Boox Releases Tappy Bluetooth Page-Turning Remote for E-Readers and Other Devices

Boox announced its Tappy wireless page-turning remote on Thursday as an alternative to the Kobo Remote that offers expanded functionality beyond page turning. The Tappy can be used to flip pages on Boox tablets and e-readers. It can also scroll vertical content in browsers or social media apps and skip to the next or previous track when listening to music or audiobooks.

99. That price makes the Tappy slightly cheaper than Kobo’s remote. Boox says the Tappy will work with more than just its own devices.

The Verge reported that the company is actively encouraging users to pair Tappy with other hardware like smartphones or laptops. Tappy looks like a retro typewriter distilled down to just two keys. One key progresses forward through content and the other goes back.

Alternate keycaps can be swapped into Tappy and are limited to an X, an O, a pixelated heart, and a steaming coffee cup. The Verge reported that while the icons are cute, their descriptive value for the functions is questionable. The Tappy contains a 95mAh rechargeable battery that should last for weeks if not overused.

It has a wireless Bluetooth range of nearly 33 feet, which the company positions as sufficient for use beyond a single e-reader. While Kobo’s remote is reminiscent of a game controller like the Wiimote, the Tappy’s typewriter-inspired design sets it apart.

The Verge reported that the longer range could allow Tappy to double as a basic media remote for a sound system or function as an incredibly limited gamepad when paired with other devices.