Has the Siri Remote Doomed the Apple TV?

[MattG]

I hate...HATE...the remote. I have two ATV 4s. In one room, I've already replaced it with a Harmony remote, and the other room -- I haven't gotten around to finding a replacement yet.

To those who are saying things in the same vein of "I don't see what the big deal is, they're not that hard to figure out," you're completely missing the point. They've designed this thing in a way that makes it damn near impossible to tell up from down easily; 50% of the time I get it wrong and I end up gripping the touch-interface half instead of the other half (it's especially a problem in darker rooms). A remote control with a good UI, you should be able to learn by feel so for common tasks (or when you're in the dark), you can use it without having to look at it.

That, plus the over-sensitivity of the device in general, even when I do manage to pick it up the right way... Just trying to move the remote from one place to another often triggers it to wake all my devices up. If I had a nickel for every time I've picked the damned thing up with the intent of simply *moving* it from point A to point B, or when my hand has brushed up against it while going after something else on my nightstand, causing it to turn on all my devices...

It's simply not a well-thought-out device.

 

[Snoopy4]

Don't use it and the functionality could have been via an app on other iOS devices. Would have rather seen the money spent on the unit itself. It works better than previous ATV units, but it's already outdated.

 

[jdag]

I am not sure if it has been mentioned in this thread or elsewhere, but I had a thought last night. It would be simple for Apple to add a gesture to lock the trackpad until you re-gesture. For instance, a long press could lock the trackpad, and the same long press unlock it.

 

[BlandUsername]

I concur. I love my ATV4 and the Siri remote. Sorry to hear a lot of folks having issues, but I'm perfectly fine.

J

Absolutely Hate the ATV4 remote, constantly gets lost in the clutter , inevitably stops whatever I am watching due to that silly huge button on top, Phone remote isn't really any better. Gotten to the point that I don't watch anything anymore on it, switched to sling and NHL on my MBA rather that use this clunker. Have to find how to bare metal reset this thing and sell it, ATV3 is so much better

 

[s15119]

Love the remote. I have no idea why your having difficulties, but it's not the remote

 

[Snoopy4]

Love the remote. I have no idea why your having difficulties, but it's not the remote

It's not about ease of use, it's about AGDR.

 

[boltjames]

I hate...HATE...the remote. I have two ATV 4s. In one room, I've already replaced it with a Harmony remote, and the other room -- I haven't gotten around to finding a replacement yet.

To those who are saying things in the same vein of "I don't see what the big deal is, they're not that hard to figure out," you're completely missing the point. They've designed this thing in a way that makes it damn near impossible to tell up from down easily; 50% of the time I get it wrong and I end up gripping the touch-interface half instead of the other half (it's especially a problem in darker rooms). A remote control with a good UI, you should be able to learn by feel so for common tasks (or when you're in the dark), you can use it without having to look at it.

That, plus the over-sensitivity of the device in general, even when I do manage to pick it up the right way... Just trying to move the remote from one place to another often triggers it to wake all my devices up. If I had a nickel for every time I've picked the damned thing up with the intent of simply *moving* it from point A to point B, or when my hand has brushed up against it while going after something else on my nightstand, causing it to turn on all my devices...

It's simply not a well-thought-out device.

Agree completely.

I've never owned a remote that I've been afraid of until now. If I touch it the wrong way, boom, it powers on, auto-switches my receiver, and whatever I was watching on my DVR is now interrupted until I shut ATV off and get the input straight again.

The other day, the wife and I are watching an iTunes Movie and my little son comes over, gives me a hug, boom, he's somehow leaned on the Siri remote and locked the thing into fast-forward (didn't even know there was an option to do that mind you) and now I've got to find the black remote in the dark and 50/50 pray I've picked it up in the right orientation, stop the fast-forward lock, and get back to where I was. By the time I did all this, we'd skipped forward about 30 minutes and saw some serious spoilers.

This remote is awful. How Apple could create a handheld device that is completely unfriendly to hands is shocking. This is the company that created the iPhone, right? Don't their divisions talk to each other?

BJ

 

[ApfelKuchen]

It hasn't doomed it. Nowhere close. That would suggest that the remote was a critical part of the buying decision. It's a remote. NOBODY expects a great experience from a remote. They'll buy ATV for what it can do.

If you were to do a statistical analysis of the reviews and internet complaints during ATV4 product release (when any product gets the most press and buzz), I'd guess that #1 would be, "The iOS remote app doesn't work!" and #2 would be, "More Siri functionality!" #3 (or maybe it was #1) was, "It's a pain to enter Apple IDs and passwords." Not coincidentally, all three of those have been addressed by updates. So what remains are, for the most part, secondary and tertiary complaints, not game-changers.

