Bluetooth keyboard with iPhone?

[noriyori]

So, I'm kind of surprised I haven't seen anything about this yet.

I have an apple wireless keyboard, what's preventing it from being paired with an iPhone? (other than code not being written for it)

Does anyone know if the bluetooth on the iPhone is incompatible with this kind of pairing?


Thanks!

[r6girl]

yes, it's incompatible. at the moment, the iphone can only transmit mono audio via bluetooth - no data (unless you hack it to tether your laptop), gps, or other uses are possible...

[plumbingandtech]

yes, it's incompatible. at the moment, the iphone can only transmit mono audio via bluetooth - no data (unless you hack it to tether your laptop), gps, or other uses are possible...

Does anyone know if this can be upgraded to support data with a firmware upgrade?

I mean in the abstract, apple would still have to do it, i am just wondering if it is possible with the iphone's bluetooth hw.

[noriyori]

I thought there was some kind of back and forth as it provides for push button answering via the bluetooth headset...

[Malcster]

Oh its certainly possible, its a mini computer with bluetooth, it'll support whatever apple care to write drivers for :)

when/if apple give us this functionality is another question entirely ;)

[plumbingandtech]

Oh its certainly possible, its a mini computer with bluetooth, it'll support whatever apple care to write drivers for :)

when/if apple give us this functionality is another question entirely ;)

ah good. so it is a driver issue. that is good news.

[Gonzlobo]

So, I'm kind of surprised I haven't seen anything about this yet.

I have an apple wireless keyboard, what's preventing it from being paired with an iPhone? (other than code not being written for it)

Does anyone know if the bluetooth on the iPhone is incompatible with this kind of pairing?


Thanks!

For apple to write bluetooth keyboard drivers would be akin to admitting the touch keyboard is subpar. Ain't gonna happen... ever.

[Jamster43]

Whoever said that providing a bluetooth keyboard driver for the iPhone would be like Apple admitting that the touch screen is no good is sooo wrong. If Apple thought like that they would have stuck us with no options for anything, like make you use their one button mouse even if you want a 2 or 3 button one, but they didn't do that! The guys at Apple are smart! I'm sure they realize that the touch screen is freekin' awsome, but not an end-all IO device for every application. It'll happen, and more.

This guy must be confusing Apple with a telecomm company! :rolleyes:

[slapguts]

ah good. so it is a driver issue. that is good news.

Actually, its not good news. Since full Bluetooth is possible on the iPhone, but was left out anyway, there's a reason we don't have it. I don't know what that reason is, though.

[pcorajr]

I hope that they bring full BT support to the phone. This would be a great way to allow for GPS to work. We can only hope that 2.0 will bring this to the iphone.

[kdarling]

For apple to write bluetooth keyboard drivers would be akin to admitting the touch keyboard is subpar. Ain't gonna happen... ever.

Heh. I'd settle for simple cursor hardware buttons on the device itself. Really hate fingertip scrolling after a while, especially on a lonnnnng web page or one-handed surfing. Sometimes I just want to hold down a button.

:-)

[GCY]

forget the bluetooth keyboard. Wouldnt it be cool if apple come out with another version of the iphone with a side slide out QWERTY keyboard. Maybe they could fit a mini macbook keyboard. The touch screen keyboard and no support for mobile office is the only thing I don't like about the iPhone.

[JBaker122586]

forget the bluetooth keyboard. Wouldnt it be cool if apple come out with another version of the iphone with a side slide out QWERTY keyboard.

No, it would not be cool. It would be big, clunky, and it will never happen.

[carfac]

yes, it's incompatible. at the moment, the iphone can only transmit mono audio via bluetooth - no data (unless you hack it to tether your laptop), gps, or other uses are possible...

I have heard Iphone transmits some data, too- phonebook into alpine bluetooth players, for instance.

For apple to write bluetooth keyboard drivers would be akin to admitting the touch keyboard is subpar. Ain't gonna happen... ever.

That is so wrong on so many levels. Apple will never release a MacBook because that is admitting that a MacBookPro is sub par. Apple will never release a 23" Monitor because that is admitting that a 30" is sub par. Apple will never release a Mobile OSX because that is admitting that Leopard is sub par. Apple will never release an external drive because that is admitting that the drive in an iMac is sub par. Apple will never release a 3G iPhone because that is admitting that EDGE is sub par.

Apple NEVER releases any alternate way of doing anything once they have released on device that does it adequately. Apple NEVER upgrades capacities.

forget the bluetooth keyboard. Wouldnt it be cool if apple come out with another version of the iphone with a side slide out QWERTY keyboard. Maybe they could fit a mini macbook keyboard. The touch screen keyboard and no support for mobile office is the only thing I don't like about the iPhone.

Isn't that called Air? (Or at least as close as Apple will make).

[The Phazer]

I really hoped that the SDK would allow drivers to be written for a bluetooth keyboard, but it doesn't.

This is irritating.

Phazer

[zainjetha]

Sorry but i fail to see the logic in somebody using such a large item as a keyboard with an iPhone? What for?

I dont know why but i forsee apple releasing a small clip-on keyboard for iPhone just like HP did for some of their stylus/touch-screen pdas. This would help if the iPhone was to go corporate mainstream however it would make iphone slightly more bulky and clip-on keyboard a pain to carry around... However it would be useful especially when sending emails in order to compete with a device like blackberry...

[specops]

try taking notes with the touch screen your limited to two fingers max.
now use a Bluetooth keyboard and you have all ten fingers. get the point now geniius?

I would rather carrier a phone/portable keyboard to class VS a heavy laptop.

[GCY]

No, it would not be cool. It would be big, clunky, and it will never happen.

With apple, u never know. I'm not saying to replace the current version but to come out with another version. Now how would it be big and clunky??? The next iphone would probably be as thin as the touch, fitting a qwerty keyboard would probably make it a little thicker then the current version.

if apple really want to takeover the smartphone marketshare, they would come out with some sort of hardware keyboard. A bunch of ppl hate the iphone because of this.

