Appletell

Are you finding the traditional keyboard uncomfortable? Or, perhaps you are looking for something a little different for your iMac, MacPro, MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro. If so, you might want to check out Kinesis Corporation innovate keyboard.

Recently, Kinesis unveiled the Kinesis Freestyle Convertible Keyboard. It’s not your traditional keyboard; it actually separates. It’s the first fully separating keyboard designed for Mac users. With the revolutionary Freestyle Solo Keyboard, the user has two accessory options the Freestyle Incline Accessory and the Freestyle VIP accessory.

Details after the break.

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The US Patent and Trademark Office published several of Apple’s patent approvals today, all of which relate to different aspects of the iPhone’s functionality. The first patent that has been approved deals with organization of the iPhone’s interface, mainly to reduce the clutter of adding too many visual elements to a document. The patent indicates the use of nested interface elements, for example, clicking a button to bring up a menu with operations that the user may perform.

The second patent approved by the US Patent and Trademark Office demonstrates user input on the iPhone’s touch keyboard and how the iPhone highlights the letter that is pressed, as well as how long the button stays highlighted.

The third patent relates to touch gestures which can select, as well as delete items using the iPhone’s touch screen. The process recognizes gestures in the order of first editing a list, selecting an item for deletion, and then finally being prompted on whether or not to delete the item.

Check out the three iPhone patent applications at MacNN.

Although this may sound like something off a broken record, there is one thing I must say about Apple.  AppleCare and Apple service centers are absolutely, positively amazing.  I’m just puttin’ that out there.  Keep in mind that I did not even go to an actual Apple store for the latest repair, only an Apple specialist.

A few weeks ago, I was very disappointed when I opened my less-than-a-year-old MacBook and I was greeted with a sizable crack in the top casing.  It was about an inch long, about an eighth of an inch in, directly above the status light and infrared receiver.  Now, keep in mind, this problem was purely cosmetic and caused no detriment to functionality.  I talked to a friend of mine, Appletell writer Adam Fisher-Cox, and he said that he doubted it would be covered by AppleCare.  Now for the good news.  Two days ago, I finally decided to try my luck with a local Apple service department, and see if anything could be done.  They said that, yes, it would be covered by AppleCare.  They ordered the part, and said to expect it within a week.  I give them an “F” on their estimation skills, but a “A+” on their timeliness.  Surprisingly, the part arrived yesterday, only the day after the order.  Maybe I got lucky with a shipment, maybe not. 

Today I brought my computer in to get the part installed, and they said that it would probably be ready within a day or two, possibly, though doubtfully, by the end of the day.  Again, “F” for estimation, “A+” for promptness.  My computer was ready today at around 5:00, only 7.5 hours after I brought it in.  And for the icing on the cake, not only did they replace the top case, but the keyboard and trakckpad (maybe they’re connected? I don’t know), both of which were not really damaged at all.  My computer looks new again!

Leave a note in the comments about any AppleCare/Service experiences, good or bad. 

Many iPhone users dislike typing with its built-in touch screen QWERTY keyboard, and finally, a man named Ruddy Ugarte has come up with a practical and affordable solution. The new product, called My Touch Keys, is a transparent protective screen protector, with cut-outs for for the iPhone’s keyboard. This amazing product lets you feel where each letter is located on the textured surface, reducing typo errors that are common among the iPhone among most other mobile phones.

The best part about it is that this practical screen protector only costs $7.99 USD for a pair and is definitely worth investing in. Even if you don’t find that the product is suitable for your needs, at least you wouldn’t have spent a lot of money on it.

Unfortunately, shipping is free for US residents only, so you’ll have to pay a bit more for third-party and international shipping services.

The picture shown is only an illustration, as the actual product itself is completely transparent, and Ugarte claims that you won’t even notice the cut-outs; plus it won’t affect the iPhone’s multi-touch interface, which may be a problem among thicker third-party iPhone screen protectors.

[Via iPhone Buzz.]

Apple has released yet another software update for MacBook and MacBook Pro users. ”This MacBook and MacBook Pro firmware update addresses an issue where the first key press may be ignored if the computer has been sitting idle. It also addresses some other issues.” To install this update, you’ll just need to open Software Update (if it hasn’t popped up already), and click install. Because this is a firmware update, it will install an application in your Utilities folder, which you will then need to simply run. After this your MacBook/Pro will probably restart, and everything should be working fine. Alternatively you can get the update from Apple’s downloads site.