Most of those secondary complaints (and making a list of cumulative complaints from multiple users is not the same as seeing how many complaints any one user has, or noting how often that complaint appears) seem to revolve around personal expectations and usage habits.

A person can't help but click the touchpad whenever he picks up the remote? I habitually pick up remotes by the edges, about midway down the sides of the remote - it's a habit I acquired decades ago. That's specifically to avoid inadvertently clicking buttons, and so that the weight balances well in my hand. So, I've never encountered that particular problem with my ATV remote. Maybe I'm typical, maybe I'm weird.

Sure, saying, "You're holding it wrong" is now dismissed out-of-hand (so to speak) in Apple circles, but it can be a very valid observation. There are definitely wrong ways to pick up many tools, and a remote control is most definitely a tool. Would you grab a screwdriver or a knife by the blade, or the handle? There can be optimal and sub-optimal ways to use anything. Sometimes a user does have to adapt. The question is not whether you must adapt, but whether if you do adapt, you'll have a better experience? True failure comes when adaptation is not practical, comfortable, or possible.

 

[off_piste]

All that comes to mind is wee little violin and "first world problems."

 

[zachlegomaniac]

The only trouble my wife and I have with it is that sometimes an unintentional brush against it by on of us (or the dog) will cause it to fast forward or rewind while watching something. If there was a way to lock the remote, or touch surface, that would solve the problem for us. I'm thinking a similar function to the triple click menu button voiceover on/off feature, but for the touch pad.

 

[winstars]

The only trouble my wife and I have with it is that sometimes an unintentional brush against it by on of us (or the dog) will cause it to fast forward or rewind while watching something. If there was a way to lock the remote, or touch surface, that would solve the problem for us. I'm thinking a similar function to the triple click menu button voiceover on/off feature, but for the touch pad.

Absolutely Hate the ATV4 remote, constantly gets lost in the clutter , inevitably stops whatever I am watching due to that silly huge button on top, Phone remote isn't really any better. Gotten to the point that I don't watch anything anymore on it, switched to sling and NHL on my MBA rather that use this clunker. Have to find how to bare metal reset this thing and sell it, ATV3 is so much better

After I bought a case for my remote almost all my problems disappeared. Its not fiddly anymore and I actually can tell which way is up. That I had to buy a freaking case for a remote control is crazy but...

I bought both the Griffin Survivor and also the one in the link below. They are essentially the same although I bought the bright green case so it would stand out more in our bed sheets for instance...

http://www.amazon.com/Non-Slip-Grip...p/B018JXPHS4/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

 

[MattG]

All that comes to mind is wee little violin and "first world problems."

So true. How dare anyone complain about something they just spent $149 - $199 on, that many would agree has design flaws?

 

[off_piste]

So true. How dare anyone complain about something they just spent $149 - $199 on, that many would agree has design flaws?

Ok, you get a bigger violin.

 

[BlandUsername]

Ok, you get a bigger violin.

Please don't spare one of your violins for us. I am sure you need each and every one of them.

 

[theronbear]

I've never owned an ATV and the ATV4 is my first one which I got a few days back. I love the remote! My wife is a very non Tech person and she was amazed by it.

From your post I really can't tell what you feel is wrong with the remote. You keep saying it is bad and there are misgivings but never point out what they are. Can you please elaborate?

Perhaps you have a 4th generation ATV with the standard remote. I own that one as well and I have no problems. But I recently purchased the 64 GB with Siri remote and am having some frustrating issues:
(1) For instance when I'm scrolling through my TV shows list I can't seem to avoid the list changing from "by date" to "by show" to "unwatched."
(2) Also, when I find the item I want to click on I would like to be able to just tap the surface, but am required to press firmly resulting in frequently clicking on the wrong item.
(3) On the old button remotes I could easily employ slow and fast forward and reverse, haven't yet figure out how to do that on the Siri remote. I also found scanning forward and back easier on the old remotes.

I find I can efficiently control the remote using both hands and I guess I will eventually get used to it. As an long-time (almost 20 years now) Apple devotee and apostle I am sure I will find things I love about the Siri remote, but so far I am disappointed. By the way, I own 3 Apple TVs and my 1st generation one is still going strong.

 

[Mac... nificent]

On the old button remotes I could easily employ slow and fast forward and reverse, haven't yet figure out how to do that on the Siri remote. I also found scanning forward and back easier on the old remotes.

This is explained in the manual which is available online.

