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Why are apps the future of TV? Why should TVs have a future? Why develop another ecosystem just for an larger output device? The TV—or I would rather call it

Why are apps the future of TV? Why should TVs have a future? Why develop another ecosystem just for an larger output device? The TV—or I would rather call it 'large screen' will have a future as a dumb device which will be employed by other devices just for outputting content (best example is Chromecast). Yes, there still will be TV apps from manufacturers, from Apple and from whoever who needs to push new 'marktes' but they won't be able to build relevant ecosystems. The TV with its limited remote-control based UI patterns is too inflexible compared to a touch interface like that from a smartphone. So why not just let the smartphone be the TV's brain—and again we talk about Chromecast.

interpol_p 11y ago
Having used my phone to control my TV, I vastly prefer the small aluminium remote Apple shipped with the Apple TV. The new remote for the latest Apple TV is quite good too (though it's hard to tell which way around it should be by feel alone). Unlike you, I want a limited remote control based UI pattern for the TV. Complexity, location of my phone, and battery life are not things I'd like to worry about when I'm at home and want to navigate the TV. Nor do I want to be staring at a little screen to setup which content to play next. From an interaction perspective, what I disliked in a smartphone-as-remote was the following: * Not able to navigate by feel alone, in the dark * Had to unlock phone to use it. Can't just pick it up and press a button without looking at the little screen * Screen lights up and creates a distraction * Battery life is measured in one or two days (and often, at night when you want to watch TV, is at its low point) * Not good when you watch with a group of friends and like to navigate through shows, actors, directors on the big screen * It just didn't feel good. I realise this is a vague point, but I didn't realise how much I valued the tactile sensation of a nice remote until its battery died and I was stuck with my phone for a while.
- seivan 11y ago
  I got some issues with the new Apple Remote. * It's far too easy to come across the touch surface and fast forward. * Several times we've accidentally hit the search button (Siri is disabled in Sweden) causing it to jump out of whatever we're watching on Netflix and go to the search view. * Needs better keyboard input. I would prefer a circle and quick buttons for space/delete. Also would love previous search terms or a T9 interface for alphabet input.
  - interpol_p 11y ago
    Yeah I have that first issue exactly. While the touch pad is a fun addition, it's annoying when accidentally triggered. Might be good if they let you lock and unlock the remove by giving it a little shake. I also accidentally hit the Siri button, but it's enabled here so it just triggers the Siri tutorial overlay. Which is less annoying than what you experience. On keyboard input, that's probably the only place where a smartphone becomes valuable. The old Apple TV remote iOS app was good for entering usernames, passwords and search terms.
    - seivan 11y ago
      Actually that's not a stupid idea. Why can't I use my iPhone as keyboard input? We can already use the phone for other stuff. Sounds like it's so obvious that Apple is probably planning it :)
      - digikata 11y ago
        The Roku remote app allows exactly that for their TV appliance.
      - interpol_p 11y ago
        The original Apple TV remote app allowed it. It hasn't (yet) been updated for the new Apple TV, but I imagine the update is coming soon.
  - lucainterwick 11y ago
    Is the same remote interface really ideal on every app, or are you constraining the app to the remote? Perhaps tailor the remote to each individual app? Something like http://www.jumpwick.com http://www.jumpwick.com?
spacecowboy_lon 11y ago
TV's need to be easily upgradeable the BBC's iplayer stopped working in my newish Sony a while back as it couldn't handle the new iplayer. I use my Xbox to access other on demand services (C5 and C4) as the native sony support is so poor.
pjc50 11y ago
I'm not sure the correct TV remote interface exists yet. I have a tiny wireless keyboard-and-trackpad to control my WMC, and it's a real pain moving a mouse cursor around. Navigating a games console interface with a joystick is much more comfortable. I agree that coupling the content-spigot-device tightly to the screen like "smart TVs" is a really bad idea until the technology matures enough that it can sensibly last 10 years. Otherwise people are going to end up with stranded icons. And then there's the usual privacy issues of closed devices (Samsung TV passim).
georgeecollins 11y ago
"Why are apps the future of TV?" Because apps are how you monetize content on mobile devices, and sooner or later all your media will go through a mobile device. "Why should TVs have a future?" They don't mean TVs, they mean streaming video. "Why develop another ecosystem just for an larger output device?.. let the smartphone be the TV's brain—and again we talk about Chromecast." Yes. And the software that will control that brain will be written in an app.

