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

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]

[Robert @ Nov 5th 2008 12:02PM]

Geez, it's not that hard to type on the iPhone keyboard; I'm typing on it right now and it only took a couple seconds.

[Flashpoint @ Nov 5th 2008 12:17PM]

Its not extremely hard to type on the iPhone but it isn't "easy" either. When I get online to send emails on Yahoo or MSN, I want to be able to type like I would on a regular keyboard with speed.

iPhone is good for text messaging or simply typing a search word into the internet.

[dark star @ Nov 5th 2008 12:25PM]

apple shoulda done us all a favor and enabled bluetooth!
i have no problem synching my bt kb to a windows mobile and type an essay if i really wanted to!! can you write an essay on your iphone? i dont think so

[trainwrecka @ Nov 5th 2008 12:27PM]

You're writing essays on a WinMo??? So you put the phone in your pocket, and lug a bluetooth keyboard around with you? I'll stick to the Macbook Air, seeing how it weighs less than the keyboard.

[Phoenix @ Nov 5th 2008 12:52PM]

...I write essays on my Kaiser. The issue isn't the WEIGHT, it's the MARKETABILITY. Try putting that MacBook Air into your pocket. I can do that with my kaiser, and I could put a folding Bluetooth keyboard in there if a chose too as well.

[Phoenix @ Nov 5th 2008 12:52PM]

marketability? Wow, firefox's spellchecker broke my post :(
...POCKETABLILITY...

[Robert @ Nov 5th 2008 1:00PM]

@Flashpoint

True, you probably wouldn't sit down and write a ten page essay on an iPhone, but the keyboard still doesn't keep me from posting comments/posting on message boards.

[DubbZ3030 @ Nov 5th 2008 1:38PM]

Im gonna use this like my flying car uses wheels!!

[High Ranks make you sterile @ Nov 5th 2008 1:45PM]

I'm going to use that line as much as never using it!

[happy_penguin @ Nov 5th 2008 1:52PM]

The soft keyboard is sufficient for me and I like the thinness of my iPhone. If you need to have a physical keyboard, which I agree is probably better for people who do a lot of typing on their portable device, then the iPhone is not for you.

I would be more interested in some sort of dock where I would be able to use a regular sized keyboard or I would like to be able to use the Apple bluetooth keyboard with my iPhone. But when I'm on the go and it's in my pocket, the soft keyboard is just fine for me.

[dandaman @ Nov 5th 2008 4:29PM]

@dark star: You'd be surprised.

[Robert @ Nov 5th 2008 4:39PM]

Well, It would be a lot easier if they allowed the use landscape mode in the notepad or any other app that required typing.

[hailfire753 @ Nov 5th 2008 4:44PM]

what?! That is NOT an iPhone 3g! They have not even jailbroken! Also, I am typing on a iPod touch now.

[Messymeese @ Jan 3rd 2009 1:13PM]

Hailfire, you're dumb.

[Josh Ladella @ Nov 6th 2008 8:08AM]

@trainwrecks

yeah, id totally settle for that $1800 MBA rather than the $60-$100 bluetooth keyboard too man...

[Alexandre Emond @ Nov 5th 2008 12:03PM]

No official external bluetooth keyboard for the I-phone yet? WinMo use to get that for a long time.

[Testies, Testies, 1, 2... 3? @ Nov 5th 2008 3:33PM]

Getting closer to my G1 all the time...

[BB Sting @ Nov 5th 2008 12:05PM]

But can it play Monkey Ball?

[Kevin @ Nov 5th 2008 12:05PM]

very nice, maybe something in future of the iPhone .... :-)

[slarity @ Nov 5th 2008 12:04PM]

I think a keyboard like that is nice but I do just fine with the On-Screen keyboard that Im not carying around another thing in my pocket.

[Alan Partridge @ Nov 5th 2008 1:20PM]

Ctrl+C -> Ctrl+V....

[Mike C @ Nov 5th 2008 2:30PM]

Cmd+C > Cmd+V you mean

[XIYL @ Nov 6th 2008 4:09AM]

@ Mike C

Not if you're going to do anything useful with it.

