Hasta La Gadget!

Technically, we suppose Logitech already made a play for the tablet accessories market when it launched a rebranded Zaggmate keyboard case earlier this year, but today the peripheral manufacturer’s getting serious about slates with the launch of two new portable products. Lacking a Smart Cover to keep your iPad 2 on edge? You could try the $70 Logitech Tablet Keyboard pictured above, which comes with a hardshell sleeve that doubles as a tablet stand and dedicated iOS or Android shortcuts. The keyboard itself is slick, roomy and somewhat plasticky, with a definite Notion Ink Adam vibe. There’s also a redesigned Zaggmate, now known as the $100 Logitech Keyboard Case, which comes with “a more intuitive keyboard layout and improved keystrokes for even more comfortable typing” — a claim we weren’t able to test — as well as a rebranded $100 Logitech Z515 Bluetooth speaker system, and a $50 Bluetooth mouse. Pricey? Definitely. Worthwhile? Decide for yourself later this month, when they’re scheduled to hit shelves.

Continue reading Logitech outs a pair of keyboard cases, gets into the tablet accessories game

Logitech outs a pair of keyboard cases, gets into the tablet accessories game originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 May 2011 04:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We don’t usually go wild for wireless mice, but HP has revealed a new rodent that controls your PC pointer via WiFi that’s piqued our interest. Dubbed the HP WiFi Mobile Mouse, it’s got five programmable buttons and a four-way tilt scroll wheel for nuisance-free navigation, plus a nine-month battery life from dual AAs. In addition to the WiFi wunderkind, HP is rolling out its Link-5 wireless connection technology — similar to Logitech’s Unifying Receiver — with compatible keyboards and mice as well. Link-5 lets you connect up to (surprise, surprise) five devices through a single diminutive USB dongle. So instead of pedestrian peripherals, you can connect something a little more awesome. Vid’s after the break.

Continue reading HP unveils WiFi Mobile Mouse and Link-5 wireless tech to free your USB

HP unveils WiFi Mobile Mouse and Link-5 wireless tech to free your USB originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 May 2011 03:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keyboards get really gross, really fast, especially when you eat around them. It’s a problem the backlit, buttonless Cool Leaf doesn’t have to contend with, since it doesn’t have any pores for crud to fall into and is easily wiped off with a wet cloth. The lovely mirrored peripheral will be hitting Japanese retailers on May 13th at an unknown price that we expect to be around 20,000 yen ($245) — steep, not to mention the cost of repairing sprained fingers after an all night term paper writeathon. The Cool Leaf will only be available in a Japanese language, Windows-compatible version at launch, though other languages — including US English — and a Mac-friendly variety have also been announced, so the rest of us may have a wait a little longer for the future to arrive.

Cool Leaf keyboard’s shiny, buttonless future gets release date originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’re waiting impatiently for the ability hook your laptop in to T-Mobile’s blazingly fast 42Mbps HSPA+ network, you are going to have hold tight just a little bit longer. But here’s some good news to tide you over: the 21Mbps capable Rocket 4G USB stick is here, and available starting April 17th with new prepaid data plans for those who prefer not to chain themselves to a two-year contract. The $30, 30-day plan will jump from 300MB to 1GB, and the $50 plan will be bumped from 1GB to 3GB. It’s not as flashy as the 4G Mobile Hotspot nor as fast as the 42Mbps Rocket 3.0, but it’s priced at a reasonable $59.99 — and controlling the destiny of your mobile broadband soul must be worth something.

T-Mobile blesses contract-averse with Rocket 4G modem and better data plans originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We were just pondering this very thing yesterday — would Intel dedicate itself to Thunderbolt and give USB 3.0 the cold shoulder — and now we have our answer from the Santa Clara crew, albeit delivered from Beijing. The Chinese capital is the site of Intel’s currently ongoing developer conference, which is where Kirk Skaugen, VP of the company’s Architecture Group, assured the world that the promise for native USB 3.0 support in Intel chipsets will be fulfilled. Not this year, mind you, but it’ll be with us in 2012 as part of the Ivy Bridge CPU refresh. That matches AMD’s plans to support USB 3.0 in Fusion APUs, and was augmented with a strong word of endorsement from Skaugen about the connector’s future. He urged developers to embrace USB 3.0 on an equal footing with Intel’s proprietary Thunderbolt interconnect, describing the two technologies as “complementary.” If you say so, captain.

Intel to support USB 3.0 alongside Thunderbolt, coming with Ivy Bridge in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 04:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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