Will.i.am launches pricey i.am+ camera add-ons for iPhone, we go hands on (video)

William launches his pricey iam camera accessories for the iPhone, we go handson video

So, we learned two things today. Firstly, Will.i.am is able to attract quite a media scrum, and secondly, national press photographers have sharp elbows. Nevertheless, we braved the London debut of the Black Eyed Peas star’s i.am+ iPhone accessories and fortunately came away with more than just Elephunk-sized bruises. We got some brief playtime with the gadgets, plus an interview with the CEO of Will.i.am’s tech venture — none other than Chandra Rathakrishnan of Fusion Garage fame (or notoriety). If you’re wondering if we asked him why anyone would spend upwards of £199 ($315) on a wide-angle lens attachment when a really decent alternative can be had for a fraction of that cost, then hopefully the video and early impressions after the break will satisfy your curiosity.

Continue reading Will.i.am launches pricey i.am+ camera add-ons for iPhone, we go hands on (video)

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Cavity Case won’t send you to the dentist

If you’re anything like me, you have a ton of stuff you have to take with you when you’re out and on the go. You’ve probably got your wallet, key ring, your smartphone, and who knows what else all crammed in the pockets of your jeans. That also probably means when you need something specific you end up digging around in your pocket as if it’s a bottomless pit trying to find what you need.

If you use the iPhone 4 or 5 and you want to eliminate some of the stuff you have to carry around in your pockets, an interesting smartphone case has turned up on indiegogo looking for funding. The case is called the Cavity Case and it’s designed to hold your iPhone and a slew of other items. This case means you can leave your wallet at home and still have your driver’s license, credit card, and cash on you.

The case is designed with numerous pockets and slots. It will hold the smartphone, three keys of the house size or smaller, one average-size car key, a keyless entry remote for your car, and other items. The section designed to hold the car remote can also be used for lip gloss, a flash drive, or a pair of custom rounding closures available from the makers of the case.

The case also holds a telescoping pen that is available with the case. The case also has a mirror inside, and a leather wrist strap is available. The wallet section of the case will hold up to four credit cards, a driver’s license, and has space left for a single bill. The section of the case designed to hold your car remote is designed to allow you to press the buttons without having to remove the remote from the smartphone case.

Naturally, all the storage makes this case fatter than your typical smartphone case. If you want to support the project, $39 will get you your own Cavity Case, $44 will get you the case with the telescoping pen or the strap, and $49 will get you the case, pen, and strap. The project is seeking $50,000 with 38 days left to go. So far, the case has raised slightly under $2100.


Cavity Case won’t send you to the dentist is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


ORA Speaker Wraps Around Your iPad to Give You Surround Sound – Literally

Thanks to it’s less-than-stellar internal speaker, there are a lot of iPad speakers to choose from in the market. Personally, I’ve got my sights set on the ORA. It’s the first of its kind that I’ve seen, and so far, I like what I see.

ora ipad speaker case

It’s basically a speaker that surrounds your entire iPad. Actually, I stand corrected: there are actually eight speakers surrounding the iPad.

Ora Speaker

Now it won’t give you surround sound even though the speakers are all around your tablet, but it will give you decent audio so you and a whole bunch of other people can gather around and watch a movie or two. It also functions as a case for your iPad, and offers an optional front flip-cover that works like Apple’s Smart Cover.

The ORA Speaker is currently up for funding on Kickstarter, where a minimum pledge of $99(USD) will get you one, while $129 will get you the speaker along with the matching cover/stand.

[via Cult of Mac]


Belkin bulks up iPad mini with $80 Portable Keyboard Case

Belkin bulks up iPad mini with $80 Portable Keyboard Case

If you decided to go small by getting an iPad mini but find yourself needing to do some serious work (like blogging, for instance), Belkin may have just the accessory: the Portable Keyboard Case. The removable chiclet-style keyboard marries up wirelessly with the 7.7-inch tab via Bluetooth and has “well spaced keys for its size,” including custom iPad shortcuts, according to the peripheral maker. The battery lasts a whopping 155 hours between charges, and when the Starbucks staff finally kick you out, you can fold all your kit up into the built-in folio, complete with a camera-lens cutout. If that sounds like your cup of chai latté tea, hit the PR after the break.

