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Posts Tagged ‘Keyboard’

Apple’s new 13-inch MacBook Pro features faster CPU options, latest Intel Iris Graphics configurations and updated keyboard

04 May

Apple has announced its new 13-inch MacBook Pro, bringing modest performances improvements and one physical improvement that should make keyboard warriors around the world much happier.

We’ll get to the specs in a minute, but first the most important update—the keyboard. Apple has eschewed its troubled ‘butterfly’ keyboard for its Magic Keyboard with this new 13-inch MacBook Pro. For nearly five years, Apple’s ‘butterfly mechanism’ keyboard has caused issues for MacBook owners, with individual keys sometimes becoming entirely non-functioning, causing all sorts of issues while typing. This transition means the ‘butterfly’ keyboard is no longer present in any of Apple’s laptops.

The physical ‘esc’ key is a welcomed change also.

In addition to the changes underneath the keys, Apple has also added a physical ‘Escape’ (esc) key to the left of the Touch Bar. On previous models, the ‘esc’ key was digital, located within the Touch Bar, a design decision that could wreak havoc if the Touch Bar glitched out or broke.

The updated 13-inch model is powered by Intel quad-core chips, with optional upgrades to configure the MacBook Pro with Intel’s 10th-gen CPUs that offer up to 2.3GHz per core and TurboBoost speeds up to 4.1GHz. Apple has also added the option to configure the 13-inch MacBook Pro with up to 32GB of 3733MHz LPDDR4X RAM and has doubled the base model storage to 256GB (with optional upgrades to increase it to 4TB).

If you upgrade to the $ 1,799 model, you’ll also get the latest Intel Iris Plus Graphics, which Apple claims will offer an 80% performance increase over the previous-generation dual-core MacBook Pros. In addition to improving overall graphic performance, models with Intel’s Iris Plus graphics will be able to power Apple’s Pro Display XDR at its full 6K resolution.

As for the laptop’s own display, the 13-inch screen supports P3 wide color gamut, offers a maximum 500 nits brightness and includes Apple’s ‘True Tone’ technology that automatically adjusts the screen’s white balance based on the ambient environment.

The base model starts at $ 1,299 and includes a 1.4GHz quad-core 9th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. However, if you’re planning on using this for editing photos or video though, we’d suggest you jump up to the $ 1,799 base model, which offers Intel’s 10-gen CPUs with the newer Intel Iris Plus graphics and 16GB of RAM. Further upgrades can be configured for additional costs, as usual.

You can find out more information about the latest 13-inch MacBook Pro models and browse through the different configurations on Apple’s website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Apple reveals new iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard with trackpad, hinge

19 Mar

Apple has unveiled its latest iPad Pro model. The tablet, as recent leaks first revealed, is joined by a new backlit Magic Keyboard with a built-in trackpad. Unlike the Smart Folio keyboard, the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro has a floating hinge design, offering users a more familiar laptop-like experience.

The iPad gained support for trackpads in iPadOS 13.4, according to Apple, finally giving users the experience they’ve been requesting for years. With the trackpad and hinge on the Magic Keyboard, iPad Pro owners can rapidly toggle from touch and gesture control to more traditional keyboard and trackpad control. The new option enables the iPad Pro to better function as a laptop replacement for owners who are tired of carrying both, but who grow weary of repeatedly lifting their arm to tap and swipe on the display.

Apple has repeatedly presented the iPad Pro as a highly capable device that could, for many consumers, serve as a laptop replacement. The lack of mouse support was the device’s biggest stumbling block in this regard, however — even a top Apple executive had acknowledged that having to use a touch screen in place of a trackpad was ‘a pretty fatiguing thing to do.’

Apple says that it ‘completely reimagined’ trackpad use for the iPad rather than copying it straight from macOS. ‘As users move their fingers across the trackpad, the pointer elegantly transforms to highlight user interface elements,’ the company explained in its announcement today. The trackpad includes support for Multi-Touch gestures, as well, eliminating the need for users to lift their hands to touch the display.

The new keyboard is joined by an updated iPad Pro model that features a more powerful A12Z Bionic chip with an eight-core GPU. Apple says its new hardware features ‘enhanced’ thermal architecture alongside tuned performance controllers and the company’s Neural Engine. Despite the performance boost, the new iPad Pro features up to 10 hours of battery life.

Other iPad Pro features include gigabit-class LTE connectivity, faster WiFi, an edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display with 120Hz refresh rate and 11in / 12.9in size options. The screen boasts P3 color support, the True Tone color management system and an anti-reflective coating. Apple has also packed a dual rear camera system into the new iPad Pro with 12MP Wide and 10MP Ultra Wide cameras; they’re joined by ‘studio-quality’ microphones and a LiDAR Scanner for what Apple says will be ‘a whole new class of AR experiences.’

