Hasta La Gadget!

I’m itching like many to have a 3D printer at home so that I can print out stuff like this iPhone 5 case, which won a competition at Shapeways. It was one of five hundred entries, and what’s unique about this case is that looks more like it was knit than 3D printed.

The winning case was designed by ArtizanWork. It comes in four different colors and doesn’t look like an ordinary iPhone case. It looks like a mix of something hand-knit and some chainmail. The edges of the case are sturdy but the space in between is more flexible. It can actually move around a bit when prodded.

What’s really cool is that stitched bits can move separately from each other, creating a tactile feeling that unlike any other case. They also act like mini shock absorbers that protect your phone. The case is available directly from ArtizanWork for $75(USD).

[via core77]

AT&T found itself on the sharp end of the stick when customers revolted because the wireless carrier wanted to charge extra to allow FaceTime over mobile networks for iPhone users, even thought they’re already paying for data. The thing that made AT&T users so angry was that other carriers allow the use of FaceTime on their networks without any extra charges.

AT&T announced this week that it would enable FaceTime over cellular networks at no extra charge for customers running iOS 6 with an LTE device on any tiered data plan. The company will continue to offer FaceTime to customers with AT&T Mobile Share plans as well as face time over Wi-Fi, which has always been available. 3G users are still out of luck, but the performance on 3G wouldn’t be so great anyhow.

AT&T says that it will take 8 to 10 weeks to roll no extra cost FaceTime out to all existing customers (which seems like a long time). It never made sense for AT&T to try to charge extra for FaceTime so it’s nice to see them backtrack on their plans.

Keyboard-cases are nothing new for iPads, but it takes a certain mix of elements to make a really good one. After tackling your smartphone typing needs, Elecom decided to create a keyboard-case for your tablet.

The Elecom TK-FBP048ECBK is a transforming iPad keyboard case that isn’t too cramped. The clever mechanism splits its full-size keyboard in two and it folds away in a case which also acts as a stand for the iPad. It’s naturally Bluetooth-compatible, and a charge should keep it running for weeks.

It is 23mm thick when folded up, so that’s a bit much but I guess that the folding mechanism couldn’t be reduced in thickness. As with the Elecom smartphone keyboard, this case is pricey. Expect to pay ¥16,795 (~$210 USD) for it. Will it replace my Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio? I’m not sure.

[via Elecom]

Bluetooth speakers are getting quite common, but it’s only when you use one yourself that you realize how useful they can be, especially if they are multi-functional. The Braven 625s is the company’s rugged version, and I decided that it should be able to survive my backpack, so when I was offered a choice for a model to review, I decided on this one.

First of all, the box it came in was frustratingly hard to open, even with the instructions on how to open it. This is the first mistake. Why do you need instructions on how to open a box? Anyway, after about 5 minutes of grunting, I was finally able to open it up, though not before I thought about taking some power tools to it. The speaker is nicely made, but immediately I noticed something odd. There was a rattling coming from inside the device. It sounded like a screw had come loose. It hasn’t hampered the device’s functions, but if I had paid for this unit, I would have immediately returned it.

The speaker itself is easy to set up, but the myriad of buttons located on both sides make it a bit counterintuitive. You need to switch it on and press the phone button to pair it with your device.

Once it’s paired, it takes but a couple of seconds for the speaker to recognize your device. Once connected, the sound is surprisingly good, especially for a small portable speaker. There is even a bit of bass coming out of the back, and the dual 3-watt-per-channel drivers provide ample sound.

What makes this speaker different from some of the other ones that I’ve seen is that it comes with some interesting add-ons. It can function as an external battery, and while it won’t charge your iPad, it will provide emergency charging for your iPhone. The 1700 mAh battery will charge up most smaller devices and it’s a nice option to have if you lug it around. The battery is supposed to deliver 16 hours of autonomy. It’s close to this number, but if you use it to charge up your devices, you’ll use it up your juice a lot quicker. There’s also a USB light attachment that will turn the speaker into a (rather bulky) flashlight. It definitely comes in handy if you use your speaker in the dark. The whole thing comes in a water-resistant bag, and includes a 40″ long USB-to micro-USB cable for charging and a 3.5mm cable for connecting audio devices without Bluetooth.

Ultimately, I like this little speaker. For its sound quality, it’s not that expensive; it functions well and the additional features make it somewhat unique. What I didn’t like was the box it came in. No device should be this difficult to get out of a plastic box. Also, the rattling is disturbing. I’m hoping that this was a fault of the single device that I tried, but it does speak to quality control.

The Braven 625s sells for $179.99(USD) directly from Braven.

iPhones can take plenty of abuse, but they get scratched up pretty quickly, which is one of the reasons why cases are necessary. Unlike some, I prefer to keep my phone in as good condition as possible, so when I inevitably upgrade and resell it, I get maximum value. The BookBook case from Twelve South is an interesting idea, since it combines a protective iPhone case with a wallet.

The BookBook case is nicely designed, and fits the iPhone 4 and 4S well. There are 3 slots for credit cards and ID cards, as well as a small slip pocket for some cash. The best thing about this case is that it keeps your iPhone screen scratch-free. Unless you are very diligent in always storing your iPhone in a pocket with nothing else, it will eventually get scratched up. Thanks to its phone pocket and folding cover, this case stops this from happening. The case can also be put inside a bag or purse without any problems.

Personally, I like my cases minimal and simple, but when I was offered this case for review, it made me wonder if that’s really what I wanted. For me, it’s not the best fit due to its bulk. The book-like cover is a cute idea, but the overall design makes the phone a lot thicker than it needs to be. That said, if you’re looking to travel light, it does combine wallet and phone case, and that’s all some people need when they go out clubbing.

With a list price of $59.99 (USD), the BookBook is one of the more expensive iPhone cases I’ve seen. In fact, it’s close in price to some of the waterproof cases that I’ve been looking at. That said, it’s reasonably priced if you take into account the cost of both a case and a wallet.

The BookBook case is available over at Twelve South in either brown or black leather. You can also find the case At TiG on sale for just $21 right now.