- Can You Use Any Keyboard For A Computer
- Can You Use Any Wireless Keyboard With A Macbook Pro
- Can I Use Any Keyboard With Mac Mini
There are several ways I know of to use a real keyboard to enter text on your mobile device. You can use the Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit and a regular USB keyboard, you can use a bluetooth keyboard or you can use your Mac's keyboard as a bluetooth keyboard.
When I heard about this for the first time I asked myself – why would I want to do this? The answer is easy. You are at your Mac and want to quickly answer an SMS. Normally you would have to take the phone and type on its tiny touchscreen. Or you could use a full-sized keyboard to type it. That's what the following solutions offer, without having to buy a separate keyboard just for typing on your phone. I have to say, I've gotten used to it.
Aug 30, 2018 Since the Magic Keyboard obviously doesn't have a screen, you can just click 'Yes.' At this point you should be connected. To test the keyboard, simply click in the search bar and try to enter text. You can use any USB-based keyboard on a Mac 1.Nearly all keyboards sold these days are USB, but if yours is PS/2 then it won't plug directly into the Mac, since they don't have PS/2 ports. Jun 29, 2020 The only thing you can do is decide whether you want to use the function keys as standard keys or Mac interface keys. The Magic Keyboard also has a significantly smaller footprint than any other keyboard on this list.
This keyboard can be truncated so that you can open it when you need those special commands. To get the full pause of the various shortcuts available on the keyboard, you can also download the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator application. This free software gives you the possibility of reassigning keys so that they produce the characters you.
I had the chance to test a bluetooth keyboard that is able to switch with a button press between 3 connected devices, as well as two applications that let you use your Mac's keyboard as a bluetooth keyboard.
1Keyboard
Can You Use Any Keyboard For A Computer
The Mac OS X app 1Keyboard resides in the status bar waiting for you to use it. It can manage multiple devices and assign a shortcut to each device configured. To configure a mobile device you just connect your device with your Mac using the bluetooth settings while 1Keyboard is running.
As soon as the device is connected to the Mac, a dialog is shown to configure the device. When I tried to setup the connection to the iPad I noticed some problems which where solved by an iPad restart, while connecting to an iPhone worked seamlessly. Switching between the Mac and the Phone is just a shortcut away.
As well as the normal typing functions, 1Keyboard also allows you to control your iDevice's screen brightness (F1, F2), and volume (F10, F11, F12) directly from your Mac's keyboard. When the shortcut is hit, a nice overlay shows you the connected devices name and the icon you have configured for it.
Can You Use Any Wireless Keyboard With A Macbook Pro
Can I Use Any Keyboard With Mac Mini
1Keyboard is a nice application that is located in the menu bar and doesn't get in the way, but its there when you need it. Exactly how a great app should be.
Type2Phone
Type2Phone also lets you use your Mac as a Bluetooth keyboard. In comparison to 1Keyboard, Type2Phone is not located in the status bar. It is shown in the Dock as a regular application. Like 1Keyboard, you can configure a keyboard shortcut for each of your connected devices. To activate a device you just switch to the Type2Phone application and all your keyboard input is redirected. The procedure of configuring a new device follows a similar procedure as in 1Keyboard. The phone or tablet has to establish the connection while you have set the application to 'Connect to New Device'.
Additionally to the brightness settings (F1, F2) and the volume control (F10-F12) a number of additional F-keys have special functions that come in handy on iOS devices.
F3 simulates the Power button
F4 simulates the Home button
F6 simulates the slide to unlock from the lock screen
F8 starts playback, and F7 and F9 go to the next / previous songs
Conclusion for the application solution
Both applications offer extremely fast switching between the Mac and the mobile device to enter text. The preference to stay connected to the device even after switching away makes that possible. Switching with this setting on makes it extremely fast. Both solutions are worth their price. 1Keyboard by Wiener Apps is sold for € 7,89 (first month offer € 5,52) and Type2Phone by Houdah Software is € 4,49 on the Mac App Store.
Logitech K760 bluetooth keyboard
The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 keyboard is able to connect to 3 devices and switching between them is a matter of one button press. The keyboard is limited to 3 devices and switching takes a couple of seconds, but once connected it works perfectly with iPhone and iPad. For use with iDevices it has special symbols on some keys to show the iDevice-specific functions like the home button. Except from the home button and volume control I didn't find any other special buttons. The feel of typing K760 is very close to that of a MacBook's built-in keyboard.
Summary
Actually this whole article was entirely written on an iPhone and an iPad using the described applications. It was interesting to see my typing on my Mac's keyboard appearing on my devices.
My advice for users of MacBook's that need a comfortable way to type on their phone, would be to go with the application solution, unless you need an extra keyboard for your Mac anyway, since the bluetooth keyboard is a great solution as well.
In closing, I want to say thanks to the developers of these great applications for providing me with the opportunity to try them.
Read more of my posts on my blog at http://blog.tinned-software.net/.
Can I Use Any Keyboard With Mac Mini
1Keyboard is a nice application that is located in the menu bar and doesn't get in the way, but its there when you need it. Exactly how a great app should be.
Type2Phone
Type2Phone also lets you use your Mac as a Bluetooth keyboard. In comparison to 1Keyboard, Type2Phone is not located in the status bar. It is shown in the Dock as a regular application. Like 1Keyboard, you can configure a keyboard shortcut for each of your connected devices. To activate a device you just switch to the Type2Phone application and all your keyboard input is redirected. The procedure of configuring a new device follows a similar procedure as in 1Keyboard. The phone or tablet has to establish the connection while you have set the application to 'Connect to New Device'.
Additionally to the brightness settings (F1, F2) and the volume control (F10-F12) a number of additional F-keys have special functions that come in handy on iOS devices.
F3 simulates the Power button
F4 simulates the Home button
F6 simulates the slide to unlock from the lock screen
F8 starts playback, and F7 and F9 go to the next / previous songs
Conclusion for the application solution
Both applications offer extremely fast switching between the Mac and the mobile device to enter text. The preference to stay connected to the device even after switching away makes that possible. Switching with this setting on makes it extremely fast. Both solutions are worth their price. 1Keyboard by Wiener Apps is sold for € 7,89 (first month offer € 5,52) and Type2Phone by Houdah Software is € 4,49 on the Mac App Store.
Logitech K760 bluetooth keyboard
The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 keyboard is able to connect to 3 devices and switching between them is a matter of one button press. The keyboard is limited to 3 devices and switching takes a couple of seconds, but once connected it works perfectly with iPhone and iPad. For use with iDevices it has special symbols on some keys to show the iDevice-specific functions like the home button. Except from the home button and volume control I didn't find any other special buttons. The feel of typing K760 is very close to that of a MacBook's built-in keyboard.
Summary
Actually this whole article was entirely written on an iPhone and an iPad using the described applications. It was interesting to see my typing on my Mac's keyboard appearing on my devices.
My advice for users of MacBook's that need a comfortable way to type on their phone, would be to go with the application solution, unless you need an extra keyboard for your Mac anyway, since the bluetooth keyboard is a great solution as well.
In closing, I want to say thanks to the developers of these great applications for providing me with the opportunity to try them.
Read more of my posts on my blog at http://blog.tinned-software.net/.
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