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Five products from 2014 I can't live without: Steve Sande
Of all of the staff at TUAW, I'm probably the guy who gets to take a look at more hardware and accessories than anyone else. Let's face it, being the hardware review editor has both its rewards -- getting to see a lot of amazing products -- and its downfalls -- having to review some really crappy accessories. Here's a look at five products from the past year that truly changed the way I work and play. Logitech Keys-To-Go Keyboard (US$69.99) As a writer, keyboards are the interface between what's brewing in my brain and what gets published online or in books. I tend to be very particular about keyboards, wanting a specific feel and key layout when I do my work. Well, Logitech did the impossible in 2014, coming out with an inexpensive Bluetooth keyboard that works equally well on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The Keys-To-Go keyboard weighs just 6 ounces and is less than a quarter-inch (6 mm) thick, making it a great mobile or spare keyboard. Oh, yeah -- it uses Logitech's spill-resistant FabricSkin technology, so me spilling a beer on it is much less likely to send it to the island of destroyed keyboards. Logitech Type+ Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad Air (US$99.99) Yeah, I spent a lot of money on Logitech keyboards this year. My go-to iPad Air keyboard case is the Logitech Type+. This thing has an amazing keyboard feel, it's thin, and would you believe that I've only charged it once in the time that I've had it? My only gripe after a few months of use is that the bright red exterior cloth is starting to get a little grimy, but considering the amount of use it gets, I can live with that. In case you're looking for a photo of this keyboard folio case, that's it at the top of this article. Cambridge Audio Bluetone 100 Speaker (US$299.99) If you talk to my boss soon, tell him I need a raise. That's because when I review a product that's truly incredible, I need to go out and buy it for myself. That was the case with the Cambridge Audio Bluetone 100, a 100 Watt Bluetooth speaker that redefines desktop audio systems. Offering rock-solid Bluetooth connectivity, incredible room-filling sound, and a classic design, the Bluetone 100 is a winner. You will not feel bad about spending three Ben Franklins for this speaker. Olloclip 4-in-1 Photo Lens for iPhone 6/6 Plus (US$79.99) The camera in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is so good that I find myself using it for a growing number of photos, both those taken for personal use and even for TUAW reviews. But the built-in lens of the iPhone 6 Plus (in my case) sometimes lacks in terms of field of view or the ability to take amazingly sharp macro shots. That's where the latest version of Olloclip's 4-in-1 Photo Lens comes into play. Offering two macro lenses, a wide-angle lens and a fisheye lens in a lightweight package, the 4-in-1 is also much easier to carry around now that Olloclip provides a plastic clip and lanyard so you can keep the lenses close at hand around your neck. Apple iPhone 6 Plus (price varies with plan and capacity) I have owned every iPhone model since the original, and the iPhone 6 Plus is my favorite so far. The screen is big and beautiful, the speaker is actually loud enough to hear, and Apple Pay? I use it every chance I get. Does this mean that I won't jump to an iPhone 7 when they show up? Heck no. But at this juncture in time, the Apple iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are absolutely the best smartphones on the planet, and sales over the past few months prove that point. For many years, I've told people to just wait a year or so to get an upgrade if they really don't need one -- the iPhone 6 and especially the iPhone 6 Plus are worth paying your carrier's early termination fee and upgrading to.
Boxwave Keyboard Buddy case: When a virtual keyboard isn't enough
Although I'm personally very comfortable with typing on the iPhone's virtual keyboard - especially on the iPhone 6 Plus - there are some people who just loved the old pre-iPhone "smartphones" with the little slideout keyboards. If you count yourself among that crowd and want a "real" keyboard for your iPhone 6, then you'll be happy to hear about the Boxwave Keyboard Buddy Case (US$89.95, on special for $79.95). For the rest of you, I recommend staying away from this expensive gimmick. Specifications Dimensions: 5.5 x 2.2 x .68 inches (13.97 x 5.59 x 1.73 cm) Weight: 3.2 ounces (90.7 grams) Includes built-in backlight, micro-USB charge cable Design The Keyboard Buddy Case consists of a rather plain black case with a slideout Bluetooth keyboard. That keyboard is really designed for thumb typing in landscape orientation, and I frankly found the case for the iPhone 6 to be just too wide for my thumbs to reach the center (g,h,t,y,b,n) keys and almost too wide to reach the space bar. The case is wider than the keyboard - there's about a half-inch of space on either side. On the right side of the keyboard, that space is taken up with three LEDs; a blue one to signify Bluetooth, a green one to signify that the battery is charged and that the device is powered up, and one that glows red during charging. Fan of diminutive keyboards who use their iPhones in the dark a lot (you'd better not be texting in movie theaters, just sayin'), you'll be thrilled to know that there's a backlight built in. The keyboard has a strange blockish shape, and includes fn, shift, alt, and command keys, as well as a home key and a set of arrow keys. The fn key serves to bring up all sorts of special features in addition to the number keys. Functionality The Keyboard Buddy Case is easy to set up - place the iPhone 6 in the case, press the Home and Fn buttons simultaneously to put the keyboard into pairing mode, then type a 4-digit pairing code into the keyboard when prompted by the iPhone. The battery life for the keyboard is listed as two weeks, but that may not take into account using the backlight. I found this keyboard to be just about unusable, but your mileage may vary depending on how you hold slide-out keyboards and whether you find pushing tiny little keys with almost no play to be your preferred method of typing on a smartphone. I don't. Conclusion The Boxwave Keyboard Buddy Case for iPhone 6 will probably be popular with those who just can't give up their BlackBerry or Sidekick. For use with an iPhone 6, I recommend the very usable iWerkz Universal Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard or the recently-reviewed Logitech Keys-To-Go keyboard. Either one has much longer battery life and if you actually want to type quickly and accurately, you'll spend the money to get a real portable Bluetooth keyboard. Finally, the price on this is ridiculously high - especially when you consider that the top-rated Logitech Keys-To-Go is actually $20 less expensive and the iWerkz sells for $35 or less! Rating: 1 star out of 4 stars possible.
