Hasta La Gadget!

When it comes to keyboards for gamers and touch typists, many people prefer the old-fashioned mechanical keyboard. Most of the keyboards we use today feature membrane keys that don’t have the same sort of click as old-school fully mechanical keys. Gaming peripheral manufacturer CM Storm has announced the launch of the new mechanical keyboard called the QuickFire Stealth.

The Stealth part of the name comes in the fact that the keys have no letters and numbers printed on the key tops themselves. The letters, numbers, and symbols are printed on the front of the keys are you can see them from an angle but not directly from the top. The keyboard uses CherryMX switches and features a compact 10-key design.

The keyboard uses four different CherryMX mechanical switches including red, blue, brown, and green. The green version of the switches are exclusive to the CM Storm and each color switch offers a different tactile feel. All of the mechanical key switches rated for 50 million keystrokes. By printing the letters and other symbols on the front edge of the key tops rather than on the top flat surface, the symbols should never wear off.

The keyboard connects to a computer using USB and features adjustable repeat rate shortcuts allowing for more efficient typing and faster game commands. The keyboard features a two-year warranty and is available online now. The keyboard sells for $94.99 directly from Cooler Master.

[via Cooler Master]

Cooler Master unveils CM Storm QuickFire Stealth keyboard is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

When it comes to electronic keyboards, there are different brands to choose from, and Korg has been an established name in this area for a long, long time already. Well, Korg’s latest addition to their electronic keyboard range has been called the Kross, where it is a mobile, affordable, keyboard workstation with audio/MIDI recording capabilities, and can operate on AC power or battery power (with the latter requiring half a dozen AA batteries to run), in addition to a vast selection of cutting-edge sounds. You will be able to choose from 61 keys or 88 fully-weighted keys, where it also holds the distinction of being the first battery-powered, full-featured Korg keyboard workstation.

It is said to feature rich sounds which are definitely top of its class, while carrying practical features such as analog-style step sequencing and built-in audio recorder, where all of those have been crammed into a lightweight and portable package. It seems that Korg is intend to hit the nail on the head this time around with the Kross offering specifications and style which will exceed people’s expectation of a keyboard at this price point.

Kross is said to come with roughly double the sound sample data compared to preceding Korg models such as the X50 and the PS60. You will find essential sounds like rock/jazz organ, strings, brass, and synth sounds in there, where they have been carefully treated to upgrades and enhancements, in addition to carrying instruments like the toy piano, accordion, combo organ, church organ, and of course, vintage instruments such as a tape sampler. Time to start composing a new set of your own tunes, no?

Those who are interested in picking up the Korg Kross keyboard workstation will be able to do so from this August onwards, where it will come with two price tags due to the different configuration. The 61-key Kross will retail for $699 a pop, while the 88-key model is more expensive at $999.

Press Release
[ Korg announces new KROSS keyboard copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Keyboard cases for iPad are many and multiplying, but at this point it’s a question of refining the best concepts, not creating dramatically different devices. The Belkin Ultimate Keyboard Case for iPad is a great example, taking a lot of cues from the massively popular Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad and folio style designs to create a solution that might be as near as perfect as tablet typers can get.

• Keyboard is 6.4mm thin
• 160 hours battery life
• Magnets for secure closure and three viewing angles
• MSRP: $99.99
• Product info page

The Ultimate Keyboard Case is not small, but it isn’t big either. It avoids feeling anywhere near as bulky as a total hardcase like the Brydge, but don’t expect something with the low profile of Apple’s Smart Cover, for instance. But it sill manages to be just about as low-profile as the Logitech Ultrathin, and it has a few extra tricks up its sleeve, including a protective cover for the back of your iPad, three possible viewing angles for your device, and a sound port built into the case that redirects the iPad’s speaker output for better listening.

The materials feel top-quality, it weighs only 411 grams (slightly more than the Ultrathin’s 355 grams) and its keyboard layout feels natural and won’t impede your touch typing abilities. The design of the keyboard component and faux leather hinge means that you can use it with the keyboard folded back in behind, without keys awkwardly facing outward where you can accidentally hit them with your fingers, as is often the case with folio designs.

