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iPhone vs DROID multitouch keyboard showdown (video)

by Nilay Patel posted Nov 5th 2009 @ 6:31PM

I just dashed off this quick video for my Twitter followers to demonstrate that the DROID doesn't have a multitouch soft keyboard, and pretty much instantly realized that I should probably share it with everyone else, since we've been getting a lot of questions about it. Long story short, while Android 2.0 and the DROID's hardware support multitouch, the device itself doesn't do multitouch out-of-the-box, and the soft keyboard suffers mightily for it. Why it's missing is certainly open for debate, but for now just know that no amount of hoping, wishing, or booze is going to make the stock keyboard register more than one press at a time. Don't despair, though -- while I'm not a fan, Chris Ziegler absolutely flies on this same keyboard on his DROID. Videos after the break.

Continue reading iPhone vs DROID multitouch keyboard showdown (video)

Fake iPhone comes with magical external QWERTY keyboard you've always fantasized about

by Paul Miller posted Nov 1st 2009 @ 10:13PM

Alright, would you look at this, Apple? We know you require your employees to pay in blood for every single button or moving part that makes it onto a shipping product, but would it really kill you to work in some proper Bluetooth keyboard support for the iPhone so we could enjoy the magical freedom of external QWERTY pads if we so choose? Take this particularly stunning KIRF, for example. Sure, you might find the iPhone-miming handset it's paired with offensive, but is there really so much wrong with this flip-out QWERTY action? Do you enjoy our suffering? Please? iTwinge just isn't cutting it.

[Thanks, facelessloser]

How-to guide details PS/2 keyboard-to-iPhone mod, just for you

by Darren Murph posted Oct 15th 2009 @ 10:06AM

Oh sure, we've seen hacker after hacker brag about their success in connecting some sort of keyboard to Apple's iPhone, but have any of them bothered to take the time to explain the process behind the magic? Exactly. The man behind AwghBlog, however, is a kinder, gentler soul, and he's found the time to detail in quite specific terms how he connected a legacy PS/2 keyboard (you know, the one you're not using any longer) to Apple's cash-cow of a smartphone. Best of all, the guide actually explains how to build a PS/2 keyboard-to-iPhone converter, so you're not necessarily tied to a certain board. Hit the read link if you're down for a weekend project.

[Via MAKE]

Fujitsu cellphone design contest yields mind-blowing results: hands-on

by Darren Murph posted Oct 6th 2009 @ 5:01AM

Fujitsu has been wowing us with cellphone concepts for quite some time, but this year's round at CEATEC is undoubtedly a show-stopping bunch. Some of the hottest ideas to come from the outfit's most recent mobile phone design contest were on display here in Japan, and we went end to end capturing the lot. The clear pebble mock-up (shown above) was easily the crown jewel (in our mind, anyway), with a small black blob able to morph into different screens (media panels, a keypad, web browser, etc.) depending on which corner you drag said blob into. There was also a design reminiscent of paper mache, not to mention one with a circular vibe that just has to be a long lost cousin to Motorola's AURA. Have a gander at the masterpieces in the gallery below, but don't bet on these hitting your ~~favorite~~ carrier anytime soon.

Gallery: Fujitsu cellphone design contest yields mind-blowing results: hands-on

Video: Pre virtual keyboard developing rapidly, gets easy install method

by Vladislav Savov posted Aug 31st 2009 @ 8:17AM

We know you just can't wait to get typing on the Pre's lush touchscreen, and the folks at WebOS Internals must feel the same way as they've been hard at work making their on-screen keyboard a functional reality. Installation has been made a breeze thanks to the Preware app, and usability seems to have improved markedly since the pre-alpha version, but a few kinks remain that need to be ironed out. Still, if you're willing to put up with some buggy behavior and the potential for your Pre to melt into a puddle of fiery lava, then slide past the break to get educated on the how, what and where to download.

Continue reading Video: Pre virtual keyboard developing rapidly, gets easy install method

Pre gets the on-screen keyboard it's been missing, yet has always had

by Tim Stevens posted Aug 14th 2009 @ 8:43AM

When we asked how you'd change Palm's Pre, one group of respondants requested a virtual keyboard, a group that should really quit its bellyaching because the phone already has one... it just doesn't offer any particularly useful keys. That's changing thanks to the modders at WebOS Internals, who are taking the control that pops up when you hit the "sym" key and expanding it to actually contain some symbols you might use more than once a week -- like, you know, letters and jazz. They have a functional keyboard operational at this point that works in both phone orientations, but it's still decidedly pre alpha, meaning only those whose delicate thumbs are blistering on the Pre's soft, smooth, physical keys should even think about this modification right now. The team has made huge strides in just the past few days, though, so perhaps before the end of the month everyone can be soft-typing pain-free.

[Via PreCentral.net]

Samsung's folding keyboard brings a little starfighter to the cellphone

by Nilay Patel posted Jul 8th 2009 @ 4:20PM

Looks like Samsung's elves have been busy thinking up new ways to cram a QWERTY onto all those touchscreen phones they've been selling lately: check out this patent application for a side-mounted flip-down keyboard. We're not sure if this would be comfortable, usable, or even stable, but we do know that we support any design decision that makes our phones look more like super-awesome space planes from the future. Carry on, Sammy.