A hands-on look at Logitech's Keys-To-Go keyboard for iPad
So you want a keyboard to use occasionally with your iPad, but you don't want a keyboard case. Up to this point, that meant that you usually had to buy an Apple Wireless Keyboard (US$69) or something similar to drop into your iPad bag. Logitech, which just happens to make some of the best iPad keyboard cases on the market, has just released the new Keys-To-Go ultra-portable keyboard for iPad ($69.99). Specifications Dimensions: 9.53 x 5.39 x 0.24 inches (242 x 137 x 6 mm) Weight: 6.35 ounces (180 grams) Rechargeable battery with life of three months Design The Keys-To-Go keyboard follows the tried-and-true design cues of Logitech's popular FabricSkin keyboard case. In that respect, it means that the keyboard is covered with the spill-resistant FabricSkin material and that it comes in three different colors - red, teal and basic black. Logitech points out that Keys-To-Go works with any iOS device, including iPad, iPhone and Apple TV. If you use another favorite iPad case that doesn't already have a built-in keyboard, or if you like using your iPhone 6 Plus as a "phablet", Keys-To-Go is designed for you. The keyboard is very complete and uses a standard layout for iOS devices. There are separate rows for numbers and functions - the functions include a home screen key, a home key double-click, Spotlight, keys for switching between keyboards, opening the virtual keyboard when the Keys-To-Go is in use, and various play/pause/rewind and volume keys. There's also a key for putting Bluetooth into discoverable mode (useful if you're switching devices that are using the keyboard) and another to test the battery level. Lastly, there are arrow keys, perfect for navigating around spreadsheets or word processing documents quickly. Functionality My first thought when I saw the bright teal FabricSkin covering on the Keys-To-Go was that this was probably the best keyboard I could personally use. My Twitter followers know just how many iPad keyboard cases I've inadvertently ruined by spilling liquids on them... It's hard to believe just how thin the Keys-To-Go is (see edge-on view below), but it's even harder to believe how good the keyboard feel is. There's a surprising amount of throw to the mechanical keys that gives just the right amount of feedback for fast touch typers. FabricSkin has a slightly rubbery feel to it, which is great because when you're typing on the keyboard on a slick surface, the keyboard stays in one place. At 6.4 ounces, Keys-To-Go is just slightly heavier than a naked iPhone 6 Plus (6.07 ounces). The two devices together weigh just 12.47 ounces, which is a really lightweight pocketable (if you have a SCOTTeVEST) laptop! Pairing is very quick and easy. The device is obviously made for primary use with iOS devices, as it shows up immediately in Bluetooth settings when turned on. When pairing with a Mac, the keyboard shows up with a hexadecimal identifier instead of a name, but still works perfectly. Conclusion Logitech has been making iPad keyboards for years now, and with the introduction of the Keys-To-Go keyboard, they now have a keyboard that works with any iOS device or Mac -- in fact, the majority of this review was written using Keys-To-Go paired with my iMac. Keys-To-Go is a transportable, lightweight, and rugged keyboard that has a good feel and makes an excellent all-around primary or spare keyboard. I would like to see Logitech put the pricing of the Keys-To-Go keyboard more in line with the K480 Multi-Device Keyboard that sells for just $49.99. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible
Logitech Type+ Keyboard for iPad Air
I've reviewed a lot of iPad keyboard cases over the years, finding some that are amazing (the four-star rated US$169 ClamCase Pro for iPad Air, for example), and some that aren't that great. The new Logitech Type+ for iPad Air (US$99.99) is a billed as a protective case with an integrated keyboard. Surprisingly, I found the Type+ to actually be as good as the ClamCase Pro, with a few bonus features that may throw it into my top spot for iPad Air keyboard cases. Specifications Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.2 x .71 inches (255.9 x 183.4 x 18.1 mm) Weight: 14.29 ounces (405 grams) Colors: black and red Design The Type+ reminds me of some of Logitech's older keyboard designs, but the company has taken feedback on the earlier keyboards to heart and resolved issues that those models seemed to have. The iPad Air is held into place by two polycarbonate clips that hold the right side of the device. It's easy to slide the iPad in and out of the case when you need to, but otherwise it is held very securely. The Type+ is a bifold design with the device on one side and the keyboard on the other. When you open the case, the device turns on; closing the case shuts the iPad off. There is a strong magnet that holds the iPad into an upright position for typing, and the keyboard can also be folded back out of the way for comfortable non-keyboard usage. On the outside of the case is a water-resistant material that should help the Type+ shake off the occasional spill. The Type+ comes in either basic black or a vibrant and attractive red. The keyboard itself is very standard, with all of the keys right where you'd expect to find them on a desktop or laptop keyboard. Rather than the function keys you'd find on an Apple Wireless Keyboard, there's the now-standard set of iOS function keys. Those keys are separate from the number keys, so there's no need to push a Fn key prior to accessing one of those functions. The keys are black, the letters white, and the combo looks good. Function As I've noted in other iPad keyboard case reviews, things that I really look for are the typing feel, how well the device turns on and off by itself (if it's designed to do so), and how well the function keys do what they're supposed to do. I also try the keyboard case out on a table, on a lap, and (if it's possible) folded into a "tablet-only" mode. The typing feel of the Type+ is incredibly good. It has a light touch, yet I found the spacing of the keys to be such that I wasn't accidentally typing characters. If your hands get tired after a lot of typing, you're going to like the fact that your fingers aren't going to have to press down extra hard to finish a keystroke. As for turning on and off, this is about the most simple design I've seen for a keyboard. There's no on/off switch at all. When you open the Type+, the iPad turns on. Place