The tvOS 14.5 beta that was released this morning includes a code change that references an Apple TV remote control that features a "Center Button," which is a description that does not fit the current Apple TV remote.
"Press the center button or the touch surface to continue," reads the tvOS 14.5 code, which was discovered by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser.
The remote for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models features a series of buttons that are arranged in two rows, with no button in the center.
There is an older "Apple Remote" with a center button that's designed for the second and third-generation Apple TV models and is compatible with the current Apple TV models, so it's possible that's what the code change is referencing, but it could also be referring to a new unreleased Apple TV remote.
👀 https://t.co/89FwKgdrjX — Mark Gurman (@markgurman) March 31, 2021
The specific code that was found is in a "setup" app, which would make more sense for a new remote rather than an older remote, but we don't know for sure that this is a reference to a new Apple TV remote option. If it is indeed something new, the upcoming Apple TV remote could perhaps feature a design similar to the remote app on the iPhone, which features a large touch area, a main center Menu button, and side buttons for accessing Siri, play/pause, the Home screen, and search.
Apple is rumored to be working on a sixth-generation Apple TV that will feature an upgraded A-series chip and a revamped remote control. We haven't heard details on what the remote control might look like, but it could have a "Find My" feature for location purposes when lost.
In an earlier beta, Apple renamed the "Siri Remote" to the "Apple TV Remote," which is another possible reference to an unreleased Apple TV remote option.
Update: The code could be referring to a third-party Apple TV remote that's in development and which could be offered by Universal Electronics to cable, satellite, and MVPD companies. This remote also has a circular button, and an image of it was found in the beta by 9to5Mac.
It's possible the Universal Electronics remote will soon be available from various cable providers who will offer it alongside the Apple TV, much like the Salt Remote sold by a Swiss telecommunications company.
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