The Logitech diNovo Mini does work in OSX and Nokia N800
By Mike on Mar 18, 2008 in Gadgets, OSX
The title should read
“Does work in OSX, with the Nokia N800, and, wait for it, Linux.” At least Ubuntu.
Well I just received my Logitech diNovo Mini from Amazon this afternoon and I’ve had just enough time to run a few test.
First I tried it with the Nokia N800. Once I got over the hurdle of the passcode (enter any passcode on the N800’s keyboard pair settings and then type it in on the diNovo) I was all set on the N800. Of course the Nokia N800 (being a touch screen device) doesn’t have a mouse cursor per say but, the menu mode of the diNovo Mini lets you navigate just fine. That coupled with the keyboard shortcuts proved to be quite useful. The keyboard shortcuts on the N800 do have to be tweaked a bit from their defaults given the key layout on the diNovo but, this is not all that hard.
Now for the big news. I paired the the diNovo mini to an Apple Mac Mini using the built in blue tooth receiver (I have yet to use the one that came with the diNovo for anything) and everything, including the track pad worked fine. The Mac Mini is currently using OSX 10.4 Tiger. I use this machine as a MythTV front end in my master bedroom. No problems what so ever. I was able to navigate with the mouse to launch the MythTV front end and then switch the diNovo’s track pad to menu mode to operate MythTV. It should go without saying that Front row worked as well.
This section was typed using the diNovo mini paired to my Mac book Pro running Leopard. I can even use the media keys to control iTunes. Sweet.
That only leaves Ubuntu to test which I’ll have to get to later. I have another Mac Mini in the basement running the open source Asterisk VOIP server that provides my land line. I’ll have to test that when the phone isn’t in use so check back later.
Update. It works in Linux too.
Well at least in Ubuntu 7.10 Gusty running on a Mac Mini. Obviously I can’t test every distribution and blue tooth receiver so your results may vary but, for me the diNovo Mini has worked with everything I have tested it against. Judging from the limited forum posts I have found concerning the diNovo Mini and Linux the trick appears to be not to use the included blue tooth dongle but, instead, use a blue tooth radio that is known to work in Linux. That is until the wonderful open source community writes a driver for the included adapter.
Good news, good news.
P.S. I’ll try to do a better job of proof reading next time. I was just in such a hurry to get this info out. C-Ya
Kit | Mar 18, 2008 | Reply
[Crosses fingers]
Mike | Mar 19, 2008 | Reply
It works!
Kit | Mar 19, 2008 | Reply
Great! Now all I have to do is wait for mine to come in the mail. Thanks for the diligent reporting!
TJ | May 4, 2008 | Reply
Did you find ‘any’ annoying issues while using the dinovo mini with your macmini? I’m about to get a macmini and a wireless keyboard myself within a few weeks. Thanks for your reply!
admin | May 4, 2008 | Reply
Nope. The mini worked great with my mac mini’s built in bluetooth radio.
I’ve been using it daily to control a MythTV frontend without an issue.
pierre | May 10, 2008 | Reply
Did you made it on mac mini with 10.5.2 ?
What mode are you using ?
I’m using 10.5.2 and I’ve tried MAC or PS3 mode with no success.
admin | May 11, 2008 | Reply
I didn’t try it on a mac mini with 10.5.2. I’m still using 10.4.x on my mini.
I did use it with 10.5.2 on my Macbook Pro and I didn’t have to do anything to get it to work.
You can’t use PS3 mode with a computer so make sure it’s off.
Jonathan | May 22, 2008 | Reply
Using OS X 10.5.2 , can get the keypad to type with the dongle, but not without… and I can’t get the touchpad to work at all, even with the dongle, running windows on parallels!
Any advice guys?!?
Rasmus | Oct 18, 2008 | Reply
I am using 10.5.5. and there are no serious problems – at least not with the dongle plugged in. That said it is obvious that this keyboard is made for Windows – in my opinion it is not suitable for navigating and way to pricy… I have been using it for my mac mini for two months now and I am not that impressed…
Sue | Nov 11, 2008 | Reply
Hi All
Just got the diNovo mini, using 10.5.5 – am having a problem…
1. There are two windows keys – normally windows keys can be used as the Apple key or “Command” key. On the mini, it sees that the big Windows button on the right does not function in the same way as the small windows key on the left.
This makes it very hard to type shortcuts such as Apple-Tab, the application switcher and Apple-Q etc
Anyone know how to get that Windows button to act as the Apple Key?
Sue
micha | Dec 14, 2008 | Reply
hi,
the windows left and windows right key have different functions.
Nokia uses the left key, in combination or without the shift button, for the left keys(making a call or function like the yes/left shortcut) and the right windows button for hanging up/end with shift, without to say no or the right shortcut.
Is there a way to turn the right round windows media button into the right windows button, then the dinovo full supports all nokia devices!!!
OJ | Jan 10, 2010 | Reply
I thought it would be easy connecting my new mac mini and Logitech dinovo mini that I bought this week. My mac found the dinovo but failed to connect. It (the mac) comes up with a 8 digit number but fails to connect. Anyone who can help?
Anne | Feb 10, 2010 | Reply
Just successfully paired my Mini and Mini. When the Mac gave you the 8-digit number, did you type it into your dinovo and hit enter? Mine paired immediately after that. The keyboard assistant then pops up and asks you to press the keys next to the shift keys. Don’t push the FN keys that it seems to be asking for – instead push the z and / keys and it will be happy.