the left side of the iPad onto the magnetic bar to put the device into a typing position, and the single LED turns green to indicate that the keyboard has power, then blue to indicate the Bluetooth connection. The keyboard quickly turns off when the iPad is moved out of the propped-up typing position. That method of turning the Type+ on and off also keeps the iPad from turning on in transit, something I had seen with other keyboards that turned on when the case was slightly ajar. The function keys work very well, with a fast response that's lacking on some other keyboard cases. From left to right, there's a Home button key, a "double-tap" key that brings up the list of running apps and (on iOS 8) your Favorites and Recents. Next, there's a dedicated Siri key, followed by a Spotlight key. The next two keys let you switch virtual keyboards (i.e., regular and Emoji) and actually bring the virtual keyboard up onto the screen. I've found this useful sometimes when login screens don't want to take input from a real keyboard. I really came to like the dedicated screenshot key, which performs the task of holding down the Home and sleep/wake buttons simultaneously. There are three keys for music or video playback (rewind, play/pause, fast forward) and then three sound keys (mute, lower volume, raise volume). Last but not least is the lock button, located right under the LED. On a desktop or table, the Type+ holds the iPad Air screen at an angle that's perfect for typing. You can't change that angle, which is probably about the only negative with the Type+. I found that the Type+ also worked well as a "laptop", with the magnetic bar holding the iPad firmly in place as I typed. Once again, the inability to change the angle of the screen may be a downfall to some users. When folded into the "tablet only" position, the keyboard turns itself off and holding the iPad in the case is quite comfortable. With the ClamCase Pro, I always need to remember to turn off the keyboard when using the iPad in a "tablet only" mode or my fingers end up typing nonsense... A couple more comparisons with my current favorite keyboard, the ClamCase Pro. It weighs 19.2 ounces, while the Type+ is a light 14.3 ounces by comparison. The Type+ is slightly wider by .36 inches, which allows some keys (delete, backslash, tilde) to be slightly larger and easier to hit with your pinkies. That extra width also provides drop protection by creating a quarter-inch gap between the edge of the case and the iPad itself. While the ClamCase may be constructed of polycarbonate and aluminum, I think the design of the Type+ could provide some really good drop protection for the iPad with less weight. A final comparison - the battery life of the Type+ is calculated as three months based on two hours of use per day. That calculates out to about 180 hours of use. The ClamCase Pro for iPad Air provides about 100 hours of use time. Conclusion With a low price tag, a solid automatic keyboard on/off mechanism, a great typing feel, good looks, and better battery life and less weight than the leading competitor, the Logitech Type+ for iPad Air moves into a tie for the top keyboard case for Apple's flagship tablet with the ClamCase Pro for iPad Air. The one negative - an inability to swivel the iPad to a variety of angles - is countered by all of the other positive aspects of this keyboard case. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible
Logitech's new keyboard can dock your smartphone and tablet
Wireless keyboards are a dime a dozen nowadays, but every now and then we come across one that manages to stand out from the rest of the pack. And that's the case with the new K480 from Logitech, a Bluetooth keyboard that's capable of doubling as a dock for your smartphone and tablet. It even has space to hold two devices simultaneously, as pictured above, so long as the size of each is appropriate -- something like a 5-inch handset with 8-inch tablet combo, for example, should work just fine. As you might expect, Logitech's K480 can also pair with your laptop or desktop, making it rather handy for a number of different scenarios. You'll be able to get one, in black or white, when it becomes available in the US and Europe later this month for $50.
ClamCase Pro for iPad Air: The best keyboard just got better
With all of the Bluetooth keyboards that have appeared over the years for the iPad, there was one that really stuck out in my mind as the best overall and that was the ClamCase Pro. When it came to letting me type quickly on an iPad, have flexibility in how I viewed the iPad screen, and overall build quality, ClamCase did an amazing job. It took a while for the ClamCase Pro to show up in a version for the iPad Air, but it is now available to order for US$169 directly from the manufacturer. How does it stack up to the original? Read on. Specifications Dimensions: 9.74 x 7.30 x 0.75 inches (247.40 x 185.42 x 19.05 mm) Weight: 1.2 pounds (0.54 kg) Materials: White polycarbonate, aluminum Hinge range: 360° Battery life: 6 month standby time, 100 hours use time, recharge in 120 minutes, battery life indicator Special function keys: Home, search, on-screen keyboard, media controls, lock, cut, copy, paste, volume controls, caps lock, Siri, battery, Bluetooth Design Highlights Design-wise, the ClamCase Pro hasn't changed much from the previous version that worked with the iPad 2, 3 and 4. It's still made of white polycarbonate, has an aluminum base portion for solidity, and a unique hinge design that makes it simple to hold the iPad screen at any angle. Want to fold the keyboard out of the way for gaming? Not a problem. Want the screen at less than a 90° angle for "tummy typing" in a cramped seat somewhere? That works too. There are four small rubber feet on the bottom of the ClamCase Pro to ensure that your iPad doesn't go sliding across a table while you're typing. There's only one switch on the device; an on-off switch if you wish to shut the keyboard off for longterm storage. Other than that, the keyboard wakes up when you open the ClamCase Pro, and goes to sleep when you close it. Yes, this is a feature that many iPad keyboards provide, but I've found that the ClamCase Pro wakes and sleeps every time, while it's a hit-or-miss proposition for most of the other keyboards. The ClamCase Pro has a small opening for the Lightning port, speaker grilles on the bottom, an opening for the mute/orientation lock switch, holes for microphones and earphones, and pass-through switches for volume