How apple tv 4th generation works. Why you should buy a fourth-generation Apple TV

At the recent WSJDLive conference, Tim Cook officially announced that pre-orders for the new Apple TV will open on October 26th. In connection with this event, many users of consoles of previous generations asked a reasonable question: is it worth buying a new product? The answer, as always, lies on the surface.

Prices

Apple TV 3G, introduced back in 2012, has not sunk into oblivion, but has remained on sale at a price of $69. sort of a budget option for those who are not interested in Siri Remote and games on the set-top box. In turn, Apple TV 4 will be distributed at a price of $149 for a model with 32GB of internal memory and $199 for a 64GB version.

App Store

Perhaps the most significant difference between the old and new generations of set-top boxes is the presence of their own App Store for tvOS. According to Apple, applications will significantly expand functionality Apple TV. From now on, owners will have access to live broadcasts of TV channels and various streaming video services, including domestic ones: Apple is negotiating with representatives of Russian video services ivi.ru, Okko, Amediateka and others. In addition, the games are expected to attract a much larger audience of users.

Apple TV Remote

The reimagined set-top box has also got a new remote control called the Apple TV Remote with built-in microphones and a touchpad. With it, you can control the device through voice commands, and the touchscreen allows you to navigate the menu more comfortably. Moreover, the remote can be turned into a makeshift gamepad, which is now a must.


Universal Search and Siri

Apple TV 4th generation allows for multi-platform search across a variety of third party services and apps including iTunes, Netflix and Hulu. Thanks to Siri, the user can find out in what year this or that movie was released, rewind playback forward or backward, clarify the last phrase spoken by the actor, and much, much more.

Permission

Despite the fact that the new set-top box has the technical ability to support the 4K (2160p) format, it is disabled at the software level. Therefore, in this case, there is parity between the third and fourth generations. Both consoles support Full HD 1080p.

Frame rate and audio channels

As for the maximum frame rate per second, the Apple TV 4 boasts support for the now common 60 fps. Supported audio formats include HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from the iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3 and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV, and Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Plus 7.1.

Apple TV 3G plays video at a maximum frame rate of 30 fps. But with audio channels, the situation is approximately the same, except for the lack of support for 7.1-channel sound. But it has an optical audio output.


Hardware

Another significant difference between the two generations of set-top boxes can be called the processing power of the processor. So, Apple TV 4 is equipped with a 64-bit Apple A8 chip, and the third model is content with the outdated 32-bit A5 in every sense. However, it should be noted that the A5 still copes with all tasks perfectly, but the extensive functionality of the new set-top box turned out to be very resource-demanding.

Interfaces

In this case, no surprises, but some differences still take place. Apple TV 4 announced support WiFi networks 802.11ac (MIMO) format, as well as gigabit Ethernet. In addition, the manufacturer equipped the 2015 set-top box with an infrared port, HDMI, Bluetooth 4.0 and USB-C, but the latter is only for service.

Apple TV 3 equipped old version HDMI, optical audio output (which is not new), as well as Wi-Fi 802.11n, Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0 and Micro-USB.

Interestingly, the new Apple TV does not support connecting external keyboards, which its predecessor did very well. In addition, the lack of an optical output may negatively affect the interest in buying music lovers and lovers of crystal clear sound.


What to choose?

Perhaps, the Apple TV of the previous generation can be bought by those (if you have not already done so) who do not care about the presence in the set-top box of a built-in application store, games and all sorts of “gadgets” in the form of Siri and universal search. For such users, playback of multimedia content from the home media library and streaming content from the iPhone and iPad will be enough.

The novelty is intended for those who are interested in the idea of ​​​​apps and games on Apple TV, voice assistant, a new more convenient remote control and 7.1 audio format. The only disadvantage of Apple TV 4 for a Russian-speaking user is the lack of Siri support and, as a result, all the advantages voice control.

A sober look at the new Apple.

I didn't buy an Apple TV until it had the App Store.

And this is not my story - just a conscious, collective decision of the majority. Until now, the Cupertino set-top box has been a tool for playing movies and music from iTunes. Not more.

For some this was enough. The rest sat and waited for the Apple TV to turn into something like an iPhone or iPad, only for a TV.


We waited.

Before we start, thank you. The guys from iCases.ru were the first to provide Apple TV 4 for testing. Respect!

How is the new Apple TV different from the old one?


