To my own credit I did say "Lots of little programable OLED screens on a large device". I figure 113 keys with OLED displays on them plus the accompanying electronics to control it all isn't dirt cheap. But I would also figure there is enough leeway (read:uniqueness) in it that one could have a tidy profit margin (that thing Apple loves) when selling them.
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Optimus-like OLED Apple Keyboard?
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To my own credit I did say "Lots of little programable OLED screens on a large device". I figure 113 keys with OLED displays on them plus the accompanying electronics to control it all isn't dirt cheap. But I would also figure there is enough leeway (read:uniqueness) in it that one could have a tidy profit margin (that thing Apple loves) when selling them.
Apple/Optimus
I don't see what the big problem is here; Apple has plenty of cash in the bank. It would be a lot easier for them to just buy this company and make the changes on the keyboard to fit Apple's vision. I was reading about a month ago that Apple needs to spend some of the money they have accumulated. Several analysts made comments on what they could purchase.
I don't see what the big problem is here; Apple has plenty of cash in the bank. It would be a lot easier for them to just buy this company and make the changes on the keyboard to fit Apple's vision. I was reading about a month ago that Apple needs to spend some of the money they have accumulated. Several analysts made comments on what they could purchase.
I'm not willing to pay over $10,000 for one, but I'd probably pay a few hundred, as long as Apple provides Cocoa classes for programming it. I can think of all kinds of cool things it could do for application developers.
This looks interesting. I personally think it would be pretty cool. I wouldn't go out and special purchase one I don't think, but if it came with a new computer that would be neat.
They use the cash for R&D, just like most companies with large cash reserves. They do spend it, just not on physical acquisitions.
They use the cash for R&D, just like most companies with large cash reserves. They do spend it, just not on physical acquisitions.
The article mentions that Apple has a lot more cash on hand than most companies. Way to much for R&D alone. The analysts said it was not a good idea for Apple to keep that much cash on hand and needed to invest in physical acquisitions.
I've wanted one of the Optimus Keyboards for ages but the cost is a little bit of a killer. If Apple releases something like this I would buy in second ( :looking for avatar where the icon is getting a credit card ready: ) 
I would so be loling if we see something like this at Macworld 2008
I would so be loling if we see something like this at Macworld 2008
Ok i think i see what you are getting at,...
In the apple invention it is a keyboard of keys with screens.
The key is self-contained it has an IC with memory which gets loaded with the bitmaps ahead of time, then displays the bitmaps when told, the key may even have it's own switch built-in, so it could send a signal down the line to say it's been pressed. Which means it might be able watch the bus and react to other keys.
The Keyboard is a great idea but it's clear the Optimus method is really complex.
This is really simple, mass produce keys, in a couple of sizes, then drop them in to place then map them. Sure each key is harder to produce but then you are taking out the printing and sorting steps as well.
You could see the keys being sold for lots of other button applications (illuminated controls in cars, planes) as well, which drives the economy of scale.
wow. this is a great piece of news (rumor?) If Apple goes ahead with this... well that'll be sweeet!!
Indeed. No offense to his ingenuity, but Lebedev is selling a half-baked product. It's cool, but brittle, expensive and hard to come by. He married himself to an approach that doesn't scale well to keyboard dimensions, and however cool it is, he's been failing slowly at it for years now. His product is available to only a statistically insignificant fraction of its potential audience. Admittedly I only became aware today that he'd ever gotten them into anyone's hands.
The approach described in the Apple application is much simpler and more robust. A two-wire interface to a locally-chipped key solves a couple of the major problems Lebedev seemingly couldn't, and the fact Apple describes a method for manufacturing the keys themselves is quite important. Really, the most significant parts of the patent are the ones that probably seem most boring from the "cool product" perspective.
