Related
I have seen this keyboard mentioned a few times, but not seen anyone say they bought one, or used one. http://www.freedominput.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=137&Itemid=140
Well, mine turned up today, and works really well.
http://twitpic.com/26wdc
You have to install the driver to make the softkey buttons and function buttons work, but it will pair and work as a normal BT keyboard without that (obviously using the drivers gives a far better experience).
As it's a RAZR style keyboard, the buttons aren't as easy to type on compared to a proper thumb board, but you can type pretty well, and it means you can leave the Touch HD in a cradle or proped against something and use the keyboard to type, and control the device with hardly any screen taps required.
No idea about battery life yet, but they claim 1 hour charge gives 4 hours use.
The blue backlighting is quite uneven, and the underside looks a little cheap considering it's £49.99 price tag (it was a birthday present, so I was OK with the price hehe), but I can live with that.
Charges straight from a mini USB port, and it works with any device that supports bluetooth HID (WinMo, Symbian, XP, Vista, Linux and so on) and also supports SPP for Blackberry devices. The support for berries confised me a little as it was released before the Storm, so why would anyone want this when the device has a proper keypad anyway?
Oh well, off to practice my typing on it more, but will answer any questions you may have about it if I can.
I can't get mine to work
I had my Freedom Slim Keypad for about 3 months and so far have not been able to connect it to my Treo Pro . I install the drivers and nothing seems to work. When I try to pair it . It ask me type in pair code. Of course I pick 0000 or 1234 and nothing works. What did you do to get yours to connect and work?
(Apologies if this has been asked before or if it's mind-bogglingly retarded.)
What we have with the SGS2 is remarkable - it's as powerful as a netbook, with video-out and USB host functionality.
It seems to me that carrying such a super-phone alongside a netbook would be a waste of money and effort, when the processor in the SGS2 is more than up to scratch.
So what would be the obstacles in making a "shell" that provided a laptop-like keyboard, mouse and screen, with an SGS2 where the processor, RAM and so on would normally be housed? (The SGS2 would be removable, of course.)
These are the ones I can think of:
USB/Bluetooth keyboard support - may have to be Bluetooth keyboard.
Touch input? (May have to be Bluetooth mouse, but mouse input is possible in Android)
Connecting a monitor and USB device through the same USB port (not necessary if keyboard/mouse are Bluetooth)
Battery life - just make the shell house a fat battery!
So let's say we could piece all that together - a keyboard, mouse, battery and screen in one shell. It could come out considerably cheaper and lighter than a netbook, with all the SGS2's media playback abilities, internet without having to tether, and no need to change apps when going from netbook to phone.
There's probably something I haven't thought of, but I couldn't resist posting.
Thoughts?
I would love to see something like this happen. The SGS2 will be my first Android phone, coming from WinMo, so I've no idea what is available or is possible with the OS. One reason I bought this phone was because I wanted to connect a Bluetooth keyboard (and mouse?) to it and keep it mounted on a dock or stand right below my two monitors at work, serving as an internet/chat/email computer, instead of taking my phone AND laptop to work every day.
Now I may be mistaken, but MHL doesn't support simultaneous USB and HDMI out, so if you wanted to connect input devices AND have monitor out, I'd guess the keyboard and mouse would have to be Bluetooth, as you've mentioned. One thing that interests me is something the Wiki entry mentions:
"The HDTV remote will control the connected device with guaranteed mixed manufacturer interoperability."
So perhaps one day we might see some SGS2 "lapdock" like the Atrix?
Check out what the guy says at 8:50 in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtwTcnR0hqA
He says, basically, that he can connect the device to a tv through MHL, connect a BT keyboard and mouse, then sit back on his couch and use his device like a living room PC.
Bump...
Any news?
I put it in the top lid of my logitech dinovo mini with some rubber bands.
Looks like sh*t, but works really well!
