So you’ve gotten your Cidoo ABM066, the typing experience is great but you just cannot figure out how to customise the display screen using VIA?

If that is you then this guide is just perfect for you! Like you, I was pretty happy with my first Alice-layout keyboard. But the display being stuck in April 2022 and reflecting the time bothered me. I thought it would be a simple thing, just find the app VIA and then plug in the keyboard and it should at least auto-refresh the time and date?

Well, it was not as simple as I thought and took me some googling to finally get it. First things first you need a Windows computer, and then you need to download the VIA driver. Initially I was happily thinking that I could just connect my keyboard using the web version.

For mapping and other settings

If you are connecting your keyboard via USB connection, download this .json file [Download here]
If you are connecting via the USB 2.4, then download this .json file [Download here]

You can go to the VIA website and click on the Start Now section, connect your keyboard and turn on the settings for Design Now. Next upload the .json you downloaded and you should be able to customize your setting and key mappings.

Make sure the keyboard is connected via USB cable or 2.4G and click "Authorize device". You should be able to find the keyboard name.

Select "Design" from the top navigation bar and upload the .json file you downloaded earlier.

To customize the keys or RGB, you just need to select the "Setting" icon and you are on your way to customizing your keyboard. But remember, you cannot sync /update the time and date.

This is great for those who do not have a Windows computer, you just need to open up the links in Chrome or your preferred choice of internet browser, and you are on your way to a more personalized typing experience. I finally have my beloved "Delete" key on my ABM066 now. 😃

If you are more inclined to view it rather than read, I found this useful video tutorial:

For Animations Display

If you want to change or add your own display animations, you would need to download and install the Windows app [CIDOO ABM066 Image Tool]

Unfortunately, if you do not have a Windows computer, you are pretty much out of luck and are stuck with the default animations that came along with the CIDOO ABM066 - a cute cat with it’s spaceship, and a cheeky raccoon (just press FN + Enter to cycle through the options).

If there was a mobile app, or some easier way to customize the screen without needing Windows that would have made it even better. Currently it is not very accessible, and you need to be somewhat tech savvy (enough) to know what you want, where to go, and what to do or else you would be lost.

You also need to have a Windows computer, or else you cannot even sync / update the time and date.

Other than the above points, the mechanical keyboard itself is not too bad - with tactile switches and my cute cat keycaps, the happy taps asmr is not too bad (Stay tuned for the upcoming sound test!). I got the keyboard mainly for its layout, the knob and to try out the start from barebones experience, and so far it has been good out of the box. But if you want customization of the software then take note on the basic requirements.