iPhone 2.0: Part One, A Physical Keyboard
Apple's next iteration of the iPhone is eagerly awaited by everyone. And after using it for almost a year I have some wishes and observations. Some are mundane, some are controversial.
My guess is Part One of this will raise the ire of some out there. So be it.
But I can say, without a doubt that the most important thing for me in the next iteration of the iPhone will be a physical keyboard. I say this realizing that a lot of the physical allure of the current iPhone is made possible by the lack of a physical keyboard. I say this realizing that Steve Jobs has proudly shown off the lack of physical keyboard over-and-over again.
Most importantly, though, I say this as a user. It could be because I've used Blackberrys for years, but I have found myself writing less emails on an iPhone than I would on a Blackberry. A lot less. In fact, the feeling I get when I have to type anything of anything length on my iPhone is one of dread. I can actually type faster on my iPhone than on a Blackberry but not as comfortably. And that feeling of comfort means I generally avoid using my iPhone to type.
This, in-and-of-itself is not an iPhone killer over the long-term. Because, as we know, the iPhone is much more than an email device. (In fact, it may be a case where the sum is better than the parts. Power phone users [which will be a topic for another day...] note that the phone is lacking). But I doubt that what enabled the Blackberry to be termed the Crackberry by first-time users will be applied to the iPhone.
So how should Apple address this? Not by giving up on the touch-screen keyboard altogether but rather, like they have done with the iPod line, creating another version of the iPhone that has a physical keyboard. Steve Jobs has back-peddled many times, most notably on having video on an iPod, so the precedent is there.
What do you think, is the lack of a physical keyboard on the iPhone a huge deal to you?
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I don’t think it will happen- the flexibility of the iPhone keyboard, which changes based on the application or field in a form (e.g. the ‘.com’ button) is what will make the iPhone a tremendous platform for 3rd party apps. A compact, third party keyboard attachment (or Italian leather-coated Apple one) may still be on the horizon.
Hadley,
If you force yourself to use it for all of your emails for 2 weeks, I would be very surprised if you felt this way after that time.
I was really annoyed by the on-screen keyboard at first, but the more I use it, the more I love it. I can type nearly as fast on the iPhone keyboard as I can on a computer.
The practice was really worth it for me, and I now type medium to medium longish emails on my iPhone regularly.
The touchscreen is vastly preferable to what would be required to make a physical keyboard work: increasing the dimensions of the device, decreasing the screen size, or incorporating moving parts in the form of flip or slide-out components. I really like how the keyboard appears when needed and folds away when not to give you more screen real estate.
“The most important thing for me in the next iteration of the iPhone will be a physical keyboard. Most importantly, though, I say this as a user…”
The Microsoft black PR Machine works its last lame line of defense against the iPhone-the physical keyboard.
Yeah, DM, it’d be interesting if a third party could make a small and sleek keyboard that wouldn’t turn the iPhone into a brick-sized device.
It will be interesting to see if the strongly rumored larger form factor iPhone has a keyboard or mini-USB for attaching one.
Zato, you don’t contribute enough! Always get a chuckle out of your trolling efforts, but of course, don’t take them seriously.
I like the current keyboard for short writing jobs. Why not BluTooth a keyboard like the current slim aluminum one I’m using on my desktop? Proper blue tooth that can pair to the desktop or a keyboard, etc. would be the best of all worlds.
“Zato, you don’t contribute enough! Always get a chuckle out of your trolling efforts, but of course, don’t take them seriously.”
I don’t think of it as trolling, Chris.
Your job is to kill sales of AAPL products, and my job is to kill visits to your black PR site.
Oh! I don’t know whose fit of anger is more impressive, Zato’s or Ben Croshaw’s, either way chuckles all around!
“Oh! I don’t know whose fit of anger is more impressive, Zato’s or Ben Croshaw’s, either way chuckles all around!”
Even Tanner, the 2 digit iPhone hater, chimes in. Chuckle, chuckle.
I’m wondering why iPhone Matters didn’t get the above iPhone hate* story.
No traffic, I guess.
* OK, so maybe it’s not a real hate piece, but suggesting Apple go back to a physical keyboard is laughable. Why not write something constructive instead.
I don’t think either of us are doing a very good job, zato.
I think you want a physical keyboard, then you’ll have to get a Blackberry. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the iPhone will never come with a physical keyboard. This isn’t the same kind of stubbornness that kept them from adding a second mouse button decades after the world had decided it preferred two button mice. The touch screen keyboard works for what the Apple is and what it aspires to be.
One reason I don’t think this will happen is Apple’s keyboard history. Macs have very pretty keyboards - but I’ve been touch typing since the 1960s and until the aluminum keyboard came out, the previous keyboard was easily the worst to use. I make more errors with the aluminum though, and I have to put on my glasses to read the moved function key commands (I don’t need my reading glasses to read other keyboards).
Being pretty is Apple’s way. But I prefer functional.
I for one hope they don’t add a physical keyboard. After using it for almost a year I find that I type just as fast on the iPhone as my old Blackberry. They certainly could make it better and should, but I’d rather have them “bulk” up the phone with other features than some lame chiclet keyboard.
I know it’s a late comment… but what the hell…
I think the idea of a keyboard added to the iPhone sounds awful…
and yet, the idea of a truly TINY MacBook Air (or “iBook Air”) which is basically a larger iPhone + keyboard in a clamshell form factor is quite appealing.
So I’ll agree it’d be good… but it shouldn’t be marketed as an iPhone.
I just got rid of my Iphone and switched to a Palm 800w because of the keyboard issue.
I am sorry to say that I can’t type while driving on the iPhone, but I am able to do it on the 800w. I am able to feel the keys on the 800w to easily type without having to glance over so much.
If they can make it somehow where I can feel the keys on the iPhone I will switch back.
It is too dangerous having to glace at the screen to be able to type on the iPhone while driving.