Hasta La Gadget!

Children love technology, especially tablets such as the iPad. The huge number of educational and entertainment apps available for kids on the Apple iPad means that parents can give their kids an early start on learning all sorts of important information while the kid thinks they’re playing games. The problem for parents is that children are notoriously hard on gadgets meaning some sort of secure iPad holder is often a requirement.

A new iPad holder called the iStroll Kid has turned up on Kickstarter seeking the funding to enter production. The iPad holder is specifically designed to attach to a child’s stroller and securely hold the iPad while keeping it within the child’s reach. The holder has a section that is designed to hold the iPad like any other iPad accessory.

That iPad holder is attached to a frame that clamps onto the tubing of the stroller. While some parents might like this simply to allow their children to play educational games or watch video while shopping or doing other things, this iPad holder can also be incredibly important to parents of special-needs children. A number of special-needs children take advantage of tablets like the iPad as their sole means of communication with parents.

The project is very new on Kickstarter and is seeking $10,000 enter production. The project has 41 days to go and at the time of writing has raised $88. The project will fund on March 13 if it hits its funding goal. A pledge of $35 or more will get you the iStroll Kid iPad holder and the designer expects to sell it for $49.99 when it goes into production. The estimated ship date for the product is March of 2013.

[via Kickstarter]

iStroll Kid iPad holder connects to a stroller letting kids communicate, play, and learn is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Obviously, there’s no way a phone case can transform your iPhone into an actual hard drive – unless, well, it actually comes packed with a spare disk drive on the back. However, it’s way easier to give your smartphone the appearance that it is an actual hard drive, at least when it’s viewed from the back.

Aside from protecting your phone from the elements and making it every geek’s envy, this plastic case might make your iPhone less appealing to thieves, since they might think that it’s just some ratty old hard drive that probably isn’t worth much on the black market. At least, let’s hope they’ll think that way.

This creative iPhone case comes from Fred & Friends, and is currently available on Perpetual Kid for $13(USD) – at this point, it’s only available in iPhone 4/4S sizes though. While it’s not the first such cover we’ve spotted, you can actually buy this one.

[via Incredible Things]

HTC doesn’t have a smartwatch like the Pebble, but it does have the HTC Mini, an NFC-equipped remote control and handset accessory which will be exclusively offered in China alongside the HTC Butterfly. The svelte handset – resembling an old candybar-style dumbphone – hooks up via Bluetooth to your Butterfly, so HTC suggests, and can be used for making calls without pulling the smartphone out of your pocket, as well as other things.

NFC is used to pair the HTC Mini with the Butterfly – aka the non-US version of the DROID DNA – after which point it works as a remote terminal. In addition to calls, it can show messages on its monochrome display, calendar entries, and call logs.

However, it will also apparently work as a remote control, useful when the Butterfly is plugged in to your TV and used as a media device. Then, the Mini can navigate through menus when the Butterfly is tethered near to the screen via HDMI; it also looks like it can be used to trigger the shutter in the camera app.

Finally, there’s a handy “find my phone” feature which makes the Butterfly ring when you’ve put it down somewhere and can’t locate it. No word on how much the HTC Mini might cost, though we’re hoping the company releases it as an accessory in markets other than China.

[via Xataka; via MIC Gadget]

HTC Mini is your Butterfly’s candybar remote control and handset is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you’re one of the clumsy sorts that worries constantly you’re going to drop your iPhone 5 and kill it, you need to get the case on your smartphone right away. While some cases offer very minimal protection and leave the screen uncovered, people looking for the ultimate protection for their phone need a case that fully encloses everything. Accessory maker Seidio has announced that it is now shipping a new highly rugged and protective case for the iPhone 5 called the OBEX.

The OBEX case for the iPhone 5 and other smartphones is now shipping worldwide. If you’re wondering what OBEX actually means, the word is Latin for barrier. The case promises protection from drops, liquids, and dust. The case is capable of protecting your iPhone against water, snow, mud, and other liquids with an IP68 rating. That rating means that the case protects against complete submersion in water and dust.

The case uses two-stage protection to seal all critical points of entry against water and dust. The case uses anti-reflective glass that won’t interfere with the camera lens. The screen protector is made from acrylic glass and sits flush against the screen. Having the screen protector setting flush against the screen means it doesn’t leave behind watermark effects and the screen remains clear.

The case also passed military grade drop tests meeting MIL-STD-810G by surviving drops from four-feet at a variety of angles. The glass covering over the screen of the smartphone as a 4H rating and the case itself is made from a combination of polycarbonate and thermoplastic polyurethane. While the case offers lots of protection, it allows signals from Wi-Fi, cellular radios, and Bluetooth to pass freely through. The case retail for $79.95 with a combo package that includes a holster selling for $89.95. If you’re not an iPhone 5 user, the case is also available for the incredibly popular Samsung Galaxy S III.

[via Seidio]

Seidio OBEX iPhone 5 case is waterproof and impact proof is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Nokia only released its 3D printing files for the Lumia 820 casing yesterday, but it didn’t take long for the DIY community to get their hardware warmed up and spitting out custom shells. MakerBot unveiled their Replicator 2X 3D printer a few months back, and have wasted no time setting it to work producing husks from Nokia’s 3DK files.

According to the MakerBot team, the outcome is “an awesome shell that fits great,” just as Nokia would’ve hoped for. The Finnish company will be offering its own shells for the Lumia 820 – including ruggedized options, and some which add wireless charging – but this way enthusiasts will be able to print off their own.

Two variants have been produced, one in blue plastic and one translucent white, both with oversized Nokia logos. Of course, as the 3D printing enthusiasts get to grips with Nokia’s schematics, we can expect a variety of customized shells: there’s no reason they shouldn’t have added extras like a wallet section, for instance, or a spool to wind your headphones around for when you’re not listening to Nokia Music.

Those without a 3D printer of their own will have to either save up the few thousand dollars, or take advantage of one of the online 3D printing services that have sprung up over the past couple of years. For more on the Makerbot Replicator 2X, meanwhile, check out our hands-on from CES.

[via My Nokia Blog]

Here’s what the MakerBot can do with Nokia’s Lumia 820 3D printing files is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.