New iPod Dock-Enabled Keyboard Coming?

[MacRumors]

ThinkSecret publishes a hearsay report citing a few readers who have apparently received USB keyboard replacements from Apple repair depots that have built-in iPod docks.

According to sources, who were unable to see the keyboard themselves but heard about its existence from those who had, a small number of the unreleased keyboards were sent out to customers on the east coast who had sent their original keyboards to Apple for replacement. The number of misdirected keyboards is estimated to be less than ten and all are believed to have been recovered by Apple.

At this time, MacRumors is unable to independently verify the claims. Apple last updated their input peripherals in July 2006 with the release of the Bluetooth Mighty Mouse.

 

[longofest]

Note that hearsay reports are some of the most uncertain reports you can get..

"My friend told me that blah blah blah..."

Then again, it seems like they got multiple reports, so it makes it a little more palatable. Still, weird that none of the guys who reported it got a look at the keyboard.

 

[twoodcc]

very nice. i don't have an ipod dock, but i might buy that keyboard. hopefully it'll be released soon

 

[Doctor Q]

If somebody got one, you'd think they'd take a photo of it, especially if Apple contacted them and said "Oops, we gave you a secret unreleased keyboard by mistake and need you to give it back!"

 

[andiwm2003]

having my 4G ipod sticking out of my keyboard is a bad thing. looks stupid, blocks the view to the monitor and when you move the keyboard your ipod falls out. i don't think this rumor is true.

 

[WildCowboy]

If somebody got one, you'd think they'd take a photo of it, especially if Apple contacted them and said "Oops, we gave you a secret unreleased keyboard by mistake and need you to give it back!"

There is that pesky NDA Apple supposedly made them sign. When there are only ten (or fewer) of you, you'd best not break that. (Of course, they do seem to have told their friends, but that may have been in the milliseconds before Apple contacted them and before they could get a pic sent off.)

 

[Mgkwho]

what does this say about bluetooth and iPods? or is the bluetooth only through an accessory/add on like nike+?

-=|Mgkwho

 

[Doctor Q]

There is that pesky NDA Apple supposedly made them sign. When there are only ten (or fewer) of you, you'd best not break that. (Of course, they do seem to have told their friends, but that may have been in the milliseconds before Apple contacted them and before they could get a pic sent off.)

If Apple mistakenly sent you the wrong replacement keyboard, how could they get you to sign an NDA?

 

[pyramid6]

If Apple mistakenly sent you the wrong replacement keyboard, how could they get you to sign an NDA?

Give me a free MacBook and I'll sign an NDA.

 

[WildCowboy]

If Apple mistakenly sent you the wrong replacement keyboard, how could they get you to sign an NDA?

They asked very nicely.

Maybe they gave them a Mac Pro if they agreed to sign on the dotted line.

 

[kingtj]

NDA? Yeah, right....

Exactly what I was thinking.... Plus, do you realize what one of these would be worth on the open market? eBay that thing and you'd be likely to get hundreds of dollars for it. Sure beats a replacement of a $29.95 or so keyboard, doesn't it?

Legally-speaking, all Apple could really do is threaten to bill you for the retail price of the product if you refused to return it to them. (Heck, you could insist that you never received the shipment if they didn't make you sign for the package ... And as I recall, last time Apple sent me a replacement warranty part, the box was just left at my doorstep, no signature required.)

If Apple mistakenly sent you the wrong replacement keyboard, how could they get you to sign an NDA?

 

[jagolden]

having my 4G ipod sticking out of my keyboard is a bad thing. looks stupid, blocks the view to the monitor and when you move the keyboard your ipod falls out. i don't think this rumor is true.

May I suggest a pillow on your chair or placing the monitor more ergonomically?

Also, don't swing the keyboard over your head by it's cord

 

[eightball0]

this story doesn't make sense:

- people receive keyboard better than existing keyboard
- they decide to return it to Apple
- Apple asks people to sign NDA to receive original keyboard

Where's the inducement for the people who received the dock + keyboard to send it back? And where's the inducement to sign an NDA?