In addition to the new iPad Pro and keyboard, Apple has also revealed an updated MacBook Air with double the storage and faster performance, as well as a new Magic Keyboard — the same one introduced on the 16in MacBook Pro. The new keyboard has a classic inverted ‘T’ arrow key design, plus there’s a new scissor mechanism with 1mm of key travel.

Rounding out the hardware announcements is an updated Mac mini with double the storage, putting the standard configuration at 256GB rather than 128GB. The 11in iPad Pro starts at $ 799, the 12.9in iPad Pro at $ 999, the new MacBook Air at $ 999 and the updated Mac mini at $ 799.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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The ‘KD-K1’ keyboard manages to pack in multiple USB ports, an HDMI output and an SD card reader

25 Feb

Minimizing desk clutter is a seemingly impossible task to achieve on the regular, but you might find yourself one step closer with the help of the Kolude KD-K1, an all-in-one keyboard that manages to pack in not only a full-size keyboard, but also a number of ports, including an SD and microSD card slot.

The KD-K1 reached its funding goal on Kickstarter in just 12 hours and has amassed roughly $ 117k in funding from 895 backers as of publishing this article — over ten times its initial goal. The keyboard effectively combines a USB-C hub with a keyboard to create a simplified solution to all forms of input and output for your computer.

Specifically, the KD-K1 features three USB-A 3.0 ports, one USB-A 2.0 port, two USB-C ports (including one Power Delivery port for charging your connected computer/tablet), an SD card slot, a microSD card slot and an HDMI port (4K/30Hz). In addition to the HDMI slot, the USB-C port can output video as well, up to two 4K/30Hz displays.

The keyboard itself is constructed of 100-percent aluminum and uses chiclet-style keys atop scissor-switches. In addition to coming in both black and white variations, both models feature a white LED backlight to make typing and navigating easier in low-light environments.

Kolude says the keyboard was specifically designed with Apple devices in mind, the KD-K1 does have Windows and Android support as well. Kolude says the keyboard supports the following languages at this time, with more anticipated in the future: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Taiwanese/Hong Kong Cangjie, Japanese, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese and Korean languages.

The first units are expected to start shipping in June 2020 for the ‘early bird’ backers. A $ 119 pledge will secure your spot in line for a Kolude KD-K1 when the keyboard will inevitably be funded in nine days when the Kickstarter campaign ends.

Disclaimer: Remember to do your research with any crowdfunding project. DPReview does its best to share only the projects that look legitimate and come from reliable creators, but as with any crowdfunded campaign, there’s always the risk of the product or service never coming to fruition.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Video: How to create a custom keyboard shortcut in Adobe Photoshop CC

03 Feb

Adobe’s latest video in its ongoing ‘Photoshop Magic Minute’ series shows it’s possible to create a custom keyboard shortcut within Photoshop CC.

In the 60-second clip, Photoshop Product Manager Meredith Stotzner shows how, with just a few steps within Photoshop’s dedicated Keyboard Shortcuts sub-menu, you can create your own macro.

It’s a fairly basic trick, but for Photoshop newbies and those diving into the world of further customization, it’s a good, quick tip that can save a great deal of time and hundreds of keystrokes in the long-run.

You can find more 60-second Photoshop tips in Adobe’s ‘Photoshop Magic Minute’ playlist on Youtube.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Blackmagic Design unveils the DaVinci Resolve Editor Keyboard for easier video post-processing

13 Apr

Blackmagic has announced the DaVinci Resolve Editor Keyboard, a new console-inspired keyboard designed specifically to improve video editing workflows inside DaVinci Resolve.

The keyboard is constructed of a metal frame with a revised QWERTY layout that’s pre-programmed to speed up the most-used tools and features inside DaVinci Resolve. The keys are tiered and set on top of mechanical switches for a more tactile feel and although the keys and switches are rated for millions of clicks, each switch and key is user-replaceable in the event something breaks over time.

A single USB-C port on the back of the board is used to connect it to its accompanying hardware, but Blackmagic Design has also included two additional USB 3.0 ports on the rear of the keyboard for additional accessories.

The DaVinci Resolve Editor Keyboard also includes a search control dial that accurately scrubs through footage. When paired with the oversized in/out and source/timeline keys, the control dial makes it easy to cull through footage and get it its place faster than ever. Blackmagic has also included a dedicated numpad section for direct timecode entry.

Blackmagic Design says the DaVinci Resolve Editor Keyboard is set to ship in August for $ 995 USD through authorized retailers. B&H currently has it available for pre-order, but it’s priced at $ 1,025.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Obscura 2 app updates interface, adds new histogram visualizer and keyboard shortcuts

08 Feb

Obscura 2, an iOS camera app developed by Ben McCarthy, has released an update that adds a histogram visualizer, iPad keyboard shortcuts, a redesigned image viewer and more.

