Revival of physical QWERTY form factors

Hello,

Back in the heydays of physical QWERTY form factors (starting somewhere in the mid-90s and culminating 2011 to be precise) we had lots of different build types:

• Horizontal clam-shells like the Nokia Communicator series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_Communicator)
• Vertical clam-shells like the Sony Ericsson P(800/P900) series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Ericsson_P800)
• Horizontal sliders like the early HTC MDA/XDA variants for different carriers like O2 or T-Mobile (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O2_Xda / https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Mobile_MDA)
• Vertical sliders like the Blackberry Torch
• Bars or blocks like the original Blackberrys and palm Treos (whereas you could find more candy bar styled devices and wider square styled devices)
• Some weird form factors like the Nokia E70 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_E70) or Siemens SK65 (https://www.gsmarena.com/siemens_sk65-861.php)

In 2010/2011 clam-shell was kind of outdated but we saw the release of the

• Last (popular) horizontal sliders like the Nokia E7, Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 and the Motorola Droid 4
• Last (popular) vertical sliders like the HP/palm Pre³ and Dell Venue Pro

With the demise of alternative smartphone OS like webOS, Symbian, Windows Phone resp. Mobile all manufacturers stopped making physical keyboard devices except Blackberry which brought the Classic and Passport in 2014.

But, in 2017 (https://www.fastcompany.com/3069173/...-meets-the-eye) we saw the return of physical keyboard devices with two indiegogo campaigns: Gemini PDA and the Moto keyboard mod and the release of the Blackberry KeyOne.

Fast forward to 2019, we will probably have a plural form factor setup finally again.

• Horizontal clam-shall is alive and will see the release of the Cosmo Communicator in few weeks (https://www.fastcompany.com/3069173/...-meets-the-eye), bringing back Nokia Communicator styled phones
• Horizontal sliders will have a representative with the FX Pro1 (https://www.fxtec.com/pro1/) bringing back Droid styled phones
• Bars or blocks have the candy bar styled Key² and Key² LE. And we now have a concept for a Passport inspired successor called Titan (https://forums.crackberry.com/genera...kberry-1173779)

Remaining missing to the party are only vertical keyboard devices like the (by many) beloved HP/palm Pre series and Blackberry Priv.

So against, what some might say in this forum, just because Blackberry isn’t producing new or different keyboard devices, doesn’t mean there is no room for other physical keyboard form factors. Much to the opposite. This is encouraging news and I personally hope the development goes further as standard smartphone components are getting cheaper and cheaper (even for higher specs).

So, manufactures might be more willing the take the risk and spend some extra bucks on the mechanics releasing new physical keyboard devices like the Titan.

What do you think, when will the next vertical slider finally be released/announced?

My guess is whenever some group get's ready to do another kickstarter program for one.

Originally Posted by GoJoe2

Hello,

Back in the heydays of physical QWERTY form factors (starting somewhere in the mid-90s and culminating 2011 to be precise) we had lots of different build types:

• Horizontal clam-shells like the Nokia Communicator series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_Communicator)
• Vertical clam-shells like the Sony Ericsson P(800/P900) series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Ericsson_P800)
• Horizontal sliders like the early HTC MDA/XDA variants for different carriers like O2 or T-Mobile (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O2_Xda / https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Mobile_MDA)
• Vertical sliders like the Blackberry Torch
• Bars or blocks like the original Blackberrys and palm Treos (whereas you could find more candy bar styled devices and wider square styled devices)
• Some weird form factors like the Nokia E70 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_E70) or Siemens SK65 (https://www.gsmarena.com/siemens_sk65-861.php)

In 2010/2011 clam-shell was kind of outdated but we saw the release of the

• Last (popular) horizontal sliders like the Nokia E7, Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 and the Motorola Droid 4
• Last (popular) vertical sliders like the HP/palm Pre³ and Dell Venue Pro

With the demise of alternative smartphone OS like webOS, Symbian, Windows Phone resp. Mobile all manufacturers stopped making physical keyboard devices except Blackberry which brought the Classic and Passport in 2014.

But, in 2017 (https://www.fastcompany.com/3069173/...-meets-the-eye) we saw the return of physical keyboard devices with two indiegogo campaigns: Gemini PDA and the Moto keyboard mod and the release of the Blackberry KeyOne.

Fast forward to 2019, we will probably have a plural form factor setup finally again.

