I don't think this is an option that you'd like since you said you don't like the "touch" aspect of the Apple TV remote, but I'll offer it anyway. It may be beneficial to someone. There's an app that you can download from the app store. I used it on my iPhone for a few days. I think it was free, but don't recall for sure. I needed it because I'd dropped my Apple TV remote and it slid down between the cushions of my sofa. It got into an area of the sofa that I couldn't reach. Ultimately I was able to get it out, but for a few days the Apple TV Phone App worked great for me. It got me out of a bind.