The iPad is hot, that’s no question. Stores in the U.S are still sold out, and internationally the device is making waves as well. With a device as easy to carry with you to all your destinations it’s important to protect your investment. As with any laptop, chances are you’d buy a case in order to carry it, something stylish and protective. But what if the case was also functional in the use of the device. In the case with the iPad, with all the choices of cases to keep your technology safe, how many of them are actually functional in the use? Probably not many.
The DODOcase for the iPad, both 3G and Wi-Fi, provides a sleek looking design to give your iPad some style when you carry it around, but also provides a functional laptop stand for when you need to update your Twitter or type out a message on Facebook. By simply taking the opening flap and pushing it all the way to the back of the device you create a gentle but comfortable slant that tilts the iPad towards your hands when you’re sitting down, preventing typos from typing on the flat surface.
The case is designed with faux leather, much like the Moleskine design, and binded by traditional book binding techniques. How much like the Moleskine? Well it comes with an attached elastic band to keep your iPad steady when sitting down to type. The interior is fashioned out of eco-friendly bamboo strong enough and flexible enough to create a protective environment for your device.
Coming in at only $49.95, this could be a serious contender as a carrying case if you’re one of those Moleskine fans!
Even the hardiest of Apple fanboys have to admit that the Apple TV was a flop. Though ambitious, this late in the game so many other providers have lapped what the Apple TV tried to do, and even Apple enthusiasts snubbed the device choosing to work with a Mac mini over the Apple TV. The integration, if executed properly, could have been a real coup in streamlining your TV viewing lifestyle with your mobile tech lifestyle. Unfortunately due to lack of support and further innovation, the Apple TV is nothing more than a glorified digital VCR.
Fast forward to today and products like Elgato’s EyeTV HD ($200) looks to take the stage as the bridge we’ve been looking for to connect both lifestyles. The EyeTV HD records HDTV to your Mac and can stream it to your iPhone, iTouch, or iPad. The USB box comes with component cables and standard RCA connections in the back to connect with an existing cable or satellite box. An accompanying IR remote handles the box controls. With the addition of a $5 app, you can stream live TV straight to your mobile device over 3G or Wi-Fi.
Worried about which format to record in, the EyeTV HD allows for specialized recording in iPhone/iTouch or iPad format giving you the best experience possible, depending on which device you’re using.
Some of the highlights include:
- Captures premium television content in full HD from cable and satellite receivers
- Records in pristine H.264 format for a crystal clear digital picture
- Features a unique dual-format capture mode for fast playback on an iPhone and iPad
- Includes an infrared remote and channel changer cable (IR blaster) for automatic control of the receiver
Seems like a step in the right direction with this type of technology. Even though there are already other apps and devices on the market with streaming capabilities to your mobile device, it’s always nice to see variety in the market. Is this something that would interest you?
So whether you’re just a geek you likes high fashion or a James Bond wanabe wishing “Q” would make the next best thing in flash drive technology, the flash drive cufflinks I saw today seem to fit either scenario. Still, I’m not entirely sure if you would call this fashionably “in” but the concept is pretty neat. Though, I can’t foresee myself being anywhere that I’m wearing cufflinks and then suddenly thinking to myself, “wait, I need to save/download a file.” Can you?
At a pricey $200, the flash drive cufflinks house a 2 GB for a total of 4 GB of storage. The cufflinks come in polished, gunmetal, or gold finishes, depending on your style and taste. The links are engravable, though they are very tiny.
So if you’re looking at carrying your important documents, company presentation, or just have them around in case you need to jack into a computer, these fashionable additions could make you the savior of the day!
Microsoft, once the dominant giant in the technology industry, has more recently been forced to share the stage with a number of competitors. Apple and Google being major players on the field now, not just in technology and research but in the consumer market with devices like set top boxes, hand helds, and entertainment apps. Microsoft is quickly losing ground in this arena, and they are determined to change the course.
Recently it was announced that J. Allard, a major influence in the shaping of the X-Box, would be leaving the company on a rumored disagreement with Steven Ballmer over the cancellation of the Courier Tablet project. While questions remain, what is for certain is that Microsoft may be making some major changes in their executive management in the Entertainment and Devices division. This change would mean more than just replacing, but rather a full scale revamp to find their footing in a race that Microsoft has been steadily losing ground in.
The division is more than just the X-Box, but also includes the Zune and their mobile operation systems. This comes as a relief for me because I’ve personally felt that Microsoft has always missed the mark on their efforts for mobile consumer devices. Whether it’s phones or the Zune, Microsoft seems so divided, with so many fragmented operation systems that lack consistency or the attention to detail that their competitors show. It will be interesting to see where Microsoft ends up after these changes.
I’m a huge fan of Rockband. I used to be a fan of Guitar Hero, but the diversity and depth of Rockband won me over and I haven’t looked back. Those of you familiar with the game series know that Rockband has evolved over the years to more than just the game itself, but also includes the DLC available online, and even games created entirely for various artists. Currently the demo for Green Day Rockband is available on Xbox Live and some interesting things popped up that Kotaku noted.
When you quit out of the demo the logo for Rockband 3 pops up indicating that new equipment is coming forth. The icons displayed show the standard guitarist, bassist, drummer, but instead of one microphone we see three supporting the idea that back-up vocals will be added, and of course the new image of keyboards. If you thought your home band was great, imagine a band of seven total now!
