Hasta La Gadget!

So, Santa stuffed an iPad into your stocking on Christmas (insert mythical figure / appropriate receptacle / holiday of choice), and you’re wondering what to do with the thing? First of all, congratulations! The iPad can be a wonderful, loyal companion and friend, but it can also take a while to warm up to. As we always say, a device is only as good as its apps, both literally and figuratively: it’ll take some time to figure out what you want to get from the iTunes Store that will flesh out your experience, but it will also take some time to see which nooks and crannies of your life the iPad can fill, and what roles you’ll want it to take over from your laptop and phone. Follow along after the break as we show you how to wring the most out of your shiny new tablet.

Continue reading Just got an iPad? The best apps, accessories, and tips

Just got an iPad? The best apps, accessories, and tips originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some might joke that jewelry is the key to unlocking a girl’s heart. Perhaps people can take this literally, given how much coverage there has been for a new series of elaborated decorated keys.

Costing around 2,100 yen ($25) for the key head, plus from 900 yen ($11) for the joining process, the “Jewelry Key” is a new product from chain Mister Mint, whose booths can often be seen in Tokyo stations. The idea is that you make the keys you handle and take around with you every day that little bit more special by adding a unique heart or cross head.

After all, a necklace is also made of mental and your keys are just as important as a wallet or purse, which of course are treated as fashion accessories as much — if not more than — as practical tools. Why not make them original and stylish? Though primarily known as a place to get your shoes repaired or a key cut, Mister Mint clearly thinks there is a market for these “extras” too and is initially offering twenty-one designs.

These kinds of key decorations aren’t new, of course, but we still think it’s pretty forward-thinking of Mister Mint to be aiming for female fashion consumers with this new range. You can check out the Jewelry Keys at their branches at the Sony Building in Ginza, Shibuya, JR Shinbashi and currently eight others around Tokyo.

Our quest for the perfect iPhone 4 battery case continues apace with the Exolife Exogear presently holding the lead, slightly ahead of the Mophie Juice Pack Air and the Mili PowerSpring. Just like these fine selections, the Aigo aiPower i616 claims to “virtually double” battery life, but it’s got another trick up its sleeve: a hidden USB ribbon cable for both charging and data built right into the case. Should you want for a longer sync cable than it provides on its own, there’s also a second microUSB port built into the left side, as well as a switch for the external 1500mAh battery and a handy button to display its current level of charge. Not bad for a pleasantly comparable 125.8 x 62.6 x 17.25mm, nor the $80 asking price.

If you’re looking for something a little more svelte, however, the $60 InCase Snap Battery might be more to your liking — it adds a 900mAh battery in a soft-touch frame that InCase claims is the slimmest around. We can’t say it looks like it offers much protection, only covering the corners and rear of the phone, but fashion has long been a harsh mistress to those who obey her siren call.

Aigo’s iPhone 4 battery case internalizes your charge cable, InCase Snap Battery lightens the load originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can’t have enough Androids in your life? Well, here’s another one! Alternately known as the Knight or the Speedy, HTC’s upcoming Android device has made a couple of premature photo appearances in an effort to help sell some cases for its future self. The guys at HTCPedia report they have all the cases in their imagery in stock and confidently identify the Speedy Knight as a 3.7-inch QWERTY slider, while the phone’s UI and rear inscription leave no doubt about it running HTC’s Sense skin for Android. The likeliest scenario for this phone’s retail future is that it’ll be dubbed the EVO Shift 4G and exploit Sprint’s WiMAX airwaves, leaving the only unresolved issue as a one-word query: when?

Continue reading EVO Shift 4G (aka HTC Knight / Speedy) shows up in accessory pics, exhibits dubious dress Sense

EVO Shift 4G (aka HTC Knight / Speedy) shows up in accessory pics, exhibits dubious dress Sense originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 03:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We happen to like our existing Xbox 360 controller, squeaky triggers and all, and though we’re eagerly awaiting an improved D-pad it hadn’t really occurred to us that some might prefer an overhaul. N-Control, however, has done just that with this insane lever-filled shell, which wraps around the gamepad to provide simultaneous control over a host of inputs at once. The idea is that you’ll never need to take your thumbs off the analog sticks to swap weapons or reload, because you’ll just flick one of those weighted levers instead. You’ll also apparently gain a split-second advantage over opponents on the draw since the contraption constantly applies tension to each of the controller’s triggers, making them easier to press. For $60, the Avenger even comes with a tripod, which could be a good move on the company’s part — it looks like you might need one to hold the beast up. Video after the break.

Continue reading N-Control Avenger gives your Xbox 360 controller hair triggers (video)

N-Control Avenger gives your Xbox 360 controller hair triggers (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 19:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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