Remember the Motorola MOTOSPLIT render that leaked back in late January? According to an Android Community source, you’re looking at another design image of the upcoming Android smartphone, complete with its QWERTY keyboard.
While our source requested to remain anonymous, they did give us some information regarding the MOTOSPLIT’s unusual design. Apparently it will have a two-way sliding, split keyboard, and keys that can change their legends:
The keyboard keys are inset and probably have no tactile feedback, however, they should be quite easy to use. It looks like the cutouts are pretty finger-friendly, as they contour to the shape of a standard finger. Under those cutouts is a low-resolution monochrome touch screen, one for each side of the keyboard. This is where the finger presses. The contact area is small, but the plastic grid that surrounds it contours to the fingers. The label and function of each key can be changed to suit certain layouts and applications.
The keyboard has multiple orientations. The keyboard can be pulled from side to side for typing on a surface. A small kickstand angles the phone when typing in this manner. The keyboard can also be pulled to the left for a standard landscape layout. There is also a dial-pad layout.
The specifications are slightly different than previously posted. The MOTOSPLIT uses the same processor as the BACKFLIP. Every other spec is almost the same as the BACKFLIP.
According to our source, the Motorola MOTOSPLIT is still on course for a release in Q3 2010 on AT&T. We’ve not been able to corroborate this information as yet, but if true it certainly looks like Motorola are on a roll with their Android design.
You can see this type of "dynamic keyboard" in today's smart remote controllers.
(the onscreen remote keys change based on what you are controlling)
It just seemd for it to work very well, you'd need some kind of tactile element to set it apart from a regular flat VK.
I kept thinking perhaps one day theyd figure out how to make a touchscreen that could change its own texture to suit (think bumps "growing" out of the screen on the fly to make a VK feel like a real key)
I never really thought about it the other way around (touchscreen is underneath with a template on top)
the idea is interesting- it does limit you to the same layout over and over- just what each "key" does can change.
I guess its kindof a halfway step.
Might be pretty cool, and maybe it might even feel like a real keyboard.
I'm definitely looking forward to seeing this one in person!
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