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This is Apple we're talking about. Give it 6 months and they'll release a one button remote with a USB receiver

This could actually happen. In fact, the two-button version already exists, and would work with the Mini just fine. The technology behind it is available for developers to use in their own products.

This is Apple we're talking about. Give it 6 months and they'll release a one button remote with a USB receiver

This could actually happen. In fact, the two-button version already exists, and would work with the Mini just fine. The technology behind it is available for developers to use in their own products.

This is Apple we're talking about. Give it 6 months and they'll release a one button remote with a USB receiver

This could actually happen. In fact, the two-button version already exists, and would work with the Mini just fine. The technology behind it is available for developers to use in their own products.

Okay, I have been looking around for a good keyboard/mouse combo to allow me to use a Mac mini as a Media Center computer for PVR/iTunes.

I am wanting something inexpensive, preferably rugged incase it is dropped. Must be wireless, preferably bluetooth, and perferably a single unit.

I want to be able to sit on the sofa with a keyboard in my lap and use OS X for launching/navigating iLife applications. I am not trying to have a workstation for cutting iMovies, just want to be able to manage an iTunes playlist or import some digital photos. Nothing too fancy.

Please offer your advice/experience/opinions!

Thus far, I have found the following:
Wireless Mobile Keyboard - Developed by Motion Computing and offered at $150, this bluetooth all-in-one keyboard/mouse is meant for TablePC users, but looks like the best offering I have found thus far for my purposes.

Media Center Remote & Keyboard - a $180 offering by Gyration is not Bluetooth but includes an interesting pointing device that looks like a large remote control and uses a gyroscope to point the mouse on the TV. This offing is specifically for media centers.

diNovo Cordless Desktop - This $250 Logitech 'system' does not have an integrated mouse but apparently the detached calculator pad functions as a remote control and has an LED screen. I believe much of the functionality may be Windows Media Center/XP only.

It's the same thing as the Gyromouse.

I saw the Philips version of this gyromouse once for the cheap price of 15 dollars and didn't even consider it.
Who wants to keep his hand in the air all the time, apart from the presentation every now and then ?
Every heard of RSI ?

The only nice thing I can think for it is some throwing game (darts :) where you can throw the phone to simulate a dart....
Probably not a very good idea :)

Could the MiniMac revive the idea of the set top box?

I was wondering if it was also a way of getting into the video game console market quietly. Granted, the Mac isn't a huge gaming platform, and this is a bit too pricey to be used solely as a video game console. But being able to hook this thing up to a television enables it to double as a set top box like you said, and it also enables you to play all the current Mac games on it as well. Actually, in combination with products from Gyration, this could easily work as a set top box. The audio doesn't seem up to par for living room entertainment centres, though.

It is a gyro you don't move it up and down.

You twist your hand left and right, up and down (see the little animated GIF on the site - http://www.gyration.com/images/motion2.gif).
Strangly enough it is intuitive and it feels natural - I think they are tres cool (I want one - but damn thats expensive - especially in NZ's funky banana republic play-money!).

Look here.

We use these all the time at work (a UK high school) for use with the interactive whiteboards. Very cool devices, good range, the 3D use takes a bit of getting used too and works well - but the teachers can always use the pens on the whiteboard.

The mice charge up in a cradle and the keyboards take 4xAAA (or AA?) batteries that last for months.

Dead easy to setup too... No drivers needed so I'm pretty sure Linux support should work (haven't had a chance to sneak a set off-site yet and try it ;). Just plug the reciever into a USB port, plonk it in plain view, get the keyboard and mice talking to each other by pushing a few buttons and you're off.

£80 for keyboard+mouse from Dabs. Nice piece of kit, no doubt about it.

Do you have a reference for this? They do, after all, have international specs that list EU: 4 channels at 40 MHz, the same 100 ft range.

You want the Gyration mouse. It comes with a charging cradle that you can put on your shelf, and a small RF receiver that you just need to hook up to your USB port and then put where ever you want. you also get the advantage of being able to use the mouse in mid-air. They are very comfortable to use.

