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Looks interesting, rather well thought out. I believe if one took the time to acclimate to it, between being light and compact for closing up and traveling it may be exactly what I have been looking for.

I am a bit put off by their Web site otherwise quite frankly I would have ordered one. I did check Amazon as I'm a very frequent buyer and trust their shipping and tracking completely. Without the option to buy via Amazon I'm going to take a wait and see position even though I'm eager to try one.
 
This article has brought to my attention something potentially compelling and useful. Prior to this article, I knew nothing about the Text Blade, and had I known, would have desired more information. In short, this was a good article and I hope you write more!

I've actually been looking for a potential solution for typing with my iPhone 6+. I pretty much accepted the fact I'd have to bring a bag to hold a keyboard for my 6 plus - that was just a given. This option may allow me to have my cake and eat it too. I can carry around what appears to be a full functioning keyboard to type notes, etc.

Great job, MacRumors! Pay no mind to the negative comments, I've diagnosed them as depressed and prescribed them Prozac.
 
TextBlade a backlit Keyboard ?

Does TextBlade have a Backlit Keyboard ?

Can You See The Keys at Night?

If Yes, Then they thought of everything...!!!!
 
I want to make it very clear that this is in no way an advertisement. WayTools did not pay us to do this post. None of our posts are advertisements. Ever. We don't work that way.

That's good to know. The reason this post set off alarm bells with me (and it seems, a lot of other readers) is that it has the relentlessly positive tone of a press release, and contains a lot more superlatives than macrumors articles usually do, with precious little of your site's usual scepticism about wild claims to balance things up.

Consider this bit: "...a company known for its high-quality NextEngine 3D laser scanner, surprised the world...". Here you launch straight in to what reads like positive spin, implying we ought to have heard of this company and their products are high quality, when actually they make an obscure niche product that's not been widely reviewed. When I googled it, the first page has someone selling a nearly new one on ebay for about 1/3 the store price. As for 'surprised the world'... really? The whole world? You're drastically overstating the impact this product announcement had - I'm part of the target audience and I barely even remembered the announcement.

Later on: "According to Knighton, the company did not set out to develop a keyboard for the iPhone or the iPad, they set out to develop a keyboard that's a better experience, overall, than any available keyboard, mobile or desktop." here, you've let the company make a wild and ridiculous claim without challenging it at all. That's something your readers expect press releases to do, not reviews, and it gives the impression that the article was at worst a cut and paste press release, or perhaps paid for, approved by their marketing people in return for early access, or written under some other unsavoury arrangement like that.

Then when we get to the product's drawbacks, they are either ignored (the battery being non replaceable gets no comment at all) or lied about: "generous spacing (which matches a desktop keyboard)"... right next to a picture that shows the spacing is way, way smaller than a desktop keyboard!
 
Very interesting, of course, I would have to try before I could make any serious assumptions. But that won't stop me from making a few before.

With its size/design it looks more of a phone keyboard, which is a great option in todays world of big phones. I guess I don't feel the need to type on my iPad much in long form, but I can't get over how so many people don't want to use the on screen keyboard in landscape. I think many of these physical keyboards are just as awkward as on screen typing, with exception to the wireless apple keyboard.

It must be a decent market with everyone under the sun trying to make a keyboard for iOS devices, but just doesn't fill a huge need for me personally.
 
I do not type that much with the iPad or iPhone plus I have. Therefore the built in keyboard suffices and while I realize external keyboards sell, I doubt this one serves enough for $99. Some other externals serve as a cover as well for less money so, ....
 
Just preordered ...

... and was charged before a May shipment. Would have appreciated not being charged until the product ships like most companies. :(
 
I appreciate all of that work that went into this pocket keyboard, but miniaturizing in that manner comes with usability and practicality issues.

Back during Palm Pilot days, I thought the Stowaway Keyboard was about as small as I’d want a folding keyboard to be, primarily for ease of carry and for immediate familiarity and zero learning curve. This is what I’d want in a pocket sized keyboard.


159858-igo-stowaway-keyboard.gif



foldkb_550x282.jpg
 
The problem does exist. Just not for you

Seems like its trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist....Get the tool for the job. Get a MacBook Air if you want to type a lot.
I write a lot (novelist here) and I do have a Macbook Air for that. What you don't seem to understand is that writing is not (usually) a 9-5 job. You don't open up the laptop, write, then close it and stop writing. You get ideas, thoughts, things you WANT to jot down all the time. And sometimes you either don't have your laptop on you, or can't open it where you are. So you pull out your iPhone or iPad and likely you use dictation. But, trust me, that's not the best for writing down that paragraph or important idea.

And, no, I'm not a fast two-thumb typer on the iPhone/iPad keyboards. I want to touch type when I'm writing.

