Texter turns Xbox 360 controller into keyboard, sorta
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Nov 16th 2006 at 1:55PM }
Blue Orb's Texter transforms the Xbox 360's thumbsticks into a makeshift keyboard -- and comes with decals. The device plugs in between the console and gamepad, and registers as a USB keyboard. A simple double-click of the left thumbstick activates Texter, allowing users to bypass Xbox 360's clunky on-screen keyboard. But is Texter any more efficient?
Unless you take the time to memorize the character inputs (see diagram above), we're not convinced Texter warrants a purchase. But given the limits of a controller, we should give Blue Orb points for being clever. (up-right, left) (right, up) (up-right, up) (right, up-right) (RB) (left, right) (RB) (left, left) (up-left, up-left) (up, up-right) (right, left) (right, left)?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BlindsideDork @ Nov 16th 2006 2:05PM
yes I agree...but how long will it take you to memorize that and don't they have a keyboard for the 360?
Danny @ Nov 16th 2006 2:05PM
"Dont u agree"
mandarin @ Nov 16th 2006 2:07PM
No thanks, just get a cheap keyboard.
Brandon @ Nov 16th 2006 2:10PM
I saw this on xbox-scene. They have it backwards. With the left stick you select 1 of 8 colors and on the the right stick the set of letters. If you select blue and ABCDE, E is the blue letter. It is smarter to select the letters first and then the color, that way you are only picking from five characters, not eight. Otherwise, an okay idea but I don't think any one will care.
nick @ Nov 16th 2006 2:11PM
Didn't Microsoft prototype a mini keyboard that plugs in at the bottom of the controller? Kinda like for texting. What ever happened to that?
I remember seeing pictures of it over a year ago. Curiously, it was mentioned again recently in a poll conducted to gauge possible new offerings from Microsoft.
Matt @ Nov 16th 2006 2:17PM
They have logitech USB 2.0 keyboards at Gamestop knocked down to a measly $10.00 which are perfectly compatible with the 360 (and good quality and small and great looking and...well, perfect).
jron @ Nov 16th 2006 2:46PM
usb 2.0? how fast do people type?
Matthew Ryan @ Nov 16th 2006 4:45PM
(Blue, pi/4)(Green, 3pi/4)(Orange, 3pi/4)(Orange, pi/4)___(Orange, 3pi/4)(Orange, pi/4)___(Red, 3pi/4)(Red, 2pi)(Green, pi)(Red, pi/2)(Orange, 3pi/4)(Orange, pi/2)(Yellow, 3pi/4)___(Orange, pi/4)(Blue, pi/4)(Red, 2pi)(Red, pi/4)(Orange, 3pi/4)(Orange, pi)!
BklynKid @ Nov 16th 2006 2:25PM
I saw this on X-S yesterday and thought how (or why) someone would remember all those. Of course anyone who devotes the time to it and learn it and probably become very good at it (like I did with texting on a phone). Personally I don't think I'd waste my time trying to learn something like this.
Iscariote @ Nov 16th 2006 2:26PM
L1+(left,up-right)(up, up-left)(up-right, up-left)(up-right,up-right)(RB)(up-right,up-right)(left, right)(up, left)(left,up)(up-right,up-right)(
NATO_Duke @ Nov 16th 2006 2:28PM
It seems like a bad idea to me-just more fuss to deal with. I like the idea of the attachable little keyboard from MS. Otherwise, I had no issues with a wireless keyboard attached to the 360.
nick @ Nov 16th 2006 2:38PM
Found a picture of Microsoft's mini keyboard...
http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/4/xbox360/xbox360_keyboard.jpg
KiySeph @ Nov 16th 2006 2:44PM
... or you can just pick up a cheap USB keyboard.
mountain_rage @ Nov 16th 2006 3:01PM
If you could have a visual cue on screen when you use it it might actually be really good, but without that visual cue its useless.
Soapyshoes @ Nov 17th 2006 12:50AM
Yeah, unless you want to learn a new way to type, this thing isn't worth it.
Oobgarm @ Nov 16th 2006 2:57PM
I typed this twice as fast as normal thanks to USB 2.0
trent @ Nov 16th 2006 3:45PM
i wonder if the qwerty keyboard was so quickly criticized as well?
kftgr @ Nov 16th 2006 7:44PM
How does this " plugs in between the console and gamepad" if you're using a wireless gamepad? Compatible with only wired?
Dacey @ Nov 16th 2006 11:46PM
I did some early testing for this product (I am not an employee, just a focus-group member), and I found it quite useful. When compared with the on-screen keyboard, it is awesome. It takes a fraction of the time to type. There was quite a learning curve for me personally, but when I got the hang of it it was really fast to use. I love playing online games, but hate the use of the keyboard if I am playing them on the PC, and hate on-screen keyboards or switching from the controller to a keyboard on the console. It actually made me want to play more games on the PC because I could use a controller instead of the keyboard. Plus it eliminates the use of the mouse. I liked it lot. All the people that doubt it should just try it, they are relatively inexpensive, $24.95 I think. It is just like any other new product, people will be quick to criticize before giving it a chance. And yes, as of now they are only used for wired controllers.
kftgr @ Nov 17th 2006 2:19PM
Dacey,
Thanks for the impressions. I do hate switching between keyboard and pad just to type in PSU. Given how quickly one can text on a phone, I don't doubt that decent speeds could be achieved with Texter. BTW, was there ever a problem with accidentally activating the keyboard when playing?
Lastly, it sucks that it's wired only. I guess working through the play-n-charge kit is too much to hope for, huh?
Wombat @ Nov 17th 2006 3:57PM
kftgr,
On the wireless 360 thing, all 3rd party accessories are restricted to wired connection. When you connect the play-n-charge, you're gettin the juice from the USB adapter, but not "talking" through it--the actual communication traffic is still wireless....
Dacey @ Nov 28th 2006 12:10PM
ktfgr,
I have never had any issue with accidentally going into text mode. You have to double-click the analog stick to go into text mode, so it is very difficult to mistakenly do it.
Hopefully a wireless one is in development, but they would still have to get around the console developer.