Universal Electronics Offers Alternative Apple TV Remote to Cable Companies

[PickUrPoison]

This is completely missing the biggest reason that people drawn to this particular remote: that it has the Siri button and microphone.

For my part, I hate everything about the ATV remote except the Siri button. The trackpad is annoyingly fiddly for edge clicks and apps are wildly inconsistent about what clicks and touches actually fast-forward and rewind, it's too easy to hold upside-down, there's no mute button, so on and so forth.. I'd be really happy if I had some way to purchase this new UE remote.

People can be drawn to this remote all they want. You can’t buy what’s not for sale 🤷‍♂️

PS Though you might consider Siri essential, I’d guess that puts you in a very, very small subset of AppleTV owners. Sorry you can’t make use of the item I posted, but I’m not sure how else to help you so I guess you’re on your own at this point. Appreciate your thanks, but it’s enough to know I’ve helped! 🙂

 

[jlc1978]

Disabled people use an iPhone to control their TV as it's much more accessible. There's no need to hinder the remote design when Apple knows handicapped users will use the iPhone.

You are assuming everyone who owns an ATV owns an iPhone, a faulty assumption. In addition, the iPhone ATV remote is only a subset of the ATV remote.

Just because there is an alternative doesn't negate the issues people have with the ATV remote. You like it, good for you, others have issues with it.

 

[jgolds]

original remote is fine. people complaining are simply afraid of change. touch pad is far better than tapping directional buttons many times.

only thing Apple needs to do is to remove animations that block the remote input. i find it extremely idiotic i have to wait for the slow dumb fade-to-home animation or the multitasking animation to finish before my remote is usable.

Not having a mute button is absurd.

 

[jgolds]

sorry, but it beats all traditional remotes. I can do many things faster than this new remote can. even more so if Apple removed the animation blocks.

Yes it beats traditional remotes with its mute button.....oh wait.

 

[farewelwilliams]

You are assuming everyone who owns an ATV owns an iPhone, a faulty assumption. In addition, the iPhone ATV remote is only a subset of the ATV remote.

Just because there is an alternative doesn't negate the issues people have with the ATV remote. You like it, good for you, others have issues with it.

No, I'm not assuming that. Apple doesn't care for those that aren't in the ecosystem. See iTunes and iCloud on Windows. They design for the ecosystem.

 

[farewelwilliams]

Not having a mute button is absurd.

it's not.

 

[farewelwilliams]

Yes it beats traditional remotes with its mute button.....oh wait.

stupid comment.

enjoy tapping the down arrow 100 times a day while I breeze through scrollable lists which almost every app has in some fashion.

 

[irontiger82]

Apple TV Remote is the worst product they have designed. In the beginning I thought it was super cool and minimalist, but damn, it really is bad user experience.

 

[irontiger82]

it's not.

It is.

 

[jlc1978]

No, I'm not assuming that. Apple doesn't care for those that aren't in the ecosystem. See iTunes and iCloud on Windows. They design for the ecosystem.

Which does not negate poor design. For example, the iPhone remote is only a subset of the ATV remote; for example you can't control TV volume, plus if you are not connected to the same wifi network it won't connect.

 

[Nacho1234]

One of the best features of the Apple Remote is that it is asymmetrical. Why do they need to make the volume and the channel switch button the same?

 

[kevinacote]

Every time I see a story on a remote like this that I want, but can't get I feel like Mr. Pitt looking for socks...

 

[mazz0]

I’m all for replacements for the Siri Remote that include the Siri button, since despite the fact that it works for farewelwilliams most people, myself included, hate it.

I love the almuminium Apple Remote but I do miss the Siri button (used exclusively for the brilliant “what did they say?” feature).

However, does it really need all those other buttons? Channel up/down/guide?! What is this, the 90s? The play/pause button is also redundant, as it does the same as the OK/centre button. That said, the fast-forward/rewind buttons are a nice addition and maybe it helps to have the pause button next to them to quickly stop them.