• Horizontal clam-shall is alive and will see the release of the Cosmo Communicator in few weeks (https://www.fastcompany.com/3069173/...-meets-the-eye), bringing back Nokia Communicator styled phones
• Horizontal sliders will have a representative with the FX Pro1 (https://www.fxtec.com/pro1/) bringing back Droid styled phones
• Bars or blocks have the candy bar styled Key² and Key² LE. And we now have a concept for a Passport inspired successor called Titan (https://forums.crackberry.com/genera...kberry-1173779)

Remaining missing to the party are only vertical keyboard devices like the (by many) beloved HP/palm Pre series and Blackberry Priv.

So against, what some might say in this forum, just because Blackberry isn’t producing new or different keyboard devices, doesn’t mean there is no room for other physical keyboard form factors. Much to the opposite. This is encouraging news and I personally hope the development goes further as standard smartphone components are getting cheaper and cheaper (even for higher specs).

So, manufactures might be more willing the take the risk and spend some extra bucks on the mechanics releasing new physical keyboard devices like the Titan.

What do you think, when will the next vertical slider finally be released/announced?

Right but the only modern Android physical keyboard devices which are relatively accessible as of now are BlackBerry Mobile's KEYone, KEY2 and KEY2 LE.
The rest are mostly kickstarter-style projects.

The F(x) Tec Pro 1 was supposed to start shipping out this month, but I'm not sure if they have just yet.

The Unihertz Titan hasn't even materialized to a pre-production model yet.

And we don't have real rumors for a KEY3 just yet.

Originally Posted by the_boon

Right but the only modern Android physical keyboard devices which are relatively accessible as of now are BlackBerry Mobile's KEYone, KEY2 and KEY2 LE.
The rest are mostly kickstarter-style projects.

The F(x) Tec Pro 1 was supposed to start shipping out this month, but I'm not sure if they have just yet.

The Unihertz Titan hasn't even materialized to a pre-production model yet.

And we don't have real rumors for a KEY3 just yet.

Too there is the Cosmo Communicator... https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/c...r#/updates/all

As well a the JIO PHONE 2 from last summer in India.

F(x) Tec Pro 1 now isn't shipping until September... but they are going to start processing payments for preorders at then end of the month, so they are getting close.

But these just show there is still "some" interest in having a physical keyboard... it's a LONG way from their being a revival of the format.

How about an online petitions?

Originally Posted by SteinwayTransitCorp

How about an online petitions?

What is a petition going to do when the dozens previously did nothing? Who are you going to petition, and for what? You can't even get a dozen CBers to agree on exactly what they want. And a petition isn't going to make something profitable. That's really the only thing that matters.

You take this too seriously.........I was kidding

But at least some people seem to take notice (like Unihertz) and at least probe the waters. ;)

I was in ignorance of the Jiophone. Does anyone has intel on how well the keyboard is made (typing comfort, speed, sizing)?

Originally Posted by GoJoe2

But at least some people seem to take notice (like Unihertz) and at least probe the waters. ;)

I was in ignorance of the Jiophone. Does anyone has intel on how well the keyboard is made (typing comfort, speed, sizing)?

Forget the JioPhone 2, might as well use a Classic.

The JP2 looks like a disgustingly cheap and generic version of a Curve.

And besides, it probably only works in India due to band compatibility.

In addition, the JioPhone isn't a full smartphone - it's a "smarter" feature phone that can run a few apps. But if you are outside of India, you shouldn't bother.

If I design the next 3 Keyboard phones based on Blackberry

If I could get help with a kickstarter or gofundme or even company for 4 Phone Branches Tulkyt: Torpid = Non-Mod (Passport), Rapid = Lo-Mod (LG G5) & Vapid/Lapid = Hi-Mod (Vapid = Mobile & Lapid = Tablet/Laptop version of Project Ara
...too bad I'm hacked and some of my gangstalkers have no brain to understand (Price of 128GB Storage vs 3xSamsung's new 12GB RAM as Rapid ROM Storage like PCIe for Mobile + LinksApp2SD & Multi-SD card or Social Media apps for Data Mining vs Good Games that spawn Movies/shows/merc/etc)

1. Blackberry Pilot Kiaos
- Same size as Passport with Lowered CPU/GPU/RAM Specs for KiaOS's lightweight due to being a Non-Touch OS which allows a far cheaper & still strong Passport (BB innovative Touch Keyboard is perfect for Non-Touch OS)

