Using The Gyration Media Center Remote With Linux

Bruce Perens writes "The Gyration Media Center Remote is a radio keyboard and mouse with 100-foot range. The mouse uses an accelerometer rather than a mouse wheel, and thus has the unique feature that you can make mouse gestures in the air. The mouse should be perfect for a public speaker who wants to move around during a speech, without giving up control of his laptop. It would also make a nifty remote for a Linux PVR user, since it has VCR controls and channel and volume buttons. But does it work with Linux?" Bruce Perens tried it out and says the answer is a qualified Yes.

Comments

No....

[kmmatthews]

Actually, it was submitted by Bruce Perens, who .. uh, well, runs technocrat.net. It's *his* content, and he can post it anywhere he likes.

In other words, one author can't plagarise himself, no matter how hard he may try.

Re:Not for presentations

[Pieroxy]

If you only tried to read the fscking article, you would have read that the author covered that very question:

"However, all of the Bluetooth remote controls and remote mice available today are Class 3, and only have about 30 feet range"

There you go.

Re:Computers, BAH

[Bruce Perens]

I did learn a lesson from this which will be applied to UserLinux. The installer was putting "usbmouse" in the modules list instead of "usbhid", it's not going to do that any longer. This is the result of evolution in Linux drivers - the HID driver came after the USB keyboard and mouse drivers, takes over their job and does it better, although this was not communicated well enough for me to find out until now. I agree that "mere mortals" have zero chance of finding this out and can only hope that their system installation program gets it right.

Thanks

Bruce

Re:WTF

[Bruce Perens]

It's a hardware review. I don't have any deal with Gyration. If I did, I'd tell them to offer Linux support :-) I do buy hardware from time to time, and make it work with Linux, and it's nice to tell other people that it can work with Linux and how to do it..

Bruce

Re:Mirror

[Bruce Perens]

The server seems to be staying up, click the original rather than the mirror.

Re:And its a gyroscope anyway....

[Bruce Perens]

It actually only tracks when you squeeze the trigger. This takes a little getting used to. The trigger is on the bottom, the mouse buttons on top, so you end up using your thumb for the mouse buttons.

Thanks

Bruce

It *IS* available in Europe...

[Omicron32]

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.

More Fancy Input Devices for Linux

[wehe]

There are many more fancy input devices working with Linux available, e.g. the Twiddler a tiny wrist keyboard made by Handykey.com, different Linux applications featuring your cell phone as a remote control and the WireLess NoteBook Presenter made by Targus; to name just a few. BTW: The WireLess NoteBook Presenter doesn't feature mouse gestures in the air, you have to provide mouse events by pushing a mouse button, but it works with Linux out of the box and seems much cheaper.

Re:Price qualifies for a big NO

[The Spoonman]

very overpriced for a cordless keyboard and mouse

Especially if the quality is anywhere near the original Ultra GT set. I bought this set for use with my HTPC, and after only a year, half the keys don't work and both of the mouse buttons are stuck in the down position. A quick look at their store tells me I'm prolly not the only one since they've got enough returns on them to open a "refurbished" store.

Re:Not for presentations

[trip23]

The OS X Shareware you mentioned, which allows Bluetooth-Phones to remotley control your Mac is correctly spelled: Salling Clicker. That said, there's also a GPL'd one available. It's called Romeo http://www.irowan.com/romeo/ and I am happily controlling VLC/Mplayer from my armchair.

Works for me

[robsteele]

I've been using their full size keyboard and mouse with Fedora for a year. They're just USB devices to Linux. They reduce clutter and are great for conference rooms because they're easy to pass around between speakers. Make sure you have plenty of batteries though.

I paid $105 for the Ultra and no problems in Linux

[Rufosx]

The ultra is just fine. If you need a full remote, get a nice all-in-one on the side, it's still cheaper than the Media Center package and will work better. I use mine with a Fedora Core 3 system running MythTV and I had to do absolutely zero to get it to work perfectly right out of the box.

Remote Wonder

[Chanc_Gorkon]

I have a ATI Remote Wonder and I love this thing. It also works with Linux as well as Windows and Mac OS X.

http://remotew.free.fr/linux_en.htm

Re:And its a gyroscope anyway....

[hobbesx]

It actually only tracks when you squeeze the trigger.

If it's the same as my 30ft set, double clicking the trigger turns the tracking on until double-clicked again.

these are cool

[comet69]

I have one as well, but not this particular model.. and it doesn't look like a remote control.. it looks like an actual mouse.. but it can ergonomically fit in your hand when you use it gyroscopically.. and when you set it down on a nice flat surface, it works just like a regular optical mouse..

i love it.. its fun getting use to using the mouse the gyroscopic way.. something different.. cool feel.. and ya don't need a surface.. if your arm gets tired, put the bitch on the table and its all good.. can't go wrong with these guys.. cept i hope the price goes down soon..