 

[Airforcekid]

With my Fire TV stick I haven't even touched the remote in months I am hoping Apple goes the same route with voice only.

 

[farewelwilliams]

It is.

nope.

 

[farewelwilliams]

Which does not negate poor design. For example, the iPhone remote is only a subset of the ATV remote; for example you can't control TV volume, plus if you are not connected to the same wifi network it won't connect.

Wrong and wrong. I just tried both. Works fine.

TV volume can be controlled via iPhone volume controls.

Also, if you hold your phone to Apple TV and pair it (even with Wifi completely off), you can use the remote without wifi.

Apple designed it properly.

 

[jlc1978]

Wrong and wrong. I just tried both. Works fine.

TV volume can be controlled via iPhone volume controls.

Uh, no. Maybe with your TV but not with mine.

Also, if you hold your phone to Apple TV and pair it (even with Wifi completely off), you can use the remote without wifi.

Which requires BT on.

Apple designed it properly.

Sort of; some things work and others don't across devices. In a rush to minimalism Apple has forgotten that things still need to be designed with the user in mind. Minimalism works as long as the design is intuitive; however there is a point where the two clash.

That doesn't mean the ATV remote is bad, just that it is not great either. Apple used to be designed so you don't need to use a manual to use their device; however so much complexity is now built in that that no longer applies.

 

[sirozha]

Update: Shaking the Remote does not mute the Channels app for my system,

You have to enable this feature in the Channels app settings /preferences.

 

[farewelwilliams]

Uh, no. Maybe with your TV but not with mine.

Apple's doc says yes. I'm guessing your sound system operates over infrared which handicapped users would probably not buy for the reason given below:

Which requires BT on.

And? Both devices have BT and takes 5 seconds to setup.

On the other hand, Apple Remote requires direct line of sight since it's operating over infrared. You think handicap user is going to easily point the remote vs just using the accessible features on the iPhone that simply requires to be within range of BT?

Also the iPhone is more than likely within reach of the handicapped user at all times. It is also one less thing to worry about when it comes to charging. All the more reasons why Apple wants a handicapped user to use the iPhone over the Apple Remote.

Sort of; some things work and others don't across devices. In a rush to minimalism Apple has forgotten that things still need to be designed with the user in mind. Minimalism works as long as the design is intuitive; however there is a point where the two clash.

That doesn't mean the ATV remote is bad, just that it is not great either. Apple used to be designed so you don't need to use a manual to use their device; however so much complexity is now built in that that no longer applies.

Disagreed. Not many users will need a manual to use the remote. There's only a small number of buttons to try, so even if the intuition is not there, it takes less than a few minutes to learn how to operate.


Apple targeted the broad user base and designed for that. You can't automatically assume a minimal design discarded features for the sake of aesthetics. It's more likely Apple designed a minimal remote for the sake of simplicity. TV remotes have been notoriously complicated and slow to use. Apple remote is far simpler and faster to use than a 30-button standard remote. This is objectively true.

 

[jlc1978]

Apple's doc says yes. I'm guessing your sound system operates over infrared which handicapped users would probably not buy for the reason given below:

This has nothing to do with a handicapped user, and if Apple docs claims it can controla a TV it is simply incoirrect.

And? Both devices have BT and takes 5 seconds to setup.

Power use.

On the other hand, Apple Remote requires direct line of sight since it's operating over infrared.

The Apple remote uses BT to control the ATV.

You think handicap user is going to easily point the remote vs just using the accessible features on the iPhone that simply requires to be within range of BT?

Again, the shortcomings of the design across platforms is th epoint.

Also the iPhone is more than likely within reach of the handicapped user at all times. It is also one less thing to worry about when it comes to charging. All the more reasons why Apple wants a handicapped user to use the iPhone over the Apple Remote.

All of which is irrelevant to shortcomings in the Apple Remote design.

