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Comment by anuragsoni | Hacker News Reader

I like the apple tv interface, but I really disliked the remote that ships with it. The touchpad like interface feels really awkward, i would lift it up the wrong way pretty much every time. I remember reading about an apple certified 3rd party remote that was more like a traditional tv remote but that was only sold in the european market for some reason. If they ever decide to switch back to a proper remote i'll take a look at apple tv again. I'll keep running a roku til that happens.

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I bought a silicon sleeve[0] for my remote - it makes it much easier to find in the dark, and it makes it really obvious which way is the right way to grab and use it.

I generally use the built in remote app on my iPhone though - it’s accessible from control center, and my phone is usually easier to find than the remote at any given moment.

[0] https://www.amazon.com/Remote-Generation-Silicone-Controller...

Not a huge fan of the Apple TV remote either (But I also don't hate it). The good news is that the Apple TV plays nice with stock TV remotes + game console controllers — I use my 8bitdo Sn30 Pro, but PS/Xbox controllers should work fine too.

If you already own an extra gamepad, then it's worth a try and doesn't cost extra. There's a few gems in Apple Arcade, which was a surprise.

> Not a huge fan of the Apple TV remote either (But I also don't hate it). The good news is that the Apple TV plays nice with stock TV remotes + game console controllers — I use my 8bitdo Sn30 Pro, but PS/Xbox controllers should work fine too.

Thanks, this is nice to know! I'll keep this in mind for whenever I'm ready to replace my Roku.

I didn’t like it at first, but now it’s my favorite tvbox remote ever.

Mainly because it doesn’t take batteries, is flat, works great with my phone, and I can use the touchpad without finding the specific button in the dark.

I do pick it up the wrong way a lot, but it’s better than all other devices I’ve tried- fire, roku, tv, wd.

Just not having to find doubleA batteries in the past few months has made me accept it.

The built in batteries are indeed nice and I did like that aspect of the remote.

> and I can use the touchpad without finding the specific button in the dark.

Interesting! This goes to show how the same design feels so different to different users :)

I think I could've gotten used to the touchpad if I spent a lot more time with with the apple-tv/remote, but at the time it felt like a big regression. Compared to the roku remote, i'd lose a mute button, a headphone jack for private listening, and ended up with a touch heavy interface that was more frustrating than useful considering me and wife would pick it up the wrong way a lot. At the end of the day I decided to stick with a Roku and have something that doesn't frustrate my wife, instead of trying to get used to the remote just to have the apple tv interface :)

The Apple TV 4k supports HDMI CEC (and I'd assume the earlier models do too?)

My normal LG TV remote works fine for controlling it

I had gotten used to my Apple TV remote. Sure, it kinda sucked not being able to instantly orient it but I kind-of got used to that too. Sure, it kinda sucked when I would accidentally brush my finger against the trackpad and do something unintended but I kind-of got used to that too.

But it being made out of glass. What where they thinking?! You know how I orient the Apple TV remote now? My fingers know where the broken glass is on it. Making that out of glass was so beyond a dumb idea that I can't begin to imagine what they were thinking.

The end result is, I love the Apple TV, but I don't know that I'll ever buy another one if the remote continues to be made of glass.

I initially preferred the old, aluminium Apple TV remote when I first got the new one. But now, especially with kids I really appreciate the new one.

- My four year old can search for shows by asking Siri instead of needing to type

- When we're all watching together you can slide your finger over the touch surface to make one of the icons wobble in 3D. It's great when you're asking which episode someone would like to watch, you can highlight and focus the UI for them

- No batteries and charges by lightning. I never had those R2032 batteries for the Aluminium remote whenever it ran out

Agreed on lifting it up the wrong way every time. I bought a few cheap silicon covers for mine in bright colours and it really helps

Of all the apple remotes, I liked the old white one because it was tactile and clicky. (although they overloaded too many features on the buttons)

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