Hi there, and welcome to the monthly status update of the UHK!
TL; DR: Machining of the right-side module molds is still underway, and it's taking longer than expected; hence, we’re now estimating that modules will begin shipping closer to the end of November In the meantime, we keep testing the modules, making small refinements, and improving their firmware.
Our contractor has been making further progress with the right-side module molds.
I spoke to our contractor yesterday. Unfortunately, the production of the molds is taking more time than originally anticipated, so we now expect to begin shipping the modules towards the end of November.
Understandably, production delays are always unwelcome. However, I know that the molds take so long because our contractor is doing his best in terms of quality. If you have been following us for a while, you know that the UHK was also delayed, and the reception was overwhelmingly positive. I’m firmly convinced that the modules will receive the same reception as the UHK with the care we give them.
We use the extra time available to us wisely and spend these days obsessing over the details of the modules. For example, we noticed that the mini trackball PCB of the key cluster module interfered a bit with the lower right keycap when pressed at certain angles, so we slightly modified the PCB. We also saw that the FPCs are very sensitive to sharp bends, so we redesigned the affected parts mechanically to minimize the bending.
The extra time allows me to polish the firmware and add more features. Recently, I implemented two-finger tapping and scrolling for the touchpad, and zooming is now also recognized. As for the trackball, I've just noticed that it's possible to double the resolution of the trackball sensor IC, which allows a higher sensitivity. These developments will improve the overall experience of the modules.
Speaking of the trackball, some of you have asked whether it's possible to clean the ball quickly. I'm happy to say that it only takes seconds to rotate the outer ring around the ball, which releases the ball.
As for the modules, some of you asked if the modules will remain firmly attached to the keyboard when it’s tented. The answer is a resounding “yes” because the precision-milled steel guides of the UHK keep very stable under all circumstances.
We’ll keep you informed about the development of the modules every month. They may take a while, but we work very hard to make them worth the wait.
Your tweets
You guys keep sending your awesome tweets, and we're always eager to read and feature them! If you got your UHK, please share your love!
Outer left wrist pain for months here, almost 100% cleared up from switching to the @UltHackKeyboard! I hoped it was going to have this much better effect and it certainly did.
— Todd Motto ⚡ (@toddmotto) September 12, 2020
I've been eyeing this super nice keyboard from @UltHackKeyboard, and I finally received it a couple of days ago 🤩
— Simon Høiberg (@SimonHoiberg) September 4, 2020
I can safely say:
Yes! It is exactly as AWESOME as expected!
I'm faster, more productive, I cut down my trips to the mouse by 10x, and it's SO satisfying to use 😍 pic.twitter.com/mgA6oSxhaJ
And here's the result.
— Felixoid Sage 🔞 (@mr_felixoid) September 23, 2020
The setting up on the chair's armrest is still WIP. pic.twitter.com/JEjUnejXdi
#GotMyUHK about 2 weeks ago now and loving it. Has a lot of features I didn’t know I even needed. Bit of a learning curve in the beginning typing tented and split but not bad if you touch type. Excited to try out the modules when available. @UltHackKeyboard #MechanicalKeyboard pic.twitter.com/3bxuEzOUZ1
— josh mcdaniel (@josh_mcdaniel1) August 20, 2020
@UltHackKeyboard been using your keyboard for the last 6 months and it exceeds expectations in efficiency and ergonomics. Made some palm rests from purple hart (harder to make than I thought). Thanks for a great product. pic.twitter.com/6TLctIfmg3
— Chad (@syxxty) August 20, 2020
We’ll be keeping you updated on all things UHK, and are looking forward to talking to you around the end of October.
7 Comments
Awesome work and I loved the update. I rather you guys take your time than rush thru things, so I'm on-board with the delays. Keep up the great work and I look forward for the next update .I like how now it just says towards the end of October rather than a specific date :)
Thanks for your patience and understanding, Anibal! R&D is very heavy nowadays, hence the delays of the monthly updates. I thought it's better not to aim for a specific day going forward after missing some, and I'm glad you agree. :)
Thanks for the update, and I definitely agree with Anibal!
I'm still actually deciding on which right module will be best for me though. Do you have an opinion on which one you, yourself, would use? Or which one is turning out better than expected usability wise?
Hey Will! Please see https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/knowledgebase?q=module - This is honestly the best answer I can give.
Very excited for the trackball module. It’s the main reason I get the UHK.
Hi! I live in Brazil and I am really interested on the UHK, but it seems that it only has the Black Switches now. Does anybody knows if there are plans to have the Blue Switches back?
Hi Jhon, and thanks for your interest! The switch options will be back in a couple of days. Please subscribe to the UHK newsletter, and we'll let you know.
Comments are closed.