and wake/sleep. About my only gripe with the ClamCase Pro is that it's rather plain-Jane, but Apple's recent "Stickers" ad has given me a solution for that -- just cover the outside with colorful stickers. Functionality Highlights People who buy the ClamCase Pro for iPad Air are probably getting it for the protection that it provides for your tablet. Of all of the many iPad keyboard cases I've reviewed, I think the ClamCase Pro does the best job of keeping your iPad safe. Installing your iPad Air into the case is a cinch. It slips into the polycarbonate shell of the "back" easily, but is then held securely. My previous ClamCase Pro was dropped several times and even had some dings in it, but my iPad was spared from damage. I have confidence that the new ClamCase Pro will provide the same protection for the iPad Air. I've always felt that the ClamCase Pro provided me with the most "laptop-like" typing experience of any iPad keyboard, and the iPad Air version is no different. In fact, ABC News tested the maximum typing speed on various keyboard cases for iPad and found the ClamCase to allow typing at 76 words per minute (WPM), 3 WPM more than a Zagg keyboard and 5 WPM more than a Logitech keyboard. Above the top of the keyboard is just one tiny LED that is used for a lot of purposes: it tells you when you're connected via Bluetooth, it flashes to give you the battery level when you press the battery function key, and it turns on when you press the caps lock key. The keyboard layout is very standard -- a good thing, since some iPad keyboards do crazy things like cram multiple keys onto one key, change the width or placement of keys, and more. With this keyboard, my fingers always know where to go. If you're used to typing on an Apple Wireless Keyboard, your hands will feel at home here. What doesn't the ClamCase Pro have? No backlighting (which I've found fairly useless anyway since I rarely look at the keyboard). That's about it -- every other function you might want is built into this keyboard case. My only complaint -- and it's a minor one -- is that the price of the ClamCase Pro for iPad Air is more than just about any other keyboard on the market. At $169, the only keyboard case that comes even close is the Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio at $149.99. Is the ClamCase Pro worth the extra money? If you want protection and the best keyboard feel in the market, the answer is yes. Conclusion My personal opinion is that the feel of the ClamCase Pro keyboard case for iPad Air is actually improved over the original ClamCase Pro. As a longtime fan of the Apple Wireless Keyboard, I have to say that I actually prefer the ClamCase Pro keyboard now -- that's saying a lot. It's pretty much the perfect keyboard case for the iPad Air at this point. I'm not even going to deduct a half-star for the premium price tag. The ClamCase Pro for iPad Air is that good. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible
Logitech k810 Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard: Review and Giveaway
Owners of iMacs, Mac minis, and Mac Pros don't have to look at the glowing keyboards of their MacBook-owning buddies with envy anymore. The folks at Logitech have introduced the new k810 Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard (US$99.99) so you can continue banging away at the keyboard in the dark. Let's take a look at this new piece of hardware. Design The first thing you'll notice is that this keyboard is really targeted at users of Windows 8 and Windows RT. Unlike most Mac- and iOS-friendly keyboards on the market, the friendly command key has been replaced with the harsh reality of a Windows key. If you can overlook that slap in the face, you'll find a keyboard with some pretty interesting features. First, let's take a look at the design. Unlike Apple's light aluminum Wireless Keyboard ($69), the k810 features dark anodized aluminum and black plastic construction with black key tops. There's an easy-to-reach power button on the right side of the keyboard and a "connect" button on the bottom for placing the accessory into a pairable state. While the regular F-keys are still located across the top row of the keyboard, the first three are are also used for a unique function -- providing the k810 with access to three different devices. With most Bluetooth keyboards, a single computer or tablet is paired at any time, but the k810 provides easy switching between three different devices. For example, the keyboard can be paired with a Mac, an iPad, and an iPhone, and switching to any of the devices is as easy has pressing a single button. As the name implies, the k810 Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard has backlit keys. The Logitech logo at the top of the keyboard also glows in a not-too-subtle reminder that the keyboard is powered up. Charging of the keyboard is done through a standard USB to micro-USB cable that is included. Size-wise, the k810 is almost identical in size to Apple's Wireless Keyboard. It weighs in at 18 ounces, and is quite portable. Functionality There are some features on the k810 that are incredibly cool. In order to make battery life as long as possible (Logitech doesn't supply estimated life figures...), there's a proximity sensor built into the keyboard. If you take your hands away from it for about 15 seconds, the backlighting dims and then disappears. When your hands get near the keyboard, the backlight turns on again. It's magic! The k810 has a very good feel to it. The keys aren't as "stiff" as those on the Apple Keyboard, which actually makes for smoother typing. The placement of most of the keys is identical; the main exception is in the bottom row where fn, control, option/alt, and command are replaced with control, fn, "Windows" and alt. In the top row -- where the function (fn) keys reside -- the buttons do not correspond to the functions that most Mac and iOS users expect. That was my biggest problem with this keyboard; it's obviously not made for Mac users. The Windows key will act as a command key, though, although it's not in the location that most Mac users will expect it. The ability for the k810 to be paired with three different devices and switch between them with the push of one of those top row buttons is unique and very useful. I used it with my iMac, iPhone, and iPad, and linking to any one of the devices was as simple as pushing the first, second or third function key. A blue "radio" icon appears above the function key when pushed, and