While the big news for Apple TV fans was the updated Apple TV 4K, with HDR support, it looks like the Siri Remote also got a few small updates.
Siri Remote gets a minor refresh and lower price
Siri Remote
Apple TV 4K may ship with a redesigned Siri Remote featuring haptic feedback
The irresponsibly leaked iOS 11 Gold Master build is a gift that keeps on giving, but tvOS 11 has its own secrets as well, with latest discoveries pointing to a refreshed Siri Remote in tow for a fifth-generation Apple TV model to be called “Apple TV 4K”.
Apple TV Siri Remote is on a serious backorder
A 4K-capable Apple TV refresh may or may not be announced at Apple's presentation next Tuesday (it certainly is on our wish list for the upcoming event). Coincidentally or not, the current Siri Remote for the fourth-generation Apple TV is on a serious backorder on the US and Canada Apple Online Store and is now shipping in 2-3 weeks.
Hands-on with tvOS 10.2: fast scrolling, updated Remote app & more
You no longer have to scroll through long lists on your Apple TV for minutes on end like an animal, courtesy of the latest firmware released yesterday alongside iOS 10.3, macOS Sierra 10.12.4 and watchOS 3.2.
It lets you scroll through longs lists with ease and contains other user-facing features and under-the-hood improvements. For instance, rented iTunes movies can be finally enjoyed on other devices.
And with the updated Remote app, you can control the set-top box via your iPad or other iOS device, browse your playlists and more. Be sure to watch Andrew's hands-on video for everything new in tvOS 10.2 and share your favorite new feature in comments.
Apple TV Remote app gains support for iPad, lyrics, playlists, chapters & more
Apple's free app for controlling Apple TVs from anywhere in your home via your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch was just updated on App Store following a barrage of software updates that the company released for iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS earlier this morning. Bumped to version 1.1, the official Apple TV Remote app finally supports iPad natively and now lets you see music lyrics, browse playlists, navigate chapters and more.
tvOS 10.2 for Apple TV now available with accelerated scrolling & other enhancements
Your fourth-generation Apple TV just got a tad easier to use with a second major update to the set-top box's operating system now available following tvOS 10's debut last fall. The tvOS 10.2 software update (build 14W265) is now available on fourth-generation Apple TVs as a free over-an-air download in Settings → System → Software Updates.
How to change the behavior of the TV button on your Apple TV remote
In this brief tutorial, we will show you how to change the behavior of the TV button on your Apple TV Siri Remote and set it to open the TV app or take you to the Home Screen.
Apple TV games are no longer required to support Siri Remote
Apple has dropped the requirement for tvOS games to use the Siri Remote, according to a refreshed version of the official Game Controller Programming Guide. With this change in place, games for the fourth-generation Apple TV are now permitted to require a 'Made for iOS' (MFi) controller without needing to also support the Siri Remote.
Apple TV’s Siri can now tune you in to live broadcasts in supported apps
Apple has enhanced the tvOS operating system via a silent backend update that now permits users to ask Siri to tune in to live broadcasts in supported apps such as Disney XD, ESPN and CBS, the latter having gained integration with the Apple TV's universal search feature yesterday.
MacRumors has caught wind of this useful new feature addition on a splash screen that customers see after upgrading their 4th-generation Apple TV to the new tvOS software.
Tip: use this secret Siri Remote shortcut to manually send tvOS diagnostic logs to Apple
Much like other Apple devices, your Apple TV lets you elect to have tvOS periodically send usage data to Apple and share crash logs with developers. When Share with App Developers is enabled underneath the Diagnostics Data heading in Settings → General → Privacy, your Apple TV will send diagnostic and usage information to Apple.
This data is used for the sole purpose of improving Apple's products and services. None of the collected information identifies users personally but those who are concerned about their privacy will likely have this feature disabled, just in case.
There are cases when Apple might ask you to send them these log files manually—for instance, when using the Apple TV's hidden remote diagnostic feature to help an advisor troubleshoot any problems you may be plagued with.
Thankfully, tvOS has a secret Siri Remote shortcut to override your Privacy settings and manually send those crash logs and diagnostic data straight to Apple.
tvOS 9.2 is here: Dictation, folders, Live Photos, wireless keyboards, iCloud Photo Library & more
tvOS 9.2, a new update for the operating system which powers the fourth-generation Apple TV, is now available for public consumption. The new firmware, released alongside iOS 9.3, OS X El Capitan 10.11.4 and watchOS 2.2, is a very interesting update for the cool new features it brings to the table.
tvOS 9.2 enables several features missing from the initial tvOS release, including long-awaited support for wireless keyboards, dictation, Siri support for App Store searches, app folders on the Home screen, a revamped app switcher, Siri Remote improvements, support for Live Photos and iCloud Photo Library and more.
How to use Siri on Apple TV in unsupported countries
Follow along with us as we show you how to turn on and use the Siri personal assistant on your Apple TV, even if you live in an unsupported country or region.