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Belkin YourType Wireless Keypad: Review and giveaway
Yesterday I reviewed Belkin's new Express Dock for iPad, a well-designed aluminum charging and sync dock that works with Lightning connector devices. Today, my attention has been captured a useful accessory for any Bluetooth-equipped Mac -- the Belkin YourType Wireless Keypad (US$59.99). As I noted in an earlier review of another Bluetooth numeric keypad, the usual market for this type of device consists of accountants and others who need to input a lot of numbers quickly. Apple's default Bluetooth keyboard for the Mac does not include a numeric keypad, so it's fallen on those in the accessory business to create this useful accessory. I wasn't overwhelmed with Satechi's entry in the numeric keypad market due to several design factors -- its use of AAA batteries instead of a built-in battery pack, an unnecessary built-in calculator and the form factor of the keypad. Here, Belkin sticks to the basics. The keypad matches Apple's Wireless Keyboard in size and design; in fact, it's exactly the same size as the Magic Trackpad. I think this is brilliant, since several manufacturers (Henge Docks for one) make "holders" that merge a Magic Trackpad and Wireless Keyboard into one big assembly. One could remove the Magic Trackpad from a Henge Clique and place the Belkin YourType Wireless Keypad directly into the vacated spot for a top-notch keyboard/numeric keypad combo. Like the Satechi keypad, the Belkin keypad also uses batteries -- in this case, two AA batteries (included), like those that come with Apple's Battery Charger, fit into the cylindrical battery holder. The keypad adds the standard numeric keys (the zero is double-width), a large enter key, a decimal point, a clear key, the mathematical operators and an equals key. In addition, there are F13 through F16 keys to add more programmable function keys, as well as home, end, Spotlight, page up, page down and delete keys. While the keys are shaped a bit differently from those on the Apple Wireless Keyboard, they're very close and the feel and feedback of the keys is extremely similar. Pairing with both an iMac and then a MacBook Pro was fast and simple. Conclusion Number-crunchers who would like a numeric keypad that matches their Apple Wireless Keyboard don't need to look any further. The Belkin YourType Wireless Keypad looks as if it could have been designed by Apple, and it works well. Pros Design is nearly identical to that of Apple's Wireless Keyboard. A very useful layout of keys for those who use numeric keypads. Easy and fast Bluetooth pairing. Same size as the Magic Trackpad. Cons A built-in rechargeable battery pack might be more useful. Who is it for? Anyone with an Apple Wireless Keyboard who is looking for a matching numeric keypad. Giveaway 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 October 19, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Belkin YourType Wireless Keypad valued at $59.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Magic Numpad turns your Magic Trackpad into a number pad
So you love your sleek, compact Apple wireless keyboard and Magic Trackpad, right? Who doesn't? There's not a wire or cable in sight and you're workspace couldn't be more clutter free, functional and oh so pleasing to the eye. Until, that is, that dreadful day comes when you need to do some serious number crunching. In that moment, it's safe to say, you wish you'd gone for Apple's wired keyboard with a numerical keypad built into the side. Well, thanks to the good folks at Mobee, now you don't have to compromise. For $29.90 you get the Magic Numpad -- a pack of three custom film layouts that you apply to your trackpad. Depending on how intensive the number crunching you're about to do is, you can apply either the classic numpad (that leaves you some tactile surface on your trackpad), the full numpad or the numpad with customizable keys. With the overlays and a free download of Mobee's free Snow Leopard or Lion compatible software, your Magic Trackpad will be transformed into a fully functioning Magic Numpad. The Magic Numpad is up for pre-order now on Mobee's website. Availability is set for October. Head on over to Mobee's website for all the details. [Via This is my next]
Canon X Mark I Mouse Lite hands-on impressions
It's a calculator. It's a wireless mouse. It's a Bluetooth numeric keypad. It's... really bizarre. Canon's X Mark I Mouse Lite takes everyone's favorite desktop rodent and tries to make it all fancy like, filling that wasted space below the mouse buttons with a calculator -- monochrome LCD and all. Except that the unused space below the mouse buttons isn't wasted at all -- it was designed for resting palms, not poking fingertips. The result is a mediocre mouse paired with a mediocre calculator, for $60. Sadly, it's not nearly as elegant of a solution as it may appear to be, and after a couple days of use, we were ready to switch back to our boring old single-function mouse. So what exactly left us so unimpressed? Jump past the break to find out.%Gallery-129884%
Canon launches X Mark I Mouse Lite, pairs ten-digit calculator and Bluetooth laser mouse (video)
Have you ever looked longingly at your mouse, noting its underutilized input device real estate? Canon has, replacing that excessive unused space with a built-in calculator in its X Mark I Mouse, announced today for folks in the US. (If you'll recall, we spent a few quality moments with this guy in Germany last year at Photokina.) The combo device provides users with both a physical ten-digit adding machine and a numeric Bluetooth 2.0 keypad, which you can use seamlessly with a variety of apps, replacing the number pad now absent on many desktop and portable keyboards. The company's camera design team helped to create the hybrid input device, which also includes a trio of mouse buttons and laser tracking. Canon also announced its X Mark I Keypad, a full-size calculator with Bluetooth support that's powered by either AAA batteries or a built-in solar panel. Both devices will be available for $60 in August and September, respectively, and will ship in both black and white.%Gallery-129107%
LMP Bluetooth Keypad now ready to mate with your Apple Wireless Keyboard
If you've been pining over this one since December -- Wireless Keyboard cold, alone, lacking a dedicated numeric keypad -- prepare to stick something in your shopping cart. LMP has announced that its Bluetooth Keypad is now available. For $39.99 you get a device that clips on to your Keyboard and connects via Bluetooth, adding typical numberpad stuff plus an additional five function keys, though it can certainly work standalone too. We're told you don't even need a separate dongle or driver. Beautiful. [Thanks, John P.]
LMP Bluetooth Keypad escapes all pretense, wants to befriend your Apple Keyboard
We've seen Apple Keyboard add-on look-alikes -- like Interlink's Bluetooth Calculator Keyboard, which has shown up for sale in some Apple stores, but has middling reviews due to connection problems -- but LMP wouldn't want its new Bluetooth Keypad to slip through the cracks of subtlety. The device, which just passed through the FCC, comes with a connector that allows you to snap the independently powered and Bluetooth-ed keypad right onto your numeric keypad-less Apple Bluetooth Keyboard. Get it? It's like they're one big magical keyboard now! Well, not now in a literal sense, because the LMP Keypad has yet to hit retail, and we don't have a word on pricing either. But in our dreams...
Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000: the perfect travel keyboard?
Earlier this year, one of our dear readers wrote in asking the collective audience which wireless keyboard was the best out there for their living room. We've since seen all variations of that very inquiry, but the most common one was this: "what's the best wireless keyboard for travel?" As more and more users resort to netbooks for getting things done on the go, more and more users are pulling their hair out as they attempt to bang out this month's sales report on an 85 percent full-size keyboard. A few months back, Microsoft let loose a new Bluetooth 'board that seemed perfect for the weary-eyed jetsetter, and we've been toying with it for the last little while. It's easily one of the thinnest and lightest keyboards we've seen, and the carry-along-or-don't numeric pad is certainly a nice touch. But is this slab of circuitry really what your digits need when typing on the go? Hop on past the break for a few of our impressions. %Gallery-80363%
Apple axes the numeric keypad on iMac's standard wired keyboard
Apple almost snuck this one past us, but friendly tipster Graham spotted the change-up: Apple has swapped out the standard wired Apple Keyboard for a new model lacking a numeric keypad. It's the same design as the wireless model, which also lacks a numeric keypad, except that this one has USB plugs on each end, and a cord of its own snaking towards your otherwise immaculate desktop. The good news is that the regular keyboard hasn't gone anywhere, you just have to make sure to configure your new purchase with it when you order -- it's a free "upgrade." Inversely, the Mac Pros still ship with the regular keyboard, but you can get 'em numpad-free if you'd like, for a similar zero cost. We're not sure what game you're at, Apple, but if you're trying to make us forget all those maths we struggled so hard to comprehend back in the day... well, OK, you win. Another straight-on shot of the keyboard is after the break.[Thanks, Graham]
ORtek's Skypad Skype phone / numeric keypad combo
Looks like peripheral maker ORTek has managed to find a way to distinguish itself from the seemingly endless stream of Skype phones flooding the market with its latest offering, the Skypad -- a combination USB phone and numeric keypad. Dual uses aside, the unit looks to be a pretty bare-bones deal, with a no-frills, display-less design, and that USB cable keeping you from wandering too far off while you're chatting on it. On the telephony side of things, the Skypad boasts full-duplex support and compatibility with Skype, as well as volume control buttons and other Skype-related keys. As far as keypad capabilities go, the unit packs what appear to be decently-sized keys, as well as such exciting features as Num Lock, and "smart" LEDs. No word on pricing or availability, unfortunately, though it looks like Mac users are out of luck with this one, as it's strictly Windows only.[Via Mobile Whack]
