Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Control Your Apple TV
With only four buttons, the Apple Remote included with your Apple TV is quite possibly the
most elegant remote control ever made. However, that simplicity hides some useful features.
This chapter will teach you how to master the Apple Remote's basic features and shortcuts.
Butyou'renotlimitedtotheAppleRemote;theAppleTVcanbecommandedbyathird-party
remote, an iOS device with Apple's Remote app, or a Bluetooth keyboard. Each option offers
considerably more power than the Apple Remote, and each has its own particular strengths
(and weaknesses).
Choose Your Weapon
You have several choices in how you control your Apple TV. Here are the pros and cons of
each.
•
Apple Remote:
ThisisthedefaultcontrollerfortheAppleTV,anditisincluded
inthebox.It'sdelightfullysimple,butit'ssmall,easytolose,andoffersfewercap-
abilities than the alternatives. You may also find it slow and tedious to type with.
To master the Apple Remote, jump to
Tame the Apple Remote
.
•
Third-party remotes:
The Apple TV can learn to recognize signals from
any
infrared remote you choose. A third-party remote may offer a lot more shortcut
buttons than the Apple Remote, and you can easily program each button for use
with the Apple TV. Learn how in
Pair a Third-party Remote
.
•
Remote for iOS:
With Apple's Remote app, you can control an Apple TV with
an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. You can quickly play iTunes media from your
computer and use the iOS onscreen keyboard to enter text. However, the app's
gesture-basedcontrolscanbeslippery.Ishowyouhowtosetuptheappandwalk
you through its features in
Run the Remote App
.
•
Keyboard:
You can use any Bluetooth keyboard as a remote for the Apple
TV, making text entry and menu browsing a breeze. Alternatively, a Mac app,
Type2Phone, makes it easy to work from any Mac keyboard—if you have a
MacBook Air, this may be an ideal solution. For more, read
Become an Apple TV
Tame the Apple Remote
Let's take a look at each button on the Apple Remote (
Figure 8
) to see what it does:
