Hasta La Gadget!

We’re no strangers to SwiftKey here at Engadget HQ, and today TouchType is launching a major new version of everyone’s favorite Android virtual keyboard — SwiftKey Tablet X for devices running Honeycomb, and SwiftKey X for devices running Android 2.x. Both applications improve upon the original by using TouchType’s Fluency 2.0 artificial intelligence engine, a unique predictive phrase system which learns how you write. New features include cloud learning, which analyzes how you type in Gmail, Twitter, Facebook, and text messages to predict phrases in your style, plus keypress technology which continually monitors your typing precision and adapts the touch-sensitive area for each key to improve prediction accuracy. SwiftKey now supports 17 languages (with more coming soon) and is smart enough to interpret three languages at once. There’s also a handful of other enhancements, including support for themes which allow users to customize the look and feel of the keyboard. And that split keyboard option we first encountered at CES? It’s there of course, in the tablet version.

We’ve been testing SwiftKey Tablet X on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 for a few days now, alongside SwiftKey X on a handful of phones (including the Nexus S and the EVO 3D), and it’s probably the best virtual keyboard we’ve used on Android yet. In fact, it’s now replacing the stock keyboard on all our HTC Sense-equipped handsets. Prediction accuracy improves quickly after you start using the keyboard, and we liked having the option to turn off the spacebar-triggered auto-completion of words and phrases. Another useful feature is the ability to display arrow / cursor keys on the phone version. The supplied themes are attractive (especially Neon), and the layouts are intuitive — although we’d have preferred the numbers to be arranged in a row instead of mimicking a numpad. Both applications are available today only for $1.99 in the Android Market. Regular pricing is $4.99 for SwiftKey Tablet X, and $3.99 for SwiftKey X. Take a look at our screenshot galleries below, and hit the break for our hands-on videos and more.

Continue reading SwiftKey X virtual keyboard launches for Android tablets, we go hands-on (video)

SwiftKey X virtual keyboard launches for Android tablets, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aluminum Keyboard Buddy Case cloaks your iPad 2 in a MacBook Air duvet originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 10:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This sleek aluminum keyboard case makes the iPad look like a MacBook Air

Keyboards all come down to feel. Buying one without trying it first — unless there is a good returns policy — is probably foolish. But that doesn’t stop me wanting to send $50 to the M.I.C Store right this minute.

The keyboard in question is the Aluminum Keyboard Buddy Case for iPad 2, a keyboard very similar in concept to the ZaggMate case. It is similarly shaped to the iPad 2 itself, with a curved aluminum back, but instead of a screen there is an almost full-sized QWERTY keyboard, complete with keys to control iPad functions like media playback and brightness. When you place the iPad and keyboard face-to-face, magnets put the iPad’s screen to sleep and you have yourself a protective cover.

In keyboard mode, the iPad slips into a slot where it is held at an angle. Respect is due to the folks at M.I.C: When they review their own case on their Gadgets blog, they call out the design for only holding the iPad at one fixed angle.

The keyboard has its own lithium-polymer battery, rechargeable via USB, and has its own sleep mode to conserve power.

If the actual keyboard on this thing is as good as a proper MacBook Air keyboard (which it resembles in miniature), the $50 is a great deal, especially considering that Apple’s own Bluetooth Aluminum keyboard costs $70.

Aluminum Keyboard Buddy Case [M.I.C Store]

See Also:

• Writer, an iPad Keyboard Case for Pros
• ThinkGeek Joins iPad Keyboard Case Cavalcade
• Aluminum Shell Hides iPad Keyboard
• Leather Case Turns iPad into Netbook
• ClamCase Turns iPad into Laptop
• IKeyboard, A Slap-On Rubber Keyboard for iPad

Continue reading Art Lebedev’s Optimus Mini Six enters production, Popularis unsurprisingly delayed

Art Lebedev’s Optimus Mini Six enters production, Popularis unsurprisingly delayed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Loving your Galaxy Tab 10.1 but just itching for some accessories? Samsung knows you are, and today helpfully unveiled a “premium accessory suite” to soothe your jones for both add-ons and premium prices. The collection (parts of which appeared earlier on Sammy’s German site) includes a full-size keyboard dock ($70) and a multimedia dock ($35) enabling HDMI pass-through – you can have Tab video on your TV, as long as you buy the separate HDTV adapter ($30). You have your choice of cases, as well: a book cover model ($60) you can leave on while using the tablet, or a leather pouch edition ($30) that is, you guessed it, a leather pouch. A few miscellaneous items round out the collection, including various chargers, a conductive stylus and the already-released USB adapter. The company also promises a Bluetooth keyboard and SD card adapter to come “mid-summer,” just in time to ease your next bout of premium-accessory fever.

[Update: Replaced keyboard image. Thanks for the feedback, everyone.]

Continue reading Samsung reveals ‘premium accessory suite’ for Galaxy Tab 10.1, includes premium prices

Samsung reveals ‘premium accessory suite’ for Galaxy Tab 10.1, includes premium prices originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 06:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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