Filed under: Hardware, Multimedia, Apple, Apple TV, Music
The hits just keep coming: now there's a new Apple Remote
In the universal scheme of things, it's not a big thing, but it's a welcome update. Apple has announced a new Apple Remote that has aluminum niceness and works with the iPhone, iPods with the Universal Dock, and iMacs introduced since 2005 that have a built-in infrared receiver.According to Apple, the remote "gives you total command of your music, photos, videos, and DVDs from anywhere in the room. It works with Front Row to make accessing the digital content on your Mac as simple as navigating your iPod."
On an iPod or iPhone connected to a dock with IR you can "experience your songs, slideshows, and more from across the room. Plug your iPod into the Universal Dock and choose a playlist, slideshow, or video. Then sit back, relax, and enjoy. Ready to move on to the next song? No need to get up. Just press the Next button on the Apple Remote. Getting a call on your iPhone? Press Pause, then pick up where you left off."
It's a spiffy new design, with darker buttons instead of the all-white older model. Might make it easier to use when fumbling in the dark.
The remote will sell for U.S. $19.99 and is shipping in 2-4 weeks.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Joanna D said 1:06PM on 10-20-2009
Wow. Could they have made it any uglier?
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Steven said 1:10PM on 10-20-2009
I took a look at it before this was posted up, and I dont think it's really that ugly. I don't think you can make it look that great though to be honest. It's supposed to be a simplistic remote. I just wonder why they added in another circle for the play button. they could have kept it where they did the last time, and just make it look more modern. Oh well, I just hope it functions a little better... Still looks more fitting for the aluminum MacBooks and Pros. My plastic remote looks like a chew toy for my dog.
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CBeloch said 1:10PM on 10-20-2009
how ugly! why are there 2 buttons below? why can't it be one circle with a center button like the old one?
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mentalsticks said 1:13PM on 10-20-2009
no info about appleTV compatibility? that means they finally pulled the plug. long overdue.
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punkassjim said 3:08PM on 10-20-2009
I'm not sure if I share the "long overdue" sentiment, but one thing would make me agree: they really, REALLY need to add an on-screen interface to the iPhone/iPod Touch when it's in the Universal Dock. If I could aim my remote at the iPhone/Dock, and see my choices in a pseudo-FrontRow interface on the TV, it would totally obviate the need for an AppleTV.
brett_x said 1:17PM on 10-20-2009
It would be much better (and more universal) if it was bluetooth or possibly even wifi. I know it wouldn't be $20, but it would be worth it to not need line-of-site. Oh, and I have a Mac Pro, so it would be compatible...
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pardthemonster said 1:28PM on 10-20-2009
More universal if Bluetooth/Wi-Fi? I would love for you to post this in a Sony PS3 board... Having a Bluetooth/Wi-Fi (Bluetooth for Sony PS3) remote isn't all it's cracked out to be. Yes you can control the device through walls and under blankets, but you can toss the idea of using a universal remote good bye. The majority, if not all universal remotes work using IR technology. Sony PS3 users wanting to use a universal remote with their Sony PS3 have to get an IR->Bluetooth adapter just to do so. The same goes for your idea if it were to happen to the Apple Remote. Therefore creating mass chaos amongst anyone using their AppleTV/computer in a home theatre setup.
punkassjim said 2:44PM on 10-20-2009
@pard: mass chaos, LOL
Also, ubiquity doesn't necessarily mean "good" or "ready for the future." It's gonna be a hard transition for all of us to go from IR to a more future-ready standard like BT or WiFi, but it really needs to happen. IR is completely antiquated, and it's gonna need replacement at some point.
x23 said 4:33AM on 10-21-2009
"IR is completely antiquated, and it's gonna need replacement at some point."
'need'? really? why exactly?
Rob said 1:31PM on 10-20-2009
Yea what's up with no mention of tv? That's horrible news!
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noza said 1:34PM on 10-20-2009
Am I seeing right that it has a D-pad now? That's a nice addition, though it doesn't do anything for the AppleTV...
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punkassjim said 2:45PM on 10-20-2009
Better yet, it looks like an iPod-inspired touch wheel. Very curious about this. It's one of those times I wish they made full-fledged product pages for their miniscule products. Alas, all we get is the Store blurb.
brian said 1:37PM on 10-20-2009
Bah. Still too few buttons. It's a bit of a pain how many levels of menus you have to go through in Front Row to do some things. It'd be nice if 'Quit', 'Eject', and a few other things were permanent. And you can't turn the volume up/down if you're at a DVD menu where up/down selects different things on the screen. Etc etc etc. Plus I'd love nothing more than to be able to use one remote to quit Front Row and launch Hulu Desktop. (I've got a 3rd party remote but it has its own issues, plus requires a separate driver, and I just like it when things are built in and perfectly integrated.) Would it have killed Apple to add a couple user-definable buttons? Certainly wouldn't've made it any uglier. :-)
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Mark Gardner said 2:07PM on 10-20-2009
"And you can't turn the volume up/down if you're at a DVD menu where up/down selects different things on the screen"
It's unclear if the new direction pad acts like an iPod clickwheel. If it does, maybe you just spin your finger around the wheel?
Eric said 2:55PM on 10-20-2009
In my experience (unless this has changed with Snow Leopard), you can't navigate DVD menus easily, because the volume meter pops up when you press up or down.
SIP said 1:50PM on 10-20-2009
To confuse everyone, that's what the next iPod Shuffle will look like, except the iPod bit will be built into the remote.
And one more thing.... iPod Shuffle/Remote.
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Liberty For ALL! said 2:04PM on 10-20-2009
WOW! Absolutely NO new features?! I thought this was going to be more like a WIImote...
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Aerospeed said 3:11PM on 10-20-2009
This thing looks like a bad highschool fanboy mockup. What, did Jonny Ives call in sick?
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Rob said 5:33PM on 10-20-2009
I agree this remote is no better than the old one. What about making it compatible with the AppleTV?
And What about adding some desperately needed buttons like On/Off (i.e. On/Standby) etc.
Turning off (ie putting to standby) an AppleTV is a real pain. You must navigate through menus. Yuck.
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brian said 8:13PM on 10-20-2009
Pressing and holding 'Menu' on an original white remote puts my Mac mini to sleep and awakens it. Maybe that works with an Apple TV too?