Database Users

Universal-2 Wishlist

Hi
I have now had my Universal for almost a year. It will soon be time to upgrade. Seems to be no sign of a Universal-2 - perhaps HTC will not bother, I have no idea how popular they were.
The Tytn comes the closest, but has a very small keyboard with no dedicated number keys, its only QVGA and it does not have a full sized SD-Slot.
I like the form factor of my universal, and can handle another phone of the same size/weight. I would prefer it to be narrower across-ways at the expense, perhaps of being a little longer. Here's my wishlist:
- 800x480 widescreen display
- External display (b/w fine) showing time, name of caller etc etc
- Retain full sized SD slot
- GPS built in
- HSDPA
- More sturdy hinge design
- Better battery life
- More sturdy (click-in-click out) stylus hole (like Psion Series 5 please)
- Hardware 'OK' button
- Jog dial like Tytn, and loose the daft hardware volume control
- Have the backlight button do something useful instead (turn on camera LED for use as a torch for instance
- Instant ring from standby when someone calls
- Access to SIM card without having to remove battery, or dual sim holder and option within OS to switch sims.
- White LCD backlight rather than flourescent aka Sony T3XP (better batt life)
- Modern, efficient Samsung processor
- More memory - ideally 256MB to save installing to SD card
- 802.11G wifi or even WiMax if delayed that long!
- 6MPix camera with digital zoom controlled by jog dial giving 2Mpix image at 3x zoom.
- Ditch the aerial holes on the spine - nothing was ever made available that used them.
- Light up the pickup/hangup buttons on the spine when unit closed and call recieved.
- Appear as flash disk when connected to PC without activesync running
- Retain full sized headphone socket
- Sould not require 6 months of firmware updates before it becomes usable
- Drop stereo speakers on front & IrDA if nessesary to house stuff above in compact package
Anyone else got things to add?!
Nigel

accelerometer

Hi all.
This has been bugging me for a while.
Does the xperia actually have a accelerometer?
Don't see it mentioned in the white papers or previews.

as far as i know it dont
as you say it's not mentioned and the
prerelease version people have
been reviewing dont seem to
i'd like an accelerometer myself but also the option to turn it off

AFAIK it does.

I'm 95% sure it doesn't. Atleast not the one i've been using.

Didn't the early prototype vids show it having one?
Maybe I'm just thinking of the Diamond...idk

It switches to landscape when you open the keyboard. Otherwise, the pre-release doesn't have an accelerometer.

I used to have a link, but cannot find it anymore, But back when it was announced, there was a video shot with one of SE reps showing off the phone. (i know, there were hundreds!)
At that time he was distinctly talking about the X1 using the front facing cam to pick up and recognise gesture controls. I have since seen a press release(again, lost, sorry, but try ESATO or SENSE) that SE were dealing with a company who specialise in that line of things.
What i do find odd, maybe just my ignorance, is that as similar as HTC Touch Pro, and X1 are internally, how SE did not have the accelerometer installed. Surely it would only add a small amount to the total cost of the phone?

Yeah, even for a consumer to buy a cheap acceleromenter is only like $1, lol

I've got a very technical, but very elemental question on this subject, please forgive me for being such a nerd.
What do I ultimately need an accelerometer for in a phone?
How does this accelerometer function work anyway?
In laptops I can understand it's function to protect the hard drive.
As soon as it detects high accelerations (i.e. "free fall" --> acceleration of 9.81m/s^2 = 1g) it shuts down all moving parts in anticipation of an imminent impact (which because of the sudden stop results in massive accelerations around 1500g and more).
Easy physics, no mystery there...
But in mobile phones an accelerometer is often mentioned in relation to automatically rotating screens and of course apple's famous ball-through-labyrinth-game.
Technically an accelerometer on its own cannot do that. All you get from this device is a statement like
"The velocity of rotation around the phone's z-axis is increasing by 3 rad/square-second."
so in order to know the phone's orientation from that you'd need
1. initial calibration (i.e. tell the phone where "down" and "stop" is every time you turn it on)
2. constant measurement of acceleration on all 6 spacial axes (miss one move and your calibration is off).
As far as I can tell there's no note in the iPhone's Manual saying you may only turn it on when it's sitting on a stationary horizontal surface (so much for initial calibration).
And I can imagine the electronics reading the accelerometer go into a low-power "alarming amplitude only" state too most of the time to preserve battery power. Also you'd have to consider the Earth's rotation and path in that calculation too, since the measurement is rather absolute.
Besides, there are more simple and reliable methods out there to to create an artificial horizon (gravity sensor), so what's the benefit of using an accelerometer in the first place?
So, how do these Phones really know where "down" is to auto-rotate my screen if they use an accelerometer, and why not use something simpler?
The only benefit I see is for car navigation software to use the sensor when the GPS signal vanishes (in tunnels etc.) to extrapolate your course from the last confirmed position and velocity, but as far as I know they don't even use it (yet).

