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I use my phone as a remote control occasionally. It's terrible, because there are no physical buttons, so you have to keep looking at the phone screen instead o

I use my phone as a remote control occasionally. It's terrible, because there are no physical buttons, so you have to keep looking at the phone screen instead of the thing you're controlling. There's an interface that lets you use swipe gestures as well, and that's still far inferior to a simple remote with physical buttons.

stronglikedan 11y ago
That's what I love about most of the Logitech Harmony remotes. They have the touchscreen for things like switching between activities and devices, where you could have more than fit on a single screen (paginated). Then they have hard buttons for device/activity specific functions (all illuminated on some versions). Sure they have their own problems (for some), but I think they do a great job of combining the hard and soft buttons.
stevetrewick 11y ago
Totally agree that an ergonomically well designed remote with a small number of functions will provide a superior 'eyes off' UX. But it has sadly been quite some time since that description applied to any of the remotes I regularly actually use.
- swsieber 11y ago
  I have a Roku 3 and I like their remote - small and simple.
- IgorPartola 11y ago
  You know, I think the Roku remote comes close: https://image.roku.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Roku-3-remote-with-headphones.jpg https://image.roku.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Roku-... Unfortunately, their remotes are inconsistent between Roku devices. For example, some come with this layout: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41WCaJRUARL._AC_UL320_SR180,320_.jpg http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41WCaJRUARL._AC_UL320_.... Why the hell is it a good UX to include these proprietary buttons on there? I have an older version of it that includes Block Buster! They also have a phone app that I use frequently. It's not bad, but lacks the * button, making it impossible to turn off subtitles. Lastly, their remotes really need a way to control the TV power and volume. I hate having two remotes, one of which is just to turn the TV on/off. I believe the new Apple TV does have this feature, but of course it doesn't have Amazon Video so that's a no-go for me.
untog 11y ago
Yep - one of the reasons I could never get along with the Chromecast. Roku is far better as it has an actual tactile remote.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]

stronglikedan 11y ago

That's what I love about most of the Logitech Harmony remotes. They have the touchscreen for things like switching between activities and devices, where you could have more than fit on a single screen (paginated). Then they have hard buttons for device/activity specific functions (all illuminated on some versions). Sure they have their own problems (for some), but I think they do a great job of combining the hard and soft buttons.

stevetrewick 11y ago

Totally agree that an ergonomically well designed remote with a small number of functions will provide a superior 'eyes off' UX. But it has sadly been quite some time since that description applied to any of the remotes I regularly actually use.

swsieber 11y ago
I have a Roku 3 and I like their remote - small and simple.
IgorPartola 11y ago
You know, I think the Roku remote comes close: https://image.roku.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Roku-3-remote-with-headphones.jpg https://image.roku.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Roku-... Unfortunately, their remotes are inconsistent between Roku devices. For example, some come with this layout: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41WCaJRUARL._AC_UL320_SR180,320_.jpg http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41WCaJRUARL._AC_UL320_.... Why the hell is it a good UX to include these proprietary buttons on there? I have an older version of it that includes Block Buster! They also have a phone app that I use frequently. It's not bad, but lacks the * button, making it impossible to turn off subtitles. Lastly, their remotes really need a way to control the TV power and volume. I hate having two remotes, one of which is just to turn the TV on/off. I believe the new Apple TV does have this feature, but of course it doesn't have Amazon Video so that's a no-go for me.

untog 11y ago

Yep - one of the reasons I could never get along with the Chromecast. Roku is far better as it has an actual tactile remote.

deleted 11y ago
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