I have never written a review before; I have never felt so inclined. I read enough of them, usually by idiots who don't own the product or know how to use it. I figure I'll write one for you guys who *really* want to know about the product. There is a lot of obvious things that are mentioned in *many* reviews, so I won't go into those things in detail, but this will be a *very* detailed review. I give this product 3 stars, because how you want to use it will either mean 5 stars or 1.
First, about the overall gamepad physically: the product feels cheap for such an expensive device. Very plastic-y, the grey grips on the side are not rubberized (they should be), and they are not perfectly smooth where they meet the black (You can actually feel the line in your hands--you shouldn't). It is otherwise well thought-out, comfortable, and functional. The keys are spaced well and tactile, the buttons press smoothly, and the analog sticks track well. Glad they put a receiver slot in the bottom if I take it with me.
The buttons show one of the problems with the company itself: They *really* need to get their act together. The particular model I have is AK08B (purchased from this listing *refurbished* from Warehouse Deals)...it has buttons that are squared on the outside, with numbers and PS logos on them. The start button has a power logo on it.
...Click through all the pictures of this listing. All of the buttons on all of the pictures are different! And they all exist! Cideko's website is *mostly* consistent, but it makes the problem actually worse, since there are different models--as far as their site is concerned, this *variant* doesn't exist, nor a couple other combinations I've seen. Hard to give a review when the "same" product is physically different depending on where/when it comes from...
There are so many combinations to this thing (possibly due to TM legal issues with Sony?) it's not even funny:
Regular buttons:
Squared or fully round (I would have preferred round)
numbers or numbers/PS shapes
Start button:
power logo or PS logo
You can get [I have seen pics of, at least] almost every combination of the above...do you like roulette? I don't. I should be able to buy something and know exactly what I am getting. Not with this product. There is a reason for model numbers. Sure, most of it is printing, but the *BUTTON SHAPE* is pretty friggin' important for a controller!
Here are the models I know of:
AK08 (Cideko.com) Air Keyboard Conquerer cideko shows it in white and black (*same* model number!), but is at least consistent, no PS logos and squared buttons...although other versions exist (and are shown in the manual from the same page).
AK08b (NOT even on Cideko.com) Air Keyboard Conquerer (What I got)...does the 'B' mean black? Is there even model # variations for different button shapes?
AK08c (Cideko.com) Bluetooth Air Keyboard Conquerer grey with black edges. Actually has more capability with less battery life. Shows round buttons, even though squared ones exist for this too. Yay.
AK10 (Cideko.com) Basic Air Keyboard Conquerer What is *basic* is their listed info. All of the specs listed match the regular one. Shown with rounded buttons.
Speaking of specs, the site shows 3 hr charge time. My *packaging* shows 3-4. Which is it? Their documentation conflicts, or isn't even present. Go to their site, download their manual (for US/"Candna" -really? I didn't know "Candna" was a country...) and you'll find no mention of the fact that holding 9/SELECT or 10/START will re-orient your mouse in "3D" (gyromouse) mode.
Their site lists multiple versions of the keymap software on the main page, with cryptic names. Not until you download them can you figure out which is the most recent version.
Which bring this long review to the functional aspects, which are *really* a mixed bag:
RF: is decent, but fickle. Their antennae placement in *my version* (AK08b) left me wondering why it worked fine for me @ ~15' away but not for my daughter...the reason? It was that she kept holding it vertically, and it would cut out sporadically. Really annoying. So at 15+ feet, make sure you hold the controller more horizontally.
The keyboard: works well, rarely misses a press. chiclet keys that are great for rare-typing HTPC use.
The gyromouse: works well and clearly has a good sensor. The tracking works to a pixel or 2 on my 18' screen and is as good as any gyration I have used, but lacking an *easily* accessible toggle like gyration products have. The mouse button placement is fair, but (thankfully) you can remap the clicks to any gamepad button.
The gamepad: is good; the buttons have good tension, but again I wish it had the round buttons I see advertised. The d-pad is odd, as the entire assembly is on a post and rocks like a hat switch with what feels like a small octagonal restrictor. It hits diagonals easily enough, the 4 cross edges are textured. The L2/R2 are very triangular--shaped very differently than most PS controllers I have seen, aftermarket or otherwise. I like them fine, but these things are personal preference.
