Okay, it’s not exactly the new webOS hardware we’ve been waiting for, but we just got this shot of a Palm Bluetooth keyboard from a trusted source — we’re told it’s an accessory for Palm’s upcoming tablet, which is codenamed “Topaz.” Interestingly, we’re told the keyboard features a Windows key in addition to some webOS-specific keys — we’d guess that HP will sell it for general use as well. As for the Topaz tablet, it’s said to be extremely slick, with no hard buttons on the front and a design that echoes the design of the keyboard — we’re told it’s due out in the first half of 2011, which matches up with what we’ve heard from Palm.
We’re also told Palm’s planning a low-end teen phone that’s something like a Pre with no keyboard — it’s codenamed “Castle,” (just like the original Pre and Pixi) and due to hit Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T. That seems like a likely followup to the Pixi, but what we’re really anxious for is some news on a new high-end phone and the Topaz tablet — we’ll keep digging and let you know.
Even the most loyal Android user is bound to kvetch about the stock keyboard at some point or another, and while Swype has definitely grabbed the hearts of a good many Froyo users, Swiftkey remains our third-party keyboard of choice. After escaping beta just a few months ago, TouchType has just outed an ‘HD’ build that’s designed to cope with many of the higher-resolution displays being used on today’s gargantuan Android phones. Moreover, we’re guessing that this was done to look a bit better on devices like the Galaxy Tab, and there’s no denying that the new design elements are a real step forward. Aside from the makeover, the app is also gaining five new languages (Brazilian Portuguese, Czech, Danish, Norwegian and Polish), improved language prediction quality and a new US layout that nixes accented characters. For those who’ve yet to try it, the latest version can be tested for a full 31 days, after which you’ll be coerced into ponying up $3.99 for the real-deal. Hit the source links below (or the QR code shown here) to give it a go.
Adesso has all sorts of cool keyboards for different uses from gaming to HTPC use. The company has announced a new wireless keyboard and case combination for the iPad that will let you use the iPad more like a netbook than a tablet. The keyboard is the WKB-2000CB also known as the Campagno. The keyboard is also removable from the case for use with other Bluetooth devices.
The keyboard uses an integrated rechargeable battery and is waterproof in case you spill on the keyboard. Adesso promises that the ridged keys offer good typing feel and feedback despite being silent.
The case is faux leather with adjustable settings for the screen angle. The keyboard has 76 keys in a QWERTY layout and has a wireless range of 30 feet. The keyboard is 9.25 x 5.25 x 0.30 inches and the case measures 7.5 x 9.75 x 0.75″. The battery is good for up to 40 hours of use and 60 days on standby. You can pick the case up right now for $79.99.
A software keyboard may sound anathema to Palm, with its rich history of wonderful QWERTY keyboards, but you had to feel it was coming, what with the wild consumer adoption of slate devices and, you know, the economy these days. Well, after a short history of hints in webOS 2.0′s code and a longer history of hacks, a full-on Palm-developed software keyboard has been found in shipping webOS 2.0 devices. It takes a little bit of a hack and a restart, and apparently it’s buggy as well, oh and you have to use the physical keyboard to enter the Opt+Sym+K command that opens the virtual keys. Still, none of these shortcomings are going to stop us from sketching out slick, slim slate phones in our diaries, translating that understated elegance of the Pre 2 into a screen-dominated form factor with our unbridled imaginations, leaving the Pre’s cramped hardware keyboard in the past as we sprint into a glorious future of tangible webOS 2.0 market share and maybe a threaded email app or something. Sorry, we’re done. Check out a video of the keyboard in action while we wipe the drool off our chins.
We’ve been eagerly waiting for iPhone cases with built-in keyboards to hit ever since iOS 4 added Bluetooth keyboard support, but they simply haven’t materialized like we’d hoped — in fact, ThinkGeek’s TK-421 case is the first to hit the market, nearly eight months after iOS 4 was first announced. Now that it’s finally here, we’ve got to ask — is this thing the ultimate iPhone accessory? Does the iPhone actually need a keyboard? Does flipping open automatically make something awesome? Read on to find out.