The most obvious change in the updated is the new image viewer interface. Now, the various settings, controls and filters are organized into card-style dialogs within the interface. While this does take up more real estate for each setting, it provides a cleaner look and helps to compartmentalize the various settings.

The new histogram integration provides real-time exposure data by overlaying bars on the bottom of the the the app, behind the buttons. It’s nice the histogram is subtle, but it’d be nice to have an option to change the color/opacity on the bars, because the dark grey on black can sometimes be difficult to see.

On iPads, the update adds keyboard shortcuts for taking photos, switching between camera and library modes, applying filters, and navigating through photos that have been captured. Sure, the iPad isn’t a camera-first device in any sense, but it’s nice to see McCarthy add this sort of functionality.

Overall, it’s a solid update with a cleaner UI and a number of functional improvements. Obscura 2 is available on the iOS App Store for $ 4.99.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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The Neimeo e-ink keyboard can be customized for Photoshop, Lightroom and other apps

09 Jan

Nemeio is a portable keyboard that uses e-ink technology to allow for complete customization for any app you want to use it with, including Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and other image or video editing apps.

The keyboard features mini-displays in each of the 81 keys, so users can create specific key-layouts for any app they are working with and switch between them using the Nemeio companion software. Icons can be dragged and dropped in the latter’s virtual keyboard and then immediately show up on the real one.

The Nemeio can also be set to change its layout automatically with the app you are using. For example, you could use a standard keyboard layout while typing emails or writing a letter. Once you open Photoshop the keyboard would then automatically change to a different layout with editing shortcut icons.

The Nemeio comes with a brushed-metal body and measures only 12x7x0.43-inch (30.5×17.8×1.1cm), making it easily portable. It can connect to any device with Bluetooth keyboard support.

The Nemeio is not quite available yet but shipping is expected some time this year. Pricing could be an issue, though. Engadget reports the keyboard could cost somewhere between $ 300 and $ 500.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Apple launches service program for MacBooks affected by keyboard issues, offers free repairs

25 Jun
RawPixel/Unsplash

Apple has launched a new service program for select MacBook and MacBook Pros potentially affected by a keyboard issue that results in sticky, unresponsive keys and repeated characters when typing.

The service program comes after three separate class action lawsuits were filed against the Cupertino company for issues related to MacBook and MacBook Pro keyboards.

In a statement provided to 9to5Mac by an Apple spokesperson, the program ‘covers a small percentage of keyboards in certain MacBook and MacBook Pro models which may exhibit one or more of the following behaviors: letters or characters that repeat unexpectedly or don’t appear when pressed or keys that feel “sticky” or aren’t responding in a consistent manner.’

If believe your MacBook or MacBook Pro is being affected by the above issues, the first step is to check whether or not your model is part of the service program. To do this, go into the Apple (?) menu in the upper-left-hand corner of your Mac and select ‘About This Mac.’ Below are the eligible models:

  • MacBook (Retina, 12-­inch, Early 2015)
  • MacBook (Retina, 12­-inch, Early 2016)
  • MacBook (Retina, 12-­inch, 2017)
  • MacBook Pro (13­-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
  • MacBook Pro (13-­inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
  • MacBook Pro (13-­inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
  • MacBook Pro (13-­inch, 2017, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
  • MacBook Pro (15-­inch, 2016)
  • MacBook Pro (15-­inch, 2017)

If your MacBook or MacBook Pro is one of the above models and is experiencing keyboard issues, the next step is to set up the repair process. You can have the repair done at an Apple authorized service provider, make an appointment at an Apple retail store, or mail in your computer to Apple’s repair center.

Before any repairs are made, Apple will verify whether anything needs to be fixed. If it does, Apple will ‘service [the] eligible MacBook and MacBook Pro keyboards, free of charge.’ The repairs will consist of either replacing the affected keys or potentially replacing the keyboard as a whole if required.

You can find more details on how to get your device repaired by going to Apple’s documentation page detailing the service program.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Designer imagines the perfect keyboard for Adobe software

23 Nov

Designer Vinicius Araújo has created a series of concept images that imagine what a keyboard may look like if it were made by Adobe specifically for Photoshop and its other specialized software. Araújo shared the images on Behance under the handle VA Designer, where he shows a concept that containing half a dozen touch shortcuts, a scroll wheel, colored LED lighting, and a high level of sensitivity.

While various DIYers have developed their own enhanced control methods for some Adobe products—such as using a PS3 gamepad to control Lightroom—and some interesting options do exist, a perfect hardware companion to the software suite remains elusive.

Araújo’s concept imagines what that companion device might look like should one ever be developed.

