The day I unboxed and set up my PlayStation 3 was most definitely a happy one, powering it up and seeing/hearing the Xross Media Bar interface for the first time. My enthusiasm hit a speed bump pretty early on however, as I configured the console with the use of the included SIXAXIS controller, which is fine for basic navigation but lacking a QWERTY keyboard or even a hard alphanumeric keypad for entering a user name and other account information. Am I the only person weary of onscreen, "virtual" text entry?
Similarly, I enjoy using Windows Media Center on an HTPC, and a Media Center-specific remote certainly helps, but as soon as I need to enter any sort of text, I'm reminded, "Oh yeah, this is a computer in the living room: Where's the keyboard?" Wired or wireless, it's still another large peripheral to juggle, one that doesn't really jibe with a well-designed home theater. So what's a multimediaphile to do?
Logitech has been producing a super-sleek line of diNovo Bluetooth multimedia desktop keyboards for a few years now, really snazzy-looking things with lots of integrated features. Now they've gone and shrunk most of that down into the diNovo Mini -- a palm-sized wireless keyboard with media remote and ClickPad. Yes, it can easily fit into a pocket, and the slim, rounded design means it can even get lost in the sofa cushions, like the best home theater remotes. Keep in mind that this is not one of Logitech's Harmony-branded remote controls, leveraging instead the strengths of robust Bluetooth 2.0 wireless and serious data entry from the computer realm.
Taming the Multimedia PC Beast
It's important to note that your PC does not need to support Bluetooth directly as the remote comes with a USB dongle that adds Bluetooth capability to virtually any PC. And since Bluetooth does not require line of sight communication (unlike IR), this dongle can live happily plugged into an available rear USB port on said PC.
The rechargeable, removable lithium-ion battery juiced up full out of the box in less than the listed four hours, when installed in the belly of the diNovo Mini and using the dedicated AC adapter. It promises "up to one month between charges" and in truth it never faltered during weeks of frequent activity.
My tests began with a trio of well-equipped desktop PCs. The first, running Windows Vista Ultimate, was essentially plug-and-play. Well, more accurately, "Plug the tiny Bluetooth receiver into an open USB port, Wait a few seconds for the necessary drivers to load automatically, and then Play." But it was still much quicker and easier than I was expecting: The Bluetooth receiver was promptly determined to be a "Generic USB Hub" and it was ready to rock. The included driver CD was completely unnecessary here, and on the Windows XP PCs as well. Sometimes I needed to press the tiny red Connect nubbin on the receiver module as a final step before I had true control of the PC.
There are two distinct operating modes for the diNovo Mini, selectable via a hard switch at the top right of the keys. In Touch-Pad Mode, where all controls are orange-backlit, the generously-sized ClickPad circle functions like the touchpad you find on a laptop: Drag your finger across the compact surface and the cursor moves similarly across the screen. This mode is most like traditional Windows computing, a good match for less-fun XP or Vista applications. Media-Remote Mode amps up the multimedia aspects of a tricked-out PC, highlighting certain controls with a green backlight. The ClickPad now works as a D-Pad, with four directional arrows to better navigate banks of organized media, and an unwritten "OK" in the center. In either mode, FN + Volume Down is a shortcut to launch iTunes (if installed), or to make iTunes the top window if it's already open.
I'm All Thumbs
The clutter of a full-sized keyboard is quickly forgotten as we grip the featherweight diNovo Mini in two hands, relying almost entirely on our trusty opposable thumbs. (Thank you, Darwin!) The experience is a lot like texting on a Blackberry or similar device, with a feel that should be quite familiar to Generation Text. A built-in ambient light sensor also helps set the proper brightness of the backlighting in darkened home theaters. Another hotkey-combo--Function + Volume Up--launches the web browser, and my surfing was now limited only by the speed of my Internet connection and of my hairy digits.
Certain controls are subtly reconfigured when switching between the two modes, but a user really needs to spend the time with the diNovo Mini to figure out which works best for his or her personal computing style. The primary difference again is the use of the ClickPad, either the more fluid, mouse-like Touch-Pad Mode or the more specific navigation of Media-Remote Mode. In both, Windows Media Center is given its own dedicated launch button, and skipping through the bevy of audio/video options has never been easier, especially when dropping back and negotiating with the underlying XP or Vista operating system.
Making Your PlayStation Work
Logitech smartly broadened the compatibility of its latest diNovo to include both Microsoft Windows and the Sony PlayStation 3. Flick a switch under the hood (that is, inside the battery compartment) and the wee keyboard goes into dedicated PS3 mode, pairing with the Bluetooth-ready game console like any other PS3 peripheral, such as a Blu-ray remote: In the PS3 Settings menu, go to Manage Bluetooth Devices and the console will scan for the diNovo Mini. Although this one detail is glossed over in the instructions, you will probably need to press the larger red connect button, also located inside the battery compartment, during the scan to make the diNovo Mini discoverable. Then we just key in a few confirmation digits as prescribed by the PS3, press Enter and we're off.
On the highly stylized PS3, there is a definite learning curve when adapting to the more agnostic keyboard layout. Logitech made clever choices like making the Media Center button double here as the PS3 launch button, but there are many symbols and commands specific to Sony's PlayStation (Square, Circle, Triangle, X, etc.), ones represented on both the system's included SIXAXIS controller and the optional BD remote, that simply are not present on this keyboard. [editor's note - this specific lack of functionality rules out the diNovo Mini as a comprehensive single remote solution for the PS3, but it can be a good supplement for the Sony Blu-ray Remote]
However, the first time I entered a URL via the familiar QWERTY keyboard instead of the onscreen alphanumeric keypad, the PS3's helpful predictive text notwithstanding, my relationship with my PlayStation 3 rose to an entirely new level. This console can really do so much, and I no longer have to fight against the controls to unlock its potential. There's no mouse here in XMB-land of course (except when browsing web sites) but text and thumbnails are highlighted with either a smooth dragging action of the right thumb in Touch-Pad Mode or by jumping from item to item in Media-Remote Mode, vaguely similar to Media Center navigation. And if you have a variety of media residing on your PS3's hard drive, the row of entertainment playback buttons along the top will come in very handy, as they did for me.
If you plan to use the diNovo Mini primarily with the PS3, you will want to store the Bluetooth receiver module--not needed here--for safe keeping in its thoughtful nesting spot, again inside the battery compartment. That smooth, rubberized lid certainly gets a workout if you share the keyboard between multiple components. A smoky plastic cover on the other side protects the keys from dust, spills, and the Pop-Tart I stuffed into my pocket this morning.
Final Thoughts
This li'l keyboard is a wicked-cool design and it works fabulously, effectively addressing some legitimate gripes with other PS3 and PC peripherals vying for a place in the home theater. If you want to operate either of these next-gen source components from the sofa, do it with a diNovo Mini.
Where to Buy
Manufacturer's Specifications
Works with
What's in the Box?
Manufacturer's Contact Information:
Logitech Inc.
6505 Kaiser Drive
Fremont, CA 94555
(800) 231-7717
website: http://www.logitech.com/
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