Ok, let's say either:
A) you have a slight factory calibration so it can "guess" which direction.
B) it dynamically calibrates as the phone is held/moved/twisted.
C) It's not near perfect, just a guesstimate of movement.

and
it's just for screen rotation and games
dont believe gps's use it as it's not precise enough

Let me apologize first, because, I know nothing about all that disertation about accelerometers. But let me have my street guy comon sense opinion.
First I don't think these phones have such a sofistcated type of accelerometer. The use of the accelerometer word in mobile phones is a missnomer because I'm sure they have something simpler that I would call it "Balancerometer"
I believe it's just 2 or 3 tubular circles perpendicular to each other. These tiny tubes are filled with some kind of liquid The reading of the position of these liquid is enough to know the position of the device ex: Vertical, horizontal, diagonal at any angle of mesurement. It probably cost no more than $2.00 in mass production.
You know better tha me. Do you think I am crazy or worst?

GSM Arena says
Size 800 x 480 pixels, 3.0 inches
- Full QWERTY keyboard
- Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
- Optical joystick navigation
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_ericsson_xperia_x1-2246.php
But then again ... who knows.

In the diamond app forum, Ikari creatied pocket gforce which from the picture, its not just a simple tilt sensor. Even I wonder why we need the full thing.
But cool though.

x1_wp_r3a.pdf manual
I have the manual above. Not sure where I got it from .... but it doesn't mention accelerometer and it is SEs own May 08 X1 whitepaper.
It detailed many things people suggested the X1 didn't have ... like it does have hardware for 3D accelerated graphics and the supporting drivers ... It also cleared up the actual RAM - 256m rather than the oh ... there is some sort of 400m of something.
Intro was as follows :
XPERIA™ is premium brand in the Sony Ericsson portfolio to meet the consumer need for a converged entertainment and mobile Web communication experience. XPERIA™ delivers a premium experience of energized communication - anytime, anywhere, anything and with anyone.
X1 is the first product on the XPERIA™ lineup and introduces new experiences for mobile productivity with an extraordinary new blend of multimedia, enterprise and Web functionality. The need for multiple devices – such as a mobile phone, an e-mail client, a mobile companion for a PC and more – are all met in one device with easy-to-use functionality. A sturdy metal design to withstand everyday use and a ground breaking XPERIA™ panel combine to give a seamless and premium user experience.
Features include:
•3-inch Wide-VGA (800x480) TFT 65K color LCD
•XPERIA™ panel concept
•Unified Media Experience
•3.2-megapixel camera with Touch auto focus
•Video capture and playback up to 30 fps
•Integrated WiFi and A-GPS
•Mobile broadband
•Handsfree headset with a 3.5 mm audio jack, USB charger, USB cable provided in the kit
•Internet Explorer Mobile browser
•HSDPA 7.2Mbps, HSUPA 2Mbps
•Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
•YouTube support (3GPP playback)
•FM radio, streaming audio/video
•Video telephony
•Bluetooth™ 2.0
•HW 3D Graphics
•Supports microSD™ High Capacity memory card
•Exchange /IMAP4/POP3 e-mail
•Quad-band EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
•Tri-band HSPA X1a850/1900/2100 MHz) X1i900/1900/2100 MHz) )
The slim arc form factor has a large 3-inch Wide-VGA color screen. Memory capacity is up to 400 MB internally and includes a slot for a microSD™ card. The ergonomically designed QWERTY keypad allows you to quickly write text messages, type phone numbers or search for particular content such as pictures or tracks. The user can quickly toggle between different relevant functions, tailored for all situations in life, and use them as active desktop home screens by using the unique XPERIA™ panel concept.
Panel stuff :
•Sony Ericsson panel – a panel to read news, weather, finance, world clock and shortcuts to communication and applications.
•Media Experience panel – center for viewing and playing multimedia files.
•Slideshow panel – slideshow of recently taken videos and photos.
•Microsoft Today panel – this panel is the actual Microsoft today screen.
•3D Fish panel – a panel that showcases the 3D features of the phone; a fish tank with 3D fishes.
•FM radio panel - a panel to access your FM radio straight.
•Google panel - provides access to all GOogle services.
•Customized panels can be offered.
and for me ... to avoid having a N95 as well as an HTC ...
3.2-megapixel camera and video call camera
There are two cameras. The main camera is 3.2 megapixel and includes Touch auto focus. A picture can be shared with friends or family, as a picture message or e-mail, or using any available transfer method, such as Bluetooth™. There is also a QCIF camera, for video calls, located on the front.
Photo light
When lighting conditions are poor, pictures can be enhanced by turning on the Photo light.
Video capture
The camera also records video and which are stored in the phone or on a memory card. A video clip can be shared with friends or family as a picture message or e-mail, or using any available transfer method, such as Bluetooth™. The phone supports VGA size video recording at up to 30 frames per second.
•MPEG-4: 30fps at VGA*
•H.263: 30fps at VGA*
•H.264: 15fps at VGA*
Can forward on to people if they want it ....
I do struggle that so many people are worried about WVGA. The G900 ran all the s/w I have without issues including Softmaker Office, CPL6, PI, FM, Pie+ etc ... WVGA is real extra screen estate rather than just VGA prettiness.
I know only time will tell, but this has to be leagues ahead of the Pro.
It is only the price that scares me ... and the fact that there are still performance issues with video at 30fps .... which as you can see from the above is a biggie for me.
The only daft thing missing I can see is the TV-Out ...