then it flashes until the device and keyboard are linked. Conclusion Anyone who has up to three devices they'd like to use with a Bluetooth keyboard should find the Logitech k810 to be a winner. It's reasonably priced, it's backlit, and the easy-switching function for multiple devices is incredibly smart. Best of all, it has a great feel to it and will be a compact wireless keyboard that most heavy keyboard users will love. Pros Easy-switching of Bluetooth pairing between up to three devices Backlighting with proximity sensor for longer battery life Excellent keyboard feel and feedback Nice looks, although not "matched" to most Apple products Rechargeable internal battery Cons Keyboard arrangement is different to what Mac users are used to More expensive that Apple's Wireless Keyboard (unless you take the cost of rechargeable batteries into account) Who is it for? Anyone -- Mac or PC user -- who wants to have a lightweight, portable backlit keyboard that can be used with up to two other Bluetooth devices (iPhone and iPad, for example) with the touch of a function key. Giveaway It's the keyboard that's so nice we want to give it away to a TUAW reader! Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before November 13, 2012 Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Logitech k810 Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Jorno inventor Scott Starrett talks to TUAW about Kickstarter and crowd-sourced funding
Scott Starrett is an inventor with a dream -- to manufacture a pocket-sized folding Bluetooth keyboard making it simple for anyone to have access to a "real" keyboard when using an iPhone, iPad or other mobile device. With about a day to go in his Kickstarter fundraising, Starrett still isn't assured of reaching his US$100,000 goal -- the Jorno project is currently about 90 percent funded. I talked with Starrett today to ask him about the Jorno project and crowd-sourced funding in general. TUAW: With a little over a day to go, I see that you're at close to 90 percent funding. Are you confident that you'll make it to your funding goal? Starrett: We don't take anything as a given, so we're doing everything we can to get to our funding goal. We are so grateful for the enthusiasm and support of all the donors to date. TUAW: How long have you been trying to get the Jorno concept funded (i.e., Did you try another source of funding prior to Kickstarter)? Starrett: We've been pursuing various funding options for about a year. TUAW: What made you want to try Kickstarter for funding rather than traditional methods (getting friendly with a VC with deep pockets, selling the idea to a manufacturer, etc...)? Starrett: Kickstarter was really the last resort. We pitched countless VC and "angel" investors, and despite a nice set of early orders and a great design, they all turned us down. Hardware is not considered a "hot" investment right now. Ironically every single VC guy told us he would buy a Jorno unit as soon as it's on the market. TUAW: If funding for Jorno doesn't make it through, will you try again with a lower goal? Starrett: Yes, we may go back to VC/Angels and see if they can close the gap and then we can try again with a lower goal. It is a great data point that we were able to capture $90K in hypothetical sales over the course of just one month. That is a testament to the need for Jorno and the solution that Jorno offers. TUAW: Would you consider redesigning Jorno with different components to achieve your design goal of a pocket-sized foldable keyboard, but with a lower cost of manufacturing and hopefully a lower funding requirement? Starrett: The funding requirement is really related to the fixed cost of plastic molds, not the per-unit-cost. So a lower cost of manufacturing wouldn't help us, since even a simpler design would still have significant tooling/mold costs. TUAW: Do you have any suggestions for other inventors who may be interested in using Kickstarter, Indiegogo or other crowd-sourced funding sites? Starrett: Just do everything you can to connect with possible donors. It's easy to get lost on the Kickstarter platform if there is nothing calling attention to your project. Working with the Max Borges Agency was extremely helpful to us in getting the word out. TUAW: Anything else you'd like to say to TUAW readers? Starrett: Would love their support if they want to check out our campaign! (http://kck.st/O8aYRn) Also, many of us would not have a chance if it were not for crowd-funding -- so thank you for your ongoing enthusiasm for our project and other crowd-funded projects. Many thanks to Starrett for agreeing to an interview at a stressful point and time, and best of luck to everyone involved in the Jorno project. Be sure to check out our previous Jorno post for a video of the pocketable keyboard in action.
Logitech's K810 keyboard pairs with up to three devices, has a button for switching apps in Windows 8
It was last week that Logitech announced two mice and a trackpad, all optimized for Windows 8. As it turns out, the outfit wasn't quite finished unveiling its Win 8 lineup: the company just outed the Illuminated Bluetooth Keyboard K810, which has a hotkey for toggling between open programs. It also features Easy Switch, a technology first introduced on the K760 that allows the device to pair with up to three Bluetooth-enabled devices at once, regardless of the OS. As for the switching bit, each paired device gets assigned to one of three function keys; just press the button to start using the keyboard with that device. In theory, then, you could have the same keyboard hooked up to your PC, tablet and phone, and be able to type on all of them from minute to minute, though that admittedly seems like an unlikely scenario. As the product name would suggest, the keys have a backlight glowing from underneath. The lighting will automatically turn off if you haven't been using the keyboard for a certain period of time, but thanks to proximity sensors they'll kick in again when the keyboard detects your hands hovering close by. Lastly, the keyboard has a rechargeable battery rated for a month of runtime, though given the fact that it charges over USB, we can see some people bypassing the wireless connection entirely and leaving it plugged in. The K810 will sell for $100. Look for it to hit US stores in October, with European availability following a month later. In the meantime, we've got some hands-on shots below. (Psst... the Fn key is where the app-toggling button will be on final models.)
