Roger Fingas
Logitech on Thursday took the wraps off the Craft Advanced Keyboard, its signature feature being the "crown," a touch-sensitive dial that can be set to control multiple functions within Mac and Windows apps.
By default the Craft's crown supports Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and InDesign across both platforms, as well as Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and Excel (2010 through 2016) on Windows. Tapping it brings up an onscreen menu for selecting supported functions within an app, such as brush size, chart type, or font size. Once one is selected using the dial, twisting the dial again will adjust an item's values or settings.
Custom profiles can be created for other apps, and the keyboard will work without the dial if needed. At an OS level, the crown can be used for tasks like switching apps or desktops, or changing volume.
Other features include a matte key surface with "spherical dishing," and automatic backlighting, triggered by a person's hands and tailored to ambient lighting. The keyboard can be paired with up to three devices including phones and tablets, though it isn't explicitly designed for iOS or Android. Connection options include Bluetooth or a Logitech unifying receiver.
The Craft will ship in October for $199.99.
Malcolm Owen
Amber Neely
Andrew O'Hara
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
Andrew Orr
13 Comments
That's pretty neat... how is the keyboard quality and feel?
Interesting. Nice try - but I'll wait for the touchbar enabled Apple keyboard when it comes. I assume the mixed reviews won't stop Apple persisting with that technology, which offers the same options, does it better by the look of this, and it'll surely evolve.
Just when you thought knobs/dials were done forever, they're back!
Key question, can I use it to play Tempest! properly?
$200 for a non-mechanical keyboard and I need to trust Logitech's janky software to drive that proprietary pot? Thank you, but no.