Just hours before WWDC, Engadget has posted leaked pictures of yet another Apple surprise product, the Magic Trackpad. In the same style as Apple’s bluetooth keyboard, the Magic Trackpad appears to be a MacBook Pro’s multitouch trackpad in wireless form. This is quite an interesting set of pictures since we haven’t heard much of anything about a Magic Trackpad, but the logic is sound behind this product.

In a press announcement released early today, Apple unveiled plans to release a keyboard that forgoes the standard QWERTY-style keyboard layout for a complete lack of keyboard layout. Dubbed the iBoard, the device—to be available in both wired and wireless models—will feature a sleek, aluminum look in line with the current iPod shuffle, iMac and MacBook models, and will feature a single, simple, device-wide button with which the user will interact.

As you likely know by now, Apple has quietly changed its wired keyboard so that it no longer includes a number pad. One with a number pad can be swapped out if you buy online. In store, though, is a different story. An Apple representative told me that in store purchases will come with the standard (no numbers) wired keyboard. This isn’t unexpected, as order customization has never been available at Apple Stores if you buy a computer “off the shelf.” The logic behind the change, though, is not really there.

Think it’s time for Apple to update their keyboard design? Here’s a cool idea from a writer at Blosmo.com. Based on the Apple keyboard, this new concept design would feature a dock for your iPhone or iPod Touch that synchronizes with iTunes as well as charging your device. Your iPhone or iPod Touch would lie flat to the right of the keyboard, next to six OLED keys. These keys would be programable to control various tasks, most suitably opening your favorite applications or websites. This is very similar to the Optimus Maximus Aux keyboard first seen back in 2008, featuring OLED keys for every button on the keyboard, offering full customization. The keyboard would come with software you would use to control what is displayed and controlled by the extra OLED keys—imilar to keyboard shortcuts, but without the need for two keys and with the added bonus of a pretty picture!

You know Apple is doing something right when keyboard manufacturers are promoting their products with the phrase, “Inspired by Apple, Captured by i-Rocks.” Such is the case with the KR-6170 X-Slim Keyboard and RF-7550A 2.4GHz Cordless Optical Mouse from i-rocks. Unfortunately, although the designs may have been inspired by Apple, the functionality was not. Both products are missing a few features and design elements that make them perfect matches for your Macintosh desktop or laptops, but there’s still plenty here to like (not the lest of which is price).

Check out the reviews after the break.

Sleek. Slim. Svelte. Apple’s wireless aluminum keyboard is razor thin, edgy, and perfectly balanced. Any addition to such a perfect package runs a serious risk of ruining this perfect image. It was with a degree of skepticism that I approached the iSkin ProTouch keyboard protectors, with visions of old public-library keyboards covered in a thick plastic shield harboring years of residue. To my pleasant surprise, iSkin has achieved wonders; the ProTouch keyboard perfectly compliments the Apple Wireless keyboard, adding both comfort and protection, while masking none of the traits that make this keyboard shine.

Jump past the break for the full review.

Apple feels that product design is just as important as quality. All of the work by Apple’s product design team has paid off, with Apple winning eight awards at the CeBIT conference. Apple just entered 9 products into the International Forum product design awards, or iF, and 8 of them won. The awards were given more »