Can I connect a keyboard to my new Sony Smart TV?
November 29, 2014 2:50 PM Subscribe
I just got a new TV -- a Sony Bravia kdl-48w600b -- and I am trying to figure out if I can connect a keyboard -- any kind of keyboard to it. The internet is not helping -- I cannot find a solid answer. Some say yes you can, some say no, it's impossible (which would be a huge pain for a smart TV). Has anyone successfully connected a keyboard (wired or not) to their TV of the same model? If yes, what type of keyboard do I need to buy?
The only mention of "keyboard" in the manual is on page 132, re: using a mobile device as a controller.
posted by humboldt32 at 3:31 PM on November 29, 2014
posted by humboldt32 at 3:31 PM on November 29, 2014
I have a silly solution. this will for sure work on android, and _might_ work on iOS.
it says you can pair a phone and use their remote app to type in menus. on android at least, i know that if you have a keyboard synced you can type anywhere the keyboard can type. this was at least usually true on iOS as well.
So a for sure solution would be to go keyboard>smartphone>tv.
As for just going keyboard>tv... well i did a brief google and couldn't find anything about bluetooth on that model. personally i'd just plug a cheapo USB keyboard in and see if it works, though. If it does, get a cheapo logitech wireless one with the USB dongle that's like $20 and plug it in.
I think the smartphone thing is almost a surefire solution here though, if their app supports typing in menus like that.
posted by emptythought at 4:06 PM on November 29, 2014
it says you can pair a phone and use their remote app to type in menus. on android at least, i know that if you have a keyboard synced you can type anywhere the keyboard can type. this was at least usually true on iOS as well.
So a for sure solution would be to go keyboard>smartphone>tv.
As for just going keyboard>tv... well i did a brief google and couldn't find anything about bluetooth on that model. personally i'd just plug a cheapo USB keyboard in and see if it works, though. If it does, get a cheapo logitech wireless one with the USB dongle that's like $20 and plug it in.
I think the smartphone thing is almost a surefire solution here though, if their app supports typing in menus like that.
posted by emptythought at 4:06 PM on November 29, 2014
If you plug a keyboard into the USB port and the TV doesn't know to work with keyboards, it'll just not work. You won't damage anything.
To expand upon emptythought's suggestion: yep, that'll work on iOS too. Bluetooth keyboards (or USB? I think you can hook a USB one in via the Camera Connector dealie) take over the iOS keyboard everywhere it's used.
posted by mrg at 4:25 PM on November 29, 2014
To expand upon emptythought's suggestion: yep, that'll work on iOS too. Bluetooth keyboards (or USB? I think you can hook a USB one in via the Camera Connector dealie) take over the iOS keyboard everywhere it's used.
posted by mrg at 4:25 PM on November 29, 2014
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posted by nickggully at 2:56 PM on November 29, 2014