Logitech announced on Monday a glowing, Bluetooth keyboard that can connect to as many as three devices simultaneously and switch among them at the press of a button.
You could, for example, use the Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810 to switch among your Windows 8-powered Ultrabook, Android smartphone, and an iPad. The new keyboard is compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8 (or Windows RT), iOS 4.0 or later, and Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) or later.
The keyboard layout is designed specifically for Windows 8; it includes the standard Windows key and an app-switching function key to let you scroll through open apps. The K810 also features an ambient sensor to properly adjust keyboard illumination as well as proximity detection that activates the keyboard lights when your hands approach the keys.
The K810 is USB-rechargeable and Logitech claims up to ten days of battery life on a full charge. You can, of course, continue to work while the keyboard is charging through a PC USB port. The device also has an on/off switch and a battery life indicator to help you conserve and manage device power.
Logitech’s concept with K810 is an interesting idea, but it also sounds a little gimmicky. Granted, one-button push connectivity could be helpful in several scenarios. You could, for example, be working on a text document on a Windows 8 device, have Twitter, Facebook, or maybe even e-mail running on your tablet, and then switch to your smartphone to respond to a text message. Sounds like a nice set-up, but we’ll have to see how practical this is in the real world. It’s not clear whether, say, the keyboard can remember all three connections when powered off, or if you must pair at least two of the devices at the start of every work session.
UPDATE: Logitech has confirmed that the K810 will remember all three device pairings between sessions, even if the device is powered off.
Logitech does not list the K810 as compatible with OS X or Linux, so it’s not clear how well this device’s switching feature would work with a Mac or a non-Windows PC.
The K810 illuminated keyboard features a brushed aluminum body and is scheduled to ship in October at a suggested retail price of $100 and is available for pre-order from Logitech.
This is the second announcement for Logitech in the lead-up to the Windows 8 debut on October 26. The peripheral maker last Wednesday announced three new touch-friendly mice designed for Windows 8.