//Gunnar
You won't be able to do a full netbook, because the microUSB connector on the SGS2 can be used either as microUSB or MHL (HDMI video out + charger input); the two functions of the connector are mutually exclusive. So, if you're piping the SGS2's video out to the shell's display, you have no USB, and if you're using the USB, there's no external video.
You might be able to use some kind of remoting software to work around this & use the USB functionality of the SGS2; the shell would have something like a VNC client installed, then connect to server software on the SGS2 (over WiFi or BT networking).
Hm, are you 100% sure about them being mutually exclusive?
GunnarKarlsson said:
I put it in the top lid of my logitech dinovo mini with some rubber bands.
Looks like sh*t, but works really well!
//Gunnar
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting, but I would still prefer a full size keyboard.
How is it connected? USB? BT?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
3waygeek said:
You might be able to use some kind of remoting software to work around this & use the USB functionality of the SGS2; the shell would have something like a VNC client installed, then connect to server software on the SGS2 (over WiFi or BT networking).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No idea how this can be realized. Afaik, there is a VNC client installed, but no server.
Guess it is easier to try what is mentioned above :
Use NHL to get the monitor working and BT for the keyboard. Would be good to have some profile, which enables the BT keyboard when NHL is plugged, maybe through locale or so.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
I know this thread is kinda old now, but some recent tech news brought this idea back to memory for me. ICE Computer showed a docking tablet they call Trinity at Computex 2011, which apparently can be made to dock with nearly any phone or even a PC module. I didn't find too much info that wasn't regurgitated between sites, but it sounds like they won't be selling it themselves, rather they'll sell it to other companies who want one for their device.
My hope is they'll sell some kind of universal version that takes different phones and maybe just requires a different-shaped module for different phones. Here's a link to the Engadget post, but there are other pages that describe what it does and when it should be available.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/ice-computer-shows-off-trinity-modular-tablet-concept-aims-for/
Add a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, perhaps a stand, and voila!
Need a solution like this
1) MHL output to a tv/ monitor
2) Bluetooth keyboard and mouse work over HID profile
3) Remote Desktop software that allows use of external keyboard and mouse and which can output native resolution rather than just mirroring the screen.
I want to be able to plug my GS3's USB port into a wire, or maybe do this wirelessly, and then see Android screen on a large monitor and use a mouse and keyboard to intract with the display on the large screen.
I am baffled at the idea that this is not possible... so I must be missing something?
I have a little netbook that I use in this way, and the GS3 is a much more powerful device (it can play videos that the netbook cannot manage).
Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. HDMI MHL adapter.
But why? They make a pc for that.
Gs3 is not very powerful and you won't have good resolution. Productivity will be minimal.
If you want a mobile PC grab a windows 8 tablet like the surface pro.
Do you want a desktop or a mobile device?
You could buy a transformer type tablet or build a desktop for pretty cheap.
If you want this to be mobile, that's a lot of crap to carry around... How would you even power the screen? Seems like those people who bring desktops to coffee shops.
If you want a desktop, you can come build or buy one that's much more powerful for not all that much more than the cost of hooking your phone up - and then you don't have to worry about battery life draining and overheating.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
synpax said:
I want to be able to plug my GS3's USB port into a wire, or maybe do this wirelessly, and then see Android screen on a large monitor and use a mouse and keyboard to intract with the display on the large screen.
I am baffled at the idea that this is not possible... so I must be missing something?
I have a little netbook that I use in this way, and the GS3 is a much more powerful device (it can play videos that the netbook cannot manage).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You guys don't quiet get it. I have a powerful desktop replacement and a netbook.
But I like the idea of having all this in my pocket and just plugging into a workstation at home.
And a Microsoft Surface? EEWWwwwww.
It is possible, I'm using WD Live, no keyboard use tho, but I can stream YouTube or play files from my phone onto tv using wd and some other UpnP apps.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Surface PRO. Not a toy like an iPad or surface rt. The Pro is a productive machine.
