Both get their power from the iPad, so there are no batteries to switch out or recharge, and since you’re not relying on Bluetooth there shouldn’t be any lost-connection issues either. Logitech has given the Wired Keyboard for iPad full-sized keys, and while they’re low-profile, that should be at least familiar to those coming over from a laptop ‘board.

It’s also spill resistant, capable of shrugging off at most 60ml of liquids (though not of withstanding full immersion). Heavy-handed typists can expect it to handle more than 5m keystrokes.

The layout itself is basically the Mac-usual, with shortcut buttons for brightness, search, media playback, and volume. There’s also a dedicated lock button.

The Logitech Wired Keyboard for iPad will go on sale in the US from August, in Lightning Connector form, while the 30-pin connector version will follow on in October. Both versions will be priced at $59.99, and it’s up for preorder now.

Gates says that as we all move further into the post-PC era, more and more users want tablets that still act like a PC in a way, and because of the iPad’s hardware and software limitations, Gates says that users are frustrated with the tablet. He notes that “a lot of those users are frustrated, they can’t type, they can’t create documents, they don’t have Office there.”

As for Microsoft’s Surface line of tablets, Gates says that they provide the “portability of the tablet but the richness of the PC,” citing that the Surface Pro has a full-blown desktop OS, as well as the ability to connect a physical keyboard to the tablet. For what it’s worth, the iPad also has keyboard options, as well as the ability to create documents with a slew of office suite options.

Of course, Microsoft Office for iOS has been in the works for a while now, but with a release window pushed back to the fall of next year, we’re continuously losing interest due to the fact that there are already numerous office suite options out there for iOS, including the free Google Drive app.

[via Business Insider]

In a recent Reddit AmA, Swype VP Aaron Sheedy answered a question regarding whether or not the company “had any contact with Apple,” and whether or not there were discussions “to see if they might have been interested in licensing” Swype’s keyboard technology. Sheedy was rather vague, and simply said that they have indeed “chatted with them.”

In a follow-up question asking Sheedy “as to why that hasn’t happened yet” (regarding iOS integration with Swype), Sheedy glaringly dodged the question, and that particular thread ended there. This may hint that while Swype and Apple have been in contact with each other, things still may be in the mulling stages, where both sides are quite ready to lay out any details yet.

However, it could also be Sheedy’s way of saying that while the two companies conversed about the idea to include Swype integration in iOS, nothing really came out of it, with Apple having no plans to include the keyboard tech in their software. Either way, things are still a bit of a mystery, but it’s interesting, nonetheless, that Apple and Swype were in talks.

[via 9to5Mac]

In addition to the limited-time special pricing, Nuance is also offering a free 30-day trial, giving those who’ve never used it before a chance to find out what it’s all about. The big news aside, users will find a total of 13 keyboard designs, with two new ones being added: Holo and Artic. Living Language Dialect support has also been expanded, gaining support for more than 20 dialects. Australian users, for example, will enjoy auto-loaded words like brekky.

For Dragon Mobile Assistant, a simple method has been added that allows users to pull up the personal mobile assistant by dragging their finger between the Swype button and Dragon flame. And it’s worth noting that Swype is no longer in beta, but Nuance advises that users who want to remain in the beta program for when new features are developed can do so by hitting up Swype’s Beta page.

Nuance Mobile’s Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Thompson said, “Swype was a game changer when first unveiled, and ever since, it has continued to set the bar for intuitive and intelligent keyboard innovation … Based on the incredible success of our beta program and our vocal customers, we decided to extend the power of Swype to more Android users through Google Play. Android users deserve the best keyboard – settling for an alternative is no longer necessary.”

[via Engadget]

In an interesting twist to the original goals set out by the group, this project’s development was advanced past it’s first Android confines with a WDK as well. A WDK, or Wearable Development Kit, provides the user with a keyboard for many prospective devices. In the video presentation made by the creators of this project, you’ll see this keyboard typing with 3D motion control too.

The setup for the keyboard in its initial layout comes from the QWERTY setup you’re likely making use of on your notebook, smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer right this minute. Taking these letters and smashing them down into what’s essentially one row instead of three, the space which the keyboard would otherwise have taken up is reduced significantly.

What these developers are studying and banking on is the idea that users will be able to adapt as easily as they have to the simplicity of the layout they’ve created. While like riding a bike, you can get used to typing with such a setup, there’s still a learning curve that’s being dealt with. According to the funds this team has received in support of their development thus far, there are more than enough people out there willing to give Minuum a shot!

Let us know if you’re working with the standard on-screen keyboard on your smartphone or tablet and why. Did you know you were able to change the keyboard on your device before you read this post?

[via Indegogo]

The keyboard folio is available in multiple colors including Mars Red Orange, Carbon Black, Mystic Blue, and Sunflower Yellow. The design of the new keyboard case protects the iPad on the front and the back with a wraparound design. Logitech equips the device with a magnetic clasp to keep the folio closed when you’re traveling.

The keyboard folio also has an integrated magnetic stand to allow you to prop the screen of your tablet up for comfortable typing or lay it flat depending on your needs. The keyboard section connects to your tablet using Bluetooth and the keyboard is spill resistant. The FabricSkin Keyboard has magnets on the edges near the iPad frame that automatically puts the iPad to sleep when you close the folio and wakes it up when you open the cover.

