Wireless keyboards are great, that is until you have to replace or charge the battery. Logitech is looking to keep those batteries charged with its Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 solar keyboard for Mac, iPad and iPhone. The wireless keyboard holds up to a three-month charge from just a few hours under the sun - or desk lamp - and can connect to up to three devices at once.
The Logitech K760 isn't the first solar keyboard from the peripherals manufacturer. It follows the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750, which comes in PC and Mac versions, and the Solar Keyboard Folio keyboard + case combo for the iPad. What the K760 adds is Bluetooth connectivity, and the ability to connect with up to three devices simultaneously.
A user might be using a Mac, but then decide to do a search on the iPhone, and send a quick message via the iPad. This is done seamlessly by hitting the relevant keys on the keyboard without having to disconnect and reconnect to each device.
Onboard solar cells charge the keyboard in sunlight and artificial light including low light or lamp light, indoors or out. A full charge supplies the keyboard for roughly three months of power, based on an average use per day of eight hours.
The K760 follows the look and key layout of Apple's own wireless keyboard with the exception of the top row, which shuffles a few buttons around to make room for three buttons to switch between three connected devices without disconnecting. There's also the addition of a dedicated power button on the far right to turn the unit on and off, along with a little headroom above the keys to provide room for the solar panels.
While the keyboard retains Mac-specific keys such as Command, Brightness, and Eject, Logitech adds to the design with concave key design that the company says was found through testing to be more comfortable and quieter for typing.
The solar cells aren't the only place Logitech has trimmed its environmental footprint. The Key760 is PVC-free, and comes in a fully recyclable box.
The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 will be available in the U.S. and Europe in June for US$79.99.
Source: Logitech