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keyboard posts

OCZ's Sabre OLED gaming keyboard now shipping, priced at $135

by Donald Melanson, posted Jul 9th 2009 at 3:49PM

We've already gotten the official word that it was coming last month, and gone hands-on with the identical United Keys OLED keyboard even earlier than that, but it looks like OCZ is now finally shipping its own Sabre OLED gaming keyboard and, consequently, given it a price. Somewhat surprisingly, OCZ is letting this one go for just $135, which, while still not exactly a bargain, is a heckuva lot cheaper than the $260 that the United Keys version still runs. That'll get you nine customizable OLED keys, along with most of the standard specs you'd expect from a gaming keyboard, including "super tactile" keys, plenty of macro configuration options and, of course, some blue LEDs to remind you that you didn't buy this thing for work.

[Thanks, Jay]

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

by Nilay Patel, posted Jul 8th 2009 at 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: ASUS Eee Keyboard gutted, soldering secrets revealed

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jul 8th 2009 at 7:25AM

Oh the carnage! A prototype ASUS Eee Keyboard made a wrong turn at Albuquerque only to end up gutted in a French orgy of gadget terrorism. Nine screw removals later and we see the stand-alone PC with its 5-inch, 800 x 480 pixel touchscreen splayed, 1.66GHz Atom N280 processor and all. Unfortunately, easy access does not mean easy upgrades as the RAM is soldered to the motherboard. Other notables are the Silicon Image HDMI transmitter that allows 1080p playback over HDMI and 1880mAh battery that should provide an estimated 1 hour and 40 minutes of use before hitting the mains. Blogeenet also has a pretty thorough video overview of ASUS' customized UI running on XP; after the break, son.

Continue reading Video: ASUS Eee Keyboard gutted, soldering secrets revealed

Thanko Silent Keyboard EX might sneak up on the unalert

by Vladislav Savov, posted Jul 8th 2009 at 6:56AM

So you've bought your Silent Mouse EX and now want to pair it up with a similarly radical text input device? Thanko is keen to make that choice as easy and obvious as possible, and has now updated its venerable Silent Keyboard with the EX moniker and an extra shot of quiet. The value of cutting 16.5 dB from the sound of a keyboard tap is somewhat lost on us, but Thanko seems to think it is precisely $52.79. Bundle the two sort-of-silent peripherals together for $77 and you might just save enough money to buy a decibel meter, which will be the only thing capable of telling the difference.

[Via Akihabara News]

ASUS Eee Keyboard now on track for August launch

by Donald Melanson, posted Jun 25th 2009 at 4:29PM

Last we had heard, ASUS' convention-busting Eee Keyboard was due to be released by the end of June but, as you may have noticed, it's now almost the end of June and there's still no Eee Keyboard in sight. ASUS has now finally come out and cleared up the situation, however, saying that the PC-in-a-keyboard / keyboard-in-a-PC is now due to be released sometime around the end of August. Unfortunately, it's not clear if that'll be the XP-based version we've been seeing all along, or the Moblin-based version that just cropped up earlier this month (or both), and there's still no word on a price either.

[Via Pocket-lint]

Video: ASUS Eee Keyboard running Moblin

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted Jun 15th 2009 at 12:47PM

Among the approximately two gazillion other things we saw at Computex this year, ASUS has demoed one of its Eee Keyboard PCs running Moblin. Currently just a prototype, it's unclear whether or not this guy sports different hardware than the device we've been seeing (we're guessing not), or whether this will become available when the XP version does sometime this month. That said, we're hoping that you can sleep better at night knowing that such a beast exists. We sure can. Video after the break.

[Via SlashGear]

Continue reading Video: ASUS Eee Keyboard running Moblin

iHome shows its input peripheral side with LifeWorks tie-up

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 11th 2009 at 8:32AM

Clearly not content with just pumping out one iPod alarm clock after another, iHome has decided to broaden its horizons a bit by creating a new LifeWorks line of input peripherals and computer accessories. Slated to launch in earnest sometime this summer, the new line contains just a few standout inclusions. The iPhone-friendly iConnect Keyboard (pictured above) and HTPC-centric Media Keyboard both look like formidable options for those needing a new set of keys, and there are also a gaggle of mice, webcams and headsets to choose from if those items are more your style. Unfortunately, true innovation is still few and far betwixt, but at least your USB ports will appreciate the effort.

[Via CNET]

Econo-Keys EK-76-TP portable keyboard packs a touchpad on the flipside

by Donald Melanson, posted Jun 10th 2009 at 3:06PM

It's not all that easy to make a keyboard that stands out these days, but the folks at Econo-Keys have managed to do just that with their new EK-76-TP model, even if they may not have gotten the whole "usefulness" thing down pat. As you can see above, this one's claim to fame is a trackpad on the underside of the keyboard, which the company says can be "conveniently" used if you flip over the keyboard, or "used from underneath while typing." The keyboard also looks like it'll hold up well to life on the road, with it conforming to IP67 standards for dirt, dust and water resistance, and able to hold up to hospital-grade cleaning agents. Just don't expect it to come cheap, as Econo-Keys is asking $146 for this little wonder.

[Via OhGizmo!]