Let's close this question right now.

What's good about the new console:

  • has an improved, simplified interface and menu;
  • supports installing applications from the App Store;
  • has extended memory for media files and applications;
  • comes with an advanced touch control panel.

There are a few minor negative differences:

  • no optical audio output;
  • The body has doubled in height.

If the whole list seemed insignificant to someone, this is normal. The whole point of the new generation of Apple TV is in adding App Store support and changing the legacy menu format. All other improvements are derivative.

But the very appearance of applications on the Apple TV set-top box, and from the most successful store in the world, is a definite step forward and a breakthrough that we have been waiting for for five years.

Too bad there isn't much to see...

The same black, only thick


Many foreshadowed a total redesign of the new Apple TV. All missed.

Apple TV 4th generation - still black box with matt finish and glossy sides. Continuity is almost 100%.

The difference is only in height: whatever you say, you can’t call the new prefix invisible, it like two old models! The situation is amazing, given Apple's course to reduce the thickness of everything and everything.

The increase in the case is due to a significantly improved "stuffing", but something tells me that this is temporary. Rest assured that next generations will get smaller and this will be served as a mini-breakthrough :)


There are standard connectors at the back, with the exception of one.

  • HDMI 1.4
  • 10/100BASE‑T Ethernet port
  • USB-C for service and support
  • Power port

Connection difficulties

Owners of older models will notice the lack of an optical output. Apple decided that there was no future for him - and seriously strained some of the owners of good audio equipment. Of course, there is a way out: you can find a modern receiver with an HDMI input, through which the sound will go; but this is an additional waste for those who previously relied on time-tested Hi-Fi technology.

It’s good that we have had a Philips soundbar in our office for almost a year now, where there is exactly what you need - an HDMI input and output. Someone will be less lucky.

In the end it turns out like this. To output sound from Apple TV, you will have to choose one of two options:

  • or buy a receiver with HDMI;
  • or output sound from Apple TV through the AUX output of the TV to the existing equipment.

The latter option is bad because your TV is added to the sound processing circuit, which in one way or another will distort the signal. Still, you should not despair: only audiophiles and purists will notice the fact, the rest will not care.

Remote, which is now a gadget


Reminds iPod touch or iPhone, right? That's right: now it's a full-fledged device, and not a bar of aluminum with tight buttons.

Inside the console are:

  • accelerometer and gyroscope, following the movement;
  • microphone who listens to what you say;
  • battery for several months of work;
  • Lightning connector for battery charging.

It looks both stylish and unsightly due to the fact that the front part is divided into two zones. The bottom one is glass with oleophobic coating, which, as it turned out, easy to break. Wait leather cases for the remote control, how to drink to give :) The habit of storing the remote control in a bag is in trend again.

Top part - Touchpad with a matte finish that is rough to the touch. It is also one big button. Accordingly, you need to work with the remote control like this: we hold the glossy part in the palm of our hand, and put our thumb on the matte half, with which we control the console.

Frankly, I got used to such a system in less than a minute. And it's in one hundred- exactly at 100 - times more convenient than the old, "clickable" remote control.


After reading the first reviews, I expected the worst. And in the end, I want to say that this is definitely the most convenient device for managing a smart set-top box of all that have ever come out. Better than an iPhone.

The movements are simple: we select the necessary menu items with swipes, we scroll through the pages, we confirm the choice with taps and clicks. The rest of the buttons work as expected: the menu is like Back, the TV icon is like a key Home on iDevices. That's all.

Asking how to play then? Great!

The first time, especially in games, is psychologically unusual: how can you do something when you have only two buttons: back or select? But gestures and accelerometer support really decide. Like the fact that now almost everything mobile games turned into one-button fun.

In five days of testing, I did not see anything on Apple TV that would make you want to take a gamepad or keyboard and mouse. They are simply not needed - partly because Apple forces all developers to adapt software exclusively for the original remote. I'll tell you more about this a little later.

More remote assembled very well, has a pleasant weight and fits perfectly in the hand. Whatever you say, he is a "face" new Apple TV, and she herself is just part of the background. And it turned out perfectly, I really don’t know what can be added to it.

New interface - different life


But the vast majority of set-top boxes, not to mention Smart TVs, slow down a little or seriously, lag. The design of their menus, the logic of operation often contradict obvious standards, and it seems that their software part stuck in a bygone past.

