Gizmodo
UPDATE: We've confirmed the news. Here are all the pretty shots. Hit the jump for full information Kat from Shiny Shiny got an early hands-on with a Logitech DiNovo Mini, a $149.99 wireless keyboard which you can use to control your Windows Media Center-equipped PC and your Sony Playstation 3. With a nice size and apparently a good layout, it looks like a winner for any couch potato, if the couch potato didn't eat fried potatoes to smear with grease its glossy transparent finish:
Logitech Unveils Mini-Keyboard for Total Control of PC Entertainment from the SofaLogitech diNovo Mini Fits in the Palm, Offers Dual-Purpose ClickPad for Easy Navigation
LAS VEGAS — CES - Jan. 5, 2008 — Today Logitech (SWX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) unveiled the Logitech® diNovo Mini™ palm-sized keyboard with media remote and ClickPad. Designed for people who have connected their PC to their TV, the highly compact, stylish diNovo Mini keyboard makes it easy to control PC entertainment from the sofa. For easy navigation, the diNovo Mini keyboard features backlighting and an innovative ClickPad, which can be used as a touch pad to point, scroll and click - or as a directional pad to navigate menus and make selections. The mini-keyboard uses Bluetooth® 2.0 wireless technology for unfettered use from the sofa or anywhere in the living room.
"The Logitech diNovo Mini keyboard extends Logitech's tradition of developing innovative products to meet the changing times," said Denis Pavillard, vice president of product marketing for Logitech's keyboards and desktops. "Today, more and more people are hooking up their PCs to their TVs. The sleek, minimalist design and thoughtful function make the diNovo Mini keyboard the perfect complement to the living-room or home-theater PC."
According to Logitech research, more than 60 percent of people who have connected their PCs to the television use this setup to browse the Web, view photos and videos from their personal libraries, and watch downloaded shows on their TV. They often use Windows Media® Center to manage and navigate their entertainment content, which, according to published information from Microsoft, is installed by an estimated 60 million people worldwide who are running Windows Vista®.
The diNovo Mini keyboard features a keypad, dedicated hotkeys for media players and Web browsers, as well as prominent Page Up and Page Down buttons, which allow people to scroll when surfing the Web as well as zoom in and out of documents and images. The keyboard even offers a dedicated button that launches Windows Media Center, as well as a row of media controls that allow people to adjust volume and easily play, pause, stop, fast forward and rewind. Finally, the Page Up and Page Down buttons allow people to quickly change channels while watching Internet-based television.
The diNovo Mini keyboard introduces an innovative, dual-purpose ClickPad. The round, thumb-sized ClickPad can be used as a touch pad to point, scroll and click. Or, it can be used as a media remote and directional pad to navigate menus and make selections. The ClickPad features two backlight modes. When in touch-pad mode, the ClickPad is backlighted in orange. When in media-remote mode, the ClickPad's directional buttons are backlighted in green. The keyboard keys, however, are always backlighted in orange.
Because Bluetooth technology provides long-range wireless control from up to 30 feet from the PC, people can type IM messages, enter URLs and search-text queries, as well as navigate Windows Media Center from across the room.
Extending the minimalist design Logitech brought to the Logitech® diNovo Edge™ Cordless Rechargeable Keyboard, the diNovo Mini keyboard presents a sleek silver-and-black profile that elegantly complements today's modern living rooms and helps eliminate clutter. Rechargeable Li-ion batteries last up to one month between charges, eliminating the hassle of replacing batteries. And because the diNovo Mini keyboard is so compact, there's no need to store it out of sight; the diNovo Mini accents any living room table.
Pricing and Availability
The diNovo Mini keyboard is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in late February for a suggested retail price of $149.99 (U.S.).
[Video by Shiny Shiny]
Comments
Looks cool, but she said 99 pounds at the end - does that mean we'd be looking at close to $200 for this in the US?
Man that wallpaper is hideous!