Power for the rechargeable keyboard comes from an internal rechargeable battery that charges using a USB port. Logitech claims you can get three months of usable battery life on a single full charge. The retail price for the FabricSkin Keyboard Folio is $149.99. You can pre-order the keyboard folio right now but the shipping date is unknown. The case is designed to work with the iPad 2 and third and fourth generation iPad tablets.

[via Logitech]

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]

The manufacturer says that it’s thin keyboard uses shape-changing polymers that are able to replicate the feel and sound of clicking buttons people are used to from traditional computer keyboards. The company says that its keyboard could be used in laptops and ultrabooks by next year. Perhaps even more interesting is that the company is currently working on transparent coatings that would enable this type of keyboard on touchscreen devices.

The lack of tactile feedback is one of the biggest complaints when it comes to using on-screen keyboards for devices such as tablets and smartphones. The technology that the company uses takes advantage of the special polymer that dramatically and rapidly changes shape when the electric field is applied. The letters on the haptic keyboard developed by the company vibrate to confirm that they have been pressed.

The company says that vibration can also be used to create soundwaves to make the keys click or play music when pressed. The biggest benefit of the haptic keyboard over the standard keyboard that has actual physical buttons is thinness. The haptic keyboard is only 1.5 mm thick and it’s flexible. The manufacturer plans to begin shipping keyboards to equipment manufacturers in 2014.

[via Technology Review]

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.

Perhaps its biggest feature update is the addition of Advanced Language Models for Belgian Dutch and Hindi, but there are some other updates as well. The Word Choice List in Polaris Office has had its behavior spruced up, and the notification drawer has had its subtype text tweaked to be more accurate.

Gingerbread users will be happy with this beta release, as well, because the bug they experience when turning the handset to landscape that makes the app crash has been corrected. Speaking of crashes, the release also includes fixes to various crashes that the company’s beta community has reported. Tap input has been improved so that it is more responsive, as we noted above.

The bug where Android’s default voice input icon showed up for the microphone instead of the Dragon icon has been fixed. These are the biggest changes, but according to Swype, “many more” improvements and fixes have been implemented as well, which you can find for yourself by giving the beta a test run. Are you using it? Let us know what you think in the comments!

[via Swype Forum]

This is good news for both future Galaxy S IV owners and SwiftKey alike, which, according to Forbes, is able to boast about a major partnership with a manufacturer for the first time. In other instances where it has licensed its technology, the company has been forced to keep quiet about the deals due to terms of confidentiality.

SwiftKey’s co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Ben Medlock had this to say: “We are excited to confirm that Samsung has chosen SwiftKey’s innovative keyboard technology to be at the heart of its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4. This is fantastic progress for our vision of bringing the best touchscreen typing experience to as many people as possible.”

For those who don’t know, the company behind SwiftKey was founded in late 2008 by two Cambridge graduates, who went on to launch their popular predictive keyboard in 2010. The app works by learning the words commonly used by the handset’s owner as he or she types. This allows SwiftKey to offer predictive functionality.

[via Forbes]

The keyboard is available for free in the Windows Store and it features abilities such as switching back and forth between swiping and typing modes, and the ability to split the keyboard into to sections — something that the default keyboard does offer. This allows users to easily type with their thumbs like they would on a smartphone.

The keyboard also comes with Swype-like typing, meaning that you can type out words by just sliding your finger across the keyboard, going to each letter to spell out a word without lifting your finger at all. It’s a form of typing that’s all the rage nowadays, and Windows 8 users can now join in on the fun.

Previously, the Windows 8 version did experience some hiccups with installation, but since the app is now available through official means (a.k.a. Windows Store), users shouldn’t have a problem getting the keyboard up and running on their Windows touch-enabled device. The app works on all Windows 8 touchscreen tablets and any x86 based Windows 8 computer.

You can however download TouchPal for Windows 8 directly from the TouchPal website.The keyboard is available for free and brings features including the ability to switch back and forth between swiping and typing. There is also something that you don’t get with the default keyboard — the ability to split the keyboard in two. You can get an idea of this in the video below, however it is just how it sounds with the keyboard splitting between the G and the H keys.

Those familiar with gesture based typing already have an understanding as to how this works. For those new to this concept, you basically just tap the first letter in the word and then without lifting your finger you just swipe through the remaining letters. This makes typing on a touchscreen a bit easier and in some cases a bit quicker. Plus, you can also worry a bit less about mistyping and misspellings as the app has predictions. We have not tested enough to back this up, however TouchPal is touted as being able to save about 60 percent of keystrokes.

All that said, there does appear to be some issues with the installation process at the moment. Reports coming from the xda-developers user forums note that the installer appears to be in Chinese. The good news is that if you click your way through the installation process, you will be able to adjust and set the default language back to English. Those interested can download the keyboard directly from the TouchPal website.

[via Liliputing]

“It’s really a question, “is there a large enough audience out there?” or “are the people who have QWERTY today intending to move in this direction?” and we really don’t want to be on the wrong side of that movement” Harlow, executive vice president of Smart Devices, told us. That’s despite a clear message from some users that a physical keyboard is high on their list of priorities.

“We still continue to evaluate because we do get the request a lot, and it’s funny that there are a lot of people that absolutely want to use a physical keyboard, they like the security of that” Harlow conceded. “Even though, I think the virtual keyboard of Windows Phone is phenomenal, especially the level of autocorrect, it’s really, really good.”