- 4-Row Touch Hard-Keyboard with Front Cam/Sensors (Receiver on Top Edge of Phone)
via Blank Non-Staggered Layout w/Backlight for Customization via
1. Slip 2-Sided Keymap Printout via App's Keymap Maker under Glass/Thick Plastic over Bezeless Screen 2 Film over Board Protector
2. Assign Character/Symbol/Number/Functions(Edit/App Actions/etc) via Soft-Keyboard, Input Types (Tap, Hold, Shift+, Alt+, FN/Ctrl+) & Options (Add Cut/Copy/Paste, Camera Image/Video Capture, Clipboard, Home/Close/Menu Actions)
e.g. 1st to 3rd Row = Passport Keyboard, 4th Row (Under ZXCV) = Numrow
> Hold Key: 1 = Shift2 = Alt, 3 = FN/CTRL, 0 = Lock Trigger, A = Select All, Z = Undo, X = Cut, C = Copy, V = Cut, Space = Tog MouseZone, Enter = Faux/Real Tab, Backspace = Shift, B = Clipboard, QWERSDF = have Symbols

- Add more MouseZone Config (Passport has 1 MouseZone)
1. 3xZones: MouseZone on Default Left (Q/R/Z/V) & Click-L/R via Flick-L/R on Default Right (U/P/B/Enter), w/o MiddleZone (T/Y/G/H) as Wheel-U/D/Click via Scroll-UD to edge & Swipe-UD on Default Right for Wheel Click
2. 2xZones: Dual MouseZone
= For any game Left for Move & Right for Aim, Keys under are Shape/Dpad etc
= Can be Used for Start & End Selction


2. Blackberry Pilot Andos
- Running Android 6 (Based on Passport Specs) for better OS compatibility with Android
- 3xMicroSD Slots: In Android MicroSD cards can be partitioned to allow Link Apps2SD (Move Apps to SDcard aka Expand ROM/Internal Storage) & Swap Memory (Expand RAM) like PC, but is encrypted (It only works with Phone) & Swap wears down MicroSD cards faster (Hence 3, with 3rd as User Storage)
- 2xMicroUSB-C ports & Split Battery (x2) = Dual Charging & with 2xCells vs 1xCell with extra Batteries = Swap Batteries for instant 50% recharge & keep extras in a "Powerhub" (Powerbank that uses Multiple Cellphone Batteries = High Quality Powerbank and can also charge them at the same time)


3. Blackberry Pilot Runos
- Recovery Mode = Qnxos
1. Pre-OS that in Theory uses less power w/Recovery Mode functions like wipe cache & factory reset & Barebone Basic Apps - Alarm, Calculator, Note Editor, Calendar & maybe Dialer/Texter/Emailer)
2. This Pre-OS can be used to sell BBOS10.3x or Android 6 as a Post-OS upgrades (Google can stop selling data and instead sell the OS like Microsoft)

- Dedicate Android Player (APK4.3 Runner##.##) to startup faster/first and run these apps flawlessly...
1. Cub3D: Python (Easy Shallow Language) + Cross-Platform pyApp as APK Maker + Panda3D Game Engine (GUI rendered by GPU = Theory Faster APKs based on iPod Touch's GPU, ColorNote GPU options, Android's Developer GPU Accel option & Windows GPU rating mentions Aero Peek

2. PPSSPP: Sony's Permission + PSP Developers + ISO PSP Wrapper + Sequel/Parody/Translate Games (GE2RB-Eng, MH3-Eng, VC3-Eng, GTA:SA Stories, NFS:MW2, Gladiator Begins/Finishes, etc) = Brandname 3D GameShop

- Zeus Browser: SWF Flash Wrapper + SWF Developers (If they exist then they still know how to make Games) + Sequel/Parody/Quality Games (Sonny 3, SegaSonic CharrieCreator 3, Arcuz 3, Castaway 3, StickRPG 3, Last Stand 4, Raze 4, etc) = Cheap Quality 2D GameShop

- Addon-based BAR Apps: Design Core Apps in Autoloader like Firefox then Download Addons from/per Apps w/o Blackberry World & Bypass the "Can't Install BAR Apps offline from SDcard" + Addon Management/Backup/Restore (Basically like APK)

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Don't Blame me for Double-Posting, App doesn't have Post Edit Option and Forum doesn't Auto-Merge Multi-Posted replies...and I can only find replies I subscribed to...on PC all my post were subject to Moderator's approval...but the App doesn't tell me that.

