Coming Soon-Microsoft Modern Keyboard

Just caught this on Paul Thurrott’s site and was initially intrigued but… For $129 it is a bit pricey. Granted it is built into an aluminum case, has finger print recognition, is Bluetooth wireless or USB wired connectivity. Short battery life, 4 months when you compare against Logitech’s line of keyboards although the batteries that come with it are rechargeable. And look at what is operating systems that it isn’t compatible with:

Here is Microsoft’s introductory video:

LG has an interesting new keyboard design for your tablet

LG has announced that it is planning to release a new bluetooth keyboard rolls up into a nice tight package when traveling and rolls out to a full size keyboard that automatically switches on and connects to your nearest bluetooth capable device when it is rolled open.

The keys are made of solid plastic (not the flat, squishy kind), which LG hopes will offer a typing experience close to what you're used to on your PC. The keyboard is just the start: the company says it plans to offer even more "input devices" in the next few months. The Rolly will launch this September in the US first, rolling out to the rest of the world soon after. 

Logitech Washable Keyboard K310

This is a new Logitech K310 keyboard that should be hitting distribution shortly. Priced at $39.99 it is  geared towards being able to be cleaned using soap and water. It is great for use in highly dirty situations. It can handle a light dusting or be soaked in up to 12 inches of water. It has drainage holes in the back for faster drying. From Logitech’s Features Page:

More than tough enough

Laser printing and a UV coating ensures this keyboard can take a washing as well as a pounding. The durable keys, robust tilt legs and increased resistance to surface scratches makes the Washable Keyboard one of the toughest on the market.

Functional and good-looking

Comfortable typing is a given, thanks to a familiar layout with F-keys and number pad. And it all comes in a unique, contemporary design that will complement your computer, as well as your work space.

Plug and play simplicity

Thankfully, the Washable Keyboard works right out of the box. There’s no software to install, so you can simply plug it in and start typing. Talk about a clean setup.

Take a shortcut and save time

Gain instant access to popular applications like the Internet, email, volume controls, and more—with 12 hot keys. Hit F1 to go home, F2 to launch your email, F3 to start a search, and F4 to crunch some numbers on the calculator. Want to bring up your media player and play your favorite music? Simply hit F5 to launch, F6 for the previous track, F7 to play or pause the track, and F8 to skip tracks. For volume controls, you can hit F9 to mute, or F10 and F11 to lower or raise the volume (respectively). And when you’re finished using your computer, put your PC to sleep by hitting F12. It’s that easy.

Look at this brief video from Logitech:

Specification Page

Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio - New iPad & iPad 2

Logitech is introducing some interesting solar powered keyboard products and here comes one for you iPad 2 or the new iPad unit. Sorry, it doesn’t support the original iPad at this time. This keyboard connects to you iPad’s via bluetooth technology and uses the same solar cell technology as their desktop keyboard units. Once the battery charge is 100% Logitech claims that the battery will keep you typing for over 1,000 hours. The case is crafted of black, soft-touch, faux leather embossed with a small Logitech logo and has perforations for the iPad's speakers, plus a portal for the tablet's camera.

• 2 year-Limited hardware warranty
• Dye-sensitized solar cells
• (rechargeable NiMh batteries charged by the solar cells)
• Two-year battery life
• Bluetooth 3.0
• Numbers of keys: 64  (US layout)
• Key Travel: 1.5 mm
• Product dimensions: 428 x 17.8 x 253 mm
• Weight: 460 grams (without iPad)

Press Release:

Logitech Introduces Light-Powered Protection for the New, Third-Generation iPad
New Solar Keyboard Folio Provides Hassle-Free Protection with Minimal Bulk
NEWARK, Calif. - May 3, 2012 - Today Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) announced the expansion of both its solar and tablet accessories lineups with the Logitech® Solar Keyboard Folio.
Made for the new, third-generation iPad® as well as the iPad 2, the ultra-slim, book-style case and keyboard offer stylish design with protection, featuring a built-in keyboard that's powered by light.

Similar to Logitech's solar keyboards for Mac® and PC, the Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio includes onboard solar cells that charge the built-in Bluetooth® keyboard in any light, whether indoors or outdoors. When fully charged, the battery lasts for up to two years, even in complete darkness (based on a average use of two hours per day).

"Now that people are seemingly inseparable from their tablets, using them for everything from sending emails to watching videos, they want accessories powered to meet their needs," said Alexis Richard, director of product marketing at Logitech. "The Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio is a smart partner for your iPad. Its sleek built-in keyboard uses light to charge and it provides hassle-free protection for your iPad – both for the front and back. It gives you an ideal way to use and protect your tablet without adding bulk."

The Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio has two stand positions, so when you want to use your iPad you can choose the viewing angle that's best for you. Open the folio and place your iPad in the first position to enjoy the full keyboard when you're typing. Place your iPad in the second position and the first keyboard row acts as your one-touch media playback and volume controls, so you can play, pause and change volume instantly.
The folio also has an instant On/Off function, which means your iPad automatically wakes when you open the folio and goes on standby when you close it.

Pricing and Availability

The Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in May 2012, for a suggested retail price of $129.99. For more information please visit www.logitech.com or our blog.

Cheat Sheet: 100 Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts

TechRepublic has put together a handy cheat sheet of 100 keyboard shortcuts. If you are just getting into Windows 8 you will want to take the time to download this document. It will help you get started rather quickly. If you want to take the Windows 8 Tour and looking for help use the short cut key choice of [WINDOWS] + [F1].

Here is the link to TechRepublic’s article and the free PDF you can download can be found here.

How To: More Special Windows Keystroke Functions

Here are some more keyboard shortcuts that you may find useful.

Shift + Delete	If you want to delete the highlighted item and bypass the Trash Can, use this key combination. The downside is that you won’t get the opportunity to easily restore the file from the Recycle Bin if you later decide you want it back, but you also won’t have to bother emptying the Recycle Bin if you use this method to ditch unwanted files.
Windows + (+/-)	Want a closer look at whatever’s on your screen? Hit Windows and + to zoom in for a magnified view. While you’re magnified, moving the mouse around the screen will move you to the far corners and bring them into view. Windows and - zooms you back out again.
Windows + 1, 2, 3, etc.	Windows 7 introduced a new feature that lets you pin apps to your Taskbar for quick access. An even quicker way to access those apps is with this slick keyboard shortcut. Press Windows + 1 to launch the first pinned app in your Taskbar (from left to right). Windows + 2 launches the second one, Windows + 3 launches the third one, and so on.
Windows + T	Windows + number launches pinned apps in your Taskbar, but if your apps are already open, there’s a quick way to scroll through them. Press Windows + T and you’ll highlight the first open app in your Taskbar. Press it again and you’ll move to the second open app. As you scroll through them, you’ll get a preview box just as you would if you were hovering over the icon with your mouse. When you get to the app you want, hit Enter to bring it to the foreground. This shortcut only works with open apps, and ignores unopened apps that you’ve pinned to your Taskbar.
Windows + Spacebar	If you need to take a quick look at your desktop use this keyboard combo. All of your windows will clear and you will be able to see your desktop. Why might you want to do this? Maybe to see the file you just saved to the desktop… Press Windows + Spacebar, and all of your open windows will turn transparent so you can see right through them. This even works with maximized windows and full-screen views. To return your view to normal, simply let go of the keys.
Windows + Shift + Left or Right Arrow	If you use a dual-monitor setup to maximize your screen real estate, you might like to use one monitor as your primary working screen and the other as a holding pen for active windows. Or maybe you just need to move a window from one side to the other for some reason. In either case, hitting Windows + Shift + Left Arrow will move a current window to from the right display to the left, and using Right Arrow will move it from the left display to the right. If you only have one monitor, these commands will dock your window to the designated side of the screen.
Windows + Shift + Down Arrow	Do you want to minimize the current window to work on something underneath? Using this Keystroke combination will Minimize the current Window.
Windows Logo + L	Do you have sensitive information on your screen that you don’t want others to see when you walk to the coffee machine for a refill? Use this key combination to instantly bring you back to a login screen. You will need to have put in a login/password for you account for this to work this way.
Alt + F6	If you’ve got multiple windows open within a given app, this handy shortcut will let you quickly switch between them, so you don’t have to waste time clicking around in search of the right window. This doesn’t work inside an application like a browser where you have multiple tabs open to different sites. The application must be in separate windows.
Windows + M	We all have a tendency to leave program windows open as we move from application to application during the day. If you want to clear the screen to get back to your desktop this key combination will Minimize all your windows to get to your desktop quickly.
Shift + CTRL + N	Windows 7 Explorer window is easier to use to create new folders but using this keystroke combination will create a new untitled folder in the current folder location.The new folder will appear with the name ‘New folder’ already highlighted so you can type in your own name for it and hit Enter to move on to the next task.

Just a quick note on the Logitech K750 Solar Kbd

They have hit distribution and are now available for about $70.