As mentioned, the Belkin Ultimate Keyboard Case is great to type on, with one small quibble: the recessed design of the keys means that it can be awkward to hit the space bar, since your thumb will also brush up against the base of the case itself. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it does annoy when you’re coming from a standard notebook or desktop keyboard. But the dedicated keys, including a microphone key that brings up Siri on later generation iPads or voice dictation on earlier ones, as well as the convenience factor outweigh any downsides.

The Ultimate Keyboard’s other big feature is its use of magnets to allow for three different viewing angles. It’s a nice trick, and one that works well. The one limitation here is that if you’re trying to type in an unstable setting, say on a very bumpy car or train ride, the magnets can actually become dislodged. As long as you’re using the Belkin on a flat surface and you aren’t on Safari, however, the magnets do their job and offer a bit of flexibility vs. the Logitech Ultrathin.

I feel like we may be reaching peak keyboard case, especially for the standard-sized iPad. But Belkin’s Ultimate Keyboard Case, though somewhat late to the party, shows that there’s still some depth left to be plumbed in terms of wringing innovation out of the overcrowded space. At $99.99, it’s not cheap, but if you’re looking for a way to make your iPad a much more capable text-entry machine, while still offering full protection for your iPad itself, this is a good option.

Buffalo is releasing Bluetooth 3.0 wireless keyboard “BSKBB16″ series for iPhone 5 and “BSKBB17BK” for iPad in mid April.

BSKBB16 series for iPhone 5
Color: Black (BSKBB16BK), White (BSKBB16WH)
Price: ¥8,400 (including tax)
Size: 126 × 21.5 × 60.5mm
Weight: 105g
Charging time: 1.5 hours
Battery life: 1.5 months (when it’s fully charged)

– You can slide and store the keyboard on the bottom of iPhone 5 when you carry it around
– The keyboard is removable so you can take it away and use the case as a regular iPhone 5 case
– You can adjust the iPhone’s angle to an easy-to-view angle
– Backlight LED for making the keyboard more visible in a dark place

BSKBB17BK for iPad
Color: Black
Price: ¥8,400 (including tax)
Size: 244 × 12.3 × 194mm
Weight: 285g
Charging time: 1.5 hours
Battery life: 1.5 months (when it’s fully charged)
Compatible iPad models: iPad2, iPad Retina display model, iPad (2012 Spring/Summer model)

– When not using the keyboard, you can attach it to iPad to use it as an iPad cover
– By fitting iPad to the rut, it enables you to type comfortably as if you were using a laptop

Yes, Corsair is making keyboards now, and they have been for a little while. Their latest creation is called the Vengeance K70, and they just announced it to along with the previously-announced Vengeance headsets. Essentially it’s a fully-mechanical keyboard that comes with customizable backlighting, which in this case means that you can control the lighting for each key independently.

The K70 is a slight upgrade to the K60, and is just a bit on the lower end compared to the company’s beastly K95 keyboard. However, the K70 still sports a lot of nifty features. The WASD and the 1-6 number keys are coated in Cherry MX Red and are textured for maximum grip during the heat of the battle. These keys are also contoured more so than the other keys, that way you can find them quickly without having to look down.

Corsair claims that the K70 sports a fast and accurate response rate at 1,000Hz, and it can support up to 20 keystrokes at once, which is probably overkill in most gaming situations, but it’s a feature that will always be nice to have in case you need it. The chassis of the keyboard is made out of brushed aluminum, so durability should go a long way here.

Other than that, it looks to be the same ole song and dance: multimedia buttons, extra USB ports, and a removable wrist rest. The K70 will be available starting next month for $130, and you’ll be able to choose from two different color schemes; silver with blue backlighting or black with red backlighting.

Corsair announces Vengeance K70 gaming keyboard with customizable backlighting is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.