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A bit dumber than a “smart device”: the new AppleTV remote is a tiny touchpad that communicates with the box via Bluetooth. The problem is when this thing ends
by bradgessler 9y ago
A bit dumber than a “smart device”: the new AppleTV remote is a tiny touchpad that communicates with the box via Bluetooth. The problem is when this thing ends up in a cushion or gets squished under a pillow it pauses, stops, or starts rewinding the video. Compare that to a cheaper IR remote where it simply can’t communicate with the unit in those situations. Turns out line of sight is a feature for a TV remote.
- grzm 9y agoYeah, that's happened to me, too. It's small, slim size makes it fit just about anywhere. I do like not having to point it at the box however, and it means the AppleTV unit can be placed out of sight. It is a tradeoff, though.
- icebraining 9y agoWith HDMI-CEC, your TV can receive the IR signal and pass the instruction back to the AppleTV through the wire, without having to place the unit in sight.
- grzm 9y agoSo that's what's going on when I've nudged the universal remote when using the AppleTV. Cheers!
- josteink 9y agoThe Logitech harmony remote also works over radio so it doesn’t need line of sight. But it’s not so small that it gets lost. I never use my Apple TV remote. It’s not practical enough.
- grzm 9y agoAnd I much prefer mine over any other I’ve used. One of us must be wrong ;)
- starsinspace 9y agoThe AppleTV 4 remote is, to me, the worst remote control I have ever used, with a big margin. I don't understand how this thing could ever get through usability/ergonomics testing at Apple.
- humanrebar 9y ago> Turns out line of sight is a feature for a TV remote. It can be, but for bad TVs you have to do "remote tai chi" to get LoS between the remote and the TV sensor from wide angles or when there are people or things in the way. I wouldn't call digital signalling better, but there are some benefits.
- kaybe 9y agoOften that means you have to replace the remote batteries.
- FroshKiller 9y agoWith my old TV, I'd pick up the remote and just point it at the wall behind me so the beam would scatter. It was much more likely to work than pointing the remote at the TV.