This is the perfect solution for someone like me. I could write up a few pages on an iPad or iPhone of scenes, images, thoughts, ideas. Then send them on over to my MacAir and incorporate them into the story. Easy.

If you don't do a lot of writing like I do (there are times when I'm writing up to 2,000 words a day), if you're not needing to jot down ideas/thoughts, etc. all the time, in all kinds of places, then, of course, this tiny keyboard makes no sense to you. But it makes a lot of sense to me. If I have only my iPhone on me, and I need to write something down--a long, complex paragraph that I will want to tinker with right at that moment, it absolutely can't wait...this little keyboard will let me do that. And there are times when that happens.

So. It isn't a problem that doesn't exist. It does. Just not for you. And this solution to that problem is, IMHO, pretty brilliant.
 
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Definitely let me know...between San Diego and Gothenburg, I was hoping to get the åöä layout on the keyboard itself, not just as a remapping in software. But if you think it works well, I think I'll jump for this too.

You're not alone (https://forum.waytools.com/t/international-keyboards/29/15). You can map your åöä symbols using their free app or, after some time, even get free keys apparently! Seems like just holding down the key will bring up the options as well (as it does now).
 
No Brainer Purchase

I was impressed with both the device and the detailed review.

For $99, this is a no brainer decision. I'll just buy it and see how it works out.

No matter what, it has to be better than lugging an external keyboard around, particularly with an iPhone.

There are times I want to compose a bit of a long note or letter and need a keyboard and this seems reasonable to fit that use.
 
there's no training to go through, but you have to get used to a different feel and you have to adjust your muscle memory. As described by WayTools engineer Pete DeLaurentis, the amount of time it takes people to get used to the TextBlade will vary depending on how they type.

Pass. I'll wait until I can use a real keyboard. As someone who types professionally and has built up a very fast speed, I'd just as soon not screw around with a silly gimmick to type text messages.
 
I appreciate all of that work that went into this pocket keyboard, but miniaturizing in that manner comes with usability and practicality issues.

Back during Palm Pilot days, I thought the Stowaway Keyboard was about as small as I’d want a folding keyboard to be, primarily for ease of carry and for immediate familiarity and zero learning curve. This is what I’d want in a pocket sized keyboard.


Image


Image

Oh wow, talk about a blast from the past. Thanks for that. I absolutely loved this keyboard. Sort of dating myself here....
 
How does Ctrl/Alt/Command/Esc work on this thing? This might come in handy if I have to SSH to a server somewhere and I only have the iPhone.
 
I have no objection to MacRumors reviewing products like this; certainly they can get access to lots of accessories before they hit the market and it's neat to see what's coming.

With that said, it does seem out of place as a Front Page story. If MacRumors had a Reviews page and put this there, I'd have no problem with it. The only reviews I'd expect to see as Front Page news would be for an actual Apple Device or possibly even a major direct competitor's product, but not for every accessory with narrow appeal.
 
Firstly, excellent editorial article, as someone in the market for a small but useable keyboard this article delivered what I needed. I'm a writer, I used to carry around a notebook and jot down all those fleeting moments of inspiration (think Seinfeld's napkin), I now tend to use my iPhone/iPad Mini & notes/Scapple but it is not perfect, unlike some of the suggestions I don't want to carry around a MacBook/Air as they don't slip into my jacket pocket, there are many situations that I like to get stuff jotted down without drawing any attention to myself, there are also many occasions where I can find myself with 20/30 mins time when I'm out and about and it would be great to whip this out and get some work done, esp if it works well with Scapple/Scriviner.

Did any of the experienced user mention working between keyboard i.e. I'd use this out and about but revert to MacBook or normal keyboard at home, once you are used to both is it easy to move between them.

Thanks again for informative article with an actual opinion.

Good question. I'm not sure on transitioning between the TextBlade and a normal keyboard. WayTools has a forum where you might want to ask that question: https://forum.waytools.com

I'd imagine that once you've gotten used to it, swapping between the two won't be much of an issue. You're not going to forget how to use one by using the other, just like a mobile keyboard now.

----------

Two questions.
1 can it pair to multiple devices like the Logitech bt one that you just press the button for the device you want to type on.

2 Can I work with a Mac, Xbox, or Apple TV as well? That's a bad ass looking keyboard. I could keep it next to tv for those things

I travel with and use a Macbook Air extensively. One advantage of that as well as some of the other keyboards for iOS devices is that I can or could place them in my lap and type. No need for a flat stable surface onto which to set my keyboard. Any thoughts on how to address this issue with the TextBlade/iOS device combination?

