I’m really intrigued by the video, and the concept but why? 10 years ago I would have loved it, but this guy is wayyyyyy too long.
I’m really intrigued by the video, and the concept but why? 10 years ago I would have loved it, but this guy is wayyyyyy too long.
Better versions of this have existed for a long time. They did not take off, and I don’t know why a shittier one that makes your phone a foot long would.
Eh … things and people change … the smartphone is now something different compared to then.
I’m guessing back then, a big part of the iPhone appeal was so much being compacted into a pretty small device given how much you were doing with it. But people were also heavy users of desktops or laptops which were the chief computational devices in people’s lives.
Now … screens are much bigger (seriously, I found an old iphone and was a little surprised at how small it was) and phones are thought of more, especially by younger people, as their main computational / digital device. Cases with battery expansions … cases with stands built in … selfie sticks … charging devices from the smartphone. Expanding the smartphone’s size, accessories and functionality is now more normal.
So why not make it bigger … it’s already pretty big and bulky with case accessories … and why not make it more functional … it’s already used for nearly everything already. If someone wants a smaller device for things they’ll just get a smartwatch and leave the phone in their pocket/bag.
Maybe it’s not unrealistic to say since the smartphone’s conception (now 15-20 years ago!!) …
Thing is, there have been variations of keyboard cases for almost every incarnation of the iPhone’s form factor. They’ve been floating around for a decade. I’d be shocked if this was finally the one that caught on.
Fair … it’s not something I follow at all.
Though, I have to say, whether because of age or just growing frustration … I fell like I’ve reached an impasse with typing on a smartphone where I just don’t want to do it anymore for anything longer than a line or so. In general, it definitely feels like UX in need of some creative reimagining to get it more right for this era of using a smartphone for more than sms and quick emails. And in that light, I couldn’t help but think “huh … maybe that’d work” about a physical keyboard.
Personally I won’t knock it until I try it (having never used a blackberry)
If you’ve typed on a Blackberry device at all before, it’ll make sense. I agree the form factor is garbage though.
A landscape one wouldn’t feel that great though IMO, I tried a few mobile landscape keyboards a decade ago and they almost always felt “off” in some way, whether its the key travel, texture, mushiness or key spacing. A company that is actually serious about it would need to design one in that orientation I think
A huge problem with a landscape board on an iPhone is that so much of the UI doesn’t work in landscape.
I have the same trouble when using mine in the controller clamp I have. You’re in a game, in landscape, but you need to switch to settings for whatever reason. Now the app is at 90° to how you’re holding the phone. Same with the Home screen.
It works fine with iPad, because the UI works in both aspects.
This is what I need.
At the bottom in portrait mode is terrible.