I also was "mistaken" for a Toronto Rapper (Gun in Bag, Gotta have a criminal record, "My friend is lazy dropout, who wants to sit on ODSP/welfare", Mississauga cops are worst than toronto cops, it wasn't the coat/hair it was the face), but for some reason they thought I was kicked out of the house for the porn I was watching, "I was a pedo catcher" and are tried to tell me the age of consent in Canada is 16...when my generation drilled Teen Pregnancy into are heads and the fact that every Porn site I visited asked if your 18yrs or older...so yeah they mess up and still trying to find dirt.

I forgot to mention
Pros of 1:1 Ratio = No need to Rotate & No Portrait Camera Videos
Cons of 1:1 Ratio = Wide is prefered for Media & 1:1 isn't mainstream

BODY DESIGN
- Keep Passport's Size (Display Size/Ratio depends on Operating System)
- Non-Bezel via Front Cam & Sensors in between Keymap or under Transparent Glass Space Key (Con: lots of smugging)
- Single Receiver/Speaker on Top w/Quiet2Loud Speaker Volume (No need to flip phone upside-down when using Quiet (Receiver Mode) Volume during calls)
- No Giant Logos (Put it on the Space)


OPERATING SYSTEM
For Kiaos (Non-Touch Screen) or Qnxos (Recovery Mode as Pre-OS/DOS)
- Blank Keymap so Users can Slip 2-sided Paper card Layout between Blank Hard-Keyboard

- 4 row Keyboard w/the 4th is a Numrow by default at the bottom under ZXCV/Space/BNM/Enter row
++ Assign Hold function PerKey: Edit-Cut/Copy/Paste (XCV), Undo-Mistake/Redo/Clipboard (MNB), Okay (O), ArrowPad-UDLR (UKJI), etc

++ Assign Hold for Select-Mode/All/Line/Word/Block: S to Un/Tog > ...
=== Mode:w/ArrowPad per 1xCursor Space
=== All: A (All in View), AA (All in Textbox) & AAA (All in App)
=== Line: L w/ArrowPad per Line
=== Word: W w/ArrowPad per Word
=== Block (CMD's Marking): B to Horzi2Verti & apply Space/Backspace/Indent to per Line


- Touchzone Config: (Term: Peck = Touch Keymap vs Tap = Press HardKey)
++ Dual Cursor
=== Duo Joysticks for Gaming w/under Keys to Tap as ArrowPad/TriggerKeys/MainKeys
=== Easier A2B Selecting for typing
=== Split Scrolling: Leftside (QTZV) for Vertical & Rightside (YBMP) for horizontal or swap side

++ Mouse, Click-Left/Right/Wheel with or without Wheel:
=== Pick Zones: Whole, Left+Right, w/o Mid(TYGH) or Custom (PerRow, PerColumn, PerKey(s), Shape)
=== Assign Mouse w/o 2xPeck zone to Un/Toggle then Drag Cursor
=== Assign Click-Left w/o 1xPeck zone or Peck Space to Act
=== Assign Click-Right/Wheel via Swipe zone Vertical/Horizontal

++ Multi-Tog SHIFT/CTRL/ALT/FN
=== Any Key or Actions via Peck or Gesture



For Andos/Runos (Keep Passport's body Size)
- Approx 5inch All-Touch Amoled Display Screen w/Non-Bezel = 1:2 Ratio or 4:3/16:9 Ratio with Deadzoning (Blacklips/ActionBars/Notifybars) or Stretching Phone a bit more until it's 4:3/16:9 Ratio

- Split-able Tactile Transparent Keymap that overlays & touches Digiziter (aka Rotate-able LandView or SkyView Hard-Keyboard)
++ Design:
=== Tactile via Bumps w/very thin borders to prevent multi-input
=== Transparent Stylus material as Point or Border to Touch Digiziter unless screen can be Ghost Touch then Air Bubble with holes near Border to prevent suction

++ Combine as 1 Keymap for Portrait and Split into 2 for Landscape use
=== Clip Keymap into Edges of Faceless Phone Case (that way their is always 2-sides to clipped securely and you put Keymaps behind phone when not in use or double for Keymap & Tactile back)
=== OR: Soft Labels: Use Soft-Keyboard to display Soft-Keymap under Blank Hard-Keymap
=== OR: Hard Labels: Slip 2-sided/split paper card(s) with Keymap Printout underneath Keymap w/Amoled to shutdown display or Lower brightness = Paperbrite

++ IF you prefer just LandView or just SkyView then the case would flip the Keymap from the back to the front

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