Gyration's Media Center Remote Control
By Peter Rojas 
posted Apr 27th 2005 7:45AM
posted Apr 27th 2005 7:45AM
Gyration got themselves bought up by Thomson while we weren't looking, and they were showing off their new Media Center Remote Control at WinHEC yesterday. Looks like more or less like a regular Media Center remote, right? Yep, except that it comes loaded up with Gyration's motion-sensing gyroscopic technology, which lets you control the cursor on your Media Center PC by moving the remote through the air (you have to press a button on the remote to put it into mouse mode). Best part is that even though Gyration uses RF for its wireless mice, they've also built an IR emitter into the remote so you can also control your other A/V components.
Well this seems pretty cool, but honestly I don't really understand how Gyration's motion-sensing tech is better than a plain old thumb-stick. Is it really easier to wave something like this around than to just push a stick with your thumb? How precise can you really be in your mouse movements with this sort of thing?
I've been looking for some sort of universal remote for my media center PC and other components that also comes with a mouse mode, and maybe this is the best I'll get, but I was hoping for something with a proper thumb-stick.
(I have a wireless keyboard with a thumb-stick right now and like it a lot... it's just annoying to have to break out this big keyboard every time I want to use the mouse.)
This would be cool, but I've tested 3 different mice by Gyration and
1) The range is awful
2) The batteries die in about 10 minutes (probably because of the gyroscopes)
3) They all ceased to function within 2 weeks time.
Dont know if they've improved the technology since then for this remote, but if it works properly it would probably be great.
I have a Gyration keyboard/mouse for my MCE as well as the remote of course. Combining them makes a lot of sense. Once you have the hang of the gyro thing it's more accurate and quicker to use dan a thumb-stick or d-pad on an IR keyboard - it's easier to point to the other side of the screen in an instant.
What would have been even cooler is if they'd have a bunch of programmable hotkeys on the remote as well, on the sides perhaps? The Gyration keyboard has a bunch of media keys that I'd like to see mapped to the remote as well.
Any word on pricing?
Getting closer to that all in one solution. Like Tuig said, it needs programmable ability. A feature to learn controls from other remotes, and maybe a USB port for mapping.
"it's easier to point to the other side of the screen in an instant. "
I guess my question is, while it may be easy to point to one side of the screen or another, how easy is it to pick out that one line of text on an iTunes interface that happens to be the particular song you want to hear? (Most of us MCE guys still use other apps for our music management, because MCE sucks hard for that.) I can do this in an instant with a thumb-stick. I just can't fathom how this would really work with a gesture. It seems like even if you had a laser pointer, your hand would never be steady enough from 10 feet away to successfully hit that one specific line of 8 pixel-height text that you need to hit.
But maybe I'm just not clear on the way the tech is implemented. I've never tried one of their regular mice, so I don't know exactly how it works.
I have had a gyration mouse and keyboard almost since the day they came out. I love it. It took almost no time to get the hang of it and I can pick out small items on the screen quite easily. On quite a few occasions I have had the need to highlight small portions of text, and I accomplish this with no problem at all.
I highly recomend these products.
Genius. I will definitely buy this if the remote control part is good enought.
> your hand would never be steady enough from 10 feet away
It doesn't matter how far away you are since you don't "point" it on the screen. What matters is how you move it, just like a regular mouse.
I've probably purchased about 20 Gyration Mice/Keyboard sets over the last couple years for customers. I've bought the 50' and 100' varieties as well as the ones that have the remote instead of the mouse. They have all been excellent, and I've never had any problem with the rechargable batteries.
One perfect example that adding the mouse functionality to the remote would help on? MCE still is far from perfect. It still crashes from time to time when I'm recording a couple programs and watching another or a DVD etc. Normal MCE remotes get my ass out of bed to go Cntr-Alt-Delete, 'End Now' on MCE. I trained the older variety to run a Cntrl-Alt-Delete for me, and now my lazy self never has to get up.
I have also had experience with the gyration mouse and keyboard combo, and haven't had any of the problems described above. I have had great range (more than advertised) and haven't replaced the batteries in quite sometime. I love the idea of it being a remote form now. Great idea
I die laughing at the fact that a Windows user thinks it is a great feature to be able program your input device to send "Cntr-Alt-Delete". It probably also has buttons to automatically launch Norton Anti Virus and Spyware check...maybe even recover from Blue Screen of Death. That would be awesome too.
You can use the standard Media Center remote to move the mouse pointer
MyRemoteMouse enables you to use the standard remote to control the mouse
I find it very handy to use when not in media center mode and its cheaper than this remote
More info at www.myremotemouse.com
(there is a free demo)
I have tried both the gyration remote mouse controls and the joytick or disk buttons that come on Interlink remote controls. Gyration works OK once you go through a learning process... it is not immediately intuitive and the gesturing gets a bit tiresome. Also you have to remember to "park" the cursor when you don't want it to bounce all over the screen, which it will do when ever you move the remote - if you have not activated the "park" function. Not sure how it is implemented in this remote.
The Interlink remote controls with joysticks or buttons for mouse control are intuitive, easier to get used to & control over the long run. Hope they come out with an MCE version if they have not already.
Does anyone know where I can actually buy this remote?
I've got the non-OEM gyration media center remote - http://www.gyration.com/mcrsuite.htm - and it's great. It's really easy to move the cursor accurately. My only complaints were a lack of buttons which seems to be fixed on the new one, and the fact that it chomps batteries, which I've fixed by using high powered rechargables. I'm going to get my hands on the new remote by hook or by crook.
Hi does anyone know where i can by the Thomson Gyro-Equipped, Universal Windows XP MCE Remote Control Unit with Integrated Cursor Control and key bord?
Love Gyration Mouse, so would love to get this remote.
But no to be in Europe.
Just received this from Gyration
Dear Mr Crook,
Unfortunately Gyration have taken the decision not to release the media centre remote in Europe.
Best regards,
Paula
GyrationThomson Multimedia
7 Berkshire Business Centre
Berkshire Drive
Thatcham
RG19 4EW
Tel 0870 458 4906
Fax 0870 458 4896
It would seem that Thomson (Microsoft) does not intend to make this product available on the market. It is an OEM product and is available only with a Media Center PC.
Sad !
My gyration remote mouse worked great but....the remote control receiver in the USB interface somehow interfered with the start up of my Windows XP. The computer would not boot, saying "hard disk not detected" and the DOS prompt would go into "Boot Failure, press any key to continue" loop. The solution was to simply wrap the receiver in tin foil. Now there is no interference with my Windows startup and my mouse never worked better. Needless to say, my local computer service technician was of no help.
Hope this helps someone.