I dont understand.. So you want to carry a keyboard, mouse, HDMI adapter, and power cable in your pocket along with your phone?
bkaltec said:
Surface PRO. Not a toy like an iPad or surface rt. The Pro is a productive machine.
I dont understand.. So you want to carry a keyboard, mouse, HDMI adapter, and power cable in your pocket along with your phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lmao, idk why I thought this comment was hilarious
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for --> https://play.google.com/store/apps/...DEsIm9yZy52aWRlb21hcC5kcm9pZG1vdGVjbGllbnQiXQ..
synpax said:
I want to be able to plug my GS3's USB port into a wire, or maybe do this wirelessly, and then see Android screen on a large monitor and use a mouse and keyboard to intract with the display on the large screen.
I am baffled at the idea that this is not possible... so I must be missing something?
I have a little netbook that I use in this way, and the GS3 is a much more powerful device (it can play videos that the netbook cannot manage).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to be able to just plug it into yet another set of hardware at home... just go buy the stuff and plug it in.
Bluetooth is still a better deal than wired keyboard/mouse - but you still have the battery drain issue, which is why this is not a practical idea - especially since we're talking about an S3. It should be able to accept hardware input through the micro usb, but it's not really designed for that - and you'd have to get adapters and hub and why have all that crap taking up space if you already have a home system ? I wonder what would happen if you had three pieces of hardware trying to use the same micro-usb input, too (obviously, hubs work, but they have to share - and the monitor is going to want a lot of the available transfer capacity for itself) - makes more sense to just use it for HDMI to the monitor and use bluetooth for the peripherals.
If you had a phone that could run off AC only, it might fare better - since there'd be no battery constantly charging and draining and heating everything up, but the S3 won't do that.
Cool idea in theory ? Yeah. It would be great. But in practice, not so much. It would be better if the S3 could run from AC only - heck, it'd be almost a good idea. But since it can't and it lacks great cooling (since it's a compact, air-cooled phone), you're just going to be exposing the phone to high operating temperatures for extended periods of time which isn't exactly great for it.
Ok, so this is a really silly idea, is there a way to use my Note 10.1 as a secondary monitor from my graphics card? I'm using an ASUS MARS 760 with a DVI converter and was wondering if it was possible to plug it into the HDMI to MiniUSB on my note and use the note as a 2560X1600 Display. The main reason is so that I can have a 299 DPI while playing Watchdogs/Skyrim. The Operating system of the display computer is Window 8.1 SP1
A further question is, while using this set up is there a way to use the Speakers, Wacom pressure touchscreen and the front camera built into the note as well? Essentially making this thing a hybrid of a Ciniq and an all in one monitor and an intended touch screen for Windows 8.1. The graphics card also has a Mini Displayport output.
Thanks!
So an update:
TwoMon and iDisplay work great as a second monitor if you're using the graphics from the processor via usb, so games that are meant to work with intel graphics go without much of a hitch (save for the 40FPS of the programs... but I don't know much about modding apk files. Let alone screen refresh rates). So far no go with the graphics card. I still haven't figured out if there's a way to get a tablet to accept input via an HML cable. Does anyone know if this is possible? Or am I just wasting my time on a futile effort?
MHL etc on Tablets and Phones is strictly for output. Which is a shame, as using it for such things could be cool.
