Apple did remove the TV Remote app from the App Store in October 2020. This decision was part of an iOS update that discontinued the app and changed the way users can control their Apple TV using their iPhone.
Before the removal of the TV Remote app, it served as a convenient tool for controlling your Apple TV from your iPhone. It allowed you to navigate through menus, enter text, and control playback on your Apple TV. However, with the update, Apple introduced a new way to control your Apple TV using the Control Center on your iPhone.
Now, to control your Apple TV, you can simply swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone screen to access the Control Center. From there, you will see a section labeled “Remote” which provides you with a virtual remote control interface. This interface includes a touchpad for navigation, buttons for playback control, and a keyboard for entering text.
The new Control Center remote is designed to mimic the functionality of the physical Apple TV remote, making it easy and intuitive to use. It offers a similar experience to the TV Remote app, but now it is seamlessly integrated into the Control Center of your iPhone.
I personally found this change to be quite convenient as I no longer needed to download and maintain a separate app for controlling my Apple TV. With the Control Center remote, I can quickly access and control my Apple TV without having to switch between apps or search for the TV Remote app.
It’s worth noting that the removal of the TV Remote app may have caused some confusion or inconvenience for users who were accustomed to using it. However, Apple’s decision to integrate the remote control functionality into the Control Center streamlines the user experience and eliminates the need for a standalone app.
To sum up, yes, Apple removed the TV Remote app from the App Store in October 2020. However, they introduced a new and convenient way to control your Apple TV using the Control Center on your iPhone. This change simplifies the process of controlling your Apple TV and eliminates the need for a separate app.