Figuring out how to make somebody else's failing idea work isn't idea theft. The way to make it work is the idea. Lebedev says he has patents pending on his work. Might be that Apple owes him some royalties if they make this keyboard, but that's for future negotiations to decide. In fact, if Apple figures out a way to make this technology affordable to the size of audience that has expressed interest in it, Lebedev might come out way ahead on royalties compared to what he'd make selling his own board at $1600 a pop. This is the way the system is supposed to work. People who innovate make money and we get better products.
alone?
Am I the only person who does not think this is the greatest thing ever? I mean, it's an overpriced overly complex keyboard. Manufacturing costs will be enormous, even if Apple finds "a cheap way". The cost of materials, in real environmental impact, seems far too high compared to what can be done with just a regular keyboard. How does one recycle such a keyboard? What happens when you spill some water, or soda, on it? (We have that happen quarterly at our office, desk-eaters.) Can just one key be replaced if it fails or gets cracked? How will it look in 5 years, do the keys become dirty and smudgy (like every well used keyboard)? Will it even work in 3 years (like all Apple keyboards, some slowly fail to work on older AND newer machines)?
Am I the only person who does not think this is the greatest thing ever? I mean, it's an overpriced overly complex keyboard. Manufacturing costs will be enormous, even if Apple finds "a cheap way". The cost of materials, in real environmental impact, seems far too high compared to what can be done with just a regular keyboard. How does one recycle such a keyboard? What happens when you spill some water, or soda, on it? (We have that happen quarterly at our office, desk-eaters.) Can just one key be replaced if it fails or gets cracked? How will it look in 5 years, do the keys become dirty and smudgy (like every well used keyboard)? Will it even work in 3 years (like all Apple keyboards, some slowly fail to work on older AND newer machines)?
This is like, "Off the scale" cool!
It would be practical too if the keys could be re-mapped for different apps on the fly!
It would be practical too if the keys could be re-mapped for different apps on the fly!
This is like, "Off the scale" cool!
It would be practical too if the keys could be re-mapped for different apps on the fly!
Ahhhhh...That's the whole point. It does do that.
The idea is brilliant. And if the price tag for the optimus would be about a third I would start considering it. I have to use multiple keyboard layouts and would be incredible happy with that technology. Switching between German, English (for programming) and WUBI-XING would be very cool. Not to even mention Photoshop that I use occasionally too. If Apple makes it happen within a reaqsonible price (and that is for me everything up to 500 USD) I will buy it.
Oh, so you think EVERYONE should copy from Apple, like...Microsoft? I'm not picking a side, I'm just using Microsoft as an example since so many people complain how Microsoft copies from Apple.
The patent system sucks so what does it matter.
$10,000 is your limit, eh?
Bring on MacWorld.
Bring on a bucket-load of disappointment too!
He said that's a price he's not willing to pay. He said he'd only be willing to pay a few hundred.$10,000 is your limit, eh?
Bring on MacWorld.
Bring on a bucket-load of disappointment too!
Is this cheaper or more practical than a keyboard that is a single touch screen where keys can not only change but be replaced by sliders and dials etc.? Of course there is the key travel response argument but the iPhone is already changing the way people think about keyboards as is the new Apple keyboard. I imagine that the Optimus type keyboard would be more expensive (or the same price) due to labour intensiveness, but I may well be wrong. Either way these keyboards will mean a lot more time looking at the keyboard rather than the screen as our touch type brains get scrambled with the idea of contextual layouts - reminds me of those keyboard overlays that you used to get for the function keys with WordPerfect.
Edit: Just seen Optimus Tactus (http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus-tactus/) which is the company's next step. I think however that the company seem very stuck with the traditional form factor of a keyboard and that using the touch screen functionality to make the screen area smaller may make for a better value keyboard. This is where Apple's innovations in software and daring could take the concept to its next level.
Edit: Just seen Optimus Tactus (http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus-tactus/) which is the company's next step. I think however that the company seem very stuck with the traditional form factor of a keyboard and that using the touch screen functionality to make the screen area smaller may make for a better value keyboard. This is where Apple's innovations in software and daring could take the concept to its next level.
Or a big red button that, when you press it, changes to say "Do not press this button again"