“Apple has long ridiculed remote controls for being too complex,” Brian X. Chen reports for The New York Times. “Now after eight years of a minimalist design for its Apple TV remote, the company is revising the device’s design.”
“When Apple introduces its new TV box this summer, the remote control will gain a touch pad and also be slightly thicker than the current version, according to an employee briefed on the product, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the device was confidential,” Chen reports. “The touch pad can be used for scrolling around and there will also be two physical buttons, the person said. The remote’s thicker size is comparable to the remote control for Amazon’s wireless speaker, the Echo, the person added.”
“The new Apple TV is expected to be introduced this June during Apple’s annual conference for software developers, according to the employee briefed on the remote,” Chen reports. “Apple has held talks with a number of leading television groups to offer an Internet-based TV service this year for its Apple TV, iPhone and iPad, according to people briefed on the company’s plans.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: As we mentioned last month, current Sony 4K TVs are currently shipping with a more rudimentary touchpad remote than the one from Apple as per rumors. You can see Sony’s touchpad remote in action in this video:
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Dan K.” for the heads up.]
Related article:
Apple patent application reveals new gesture control pad for future Apple TV remote – April 16, 2015