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Rather than using color-coded shortcuts, this concept presents a sleek low-profile keyboard with several customizable touch pads on the left, and a small display in the upper right-hand corner. That display shows which tool is currently active in the software, and is joined by a smaller display just above it that shows the application in use.

Above the keyboard’s function keys resides a display somewhat similar to the Touch Bar found on some MacBook Pro laptops. The concept’s upper display, however, is used to present the logos for Adobe software not currently in use; tap one of the logos, and the related application will launch on the computer.

Finally, the concept also includes a scroll wheel that could be used to precisely adjust sliders or select colors in programs like Lightroom and Photoshop. The inclusion of a scroll wheel on a keyboard isn’t a new idea, though; Logitech, for example, recently introduced a keyboard with a scroll wheel for use with products like Adobe Photoshop.

Because this is simply a concept design, it isn’t available to purchase as an actual product, but we’d be curious to hear your thoughts on Araújo’s keyboard. How would you improve upon it? And would you buy it if it were to become reality?

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Logitech’s new Craft keyboard includes a dial for photo and video editors

06 Sep

Computer accessory maker Logitech has introduced a new keyboard designed specifically for ‘creators.’ It’s called the Craft keyboard, and it features a dial that will hopefully make life a little easier for stills and video editors.

The Crown dial on the Craft keyboard offers three-way touch, tap and turn functions that can tune-in to the tools of editing applications and allow mouse-free adjustments and selections. The company suggests using the Craft keyboard with Adobe’s Photoshop, for example, so the dial can be used to adjust brush sizes, turn saturation up or down, or to scroll through tool settings quickly and with greater accuracy.

But you’re not limited to Photoshop. A software package called Logitech Options will allow custom profiles to be installed that are specifically designed for individual applications, and which extends the range of controls that can be accessed. The Crown can also be used with Microsoft Office applications, and you can use it to take control of standard PC functions such as screen navigation as well.

The Logitech Craft is expected to go on sale in October priced $ 200/£170. For more information, check out the video below and visit the Logitech website.

Press Release:

Logitech CRAFT Advanced Keyboard with Creative Input Dial Sets New Standard for Desktop Control

Flagship Keyboard Improves Creativity and Productivity

“The creative input dial gives you instant access to the functions you need, the moment you need them, allowing you to increase your productivity by simply touching the dial. CRAFT puts you in your creative element – every time you sit at the desk.”

Today Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) announced CRAFT, an advanced keyboard with a creative input dial, setting a new standard for computer keyboards. CRAFT looks and feels better than anything you have typed on and offers a whole new way to immediately access context-specific computing tools with a smart aluminum dial. For example, with a touch, tap or turn you can adjust image brightness, contrast and saturation in Adobe Photoshop, or create and adjust charts in Microsoft Excel®. The creative input dial gives you the ultimate control and input at your desk for precision, efficiency and uninterrupted creative flow.

“Our new flagship Logitech CRAFT keyboard is for all creators who spend a lot of time designing and creating – who want to work with greater precision and feel connected to their work,” said Art O’Gnimh, global head of keyboards at Logitech. “The creative input dial gives you instant access to the functions you need, the moment you need them, allowing you to increase your productivity by simply touching the dial. CRAFT puts you in your creative element – every time you sit at the desk.”

The touch-sensitive aluminum creative input dial, called the Crown, recognizes the apps you are using and gives instant access to the tools you need. With a slight touch of the Crown you can instantly access context-specific functions — like brush size, brightness, chart type, font size — tap to change the function and turn to change the selected function’s value. Installing custom profiles in Logitech Options™ Software maximizes the creative process when working with Adobe Photoshop CC, Adobe Illustrator CC, Adobe Premiere Pro CC, Adobe InDesign CC and Microsoft PowerPoint®, Excel® and Word® (Microsoft functionalities work on PC only at this time). The Crown brings comfort, immediacy and convenience to your creative process and allows for increased two-handed interactions. You can also have access to global controls – giving you the ability to change desktops, navigate between apps, or adjust volume – and assign one additional Crown function in each of your favorite apps.

CRAFT also features smart illumination with backlighting that detects your hands and adjusts lighting automatically depending on the room conditions. The keys are crafted for comfort, in a full-size familiar layout, with each individual key engineered for stability and precision. CRAFT looks great alongside other premium desktop accessories by Logitech, such as the Logitech MX Sound, Logitech Spotlight Presentation Remote and Logitech MX Master 2S.

Additionally with the touch of an Easy-Switch™ button, you can easily switch between – and type on – any three connected devices, whether you are using a Windows® PC or Mac®. Select from either a Logitech Unifying™ USB or Bluetooth® Low Energy technology to connect to your computer.

Pricing and Availability

The Logitech CRAFT Advanced Keyboard is expected to be available in October 2017 at Logitech.com and select retail stores for a suggested retail price of $ 199.99. For more information, please visit Logitech.com, our blog or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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