Continue reading Belkin bulks up iPad mini with $80 Portable Keyboard Case

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Belkin bulks up iPad mini with $80 Portable Keyboard Case originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 09:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Belkin unveils new iPad mini portable keyboard case

Belkin has pulled the covers off of the new accessory for the iPad mini that a lot of users will really appreciate. The accessory is called the Portable Keyboard Case for iPad mini. The model number for the case is F5L145 and is designed to make typing on the little tablet easier while protecting the screen at the same time.

Belkin promises that the little keyboard has well spaced keys providing lots of tactile feedback for accurate typing. The keyboard also has shortcut keys allowing easy media control for playing back video or music. The keyboard connects to the iPad using wireless Bluetooth connectivity.

The keyboard case has a durable exterior and a soft interior lining to prevent scratches on the tablet. The keyboard is also removable from the case to allow the user to type in the most comfortable position. The keyboard case folds flat when not in use to take up as little space as possible.

The case is powered by an internal battery good for 155 hours of use. The internal battery is rechargeable and gets power from an included USB to mini USB cable. The case also has a camera lens cut out allowing you to take pictures with the iPad mini camera. The keyboard is available right now for $79.99.


Belkin unveils new iPad mini portable keyboard case is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


iXtreme adventure and gaming case for the iPhone 4 and 5

It’s become rather popular to use the iPhone as a sports camera with several cases now available that can turn your iPhone into a rugged sports camera. The idea is that since many people already own an iPhone, rather than investing significant money in an action camera such as a GoPro you can simply encase your iPhone and its high-quality camera in a case that can withstand drops, bumps, and the elements.

A new ruggedized case for this exact purpose has hit Kickstarter, and it’s called the iXtreme. The case is designed for the iPhone 4 and 5 smartphones. The case has a tough composite outer shell combined with a shock isolating inner liner. The sound portals for the speaker are water and dust resistant, and the case has an integrated three-point mounting system with a one finger quick release.

The lens element in the case offers 180° three-element wide-angle and protects the iPhone’s lens. The X logo on the case also flips out to be used as a kickstand. The handles coming off the sides are designed to allow you to hold the iPhone in the case and use it like a traditional camcorder. Those handles are easily removable and various mounting options can be added to turn it into a wearable point of view camera.

Interestingly, the case has been designed specifically to work with a mouse available for GoPro cameras. That means you could mount this inside your car using the GoPro suction mount. The project is seeking $100,000 and has so far raised $3100 with 39 days to go. If you want one the cases you’ll need to pledge at least $54 with estimated delivery of March 2013.


iXtreme adventure and gaming case for the iPhone 4 and 5 is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Seidio unveils VITREO shatterproof glass covering for iPad

If you have an iPad and want to keep it looking good, odds are you’re using some sort of screen overlay to keep it from getting scratches. The problem with most screen overlays is that they are made from some sort of adhesive film. That film can be difficult to place on the screen of the iPad smoothly and often those films start to peel away in short order, leaving bubbles on your screen.

A company called Seidio has announced a new screen protector specifically designed to fit the third and fourth-generation iPad and iPad 2 screens. This screen overlay is made from tempered shatterproof glass rather than a sticky adhesive sheet. The high-grade tempered glass has a hardness rating of 9H.

That reading means that you can prevent damage to the screen of your iPad in the event of a drop and it will prevent scratches. The VITREO glass overlay is designed to absorb impact to safeguard your tablet. The tempered glass is also covered with an oleophobic coating to make it resistant to smudges and fingerprints.

