keyboard – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com Latest Crypto News Tue, 20 May 2025 11:08:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.8 https://i0.wp.com/earlybirdsinvest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cropped-New-Project-2024-12-17T235703.455.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 keyboard – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com 32 32 240146708 8BitDo’s mechanical keyboard is a wonderful homage to retro gaming consoles https://earlybirdsinvest.com/8bitdos-mechanical-keyboard-is-a-wonderful-homage-to-retro-gaming-consoles/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/8bitdos-mechanical-keyboard-is-a-wonderful-homage-to-retro-gaming-consoles/#respond Tue, 20 May 2025 11:08:26 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/8bitdos-mechanical-keyboard-is-a-wonderful-homage-to-retro-gaming-consoles/

I’ll start by saying that I generally like 8BitDo’s products; I bought several controllers from the brand over the years, and they’ve held up well. A big part of the allure with the brand is the styling; most of its products have a delightful retro aesthetic, and that’s even more true of its mechanical keyboard.

The Retro Mechanical Keyboard has a fabulous design that evokes memories of retro gaming consoles, and 8BitDo did a great job staying true to its design ethos. The keyboard is available for $89 on Amazon, and it is sold in four editions. I’m using the N Edition, and you can pick up the C64 Edition, Fami Edition, or the M Edition. The feature-set is identical with all the models, and the only difference is the design.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard review

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The N Edition is styled to resemble the NES, and it looks fantastic; the design is a definite differentiator, and 8BitDo did all the right things in this area. The keyboard has a power button on the right that light up when it’s connected, and you get dials to switch between modes; there’s Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity in addition to the standard USB-C.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard review

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

There are physical buttons to pair the keyboard, and I set it up with my iPad Pro M4 and Vivo X200 Pro in addition to testing it with my Windows machine. There are no problems whatsoever with connectivity, and 8BitDo’s unique 2.4GHz receiver slots into a magnetic cubby at the back, ensuring you don’t lose it.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard review

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The keyboard uses an aluminum plate, but the chassis itself is made out of plastic. I don’t mind the plastic build (it is a faithful recreation, after all), and the build quality itself is pretty good. Coming in at 1050g, the keyboard isn’t particularly heavy, but it stays planted on a table thanks to rubber feet on the underside.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard review

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

I like the dual knobs to switch between modes and adjust the volume; they have a decidedly retro flair. The keys are similarly great, with 8BitDo using dye-sublimated PBT keys with a custom MDA profile. Another interesting inclusion is a set of buttons — dubbed the Super Buttons — that you can connect to the keyboard via custom connectors. You get one set of buttons in the package, and you can easily connect three additional sets. The buttons are programmable, so you can set up macros or launch a program with relative ease.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard review

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

Similar to most keyboards today, 8BitDo went with a TKL design — you miss out on the dedicated number pad. That said, if you need a full-size model, that edition is available for $115 — and it retails the same design. The TKL model has the standard 87 keys, and it is available in ISO configurations.

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8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard review
(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The keyboard comes with Kailh Box V2 White switches as standard, and the pre-lubed clicky switch is loud — it’s similar to the Cherry MX Blue in this regard. The switch has a 45gF actuation and 3.9mm total travel, and it feels wonderful to use. I generally prefer Gateron’s linear switches, and the feel of these Kailh switches is totally different.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard review

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

That said, if you need a mechanical keyboard with quiet switches, this isn’t the one to get. Of course, you can easily take out the switches and use your own if you want — the keyboard takes standard 3- and 5-pin MX switches. While it doesn’t have VIA, 8BitDo’s software does a decent enough job, and it is easy to program buttons and macros.

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8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard review
(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

Now, the biggest limitation with the keyboard is that it doesn’t have backlighting. I get that some brands don’t want to include RGB lighting on their keyboards, but there isn’t any backlight whatsoever with this model, and that is annoying. 8BitDo should have at least used white LEDs to accentuate the design, because as it stands, the keyboard isn’t that usable in a dark room.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard review

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

I would have liked a metal chassis as it usually delivers better acoustics, but the choice of switch mitigates that issue to an extent. Outside of that, I don’t have any problems with the Retro Mechanical Keyboard. The keyboard has a 2,000mAh battery, and 8BitDo touts 200 hours of usage between charges. That’s because of the fact that it doesn’t have any backlighting, and in my usage, I got two weeks of usage out of a charge, and that’s considerably more than any other keyboard.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard review

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

Overall, the Retro Mechanical Keyboard has one of the best designs of any keyboard I have in the house (and I have over 30 boards), and the versatile connectivity makes it a breeze to use it with just about any device. It’s annoying that there’s no backlighting, but if you don’t mind the omission and want a keyboard that celebrates the glorious era of retro gaming, you should buy it.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard

Relive the nostalgia of 8-bit consoles with the Retro Mechanical Keyboard. It has a fabulous design, extensive customizability, and the default switch is great to use.

