Custom Systems: Remotely Useful

Keyboard Windows XP Digital Connect mouse

The device is a little larger than a traditional keyboard, and its curved edges make it rest easily in the lap. Buttons on the left side control the playback of a CD or DVD, change the channel or volume, and record a television program. The top of the device includes My Music, My Movies, My Pictures and other buttons that open particular sections of the Media Center interface. The unit also includes a full keyboard; buttons to launch the Media Center interface, IM or the television guide; a backlight button; and a switch to lock all the buttons from being accidentally pressed.

A mouse pointer is located on the upper right corner of the device, while the left and right mouse click buttons are located on the upper left corner. Placing the buttons and pointer together would make them much easier to use.

The device communicates via IR and can send signals from up to 30 feet. System builders need to include a receiver in the PC or provide an external receiver. The device communicates only with the Windows XP Media Center Edition Receiver but not with other Microsoft wireless receivers. The Remote Keyboard also does not work with Media Center Extenders.

The device is severely limited because it uses IR and therefore requires a clear line of sight to the receiver. In many entertainment situations it is difficult to maintain a direct line of sight with the receiver, and even though the Remote Keyboard weighs only 29.9 ounces, its odd shape makes it difficult to hold in the air to find the best reception. The device syncs up automatically with receivers but, surprisingly, lacks the sync button available on most wireless devices, which prevents interference with similar products.

Windows XP Media Center Edition does not naturally support the Remote Keyboard, so system builders must download a software update from the Microsoft Web site before setup. The Remote Keyboard costs $104.99 and includes a three-year limited hardware warranty. DISPLAY MORE THAN THE BASICS

To make their Media Center PCs resemble A/V devices, system builders commonly use cases with LCDs or Vacuum Fluorescent Displays built into their faces. Such displays present only basic system information. Help has arrived. System builders now can use FrontView from MediaCenterMagic to present a wide variety of data from the Media Center interface on the displays. Digital Connect Lab engineers reviewed FrontView, and found it feature-rich and easy to use.

FrontView can present information from Media Center such as the movie or artist's name, track name and length of a DVD or CD; a phone number and caller's name when the Media Center is used for Caller ID; TV or radio station channel name, program information and parental advisory rating; volume level; and name of a photograph being displayed. Users can select the priority of items presented on the screen, such as giving preference to caller ID over TV program information.

FrontView supports numerous case displays, including SoundGraph's iMon, Matrix Orbital and certain displays from Hitachi, Noritake and Crystal Fontz. Builders and developers can write their own modules for support of additional displays, to add new capabilities to FrontView or to enable it pull information from other applications.

A standard version of FrontView with basic functionality is free, while the professional version, which is completely customizable and includes full features and numerous macros, costs $20. Both versions are available at www.mediacentermagic.com.