This looks like a great addition to an already awesome game, offering a lot of variety. It strikes me that Rockband is determined to stay far ahead of its competitor, Guitar Hero, though I don’t see them in the same realm myself.
Four days ago we shared the Google TV YouTube video of the service introduction. It’s a big leap for the company who is now focused on not just getting our eyeballs on the computer, but also on our TV’s. The service will apparently be integrated in some models of TV, but for those that dont’ have that option, set top boxes will be released to get help you get your Google on.
It hasn’t even been a full week since we shared this announcement and already Logitech, known for making some amazing technology devices, most notably speakers, headsets, keyboards, and mice, has stepped into the set top box arena. Last week they announced their Google TV Box which will connect your TV to the world of Google. No price yet, but you can bet that the value will be priceless, that is, if you’re a Google fan.
The box is based on the Android platform and runs the Chrome browser. Bringing full search to your TV will hopefully create a seamless experience with your existing paid TV subscriptions. Google TV Box will run on an Intel Atom processor that will integrate with any HDTV and pre-existing set top box (TiVO?), and also come paired with a keyboard, a remote, and touchpad.
This could be a slap to the face of the Apple TV which has not seen a lot of traction since its release. Perhaps it was just an experiment, but Google has jumped on this opportunity to truly create a seamless transition between laptops/desktops and the television in your living room. It will be interesting to see how much this Google TV concept is adopted into our daily lives. What are your thoughts?
Camera fanatics are overjoyed to see Panasonic release the Pro Twin-Lens 3D. Coming in at approximately $20k, the camera offers film makers the following:
- 30 fps
- 1080p 3D recording
- uses the AVCHD Pro video format
- built in stereo microphone
- XLR audio input
- a remote terminal
The camera comes in at about 6 lbs, which is heavier than perhaps some expect, but the camera does pack quite the punch with the quality and capabilities offered. The camera will record in sync to two SDHC memory cards and automatic left/right-eye deviation correction. “The lenses, camera head and recorder section are integrated into a compact body. Unlike a conventional rig-type 3D camera system, this model brings excellent flexibility and mobility to FULL HD 3D recording,” according to Panasonic’s site.
It was not that long ago that Crenk reported some big announcements coming from Microsoft, including some
changes coming for Hotmail. A week ago those changes came to life when Hotmail users were introduced to a new look and feel for the long running email client. In an attempt to take on rivals Yahoo and Google the change was perhaps a long time coming, and many long time Hotmail users might appreciate the new additions and features.
The idea to remove some of the clutter and allow users to integrate social platforms and interact with other sites was vital, especially in an era when so many are looking for the one stop shop of utilities that will serve their needs. Some of the features added include:
- sweep feature which allows users to clear their entire email with one click.
- single-click feature which allows for one click of an email from a specific sender and deleting all of their emails.
- ability to edit Powerpoint and documents in the email whether the user as the application or not.
- active previews of emails to include attachments like photos, videos, and more.
- watch YouTube videos, check social networks all without leaving their inbox.
These changes are big when you consider how long the service has remained stagnant while its competitors made big strides to attract users. Still Hotmail is still considered one of the most widely used email services with over 350 million active users.
While Hotmail has added these new additions is it really enough to sway people away from Gmail for example? Or will Hotmail still prevail due to its simplicity and lack of “bloat”, as it’s called, that Gmail users might experience.
What are your thoughts? A winner for Microsoft? I used to be a Hotmail user but went to Gmail because of the wide offerings available. Hotmail became boring and dull even in the UI experience. Perhaps now it’s got some life breathed into it. We’d like to hear your thoughts.
Music artists are finding new ways to distribute their content that completely goes against the traditional models of releasing new albums and tracks. In the past we’ve seen artists like Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead offer their music for free, suggesting that users pay what they think the album is worth. While a novel idea, it did show traditional publishing models that they were not necessary. Both albums did very well online and opened doors for more modernized methods.
Recently Soundcloud struck a deal with The Hype Machine and already the benefits are showing as the service has reached a million users and will quickly surpass that at a global level. The audio sharing site is becoming very popular with musicians to share their new music, collaborations and pet projects to the world. Seen as the “Flickr” or “Vimeo for audio” artists are posting up and users are able to interact with those posts seeking the audio they want.
Techcrunch recently did an article on their success which no one will argue is a very viable way to distribute music. It notes that the service is “winning the hearts and business of artists.”
There’s nothing more frustrating than the experience of trying to find just the right carrying case or backpack for all of your tech gadgets. Sometimes you find something that works, but then something else about that does not. It can also be the most wonderful feeling to know that you got just the right number of pockets, zippers, elastic holders and more for everything you carry. It reminds me of the contest they held over on Lifehacker that asked what was inside your Go-Bag. Lots of great bag recommendations, cool things people carry around, and it sparked the passion of finding something that would allow everything to have it’s place.
Now Saddleback has jumped into the ring with their own versions of geek chic accessories. They introduced the Saddleback Gadget Pouches for items like your laptop, phone, power adapters, e-readers, and more. And if you’re a fan of authentic leather, then these creations are the cream of the crop.
Ranging from $31-$55, the pouches are made of hardened boot leather and will turn a patina color over time for give that rugged “manly” look and feel to your sleek geek gadgets. So rugged and tough are these creations, they literally offer you a 100 year guarantee. Yep that’s right, pass it on to your next of kin and chances are it will still work just as good for them. Though, considering how fast gadgets are overturned, I don’t forsee anyone still holding an iPad in 100 years, at least not this iteration, but it’s good to know it has longevity.