Sent from my SM-P600
JunoZXV said:
Ok, so this is a really silly idea, is there a way to use my Note 10.1 as a secondary monitor from my graphics card? I'm using an ASUS MARS 760 with a DVI converter and was wondering if it was possible to plug it into the HDMI to MiniUSB on my note and use the note as a 2560X1600 Display. The main reason is so that I can have a 299 DPI while playing Watchdogs/Skyrim. The Operating system of the display computer is Window 8.1 SP1
A further question is, while using this set up is there a way to use the Speakers, Wacom pressure touchscreen and the front camera built into the note as well? Essentially making this thing a hybrid of a Ciniq and an all in one monitor and an intended touch screen for Windows 8.1. The graphics card also has a Mini Displayport output.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not quite sure what you're trying to do, but I've been thinking about using my tablet as a second screen or remote display for Win8. I plan to get Microsoft's Remote Desktop for Android, but need to get the 8.1 Pro upgrade to make it work. I might also try JUMP Desktop, which also requires 8.1 Pro, and has full touchscreen support, making it just like using a Win 8.1 tablet, but remotely. I have a good university network so it should work well from all over campus. I'm just hoping I can get the full resolution and can do it headless with just a desktop with no monitor and my old GTS 450 in it. Almost definitely not good enough lag-wise for gaming though.
Remote Desktop?
How about just running a remote desktop like Splashtop and using it like a windows tablet.
Try and get the fastest wireless connection you can setup and it should work pretty reasonably fast as a remote desktop.
Freakstyler said:
MHL etc on Tablets and Phones is strictly for output. Which is a shame, as using it for such things could be cool.
Sent from my SM-P600
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dangit. Well at least that's what I was looking for. Do you think it might be possible to find a cable that could take an HDMI and put it to USB micro? Or perhaps Mini Display Port?
@deV14nt
I need it to be wired. Doing gaming via wireless is really laggy. Basically I'm trying to use my tablet as a 1600p monitor for gaming. Wireless would cause too much latency. I'll look into JUMP desktop and Remote desktop to see if the pressure sensitivity can work for drawing.
@warboat
I'll give splashtop a try too.
What I'm trying to do is have a high resolution display with a PPI of 299 so that way I can play my games and see the entire screen on 10 instead of 24+ inches. From far enough away I should be able to make out what's going on my tablet without grain and just see the polygons. Making the most of Anti Aliasing.
JunoZXV said:
Dangit. Well at least that's what I was looking for. Do you think it might be possible to find a cable that could take an HDMI and put it to USB micro? Or perhaps Mini Display Port?
@deV14nt
I need it to be wired. Doing gaming via wireless is really laggy. Basically I'm trying to use my tablet as a 1600p monitor for gaming. Wireless would cause too much latency. I'll look into JUMP desktop and Remote desktop to see if the pressure sensitivity can work for drawing.
@warboat
I'll give splashtop a try too.
What I'm trying to do is have a high resolution display with a PPI of 299 so that way I can play my games and see the entire screen on 10 instead of 24+ inches. From far enough away I should be able to make out what's going on my tablet without grain and just see the polygons. Making the most of Anti Aliasing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you going to be gaming on the 10" screen at your desk, or you want it as a portability option? To play while you're connected to the school LAN from across campus?
JunoZXV said:
Ok, so this is a really silly idea, is there a way to use my Note 10.1 as a secondary monitor from my graphics card? I'm using an ASUS MARS 760 with a DVI converter and was wondering if it was possible to plug it into the HDMI to MiniUSB on my note and use the note as a 2560X1600 Display. The main reason is so that I can have a 299 DPI while playing Watchdogs/Skyrim. The Operating system of the display computer is Window 8.1 SP1
A further question is, while using this set up is there a way to use the Speakers, Wacom pressure touchscreen and the front camera built into the note as well? Essentially making this thing a hybrid of a Ciniq and an all in one monitor and an intended touch screen for Windows 8.1. The graphics card also has a Mini Displayport output.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do realize that when your as far away from your monitor as you should be, that dpi is pointless? Its the same reason why only really huge tvs need 4k.
talz13 said:
Are you going to be gaming on the 10" screen at your desk, or you want it as a portability option? To play while you're connected to the school LAN from across campus?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wired. I want to take the output of my graphics card and put it into the 10" screen. While playing across a range would be sweet, there's only a few devices that Iknow that can do that wirelessly, and that's because they have TEGRA 4 chips but they don't have high enough resolution. Doing a wired connection means that the tablet doesn't die from power drain and has direct reception from the graphics card.
