Decaflon Thread: An iPhone with a keyboard?

An iPhone with a keyboard?

ryanarrowsmith — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:37:04

I'm with RightOn...can't see a physical keyboard, especially after Jobs mocked it at WDCC. They can make one unit that is capable of changing languages at any time, within moments. Plus more moving parts = more opportunities for shit to break, something Apple wants to prevent.

In the wake of the iPhone, the market is moving towards touchscreen technology. Look at how many have been released in the last year. Why would Apple go backwards?

An iPhone with a keyboard?

RightOn — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:22:09

I think it's the other way around Scrivs... Apple's keyboard is dynamic to the application in use, if I'm emailing something the @ key is readily available, if I'm surfing I have a .com key. BTW here we are @ 2.0 on Apple's iPhone and we still can't hold down the .com key and get a pull out for .net and .org???

If I was on a device with a hard keypad, I have to adapt the use of the application to the restrictions of the device, the reverse is more logical (adapt the device to the application)..

An iPhone with a keyboard?

Scrivs — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:59:25

So because everyone has a keyboard version Apple can't release one?

An iPhone with a keyboard?

fuscom — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:44:26

Actually, I think the next major thing from Apple will be a virtual keyboard for a MacAir sized device that'll have Apple winning the failed tablet PC market.

An iPhone with a keyboard?

RightOn — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:13:32

I don't see it happening as almost everyone has a prototype or marketed phone model out now with on screen controls and keys.

It would be nice if you had a bluetooth keyboard, if there was a way to interface to it from the phone. The apple ones are so small, they fit in my laptop bag and I think it would be super cool to whip it out and send a long email from my iPod in the park.

An iPhone with a keyboard?

Scrivs — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:20:17

I would think they would do it to appease the people are hesitant to get one because of the touch screen and therefore taking all of the market.

An iPhone with a keyboard?

Ozone42 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:24:30

I'd be happy if they just allowed it to use bluetooth keyboards. Seems like a firmware update would do it.

An iPhone with a keyboard?

fuscom — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:21:50

Interesting if they're doing this to appease the enterprise given that RIM is apparently coming out with a virtual keyboard with the release of the Blackberry Thunder.

An iPhone with a keyboard?

Mike — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:04:14

I don't think it'll slide out like we're used to. Maybe it'll all be magnetic and will glide out on it's own when you're thinking about typing... integration straight with your brain.

An iPhone with a keyboard?

Scrivs — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:44:34

You almost had to venture that Steve-O was working on this at some point, but will only release it if they do it completely different from the rest of the industry. It almost has to pass the "oh shit that is so cool" test before it can be released no matter how much sense it makes.

I'm a touch typer, I hope this becomes a reality.