Digital Trends

Gyration Media Center Remote and Keyboard

May 5th, 2004 | by Jeff Fila

Features and Design

Included in the Media Center Remote and Compact Keyboard suite is, as you can imagine, a wireless remote control and keyboard. The devices are connected to your computer via a USB receiver that can handle up to eight different Gyration devices.

At about 7 ½-inches long and 2-inches wide, the Media Center Remote is roughly the same size as an average remote control, but it is quite different in many respects. For example, the number keys that you would find on a regular remote are missing. Instead, the Media Center Remote has two mouse buttons, a Media Center home button, two programmable buttons, a Swipes button (more on that later), and a guide button for viewing your TV schedule. Also on the remote is a mute button and a volume and channel controls.

The Gyration Media Center Remote and Keyboard and reciever (not to scale).

The underside of the remote features another mouse button, triggered by your index finger. When this button is pressed the mouse becomes active, allowing you to control the movements of the mouse by moving the remote and using your thumb to click the buttons on the top of the unit.
 
The Swipes button allows you to assign commands to hand motions, so you can control many options with the simple flick of your wrist while holding down the button. For instance, by default, a up swipe will change the channel on your TV. Hold down the swipes button and flick your wrist upwards and the tuner will change to the next channel. Hold the swipes button down and flick your wrist down and it will go to the previous channel.
 
Also included with Gyration's Media Center suite is a compact keyboard. Measuring about 12 inches by 5 ½ inches, the keyboard is small enough to fit on your coffee table or the arm of your couch, yet large enough to be easy to type on. In fact, the main keys are roughly the same dimensions as a regular full-sized keyboard. Missing is a number keypad, although letter keys on the right side of the QWERTY setup can be used as a number keypad in conjunction with the function key. The only key that we found hard to find was the “Del” key. If you instinctively reach for the Delete key near the top right of your keyboard, where it is on most setups, you'll have to adjust to finding the key near the bottom right on the Gyration.

The keyboard also features 15 multimedia and Internet hot keys for quick access to email, web searches and your browser bookmarks, as well as controlling your web browser and media applications. For media applications, there is a volume up and down, next and previous track, play/pause, stop, and mute button.