Novelkeys Cream Tactiles

ThereminGoat reviews the Novelkeys Cream Tactile switches.

"The Novelkeys x Kailh family tree grows ever further yet again."

Coming in an all-grey colorway, the new Cream Tactile switches are about as unadorned and simplistic as you can get. […] To say the least, the push feel of these switches is rather interesting […] While people are quite ready to jump to the ‘oh they’re POM on POM on POM and so they are just that way’, I’ve pointed out in my Novelkeys Launch Cream scorecard that there is something about this new wave of Cream switches that has a lighter, and much more sandpaper-esque scratch to them. […] In their stock form, the sound of the Cream Tactiles is honestly one of the biggest disappointing features of the entire switch. […] The wobble on these switches is both fairly par for course for both Kailh and the Novelkeys Cream line of switches […]After having sat down and thoroughly tried these switches out, I can say that I’m honestly left with a pretty big bag of mixed feelings about these switches. For true replacements of the Novelkeys Blueberry switch line, I am rather disappointed with the glaring flaws in their stock performance with the issues like scratch, spring ping, and leaf ping in some switches – ThereminGoat.

Full article: https://www.theremingoat.com/blog/novelkeys-cream-tactile-switch-review

Lyra and SuperLyra

The Lyra and SuperLyra, a split and a pseudosplit with numpad in the center, are two open-source designs by Malevolti.

(Prototype build and photo by Faehriss.)

The Lyra is a print at home 70 key split ortho keyboard inspired by the Corne, Lily58 & Sofle. For people who hate layers.

This repo is currently a mess but thank you for stopping by – Malevolti.

https://github.com/Malevolti/Lyra

And its big brother, the SuperLyra, a monoblock split with a numpad put between the halves:

https://github.com/Malevolti/SuperLyra

Railroad keyboard

The Railroad keyboard, DiplomacyPunIn10Did's first design, is now open source.

For anyone interested in building my first keyboard design, I have made it open source – DiplomacyPunIn10Did.

PCB and plate files on GitHub:

https://github.com/nopunin10did/railroad-keyboard

While this layout is definitely not for everyone, the function keys in the center make it somewhat better ulnar-deviation-wise compared to a classic monoblock ortho. Also, utilizing a standard keycap set is a nice feature.

Pinkytyl V2.1

A new revision of the Pinkytyl by ripxorip, this time with Chocs.

It's a new revision of my Pinkytyl design :) So far it feels really good to type on. I have never tried low profile switches before and I must say that I quite like it – ripxorip.

I'm not sure these files in the repository are for the exact same variant: https://github.com/ripxorip/pinkytyl_v2

Zack Freedman's Mirage

The Mirage is a low-profile mechanical keyboard with clickable OLED displays and CircuitPython.

The goal: the most hackable mechanical keyboard. The result: trolling the pants off /r/mk – Zack Freedman.

The project is a low-profile mechanical keyboard, with three clickable displays, CircuitPython firmware, and a fully custom PCB that snaps into an ergonomic split board or a standalone number pad.

The video is full of bullshit and factual errors contains some statements I can't identify with, but the project itself is interesting and open-source:

Yeah, open-source:

https://github.com/zackfreedman/mirage

Protocol Seven

Protocol Seven, a monoblock split by PM_ME_YOUR_MAINFRAME with a numpad in the center comes with source files.

Stumbled upon a comment in the SuperLyra post and reached out to PM_ME_YOUR_MAINFRAME in the hope of more info about his Protocol Seven project.

As it turns out, this is a quite old design, but he was kind enough to share some pictures and even the PCB files.

Gallery:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qPSU9o7S5A3tvdNh6

PCB:

https://github.com/dotleon/protocol_seven

Chonkpad - A 3D printed MurphPad case

The Chonkpad is an open-source 3D printed MurphPad case by Customniches.

Had a ton of fun designing it and the case may of gotten a little out of hand with the size, amount of screws and complex assembly, but thus is the way of the CHONKPAD – Customniches.

More images, assembly instructions and source files available here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4971889

3D printed macropad case

An open-source magnetic macropad case by bikepackerdude.

Case files available on the project's GitHub page: https://github.com/camerahacks/lightroom-macro-pad

There are two case layouts. While the bottom part on the 7-switch layout is just pressure fitted into the top piece using a 0.1mm tolerance, the 10-switch case uses round 5x2mm magnets to snap the case parts together.

The case uses standard MX spacing, meaning you can use any MX compatible switches and keycaps.

Keyboard stores on a map

This is another interface for the dataset of the Keyboard Vendor Database. About 150 keyboard shops put on a map.

The keyboard store map is available here:

https://kbd.news/keyboard-store-map

This is just another interface for my Keyboard Vendor Database. (Only a subset of 150 shops from 340 - those with proper address or city data). Check the original database for more entries and options.

This map was made to answer some additional questions like: "Which keyboard store is closest to me?" or "Is there a keyboard shop in the Middle East?".

Hopefully, more stores will send me their address or city after publishing this tool.