Soul0Reaper said:
You do realize that when your as far away from your monitor as you should be, that dpi is pointless? Its the same reason why only really huge tvs need 4k.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I do realize. I have eyes. However, your questions don't really help. I'm trying to get the output of a graphics card and use my tablet as the monitor. IT's not a matter of pointless DPI, it's a matter of using a table as a display for high end graphics.
The reason for the 10 inch real estate is to cut down on space as well as the effect of tunnel vision. Having 2560x1600 pixels in a smaller real estate enables me to see everything on screen in one view instead of having to shift my gaze momentairly to glance the corners.
I used to think that too. But I saw data on what DPI humans could perceive at a given distance. It's definitely way higher than I thought at 1-2 feet. We still have a ways to go past 300 DPI, regardless of what Apple might say about Retina.
Sent from my SM-P600 using XDA Free mobile app
JunoZXV said:
Wired. I want to take the output of my graphics card and put it into the 10" screen. While playing across a range would be sweet, there's only a few devices that Iknow that can do that wirelessly, and that's because they have TEGRA 4 chips but they don't have high enough resolution. Doing a wired connection means that the tablet doesn't die from power drain and has direct reception from the graphics card.
Yes, I do realize. I have eyes. However, your questions don't really help. I'm trying to get the output of a graphics card and use my tablet as the monitor. IT's not a matter of pointless DPI, it's a matter of using a table as a display for high end graphics.
The reason for the 10 inch real estate is to cut down on space as well as the effect of tunnel vision. Having 2560x1600 pixels in a smaller real estate enables me to see everything on screen in one view instead of having to shift my gaze momentairly to glance the corners.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know, there is no native solution to make the tablet act like a regular display that accepts input, you could try taking it apart and hack something together I suppose. To the best of my knowledge, sitting the recommended distance from 27 inch monitor let's you see all of it in one view easily. Basically unless you really just want to have a tiny tablet monitor for the sake of having it, there really isn't a reason. I could definitely get behind having a cheapo wacom slate tho lol.
Soul0Reaper said:
As far as I know, there is no native solution to make the tablet act like a regular display that accepts input, you could try taking it apart and hack something together I suppose. To the best of my knowledge, sitting the recommended distance from 27 inch monitor let's you see all of it in one view easily. Basically unless you really just want to have a tiny tablet monitor for the sake of having it, there really isn't a reason. I could definitely get behind having a cheapo wacom slate tho lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well it's been a while. I manged to get the tablet to work up to 40 frames using the USB to Micro cable However this is using a third party app and it's laggy as all heck when it comes to gaming (Display wise it is pretty, so movies are a go-go). It does however work great for non intensive things like Office or internet browsing.
I'm trying to figure out if there's a way to create a driver that will enable me to have it preform the way I want (by reversing the input of the HDMI to Micro USB)
Could you provide more details?
Root?
Has anyone noticed anything? I keep reading how this tablet has been designed for use with the keyboard, but nothing concrete has ever been said, that I know of. Sure, it's sleek and it's magnetic and it charges from the tablet. But actual KB functionality, how is it different than, say, a Logitech K810 or any other bluetooth keyboard, especially those designed for Android, with a proper home (and sometimes recents) button?
One peeve I have always had with Android is the way it handles the US International layout. It's not the same standard MS and Apple (iOS) use. To input something like an "á" you need to press Alt. I wonder if they'll ever fix that. In the meantime I use the splendid app External Keyboard Helper, but if you're not rooted it's not 100% seamless, you need to manually select EKH in the input dialog when connecting the BT keyboard.
andy o said:
Has anyone noticed anything? I keep reading how this tablet has been designed for use with the keyboard, but nothing concrete has ever been said, that I know of. Sure, it's sleek and it's magnetic and it charges from the tablet. But actual KB functionality, how is it different than, say, a Logitech K810 or any other bluetooth keyboard, especially those designed for Android, with a proper home (and sometimes recents) button?