The tempered glass is designed to cover the entire iPad screen, but won’t interfere with touch functionality. The best part about glass overlay is that it won’t bubble or peel away from the screen, and it’s easy to install and remove. With the glass overlay installed on the iPad, it adds 0.55 mm in thickness to the tablet. The glass overlay attaches to the iPad screen using an included silicone adhesive, and it leaves no residue behind when removed. The VITERO overlay is available now for $69.95.


Seidio unveils VITREO shatterproof glass covering for iPad is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Twelve South introduces HiRise for MacBook stand, shipping now for $70

Twelve South introduces HiRise for MacBook stand, shipping now for $70

Hot on the heels of its HiRise for iMac release, the Mac-only accessory maker known as Twelve South is outing a similar riser for MacBook products. Engineered to hoist MacBooks from 11 to 15 inches up off of one’s table, the HiRise for MacBook is a sleek, polished stand that serves a purpose much like the mStand from Rain Design. For avid MacBook users looking for a more ergonomic way to work, this is easily one of the best solutions out there. Unlike most rivals, Twelve South’s offering is adjustable, allowing you to raise and lower your MacBook’s keyboard and display to match the height of your eyes (or perhaps a nearby monitor). In our testing, we found the build quality to be exceptional, and it’s most certainly a piece that you’d be pleased to have sitting alongside your other work peripherals. It’s a bit heavy for travel — but then again, you can’t have that base being light enough to tip over — but those still interested can nab one at the source link for $69.99.

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Twelve South introduces HiRise for MacBook stand, shipping now for $70 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy Note II Smart Dock turns phablet into desktop

A new Smart Dock for the Samsung Galaxy Note II has surfaced, turning the stylus-toting smartphone into a mini desktop setup with plentiful connectivity for a display and wired peripherals. Listed at Samsung US’ site as well as at UK retailer Clove, the $99.99 accessory has three USB ports and a full-sized HDMI output, squirting up to 1080p Full HD onto a TV or monitor.

There’s also a 3.5mm stereo audio output, for hooking up a set of speakers, and a microUSB input for charging the phone and powering the Smart Dock itself. The Note II can be used as normal when docked in place – including for making phone calls – and if you’ve a flip cover fitted you won’t need to remove it in order to slot it in.

So, you could use the Smart Dock to turn your Note II into a desktop computer replacement, with a full-sized keyboard and mouse to navigate via Android – and all the usual Android apps – on a large display. Alternatively, it could form the hub of a media system, hooked up to your TV and with external storage plugged into the USB ports.

Meanwhile, it folds up for easy transport, so you could feasibly drop it into your bag wherever you go. Clove says UK availability isn’t confirmed yet, nor pricing, and while it’s available for preorder on Samsung US’ webstore, there’s no estimated shipping date. More on the Note II in our full review.

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Samsung Galaxy Note II Smart Dock turns phablet into desktop is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Apple to hold conference for iDevice accessory makers, school them in using Lightning connectors

Apple to hold conference for iDevice accessory makers, school them in using Lightning connectors

Apple may have shaken things up with its Lightning connector’s unique internals, but a leaked schedule reveals it’s holding a conference to help accessory makers get a handle for crafting products with the tech. Taking place between November 7th and 9th in Shenzhen, China, the MFi (Made for iPad / iPhone / iPod) Technology Summit will acquaint manufacturers with the new standard and guidelines for developing gear with the cable. Rather than divulging how to create Lightning connectors, it appears that Apple will be keeping the specifications close to its vest and assume the mantle of gatekeeper. According to one of TechCrunch’s sources, Apple will control the supply of pins for its connector and will only sell them to partners when accessories meet Cupertino’s standards. This tactic would match up nicely with the current requirements for the MFi certification program, which already makes parts from Apple-approved suppliers a necessity. It sounds like a potentially pricey proposition, but the source also claims that Cook and Co. have a fair asking price for components doled out in bulk, considering the technology behind them. Curious to see what else is on the docket for the three day shindig? Hit the first source link below for the full schedule.

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Apple to hold conference for iDevice accessory makers, school them in using Lightning connectors originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 20:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  source9to5Mac, TechCrunch  | Email this | Comments