Via [TUAW]

The Macworld Expo is like CES - so many products to see that you forget about most of the smaller ones. But sometimes, the smallest products are the coolest and most innovative out there. Macworld picked up on something quite special: The $100 BTKeyMini from MacAlly. It’s a small, portable, foldable Bluetooth keyboard - something that many of you will have seen before in the past. So what’s so special about the BTKeyMini? A writer at Macworld had a talk with one of the MacAlly representatives, and apparently when the BTKeyMini arrives in March, it will be compatible with iPhone. If this is true - it will be a first. You will be able to use it in any iPhone application where the normal touch-screen would be used as a keyboard input.

An external keyboard for the iPhone may not seem like much - but it is. This would transform the iPhone from a “smartphone” to a smarterphone. You would be able to type emails at least two times faster with this keyboard - and when you’re done, you just fold it up and put it in a bag. This could, in fact, eliminate the need of a laptop like a MacBook Air in a lot of situations. The iPhone can visit every website on the internet thanks to its Safari browser - and you can do that anywhere in the world thanks to its EDGE connection (although HSDPA would have been a lot better). I can’t wait to see this thing in action.

Via [Macworld]

Yet another patent rumor discovered by AppleInsider, this time it sounds really cool: A keyboard with every key containing an OLED display so that the keyboard layout can be easily changed.

“The most common physical arrangements of keys on keyboards in Western countries are based on the “QWERTY” layout (including closely related variants, such as the French “AZERTY” layout). However, in countries that do not use the Western alphabet, the keyboard layout is often very different,”

This is a really cool idea, and I’m sure Apple are not the first to think of it (although first to patent it). Having the ability to change the physical keyboard layout as well as the Cyrillic layout means that no longer will separate versions of keyboards for different countries need to be produced. For example, even the small differences like a £ instead of a $ on a UK keyboard means that Apple has to create a different keyboard layout. And in the future, if Apple decides to introduce new features like the play, pause and next track buttons on their keyboards (like they have on the new Apple keyboards), then these can be added at the click of a button. The only disadvantage is the cost of producing these keyboards will be very expensive. An OLED display in every key also means if a key breaks off, it will be even more expensive to repair.

Via [AppleInsider]
Photo credit [Flickr]

With just a week before MacWorld, we’re hearing rumors left and right about what Apple will be upgrading and releasing. Well we decided to compiles a list of rumors from various sites, and give our opinion on the likelihood of those rumors actually becoming reality.

Very Likely

Mac OS X 10.5.2- A list of 75 fixes adorns the latest builds of 10.5.2. The feature we have heard most about is the semi-fixed stacks: users are now able to display a list view, and essentially turn off stacks altogether. Displaying the folder icon instead of contents is also an option.
via [Mac Rumors, Engadget, Appletell, Macenstien]

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This is part four of a five part series leading up to MacWorld.

Peripheral and Software predictions:

This Macworld will be mostly focused on Apple’s main product line, but there may be some quiet updates of other products.

Mac OS X 10.5.2- Steve Jobs may or may not talk about it in the keynote, but it’s a 95% chance that OS X 10.5.2 will be released at Macworld. 10.5.2 improves Stacks, but as of yet does not allow for random grouping stacks, like in the developer builds of Leopard. There is a list of more than 30 other things that 10.5.2 addresses.

iPod HiFi- This one came really late to the game in terms of rumors. Less than a month before Macworld, these rumors are beginning to surface, and they’re being seen a lot. It seems like the new iPod HiFi may feature HD Radio. The original iPod HiFi was axed in September.

Apple TV 2.0- If Apple doesn’t release Apple TV 2.0, the Apple TV will most likely be discontinued. Apple TV 2.0 will have DVR capabilities, iTunes Movie Rentals, perhaps a DVD drive so that it can automatically take advantage of iPod sized versions of FOX Movies that FOX is rumored to be including on it’s DVDs as part of a partnership with Apple for iTunes Movie rentals.

Full-size Wireless Keyboard- Most likely won’t happen, but it would be a nice option to have a number pad. Not to say I don’t love my little one.

Mighty Mouse Redesign- The Mighty Mouse just doesn’t match anymore… Perhaps Apple has a new aluminum Mighty Mouse up it’s sleeve??

One of the most frustrating things, has got to be when you are in the middle of an important project, and your keyboard randomly freezes. Sure the mouse still works, but none of the keyboard shortcuts work, and neither does any typing. This was a long-running problem with the MacBooks and MacBook Pros on Leopard. Their keyboards would freeze, and the only temporary solution, was to reboot. Finally, Apple has released MacBook and Macbook Pro Software Update 1.1, which sole reason for existence, is to fix this problem. I installed the update, and now I am freeze-free. Good thing Apple released this update before Christmas, when a lot of new people are getting Macs, as this saves their reputation, and a lot of support hours.

Via [Ars Technica]