Skip to Content

Found Footage: Alphasmart Neo doubles as iPad USB keyboard

by Michael Rose May 16th 2010 at 7:40PM


Video from Vimeo. Click link for iPad/iPhone version.

When it comes to unexpected functionality on Apple devices, the current leader is the iPad's Camera Connection Kit. The USB adapter dongle has been found to work with plenty of unsupported peripherals, from audio headsets to external storage. Keyboards, in particular, are popular partners; not all of them will work, but quite a few do.

We can now add "entire separate computer" to the list of working keyboards, as the video above demonstrates. Eolake Stobblehouse (who was the benefactor behind TidBITS' staff getting iPads) figured out that his Alphasmart Neo behaves just like a powered external keyboard when connected to the iPad. The Neo is the spiritual descendant of one of the original 'tablet' computers, the legendary Tandy Model 100 series. A week's worth of battery life on a few AA batteries! Those were the days.

Granted, it may seem a bit weird to carry a second machine along just to type into your tablet, but to each their own. Now, if we could get an import utility that would take text files from the Neo and put them on the iPad... Update: Thanks to commenters who point out that the Neo's 'Send' function will work with any iPad app that supports text input.

Direct link to the video for iPhone/iPad is here. This video (not produced by us) is hosted on Vimeo, which supports HTML5 playback on their site but does not support embedding.

Thanks to Peter for the tip.




View Tags

Related Stories

Categories

Found Footage iPad

Video from Vimeo. Click link for iPad/iPhone version. When it comes to unexpected functionality on Apple devices, the current leader is...
 

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

19 Comments

Filter by:
Steve D.

At the AlphaSmart forum, they've confirmed that you can transfer text tiles to the iPad from the Neo. So you can use the Neo to type up lots of long texts, emails, novel chapters, whatever, and then shoot it over to the iPad for editing or sending. It seems to be a very flexible setup, since the Neo is better at extended typing in many scenarios. Working outside, at the park, for example. Or typing on your lap. The battery goes for 700 hours, too, so, paired with the iPad, you can have a writing/editing setup that will last a LONG time.

May 17 2010 at 12:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
vance

Mr. Rose, the AlphaSmart Neo transfers text files just fine to an iPad. You press "send" on the Neo and it squirts the currently opened file into an email message, word processor file, whatever. Looks like someone typing at the speed of light.

May 16 2010 at 10:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eolake Stobblehouse

Dang, it seems I can't use html here.
the group is:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/alphasmart/discuss/

May 16 2010 at 8:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chet

"Now, if we could get an import utility that would take text files from the Neo and put them on the iPad..."

You don't need an import utility. The Neo has a "send" feature that allows text on it to be sent to the computer it's connected to.

May 16 2010 at 8:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Chet's comment
Michael Rose

Great point.

May 17 2010 at 12:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eolake Stobblehouse

By the way, Mr. Rose, I also sometimes use Apple's wonderful super-compact bluetooth keyboard, but we are quite a few writers who are simply in love with the Alphasmart Neo and its keyboard.

May 16 2010 at 8:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Eolake Stobblehouse's comment
Michael Rose

Hi Eolake!

I haven't had the pleasure of using the Neo, but I was a big fan of the Tandy 102 back in the day.

May 16 2010 at 8:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eolake Stobblehouse

Love the Neo. For me its only real weakness, similar to the Kindle, is that the background on the screen is too dark. I keep hoping they will make one with an updated screen.
That might hurt the battery life, but heck that is over half a year, so there's something to give!

May 16 2010 at 8:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eolake Stobblehouse

Haha, that may be because both Mads Mikkelsen and myself are Danish. I take it as a compliment, thanks.

Eolake Stobblehouse

May 16 2010 at 8:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Eolake Stobblehouse's comment
Ahmed Hassan

I think it can ONLY be a compliment! Mads is a legend.

May 16 2010 at 8:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eolake Stobblehouse

Mads is that, for sure.

By the way, for anybody interested the the Neo or other Alphasmart devices, there's a great user group on Flickr, here.

May 16 2010 at 8:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Richard

My iMuff headset and bluetooth doggle works great on the iPad. The distance is enhanced by a few feet and walls as well.

May 16 2010 at 8:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ahmed Hassan

Does anyone else think the man in the video sounds like Le Chiffre from Casino Royale?

May 16 2010 at 7:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Justin

Another non-iPhone (presumably non-iPad) video on TUAW. I never get that.

May 16 2010 at 7:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
5 replies to Justin's comment
Buy an ad here

Hot Apps on TUAW

Tweets

© 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.