Larger Snow Leopard soft keyboard makes tablet computing EZ
Let's not jump to any conclusions here. We'd just like to point out that with all of the Snow Leopard coverage, no one is mentioning the new Snow Leopard soft keyboard which didn't exist in Leopard in the same capacity. In Leopard and before, the soft keyboard was located in the International System pref and was very small (half-sized - See below). You could make it bigger but only one size.
The new keyboard is much (finger sized) bigger and is located in an input method (keyboard) system pref. You can now resize it as well to stretch all the way across the screen.
After playing with it for awhile, you'll probably see that it would make a great interface for another type of device. Instructions below...
1. Go to System Prefs/Keyboard
2. Check "Show Keyboard and character viewer in Menu bar"
3. Go to the top right menu bar and click "show keyboard viewer"
4. Pretend like you have a tablet with your trackpad.
Old soft keyboard:
Thanks Dan B.!
Updated for clarification
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Comments (32)
ahah
ahah lalapalooza
tell me whatcha want whatcha really really want. ill tell ya what i want what i really really want
I wanna hah I wanna hah I wanna really really really wanna ziggazig aaaaaaah!
I believe Leopard also has a soft keyboard, as well. It's pretty cool: if you plug in an Apple keyboard to your MacBook, the on-screen keyboard will change to reflect the new key layout, numpad et al. They also have separate caps lock controls - if you press caps on one keyboard, only that keyboard will type in caps and the other will not, and vice-versa.
one of the reasons why tablets failed were the lack of a keybaord. and i can not believe, that apple solved this problem in a propper way. the internet IS communication, and communication is (still) typing. we have to type in chats, when writing comments or email. i'd feel very disabled with a soft keyboard like on the iphone. i have to go through this compromise when i am on my iphone, but at home i don't want to! i can type the abc in 7 seconds, but it would take half a minute or more on a soft touch keyboard. the tablet will NOT be a replacement for a macbook unless the keyboard problem is solved!
7 seconds on a keyboard for 'abc'??
Half a minute on a soft keyboard???
You need to
a) try typing with your eyes open, and
b) stop typing with your dick
I think the person meant the whole alphabet, not just 'a', 'b', and 'c'.
ROFLMAOOO !!!
I wonder whether you realise that the keyboard on the iPhone is not a full keyboard.
Lack of keyboard was what they said would fail with the iPhone! And we all saw how that prediction was wrong!
When done right, its all good!
I think what this article is trying to suggest, is that you can type on the trackpad (imagine the trackpad is an actual keyboard). Instead of moving the cursor just tap the area of the letter you want!
I was getting the impression that it was placed there as a precursor for typing on the new tablet, should it be running OS X. But the trackpad idea is cool too.
Yes, you groovy fanboy folk are quite correct- the keyboard palette has been around for ages (hidden under that union jack (or stars 'n' stripes if you happen to be American etc etc). BUT it has been really fiddly to use. I use this keyboard all the time- especially when I can't be arsed to get up and use my non-bluetooth keyboard with our livingroom iMac, while watching and searching on the iPlayer (how lame/lazy is that eh??). AND, this has BIG keys. Now that design for the existing one hasn't changed for yonks- but now we have this, and designed for podgy fingers too! Yes, as you yanks often say, "Go figure"! ;) :D
Actually I'd like to retract that last statement - because like a complete banana, I've just realised that this keyboard IS that actual keyboard (well for this Macbook Pro anyway- not the iMac) still in Leopard!! What does that Simpson fella say? Doh?! ;)
So what who cares????
Where is my damm update since I bought to new Mac's. Apple mails the darn things via snail mail delivery advertised as Sept 2....
steamin in Memphis
Wow, 2 spelled "to" and Mac"'"s. Spell much!?
Damn It! Sorry!
In Leopard if you click the green plus button, it makes the keyboard about the same size as what it appears to be in Snow Leopard. just FYI
nicely pointed out, makes this story just another tablet hype.
Apple Tablet + Apple Bluetooth Keyboard = Apple Unstoppable
So what is the difference between a tablet with keyboard and a macbook? Pointless to buy a tablet to carry a keyboard with it. Then i MBA would be better ;)
Kind of a stupid question don't you think?
A MacBook doesn't give you the option of leaving the keyboard behind where as a tablet gives you the option to use it either with or without an external keyboard.
You might find it pointless to carry a keyboard with a tablet, but I'm willing to bet many others out there think your opinion is pointless, myself included!
There is a big keyboard in previous versions of OS X also. Just hit the zoom button!
The Keyboard does not show on Leopard on a Mac mini. I guess it only shows on a Mac laptop. Does Snow Leopard show on both? That could mean something related to the tablet as well.
(in Leopard)
Open System Preferences
Select International
Select Input Menu tab
Check Keyboard Viewer checkbox
Be sure "Show Input menu in menu bar" checkbox is checked.
Now you can activate the soft keyboard from the input menu bar item. It's icon will reflect your main (default) language selection.
I can "type" with my MacBook Pro trackpad using the Keyboard Viewer. Pretty cool.
You already got some great responses...
Actually there is one thing that everybody is overlooking, (although perhaps someone has noticed it...?), the pull down font menu underneath the floating keyboard has disappeared. This would fall perfectly in line with SL chucking out unwanted fonts? Just a thought.
Is it just me or did the contents of this post change considerably in the last 24 hours or so?
24 hours ago did it not omit to mention the fact that the soft keyboard was contained in previous versions of OS X, and did it not therefor actually claim the feature was new to Snow Leopard?
Several comments ridiculing this oversight also appear to have been deleted.
And did you not add the word 'larger' to the title of this blog, the original reading "Snow Leopard soft keyboard makes tablet computing EZ"?
No records of these changes are evident. Why?
Whilst I can understand your motive for correcting your risible mistake I cannot approve of correcting it without recording the correction somewhere in the blog post. As regards deleting mocking comments after approving them... bad form.
From http://www.apple.com/macosx/accessibility/
(i.e. accessibility features for people with motor skills issues)
"if you find it easier to use a pointing device than a keyboard, you can use an onscreen keyboard to enter text instead. It floats above other applications, so you can’t lose it, and it can be displayed small or large."
I made this exact argument in theorizing that the tablet would be the killer device for age 50+ baby boomers (big keys, forgiving buttons), but would add that from a positioning perspective, such a device is gonzo for living room, classroom and cafe.
Think: bookish sized device that offers a superior input, viewing and playback environment for accessing your iTunes library, personal media, syndicated content services, eBooks, iPhone Apps and potentially, Mac Apps. Give it a decent video camera so it can run video conferencing and VOIP apps (Skype already has a client for the iPhone/iPod touch).
And price it slightly less than a low end MacBook ($600-800).
Btw, if interested, here is the expanded analysis of the forthcoming Apple iPad Tablet device.
Apple, the ‘Boomer’ Tablet and the Matrix
http://bit.ly/DwziS
Cheers,
Mark