[JohnHa]

I've been using my iPhone SE with the gen 1 Typo keyboard ever since I had to stop using my Key2. It's actually quite good still after all these years. IIRC they were sued out of existence by BlackBerry for patent infringement.

Question: instead of trying to create a whole new phone (TCL, Unihertz, Onward Mobility) and all the complexity and cost around that, why not start a company that licenses the blackberry keyboard hardware technology, and create bluetooth keyboard cases for modern iPhones (and perhaps also Galaxy and Pixel phones)?

It would be way cheaper and less complex than trying to manufacture a whole phone with a physical keyboard. And you could create new models each time a new iPhone or popular android phone came out, creating a steady revenue stream.

I know samsung has made some keyboard cases for their galaxy phones, which I think physically tap the glass. But I really like the Typo keyboard because, although it makes the whole device longer, it allows you to basically double your screen size when you're typing (because there is no virtual keyboard taking up half the screen).

Just a thought as I was enjoying my Typo keyboard and iPhone SE.

[spARTacus]

@Dakkaron already made a USB-C Ready Q10 KB as a PKB attachment for any Android Slab, and placed all details on github. Anyone who really wants one can make it themselves. The complexity with it as a DIY project is the micro soldering, and casing. Dakkaron used 3D printed cases to successfully attached it to a Fairphone and to a Pixel. He's probably still using them today. He was even planning to move toward next generation boards to help reduce the micro soldering, and had mentioned about investigating if the interface could be adapted for a lighting connector, for iPhones. I'll post a link to the thread in an edit.

Dakkaron also previously had some discussion with @SES Mobile Accessories, for SES to use what Dakkaron had created as the base for a Bluetooth PKB slider attachment prototype.

There is also the Solder Party Q20 KB, which comes all pre-assembled. Based on what I read on the web, someone has already also supplemented to the Solder Party Q20 KB with a Bluetooth adapter.

Overall, all of what you mention is true and possible, and not overly complex/costly (relatively, in my opinion, if one really wants/needs a PKB). Based on discussions here in CrackBerry, you'll find the biggest suggestion is simply that there isn't enough interest/market, not even for only what you are suggesting. I personally initially thought part of the problem was only just lack of awareness. However, kind of hard to keep thinking that.


Edit: Here's one of the related threads. Read fully through and also visit the github page.https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/top...ink_source=app

Edit: ...and here's a pic of Dakkaron's Q10 KB Attachment on a Pixel.

[conite]

Question: instead of trying to create a whole new phone (TCL, Unihertz, Onward Mobility) and all the complexity and cost around that, why not start a company that licenses the blackberry keyboard hardware technology, and create bluetooth keyboard cases for modern iPhones (and perhaps also Galaxy and Pixel phones)?

Because no one under 40 years old wants one?

[irob20000]

There is also the Solder Party Q20 KB, which comes all pre-assembled. Based on what I read on the web, someone has already also supplemented to the Solder Party Q20 KB with a Bluetooth adapter.

I've heard of the Solder Party keyboard but I thought it was another DIY project. Is it really plug and play - can I just plug it in to a Galaxy and it'll work?

[spARTacus]

I've heard of the Solder Party keyboard but I thought it was another DIY project. Is it really plug and play - can I just plug it in to a Galaxy and it'll work?

The Solder Party Q20 KB is a "...they made it for you..." kind of thing. As Dakkaron has pointed out, perhaps a bit more akward with the plastic molding on it, in comparison to his Q10 KB arrangement, and for how to attach it at the bottom of a phone. But yes, it says it's just USB-C plug and play, and apparently confirmed as such by others in here. If one was going to attach it in a casing arrangement to the bottom of a phone, one would probably need a short straight through male to male USB-C connector, or some creativity with some flat right angled USB-C ribbon connectors. Unfortunately, the Solder Party Q20 KB always seems to be sold out. Either a hot item or just very small batches are produced.

[JohnHa]

Awesome ������. A lot of progress there since I last read that thread. Thank you for reminding me.

