ZX Spectrum resurrected as a Bluetooth keyboard, of course

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The ZX Spectrum is coming back – but it’s coming back as a Bluetooth accessory for your phone.

Elite Systems has announced that it’ll be resurrecting the 1982 computer as a Bluetooth keyboard that’ll work in tandem with an iOS app (and later, apps for Android, Windows Phone, PC and Mac).

Party like it’s 1982

Elite Systems’ idea is that you can use it to play their extensive collection of Spectrum games from the App Store (such as the officially-licensed ZX Spectrum: Elite Collection) in authentic ZX fashion – yes, rubber keys and all. It will, naturally, work as a regular Bluetooth keyboard too, so it should jive nicely with pretty much any app or game. Imagine pairing it with an iPad to create a totally incongruous portable work setup.

The company is preparing a £60,000 Kickstarter campaign for the keyboard, which it says will cost between £40 and £50 when it arrives. Quite when that will be is not yet clear, but we’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime, fans of British retro computers can indulge their sense of nostalgia with our pick of the best ZX Spectrum homages.

[Elite Systems]

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Tech journalism's answer to The Littlest Hobo, I've written for a host of titles and lived in three different countries in my 15 years-plus as a freelancer. But I've always come back home to Stuff eventually, where I specialise in writing about cameras, streaming services and being tragically addicted to Destiny.