downloadtest82 said:
How does this accelerometer function work anyway?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These accelerometers actually measure the Earth's gravity also. It constantly measures the 1g with which the Earth is pulling the phone. A 3-axis accelerometer gives you the projection of the gravity vector on each axis (x, y, z). Assuming that the phone is only rotating (and not translating), it is easy to find to where the phone is facing... for example, if the x and y acceleration is ~0 and z is ~1, then the phone is facing up, like leaving it on a table top. If x=1, y=0, z=0 => phone in landscape. If x=0, y=1, z=0 => phone in portait mode.
When the phone is being translated (moving, that is) in a non-constant manner, a "dynamic" acceleration vector is added to the 1g Earth's vector. In that case, calculating the phone's position/rotation becomes more tricky and more erroneous...
downloadtest82 said:
i.e. "free fall" --> acceleration of 9.81m/s^2 = 1g
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, in free-fall, the acceleration is reported as zero.

Even ipod nanos come with accelerometers now. Don't sit well with me if the xperia doesn't.

Well, even the C905 and G705 have accelerometers, so why couldn't SE put one into their flagship

Pinguino1 said:
...the accelerometer word in mobile phones is a missnomer because I'm sure they have something simpler that I would call it "Balancerometer"
I believe it's just 2 or 3 tubular circles perpendicular to each other. These tiny tubes are filled with some kind of liquid The reading of the position of these liquid is enough to know the position of the device ex: Vertical, horizontal, diagonal at any angle of mesurement...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Years ago I used to think alot of debives measured that way, at one time it may have been like that but not now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectric_accelerometer
I have an RC Helicopter and a strong interest in electronics...so yeah, I just happen to know random stuff like this, lol.
They manufacture these in bulk as chips often...some even having 3+ (rotation) axi on the same chip.
Even at retail you can get the raw high-end chips for a couple bucks...imagine how much they cost in bulk.

hypest said:
Actually, in free-fall, the acceleration is reported as zero.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i suggest you to retake physics...
currently the accelerometer is just for user interface for phones, not too many uses