PC: GBox Blue http://www.amselectronics.com/Products/PC_Servers/ CF-968.html
SPECS: 2.4Ghz P4, 512MB DDR, 80GB EIDE, Linksys Wireless PCI
INPUT(s): This took some research and $$ Gyration mouse and keyboard wireless RF worth every penny http://www.gyration.com/ultragt-compact.htm
VIDEO: ATI AIW 9600 RADEON 128MB w/Remote Wonder
AUDIO: GBox offers onboard SPDIF output to my RCA head unit w/5.1 surround
DVR SOFTWARE: Currently using the barely functional ATI Multimedia Center software which is slaphacked into GemStar TVGuide (no automatic updates) and is absolutely ignorant when it comes to importing new videos, if it can't be done from the remote control, it's not a home theatre solution.
MP3 JUKEBOX(ish): Trusty ol' Winamp running in double size mode and a plugin for Remote Wonder

"She ain't pretty but she puts out"
Waiting till the day i have the $$ to buy a HDTV so I can never leave my couch...

I used to connect my XP-box to my projector (Sony VW12HT) with PowerStrip to generate an HDTV-signal. Audio went through an spdiff-cable to my receiver. WinAmp and Zoomplayer were used for playing media. A wireless Gyration keyboard and mouse were used for operating the system from the sofa. But that's more than two years ago.

The XP-box now burns DVDRs (mainly containing DVD-video) and cd's with MP3, which I can play using my progressive scan DVD-player. Even my girlfriend can now watch movies on the projector, partly due to my Pronto Neo with a gf-friendly interface.

The only thing I miss sometimes is playing games on the projector. Need for Speed on a big screen is funny, especially with the subwoofer on :)

Here's an idea for head position tracking hardware: put a bunch of bright balls around the outside of a helmet, and have the person surrounded by a handful of cameras.

Better yet would be the use of tiny gyroscopes like this that provide 6DOF, although this one doesn't. No need for worn optical cues and cameras. There is also this product that has 3DOF, which claims to "have metallic interference virtually eliminated". I presume it is some kind of magnetic tracker that isn't as vulnerable to the weaknesses of normal magnetic motion tracking methods, which I think the grandparent poster is referring to.

The method you are mentioning using bright balls and cameras are optical motion trackers. Magnetic ones have advantages over optical ones. Optical ones have other disadvantages, and don't normally work in real-time, so they wouldn't be viable for head position tracking for virtual reality.

This is probably OT, but we ARE speaking about mice...so be karmically kind, please.
I bought this mouse as a presentation tool and, based on prior experience with motion-sensing presentation mice, really didn't expect it to work very well at any other application. I was wrong...this thing works GREAT! I use it as my default desktop mouse now. The ability to set up custom events based on directional "swipes" is a feature I didn't think I would use very much but now I use it in every class.
Unfortunately, it's currently only supported under Windows. I have to unplug it when I boot into Sid or none of my pointing devices work properly.

We've got one of these at work. Totally cool. Great for using in games as well. They cost about ~ $150 or so. web site

I kind of agree with you, but eventually we'll have more imput devices than just the mouse and keyboard. While this might not be useful to most of us, hopefully it's a step in the right direction towards something that WILL be useful for all of us.

What wasn't reported though is that the company Gyration already has patent pending on gyroscopic mouse technology. Gyration had already released an open letter last week addressing this when the cell phone mouse was first announced.

[Link to Gyration support re: receiver problem].

Apparently it's a known problem. It definitely looks like a cool solution. Anyone who's had more experience (such as checking the support page for one) and can give their opinion on this item?

Just use an RF keyboard like a Gyration (http://gyration.com/). The mouse, while not part of the keyboard doesn't need to be used on any surface. Nice and compact as well.

Gyration has the best solutions I've found. Their mouse can be waved in the air to move the pointer, and they have a compact keyboard + mouse set that's intended for HTPC type solutions. It's not cheap stuff, but it looks nice and works well.

Why not try a Gyromouse? It would seem to me that this is a very low impact design since you aren't stuck in any particular position.

