MSI brings Cideko's motion-sensing Air Keyboard to a wider audience
By Donald Melanson 
posted February 24th 2010 10:30PM
posted February 24th 2010 10:30PM
Cideko managed to get our attention with its wireless, motion-sensing Air Keyboard last year, but it's been a bit hard to come by for anyone that's not actively seeking it out. MSI now looks set to bring it to an even wider audience, however, as it's now announced it's own rebadged version of the keyboard. No changes apart from a few stylistic ones from the looks of it, with the keyboard still promising a range of 50 meters, 50 hours of use from the battery, and wireless connectivity from the included USB RF dongle. Still no official word on a release over here, unfortunately, but the keyboard should be available in Germany next month for €79 (or just over $100).
Why would you want this? Picking up a KEYBOARD and waving it around? Notice: You might brake your screen.
@LCDBox not 'waving around'. tilting. do you 'wave around' an iPhone?
it's not a Wii controller.
and no, I still don't want one. but I get the point of it.
@Coffee Just make sure you don't "brake" your iPhone!
Logitech dinovo mini ses a far better solution.
i am not dissing this product but why would you want to tilt a keyboard? is it for gaming purposes, because that is understandable/awesome but it has to have a gaming feel. lo siento if i do not see an obvious use
@Diggler You can use it for games; basically any game that allows for mouse control can work.
Might give it a try once it's supported by Linux MCE.
Folks, look at the rear view...hand-sized grips. it's more of a thumbboard air mouse. You hold it like a controller, not that bad of an idea for surfing.
Please, use your imaginations for a second before sh!ttin' everything. Coco said LESS cynicism.
That said, I personally type enough with my thumbs as it is while on the go. But I definitely see this working as a second input for people who compute from their couch or entertain themselves and close loved ones through a media PC/big screen setup. This would've made life with the ol' Gateway Destination PC even doper.
I'm assuming this is far more useful for an HTPC setup rather than a standard desktop. Obviously people questioning its usefulness have never tried to use a mouse on their couch.
@Zorque
Exactly. It is for HTPC use. I still don't think I would want one, but I do see the point of it.
.... I smell a crap gadget
I've used the Australian, non-MSI version of this http://www.smarthome.com.au/hometheatre/htpc-keyboard.php and it's actually pretty sweet. Whole unit in one, it's about the size of an iPhone. It's a great little replacement for a wireless keyboard and mouse, which are a pain in the a## with an HTPC.
Next month? Dustin in Sweden is shipping it right now: http://www.dustinhome.se/pd_5010379347.aspx
using it as a wheel for racing games is what i initially thought
Here in Germany, the MSI-Version is avaible since 15. Dec. 09:
http://geizhals.at/deutschland/a490239.html
(as you can see in the Price-Trend Graph http://geizhals.at/deutschland/?phist=490239)
The original Version from Cideko is out since 7. Dec. 09
http://geizhals.at/deutschland/a488332.html (Price-Trend ?phist=488332 - only 3 URL's per Comment accepted)
So there were only a week between those two Versions, so as Cideko brought it to the market, the deal with MSI bringing it out too was already done, right?
A range of 50 meters!
Who has a TV large enough to be seen half-a-football-field away!?! Or who controls the monitor in front of them from a computer two houses away!?!