The TextBlade approach seems really innovative. If it can really be faster than a traditional keyboard layout, might it eventually make it into laptop designs in some form? I know that in the past there have been many alternatives to the traditional keyboard layout that offer the potential for faster or more ergonometric typing but they never seem to get serious traction against the traditional layout.

The TextBlade was definitely designed to be used on a desk or a table or other flat surface. There's a grippy polymer on the bottom of the keys and the stand that keeps it from moving around on a desk, and that won't work quite as well in a lap.

If I were going to use the TextBlade in my lap, I think I'd probably put it on a book or journal or something for a stable surface. It also works with an iPad Smart Cover as a surface - the magnets in the TextBlade let it stick to the Smart Cover, which you can put in your lap.

As for your Mac, Xbox, and Apple TV, the answer is that TextBlade will work with any device that supports Bluetooth 4.0. They had one paired up with a Mac Pro at their office.

----------

Does TextBlade have a Backlit Keyboard ?

Can You See The Keys at Night?

If Yes, Then they thought of everything...!!!!

TextBlade's keys are not backlit.
 
I have no objection to MacRumors reviewing products like this; certainly they can get access to lots of accessories before they hit the market and it's neat to see what's coming.

With that said, it does seem out of place as a Front Page story. If MacRumors had a Reviews page and put this there, I'd have no problem with it. The only reviews I'd expect to see as Front Page news would be for an actual Apple Device or possibly even a major direct competitor's product, but not for every accessory with narrow appeal.

I agree. There has clearly been an uptick in product-related, pseudo advertisements on Macrumors. I don't blame the site at all - they should milk this readership for all it's worth. All in all, I still love this site and come here all the time. A few ads won't turn me away. But to those up in arms about it, just show me a major tech site that doesn't try to monetize their readership numbers. It's a new world.....
 
Oh wow, talk about a blast from the past. Thanks for that. I absolutely loved this keyboard. Sort of dating myself here....

If I dated myself, I might find myself a cheapskate whereas I thought I was being thrifty; taking myself out to MacDonald's and then pickup a flick from Red Box. ;)
 
That's good to know. The reason this post set off alarm bells with me (and it seems, a lot of other readers) is that it has the relentlessly positive tone of a press release, and contains a lot more superlatives than macrumors articles usually do, with precious little of your site's usual scepticism about wild claims to balance things up.

Consider this bit: "...a company known for its high-quality NextEngine 3D laser scanner, surprised the world...". Here you launch straight in to what reads like positive spin, implying we ought to have heard of this company and their products are high quality, when actually they make an obscure niche product that's not been widely reviewed. When I googled it, the first page has someone selling a nearly new one on ebay for about 1/3 the store price. As for 'surprised the world'... really? The whole world? You're drastically overstating the impact this product announcement had - I'm part of the target audience and I barely even remembered the announcement.

Later on: "According to Knighton, the company did not set out to develop a keyboard for the iPhone or the iPad, they set out to develop a keyboard that's a better experience, overall, than any available keyboard, mobile or desktop." here, you've let the company make a wild and ridiculous claim without challenging it at all. That's something your readers expect press releases to do, not reviews, and it gives the impression that the article was at worst a cut and paste press release, or perhaps paid for, approved by their marketing people in return for early access, or written under some other unsavoury arrangement like that.

Then when we get to the product's drawbacks, they are either ignored (the battery being non replaceable gets no comment at all) or lied about: "generous spacing (which matches a desktop keyboard)"... right next to a picture that shows the spacing is way, way smaller than a desktop keyboard!

This is a very fair criticism and I really appreciate this feedback. Something I'll definitely keep in mind for future posts of this type. Let me make a few comments:

I used some of the language that I did in the opening bit because I realize this is a long post and I was hoping to draw people in, this obviously had the wrong impact. I also thought it was fair to share what the WayTools team told me about what they were aiming for with the TextBlade's development (note: it doesn't say the company achieved this - just that it was their goal).

For the battery, that's not out of the ordinary for a portable keyboard, so it's not something that I saw as a drawback. Can I replace the battery on the BrydgeAir or the ClamCase Pro or the Logitech Keys to Go? No.

I'm a bit confused on the accusation that I was lying about spacing. If you look at the position of the letters on the TextBlade in the image of it on top of the Apple Keyboard, you'll see that the spacing is either the same or more generous. This was referring to horizontal spacing, not vertical. Vertically the TextBlade is of course much more compact.
 
Very interesting, while I imagine myself using this, and I do not mind paying $100 for a good startup innovation but I am not sure if this has track pad for Tablet or Touch Laptop....? I kind of like Surface Pro Keyboard with Trackpad or many other Bluetooth Keyboards with Trackpads, of course none of them can be folded like this one for sure!

What makes you think it would have a trackpad? Especially since iOS devices don't even support a trackpad
 
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