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Any word on an upcoming HTC Keyboard Phone? Or an HTC event where they may announceit

I am just treading water now. I don't understand why keyboards are being dropped. I love the Fuze's keyboard. It could be improved on, of course, but keyboards like the Droids make me lose faith in anyone's ability to build a good keyboard.
HTC is the only one I have faith in. And with awesome phones like the HD2 and the Evo... I may not have a keyboard phone at all!! What to do!!
Someone give me good news!!

I have nightmares of a not so distant future where real keyboards on phones (and perhaps one day even computers) no longer exist. Even on this board, when reading posts of people going from the Touch Pro 2 to the HD2, and exclaiming how (because of the gigantic screen) they no longer need a real keyboard, I shed microscopic tears.
Even if one could become as proficient with a touchscreen keyboard as they would be with a real one, there is one thing that a real keyboard can do that a fake one will never be able to emulate. That is, the ability to not take up 3/4ths of the screen while using it.
I cannot imagine using SSH or RemoteDesktop with a touch keyboard that obscures half the screen every time I want to type something. I like using my phone as a mini computer, and I appreciate having the choice to control it without always smudging up the screen. Ever try scrolling through large webpages with a series of flicks? Yea, hooray for directional buttons!
Anyways enough rant, I have no idea what the next good keyboard phone from HTC will be. There's the HTC Tera, but that seems to be a stripped down Touch Pro 2 (lower screen res, similar CPU) which makes no sense. Something like an HD2 Pro would be boss, considering the surface area of that device, HTC could fit some serious keyage in there.
Until then you can pry my underpowered Touch Pro 2 out of my cold dead hands.

MooGoo said:
I have nightmares of a not so distant future where real keyboards on phones (and perhaps one day even computers) no longer exist. Even on this board, when reading posts of people going from the Touch Pro 2 to the HD2, and exclaiming how (because of the gigantic screen) they no longer need a real keyboard, I shed microscopic tears.
Even if one could become as proficient with a touchscreen keyboard as they would be with a real one, there is one thing that a real keyboard can do that a fake one will never be able to emulate. That is, the ability to not take up 3/4ths of the screen while using it.
I cannot imagine using SSH or RemoteDesktop with a touch keyboard that obscures half the screen every time I want to type something. I like using my phone as a mini computer, and I appreciate having the choice to control it without always smudging up the screen. Ever try scrolling through large webpages with a series of flicks? Yea, hooray for directional buttons!
Anyways enough rant, I have no idea what the next good keyboard phone from HTC will be. There's the HTC Tera, but that seems to be a stripped down Touch Pro 2 (lower screen res, similar CPU) which makes no sense. Something like an HD2 Pro would be boss, considering the surface area of that device, HTC could fit some serious keyage in there.
Until then you can pry my underpowered Touch Pro 2 out of my cold dead hands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
get an lg expo.

Personally, I find the keyboard just easier to use, and it allows for you to use other applications (such as games, which I never play cause the Fuze is slow) or, even better, to scroll through contacts precisely when you have a phone without a front-facing D-Pad. Buttons are great. You just need those keys. I do like to use my phone as a mini-computer as well. I fell in love with the Sidekick when I was younger (never one one), the idea of a mini little IM station. I use my Fuze like that now, putting it next to my monitor when playing a game to direct the IMs to it.
Without a keyboard, it'll feel incomplete. Sure, an onscreen keyboard works, but it's slow. It's clumsy. You need to look at it when you type, and you can never get too far ahead because you are unsure of what you're hitting. My Fuze keyboard is second nature. I need a GOOD keyboard, as good as the Fuze or better.
And I'm not seeing one.

thehyecircus said:
I am just treading water now. I don't understand why keyboards are being dropped. I love the Fuze's keyboard. It could be improved on, of course, but keyboards like the Droids make me lose faith in anyone's ability to build a good keyboard.
HTC is the only one I have faith in. And with awesome phones like the HD2 and the Evo... I may not have a keyboard phone at all!! What to do!!
Someone give me good news!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I´m with you!
Only HTC I want and with keyboard.
Not any virtual keyboard can be compared to the REAL feeling of typing on REAL keys!!!
Tera should be launched in q3 o q4 this year but it´s not really an upgrade from actual great Rhodium
I would say, wait till q2 2011 and for sure we will see something it worth the upgrade.
I spent several years with Universal waiting for a great successor and got it hard to find something till I got Rhodium.
If you know something please share it here!
I´ll do the same
Posted by MooGoo
Even if one could become as proficient with a touchscreen keyboard as they would be with a real one, there is one thing that a real keyboard can do that a fake one will never be able to emulate. That is, the ability to not take up 3/4ths of the screen while using it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn right!!!!!!!!
----------------
See this reference thread regarding members asking for a keyboard device

I'm with you guys on this. I'm sure HTC will be releasing some sick phones once win7 hits

I feel the same. I hope that there will be HTC Android phone with keyboard in near future.
And NO i don't want Motorola, LG etc. I want HTC phone with xda support!
Typing on screen is super-slow-motion for me compared to hardware keyboard, probably because of the small screen. But i think good HW keyboard can beat any SW keyboard on any screen.

Keep it alive!!
Great words
Let´s keep alive and actual this thread!
Perhaps...who knows....somebody from HTC could be watching...

Well I don't know about HTC but DELL are rumored to release some great devices one with a keyboard that I bet will have XDA support. It's worth having a look at this monster.
http://www.gsmarena.com/dell_lightning-3280.php
I hope that DELL being a serious firm will not let us down everything on paper looks very promising.

thehyecircus said:
... I need a GOOD keyboard, as good as the Fuze or better.
And I'm not seeing one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Touch Pro 2 Keyboard > Touch Pro 1 Keyboard in all way, shape, & form.
In fact so far, the Touch Pro 2 is the most perfect phone keyboard that I have ever used...no comparisons anywhere else.
But I'm with the OP here, I want to see some new phones coming out w/ specs like modern phones with keyboards like my current phone. It shouldn't be too much to ask. Or else I'd be tempted to make a frankenphone of the HD2 w/ the touch pro 2 keyboard if possible!!!
Jason

myrandex said:
It shouldn't be too much to ask. Or else I'd be tempted to make a frankenphone of the HD2 w/ the touch pro 2 keyboard if possible!!!
Jason
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be incredible, please DO IT!! Xda will create a new subsection for your frankenphone.
And while your at it, hax the scroll wheel and d-pad from the hermes onto your new phone of horrors, and maybe a couple lazzzars too.
I'm totally serious!