Unsurprisingly, Nokia isn’t ruling out any particular device, no matter how great the abundance of caution over QWERTY today. That means the market reception to BlackBerry’s upcoming Q10, the first BlackBerry 10 device to include one of the Canadian company’s legendary thumbboards, is likely to be of particular interest to Nokia as it figures out its next steps in Windows Phone.

“It’s something that we’re constantly looking at: next form-factors, what should we do next” Harlow told us, though pointed out that even those who really do want a physical ‘board are a dying breed. “One of the things that we see is that the number of people who are using, or are interested in using, a QWERTY continues to decline.”

In the first big ad spot for this new version of SwiftKey, you’ll see each of the new amazing features available with the system. Here you’ll see examples of the 60 languages you can have active at once, you’ll see the several different keyboard skins you can use, and you’ll see the fabulous Flow of words being typed with a multi-colored trail of accuracy following your finger. This system continues to use an ever-upgrading award-winning prediction engine unique to SwiftKey to learn the language you use in a unique way.

We’ve also got a rather simple demonstration of flowing in-action on an Android device. At the moment this software is, yes, available only on Android devices, and most certainly does make your Android experience a much more readable one. While we don’t use the prediction engine as much as we could have in the demo, keep an eye on it – it’s smart! SwiftKey’s learning engine connects with Gmail, Facebook, SMS, and more to follow what you type, understanding and archiving it all away so it knows what you’ll type next – you type the same stuff all the time!

Again at this point you should note that there’s only one app, with SwiftKey Flow being a feature of SwifKey 4 – you’ll be downloading SwiftKey 4 soon! SwiftKey 4 offers several different ways to type with SwiftKey Flow – one of them being the three SwiftKey Flow Candidates you get when you hit backspace after you’ve completed a word – three options for alternate words are given. Candidates are also given if you tap any word you’ve completed in the past.

Another feature in SwiftKey Flow typing in SwiftKey 4 is mid-word completion, allowing you to see word predictions and let your finger up from the screen before you’ve completed the word – see what you need, just lift your finger! After you’ve typed (or had predicted) a word in a sentence, you’ll also see next-word predictions based on your language patterns. You can type whole sentences with just predictions based on what you’ve said in the past!

Berry flavor included – tasty!

The style you use to type is also automatically selected in this release. In the past with SwiftKey you were asked to select either “rapid” or “precise” – now all that’s done for you. The 60 languages mentioned above includes a selection of additions made new in this release: Sudanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Albanian, Bosnian, and Javanese. Layouts have also been improved on the keyboard for both Russian and Korean language sets.

You’ll be able to download SwiftKey 4 and SwiftKey Tablet 4 from the Google Play app store inside the SwiftKey section – apps developed by the official SwiftKey team. If you’re a legacy user, you’ll find that SwiftKey will upgrade to SwiftKey 4 for free. If you’re a new user, a promotional price of $1.99 USD has been placed on the app for a limited time – grab it right this minute!

According to the retailer, Samsung’s intention is to replace the single keyboard dock – which has an integrated nook into which the Galaxy Tab slots – with an accessory double-act. A tablet stand, complete with dock connector for recharging the tablet, would form one half of that combo, while a Bluetooth keyboard – still yet to be fully detailed – would be used for text entry.

The audience for keyboards to go with tablets is arguably small, though various Kickstarter projects and third-party manufacturers have waded in to design the “perfect” accompaniment to a tablet (usually Apple’s iPad). Only last week, Logitech and Belkin each outed an $80 add-on ‘board for the iPad mini, for instance.

One argument for separate peripherals might be that it introduces ergonomic flexibility. By splitting the dock and the keyboard, it allows users to move the tablet further away and perhaps raise it closer to the eye-line.

Still, as Clove counters, two accessories make for less convenient mobile computing, though it’s worth noting that Samsung’s original keyboard dock lacked the snap-cover convenience of iPad counterparts from companies like Logitech. No pricing information for the new Samsung Bluetooth keyboard has been revealed, though Clove warns that the separate dock and ‘board combo will be “a higher cost” than the old-style add-on.

The tablet has a familiar QWERTY layout along with a number of keys to control media and other functions on the tablet. The shortcut keys built into the keyboard are for common tasks such as copy, paste, and others. The keys are large considering the keyboard size and have a chicklet design.

The keyboard is also designed to hold your iPad mini screen up at an angle for comfortable typing. Logitech also integrates powerful magnets into the top edge of the keyboard allowing it to attach securely to the iPad mini for transportation. The keyboard also has rubber feet around the edges to prevent the keys from scratching the screen of your tablet.

The keyboard is designed to automatically wake the iPad mini open the cover, and to automatically put the tablet into sleep mode when you close the cover. The keyboard connects to the tablet using Bluetooth and promises a battery life of up to three months. The keyboard is available in black, white, and red. The red version is only available in select countries.

[via Logitech]

The keyboard is very thin at only 5 mm thick, which is only 0.2-inches. The keyboard is also very light weighing 240 g making it the thinnest and lightest keyboard available for your iPad according to Archos. The company says that the keyboard is so thin it’s nearly the same thickness as the iPad SmartCover when it’s attached to your iPad.

