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Jorno Review: Hands-On With a Tri-Fold Portable Keyboard for iOS Devices

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Continuing on with our series of keyboard reviews, we're taking a look at the portable, foldable Jorno keyboard. The Jorno made its debut on Kickstarter way back in 2012, and after years of refinements and design changes, the keyboard began shipping out to customers in March of 2015.

The Jorno's look is quite a bit different than the original concept presented in 2012, but the basic idea is the same -- it's a tri-fold Bluetooth keyboard that collapses down for better portability. The Jorno name heralds the design of the keyboard, which resembles a Moleskine journal when it's folded up for travel.

jornoiphonestand.jpg

What's in the Box and Setup

The Jorno ships in a compact box that includes the keyboard itself, the cover/stand that holds it up, and a USB cable for charging. Setting up the Jorno takes just a few seconds. When it's unfolded, it's powered on (as indicated by a green light) and Bluetooth can be activated by holding down function and tapping the Bluetooth key (the "C").

jornowhatsinthebox.jpg

From there, it pairs within the Settings menu of an iPhone or iPad like any other Bluetooth accessory.

Design

The Jorno is a two-piece accessory with a QWERTY keyboard and a separate stand rather than a keyboard case, so it's able to work with a wide range of devices, including the iPhone, the iPad, and other smartphones and tablets. The main component of the Jorno is the keyboard itself, which is collapsible and can be folded down into a 5.7 by 3.5 inch package that's then covered by the case/stand for travel.

jornopieces.jpg

When the Jorno is not in use, the black leather-like stand serves as a case, but when you need to type something, it folds into a triangle shape held together by magnets, much like an iPad Smart Cover. A small plastic lip at the bottom ensures an iPhone or an iPad stays in place, and the magnets that hold it all together are strong enough that nothing is in danger of falling over. Since it's just a simple stand, the Jorno's case can hold an iPhone or iPad in landscape or portrait mode for typing, watching videos, and more.


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Article Link: Jorno Review: Hands-On With a Tri-Fold Portable Keyboard for iOS Devices
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/review/jorno-tri-fold-portable-keyboard-for-ios-devices/
Hahaha. I'm a really loud typer to begin with, can only imagine the kind of racket I'd make with this wobbling around!

I'd hurt myself with those screws eventually too. :p

Thanks for the review. Glad it at least shipped. So many Kickstarter failures out there.
 
The warranty will probably run out before you have to charge it a second time. 90 days? Yeesh.
 
I watched people use roughly this type of keyboard with their pda's 15 years ago. I'm surprised they're not more common now. It turns a phone or tablet into a much more productive unit.
 
applepuree said:
I assume thats a paid for advert ?
:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Tons of people say this exact same thing every time they do a review. I don't get it. What's the difference between this site doing a review or Engadget or any other tech site doing a review?
 
His claims that the Journo were copied would be more credible if he'd shown any images of the "new" design at any time before March of this year. The EC Technologies "version" of the keyboard came out in late 2014, at which time the Journo still ostensibly looked like this:

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...table-folding-bluetooth-keyboard/posts/834954

(The earliest keyboard design of this type is the Shenzhen Hastech Industries HB660 - which passed FCC testing in September 2014. It even appeared at Cebit 2015 shortly before the "new" Journo was unveiled. If we're to believe that the HB660 is a knock-off of the Journo, that means that the Journo was somehow beaten to production by its own knock-offs by six months.)

There would be history here: Cervantes attempted to launch the Jorno in 2010, only to cancel it later. They then claimed to be switching to the "Nomad", which it turned out was just a rebadged OEM product.

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/cervantes-unveils-jorno-bluetooth-keyboard/
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/Hyped-jorno-keyboard-stand-killed-before-delivery

Would Macrumors mind reading off the FCC ID from the back of the device? The one for the HB660 is 2AC9LHB066.
 
Last edited:
i get wanting a keyboard for the iPad. I actually have a keyboard cover from logitech for mine (what i am typing this response on). But keyboards for the iPhone? That went out with the blackberry and the slideout keyboard phones from a decade ago. Even with the Huge phones today (including the iPhone 6+), i don't see anyone typing more than a text message or a facebook entry through the phone. For that the onscreen keyboard seems just fine.

For the iPad, I prefer a keyboard, because I actually due enough typing on it that the on-screen is not sufficient for me. I prefer it to the Mac Air 90% of the time. But it seems more convinient to get a keyboard cover versus having them as seperate devices. The new Macbook could change that for me.

Bottom line is that this devices is too expensive, especially when keyboard covers exist for less. THe number of folks carry this around for their phone will likely be a niche group of people, unless they buy the cheaper amazon version.
 
Thank you for linking to the Amazon version. Didn't know it existed and I just now bought that one. I don't need a leather case for an extra $65ish bucks.
 
subjonas said:
Tons of people say this exact same thing every time they do a review. I don't get it. What's the difference between this site doing a review or Engadget or any other tech site doing a review?
Click to expand...

Dont get me wrong, I have no objection to adverts that look like reviews, so long as they are marked as such. This review just reads like an advert to me.
 
applepuree said:
Dont get me wrong, I have no objection to adverts that look like reviews, so long as they are marked as such. This review just reads like an advert to me.
Click to expand...

Headline: Jorno Review...

First sentence: Continuing on with our series of keyboard reviews...

What exactly should MacRumors say?
 
applepuree said:
Dont get me wrong, I have no objection to adverts that look like reviews, so long as they are marked as such. This review just reads like an advert to me.
Click to expand...

Seen many adverts that say, "irritating," or, "Features are too basic for the price"?

It's not an advert, despite your paranoia.
 
sockatume said:
His claims that the Journo were copied would be more credible if he'd shown any images of the "new" design at any time before March of this year. The EC Technologies "version" of the keyboard came out in late 2014, at which time the Journo still ostensibly looked like this:

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...table-folding-bluetooth-keyboard/posts/834954

(The earliest keyboard design of this type is the Shenzhen Hastech Industries HB660 - which passed FCC testing in September 2014. It even appeared at Cebit 2015 shortly before the "new" Journo was unveiled. If we're to believe that the HB660 is a knock-off of the Journo, that means that the Journo was somehow beaten to production by its own knock-offs by six months.)

There would be history here: Cervantes attempted to launch the Jorno in 2010, only to cancel it later. They then claimed to be switching to the "Nomad", which it turned out was just a rebadged OEM product.

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/ne...xtBlade, but the Stowaway was a great design.
Click to expand...
 
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