Completely different level. A new Apple TV is riding a horse, in which there are simply no brakes. Incredibly smooth menu animation, beautiful Cyrillic font, the very predictability of work and ease of control of functions. I repeat, this does not surprise the iPhone user, but you just have to look at Apple competitors TV or turn on Smart-mode on your TV - and everything falls into place.


A big role here is played by the convenience of the remote itself and how the menu is built around its capabilities. Thought out even the little things of animation: dragging your finger sideways, you see how the selected menu block “turns”; scrolling through the lists, the cursor moves gently, as if sticking to the items and “stretching” when you slowly jump back and forth with swipes.

It is for this that we learned to love Apple at one time: beautiful things that any other manufacturer would not care about. Especially on a TV set.

As a result, the 4th generation Apple TV is the most convenient set-top box to manage. It's a pleasure to use it... with the exception of one "but".


The on-screen keyboard is not very good. I understand why it's done that way. It's not very easy to type on the touchpad, although in theory it should be easier than on an old remote with a four-way key.

But this on-screen keyboard is a living hell. To be honest, it took me exactly 15 minutes to enter my Apple ID account in the settings of the set-top box. Each letter takes about 10 seconds, and if you have a complex password ... The fact that mobile app The “remote control” for the iPhone, which has a normal QWERTY keyboard, is not yet compatible with the new set-top box. And it is unknown if it will. In general, something needs to be done about this, definitely.


The main menu is designed in much the same way as on old Apple TVs - only the background substrate is now white, for which my eyes say a lot of thanks. Large "blocks" at the top are OS sections: music, App Store, iTunes with movies, photo stream. The rest at the bottom are movies and apps downloaded from the App Store.


The music player is great. Functionality music player the new Apple TV is very pleasing, and the interface too: you can immediately see that it was originally developed with an eye on Apple Music users.

The interface here is very beautiful, even (in my opinion) better than in the built-in player for iOS. All features streaming service Apple is fully represented, you can manage lists, create new ones, find cool tracks in collections and playlists ... in general, grace for those who listen to music from TV or through home acoustics.


The most minor changes have befallen the interface of the iTunes movie store. Bright colors are always welcome here. I noticed that there were special cards for actors.


I do not remember that they were on previous versions of Apple TV, but I know why they were added - for work special function Siri, which, on request, shows the actors and films in which they starred.

Cool screensavers. A little interesting features are in the Settings, one of them concerns desktop screensavers. The fact is that after 5 minutes of inactivity, Apple TV starts playing videos from different parts of the world, taken by Apple itself from a drone. They look simply gorgeous (60 frames per second), instantly create a mood in the room.


But the main feature is different: new videos are uploaded to the set-top box automatically and regularly (the frequency can be changed). As a result, you have on TV video changes every day. I had a chic London night and an awesome canyon. This really needs to be seen live, words can not explain - the very little thing that distinguishes Apple from the rest.

I won't talk about how to watch videos and listen to music on the new Apple TV - the playback function has not changed in any way from the previous model, you can still play your home collection or your iTunes library of purchased content. I turn to what we will buy a prefix for. Or were going to.

Games on Apple TV that aren't there

It was the disappointment of the century.

I've been waiting years for Cupertino to add app support to their consoles. Unpacking the box, I imagined how I would launch GTA now: San Andreas or Max Payne, racing in the still excellent Real Racing 2.


I end up playing Crossy Road on a 48" TV and thinking.

So, at the time of writing, there are no smart games on Apple TV. There is not a single super hit that could be called "console" with a stretch. The exception is Transistor, which will not appeal to everyone.

Of the interesting things - Asphalt, Galaxy On Fire. And… everything? Okay, pretty boring Jetpack Joyride. They also re-released Canabalt. One way or another, there is some kind of gaping emptiness on the main page, and some toys are duplicated in blocks there.


That is, it turns out that Apple even could not fill home page . I had to use the same one over and over again.

Frustration intensifies when you open the shopping list. It only shows apps and games in your collection that are already compatible with the new Apple TV. In my account with a 7-year history and several thousand purchases for iOS, there were only 9 applications and games.

The verdict is this: there is nothing to play on Apple TV right now. There is not yet a single project that could sell this prefix. An omission that a company like Sony or Microsoft would never have made shows firsthand how Apple falls behind the leaders in the video game market in its own understanding.

What's next?


