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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 qui
by 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 agoI 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 agoYeah 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 agoActually 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 agoThe Roku remote app allows exactly that for their TV appliance.
- interpol_p 11y agoThe 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 agoIs 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?