As Nintendo’s ultra-popular Wii demonstrated back in 2006, adding motion sensors to a remote control can be fun — and dangerous for your TV when you start swinging the controller around during gameplay. Since the fourth-generation Apple TV supports games and its new Siri Remote includes motion sensors, Apple came up with its own safety solution: the Remote Loop, not surprisingly sold separately as a $13 accessory.
Our galleries below show what you can expect from the Remote Loop, including its packaging, the metal spikes it uses to grip the Siri Remote’s Lightning port, and the earlier Apple inspiration for its choice of fabrics….
Remote Loop’s most interesting feature is its metal tip. Similar in size and shape to a Lightning plug, it has two triangular spikes sticking out of its sides, retractable using buttons hidden on the edges of the plastic grip underneath. The spike idea originally debuted in Apple’s Dock Connectors a long time ago, but disappeared as Apple worked to shrink the size (and price) of the connector housings.
The back of the box shows the Remote Loop in white — probably for illustrative purposes — but it’s currently only available in black. Apple notes that it’s “Compatible with Siri Remote and Apple TV Remote,” indicating the different names for the new Apple TV’s remote in countries with and without Siri support. No instructions or warranty details are to be found in the box; the back points you to Apple’s web site for more information.
Beyond the Wii’s fabric remote strap, Apple’s inspiration for the Remote Loop was clearly the iPod touch Loop, a somewhat flimsy-feeling pack-in that enabled some fifth-generation iPod touches to be wrist-carried like cameras. The Remote Loop appears to be made from the same material, but it’s a little thicker, and more substantial-feeling thanks to the plastic and metal connector at the top. It clicks into place when connected to the Siri Remote, and doesn’t feel like it’s coming loose unless you press the release buttons inwards.
If the Wii controller provides any guidance, it shouldn’t be too long until we see rubber cases for the Siri Remote… oh, wait, they already exist (Griffin’s Survivor Play and Ozaki’s O!Coat), and sell for $20 each. Because of course they do.
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The fact that people already shattered their new Remote…
This isn’t for avoiding shattering the remote, this is so that the remote does not slip out of your hand while playing motion games and shatter your TV screen. Similar issue happened when the Nintendo Wii came out. This is a safety strap for people who want to be proactive.
Is it possible to use it with iPhone 6/6S?
It’s called buying a case and lanyard. Items that have been used on phones for over 10 years.
“for over 10 years”, EXACTLY! this is not 1995, who uses phone case? not me. sorry.
Can it apply to iPhone or iPad ?
just confirmed with a specialist, it will work
I’d think other iDevices don’t have the slots for the triangular spikes so you’d just damage your Lightning port by trying it.
It doesn’t seem to lock into place firmly enough with the other Lightning devices I’ve tried.
One other benefit to the strap is being able to tell which end is up, in a dark room.
But you should be able to tell anyway because the volume up/down is one continuous button whereas the left side of the remote has two separate buttons (Siri and play/pause).
These kind of nice things used to come for free with the already pricier Apple products… see Dock on iPods, etc – Not anymore. nowadays you have to be lucky you get a cable to sync and charge your apple devices. Exactly what I would expect a premium product / company to offer. To bad they get greedy again.
I have an ATV 3, plus 2 iPhones, 2 iPads, and a MacBook Air. I like Apple. But, after getting the ATV I later got a Roku for Sling TV. Now, I seldom use the ATV. The Roku remote came with a strap. The new ATV remote should have done likewise. At some point it crosses over from “high quality, pay for what you get” and it dives into “extract every penny out of them that you can.” Hey, the stock’s doing great, so that’s all well and good. But these small moves do not encourage me to look into the ATV 4 or other Apple products.
Omg, so I know Apple is notorious for its pricey products and accessories, but geez – come one Apple! How dare you ask 13$ for such a simple loop… This should just come with the AppleTV in the box.
Sold separately? Seriously? Do they really need the money that badly? Unreal.