DvorakKeyboard
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iPad support for hardware Dvorak keyboards in latest SDK beta
A few months ago Macworld asked where's the iPad's Dvorak keyboard? Well, in the iPhone SDK 3.2 Beta 5, which was released on Tuesday, there's support for hardware Dvorak keyboards in the OS; however, still no sign of a soft keyboard layout for Dvorak fans. A source sent us the above screen shot from the iPad simulator, showing Dvorak layouts as a hardware choice -- and if you've seen a Bluetooth Dvorak keyboard lately, let us know. This setting would presumably allow you to use a standard keyboard with the Dvorak layout, however, and apply stickers to the keys if needed. Apple's official tech specs for the iPad still only list keyboard support for the following: English (U.S.), English (UK), French (France, Canada), German, Japanese (QWERTY), Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, Italian, Simplified Chinese (Handwriting and Pinyin), Russian. As Wikipedia states, on a Dvorak keyboard, the letters and frequently-occurring punctuation are organized the letters and frequently-occurring punctuation "so that the cumulative distance traveled by the 10 fingers when touch-typing typical English text is closer to the minimum than when touch-typing that same text via the dominant QWERTY layout. This reduction in distance traveled was originally purported to permit faster rates of typing, but in later years is also purported to reduce repetitive-strain injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome." The Dvorak keyboard was patented in 1936 by August Dvorak. [Update: In the original post I used the explanation of a Dvorak keyboard from Wikipedia. While I did originally link directly to the Wikipedia article in the paragraph, I failed to explicitly state or use quotations that I had done so. I apologize for any confusion that this caused and thank the readers who pointed my error out. The error was mine and mine alone.]
Dvorak Desktop Keyboard non-Mod
Our previous post about a MacBook Dvorak keyboard mod generated a number of comments, including hearty suggestions from several our readers to try the Dvorak keyboard layout. Now desktop users of the Apple Keyboard (both wired and wireless) have an even easier option for testing the Dvorak layout. zCover is releasing a preprinted Dvorak layout skin that fits the Apple Keyboard and doesn't require any popping off and rearranging of your keys. It has the additional advantage of glowing in the dark and, of course, protecting the keyboard.Incidentally, for those who didn't know, OS X has built-in support for the Dvorak layout in the Input Menu of the International tab of your System Preferences.[Via Macworld]
Dvorak Keyboard on the MacBook
Flickr user sjwalsh384 has a neat Dvorak keyboard mod for the MacBook. Apparently fond of the alternative and supposedly faster Dvorak keyboard layout, he rearranged the key caps on his MacBook (their square shape makes this relatively easy). He has some photos on flickr documenting the process. Worth a look if you're a Dvorak fan or just want to know what the back of a MacBook key looks like, but you're too chicken (like me) to pry one off.[Via Digg - thanks to those who sent this in]
