why is the apple tv remote the worst thing ever designed?

[subjonas]

literally the ********* remote ever. this whole swiping nonsense for some dumb UI effects is so bad and terrible. the ring around the center button. constantly malfunctions. just a ****** design overall. and annoying. apple has become everything about aestetics and nothing about practicality.

You can turn off swipe and if your ring buttons are malfunctioning then you have a bad unit and should try to get it replaced. Any other issues with it?

 

[richard13]

I’m surprised that no one has mentioned using the remote control function that runs on an iPhone as an alternative to using what I agree is a terrible device (the ATV Siri Remote). I have an older iPhone (a 10XR) that I use primarily to control various devices in my home theater setup. It controls my Monolith HTP-1 processor, my Sonos Port music streamer, and my ATV4K. For anyone not familiar with the remote control function on the iPhone, which can be accessed from the Control Center, I have attached a screenshot below. It is really much easier to use than the ATV remote.

Control Center showing the remote control at the bottom:

View attachment 2529345

Remote Control:

View attachment 2529347

I have used this functionality before and it's pretty good. Unfortunately for me, my TV is not the absolute latest so it doesn't support HDMI-CEC to allow for control of the volume. So I have to keep using the Apple TV remote for volume.

 

[erihp]

I have used this functionality before and it's pretty good. Unfortunately for me, my TV is not the absolute latest so it doesn't support HDMI-CEC to allow for control of the volume. So I have to keep using the Apple TV remote for volume.

A cheap harmony (520) will solve all of these problems and more. CEC is terrible.

 

[subjonas]

A cheap harmony (520) will solve all of these problems and more. CEC is terrible.

Why is CEC terrible?

 

[erihp]

Why is CEC terrible?

It’s unreliable, depends on individual manufacture/device support, and can easily get confused or rendered inoperable if another HDMI device in the chain ain’t having it. It also only supports a limited number of buttons. Take the post I commented on as an example.

CEC also doesn’t support complex macros, or conditional operations. The harmony or other macro-based systems capable of discrete commands and activities/scenes are far superior and work with anything that accepts IR commands.

CEC is a black box, doesn’t scale, requires HDMI to function, and only (sometimes) works how you expect. Probably fine for most people who have a TV and one device. Terrible if you actually want full control of all your devices beyond power on/volume/navigation buttons.

 

[Abazigal]

I dunno. I quite like the remote and don't really have any real complaints about it.

 

[decafjava]

Worst thing EVER designed?

Like worse than sitting on a throne made of swords?
Worse than a car that explodes if you get rear-ended?
Worse than a phone that got banned from being taken on airplanes?

Worse than a toothpaste company making TV dinners?
View attachment 2528696

Please don't tell me the lasagna is real. 🤢 Also, a throne made of swords is pretty metal (pun intended).

I am pretty happy with my older ATV remote and I think I would like the current one.

 

[waziazi]

a throne of swords ought to be raigned upon a brain desised applefan's brain dead head a zillion times over

 

[AustinJerry]

Orrr the fact that all AppleTv devices support IR, so you can use any IR learning/smart remote solution you'd like.

Yes, of course. I use a Harmony remote as well. But for someone who doesn’t have a programmable remote and dislikes the ATV remote, the iPhone remote is something to consider.

 

[JeffPerrin]

I can use that one, and it's the remote that my wife prefers. It handles all of the basic functions. Far from a "POS".

I believe the new one is a good combination of this solid aluminum design with the addition of newer features. And if you don't like the swiping the wheel as the OP complains about (or your thumb grows tired from spending 30 minutes swiping through 1000 unwatchable Netflix titles), you do have the option of simply clicking up down left or right. Never had a malfunction either. Perhaps the OP has a defective remote? (a low or defective battery would cause problems)

 

[subjonas]

You can turn off swipe and if your ring buttons are malfunctioning then you have a bad unit and should try to get it replaced. Any other issues with it?

No response, @waziazi ?

 

[waziazi]

No response, @waziazi ?

it should just know how to make me happy. i don't need to turn off anything. it should turn itself off. it should even mold itself to cup my palm just like a tit feels in my hand. everything should feel perfect. sorry. it ain't it. again i dont like it feeling ice cold in the winter.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

I believe the new one is a good combination of this solid aluminum design with the addition of newer features. And if you don't like the swiping the wheel as the OP complains about (or your thumb grows tired from spending 30 minutes swiping through 1000 unwatchable Netflix titles), you do have the option of simply clicking up down left or right. Never had a malfunction either. Perhaps the OP has a defective remote? (a low or defective battery would cause problems)

Yes, scrolling let/right/up and down works well. But searching for a show and then typing the title or something similar is a pain in the neck. What has made it easier for me, in addition to the remote, is a bluetooth keyboard that uses AA battery cells, since I don't like to depend on rechargeable keyboards. I am using an older Apple keyboard that I kept from a previous iMac, which I find more useful than tapping the iPhones keyboard.