USB charging: If you assume that this will turn it into a play and charge wired device, you are a fool like me. It *just* charges...you still have to play through the RF dongle. That said, for the MSRP, they should have included a high-amp 5V USB wall-wart and the ability to charge this in under 3 (3-4? lol) hours.
Putting all of these things together is where you will love this device, or be thoroughly pissed off (and return it). I bought this for everything it offers (*should* offer) on my living room pc. I love me some gyromouse, I use mostly HTPC and games. I wanted to kill the keyboard and mouse. I *almost* could. This device is *almost* awesome.
HTPC users will love it. Gamers *might*.
The keymap software is cludgy, with no real documentation. It could have made this product shine, but drags it down instead. It is a resident software that will let you configure *3* (nameless) profiles to remap any buttons to any keyboard or mouse clicks, and the 4 'D' buttons to launch apps or run (limited) pre-defined commands. It supports *simultaneous* multiple keypress assignment, but no ordering (macro). It also supports duration by ms (millisecond) input. Haven't tried specifying duration with multiple keys, but seriously doubt that has much use. After 3 profiles (hope you remember which one is for what game/program!), you have to export it a file, which you can also load.
The software should support many more profiles, names for them, and ideally either give you a quick button to pop up a selection window (since it is a resident background app and all), or track the active window and switch accordingly, or not require to be running at all. It keeps this good product from being great. The controller requires a dongle, so for $100, they couldn't throw a few megs of flash into it? Include the mapping software (autorun if need be) and store the profiles? They obviously design this to take with you (they put a receiver slot in it) but you'll have to load the software and profiles from a thumbdrive if you do.
The software also lets you map a thumbstick to mouse simulation. I was excited about this because my wife sucks at using a gyromouse (it is an acquired skill). However, this is only useful in a narrow range of scenarios, because it is non-adjustable. It moves ridiculously slow, with no speed setting or acceleration at all, defeating the purpose of using an analog stick, which gives the ability to set a speed/travel relationship. It was a feature that could (and should) have been great, that they *completely* dropped the ball on.
For gamepad-designed games, this controller can be better than my venerable 360 controller, because of it's digital trigger design. Assassin's Creed 2, for example, auto-maps the analog triggers of a 360 controller to the view (since analog s Z axis) so by default you only get a left-right camera control. Since the triggers on this are just buttons, it correctly gave the right thumbstick control, so I have full/proper view control. Some games control re-assignments don't let you remap axis' (axii?) so this can be useful.
The ability to hit the mode button to swap d-pad/thumbstick can be nice, but it doesn't change or help the mouse control.
If you are good with a gyromouse, and bought this to play a game designed for a mouse and limited keyboard keys, such as Diablo III (like I did) **THIS IS WHEN YOU WILL RETURN THE PRODUCT**. This is when the integration falls apart.
I got all my keys mapped to the gamepad buttons (including mouse-clicks), loaded up the game and started off (as a witch doctor, for all you d3 guys). In this scenario you hold shift and aim with the (gyro)mouse. *YOU CAN'T*!! (**If I am one of those idiots I mentioned, *please* let me know)
This device doesn't let you move the gyromouse when pressing a button. Even worse, I suspect this may have been by design, to assist in clicking on something in gyromouse mode (your hand naturally moves when pressing a button, possibly making things like clicking a link difficult to for some users).
There should be an ability to turn this off, as this is a *CRITCIAL DESIGN FLAW*. The fact that you can't use the mouse and gamepad simultaneously takes most of the functionality of this combination design and throws it right out the friggin' window. This makes this controller *WORTHLESS* for any combination where you need mouse+gamepad. You *can* use the thumbstick-mouse simulation with the buttons (as it is all part of the 'gamepad device') but due to the aforementioned issues, that is worthless too. For kicks and giggles, I tried the shift key on the onboard keyboard while using the gyromouse, and while using the gamepad, and that all works. Due to the chiclet keys and their locations, you can't really use this approach either.
This device was *almost* awesome.
keyboard + gyromouse = fine
keyboard + gamepad = fine
gamepad + gyromouse = *FAIL*
(If you are awesome enough to need all 3 simultaneously, you're screwed too, you octopus.)
So this device has some great features, and some really not-so-great. Cideko needs to fix their website, get all the models clarified, and fix the glaring flaw with the mouse+gamepad combo and thumbstick-mouse, which I suspect could be done with a software update. That software really needs fixing anyway.
Despite the not-so-great, if you are an HTPC user, or don't map buttons, or play Diablo III (or games like it), this piece of kit is a godsend.
