The phrase that you want is "Never ceases to amaze me". That said, the watch is always on my wrist, but for youtube TV you can't just light tap on the right or left to jump 15 seconds forward or back. The remote in my bed is deadly as it will get rolled on/pressed at least once during the night and turn on my TV.

 

[Baymowe335]

I use my iPhone instead of the ATV remote >90% of the time I use my ATV.

Every time I do, I am amazed that I need to use a $750 device to control my $150 ATV because the included ATV remote sucks so badly.

I look at it differently. My iPhone can control the ATV among the many other things it can do, which I appreciate.