$200... hell to the no
$20-$40... hell yes
hmm so this is a keyboard that has a built in remote functionalities?
oh also if this can power on and off PS3 that would be awesometastic
I'd probably be willing to part with $80-$100 for one of those, it'd be nice to have for the PS3 and MCE PC Then you don't need to find a place on the living room table for a full sized set of keys. Also, yes, that wallpaper is damn ugly.
That is neat, but $200 is way to much for a keyboard with limited uses.
Electronic companies hardly ever account for conversion rates when pricing in different markets. What sells for 99 pounds in the UK will very likely sell for $99 here in the US.
At first glance I thought this was a PC and the flip-up cover was a wide-format screen. Hard for me to be excited by it after realizing it's just a flip-cover for a wireless keyboard.
Ouch at the price if it comes to the US at the translated price from pounds to dollars - damn you weak dollar! - but honestly, I already have a Stowaway bluetooth keyboard for my PS3 and Media Center PC that I got from Amazon during the black friday sales for like 30 USD.
But the design on this one is sexy and the cursor alone would be worth it at 50 USD. Not too much higher though.
Holly crap, she's in the future (she said it was the 6th).
Pretty cool, I've been using an Apple BT KB with my Media Center, but I find I rarely reach for it, there's almost nothing I need it for while in the MC app, my remote (Harmony 550) takes care of it all.
I does come in handy for the occasional maintenance though, along with my Logitech BT mouse.
What I really wish MS would do is release Windows drivers for the 360 controller ChatPad. I've got a 360 controller I use for emulators, etc that I would love to just slap the chatpad on.
Am I the only one who thinks it looks beyond small? I realize the unit has mini in its title but tiny weeny may be more like it.
I'd buy one of these for $59.99. I wouldn't spend $100 on it.
Pair this with OS X compatibility and a MacMini and I'd be one happy little clam.
I'd rather get a USB keyboard with a 15 ft extension cord than this. Couch potatoes don't like spending too much money. The most I'd spend for this is 50, not 150. Seriously, its a tiny bluetooth keyboard, get over yourself, Logitech.
Short attention spans are prevalent among Gizmodo readers, no? If you read down to the last line is states SRP $149.
This device has some potential. Primarily because of its bluetooth support. As it's bluetooth, it can also be paired with some phones for texting as well.
If only it had a screen.
Another nice addition would be the inclusion of A2DP(alas, range) and a headphone jack so it could turn any set of headphones into a bluetooth set.
If this had Harmony Remote functionality to control my other AV components, I'd be all over it.
@VNSROCK totally agree! It needs a ir transmitter, and MAC compatibility, and then I'd be all over it! It sounds like you can use the directional pad to navigate the internet much like you would a mouse? So it's a Wireless keyboard/mouse hybrid/combo thingy?... That sounds tops! I just wonder why more keyboard manufacturers don't make that kind of a combo? It's hard to balance both when on the couch surfing the internet. If it had all I mentioned and retained the functions it already has, I'd already be all over it.
I love my dinovo edge...ive seen where some have actually got it to pair up to thier PS3 but I cant figure it out. Anyone here at giz have thiers paired to thier PS3 yet?
This thing is soooo mine in February! I hate having to use a full sized keyboard and mouse in the living room!
With a tiny keyboard like that it might as well have a screen and make phone calls. If only it had a touch pad on it for the mouse cursor..
from the shots it looks like its the size of the eee keyboard, which hold in the same way
This should be usable on a Mac with FrontRow, just like the diNovo Edge is, right?
Can someone with a MacBook at CES try this out real quick?
@Playstation: My bluetooth Sony PS3 BD Remote powers my PS3 on and off. What's the fuss everyone's talking about?
This would be cool to browse the interenet and type in annoying codes and website URLs via the PS3, much quicker than using the controller. As other's have said, if this thing can control my TV,Cable Box, and other AV gear.. I'll pick it up for $100/$150.
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