Jorno Kickstarter project aims to put a folding Bluetooth keyboard in your pocket
Back in the days of Palm, I recall being thrilled about some of the folding keyboards that were developed for the iconic PDA. They connected to the Palm device via a mechanical connector and made it easy to type text into Palm applications. Now a California company, Jorno, is seeking funding for a pocket-sized folding Bluetooth keyboard to work with your iPhone, iPad or Android device. The project currently has reached almost 58 percent of its required funding with 15 days to go, and the company has provided some incentives to reach the necessary US$100,000 goal by October 17, 2012. Backers who pledge $99 or more to the project get special color options -- cobalt blue, fire engine red or lime green -- and anyone who pledges $79 at the "Preview" reward level gets one of the regular Jorno keyboards in black or white at $40 off the retail price of $119. When folded up, the Jorno is a little 3.5 x 3.5 x 1.2-inch box. Unfold it, and you have an 8.5-inch wide keyboard that's 3.5 inches deep and only 0.3 inches thick. The Jorno works for about a month on a single charge of its rechargeable lithium ion battery. For those of you who occasionally want to use a Bluetooth keyboard with an iPad, but don't want the extra bulk of an keyboard case, the Jorno looks like just the answer. Check out the video below for details.
Logitech debuts white Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad, arriving before month's end for $100
Those who live and die by color coordination can breathe a bit easier today, as Logitech has introduced its Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for the iPad in white. Like the black model, the accessory operates via Bluetooth and features a battery that's said to provide up to six months worth of go time -- a statistic that's based on two hours of usage per day. You can expect to coat your very own white keyboard with a layer of grime in short order: it's currently available for pre-order on Logitech's website for $100 and is said to hit Apple retail stores later this month. For the curious, you'll find a teaser video after the break.
Logitech reveals Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for the third-gen iPad, a set of keys that protect your slate for $99
Ever thought to yourself that those Smart Covers would be so much better if they somehow had a keyboard built in? Perhaps not, but Logitech is looking to fill the void anyway. The outfit has announced its Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for this year's iPad. On the business side of the accessory, you'll find a full Bluetooth keyboard with function keys that will last up to six months on a single charge -- that is, if you can manage to limit your use to under two hours a day. Securing your slate during those heavy typing sessions is a built-in stand that sits atop the keypad; however, it appears that you're stuck with only one viewing angle. Around back, the cover will protect that precious Retina display while providing instant on / off functionality like the original Smart Covers did, complete with magnetic clip. Don't fret, it'll also play nice with the second-gen model, just in case you haven't committed to the latest Apple tablet. Available later this month in both the US and Europe, the keyboard cover will cause you to fork over $100 before employing either of its services. Full details are in the PR below and a few press shots wait in the gallery that follows.
TUAW TV Live at 5 PM ET: The 2nd anniversary show
Time flies when you're having fun. Yes, believe it or not, TUAW TV Live has been polluting the blogosphere every Wednesday afternoon since December 22, 2009, making today the second anniversary of this live video stream. Viewers have been treated to hundreds of product and app demos, interviews with fascinating guests, and most of my hat collection. Today I'll have more of the same on tap, including demonstrations of the Doxie Go scanner ($199), the Verbatim Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard ($84), Newer Technologies' NuTouch Gloves ($19.99) and NuScribe ($19.99) stylus/pen, the Autriv High-Sensitive Magnetic Stylus ($19.99), the very cool Deckster Re:Class iPod nano watchband (CAD$165), AblePlanet Clear Harmony active noise canceling headphones ($299 with an 8 GB iPod touch), and the most important of all -- the Opena iPhone 4 case (AUD$39.95). Please note that the last demo involves beer... As usual, I'll be starting the show at 5 PM EDT (2 PM PDT / 10 PM BST) sharp, and we'll take a few minutes to chat before the demos start. To join in on the chat and watch the live streaming video, drop by TUAW about five minutes before the start time to get your instructions on how to participate. If you're unable to join us for the show, remember that you can always subscribe to the video podcast and watch the show at your leisure in iTunes or any other favorite podcatching app. The past shows are also available on the TUAW YouTube channel. The chat is now available as well on IRC: join us on server chat1.ustream.tv, chat room #tuaw-tv.
Sony's XBA balanced armature in-ear headphone lineup headed to the US, we go ears-on
We just met with Sony at its New York City store on Madison Ave. in Midtown, and boy did it have some excellent news for in-ear headphone lovers. While sitting down in the PlayStation Lounge, we briefly demoed nearly every piece of its lineup of XBA balanced armature intra-aurals, which if you'll recall, were announced for parts of Asia back in September. While the 11-model lineup, ranging from standard buds to Bluetooth and noise-cancelling sets, is just beginning to hit those regions now, we've been told that folks in the US can expect them to arrive on American shores next year, with official availability details due at CES. The units we checked out are voiced and finished as those set to hit production, but according to Sony, some of the cabling now in place will change before the stateside release. Interested audiophiles and music lovers can click on past the break for the full details, as well as our initial -- and brief -- impressions. %Gallery-141949%
IPEVO Typi folio case and Chopstakes styli for iPad
