Smart Home Blog

I bought the Rii mini keyboard to control my HTPC almost year ago. I like it. But it lacks the IR emitter. So, I use remote control to switch ON/OFF my TV. However, the new modification of Rii called Mini i6 solves that problem. Except QWERTY keyboard, touchpad and media hard keys it sports IR blaster and special keys to control TV on the back. So, using it we can control both – HTPC via RF and TV via IR. The Genuine Rii Mini i6 is available and it’s just $49.99.

This cool game-controller styled wireless mini keyboard can help all HTPC owners to control their devices easy and handy. It includes capacitive touchpad, QWERTY keyboard, 20 function keys, 7 hot keys and even a Windows MCE launch button (PC version). Not bad for $69.99 and support of Windows, Mac OS X and Linux!

[via Engadged]

Recently I received to my mailbox a link to a very interesting remote control called PC-TV All in One. It has both IR and RF. IR is used to control TV while RF is needed to send commands to HTPC. Except navigation, numeric and playback hard keys, the remote control sports QWERTY keyboard and 360-degree Jog-ball mouse control. Not bad for thirty four bucks device.

The PC-TV All in One remote control will be ideal if you use just TV and HTPC with XBMC, Boxee, PLEX or LinuxMCE. It’ll make navigation through media library or online services. However if you have additionally cable box or AV receiver then you should find something else. Because PC-TV All in One supports only two devices. Also not sure then Jog-ball is good to control mouse. I use similar one in the iMON remote and would like to say the Gyration remote is much more handy. But the QWERTY keyboard is a big advantage. so, take it into account.

Pulse-Eight, offered HTPC based on XBMC, announced selling of the Motorola NYXboard remote control on their web site. The $59.99 device has QWERTY keyboard on its back side. Plus it supports both RF and IR. So, you’ll able to control all your IR-based AV equipment and will navigate easily through media libraries or online services.

[via eHomeUpgrade]

Samsung announced its new $99.99 remote control included QWERTY keyboard. It’ll make navigation through various online media services added to Samsung Smart TVs more convenient.

The new Samsung QWERTY TV Remote will come bundled with LED D8000 and D7000 Series and Plasma D8000 Series Smart TVs. It’ll be also compatible with LED D6300 Series models and up.