My review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is a feature-packed Android tablet, it’s the first Android tablet that can rival Apple’s iPad. Samsung’s done a commendable job distinguishing the Tab from the others with it’s design, hardware, and build quality.
DESIGN
With a slick black and white-styled body and a bright and shiny LCD touchscreen, the Samsung Galaxy Tab gets off to a good start in that it looks absolutely fabulous. The body is entirely made of plastic, this enables it to stay solid and pretty light.
On the front of the device there are four touch buttons, one for home, one for options, a back button and one for search. On the top of the device there is a 3.5mm headphone jack. The on/off button is on the right hand side next to the volume controls and further down that left hand side there are slots for a SIM card and a microSD expansion card. On the bottom of the device there is the charging and docking connector. And on the left side there is a microphone.
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FEATURES
The Samsung Galaxy Tab is powered by a 1GHz processor, full Flash support thanks to Android 2.2, dual cameras, support for up to 32GB of storage and WiFi / 3G connectivity.
Screen
The 7-inch display is just a fairly standard TFT LCD. It’s bright and colourful enough, and the WSVGA screen resolution (1024×600) is only slightly lower than that of the 9.7-inch iPad (so that’s 260ppi versus 132ppi) which means that the display on the Galaxy Tab is a lot sharper.
Camera
The Galaxy Tab comes with two built-in cameras: one 3 megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and also a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera for video conferencing. The 3 megapixel cam with LED flash on the back is pretty good, it did take some decent still shots. The flash was helpful when taking some indoor dark shots and the outdoor pics are quite sharp. The camera interface consists of the standard Android controls, and per usual it handled auto-focus and white balance. The panoramic mode was great for taking wide-angle shots. There is also a continuous mode, which will take a sequence of nine shots.
Connectivity
This is intended to be an on-the-go device which means 3G connectivity is central to its functionality. Alongside this 3G connectivity sits 802.11n Wi-Fi which means streaming videos when you’re connected to a wireless network will be easy, also the Galaxy Tab got Bluetooth 3.0 for transferring files and streaming to external devices like headphones and speakers.
Storage
The Galaxy Tab does come in two different versions. There’s a 16GB version and also a 32GB version. The microSD slot can add up to another 32GB of additional storage.
Multitasking
Multitasking on the Samsung Galaxy Tab is amazing. The device was able to handle having multiple apps open at the same time, and switching between them, without slow down. If you hit the Home button while you’re in an app, you’ll be taken back to your homescreen while the App stays running in the background.
This means you can play music while browsing the web and checking your emails. It also means you can have frequently used Apps all open at the same time without having to repeatedly load and close them.
On the homescreen there’s a very useful ‘Active applications’ button which, when pressed, gives you information about all the apps which are currently running on the device.
Battery Life
The Galaxy Tab’s battery is pretty good. After surfing the web and reading on the Tab for about a day with just WiFi on and at about 50 percent brightness, the battery is at about 30 percent.
Usability
The Galaxy Tab a heavenly joy to use. In terms of day-to-day use. Since i got the Galaxy Tab it has already taken control of my digital life. In fact, because of the mail support and display quality, i don’t have the need to open up my laptop, unless I need to do some high end stuff.
The Tab is really 8 devices rolled into one: Internet Browser, Multi Media Player, Gaming Console, Phone, Organizer, Messaging Client, Mobile Computer (documents etc), E-book reader.
Browsing and Flash
The browsing experience on the Tab is rock solid pages loaded quickly over WiFi and scrolling / zooming on most pages was snappy. However, when loading a few heavy sites i did notice the scrolling to be a bit jittery and not as smooth as on the iPad. But, obviously, the Tab differs from other tablets with its full Flash support. Thanks to its 1GHz processor, the experience isn’t as slow as i expected, but i can’t really say i took advantage of the feature all that much.
Media Performance
The Galaxy Tab is compatible with lots of different file formats for both audio and video. You’ve got all your standard must-haves in there, including DivX, Xvid, MPEG4, WMV and H.264. Audio compatibility extends to MP3, WAV, eAAC+, AC3 and FLAC files.
Conclusion
I like the Galaxy Tab, i really do. The Android interface is fantastic. The screen is bright and colourful. Watching videos and listening to music is easy, as is transferring content to and from the device.
The Android Market enables you to customize the device beyond recognition, and so you’ll never get bored of it. The size has its benefits, too. It’s a lot more pocket and bag friendly. Flash support is a major advantage over the iPad, and the ability to surf online video is very well received.
Video Review
Check the video review on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7Bjf4taOMI