[SFC Archer]

With apple, u never know. I'm not saying to replace the current version but to come out with another version. Now how would it be big and clunky??? The next iphone would probably be as thin as the touch, fitting a qwerty keyboard would probably make it a little thicker then the current version.

if apple really want to takeover the smartphone marketshare, they would come out with some sort of hardware keyboard. A bunch of ppl hate the iphone because of this.

Might as well adapt now. Within the next 5-10 years, keyboards (as we know them now) will be a thing of the past, just like 56K modems, serial printers and all of those other "wire" peripherals will be gone.

Touch screen manipulation and voice recognition commands are inbound and in the later stages of development and implamentation. These will be the new "norm" in a very short time, the future is almost already here.

IMO Apple has just up'ed the anty with the current keyboard and will deffinetly not add a qwerty keyboard to the iPhone. Possibly in the future (if they open it up) an infrared/bluetooth type keyboard could be attached. These are already available and just present an image of the keyboard on your desk/table and you type away. The module is about the size of a zippo.

[Jamster43]

Remember the "paperless office"? Didn't happen. Actually, paper use increased. But the prediction wasn't completely wrong, just mis-focused. Actually, a lot more communications without paper happened; paper just didn't go away as a result.

Voice control will change things a lot and will become widely used in important ways. Will they make keyboards go away? Not for me and lots of other people. Can't you just see 20 people in a meeting all talking to their computers while the presentation is going on? I can't. I can see people saying to their dashboards as they drive someplace: ' "Message to Ann P - bad traffic. will be 20 minutes late. see you then." Send.' (BTW- the message service will see that Ann P is connected using her mobile device and has an email account and will send the message to both, as optioned by the sender.)

I think better writing while not talking. I think lots of people do. Will that change more toward voice control? Probably, just because it will be available. Will silent manual input of language become obsolete? Maybe, when brainwaves can drive text input. Hey! Maybe text will become unnecessary by then, too! :cool:

PS: MacWorld reported that MacAlly's new $100 BTKeyMini keyboard will work with the iPhone when it comes out this month. We'll see...

[SFC Archer]

Remember the "paperless office"? Didn't happen. Actually, paper use increased. But the prediction wasn't completely wrong, just mis-focused. Actually, a lot more communications without paper happened; paper just didn't go away as a result.

Voice control will change things a lot and will become widely used in important ways. Will they make keyboards go away? Not for me and lots of other people. Can't you just see 20 people in a meeting all talking to their computers while the presentation is going on? I can't. I can see people saying to their dashboards as they drive someplace: ' "Message to Ann P - bad traffic. will be 20 minutes late. see you then." Send.' (BTW- the message service will see that Ann P is connected using her mobile device and has an email account and will send the message to both, as optioned by the sender.)

I think better writing while not talking. I think lots of people do. Will that change more toward voice control? Probably, just because it will be available. Will silent manual input of language become obsolete? Maybe, when brainwaves can drive text input. Hey! Maybe text will become unnecessary by then, too! :cool:

PS: MacWorld reported that MacAlly's new $100 BTKeyMini keyboard will work with the iPhone when it comes out this month. We'll see...

Touch Screen Manipulation (i.e. Handwriting recognition on the screen)...like I stated in my post...no more "20 people" in a meeting/class room clacking away on a noisy keyboard

[gradybiz]

I too am pining not only for a keyboard (I'm good with all ten fingers when wanting to take notes), but also for a voice recorder.

I did discover jott.com which has a free service to let you call them, speak your recipient, then speak your message, and they email you with a transcript, and a link to the voice recording. This will help soften the wait for a real voice recorder to make verbal notes, such as in the car.

Even better it will send something to your google calendar. That's fantastic for people like me who forget to write things down.

The keyboard for notes is another problem. I'm hoping the Stowaway keyboard will get some iPhone drivers. I've loved having one on my many palm devices over the last several years.

[JBaker122586]

PS: MacWorld reported that MacAlly's new $100 BTKeyMini keyboard will work with the iPhone when it comes out this month. We'll see...

I did some Googling and couldn't really find anything other than the claim you made.
Are there pictures of this device anywhere out there? I'm sure I'd prefer the aesthetics (and $20 less) of the Apple BT Keyboard, but if this was my only option, I'd definitely settle.

[The Phazer]

PS: MacWorld reported that MacAlly's new $100 BTKeyMini keyboard will work with the iPhone when it comes out this month. We'll see...

Despite being slightly miffed that I wouldn't be able to use my existing folding BT keyboard in this scenario, that'd do, and $100 in UK money isn't too bad - I would very much buy that to type on the train instead of carting around a laptop.

Phazer

[srent5]

But the new apple wireless keyboard is so small already, it's pretty much a full size mini keyboard...haha. If it were possible, I would get an apple wireless keyboard in a second.

[natasha69]

On vacation right now wishing I could be typing emails rather than tapping.

Any updates from vendors when we'll get a Bluetooth keyboard for the iPhone?

[Jamster43]

There's a folding full-sized BT keyboard out there that I've seen people use with PDAs/Smartphones. If the feel is good, I'd go for that in a second. It folds to the size a bit bigger than an old floppy disk but thicker, so it would fit in my pocket with ease.

There are silent or very quiet keyboards out there. Chicklets or membrane keyboards really suck except for extreme and occasional uses.

I had a Cingular 8525 with a pull out keyboard. They are marginally useful.

I'm with the guy that said he'd rather take a BT keyboard and iPhone around than a cell phone and laptop. Many people could do a lot with just the iPhone (opened to new apps) and a BT keyboard. And Apple is looking to compete with Blackberry for the business market.

[zainjetha]

You dont deserve to own iPhone if you want to use a BT keyboard...

So sorry but it just destroys the beauty of the iPhone, i can type full emails on it without trouble and have my entire 3gb mailbox on it.... it is my blackberry and it performs well when out on the go.... considering i reply to 6 different emails per day when out of office touchscreen is pretty good

[kdarling]

On vacation right now wishing I could be typing emails rather than tapping.

Perhaps one day you'll be able to get an external 800x480 display and keyboard, as with the Redfly Companion (http://blogs.zdnet.com/mobile-gadgeteer/?p=951) for WM phones.

Any updates from vendors when we'll get a Bluetooth keyboard for the iPhone?

