Sonder's Customizable E-Ink Keyboard Again Rumored for 2018 MacBooks as CEO Denies Meeting Tim Cook

[magicschoolbus]

This will save them $$.

You can just pull up whatever language on the keys.

Imagine launching Pro Tools - keyboard changes to a Pro Tools Keyboard

Same w/ Photo Shop, iMovie, ETC.

 

[Ries]

This will save them $$.

You can just pull up whatever language on the keys.

Imagine launching Pro Tools - keyboard changes to a Pro Tools Keyboard

Same w/ Photo Shop, iMovie, ETC.

It will also suck ass

 

[soucisyl]

Uh....why is Macrumors dismissing this? The CEO said he didn't meet with Tim Cook on that date. He didn't say he didn't meet with Time Cook at all.

Absolutely, I thought that at my first read. In particular, he strongly emphasized the date. Something is not clean.

 

[Thunderhawks]

P

2018? Let's worry about 2016 first.

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not any simpler.

I don't see why I would need this, but I'll keep an open mind and check it out when available.
(But, only with an extended version with numerical keypad)

For now, I'll type letter, number or symbol shows up.

Done.

 

[2457282]

the sonder web page is not available

I got that as well. What could that mean?

 

[peterdevries]

Come on. If Apple's going to use this tech, they'll either design it themselves or buy out the company.

Nonsense. Have you seen the list of licensed technologies that Apple mentions in their product descriptions? Apple has lots of licenses running and it makes sense to do so.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

The Guardian got played by one more ****** dishonest startup looking for free publicity. Just like they way Lewis of "Unbox Therapy" misleads and cheats to get followers.

 

[X38]

Excellent! Should have been done 20 years ago. Definitely needs to be done as soon as possible.

 

[kemal]

This looks great! So finally I can get a laptop with Papyrus font keycaps!

 

[Thunderhawks]

I can only imagine the amazement and collective joy as Apple updates the MacBook/air/pro lines this year and then comes out with a courageous and completely new design and device with this tech in 2018.

I don't see much more that can be done, besides thinning, increase and use faster memory and SSD sizes.

As long as we need a screen to look at that part is needed and as long as we have to type that part is needed.

To put the two together with a hinge is the usual solution, however as we know there are also versions where the keyboard can be detached.

Doesn't matter what Apple presents , people will still be complaining about lack of innovation for yet another matured electronics market segment.

 

[djlythium]

Ridiculous rumor. Apple would never add this functionality to a keyboard for such a low price.

But in all seriousness, this is an interesting concept, but as the main input option for a computer, would likely seem a little too gimmicky for Apple to try to rock the boat. Can you imagine the rush to class action lawsuits if 2 or 3 of these had errors and someone couldn't change their keys back from Mandarin or emojis? Certainly someone would need to cover those lost wages and the emotional distress.

Seems as gimmicky as a dual-lens camera, though more functional on a day-to-day basis.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Imagine launching Pro Tools - keyboard changes to a Pro Tools Keyboard

Same w/ Photo Shop, iMovie, ETC.

I agree, this would be awesome. I've wanted a dynamic keyboard for so long. This would be so useful on Excel, where there are endless key shortcuts that are actually very useful.

I remember being sort of psyched up and then let down by the Optimus keyboard though. That was nearly 10 years ago, and it never became affordable nor very mainstream.

 

[peterdevries]

http://appleinsider.com/articles/16...ear-to-spring-from-single-questionable-source

So it´s probably nonsense.....

 

[soucisyl]

P


Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not any simpler.

I don't see why I would need this, but I'll keep an open mind and check it out when available.
(But, only with an extended version with numerical keypad)

For now, I'll type letter, number or symbol shows up.

Done.

It’s very useful when you have to write in other languages. The majority of people in earth have English as second language. We have continuously to switch between language keyboard. Internet is mostly in English, but with family and at work in other countries, we have a different language and characters (e.g. Thailand, China, etc.).

For me, I have to switch with French, English, Thai and IPA. Each time I have to put/remove a cover skin, switch the keyboard on my Mac and type, and that 100 times per day. It’s a good feature. I think seriously to buy this thing even I have a laptop to connect it with Bluetooth, but I will wait for the review first. The quality of the keyboard (speed refresh, typing comfort) looks awkward.

 

[a0me]

You can just pull up whatever language on the keys.

It would be a godsend for all expats needing a non-US keyboard on their MacBook as our options are currently very limited.

 

[landrew4]

In an ongoing story surrounding the alleged talks between Apple and Australian startup Sonder, The Wall Street Journal is today adding its own set of "people familiar with the plans" to the report. The new article reiterates a 2018 launch window for customizable e-ink keyboards on Apple's MacBook line, which was mentioned in a now-deleted Reddit post that began the rumors last week.

