Russian studio Art. Lebedev detailed the latest iteration of its super-keyboard, the Optimus Popularis. The studio also put up its newest creation, the Mini Six, up for pre-order. The Optimus Popularis is, as its makers put it, "a million keyboards in one". Each of its keys has a sharp color LCD display. Backed by its key design and function software (for Mac and Windows), users can pretty-much come up with their own unique key-sets. The software includes hundreds of key designs, more can be downloaded.

The design also allows users to change languages on-the-fly, as the keyboard morphs its key-set with OS IME changes. Each key can further be used to display a specific applet (such as graphs, "live buttons" that link to Facebook or GMail, displaying unread updates/mail. Further, between its main key cluster and its topmost row, is a display bar that can be used by applets and gadgets. The Optimus Popularis is no more a concept, it can be purchased for the equivalent of US $1,086. The studio also put a six-key micro-keyboard, the Mini Six, for pre-order, priced at $376.

Just ten days after the first design sketches of the new Art. Lebedev Studio keyboard appeared online, a more good looking 3D prototype is now available for your viewing pleasure. Set to abandon the OLED keys used in Optimus Maximus, Optimus Popularis is little short on details. For now the keyboard is in very early stage of development. We only know that it will be compatible with both Mac OS X and Windows systems, and is likely to feature a sub-$1000 price.