The keyboard features an adjustable kickstand that allows you to adjust the angle of the iPad when you’re typing for comfort. The keyboard has an aluminum back with white keys and looks exact like you would expect an iPad accessory to look. The keyboard has a full QWERTY arrangement and uses Bluetooth to connect to the iPad.

The keyboard is designed with what Archos calls super-silent keys and offers shortcuts for the most common iOS commands to make working faster. The keyboard uses a rechargeable battery promising a month of use per charge. Archos also fitted the keyboard with a magnetic closure similar to what Apple uses in the SmartCover. The keyboard automatically turns on when you remove it from the iPad and automatically turns off when you attach it to the iPad for mobility.

[via Archos]

If you’re in the market for new gaming keyboard, SteelSeries has announced a new gaming keyboard called the Apex. The most interesting thing about the keyboard is that it has lots of color customization capabilities. Keyboard has five independent lighting zones each capable of displaying 16.8 million colors and eight levels of brightness.

The keyboard also has 22 different macro keys with 10 on the left side of the keyboard and the remainder above the function keys. Those macro keys support four different function settings giving you a total of 88 macro keys. You can also customize the color of those macro keys independently making it a bit easier to remember where you bound your commands.

The keyboard also has anti-ghosting technology supporting up to 20 simultaneous key presses. The keyboard also has something I’ve never seen on a gaming keyboard before, it has a pair of extra arrow keys. Typically you get left, right, up, and down arrow keys and the Apex keyboard adds in diagonal left and right up keys. The Apex keyboard will be available for $99.

[via EverythingUSB]

This machine is exciting – not just because it has the specifications at the top of its game in processing power and display abilities (10 point multitouch included), but because it’s ready to roll with features like a side-loading removable battery. When’s the last time you had any kind of tablet with a removable battery? This beast also comes with an active digitizer (digital stylus) that’s able to work with digital inking under Microsoft Windows, pressure sensitive up to 1024 levels – sounds pretty ok!

This X15 machine is able to be delivered with just wi-fi internet connectivity or up to 3G – make sure you’ve got the right model, but the capability is there. You’ve got an optional dock with keyboard (transformable!) as well, offering additional battery time, Ethernet port, VGA out, SD card slot, and one USB port. They say this keyboard is also “very comfortable for long-duration touch-typing”, but we’ll be the judge of that in the near future.

This machine is customizable – it’s got an external side-panel that’s able to be fitted with a collection of modules. Future modules include multi-card reader, video recording unit, projector, scanner bay, and more – but take note: Dynamism warns that you should purchase the X15 only after the module you desire is released for sale. There’s a possibility here that there may be “module release delays” as they say, and they warn that the return window for this unit will not be extended beyond their standard time for any reason, this including module release delays of all kinds.

That said, you’ve got internal memory and mini PCI-E slots to let you boost your customization to the max whenever you need. Have a peek at this monster in the demonstration video below and let us know if you’re all about it or if you’ll be waiting for alternatives in the future from manufacturers other than KUPA.

Dedicated buttons for answering/ending calls as well as muting are present, with illumination so that you can be alerted to an incoming call even if you have the volume shut off. The voicemail button also lights up when there are new messages.

As for the other companion peripherals, the M525-C mouse comes with one of Logitech’s Unifying receiver dongles, which can plug directly into the K725-C keyboard, and has a scroll wheel and rubberized grips. The C920-C webcam can handle up to 1080p video at 30fps, and includes stereo microphones and onboard H.264 encoding for reducing computer processor strain.

Obviously you’ll need a Jabber system in order for the bundle to be any use to you, but we can envisage Logitech developing another version of the keyboard targeting home users instead, perhaps with Skype controls instead. As for the K725-C, that’ll land in March 2013 priced at $269.99, complete with both webcam and mouse, while the C920-C webcam will also be sold separately at $109.99.

The new version of the case has an aluminum enclosure providing a new look, better durability, and added protection. The Pro version of the iPad case is the thinnest and lightest the company has offered and promises to improve productivity for people who like to work from their iPad. The case has a 360° hinge that allows for infinite viewing angles for the tablet and makes it easy to change from laptop mode to tablet mode.

The biggest feature of the case is the integrated keyboard. The keyboard uses an elevated island style promising typing comfort and efficiency. The keyboard has a no-code, one-button sync feature to pair with the iPad via Bluetooth. The new version of the case also has a battery key allowing users to manage power.

The battery inside the keyboard case promises months of use on a single charge. The keyboard case is made from aluminum and glossy white polycarbonate for the section that holds the iPad. The case can be ordered now for $169 and will ship in February. It supports the iPad 2, iPad 3, and iPad 4.

This machine’s keyboard cover goes by the name TransSleeve and is able to work as a wireless keyboard, a cover, and a stand – if you do so desire. This machine is set to be one of the more interesting Windows 8 touchscreen additions to the fold this CES 2013 with the option to turn the keyboard into the stand as it does, most offerings from manufacturers over the past several months bringing on solutions where you’re either doing without a keyboard entirely or are leaving it to sit while you use your fingers on the display.

What ASUS also brings to the show here is an 8 megapixel camera on the back of the tablet bit, a 2 megapixel camera on the front, and NFC inside, too. This machine will likely be a hot seller amongst those that’ve been waiting for the Microsoft Surface Pro, that being the full Windows 8 version of the Surface as opposed to the Microsoft Surface RT that’s already been on the market for some weeks.

