The new Nexus 7 tablet might not be a Transformer Prime but that doesn’t mean it won’t be getting its own keyboard. If some new reports coming from Mobilefun are accurate we’ll be getting a bluetooth keyboard dock, smart cases, screen protectors and more all officially licensed for the Nexus 7.
Yesterday we reported on some leaked pictures showing a desk dock with audio out options, as well as a few genuine leather cases, but today we have 5 accessories all for the new tablet instead. They are listed as officially licensed ASUS products, and will be for sale soon.
According to MobileFun we can expect a case with a Bluetooth keyboard (might be small and hard to type on) that will offer extended up-time with its own built-in battery. There is also a case that doubles as a completely rotatable stand. That means it opens up and you can rotate the tablet from portrait to landscape for gaming, reading, or watching YouTube.
Then they’ll have screen protectors as usual, but you can get those from a 3rd party almost anywhere these days. If the reports are accurate all 5 of these accessories designed for the Nexus 7 will be available shortly for sale. All the cases are “smart” cases and use the magnetic sensor to auto wake/sleep the tablet too. Personally I won’t use a case that makes my tablet too large or clunky. Do you guys plan to buy any of these?
[via SlashGear]
The one with the keyboard looks really snazzy, but I too am not keen on anything which adds significant bulk to the unit.
I’ve just purchased a slimline gel case which came with a screen protector and stand, and a neoprene case to put it in. Total cost a little over £10.
Nice
Because of the added battery life the keyboard/case brings to the table, I’ll definitely be interested in this. The tablet is already bigger than I’d ever want to carry in a pocket anyway, so the added bulk really isn’t that big of a deal to me. I likely won’t be doing a lot of traveling with the tablet anyway.
These are not official, and are sold elsewhere for a third of the price or less. Happy to provide source links for this info if you’d like.
Well these are the guys who made the Transformer keyboards, if anyone can make a good keyboard for the Nexus 7, it’s Asus 🙂
I will buy it only for the keyboard… I get nervous bringing my laptop (Sony Z2) everywhere I go. It was expensive and feels fragile. Everytime I take it out of the house I feel like I’m working on borrowed time.
I’m only interested if it’s not one of the dreadful type I’ve seen already that make the neat 7″ tablet that will fit into my handbag into a 10″ monster.
I’d really love a 7″ Transformer Prime (see http://blog.juwlz.co.uk/2012/01/phones-show-chat-120-and-my-quest-for.html). Even better if a dock adds support for external storage to the N7.
The Psion5 from years ago (smaller than 7″) proves that it’s perfectly possible to have a small keyboard with good feel that still allows for touch-typing (at least if your hands are as small as mine), so as far as I’m concerned, a keyboard with the same footprint as the tablet is perfectly feasible. I doubt that the keyboard will be as good as the Psion’s (no doubt it’ll be chiclet), but even so, I’m hopeful.
I’m only interested if it’s not one of the dreadful type I’ve seen already that make the neat 7″ tablet that will fit into my handbag into a 10″ monster.
I’d really love a 7″ Transformer Prime (see http://blog.juwlz.co.uk/2012/01/phones-show-chat-120-and-my-quest-for.html). Even better if a dock adds support for external storage to the N7.
The Psion5 from years ago (smaller than 7″) proves that it’s perfectly possible to have a small keyboard with good feel that still allows for touch-typing (at least if your hands are as small as mine), so as far as I’m concerned, a keyboard with the same footprint as the tablet is perfectly feasible. I doubt that the keyboard will be as good as the Psion’s (no doubt it’ll be chiclet), but even so, I’m hopeful.
That keyboard case just looks clunky. Asus and google need to match up to Apple’s standards of design, these are just your usual ebay cheap tat. And I don’t get the obsession with bluetooth, I want something I can use on a plane.
Come to that what are those four little “docking” contacts for if we are just going to repeat the usual generic rubbish? I’ll be very disappointed if this turns out to be anything more than a spoiler.
Yeah, I assumed the 4 circular contacts on the side of the Nexus 7 was gonna be for some kinda keyboard dock.
The thing pictured looks cheap and flimsy.