interpol_p 11y ago

Having used my phone to control my TV, I vastly prefer the small aluminium remote Apple shipped with the Apple TV. The new remote for the latest Apple TV is quite good too (though it's hard to tell which way around it should be by feel alone). Unlike you, I want a limited remote control based UI pattern for the TV. Complexity, location of my phone, and battery life are not things I'd like to worry about when I'm at home and want to navigate the TV. Nor do I want to be staring at a little screen to setup which content to play next. From an interaction perspective, what I disliked in a smartphone-as-remote was the following: * Not able to navigate by feel alone, in the dark * Had to unlock phone to use it. Can't just pick it up and press a button without looking at the little screen * Screen lights up and creates a distraction * Battery life is measured in one or two days (and often, at night when you want to watch TV, is at its low point) * Not good when you watch with a group of friends and like to navigate through shows, actors, directors on the big screen * It just didn't feel good. I realise this is a vague point, but I didn't realise how much I valued the tactile sensation of a nice remote until its battery died and I was stuck with my phone for a while.

seivan 11y ago
I got some issues with the new Apple Remote. * It's far too easy to come across the touch surface and fast forward. * Several times we've accidentally hit the search button (Siri is disabled in Sweden) causing it to jump out of whatever we're watching on Netflix and go to the search view. * Needs better keyboard input. I would prefer a circle and quick buttons for space/delete. Also would love previous search terms or a T9 interface for alphabet input.
- interpol_p 11y ago
  Yeah I have that first issue exactly. While the touch pad is a fun addition, it's annoying when accidentally triggered. Might be good if they let you lock and unlock the remove by giving it a little shake. I also accidentally hit the Siri button, but it's enabled here so it just triggers the Siri tutorial overlay. Which is less annoying than what you experience. On keyboard input, that's probably the only place where a smartphone becomes valuable. The old Apple TV remote iOS app was good for entering usernames, passwords and search terms.
  - seivan 11y ago
    Actually that's not a stupid idea. Why can't I use my iPhone as keyboard input? We can already use the phone for other stuff. Sounds like it's so obvious that Apple is probably planning it :)
    - digikata 11y ago
      The Roku remote app allows exactly that for their TV appliance.
    - interpol_p 11y ago
      The original Apple TV remote app allowed it. It hasn't (yet) been updated for the new Apple TV, but I imagine the update is coming soon.
- lucainterwick 11y ago
  Is the same remote interface really ideal on every app, or are you constraining the app to the remote? Perhaps tailor the remote to each individual app? Something like http://www.jumpwick.com http://www.jumpwick.com?

spacecowboy_lon 11y ago

TV's need to be easily upgradeable the BBC's iplayer stopped working in my newish Sony a while back as it couldn't handle the new iplayer. I use my Xbox to access other on demand services (C5 and C4) as the native sony support is so poor.

pjc50 11y ago

I'm not sure the correct TV remote interface exists yet. I have a tiny wireless keyboard-and-trackpad to control my WMC, and it's a real pain moving a mouse cursor around. Navigating a games console interface with a joystick is much more comfortable. I agree that coupling the content-spigot-device tightly to the screen like "smart TVs" is a really bad idea until the technology matures enough that it can sensibly last 10 years. Otherwise people are going to end up with stranded icons. And then there's the usual privacy issues of closed devices (Samsung TV passim).

georgeecollins 11y ago

"Why are apps the future of TV?" Because apps are how you monetize content on mobile devices, and sooner or later all your media will go through a mobile device. "Why should TVs have a future?" They don't mean TVs, they mean streaming video. "Why develop another ecosystem just for an larger output device?.. let the smartphone be the TV's brain—and again we talk about Chromecast." Yes. And the software that will control that brain will be written in an app.