If you just bought this $100 controller to play Diablo III, just remember that Amazon doesn't let you return a box of plastic pieces--before you shatter this thing against the wall.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program NOTE: This review is specifically about using this device for a MediaPC running Windows.
Prior to this device I used a wireless keyboard/mouse combo for a MediaPC in the living room. The wireless keyboard was not rechargeable and it used a touchpad on the right side as the mouse, with the buttons below it. It wasn't very user friendly and we actually had to disable the "tap" on the touchpad because it was so sensitive we were mouse clicking as we moved the cursor. The mouse buttons weren't in a great spot either, and the keyboard was full size and took up too much room.
So when I saw this product I was pretty jazzed. The keyboard is more like a mobile tablet or phone easy enough to use with just thumb typing perhaps. Plus with the mouse keys in more intuitive places at each finger, how can you go wrong?
And I was NOT disappointed. This device gets high scores from me for a number of reasons.
1. Rechargeable battery that is built-in. We've already got power at the MediaPC area so it's quick and easy to plug this remote in when it needs it. No more worrying about batteries. That's just a personal peeve of mine to run around looking for batteries ESPECIALLY when it's for the keyboard.
2. It behaves like a Wii remote. Just point the controller where you want the mouse to go and it does! It's very easy to manipulate the mouse no matter where you're pointing, because it's all done with motion/gyro. For me this is so much easier than having to move a joystick or run my finger along a trackpad. I know I've used the word several times already, but it's just INTUITIVE to point where you want to go. The level of granularity is sufficient that I'm not accidentally clicking on things I am not hovering over as well.
3. Which leads me to the buttons. On the keyboard aspect, the buttons are easy to click and provide sufficient tactile feedback that you know you've done it. Even for large fingered-people, you shouldn't have any trouble pressing a single button at a time. You'll also find your normal "windows key" and duplicated alt/ctrl for those who like to have them on both sides. As to the other buttons, there's plenty of programability here if you want to install the software and customize. I've only programmed one thing, and that's opening a browser window. It's just as easy to double click the icon, but I wanted to test it out. The mouse buttons are in the right places for this. Left click with your left hand, right click with your right. On previous keyboards I was having to hold the keyboard with my left and then mouse+click with my right.
Some other things the big button lights up blue when you're connected, and it connects FAST. Press it and your mouse/keyboard is ready to go almost instantly. I like not having to wait for some kind of wireless sync. Long press it again when you're done and it shuts off so you don't waste battery if you don't need to.
It works from all over the living room. Specs say 10 meters and I've walked all over the place and still been able to control it. Doesn't mean I can see where I'm clicking, but I can click ;-).
Because I'm using this for a MediaPC I am speaking strictly about those functions. I'm not using it for wireless gaming at all, so the joysticks and and PS2-style buttons are not useful for running around in Windows.
The device is very lightweight and can be controlled with just one hand if so desired, since much of the mousing is left click I can just point and click all with my left hand. Could never do that with a full size wireless keyboard/mouse combo.
And so for my purposes on a MediaPC in the living room this device is near perfection. I'm going to give it a full set of stars for MediaPC functions.
Best Deals for Cideko Air Keyboard Conqueror - Playstation 3
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I have a new 2011 Mac Mini that i use for my media center, running Windows 7 Ultimate. That is the front end for my Windows Home Server in the basement. So I get all my content through my TV and this computer, and I've been using various keyboards with it, and have tried a lot of options in keyboards on a home theater PC since I started even before the days of Microsoft's Media Center option.
Lately I've been using my Logitech Dinivo Mini, which has been an outstanding choice for an easy to use keyboard / mouse controller that is a small form factor. I also have the bluetooth wireless keyboard and trackpad from Mac for when I need something a little more full sized. But I like to find alternatives the Logitech one has some problems with the A button not being consistent... A couple months ago I tested one that was offered through the Vine program, but while it started out a very strong contender and very functional, it only took a few weeks before it was pretty much useless and inoperative unless you unplugged and replugged the receiver into your computer. Which was odd, since the computer never shuts down, never sleeps, so there should've been no reason for that.
So when I saw this offered on the Vine program, I grabbed it, since I also always like to try out replacement controllers for my PS3 I'm not at all a fan of their controllers. And their answer for a keyboard is laughable compared to the nice unit that the Xbox has. So here was my chance to try something to replace the lackluster PS3 controllers, allow me to type on the PS3 with a better keyboard than was presently available, and to boot it can work with my media center...
