TouchFire iPad Keyboard

Typing on the iPad is anything but analogous to that of a standard keyboard.  As a result, a number of after market products have seen success, or at least production – case in point Logitech’s Foldup Keyboard (which we loved).  Unfortunately, they add bulk and negate the iPad’s svelte form factor.  As a result Steve Isaac & Brad Melmon built the TouchFire.

It’s an ultra thin and light weight (less than one ounce) keyboard that fits over the iPad’s virtual keyboard and provides the much needed force feedback to enable touch typists and those with an aversion to onscreen keyboards to type as if they were using the real thing.  Course it won’t solve the issue of keyboard size, but by using micro-structures and some sort of special manufacturing process, it can not only produces force feedback, allow you to partially see the screen as well as swipe, but leave the TouchFire in place even with Apple’s smart cover is in place.

So at this point the two have designed and built a working prototype.  But they need your help to get the TouchFire into production.  Pledging (it’s another Kickstarter project) $45 will buy you your own TouchFire, though if you pledge $25 more you’ll get two and some additional goodies.  So far they’ve raised $14,000, which exceeds their $10,000 funding goal, so it’s not a question of if it will ship, but when.

8:07 PM | 0 comments | Read More

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Keyboard & Mouse

 

In just under a month’s time COD: Modern Warfare 3 will hit store shelves.  No doubt we’ll see productivity drop across the globe as fans of the game call in sick to work so they can prolong their weekend frag session.  Here to celebrate the arrival of this disgustingly captivating game is Logitech, who earlier this week introduced a Modern Warfare 3 inspired keyboard and mouse for those that will take to the battlefield on a PC.

Now, don’t get too excited, since they’re pretty much just rebranded versions of their G105 gaming keyboard and G9X gaming mouse.  But that’s not all.  They’ve outfitted both peripherals with green lighting to complement the MW3′s logo.  So the keyboard has green backlighting while the mouse sports a set of green LED lights.

In terms of the actual hardware, the G105 keyboard sports 6 keys which can each be programmed with 3 different macros.  They’re customizable to however you see fit, provided you’ve downloaded Logitech’s software.  It also rocks anti-ghosting tech which lets players mash up to 5 keys simultaneously without any interruption in game play and some media shortcut keys.

The mouse on the other hand (pun intended), can keep pace at up to 165-inches per second.  So suffice to say, the G9X is fast.  Its sensitivity can can be adjusted anywhere from 200dpi to 5700dpi depending on your gaming tastes.  There is also a dual-mode scroll wheel that Logitech says is ideal for selecting weapons, thanks to the precise click-to-click function or if you’re not digging that you can switch to frictionless hyper-fast scrolling to fly through web pages.  Five profiles allow you to effortlessly switch between settings and you can even customize the weight of the device with up to 28 grams of extra mass.

Both the MW3 Keyboard and MW3 Mouse should be available now for $79.99 and $99.99, respectively.  We’re not saying replace your current gaming keyboard and mouse, but if you’re in the market, here’s a way to pledge your undieing devotion to COD.

11:47 PM | 0 comments | Read More

ZAGGfolio (for Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1)

Walk into pretty much any store that sells accessories for electronics, and you’ll find a vast assortment of items for the iPAD – try to find something for another tablet though, and you’ll have a rough time of it. Some companies like Acer do make their own things, but Samsung apparently doesn’t feel they need to make cases for the Galaxy Tab. Because of that, we’ve been left to get sub-par cases, or modify another to suit our needs – but now that ZAGG has made their ZAAGfolio compatible with the Galaxy Tab 10.1, will Galaxy owners like myself finally have someplace safe to store their tab?

One thing I found out doing this review, is that there are slight differences in the WiFi only version of the 10.1 Galaxy Tab, and the Verizon LTE model.  I mention this because I have the Verizon model, and the ZAGGfolio is meant for the plain WiFi model.  I’m not taking any points off because of any modifications I had to make, because really that’s not their fault.  I will let you know though exactly what you’ll need to do in order to make it work should you also have the Verizon model.

The first thing you’ll notice on picking up the ZAGGfolio is that it feels very solid.  The hard shell will definitely be able to protect your Galaxy Tab from everyday bumps without any issues.  The Bluetooth keyboard is small and sleek, but it doesn’t feel uncomfortable to use at all – rather I find myself using it almost exclusively anymore, even when my Tab isn’t in the case.  A charge on the keyboard lasts about a week with normal use, and it only takes about an hour of being plugged in to build that charge right back up.

