CES 2011: IOGEAR HTPC Keyboards and 3D/HD Media Streamer

IOGEAR HTPC Keyboards

Digital Experience

We ran across IOGEAR’s booth at the Digital Experience event that happens the night prior to CES kicking off. Digital Experience is like a mini-CES with booths for numerous technology companies.

If you can’t tell by the images, this year’s theme was all about aliens and there were plenty of drinks, food and women in freaky costumes handing out swag.

IOGEAR Keyboards and Media Streamer

The first items IOGEAR showed us were their HTPC keyboards. What’s nice about these are the mouse features built into the keyboard itself either via trackball or touchpad. The GKM611B Multi-link Bluetooth Keyboard with Touchpad can control up to six Bluetooth devices within a 30 foot radius. It expects to ship late Q1 with an MSRP of around $80.

Probably the coolest keyboard they featured was the tiny GKM571R which is designed to fit comfortably in one hand with a mini wireless keyboard that mobile device users will find familiar. The keyboard has a LED backlight with an auto on/off lid, providing protection and keeping battery usage minimal. Look for this model to be priced at roughly $99. All of the keyboards with the exception of the one Bluetooth work on 2.4GHz technology and expect to be released late Q4 2010.

The item that 3D adopters will be interest in is the Wireless 3D Media Kit (GW3DKIT). This is their first device to wirelessly stream HD audio/video plus 3D up to 100 feet away. Six different A/V devices can be connected using integrated private Wi-Fi (802.11n). Content can be streamed to up to four wireless 3D receivers and doesn’t require line-of sight placement which makes it perfect for a media closet placement.

There is also a USB port that can support a wireless keyboard /mouse connection for remote control of home theater PC’s. Look for a mid-year release and a $500 price tag.