Controlling an Android TV

Connecting an Android device to a TV is becoming more common.  Since Android is based on a touch interface, we need a way to interact with the interface.  Android does support mice, so the easiest thing to do is hook up a mouse to your Android device.  While this works, it makes it a little awkward when guests come over.  The conventional input device for anything hooked up to a TV is a remote control.  If it doesn't look like a remote control, people tend to get confused.  Though there are a growing number of people that have hooked up laptops to TV's, the general non-techie population wouldn't know what to do with a mouse.  This is ironic, since the general non-techie population knows how to use an Android device.  Below are some options for input devices:

This device seems very promising, but I haven't been able to find it in any store.  I also couldn't find any other videos about it.  I don't even have a model number.  The speaker did say the mouse couldn't be used for precise mouse movements.  Although I am very comfortable with a trackball, a lot of people don't know how to use trackballs.

This device is nice, because you can turn your TV on, then start using Android.  It has a keyboard and a mouse touchpad.  To use the mouse, you have to turn the device longways, so it feels more like a tiny keyboard with a mouse on it, instead of a remote control.  It is nice that this device comes with a touchpad because more people are used to touchpads.

The SMK-Link VP4750 is a Bluetooth mouse that seems pretty promising.  Since its bluetooth, it will mate with the Android TV relatively easily.  It has a touchpad that makes it easier for non-techies to use.  I have read reviews that say the device is not very ergonomic.  People have complained about it being hard to hold the trigger and use the touchpad at the same time.  This drag-and-drop gesture is very important in the Android world, since this is how to move from page to page.  The device is almost twice the price of the computer I want to control with it, however.

Ideally, what I want is a touchpad with a few buttons.  I found something that looks like what I want, but this unit is designed for car navigation systems.  If we could get a bluetooth device that looks like this, that would be perfect!

I ended up going with the Mele Fly Sky Air Mouse.  It appears like you wave the remote control around like a WiiMote.  The remote had directional buttons with an OK button in the middle.  If you flip the remote control over, you get a full QWERTY keyboard.  It ships from China, so I don't have it yet, but I'll be sure to post when I get it.