Best mechanical keyboards to buy in 2021

The PC market continues to make headlines due to the global chipset crisis, not to mention the scarcity of GPUs worldwide. But today, we are looking at an important PC component that’s often overlooked or is usually an afterthought when buying or building a PC, despite being a key member of the board. There are tons of keyboards available in various shapes and sizes at different price points, and we’ve got a list of some of the best mechanical keyboards that you should consider for your next purchase.
Why should you buy a mechanical keyboard?​Before we dive into some of the recommendations, let’s understand what exactly a mechanical keyboard is. Basically, a keyboard is defined by the switch it uses.
Cheaper keyboards usually incorporate a rubber-dome or a membrane switch system wherein a keypress pushes onto a silicone dome, connecting the circuit to register what the user is typing. These often require a large amount of force for actuation and give off mushy feedback due to the silicon underneath. These are relatively silent and don’t offer audible feedback, while the overall lifespan of the keys is also comparatively shorter.
When you press a key on a mechanical keyboard, an actual physical switch, including a spring-based pushback mechanism, comes into play. Depending on the type of key switch, you get a certain tactile or linear feedback as you type along. While that in itself makes a huge difference, these switches also last really long, with certain manufacturers claiming up to 50-80 million keystrokes.
In short, mechanical keyboards offer a longer shelf life, and you can expect a much better typing experience thanks to the wide variety of switch options.
Corsair K100 RGB​
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The best full-sized mechanical keyboard has to be Corsair’s K100 RGB. Not only is it one of the most expensive ones, but this keyboard has it all. It comes with a polling rate of up to 4000Hz and 0.5ms response time, making it the fastest keyboard that money can buy. It also comes with Corsair’s OPX optical-mechanical key switches that use a beam of infrared light to register an actuation, which means a fast and precise keypress registration at a 1.0mm actuation point. Corsair also sells the K100 with Cherry MX Speed Silver switches with an actuation distance of 1.2mm.
The keyboard also offers macro support, a dedicated control wheel for various functions, and to top it off, per-key RGB backlighting with a 44-zone three-sided RGB edge lighting. It also comes with highly durable construction and premium design, making it one of the most desirable keyboards on the market.
Buy from Amazon
Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro​
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro is the best mechanical keyboard for those who don't like wires. It's a full-size keyboard that's great for gaming or just regular typing. It's available with Razer’s Green switches for a clicky, tactile feel, or you can go for the Yellow switches that are linear, silent, and offer a smooth keystroke. The BlackWidow V3 Pro comes with a premium design, including a plush leatherette wrist rest and double-shot ABS keycaps.
You can use the keyboard with Razer’s HyperSpeed wireless tech using a USB dongle for low latency or go the traditional way using Bluetooth or wired. There are also some dedicated media keys, a volume control wheel, and individually RGB-backlit keys that can be controlled using Razer’s software.
Buy from Amazon
Corsair K70 RGB TKL​
Corsair’s newly launched K70 RGB TKL is the best TKL (Tenkeyless) keyboard and in our opinion, gives a tough competition to Logitech’s G915 TKL. It isn’t wireless, but Corsair’s AXON technology can deliver a polling rate of 8000Hz over a wired USB connection. This makes it twice as fast as the company’s most premium offering, the K100 RGB. The keyboard is available with either Cherry MX Speed Silver or Cherry MX Red switches.
Corsair hasn’t cut any corners here and has made the K70 RGB TKL to match the requirements of professional esports gamers. It comes with a solid metal frame, dedicated media keys and volume dial, and a special 'Tournament Switch' that can be flipped to move to static backlighting and disable accidental macro activations automatically.