Those people were not legally required to sign an NDA nor send the keyboard back. Why would they have done so? Note that under US law, if someone sends you something in the mail, it's yours, and you're under no obligation to send it back (unless you have an existing contract under which you promised to return it--that wouldn't apply to any Apple warranty policy though.)

 

[Analog Kid]

Bunk. Everything about this reeks of bunk...

Legally-speaking, all Apple could really do is threaten to bill you for the retail price of the product if you refused to return it to them. (Heck, you could insist that you never received the shipment if they didn't make you sign for the package ... And as I recall, last time Apple sent me a replacement warranty part, the box was just left at my doorstep, no signature required.)

If they're in the US, Apple can't bill them for an incorrect shipment. They could, of course, threaten to, but they couldn't do it.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I wouldn't be surprised, but without photos I take it with a grain of salt.

 

[xfiftyfour]

this rumor ought to be on page 2. i mean, rumors are rumors, but this seems ridiculous.

if the users who received the keyboard went and spilled their guts to an apple rumors site, then they obviously couldn't care less about any supposed NDA or keeping hush-hush. so.. why no pics?

at any rate, i'd have to see it, but from what i'm imagining, a docking keyboard doesn't seem like a very good idea, and i doubt i'd be buying one.

 

[PlaceofDis]

i think the tablet mac is more likely than this to be honest.

 

[zv470]

Yeah, I don't think Apple would make something like this... an iPod sticking out of your keyboard is a terrible idea... would constantly get in the way... eg: when reaching for the mouse, etc...

 

[drlunanerd]

It'd be very useful if Apple offered a keyboard that had USB2, that could be used as a hub. There's a third-party one available (can't remember the manufacturer, prolly MacAlly) and it always seemed such a no-brainer for Apple to sell one themselves.

 

[guzhogi]

Sound kinda cool if it were true. The only thing is, to my knowledge, keyboards run at USB 1.0 or 1.1 speeds, not USB 2. And once you connect a 1.x device to any USB port, the whole chain will go to 1.1 speeds. So either the iPod transfer speeds would be slow as heck or (more probably) Apple will up the keyboard speed. Remember, USB was originally designed to replace serial ports (like ADB & printer ports on Macs and PS/2 on PCs) and meant for relatively slow devices that don't need much bandwidth (mice, keyboards, printers).

 

[guzhogi]

Yeah, I don't think Apple would make something like this... an iPod sticking out of your keyboard is a terrible idea... would constantly get in the way... eg: when reaching for the mouse, etc...

Or block the screen.

 

[puckhead193]

thats a dumb idea.... if its a video or even a nano the thing would look stupid sticking up...maybe i can see fits a shuffle

 

[w_parietti22]

thats a dumb idea.... if its a video or even a nano the thing would look stupid sticking up...maybe i can see fits a shuffle

I dont think apple will release it if it looks stupid and doesnt work properly.

 

[840quadra]

Sound kinda cool if it were true. The only thing is, to my knowledge, keyboards run at USB 1.0 or 1.1 speeds, not USB 2. And once you connect a 1.x device to any USB port, the whole chain will go to 1.1 speeds. So either the iPod transfer speeds would be slow as heck or (more probably) Apple will up the keyboard speed. Remember, USB was originally designed to replace serial ports (like ADB & printer ports on Macs and PS/2 on PCs) and meant for relatively slow devices that don't need much bandwidth (mice, keyboards, printers).

I am sure if this was to become standard, the USB ports on the Keyboard would become USB 2.0, as you speculated.

I still have the strong belief that going to USB 2.0 on ipods was a bad move in the first place, but that is an old debate that I guess I shouldn't rehash.

 

[jsw]

If this is valid - arguably a big "if" - it seems to me to be not unlikely that the keyboard would be used to provide input to some iPod function, not just serve as a dock. Just an idea. iPhone dock, anyone?