Tag Archives: iOS

Jorno – My New Bluetooth Keyboard

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Jorno

The Jorno Arrives

I started to write this a month ago, and just posted now… Probably not terribly excited about the new keyboard.

Unboxing The Jorno

Unboxing The Jorno

A new Bluetooth folding keyboard arrived on my doorstep yesterday, this was the Jorno. It had taken several years to get to me, being a Kickstarter campaign I had supported back in 2013.

The Jorno

The Jorno

So was it worth the wait?

Folded

Folded

Sort of. The Jorno is aesthetically pleasing, and seems to be fairly solidly constructed. For those situations where I need a portable keyboard that packs easily into a bag or jacket pocket, then this will be the one that I use (until I find something better). I have a Reudo folding keyboard, that is a tad smaller and lighter, but the Jorno feels a little better constructed. I have an old Stowaway, that is considerable smaller and lighter, but the Stowaway only has three lines of keys – making things less convenient through the use of chording to access numeric keys.

Reudo Folding Keyboard and the Jorno

Reudo Folding Keyboard and the Jorno

However, the promise of the Jorno feels to be far more exciting that the reality. The promised folding mechanism of the prototype was something that excited me. What I type on now is far more prosaic. Particularly given the numerous missed deadlines to get this keyboard to market. Other KickStarter backers were incensed by the lack of updates from Scott Starrett over the past few years. I don’t think they are going to be mollified by what has now been delivered.

Finding The Perfect Folding/Travel Keyboard for My iPhone

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The Three Folding Keyboards

The Three Folding Keyboards

Much as I like my iPhone, I miss having an actual keyboard – something that I can actually type on and see the full screen. Something that I can use my than just one finger to type with. For the past few years I have waited for what I thought would be the perfect folding keyboard…

http://youtu.be/Ss9Vd4lukDs

This could have been the Jorno. A folding Blutooth keyboard with an engaging design. However, the keyboard is still in prototype stage even though it was fully funded on Kickstarter back in October of 2012. Many of the backers are irate, and asking for refunds. The original design (which was the most exciting feature) has been greatly simplified. If it ever gets shipped I doubt that this will work terribly well.

iGo Stowaway Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard

iGo Stowaway Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard

So I have been looking at alternatives. I still have my old iGo Stowaway Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard that I bought back in 2006. This works well, but is not entirely ideal – it does not lie entirely flat on a table, and the number keys require pressing the function key to work. The technology is impressive, but using it can be painful. I wanted to see if there was something better out there.

GEYES GK108 Folding Keyboard

GEYES GK108 Folding Keyboard

On Amazon, I found the GEYES GK108 Folding Keyboard. This is essentially the old Targus PA830U Stowaway Portable Keyboard, but with a USB cable interface. This will work with an iPhone 5 providing I use an Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit and a Lightning to 30-pin Adapter. The GEYES GK108 uses a proprietary USB cable which I worry about losing. This is by far my favorite keyboard to type on, but having to carry the cable and adapters makes this an option I am less likely to use.

Reudo Folding Keyboard

Reudo Folding Keyboard

This is going to be my keyboard of choice. The Reudo Folding Keyboard is not quite as pleasant to type on as the GK108, but it is almost as good. The Reudo Folding Keyboard is not quite as compact as the Stowaway, but it is almost as good. It comes in a little case, with a folding stand for iPhones and small tablets. The notable ways in which it is clearly better than the competition are the shortcut keys on the keyboard that work extremely well on the iPhone, and the fact is uses Bluetooth 3 and did not need a PIN. This will be coming with me everywhere I take the iPhone (or a tablet).

Folded, Bagged and Tagged

Folded, Bagged and Tagged

Update: Geyes Bluetooth 3.0 Triple Folding Wireless Keyboard

Geyes Bluetooth 3.0 Triple Folding Wireless Keyboard

Geyes Bluetooth 3.0 Triple Folding Wireless Keyboard

Brandon Davis emailed me to say that he had found a Bluetooth version of the GK108 Folding Keyboard on Amazon. This looks like it comes with a pouch and a phone stand as well. This could be a better option than the Reudo for my uses. Thanks Brandon!

Brandon also suggested the Vivitar 60316 Compatible USB Cable as a replacement cable for the one that comes with the GEYES GK108 Folding Keyboard.