Excited About The New Clicks Device Announcements
I'm a few days late to the party, but I just heard about the new product announcements from Clicks – the company that makes physical keyboard cases for smartphones – and I haven't been this excited about mobile device announcements since the BlackBerry KEY2 (2018).
Watch the video and check the website for more details, but I'll give a quick summary of each product and my impressions.
Power Keyboard
This is a bluetooth keyboard that you can pair and use with any device that supports bluetooth keyboards. But what's unique about it and made me pre-order it is that it can attach to my iPhone 17 via MagSafe and I can use it as a slider keyboard in both portrait and landscape.
I had been seriously considering buying a Clicks keyboard case but I didn't hesitate to pre-order the Power Keyboard because of its versatility. I can easily attach it to my iPhone when I want to use it and remove it when I don't. And I can use it for other devices (tablets, Apple TV, etc.), as well.
As someone who loathes typing on glass, this was a no-brainer. Especially since it's cheaper than their keyboard cases!
Communicator
If you are familiar with Michael Fisher (aka Mr. Mobile) and his content, you know how much of a Trekkie he is and there's no doubt he had something to do with the name of this phone. (And I'm pretty sure most of the folks behind Clicks are all Star Trek fans because they're nerds like me.)
A phone that looks like a BlackBerry that was made by BlackBerry fans and former employees! Finally!
The recognizable form factor and minimalist default launcher instantly hooked me, but what sealed the deal for me is when they announced it will have a SD card slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack! This is how I know Clicks means what they say about giving customers choices and being intentional about how they designed the Communicator, because I believe the real reason both of those features have been removed from mainstream smartphones is to make more money by forcing people to pay for more internal storage and buy wireless earbuds or headphones whose batteries eventually fail, requiring them to buy regular replacements.
I haven't pre-ordered the Communicator yet, but I am very seriously considering it. Given the current state of tech (and everything in general), prices are only going up. So I think the regular price of $499 USD for the Communicator is a steal in a world where $1K+ smartphones are becoming the norm. But the pre-order price of $399 USD is almost too good to pass up.
The only reason I hesitate is that, as part of my personal efforts to reorganize, consolidate, and be more intentional about the tech I use, I am in the market for a new laptop – likely a new MacBook, but I am not 100% settled on that yet.
I also am trying to figure out the best arrangement for my smartphone use. Right now I am using my iPhone mostly for work, church, travel, and iMessage and FaceTime. I am using my Unihertz Jelly 2E as a secondary personal device, mostly for listening to podcasts and music right now, but also for some communication and light app use.
I'm not sure if I need the Communicator if I have the Power Keyboard for my iPhone.
But, without question, I want the Communicator! And if money were no object, I'd pre-order one now. I just need to decide what my my focus and priorities are and whether what I currently have in the way of mobile phones is sufficient, so I'll wait a bit and think about it before pre-ordering one.
Kudos to Clicks
I'm pleased to hear about any tech company trying to make products that bring back intentionality and choice to the devices people use every day. Sometimes, less is more. Tried and true designs and features don't need to be forced into obsolescence.
It seems like Clicks is on the right track – their keyboard cases have clearly appealed to enough people that they are in a position to take their offerings to the next level.
I wish them success and am excited to get my hands on the Power Keyboard for sure and, perhaps, the Communicator, too!
#100DaysToOffload (No. 124) #tech #smartphones