Roku and Fire TV streaming remotes lack key features, but quick access buttons to Netflix, Apple TV+, and Spotify are always present. There’s a reason for that.
While important control elements are missing on the remote controls of cheap streaming sticks, app buttons are present in large numbers – for advertising reasons. (Source: © Roku Inc.)
- Streaming remote controls now almost all have speed dial buttons.
- These eye-catching buttons lead directly to streaming apps like Netflix and Apple TV+.
- The manufacturers earn money with the prominent placement of streaming services.
Despite their different designs, streaming remote controls from Roku and Amazon’s Fire TV series have one striking thing in common: Illuminated app buttons lead directly to the menu of streaming services such as Netflix, Apple TV+ or Prime Video.
Now you may have wondered why hardware manufacturers are so generous in adding new app buttons to their remote control releases, especially on cheaper devices. In particular, since the basic versions of the remotes continue to do without important functions.
Netflix and Apple pay for buttons on the Roku Remote
Basically, this is quickly explained: While the lack of a power button or the volume control on the remote of a Fire TV Lite should tend to motivate you to buy a more noble hardware variant, the area with quick selection buttons for Netflix and Co is actually more of an advertising pillar, through which cheap manufacturer Roku wants to make money.
According to the US industry magazine “The Verge”, Roku takes one dollar from the customer for each app button on its remote control – with four quick-select buttons, the manufacturer takes another 10 to 20 percent of the market price of its cheaper hardware.
App buttons on remote controls often useless
Thus, the rather unsightly key fields are actually not a feature that was developed for better ease of use – especially if you don’t use various of the apps pre-stored there.
In this guide, Netzwelt explains how you can use your bag of tricks to reassign the quick selection buttons on the remote control that are sometimes useless to you on the Amazon Fire TV.
Don’t miss anything with the NETWORK-Newsletter
Every Friday: The most informative and entertaining summary from the world of technology!