Rumor says Apple has hired some new Bluetooth folk for Leopard, so hopefully their expertise will trickle down to the iPhone as well.

[emotion]

The bottom line is that the Bluetooth software stack on the iPhone is currently very limited. The iPhone was clearly rushed to market and this is one of the things that suffered because of it.

I expect a more fully featured BT stack will appear when it's considered a priority by Apple.

[rezwits]

Enjoyed a keyboard on the forearm. Like the halfkeyboard and this other one I don't have a link for. These keyboards aren't bluetooth yet but still, a battery re-chargeable bluetooth keyboard for my forearm would be great. You would just hold your iphone in your right hand and turn to your forearm and type in a few words, a url, or a chat msg and then go back to your iPhone. For speed...

Laters...

[nilk]

I didn't think I'd like the touch screen keyboard as much as I do. The first time I used it I was disappointed. But I spent an hour in the store getting used to it before I decided I could live with it. Now after owning an iPhone for a few weeks I think its the best keyboard interface for a small device. What I really like is that it allows you to be inaccurate and still get the words out that you want. I couldn't imagine going to a cramped physical keyboard after this.

That said, I really want some kind of external keyboard (preferably Bluetooth support for it) for the iPhone. Every other smartphone has this. I touch type, and on the iPhone I could never match the 50-70 wpm speeds I can typically achieve with a regular keyboard.

When the 2.0 firmware comes out we will probably have things like SSH clients (and we already have that on jailbroken phones). The iPhone touch keyboard, as great as it is for English language, is just not adequate for command-line stuff and coding. And yes, I want to do things like that with my iPhone. I occasionally even have to type out some code in my e-mails. I want to be able to leave my laptop at home more often, and having a compact but large enough Bluetooth keyboard for my iPhone would make me need my laptop much less often.

To make matters worse, the iPhone doesn't even support tethering (a feature even many low-end phones have). So even if you have a laptop with you with its full keyboard, you can't even use your iPhone as a modem (without jailbreaking). I bought the iPhone accepting the fact that I may have to jailbreak to get the features I want.

I am against the iPhone ever getting a slide-out keyboard, though. The touch screen keyboard is better than any miniature physical keyboard. That would be a waste of space and would ruin the design.

[barcodebawtv]

I want a phone with a full keyboard for texting - iPhone

I also need a simple computer/ laptop for notes in school - thinking Asus EEE PC

Rather than spending $700 for both, that'd be great if I could use an external keyboard and just get the iPhone

That's what I'd do with a bluetooth keyboard

[Stardotboy]

Might as well adapt now. Within the next 5-10 years, keyboards (as we know them now) will be a thing of the past, just like 56K modems, serial printers and all of those other "wire" peripherals will be gone.

I bet you my iMac that you're wrong!

[winterspan]

With apple, u never know. I'm not saying to replace the current version but to come out with another version. Now how would it be big and clunky??? The next iphone would probably be as thin as the touch, fitting a qwerty keyboard would probably make it a little thicker then the current version.
if apple really want to takeover the smartphone marketshare, they would come out with some sort of hardware keyboard. A bunch of ppl hate the iphone because of this.

"a bunch" of people also HATE small plastic worthless keyboards, like the ones that graced all the smartphones I have owned. The modern slide-out boards are a bit better than the tiny Blackberry/Treo keyboards, but they are still a major PITA.
I really wish people would give the iPhone a try first before bitching about the keyboard. Touchscreen keyboards in the past have been total crap --- the software was bad and the touch screens were not of the CAPACITIVE variety, which made them all but useless. However, and a BIG HOWEVER, the iPhone keyboard is actually a joy to use. I was hesitant at first, but once I tried the iPhone, I almost immediately got used to it and definitely saw the light. After having an Ipod Touch for a few months, I can easily type email on it TWICE AS FAST as my old Treo 700W.
It's disappointing to think that there are probably thousands of Treo and Blackberry users that won't even give it a try from their previous bad experiences with "soft keyboards".

You dont deserve to own iPhone if you want to use a BT keyboard...
So sorry but it just destroys the beauty of the iPhone, i can type full emails on it without trouble and have my entire 3gb mailbox on it.... it is my blackberry and it performs well when out on the go.... considering i reply to 6 different emails per day when out of office touchscreen is pretty good

? Thats a pretty stupid thing to say. And how would an aftermarket, external add-on "destroy the beauty" of the iPhone? No matter what you or anyone else says, a full-size bluetooth keyboard is much faster to type on than a "thumb-board" like the iPhone. I have used a fold up keyboard before, back in the day of "pocket PCs", and they work pretty well.. although those were not wireless. A portable bluetooth keyboard matched up with a little foldable stand that holds the iPhone in landscape mode on the table would be great for people who wish to leave their laptop behind, but do alot of writing. College kids taking notes in class, journalists, writers in a coffee shop or traveling, etc would love to have something like that. Even the new Apple BT keyboards are nice and almost small enough to carry around in a backpack. It would awesome if they made a half-size iPhone version with the same styling.

[natasha69]

You dont deserve to own iPhone if you want to use a BT keyboard...

So sorry but it just destroys the beauty of the iPhone, i can type full emails on it without trouble and have my entire 3gb mailbox on it.... it is my blackberry and it performs well when out on the go.... considering i reply to 6 different emails per day when out of office touchscreen is pretty good

if you can do 120wpm on your iphone, i'd be amazed. personally i use the iphone for email on the go. but on trips, you sit down and sort through yoru email quickly. you can't thumb type replies to 200 emails quickly...

also, not sure why you're downloading your email to your iphone. use imap and only get the headers. much better performance.

[zainjetha]

Get a BlackBerry, Natasha, if you find yourself doing Email alot...

Natasha:
Sorry dumb q. I use Gmail IMAP and all mail is sorted into folders subfolders etc. When i view on iPhone are they actually downloading to device or am i viewing on server? and if i do on MBP with Mail.app are they downloaded to HDD or am i viewing directly off their server the same way i would be doing if i would be if I was thru the horrid Webmail?
Sorry i really need to know the answer to this Q. Sorry to divulge topics.

