Aug 17

Apple snags MagSafe patent for iOS devices (update: it’s a movable magnetic coupling)

Posted in: adapter, Apple, ios, ipad, Mac, patent, patent application, PatentApplication, patents, Today's Chili

We’ve all tripped on power cords, sending laptops or other precious items tumbling to the ground. With the introduction of the MagSafe connector, back in 2006, Apple fixed the problem for clumsy MacBook owners, but has since left plugged-in iPad users up a creek. Cupertino was awarded a patent yesterday to integrate the magnetic (trip-safe) cord into future iOS devices like the iPad, potentially solving the dilemma for good. The Haus of Jobs also snagged patents for magnetic assembly and a “securing system,” whatever that means.

Update: Oops! While the patent does mention the possibility of integrating this technology into a “tablet computer” or “cell phone,” what we’re looking at isn’t actually a MagSafe patent specifically for iOS devices — it’s a movable magnetic coupling.

Apple snags MagSafe patent for iOS devices (update: it’s a movable magnetic coupling) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 16

Logitech’s clip-on tablet speaker latches onto your slate for dear life, doubles as a stand

Posted in: accessories, audio, logitech, slate, speaker, tablet, tablets, Today's Chili
We can swear we feel hints of fall creeping in already, but Logitech just announced a product we would have loved to see at the start of beach season: a speaker bar that clips onto the back of any tablet, effectively turning it into the boombox it wasn’t built to be. We know, we know, that barrel of a speaker looks a tad silly next to the likes of the iPad 2 and Galaxy Tab 10.1, but we’re digging how it doubles as a stand, propping up the slate if, perchance, you’re also down for watching a movie. In our brief hands-on, the speaker felt lighter than it looks in those photos down there, and delivered decently loud sound, too. Like we said, we can see this making for a festive old time at the beach or a picnic, though when we asked a Logitech rep about durability he said we might want to shield the speaker from sand. Because this is a wired product (it charges via USB and lasts up to eight hours on a charge), it commands less than the wireless speaker for iPad that Logitech’s already shilling. Specifically, we’re told it’ll cost $49.99, though as of this writing it hasn’t popped up in the company’s online store, which means those of you unashamed of your Justin Bieber collection will have to just sit tight.

Gallery: Logitech Tablet Speaker

Logitech’s clip-on tablet speaker latches onto your slate for dear life, doubles as a stand originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 10

Logitech trots out another keyboard case, this time for the Galaxy Tab 10.1

Posted in: accessories, Android, android tablet, AndroidTablet, case, Google, honeycomb, keyboard, logitech, tablet, tablets, Today's Chili

You might have noticed that accessory makers have a habit of churning out stuff for iDevices first and everything else second. Specifically, though, we’re noticing that in the world of tablets, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is fast becoming companies’ No. 2 once they’ve gotten the iPad squared away. Take Logitech, for example. The company just announced a keyboard case for Samsung’s deliciously thin slate — a near facsimile of the one it released for the iPad a few months back. To recap, this isn’t your garden-variety folio case with a keyboard and kickstand, but rather, an aluminum lid with a full ‘board lining the interior. Logitech also attempts to justify the steep $99.99 price with shortcut keys for copying and pasting and cushioned corners that offer a modicum of protection in the event of a drop. But does that make it worth it? We’ll leave that to your and your wallet.

Logitech trots out another keyboard case, this time for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 09

Scosche myTrek sends workout vitals to your iPhone, starts shipping now for $130 (video)

Posted in: app, AppStore, iPhone, IphoneApp, monitor, Today's Chili


With a variety of portable power accessories, most Scosche products are designed to keep gadgets up and running, not to get our own blood flowing. The company’s new Bluetooth myTrek pulse monitor pairs with an iPhone or iPod touch to motivate you to keep going and going, however, pumping “inspiring” audio alerts through your headphones during a workout, while also tracking pulse, distance, speed, pace, and calories burned. The arm-strap uses a pair of LEDs, along with a photo sensor and accelerometer to capture vitals as it rests strapped to your forearm, providing five hours of continuous feedback before needing its own boost using the included USB cable. You’ll need to have your iOS device within 33 feet of the device to record your workout, so the myTrek may be better suited for trips to the gym than, say, a run through the park in the rain. It’s also rather pricey, at $130, but if you’re already dropping a grand or two for your gym membership each year, a gadget that lets you elegantly track your progress may be within reach.

Continue reading Scosche myTrek sends workout vitals to your iPhone, starts shipping now for $130 (video)

Scosche myTrek sends workout vitals to your iPhone, starts shipping now for $130 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 09

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer stand and adapters surface on Amazon Germany

Posted in: accessories, Android, android tablet, AndroidTablet, ASUS, Google, Today's Chili

We feel like if you’re going to buy an Eee Pad Transformer, you may as well spring for the $150 docking station — you know, the thing that makes the tablet so noteworthy. And we don’t need to remind you it also happens to be a solid value proposition: the dock brings not just a full keyboard, but two USB ports, an SD card reader, and up to seven hours of extended battery life. There must be some people content with just the slate, though, because ASUS is rolling out a trio of accessories that offer pieces of the docking station’s functionality. Head on over to Amazon Germany and you’ll find individual USB and SD adapters for €19 ($27) a pop. And though it’s not listed with the adapters, NetbookNews also spotted a €29 ($41) stand with a USB port, SD slot, and headphone jack. Before you get too excited, though, Amazon is saying the adapters will ship one to three months from now, which leaves you quite a bit of time to save up for the full keyboard dock. Just saying, folks.

