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Apple Updates Universal Dock, Discontinues Compact Wired Keyboard

A/V Cable

Anyone know if the new A/V cable has a smaller plug on it like slimmer iPhone/iPod USB cables? Sucks that I can't use the A/V cable with a bumper. I have my A/V cable in my car and would love to put a bumper on my iPhone.
 
I know this is a LONG shot, but maybe this is a strategy to get rid of their stock of 30 pin connectors, and cord in order to prepare for mini-USB (unlikely) or lightpeak.
 
baryon said:
I don't really see the point of a wireless keyboard, I mean you aren't really going to ever move it are you? Sure, it looks better, but is it worth having to replace batteries all the time (don't know how often though)? A wireless mouse is okay because the wire can be annoying, but even with a mouse it's a pain to replace the batteries.

Unless these devices lasted 6 months at least or even a year on batteries, I think the advantage isn't that big (even less with a keyboard).
Click to expand...

What? First, yes the batteries can last a long time. My [non-Apple] wireless keyboard lasts for over 6 months on one set with daily use. Probably closer to a year, actually.

I move my keyboard every day. Every day. I do lots of activities at my desk (working, watching movies, eating). I have a spot just for it on my hutch. It frees up soo much space. It also prevents food stains (you should have seen my last wired keyboard, I brought it to the trash with rubber gloves).
 
I'm the king of obsolete Apple products lately. I use one of those wired small keyboards with an Xserve at work. Xserve - discontinued. Compact Wired Keyboard - discontinued.

:)
 
AtariMac said:
I'm the king of obsolete Apple products lately. I use one of those wired small keyboards with an Xserve at work. Xserve - discontinued. Compact Wired Keyboard - discontinued.

:)
Click to expand...

What do you use for hearing protectors? ;)

I couldn't imagine having to work 9-to-5 in the same room with a 1U server (from any manufacturer).
 
ArcaneDevice said:
The CMD key exists on every keyboard. It just isn't labeled as such.
Click to expand...
Yeah, but you'll have an extra useless key, too--and does the keyboard have keys to control my brightness, iTunes, and conveniently-labled Exposé/Dashboard keys (yes, I know there are still the F-combinations)?

Didn't think so.

Point being: Apple keyboards work better, look better, and many of us want a wireless version with a numeric keypad.
 
Universal Dock....

Call me when it has HDMI output. That was a really stupid omission when the iPhone 4 came out. It can record 720p video, but can't play it back on anything directly. What a shame.
 
There's a lot of shame at Apple these days

huntercr said:
Call me when it has HDMI output. That was a really stupid omission when the iPhone 4 came out. It can record 720p video, but can't play it back on anything directly. What a shame.
Click to expand...

If you could play it back, then you'd wonder why the 720p that's free from your phone is so much better quality than the 720p for which you pay a lot from the Itunes Store.

Greed rules.
 
Well it makes the dock more worth $49....oh well $59. Still a rip-off... But when I buy accessories for my Apple gadgets, if Apple makes it, then I buy it. So on Monday my iPod touch 4 dock adapters came in... On Tues. the universal dock came in. I feel so pissed off that a new dock comes out less than 48 hours after i buy mine.

So I called Apple and was calm and nice to the rep. I'm getting the new dock, and sending the old one and iPod touch 4 adapters back. No restocking fee either.:D

Great customer service. :apple:
 
Malsi said:
I know this is a LONG shot, but maybe this is a strategy to get rid of their stock of 30 pin connectors, and cord in order to prepare for mini-USB (unlikely) or lightpeak.
Click to expand...

I really doubt this is happening. They have a lot riding on their 30-pin connector. Think about all the third-party accessories too.
 
AidenShaw said:
If you could play it back, then you'd wonder why the 720p that's free from your phone is so much better quality than the 720p for which you pay a lot from the Itunes Store.

Greed rules.
Click to expand...

Come on, you can't honestly think that was the motivation for this choice. Most consumer device users don't even slightly notice the quality difference between iTunes-compressed 720p vs. any other type of compressed 720p. I think that the omission of HDMI output on the iP4 was *MUCH* more likely to be due to cost, space, or battery life constraints. Component and composite video outputs are extremely mature technologies, so component/composite video out technology has evolved to be tiny, cheap, and power efficient. HDMI is still relatively very new, so most probably its circuitry is relatively larger, more expensive, and consumes more power.
 
Last edited:
Bad news for me that the compact wired keyboard being discontinued.
Firstly I bought the full-sized keyboard because I thought it was better value for money due to the numerical pad. But I found it very long for my desk and me having to stretch my right arm for the mouse.
After getting fed up I bought the compact keyboard and it is perfect!
When it breaks I guess I will have to use the wireless compact keyboard which came with the current imac model.
 
iPhone 4 With/Bumper Dock Adapter

Why don't they make a universal dock adapter for an iphone 4 with a bumper! seriously, this is ridiculous.
 
Whew, as long as they keep offering the extended keyboard in some factor, I'm happy. The compact one is too tiny. I mean sure, worst case scenario I just buy a 3rd party keyboard, but I like the default Apple one a lot.
 
I went to buy one of the smaller keyboards, guess that's why it said 3-4 weeks delivery... That sucks, I always thought they looked cool.
 
baryon said:
I don't really see the point of a wireless keyboard, I mean you aren't really going to ever move it are you? Sure, it looks better, but is it worth having to replace batteries all the time (don't know how often though)? A wireless mouse is okay because the wire can be annoying, but even with a mouse it's a pain to replace the batteries.

Unless these devices lasted 6 months at least or even a year on batteries, I think the advantage isn't that big (even less with a keyboard).
Click to expand...


I disagree with all of your points, which is why you can still buy both wired and wireless. :)

I have the Apple batteries and charger. I keep one set of batteries in each of my keyboard and trackpad, and another pair in the charger plugged into the wall. When one runs down I swap out the charged pair from the charger, and pop the discharged ones in there. They're ready when the next pair runs down.
 
Winni said:
It doesn't matter. Apple's keyboards and mice suck anyway - they just look nice, but they are no good input devices.

The biggest downside of the Apple mice is the lack of a PHYSICAL second mouse button, which you simply need when you play games: You actually need to be able to press the first and the second mouse button at the same time, and that's impossible with an Apple mouse.

Apple does not follow any international layout standards with their keyboards, and that plain and simple sucks. (Yes, I know the tools to change that, but that doesn't change the fact that I HAVE to change it manually.)

I also think that their physical design is not good for fast typing. Natural keyboards are the best choice when you're a fast ten fingers typist, and for the "raw" feeling, still nothing beats the good old IBM keyboards.
Click to expand...

I'm a fast touch typist, and I hate "natural" keyboards. They feel decidedly unnatural to me. I do computer support, and whenever I have to sit at a user's computer who has a "natural" keyboard (or a trackball) I cringe.
 
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