[agahran]

The lack of a bluetooth or other keyboard option is definitely a dealbreaker for me with the iPhone right now. I'm a journalist, and I'm looking not just for a cool camera/web phone but for pro-quality all-in-one handheld reporting tool.

It sounds like the next-generation iPhone will probably have real GPS and be 3G compatible (two other must-haves, for me), but I'm disappointed that there's still no word on the bluetooth or other keyboard.

I've demoed the iPhone's touchscreen keyboard several times, and I absolutely detest it for anything more than typing a few words at a time. It's definitely not something I could take notes with or write a real blog post on while in the field, and I'm sick of lugging a laptop plus a camera, voice recorder, etc.

I had a brief, torrid affair with the Nokia N95, which was exactly what I wanted -- interface wasn't as intuitive as the iPhone, but the functionality and features were, for my needs, far superior. However, the very first firmware upgrade from Nokia bricked my N95, and since I was facing a tight refund deadline from Amazon and Nokia would take 2-3 weeks to fix/replace and return it to me, I reluctantly decided to give up for now.

I'm an avid Mac use and I'd love for the iPhone to catch up with what I really need -- but if the N95 or forthcoming N96 becomes available from a local retail outlet so I could get more immediate service if needed, I'm running back to Nokia. I think they have a better handle than Apple so far on what kind of device mobile content creators (rather than consumers) really need. So far.

More about my experience with the N95 here:

http://urltea.com/3353

- Amy Gahran

[hand]

I would love to have an iPhone docking station that I could hook a keyboard, mouse and monitor to. If I could do that, my iPhone could very well become my only computer very soon.

[natasha69]

here's hoping that iphone 2.0 firmware supports bluetooth keyboards.....

[neven]

We need a word or something for the category of things that would be great for a certain subset of the market (many but not most users, basically) and which Apple will never do.

Maybe Bluetooth-Sky Thinking :)

[citron230]

I think having the option to pair a bluetooth keyboard would be awesome. the touch screen keyboard for on the go, and the paired keyboard when you are stationary. :rolleyes:

[Consultant]

I have already wrote months ago to apple.com/feedback about it. You should too.

[phinnaeus]

That is so wrong on so many levels. Apple will never release a MacBook because that is admitting that a MacBookPro is sub par. Apple will never release a 23" Monitor because that is admitting that a 30" is sub par. Apple will never release a Mobile OSX because that is admitting that Leopard is sub par. Apple will never release an external drive because that is admitting that the drive in an iMac is sub par. Apple will never release a 3G iPhone because that is admitting that EDGE is sub par.

Apple NEVER releases any alternate way of doing anything once they have released on device that does it adequately. Apple NEVER upgrades capacities.

Your analogies don't exactly mesh with what he was saying. Releasing a BT keyboard for the iPhone would be more like them releasing CRT cinema displays because people prefer the resolution/refresh rate or whatever. All the analogies you made refer to simply different sizes/qualities of the same technology. Touch tech is the way of the future, and I applaud apple for embracing it. I do, however, see the appeal in the ability to tether a keyboard through bluetooth.

[rayward]

Palm have been offering a portable, fold-up keyboard with built-in docking station for years:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41QV9ZPF7ZL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

I see no reason for Bluetooth, as you're going to want to be looking at the iPhone's screen while typing. I think something like the Palm keyboard would be perfect for iPhone.

[thaevster]

Holy crap, putting a keyboard on there would be absolutely counter-productive. Half the reason the iPhone is so desirable is because it just looks/feels so freakin awesome! The keyboard is something that people didn't like at first but are now getting used to.

Besides the fact that it would be a design catastrophe is the fact that the whole interface is based on actually touching the device. If they give in to the keyboard I think they might as well just make users use a stylus too.

[thaevster]

I think BT keyboards would be sweet though, especially if they eventually get to the point in the SDK where users could edit pages/numbers files. This would also be especially useful for users that need to write an email but don't want to sit there and peck it out on the portable device, be it iphone, ipod touch, blackberry, what-have-you.

[rayward]

I think BT keyboards would be sweet though, especially if they eventually get to the point in the SDK where users could edit pages/numbers files. This would also be especially useful for users that need to write an email but don't want to sit there and peck it out on the portable device, be it iphone, ipod touch, blackberry, what-have-you.

This is the point. I have no issues with the software keyboard but - like the keyboard on any smartphone - it is a little tedious to type long emails or (as others have mentioned) blogs. The portable keyboard would be an option for when you are sitting at a desk with a lot to write.

Something like this, with enterprise software and native apps, would mean I never have to lug my laptop anywhere again. A hard keyboard and the existing video out could turn the iPhone into a portable Mac Mini. All of which could be carried in a suit jacket pocket!

[buccsmf1]

um do you people have any idea how many bluetooth keyboards they could sell to students??? Instead of hauling a laptop to and from class all you need is your iphone and a small, fold up keyboard for note taking.... i've wanted one for my iphone since the second i bought it.

[bacaramac]

This is the point. I have no issues with the software keyboard but - like the keyboard on any smartphone - it is a little tedious to type long emails or (as others have mentioned) blogs. The portable keyboard would be an option for when you are sitting at a desk with a lot to write.

Something like this, with enterprise software and native apps, would mean I never have to lug my laptop anywhere again. A hard keyboard and the existing video out could turn the iPhone into a portable Mac Mini. All of which could be carried in a suit jacket pocket!

+1, taking notes in a college class or business meeting would be so easy. I think that they could come out with a miniature keyboard like HTC (I think this is a full miniature keyboard) has built into their UMPC.
http://www.htcamerica.net/products/shift/default.html

EDIT: I agree that it does not need to be bluetooth. A dockable keyboard would work perfect.

[rayward]

um do you people have any idea how many bluetooth keyboards they could sell to students??? Instead of hauling a laptop to and from class all you need is your iphone and a small, fold up keyboard for note taking.... i've wanted one for my iphone since the second i bought it.

I'm not disputing the need for a keyboard. I'm just wondering why it has to be Bluetooth, when the easiest way to be able to see the screen and type at the same time would be to build in a dock. Otherwise you'll need a stand for the iPhone and will knock it over on a regular basis.

[agahran]

I agree -- personally I don't care whether Apple offers an external keyboard that runs via Bluetooth or docking -- just that they offer one!