[JohnHa]

Awesome 👍. A lot of progress there since I last read that thread. Thank you for reminding me.

[JohnHa]

Because no one under 40 years old wants one?

And yet:
1. Unihertz exists, and
2. https://forums.crackberry.com/genera...-work-1196037/

It's obvious there has been a lot of progress on the engineering front from the community here. The marketing obviously needs work, but I think with the right celebrities endorsing it, a whole generation could be influenced. Just think that every celeb used to have a BB and would be psyched for a keyboard again (and no need to give up their current iPhone). Make 50 finished prototypes and seed the right celebrity endorsements, it would spread quickly amongst their peers and with so few, "everyone" of that set would want one. That would lead to seed round funding, but more importantly, the endorsements. Heck, start with Ryan Seacrest and other former die hards (Kardashian, et al.) and go from there. You probably just need one super celeb like Kim on board to do this.

[conite]

And yet:
1. Unihertz exists, and
2. https://forums.crackberry.com/genera...-work-1196037/

It's obvious there has been a lot of progress on the engineering front from the community here. The marketing obviously needs work, but I think with the right celebrities endorsing it, a whole generation could be influenced. Just think that every celeb used to have a BB and would be psyched for a keyboard again (and no need to give up their current iPhone). Make 50 finished prototypes and seed the right celebrity endorsements, it would spread quickly amongst their peers and with so few, "everyone" of that set would want one. That would lead to seed round funding, but more importantly, the endorsements. Heck, start with Ryan Seacrest and other former die hards (Kardashian, et al.) and go from there. You probably just need one super celeb like Kim on board to do this.

Unihertz sales for their phones has been steadily dropping between devices. Will have to see when they finally pull the plug. Besides they never sold more than a few thousand for each anyway.

[spARTacus]

...Make 50 finished prototypes and seed the right celebrity endorsements, it would spread quickly amongst their peers and with so few, "everyone" of that set would want one. That would lead to seed round funding, but more importantly, the endorsements. Heck, start with Ryan Seacrest and other former die hards (Kardashian, et al.) and go from there. You probably just need one super celeb like Kim on board to do this.

10 prototypes was my suggestion for Dakkaron's Q10 USB-C Ready PKB Attachment. Put those in the hands of some PKB enthusiasts from here in CB or AC, and I figured that as a step would help get the word out a bit more and then also help Dakkaron with some next refinements (and/or for a Bluetooth one for attaching to iPhones). Finding 10 folks that would give $100 each to Dakkaron for his efforts and in exchange for each getting a prototype from Dakkaron, would I think be a nice shot in the arm for Dakkaron (but remember, he's not in it for the factory production run idea). I know that some from here in CB have contributed to Dakkaron. Not sure how many. I also know that Dakkaron at one point also put out a call to see who was interested, for him to do a limited next gen run and him to do the micro soldering. It's all in the scroll back in the thread (threads, there may be more than one discussing Dakkaron's efforts and next steps considering there was also a few different SES threads, and I think two different Dakkaron threads).

If I was sceptical, I'd suggest that at least one or two folls from the Solder Party crew (they had a Q10 based KB project before their "current" Q20 one, before also Dakkaron had his Q10 KB Attachment concept) saw some of the exchanges in here about Dakkaron's efforts and decided to do an upgrade (now their Q20) to their previous run. With other possibilities within that sort of community for also attaching it to various micro projects (I doubt many of their current sales are for attaching them to phones), those Solder Party guys are also probably a good businesses model test environment.

I am not sure if previous BlackBerry Celebrities are a good target for a current day PKB attachment, nor if there could be trends for everyone to now want one. Probably yes for nostalgia purposes, a bit of a gimmick that some of them could be willing to try out and then see how that sticks. I guess a small few of them might think they had more success in the past typing with a PKB than now with their current Slabs, and would be genuinely interested. If there was die hard interest among celebrities however, I'd think the few Typo cases that do exist would by now be constantly selling like gold in after market. Finding a right celebrity to hook onto (mind the pun) for a new PKB attachment idea would probably be key (mind the pun), if going that route. Given that Typo/Ryan were successfully sued, I doubt Ryan would be interested. Who knows, maybe Dakkaron also got a letter in the mail given the past interest in trying to sell BlackBerry patents, and therefore also why Dakkaron's been quiet lately (also remember, Dakkaron was doing his stuff as a hobby).

