Bakerzdosen speaks the truth. The right silicone case is a godsend, and fundamentally changed my attitude. The one I picked was $11 on the ‘Zon, and it eliminated 95% of the day-to-day design hassles. (The other 5% is, the Siri button’s too close to the menu button for my muscle memory.)
The available colors are a bit Fisher-Price, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The vast majority of remotes that are sold/bundled with TV related hardware have a 'candy bar' form factor just like the Apple remote, i.e., a rectangle with rounded corners. The idea that consumers are accustomed to remotes that they can pick up and orient properly towards the TV without looking at them or having to feel for the button arrangement has always been a fallacy that's unique to criticisms of the Apple TV remote. Look at the remote being reviewed here: it's a 'candy bar' design. There's no reason to believe this remote would be any easier to orient blindly than the current Apple TV remote.
I got excited about this at first, but from what I can tell this is just a stock IR remote, the same kind you can buy at any big box store for $15. Am I wrong? What we need is a bluetooth remote similar to the SALT remote, which you can't get in American unless you want to pay $75 on ebay. I definitely fall into the group of people who think that the AppleTV remote is one of the worst pieces of technology I've ever used. Too bad since I really like the AppleTV.
We're pretty sure that this is the Salt remote. We've got one incoming.
At first glance, it appears almost identical except the six transport buttons at the bottom are labeled differently and/or are in different locations. Funtion101 specifically mentions "infrared" in their limited description, but not "Bluetooth".
The current Apple TV remote is infuriating. You have to be staring at it to make sure you’re picking it up correctly and not holding it so the trackpad is at the bottom. I pick it up wrong at least 50% of the time. It’s also so sensitive. Half the time I end up stopping what I’m watching just because I put the remote down and my thumb touches it.
I am not sure why Apple didn't include the raised ring around the Menu button from day one. Makes it soooo much easier to orientate when picking it up.
On the other hand as you mention the sensitivity is absolutely MADDENING! It doesn't have to be your thumb it could be your arm or hand or any body part that even remotely brushed up against it, and your program is fast forwarding or stopped!Hahahah It's the craziest sh** I have ever used.
I got excited about this at first, but from what I can tell this is just a stock IR remote, the same kind you can buy at any big box store for $15. Am I wrong? What we need is a bluetooth remote similar to the SALT remote, which you can't get in American unless you want to pay $75 on ebay. I definitely fall into the group of people who think that the AppleTV remote is one of the worst pieces of technology I've ever used. Too bad since I really like the AppleTV.
We're pretty sure that this is the Salt remote. We've got one incoming.
At first glance, it appears almost identical except the six transport buttons at the bottom are labeled differently and/or are in different locations. Funtion101 specifically mentions "infrared" in their limited description, but not "Bluetooth".
I have a Salt remote. It's not bluetooth and has the same limitations as every other infrared remote (no home button)
Does anyone have any idea why Apple “has not” changed the remote? As a design company, are they aware how wonky it is? Very disappointing.
As good as apple is at some things, they have bombed horribly on many 'designs' where they insist on compromising function to make the form look good. I have also yet to actually find a use for Siri. part of it is that I hate talking to devices because they invariably get things wrong; I know I'm not alone in this respect.
Hey Siri, set the living room lights to 10%. Works 100% of the time for me.
I like the current Apple remote, except that it’s missing a mute button!! to mute annoying YT ads and such!
Couldn’t agree with you more! The menu button is now raised which does tell you orientation by feel, Siri has numerous benefits including the ability to launch apps directly and control HomeKit devices. Oh and anyone who has an Apple Watch might want try the remote app. Very useful!
I’ve had the Salt remote for a while. It’s a pretty decent remote. What sucks is the software support. Many apps, including Apple’s own, clearly have not been properly tested with buttons instead of the trackpad. Compared to the older (non-Siri Remote) Apple TV’s, the usability ends up sucking.
And yet, as someone whose bum thumb makes it all but impossible to use the Siri Remote’s trackpad, I still grab the button remote 99% of the time. Another 0.99% of the time, I use my iPhone to enter text. I only use the Siri Remote the remaining 0.01% for dictation and if I absolutely have to access one of the features (like the sidebar) that are categorically inaccessible without it.
I got excited about this at first, but from what I can tell this is just a stock IR remote, the same kind you can buy at any big box store for $15. Am I wrong? What we need is a bluetooth remote similar to the SALT remote, which you can't get in American unless you want to pay $75 on ebay. I definitely fall into the group of people who think that the AppleTV remote is one of the worst pieces of technology I've ever used. Too bad since I really like the AppleTV.
Yes, you’re wrong-ish, in that it’s not a universal remote. It’s hard-coded for the Apple IR codes (other than the power and volume buttons, which are programmable for your TV).
All you need to do is add a case to the Apple TV remote and most of its ergonomic issues are solved.
The solution is certainly NOT to buy a cheap IR remote.
Ah, to be free of any kind of dexterity limitation, like these two...
As it turns out, years later, huge numbers of new Apple TV users are still complaining about the Siri Remote. It may work fine for many people, but it clearly does not work at all for many other people. Given how heavily Apple works on accessibility in iOS and the Mac, it’s kinda shocking that they’ve allowed the Apple TV to go so long without a true alternative to the Siri Remote. (As I and others have stated, there are no IR codes for all the buttons on the Siri Remote, and the software itself does not properly support button remotes.)
You can add the Magic Mouse 2 to the list of form trumping function as well.
I’ve never understood the hate for the Magic Mouse. Unless you’re talking about the inability to charge it while using, which I’m fully on board with, it’s simply my all-time favorite mouse.
That’s the main issue. Plus it’s virtually impossible to replace the battery. Both of which were completely unnecessary design decisions.
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The solution is certainly NOT to buy a cheap IR remote.
As it turns out, years later, huge numbers of new Apple TV users are still complaining about the Siri Remote. It may work fine for many people, but it clearly does not work at all for many other people. Given how heavily Apple works on accessibility in iOS and the Mac, it’s kinda shocking that they’ve allowed the Apple TV to go so long without a true alternative to the Siri Remote. (As I and others have stated, there are no IR codes for all the buttons on the Siri Remote, and the software itself does not properly support button remotes.)