AppleInsider Staff
According to a report on Monday, the Apple TV isn't the only piece of hardware in line for a redesign this year, as the device's long-in-the-tooth remote control is now expected to come with a built-in touch pad.
Citing sources familiar with Apple's upcoming Apple TV update, The New York Times reports the set-top streamer will come with a remote control that eschews existing directional ring buttons in favor of a touch pad.
Apple's new remote is expected to be slightly thicker than the current iteration and will retain two physical buttons, potentially the play/pause and menu pushers seen on the current device.
Originally launched with Apple TV in 2007, the current remote is milled from a single piece of aluminum and is considered by some as masterwork in design and engineering. With a highly streamlined button interface boiled down to only bare UI navigation necessities, the remote was trumpeted as a hallmark of Apple design and subsequently used to demonstrate such tenets at Apple University.
The report goes on to say that customers should see the revamped product launch alongside a refreshed Apple TV at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference June. Current rumors claim the new hardware will feature an A8 processor, dedicated App Store and Siri voice controls.
Apple is also widely rumored to be readying an over-the-top subscription streaming service to launch alongside new Apple TV hardware. During Apple's quarterly earnings conference call last week, CEO Tim Cook alluded to a coming shift in media consumption, saying his company could play a role in what he sees as "major, major changes" to the sector.
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
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Christine McKee
42 Comments
technically, the click wheel on later iPods like the Classic were touch sensors: they didn't have a moving wheel.
technically, the click wheel on later iPods like the Classic were touch sensors: they didn't have a moving wheel.
Yeah I never understood why they didn't put an iPod-like click wheel on the Apple TV remote. It would work great for scrolling lists and people were used to this interface.
The ATV remote is the worst engineered piece of hardware to ever come out of Apple. It seems purpose-built to generate errors when entering letters and numbers. I am convinced Steve never used it. If he had, he'd have thrown it against a wall and fired those responsible. Good riddance! If used as an exemplar at Apple U, it should be as one of form triumphing over function. A beautiful piece of shit.
The ATV remote is the worst engineered piece of hardware to ever come out of Apple. It seems purpose-built to generate errors when entering letters and numbers. I am convinced Steve never used it. If he had, he'd have thrown it against a wall and fired those responsible. Good riddance!
If used as an exemplar at Apple U, it should be as one of form triumphing over function. A beautiful piece of shit.
All remotes are terrible at keyboard functions. I have to wonder how PrimeSense will figure into this though.
Another RUMOR! Why a touchpad?!?! I have 3 AppleTV 3's and I don't know where a single Apple remote for any of them are at. I know I lost one years ago at my old place. The other 2?!?! I use Harmony 900 remotes to control them and it works great. Because it's a RF to IR remote, I don't need line of site and control in the other room if I want.