Future UHK models will support both wired and wireless connectivity with optional batteries, just like the UHK 80. When we were designing the UHK 80, our electronics engineer made a compelling argument against including dedicated power switches: they’re becoming outdated (modern phones don’t have them), and with optimized firmware, the batteries should last around six months in sleep mode.
He makes a good point, and we’re working toward that level of firmware optimization. That said, I still see value in having dedicated power switches for each keyboard half. They’d be useful for occasionally resetting the halves when you don’t have a toothpick handy to press the recessed buttons.
Power switches would also be helpful for long-term storage—you could fully power down the keyboard. The batteries will eventually lose charge either way, but this would slow the process.
Power switches, definitely yes. Any device needs to be able to be switched off.
You already listed a number of good reasons, and I will add another: power off for environments where you MUST make sure the device cannot emit anything. That includes military settings, some medical equipment environments, specific air traffic regulations, and I am sure some security organisations have similar requirements. I am not talking only Bluetooth emissions but any RF signals.
From a consumer perspective I see no downside to having power switches. If folks want to behave like they don’t have one, they can just never turn them off. Then it should behave like you described (lay around for 6 months in sleep mode). For folks that want them they can turn them off when necessary. I think it comes down to cost, support and form factor. Does having switches impact those factors for you?
Personally I’d prefer having the option. But it’s not a deal breaker for me since I”m happily using an old UHK60 with no battery/wireless option
I would prefer to have power switches. It’s really mostly a grumpy old man thing, I can see the arguments for not doing it, but I would prefer it. But if it’s mostly for reset purposes, could one build a reset functionality into the power solution where if a power cable is briefly disconnected, it will trigger a reset, while a persistent disconnect would not?
I’m afraid the suggested solution could lead to various issues. Let’s keep things simple: we’ll add a power switch on each keyboard side for future UHKs.
I sometimes bring my keyboard to my trip, and then the keys will be pressed randomly and frequently. (Yeah I need hard case to store the keyboard safely, but I don’t have any yet!) Although battery consumption might be ignorable, I’d like to make sure anything unintentional cannot happen (such as attempts of wireless connections during airplane taking off or landing).
Well, now it’s no longer just an old man thing for me. I also carry my keyboard around in my backpack from time to time, but I hadn’t even considered @nop_thread’s point. When I carry it around, I don’t want it to accidentally connect to my phone and start making calls and stuff like that.