Have a peek at what else ASUS is bringing to the show this week in our ASUS tag portal and see how they’re also getting cubical – fun stuff! Be sure to hit up our CES 2013 portal as well for more CES hands-on action and up to the minute updates than you can handle!

More specifically, Impecca says this keyboard features “bamboo with a solid metal construction,” so it isn’t entirely made of bamboo. That’s probably a good thing though, and the whole deal is made even better by the fact that you can use it with any Bluetooth-enabled device. This means you can use it with your iPad or Android tablet, along with your smartphone or desktop computer, provided they have a Bluetooth module.

Impecca promises that this bamboo keyboard will be comfortable in use as well, including a fixed bamboo panel on the bottom of the keyboard to offer ergonomic comfort. You’ll also have a wireless range of 33 feet with the keyboard, though we imagine that it will be pretty difficult to see what you’re typing on a tablet or smartphone from that distance. All in all, it sounds like a nifty keyboard, and we think the bamboo looks pretty nice.

Impecca will be showing its bamboo Bluetooth keyboard off at CES 2013, launching it sometime next month. We don’t know when exactly this keyboard will become available for purchase, but we do know that it’ll cost $99 when it does release. Of course, there’ll be plenty more news coming out of CES 2013 over the course of the next week, so keep it here at SlashGear for more!

With the Ryos, ROCCAT brings on a distinct light for each key – you could potentially do a fabulously fashionable rainbow with your keys, each of them lighting up differently! This keyboard works with up to two 32-bit ARM cortex processor and is able to display key functions as well as macros, or health bars, or basically whatever your heart desires, all thanks to the ARM living inside. You get 2MB of internal Flash storage and you can pick one of four different CHERRY MX key switches, black brown, red, or blue!

Then comes the official getting over the Beta hump for the ROCCAT Power-Grid app, a beast that allows custom settings and connections between your smartphone and your PC. You’ll be able to work with Windows controls, Skype, your Media Player, and more, right out of the box. You’ve got pre-set controls for Starcraft 2, Skyrim, and League of Legends, and “Strike Suite Zero”. This app allows live updates of a game’s statistics as its connected wirelessly and is, of course, connected straight to a number of gaming websites that hold gaming news galore.

ROCCAT is also bringing on a number of gaming mice like the Kone XTD and Kone Pure as well as the gaming keyboard ROCCAT Isku FX. These devices will all be shown off at CES 2013 – catch SlashGear all week long, starting right this minute!

One of the most interesting features about the Orbweaver is that it has full mechanical keys with 50 Gs of actuation force. The 20 keys on the keypad are all programmable and it has an adjustable thumb, palm, and wrist rest module. The device also has an eight-way directional thumb pad built-in.

Gamers can bind macros of unlimited length to any the programmable buttons and the keypad supports switching between eight different key maps. The Orbweaver measures 6.06-inches by 7.95-inches by 2.17-inches and weighs a little more than half a pound. The keys are all backlit for easy viewing in the dark.

The mechanical keys have an actuation distance of 2 mm. The keypad is designed to use the Razer Synapse 2.0 software. The Orbweaver is shipping now for $129.99.

In the video below, we see a super slim smartphone that comes equipped with a 1080p Grand AMOLED display, a 13MP camera, and a quad-core processor clocked at 2GHz. The video also assumes that Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie will have been released by the time Samsung begins shipping the Galaxy S IV, which we have to say would be pretty awesome. We also hear that the Galaxy S IV will be much thinner than the Galaxy S III and the iPhone 5, which would be especially impressive considering the Galaxy S III is already pretty slim at just 0.33-inches thick.

One particularly cool feature we get to see is a laser keyboard dock. Our faceless host connects the Galaxy S IV to the dock and then slides his hand across the surface in front of it. The dock then projects a laser keyboard onto the desk and he begins typing away. Needless to say, we want the Galaxy S IV to come with this kind of functionality.

Of course, this is all just wishful thinking, so don’t take it to mean that Samsung is actually planning these features for the Galaxy S IV. Still, text at the end of the video tells us that this render is based on leaked parts, so what we’re seeing may not be too far outside the realm of possibility. We’ll simply have to wait and find out what kind of hardware and features the Galaxy S IV is packing when Samsung reveals it, which will hopefully be at CES 2013 in a couple of weeks. Keep it here at SlashGear for more.

[via Android Community]

Bhardwaj says that it was important for RIM to match the look of traditional BlackBerry keyboards, and looking at the video, it would appear the company has. Bhardwaj points out the white font against the black keys, and says that each key is “kind of maximized edge-to-edge.” He also points to the fact that next word suggestions will be in your own vocabulary, saying “the actual predictions themselves are in-key, and you simply swipe to actually type.”

It seems that RIM is attempting to do a lot with inference with the BlackBerry 10 keyboard, as evidenced by the fact that the system will actually predict where spaces should be inserted. Therefore, should you miss the space key, the system will be able to correct the error for you. BlackBerry 10 will also try to infer when you need to switch languages to type a different word, switching back when you’re ready to begin typing in your native language again.

All in all, the BlackBerry 10 keyboard sounds like a nice piece of software. The OS as a whole has some pretty impressive features, so RIM should be launching a solid system next year. The question is whether or not consumers, most of which have been abandoning BlackBerry lately, will bite. Are you interested in giving BlackBerry 10 a spin when it launches?

