Freedom Mini Bluetooth Keyboard is Here

[Jerry Raia]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=124250' target='_blank'>http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=124250</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Ultra compact in design and a wide compatiblity with Bluetooth enabled devices, the Freedom mini Bluetooth keyboard extends the input capability of a PDA or smartphone. Type texts, e-mails or documents quickly and accurately with the metal domed, 39 key standard layout, and navigate using a 4-way 'game pad' control."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20050809-MiniBluetoothThumbboard.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/><br /><br />If you have been waiting for this it's here! We originally posted on it in <a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8991">this thread.</a> If you pick one up let us know what you think.

[Mike Temporale]

must... resist... temptation...

[aarcam]

That thing looks pretty cool and would solve one of the biggest hurdles I have with trying to email and text from a smartphone.

However, the only question is how you use it? Do you lay your phone down on the desk (most of the smartphones out these days don’t have cradles) and hover over your expansive 2.2” screen as you type away? Or do you leave it in your belt holster and perform some unkind form of yoga to look at your belt while you type. Am I missing the obvious here? :?

[Mike Temporale]

Am I missing the obvious here? :?

I think these pictures would help explain things a little better for you. ;)

http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=57825#57825

[me]

It's a good idea.

I have a BT keyboard that I sometimes use on my smartphone, the Stowaway folding one (Freedom also makes one).

However, it is not shirt or pants-pocketable (only kind of pocket it would fit into is a large jacket pocket), you have to bother with unfolding and folding it, etc.

The phone's own keypad isn't very useful for text entry at all, IMO.

It would be nice to have a small external BT kbd, that one could carry in the pocket, and use quickly when needed. Of course it is probably not for typing with five fingers, like the folding keyboard, but more of a thumb keyboard. For typing a long document, better to use the folding keyboard. But for quick text entries, that would be too cumbersome with the phone keypad, nice to have a small thumb QWERTY keyboard.

The dimensions are only given in mm, 101 x 60.4 x 17mm. I could look up a conversion, but is anyone reading familiar enough with the conversion to give an approximate inches (USA) conversion of those dimensions.

Yes, tempting to buy now, but probably better to wait until there are some reviews of it. Also, if it becomes available at more outlets, there will be lower prices, as well as the usual tendency for prices to go down with time, on electronic devices.

I'm not sure if Expansys actually has this in stock yet. They have a tendency to advertise items they don't have.

[aarcam]

Thanks Mike, I missed that one first time around. The images in my head were fairly entertaining though…

me, to convert to inches divide by 25.4, so the device is approx 4” x 2 3/8” x 5/8”.

[Sven Johannsen]

This would make it much more convenient for answering text messages in the car. There are plenty of cell phone holders, just needed the input device. :wink:

[me]

I found a review of it:

http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&amp;t=reviews&amp;id=725

I haven't seen any notices of it for sale anywhere other than Expansys. I have my doubts as to whether they actually have it yet, or are trying to beat other retailers for sales of it, by listing it first, before they actually have it.

[Kris Kumar]

I am surprised that the company has such a good product. Yet they haven't done a good job advertising the product on their web site. (http://freedominput.com/)

Thanks to the link Mike posted, I know how it works, but otherwise I would have been clueless. That is simply bad marketing of an otherwise awesome product. :roll:

Check this PDF (http://www.freedominput.com/minikeyboard/freedommini.pdf) from their web site. Looking at it you can't tell that this little wonder can clip on the phones. :?

[simond]

I found a review of it:

http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&amp;t=reviews&amp;id=725

I haven't seen any notices of it for sale anywhere other than Expansys. I have my doubts as to whether they actually have it yet, or are trying to beat other retailers for sales of it, by listing it first, before they actually have it.

I received mine from expansys on Friday, so they definitely have them iin stock, from my play over the weekend I quite like it, I just need to get used to the keyboard layout a bit better :)

[aguida]

Has anybody tried it, or can confirm it works with smartphones (sp3i, sp5, 8310, etc.)?

Thanks,
Alessandro

[Mike Temporale]

I was looking around, and I couldn't find any reference to what devices are supported. Do they even have a WinMo5 driver? I won't be buying one until I know for sure. :?

[ffaridi1]

I got my key board today ...... to tell you truth if this device could work properly with my mpx220 I bet I don't want any thing like Treo or Q .... this is so light and handy its really portable and the phone fits securely in the latch provided.

But the main hurdle right now is lack of drivers. ... I tried to pair it with my device (MPX220) right out of the box , it could pair with the phone but nothing happen, which is understood as there are no drivers available for WM2003 with MS BT Stack.... a friend of mine has DellAxim x50v with WM05 -MS BT stack I tried on his PDA and couldn't get it to work there too.. . I guess after furthur "Googling" and maybe contacting there tech support I'll probably be able to get it to work on [atleast] WM05 devices (SMT5600, Axim x50v) and if Icould , that will be a valid enough reason for me to swap my MPX220 with my friend's SMT5600 which he really wanna do (he is a clam shell lover ).

If any one has any info of how to get it to work with WM05 (Without installing any driver and with MS- BT Stack) let me know I will really appreciate.

Thanks

[Richard76]

@ Mike Temporale

If you go to their website they have a compatitbility list.

http://www.freedominput.com/Freedomkeyboard/quicklist.htm

Cheers.

[ffaridi1]

@ Mike Temporale

If you go to their website they have a compatitbility list.

http://www.freedominput.com/Freedomkeyboard/quicklist.htm

Cheers.

I don't know how long will that "TBC = To be Confirmed for later inclusion" last as what it says in front of SMT5600 and all other smartphones.

As a side note I tried to pair and use it with my PC (Which has broadcom drivers) and it worked like a charm, I'll give it a try on SMT5600 (Which also has broadcom BT stack) I hope it will work there too.

Does any one know how to force a PPC driver to be installed on SPV?

[me]

Well, did it work with your SMT5600?

@ Mike Temporale

If you go to their website they have a compatitbility list.

http://www.freedominput.com/Freedomkeyboard/quicklist.htm

Cheers.

I don't know how long will that "TBC = To be Confirmed for later inclusion" last as what it says in front of SMT5600 and all other smartphones.

As a side note I tried to pair and use it with my PC (Which has broadcom drivers) and it worked like a charm, I'll give it a try on SMT5600 (Which also has broadcom BT stack) I hope it will work there too.

Does any one know how to force a PPC driver to be installed on SPV?