I had it on the media center PC first, and it worked very well. Keyboard has a nice feel to it for a mini sized thing like this, good tactile and audible feedback for button presses, you can feel and hear the click. The controller itself fits in the hands about as comfortably as the Xbox controllers do, which is high praise from me since they are by far my favorite as far as ergonomics go. It's shockingly lightweight, and easy to hold.
The gyroscopic control of the mouse takes a little getting used to, and has a tendency to get a little off track if you hit the borders, but the two buttons right next to the power button in the middle will reset it so that when you release either one, the cursor is reset to where the controller was positioned at that time. So just hold the button, get it oriented where you want it again, and let go. Easy enough, but a bit of a pain at times, yet should be easy to avoid if you just keep in mind the constraints in movement when you're controlling the mouse.
Buttons for left and right mouse buttons are in good positions as well, and work just fine in all the apps I've tried.
So onto the PS3. Got the receiver plugged in there and immediately it was recognized. But the mouse is so sensitive that it flies through the menus insanely quickly. And that's really a problem for people with PS3 use. I've found no way to disable the gyroscopic controls yet, the online PDF documentation is pretty sparse. But any little movement of the hypersensitive gyro sensors makes it sound like a kid with cards in the spokes going by, because it makes the menu options fly by so quickly. The game control itself is fine when you're in a game and doing normal controller movement with the sticks, but the main menus, or the menus in the online system just move so fast that it's easy to shoot right by what you wanted.
So for the mouse control of a computer, it does a nice job gyroscopic control on the PS3? Has more work to be done, at least options needed to disable them altogether so you can control things better.
Edit a commenter let me know which button kills the gyro, so I've upped this to 4 stars then since that alleviates the annoyance with the PS3. Thanks!
Honest reviews on Cideko Air Keyboard Conqueror - Playstation 3
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program The Cideko Air Keyboard Conqueror does a better job as a media PC controller and casual PC game controller than the Logitech diNovo Mini and I'm a big fan of the diNovo Mini! While the Cideko is a little larger and not as sleek looking, it wins in nearly every aspect of usability.
One of my pet peeves about the diNovo Mini are the missing keys. The absence of an escape key, basic function keys and several others can make for some frustration, especially for surfing the web (just think how many time you end up needing the "ESC" key). The Cideko has all the keys a standard QWERTY computer keyboard has, and a few more. I also prefer the tactile response of the Cideko over the diNovo. The diNovo keys are a little on the "mushy" side, while the Cideko keys give you a nice "crisp" click when a key is depressed.
My other major peeve with the diNovo is the mouse/cursor control. The finger pad on the diNovo is very difficult to use and just doesn't track at all well. I found the gyroscopic control system on the Cideko to be tons easier to use and muck better for "fine" movement.
There is plenty of programability on the Cideko. My initial interest in this keyboard was as a game controller for PC based games and I have not been disappointed. The key assignment is easy and flexible, allowing me to setup the keyboard just like I want.
I like being able to turn off the unit when I'm finished, rather then waiting for it to "time out".
I like how fast it connects.
I like its range. My living room is about 25-feet long and this unit works great from the furthest corner.
The response time for commands in games is great for a wireless controller. Give this little keyboard a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed!
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Cideko Air Keyboard Conqueror - Playstation 3
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I have gamers in my family. Lots of them. In addition to owning a PS3, XBox 360 and a Wii, there are also multiple PCs in my home (which all have games on them).
I was drawn to this controller because I thought it would make entering text into PS3 games soooo much easier than using the on-screen keyboard. I really didn't expect the controller to be so exceptional! It doesn't feel much larger in your hands than a regular PS3 controller and the button and control pads are just as smooth so it is a big hit with my youngest son who plays Little Big Planet every chance he gets.
The biggest surprise is what a fantastic PC game controller this is. It also functions as a mouse and indeed, the second I plugged in the usb dongle, my PC picked it up as a mouse. It has additional supplied software to further refine the mouse and button functions but I've never even installed them because I didn't need to.
The controller on the PC is smooth and responsive and a pleasure to game with. We are currently playing Skyrim for PC and everyone remarks on how great the game play with this controller is. In fact, I am purchasing another one so we don't have to take turns using this one!
It is has a rechargeable battery and comes with a usb charging cable. Battery life is very good, IMO.
If you have gamers in your household, this is a great addition!