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/8bitdos-mechanical-keyboard-is-a-wonderful-homage-to-retro-gaming-consoles/feed/ 0 37270 Your outtie can help design the ‘Severance’ keyboard coming to the Mac https://earlybirdsinvest.com/your-outtie-can-help-design-the-severance-keyboard-coming-to-the-mac/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/your-outtie-can-help-design-the-severance-keyboard-coming-to-the-mac/#respond Wed, 30 Apr 2025 18:09:20 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/your-outtie-can-help-design-the-severance-keyboard-coming-to-the-mac/

Two weeks ago, we learned about Atomic Keyboard’s MDR Dasher Keyboard, a keyboard based on the Lumon Terminal Pro terminals used in the Apple TV+ show Severance. The company plans to sell it, and you can sign up for more information, though pricing and availability have yet to be determined.

But Atomic Keyboard is hard at work on the project. This week, they’ve released a couple of videos where you can see the keyboard up close. The first video was posted several days ago and shows the keyboard layout and someone using the keys and trackball. Turn on the volume, and you can hear the key switches in action.

The second video posted on Wednesday, and it’s from Atomic Keyboard’s booth at the ZFX Shanghai Keyboard Meetup (TIL: people gather at events specifically for keyboards). You can get another close look at the product and see people using it.

If those two videos have captured your interest, you can let Atomic Keyboard know by filling out the MDR Dasher Keyboard Interest Check form. Atomic Keyboard wants your input (excuse the pun) on what features the MDR Dasher should have. For example, should it be wired or wireless> Do you want the Severance key layout (and stay true to the show), or a Standard layout (and actually be able to do work)? It’s a two-minute form, so if you truly want this, fill it out.

One interesting thing revealed by the form is somewhat vague pricing information. While the price has yet to be finalized, the form states that “the early bird price will be no more than $399 (with tiered pricing up to $699).” No more than $399? Yikes, even under that, it’s an expensive keyboard. To top it off, the form states that the whole tariff drama could affect the price, since the keyboard will be made in China.

According to Atomic Keyboard, the MDR Dasher Keyboard is inspired by the Data General Dasher 200, a computer terminal from the 1970s. Atomic Keyboard originally posted that the MDR Dasher “boasts a unique 73-key, 70% layout with no Escape, no Control, and no Options keys” but that could change if enough people tell the company that a Standard layout is preferable.

The MDR Dasher Keyboard will be available for macOS, Windows, and Linux. If the MDR Dasher Keyboard isn’t for you, check out our best Mac keyboards.

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/your-outtie-can-help-design-the-severance-keyboard-coming-to-the-mac/feed/ 0 33654 This case gives your Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25 a physical keyboard, and it just Clicks https://earlybirdsinvest.com/this-case-gives-your-pixel-9-and-galaxy-s25-a-physical-keyboard-and-it-just-clicks/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/this-case-gives-your-pixel-9-and-galaxy-s25-a-physical-keyboard-and-it-just-clicks/#respond Tue, 25 Feb 2025 17:44:35 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/this-case-gives-your-pixel-9-and-galaxy-s25-a-physical-keyboard-and-it-just-clicks/
Clicks for Pixel 9 Surge Colorway

Clicks for Pixel 9

TL;DR

  • Clicks is launching keyboard covers for Android devices, starting with Moto, Pixel, and Galaxy S25 models.
  • The Clicks keyboard moves the physical keyboard off the screen, freeing up display space. It features backlit keys and supports app shortcuts and AI interactions via a Gemini key.
  • Introductory prices range from $49 to $99, and final prices go up to $139 after March 21. Shipping dates depend on the device model.

If you miss the good old days of physical keyboards on smartphones, Clicks is back with a solution for your Android phones. After launching its catchy Creator keyboard cover for iPhones last year, the company, co-founded by YouTuber Michael Fisher, is now launching keyboard cases for Android phones, starting with Google, Motorola, and Samsung devices.

Clicks for Android smartphones will start shipping in April, with pre-orders starting today. You can buy the physical keyboard covers for your Moto Razr and Razr Plus (2024), Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro, and the standard Samsung Galaxy S25.

The covers will be available in a variety of colors: Electric (blue) and Onyx (black) for the Motos, Surge (high-vis yellow-green) and Onyx (black) for the Pixels, and Pinot (red) and Onyx (black) for the Galaxy S25.

The goal isn’t just to add a physical keyboard, but to move it off the phone’s display, freeing up more screen space for users. The Clicks keyboards also feature backlit keys for easier typing and can be customized through the Clicks app.

Clicks covers draw power directly from the phone via USB-C, so there’s no need to charge a battery or pair via Bluetooth. They also include a Gemini key that instantly launches AI interactions with a single press. Additionally, you can assign shortcuts to keys for launching apps and navigating Android.

Pricing

Prices and shipping periods for the Android Clicks covers vary depending on the model. You can check out prices for supported Moto, Samsung, and Google phones below:

  • Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro: The introductory price is $99 until March 21. After this date, the price increases to $139. Orders will begin shipping at the end of April.
  • Motorola Razr Plus and Razr (2024): The introductory price is $49 until March 21. After March 21, pre-orders remain available for $49, but the final price increases to $139. Shipping starts in late May.
  • Samsung Galaxy S25: Reservations start on February 25 for $49 to lock in a limited-time $99 launch price until March 21. After this period, pre-orders remain open for $49, with the final price going up to $139. Shipping begins in June.

You can order Clicks from the company’s website.

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