Disagreed. Not many users will need a manual to use the remote. There's only a small number of buttons to try, so even if the intuition is not there, it takes less than a few minutes to learn how to operate.

Except a number of features are not controlled by buttons, and are not intiutive.

Apple targeted the broad user base and designed for that. You can't automatically assume a minimal design discarded features for the sake of aesthetics. It's more likely Apple designed a minimal remote for the sake of simplicity. TV remotes have been notoriously complicated and slow to use.

And as I pointed out, usability design has suffered for the sake of simplicity.

Apple remote is far simpler and faster to use than a 30-button standard remote. This is objectively true.

Not the point.

 

[farewelwilliams]

This has nothing to do with a handicapped user, and if Apple docs claims it can controla a TV it is simply incoirrect.

Saying "but not with mine." has nothing to do with a handicapped user either, yet you just said it. Did you forget what we're talking about

It's not incorrect since I just did it on two of my Apple TVs connected to two different TVs. Apple is factually correct.

Power use.

So does infrared. What's your point?

The Apple remote uses BT to control the ATV.

And BT is better for handicapped users, you know the thing we're talking about, since they don't have to point directly at the TV with an infrared remote.

Again, the shortcomings of the design across platforms is th epoint.

No, we're discussing your argument about Apple hating disabled people. Read your earlier comment.

All of which is irrelevant to shortcomings in the Apple Remote design.

Relevant to your argument about Apple hating disabled people. Did you forget what you just said? Sounds like you're changing the argument since I just proved you wrong.

Except a number of features are not controlled by buttons, and are not intiutive.

Mapping functions to buttons do not make a design intuitive

And as I pointed out, usability design has suffered for the sake of simplicity.

Disagreed.

Not the point.

You just talked about usability design literally in your previous sentence, but when I talk about usability, I'm off topic? Sounds like you can't get your head together to figure out what you're arguing about.

It also sounds like you're refusing to admit you're completely wrong here. No point in continuing this discussion. Have a good one.

 

[jlc1978]

Saying "but not with mine." has nothing to do with a handicapped user either, yet you just said it. Did you forget what we're talking about

It's not incorrect since I just did it on two of my Apple TVs connected to two different TVs. Apple is factually correct.

However, it doesn't on mine.

So does infrared. What's your point?

BT uses power while it is on, unlike IR.

And BT is better for handicapped users, you know the thing we're talking about, since they don't have to point directly at the TV with an infrared remote.



No, we're discussing your argument about Apple hating disabled people. Read your earlier comment.

Relevant to your argument about Apple hating disabled people. Did you forget what you just said? Sounds like you're changing the argument since I just proved you wrong.

I never said that; you're the one who brought up disabled people; as an excuse for Apple's design.

Mapping functions to buttons do not make a design intuitive

Never said it did; my point is Apple's design is not that intuitive and not user centric as it could be. Some improvements would go a long way to making it better.

Disagreed.



You just talked about usability design literally in your previous sentence, but when I talk about usability, I'm off topic? Sounds like you can't get your head together to figure out what you're arguing about.

It also sounds like you're refusing to admit you're completely wrong here. No point in continuing this discussion. Have a good one.

Never said you're off topic, you seem a bit confused over who is saying what. Your point seems to be because the Iphone can perform a subset of the Apple Remote's features the design of the Apple Remote is perfect. I diasagree. Sounds like we'll just have to agree to disagree on what constitutes good user centric design; which is fine.

YMMV HAND

 

[jlc1978]

With my Fire TV stick I haven't even touched the remote in months I am hoping Apple goes the same route with voice only.

That would be a good feature; the challenge is how to search so you don't get a bunch of useless items when say you want to tune to a specific channel. If you could search within an app, say "Find CNN on YouTube TV" it could be very useful.

 

[irontiger82]

nope.

the worst

 

[farewelwilliams]

the worst

the best