Like Dan Provost, I am very excited to see what Apple has planned for its next AppleTV. Speculation is that it will run iOS and feature apps, much like the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. But, as a veteran user of the AppleTV and Mac Mini for my home theater, I am very skeptical of where they'll land on the device's remote control; A critical feature of any home theater or gaming component.

I have tried (and struggled with) numerous ways to comfortably and effectively control Apple's home theater-specific devices. On the AppleTV I use the Apple remote. On the Mac Mini I currently have a Magic Mouse and bluetooth keyboard simply to interact with the machine for things like ripping, file organization (though I do much of that on my iMac via screen sharing) and application launching (Plex, Hulu Desktop and Front Row). Once in these applications I fall back to the Apple remote.

I've tried using the iPhone to control the AppleTV and Mini, but the lack of tactile feedback creates a frustrating experience. Touchpad is probably the best way to use the iPhone as a remote control. The trackpad mode of the app is very usable, allowing one to interact with the screen without staring at the phone -- a critical feature of any remote control. As a trackpad the iPhone actually does offer tactile feedback; The edges of the phone indicate boundaries.

In "remote control" mode, however, Touchpad is inferior to the Apple remote. Staring at the controller to know if you're actually pressing the [virtual] buttons is not conducive to a pleasant television viewing/browsing/gaming experience. Tactile response is critical so the eye can remain on the television display.

Apple hates buttons, yet has a keen focus on usability. So, what will they have in store for a remote control? Buttons are essential for a tactile experience. Yet a trackpad can be practical in some situations. A combination of the two would be interesting. An iPhone or iPod touch by itself is a very expensive and ineffective controller, but as a supplement it could be amazing. It also adds a huge expense that would ensure a low acceptance of the AppleTV. A controller that's solely a trackpad will be a failure. Especially for gaming apps. So, the Magic Trackpad seems an unlikely candidate.

A media event has been announced for September 1, so we'll soon know the game plan.