The ..er.. graphic on the front page looks a little... rude don't you think?

The ..er.. graphic on the front page looks a little... rude don't you think?

What moron said the price is|was $119? Even a click on the home page takes you to a screen presenting you with a $79.79 price tag, making froogle or PriceWatch unnecessary.

They have some research kit that sells for $450 that includes 3 gyros.
If the assumption that they have 3 seperate gyros in each mouse is correct you could get your 6 degrees of freedom from the device?
But then, that would mean your mouse is a poorly documented research kit with inconvenient packaging.

you get to look like your whackin off... Great!

Is this just an actual case of, you get what you pay for? Does a good ~100ft. wireless keyboard/mouse need components that costs over 50% of that price ($80) assuming 50% for mark-up, etc.,.? That's hard to believe.

BTW, the mouse/keyboard combo noted in the article appear to have only a 30ft. range (which means MAYBE 15ft on a good moonless night).

This has been done before. In fact its still being done for less. However, I wonder if these things are good for RSI.

These have been around for a *long* time!
Here's the one I use...
Very handy because it is optical + wireless + gyro + recharges on its base. You can use it as a gyro mouse, or an optical mouse.

Ya'll know one thing that makes money.

See Here.

I would have to say that the Logitech MX700 is the best mouse I've ever used hands down. I know a lot of people don't like heavier mice, but I like one that doesn't feel like it is going to fly away. The response time is excellent, and I can let it sit on the desk for a few weeks without having to charge it(thanks to NiMH batteries).
The only problem I had was with the accompanying keyboard. Talk about wasted plastic. They could have gotten away with making smaller media keys.
I eventually ditched the keyboard in favour of the smaller, laptop-style keyboard by Gyration.

Fatbabies speculative post here. Company press release here.

Or what about a gyroscop based mouse that you can move in the air wow!!! Gee I wish I could buy one
I think the reason for not everyone having one is that they don''t need one.

I leave the sides off of my computer for better air flow and less dust collection, but mainly because I'm too lazy to put in case fans.

Since my case has to sit on top of my desk, this also gives me a little more space to put stuff (inside the case, out of the way of boards / wires etc).

What do I keep in there? First is the reciever for my wireless keyboard / mouse, the syncing cradle for my handspring visor edge, and a few important papers. Those are the things that don't really move.

The fun things in there are the mountain dew beer glass, the caffeine shot glass, and usually 2 - 3 open cans of dew. All have soda / caffeine in them and are actively used.

No, nothing has spilled yet, and yes, I do have cats. 3 of them. They know that if they go near the sacred tower, they get stuff thrown at them (usually a slipper, but on occasion a t-shirt if I find that first).

On a side note: I in no way have the balls to water-cool my case, other than replacing the cold soda every 30 minutes.

For under $80, you can get the Keyspan Presentation Remote, which is smaller, comes with a carrying case, includes a laser pointer, and looks just like a USB mouse from the PC side (no drivers). And, yes, it works with Linux.

Another choice is the Gyration wireless mice. But their receiver is a bulky box and requires a wall wart. And if you want to be able to use standard AAA batteries, you have to pay $100 extra for the "Pro" version.

I really wanted to show this to the VP of my company since he does a lot of powerpoint presentations, but I am kinda afraid to send him the URL for the site since it sounds kinda obscene...http://www.gyration.com/ultrapro.htm...I don't want a reprimand for sexual harassment going in MY permanent record...

So is the Gyromouse ... I bought a gyromouse back in 1998 (over 4 years ago) and you could pick it up to use it as a gyroscope or sit it down and use it as a regular "ball&socket" mouse.

I don't know if Gyration has moved from ball&socket to optical, but either way, this new product is nothing new.

We've been using the Gyromouse Pro from these guys for a while now. It works great and the recharging base is a plus. The only difference I can see from what we use and the new one is that the new one is optical when you use it on the desk, whereas the gyro pro still uses old ball technology.