There is an iPhone dock available (http://urltea.com/39pk) for syncing and charging -- but I don't know if the hardware and firmware behind the iPhone's docking port would support a keyboard. If so, great. If not, then a Bluetooth keyboard approach would probably be more efficient to implement.

I don't care how they do it. I just hope they do it. I'm a journalist. I write articles and blog posts in the field. I need a real keyboard, and as much as I love my Macbook pro, I hate lugging a laptop. And no, the Macbook Air doesn't suit my needs either.

Apple, I hope you decide to offer this option.

- Amy Gahran

[rayward]

Could someone other than Apple make one, now that they can install their software drivers on the iPhone? Hope so...

[oakrrl]

Could someone other than Apple make one, now that they can install their software drivers on the iPhone? Hope so...

I'm going to be out for weeks on a Himalayan trek and want to keep a diary. A keyboard would be REALLY helpful...

[Shannighan]

a keyboard would be fantastic as i could just use my iphone instead of carrying around my mbp!

[hendrick]

A small folding Bluetooth keyboard would be ideal to carry in a shirt pocket together with an iPhone when travelling abroad instead of a bulky MacBook.

The MacBook is not bulky when sitting on a table, but becomes a large extra lump when you have a suitcase and possibly a rollerbag when lining up at the check-in desk!

And no, I am not going to add the unnecessary tag line: 24" Aluminum iMac (2.8GHz, 2GB RAM, 500GB HDD); 1TB Time Capsule; 8GB iPhone; 40GB iPod; VoIP phone; Wireless Router; MacBook; Carrying case; Sandwiches and Cafe Latte as a tag line, as some people think others want to know about!:)

[ViViDboarder]

All I hear is: I want a small keyboard, I want a folding keyboars, something I can plug the phone into and use a keyboards.

That's all a step back guys. Seriously. The future and totally iPhone worthy, perhaps apple could even make their own version for a 175% markup!!!

http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/8193/
Bluetooth Laser Projection Keyboard. It'd fit in your other pocket and you could put it on any desk or table. :D

(I can't believe no one mentioned this yet)

[t0mat0]

Seeing as there isn't a dock for a 3G iPhone & headset, and the possibility of another handset, they could bring out more Bluetooth accessories all in one go. Not like it can't potentially do AD2P...

[ViViDboarder]

Not like it can't potentially do AD2P...

Not like a year ago the last one couldn't "potentially" do A2DP :D

[jackfrost123]

A keyboard is way overdue...

[rowane]

I've been chomping at the bit ever since I read in January that Macally was supposed to be making one. Then I came across this link (http://www.avalive.com/MacAlly/BTKeyMini/43579/productDetail.php) this morning.

Hopefully they're finally bringing this long overdue product out?

It doesn't give a date as to when it'll be out though, just a pre-order.

[firewood]

The MacAlly BTKeyMini was announced way back in January and still isn't out. Could be stuck in the approval mill, as the drivers would need to be provided by Apple in an OS update, or could be vaporware.


.

[Archie-]

I've been chomping at the bit ever since I read in January that Macally was supposed to be making one. Then I came across this link (http://www.avalive.com/MacAlly/BTKeyMini/43579/productDetail.php) this morning.

Hopefully they're finally bringing this long overdue product out?

It doesn't give a date as to when it'll be out though, just a pre-order.

You know it will work perfectly well with this however.

http://images.vnu.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/09/15/htc-touch-hd-officially-unveiled/htc-touch-hd.jpg

[ryanwarsaw]

I would love to have an iPhone docking station that I could hook a keyboard, mouse and monitor to. If I could do that, my iPhone could very well become my only computer very soon.

That would be quite slick.

[Jamster43]

Having a keyboard is not a step back. Having a great touch screen or voice recognition/translation are both great steps forward, but one does not negate the usefulness of the other.

To me, the future is flexible, not just a sequence where existing is terminated and new is the only way. I want a fully modular solution where the radio, data, and processors are linked, and maybe hidden in my clothing. The IO stuff should be up to me. The apps, more processing, more storage, etc can be out in the network and optionally brought into the picture. This way, I can walk into a store and find what I want fast. I can embed stuff in my daily life so I don't have to wear or tote around an arsenal of junk. This is a wide open and converging info world we are entering. Today, TV is a service; tomorrow TV will just be a device and content will be the service, regardless of the device.

IPhone is just a milestone along the way. [I still want the option of using a keyboard! :) ]

[famoso]

Sorry but i fail to see the logic in somebody using such a large item as a keyboard with an iPhone? What for?

I dont know why but i forsee apple releasing a small clip-on keyboard for iPhone just like HP did for some of their stylus/touch-screen pdas. This would help if the iPhone was to go corporate mainstream however it would make iphone slightly more bulky and clip-on keyboard a pain to carry around... However it would be useful especially when sending emails in order to compete with a device like blackberry...

:apple: I wouldn't want to take away from the portability but it would be real nice to have the equivalent of a docking station. A docking station that has a keyboard that would also charge the phone. You don't think that would be sweet?

[ryanwarsaw]

So I am sitting here typing on my Apple BT keyboard connected to my iMac. I wonder why people wouldn't want me to have the ability to pair it to my phone. The capability should be there. I have ordered an HTC Touch HD in part because of the iPhone's limited BT.

Is BT on the phone possibly limited because Apple is working on a way to allow more BT capabilities while developing a way for ATT to anal rape you if attempt to tether?

Can they open the stack for some things but limit others? I heard the possibility that tethering when it comes will be through iTunes. I am guessing that this will be how they allow BT to open while still milking out $30 a month in tethering fees (not that Apple gets revenue sharing anymore but they must have some contractual obligations here). You open iTunes and it asks if you wish to tether and reports to ATT. You later get the $30 dollar added tethering plan billed to you automatically.

I could be way off on my guess here but if Apple would open the BT they could snatch many WM customers. This is no small complaint. It is funny on this forum you get some users that wish they had certain functions so they could ditch WM. On WM forums you get people wanting other features so they could switch to an iPhone.

Evidently I don't according to some deserve to own an iPhone because if I could I would pair my keyboard to it right now. Why? Because I can. It can be done and there is absolutely no reason why it shouldn't be done.

