Review: Freedom Slim Bluetooth Keypad

Typing is one of the first and hardest things to get used to when you are getting started on a mobile platform. Ane of the biggest decisions when seeking a new device is what style of keyboard fits your personal preference. Many people find the tactile feedback of a hardware keyboard indispensable; while others would prefer a slimmer device, relying on the software keyboard for their text based needs.

Liberty'southward Slim Keypad ($69.95) attempts to bridge the gap between these realms. Traditionally, portable Bluetooth keyboards have been designed to fold upwards into a compact package. Freedom attacks the problem from a different angle by offering a thumb keypad that is well-nigh the tiptop and width of a credit bill of fare.

To detect out how much punch this keypad packs, stick around after the suspension.

Concept & Blueprint

I really recollect this is a solid idea, offering a keypad that tin fit (comfortably) in a pocket. I recollect most of the marketplace for this kind of device would be in people who purchased a device without a hardware keyboard, and now wish that they didn't accept to rely solely on the software input methods.

Liberty designed their keypad along a like vein as Motorola's pop RAZR dumb phones. The solid piece of metal with the outline of the keys punched out, even the blue backlight is replicated here. Holding the keypad in your manus, if feels very cheap. At that place really isn't any heft or sense of residue. Evidently, there are two sides to this money; as it does not add whatsoever noticeable weight when placed in a pocket. Charging the keypad is accomplished through a microUSB port (no charger is included).

Usability & Performance

In that location are a couple of different routes you can go when installing and configuring the Liberty Slim Keypad. The methods recommended by Freedom are either installing drivers over the air from www.otadrivers.com, or installing them through your PC with drivers from here. Alternatively, you tin install the keypad using the standard Bluetooth HID profile, although using this method you will not have access to softkeys or the application launcher keys (Inbox, Calendar, Tasks).

Actually using this keypad is pretty painful. I'm fairly spoiled as my devices of choice are the Samsung Blackjack and at&t Tilt, although I accept a couple of Windows Mobile Archetype devices that I was hoping to utilise this keypad with. The key travel is fairly deep, but the primal may not actually be activated when it hits bottom. Frequently I institute I had to press a little harder in guild to actually become a response from pressing the key.

Conclusion

I have to say I would recommend a pass on this one. Unless you're really hurting for some kind of hardware solution for your typing needs, the quality simply isn't at that place in the execution of this device. I nevertheless similar the concept nevertheless, and I would dearest to see Freedom put a footling more than try into putting a more refined production on the market.