Being a self professed geek and Apple fangirl, I’m of course, an iPhone user. It’s an amazing device; stylish, fast, and infinitely useful for the geek on the go. Not only can I make phone calls with it, I use my iPhone every day during my commute to listen to music and audiobooks and play games, in the car to get directions, and wherever I am to access my e-mail and internet. It really is the most wholly useful device I think I’ve ever owned. Having said that, I will admit (much to the chagrin of many of my iPhone obsessed ilk) that this wondrous gadget is not without its flaws. Namely, the keyboard.
For many things, the touch-keyboard on the iPhone is adequate. It’s an acquired skill to really nail down, and I’ve gotten fairly adept at texts, short e-mails, and the like. But there are times, particularly when I’m at work or even at home, when I’d like to type something more substantial (a blog post from my iPhone’s WordPress app, perhaps) without firing up my laptop or getting out of bed (no, I don’t have a bed at work. I sleep on the floor when I’m there). For that kind of thing, a tiny virtual keyboard is no match for my pseudo-sausagey fingers.
So, when I happened upon this, my geeky little heart went into overdrive. WANT!! Ion’s iType looks like it could be an almost essential add-on for those of us who feel the need for something a little more tactile when we tweet. Granted, the iType isn’t a true full sized keyboard – it’s the size you’d see on your typical laptop. Even that, though, is sure to be an improvement. Imagine being able to type a full e-mail or blog posting on the iPhone with the same level of speed and comfort as you would on your own laptop. I, for one, would rejoice at not having to redo every other web search because my finger accidentally pressed the G instead of the H, for example. Being able to type more comfortably for a longer period of time could also be a huge productivity boost, allowing me to utilize apps like Documents To Go when I’m away from my computer, and edit any one of the endless spreadsheets I’m responsible for maintaining at work.
Another great feature of the iType is the fact that it functions as an iPhone charging dock. Not only do you get the convenience of the large keyboard, but your iPhone gets juiced up in the process. With the iPhone is placed in the docking area of the keyboard, the overall effect is almost that of a netbook (obviously, with a smaller screen). But you get the portability of something that small, the convenience of the iPhone’s 3G (or WiFi, or Edge) connection, the usability of an actual keyboard, and a charging dock, all in one neat little package. I really do think that Ion’s on to something here with this, and I look forward to getting my paws on one as soon as they come out – don’t you??
(As of this writing, word is that the iType will be available sometime during the first half of 2010, and will cost a little more than $100.)
