New iPad Smart Covers

At the release of the iPad 2, Apple also brought out its Smart Cover product, which quickly became a favorite. Although the new iPad 3 is a little thicker through the middle than the iPad 2 (due to a bigger battery), it is still compatible with the previous Smart Covers that are currently for sale. This is excellent news as the Smart Cover not only protects the iPad screen from scratches and scrapes but is also functional and practical, and a stylish choice.

The Smart Cover uses magnets within the iPad to align it perfectly to the iPad. Third party cases can sometimes be a bit of a struggle to line up on the iPad – sometimes the case slips and the home button is not easily accessible, or it can be a struggle to fit the charger lead into the socket. So the magnetized Smart Cover is a welcome change.

The Smart Cover can automatically wake the device when the cover is opened, meaning users no longer need to hit the home button or power button to access the iPad. This is just a small and simple feature but incredibly useful.

The Smart Cover is also capable of supporting the iPad in a standing position so that you can easily view movies and videos. The cover simply folds behind the iPad to prop it up. This is also very useful for FaceTime and Skype sessions. The cover can also be folded at a different angle to prop up the unit to make typing easier. This can be especially helpful if you are composing a long email or document.

There are two material choices with the Smart Cover, and a whole range of colors to choose from. For bright vibrant colors, the obvious choice is the polyurethane cover, available in black, gray, pink, green and blue. There is also a traditional leather cover which comes in brown, black, gray, white and red. Both of the materials are lined with microfiber which works to remove smudges and fingermarks from the screen when the cover is closed, as well of course as keeping it safe from scratches.

No matter your personal preference in terms of color and material, the Smart Cover cannot be beaten on functionality and usefulness. Many cases for the iPad can be quite bulky and add a significant amount of weight and bulk to the device. However the Smart Cover is slim and sleek while still giving protection. In addition, the extra features make it a great and stylish choice for any new iPad owner, or a great gift choice for the iPad owner in your family!

Source: http://tabletbuzzblog.com/new-ipad-smart-covers/

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Nyko Power Grip for PlayStation Vita review: a $25 accessory that promises to double your battery life

Gaming accessories come in all shapes and sizes --- replacement controllers, portable console suitcases, specialized mice, control augmenting nubs, you name it. Whatever your niche, you can bet there's a product out there to fill it. Nyko, in particular, has made a bit of a habit of fulfilling a particular need: manufacturing third-party battery accessories for all those short-lived handhelds. The outfit has such a solid track record in the category, in fact, that we had little doubt its PlayStation Vita Power Grip ($25) would live up to its life-giving hype -- but we decided to put it to the test all the same.

Gallery: Nyko Power Grip for PlayStation Vita review

Continue reading Nyko Power Grip for PlayStation Vita review: a $25 accessory that promises to double your battery life

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Nyko Power Grip for PlayStation Vita review: a $25 accessory that promises to double your battery life originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/16/nyko-power-grip-for-playstation-vita-review/

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Judge Urges Out-of-Court Settlement in Apple v. Samsung Case

The patented design of the iPad, like the third generation iPad pictured here, is up for judgment in Apple v. Samsung. Photo: Jon Phillips/Wired

With witness testimony finishing up late this week and closing statements expected to begin next week, the patent case of the century, Apple v. Samsung, is getting into crunch time. The federal judge presiding over the case, Lucy Koh, is giving executives on both sides one last chance to hash out a solution on their own before the jurors begin deliberating next week.

“I see risk here for both sides if we go to a verdict,” Judge Koh said. The nine jurors selected for the case, most of whom have no technical background whatsoever, will determine if any of the many patents involved in the case were wrongly granted, if they’re being infringed, and how much the wronged party deserves in damages, if anything.

The verdict could have lasting reverberations among device makers as well as consumers, as injunctions preventing flagship devices from being sold in specific countries could be upheld.

“It’s time for peace,” Koh said. Very early in the trial, Koh said she has grown tired of the “theatrics” involved in the case. To date, Samsung has been sanctioned four times, and there have also been a number of heated in-court arguments and quibbles since the trial began.

In response to Koh’s advice to hash out a solution before the case is decided by a jury, both parties agreed to a meeting via telephone.

Much of Wednesday’s proceedings involved the tedious testimony of technical experts opining on Samsung’s 3G-related patent claims, but talk also went back to Samsung’s design process. Specifically, discussion centered around when Samsung began plans for its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet. Multiple Samsung designers testified that they did not copy Apple’s designs, with industrial designer Jin Soo Kim saying the company began designing two versions of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 three months prior to the announcement of the iPad in January 2010.

“We decided we would produce the lightest and thinnest tablet in the world,” Kim said.

As of 1:10 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, Samsung had used 20 of its 25 allotted hours for testimony and Apple had used 17.

The Fidler tablet prototype.

Earlier in the week, Samsung attempted to show jurors how Apple’s patents should not have been granted in the first place by providing examples of prior art, pre-existing tablets and tablet designs. This notably included the so-called “Fidler tablet,” named for its designer Roger Fidler, who testified in court that “Apple personnel were exposed to my tablet ideas and prototypes” in the mid ’90s. Samsung also showed pre-existing examples of Apple’s user interface utility patents.