On the keyboard is your standard set of keys, but then there are a lot of Galaxy control keys.  Things such as volume up and down, screen brightness, and media keys are right at your fingertips – and in the case of the volume controls that’s super important, as you won’t be able to change the volume any other way on the Verizon model.  I don’t know where the volume buttons are on the WiFi version – they could very well be in one of the holes that don’t line up with anything on my model, but when you put the Verizon version in the case your volume buttons are completely covered up.

Speaking of things being covered up, if you DO have a Verizon version like myself, I hope you have a Dremel, because you need to lengthen the hole for the power button about a quarter of an inch, or you’ll never be able to turn your Tab on.  Again, this isn’t a design flaw on the ZAGGfolio, but merely Samsung being strange and changing little things between models.  Hopefully there will be a design revision though to take into account these differences between the models.

One thing that is both good and bad on the ZAGGfolio, is how tight of a fit it is.  I don’t believe there’s any size difference in the Verizon and WiFi models (though if anyone knows they can feel free to correct me), so this will happen on either model.  Trying to get your Tab actually in the ZAGGfolio is a chore and a half – saying it fits like a glove isn’t really right, more like it fits like a glove one size too small.  I understand that you want a tight fit to keep the tab from slipping out, but the same thing could have been accomplished with two tabs at the bottom to clip it in place.  As it it, I was afraid I would end up breaking my Tab by repeatedly putting it in and taking it out.  If you don’t plan on ever taking your Tab out though (or rarely), then that won’t be so much of an issue for you to have to deal with.

Something that’s really great about the ZAGGfolio is how you can rest your Tab in it at an angle, making it act much like a laptop screen.  This is perfect for watching videos and movies on the go when you don’t feel like holding your Tab for everything.  While the viewing angle isn’t really adjustable, it’s set up for the average person to have a good view for it being seated either on your lap or a desk.

The Bottom Line: The ZAGGfolio is a good first attempt at a case for the Samsung Galaxy Tab – while it’s not perfect yet, it works and with a few simple hardware changes it could easily become the go-to case for Galaxy Tab owners.

Pros:

• Nice and solid case will protect the Tab a lot better than having nothing
• The Bluetooth keyboard is a really nice feature, and a Godsend for people like me who like to feel the keys
• The screen sits at pretty much the perfect level when it’s in the holder

Cons:

• Incredibly tight fit makes you dread having to take the Tab out of the case
• The case doesn’t like to stay snapped shut unless you really force it together
• It’s not set up to be universal across different Galaxy Tab models

You can grab a ZAGGfolio for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 from Amazon for $89.99

3:47 PM | 0 comments | Read More

Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 Review

 

Pros:

• Never needs batteries, can be recharged by sunlight or artificial light
• Thin (1/3-inch) and easy to move or carry
• Concave keys make typing more comfortable
• Officially only supports Windows but also works with Mac OS X

Cons:

• Can’t adjust the angle of the keyboard
• Lacks special context menu button found on most Windows keyboards
• Flimsy plastic legs prop up the keyboard

If you’re already convinced that wireless keyboards give you more flexibility, you’ll have no problems understanding the appeal of Logitech’s latest wireless keyboard. However, the biggest problem with any wireless keyboard has been the need for batteries that tend to run out just when you need the keyboard the most. Fortunately, Logitech’s Solar Keyboard K750 eliminates the problems of batteries by including two built-in solar panels that can generate power in both sunlight and artificial light.

5:04 PM | 0 comments | Read More

Logitech K750 Solar Keyboard now in a Mac Flavor

Everything is better in a chrome or silver finish, right?  That would be our assumption based on Logitech’s Wireless Solar Keyboard, the K750.  It came out last year for the PC, but now Logitech has a Mac version and it’s finished in silver, which is very Apple, at least in terms of their computers.  As it happens you can also purchase it with a blue, pink or green stripe at the top or in all black.

Much like a solar powered calculator, the K750 can be recharged by indoor our outdoor lighting.  That means no batteries to replace or recharge. They’ve even got an app that informs you about how much battery power you’ve got left and how much juice the keyboard is sucking down from your desk lamp.  And let’s not over look that the K750 has a PVC-free construction and a fully recyclable box.  Now that’s green.

This version includes the Mac friendly keyboard layout, which means all the Mac keys – music and brightness controls, command keys and the eject key – are in the places you’d expect them to be.  And because it is specifically designed for the Mac it works right of the box; no drivers to install.

You can preorder the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 for Mac right now for $59.99.  Expect it delivered sometime this month.

5:01 PM | 0 comments | Read More