andes83 said:
Well I don't know about HTC but DELL are rumored to release some great devices one with a keyboard that I bet will have XDA support. It's worth having a look at this monster.
http://www.gsmarena.com/dell_lightning-3280.php
I hope that DELL being a serious firm will not let us down everything on paper looks very promising.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That ain't a real keyboard.
And the TP2 keyboard lacks buttons!! And has awkward placement on some keys!! I can use the TP1 so well that I see no reason to compromise. Now, a bigger screen, and the TP2 approach works.

orb3000 said:
I´m with you!
Only HTC I want and with keyboard.
Not any virtual keyboard can be compared to the REAL feeling of typing on REAL keys!!!
Tera should be launched in q3 o q4 this year but it´s not really an upgrade from actual great Rhodium
I would say, wait till q2 2011 and for sure we will see something it worth the upgrade.
I spent several years with Universal waiting for a great successor and got it hard to find something till I got Rhodium.
If you know something please share it here!
I´ll do the same
Damn right!!!!!!!!
----------------
See this reference thread regarding members asking for a keyboard device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey. I was checking out iPad in a local best buy one day, thinking about if it's going to replace my laptop, went back home, opened my lenovo X301, and caught my self thinking, that this kind of flip device, with keyboard on the bottom and screen on top, is a so freaking good NEW idea after all this tablets

alexsemi said:
Hey. I was checking out iPad in a local best buy one day, thinking about if it's going to replace my laptop, went back home, opened my lenovo X301, and caught my self thinking, that this kind of flip device, with keyboard on the bottom and screen on top, is a so freaking good NEW idea after all this tablets
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A real Tablet PC is a convertible, where the screen can flip down and go on top of the keyboard. They ALSO use digitizers so you can use a stylus and draw on the screen accurately (instead of this multi-touch capacitive crap designed for fingers.) That is the laptop I want. Not these tablet craps.
If it is designed for the internet, I NEED to type on it. That's all I do online.

Lenovo X200 Multi-Touch Tablet FTW. It could literally eat the iPad.

I upgraded from an HTC Dream to the Nexus One, thinking that I probably wouldn't miss the physical keyboard at all because I had been reading how people were pretty happy typing on their iPhones and whatnot. Although a physical keyboard is not necessary, I find that I make a lot of mistakes typing on a virtual keyboard. I've since switched to a BlackBerry and typing emails is so much worry-free now.

alexsemi said:
Hey. I was checking out iPad in a local best buy one day, thinking about if it's going to replace my laptop, went back home, opened my lenovo X301, and caught my self thinking, that this kind of flip device, with keyboard on the bottom and screen on top, is a so freaking good NEW idea after all this tablets
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah!
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myrandex said:
In fact so far, the Touch Pro 2 is the most perfect phone keyboard that I have ever used...no comparisons anywhere else.
Jason
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, wholeheartedly. Of course, it's also my first keyboard phone. Regardless of that, I think I've already been spoiled rotten by the TP2's keyboard.
Actually, the Touch Pro 2 is my first smartphone ever. Being a noob to this phone tech level, I did what research I could, but one of the considerations back then that really locked me on to the TP2 was how great its keyboard looked. (This was before I knew what there was an XDA or that the phone could do other little neat things like host 3 different operating systems and other stuff.) I even dropped Sprint and signed on to T-Mobile to get the TP2 in its first week in the states. I love the phone, and I was dead on in my assessment of the keyboard.
It's awesome. I mean, the buttons are huge AND there's space between them like a real keyboard. (I looked at the Palm Pre for awhile and couldn't fathom how someone was supposed to actually press the keys on that tiny keyboard.) The keys are laid out in very efficient locations; again it's like a real keyboard. I actually like the TP2's keyboard layout better than the one on my ASUS netbook.
Yes, the row of number keys gets partially blocked by the screen when it's flipped up, and, I agree, it's annoying. But it's not crippling to me, and the problem is easily solved by just flipping the screen back to the flat position.
Here's the kicker, though. I can type probably 10x as fast on the keyboard than I can on the touchscreen. I'll usually use the touchscreen if I just need to type a few letters for something. I was using the touchscreen more recently, but it got annoying trying to accurately press the right keys quickly with my much larger fingers. So I switched back to keyboard, and now I'm flipping it out just about every time I need to type more than 6 letters or so.
I recall a probably-500-word email I recently had to mash out on my phone as fast as possible to get it to someone important. Keyboard all the way. And I managed to get it done and to the person just before they left for their appointment. Without a real keyboard, I wouldn't have even tried.
So, yeah, I agree with MooGoo above. Until another good keyboard phone comes along, I'll be clutching my Touch Pro 2...and shredding out emails while clutching.

MooGoo said:
Lenovo X200 Multi-Touch Tablet FTW. It could literally eat the iPad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Speaking of technology eating technology, one of my simple pleasures in life is the state in which my desk at work may often be found.
Often I'll have my netbook sitting in front of my desktop and my TP2 sitting in front of my netbook with the keyboard out and the screen tilted up. It looks like the netbook is going to eat a miniature version of itself. And the whole setup is like one big computer matryoshka doll. (I should probably throw a full sized laptop in there for even greater effect.)
This, to me, is another strong argument for keyboards on phones.

SemisolidSnake said:
Speaking of technology eating technology, one of my simple pleasures in life is the state in which my desk at work may often be found.
Often I'll have my netbook sitting in front of my desktop and my TP2 sitting in front of my netbook with the keyboard out and the screen tilted up. It looks like the netbook is going to eat a miniature version of itself. And the whole setup is like one big computer matryoshka doll. (I should probably throw a full sized laptop in there for even greater effect.)
This, to me, is another strong argument for keyboards on phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just the fact that I can see my whole screen, navigate using the d-pad (for anything tricky), and actually type on documents that need it is way too strong an argument for any phone maker to be ignoring keyboards. I don't understand why keyboards aren't being used more - I know the Droid's keyboard sucked big time, but it proved how THIN you can make a phone with a keyboard while still being way too powerful.
If Motorola grew a brain, they could pump out an awesome keyboard phone. And then, maybe it'd set a precedent like the Droid didn't.

Questions before buying one?