Brando offers up wireless HTPC keyboard with multitouch trackpad

by Donald Melanson, posted Jun 9th 2009 at 4:46PM

Brando may be best known for some of its slightly off the wall products, but it also carries plenty of less fanciful gadgets, like this HTPC-minded keyboard with a still relatively uncommon built-in multitouch trackpad. As you can sorta see above, that also doubles as the numeric keypad, and you can switch between the two functions at the press of a button, but not a swipe, apparently. Otherwise, you'll get a 2.4GHz RF USB transmitter that can be tucked into the keyboard itself if you don't feel like actually using it, along with 18 presumably customizable hotkeys, and support for Windows XP and Vista, but not Macs. $69 and it's yours.

Peregrine wires you into a keyboard, we go hands-in

by Tim Stevens, posted Jun 4th 2009 at 9:33PM

Got a game with a lot of commands, but are sick of supporting the Big Keyboard industry? Meet your rebel input replacement, the Peregrine. Demonstrated to us at E3, the Peregrine is basically an elastic glove with some wires sewn into it at various points. Connecting one of those points to conductive patches on the palm and thumb creates an electrical circuit, which the glove's brain converts to a keypress. It's like a glove but with power -- a sort of power glove, if you will. The main application is MMOs, where you could touch your thumb and forefinger together to cast a spell in a role-playing game or touch your middle finger to your palm to heal yourself. Or your character, anyway. More impressions and some spec-ops intrigue after the break.

Gallery: Peregrine Glove

Continue reading Peregrine wires you into a keyboard, we go hands-in

Immersion demos new TouchSense multitouch, haptic keyboard at D7

by Joshua Topolsky, posted May 27th 2009 at 8:32PM

Immersion (known for creative input experiences) demoed a fairly interesting new haptic experiment its working on dubbed TouchSense -- a virtual, iPhone-like keyboard that not only responds with sound and vibration, but some kind of feedback that recreates the feeling of actually moving your fingers across a keyboard. Details were scarce on the technology used, but during the demo at D7 the company showed off multitouch typing, and a new form of feedback which seems to create the sensation that there is a physical keyboard beneath your fingers. The functionality sounds eerily similar to the Haptikos technology that Nokia showed off way back in 2007. We're working on more details, but for now, feast your eyes on the pics in the gallery below.

Update: Press release after the break.

Gallery: Immersion's multitouch, haptic keyboard

Continue reading Immersion demos new TouchSense multitouch, haptic keyboard at D7

ASUS Eee Keyboard to launch by end of June

by Thomas Ricker, posted May 14th 2009 at 4:21AM

The dream of owning a keyboard embedded with a full-blown PC running XP on an Atom N270 processor and 5-inch, 800 x 480 pixel touchscreen display/trackpad is nearly upon us. A dream, quite honestly, nobody had prior to seeing the reveal of the 2-pound Eee Keyboard prototype at CES in January. Engadget Chinese has it on authority that this oddball all-in-one will ship in June with specs that should include a 32GB SSD, 802.11n, Bluetooth, HDMI-out, stereo speakers and mic as we saw during our hands-on with the Eee Keyboard back in March. With any luck, ASUS will also be embedding some form of ultra-wideband HDMI as promised in January alongside one of those UWB monitor prototypes they had on display at CeBIT. One thing's for sure: all will be revealed at Computex in Taipei in just a few weeks. Can you wait?

Logitech's totally rad G19 gaming keyboard now on sale

by Paul Miller, posted May 13th 2009 at 11:41AM

For no particular reason -- let's just blame blatant capitalism in the face of uncertain times -- Dell's online store has a 30 day exclusive on Logitech's new G19 gaming keyboard, and just started selling the thing at $180 a pop, or $260 when bundled with the G9 laser gaming mouse. Sure, that might sound like a lot of money, but just remember the next time you reach a weathered, calloused index finger across your keyboard to toss your last grenade at a grim virtual enemy: you could've paid $180 to do the exact same thing while listening to Korn.

[Thanks, Brian]

DIY semi-functional keyboard pants destined for the geek catwalk

by Laura June, posted May 12th 2009 at 2:39AM

Did you ever spot a really boss concept and think, "Hey! I could totally cobble this into reality"? No? Well, Zach did. He saw a concept pair of pants with a functioning keyboard, and proceeded to make his very own. Essentially, he chopped a keyboard in half, then used a laser cutter and some good old fashioned sewing to get the keys into the trousers. Because the board had been cut in half, only the left side of it still functions, but, as you'll see from the video after the break, that's good enough for a game of Tetris. Hit the read link for more detailed instructions if you want to make your own.

[Via Hack-a-Day]

Continue reading DIY semi-functional keyboard pants destined for the geek catwalk

Color changing Luxeed U5 LED keyboard is a rave at your fingertips

by Laura June, posted Apr 30th 2009 at 2:34PM

Luxeed's got a fine history of making the keyboard a fantastical piece of wonder, and its newest offering is not exception. The U5 LED keyboard has pretty much everything one could ask for in a colorful peripheral -- programmable, patterned LEDs which are guaranteed to brighten up your day. It boasts support for Windows, Linux and Mac (previous versions were Windows only), so if it's ever made available outside of Korea, we can guarantee you we'll be getting one for every member of our dance posse. They're available for pre-order in Korea now for KRW 99,000 (about $77 USD). One more mountain-moving shot after the break.

[Via Technabob]

Continue reading Color changing Luxeed U5 LED keyboard is a rave at your fingertips