Buy from Amazon
Logitech G915 TKL​
Logitech makes some of the best gaming peripherals, and the G915 TKL is a pristine wireless mechanical keyboard. It’s an ultra-thin keyboard with low-profile keycaps backed by Logitech’s custom-made low-profile GL switches available in either clicky, tactile, or linear type. Using the company’s Lightspeed wireless technology, the G915 TKL comes with a response rate that's as good as a wired keyboard, while the battery can last about 40 hours with the RGB lighting enabled. Although I really wish Logitech would stop using micro-USB for charging its peripherals.
Additionally, the keyboard includes Bluetooth, when low-latency is not required, dedicated media control keys, and a volume scroll wheel. If tenkeyless is not your thing, Logitech also has a full-size version.
Buy from Amazon
Razer Huntsman Mini​
Hands down the best compact 60% keyboard, the Razer Huntsman Mini is a delight for customers who like to keep things minimal. Razer offers the keyboard with newly updated linear red switches with a 1.2mm actuation distance and 48g actuation force. In comparison, the clicky purple switches come with a 1.5mm actuation distance and 45g actuation force. It features solid-looking PBT keycaps and a USB Type-C cable for connectivity.
Of course, it comes with Razer’s Chroma RGB lighting, a solid aluminum chassis, onboard memory for up to five profiles, and side-printed secondary functions on the keycaps. The Huntsman Mini is available in either Black or Mercury (White) color options.
Buy from Amazon
Glorious GMMK​
Claimed to be the world’s first modular mechanical keyboard with RGB lighting, the Glorious GMMK is for someone who wants something future-proof. It comes preinstalled with Gateron brown switches with black or white ABS double-shot injection keycaps depending on which color you go for. It's also available in full, tenkeyless, and compact form factors, thus offering a wide choice for the user to choose from.
It has a simple, minimal-looking design, so it doesn’t look very loud. Apart from the keycaps, the switches can also be removed if you change your mind in the future about the kind of switches you want. The company hasn’t missed out on RGB, and you can control that without installing any software, which is neat.
Buy from Amazon
Keychron K4 V2​
Keychron started as a Kickstarter project, but today offers a wide range of keyboards. One of the best offerings is the Keychron K4, a full-size keyboard with a 96% layout, available with a variety of customization options. You can get the keyboard with white or RGB backlighting and there is the option of an aluminum frame for more rigid construction. The keyboard comes with Gateron Red, Blue, or Brown key switch options, and you can also opt for the hot-swappable variant to quickly move between switches.
The keyboard is great for both Windows and Mac operating systems and it offers wireless connectivity via Bluetooth or regular wired connection via USB.
Buy from Amazon
Redragon K552​
If you are on a tight budget, say under $50, you can check out the Redragon K552. It isn't the most premium mechanical keyboard, but overall the keyboard should serve you well for most use cases. It is a tenkeyless keyboard with clicky Outemu Blue switches that mimic Cherry MX Blue, but there's also a variant with linear Red switches. Fully compatible with Windows and Linux, the Redragon K552 can also be used with macOS but with limited functionality. Other notable features include full RGB backlighting with 18 different effects, a splash-proof metal and plastic chassis, n-Key rollover, 12 multimedia keys, and the option of a white color variant.
Overall the keyboard is pretty good and responsive for gamers although it might offer higher latency than most keyboards. It's also suitable for typing and office use cases as the keys are light, but they can get noisy so the keyboard might not fit well with users looking for a silent experience.
Buy from Amazon
These are some of the best mechanical keyboards in our books. Share your thoughts and tell us if we have missed a certain category or form factor that you would be interested in.