Also, highlighted are some vendors supporting my projects. If you are a vendor, here is a FAQ page for you.

MXLEDBitPCB

The MxLEDBitPCB by swanmatch is a 1u Amoeba-alternative with Kailh hotswap support.

Multiple variants (MX/Choc/MX hotswap) available at: https://github.com/swanmatch/MxLEDBitPCB

So this is not new but was brought to my attention this week by jack-of-some's post:

My MXLEDBIT finally arrived from jlcpcb. 5 bucks for 125 single switch PCBs aint bad – jack-of-some.

My current build uses amoeba v1.6. amoeba wiring was ok, and I don't expect this to be much different. The thing I'm excited about with these is that they have kailh hotswap socket support. With the Amoebas I used millmax which was ok but ended up having a bunch of issues (e.g. it didn't hold nearly as well) – jack-of-some.

Mercutio hinge mount set

jdigi78 designed and published an ultrawide display mount for the Mercutio.

Gallery:

https://imgur.com/a/wSaHJ1b

STL files on thingiverse:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5072690

Should be printed in PETG for best hinge action. PLA doesn't have enough give to it to properly adjust the hinge angle, however you can always just tighten it down to a set angle or use a spring washer. Assemble hinge before installing on keyboard, tighten until it cannot move and then loosen it until it snaps between angles easily but holds firmly – jdigi78.

Get the LCD panel files here:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5072704

USB-C Pro Micro issues

Difference in routing of some USB-C Pro Micro clones reported by hellmoneywarriors.

An entire batch of USB-C Pro Micro clones I just received from the vendor TZT on AliExpress (and I imagine other vendors are selling the same one) have a PCB layout problem where the physical footprint of the board matches a regular Pro Micro, but at least two of the pins are routed incorrectly – hellmoneywarriors.

The Arduino pin numbers on the silk screen are listed in the correct order, but in reality pin 14 and 15 are reversed. In QMK code, the pin numbers are the direct pin numbers of the Atmega32U4 chip, B1 and B3.

If you are trying to flash a QMK firmware to one of these controllers and have issues with incorrect columns and rows, try going into the config.h file and swapping the two pins. If the original code shows B1 and B3 in the list of row or column pins it's using, try swapping the two and recompile your firmware.

Reports of successful tests suggest that only some of the batches are screwed up, and others may be totally fine.

Luggable computers rock

Rossenheimer thought folks will appreciate the unidentified luggable computer his boss brought to the office.

He is not even sure what it is because he got it so long ago when he was writing a program for a mining companies drill operation – Rossenheimer.

I do own some luggable computers, they are cool but nothing near this one integrated into an actual suitcase. :D

While I've seen many similar models out there (without the suitcase ofc) I can't recognize this one on the picture. I'm not sure about comments mentioning Osbornes and Kaypros.

If I remember right, luggables were marketed mainly for engineers who could take these beasts e.g. to a construction site.

They were called portables but "movable" might be a better word since they are heavy as hell.

Heathkit H89

A Heathkit H89 from 1979, running an ASCII version of Space Invaders. Acquired by glencanyon.

1979 Heathkit H89 and an ASCII version of Space Invaders. 2MHZ Z80 with 48KB RAM and SSSD Hard Sectored Floppy Drive.

I purchased this from the original owner who built this from kit. It was his first computer and he was very hesitant to let it go – glencanyon.

This has a very basic floppy disk controller, so it can only use hard sectored floppy disks.

These disks hold 100kb of data but since they're hard sectored, they have a very unique sound when loading. While soft sector disks (what we see in the IBM PC) have a single index hold indicating the starting point of sector 1 on each track, hard sector floppy disks have an index hole for every sector.

Sound sample (last video) and more pics here:

https://imgur.com/a/6i8kfBn

According to hicooh's comment, Steve Jobs once gave a shout out to HeathKit in an interview. He said that it taught him that products that seem magical and mysterious were all made by regular people just like you, which was a part of what inspired him to make magical and mysterious products of his own.

1,048 buttons to press

Tokyo based elevator button manufacturer Shimada Denki Seisakusho set up a wall of 1,048 buttons to press.

Shimada Denki Seisakusho, a Japanese elevator button factory founded in 1933, set up a wall of 1,048 buttons to press on at the end of the factory tour.

All the buttons are made in the company's 88 year history.

The company started organizing tours in 2018, but the 1,000 Buttons attraction was created in the summer of 2020, as a way to engage with users.

Being a B2B company, Shimada didn't really got feedback from users about its products, and the wall of buttons gave both manufacturer and users a chance to interaction.

The idea for the button wall was inspired by parents' experience with elevators. Apparently, many complained that they often had problems getting their kids to stop pressing the illuminated elevator buttons, and this inspired designers to create a special place where kids could push the buttons as much as they wanted. (source)

The impressive display became very popular. Understandably, the “Never Press” button is the most pressed.

Btw, the company seems to be a cool workplace, especially for mechanical keyboard addicts.

They are on Twitter: @shimax_hachioji

Website: https://www.shimada.cc/