Hey all!
I'm in a sticky situation here, I'm choosing between a transformer or lenovo thinkpad (with pen). I'd like an actual digitizer, but other than that, the transformer is so much better than the lenovo as a whole package (IMO). So I've just got a few questions which will help me make the final choice:
* Does the new update with the supernote app (or other note taking apps) work well for taking handwritten notes (Important cause I do more maths and thats like funky symbols ), does a capacitive stylus work well in this and drawing apps (e.g some palm rejection, pressure sensitivity)?
* For the keyboard dock, I read early on that some keyboard shortcuts/combinations don't work. There were updates that fixed this but I can't seem to find this: does ctrl+backspace work for removing words? (similarly ctrl + arrow keys to jump between words)
* Can I charge things via the dock? I plan to tether from my phone and since it will probably die from doing so, I'd hope to keep it alive with the dock
My windows tablet is just too thick and heavy to tug around comfortably, its functional, has a keyboard and all, but isn't "portable". The galaxy tab 7 is very portable and has nice battery life, but is bad with productivity stuff (can't do much besides reading docs and web browsing. The transformer seems to slip nicely in between. I'd just really like some insight on the notes and drawing apps cause I frequently use that on my laptop.
Thanks guys

FC1032 said:
Hey all!
I'm in a sticky situation here, I'm choosing between a transformer or lenovo thinkpad (with pen). I'd like an actual digitizer, but other than that, the transformer is so much better than the lenovo as a whole package (IMO). So I've just got a few questions which will help me make the final choice:
* Does the new update with the supernote app (or other note taking apps) work well for taking handwritten notes (Important cause I do more maths and thats like funky symbols ), does a capacitive stylus work well in this and drawing apps (e.g some palm rejection, pressure sensitivity)?
* For the keyboard dock, I read early on that some keyboard shortcuts/combinations don't work. There were updates that fixed this but I can't seem to find this: does ctrl+backspace work for removing words? (similarly ctrl + arrow keys to jump between words)
* Can I charge things via the dock? I plan to tether from my phone and since it will probably die from doing so, I'd hope to keep it alive with the dock
My windows tablet is just too thick and heavy to tug around comfortably, its functional, has a keyboard and all, but isn't "portable". The galaxy tab 7 is very portable and has nice battery life, but is bad with productivity stuff (can't do much besides reading docs and web browsing. The transformer seems to slip nicely in between. I'd just really like some insight on the notes and drawing apps cause I frequently use that on my laptop.
Thanks guys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quick note, I have both, have the TF and love it, got the Thinkpad at work and so I get to test it ^_^. For writing, it's EXCELLENT. Super accurate, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7UUfaLj_iY
I havent got the Folio case, but I hear it works nice, connects through USB. Not sure any more about it though, we might get it eventually. It's very fast, and has a few things on the ROM that the TF does not. Both are almost the same, but the TF does not have palm rejection, so writing with pens (even the adonit pro) is so-so. You can do it, but you gotta get use to it. The Thinkpad works like real paper. It's just so awesome to write with. The keyboard can even detect writing....and interpret text. The Note app built in is very good, but it's meant for the Thinkpad I think, you can't move it to another device for now. The pen is even pressure sensitive. But, the tab and pen is $530+100 for the keyboard. You dont get any extra battery either. The TF is about $400 and the dock is $120 on Amazon. Little cheaper, and you get more battery, but you lose the superb writing ability.
The App really decides how the shortcuts work I think, some support, some dont. You would have to try...some basic ones work though.
Yes you can charge with the USB!
All in all, Lenovo is great for writing, but the TF last longer and the dock functions almost like a netbook. Tough call, I'd really have a tough choice, but I think the TF would be best for me. But I dont draw/write a lot, so the Thinkpad might be better for you. If both combined, the build and buttons/connections (USB on tablet, TF has on dock) of the Thinkpad feel a tad nicer to hold, and the pen digitizer is a must for writing, but with the Dock functionality and battery of the TF, and maybe add some Padfone in there somewhere, I would buy that in a minute. Haha.
If you want, or if more people want, I can make an in depth review against the two. I love both honestly, they are the best of the best. Let me know.
This Excel might help you decide, has some basics of the tablets
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...ONdE1TT1RSdTcxbmRFeE5mdl9jdzZDb3c&output=html

Yea its a tough call
I like to draw, and as mentioned I'll need a pen to draw those yukky math symbols.
I know there's a folio case for the thinkpad, but its not as intergrated(is that the word?) and nice looking as the transformer. Plus, the dock on the transformer has 2 usbs, sd slot and extra battery... the folio on the thinkpad uses the only usb port, so I won't be able to have a usb on the thinkpad while typing
Guess its more like this: To replace a tablet (one with digitizer) the thinkpad works well. To replace a laptop, the transformer
I've still got a month or two to decide... but its a really hard choice at this point who knows maybe asus will drop an asus transformer 2 with all the things i want (essentially a transformer + active digitizer and one usb port on the tablet itself). Real pity seeing few companies employing the stylus (and dock of course)
As for the review, Thanks, but the information you've given me is already enough In the end, I'll be happy with either, just wanted some insight from actual owners.

FC1032 said:
Yea its a tough call
I like to draw, and as mentioned I'll need a pen to draw those yukky math symbols.
I know there's a folio case for the thinkpad, but its not as intergrated(is that the word?) and nice looking as the transformer. Plus, the dock on the transformer has 2 usbs, sd slot and extra battery... the folio on the thinkpad uses the only usb port, so I won't be able to have a usb on the thinkpad while typing
Guess its more like this: To replace a tablet (one with digitizer) the thinkpad works well. To replace a laptop, the transformer
I've still got a month or two to decide... but its a really hard choice at this point who knows maybe asus will drop an asus transformer 2 with all the things i want (essentially a transformer + active digitizer and one usb port on the tablet itself). Real pity seeing few companies employing the stylus (and dock of course)
As for the review, Thanks, but the information you've given me is already enough In the end, I'll be happy with either, just wanted some insight from actual owners.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much. Eventually one will get it perfect. Close, getting there, just in different devices. Haha.
No problem, Quite fun to use, love em both. Enjoy!

I don't know if this is a silly question, but what if you ordered the Thinkpad tablet's pen from the Lenovo website, and used it on the Transformer? Is that a thing that you could do?

Varenukha said:
I don't know if this is a silly question, but what if you ordered the Thinkpad tablet's pen from the Lenovo website, and used it on the Transformer? Is that a thing that you could do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In short, no.
More exactly thinkpad has an active digitizer that detects the pen's position and clicks, it's same thing as used in wacom graphic tablets, and also what has been on most windows tablet pcs.
The pen does not work without that.
That's in addition to having a capacitive touchscreen that detects finger presses and the capacitive styluses.

maq0007 said:
In short, no.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually tried that when I got my galaxy tab too. Used the stylus from my windows tablet just to see if it worked
Would be really cool if it did work though.