There is hope for the future. That by the beginning of next year they will come to the console best games and unique projects that use to the full extent the capabilities of the set-top box and its remote control. But for now, it’s not worth guessing, and the reason for this is amazing: Apple put spokes in its own wheels.

Under the terms of cooperation, developers of software and games for iOS have no right to add to them such functions and features that cannot be played through the bundled Apple TV Remote. And it only has one button.


Do you understand what I'm getting at? It turns out that the creators of any serious, hardcore toys automatically stay on the sidelines: either you have one button + accelerometer, or goodbye.

Thus, until this restriction is removed, cool games will not appear in the App Store for Apple TV - GTA, the same Max Payne. Yes, nothing serious at all. Apple's motivation is clear: they want no one to have to buy anything extra to play any game from the store. Focus on pure casual.


Personally, I think that calculation is wrong. One-tap games (and others cannot be done with such a remote control) will very quickly get bored with their audience, which sooner or later will return to iPhones and iPads - it’s more convenient to suffer nonsense from them, plus you can take it with you. And in the end everyone will lose.

If Apple were smarter, it would, on the contrary, allow you to require a gamepad. It would sell a bunch of accessories. And on the console there would be cool projects that are difficult or inconvenient to play from an iPhone. Such would inevitably give an additional impetus to the sales of such prefixes and, as a result, stimulate the same casual players.

In short, until this stick is taken out of the wheels, I would not count on the gaming future of Apple TV.

By the way. There are no Russian streaming services on the new Apple TV yet. But there will be one day. Where will they go.

Siri, why are you so


If you turn on the Russian language in the settings of the set-top box, Siri voice assistant won't work. Some kind of pure idiocy (yes, Siri?) When on Russian iOS the same assistant has full functionality. Thanks Apple.

You can, of course, cut in English, be a true gadget addict and tweak your knowledge of the language by chatting with overseas Siri. Also an option. But uncomfortable. You watch a movie in Russian - and then what to ask? Some kind of light Android brain here, unfortunately.

As a result: for what you need to buy an Apple TV


Impression contrasting. The new console was conceived (and expected) as a ticket to the future for Apple TV - a kind of full-fledged entertainment center with games, modern applications, the largest catalog of music and movies.

In the end she good for all reasons except the main one. Great interface. Awesome remote. Big vision for the future.


But there is nothing to play and run. The best toy is an arcade game from two years ago. A best app- a selection of culinary video recipes. Everything else will have to wait for about six months, and without guarantees that the situation will improve dramatically.

As a result, now worth buying if:

  • you want everything, because Apple;
  • Are you willing to wait for Apple to get smarter and allow gamepads?
  • you are just ready to buy and wait.

But not worth buying if:

  • you just watch movies from iTunes;
  • you have everything very tightly tied to the optical output.

The new Apple TV 2015 is an immature product that was not enough to instantly bring the market to its knees. Unless Cupertino abandons it the way they abandoned the App Store for Apple Watch, in six months we will see a completely different picture. And then let's go shopping.


I will not hide: even now I am thinking about buying my own set-top box. Because the current problems are solvable, and the piece of iron itself works fine. There is not the slightest claim to the interface. Siri will also be turned on one day. And the ruble may fall in December, and then, like a year ago, we will beat our chests and be upset that we did not make the necessary purchases on time.

However, I'll wait without an Apple TV for now. And the gamepad we tested buy. Steelseries Stratus universal and works with Mac, PC, iOS and of course Apple TV. Send one to Cupertino, let them appreciate how convenient it is, and return to the true path;)

Thanks to the guys from the iCases.ru store for provided by Apple TV for a test!

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The previous (third) generation of Apple TV set-top boxes was presented to the general public in the spring of a very distant 2012. Perhaps the most important feature of this set-top box was the AirPlay function - the ability to broadcast a signal from other Apple devices. But, despite being as close as possible to appearance iOS software interface, in terms of its capabilities, this set-top box has not become a kind of analogue of the iPhone or iPad connected to the TV. An important role in this was played by the third-generation model's lack of access to the App Store network resource with its almost limitless possibilities.

In the fourth version of the Apple TV set-top box, this annoying flaw has been fixed. Other innovations have appeared in this device, such as promising voice control or a “smart” remote control. Most opinions about the new set-top box, as well as about all other devices from this manufacturer, either greatly exaggerate its merits or exaggerately reduce the expediency of its purchase. But the truth, as you know, is always somewhere in the middle, so today we will test the novelty and form our own opinion about it.