Developers, gamers, and individuals who occasionally type love mechanical consoles for their consistency, responsiveness to contact, and customisable keypads.
G Pro X Logitech: Thanks to the hot-swappable key switches, you can easily alter the feel of the keys on this keyboard. Additionally, it has a compact design and programmable RGB lighting.
Bluetooth KeyBee from iGear Pro: It is compatible with numerous gadgets, including iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac OS, and has a sleek and lightweight design. It also supports Bluetooth, making it possible to connect without using cables.
Professional Edition of Das Keyboard: With a sleek aluminum top panel and braided cable, this keyboard is known for its high-quality construction. Cherry MX Brown or Blue key switches are available.
Razer Huntsman Tip Top: The Opto-Mechanical key switches on this keyboard, manufactured by Razer, offer quick response times and tactile feedback. It also features customizable RGB lighting and a magnetic wrist rest.

Mechanical keyboard modifications: Everything you need to know

Mechanical keyboards are not just reliable but are often more customizable when compared to regular keyboards. With some modifications, you can improve the performance and overall experience of your mechanical keyboard. In most cases, this is also more cost-effective than spending money on a brand new keyboard. As a bonus, it's fun, especially if you are someone like me who loves to tinker around with tech.
If you own a mechanical keyboard and are interested in taking things to the next level, then modding is the way to go. Here are some of your options.
WARNING - Before you go ahead, note that some of the suggested options below come with a certain amount of risk. There's a chance you could end up completely damaging your keyboard, so you should limit yourself to simple modifications. Additionally, you need to be aware that modifying your keyboard can lead to voiding your warranty. Don’t expect the manufacturer to replace your keyboard if you made attempts to change the switches or damaged the keyboard in any other way.
Keycaps​The easiest keyboard modification is replacing your keycaps. If your keycaps start to look old or lose their paint job, it's time to get some new ones. They're super easy to replace and while you can technically pull them out with your hands, using a keycap remover is more convenient. You can grab one online for a really low price, in case it wasn’t bundled with your keyboard or keycap set.
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If you have a relatively old mechanical keyboard or one that uses ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) keycaps, I recommend you go for double-shot PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate) keycaps. They come at a higher cost but are much better in terms of quality. The biggest advantage of PBT keycaps is that they don't come with printed letters; rather, they are formed by fusing two separate layers of plastic; so the letters are permanent and never fade or scratch.
If you have RGB lighting on your mechanical keyboard, try on some pudding keycaps. They look absolutely gorgeous as they diffuse the harsh LED lights giving off a nice uniform hue. Some really interesting custom artisan keycaps can be made to order, but those can cost you a fortune, especially if you want them with unique colors, shapes, and designs.
Custom artisan keycaps by Dwarf Factory
Key switches​Key switches are the most important part of the keyboard. It's the mechanism underneath each key that includes the housing, stem, spring, and metal contact leaves. While certain mechanical keyboards have the option of hot-swappable switches, others have the switches embedded onto the keyboard’s circuit board.
The latter is tricky if you want to replace the switches as you need to de-solder the existing ones and then solder the new ones. It's not as easy as it sounds.
You can try different types of switches, broadly available in three categories: clicky, tactile, and linear. Cherry MX is the most popular key switches available in different colors, each depicting how they feel and sound when you type on them. Other popular switches include Kailh and Gateron.
A word of caution, be careful when dealing with a keyboard that has key switches soldered onto the circuit board. They need special attention, and one wrong move could end up in a completely dead keyboard. Keyboard switches can also get expensive, especially if you plan on changing every single switch on your keyboard, where you could end up spending as much as the keyboard itself.
Alternatively, if you want to try different key switches for a particular purpose, say gaming, maybe swap out the ones you use the most, like the WASD or arrow keys. You also need to make sure you get the right set of switches for your particular keyboard, as one size doesn't fit all.
Stabilizers​Stabilizers give support to the keys allowing you to control the amount of jiggle on them. They also help in reducing unwanted clacky sounds during keystrokes. You'll primarily see stabilizers for the spacebar or enter keys, but you can essentially use them on almost any key if you feel they're too wobbly. Stabilizers are placed over the key switch and under the keycap to help keep it steady.
Image: AnandTech
You can either clamp them between individual switches or under the keycaps, depending on the provisions. If there are no grooves or any sort of assembly to attach the stabilizers, you can use hot glue or some tape. Just make sure you don’t go overboard with the glue.
Key switch films​
These have a similar purpose to a stabilizer but are cheaper and can be used on all the keys. Switch films are a thin piece of plastic that sits between the switch top and the switch bottom. These can be used to remove any sort of wobble effect caused by the stem of the switch and stabilizes them, thereby bringing a change in the overall sound.
O-rings​
An easy solution to dampen or make your keystrokes softer, o-rings are fairly cheap and easy to install. These are small rubber rings placed inside the keycaps. Once installed, these o-rings act as a buffer between the top of the key switch and the top of the keycap, thereby removing any friction and clack sounds caused by the two plastics coming into contact with each other.
Cable mods​
Image : Clark Kable
There are numerous guides online to upgrade and customize your keyboard cable. Most full-size keyboards come with a cable connected directly to the PCB board. If you're planning to upgrade the cable to maybe a stronger braided one, you'll need to open up the keyboard and use a soldering iron, which again isn't an easy job. Smaller TKL and compact keyboards come with a detachable cable. These are easier to replace as you can get higher quality or even colored ones. There are also some really good-looking coiled cables, but those can get really expensive and are meant for keyboards with detachable cables.
If you're ambitious, you can even go ahead and replace the USB connector on your keyboard with a Bluetooth receiver to convert it into a wireless keyboard. Of course, that modification isn't a walk in the park.
These are some of the most common keyboard modifications, but the sky's the limit if we're honest. We’ve seen some crazy modifications online, from custom casing to artisan keycaps. One of the latest trends in the keyboard modification world is modular keyboard kits. These are different parts of the keyboard that you can order and assemble on your own. The benefit here is you have the liberty to choose the casing, the switches, and the keycaps. The Glorious GMMK is one of the many custom modular keyboard kits you can try.

I've had to use O rings on my mechanical keyboard, to try to bring the noise level down. It didn't really work in my case. I ended up just removing them.