Gallery: ASUS EeePad Transformer stand and USB / SD adapters

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer stand and adapters surface on Amazon Germany originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 10:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 04

Canon X Mark I Mouse Lite hands-on impressions

Posted in: accessories, hands-on, impressions, keyboard, mouse, preview, Today's Chili


It’s a calculator. It’s a wireless mouse. It’s a Bluetooth numeric keypad. It’s… really bizarre. Canon’s X Mark I Mouse Lite takes everyone’s favorite desktop rodent and tries to make it all fancy like, filling that wasted space below the mouse buttons with a calculator — monochrome LCD and all. Except that the unused space below the mouse buttons isn’t wasted at all — it was designed for resting palms, not poking fingertips. The result is a mediocre mouse paired with a mediocre calculator, for $60. Sadly, it’s not nearly as elegant of a solution as it may appear to be, and after a couple days of use, we were ready to switch back to our boring old single-function mouse. So what exactly left us so unimpressed? Jump past the break to find out.

Gallery: Canon X Mark I Mouse Lite

Continue reading Canon X Mark I Mouse Lite hands-on impressions

Canon X Mark I Mouse Lite hands-on impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 04

SnapX lets your Macs share a single Cinema Display

Posted in: accessories, Apple, Mac, peripheral, Peripherals, thunderbolt, Today's Chili

SnapX

Got a pair of Macs laying around, but don’t want to shell out for two Apple Cinema Displays? We don’t blame you, those things are expensive. A little company called Kanex has a solution for you though, the SnapX. SnapX is, at it’s heart, simply a port switcher that lets you connect two DisplayPort-equipped Macs to a single Cinema Display. But, the glossy $70 adapter does have a few neat features, like USB pass through for firing up the iSight camera and a clip for securing it to the base of the monitor. The SnapX is available for pre-order now and starts shipping to Apple devotees in September. One more pic and some PR await after the break.

Continue reading SnapX lets your Macs share a single Cinema Display

SnapX lets your Macs share a single Cinema Display originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 03

Zotac adapter turns your DisplayPort into two HDMI jacks

Posted in: accessories, adapter, Today's Chili

You can never have enough HDMI ports, that’s what we say at least. Heck, what does that gaming rig you just put together have? Two? And that MacBook Pro of yours doesn’t have any at all. But, if there’s a DisplayPort hanging around, you can add a pair HDMI jacks with an adapter from Zotac. This little dongle turns any DisplayPort or Mini Displayport into a dual HDMI hookup, with support for two 1920 x 1080 monitors — provided your graphics card can handle it and the HDMI group doesn’t kill the product first. Pricing and availability are still up in the air at the moment, but you’ll find a few more details in the PR after the break.

Update: Zotac just reached out to let us know both adapters will be retailing for $50.

Continue reading Zotac adapter turns your DisplayPort into two HDMI jacks

Zotac adapter turns your DisplayPort into two HDMI jacks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 28

Powermat accompanies MyTouch 4G Slide at retail launch, or so the manufacturer says

Posted in: accessories, Android, gingerbread, Google, HTC, t-mobile, Today's Chili
If you’ve already misplaced the charging cable for your MyTouch 4G Slide, then it’s time to hustle back to your local T-Mobile retailer, where the new QWERTY handset is joined at its in-store launch by Powercube’s inductive charging cover. Sure, your bank account just received $200 worth of hurt, but if you’ve got a $90 buffer on your credit card, what’s an extra $30 for the shell and $60 for the Powermat, especially if it means keeping your phone alive? Sadly, both stores we called didn’t have the cover, so you might want to give Magenta a buzz beforehand, although T-Mo’s website is ready to take your money. No matter how you get it, you’ll still need to keep the base station from getting buried under pizza boxes and laundry, but we know you’re up to the task. Follow after the break for a slice of the PR.

Continue reading Powermat accompanies MyTouch 4G Slide at retail launch, or so the manufacturer says

Powermat accompanies MyTouch 4G Slide at retail launch, or so the manufacturer says originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 22:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 27

BookBook iPhone 4 case doubles as wallet, attempts to fool miniature luddites

Posted in: accessories, case, iPhone, Today's Chili

So, you’ve finally accepted the reality that smartphones aren’t a passing fad, but you’re no less concerned that the special tech-hater in your life might get hip that you’ve abandoned reading books for flinging unhappy fowl. You’re further concerned that you won’t have space in your skinny jeans for both a wallet and an iPhone. Well, it sounds like Twelve South’s BookBook iPhone 4 case has you and your ridiculous smartphone-conversion anxiety covered. The little leather-bound sleeve not only masks your iPhone in what looks like a miniature Bible binding, but also acts as host to your wallet’s contents. If you’re looking to fool folks into thinking you’re really reading a tiny tome titled BookBook, the case can be yours for $60 at the source link. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading BookBook iPhone 4 case doubles as wallet, attempts to fool miniature luddites

BookBook iPhone 4 case doubles as wallet, attempts to fool miniature luddites originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 04:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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