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That remote looks fantastic

dugbug

dugbug

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Aug 23, 2008
1,938
2,182
Somewhere in Florida
  • Rechargeable
  • Glass trackpad+button
  • TV volume controls + CEC power/input
  • Gyros
  • Microphone (I think w/noise cancellation)
  • Bluetooth controls

Thats pretty nifty! I was quite impressed with the new GUI's visual cues and the thumb control.... I was worried that it would be similar to the ios app which never felt right. Would be interesting if the ios remote app adds force touch haptic feedback!

Now all they need is a find my remote chirp :)

In addition it supports:
  • Support for bluetooth ios game controllers
  • Support for bluetooth keyboards
  • Support for bluetooth headphones
  • Support for iOS remote control
 
It's certainly the nicest interface I've seen for TV, both with regards to hardware and software.

My main gripe is that you still need about 10 different subscriptions in order to get all the content offered, so it hasn't really shaped up the TV experience - just made it prettier and more streamlined. But of course that's not really Apple's fault, more the content providers.
 
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xmichaelp said:
It's way uglier than the old one but the features will be welcome.
Click to expand...

really? I think it looks great. Then again I had and loved a black ipod mini :)

Also note the concave siri button. This thing will work well in the dark.

siri_remote_large.png

step1-appletv-hero-2015
 
Looks good, but I'm surprised they didn't include wireless charging using the same cable as the watch.

Would've made charging effortless as well as giving the remote a permanent place to 'live'. Help prevent misplacing the thing.
 
I'm curious about this "glass trackpad".

I'm very careful with my electronic devices however if there is one device I drop more often then I would like (ever) it's my TV remote. It gets lost in blankets and sent flying when I pull the blanket out from under it, I fall asleep with it in my lap and it falls when I stand up, just slides off the couch, sat on quite often, etc etc.

Hopefully it's very durable. I'm really excited about the new AppleTV I plan on picking it up on launch day if possible.
 
I think they're missing out a potentially great input opportunity here. You should be able to do draw letters on the trackpad to type. Some luxury cars have this now, where you draw each letter out with your finger on a touch-sensitive surface to enter address information. This new apple remote seems perfect for it. Personally, I don't like talking to my devices, but entering text by swiping up down left right on an on-screen keyboard is awful. Why not be able to write out each letter on the trackpad? It would be quick and easy.


@mattopotamus who cares if it's not new? no one said it was new. apple's take on it is new though. apple also never claimed to invent the mp3 player, or the smartphone either. apple claims to have invented the ipod and iphone though.
 
oneMadRssn said:
I think they're missing out a potentially great input opportunity here. You should be able to do draw letters on the trackpad to type. Many luxury cars have this now, where you draw each letter out with your finger on a touch-sensitive surface to enter address information. This new apple remote seems perfect for it. Personally, I don't like talking to my devices, but entering text by swiping up down left right on an on-screen keyboard is awful. Why not be able to write out each letter on the trackpad? It would be quick and easy.


@mattopotamus who care's if it's not new? no one said it was new. apple's take on it is new though. apple also never claimed to invent the mp3 player, or the smartphone either. apple claims to have invented the ipod and iphone though.
Click to expand...

ok, nothing revolutionary like the iPod or iPhone.
 
mattopotamus said:
ok, nothing revolutionary like the iPod or iPhone.
Click to expand...

It's been one day man. Time is the judge of whether something is revolutionary or not. Anyone trying to claim whether something is revolutionary or not revolutionary in the moment is a fool.

The real question is, how will it compare to the others that came before it? Have you tried using that Sony one? I have. It works, but it wasn't so good.

I played with this one too at CES a few years back. It was better than the Sony.

dsc00033-1331058886.jpg


Looks, this one is round. ooooooh.

av-blog_ces2012_Panasonic-new-flatscreen-touch-remote.jpg


And that sony remote you and others keep posting, saying this isn't new, that Sony one isn't the first either. How good do you think this one is?

remotes1.jpg
 
oneMadRssn said:
It's been one day man. Time is the judge of whether something is revolutionary or not. Anyone trying to claim whether something is revolutionary or not revolutionary in the moment is a fool.

The real question is, how will it compare to the others that came before it? Have you tried using that Sony one? I have. It works, but it wasn't so good.

I played with this one too at CES a few years back. It was better than the Sony.

dsc00033-1331058886.jpg


Looks, this one is round. ooooooh.

av-blog_ces2012_Panasonic-new-flatscreen-touch-remote.jpg


And that sony remote you and others keep posting, saying this isn't new, that Sony one isn't the first either. How good do you think this one is?

remotes1.jpg
Click to expand...

The sony one works just fine...used it with my xbr900a
 
I guess the remote is kind of cool and all but if it's not good enough to be my only remote (which it's not), I'll just stick with my URC remotes. It kind of sucks now that you'll probably have to always have at least 2 remotes (if you want to be able to use siri) as opposed to before where you only needed a good programmable remote.
 
I'm really surprised that people have not been complaining about the remote not providing a better way to enter text into the search fields and logins. Does everyone think the trackpad will make that so much easier that it is a non-issue?
 
mic j said:
I'm really surprised that people have not been complaining about the remote not providing a better way to enter text into the search fields and logins. Does everyone think the trackpad will make that so much easier that it is a non-issue?
Click to expand...
I presume Siri will take care of this.
 
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Oh that hurts omr... I wanted that panasonic one when it came out but my TV didn't support it :(
mic j said:
Do you really think you will be able to have (or tell) Siri to put in a login and/or password?
Click to expand...


It supports keyboards. But normally you use the iOS remote app and you get keyboard w/ paste support
 
foobarbazqux said:
I guess the remote is kind of cool and all but if it's not good enough to be my only remote (which it's not), I'll just stick with my URC remotes. It kind of sucks now that you'll probably have to always have at least 2 remotes (if you want to be able to use siri) as opposed to before where you only needed a good programmable remote.
Click to expand...

I was wondering about this, as I too have always used universal remotes in my two main home theatre systems. Provided I can control the Apple TV as I always have, my preference would be to use my universal remote most of the time, saving the Apple remote for the occasional game or specialty app. It would be a drag if I have to use the Apple remote to achieve basic functionality.
 
bluespark said:
I was wondering about this, as I too have always used universal remotes in my two main home theatre systems. Provided I can control the Apple TV as I always have, my preference would be to use my universal remote most of the time, saving the Apple remote for the occasional game or specialty app. It would be a drag if I have to use the Apple remote to achieve basic functionality.
Click to expand...

It may not have IR (i.e. be bluetooth only). Do bluetooth remotes follow a standard? I know rene on imore mentioned game controllers can be used to navigate the UI, so possible that a non-apple button masher could do so assuming they speak a known language.
 
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