Please let me have my cake and eat it too.

[The Phazer]

Can they open the stack for some things but limit others?

Yep. Indeed, it's a trivially easy thing to do under the Bluetooth spec which defines such services specially just to make them easier to allow/disallow (indeed, it's what Apple already do to block everything but bt voice headsets).

That's not the problem.

Phazer

[ryanwarsaw]

Okay if it is easy to enable that shoots down my earlier theory. So the next question would be..... if it is that easy what is the reason they don't do it?

[markgamber]

The best explanation I've seen is that Apple is deathly paranoid of theft. From what I've read elsewhere, the bluetooth stack in the phone, by default, pairs with almost anything. Thanks to Apple's needless paranoia, it now pairs with almost nothing. So instead of being able to take the iPhone and a nice stereo headset with me to the gym, I either take my Tilt or those piece of ****** Apple earbuds that don't fit and get tangled around everything all the time. Can't pair with a keyboard, a computer, a headset, a GPS...not a single bluetooth device I own pairs with the iPhone while they ALL pair perfectly with every Windows Mobile phone I own. What a waste. What Apple should have done was display an image of the middle finger when you turn on bluetooth or the GPS.

Oh...you deserve an iPhone when you can afford an iPhone. End of story. Who cares what anyone else thinks? We'd still be using 5 pound phones with 10 minute battery life and LED displays if it was left to some people.

[ryanwarsaw]

That is the dumbest reason |I have ever heard. I am not directing that comment at you but Apple if that is the reality. I just can't imagine that some thing so stupid would be what is stopping the show on this one.

[The Phazer]

Okay if it is easy to enable that shoots down my earlier theory. So the next question would be..... if it is that easy what is the reason they don't do it?

Same reason they don't put in MMS or copy and paste or video recording or a million other things.

Because they've gone crazy and think that moving the browser bar around in Safari is more important.

In all seriousness even if the stack was opened up, it would still technically require a driver to be written for keyboards, and presumably Apple doesn't want to do that because it doesn't have a phone handy bluetooth keyboard to sell you at the moment. They won't let the SDK touch the Bluetooth stack because of their fears that people could transfer music (which every other phone can do, and iTunes tracks with DRM wouldn't be transferable anyway… or they could just block access to the music directory), and because they want to force people to use the dock connector (and for a third party accessory manufacturer to use the dock they have to ask Apple and pay a licencing fee).

I really think Apple needs to learn that if it's going to keep the phone as locked down as it is, that means they are now responsible for making the OS a LOT better than it is, and they should be throwing considerably more resources at iPhone software development, and hence they're going to have to fix things that don't make them much money straight off. But hey.

Phazer

[ryanwarsaw]

Well as long as I am getting an updated browser bar I guess I am happy.

[SpiroExDeus]

Your analogies don't exactly mesh with what he was saying. Releasing a BT keyboard for the iPhone would be more like them releasing CRT cinema displays because people prefer the resolution/refresh rate or whatever. All the analogies you made refer to simply different sizes/qualities of the same technology. Touch tech is the way of the future, and I applaud apple for embracing it. I do, however, see the appeal in the ability to tether a keyboard through bluetooth.

[Oop. Just noticed what you said at the end about seeing the appeal, but this kind of applies to other postings as well as yours so I'm still posting it with this small edit. By the way. I don't think anyone is knocking touchscreen. A new technology need not completely usurp a traditional one though. There are people working on producing tactile feedback for touch technology (giving the feel of touching a button even though one isn't there - think it's something to do with vibration or electromagnetic fields but memory is fuzzy on the exact technique) so maybe touchtype keyboards won't dissapear as such but just go virtual - but obviously only on devices larger than the iphone.]

You are making the massive mistake of equating new with better.

Until a new technology can do BETTER than an old technology it will not usurp it.

So let's look at the pros and cons of different text entry types:

TOUCHSCREEN:

Pros:
Great on the go, and therefore good for text messages

Cons:
but occasionally you can mistype and the suggestions for spelling corrections are nowhere NEAR good enough yet. Obviously that can be improved with upgrades but I'd say the typing speed would be 25 words per minute max.

VOICE RECOGNITION:

Pros:
Types what you speak

Cons:
In a quiet office or washroom, maybe. On an iphone with traffic noises in the background and your friends "Hey what's that you're doing" "shut up I'm trying to use voice recognition" interrupting what you're doing? Not likely. Oh and forget it if you have a weird accent. I think apple said it all when they printed the t-shirts for their voice recognition group years back. They bore the slogan "I helped Apple to wreck a nice beach". Give it a couple more decades of intelligent word-recognition algorithms, voice type and accent algorithms and advanced noise filters and even then I bet it will still 'hiccup' every now and then..

BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD:

Pros:
If you know touch typing and want to write e-mails, documents and long notes then there's no other option. There is no way I could get up to 50 words per minute on an iphone touchscreen and my tt speed ALWAYS exceeds that even at my slowest - even with this faulty keyboard (sticky 'c' button and spacebar). For people who use the iphone as just a phone and something to write texts on and maybe pour their ibeer from iphone to iphone (sorry, just a totally pointless app I saw the other day - no way I'd pay for THAT even at 59 cents) then, no, you don't need a bluetooth keyboard. Until they invent something better that can be used quickly and accurately in a noisy environment.

Cons:
Potential for mechanical failure. Can be bulky. Not so fast if you don't touchtype. These are the only cons I can think of and the first two aren't often the case with quality keyboards. Something like the think outside stowaway universal bluetooth keyboard (catchy little title!) would pretty much eliminate the first two (folds away to roughly the same size as an iphone, maybe a little bigger, but folds out to full size keys making touchtyping possible. Exceedingly good build quality making key failure unlikely for a very long time) and a few lessons in touchtyping eliminates the third.

SLIDE OUT KEYBOARD

I'm not going to even bother with pros. This is too small to touchtype so why would you need it? The accuracy rating would be roughly equivalent to that of the iphone touchscreen keyboard. Would bulk up a slimline device. If I'm going to bulk up my iphone I'd go for larger battery capacity, built in proper GPS, a larger hard drive, video out socket and SD card reader before I went for a slide out keyboard. Heck, I'd NEVER go for that keyboard...