One peeve I have always had with Android is the way it handles the US International layout. It's not the same standard MS and Apple (iOS) use. To input something like an "á" you need to press Alt. I wonder if they'll ever fix that. In the meantime I use the splendid app External Keyboard Helper, but if you're not rooted it's not 100% seamless, you need to manually select EKH in the input dialog when connecting the BT keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I, too, am curious about this. It is pretty cool how the keyboard kind of completes the design. However, I can't really justify spending $150 on it when I have a $20 Anker BT keyboard that works perfectly fine with my Nexus 10, and should work the same with the Pixel C.
a lot of manufacturers make accessories in an attempt to increase profits from sales, google is no different. google places a big checkmark on design issues throughout all the products it deals with. the design is what sets this keyboard apart, not the function. google even offers two designs of the keyboard. it was interesting to me that each design cost the same to the buyer when it appears from the specs that the folio would probably cost more to make.
Google should have never advertised the keyboard accessory like it was necessary when it definitely isn't. It made people think that this device would be more productive than any other android tablet when it's not. Even a iPad Air 2 with a keyboard is more productive due to tablet optimized apps than any android tablet except maybe for Samsung tablets who at least try to make interface customizations for tablet optimization.
It's worth every penny
As someone that bought the keyboard, heck I bought the Pixel BECAUSE of its keyboard - I also bought the excellent Dell 7840 and it's keyboard, and have 5 BT keyboards in various storage nooks around the house, used on my Note 10.1 or iPad original - so I know a thing or two about what I want. Oh, and I recently sold my semi-loved Chromebook Flip to help fund this beast of a tablet...
Anyway - this is the first typing experience I've had on a tablet that makes it feel like a laptop. So what, you ask? So I was looking for a great typing experience for productivity reasons. And the keyboard (not folio) delivers this in spades. Yes the design integrates perfectly with the tablet. Yes the magnetic system and charging mechanism are awesome and very Apple-like (the old Apple that designed products to JUST WORK and perform so well it was almost magic). Yes the pitch is great - no your enter key is not identical to a laptop but you can get used to it (and I am not a great typist).
The real thing that makes a difference tho? Funny enough its that dang hinge. The ability to customize the angle of your screen is HUGE. Don't underestimate the difference 5 degrees makes when you are on your lap, then on an aircraft seat table, then at a restaurant - every bit is welcome and makes the experience BETTER.
So would I recommend the keyboard? If you are ponying up for this tablet (and lets be honest there are number of good alternatives at less cost), and you intend to do any amount of typing, do not think twice - buy the keyboard at the same time - you won't regret it.
Sent from my Pixel C using Tapatalk
davedigerati said:
It's worth every penny
As someone that bought the keyboard, heck I bought the Pixel BECAUSE of its keyboard - I also bought the excellent Dell 7840 and it's keyboard, and have 5 BT keyboards in various storage nooks around the house, used on my Note 10.1 or iPad original - so I know a thing or two about what I want. Oh, and I recently sold my semi-loved Chromebook Flip to help fund this beast of a tablet...
Anyway - this is the first typing experience I've had on a tablet that makes it feel like a laptop. So what, you ask? So I was looking for a great typing experience for productivity reasons. And the keyboard (not folio) delivers this in spades. Yes the design integrates perfectly with the tablet. Yes the magnetic system and charging mechanism are awesome and very Apple-like (the old Apple that designed products to JUST WORK and perform so well it was almost magic). Yes the pitch is great - no your enter key is not identical to a laptop but you can get used to it (and I am not a great typist).
The real thing that makes a difference tho? Funny enough its that dang hinge. The ability to customize the angle of your screen is HUGE. Don't underestimate the difference 5 degrees makes when you are on your lap, then on an aircraft seat table, then at a restaurant - every bit is welcome and makes the experience BETTER.
