London-based tech start-up ROLI has introduced a new musical instrument line that should get musicians and audiophiles salivating. The “Seaboard” is a continuous-touch keyboard with curved “keywaves” (instead of keys) that flow into one another like waves on the sea (thus the name.) This overcomes the step-function limitations of a traditional keyboard, letting musicians bend […]
Gyration might sound as though it is a company that deals with Shakira’s dancing ability, but it is actually a company that has just re-issued a couple of its classic wireless keyboards, namely the 101-key Gyration Classic Full-Size Wireless Keyboard and the 88-key Gyration Classic Compact Wireless Keyboard. Both of these keyboards would arrive with sculpted keys to deliver tactile-response typing, in addition to dedicated multimedia and Internet browsing keys, not to mention the ability to work within a wireless range of up to 100 feet, now how about that?
Described as “rugged, accurate and powerful, with an extended range that makes them ideal for use in boardrooms, training centers, meeting halls, houses of worship and outdoor presentation applications”, it does seem as though these keyboards will bring the old as well as fuse with the new to deliver quite a punch. Not only that, the asking price for these keyboards happen to be less than $70 a pop, which is always music to anyone’s ears in such a financially difficult moment for many around the globe. Features include 101-key and 88-key sculpted key layouts, media transport and audio controls, dedicated Internet browsing keys, a 2.4GHz RF USB receiver, as well as the ability to play nice with both Windows and Mac platforms. [Press Release]
Gyration Announces New Keyboards original content from Ubergizmo. 
     |
With the ushering in of the second generation of Microsoft Surface devices in the Surface 2 and the Surface Pro 2, the company decided to give their accessory line a boot as well. What you’re seeing this week is a Type Cover 2, a Touch Cover 2, a Power Cover, and a Docking Station. These […]
While there’s no reason to believe that the newest keyboard device from Kanex wouldn’t work with any and all Bluetooth 3.0-compatible devices, they’ve aimed directly at the Apple world here in the week of this accessory’s launch. The Kanex Multi-Sync Keyboard works with the iPhone, iPad, iMac, and any other machine (with Bluetooth 3.0 or […]
Kanex make cables, right? It does, but the company is now branching out into the world of accessories, typified by the meDrive we played with earlier in the year. Now here comes the Multi-Sync, a keyboard that’s designed to control one USB and three Bluetooth devices — switching between them at the touch of a button. If you’re like us and always have a desktop, laptop, tablet and smartphone in near-simultaneous use, then perhaps you’d like to learn if this one is worth $70 out of next month’s wages?
Filed under: Peripherals
If you’re familiar with the Swype keyboard for smartphones and prefer that virtual keyboard to the one that came with your device, and you also use a tablet you might interested in Dryft. The original co-founder of Swype and its inventor, Randy Marsden, has unveiled his latest invention aiming to change tablet typing just as […]
You’ve seen them on planes, in coffee shops, maybe even at the office: tablets tethered to Bluetooth keyboards. Those users pecking away at hardware keys because using their slate’s software grid is nothing more than an exercise in futility. Dryft is a soft keyboard built by Swype co-founder Randy Mardsen that aims to change that. You see, most of us are touch-typers and rest our hands on the ‘home row’ of keys to tell our fingers where to reach all the other letters. But, the smooth surface of tablet displays prevents our phalanges from finding the proper orientation. Dryft eliminates that problem by automagically positioning the keys beneath your fingertips wherever they may be, and by allowing users to rest their hands on the screen.
Dryft can do this because it doesn’t rely solely on the touch sensors embedded in the screen, it also uses accelerometer data to determine if your fingertips are taking a break or are pecking away with purpose. Because of its reliance upon high fidelity signals from the accelerometer to work well, Dryft needs low-level access to that sensor’s data — and that means we won’t be seeing a Dryft download in any app store. Instead, Mardsen is taking the same route as he did with Swype, and is planning to license Dryft for use on Windows Phone, Android and iOS. Plus, developers will be able to integrate Dryft in individual apps thanks to a forthcoming SDK. Want to see Dryft in action? A video awaits after the break.
Filed under: Tablets, Software
Source: Dryft
Despite Microsoft’s claims that the Surface family of tablets was a representation of “no compromise,” many road warriors have found the battery life to be… well, compromised. In order to address said concerns, it’s looking as if Microsoft will be launching a line of Power Covers. In a nutshell, these battery-inclusive Type Covers will snap onto Surface tablets as the existing ones do now, but a bump in thickness (from 0.21-inches to 0.38-inches) will add “significant” life. Interestingly, WinSupersite is reporting that the covers won’t ship until after the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2, and the original Surface RT won’t be compatible. Oh, and as for pricing? Mum’s the word, as you might expect for an unconfirmed accessory.
Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft
Via: ZDNet
Source: WinSupersite, Neowin
Think the Microsoft Surface’s Touch Cover was thin? You ain’t seen nothin’ yet. CSR, a company that delights in coming up with clever ideas and putting a significant amount of engineering personnel behind them, has a working prototype of a 0.5mm-thin keyboard. The board — if you can call it that — is made of flexible material and printed circuitry, combined with an Atmel touchscreen sensor and a few other life-bringing chips near the top (because of this, the top of the keyboard is a little thicker). Since it uses Bluetooth Smart to transmit your strokes and taps to a phone, tablet or computer, the only possible concern is the issue of incompatibility with devices that don’t support the standard yet; iOS 7 and Windows 8 will be good to go (a rep told us that while Android 4.3 supports Bluetooth Smart, it doesn’t utilize the HID profile that CSR relies heavily on).
The model we played with was a little cramped, which means we had to consciously try not to hit the wrong keys; other than this, we actually had the same kind of typing experience tonight that we’ve had with the Touch Cover. Of course, these kinds of things can easily be worked out as CSR works out the kinks. As you might expect from a prototype, don’t expect to see the white membrane pictured above in a big box store. CSR doesn’t plan to sell it directly to users, but rather it’s busy pitching it to developers and OEMs in case they want to embed it into devices of their own. Because of this, the company isn’t ready to disclose details about when or where we’ll see its tech show up first — when it makes an appearance, however, we’ll let you know. Head below for a gallery and video.
%Gallery-slideshow81819%
Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Filed under: Peripherals, Mobile
We’ve seen most of Logitech’s latest products by way of press shots, but the company was clearly waiting for IFA to trot out the real deals. We caught the peripheral maker as it was in the process of setting of its booth for the show and got a quick tour of what it’s working on. First up, the company’s giving a little folio love to Android tablet owners, releasing a keyboard case for the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 and protective cases for the 10.1, 8.0 and 7.0. We also got a chance to check out that beefy G602 wireless gaming mouse, which’ll give you around 250 hours of gaming on a charge. Speaking of mice, the Ultrathin Touch Mouse is a pretty nice looking peripheral — one that pairs pretty nicely with its TK820 keyboard. Images below and press info for all of the above after the break. %Gallery-slideshow79677%
Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Filed under: Peripherals
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
