Hasta La Gadget!

You’ve now had a few hours to digest our feelings on the iPhone 5s and 5c, but now it’s time to replicate the bulk of that experience on your existing Apple devices. iOS 7 is appearing as an available software in your settings panel now, or at least in the very near future. If you own an iPhone 5 / 4S / 4, an iPad 2/3/4, iPad Mini or the 5th generation iPod touch, then you’ll be entitled to witness Sir Jonathan’s first grand attempt at a UI revolution. Also, don’t forget that iTunes Radio will be making its big debut alongside the new operating system today, so at least you’ll have some smooth grooves to chill out to while your phone updates.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Apple

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Opera’s no stranger to the mobile web, as it’s been building browsers for phones and tablets for years. Today, however, it’s revealing an all-new window to the web called Coast. Coast’s been constructed specifically for the iPad and seeks to make browsing the internet feel the same as using an app. What’s that mean? Well, for starters, a series of swipe-able home screens and a tile-based UI that makes all your favorite websites look like icons. Also, Coast wholly does away with browser chrome, instead showing just content, with only small home and history buttons residing beneath whatever page you’re viewing. Navigation forward and back’s accomplished by swiping, and a customizable search bar sits atop your favorites. Essentially, Coast aims to be simple to use and to deliver web content in an unobtrusive, elegant way.

When launched, Coast shows you a tiled grid of favorites, and you can set the number of tiles you see per screen (the default is nine). Adding a new site’s as easy as dragging and dropping it onto one of the home screens. Upon returning to home from a site, the icon tile of that last-visited page shows up beneath your favorites, so you can make it stick around permanently by sliding it up to join your other bookmarks. Coast also takes a page from the webOS playbook by providing your browsing history as a series of panes that are tapped for access or swiped upwards to be deleted. And, Opera has, of course, thought to secure the browser, too. Coast is backed by a security engine that constantly consults an online database of unsafe sites — stray into a nasty corner of the internet, and Coast strings police tape across the page and warns you of the danger. You can also view the security and reputation of any given site by tapping the history button, then swiping down from the bottom of the webpage to reveal such info. Want to know how Coast came to be? Join us after the break to find out.%Gallery-slideshow83434%

Filed under: Tablets, Internet, Software

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Logitech just can’t stop making keyboard cases for iPad minis, and its third set in six months includes the new Ultrathin Keyboard Folio, which melds familiar elements — water-repellant materials, Bluetooth connectivity — with a few novel ones. Namely, iOS shortcut keys for copying and pasting and a magnet system called SecureLock to keep your slate anchored. What the firm is claiming is its thinnest and lightest keyboard folio to date will cost you $89.99 — that’s the same price as March’s version, or $10 more than February’s model. Also fresh is the key-less Folio Protective Case that does double duty as a multi-position stand, and will sell for $49.99, about $10 over Apple’s own Smart Cover. The good news is that if you dig either of these, they’ll be available direct from the manufacturer later this month. If not? Well, there’s bound to be a different model or two by the end of next week.

Filed under: Tablets, Apple

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Source: Logitech Blog

There’s an abundance of iOS device docks, but many aren’t well-suited to deskside use when they sit too low and limit use of the audio jack. Twelve South’s new HiRise for iPhone bucks that trend. The stand raises smaller iOS devices closer to eye level, where they’re well-positioned for video chats and listening to music with headphones. Owners have to bring their own Lightning cables for power, but they won’t have to worry about case or device compatibility thanks to an adjustable rear support. That flexibility helps justify the HiRise’s relatively high $35 price — it won’t be obsolete the moment that Apple and accessory makers change form factors.

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Portable Audio/Video, Tablets

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Source: Twelve South

Tablets are virtually tailor-made for our summer vacations, whether we’re checking email at the hotel or watching movies during an airport layover. The manufacturers must know this, as there’s a surge of new slates set to arrive while the weather’s still scorching. Our 2013 summer tablet buyer’s guide will help you decide which of these models is worth space in your travel bag. There are also several veteran tablets we recommend, although some of them could be obsolete soon — we’ll let you know when newer devices loom ahead. Whether or not you want the latest hardware, though, our guide should have the tablet you need.

Filed under: Tablets, Apple, Samsung, Sony, Microsoft, ASUS, Google, Amazon, Lenovo

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