IPEVO is an innovative computer peripheral manufacturer that has produced some rather impressive products -- the P2V USB Document Cam and Tubular Wireless Speakers, to name two -- and is now making a leap into the iPad market with two new products. The Typi (US$79) is a folio case for iPad with a removable Bluetooth keyboard, while Chopstakes ($34.95 - $45.95 per pair) are a pair of styli for your favorite tablet. IPEVO Typi folio case and Bluetooth keyboard TUAW has reviewed a number of folio cases for the iPad and iPad 2. These cases all have one thing in common -- they look somewhat book-like, and totally encase the iPad. For the most part, the cases are made of either a plastic material or a more natural material like leather. We've also reviewed a lot of keyboard cases for iPad -- these are usually designed like a folio, but include a stationary or removable Bluetooth keyboard so that users can type on a real keyboard rather than the virtual keyboard on the iPad. The Typi is a folio keyboard case that comes in either black or tan felt with a brown leather strap. That strap serves several purposes -- when the Typi is closed, it wraps around to the front of the case and holds everything in place with a strong magnet. When the Typi is opened, there is a snap on the strap that plugs into one of three receptacles to prop up the iPad's screen. I have to admit that the Typi is one of the better-looking folio cases I've had a chance to review. The review case has the tan exterior, and it looks very classy with the leather strap. The keyboard is encased is similar leather and is as easy on the eyes as it is on the hands. Like many of the keyboard cases, the Typi has a removable keyboard that is held in place with magnets. If you don't like where the keyboard is, it's no problem to just move it to a more comfortable position. The keyboard comes with a standard micro-USB to USB cable for charging -- there's no AC adapter included, but considering that most of us have either an iPad "brick" or a handful of other USB charging adapters, it's a nice touch that they didn't include another one. At $79 MSRP, the Typi is much less expensive than other keyboard folios I've reviewed. By comparison, the MSRP for the Qmadix Portfolio for iPad 2 is $149, and the two folio cases are almost identical. I could write about the various and sundry positions that the Typi folds into, how the keyboard works with its 13 hotkeys and more, but I'll let you take a look at the very descriptive Typi page to get the details. Be sure to look at the photos in the gallery, though. %Gallery-137334% Chopstakes iPad styli The first time IPEVO told me about the Chopstakes styli (yes, that is the plural of stylus), I wondered why anyone would need two styluses. The Chopstakes come in two models -- Long ($45.95) and Short ($34.95) -- and are made of aluminum that tapers from a square top down to a circular bottom covered ending in a soft hemispherical capacitive tip. A lot of us don't use styluses, so what the heck are you going to do with two? I kind of got the idea about these things when I was experiencing some pain in my right fingertip this weekend. Any time I tried to use a trackpad or my iPad, it hurt. So, being a fan of chopsticks for eating Asian food, I decided to give the Chopstakes a try. I have small hands, so I used the short Chopstakes. First, I used one of the Chopstakes as a regular old stylus. It works very well -- the short model balanced in my hand very well, and the tip provides a lot of pinpoint detail when you use a light tough, or a wider footprint when you push a little bit. The thin cylindrical bottom of the Chopstakes makes it very easy and comfortable to hold -- it's about the same diameter as a stick pen at that point, but the extra heft of the aluminum body makes it feel like a fancy pen. I was very dubious about using two Chopstakes, but I can see several situations where it would be useful. First, if you like to use two-finger gestures like rotate or zoom-in/zoom-out, they're impossible to do with traditional single fixed point styluses. Holding a pair of styluses as if they were a pair of chopsticks makes it possible to do two-finger multitouch gestures while using the Chopstakes. In this case, your hands are further up on the Chopstakes, near the wider and square tops. This part of the design makes is comfortable to hold the styluses like a pair of chopsticks. By the way, if you've never used chopsticks, there's a three-step tutorial inside the cardboard liner in which the Chopstakes are packed. The Chopstakes are packed in a lockable plastic carrying case, perfect for carrying the pair in a backpack or bag. I can think of other uses for the Chopstakes. If you're using a music app, they're quite useful as drumsticks -- I used 'em, one in each hand, on some of the drum kits in Garage Band for iPad, and did a reasonable job drumming (although that's really Dave Caolo's forté). I also played around with the two styli in the fun Bebot app, although I can't really say that it was an improvement over just using two fingers. How did the Chopstakes work instead of a finger on the surface of the iPad? Just fine. And I plan on continuing to use one of the pair as a iPad stylus until my finger decides to stop hurting. Conclusion IPEVO seems to understand the Apple market. They're doing a great job of making well-designed, well-made, and reasonably-priced products that fill specific needs. Sure, there are other folio keyboard cases for the iPad 2 out there, but the Typi is nicely constructed, attractive, and less expensive than similar cases. The Chopstakes are unique, and might find a place in the iPad bag of musicians, painters, and photographers who want to try out a well-balanced and high quality pair of styluses.
Crux360 iPad 2 keyboard case review
Aluminum Keyboard Buddy Case cloaks your iPad 2 in a MacBook Air duvet Crux Loaded case almost turns your iPad into a laptop for $250 MacBook Air review (mid 2011) Yeah... we know. At this point you're probably clutching your funds tightly, eagerly anticipating the release of the iPad 3. But for those of you who recently purchased version 2.0, or perhaps just discovered your need for a Bluetooth keyboard, allow us to shed some light on the Crux360. Sure this isn't the first one of these we've seen, but the full range of motion in the hinge makes this a nice accessory for your Apple slate. We spent a couple weeks putting it through the wringer, so read on past the break to see what we discovered. %Gallery-131743%
Crux360 raises the bar for iPad 2 Bluetooth keyboard cases