The keyboard adjusts its illumination depending on ambient light, though there are also manual adjustment keys – F5 and F6, just as on a MacBook – for tweaking it yourself. A motion sensor turns the backlighting on or off, depending on whether your hands are nearby.

Logitech claims battery life of up to 10 days, though that’s based on two hours of typing per day. The battery charges up via USB – taking around 3hrs in the process – and will hold its charge for up to a year.

Logitech Bluetooth Easy-Switch Keyboard demo:

As for the Logitech Rechargeable Trackpad for Mac, it’s a third-party alternative to Apple’s own Magic Trackpad, with a multitouch-capable surface apparently larger than what you’ll find on most MacBooks. It tracks all the usual swipes and gestures, has a glass top layer for smooth response, and features the same mechanical click as Apple’s own version.

Logitech doesn’t mention battery life, but it’s another case of recharging via USB and you can continue to use the trackpad even while it’s rejuicing. Connection is via Bluetooth, as you’d expect.

The Logitech Bluetooth Easy-Switch Keyboard is up for preorder now, priced at $99.99. As for the Logitech Rechargeable Trackpad for Mac, that’s available to buy now, priced at $69.99.

Logitech Rechargeable Trackpad for Mac demo:

With the Magic FrogPad, you’ve got a QWERTY keyboard compressed down to just 26 keys, which is pretty cool if you ask us. You can toggle between the keypad and mouse functionality easily by hitting the “switch” in the upper left corner. As with most clings, this one is pretty easy to install, and it’s even repositionable, meaning that you don’t have to worry about making a permanent commitment when you stick this on your Magic Trackpad.

If you’re a little intimidated by the look of the Magic FrogPad, the company offers a number of tutorials to get you started. It’ll connect to your Mac through Bluetooth, and FrogPad says you can use a mouse along with it if you don’t want to be switching between the mouse and keypad functionality all the time. In order to use the Magic FrogPad, you’ll need a Bluetooth-enabled Mac computer that’s running Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6 or above. You’ll also need an Apple Magic Trackpad, which kind of goes without saying.

The Magic FrogPad is available now from FrogPad’s store for $69.99 with immediate shipping. That may seem a bit expensive at first glance, but that $70 gets you two righty pads, one lefty pad, and a download of the software needed to use the Magic FrogPad. All in all, it doesn’t seem like too bad a cling – are you picking one up?

That’s because the new Bluetooth menu allows you to completely control Apple TV with a wireless keyboard, no longer requiring that you use the remote or an iOS device for keyboard input. 9to5Mac claims that tracking down the content you want to watch “becomes a thousand times easier” when you’re using a physical keyboard, so there’s plenty of reason to be excited. Unfortunately, at this point in time it looks like Bluetooth pairing is rather limited.

For instance, it appears that only keyboards are supported here, as Bluetooth speakers and mice wouldn’t play nice with Apple TV. The same is true for connecting a Mac computer through Bluetooth – it’s a no go. Never fear though, because this functionality could be the first step in a larger Bluetooth roll out for Apple. Even better, it could potentially allow third parties to develop their own Bluetooth-based remotes for Apple TV, so this is definitely one feature to watch.

This functionality is available with second and third generation Apple TV boxes, so if you’re still rocking a first generation box, you’re unfortunately being left out in the cold. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about Bluetooth keyboard support for Apple TV, remember, which means that the time may finally be here. Check out our story timeline below for more on Apple TV!

For those of you looking to get this app in its beta form for testing purposes, you’ve only to head over to the VIP Community forums or to the official SwiftKey Flow landing page where you can add your email to the list for beta access. Have a peek here at a demo of the keyboard in action as well:

This version of SwiftKey takes what’s also known as “gesture typing” and makes with the word predictions from the moment you place your finger on the board. The user – you – has input analyzed from the start to the end of a “flow” as you’ll see in the video above. Note how even if we go super-fast or ultra-slow we don’t mess up a single word – or SwiftKey Flow knows how messy we are, that is.

Have a peek below at one of our two talks with SwiftKey from earlier this year when they let us know how undeniably important the VIP Community is to the creation and maintaining of SwiftKey as a whole. You’ll be listening to Evan Tapper, SwiftKey’s community manager as he spoke at CTIA 2012 on the forums they hold so dear.

Take a look at the timeline below as well to check out a list of SwiftKey updates and milestones from the past year – it’s been a great one for this fabulous Android beast of a keyboard, that’s for sure!

Design and Features

Unlike some other ergonomic keyboards, there isn’t a split down the middle of the Sculpt. The Sculpt looks more like a regular keyboard than some of the other ergonomic ones, save for a bump in the middle that raises some of the keys and gives it a nice curve. It looks really nice – I’ve never been a fan of the way most ergonomic keyboards look, but I have to say that this one is pretty easy on the eyes. It’s all black and white if we’re not counting the blue Windows 8 hot keys, and it’s relative slimness gives it a more compact feeling that some of the other beasts we’ve seen in the ergonomic field.

The keyboard may not be split, but in an interesting twist, the space bar is. Microsoft has turned the space bar into two different buttons – both of them do the same thing until you hold down one of the shift keys, then the left space button turns into a spare backspace key. Microsoft says it did this because the majority of users only ever hit the right side of the space bar with their thumb. By splitting space bar into two key and adding backspace functionality to the left one, users no longer have to reach for the actual backspace key while they’re typing up a storm. It’s an incredibly strange idea at first, but it works. Holding shift and hitting the space bar is much more comfortable than reaching for the backspace key, but it’s definitely going to take some getting used to. After all, we’ve only been reaching for that backspace button for years and years, so it makes it sense that it’s going to take some time to break that habit.

