We absolutely love the iPad, but we still miss a good old fashioned keyboard.
The iPad is fantastic for quick and simple tasks, web browsing and video watching, but when it comes to doing anything that involves using the in virtual keyboard for longer than a few minutes, we feel it somewhat cumbersome and slows down productivity.
Our latest I4T Video covers the Sharon Keyboard/Cover in detail to give you a thorough overview of the product and what it can do for you.
We researched quite a few different options and went for the oddly named LEIKE Sharon Ultra-thin aluminium Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad 3 and 2, but it’s bluetooth so should work with the new iPad 4, but have not tested this for compatibility, so take this with a pinch of slat for now. The Keyboard is also compatible with iPhone 3GS, 4, 4S and 5, all from from IOS 4.0 onwards.
You can order the Sharon iPad Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard/Cover for iPad 2 and 3 in the UK from Amazon.co.uk here and there are also a whole range of versions available including one especially for iPad 4 and iPad 3 and different Galaxy Tabs here. They are all is variety of colours too so I recommend having a look around from this link to pick your preference.
Sexy and you know it!
Ok, so firstly we have to get past the fact that this keyboard is called Sharon!
The last time I saw a the name Sharon on anything that wasn’t human was on the Volkswagen Sharan and that was hardly the most stylish of cars, ok that’s Sharan…but still….
The Sharon functions as both a Bluetooth Keyboad as well as a Protective cover for the iPad with a magnetic strip on the top end of the keyboard that holds well onto the edge of your iPad, so well that I trust it enough to hold it up in the air just by the keyboard section. (Don’t try this at home…just in case).
The Keyboard is thin, smart, the right colour for the Silver iPad and it looks the part alongside the iPad, something which is incredibly important.
The iPad is a sexy machine, you don’t want to ruin its look in one fail swoop and become a laughing stock in every place you pull this out at.
It has a funky Smart Cover Auto Sleep Function that when attached, both puts and takes the iPad out of sleep mode by just open and closing the cover on the screen. It has Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity and after a very simple setup as explained in the instruction manual nicely. It basically involves turning your iPad Bluetooth on, turning the keyboard on, finding the keyboard, entering the password given and then connecting. You are then ready to go. We found this incredibly fast to connect and when not in use the keyboard disconnected and went into a sleep mode to save power, touch a key and within a few seconds it connects and you are ready to type again.
So how long will the keyboards battery last?
It contains a rechargeable lithium battery, takes approx 5 hrs to charge to maximum capacity and will give you 90 hrs approx of no stop working time (not that your iPad will last as long as that! It has a standby time of 90 days, which is pretty incredible! So if you use the keyboard for 2 hrs a day it will most likely last you a month at least before needing to recharge. You recharge the keyboard by simply using the attached micro to standard size usb cable, which will plug into your Apple charger nicely.
The Keyboard operates up to 10 meters so if you have your iPad plugged into your monitor or TV then this work perfectly from the comfort of your sofa.
The Keyboard layout is English QUERTY and has the following function keys along the first row to help reach your basics on your iPad:
1. Square Symbol – Which directs you to your iPad Home Screen
2. Small Sun Symbol – Which takes you to your Screen Brightness controls and reduces the brightness
3. Larger Sun Symbol – Which takes you to your Screen Brightness controls and increases the brightness
4. Keyboard Symbol – Brings the virtual keyboard onto the screen, press again, removes it
5. Flower in Frame Symbol – Takes you to your photo folder and displays your first photo
6. Magnify Glass Symbol – Takes you to the search function of your iPad
7. Globe Symbol – Switches language although admittedly we weren’t really able to test this out.
8. Left Symbol – Backwards in your music/films
9. Play/Pause Symbol – As it says, Play and Pause.
We really love the Sharon Keyboard/Cover and can thoroughly recommend it to iPad owners looking to get more out of their iPad.
You can order the Sharon iPad Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard/Cover for iPad 2 and 3 in the UK from Amazon.co.uk here and there are also a whole range of versions available including one especially for iPad 4 and iPad 3 and different Galaxy Tabs here. They are all is variety of colours too so I recommend having a look around from this link to pick your preference.
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