Depending on your situation, you may not want everyone around you hearing you type. Or, maybe you just don’t like the sound of keys being pressed repeatedly, all day long. Thankfully, Thanko has you covered (pun intended). They’ve just shown off their brand new Soundproof keyboard cover, and instead of using some kind of new technology to silence the keystroke, they’ve just made you wear something over your hands.
According to Thanko, this very unique design makes sure that the sounds of the click on “older” keyboards isn’t heard. But, there’s enough room inside to make sure that touch-typists can go about their business without being hindered by the cover. And, if you’re someone who needs to look at the keyboard, there’s a nice viewport at the top of the cover, giving you ample room to see what’s going on inside the cover.
The cover costs about $36, or 2,980 yen. It’s available for purchase from Geek Stuff 4 U, if you really think you have to have it.
The makers of Grippity feel that there needs to be a change to our every day typing woes. They feel that the standard keyboard just isn’t necessary for the 21st century, and feel that we should start “typing out of the box.” To do that, they figure you’ll need a crazy design, and a few extra features thrown in there for good measure. They took their beliefs to heart, and the result is the Grippity back-typing keyboard. It’s a handheld peripheral, but that’s about where the standard features end.
The Grippity keyboard features front and back-facing keys. So, while you’re holding it, you won’t necessarily have to move your hand in any peculiar ways to type what you want, on the display you’re trying to type it on. You can just use the tips of your fingers while you’re holding it. You can also hit the keys on the front, if that’s what you’d prefer. There’s also media controls at the top, and you’ll find a trackball at the top-right corner.
The device has been rumored for a long time, but it looks like the shade has finally bee pulled up. You can even pre-order if you want. You’ll just have to drop $60, and know full well that you’ll have to wait until some time in February to get your hands on it. There’s a chance we’ll see this guy at CES 2011, so stay tuned. To showcase the Grippity, there’s a very interesting video below, which you should definitely check out.
Back at the end of September, SteelSeries unveiled a brand new way for people to use their keyboards, especially those who play a lot of different games, or do a lot of different tasks on one computer. Instead of buying a lot of different keyboards, why not just buy one that allows you to change the keyset? Thankfully, SteelSeries released the Shift Keyboard, which allows you to change keysets on the fly, and now they’ve added one more keyset to the mix: MMO.
The MMO keyset provides gamers with a new way to play their favorite titles, without having to spend the money on a dedicated MMO keyboard. The SteelSeries Shift keyset features things like a button for trading and dueling, and many more common tasks. You’ll also get buttons for emotes. The full-size keyboard also features customizable macros, which you can map to any key you wish.
And, when you’re done playing the game, you just switch out the keyset, and put on a different one, for whatever other task you need to get done. The MMO keyset will cost you $24.99, and if you haven’t already purchased the Shift keyboard, that will run you $89.99
Suffering from a little bit of Droid envy? It happens to even the most loyal of iPhone users, and now BoxWave is stepping in to make your life almost complete (we say “almost” because there’s still no native Gmail client for the iPhone, and all your tears aren’t going to solve that). The BoxWave Keyboard Buddy Case is just what it sounds like, a Bluetooth keyboard embedded in an iPhone 4 case, only instead of flipping out like the TK-421 or slide-tilting like the ultra-bulky Nuu Mini Key, BoxWave’s solution is a simple sliding affair that adds very little to the iPhone 4′s profile and hardly anything to its footprint. Also, it’s your buddy. It’ll start shipping next month, and it’s a little spendy at $70, but can you really put a price on the flattery of imitation?
I loves me some ThinkGeek. These people really know how to toss a product onto the market with geek appeal. The awesome Wampa Rug and the coolest pizza cutter ever in history of man that looked like the Enterprise are just two epic examples. The latest product from the company isn’t as geeky as those two, but it’s more useful for many of us.
The thing is an iPad Bluetooth Keyboard Case that you can stuff your iPad into giving it a wireless keyboard allowing you to type while on the road. This is the perfect case for the iPad owner that wants to use their iPad like a netbook to do some work.
The case sells for $59.99 and is available right now. The batteries inside the keyboard recharge using USB and it is packed inside a black leather iPad case with a magnetic flap. That flap can prop the iPad in different positions for comfortable viewing. The case and iPad together weigh 2.75 pounds and the keyboard has iPad specific keys. Those keys include home, volume, iPod controls, and search. The battery is good for 90 hours of continuous use.