Some keyboard shortcuts work, but really past cut/copy/paste/alt+tab don't expect much. Things like control+backspace or control+shiftmotion do not work. Control+A does however which is nice. I use a Debian chroot and do most things in VIM, so I don't care so much .
I'm running Prime 1.9.1 atm so I don't know how the new notes app is but you may want to try Antipaper Notes HD. I find it O.K. for writing/drawing using a finger, except my hand writing is not as good as my typing. The touch creen is good enough but I can't say how it does with any stylises or pens: th only one I tried is a cheap piece of crap, but my finger works good lol.
If you do typing that is a heavy mix of letters and symbols, I suggest Hackers keyboard in landscape mode. Basically a standard keyboard. The ASUS is a Qwerty but the symbols layout is funky. When docked, you gain a standardQWERTY board that is almost 1:1 with the EeePC 1015s .

Spidey01 said:
Some keyboard shortcuts work, but really past cut/copy/paste/alt+tab don't expect much. Things like control+backspace or control+shiftmotion do not work. Control+A does however which is nice. I use a Debian chroot and do most things in VIM, so I don't care so much .
I'm running Prime 1.9.1 atm so I don't know how the new notes app is but you may want to try Antipaper Notes HD. I find it O.K. for writing/drawing using a finger, except my hand writing is not as good as my typing. The touch creen is good enough but I can't say how it does with any stylises or pens: th only one I tried is a cheap piece of crap, but my finger works good lol.
If you do typing that is a heavy mix of letters and symbols, I suggest Hackers keyboard in landscape mode. Basically a standard keyboard. The ASUS is a Qwerty but the symbols layout is funky. When docked, you gain a standardQWERTY board that is almost 1:1 with the EeePC 1015s .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guess I can live with the limitations. I'm slowly leaning toward the transformer because:
* its overall cheaper and you get slightly more
* I can still draw to some extent on the transformer, use the dock like a normal laptop. The same can't be said about the lenovo, it can draw (well), but I won't be able to treat it as a laptop
* Transformer seems to have larger community support

Here is a screenshot of what I've been doing with my TF.
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Yes, that's my hand writing written directly into a pdf document.
Added by edit.
Here is the thread on the stylus I use.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1275690

goodintentions said:
Here is a screenshot of what I've been doing with my TF.
Yes, that's my hand writing written directly into a pdf document.
Added by edit.
Here is the thread on the stylus I use.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1275690
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, thats actually quite good. Think this might be the screenshot i needed to reassure myself. Thanks
Civil engineering? I do that too!

OMG Surface Pro 3

I've just seen Surface Pro 3 event and... i love it, i want it... i must sell my Pro 1 and buy it.
What do you think about SP3 guys?
And its 3:2 screen instead of 16:9?

I like the 16:9 screen ratio better.
The surface pro 2 is still a powerful product regardless, but imo the thing holding them back is the policy of selling the keyboard separately.

im keen to find out if the new bluetooth enabled surface pro 3 pen will work with the surface pro 2. Im definitely considering selling off my surface pro 2 to upgrade to the 3.

julz said:
im keen to find out if the new bluetooth enabled surface pro 3 pen will work with the surface pro 2. Im definitely considering selling off my surface pro 2 to upgrade to the 3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
New pen is NTrig not wacom so will not function on a pro 2.

I was disapointed about no mention of RT at all!
Loved the way that Pro 3 looks though. I have looked at all the press on it. Great looker. But way out of my price affordability at this time. I'll make do with my 1'st gen RT with 64gbs for a while. I might keep my eyes open for a bargain, I only paid $160US for mine on ebay. WIth all the stuff I've done to mine I might, maybe be able to resell for $200US, then sit and gamble for a pro 2. "Sigh" always the best man never the groom...lol

I don't know why they switched from Wacom to ntrig for the stylus.
One thing I like about my Surface Pro over my friends Sony duo 13 is that if I just want to draw 1 or 2 lines or a few words I can use the pen from my Note 3 if I the surface pen is not in easy reach.
Other than that, I like the surface pro 3. New stand looks like it will be better for writing and drawing. I do a lot of annotating on pdfs and use a combination of keyboard and pen.
Sent from my SM-N900 using XDA Free mobile app

The active stylus can give better precision. Wacom is nice and works well in most cases, but on very high-density displays - such as the Surface Pro 3 has - its minimum resolution is several pixels across.

It will be interesting to see how users feel about the size over time. After I went from a 11" to 13" MacBook Air I really missed the carry ability of the 11'. Although the Pro 2 is heavy and thick, somehow the 10" size just seems right to me.

microsoft surface pro 3
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
short video of the Microsoft surface pro 3 from the webs

The thing I like the most about the Surface Pro 3 is that it doesn't make me want to replace my Surface Pro 2. The screen size is larger, which wasn't what I was looking for when I originally bought the SP2. The only highlights for the form factor that I would have liked over it is the thickness and weight.

i wish they just waited for broadwell they probably could have made thinner

MS needs to sync its release cycle with Intel's. 1st-gen Surface & Pro also had the same problem, of using previous-gen SoC that makes them obsolete even before release. For premium devices, which the Surface lines aspire to be, the target audience is early adopters who expect to have the latest tech. Intel's Mountain Llama (the Broadwell reference design) was impressive in its Computex debut, and SP3 won't fare well in the inevitable comparison.
The kickstand + keyboard cover combo also hasn't fared well. One sign of a good design, aside from selling well, is when competitors copy it. I don't see any OEM copying the keyboard cover, preferring instead to stick to more conventional "detachable" design eg Asus' Transformer series, which works better for fast typing.
This latter has its own issue of being top-heavy, thus needing to add counterbalance weight to the keyboard dock and increasing overall weight. Intel's ref design avoids this by not putting the docking point at the edge of the dock, thereby creating an "outrigger" that prevents tip-over. Most aftermarket keyboard docks for iPad use this setup. Its other advantages: lighter than conventional detachable, more rigid than MS' design and being more "lapable," and works in portrait. One improvement would be to add an adjustable hinge.
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I see SP3 having a short shelf life, and not just because of the obsoleted SoC. If MS sticks to its new spring release cycle for Windows as rumored, then Win9 should see a corresponding Surface launch, along with Office Touch, about 10 months from now. The i3 and i7 versions of SP3 won't ship until end of August, which gives them about a 7-month shelf life.

e.mote said:
The kickstand + keyboard cover combo also hasn't fared well. One sign of a good design, aside from selling well, is when competitors copy it. I don't see any OEM copying the keyboard cover, preferring instead to stick to more conventional "detachable" design eg Asus' Transformer series, which works better for fast typing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree on syncing new Surfaces to Intel's processor releases, but totally disagree on the kickstand and covers. I love being able to just flip the cover up to make more room on my desk, flip it down when I need to do some work, or use the tablet upright without a keyboard at all - keeping something up just for reference, watching a movie, etc.
I totally don't get all the focus people put on how the kickstand works (or doesn't) on the lap. In the past 20 years, I don't think I've used a laptop on my lap more than dozen times. On a desk, I'd take a kickstand over a traditional notebook any day. It's also nice that you get both a keyboard and cover in what? 3-4mm?
For people who prefer something closer to a traditional laptop, there's plenty of choices, I really the Surface retains the kickstand.
As for the Pro 3, I see it much the same as the original Pro - some nice features but just not enough to make me want to buy one. The processor has already been mentioned, the switch away from the Wacom pen, and I actually prefer the smaller screen on the Pro 1 and 2. I could be tempted by a Pro 4 or maybe 5, but my 2 is serving me perfectly well for now.

