Gizmodo: backlit

Moto Rokr E8 Has Backlit Nubs For Keys

Jason Chen — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:15:06 EDT

These first shots of the Motorola Rokr E8 from zol.com.cn shows the unique keypad that Moto went with. Instead of regular keys, they've got little nubs that need to be back-illuminated. When you're dialing, all the keys are lit; but when you're playing music, the numbers are dimmed and only the music controls are bright. This could be even greater if the keys' backlit images could change in the background, but it doesn't seem like the E8 is advanced enough to do that. [Zol.com via IDNES via Phonearena]

Apple Illuminating Touchpads and Clickwheels

kevinhall2 — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:50:42 EDT

According to a patent filed by Apple, the company's MacBook touchpads and signature iPod clickwheel might be in for a very visual overhaul. The proposed technology will allow for both lighting and color responses to user interaction. If Apple follows through with its plans, when you get to use touchpads and clickwheels on next generation products, you might get a bit of a show.

While most of it sounds fairly cosmetic, the idea of a touchpad that glows brighter with more pressure, follows around tactile input by the user, and changes color sounds pretty damn cool to us, and helps make things more intuitive on the user's end. The 34 page patent outlines the plans which sound like anything from an LCD touchscreen to a traditional touchpad backlit with LEDs. From the patent:

By way of example, it may be desirable to provide visual stimuli at the touch pad so that a user can better operate the touch pad. For example, the visual stimuli may be used (among others) to alert a user when the touch pad is registering a touch, alert a user where the touch is occurring on the touch pad, provide feedback related to the touch event, indicate the state of the touch pad, and/or the like.

Hopefully we'll actually see these ideas put to good use, rather than just a patent blocking others from using it. [US Patent Office via AppleInsider]

LED-backlit MacBook Pro Unboxed

Jason Chen — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 03:00:49 EDT

Curious as to what the updated LED-backlit MacBook Pros actually look like in person? Geek Sugar has a gallery up of the upgraded laptop, complete with comparison shots with the old one.

To our eyes, there's not a huge difference, which meshes with what Apple told us about the display not being any brighter. – Jason Chen

New Mercury Free MacBook Pro Unboxed! [GeekSugar]

Rumored LED-Backlit Macbook Pros: Beat to the Punch by Vaio

Brian Lam — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 13:45:48 EST

Remember that rumor about the 15-inch Macbooks with LED backlighting? There's been debate as to whether or not the technology is ready to ship in laptops, but the haters forget that some of the Sony Vaio notebooks shipped late last year have the same tech in them to great effect. The TX and SZ lines have em, with the results of brighter screens with a wider color range and decreased power consumption.

I can tell you, first hand, that the tech is ready to roll, and I'd buy an LED backlit model without reservation. –Brian Lam

Rumor: Apple Macbook Pros with LED Backlights [Gizmodo]

myKeyO Keyboard Organizer: Updated Unit is Backlit, Wireless

Charlie White — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 11:19:15 EDT

Here's an updated version of the old Owltech keyboard organizer we saw here long ago, and this one's the backlit myKeyO Palmrest Multimedia Keyboard Organizer, available in your choice of wired or wireless models. Its claim to fame is its ability to stash lots of stuff in its base, which the company says only increases the thickness of the keyboard by a tenth of an inch.

In addition to its improved design with its backlighting, scroll wheel and volume wheel, the added palm rest area gives you more storage inside, too. The company will soon begin taking orders for Fall delivery, with the USB corded unit selling for $34.95. The wireless model, which also includes an optical rechargeable mouse, will be $49.95. The words "wireless" and "backlit" don't seem to go together well (think worn-out batteries after a week or so), but we'll see. – Charlie White

Product Page [myKeyO]

Microsoft Ultimate Keyboard: Wireless, Rechargeable, Backlit

Jason Chen — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:46:02 EDT

If Microsoft calls this the Ultimate Keyboard, does it mean they're getting out of the keyboard business after this? Or are future keyboards going to be named the Good But Not Quite The Best Keyboard or The Penultimate Keyboard?

Goofy names aside, this keyboard really does look pretty swanky. There's the matted black finish, wireless-ness, comfort-style split keys, backlight, rechargeability, proximity sensing for auto-lighting as a user approaches, and Bluetooth support. The release date is sometime late this year, and we can't wait. We're suckers for a sweet keyboard design. – Jason Chen

Ultimate Keyboard [Microsoft via Gearlog]