Thread

Show HN: I spent 2 years designing a mechanical Magic Keyboard

245 points · 207 comments · aemerson_

ary · 1786032579 · focus · HN ↗
To everyone who is about to pile on regarding the lack of a fingerprint sensor: you know it's not possible, we all know it's not possible, the creator of this project knows it's not possible.
What are you adding to the conversation when you complain about it? So it's a dealbreaker for you, don't buy it.
To @aemerson_: Congratulations on taking a risk. On first look this is great work. The attention to detail on both the keyboard and the website is really impressive.
1. gtsteve · 1786033541 · focus · HN ↗
  A fingerprint sensor isn't possible, appreciated, but what about a U2F activation button? It could even just be a wireless pass-through for USB to allow your yubikey to work for example (I'm certain this can be done on Linux but unsure about other oses)
  1. satvikpendem · 1786033992 · focus · HN ↗
    <a href="https://github.com/zimengxiong/tinytouch" rel="nofollow">https://github.com/zimengxiong/tinytouch spoofs as a card reader but won't work with Apple Pay and the like.
  2. locknitpicker · 1786035212 · focus · HN ↗
    > It could even just be a wireless pass-through for USB to allow your yubikey to work for example
    Everyone would be better served with a generic USB hub in the keyboard, not shipping a security key with the keyboard.
    crumpled · 1786038731 · focus · HN ↗
    My favorite keyboard for years was the Dell SK-8135. It had media buttons without messing with your function keys, a volume knob, and two USB ports!
    For a long time I would argue (as an IT support person who would have to support your wireless keyboard problems) that having a wireless keyboard was wasteful and unnecessary if you never used it more than 3 feet from your computer anyway.
2. Andrew6rant · 1786034437 · focus · HN ↗
  Fingerprint sensor is technically possible: <a href="https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=120964.0" rel="nofollow">https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=120964.0
  CC @gtsteve
  1. naikrovek · 1786036604 · focus · HN ↗
    fingerprint sensor is easily done. Touch ID-compatible fingerprint sensor from someone other than Apple is not possible as I understand it.
    Andrew6rant · 1786038984 · focus · HN ↗
    I just linked you a post with a Touch ID-compatible mechanical keycap.
    Reverse-engineered from the Apple Magic Keyboard and requires a donor board, though
    naikrovek · 1786039385 · focus · HN ↗
    “requires a donor [Apple Magic] keyboard” is not the same as a third party making a Touch ID-compatible sensor. That’s Apple making a Touch ID-compatible sensor and a third party taking it out and putting it in another keyboard.
    This does not qualify as a third party Touch ID compatible keyboard.
    notpushkin · 1786040162 · focus · HN ↗
    Yeah, but it’s a third party mechanical keyboard with a Touch ID sensor.
    I suppose if one came across a pile of old / broken Magic keyboards, they could extract a bunch of Touch ID sensors and sell those to a keyboard manufacturer (or in their own keyboard). This does not scale, obviously, but including it as an option could work.
    asdff · 1786041723 · focus · HN ↗
    You could do all that and maybe after many hours it might work, or you could also solve this in 5 minutes by just plug in the magic keyboard to the computer, stick it in a box with a cut out for the touchid sensor, and just stick your mechanical keyboard on top of the box.
    doggonemouse · 1786052442 · focus · HN ↗
    yeah there was a snazzy labs ep about this I believe
3. philistine · 1786035548 · focus · HN ↗
  Get an Apple Watch. It massively cuts the amount of required unlocks.
  1. xp84 · 1786037547 · focus · HN ↗
    Unfortunately, I would place this in the 'Sometimes but don't count on it' half of the "Things Apple Watch has Proven Itself Reliable For" list.
    (The only non-timekeeping items on the 'Always works perfectly' part of the list are Apple Pay and the little button that dings your phone when you've misplaced it.)
  2. ValentineC · 1786042662 · focus · HN ↗
    I have an Apple Watch, but kept that feature off because I didn't want the possibility of someone else being able to fiddle with my MacBook when I'm near enough for the watch unlock to trigger.
4. xp84 · 1786037428 · focus · HN ↗
  Not defending anyone using Touch ID as a reason to complain about this -- I think it looks like a great keyboard -- but just yesterday I saw this super cool alternative to the hilarious "buy the world's most expensive mediocre membrane keyboard to tear out a tiny part" idea: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB3lk-PNA6I" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB3lk-PNA6I
  As near as I can understand it, macOS supports a smart card reader (and apparently will defer to its sign-off for authentication duties when it's present and configured, and Touch ID isn't), so if you emulate a smart card reader you can make your own fingerprint sensor and have it say "I'm a smart card" and sign challenges like a smart card does.
  The creator is very up front that this isn't equivalently secure for preserving state secrets, as if you carefully tear this device apart you can just short the pins that the sensor part connects when it's happy with the fingerprint. On the other hand, it is hilarious that anyone who isn't a person of interest for the CIA, Mossad, MI6, or FSB would think they're important enough for someone to go to the trouble of using that method to unlock their secrets. Anyone else would just club you over the head or slip you a mickey, and stick your unconscious finger on your fingerprint sensor.
5. [deleted] · 1786037545 · focus · HN ↗
  [deleted]
6. aemerson_ · 1786038553 · focus · HN ↗
  Thank you, it's been a real labour of love!
  People are raising a good point RE Touch ID. It is possible to add a fingerprint sensor. But that fingerprint sensor will never be able to do the things that Touch ID is most useful for: i.e. use Apple Pay. It would be incredibly confusing to have a fingerprint sensor that was usable for some things and not for others. Therefore the better experience today is to not include a fingerprint sensor at all, imo.
  1. philipportner · 1786042176 · focus · HN ↗
    Congrats on the great job with the Altar II. If I didn't already have too many keyboards, I'd hop on the Kickstarter! FWIW, I fully agree with your opinion on including a `half working` fingerprint sensor.
7. tencentshill · 1786043498 · focus · HN ↗
  The thing about hardware startups is you know they're not in it for the money.
8. ary · 1786047327 · focus · HN ↗
  Since I can't edit this comment: obviously I mean a Touch-ID sensor.

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