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0 pointsSwenrekcah5y ago0 comments

There is one thing Apple TV has so backwards that I can't even.

Text input.

All the letters lined alphabetically with only left-right movement allowed. Takes ages to input anything. Also no corrections allowed. I actually exit appleTV and use the built in TV apps for when I need youtube and the like, because their input mechanism is not insane.

I know there is a remote app for iPhones, but you do provide an actual remote, make it work ffs.

0 comments

jmiserez5y ago

Just FYI the remote app is baked into iOS. Whenever there's text input on the AppleTV the iPhone will show a notification in the drawer that can be used for text input. It's very convenient and works well.

mikestew5y ago

Good thing to point out and the Remote app is worlds better than the hardware remote, but...not everyone that buys an AppleTV owns an iPhone. When I watch TV, I want to leave my phone on the desk. But most of all, Apple can make the fucking remote UI work properly rather than rely on me having a $400 device lying around. Especially if Apple is going to make me use that crap piece of hardware they call a "remote".

entropicdrifter5y ago

Roku has this as well, at least with their Android app

ssully5y ago

I assume they made the letters one row because of how sensitive the touch pad is on the remote. For example, when picking a show on Netflix I constantly go down a row when I am just trying to go right on a column. I assume keeping the letters on one axis is a not so great work around.

mthoms5y ago

Just FYI, there's an option to adjust the sensitivity of the remote.

(Even so, what you describe still happens on occasion for me, but it helps)

adamparsons5y ago

Very strangely enough, the original 2D keyboard still exists in the OS. If you have one of those old silver Apple remotes from the Apple TV 1/2/3, clicking anywhere replaces the crappy long keyboard with the nicer grid one. Very bizarre Easter egg

AgloeDreams5y ago

Ehhh, I don't agree. Like at all.

If they had a 2D text input they wouldn't be able to do momentum in swiping as well as horizontal (side effect of the horrible remote), but more importantly, the primary text input on Apple TV is voice, in the moment just hold the Siri button. It takes in letters over voice too. Worlds faster than any other input on tv. No wonder they prioritized on it.

thewebcount5y ago

> Also no corrections allowed.

The last glyph in the row of letters is the delete key.

remote_phone5y ago

Use voice dictation. It works remarkably well for entering text

bouke5y ago

Except it doesn't. Maybe it works in English speaking countries watching only English titles. But in the other 90% of the bi-lingual world it doesn't. Set it to non-English (e.g. Dutch) and you cannot dictate English titles, or the other way around. Very annoying and frustrating.

ClumsyPilot5y ago

Try entering something like 'Les Misérables' or "into to Kubernetes"

cyberdrunk5y ago

> "into to Kubernetes"

That could be a movie about absurdity and meaninglessness of life...

wil4215y ago

Does the first one work when a French person pronounces it?

bobbylarrybobby5y ago

Although inconvenient, it does let you dictate individual letters. Which is almost as fast as tap-typing on a phone.

SwenrekcahOP5y ago

Well, thanks for the suggestion, I didn't know it was an option.

But what if I need to input a language that's not supported or I just don't want to yell at my TV to search a video?

piva005y ago

Then my iPhone pops up a "Keyboard Input" notification with a text input that I can type from the phone without unlocking it.

Of course, if you don't have your phone nearby it might suck but let's be realistic, how often you don't have your phone close by when watching TV?

P.S.: Yes, I know, if you are an Android user there is no way out and Apple sucks for that, not defending them at all.

1 more reply

quickthrowman5y ago

If you have an iPhone, you should get a prompt to enter text on your phone when you’re in an Apple TV search field.

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