>totally disagree on the kickstand and covers. I love being able to just flip the cover up...In the past 20 years, I don't think I've used a laptop on my lap more than dozen times...
"I like it"/"works for me" isn't an argument.
>I totally don't get all the focus people put on how the kickstand works (or doesn't) on the lap
Lap use is one instance in the spectrum of computing use mobility. At one end of the spectrum is usage while walking, ie with a phone. Next is using the device while standing. After that, is sitting without a desk (ie lap use). Then, sitting with a desk. Finally, sitting with a desk in a pre-determined location (ie a desktop PC).
By not being able to use the device well while sitting and without a desk, the Surface is even less mobile than a laptop for high-speed typing. That's why MS was so persistent with the "lapability" argument, which was shot down by the majority of reviews of SP3, from journalists and bloggers who do need that mobility.
>It's also nice that you get both a keyboard and cover in what? 3-4mm?
Thinness is visually appealing and is a selling point, but ergonomically it doesn't matter. For a tablet, which is a handheld device, weight and shape are what counts. For a keyboard, thinness affects more important things, like key travel, which affects typing speed. The Surface type cover is an inferior keyboard for typing, even by the relatively low standard of laptop keyboards.
>I really the Surface retains the kickstand.
Archos tablets have had the kickstand for many years, and it was never a big deal (read: not a selling point). Anyway, it's not a matter of having or not having a kickstand, but how to have the display at a desired angle with the least hassle. For decades, the clamshell form was the least hassle. MS' kickstand design hasn't proven to be an adequate replacement. Of present designs, the one in the above pic is IMO the most efficient.

e.mote said:
Of present designs, the one in the above pic is IMO the most efficient.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for once, and this is a rare occasion, I actually agree with you.
My laptop rarely if ever touches a desk. Had a guy round with his surface RT and frankly it was absolutely useless as a laptop replacement ergonomically (we'll ignore software) in the places I use my laptop.

e.mote said:
"I like it"/"works for me" isn't an argument.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't *just* say "I like it", I gave specific examples of where the kickstand is adventitious.
e.mote said:
Lap use is one instance in the spectrum of computing use mobility. At one end of the spectrum is usage while walking, ie with a phone. Next is using the device while standing. After that, is sitting without a desk (ie lap use). Then, sitting with a desk. Finally, sitting with a desk in a pre-determined location (ie a desktop PC).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, so what's your point? Every device trades some proficiency in one area to gain some in another. If an individual's use case requires a significant amount of "lap use", that should steer them in the direction of devices that prioritize that type of use. That doesn't make a device that prioritizes another area wrong, it simple makes it potentially the wrong device for that that person. And I say potentially because I've made a point of using my Surface on my lap to see what all the fuss is about, and I don't see the issue. Perhaps it doesn't work quite as well as a traditional hinged notebook with a rigid keyboard, but for all but the most demanding of needs, it works just fine.
Personally, the minor trade-off in proficiency for lap use is far outweighed by it's increased abilities elsewhere - as I mentioned, using it on a table/desk/counter/hood of a car/etc without the keyboard at all, being able to flip the cover up to save space while the device remains standing, etc. Again, if an individual can't accept that trade-off, then the Surface simply isn't the best device for their needs.
e.mote said:
By not being able to use the device well while sitting and without a desk, the Surface is even less mobile than a laptop for high-speed typing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And by being able to use the device upright without a keyboard, the Surface is more useful than a tablet, so what's your point? If high-speed typing on one's lap is a primary concern, then they should be buying a dedicated notebook or a convertible that uses the hinged, clamshell design with a rigid keyboard. As I said in my previous post, I simply don't understand this mindset that says the Surface HAS to function AS WELL AS a traditional notebook. No, it doesn't. Thankfully, there's any number of other systems on the market that do prioritize that use case.
e.mote said:
Thinness is visually appealing and is a selling point, but ergonomically it doesn't matter. For a tablet, which is a handheld device, weight and shape are what counts. For a keyboard, thinness affects more important things, like key travel, which affects typing speed. The Surface type cover is an inferior keyboard for typing, even by the relatively low standard of laptop keyboards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thinness is directly related to weight and shape, so to say thinness is nice, but weight and shape are more important is just being disingenuous. And again you're laser focused on absolute typing performance, which is fine, but it simply makes the Surface not the right device for you, it doesn't make the Surface the wrong design for everyone.
e.mote said:
Archos tablets have had the kickstand for many years, and it was never a big deal (read: not a selling point).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had several Archos products over the years, and trust me, there's ample reasons their products weren't big sellers. I generally like their overall designs and concepts, but they have a knack for always undermining the whole device with one or two painfully sub-standard components, be it a terrible screen, resistive touch input as opposed to capacitive, etc.
e.mote said:
Anyway, it's not a matter of having or not having a kickstand, but how to have the display at a desired angle with the least hassle. For decades, the clamshell form was the least hassle. MS' kickstand design hasn't proven to be an adequate replacement. Of present designs, the one in the above pic is IMO the most efficient.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll agree there, the original Pro's single angle was pretty restrictive, and the Pro 2's two angles is barely more than adequate. I haven't found it to be an issue, but I can see that some would. I think the only features of the Pro 3 that I find compelling are the new kickstand and the thinner/lighter design.
But returning to the actual design, I'll absolutely agree with everything you said as it pertains to making the device better for someone who needs A- absolute typing performance, and B- has the frequent need to use the device on their lap. Absolutely, a rigid keyboard with equal to greater weight to the display and a strong hinged design would make for a better lap typing experience. And I'll again say that there's any number of systems that offer exactly that - from dedicated laptops to convertibles that use the rigid clamshell design. None of this makes the Surface's design wrong, it simply makes it the wrong device for those individuals, just as dedicated notebooks and rigid, clamshell convertibles are the the wrong device for my needs.
The market is big enough for multiple form factors - not every device needs to share a single overall design, because not every person has precisely the same needs. The market already has countless rigid clamshell type devices, please let those of us who don't prioritize high-speed typing on our laps have our ONE device that best fits our needs, ok?

