14 DAY TRIAL // Art Lebedev's Optimus Maximus keyboard took a couple of years to be developed, but when it was dropped on the market, it became a real success. Of course, most of its customers were high-end computer users with enough cash not to fear the $1500 price tag.
It was a matter of time until other manufacturers came up with the same idea, and we have reported earlier this year that Foxconn was collaborating with industrial designer United Keys to deliver a new, and probably cheaper model of the OLED keyboard.
United Keys is currently developing patented and patent-pending image-based interactive input technology, that can be used in consumer electronic devices, such as mobile phones, gaming joysticks or even remote controllers.
"Our partnership with Foxconn provides world-class procurement, environmental-friendly manufacturing and design, and, most importantly, one-of-a-kind global synchronise ramp-ups capability," said Ronald Brown, CEO of United Keys. "Display-key technology, a revolutionary step forward in simplifying usability, is now positioned to really take off in the most popular consumer and business markets," he continued.
It's true that none of the two partners broke any news about the upcoming keyboard during the last months, yet we learned that the first devices are already undergoing the first tests. The OLED keyboard is slated for mass availability this summer, but the arrival date is still unknown, as the software drivers and applications are not finished yet.
However, United Keys is currently taking orders for the beta version of the OLED-based keyboard, that only comes with nine glittering keys. If you are a tech by nature and you'd like to take a glance at what beta-stage hardware means, you can order a discounted version of it, but be aware: it comes cheaper than the final product just because you might bump into some bugs.