Apple Tablet to Offer Dynamic Tactile Keyboard [RUMOR]

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A brace of new patents unearthed this week by Apple Insider point to a curious probability in relation to the tablet's screen. The patent speaks of an "articulating frame" that may be raised or lowered to provide both a tactile typing keyboard and a flat surface for pointing. The device would employ some system of intelligence to help determine which mode the user was in, and dynamically adjust itself to provide a physically ridged keyboard or a flat pointing surface as necessary.

Whether this mechanism will be included in the first version of the tablet, whether the tablet is to be announced at all, and whether or not Santa really exists, we would love to see this system in action somewhere, someday. Virtual versus physical keyboard is still one of the major ongoing battles in the mobile world, with die-hard proponents on either side -- and this system done well could potentially satisfy both camps.