Clicks – Physical keyboard for iPhone • Hacker News Board

Re: Clicks – Physical keyboard for iPhone

#161

Post by pedalpete » Thu, Jan 04, 2024, 10:17 PM UTC

jayd16 wrote: post #82

skygazer wrote: post #36

I both love this and am horrified. It looks like it'd turn a Pro Max into a 9 inch tall phone. Since it's a case, you'd need a new one each phone upgrade. (I used to do this with the Apple battery cases, until I came to my senses and/or magsafe.) Although, I still occasionally long for the blind accuracy of the old Blackberry keyboard. I think I'd prefer an adjustable magsafe attached keyboard that can do either land…

I wonder if a magsafe secured, size agnostic version could be made. Less locked in but easier to split across pockets and possibly works for more than one model.

This was my initial reaction, why have an entire case when it could be attached via magsafe. I wonder if it could be made to swivel/slide out of the way when not in use. Membrane keyboard could be super thin.

But also.... no, I don't think I need/want this. But a cool design exercise.

Re: Clicks – Physical keyboard for iPhone

#162

Post by Caddickbrown » Thu, Jan 04, 2024, 10:17 PM UTC

jayd16 wrote: post #82

skygazer wrote: post #36

I both love this and am horrified. It looks like it'd turn a Pro Max into a 9 inch tall phone. Since it's a case, you'd need a new one each phone upgrade. (I used to do this with the Apple battery cases, until I came to my senses and/or magsafe.) Although, I still occasionally long for the blind accuracy of the old Blackberry keyboard. I think I'd prefer an adjustable magsafe attached keyboard that can do either land…

I wonder if a magsafe secured, size agnostic version could be made. Less locked in but easier to split across pockets and possibly works for more than one model.

In theory all it would need to be is a tiny Bluetooth keyboard with a MagSafe attachment and it would be functionally the same!

Re: Clicks – Physical keyboard for iPhone

#163

Post by NoMoreNicksLeft » Thu, Jan 04, 2024, 10:18 PM UTC

otoburb wrote: post #9

I wonder how the microphone input and speaker ouput are affected with the keyboard cover. As shocking as it seems, not all iPhone users use AirPods for their calls.

With it plugging into the lightning connector, can't it just use the pins on that to bring the mike and speaker back out to extras built into the new device? Or are those not exposed in such a way as to allow it?

Re: Clicks – Physical keyboard for iPhone

#164

Post by happyopossum » Thu, Jan 04, 2024, 10:19 PM UTC

cududa wrote: post #147

devmor wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesn't have to cover the entire back of the camera. Just needs to use magsafe to attach.

I don't think magsafe is strong enough to support the entire phone on a keyboard

MagSafe supports my 'entire phone' bouncing around in my truck, and hanging on my headboard at night - it's more than strong enough to hold a phone to a keyboard.

Re: Clicks – Physical keyboard for iPhone

#165

Post by ianseyer » Thu, Jan 04, 2024, 10:23 PM UTC

koenraad wrote: post #158

Fuck ‘content creation’ on mobile phones. I like mobile phones for two reasons, 1. because it is a phone and 2. because I can use it for authentication stuff. The rest is all focused on consuming and giving away your data.

cool

Re: Clicks – Physical keyboard for iPhone

#166

Post by jclardy » Thu, Jan 04, 2024, 10:23 PM UTC

Neat idea, but at $140, being phone specific, and just the ergonomics of holding the phone from the bottom when it is now an extra 2 inches taller all sound pretty bad.

Also concerning that no where in the landing page does it specify how it connects, or show an example of how "easy" it is to put on and take off (On second glance - it is shown in passing 2 minutes into the 10 minute long intro video.)

Not to mention being called "clicks" but no audio demo of what the keys actually sound like?

Re: Clicks – Physical keyboard for iPhone

#167

Post by FullyFunctional » Thu, Jan 04, 2024, 10:23 PM UTC

skygazer wrote: post #36

I both love this and am horrified. It looks like it'd turn a Pro Max into a 9 inch tall phone. Since it's a case, you'd need a new one each phone upgrade. (I used to do this with the Apple battery cases, until I came to my senses and/or magsafe.) Although, I still occasionally long for the blind accuracy of the old Blackberry keyboard. I think I'd prefer an adjustable magsafe attached keyboard that can do either land…

I've been on a physical iPhone keyboard quest since I got my first (4S). I have a pile of BT keyboards and one keyboard case. Still looking for something I would actually use. Indeed, my primary use case is for SSH (via Terminus).

Re: Clicks – Physical keyboard for iPhone

#168

Post by chedabob » Thu, Jan 04, 2024, 10:23 PM UTC

afandian wrote: post #5

I recently bought Samsung Galaxy add on keyboard, on a whim, to see if it would work with my iPhone. It sits over the screen where the onscreen keyboard is situated. On eBay it said “Bluetooth” but had no obvious signs of charging. Didn’t work with the iPhone. Next hypothesis was something clever with NFC. Nope. Zero electronics. The reverse of the PCB has pads that fit over regions on the screen. On the front of the…

I'd be surprised if Sony Ericsson didn't have a patent on it, because that was exactly how the numeric keypad worked on their early smartphones. They were resistive displays though, so they just required something hard on the back to register a touch.

Re: Clicks – Physical keyboard for iPhone

#169

Post by dustmote-cowboy » Thu, Jan 04, 2024, 10:24 PM UTC

boomskats wrote: post #50

For anyone interested in something closer to the feel of the original Bold keyboard, the Fairberry[0] uses the keyboard from the BB Q10, which is excellent and can be had for about $5 a piece. They can look pretty decent[1][2] and are more easily removed. If anyone wants one PM me, I'll mail you a couple. I've got like 30 of them. [0]: https://github.com/Dakkaron/Fairberry [1]: https://imgur.com/a/wYub8JD [2]: https:…

this looks great! would be interested in snagging a keyboard

Re: Clicks – Physical keyboard for iPhone

#170

Post by happyopossum » Thu, Jan 04, 2024, 10:24 PM UTC

NoMoreNicksLeft wrote: post #163

otoburb wrote: post #9

I wonder how the microphone input and speaker ouput are affected with the keyboard cover. As shocking as it seems, not all iPhone users use AirPods for their calls.

With it plugging into the lightning connector, can't it just use the pins on that to bring the mike and speaker back out to extras built into the new device? Or are those not exposed in such a way as to allow it?

They could totally do that via lightning or USB-C (iPhone 14 vs 15), but it doesn't appear that they have.