Keyboard

iKeyboard Promises Touch-Typing on Your iPad

Cody Lee ∙ May 12, 2011

One of the biggest downfalls of tablet PCs is the virtual keyboard. Folks who rely on their portable computers for heavy data input have avoided the new trend, due to the lack of a proper keyboard. Up until now, touch-typing on tablets has been a pipe-dream, but Cliff Thier is looking to change that with his invention, the iKeyboard.

This slip on accessory is guaranteed to make you type faster by eliminating the need for "hunt and peck" typing. iKeyboard slips over your iPad 2 in landscape mode, and outlines your virtual keyboard.

Not only does this make finding keys easier, it adds a layer of material on top of your iPad so you can rest your fingers on the keys without typing. This also provides for a similar tactile experience as a normal keyboard.

You can't pick one of these up at the local Best Buy just yet. Cliff Thier started a Kickstarter project for his iKeyboard and it is expected to be funded June 28. Though he has already reach his goal, feel free to pledge $30 or more to grab one of these before they hit the selves. My mouth's watering just thinking about typing with one of these things.

What about you?

Patent Reveals Apple is Looking into New Keyboard Technology

Cody Lee ∙ May 12, 2011

Apple really shocked the world when they unveiled the original iPhone back in 2007. An all touch screen device with no stylus and an on-screen keyboard was certainly not the norm for the wireless industry at that time.

The iPhone's virtual keyboard has generally been at the top of its class, but that hasn't stopped Apple from experimenting. AppleInsider has come across an interesting patent application from the Cupertino company for a new style of compact keyboard...

‘Color Keyboard’ Adds Flair to Your iPhone’s Stock Keyboard

Jeff Benjamin ∙ April 20, 2011

Color Keyboard is a recently released jailbreak tweak that potentially allows you to customize your iPhone's keyboard using whatever color scheme you deem worthy.

I use the word potential, because it's entirely up to you as to whether or not you'll squeeze your money's worth out of it.

The name -- Color Keyboard -- while technically true, might seem as if it's a tad misleading, especially in the shadow of robust jailbreak tweaks like AlertArtist...

‘Black Keyboard’ Allows You to Use the iPhone’s Black Lockscreen Keyboard Anywhere

Jeff Benjamin ∙ April 17, 2011

If you've ever disabled your iPhone's "Simple Passcode" in the Passcode Lock section of the Settings.app, then you're no doubt familiar with the black keyboard that's hidden within iOS.

Most of the folks I know stick to the simple numeric passcode as a means to protect their iPhones, thus they're not aware that a black keyboard even exists.

The sad news is that besides the lock screen, you're unable to use the black keyboard anywhere else; that is, until now.

Black Keyboard is a new jailbreak tweak available for the iPhone that allows you to enable the elusive black keyboard anywhere...

MobType – An Interesting Take on the iPhone Keyboard

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Yesterday we ran a story about the state of Apple's current text input technology in iOS. While their keyboard is extremely popular, consumers lack any alternative method of text input. Though there currently doesn't appear to be any App Store solution at the moment (pending ShapeWriter return), jailbreakers do have an alternative.

That's why we jailbreak our iDevices, right? To have other options besides what Apple deems appropriate for their hardware? Anyways if you're sporting a hacked iPhone or iPod touch and have been looking for something different than the typical boring keyboard, you might want to check out MobType...

Does Apple Need to Upgrade the iPhone’s Text Input Options?

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 18, 2019

I think most of us would agree that the iPhone keyboard is one of the best soft touch keyboards around. The keys are very responsive and touches are accurate. I also think Apple could stand to modernize a bit. Though their standard keyboard is great, they are falling behind the times when it comes to alternative text input.

While many of Google's Android handsets come with options like Swype preinstalled, Apple customers are left sitting on the bank throwing rocks. Those who have played with Swype know what I'm talking about, the concept is amazing. You just draw a line with your finger from letter to letter of the word you want to type on the virtual keyboard...

An iPhone 5 with a Slideout Keyboard?

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

tw.Apple.pro, a Taiwanese website that has a pretty good track record of publishing leaked information about Apple products, claims today that Cupertino has been evaluating 3 different hardware prototypes of the iPhone 5, one of them including a slideout keyboard.

A second prototype apparently would be what the iPhone 3GS was to the iPhone 3G: a similar-looking but improved model. This version of the iPhone 5 would be the same as the iPhone 4, but would have a bigger battery and an improved camera lens...

ManualCorrect Puts Your iPhone’s Auto Correct in Check

Jeff Benjamin ∙ February 14, 2011

I don't believe there's one feature on the iPhone that angers me as much as auto correct. It's always misinterpreting what I'm trying to type, usually with ridiculous results.

Auto correct on the iPhone will turn a phrase like "Let's go have lunch" into "Keep on step eagle." I know, that makes no sense whatsoever, and that's my point.

Fortunately for us, the jailbreak community has had enough of this utter nonsense as well, as evident by the release of ManualCorrect...

iPhone Keyboard Tweak Makes It Easier to See Which Case You’re Typing

Jeff Benjamin ∙ February 13, 2011

I've always believed that the iPhone's most frustrating issues surrounded around composing long messages or filling out exceptionally long forms. Not only is the auto correct particularly troublesome, but I find myself from time to time typing uppercase letters when I meant to type lowercase, and lowercase letters when I meant to type upper case.

It's a particularly frustrating affair culminated by the fact that Apple has decided to keep uppercase letters on their keyboard's keys regardless of your actual case. That's where a tweak like ShowCase comes in handy...

Enhance Your Typing Efficiency With 5-Row iOS Keyboard

Alex Heath ∙ December 6, 2010

5-Row Keyboard is a new jailbreak tweak that does just what the name describes: enables a larger, 5-row keyboard in iOS. All of the numeric keys are added to a top row of the iOS keyboard so that you don't have to constantly change the keyboard layout when typing numbers.

This tweak doesn't do much else besides what is obvious...

Bad News: Your iPhone Wants Your Parents to Get a Divorce

Sébastien Page ∙ November 20, 2010

A couple weeks ago, we introduced you to the new website DamnYouAutoCorrect.com, which compiles a bunch of hilarious auto correct suggestions by the iPhone.

We've all been there, typing and sending a text message to then realize the iPhone auto correct had changed a word, completely changing the meaning of what we wanted to say. This case is no different, but it sure is funny...

BoxWave’s Buddy Brings a Physical Keyboard to Your iPhone

Sébastien Page ∙ November 17, 2010

The guys at BoxWave know you're dying to get a physical keyboard on your iPhone so they came up with a nifty little accessory called the Keyboard Buddy Case.

The Keyboard Buddy Case is a case for your iPhone 4 that also includes an integrated slide-out Bluetooth keyboard. Unlike the Nuu, you just have to slide the keyboard to make it appear, just like you would on one of those Android phones.

Looking at the pictures, I have to admit that this thing doesn't look as bad as it sounds...