AirKeyboard Pro: "All-Finger" Keyboard for the Vision Pro
More than a one-finger search system: the first external software keyboard for visionOS is here. However, with technical limitations.
AirKeyboard Pro in action: Unfortunately, it cannot be used as the default keyboard.
(Image: 10th Dimension, LLC)
The Vision Pro comes standard with an on-screen keyboard integrated by Apple into visionOS. It allows for typing in the air, works comparably well, but only provides a below-average typing feel. Furthermore, it cannot be used with the ten-finger system. Developer José Buelto therefore sees a market gap here and has launched what he claims to be the first "all-finger" keyboard for Apple's computer glasses. However, the app has to live with limitations due to the system – and it's not inexpensive either.
Virtual-physical keyboard replica
The product is called AirKeyboard Pro and is available for download in Apple's App Store. To download it, an initial fee of almost 10 Euros is required. But it doesn't stop there: if you want to buy additional keyboards later, such as a wooden model or an RGB keyboard with a numeric keypad, further fees between 2.99 and 3.99 Euros will apply – per keyboard. Moreover, it is not possible to use AirKeyboard Pro as the default keyboard under visionOS, as a corresponding interface, as known from iOS, is currently missing. Instead, you use the app and have to copy and paste content. In practice, it represents a simple text editor with a special keyboard.
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This can be positioned relatively freely in space, for example on an existing table (in passthrough mode). Although Buelto claims that you can type with ten fingers simultaneously, this was not fully possible in practice. Another annoyance is that the app integrates an autocorrect function by default, which tends to make errors if the language setting is incorrect (e.g., typing in German on an English system). With such "physical" keyboards, it would be more sensible if the autocorrect were deactivated initially, because otherwise you cannot develop a typing feel.
Missing system integration
Nevertheless, the project makes an interesting impression. Buelto also promises to develop it further regularly. However, only Apple can achieve better system integration. As long as this is not implemented, users have to live with copy & paste, which slows down work.
As a pure note-taking app, AirKeyboard Pro is also designed too simply – especially considering the price.
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