In response to the increasing amount of rumors surrounding Apple and Sonder, the latter company this week has confirmed that it never met with Apple during Tim Cook's travels in China and Japan, suggesting that any talk of Apple's acquisition of Sonder is false.

In a press release, Sonder CEO Francisco Serra-Martin stated that the original article by The Guardian -- which ignited the story on the back of the Reddit post -- "contains a number of factual errors." Serra-Martin confirmed that he "did not meet Tim Cook on Wednesday 12th October 2016," which The Guardian story said he did, without providing specifics of the meeting and its potential relation to acquisition talks.
With Serra-Martin's direct confirmation of the original story's lack of veracity, it appears that, for now, Apple's plans aren't immediately related to introducing the customizable e-ink technology into MacBooks or Magic Keyboards. Sonder's own e-ink "Sonder Keyboard" is launching later this year for $199.

Article Link: Sonder's Customizable E-Ink Keyboard Again Rumored for 2018 MacBooks as CEO Denies Meeting Tim Cook

Finally a solution that opens up the door for the resurgence of APL... (for those old enough to remember the special keyboards...)

 

[peterdevries]

I agree, this would be awesome. I've wanted a dynamic keyboard for so long. This would be so useful on Excel, where there are endless key shortcuts that are actually very useful.

I remember being sort of psyched up and then let down by the Optimus keyboard though. That was nearly 10 years ago, and it never became affordable nor very mainstream.

I bought one of Lebedev´s products and the build quality and technical quality were both abysmal.

 

[1madman1]

The only thing I don't like about the keyboard pictured above is the short shift key on the left side of the keyboard. We're cursed with those in Canada, as every laptop manufacturer seems to choose the "bilingual keyboard" layout because they're required to offer that as an option, and it's cheaper to just make it the default instead of providing an actual choice. I can't stand keyboards like that. Theoretically, it makes it easier to type in French. But in practice, it messes up my typing. Every time I try to hit the left shift key, I end up hitting that extra key instead. Very annoying.

Bilingual isn't a regulatory requirement, nor was it a decision of the manufacturers. The shift to "Canadian Multilingual" keyboards with certain brands happened at the request of national retailers to simplify inventory management, primarily due to the rise of eStores that need to sell the same stock as their physical locations countrywide. I was in retail in 2007/2008 when the shift took place and heard this from reps with both HP and Sony.

 

[Strozzascotte]

The new timing controller is 10Hz, meaning smooth transitions and partial updating of the display. The video released was of a super early unit with an old timing controller module.

Francisco, can you tell us the truth? Apart from Tim Cook, did you meet with some other important Apple executive on any other date?

 

[bennyf]

I'd sooner want a keyboard with no labels. Why customize something that you really shouldn't be looking at very much?

Custom keycaps just sounds like something Asus or Gimmicks-r-us would put in their laptop not Apple. And there's no way on earth this tech would save them money on having to make multiple keyboards layouts. There are robots that can grab and pop on whatever keys desired and little kids who will do it even cheaper.

Please don't ask the rest of us to subsidize your childish toys and put e-Ink keys in every Macbook.

Example of a truly Apple-worthy Pro keyboard:

 

[oneMadRssn]

I bought one of Lebedev´s products and the build quality and technical quality were both abysmal.

That's what I've heard from a few people. I like the idea in theory though. It seems like e-ink might actually be perfect for this use.

 

[ChristianVirtual]

Why not just a kind of iPad screen keyboard with an improved haptic machine ? All technology already in house.

Plus eInk still seems slow. Not impressed when I have to use caps/shift and change from x to X. Need better UX

 

[netwalker]

It will also suck ass

Yes, that looks horrible. The glossy reflection on the keys and where it displays the key mapping.

I like the idea for switching between languages or using special editing software with key commands but it would have to be much better than that Sonders keyboard.

 

[Boyd01]

Great, take something really cheap and simple and replace it with something expensive and complex. If they do this, I hope it's an extra added cost option, I'm perfectly happy with a regular keyboard. Seems like Apple will never be happy until they dumb the Mac down to the level of an iPhone.

 

[fatalogic]

I'd sooner want a keyboard with no labels. Why customize something that you really shouldn't be looking at very much?

Custom keycaps just sounds like something Asus or Gimmicks-r-us would put in their laptop not Apple. And there's no way on earth this tech would save them money on having to make multiple keyboards layouts. There are robots that can grab and pop on whatever keys desired and little kids who will do it even cheaper.

Please don't ask the rest of us to subsidize your childish toys and put e-Ink keys in every Macbook.

Example of a truly Apple-worthy Pro keyboard:

Hey hey leave the das keyboard out of this it never hurt anyone. It's just a beautiful piece of typing perfection.