[SAVVYSCLUTTER]

Most BBOS and BB10 users still left don't want iPhones or Androids even if they have keyboards.

[conite]

Most BBOS and BB10 users still left don't want iPhones or Androids even if they have keyboards.

Super. But what choice do they have? Continue to run on unsafe, failing equipment with no support or back-end infrastructure, or just make the inevitable move?

There aren't enough users to make any pkb business viable.

[Ph1llip]

Most BBOS and BB10 users still left don't want iPhones or Androids even if they have keyboards.

I disagree. I'd happily buy an iPhone or Android (heck, I'll buy both!) if they had -keyboards-.

[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

I disagree. I'd happily buy an iPhone or Android (heck, I'll buy both!) if they had -keyboards-.

And there likly are thousands that feel the same way....

[Ph1llip]

10 prototypes was my suggestion for Dakkaron's Q10 USB-C Ready PKB Attachment. Put those in the hands of some PKB enthusiasts from here in CB or AC, and I figured that as a step would help get the word out a bit more and then also help Dakkaron with some next refinements (and/or for a Bluetooth one for attaching to iPhones). Finding 10 folks that would give $100 each to Dakkaron for his efforts and in exchange for each getting a prototype from Dakkaron, would I think be a nice shot in the arm for Dakkaron (but remember, he's not in it for the factory production run idea). I know that some from here in CB have contributed to Dakkaron. Not sure how many. I also know that Dakkaron at one point also put out a call to see who was interested, for him to do a limited next gen run and him to do the micro soldering. It's all in the scroll back in the thread (threads, there may be more than one discussing Dakkaron's efforts and next steps considering there was also a few different SES threads, and I think two different Dakkaron threads).

If I was sceptical, I'd suggest that at least one or two folls from the Solder Party crew (they had a Q10 based KB project before their "current" Q20 one, before also Dakkaron had his Q10 KB Attachment concept) saw some of the exchanges in here about Dakkaron's efforts and decided to do an upgrade (now their Q20) to their previous run. With other possibilities within that sort of community for also attaching it to various micro projects (I doubt many of their current sales are for attaching them to phones), those Solder Party guys are also probably a good businesses model test environment.

I am not sure if previous BlackBerry Celebrities are a good target for a current day PKB attachment, nor if there could be trends for everyone to now want one. Probably yes for nostalgia purposes, a bit of a gimmick that some of them could be willing to try out and then see how that sticks. I guess a small few of them might think they had more success in the past typing with a PKB than now with their current Slabs, and would be genuinely interested. If there was die hard interest among celebrities however, I'd think the few Typo cases that do exist would by now be constantly selling like gold in after market. Finding a right celebrity to hook onto (mind the pun) for a new PKB attachment idea would probably be key (mind the pun), if going that route. Given that Typo/Ryan were successfully sued, I doubt Ryan would be interested. Who knows, maybe Dakkaron also got a letter in the mail given the past interest in trying to sell BlackBerry patents, and therefore also why Dakkaron's been quiet lately (also remember, Dakkaron was doing his stuff as a hobby).

[spARTacus]

Fantasy World? Was there something I wrote in that post you quoted, or my earlier posts in this thread on the topic of discussion, that caused you to interpret that I am living in a Fantasy World?

[cribble2k]

And there likly are thousands that feel the same way....

"Thousands" is the keyword here.

When you consider how many millions of Android and Apple devices are in the world.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

[JohnHa]

https://twitter.com/nabeelqu/status/...374560259?s=20

[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

https://twitter.com/nabeelqu/status/...374560259?s=20

"low addiction"?

It was a different addiction, but plenty of BlackBerry users were "addicted".... thus the term "crackberry".

Like many things there is a huge disconnect between wishful thinking about a past product, and the willingness to spend money on something.