[Level 5 @ Nov 5th 2008 12:06PM]

Why this is a fail, by Level 5

1 - The iPhone has a perfectly decent keyboard, it just needs to have landscape availability at all times. I own a Sprint Mogul, and I find the iPhone keyboard to be not quite as good, but it's more than adequate.
2 - Kills practicality, as noted above
3 - Kills size - I mean look at it
4 - Needs a custom cable
5 - REQUIRES jailbreak

I'm no fanboy, trust me, but this is lame. A hack to get a landscape keyboard for SMS, etc and haptic feedback would be better than this solution IMO

[SheepHerder @ Nov 5th 2008 12:43PM]

the "fail" comment is ridiculously stupid, almost as stupid as "first". get a job. stop hitting yourself.

[Juaquin @ Nov 5th 2008 12:47PM]

I agree, but you have to remember that this is a proof of concept. The hacker here did it for the heck of doing it. I doubt he thinks that it's a practical everyday solution, or that anyone else should do it for any reason other than simply being able to.

[Level 5 @ Nov 5th 2008 1:55PM]

Almost as stupid as a strict reply when you could keep your thoughts off the comment. If I hadn't wrote fail, you would had still found some way to fire off a douchebag rebuttal.

[dandaman @ Nov 5th 2008 4:37PM]

I was reading a mag (Mac|Life I think?) and they had a concept for the "iPhone mini" which had a see-through glass screen flip on top of the regular iPhone screen, with the keypad on it - something like that, that would be see through, would be pretty neat, with the keyboard placed on it.

[tarn @ Nov 5th 2008 12:12PM]

Shot lets make an all on one device an all in two device....except not.....shot...

good try...

[ILoveApple @ Nov 5th 2008 12:13PM]

The fact of the matter is that a physical keyboard will ALWAYS be better than a virtual one.

[Coolty @ Nov 5th 2008 12:15PM]

Finally, a useable keyboard for my iPhone!

[Patriks7 @ Nov 5th 2008 12:19PM]

Yet, if Steve Jobs would announce something similar, all the fanbois of the world would go CRAZY

[Samboini @ Nov 5th 2008 3:55PM]

Including but not limited to, an immediate underwear change.

[Twitchy @ Nov 6th 2008 3:21AM]

He probably hasn't as he's afraid they might all pop.

[waiownsyou @ Nov 5th 2008 12:19PM]

Wow it even has that silver/black keyboard theme going on

[phanbouy @ Nov 5th 2008 1:05PM]

zomg! it is silver and black!!!111

[waiownsyou @ Nov 5th 2008 1:24PM]

Troll much?

[pinchies @ Nov 5th 2008 4:06PM]

Hypocrite much?

[phanbouy fan @ Nov 5th 2008 4:05PM]

he isn't a troll he is a beautiful unicorn!!! phanbouy rock on!!

[d?niel @ Nov 5th 2008 12:21PM]

love the space "bar" :)

[Nadool @ Nov 5th 2008 9:00PM]

Love the "custom" duct taped cable ;p

I think it's a good idea but if you really need to type that much on an iPhone chances are you bought the wrong phone.

[Ramin @ Nov 5th 2008 12:27PM]

The whole point of buying the iPhone is for that beautiful touch screen! So my question is...why?....

[BJ is Gooder @ Nov 5th 2008 12:28PM]

Glossy screen...white border with black keys...hmmm...

I thought there was no new hardware in '08?! This is obviously a screenshot of the new Apple netbook!!

[Jon Doe. @ Nov 5th 2008 12:31PM]

Weak

[BoydCape @ Nov 5th 2008 12:39PM]

Wow congratulations, you built something which entirely defeats the point of the phone.

If you don't like the iphone keyboard then don't get an iPhone!

[Zach Weisman @ Nov 5th 2008 12:39PM]

Make that attachment look like a blackberry, stick it on the bottom of the phone, give me a reasonable BBM alternative and I'll make the switch. As will MILLIONS.

[IG @ Nov 5th 2008 12:44PM]

Ha Ha. Iphone is just trying to have a REAL keyboard like my G1. Don't be silly.

[Matt @ Nov 5th 2008 12:47PM]

What next? Some one will develop a on screen keyboard eliminating need for a tactile keyboard?! Oh wait...

[Evan @ Nov 5th 2008 12:55PM]

Come on Apple, release an external keyboard. You know some people want it, and it will sell enough. So why don't you make what people want?

[Jinto @ Nov 5th 2008 12:57PM]

As an iPhone owner: WANT!

While the onscreen is very useful, having the ability to use an external (Not just the small one pictured, they will make larger ones) keyboard will be very helpful for me. I'll really be able to take class notes, make long e-mails, edit papers, code in C++ or whatever, and so on! Now just to make it so the onscreen keyboard does not show up when the external is hooked up...