⇡ Contents of delivery


Package

The prefix comes in a black matte compact box made of very thick cardboard. There are inscriptions only on the bottom side of the package, so the only identification mark that speaks about its contents is a laconic drawing on the top face without any characteristic details.

Inside, in addition to the device itself, the following accessories were found:

  • remote control Siri Remote;
  • power cable;
  • USB-Lightning cable for charging the battery in the remote control;
  • Apple logo stickers
  • a short printed guide to getting started in Russian.

The power supply unit is built into the body of the device, which increases its dimensions, but it greatly simplifies the connection and eliminates the mess of wires on the floor. The power cable itself is surprisingly soft due to the flexible sheath that is pleasant to the touch.

Together with Apple TV, we also got one of the useful branded accessories for testing - the Remote Loop strap for the remote control, which we will definitely say a few words about below. The strap comes in an equally ergonomic cardboard package, the opening process of which is simplified to the limit: pulling out the plastic pin, you need to pull the specially provided tab, and then remove the cardboard insert with the strap.

⇡ Specifications

Apple TV

Characteristic /

Generation (model)

IV (A1625)

III (A1427orA1469)
CPU Apple A8 dual core Apple A5 single core
Video adapter integrated,
PowerVR Series 6XT GX6450		 integrated,
PowerVR SGX 543MP2
RAM, MB 2 048 512
Built-in storage, GB NAND, 32 / 64 NAND, 8
Interfaces HDMI 1.4a
UBC-C (for service)
IR receiver		 HDMI 1.4
Micro-USB (for service)
Optical audio output
IR receiver
Net 10/100BASE-T Ethernet
WiFi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac) MIMO
Bluetooth 4.0+EDR		 10/100BASE-T Ethernet
WiFi (802.11a/b/g/n)
Video output 1080p, 720p, 576p, 480p 1080p, 720p, 480p
Audio output Dolby Digital Plus .1 Dolby Digital Plus 5.1
Remote control Siri Remote
Interfaces:
  • IR transmitter
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • Lightning port for charging
Peculiarities:
  • Touchpad
  • Two microphones
  • Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Built-in battery
 Apple Remote
Interfaces:
  • IR transmitter
Peculiarities:
  • Replaceable Li-battery
Power, W 11, built-in 6, built-in
Dimensions, mm 98×98×35 98×98×23
Weight, g 425 270
OS tvOS (modified build of iOS) modified iOS build
Warranty, months 12 12
Estimated price*, rub. 13 499 / 17 060
(depending on the amount of memory)		 5 990

* MediumpriceBy"Yandex.Market"onmomentwritingarticles.

The table of technical characteristics for comparison shows the data of the model of the previous, third generation, released in 2012. You do not need to be a professional in the world of processors to notice the significant changes that the hardware base of the set-top box has undergone. Not only the platform itself has changed - the amount of memory has increased, new interfaces have been added, the device management system has been completely redesigned. An important innovation is the presence of new version prefixes of a full-fledged NAND-memory module designed to install applications from the App Store. The offered capacity options are small, comparable to the built-in storage capacity of the iPhone and, at first glance, completely insufficient for a device that can be used as a full-fledged game console. But the whole point is in the mechanism of using memory, which differs from the work of the same mobile devices running iOS.

The fact is that applications adapted for Apple TV from the App Store are not completely installed in the device’s memory, but are loaded as needed from the Web. Some part executable program, as well as the most frequently used data is stored in the memory of the set-top box, and everything else - on Apple servers, so the speed of work largely depends on the speed of the user's Internet connection. Apple TV does not have memory expansion options, but, in view of the operation scheme described above, this is not surprising. Thus, it makes sense to purchase a version of Apple TV with a 64 GB memory module only if you plan to use the set-top box as a game console. Well, for purely network applications, the version with a 32 GB module is enough.

