USB keyboard support

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This is one of those things that sounds really neat, but I'm not so sure it really is. I have a Sony DVD Jukebox that supports a keyboard, and while the keyboard is less of a pain than the remote for the long fields involved (30 characters x 3 fields per DVD), it's still a major pain trying to use the keyboard. A BlueTooth keyboard would be better, but that really would require a special driver. I've tried infrared keyboards in the theater, but they are almost totally useless. Of course part of the problem is all the equipment sits behind me, but I doubt a wired solution would be very much better even with frontal equipment, and I suspect IR would more than likely have issues even with the equipment in the front.

 

I'm pretty sure the wireless USB keyboards made by Logitech (and probably others) use RF, not IR, so line of sight wouldn't be an issue.

 

how about a slider remote...like a cell phone with a slide out keyboard.

 

A "Slide" remote is doable, but a bit costly I think to engineer. Then again, that PS3 keyboard remote has an MSRP of $30 or so, with the analog controllers.

As for IR (which the slide remote would be), if your TiVo remote works, it would also.

 

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the new iPhone remote app on iTunes is available which has functionality for the series 3/THD units that allows you to directy type in letters/numbers and has the regular remote functions. It's $0.99 and works really well.

 

No, it doesn't, because one can lift the handheld remote far above where a keybard would be useful. Typically, in a theater room or living room, a keyboard is going to have to sit in the user's lap, unless they have a desk sitting in their living room. I think most people have couches, love seats, and / or recliners in their TV rooms. Lifting up a keyboard to near eye level or above and pointing it so it's IR transmitter points toward the receiver is not practical. I know this from personal experience, because I tired IR keyboards in the theater. With my setup, it was particularly awkward, because one usually had to lift up the keyboard upside down and pointing backwards to get the IR communications to work reliably. I have a BlueTooth keyboard and mouse combo on a PC in my living room. I do occasionally use them to control the PC in the living room, but using the keyboard in the recliner is so awkward and inconvenient I usually do just the opposite: I come here into my office and use Remote Desktop to control the living room PC from my desk in my office. This despite the facts the recliner is much more comfortable than my desk chair, and there is some inconvenience associated with moving to my office to do the work. If what I need only requires a few mouse clicks, then using the living room console to do the work is not too bad, but even having to type the few letters required to log in on the keyboard is a hassle. I've looked for any commercially available keyboard and mouse support platform and I've worked through all sorts of possible designs I could implement myself (cantilevered desktops, ceiling mount tabletops, you name it), but so far I've come up with nothing which makes a keyboard in the recliner easy to use.

 

My harmony remote is RF...I could hide behind the couch and it would still work.

 

That is the problem, it only works on the Series 3/THD units, plus requires an investment in an iPhone.

Wen need a solution universal to all TiVos, and requires minimal investment on the users part, I am thinking less than $50 retail.

 

Well, you can use the remote in my sig for free (given that you already own a computer). But, you have to use it on the computer. And of course it's still limited to S3/HD.

 

Just let me manage the Tivo through Tivo Desktop... that kind of solves a lot of problems (text input and backup come instantly to mind).

 

The Logitech diNovo Mini is pretty slick. If it was supported I'd buy one.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3848&cl=us,en

 

In threads discussing this topic I like to point out that the Wii added USB keyboard support even though text entry is used far less on it than a TiVo.

I (or many of you) could create a partially function USB keyboard hack using the sendkey binary. The bad part is that letters wouldn't be supported but it would be a good proof of concept.

 

Lenovo just started selling this Multimedia Remote with Keyboard. As soon as I saw it, my first thought was how perfect this would be on a Tivo. So here I am, checking to see if Tivo's added USB keyboard support yet. Of course they haven't; it would be a useful feature. Much more important for them to work on letting me order pizza from my DVR.

What a sad, misguided failure Tivo is. It's like they somehow manage to stay in business despite their best efforts.

 

What's the point of including this in your post?

 

While I too would like several more standard USB features available on my TiVos, including the keyboard support, I would have to agree that mobile phone apps, readily available, well written, and cheaply offered, across multiple platforms is a very good starter solution.

I recently found that Blackberry offers a TiVo scheduling app. There are also remote control apps. So why not add into the software on S2 and S1 a few tweaks to allow this avenue to open up. Yes, I know it isn't quite as simple as all that, but still.

 

The new Tivo Remote has a slide out keyboard.
See it at Tivo.com
$90 bucks.
Compatible with all TiVo Series3™, TiVo HD/HD XL, and Premiere/Premiere XL boxes.

 

Here's what Tivo says about it:

Introducing the TiVo remote with a slideout keyboard.

The TiVo® Slide remote puts the full power of TiVo in the palm of your hand. Hidden inside its ergonomic, peanut-shaped exterior is a fully retractable QWERTY keyboard for quick and easy text entry.

* Finger-friendly slideout keyboard: Full QWERTY-format keyboard enables faster and easier text entry for Search, YouTube™, RSS and more
* More powerful signal: Built-in Bluetooth® provides increased range and strength to accommodate clutter-free setups inside cabinets
* One remote does it all: Learns commands for power, input, volume and mute directly from the remote controls of your TV and receiver
* Easy to use in a dark room: Light sensor automatically activates glow feature on backlit keys and keyboard, so you never have to turn on a light
* One-step activation takes seconds: Easy plug-and-play setup puts you in control in moments
* Compatible with all TiVo Series3™, TiVo HD/HD XL, and Premiere/Premiere XL boxes. (If you received your TiVo Premiere from RCN, check back for updates on the availability of TiVo Slide for your box.)

 

The new slider remote is nice, but a bit overpriced in my opinion.

TiVo has recently added USB keyboard support. So for less than $20 you can buy a generic, driverless wireless keyboard and use it. Or if you don't mind the cord, you could use a $10 generic USB keyboard.

 

how hard would usb keyboard drivers be!!!

 

Probably not very hard. There may actually be a generic USB keyboard driver installed. All I know is that I can use a USB keyboard now.