Just yesterday, I reviewed the Qmadix Portfolio case for iPad 2 and was favorably impressed. It's too bad I didn't wait a day, because I could have done a smackdown between it and the new Crux360 (US$149). Both keyboard cases are a sign that manufacturers are doing their homework, listening to consumers, and producing innovative new designs to protect and enhance the iPad 2. Design The Crux360 comes in an attractive box that when opened, reveals the case wrapped in a reusable monofiber drawstring bag. Power is provided to the keyboard's lithium-ion polymer battery through a standard micro-USB to USB connector that can be plugged into an iPad 2 power brick or any Mac or PC USB port for charging. While charging, a bright red LED just above the keyboard glows; it's helpful, but you can't tell when charging is done if you have the lid of the case down. The Crux360 is a hard shell keyboard case, not a soft leather portfolio like the Qmadix. It can be used in four different modes: laptop mode, where the keyboard and iPad work together as a mini-laptop; movie mode, propping the screen up in landscape orientation for easy video viewing; tablet mode, where you're using the iPad in its native mode; and carry mode, in which the case is closed and protecting the iPad from scratches and dings. The hard shell of the case has a soft-touch finish, meaning that it is easy to grip and not likely to slip out of your hand. The hinge that connects the "screen" portion of the case with the keyboard is the namesake of the Crux360, as it will rotate through a full 360°. This hinge is very stiff, which allows the case to hold your iPad in the assorted modes without the various props and velcro tabs that you see on so many other cases. %Gallery-129584% Inserting an iPad 2 into the case is a cinch -- the top of the case is in two parts, so you just pop the iPad 2 in, press the two parts together until they click. This takes a little force, but you will feel confident that the iPad isn't going to fall out of the case. What's interesting about the design is that the keyboard has four "feet", one in each corner. Sure enough, when you're using the Crux360 in movie mode or have it flat on a table in tablet mode, those feet keep the keys from being accidentally depressed. Of course, you'll probably want to turn off the keyboard if you're using the Crux360 and iPad in your lap. The Crux360 keyboard has a power-saving mode that makes the most of the 510 mAh battery by switching to a low power setting after two minutes of non-use. Touching any key brings the keyboard back to full life. As with the Qmadix keyboard yesterday, the Crux360 has replaced function keys with a bunch of iPad-specific keys. There are 17 altogether on the Crux360, six of which provide the same music-related track/play/volume functions. The copy and paste buttons are accompanied by select all and cut buttons, and there's a special button for changing the language on the iPad. Finally, the Crux360 works like the Apple Smart Cover, automatically turning on your iPad 2 when the case is opened and turning it off when it's closed. Functionality How did the Crux360 do in my tests? Very well, thank you. As with the similarly-priced Qmadix keyboard case, the Crux360 has a very high-quality feel to it. While I'm not sure how long a "normal" charge takes, I was able to charge up the Crux360's battery in about 90 minutes prior to testing. Turning on the keyboard just takes a five-second press on the dished On button. The red power light glows for a second, letting you know that the keyboard is on. To pair the keyboard with an iPad 2, there's a small button that makes up part of the power light. Pressing it for several seconds puts the keyboard in discoverable mode, at which point pairing with the iPad is done quickly. The hinge on the Crux360 is almost infinitely adjustable and holds the iPad in place in a variety of positions. Crux Case says that the hinge is good for up to 10,000 open/close cycles, so it should outlast most iPads. The keyboard has a good feel, but is a bit loud in operation. One thing I didn't like was the size of the delete button -- on the Qmadix Portfolio, the delete button was almost normal sized. Here, it was the size of any of the regular letter or number keys. In addition, there were three command keys, as well as two shift keys on the right side of the keyboard. Right next to the Enter / Return key is another Enter key. There's nothing wrong with the extra keys, but the placement and number of the keys just seems ... odd. Putting the case onto an iPad 2 is really quite simple, as everything slides into place. Pulling the iPad 2 back out of the case was another matter -- I had to enlist my wife's help in holding onto the keyboard side of the case while I pulled the iPad out with the other. Crux Case notes that you may need "extra hands" available when removing the case, and they certainly weren't kidding. The Bottom Line The Crux360 is a very versatile and well-made keyboard case for the iPad 2. The solidity of the case is excellent, and the price is not out of line with other keyboard cases. Other than the odd placement of several keys on the keyboard, I was able to quickly start touch-typing on it. As an iPad stand, the Crux360 also does a good job although it doesn't work in portrait orientation. If you're considering using your iPad 2 as a laptop replacement, you might want to wait for a few months. Crux Case is coming out with a new case called the Crux Loaded that will feature a Bluetooth trackpad for actually controlling the cursor on the iPad screen. Crux plans on charging a steep $249 for the Crux Loaded, which means that the total price tag for a mid-range iPad 2 and the keyboard case would start getting into the range of an entry level MacBook Air. For a student or commuter who wants to protect an iPad 2 while having a Bluetooth keyboard on hand for fast typing, the Crux360 is perfect.
Samsung reveals 'premium accessory suite' for Galaxy Tab 10.1, includes premium prices
Loving your Galaxy Tab 10.1 but just itching for some accessories? Samsung knows you are, and today helpfully unveiled a "premium accessory suite" to soothe your jones for both add-ons and premium prices. The collection (parts of which appeared earlier on Sammy's German site) includes a full-size keyboard dock ($70) and a multimedia dock ($35) enabling HDMI pass-through – you can have Tab video on your TV, as long as you buy the separate HDTV adapter ($30). You have your choice of cases, as well: a book cover model ($60) you can leave on while using the tablet, or a leather pouch edition ($30) that is, you guessed it, a leather pouch. A few miscellaneous items round out the collection, including various chargers, a conductive stylus and the already-released USB adapter. The company also promises a Bluetooth keyboard and SD card adapter to come "mid-summer," just in time to ease your next bout of premium-accessory fever. [Update: Replaced keyboard image. Thanks for the feedback, everyone.]
Japan scores official Bluetooth PS3 keyboard for ¥5,000
Yesterday, Sony took the wraps off a PlayStation-branded 3D TV and gave us our first serious look at the Vita, but our friends across that big wet thing we call the Pacific scored an extra little hardware goody -- an official PS3 keyboard. If you've ever seen a Bluetooth keyboard there isn't much surprising here, though it does feature a PS button for powering the console on and off. Instead of a touchpad Sony went with a Thinkpad-style nub which will be loved by some, but loathed by others. And don't worry, pairing this thin one-pounder with other devices should be quite simple. Folks in the Land of the Rising Sun can pick one up on June 30th for ¥5,000 (about $62), but there's no word on a stateside release. Treat yourself to the machine translated PR and another pic after the break.
