Hasta La Gadget!

Pelican is mostly known for its line of rugged bags and large cases meant for photography equipment and other expensive belongings that you need to protect. However, the company has released a new line of smartphone cases here at CES 2013, and we ended up getting our hands specifically on the ProGear Vault cases for the iPhone 5 and the iPad mini.

The iPhone 5 variant offers protection from “wind-driven” rain, dust, and scratching. All the ports are protected with durable flaps that let the sound out (for the speakers), but don’t let dust in. The case also has insulating shock and impact protection, thanks to rubber shock absorbers inside the case.

The case is made out from a magnesium and high-grade polymer, and it’s held together using military-grade hex screws at the four corners. Acoustic membranes also prevent water access through the microphone speaker ports, without hindering the audio. The buttons on the side, as well as the silent switch, was a little difficult to press, but like most cases, added that extra layer will hinder some of the button performance. What’s odd about the iPhone 5 case, is that the silent switch on the case is actually a knob that you twist slightly to change it. It’s an interesting concept, and one that we don’t see very often.

The iPad mini version offers the same protection and technology as the iPhone 5 case, and it features a flap door cover that can be opened up and used as a kickstand. The iPad mini case is actually still a very early prototype, and the cover actually didn’t even close all the way when we tested it. Nonetheless, both the iPhone 5 case and the iPad mini case are planned for an April or may release. Both cases will be priced between $75 and $85 when they eventually launch.

Pelican ProGear Vault iPhone 5 and iPad mini cases hands-on is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

While most companies seem to use CES to unveil new products and hardware, some use the show to launch new software. Synology is one such company, bringing its DiskStation Manager up to version 4.2 beta during the show. DiskStation Manager, as pretty much every Synology user already knows, is the operating system the company has developed for its network attached servers.

The list of new features found in DiskStation Manager 4.2 beta is absolutely huge, so Synology users are definitely in for a treat. Some of the major highlights of this release include an expansion of QuickConnect to cover DS Photo+, DS File, and DS Audio. This upgrade should make it easier for new users to set these features up, which is always a plus.

iOS users now also have a DS Cloud app at their disposal, which seems to essentially be Synology’s in-house version of Dropbox. DSM’s Package Manager is also getting a pretty major overhaul with this release, and it adds a bunch of new ease-of-use features and new apps that users have specifically been asking for. If you’ve been bugging Synology for new apps and functionality in the Package Manager, there seems to be a pretty good chance that your wishes have been granted.

Jumping back to the Cloud-related features, Synology has done quite a bit with syncing in this latest release. For instance, Cloud Station is being brought up to version 2, and with this new version, the size limit for files is doubling – now users can sync files up to 10GB in size, rather than just 5GB. DiskStation Manager 4.2 beta is available for download right now from Synology’s website, with the full release following in another month or so. Be sure to check out our CES portal for all of our coverage from the show!

Synology DiskStation Manager makes jump to version 4.2 beta is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

This week we got the opportunity to have a peek at a collection of devices from MiPow, not least of them the Power Cube 8000M. This device is a relatively massive 8000mAh rechargeable battery able to bring your devices multiple charges over the span of its own full charge life. The entire unit is 92 x 92 x 17 mm and has a direct charging time of 8-10 hours.

The version of this device that we got here is the Purple while the folks at MiPow also have Orange, Charcoal Gray, and Silver available now. You’ll be able to charge this device up with your own microUSB cord from a wall socket the same as you would your own smartphone and you’ll be able to charge your Android, iPhone, Windows Phone, or BlackBerry device up at will. In fact, if you’ve got any sort of device that charges with either a micro USB (included in the device’s build), or full-size plug USB charging cable (like an iPhone 5 Lightning cable, for instance), you’ll be able to charge here.

Five of the sides (all but the bottom) are anodized aluminum while the bottom is “painted by a fine rubber” as they say, anti-slip and all. We’ve had a look at a few other MiPow devices this week as well including the SP 5500 mobile battery, also known as the Power Tube 5500. This machine works with 5500mAh battery capacity and is available in a massive amount of different colors – and it’s got a flashlight on it as well!

Have a peek at our whole CES 2013 offering in hands-on and up to the minute updates in our giant CES portal all week long. Also be sure to be on the lookout in the future for more MiPow action from all angles – they’ve also got Bluetooth headsets and speakers. Fun stuff for everyone!

MiPow Power Cube 8000M hands-on is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Back in early November, Belkin unveiled the NetCam WiFi camera, but it only supported standard definition, and it was the company’s first try at implementing a wireless camera. However, the company has released a sequel here at CES 2013, and its calling it the NetCam HD. We stopped by the company’s booth to get a look at the new device.

The NetCam HD touts 720p video capabilities, as well as digital audio capture for monitoring while your on the road. It also boasts easy setup with an Android or iOS smartphone with your home’s wireless router, so there’s no need to get on your computer to configure the device, which is incredible convenient, especially for those who use their smartphones the most.

If you need to monitor your house at night, Belkin included night vision capabilities in the NetCam HD, just like the device’s predecessor. A companion mobile app handles most of the workload, and email alerts can be pushed to your inbox when motion is detected, complete with a screenshot of the culprit passing through.

Additionally, the NetCam HD will launch with the recently outed WeMo SMART platform that adds to Belkin’s home automation tools for a variety of in-home uses with electronics and appliances. The NetCam HD is slated to hit shelves this spring at a price of $149, which is just a tad more than the original NetCam.

Belkin NetCam HD WiFi camera hands-on is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

This year at CES, audiophile company Behringer introduced the OMNI series of AirPlay-compatible speakers and other audio equipment. Of course, these products are all about networked playback and connecting all your home’s audio together over the interwebs. We ended up getting our hands on the OMNI Link stereo receiver, the OMNI Amp amplifier, and the OMNI SP5i AirPlay speaker system.

The company made a big appearance at last year’s CES with its incredibly-oversized iPod dock, the iNuke Boom. However, this year the company launched a series of AirPlay-compatible products, and we ended up checking out the Link and the SP5i. The Link is a stereo receiver that can turn any pair of ordinary speakers into networked AirPlay-supported speakers.

The Link and Amp both look very similar from the front, and are the exact same size, but the difference between the two is mostly dependent on the connections on the back, as well as the hardware on the inside. The Link has red and white RCA audio inputs, and the Amp includes two stereo wire inputs. Both models include an ethernet port for home network connectivity, and there’s also a 1/4-inch headphone jack on the front for personal listening. The Amp features a 2 x 40W stereo amplifier for increased quality and louder music out of those low-powered speakers you have lying around.

The SP5i is the company’s flagship OMNI AirPlay speaker, and it’s an active three-way speaker system with a 6-inch subwoofer inside. It’s a fairly large speaker, and the audio certainly doesn’t sound bad. Even with the loud noise and the large crowd on the show floor, the speaker blasted away and the bass was certainly bumping.

The OMNI Link will cost $129, and the Amp will be priced at $199, while the SP5i will cost you a hefty $349. The company will have a smaller version for $249 that will come with a smaller 4-inch subwoofer.

Behringer OMNI Link, Amp, and SP5i hands-on is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.