To connect to the video panel, the set-top box is equipped with an HDMI 1.4a interface. But, despite improvements related to the interface and integrated video adapter, the new Apple TV model did not have the ability to work with 4K content. compensate this shortcoming there is nothing special, especially since competitors like the Amazon Fire TV set-top box play high-definition video. The device does not have separate audio outputs. Recall that the third generation model had a digital optical audio output, to which you could directly connect almost any high-end audio equipment. Apparently, Apple considered that the target audience of Apple TV is somewhat different and audiophiles are not among them, and if they are, then they can make an exception for the set-top box and broadcast the signal to the video panel via the HDMI interface. Then you can either perceive the sound through the built-in speakers (if available), or send it to your home audio system via an optical cable, but connected not directly to the set-top box, but to the video panel. You can also use some kind of intermediate audio system that will combine the set-top box with a video panel, since home theaters today offer a whole host of different soundbars and receivers. In general, there can actually be quite a lot of connection options, so it’s hardly worth worrying about the optical connector that has sunk into oblivion.

The wired network interface of the new version of Apple TV remains the same, that is, 100 megabits. It is possible that by the time the fifth generation of the set-top box is released, it will completely disappear, as well as the optical output. After all, the built-in Wi-Fi module, on the contrary, got the ability to work in the high-speed 802.11ac standard, which slowly makes it impractical to use a wired interface. In addition, a permanent Wi-Fi satellite has “settled” on board - a Bluetooth 4.0 specification interface. Most likely, both of them are implemented in a single module. The Bluetooth interface serves two purposes in this case. First, it communicates with the Siri Remote. (At the same time, the ability to connect IR remotes to the device still has not gone away.) Well, the second function of the Bluetooth module is more traditional - transmitting sound to wireless headsets or speakers, which can be either an alternative to a wired audio system or an addition to it.

Finishing the story about technical specifications Apple TV of the fourth generation, it is worth noting that the developers of the set-top box have completely revised the ideology of controlling the device, assigning absolutely all functions to the new remote control and providing it with a whole range of features. But we will talk about working with the remote control below, but for now let's move on to a direct acquaintance with the prefix.

⇡ Externalview


Appearance of Apple TV

For those who remember the third-generation Apple TV, the new model will surely seem familiar with the shapes and common features of the easily recognizable laconic design. That's just the height of the device due to a significant update of the hardware component has increased exactly one and a half times. There is nothing critical in this, especially since in terms of the other two dimensions, the case, which was compact, has remained so. The same rounded corners, the same sharp edges of the top and bottom surfaces.


But its appearance can hardly be called practical. Firstly, the body materials are extremely easily soiled and instantly covered with dust, fingerprints, and then microscopic scratches. And this applies not only to the lacquered side panels, but also to the upper matte edge with the emblem, and even to the rubberized, slightly protruding strongly truncated cone bottom surface. Secondly, the manufacturer does not provide any other option for installing its set-top box, except for horizontal. It will not be possible to fix it on the rear wall of the video panel due to the lack of necessary mounting holes. The expectation that the owners of Apple devices do not hide them, but proudly show them to guests, is far from the generally accepted understanding of ergonomics issues. However, we must pay tribute to the developers, the round rubberized cut, on which the device rests when installed horizontally, keeps it firmly enough from unwanted accidental movements caused, for example, by switching cables or a small but curious pet that also wants to join the Apple infrastructure.


There are no controls on the device itself. On the front panel there is only a tiny white LED indicator informing the user that the device is turned on, and all the interfaces specified in the specification are located on the rear flat edge. There is also a standard connector for connecting the power cable.

⇡ Remote controllerDU


The Siri Remote remote control is radically different from the vast majority of similar devices in its capabilities, but its appearance and miniature size carefully hide these facts. Outwardly, Siri Remote seems to be a rather simple product, having only six buttons and, for reasons incomprehensible to an ignorant user, visually divided into two parts - the upper matte and the lower glossy. The latter is explained very simply. The upper part of the remote control is a touch panel with the ability to confirm by pressing. Well, the varnished surface of the lower half does not carry any functional load.

Depending on the application, some buttons on the remote may perform various functions, but by default they are intended to control the playback of the current track, go to the previous page, exit to main screen menu, adjust the volume of the sound and activate the work with the voice control function Siri.


Attaching the strap to the Lightning connector

There is only one way out - to use the strap offered by the manufacturer, which is fixed in the Lightning connector designed to charge the built-in battery and located on the bottom end of the case. The strap is made of soft-touch leather and has an adjustable loop for a comfortable and secure hold on the wrist. The connector fits snugly enough, and to remove the strap you will need to press a couple of small buttons on the sides, so accidental removal of the strap is almost impossible. The cost of the strap is about 1,200 rubles, which is not so little for such a simple product.