Hasta La Gadget!

People have come up with iPhone cases that come attached with all sorts of stuff, like extra battery packs, card holders, and even bottle openers. Those seem like reasonable things to have integrated onto a phone case.

But what about a whistle?

It hasn’t been done yet commercially, but designer Sang-Hoon Lee wants to get it made – with the right support and backing, that is. The case is aptly called the Hoo Whistle Case. It looks like your basic iPhone case, except that it’s got a whistle embedded at the top.

It might seem like a novelty to some, but it’s actually a pretty neat safety device. When you’re in trouble and need help or need to get someone’s attention, all you have to do is put the case to your mouth and blow. Nothing works best as a noisemaker than a traditional whistle, yes?

[via Gadget Review]

Keyboard cases for the iPad are nothing new, there are plenty of them on the market today. That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for new offerings that are either easier-to-use, better looking, or more durable. Logitech has unveiled a new keyboard cover called the FabricSkin Keyboard Folio that brings the style of the Microsoft Surface RT to your iPad.

The keyboard folio is available in multiple colors including Mars Red Orange, Carbon Black, Mystic Blue, and Sunflower Yellow. The design of the new keyboard case protects the iPad on the front and the back with a wraparound design. Logitech equips the device with a magnetic clasp to keep the folio closed when you’re traveling.

The keyboard folio also has an integrated magnetic stand to allow you to prop the screen of your tablet up for comfortable typing or lay it flat depending on your needs. The keyboard section connects to your tablet using Bluetooth and the keyboard is spill resistant. The FabricSkin Keyboard has magnets on the edges near the iPad frame that automatically puts the iPad to sleep when you close the folio and wakes it up when you open the cover.

Power for the rechargeable keyboard comes from an internal rechargeable battery that charges using a USB port. Logitech claims you can get three months of usable battery life on a single full charge. The retail price for the FabricSkin Keyboard Folio is $149.99. You can pre-order the keyboard folio right now but the shipping date is unknown. The case is designed to work with the iPad 2 and third and fourth generation iPad tablets.

[via Logitech]

Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio borrows Surface RT style for iPad is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The rumor about that more affordable iPhone just keeps coming back, but this time we’re finally seeing some sort of progress. Courtesy of case manufacturer Tactus, we’re apparently looking at the upcoming budget iPhone’s polycarbonate shell, which was spotted at a factory that provides parts to Foxconn. It’s the same story for the “iPad 5” case leak that Tactus published two days ago (the same day as our own scoop), so the company does seem to have a good contact for these kinds of goodies — and it is a very competitive market, after all.

Compared to the old polycarbonate iPhone 3G and 3GS, this mysterious shell appears to have a flat back instead of the old curved one, meaning it should reduce manufacturing complexity and therefore the cost as well. Another notable difference is that the old volume rocker is split into two, and then there’s also the LED flash that was absent on the old polycarbonate iPhones. Tactus adds that this body is slightly taller, wider and thicker than the iPhone 4 and 4S, but what we do struggle to believe is that apparently the same factory is producing this shell in black and white as well as blue, red and yellow. A decoy, perhaps? Only time will tell.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Source: Tactus (budget iPhone leak), (“iPad 5” case leak)

Now that the fourth-generation iPad has been around for several months, it’s high time we had some rumors and tips surrounding the generation that’s up next! The iPad 5 case mold that we’re seeing today has been passed on to some case-makers who suggest that this iteration of the tablet will have a 9.7-inch display as it’s had before, but that its body will be slimmer with a smaller bezel – strange, isn’t it?

With this version of the iPad we’ll once again be seeing the Lightning connector on the bottom of the tablet, a microphone hole up top on the back, and speaker holes on the bottom too. This model has the same display lock, same location for a headphone jack, and same placement of a volume button. It’s as if this version of the iPad hasn’t change at all for the basics. Even the camera appears to be the same size.

The big differences come in the thinness of the body and the wideness and tallness of the overall tablet design. This leaked mold suggests that Apple might be taking the same approach Sony has taken with their updated design of the Xperia Z with the Xperia XL. Tossing out everything that’s not absolutely essential in the design, here we’ve got a display that will appear much closer to an edge-to-edge situation than in previous tablets.

Have a peek at a couple of shots of cases courtesy of Engadget and let us know if you feel Apple should be cutting down on the bezel for the next-generation hero iPad design. Have a peek at our reviews of the iPad 4 and the iPad mini as well and see what you think – will you be picking up an iPad in the near future if they change the body?

Supposed iPad 5 cases found in Hong Kong is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

It was at CES that we were first introduced to Otterbox’s Defender case with iON Intelligence, which promises to keep phones alive in two ways: by shielding them from physical abuse, and by serving up extra juice whenever they’re thirsty. Otterbox has now told us the new case is nearly ready to bounce off hit the streets, and will be launching on April 18th for the iPhone 4 and 4S. The case combines the familiar hard shell, rubbery sleeve and screen protector for laughing off falls, with a 1,450mAh battery — that’s a sliver bigger than the 4 / 4S built-ins — to effectively double capacity. LEDs on the case let you know how much extra juice is left, and the companion iON Intelligence app automatically redirects power when it’s needed, and monitors usage to predict how long ’til your next charge. The iPhone 4 / 4S model will be available from Otterbox’s online den for $129.95, and others are in the works for “other top iOS and Android devices.” Check out the promo videos below for a full product walkthrough.

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Software, Mobile

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