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Are their any aftermarket remotes worthwhile for the ATV4?

S

Shockwave78

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jul 10, 2010
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Have been running the Apple TV 4 on two TVs in my house since December and use them as my main service. Everything is great except the damn remote. Can’t take it anymore more.

Are there any good aftermarket remotes you guys have tried that works well? I don’t need any touch features so I don’t care about that. Using our phones to control is an option of course but just cumbersome you using your phone I guess while watching tv.

Just to add, I have swapped over 3 other people as well from cable/satellite to Apple TV and they are pulling their hair out as well lol. One of them needed another box for downstairs and chose to get the Roku instead just because of the remote.

Any info appreciated
 
Literally any IR remote will work with the ATV4. Go into settings and the ATV will learn whatever buttons you want to use on the remote. If your TV remote has extra buttons that don't do anything you can assign those buttons to the ATV.

Or, you can get a nice universal remote like a Logitech Harmony. I have the Harmony Hub with the basic remote that comes with it and it works great.
 
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Thanks, I figured the harmony and other universal remotes worked but the configurations is what had me wondering.

Anyone know if buttons like page/info work on the universal remotes on streaming apps like DIRECTV now and PSVUE? That’s what I miss the most probably!
 
I am currently using iRule on an iPad Mini. The scrolling feature is the only part I miss since there isn't a button yet on the iRule that allows for scrolling like what we are used to doing.
 
Shockwave78 said:
Have been running the Apple TV 4 on two TVs in my house since December and use them as my main service. Everything is great except the damn remote. Can’t take it anymore more.

Just to add, I have swapped over 3 other people as well from cable/satellite to Apple TV and they are pulling their hair out as well lol. One of them needed another box for downstairs and chose to get the Roku instead just because of the remote.

Any info appreciated
Click to expand...

What is so bad about the remote? I've been using it since release day of the Apple TV 4 with out any issues and I have not pulled out my hair?
 
Shockwave78 said:
Have been running the Apple TV 4 on two TVs in my house since December and use them as my main service. Everything is great except the damn remote. Can’t take it anymore more.
Click to expand...
If the problem is how it handles, rather than the functions offered, you might consider tweaking the existing remote rather than buying a replacement. I got the ATV4 the first day, and pretty early on added a Griffin Survivor Play case, and Apple's Remote Loop (I never use it as a wrist strap, just as a "tail"). With the remote all dressed up, it would definitely not meet Jony Ive's approval, but it's much easier to pick up, much easier to hold/grip, and trivial to tell which end is which even without looking (because of the tail, and because the non-touchpad end of the case puts a layer of silicone over the top of the remote). The translucent/whiteish case also makes the remote easier to see, and less likely to slip off flat surfaces (actually I frequently set it on a 45-degree sloped part of the couch, and it stays put). I've been quite pleased with it in this configuration, and it's been my primary interface for watching TV for a long time. I'd like to see them make a more ergonomic remote, but in this form it works quite well.

I've got a Logitech Harmony (a 650), that is great for macros (starting the TV, and Apple TV, with or without the surround system, all together, and of course for turning everything off with one button). I use it to start up everything, shut down everything, and for the odd occasions when I want to watch over-the-air broadcasts. I do everything else with Apple's remote. The Harmony can run the ATV4 directly, well enough (minus the touchpad and Siri), but I much prefer the responsiveness of Apple's Siri Remote (BT works great and doesn't care where it's pointed). Plus the fact that with the Siri remote, I'm holding something small that has exactly the buttons I need, rather than having 40+ buttons, only 10 of which (randomly strewn across the remote) are relevant. As stated above, the ATV4 can learn to work with most any remote you'd like to use, but the trick is finding one you like.
 
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I love my Harmony Elite remote which controls all of my AV equipment like magic, although it doesn't replicate the touch pad functionality of the aTV4 remote. For the odd occasion that this is useful (scrubbing through films in Plex) I tend to use the iPhone app, which works perfectly.
 
CarlJ said:
If the problem is how it handles, rather than the functions offered, you might consider tweaking the existing remote rather than buying a replacement. I got the ATV4 the first day, and pretty early on added a Griffin Survivor Play case, and Apple's Remote Loop (I never use it as a wrist strap, just as a "tail"). With the remote all dressed up, it would definitely not meet Jony Ive's approval, but it's much easier to pick up, much easier to hold/grip, and trivial to tell which end is which even without looking (because of the tail, and because the non-touchpad end of the case puts a layer of silicone over the top of the remote). The translucent/whiteish case also makes the remote easier to see, and less likely to slip off flat surfaces (actually I frequently set it on a 45-degree sloped part of the couch, and it stays put). I've been quite pleased with it in this configuration, and it's been my primary interface for watching TV for a long time. I'd like to see them make a more ergonomic remote, but in this form it works quite well.

I've got a Logitech Harmony (a 650), that is great for macros (starting the TV, and Apple TV, with or without the surround system, all together, and of course for turning everything off with one button). I use it to start up everything, shut down everything, and for the odd occasions when I want to watch over-the-air broadcasts. I do everything else with Apple's remote. The Harmony can run the ATV4 directly, well enough (minus the touchpad and Siri), but I much prefer the responsiveness of Apple's Siri Remote (BT works great and doesn't care where it's pointed). Plus the fact that with the Siri remote, I'm holding something small that has exactly the buttons I need, rather than having 40+ buttons, only 10 of which (randomly strewn across the remote) are relevant. As stated above, the ATV4 can learn to work with most any remote you'd like to use, but the trick is finding one you like.
Click to expand...

I will 2nd the idea of adding a case. I bought 6 silicone cases on eBay for about $6-$7 (they were sold in packages of 6 even though I only needed 3 it was well worth it).

It sounds crazy, but makes a world of difference. It is easier to hold the remote, find the top, and even locate the remote on the black leather couch (I bought blue cases for this reason).

Also, be sure to adjust the sensitivity to your preference.

I've also used a Harmony 650 with the Apple TV and I personally don't like having to scroll the ATV interface, particularly the keyboards, by clicking buttons or using long presses which are very inaccurate.

TL/DR: Get a case, it makes a huge difference in control.
 
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jdag said:
I will 2nd the idea of adding a case. I bought 6 silicone cases on eBay for about $6-$7 (they were sold in packages of 6 even though I only needed 3 it was well worth it).

It sounds crazy, but makes a world of difference. It is easier to hold the remote, find the top, and even locate the remote on the black leather couch (I bought blue cases for this reason).

Also, be sure to adjust the sensitivity to your preference.

I've also used a Harmony 650 with the Apple TV and I personally don't like having to scroll the ATV interface, particularly the keyboards, by clicking buttons or using long presses which are very inaccurate.

TL/DR: Get a case, it makes a huge difference in control.
Click to expand...




I too bought a case for the remote when there was a waiting list for them at Griffin... early adapter I guess...

It has made a world of difference and I have since bought one for everyone I know who has the ATV4...
 
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The only problem with after market remotes, is unless u use Siri remote u'll loose features, some may be important like double tap multi-task switcher. You can program these in sometimes like on Harmony remotes, or just could be just not available to some others.
 
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The free AppleTV app for iPhone/iPad turns your iOS device into a remote for ATV. It is not great but is a little more useful than the supplied remote. For example, pinching works with some ATV apps.
 
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