Apple's new TV Remote application for iPhone allows users to control an Apple TV via the Siri AI digital assistant.

According to The Verge, Apple has finally released the Apple TV's companion remote application for iPhone. This is a full-fledged software version replacement for the hardware remote that came with every Apple television set.

The smart Apple TV app for iPhone allows users take control of their Apple TV by using only touch gestures. The remote app also allows using the iPhone's keyboard to play, rewind, fast forward and pause songs or videos, to text, enter passwords and email addresses and to ask Siri to suggest something to watch (the last feature being available only for owners of the latest-generation Apple TV).

Voice control is working only within Siri application itself. Just as on the remote, it can be used by pressing and holding a microphone button. Regular Siri cannot be used to control the Apple TV.  

The Apple TV remote app also allows users watching content from the Apple TV on the iPhone, same as basically every app with content on the Apple TV also makes available content in app-form on the iPhone.

According to Bloomberg, the new Apple TV remote app for iPhone also works with the latest Apple TV model that first went on sale in October, last year. The fourth generation of the Apple TV has been introduced by Apple in September, at a news conference and released in stores in the next month. The unit comes with a touch-based remote control with a microphone and motion sensors for gaming.

The previous version of the remote app has been optimized for the iPad's larger screens but comes without Siri support or gaming. The new app can serve as a substitute for owners of Apple TV who have lost their hardware remotes that cost $79 to replace. The Apple TV Remote app can be downloaded for free from the App Store.