Hasta La Gadget!

Microsoft has released details on two new products, the Wedge Touch Mouse and the Wedge Touch Keyboard, which look perfect for when you’re on the go and you get tired of using the touch-based keyboard on your tablet.

The Wedge peripherals use Bluetooth. The keyboard’s cover doubles as a multi-angle stand for your tablet, which is a smart idea. There is a joint at the center which allows you to adjust the angle. The cover also powers the keyboard down automatically, once it’s placed inside. There are some hotkeys along the top to launch some functions. The Wedge Touch Mouse offers four-way touch scrolling using Bluetrack technology, which means it will work on any surface.

While Microsoft doesn’t specifically state which devices the Wedge series will work with, they mention Windows, Mac OS X, and “basic functionality on ARM-based devices,” but I’m guessing that any Bluetooth tablet should work with the keyboard. The mouse will only work with a computer though. The keyboard will sell for $79.95(USD) and the mouse will sell for $69.95. They will be released soon.

[via Wired]

The Samsung Galaxy Note is among a rare breed of smartphones that need no introduction. It’s polarizing, memorable and single-handedly responsible for the popularization of the term “phablet.” It’s also the indisputable king of that category, having recently defended its throne against LG’s Optimus Vu. Aside from the Note’s sprawling display, much of its appeal lies in the tight software integration with the S Pen stylus, which endows the phone with notepad-like functionality.

The first (and second) time we reviewed the Galaxy Note, it featured Android 2.3. Since then, it’s received an update to Android 4.0, along with a new set of productivity apps dubbed the Premium Suite. Now as the phone arrives at T-Mobile (for $250 with a contract and after a $50 rebate), we’re taking the opportunity to review not just the new variant, but in this case, the latest OS as well. You already know much of the Galaxy Note’s story, but now the question remains: just how much of the text has been re-written? Let’s find out.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Note for T-Mobile review

Filed under: Cellphones

Samsung Galaxy Note for T-Mobile review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

There’s no question about it — as fun as mobile gaming can be, sometimes furiously pecking at a touchscreen just doesn’t cut it. For those of you who long for the halcyon days of gripping hard, uncomfortable controllers while a conceptually-simple game runs on your television, the GameDock may be just what the doctor ordered.

This nifty hardware project comes courtesy of the Oregon-based team at Cascadia Games, who not long ago put their pet project on Kickstarter for retro-minded gamers to ogle. The GameDock has a delightfully Nintendo-y vibe going — users dock their favored iDevice (no blowing required), while a pair of NES-esque controllers run into a pair of USB ports up front and an HDMI cable provides the all-important television connection.

Of course, hardware is only ever part of the equation with projects like this — one of the major issues for a product like this is tracking down games that are actually compatible with it. Creators Chris Jorgensen and Andi Greise; noted on their Kickstarter page that iCade apps with no more than two action and menu buttons should work nicely, but the pair have also been working on a dashboard app that they plan to fill with curated apps that are known to fully compatible. Sadly, not every game that would benefit from some physical buttons (I’m looking at you, Mega Man X) will play nice with the GameDock, but that’s an iCade-related rant for another time.

Thankfully, the project just recently tiptoed over its funding $50,000 funding goal, so (barring any unfortunate missteps) this thing should be hitting backers’ doorsteps by December. Speaking of which, you’ve still got until August 16 to throw your hard-earned money at this thing — a bare-bones GameDock can be yours for $100, while an additional $25 will nab you a pair of USB controllers and an HDMI adapter for your troubles.

Gamers, take note! There is a new piece of hardware in town, and if you feel that you have not been lethal enough towards your opponents thus far and would like to do something about the situation, then you will not go too wrong with the Razer Ouroboros. On paper, the Razer Ouroboros does seem to carry just about anything and everything which you need to achieve utter gaming domination regardless of the genre, so here we are with the Razer Ouroboros in all of its glory, where you can read further about its specifications and performance capabilities right after the jump.

I must say, however, that for Razer to churn out the Ouroboros as an an ergonomic and ambidextrous mouse should be noted, especially for southpaws like me who have long “suffered” when it comes to hardware choices, as many of the hardware released to date seem to cater more towards the right handed folks, with very few versions of the same peripheral coming in a left-handed model.

Well, let us get to the nitty gritty. The Razer Ouroboros is an elite gaming mouse which is said to be able to “evolve” – thanks to its fully-customizable ergonomics which can be adjusted for any hand size and grip style. After all, your gaming grip on the mouse is a very personal matter, as everyone holds their gaming mouse differently. The Razer Ouroboros was specially designed for precision gaming, boasting of an adjustable palm rest that can move up to 0.9 in. (20 mm), making it ideal for everyone regardless of their hand size.

There are also two interchangeable side panels so that you are able to change the footprint of the mouse to suit claw, palm or hybrid grip styles (which are you?), where it will also come with an adjustable back tilt angle in order for your palm to gain adequate support for gaming comfort and endurance. There is also an enhanced sensor technology which allows you to sweep your mouse at up to 8200 dpi, in addition to a dedicated, built-in dpi clutch trigger button to deliver on-the-fly dpi adjustment. It will cost you $129.99/€129.99 when it hits the global market before the year is over.

Press Release

[ Razer Ouroboros piles on the gaming pressure copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

We’ve seen attempts to bring mapping functionality to Barnes & Noble’s Nook Color in the past, but Skobbler’s going full out with the arrival of ForeverMap 2 for that device and its more clearly defined tablet successor. The app utilizes WiFi positioning, offers route guidance and features both global and local maps. The standard version is free and a pro version can be picked up for $5, offering up added functionality like unlimited offline map downloads. Skobbler also used today’s launch to announce that it’s working on broader implementation by making it available to Nook app developers.

Continue reading Skobbler brings maps to Nook Tablet, Color with ForeverMap 2

Filed under: GPS, Tablet PCs, Software

Skobbler brings maps to Nook Tablet, Color with ForeverMap 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 11:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments