Apple is updating the Remote App for iPhone so that it will have the same functions as the standalone Apple TV remote control. The tip was revealed by two Apple executives on John Gruber’s tech podcast this week. Apple's Senior Vice President of Internet Software, Eddy Cue, and Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, said they expect the new app to be ready in a few months. “You can’t broadcast this for three months,” the duo joked after disclosing the information.
The update will give the app the capacity to double as a second gaming controller. “The new remote app will do all the capabilities that new existing apple remote does,” Cue clarified. This means the update will give the app access to Siri voice commands and trackpad gestures. “ You have the trackpad function of the remote...you’ll be able to do that with the phone. It’s really a full replacement,” Federighi said.
It is unclear if these new features will be rolled out in an update for Apple’s current Remote App or if it will be a completely new app for the Apple TV because Cue and Federighi did specifically say “new remote app” rather than remote app update. Apple had just released a brand new remote control along with the next-gen Apple TV in October, but the existing Remote App was not updated along with the Apple TV. Right now, the app only has basic Apple TV control features like being able to type on the keyboard.
Jimmy Fallon recently pointed to an obvious downside of the new Apple TV remote during his weekly Friday night Tonight Show ‘Thank You Notes’ skit.
“Thank you, new Apple TV Remote, for being thinner, sleeker, and even better than getting lost in my couch somewhere,” Fallon said. “Were stuck watching whatever show it is,” he added. An updated app with a more useful interface would give users that have suffered this issue some major relief.
Scroll to 22 minutes on John Gruber’s podcast to listen to Cue and Federighi’s full discussion. No release date for the update, or possibly new app, has been confirmed.