 

[JoeShades]

I will repeat what i have said before, if you don't like the remote ,YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE IT!!!!! no need to come here and complain, use any damn remote you want. How can a remote that is not needed doom something??

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Perhaps you have a 4th generation ATV with the standard remote. I own that one as well and I have no problems. But I recently purchased the 64 GB with Siri remote and am having some frustrating issues:
(1) For instance when I'm scrolling through my TV shows list I can't seem to avoid the list changing from "by date" to "by show" to "unwatched."
(2) Also, when I find the item I want to click on I would like to be able to just tap the surface, but am required to press firmly resulting in frequently clicking on the wrong item.
(3) On the old button remotes I could easily employ slow and fast forward and reverse, haven't yet figure out how to do that on the Siri remote. I also found scanning forward and back easier on the old remotes.

I find I can efficiently control the remote using both hands and I guess I will eventually get used to it. As an long-time (almost 20 years now) Apple devotee and apostle I am sure I will find things I love about the Siri remote, but so far I am disappointed. By the way, I own 3 Apple TVs and my 1st generation one is still going strong.

All 4th Generation ATVs come with the SIRI remote, not just the 64GB model.

Yes, it can take some getting used to. Some people can't get used to keyboards (never learned to touch type). I remember when mice first arrived, and the challenges some folks had. Trackballs, ditto. Trackpads, ditto. Magic Mouse (which has some trackpad-like features), ditto. Touch screens, ditto. Learning to clutch and stick shift, ditto... For all of these, some will take to them as a duck to water, others need time to assimilate, others abandon ship and stick to what they already know.

Apple can be seen as, in essence, a User Interface company. Sure, computing is in Apple's DNA, but that's true for many other companies. No other (of any size), has focused so heavily on pioneering alternatives to the dominant user interface. The ATV remotes (old and new) are both attacks on the 47-button remote that comes with the typical cable box. The ATV GUI is an attack on the miserable menu system that accompanies those 47-button cable remotes. Yeah, there's a learning curve, both for us, and for Apple as it learns how we adapt (or can't adapt) to their latest experiment. As far as I'm concerned, a little learning is a good thing.

 

[theronbear]

I will repeat what i have said before, if you don't like the remote ,YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE IT!!!!! no need to come here and complain, use any damn remote you want. How can a remote that is not needed doom something??

If you are upset by people having a constructive conversation, perhaps you should avoid message boards. I did not say the Siri remote will doom Apple TV, I only expressed my concerns hoping for some helpful responses. Your response... NOT HELPFUL!
[doublepost=1459014309][/doublepost]

This is explained in the manual which is available online.

Thanks, I did indeed review the online info and picked up a few helpful hints. Should have thought of that, duh. I also found that changing the trackpad setting to fast helped reduce my error rate... go figure, would have thought the opposite.
[doublepost=1459015235][/doublepost]

All 4th Generation ATVs come with the SIRI remote, not just the 64GB model.

Yes, it can take some getting used to. Some people can't get used to keyboards (never learned to touch type). I remember when mice first arrived, and the challenges some folks had. Trackballs, ditto. Trackpads, ditto. Magic Mouse (which has some trackpad-like features), ditto. Touch screens, ditto. Learning to clutch and stick shift, ditto... For all of these, some will take to them as a duck to water, others need time to assimilate, others abandon ship and stick to what they already know.

Apple can be seen as, in essence, a User Interface company. Sure, computing is in Apple's DNA, but that's true for many other companies. No other (of any size), has focused so heavily on pioneering alternatives to the dominant user interface. The ATV remotes (old and new) are both attacks on the 47-button remote that comes with the typical cable box. The ATV GUI is an attack on the miserable menu system that accompanies those 47-button cable remotes. Yeah, there's a learning curve, both for us, and for Apple as it learns how we adapt (or can't adapt) to their latest experiment. As far as I'm concerned, a little learning is a good thing.

All good points and eloquently stated. I certainly did not intend to imply that I agree with the premise that the Siri remote will somehow doom the ATV. I believe even most of us old farts will adapt soon enough and learn to love the new remote and Apple will continue to perfect it.
AND you are correct, I "mis-remembered," for some reason I thought my 3rd generation model was a 4th generation.

 

[JoeShades]

If you are upset by people having a constructive conversation, perhaps you should avoid message boards. I did not say the Siri remote will doom Apple TV, I only expressed my concerns hoping for some helpful responses. Your response... NOT HELPFUL!
[doublepost=1459014309][/doublepost]

Well i was not speaking to you so quite frankly i couldn't care less what you think is helpful

 

[KiwiAdventure]

The new remote is fantastic 100% better than the old remote and those that don't like the new remote I don't understand them at all.