Without having done a painful amount of digging, please allow me to butt in for a moment and ask, ate there any threads here dedicated to development or tweaking of the sp3? I just got the i7 512 model to use as the heart of a semi portable recording studio (a good amount of real-time number crunching) and was looking to get the most I can out of it. So far, with the little benchmarking and playing with Undervolting a little, I haven't seen this chip do any thermal throttling and haven't gotten any real increase in benchmark. It seems this thing is pretty damn efficient. I came across an article where people were getting major increase in benchmarks by Undervolting but with the i5. (less voltage, less heat, more time at "turbo" less fan noise - ideal for audio production) Well, hey before I REALLY start rambling, if anyone has any resources or suggestions I'd be much obliged.
Sent from my 831C using XDA Free mobile app

Folio, keyboard folio or keyboard?

Hi, so decided to stump up for the Pixel C using the developer discount. Overall am happy with the tablet. Now time to decide what sort of casing I need for it. I'm based in HK and there is a serious lackage of accessories (apart from the keyboard which is roughly the same price as in the USA). I've heard some rumours that the keyboard starches the tablet up, is that true? If so, would a tempered glass screen help?
Anyway, so my normal usage for the tablet will be more media consumption (video watching), bit of reading etc. I will probably use it for working when travelling (i.e. emails, maybe document review via Citrix Receiver). But typing isn't the main concern.
I do like having a folio cover, because you can prop it up for watching videos. But having a keyboard would also be nice for those times I need to type with it. So maybe the folio keyboard (which isn't available in HK, but I'll be in the USA in a few weeks). But then is US$150 justified for buying something I would use maybe 20% of the time?
I appreciate you can use the keyboard as a stand, but I guess its not as good as a folio (and folio is certainly cheaper). Argh, decisions!

I´m using this one for my devices. On amazon or other stores the prices are reduced. You can pair 2 devices at twice and the keyboard is really space saving.

Yep, to me both keyboard solutions from Google are too expensive. Maybe one day I'll get one (and they discount it as well).
I ended up getting the ProCase Sleeve for the Pixel C and the MoKo Google Pixel C Case from Amazon. Both in black. I switch back and forth occasionally depending on what I'm doing. I'm really happy with both of them.

I, personally, have the folio keyboard case. Yes it was expensive, but it's so tightly integrated into the pixel C that it's hard to fault. It's made from real leather, is extremely protective, looks great and has 5 options for holding the tablet:
Positions 1 & 2 - Keyboard enabled with the tablet in one of the two magnetic typing positions
Position 3 - tablet stretched so that the chin goes over the leading edge of the keyboard. Make it great for using while laying down, having the tablet lay on your chest/stomach
Position 4 - tablet docked in magnetic tray and keyboard flipped back 180 degrees
Position 5 - you can remove the tablet from the magnetic tray super easily, close the folio, then magnetically attach the tablet to the leather back of the folio. This protects the keyboard while also giving you something less slippery to hold on to while using the tablet as, well, a tablet.
I DO wish the keyboard had function keys like the Belkin keyboard I purchased for my wife's iPad. The Belkin's keys are smaller, but still work fine. I'd happy trade key size for more usable keys.

Psyclism said:
I, personally, have the folio keyboard case. Yes it was expensive, but it's so tightly integrated into the pixel C that it's hard to fault. It's made from real leather, is extremely protective, looks great and has 5 options for holding the tablet:
Positions 1 & 2 - Keyboard enabled with the tablet in one of the two magnetic typing positions
Position 3 - tablet stretched so that the chin goes over the leading edge of the keyboard. Make it great for using while laying down, having the tablet lay on your chest/stomach
Position 4 - tablet docked in magnetic tray and keyboard flipped back 180 degrees
Position 5 - you can remove the tablet from the magnetic tray super easily, close the folio, then magnetically attach the tablet to the leather back of the folio. This protects the keyboard while also giving you something less slippery to hold on to while using the tablet as, well, a tablet.
I DO wish the keyboard had function keys like the Belkin keyboard I purchased for my wife's iPad. The Belkin's keys are smaller, but still work fine. I'd happy trade key size for more usable keys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. How do you find the weight of the tablet with the folio keyboard? How bulky does it make the whole unit? I have read reports that the keyboard does add weight to the overall unit.
Also, did you buy direct from Google? I presume its not available offline? Reason I'm asking is I will be in the States in a few weeks for a few days, so would prefer to walk in to a store and buy it.
I do wish the tablet had a built in kickstand (like the Surfaces). In general I feel that Google missed a trick in its "productivity" implementation here. Seems both Michrosoft and Apple have better solutions in terms of linking keyboards up. Anyway, rant over.

I originally bought the Pixel keyboard. Was OK but I found having to seperate the tablet and keyboard and snap them together annoying every time I came to use it.
Final straw was when I ended up scratching the back of my Pixel C where the keyboard attaches. Must have been a small amount of grit or something and the process of attaching/removing caused a scratch.
Switched to the folio keyboard and loving it.

browngeek said:
Thanks. How do you find the weight of the tablet with the folio keyboard? How bulky does it make the whole unit? I have read reports that the keyboard does add weight to the overall unit.
Also, did you buy direct from Google? I presume its not available offline? Reason I'm asking is I will be in the States in a few weeks for a few days, so would prefer to walk in to a store and buy it.
I do wish the tablet had a built in kickstand (like the Surfaces). In general I feel that Google missed a trick in its "productivity" implementation here. Seems both Michrosoft and Apple have better solutions in terms of linking keyboards up. Anyway, rant over.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The weight is fine. I wouldn't want to hold it up at shoulder level for hours on end, but it's far from heavy. It does add some thickness to the overall package, but in MY opinion, it makes it easier to carry around since it gives you more to hold on to. It basically turns the tablet into a very compact executive binder, just replace the normal yellow lined notepad with the pixel.
And yes, I purchased mine through Google. Order one, have it shipped to where you're staying, and if you don't like it, ship it right back before you leave.

