10-10-2004, 05:00 PM
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Swami
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,303
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Bluetooth FrogPad Released: One Handed Mobile Keyboard
"FrogPad and its partner Gennum Corporation are announcing the official and global launch of iFrog, a portable keyboard with Bluetooth. The iFrog is compatible with all Mac OS X and PCs supporting the Bluetooth HID (Human Interface Device) profile, which describes how a keyboard will communicate with another Bluetooth device. iFrog will include drivers for Bluetooth devices supporting Pocket PC, Palm OS, Symbian and Windows Mobile Smartphone"
The iFrog is basically a one-handed keyboard to be used with Pocket PCs, PDA's, Laptops, Tablet and Wearable PC's, etc. The letter layout is based on the percent usage of each letter in the English language. Fifteen letters that are used 86% of the time by typists are placed in the most efficient locations on the keyboard. Hmmm, now where have we heard that one before? ;-) The iFrog is priced at US$225 and you can find a very positive hands on review of the previous (non Bluetooth version) in the Tampa PC Users newsletter. (PDF). I'm not sure I see the point of using this with a PPC, as you have to have your screen visible anyway. Why not just use FITALY? Would any of you guys who have used an iFrog care to comment on what you though of it?
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10-10-2004, 05:21 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 307
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Re: Bluetooth FrogPad Released: One Handed Mobile Keyboard
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Originally Posted by Jonathon Watkins
"FrogPad and its partner Gennum Corporation are announcing the official and global launch of iFrog, a portable keyboard with Bluetooth. The iFrog is compatible with all Mac OS X and PCs supporting the Bluetooth HID (Human Interface Device) profile, which describes how a keyboard will communicate with another Bluetooth device. iFrog will include drivers for Bluetooth devices supporting Pocket PC, Palm OS, Symbian and Windows Mobile Smartphone"
The iFrog is basically a one-handed keyboard to be used with Pocket PCs, PDA's, Laptops, Tablet and Wearable PC's, etc. The letter layout is based on the percent usage of each letter in the English language. Fifteen letters that are used 86% of the time by typists are placed in the most efficient locations on the keyboard. Hmmm, now where have we heard that one before? ;-) The iFrog is priced at US$225 and you can find a very positive hands on review of the previous (non Bluetooth version) in the Tampa PC Users newsletter. (PDF). I'm not sure I see the point of using this with a PPC, as you have to have your screen visible anyway. Why not just use FITALY? Would any of you guys who have used an iFrog care to comment on what you though of it?
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Well I for one think it's good to see people come out with more bluetooth device. I don't think you can compare this to Fitaly - this is more comparable to the new Stowaway Keyboard. I suppose it might be more compact than qwerty and would let you use a stylus with one hand and the keyboard with another. or maybe a latte and a keyboard simulataneously?
However, while I might change from my lovely bluetooth Stowaway to one with a number pad, I'm not sure I would change to this. I wouldn't mind giving it a try and seeing if it fits but 225 US! That's a very stiff price and I would be surprised if they can get people to catch on to it at this premium?
Besides, since the whole point is that it's half a keyboard shouldn't it be half the price. :wink:
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10-10-2004, 05:43 PM
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Swami
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,303
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Re: Bluetooth FrogPad Released: One Handed Mobile Keyboard
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Originally Posted by Marcel_Proust
Besides, since the whole point is that it's half a keyboard shouldn't it be half the price. :wink:
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Yes, I was really surprised at that price. 8O
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10-10-2004, 05:56 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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I somehow miss the point of this device. What are it's real benefits? It's size...carring size isn't much different from a folding keyboard, so why give up the functionality of a qwerty keyboard for this. It also means learning another keyboard pattern....I'm still working on qwerty.  The price is bigger than the keyboard itself. If it is onehanded use and portability they are after a thumboard works better for much less.
Dave
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10-10-2004, 05:58 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 468
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I like the concept. It reminds me of an old ten-key at which one can get pretty fast with practice.
But I really do NOT like the price.
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10-10-2004, 06:45 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 48
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Re: Bluetooth FrogPad Released: One Handed Mobile Keyboard
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Originally Posted by Jonathon Watkins
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I don't think this is comparable to Fitaly. I presume with this, you have use of the full screen -- that's why I would never use Fitaly or any other on-screen keyboard, since I don't like to have any of the screen taken up.
That being said though, I don't see the point of this keyboard -- you can't use the keyboard with just one hand -- you still need 2 -- one hand holding it, and the other typing. However, you need to put your Pocket PC somewhere, so presumably you have a table available. So if you have a table available, why not use a full Stowaway or equivalent keyboard? In a way it seems like the worst of both worlds -- you still need a table, yet it can't be as fast as a full size keyboard. I guess the only way I could see it being used is with the PPC strapped on your arm, ala the Mathias half-keyboard, yet I didn't see any mention of that on their website.
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10-10-2004, 07:24 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 15
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I managed to snag one for a little less money than what they're selling for now, and I definitely see the point when its use is with a desktop computer. They're available in a left-hand or right-hand orientation. I have the lefty, one hand always on the keyboard, one hand always on the mouse/trackball.
However, there are 'early adopter' issues - there is very little in the way of training materials right now (especially for the lefty version), and despite many announced deadlines, there are no drivers for devices that do not support the Bluetooth HID profile. In fact, a driver for my Dell Axim was promised to arrive in my email last Friday, then Saturday, and here it is Sunday with nothing received. They say that they will eventually support Palm, PPC, and Windows Mobile including Smartphone.
It is much smalller than the Stowaway; it has 'skid control' strips on the bottom of the device itself and on the slide-on cover (which also slides on the bottom of the keyboard for storage. I could see how you'd set it on an airline tray or on the couch beside you and hold the PPC in your hand.
To be honest, I've never been fond of any of the on-screen text entry methods and I think the full-size keyboards defeat the portability of a PDA. I'm anxious to make it work - as soon as they decide to get the drivers out. I must say, though, that I got a phone call from CEO Linda Marroquin in response to my email regarding order fulfillment issues, and she's been in email contact all weekend regarding the missing drivers.
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10-10-2004, 09:09 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,208
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one thing: the price is too high!
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10-10-2004, 10:20 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 810
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It looks like a really nice little keyboard. Bluetooth, and I would assume running off of batteries.
But I have to agree with others, the price is ridiculous. Way too high.
And I can't really tell what the benefit would be of using a keyboard like this over a Stowaway BT keyboard. While staring at this keyboard, I tried mock typing out the sentence: "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country." Wasn't easy. And how do you backspace to erase a character easily?
Perhaps it is a little smaller than a folded up Stowaway, but I would think only marginally so. I just can't see the benefit. No matter how good you got at it, you'd never type as fast as you would with two hands. Maybe this keyboard would be more for typing while it was attached to a pant leg or sleeve, like people might use when in a warehouse or in an environment where they were always on the go and didn't have a flat surface and/or two hands to type. Other than that, I can't really see a benefit over a qwerty-based Stowaway BT keyboard.
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10-10-2004, 10:53 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 27
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Frogpad is not happening
just wait for the thumb keyboards, in Bluetooth.
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Linear Mode
