Hasta La Gadget!

There’s no doubt that smartphone accessories can get expensive, so how about a case that doubles as a gamepad? Billed as “protection with a purpose,” Canopy’s Sensus case aims to do just that. While there are several peripherals that add keyboards and joysticks to smartphones, Sensus goes one step further by adding touch input to a device’s entire outer surface. The case’s sensors recognize an additional ten touch responses, including controls on the sides and back of a device similar to the rear touchpad on a PS Vita. The focus with Sensus is to provide its users with unique touch input combinations that avoid taking up precious screen real estate. Most likely due to its uniformed design, Sensus is currently only being offered for the iPhone 4 and 4S; the outfit is taking pre-orders at $39 a pop, with shipments expected to begin in the first quarter of 2013. If you’d like to get a better feel for what Sensus has to offer (we know, we know), check out its demo video by visiting the source link below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Mobile

Canopy’s $39 Sensus gaming case protects your iPhone 4 / 4S, adds plenty of new touch sensors originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 21:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola has axed development of its Webtop system, claiming underwhelming sales means further investment in the idea of using a smartphone as the core of a desktop-replacement hub was unfeasible. Webtop, a custom feature of several recent Motorola Android smartphones, worked with desktop docks and notebook-like Lapdock clamshells to offer a full version of Firefox among other features; however, Motorola confirmed to CNET, the expectation is that core Android functionality itself will make its own Webtop work redundant.

“Motorola’s Webtop app helps users extend their smartphone experience to larger screens. While consumers around the world have adopted Webtop and the concept spurred a lot of innovation in the industry, the adoption has not been strong enough to justify continued resources being allocated to developing Webtop on future devices” the company said in a statement. “We have also seen development of the Android operating system focus on the inclusion of more desktoplike features. Beginning with Photon Q and Droid Razr M/Droid Razr HD/Droid Razr Maxx HD, we will no longer be including Webtop on our products moving forward.”

Although by no means essential to using any of Motorola’s devices, Webtop allowed road warriors to dock their phone – such as the Atrix 2 – into a laptop chassis and rely on the increasingly potent mobile processor performance to remotely access work files, visit full websites, and more. A smaller media dock could be used with a TV and wireless peripherals, ideal for setting up an impromptu office in a hotel room.

However, while Webtop’s software functionality was included in the cost of the device itself, the companion hardware did not come cheap. The Atrix 2, in a bundle with the laptop dock, was priced at $500 by AT&T and Motorola, potentially more than a cheaper smartphone and a full notebook bought separately.

Motorola’s decision will leave the company – now owned by Google – to focus on core smartphone performance, though it would be a surprise if the lessons learned from the Webtop experiments didn’t percolate through Android as a whole. Google has also been pushing its Chrome OS platform, again focusing on lower-powered local devices that tap into the potential of the cloud, and a closer link between that and Android has been rumored for some time.

Motorola kills Android Webtop is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

In a world inundated with iPhone cases of all shapes and sizes, terrible and mediocre, Moshi comes clean with a fashion-oriented collection that adds to their already-powerful set of protectors for legacy iOS devices. What we’ve got here is the Origo and the iGlaze, the second piece being part of the iGlaze collection we’ve had a look before on both the MacBook Air and the iPad 3. The Origo is a honeycomb silicone case that offers shock absorption like no other.

With the Origo you’ve got a dual-tone case that absorbs shock with a design that’s inspired by none other than Mother Nature. Without adding bulk, the honeycomb design here makes for a protectant that you’ll be able to trust – complete with hybrid injection silicone for the bounce that you’d normally be terrified of. This case includes a backside buffer film for additional protection against scratches as well.

The Origo is made with a specialized coating that Moshi promises will minimize lint and hair buildup while it offers extra grip – that’s rare. This case will run you $25 USD and is available in black and white – fun stuff!

The iGlaze is what Moshi calls “understated protection” in that it accentuates the look of the iPhone 5, shielding it without knocking out the Apple-perfected design of the device. Just like the Origo, all of the buttons and ports on the device are perfectly accessible with functionality unaffected by the case. This case also includes a backside buffer film for added scratch protection and the whole package will run you $30 USD. This case comes in black, white, red, blue, purple, pink, beige and clear/XT – the last one is our favorite!

UPDATE: We’ve now got a few hands-on photos with the iGlaze in Silver – hot stuff!

iPhone 5 Moshi cases rain down like jewels is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

There’s certainly no shortage of cases out there in the wild prepared for your mobile smart devices, that’s for certain, but when it comes to device stands, PadPivot certainly stands out. What we’re looking at here is a new stand from the company, this one called PadPivot NST. This tablet holder works to keep your e-readers, smartphones, tablets – especially the iPad, as they’ve used it in many of their example shots – ready for action, sitting pretty on your leg.

What you’ll be doing here is placing your device gently into the simple nano-suction arms of the PadPivot NST, allowing it to embrace the device in its loving connection. It’ll keep your device upright or at an angle, whatever you want, as it sits on your leg while you do work or play games. Of course you can also place the stand on the table if you want, but that’s beside the point!

Bernie Graham is the creator of this accessory, and makes the case for it by noting that if you want to play with your tablet while drinking a cup of coffee, you’ll be best off putting it up on a stand rather than juggling. For that, the PadPivot NST will be best. The connection you’ve made with the back of your device is one of technological wonder – aggressive adherence to a glossy surface is what the SureGrip Nano Suction Technology does, and keeping your device stuck is what it’s all about.

This accessory is available right this minute from PadPivot’s own webpage where you can get all the information you desire about it. It’ll run you $39.99 and will ship right to your doorstep, of course. The company behind the stand was founded in 2011 and the design is patent-pending – hot stuff! And just to be clear, this accessory works with the iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, the iPhone, this, that, and everything in-between – it’s just got to have a glossy or generally flat back, is all.

PadPivot NST makes your tablet/leg connection a reality is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Many of those who buy iMacs and Apple-designed displays are eager to avoid clutter in the first place, which makes an organizer all the more logical for those who’d like Desk Zero almost as much as Inbox Zero. Accessory maker Twelve South’s newly available HiRise aims to clean it all up — and lift it up. The aluminum-and-steel frame elevates Apple’s modern all-in-ones and screens to any one of six points while conveniently leaving storage space that goes with the local computing decor, whether it’s to hold external hard drives or car keys. Although the HiRise is no trivial expense at $80, it’s better for propping up an iMac than an old college textbook, and arguably more useful as a whole.

Filed under: Desktops, Displays, Peripherals

Twelve South HiRise takes iMacs and Apple displays to new heights, tidies up in the process originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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