The iPod shuffleboard USB 2.0 Keyboard

Apple's recent, uh, heavy-handedness spooked them out of using the original name they had for this thing (which is too bad, since "the iPod shuffleboard" has a certain ring to it), but we spotted matias's new USB 2.0 Keyboard, which cashes in on the mania for you-know-what with a conveniently placed USB port for docking and charging your iPod shuffle (though obviously it'll work with all sorts of different USB devices). Click to see a few more pics.

[John Lewis @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Do my eyes decieve me, or does that device requires 2 USB cables to use? They couldn't spring for a little (white) hub inside the keyboard? Silly Apple. At least we know some college kids will buy it!

[Wurx @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Silly Apple, I would agree, if it were an Apple product.

[A z T e X @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

this was not manufactured by apple which is evident in the ugliness of it. also i think i can see windows keys in there!

not too long until apple either releases an iPod dock with a convieniently placed USB port as well or a keyboard which includes a dock and anothe convieniently vertically placed USB port.

[John Lewis @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Doh! Should've seen that. Read the article but not the words in the pictures.

[Luigi @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

I have one of these keyboards, minus the shuffle "slot". Those aren't windows keys, they're printed with all the funky Mac OS symbols that you would never see on a "normal" keyboard.

Also, the capslock is between the right option and control keys - that's an extra control key next to the "A".

I think it has two connections so it can draw power from the computer - the normal 2-port hub on this thing is for low power devices only.

[brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

(I don't have a Mac, so I don't know if this will work) Umm, there are 2 usb ports on a regular Mac keyboard...one plugs it into the computer...and the other...why don't you try putting your shuffle there and see what happens?

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

It probably has a second USB connector because passive USB hubs won't provide full power to the devices. My Apple Pro keyboard has two ports which don't run at full power.

Now, oddly enough, I used a no-name passive USB hub in a laptop picture frame conversion and it's supplying juice to both a MacAlly RF remote receiver and a Netgear 802.11b adapter. It seems odd that a generic 4 port hub doesn't need to be powered to work properly.

Its also entirely possible that the keyboard was an ODM low speed USB device and they added the passthrough to work with high speed USB.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

My Targus USB hub can't even power an iPod shuffle alone without its power cord attached. That i think is pathetic.

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Because everybody wants his MP3 player sticking out of his keyboard.

I really don't like this dock, just as I REALLLLLLY don't like the iPod Shuffle.

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

"My Targus USB hub can't even power an iPod shuffle alone without its power cord attached. That i think is pathetic."

I blame Apple for not making the Shuffle able to charge off of USB.

[Apreche @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

I have the Happy Hacking Keyboard (HHK) and it has a USB hub in it that gives 2 ports. So not only do you regain the port you lost to the keyboard, but you get one more. I've never put an ipodshuffle into it, so I can't say. But I did put an ipod mini into it at the same time as my cellular phone was connected and it worked. I use bitpim to talk to the phone by the way.

[Guy who knows USB @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Jeff: it's the USB spec. A USB hub that doesn't plug into the wall cannot provide full power to downsteam ports. It can only provide 100mA.

Andrew: the Shuffle charges off of USB. Since the connector it has is a USB connector, what did you think it charged off of? When my Shuffle runs low, I plug it into a USB port on the nearest computer (usually my laptop) and charge it up.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Guy: the generic USB hub I have is telling me (under Windows 2000) that it has 500 mA available per port with the following plugged in:

NETGEAR MA111 802.11b Wireless USB Adapter - 500 mA
Remote Controller (presentation remote) - 100 mA

That's a generic unpowered (but with a plug for a 5v adapter) 4 port hub connected to the remains of a Dell Inspiron 4100.

(PS; I'm the first Jeff)

[Billy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

"My Targus USB hub can't even power an iPod shuffle alone without its power cord attached. That i think is pathetic."

We bought a ton of these and sent them back, they were same as cheap China crap one of our team picked up in Beijing

[Zach @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Could it be possible that one connector is a firewire, whereas the other is usb?

[Second Jeff Again @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Likewise mine says each port is capable of 500mA at 12Mb/s, this is when it is unpowered. When powered, it also says 500mA at 12Mb/s.

[Second Jeff Again @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

And why is it that when i take the power cord out of the hub, the shuffle continues to be charging, whereas if it plugged in when the hub is not powered it won't?

[S64k90m @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Wow wouldnt this be and interesting thing to drop on the floor with your ipod plugged in...

[Samuel Lago @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

oh god, get a life

[Jeremy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

lol why is it that whenever some company comes out with a gadget for a mac (though I'm not sure if this is meant for a mac or pc), the first thing mac-users say is "oh, that's ugly" or ooh! That's Pretty!". But I agree it is pretty oogleh, even for a pc :P

[what? @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

This is a very ineffective product.

Two main reasons I want to mention:

1) For those people who slide their keyboards under their desk, this will not work, because the shuffle will get in the way and cannot fit and also if they fit their shuffle in, they may accidently slide the keyboard drawer in and damage the shuffle by breaking the USB connector with the rest of the shuffle.

2) Dust, dirt, dead body cells, etc. are everywhere. It's easier to clean a flat plane surface than trying to take a cotton Q-Tip and try to fit it in the USB. So if you buy this product, you will have to constantly clean it to make sure it's in proper working condition or you will need to cover it with a plastic tape.

So I would say skip this product. If you want a good keyboard with USB, try MaCalley or Apple's keyboard, which has the USB ports on the left and right or on the side where the keyboard cable comes out, which does not conflict with the problems mentioned above when sticking devices into the keyboard.

[Joe Brown @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

What?

Why would you want to clean a vertical USB port? The contacts would be vertical too; no dust settling there. And you can use canned air if you're anal about it...

Keep in mind: Plugging an Apple (or any other I know of) keyboard into a USB 2.0 chain is the same as plugging in a USB 1.1 hub. It degrades the whole chain to 1.1 speed. With this you get 2.0 speed transferring your playlists. That's the whole point! This isn't a battery charger, it's a peripheral connector. You don't need to have the shuffle in it at all when you aren't transferring songs.