[FIXED] How to detect Apple TV Siri Remote button presses?

Issue

According to the Apple TV interface guideline, when it comes to games you're supposed to use the menu button as a pause button when you're not at the main menu of the game (in which case it should return to the Apple TV OS menu). However, I can't find anywhere how you're supposed to detect the hard button input from your remote (as opposed to soft buttons on screen).

I did find this short programming guide to using controllers that almost seems to imply that you're supposed to use the remote as a controller in this case, but I can't help but think there's a simpler way. ex.

 -(void)buttonPressBegan:(NSEvent*)event

etc (that's not real... I'm just hoping there's something like that). What is/Is there a sanctioned way of detecting this?

Solution

Apple suggests using a UITapGestureRecognizer to detect when a button is released.

#import "ViewController.h"

@interface ViewController ()

@end

@implementation ViewController {
    UITapGestureRecognizer *tapRecognizer;
}

-(void)viewDidLoad {
    [super viewDidLoad];

    tapRecognizer = [[UITapGestureRecognizer alloc]initWithTarget:self action:@selector(handleTap:)];
    tapRecognizer.allowedPressTypes = @[[NSNumber numberWithInteger:UIPressTypeMenu]];
    [self.view addGestureRecognizer:tapRecognizer];
}

-(void)handleTap:(UITapGestureRecognizer *)sender {
    if (sender.state == UIGestureRecognizerStateEnded) {
        NSLog(@"Menu button released");
    }
}

For a complete list of UIPressType's refer to UIPress Class Reference.

Answered By - Daniel Storm

Answer Checked By - Marie Seifert (PHPFixing Admin)