[reflex439]

You dont deserve to own iPhone if you want to use a BT keyboard...

Thats the funniest thing I've heard in a long time... if you don't use an iPhone the way he does, you don't deserve it. Hahah...

I love the iPhone for its design, simplicity, functionality, etc. But I hate the virtual keyboard. I can type past 80 wpm on a keyboard without looking at it, and slow to a crawl with 2 fingers poking at a virtual keyboard that I have to watch for each keyclick.

If you just want a toy, I'd agree with you that it would be a shame to clutter the design. But if you need a business tool, and also appreciate a clean design, then an iPhone with a BT mini keyboard can't be beat. When hiding in the hotel room and sending out a few long e-mails, blog entries, or extended text, I could use the keyboard behind closed doors. No one would be the wiser, and I'd get to relaxing much faster.

Me, I run my own business, need to keep in touch with my employees, and rely on my phone to serve me in may ways. So I need a robust business tool. But I'd like it to be attractive and cutting edge like anyone else, as long as it doesn't hinder its intended purpose. When it does that is ceases to be a useful tool, and becomes a piece of art we carry around just to boost our egos and boast about how cool our phone is.

Apple has been very good at addressing both needs, and the iPhone is close but still has many things that could be vastly improved on without compromising its 'cool factor'. I love having it, but also miss the ease and speed at which the Blackberry addressed my needs (e-mail, blog updates, profiles, etc).

Stephen

[marksandvig]

im just glad im not the only one who thinks an iphone keyboard would be useful.

[LEGALROMA]

Bluetooth input is great through a keyboard, however, what good is input without output?

How about a bluetooth printer? How great would it be to print documents and photos from your phone?

Obviously, the added stereo sound output by way of headsets and speakers and car stereo would be incredible.

Paul

[Jamster43]

There's an HP iphone/ipod app for printing images. Also, you can capture your screen to an image by clicking the main button and the power button at the same time. Put the two together and you can print excerpts of documents and websites. (you need an HP wifi printer, I think.)

[Mintin8]

The keyboard would be faster for some but i'm happy with the one at the moment.

[MarkMe]

Palm have been offering a portable, fold-up keyboard with built-in docking station for years:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41QV9ZPF7ZL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

I see no reason for Bluetooth, as you're going to want to be looking at the iPhone's screen while typing. I think something like the Palm keyboard would be perfect for iPhone.

I have a very nice fold up unit like this from Palm. It would be outstanding for an iPhone. It works over the infrared communication channel.
Mark

[scotDWG]

Of course it can be done! The iPhone SDK has bluetooth device discovery and XCode has the frameworks necessary for bluetooth keyboards. But Apple's not going add the support... whether it opens up "Teathering" issues or because no one in their right mind would need a keyboard for an iPhone--might as well be sitting at your MacBook. But bluetooth streams both ways -- whoever thought of that excuse didn't even take the time to think of a good one. How else would headsets work?


Find the frameworks and header files you need in XCode to build support on your MacBook. Then go find the equivalant frameworks in GNUStep or get the libraries from your vender who probably supports Mac. AND THEN BUILD IT YOURSELF CUZ AIN'T NO ONE ELSE GONNA! It'd be nice to have when I'm faking work at work, but other than that I'm not going to spend the time to build something like that.


-Scott


So, I'm kind of surprised I haven't seen anything about this yet.

I have an apple wireless keyboard, what's preventing it from being paired with an iPhone? (other than code not being written for it)

Does anyone know if the bluetooth on the iPhone is incompatible with this kind of pairing?


Thanks!

[garylapointe]

I'd probably buy a few Apple BT keyboards (and adaptors to stand the phone up). One for the car and one for the house.

I carry my laptop less now that I have an iPhone, I'd carry the laptop even less if I had a keyboard.

This needs to be a full keyboard, I'm assuming at least Apple BT keyboard sized.

Gary

[SpiroExDeus]

forget the bluetooth keyboard. Wouldnt it be cool if apple come out with another version of the iphone with a side slide out QWERTY keyboard. Maybe they could fit a mini macbook keyboard. The touch screen keyboard and no support for mobile office is the only thing I don't like about the iPhone.

Would that be a full-sized slide-out keyboard then?

Because the main benefit to Bluetooth keyboards is that you can have a full sized (yet still compact - if you've ever seen the stowaway folding keyboard you'll know what I mean) keyboard enabling you to touchtype effectively. If I'm still going to be 'thumb typing' I'll stick to just the onscreen keyboard.

By full sized I mean that the keys are full sized by the way not necessarily that it's got all the keys of a full sized board.

[babby]

I had a foldable keyboard for a Palm about 10 years ago. I used it all the time. Only problem was my Palm was not color and did not have Internet access.

A foldable keyboard would not eliminate my need for a laptop but would allow me to leave it behind much more often. I have to laugh when my 10 year old Palm could do something my new iPhone cannot. I can definitely say that if/when the competition catches up, I will definitely consider a different phone for this feature alone.

[EarthDawn]

I had a foldable keyboard for a Palm about 10 years ago. I used it all the time. Only problem was my Palm was not color and did not have Internet access.

A foldable keyboard would not eliminate my need for a laptop but would allow me to leave it behind much more often. I have to laugh when my 10 year old Palm could do something my new iPhone cannot. I can definitely say that if/when the competition catches up, I will definitely consider a different phone for this feature alone.

That keyboard was really cool and VERY useful !!!

I would love to see someone come out with it for the iPhone

[flaneur]

Bah.

I want a letters keyboard and a music keyboard to use with my iPhone.

[FortWorthMac]

Just happened to see this thread had a new post.

You all aware of this:

http://gizmodo.com/5431754/jailbroken-iphones-get-support-for-bluetooth-keyboards

It's working great!

[jazzper]

Yes! since the update to iOS4 it's working!
I was wondering what's new in ios 4 and when I read bluetooth keyboard is supported I had to try my old ThinkOutside Stowaway and guess what: working! native! no jailbreak!

