Tag: Naya Connect

  • Naya Connect Wireless Mechanical Keyboard Hits Kickstarter Goal Fast

    Naya Connect Wireless Mechanical Keyboard Hits Kickstarter Goal Fast

    Key Takeaways

    1. The Naya Connect is a wireless low-profile mechanical keyboard launched on Kickstarter, with initial prices starting at €119 and €187 for the Naya Type with Connect Dock.
    2. The funding goal of $11,665 was surpassed in just six minutes, raising $189,478 from 546 backers within one hour of launch, with 27 days left in the campaign.
    3. The Naya Connect allows for modular customization, enabling users to expand from a 75% to a 96% layout with additional modules like a num pad and navigation cluster.
    4. It features a unique pogo pin interface for flexible component arrangement and uses Kailh hot-swap sockets with various switch options for a personalized typing experience.
    5. Special pricing offers are available on Kickstarter, with Super Early Bird discounts, making the 89-key Touch setup available for $219, potentially increasing to a retail price of $406.


    The Naya Connect has been launched on Kickstarter, presenting a sleek wireless low-profile mechanical keyboard with a highly modular design. The initial price starts at €119 for the basic keyboard and €187 for the Naya Type keyboard alongside the Connect Dock. Just one hour after its launch, the Naya Connect’s fundraising page on Kickstarter exceeded the company’s target of $11,665, and at the time of this writing, it has reached $189,478 with support from 546 backers. There’s still 27 days remaining in the campaign. Naya reported that the funding goal was met in just six minutes.

    Expanding on Ideas

    Previously, we discussed the Naya Create, which is an ergonomic split wireless mechanical keyboard featuring drop-in modules for various input methods such as a trackball, touchpad, 6DoF mouse, and a customizable knob. The Naya Connect takes this concept and adapts it into a standard 75% wireless low-profile mechanical keyboard, offering expansion modules that provide numerous customization possibilities. In contrast to the Naya Create, the Naya Connect allows for an expansion of the keyboard from a 75% layout to a 96% layout by adding a num pad and a navigation cluster.

    Unique Arrangements

    What’s particularly fascinating about this keyboard is the flexibility in how its components can be organized, thanks to the pogo pin interface developed by Naya. Users can position the navigation cluster on the right side of the keyboard, with a trackball or touchpad module adjacent to it, or alternatively, place the 6DoF module to the right and the num pad next to it.

    At its core, the Naya Type keyboard relies on a wired connection, but for a wireless setup, users must purchase the Dock and include an input module, which houses the wireless antennas and batteries. The keyboard utilizes Kailh hot-swap sockets and Choc V2 switches (generally priced around $14.59 for 20 switches on Amazon) similar to those found in the Iqunix Magi65 Pro and Lofree Flow Lite. These switches are available in various options: linear, silent linear, tactile, silent tactile, and clicky. Additionally, it features double-shot shine-through keycaps, beneficial for those learning touch typing on a new keyboard. Naya’s software also boasts extensive customization capabilities, going beyond simple remapping and macros, all presented in a modern interface that allows easy functions like dragging and dropping keys to remap them.

    Special Pricing Offers

    The Naya Connect ecosystem can be acquired at special prices on Kickstarter, with Super Early Bird discounts offered in limited quantities. During this phase, the 89-key Touch setup, which includes the keyboard, Touch module, and Dock, is priced at $219. Adding a num pad increases the total to $269, while the retail price is expected to reach as high as $406 in the future.

    Source:
    Link


     

  • Modular Low-Profile Mechanical Keyboard with Num Pad and More

    Modular Low-Profile Mechanical Keyboard with Num Pad and More

    Key Takeaways

    1. Modular Design: The Naya Connect features a unique modular design, allowing users to customize their keyboard setup with various modules that connect around a central hub.

    2. Typing Experience: The Naya Type uses Kailh Choc V2 switches for a smooth and pleasant typing experience, distinguishing it in the low-profile mechanical keyboard market.