So would I recommend the keyboard? If you are ponying up for this tablet (and lets be honest there are number of good alternatives at less cost), and you intend to do any amount of typing, do not think twice - buy the keyboard at the same time - you won't regret it.
Sent from my Pixel C using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't doubt that the keyboard is high-quality, but that wasn't my concern. I already have very good BT keyboards and I don't mind not having the hinge. As far as I can tell, this keyboard doesn't have a home key? Does it have a "recents" key, or do you just Alt+Tab like on any other one? Right away I can see that since there's no right Alt I couldn't use US Int'l layout for Spanish characters very comfortably (imagine having to use only left Shift for caps). I would still have to use External Keyboard Helper I guess.
I think I'm in a similar situation as davedigerati. I used a Nexus 10 with a bluetooth keyboard for years previously. It was a very similar experience. At times, I'd get ddoouubbllee keys, but nothing major. Everyone can complain about the Android ecosystem, but I actually enjoy using Android w/ a keyboard (and a mouse!).
...but this keyboard 'feels' better. I'm not talking about the key action or even typing experience. The hinge and magnets makes it feel like a laptop. When I used my Nexus, I'd throw it in the laptop pouch of my backpack. My keyboard would go in the main section. With the Pixel C, it's much more like a laptop.
davedigerati said:
It's worth every penny...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While I really like the keyboard, I'm not really sure I'm ready to say it's worth every penny. This thing was expensive! I generally have no use for backlit keyboards; the keys have all been in the same location for years....but since they've messed with some of the keys, it may have been useful. I'd take 1 month of battery life in exchange for backlit keys and some way to know the battery status.
The lack of some character keys is quite annoying. I mean, I guess I'll get used to pressing [...] + [shift] +[o] for a bracket (that took much longer to type than I'd like to admit), but it's not optimal. I'd also really appreciate a delete key or the ability to make [...] + [backspace] = delete.
Considering you can buy a nice, portable BT keyboard for around $30 and you could probably get a nice case for around $30; I'd say the Pixel C keyboard is at least worth $100. I mean, you're getting a solid keyboard that you don't have to worry about charging (ever), a ridiculously awesome magnetic hinge that functions as the best tablet stand I've ever seen, and protection for the tablet itself. It provides a nice, compact method to take both devices with you. Maybe the other $50 is covered by the aesthetics? So conflicted...
Android doesn't display the virtual "touch keyboard" when a hardware keyboard is detected and because of that, what's unique with the Pixel C keyboard is that the OS "knows" when to activate the hardware keyboard and not, depending on its position relatively to the tablet.
kgersen said:
Android doesn't display the virtual "touch keyboard" when a hardware keyboard is detected and because of that, what's unique with the Pixel C keyboard is that the OS "knows" when to activate the hardware keyboard and not, depending on its position relatively to the tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean if it's attached or not? Any BT keyboard will do the same when it's connected or disconnected. Android will activate the soft keys when the BT keyboard is no longer connected. For instance, with the Microsoft Foldable keyboard, I fold it, and Android enables the soft keys. I open it, and they get disabled. There is also a toggle to enable soft keys with the BT keyboard connected if you want.
andy o said:
You mean if it's attached or not? Any BT keyboard will do the same when it's connected or disconnected. Android will activate the soft keys when the BT keyboard is no longer connected. For instance, with the Microsoft Foldable keyboard, I fold it, and Android enables the soft keys. I open it, and they get disabled. There is also a toggle to enable soft keys with the BT keyboard connected if you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you take the tablet and move away from a BT keyboard while staying in BT range the OS doesn't switch to soft keys.
if you move the Pixel kb under it or away from it even a few centimeters the OS switches to soft keys. There is a positioning involved. That's just what I meant.
But I agree it's a minor feature.
Main advantage of this keyboard is the mechanicals - I find it so much nicer to use than my N9 from a holding or desktop position.