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.
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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!!) …
- Laptop -> smartphone
- Smartphone -> smartwatch
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.
I’m interested to see how this thing reviews. But, I think it is DOA.
It is way too expensive, especially to not have MagSafe magnets built in. It only works with the iPhone 14 and 15 which are the third and fourth generation of iPhones that have MagSafe.
The moment for physical keyboards on phones passed like a decade ago. For a phone form factor, a touch screen keyboard is going to be faster and less tiring to use in almost every case. And if you do want a physical keyboard, there are plenty of options that don’t cost as much.
It’s a very weird product decision IMO.
No way I’m personally typing faster on minuscule physical keys compared to a touch keyboard.
I said the exact opposite thing when touch screen phones came out lmao
Here I am 10-15 years in and I am absolutely certain I’d still be way faster on a physical keyboard. I used to blaze on my treo. On my iPhone, not so much.
Yeah I depend way too much on swiping, not to mention having access to tons of other symbols and emoji. macOS and Windows both have workarounds to this, but none of them are anywhere near as convenient and discoverable as a touchscreen keyboard.
Damn, Michael Fisher has really made a name for himself - remember watching him host on Pocketnow over a decade ago. Pretty cool to see he’s released a neat product!
Make it a numpad wit T9 and I’ll be able to write with my hands in my pockets.
I think this would be viable if it had MagSafe. It blows my mind that the company hypes all its design and engineering experience and has a very high case price point yet failed to add a couple of magnets.
Is it 2008?
I think the population has largely adapted to the on screen keyboard.
Also, thumbnail makes no sense. What does the keyboard have to do with the camera app?
I am so excited for this, a keyboard phone that actually gets updates!
Didn’t someone make one of those a year ago and get shot down by patent trolls? Does Clicks have a plan for not succumbing to the same fate?
If I’m thinking of the same one, the problem was that the keyboard was a clone of the Blackberry keyboard. This one should be fine when it comes to patents.
Some of those patents might not be valid anymore… they’ve been suing Apple/Google/Samsung/etc for daring to infringe on patents as broad as “a keyboard designed to be used when you’re not sitting at a desk”. The tech giants have had their legal teams firing on all cylinders to have those bogus patents invalidated.
I really want a physical keyboard, but I’m not sure I could manage with the length of this guy. I wish there was a folding phone with a physical keyboard out there.
Great idea! The iphone keyboard is horrible. Have always missed having tactile keyboard from blackberry days. Im in.
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https://piped.video/e2n2ftM-MwI?si=HgcmpbD93AL9-iVs
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I’m open-source; check me out at GitHub.
