Innovation of the week: TextBlade portable keyboard

There are plenty of portable keyboards on the market, but the TextBlade takes "a different approach," said Darren Quick at Gizmag. It offers the same "tactile feedback" as other mobile keyboards but "literally pulls apart to fit in a pocket." Developed by California-based firm WayTools, the TextBlade is composed of three separate parts, "each of which isn't much bigger than a stick of chewing gum." Placed near one another, the pieces "magnetically snap together" to form a complete QWERTY keyboard, spacebar included. The two pieces for typing contain a total of eight "smart keys" with as many as six characters each. The carry sleeve "doubles as a stand for a smartphone or tablet," and the USB-charged battery lasts as long as a month "with typical usage." Compatible with any iOS or Android device with Bluetooth Low Energy functionality, the TextBlade retails for $99.

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