Hasta La Gadget!

If you’re like us, one of the first things you wanted to do after getting your iPad was to find a great case for it. Right off the bat, we weren’t really that into Apple’s offering, which is strangely 90’s in its design aesthetic, though it does have a number of decent features if you’re looking for a do-it-all scenario and don’t have strong feelings on looks. For us, however, the goal was finding something that kept a low profile, shielded the slate from unnecessary grime, and made it easier to deal with. Oh, and we wanted it to look like a book. After reviewing the options, we’ve come up with two choices that we think are your best bets for turning your iPad into something a little more familiar, so here’s our quick take on M-Edge’s Trip Jacket, and the stunning, hand-made Dodocase.

Continue reading A tale of two iPad cases: the Dodocase and M-Edge Trip Jacket

A tale of two iPad cases: the Dodocase and M-Edge Trip Jacket originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 May 2010 18:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hey, we just got our Hello Rewind laptop sleeve in the mail, and we’re pretty psyched about it. If you’ll recall, Hello Rewind is a startup in New York City dedicated to helping the survivors of sex trafficking learn new skills by running a business turning old T-shirts into laptop sleeves, and all of the proceeds are used to sustain the enterprise and help more survivors. Pretty neat, especially since helping out just requires you to donate a favorite old shirt and $49 — and the sleeve itself is actually quite nice. Be warned, though: it fits pretty snugly around 15-inch MacBook Pros, and it wasn’t even an option for our bruiser 15-inch HP Elitebook, so you might want to get a size up if you’ve got a bigger machine. Of course, that pales in comparison to the bigger problem: what T-shirt are you going to use?

Hello Rewind laptop sleeve hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 01 May 2010 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It was just a few weeks ago that we lost Dr. Henry Roberts, the pioneer whose company created the Altair 8800, and while this project isn’t exactly a tribute to the man it is at least a sign that his legacy lives on. Bob Alexander had always wanted an 8800 of his own, but now that he could afford one didn’t want a gigantic blue case filling up his life. So, be bought a repurposed Altair 680, little brother of the 8800, and set about stuffing it with an Intel Core i5-650 processor on a Mini-ITX motherboard with 4GB of RAM, 80GB of SSD and 500GB on platters. That’s all standard fare, but the front of the case pulls it all together, a custom-made, USB-powered circuit board with LEDs that turn on and off similarly to how the 8800’s would. Those blinkenlights and the rest of the project are demonstrated after the break, but sadly there’s no word of whether Kill the Bit is playable.

Continue reading Mini Altair 8800 looks authentic, runs Windows 7 (video)

Mini Altair 8800 looks authentic, runs Windows 7 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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And here you were, stylin’ in your Juice Pack Air, thinking you were the king of the charging iPhone case hill with the sleekest hardware money can buy… but guess what? Life isn’t fair, and MiLi intends to prove it by undercutting Mophie’s solution by right around a twentieth of an inch of thickness. It’s still packing 1200mAh of power — the same that the Juice Pack Air offers — which MiLi claims should be enough to just about double your run time. It’s available now in a choice of eight scintillating color combos for £47.99 (about $74).

MiLi’s Powerskin claims coveted ‘thinnest iPhone battery case’ title originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Security Case for the iPad is a folio-style leather folder for the iPad. As a simple flip-open case it is fine, if expensive at $45. But its standout feature – security – is an almost willfully absurd duplication of something the iPad already has: a PIN-protected lock.

Like the iPhone, the iPad requires a four-digit PIN to unlock it (if you activate it). The “Security” Case has a three-digit combination to stop you opening the clasp, which is of the same design as you’ll see on the locking diary of a tween-aged girl, on on the briefcase of a middle-aged middle-manager. If that doesn’t ring a bell, it looks like the kind of lock which can be popped in seconds with the help of a small blade.

Worse, the port is still exposed. This is touted as a feature: You can charge the iPad while it is locked up. But it also means that anyone can gain physical access to your machine, plug it into another computer and wipe your data. That’s not so secure. Still, there is one thing that this case can provide. The iPad can display a slideshow of your photos when locked. If you have foolishly decided to run the album featuring those “cheeky” photos of your better half on your screensaver, then this just may save you some office embarrassment. Available now.

Security Case For iPad [New PC Gadgets via Coolest Gadgets]