For all you typing lovers out there i wrote a manual (well it's so easy, manual is not the right word ;)):

http://www.leunk.com/gadgets/how-to-get-your-igo-thinkoutside-stowaway-bluetooth-keyboard-to-work-with-iphone-ios4/

enjoy!

[mangoman]

I'm surprised there's not more demand for a folding, bluetooth keyboard for the iPhone. I'd love it, and would pay well for something that's durable and quickly paired with the phone.

( crickets? )

[chinarut]

the Matias Bluetooth Folding Keyboard is the only one I heard was worth considering - just found out they got slammed by CNET so I think it's worth holding out...

http://reviews.cnet.com/keyboards/matias-bluetooth-folding-keyboard/4505-3134_7-33625470.html?part=cnet&subj=Matias+Bluetooth+Folding+Keyboard

one must have feature is being able to pair it with both my iPhone and iPad on-demand and perhaps even more importantly, that my devices aren't waiting for my keyboard when I don't absolutely need it (which is the annoyance Im dealing with right now with my iPad - I'm always having to turn BT off to get the on-screen keyboard to show up when my keyboard is across the room which totally kills the convenience factor for me for what otherwise is a great experience with the Apple BT keyboard!)

[mangoman]

the Matias Bluetooth Folding Keyboard is the only one I heard was worth considering - just found out they got slammed by CNET so I think it's worth holding out...

http://reviews.cnet.com/keyboards/matias-bluetooth-folding-keyboard/4505-3134_7-33625470.html?part=cnet&subj=Matias+Bluetooth+Folding+Keyboard

one must have feature is being able to pair it with both my iPhone and iPad on-demand and perhaps even more importantly, that my devices aren't waiting for my keyboard when I don't absolutely need it (which is the annoyance Im dealing with right now with my iPad - I'm always having to turn BT off to get the on-screen keyboard to show up when my keyboard is across the room which totally kills the convenience factor for me for what otherwise is a great experience with the Apple BT keyboard!)

That BT behavior does sound annoying. Gotta be somebody out there to compete in this little market...

[freedom-input]

I'm surprised there's not more demand for a folding, bluetooth keyboard for the iPhone. I'd love it, and would pay well for something that's durable and quickly paired with the phone.

( crickets? )

for want of getting accused of spamming , i work for a company that makes a folding keyboard for the ipad and iphone 4 ( also works with 3gs on OS4)
if a mod posts on here that i can post details then i will.
there is no financial gain to be made by me as i work in the tech department NOT sales..

[mangoman]

for want of getting accused of spamming , i work for a company that makes a folding keyboard for the ipad and iphone 4 ( also works with 3gs on OS4)
if a mod posts on here that i can post details then i will.
there is no financial gain to be made by me as i work in the tech department NOT sales..

Post it!

[freedom-input]

Post it!



I work on tech support for freedom input .
we have a folding bluetooth keyboard out called the i-connex that works with the ipad, iphone 4 and 3gs loaded with os4.
No drivers are required to make it run.

details here: http://www.freedominput.com/freedom-accessories/freedom-i-connex-keyboard.

Now here is the deal..... 17 new countries from today ( july 30th ) can now buy the iphone 4 so we are giving 17% off the RRP for the next 17 days.

prices are below:

£49.80 sterling ( RRP £59.99 )
€58.10 euros ( RRP €69.99 )
$58.10 Dollars ( RRP $69.99)

The coupon number which must be entered to obtain the price above is 1717


despatch will take place the 3rd week in August.

[panzer06]

It is truly awesome not having that virtual keyboard in the way when posting to forums. This is a wonderful tool that doesn't require any hacking, drivers or any other work (other than simple pairing) to get started. It's truly amazing.

Now I need to try a BT mouse! :)

Cheers,

[1000GHz]

there actualy is a pocket key board for iphone on chinavation!

[labman]

there actualy is a pocket key board for iphone on chinavation!

HI please more Spamming Newbies from China! :rolleyes: I will give you guys credit you know how to search better then some here.

[Fuzzy.Dunlop]

I'm looking to pick up a mini keyboard as lugging my mbp about all day is getting annoying. And now with Dropbox/Google Docs and Office2 I can pretty much do what I need to do whilst out and about

Have come down to three choices

The freedom above

This on ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Foldable-Mini-Bluetooth-Keyboard-iPhone-iPad-PS3-Nokia-/260610686104?pt=UK_Computing_Apple_Mac_Accessories&hash=item3cad9b7c98

Or hold on for this https://jornostore.com/

I've had a play on the freedom in a store and the keyboard size is about perfect but to call it pocketable is stretching it, has anyone tried out the ebay model or similar size (230mm or 8.5" keyboard) as both these options would be great for carrying about easily?

[Fuzzy.Dunlop]

Ok, I bought the Freedom model; First thoughts are its spacing for the letters is perfect, though the lower function keys are a bit small and the space and shift key (on the right hand side) could do with some improvement.

One other minor gripe is the keyboard is perfectly flat and due to its small size I can see being painful to use after a long period, so I'll probably mod the base, also the stand whilst being a good design idea (slots into the keyboard) seems very flimsy and is only held up with a thin piece of metal - not something I'd want to stick an ipad on

I've added pics so you can get an idea of the size of it

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4hj7pye9g-Y/TMrxHc48mwI/AAAAAAAAAHA/wGGvZ1x3LcE/s400/pCdTAC4eQt2v.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4hj7pye9g-Y/TMrxaBrm3RI/AAAAAAAAAHE/u7fCTRwaPUA/s400/dML6ZbRZd7k7.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4hj7pye9g-Y/TMrxyUBh2OI/AAAAAAAAAHM/Y-x32tVU-qI/s400/9BJ32NRNYXxv.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4hj7pye9g-Y/TMryHIkR8JI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/IOG_VQYMx50/s400/htuK5KVgsA8A.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4hj7pye9g-Y/TMr0_LoXHII/AAAAAAAAAHc/6TWzOAUPA7Y/s400/04jjo8lMQ8uh.jpg

[vonrosen2000]

I have a iPhone 3GS. I'm using the standard Apple wireless keyboard with the DocstoGo app and loving it. I'm able to copy/paste, select text by double tapping, open Word files, etc.