[Via PhoneArena]

Continue reading Samsung's folding keyboard brings a little starfighter to the cellphone

Video: Apple's iPhone and Bluetooth keyboard get together, have a good ole time

by Darren Murph posted Feb 22nd 2009 @ 7:50PM

Not that we've never seen a jailbroken iPhone get cozy with a keyboard before, but this is just a match made in heaven. Not according to those who matter in Cupertino, mind you, but since when have you renegade hackers cared about those folks? The video waiting down in the read link shows off an Apple Bluetooth keyboard interacting with an iPhone 3G, but it seems that you'll have to wait a bit longer before the general public gets instructions / files / etc. in order to replicate.

[Thanks, Ralf]

LG's LBA-C300 Bluetooth 'QWERTY Card' is the best calculator look-alike you've seen all week

by Paul Miller posted Feb 6th 2009 @ 11:24AM

We could just hug LG for this one. The LBA-C300, which just ran by the FCC, is the texting equivalent of a Bluetooth headset -- a Bluetooth device that allows you to operate your phone without actually pulling out your phone, except this time it's for hitting your peeps with rapidly a rapidly composed "LOL" or "LOL, U R." The generous keyboard looks incredibly typable, and while the entire unit borders on the size of some phones on the market, it means you can leave that bulky numeric keypad dumbphone or hard-to-use touchscreen smartphone in your pocket or bag and get some real communication done with the QWERTY Card. You can also view and store contact info, peep a clock, set an alarm and work you calendar from the device -- the Bluetooth pairing means you can even remotely control your phone's camera, though obviously much of this functionality depends on what phone you pair it with, LG phones are likely to get much better treatment. No word on release date or price, but we'll probably know more once LG actually announces the device officially.

[Via Unwired View]

Cupcake's on-screen keyboard shown on T-Mobile G1

by Darren Murph posted Dec 22nd 2008 @ 1:16AM

We already found that the Cupcake branch of Android made available a software keyboard on Nokia's line of Internet Tablets, and now that very functionality is being showcased on a bona fide T-Mobile G1. We can't say how stoked we are to see a real deal on-screen keyboard on the handset, and we're even more jazzed about the eventual release of these caloric goodies to the masses. Have a look yourself at the vid just after the break.

[Thanks, TareX]

Continue reading Cupcake's on-screen keyboard shown on T-Mobile G1

Jailbroken iPhone 3G gets external keyboard, says "Hello"

by Laura June posted Nov 5th 2008 @ 11:57AM

If you're one of those people always complaining about the iPhone keyboard (the lack of one, that is), then this is probably a vital piece of news, even if it's not totally practical. Or practical in any way, actually. Some very enterprising citizen of the world seems to be running a chunk of Ruby code on his jailbroken iPhone 3G, which allows it to recognize what appears to be a Palm / Visor external keyboard connected via a custom cable. The results of this intense bit of modification? Well -- not much, honestly, but it's still kinda cool. "Hello Keyboard," indeed. Check out the video of it in action after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Jailbroken iPhone 3G gets external keyboard, says "Hello"

Sharp's 9225H brings the flip-open QWERTY action to Softbank

by Darren Murph posted Oct 12th 2008 @ 7:06PM

Not that we haven't seen relatively ho hum handsets get cracked open to reveal their sunny side (and full QWERTY keyboard) before, but Sharp's newly unveiled 9225H does more than just look pretty in two positions. Unwrapped at CEATEC 2008, the Softbank-destined mobile packed a 3.5-inch VGA screen internally, an inbuilt 1seg TV tuner, multimedia player, e-mail functionality, 2-megapixel camera and a microSDHC slot for loading up additional Iron & Wine tunes. There's no mention of a price, but feel free to head to the read link if you're in search of more images.

[Thanks, Mark]

I-O Data rolls out mobile Bluetooth keyboard

by Darren Murph posted May 28th 2008 @ 11:45AM

Think that keyboard on your subnote is cramped? Try blasting out 115 words-per-minute on this thing. I-O Data has just revealed an absurdly diminutive new keyboard with built-in Bluetooth that has a real thing for hooking up with handsets. Nah, it's not nearly as cool as having a 'board on your crotch, but it's a respectable (and way more modest) alternative.

[Via Pocket-lint]

HTC Touch Diamond soft keyboard comes to other WinMo phones

by Nilay Patel posted May 13th 2008 @ 10:44PM

We weren't too thrilled with the Touch Diamond's resistive touchscreen when we got a chance to play with HTC's new hotness, but if you're envious of that updated soft keyboard, you're in luck: the Diamond's ROMs have already been pulled apart and the .cab files are just a click away. Installation is said to be slow and you'll have to jump through some hoops to switch the default language from Italian, but things will eventually work out for you -- although we doubt anyone's going to be nearly as impressed as if you had a real Touch Diamond.

[Via MobilitySite]

RIM developing angled Blackberry keyboard?

by Joshua Topolsky posted Dec 25th 2007 @ 9:16PM

If you've been astounding friends and family with your thousands-of-words-per-minute typing skills on your Blackberry, RIM's latest patent may come as a bit of a heart-stopper. According to "recent" filings from the smartphone manufacturer, a new style of keyboard is on the table which may move your familiar key placement into a slightly more angular position. The purpose of the proposed pad is ostensibly to improve accuracy by creating a more "natural" placement for your thumbs -- though this concept might be a little more effort than required. Of course, since all kinds of crazy designs get filed with the patent office, we wouldn't put too much faith in this seeing the light of day, though it is an intriguing look into RIM's design process.

[Via Mobilewhack]