UPDATE: While shift-space does indeed activate a backspace, simply pressing the left half of the spacebar also initiates a backspace – simple and clean!

Other than the split space bar, there isn’t anything all that remarkable about the rest of the keys. Microsoft claims that the slight curve to the layout helps improve typing speeds, and I feel that it’s helped mine slightly. It was kind of hard to tell at first since I had to adjust to the curvy layout, but after that adjustment process was finished, I found that my speeds were a little bit better than when I was using my regular mechanical keyboard. Resistance on the keys is nice, and they make a pretty satisfying sound when you press them. You won’t get the “clack” you’re used to hearing if you regularly use a mechanical keyboard, but the keys still make a good sound when you hit them.

The only issue I have with the keys is the fact that the letters aren’t laser etched onto them. That, obviously, is a feature of more expensive keyboards, but it still would’ve been nice to have, since without it your keys will begin fading after a while. It isn’t the biggest of problems (far from it actually), but having your keys fade on you is always an annoying experience.

On the Sculpt, the function keys double as Windows 8 hotkeys, allowing you to navigate the new Windows 8 UI with ease. There are buttons for volume and audio playback, then you have the search, share, devices, and settings keys, which all take you to the different Windows 8 submenus that are featured in the right menu bar. There are also buttons that allow you to snap what you’re currently looking at to the left or right side of the screen, letting you look at two apps at once. Microsoft has placed a sliding switch to the right of the function buttons, which you can use to change the functionality on that row of keys. It’s definitely a nice touch, especially for someone who might still be getting used to the Windows 8 UI – instead of trying to find these menus and do these actions with your mouse, you can simply hit the shortcut key on the Sculpt. That should save those who are new to Windows 8 a lot of time.

What I really like about the Sculpt is that it comes with a detachable wrist pad, but this one isn’t of the snap-on variety. Good thing too, because those snap-on wrist pads always feel so cheap and fragile. Instead, the wrist pad attaches to the Sculpt with a metal hook and a couple of metal plates. It slides into the bottom of the keyboard and locks into place, so you don’t have to worry about it flopping around while you type.

The wrist pad is soft enough to be comfortable, yet firm enough to where your wrists aren’t sinking into it. I think it gets the job done rather well, as it does a lot to take the pressure off your wrists while you’re typing. Of course, the Sculpt is still pretty easy to use if you remove the wrist pad (which cuts down on the keyboard’s overall size significantly), but if your job requires a lot of typing, you’ll probably want to keep the wrist pad attached as often as you can.

The stands have actually made their way to underneath the wrist pad, which is another strange feature that makes the Sculpt stand out from keyboards. It looks odd, having the stands on the front of the keyboard, but it actually feels surprisingly comfortable while you’re typing since it keeps your wrists a lot straighter than they would otherwise be. The only problem is that the Sculpt has a tendency to slide around when it’s up on its stands and placed on a hard, smooth surface. Most of the time I was using the Sculpt, I was typically using it without the stands, just because I found that keyboard kept sliding out from under my hands whenever I had them up.

The Sculpt is a wireless keyboard that’s powered by two AAA batteries and connects to your computer through a USB stick. Installation was a breeze, as it only requires that you connect the USB stick and give the system a few moments to install the drivers for the keyboard. Once you’ve done that, you’re good to go. As with most wireless keyboards, battery life is great. The batteries actually haven’t died on me yet, and I don’t think they will for another few weeks at least. In other words, if you pick up the Sculpt, you probably won’t have to worry about purchasing batteries all that often. The wireless capabilities work well too – I never had an instance where the signal cut out, and that’s really as good as it gets when you’re talking about wireless keyboards.

Wrap-Up

Even though I’ve never been a big fan of ergonomic keyboards, I have to say that the Sculpt Comfort Keyboard impressed. It isn’t the most feature-rich keyboard around, but Microsoft has done some interesting things with it. Splitting the space bar in two and turning one side into a spare backspace key was definitely a strange idea, but it seems to have worked. As I said above, it takes some getting used to, but once you remember to hold down the shift key and hit the left space bar, it serves as a good replacement for reaching across the keyboard to hit the actual backspace key.

Again, the wireless functionality works well, and I think that will be a major selling point for some people. While I was testing the keyboard, the wireless worked flawlessly, so the Sculpt Comfort Keyboard earn high marks in that regard.

The price Microsoft has given this keyboard – $59.95 – seems reasonable too, though to be honest I’m used to spending $100+ on mechanical keyboards with all the bells and whistles for gaming, so I may not be the best judge of value in this case. Still, $59.95 isn’t all that expensive and this is a solid keyboard – the fact that it’s compatible with Windows 8, RT, 7, and Vista just adds value. If you’ve been looking for a new ergonomic keyboard, you might want to take a look at the Sculpt since it has features that make it stick out from the rest of the keyboards out there, and it’s even made specifically to play nice with Windows 8.

The SWB-86-TP features a laser-etched legend and keys backlit with red LEDs, optimizing it for low-light settings. The unit has an integrated touchpad, allowing you to leave your mouse at home. The device itself is built to be rugged, an especially useful feature for those who travel around with their keyboard frequently.