I like the sleek design and the thought of not needing batteries, ever is a big plus in my book. Looking back over my posts I see that I had two post about this keyboard previously.

http://www.bobstechtalk.com/blog/2010/11/11/pr-logitech-announces-k750-light-powered-wireless-keyboard.html

http://www.bobstechtalk.com/blog/2010/11/21/logitech-wireless-keyboard-solar-powered.html

Same Old Story

 I was really hoping that there was going to be something really exciting coming out of CES this year but it seems that most of what I have seen so far has been just more of the same. It seems that the Tablet market is still on the precipice of becoming a reality with the exception of the iPad. While we are waiting, the iPad is still the only real product with a magnitude of software support available for it. I don't believe totally that tablet market has totally killed the need for a notebook  in everyone, I have found that I have stopped carrying my Netbook into meetings and instead bring my trusty iPad with me.

I am using my iPad for both data collection as well as for my entertainment. I don't do a lot of document creation on it because the on screen keyboard slows me down and so far I am too cheap and lazy to add a bluetooth keyboard case to my gadget list.

Another reason I am not big on creating my content using this device is that it lacks screen Realestate. While it is slightly better than my Netbook's, I wasn't using it as a content creation device either for the same reason.That being said, guess what I am typing on right now? My iPad of course! Why, you might ask. Well, there are some situations, I don't want to get off of my living room couch for instance, that cause me to use what I have at hand. I am much closer to the coffee pot here you see.

So, while it is much easier to create content with a dual screen system with a real keyboard and a mouse to control cursor placement, you can always find other ways to accomplish what you want to do with the tools at hand. Having such a portable device that has so many functions makes it very convenient to do the things that I want to do, where and when I want to do them. 
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Logitech-Wireless Keyboard-Solar Powered?

Okay, something new. I hate have to put batteries into my wireless devices and her is a device that takes the ambient light around your office setup and uses it to keep your keyboard up and running. Though I am a little late in reporting this… I think that this is a great concept to get one more worry off of my already so full table.To have a keyboard that is wireless and also have no worry  for having to provide it power seems like a God-Send. Thanks Logitetch. Now show me how you are going to do this with a mouse, too!

PR: Logitech Announces K750 Light-Powered Wireless Keyboard

Tired of replacing batteries in your wireless keyboard? Logitech just might have an answer for you. The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 is the company’s first light-powered keyboard. The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard powers itself whenever there's light, even indoors, making battery hassles a thing of the past.

Click to read more ...

Logitech Unveils Sleek Keyboard and Mouse Combo

Today Logitech introduced the Logitech Wireless Combo MK520, a full-size mouse and keyboard combo that puts comfort and control at your fingertips. The keyboard gives you the room to type comfortably while concave, low-profile keys cradle your fingertips. The laser mouse feels good in either hand thanks to its contoured design with soft rubber side grips.

Click to read more ...

Logitech MK 710: a replacement wireless keyboard and mouse

I have fallen in love with my Logitech MK700 wireless mouse and keyboard and new with the introduction of the replacement in this series I am excited about this new product. I know, excited might be too strong a term but I really like two major improvements to the MK7XX design, Logitech has bundled their tiny proprietary USB receiver which limits the limits the possibility of damage that can occur to your computer or the dongle by inadvertently knocking into and and either destroying the dongle or the USB connection itself. The new design is very low profile as shown in the image to the right.

Click to read more ...

Here is a neat Utility to turn off you touchpad while typing

TouchFreeze is a great utility for a Windows based machine that will automatically turn off your touchpad while you are typing on you notebook/netbook. If you are like me, a person with gorilla hands, you probably inadvertently   brush up against your touchpad while typing. All of sudden your cursor is in a different location on your screen and you have just added a great thought to your document but it is in the wrong place! Now you have to fix this and in doing so you now have lost your train of thought.

TouchFreeze when activated, will sit in your system tray and simply turn off the touchpad when you start typing. It’s simple, free and is an open-source program that works with Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008, Windows Server 2008, and Windows 7.

Laptops with Spill-Proof Keyboards

HP is finally joining the ranks of manufacturer’s that will be providing a laptop with a keyboard drain. This is something that other manufacturers, notably Lenovo, have been building into their notebooks for years. How simple is is to provide drain holes designed to allow the flow of liquid back out of you keyboard if you accidentally spill liquid into it.

One thing that has been mentioned on the Lenovo design is to not tilt the laptop until it has completed the draining process. If you tilt the notebook, you will run the chance of shorting out the machine. Just turn it off and wait. You will want to put some absorbing material underneath especially if you are resting on service that could be damaged by liquid, or you could just move it to the sink!

While this design is great, the long term result of the spill can still be stickiness and reduced function because of that. At least you haven’t burned out the system…

The new HP unit’s launch will be coinciding with the release of Windows 7, so expect to see them become available after October 22nd. Prices will start around $799. The models to look for are the 5445b and 6545b.