Crazy Consumer Electronics World: Microsoft's latest keyboard controls smart TVs and tablets

While Microsoft is better known for developing Windows, it's also a widely renowned peripheral maker. Its latest product is an all-in-one keyboard for everything from smart TVs to Android tablets.

Combining a full-sized QWERTY keyboard with a multitouch trackpad, the All-in-One Media Keyboard is the perfect peripheral for couch potatoes. With it, users can control smart TVs and set-top boxes by clicking and typing from afar.

The device connects via radio frequency signals set to an included USB dongle that users can plug into a their smart TV or media streaming box.

The RF dongle works with most devices that have a USB HID compliant port, including the Roku 3 and Apple TV, but nothing too small and stick-like such as the Roku Streaming Stick and Google Chromecast.

How does it feel?

SlashGear got an early hands-on with the keyboard and said that overall, it's a bit mushy. However it has more than a few nice features including a row of media function keys along the top.

Along with the usual left and right clickers found underneath the trackpad, there's also an additional left-click on that side of the device for easier navigation.

Meanwhile, on the bottom of the keyboard lives a removable battery door hiding two AA batteries and an extra magnetic cubbyhole for stowing the RF receiver.

The All-in-One Media Keyboard is compatible with both full and RT versions of Windows 8.1, 8 and 7, along with OS X 10.7 Lion through 10.9 Mavericks. An oddly specific batch of Android - 4.03, 4.12, and 4.2 - are also compatible with the keyboard. It will be available starting tomorrow for $39 (about £23, AU$41).