Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

sonderdesign.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

161–170 of 237 posts

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#161

Post by gambiting »

Animats wrote: post #120

"With Sonder all your settings are saved automatically to the cloud." Just what we need. Computer peripherals slaved to some external cloud server. You have a computer right there, able to store stuff. Run programs, even. You don't want to be tied to some here-today, gone-tomorrow service. Also, how do you know it isn't sending your keystrokes somewhere? An API would make more sense. Programs which change the meaning…

You already can't use your Razor mouse(not to the fullest, anyway) without signing in with your Razor account. And recently, Nvidia started requiring that you create an Nvidia account to use their GeForce Experience application. Super annoying.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#162

Post by anotheryou »

SonderDesign wrote: post #103
anotheryou wrote: post #29

I wonder if it's fast enough to respond to modifier keys.

The video displayed previously had an older timing controller. Here's a video demo of the current TCM on a different display. It's 10Hz, so it will respond to modifier keys and partially update. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1tmjDDK7jY

looks good.

What about an inverted look? Too much backlight bleeding through or looking OK at night? :)

And did you invent new key mechanics to keep the key clear all the way to the bottom?

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#163

Post by SonderDesign »

Animats wrote: post #120

"With Sonder all your settings are saved automatically to the cloud." Just what we need. Computer peripherals slaved to some external cloud server. You have a computer right there, able to store stuff. Run programs, even. You don't want to be tied to some here-today, gone-tomorrow service. Also, how do you know it isn't sending your keystrokes somewhere? An API would make more sense. Programs which change the meaning…

Great feedback Animats, the cloud is something mostly editors had requested where they move from studio to studio, it's an option to simply download the their specific work flow to that terminal; it's optional; it's just a stored profile a user can elect to download to the keyboards flash. It's not like an IoT product logging keys; instead we have an API on the client which communicates with stored mappings on flash.

In regards to the fibre cabre, that's PR speak for a non cheap cable. Thanks again for the feedback; it's great to hear from other engineers etc.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#164

Post by SonderDesign »

sirmike_ wrote: post #156
grogenaut wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think braided fiber means that the usb cable has one of those nice cloth cable covers that come on nice headphones, instead of just a plain plastic casing.

Hilarious. New tech with pun marketing. Precious. I think I enjoyed the pun more than the product. I agree that not every thing needs a cloud behind it. Why couldn't it just store the bits to it self? Shock! Then I wouldn't have to spent ten or twenty extra minutes making sure it could connect to some damn server to update itself or change a simple function. Pass. Cool concept.

It's also stored on the on board flash, the cloud is an option to download a user profile stored online to a new keyboard. It's an optional feature that editors expect, if we didn't include it we wouldn't be addressing a key market want from a different demographic.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#165

Post by SonderDesign »

cesnja wrote: post #155
SonderDesign wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a small thing but a lot of editors who travel from studio to studio will have their own work process, it's very specific to power users; which this product is designed for. If the feature is a gimmick to you, it's fine; but others really appreciate it and in testing with video editors etc it's something we get a ton of feedback for including.

Have you considered just storing the settings and configuration in the keyboard itself?

Haha, of course, we have an API on the client which comms with the on board flash; the cloud is just a back up of a user profile so if an editor is at a new studio they can dl their profile quickly. It's an option that creative design demographic constantly ask for.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#166

Post by SonderDesign »

webmaven wrote: post #146
SonderDesign wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Increased DPI, colour, refresh rates and partial updating, front lighting solutions, cost(!), mass production optimisation, decreased power consumption. Just a few.

You missed the biggest improvement: Increased contrast. The 1st gen Kindle's display was a light grey resembling cheap newspaper stock. Definitely readable in decent lighting, and you could increase the font size to improve legibility if it was an issue, but not what I would call "pretty". Kind of dingy, really, and illustrations & photos all looked blah. Current eInk Kindles' displays are much brighter looking in am…

Great point, we work a lot with E Ink Holdings and they have a ton of IP being developed (like 350 patents) and some exciting product updates which from an engineering perspective are impressive. Their principals scientists are incredibly talented guys, pleasure to work with.
Post reply on HN