iPhone X Controlled with Original Macintosh Keyboard and Mouse

iPhones — and arguably their Android counterparts — have revolutionized not only how we get information, but also opened up a wide range of possibilities like ride sharing and using your phone for payment. Apple was, of course, a technology company long before the iPhone’s debut in 2007, and in 1984 it released the Macintosh, complete with a keyboard and mouse.

While this technology has largely been replaced by newer equipment, YouTuber ‘napabar’ decided to see if he could use the same type of keyboard (M0110) and mouse (M0100) that was used on the original Mac with a modern iPhone. As we’re featuring it, the answer is ‘yes,’ but not without a chain of adapters, including one to go from the keyboard’s phone-like RJ-11 plug to USB, along with a DE-9 to USB adapter for the keyboard. Signals were then passed through a USB hub and a USB to Lightning adapter, finally ending up able to control the iPhone X.

Aside from the plethora of adapters, what makes this possible is the addition of mouse support in iOS 13, and he demonstrates how this can be utilized for a variety of purposes in the video below. Interestingly, Siri seems to have opinions about the keyboard and mouse used here, though one has to wonder whether it actually recognizes what’s hooked — seemingly difficult per the adapters used — or if there’s a little editing trick. Either way, it’s a fun trip down memory lane!