It's not bad, I have one, but I only use it for travelling. At home I use a full Bluetooth keyboard that I got off of Amazon for $35. The Folio is extremely overpriced in my opinion.
Sent from my Pixel C using Tapatalk

redukt said:
I´m using this one for my devices. On amazon or other stores the prices are reduced. You can pair 2 devices at twice and the keyboard is really space saving.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you like it? Does it type well? Compared to a keyboard or a normal tablet keyboard?
bluestang said:
Yep, to me both keyboard solutions from Google are too expensive. Maybe one day I'll get one (and they discount it as well).
I ended up getting the ProCase Sleeve for the Pixel C and the MoKo Google Pixel C Case from Amazon. Both in black. I switch back and forth occasionally depending on what I'm doing. I'm really happy with both of them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you maybe have some photo's of it? Wondering if the above mentioned keyboard would fit in.

Mustaaa said:
How do you like it? Does it type well? Compared to a keyboard or a normal tablet keyboard?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once used you´ll never missed it It types very well and paired your devices in a short time. The key pressures are balanced compared to a normal keyboard. For mailing / blogging / posting my favorite solution on our device Take a try even you can exchange it

redukt said:
Once used you´ll never missed it It types very well and paired your devices in a short time. The key pressures are balanced compared to a normal keyboard. For mailing / blogging / posting my favorite solution on our device Take a try even you can exchange it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm yeah, I completely forgot that I can return it in 2 weeks Think I'll order it from amazon.de , it's 75 there instead of the 100 at the miscrosoft site. I thought about getting the normal keyboard but for 160 it's too expensive for now and afraid of scratches after what I read about it

So, just wanted to update this thread. I decided not to purchase the keyboard or folio, just could not justify the cost.
In the end I opted for two solutions (basically to try out): a folio case and the microsoft foldable keyboard and a folio keyboard case. All three ordered from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Uni...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s03 (USD40)
http://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00 (USD11)
http://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00 (USD26)
So both set ups are are significantly cheaper than the USD150 cost if bought from Google.
Ironically, since purchasing from the States my laptop has needed to go in for repair, and I thought this would be a good opportunity to test out my new purchases so I could use the Pixel as a laptop replacement.
I've set the folio keyboard as the replacement and also connected a bluetooth mouse. Overall, pretty damn impressed with both the pixel and the keyboard (especially for the price). Now, lets not kid ourselves, I reckon the google folio keyboard would have been much much more better quality, but for the price that I paid for this folio, everything works generally fine.
Lets go through with the negatives first:
- Its chunky (but expect that would be the case with the official one as well)
- You can't just push the pixel into it like the official one (which benefits with the magnets)
- when it sits, because its held by velcro, the pixel pushes down a tiny bit, so it doesn't sit 100% in position, but doesn't really matter
- occasional connection issues with Bluetooth
- have to charge separately via micro usb (so no self charging)
- no trackpad (but don't think the official one has that as well)
- unlike my laptop, due to the size of the cables provided, I can't keep the unit charged all the time
but the positives
- did i mention the price?
- keys are pretty good and solid and clicky
- keyboard sits well
As for the other combo (microsoft keyboard and folio), this also works pretty well, have not tested it so much though, but can foresee using it when travelling. Its a bit of a pain to click into the folio, and a shame that it doesn't use magnetic strength of the pixel, but probably a cost issue.
Biggest issue with these third party solutions is that they don't make use of the pixel c's magnets and self charging, or at the very least usb c.
thing is, when I do get my laptop back, don't really know how much I would use the keyboard, unless when travelling.
Yes, I totally agree the official keyboard options are going to be much much better on every level, but still can't justify the price, unless I end up using a keyboard all the time.
I do have photos of the folio keyboard and will upload these later.
Sent from my Pixel C using Tapatalk

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Any of you guys selling your used OEM keyboard, perhaps you could post it on swappa's boneyard? I'd be willing to buy, any condition as long as it works. Lmk

Next qwerty phone? Photon Q is getting old for today's apps...

Hello guys,
Has anyone found a phone worthy as a successor to the Photon Q? At this point I'm willing to give up SD card, removable batteries and camera button just to get something that has a keyboard, root and can run the basic apps like firefox, messenger, gmail, play store, calendar, adobe reader and youtube without random freezes/pauses in the UI.
Already spent 3 years using a nexus 4 and 5 and I've pretty much "disappeared" from people's lives because I couldn't bear to use any form of touch screen keyboards.
Are people like me condemned to go extinct from the world of mobile computing?

My next phone will be Blackberry Priv. Faster enough, better screen, qwerty, Android. It has all I need (for now at least).

Yeah I'm not too much of a fan of the Priv for a couple of reasons:
- No root and locked bootloader spells a short life for this very expensive machine, no custom roms, no remove bloatware, no adaway etc... Root and bootloader unlock are pretty much what keeps android customizable and open source for the end user...
- Vertical slide out keyboard vs horizontal, only 4 rows, abuses the alt and sym keys to hit numbers and special characters, dpad is 100% analog. Never mind trying to do emojis or working in an ssh terminal, might as well use hacker's keyboard.
- Bugged screen drivers, doesn't use Amoled principles to turn off pixels, results in battery drain, although this might have been fixed in the latest update.
With that said, I'd be willing to try one out if BB unlocks the bootloader and the price falls under 400$CAD for a used unit.

I didn't know it's root-locked. You're right that it may render the device unusable in quite a short time. But if not Priv, then what?

This is such a sad question.

The Moto Z's interchangeable back-panels look pretty promising. I find it hard to believe that there's a bigger market for a projector than for a physical keyboard...
https://www.motorola.com/us/moto-mods
Even just using the breadboard dev kit with a 3D-printed back and a donor keyboard from an older phone could work for a one-off.
http://developer.motorola.com/products/mdk

Apparently there are clip-on bluetooth slider keyboards for iPhone (https://www.amazon.com/iNNEXT-Ultra-Thin-Slide-Out-Bluetooth-Backlight/dp/B01DZJUI18). I've been trying to find something similar for a current-gen android phone but haven't been having much luck.
There's the keyboard + case, but one of the nice things about the slider is being able to hold it while typing and not needing a surface to keep it stable...
If anybody's found something I've missed, I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling the pains of obsolescence...

The z looks promising - especially as it is modular, as most manufacturers it would seem want to just simplify their manufacturing process, it would mean making a generic touchscreen phone, and then batches of accessories to suit demand. Very smart idea.
Repairs/upgrades would be a hell of a lot easier also, just replacing the component that fails, or swapping the accessory for a different task.
Sent from my XT897 using XDA Free mobile app

The main issue of Photon Q for me is the lack of support for the European LTE bands (the most important for me is the 800Mhz band).
In my country, the 3G coverage by HSPA is quite poor and no mobile network operator is expanding its 3G at all any more, the only new coverage efforts happen in LTE.
The Moto Z (Force) looks quite promising. To be honest, I'm simply waiting for a MotoMod qwerty keyboard to appear, and I'm declaring my xt897 dead. Though the Z's camera bump seems to complicate the eventual hw keyboard mod execution.
Let's see what the future will bring us.

