When HN users recommended it
3 HN users recommended this between 2022 and 2023, in 3 comments.
20072026
Each tall tick is one HN user's first recommendation. A short tick is the same user again. Click a tick to jump to the comment.
Android Gimibox Wireless Keyboard Projector
Amazon's catalog no longer lists this product (checked 2026-11-02). The name comes from the link HN users posted.
My whole family uses essentially a TV with GNOME running on an attached micropc. We use something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Android-Gimibox-Wireless-Keyboard-Pro... Works like a Wiimote. We don't have to limit functionality, we just launch a web browser and have the streaming services on the bookmark toolbar. None of our visitors have ever had problems operating this system, even ones who have never heard of linux or GNOME or Wiimotes. You just flip the remote over to type text into the search box. When the keyboard side is "up," the motion pointer and the "bottom side" is disabled. Flip the remote and the keyboard is disabled and the motion control resumes. Intuitive as hell, works great.
My point is that minor adaptations can lead to surprisingly pleasant functionality. Past failures are not reasons to stop trying new things; they're reasons to try other new things.
Android phones have mostly been this for years. most of them don't have the physical keyboard built in obviously, but you can buy all sorts of different pocket-sized keyboards[1] that often include a touchpad, and can plug in via USB OTG (which can be a wireless receiver) or through bluetooth. Add an app like Termux and I could (if I had to) live on the thing.
[1]: I used this one for a while: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D2BG6R5/ref=ppx_yo_dt...
[2]: This one is awesome too with android TV: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WJGSXT8/ref=ppx_yo_dt...
For anyone in the market for a remote, I have one of these[1] and it's pretty awesome. I'll have to check out the Lenovo as well.
[1] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WJGSXT8