Scosche Releases freeKEY: Flexible Bluetooth Waterproof Keyboard.

What’s better than a flexible keyboard that you can tote around everywhere? How about a flexible, Bluetooth, waterproof keyboard? Today, Scosche released such a device called the “freeKEY” that they hope you’ll make your laptop/tablet’s next companion. It’s not the cheapest of keyboards at $59.99, but then again it is rather resilient to the elements and hard abuse.

If you’re into pain and tortue, hop inside to see a freeKEY put through its paces…

Swype Reopens Android Beta With Latest Update. #swype

Today, popular Android keyboard, Swype, was once again updated with performance improvements and bug fixes aplomb. And with the update comes a fresh wave of open betas available to end users. All you have to do is point your browser over to http://beta.swype.com/ and download the appropriate files. One important note for users with Swype pre-installed from your carrier — DO NOT install the beta. It won’t work and your phone may or may not continue working afterwards.

With the particulars out of the way, we’d highly suggest that if it’s a Swype beta you seek, that point your browser to the link above before things get closed downagain. Let us know how it goes for you!

Bluetooth Keyboard Accessory for Upcoming Palm Tablet Leaks. #palm #webos #tablet

Palm has been promising quite a bit over the months, foreshadowing of great things to come for webOS. And yet here we sit — with nothing to speak of. But tonight, a trusted source of Engadget sent in the image above showing a bluetooth keyboard for an upcoming webOS tablet, currently codenamed “Topaz”. The keyboard itself is powered by AA’s, though it lacks backlighting. More odd however is the addition of a Windows key. I guess Palm is going for multi-purpose here. Expect to see this little gem drop in early 2011.

While we’re on the topic of Palm, another rumor that is sure to appease young webOS users revolves around a low-end, teen-specific device that is similar to the Pre save for the absence of any keyboard. This device carries the codename “Castle”.

Even though a tablet will do a good job of showing off the latest version of webOS, the follow-up hit with a low-end device is uninspiring. What we really want is a webOS powerhouse to compete against the iPhone 4/5 and the best that Android has to offer, not some borderline featurephone. Palm, where is that device?

Make your iPhone 4 Get Physical with the Boxwave “Keyboard Buddy” Bluetooth Keyboard.

There’s no denying the iPhone 4 is an extremely popular and successful device. The biggest reason being the touchscreen that literally revolutionized the smartphone world back in 2007. But as great as the touchscreen is, some people still prefer good ‘ol physical buttons. Apple won’t be adding in physical keys and keyboards anytime soon. So that leaves 3rd parties to fill in the gap. So far, we’ve only seen a few bluetooth iPhone keyboards. They haven’t been particularly well designed or good at what they do. Though the Boxwave Keyboard Buddy Bluetooth keyboard looks like it could be different in that respect…

Swype Now Available for N8. Still Lacks Portrait-Oriented QWERTY Keyboard. #swype

Some good news and bad news. First, the good — Swype is now available for the Nokia N8 smartphone. The bad — it’s still landscape only. Granted, this is more of a Symbian OS shortcoming and not in any way Swype’s fault. Though Nokia users should still find the updated keyboard leaps and bounds better than the stock software keyboard, which is arguably nothing but garbage.

Special care needs to be taken if you’ve been running the Nokia C7 specific build of Swype on your N8 as you’ll need to completely — Completely! — remove it from your phone before installing the N8 version. If you don’t, all kinds of bad things will happen, kittens will die, and trees will whither. Ok, maybe not that extreme. But you get the picture — it could get nasty.

Swype for the Nokia N8 is now live in the Ovi App Store free of charge. Let us know how it goes.

LG EnV Pro Gets Axed.

In the market for a low-end Android phone? Better keep looking if the EnV Pro was on your list of possible purchases. For all intents and purposes, the EnV Pro is dead. Supposedly, the device failed to impress testers, so VZW pulled the plug. What’s odd is that while it does have the look and feel of an entry-level Android 2.1 phone, the dual-screen design would win over hearts I would think. But then again, physical appearances aren’t everything.

Without any information of processor or RAM, we can’t even make a knowledgable decision after the fact. Of course, with no chance of ever seeing this in public, we really don’t need to ponder much longer. Admire. Reflect. Move on.

Anyone have their eye on the LG EnV Pro.

And now, the iPhone with a physical keyboard.

For the longest time, I had some weird fetish/affinity for physical keyboards. I swore off any device that was touchscreen only. And then I got the iPhone 3G back in 2008. It was a lovely time. A time in which I realized a lot of things, namely, that I didn’t need a physical keyboard to be happy. Moving past that to a Moto Droid once again brought up those physical feelings from inside, due more-so to the fact that the stock Android keyboard sucked. Replacement 3rd party keyboards were better, but still not “great”. And now I’m back to where it all started with an iPhone 4 — no keyboard.

But I could have a keyboard if I wanted. The iPhone supports Bluetooth peripherals. The picture above shows a Bluetooth keyboard. 1 + 1 = 2. Everyone is happy that wants to be happy. It’s a tad steep for an add-on accessory at $50. But for those who like to get all physical, it’s just what the doctor ordered. I have moved on from those early days when I had to “feel” everything. Many haven’t been able to cope with the separation, however. Just know that if you still need it, ThinkGeek is here to help.

[Product Page]

USB flash drive constructed out of old Mac keyboard.

If you happen to have an old Mac keyboard or two sitting around the house, why not get crafty and USB-ify it? Stuffing USB flash drive internals into mundane objects is the latest rage. But you know what, I love it. Many years from now, geeks will compare their flash drive collection as a sort of “right of passage”. No joke, I want this.

If DIY isn’t your cup of tea, thesleekgeek (Etsy) will happily do the grunt work for you, $60 donation provided of course. So what do you say: DIY or pre-built?

Motorola working on portrait slider “mini-Droid”?

Oh Mr. Blurry Cam how we love thee, for you bring us the latest in tech with that oh so lovable fuzz. Tonight’s Mr. Blurry Cam showcase is this mini-Droid looking device. It’s easy to see that it comes from Moto’s labs, red eye and all. The portrait sliding keyboard is my favorite. Though the only phones that have ever really won me over as far as portrait keyboards are concerned are newer BlackBerries and the Palm Pre Plus. But if Moto can shake out a properly spec’d portrait slider of their own, I may perhaps overlook their nannyish/bootlocker lock down ways.

…Nah, who am I kidding. The screen looks like it barely makes it to the 3″ mark if that. I’m sorry, but a sub-3″ smartphone display will not work. Especially not with the requirements that modern apps and games put on the user. The touchscreen is one of the most important smartphone parts these days and as such, needs to be perfect. Somehow I don’t think this mini-Droid would be very useful. But I could be wrong. Either way, I would love to give it some one on one time just to see if I’m right. You?

Hop inside for some 360 shots also complete with complimentary fuzz…