Apple Wireless Keyboard
Encyclopedia
The Apple Wireless Keyboard is a wireless keyboard
built for Macintosh computers and the iPad
. It interacts over Bluetooth
wireless technology and unlike its wired version, it has no USB connectors or ports. Both generations have low-power features when not in use.
. The device required four AA batteries, and had an On/Off switch on the bottom. It lacked wires and USB ports, but otherwise was cosmetically the same as the wired version.
On August 7, 2007, Apple released a completely redesigned model of the Apple Wireless Keyboard. Like the wired Apple Keyboard
, the new model is thinner than its predecessors and has an aluminum enclosure. Another addition is the new functions added to the function keys, such as media controls and Dashboard control. Unlike the previous version, the Wireless Keyboard now has a layout similar to the MacBook
. The power button has been relocated to the right side of the keyboard, and the key layout does not include a numerical typepad. At the beginning the caps lock key included accidental press prevention; the key must be held down for a moment for Caps Lock to engage. This behavior was not configurable, and had frustrated users who remap Caps Lock to a different modifier, such as Control. This was fixed later with firmware update 1.0, even though this fact was not mentioned in the release notes of the update. This keyboard required only three AA batteries, one fewer than its predecessor.
In October 2009, a slightly revised third model was released. New model number A1314 replaced the A1255, two years and two months after the initial release. The new model now uses only two AA batteries instead of three originally. Additionally, Mac OS X 10.5.8 is now the minimum OS over the original Mac OS X 10.4.10.
Although Apple includes support solely for Macintosh computers, it can also be used on a Windows PC providing that a Bluetooth receiver and appropriate Bluetooth stack is installed and properly configured. Enabling use of the 'Fn' and 'Eject' keys will require customization using a generic HID driver. Enabling the multimedia keys and remapping keys, such as assigning 'Del' to the 'Eject' key is also possible.
Keyboard layouts with L-shaped Enter keys are available in:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1171
Examples:
Keyboard (computing)
In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches...
built for Macintosh computers and the iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
. It interacts over Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
wireless technology and unlike its wired version, it has no USB connectors or ports. Both generations have low-power features when not in use.
History
On September 16, 2003, the first Apple Wireless Keyboard was introduced at the Apple ExpoApple Expo
The Apple Expo is a European annual sales conference and technology exposition held by Apple Inc. The conference features over 250 exhibitors annually, with Apple being its main exhibitor...
. The device required four AA batteries, and had an On/Off switch on the bottom. It lacked wires and USB ports, but otherwise was cosmetically the same as the wired version.
Apple keyboard
The Apple Keyboard is a keyboard designed by Apple first for the Apple line, then the Macintosh line of computers. It is available in both wired and Bluetooth models.- Layout :...
, the new model is thinner than its predecessors and has an aluminum enclosure. Another addition is the new functions added to the function keys, such as media controls and Dashboard control. Unlike the previous version, the Wireless Keyboard now has a layout similar to the MacBook
MacBook
The MacBook was a brand of Macintosh notebook computers built by Apple Inc. First introduced in May 2006, it replaced the iBook and 12-inch PowerBook series of notebooks as a part of the Apple–Intel transition. Positioned as the low end of the MacBook family, the Apple MacBook was aimed at the...
. The power button has been relocated to the right side of the keyboard, and the key layout does not include a numerical typepad. At the beginning the caps lock key included accidental press prevention; the key must be held down for a moment for Caps Lock to engage. This behavior was not configurable, and had frustrated users who remap Caps Lock to a different modifier, such as Control. This was fixed later with firmware update 1.0, even though this fact was not mentioned in the release notes of the update. This keyboard required only three AA batteries, one fewer than its predecessor.
In October 2009, a slightly revised third model was released. New model number A1314 replaced the A1255, two years and two months after the initial release. The new model now uses only two AA batteries instead of three originally. Additionally, Mac OS X 10.5.8 is now the minimum OS over the original Mac OS X 10.4.10.
Although Apple includes support solely for Macintosh computers, it can also be used on a Windows PC providing that a Bluetooth receiver and appropriate Bluetooth stack is installed and properly configured. Enabling use of the 'Fn' and 'Eject' keys will require customization using a generic HID driver. Enabling the multimedia keys and remapping keys, such as assigning 'Del' to the 'Eject' key is also possible.
Languages and layouts
A keyboard layout with an elongated Enter key is available for US English and Japanese.Keyboard layouts with L-shaped Enter keys are available in:
- Arabic
- Belgian
- Croatian
- Czech
- Danish
- Dutch
- English (International)
- English (UK)
- French
- German
- Greek
- Hebrew
- Hungarian
- Norwegian
- Portuguese
- Romanian
- Russian
- Slovak
- Spanish
- Swedish
- Swiss
- Polish
Boot Camp: Apple Wireless Keyboard keyboard mapping in Windows
Due to the missing keys for Windows PC's (such as the PrintScreen Key), Apple have made mappings.http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1171
Examples:
| Windows Keyboard | Equivalent |
|---|---|
| + + | |
| + + ( + on 2009 iMacs) | |
| + | |
| + | |
| + | |
| + | |
| + | |
| + |