According to the announcement, this model is “ideal for in-vehicle applications.” The SWB-86-TP is completely sealed to NEMA 4X standards, protecting it from accidental spills, as well as making it easier to clean than normal keyboards. Because of its sealed body, the unit is also “impermeable to corrosives,” making it a good choice for harsh environments.

iKey’s Operations Manager Dave Huddleston offered this statement. “Many of our public safety customers require a rugged keyboard but don’t want to sacrifice typing speed or accuracy. The SWB-86-TP was engineered to address these needs, combining the convenience of a compact keyboard sealed to IP65 standards with full-travel key caps.”

Belkin promises that the little keyboard has well spaced keys providing lots of tactile feedback for accurate typing. The keyboard also has shortcut keys allowing easy media control for playing back video or music. The keyboard connects to the iPad using wireless Bluetooth connectivity.

The keyboard case has a durable exterior and a soft interior lining to prevent scratches on the tablet. The keyboard is also removable from the case to allow the user to type in the most comfortable position. The keyboard case folds flat when not in use to take up as little space as possible.

The case is powered by an internal battery good for 155 hours of use. The internal battery is rechargeable and gets power from an included USB to mini USB cable. The case also has a camera lens cut out allowing you to take pictures with the iPad mini camera. The keyboard is available right now for $79.99.

Because of those conflicting messages, not because of the delivery date stated originally that holds fast now, Microsoft is giving out a single-use coupon for £50 off a purchase from the Microsoft online store. The date range for delivery on the Surface tablet remains between October 26th (today) and October 30th. The coupon is good for anything online just so long as its not a Windows 8 download product.

The good thing about this coupon is that it works more like a gift certificate – you don’t have to buy something more than the given amount for it to work. If you do use it once though, any remaining amount will be forfeit if not spent. This coupon is also only good through microsoftstore.com/uk, not any other region-specific site.

This is but one stumble on the road to greatness – at least that’s what Microsoft certainly hopes here in the dawn of their new software and hardware age. Have a peek at the timeline below to see how Microsoft is bringing a big blast of publicity to the world of Windows 8 both abroad and in a giant way right in the center of the universe: New York City.

From looking at the image, you would think you were looking at a handset with Swype on it, but that’s actually SwiftKey’s new Flow keyboard. Obviously, it’s a lot like Swype where you glide your finger across the keyboard to each appropriate key in order to type out a word, and there’s even a way to quickly enable and disable the feature right from the keyboard.

However, Flow isn’t just a nifty swiping keyboard like Swype. It comes with all the awesome features of the normal SwiftKey keyboard, like word prediction (including next-word prediction which guesses the next word in a sentence before you even type it), along with all of the awesome themes and support for over 40 languages.

At the moment SwiftKey flow is still in its testing phases, and SwiftKey is soon going to be offering it as a private beta to their VIP members. SwiftKey is, as always, accepting beta testers as we speak on their website. All you have to do is enter in your email address and they’ll contact you if you made it in.

[via Android Community]

The idea is that the five modules can be combined to customize the keyboard for the particular type of game you’re playing. The five separate models include a control module with an EYE OLED Display that allows you to bind macros and lots more using finger taps. The keyboard section itself has a standard QWERTY keyboard arrangement and is engineered for comfortable gaming requiring 60 Gs of activation force for the keys.

The keyboard has 16 million color RGB backlighting. The keyboard also features 21 programmable macro buttons and three modes allowing 63 user definable commands. A modular number pad features a set of longer wires to help gamers arrange the keyboard perfectly.

The keyboard is also designed for comfort with a three-part active palm rest, and two wrist rests. Both wrist rests connect to the computer keyboard using a five-pin connector. The keyboard is compatible with computers running Windows XP and up. An exact shipping date for the device is unknown at this time.

The keyboard is sized to hold in your palm and supports thumb typing. It also has a track pad on the right side allowing you to control a pointer, and it has buttons on the left side for left and right mouse clicks. This might be the perfect HTPC keyboard for connecting to your little Android mini PC that plugs into the HDMI port of your TV, assuming it has integrated Bluetooth.

If you want to use the keyboard with a device that doesn’t have integrated Bluetooth, you can still do that thanks to the included USB Bluetooth receiver. The only caveat is that your device has to have a full-sized USB port. FAVI specifically calls out support for the Kindle Fire HD, Google Nexus 7, iPad, Samsung Galaxy, as well as numerous PCs and Mac computers.

The little keyboard features backlit keys for easy use in the dark. The little track pad also supports tap to click and page scrolling. The track pad end of the keyboard has an integrated red laser pointer and the keyboard has PowerPoint slide buttons. The Bluetooth keyboard has a range of 50 feet and is available now for $49.99.

The chassis is brushed aluminum – Logitech is particularly pleased by the fact that it’s real metal, not plastic made to look like metal – and the key backlighting is dynamically adjusted based on the ambient light in the room. We’ve seen that before, but Logitech also throws in a sensor that tracks whether your hands are nearby and shuts off the backlight so as to save power when you’re not actually typing.

Recharging is via USB, and the keyboard can be used while plugged in. Logitech says it will run for around ten days of average use on a single charge.

The Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810 is set to go on sale in the US this month, and in Europe come November. It will be priced at $99.99 and €99.99 receptively.