Apple also continued to push its argument that Samsung indeed copied its design by showing the wedge-shaped Sony Tablet S in court Tuesday as an example of different, non infringing tablet designs.

Apple and Samsung have been embroiled in a jury trial for three weeks. Apple claims Samsung is infringing on design patents for the iPhone and iPad, as well as utility patents covering things such as the “bounce-back” effect when you reach the end of a list in the UI. Samsung is claiming Apple is infringing on its essential 3G transmission patent holdings. The trial is expected to come to a rousing conclusion by the last week of August.

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/08/apple-v-samsung-week-3/

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HTC's Big Problem is Brand Marketing, CEO Tells Employees

Much of Android's success can be attributed to HTC's early efforts to promote the open source platform, and in the beginning, none were more aggressive than HTC. These days it's Samsung that sits on top, while HTC struggles to turn around its business. Did HTC rest on its laurels, or is there another reason why it's no longer leading the charge?...

Source: http://hothardware.com/News/HTCs-Big-Problem-is-Brand-Marketing-CEO-Tells-Employees/

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Sony Stretches PlayStation's Legs

It's no secret that Sony Computer Entertainment sees mobile gaming as a large contributor to its bottom line in the future. That vision became clearer Tuesday when Sony revealed more details about its PlayStation Mobile service. The skeleton of the program was revealed earlier this summer at the E3 conference in Los Angeles, but at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, Sony put some flesh on those bones. PlayStation Mobile will allow Sony to bring some of its vast backlist of games to its mobile hardware -- its Xperia phone line, its tablets and its Vita handheld game player.

Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/2268d1d4/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C7590A80Bhtml/story01.htm

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AT&T 4G LTE expanded to two new markets - Waco, TX and Fayetteville, AR

While Verizon is proclaiming to have their 4G LTE rollout now covering more than 75 percent of the U.S. population, AT&T has announced two new markets to their rollout. Fayetteville, Springdale and Rogers, Ark., and Waco, Texas have been lit up for 4G LTE and customers in those areas can start enjoying faster access on their compatible devices. Are you in one of those areas? If so, drop by the Android Central forums and let everyone know what kinds of speeds you're seeing.

Source: AT&T

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/sy66uaZaYjI/story01.htm

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This Short Film Shows English Eccentricity and Engineering at Its Best [Video]

The Moulton Bicycle Company was established 50 years ago by the engineer who designed the suspension system for the first Mini. This video takes a peek at the inner-workings of the company at its headquarters in Bradford-Upon-Avon, UK—and shows off the kind of English eccentricity that is impossible to resist. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/6Rz68MjggBg/this-short-film-shows-english-eccentricity-and-engineering-at-its-best

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Gizmodo Day Oxford Meet-Up Live Blog (Updating) [Gizmodo10]

To celebrate Gizmodo's tenth birthday in the UK, we're partying at The Jame Factory in Oxford. Given that Gizmodo is a US-based website, how will it play out? This is the live blog of how it's going. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/RTrps2WfOFM/gizmodo-day-oxford-meet+up-live-blog-updating

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Sony wins EISA green smartphone award for Xperia P

Sony's aluminum-clad Xperia P has been dubbed the "European Green Smartphone of 2012-13" by industry body EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association). The win, which places the Xperia P in good company with fellow EISA winners the HTC One S and Samsung Galaxy S3, is the company's third award from the organization. Last year Sony scooped up two awards for the Xperia Arc and Xperia mini (cameraphone of the year and green phone of the year respectively).

In a statement, the EISA praised the Xperia P's power efficiency, as well as Sony's use of environmentally friendly materials --

“The smart phone market is developing rapidly as models come packed with ever-increasing functionality. Unfortunately, the trend towards the use of bigger screens and embedded batteries can make recycling harder. The Sony Xperia P outperforms the competition in terms of energy performance while making efficient use of materials of environmental concern, such as precious metals and has a low copper content. With the Xperia P, Sony successfully follows the performance of last year’s winner, its Xperia Mini.”

In our review of the phone back in June, we were impressed by the Xperia P's build quality and value for money. And the phone's due to receive an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich soon, which should drastically improve its UI and overall responsiveness.

We don't often focus on the environmental cost of smartphones -- though we've seen eco-friendly models like the Samsung Replenish attempting to tap into this market previously. In any case, kudos to Sony for coming out on top on green credentials for a second year running. Would something like this affect your choice of smartphone? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Sony Xperia Product Blog, EISA

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/MQg5vjPdfkM/story01.htm

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HP Envy 4 Review: The Most Stylish Ultrabook Yet

The HP Envy 4 is aptly named--this Ultrabook's premium design and subtle pop of color makes it the envy of ultraportables everywhere.

Source: http://feeds.pcworld.com/click.phdo?i=136abac1cba8397e8d9064171be2e489

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