Thanks kabaldan for noticing the Moto Z.
I already gave up for another hardwarekeyboard-smartphone and have nearly decided for a OnePlus 3 (6GB RAM edition).
But I think it is better to buy a phone which *might* get an "acceptable" keyboard than none at all. So I guess I will wait a bit longer for the Moto Z.

I'm seriously considering buying a slider bluetooth keyboard for a different phone and then adapting it to fit a current-gen phone. It's not quite as ideal, but most of the slider jobbies for the iPhone are pretty cheap and simple; they have a case part that attaches to the phone, and then the keyboard slides along rails on the case. So I could replace the case portion with a 3D-printed case sized to fit a current-gen phone and the rails for the keyboard. The downsides would be not necessarily having the right android keys (though those have been largely missing since I stopped using my Epic 4g) and it probably wouldn't autodetect when the slider was deployed. It'll probably taking rooting and some keyboard driver hacking to get it all working right, but maybe it'll be a good enough fix when I'm done in like six months...

DIY qwerty phone
GDorn said:
I'm seriously considering buying a slider bluetooth keyboard for a different phone and then adapting it to fit a current-gen phone...
It's not quite as ideal, but most of the slider jobbies for the iPhone are pretty cheap and simple; they have a case part that attaches to the phone, and then the keyboard slides along rails on the case. So I could replace the case portion with a 3D-printed case sized to fit a current-gen phone and the rails for the keyboard. The downsides would be not necessarily having the right android keys (though those have been largely missing since I stopped using my Epic 4g) and it probably wouldn't autodetect when the slider was deployed. It'll probably taking rooting and some keyboard driver hacking to get it all working right, but maybe it'll be a good enough fix when I'm done in like six months...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did that with Xiaomi Mi4C and iPhone 6 keyboard case. If you like smaller phone then you might want to consider Z5C/X Compact and iPhone 5/5S/SE keyboard case.

I know this is an old thread but I just saw this from a Network World article "How Moto Mods went from concept to product." Paul Fordham, lead mechanical architect on the Moto Mods design team says: "We built a battery module that had a full QWERTY keyboard inside. I could show it to you; it's almost like a slider type concept for people who like the tactile feel of a real keyboard. We had all these different ideas that we hadn't even partly developed."
So, it looks like they've at least looked at the idea. I've posted in the Lenovo forums too. Maybe some of us somehow can wake them up to make this a reality. I am grateful for all of the work done on the Photon Q, it still does a good job with all of the tweaks, but I think all of us Q owners could use a newer phone.

bmccrary said:
I know this is an old thread but I just saw this from a Network World article "How Moto Mods went from concept to product." Paul Fordham, lead mechanical architect on the Moto Mods design team says: "We built a battery module that had a full QWERTY keyboard inside. I could show it to you; it's almost like a slider type concept for people who like the tactile feel of a real keyboard. We had all these different ideas that we hadn't even partly developed."
So, it looks like they've at least looked at the idea. I've posted in the Lenovo forums too. Maybe some of us somehow can wake them up to make this a reality. I am grateful for all of the work done on the Photon Q, it still does a good job with all of the tweaks, but I think all of us Q owners could use a newer phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been watching the Z also, and have read that thread.
This would be the single best Mod they could release, & I'm currently debating whether to buy a Priv & sacrifice the 5 row keyboard side-slider, or take a chance on the Z in the hope that they (or others) will release a slider keyboard.
Snapping off a keyboard, & replacing it with the speaker mod, or camera or something else - eg, going out & not needing the bulk of the keyboard, so slap on a styled back, or extended battery.
Maybe later you need to write a work email, so slap on the keyboard & type like a demon again. I'd probably purchase an extra keyboard just to have a spare at a convenient location - eg car glovebox.
I'd also buy a Z for the missus, then all the Mods would get a decent use. Extended batteries, camera, speakers, covers, style backs, prob even get the projector, just to have a full set!
All this..... just waiting for the keyboard Mod.
Sent from my XT897 using XDA Free mobile app

Sadly, there's still no sign of a keyboard attachment for the Moto Z. You'd think that with Motorola being the last manufacturer to produce a hardward keyboard (both the Photon Q LTE and the Droid 4), they'd have made one for this dev device.

Flash-A-Holic said:
I did that with Xiaomi Mi4C and iPhone 6 keyboard case. If you like smaller phone then you might want to consider Z5C/X Compact and iPhone 5/5S/SE keyboard case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good afternoon. As far as I understand, it can be done with any of the Xiaomi Mi4. The main thing is that the dimensions of the housing and the location of the cameras have been the same. Please make a photo of how you do mount the keyboard to the phone cover?
I do not expect anything new from the keyboard of the Motorola (

Plus one for a newer keyboard phone. Running CM13, I've had unsolvable problems with my (old, 2006) BT car interface staying connect while I simultaneously use AD2P via a separate BT receiver via the stero AUX in. The other aggravation is that with CM13, I cannot flash nandroid backups when I break my XT897's screen (which happens 2x-3x per year), so I have to reconfigure from scratch.
For those two reasons, I keep being tempted to switch back to stock (BT stack that tolerates multiples connections better w/ my setup), and easy NANdroid backups and sprint activation codes, etc/
BUT, then I try stock and wait 10-15 full seconds for an app to open. Much gratitude to the CM guys and whoever picks up ball from them and runs with it.
My latest problem w/ CM13 is I can't take advantage of the free international roaming in Mexico-- can't get global data to work (either problem with the CM13 settings menu, or with sprints OTA activsation of the the (sprint internal) SIM.
Let us know if anyone finds a qwerty android (I tried the priv, and too big, too hot running stock), and thanks for everyone's contributions to this great community.

schmandroid said:
The z looks promising
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it does.
https://www.neowin.net/news/behold-...-slider-moto-mod-that-may-stir-some-nostalgia
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The Solutor said:
Yes it does.
https://www.neowin.net/news/behold-...-slider-moto-mod-that-may-stir-some-nostalgia
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh thanks God! It would be great if it becomes true!

Here is the link to the indiegogo compaign. I hope a lot of us Q users will sign up!
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/physical-keyboard-slider-mod-for-moto-z/coming_soon