    3. Connectivity Features: The keyboard and modules utilize magnetic connections and proprietary pogo pins for seamless electrical links, with the Naya Type supporting both wired and wireless connectivity.

    4. Battery Life: The modules for the Naya Connect have battery capacities between 800 mAh and 1,500 mAh, with expected good battery life based on the Naya Create’s performance.

    5. Launch Offers: The Naya Connect will have special launch discounts for early buyers on its various components, with the Kickstarter campaign starting on January 13.


    Naya, the brand behind the Naya Create modular, ergonomic, and sleek wireless mechanical keyboard, is preparing for its upcoming product launch. This time, they are taking a more traditional approach, yet still keeping a modular element that enables users to customize the keyboard to fit their specific preferences and optimize their experience. The Naya Connect is set to be a low-profile wireless mechanical keyboard that will work with Naya’s range of modules designed for the Create. A recent announcement reveals that the Naya Connect will debut on Kickstarter on January 13, but the pricing can get tricky due to the keyboard’s modular design.

    Modular Design Features

    Unlike a typical low-profile mechanical keyboard, the Naya Connect offers a system of interconnected modules that can be arranged around a central hub. The primary components include either the Naya Type, which is a 75% low-profile mechanical keyboard, or the Naya Dock, a separate hub that accommodates one of the other input devices designed for the ergonomic wireless keyboard, the Naya Create. By default, the Naya Type functions as a wired mechanical keyboard; however, connecting it to a Dock and a module adds wireless features, similar to the Naya Create. The Dock itself has four extra keys beneath the input module, likely intended for macros or specific functions based on the module in use.

    Typing Experience

    The Naya Type is a compact 75% low-profile keyboard utilizing Kailh Choc V2 switches, which we have previously examined in the Iqunix Magi65 Pro (currently priced at $128.79 on Amazon). During our tests, these Kailh switches provided an impressively smooth typing experience along with a pleasant sound, which has been somewhat uncommon in the low-profile mechanical keyboard market until this point.

    Connectivity and Features

    Modules for the Naya Connect connect magnetically and use proprietary pogo pins for electrical links. Besides its modular design, the Naya Type includes several attractive features, such as a full aluminum casing only 14.9 mm thick with switches and keycaps. It also features a split space bar for better efficiency and unique shine-through polycarbonate keycaps for the white backlighting. When not being used wirelessly, the Naya Type connects via USB-C, and it comes with an easy-access hardware on/off switch.

    Naya promotes the Connect as a tool for enhancing productivity, so the expansion modules focus on productivity features. Some modules, such as the Float mentioned earlier, introduce innovative navigation or interaction methods for the keyboard or Dock hub. While additional modules might be available at launch, the current confirmed lineup for the Naya Connect module ecosystem includes:

    Battery and Firmware

    The Naya Dock does not appear to feature a built-in battery or antenna; however, the modules that attach to the Dock include wireless connectivity components, with battery capacities ranging from 800 mAh to 1,500 mAh. It remains uncertain how long the Naya Connect devices will operate on battery alone, but the Naya Create split keyboard is said to last about 80 days on a single charge, depending on the module in use. It’s reasonable to expect that the Type and Connect will offer good battery life, as they are less complex devices with fewer wireless components than the Create. The Naya Create runs on ZMK firmware, recognized for its high customizability and efficiency, and it is believed that the same Flow configuration tool will be utilized for the Naya Connect.

    Special Offers for Early Buyers

    Customers purchasing the Naya Connect devices will receive a special launch discount on the new Type low-profile keyboard, Multipad, 6-key module, and Dock through a VIP offer currently available on the Naya website. There is also a discount for existing modules when bought together with the Naya Connect Dock. The Naya Type keyboard starts at $99 with the VIP discount, but the standard MSRP will be $189. The Multipad has a VIP price of $44 with an MSRP of $69, the 6-key module is $29 for VIPs and $49 MSRP, while the Dock will be available for $39 for VIPs and $69 retail. Although these products are not available yet, the Kickstarter campaign will launch on January 13.

    Source:
    Link