Apple TV app for iOS will match all features of Siri Remote
The 2015 Apple TV is leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor, in every conceivable way. Powered by a full-featured version of iOS, the set top box provides access to all iOS games available on the iPad and iPhone, as well as an easy way to access streaming content, from every app available on other iOS devices.
Searching for something to watch, or play, on the new Apple TV is extremely easy, with the Siri remote, which allows the search of shows, movies, and games, using natural language queries. Controlling apps on the new Apple TV, from playback controls for movies and shows, to playing games, is also a breeze and a lot of fun, as the Siri remote integrates the same motion sensors, gyroscopes and touch pad as the iPhone, which allows to use the Siri Remote in the same way as a dedicated gamepad.
Since its unveiling last October, owners of the new Apple TV looking to play multiplayer games, had to purchase additional Siri remotes. This has been the only caveat of the new set top box, but according to Apple’s Vice President, Eddy Cue, and Apple Sr VP of Software Engineering things are about to change.
During the course of an interview with “The Talk Show“ host John Gruber, Cue reveals that the existing iPhone app designed to work with Apple TV, is about to get a major update, which will allow owners of the streaming device, to do on their iPhone everything they can do using the Apple TV remote. This includes the ability to play multiplayer games with one person using the Siri Remote, while another player uses an iPhone.
This is great news, because, for one thing, playing games is still completely new to Apple TV users, and more importantly, multiplayer features that are allowed only on separate iOS devices, can now be experienced on one big screen.
With that said, Apple is still mildly invested in gaming, as the focus seems to be still on the quality of streaming content. By this token, Apple is reportedly still very much interested in launching its very own streaming service, with rumors of the company’s perseverant talks with content providers, including the NFL Network, and NBC and CBS, as well as more rumors on an Apple original series, featuring Dr. Dre, who has collaborated with Apple in the past, on music streaming service Beats Music, recently replaced by Apple Music.