Gyration Ultra

If you want to go one better, try this, a gyro mouse (Gyration UltraPro). You control the mouse in the air. Not only do you get rid of the cable, you get rid of the desk as well! I've used the non-optical version, and it's very intuitive - it automatically switches back to desk-mode when you put it down again. It's ideal for armchair or presentation use. It's just the price tag that may let it down a bit.

But I quess you mean the GyroMouse by Gyration, or maybe something else. Anyway, there seems to be atleast a dozen devices to fullfill your dreams - lucky you ;))

But I quess you mean the GyroMouse by Gyration, or maybe something else. Anyway, there seems to be atleast a dozen devices to fullfill your dreams - lucky you ;))

1. I thought gyroscopes had to have some mass in relation the forces applied to them in order to stay oriented. It seems like a light 'scope could easily be knocked out of whack easily in a handheld device.

2. These 'scopes would require lots of power to keep spinning.

3. How do you orient this thing to begin with?

Gyration has more details on their technology online. I evaluated the gyros for use in my GPL autopilot project, but decided on the Tokin CG-16D units instead.

Or better yet, buy a good remote: http://www.gyration.com

I saw the first implementation of that at Xerox PARC in the mid-80s. It's appeared since in a few games and CAD programs, but never caught on. It makes pointing more precise, but slower.

I'm thinking a gyroscopic device.

Like the Gyromouse?

Again, it's great for first-person shooters, and for PowerPoint, but not much else.

Your desktop PC in 2004: Two years from now, your desktop system will be slimmer and trimmer. Flat-panel screens will replace bulky CRTs, and rewritable-DVD drives and fast graphics subsystems will turn your PC into a movie lover's dream.

And DVD and CD so fscked up with copy protection that you can't use any of it on your PC

CPU and RAM: 4- to 5-GHz microprocessor with 512MB of DDR memory and a 600-MHz system bus

Try more memory, 512 isn't that uncommon in off the shelf computers today. And as for CPU, how about mentioning 64 bits, like the Hammer, instead of yammering on about that ancient Pentium 4

Hard disk: From 300GB to 400GB on a Serial ATA bus

And no backup technology even close, so you'll have to have RAID standard or risk losing all those pr0n videos. Rather have SCSI, too.

Removable storage: Rewritable DVD and -- yes -- the unsinkable 1.44MB floppy

DVD+RW or something else, perferably without some built in copy protection lock, like HP's unit has.

Internet connection: Cable or DSL broadband if you're lucky; 56-kbps modem if not

If there's ANY left and IF they provide in a reasonably open service format and IF it doesn't cost $100/mo so they're profitable.

Video: 3D graphics card with 128MB of video RAM

And still able to play NetHack? :)

Display: 18- to 21-inch flat-panel LCD screen capable of 1600 by 1200 resolution

And weighs less than 20 lbs and lasts longer than 30 minutes on battery? I'd be happy with inexpensive 17", thanks.

Ports: USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394

Input devices: Wireless (Bluetooth) mouse and keyboard

What? Now Eye-mouse or Gyromouse?

Operating system: Some version of Windows (you expected Linux, perhaps?)

Some version of Linux (you expected Windows, perhaps?)

Other: An 802.11b wireless network designed for users with more than one PC

Or a more up to date version of 802.11, but why not network it to more than just PC's, or did the future vision 15 watt bulb start to grow dim?

Price: $1,500 to $2,000

Well, ok, but only because the $900 model has that crappy P4 in it.

You want a gyroscopically controlled wireless mouse it sounds like - I happen to have a ton of experience with these units (supporting and using them) http://www.gyration.com. I like the GyroPoint the most out of all the units. They have a nice range (70'), and all you need to do is rotate your wrist slightly.

This device just isn't practical for serious user interaction. To click on something, you have to be very good at holding the mouse steady. My hand-eye coordination sucks, but I doubt if anybody has that kind of skill. Especially not someone with spinal injuries.

__________________

Obviously it needs something else to allow for clicking/dragging but I find that hard to justify the steep pricetag the company is charging.

Now there's a great idea, we could have true 3D mice with accelerometers

See here (remove any spaces /. might put in the URL for you)