Pad & Quill Littlest Black Book for iPod Nano Review

Pad & Quill, with their tasteful and elegant cases for iPad and iPhone have manufactured superior cases for electronic “i” devices. Hand constructed, well made and protective, Pad & Quill is at the top of their game. So I was surprised and, literally, delighted to see the Pad & Quill case for Apple's Nano Mp3 player.  Regular readers of The Gadgeteer.com might remember my enthusiastic gushing review  for Pad & Quill iPad cases.   For those of us who want more classic, traditional styling to house our devices, these cases fit the bill.  The cases, made of hand tooled birch and book binding, look like a book you'd find in the University of Notre Dame library. Now you've got the Littlest Black Book, the miniature case to house the iPod Nano.  I will go on record as saying that I did not have a Nano until I saw the Littlest Black Book.   Now I have both.  It's that addicting.  I've never once bought a pair of shoes that I had to build an outfit around and here I am purchasing an Mp3 player to go with the cute little Nano case. Aside from that, what you get with the Pad & Quill cases for larger electronics, you get with Littlest Black Book.  As with the other products, the Nano case is meticulously hand tooled, finished with the book binding and rich linen end-paper that you find in fine books and the P&Q cases.  Everything is miniaturized right down to the elastic band that fits snugly around the case. As with the other P&Q cases, if you saw it through a car window, you'd think it was a book belonging in a doll house.  If you saw it in a bag, you'd think it was a tiny notebook.  You could even mistake it for a tiny Bible. Either way, if someone is looking to steal your Mp3 player, they're going to overlook this. And as with the other cases, you have access to all ports, except the clip.  the device fits in very snugly and securely due to the Sure-Lock bumpers that help lock in the device.   Fitting the device into the case was no problem nor is getting it out.  I rather like having it in the case and since I have easy access to all ports, there really is no reason for me to take it out.  I have the protection I need and it matches the other cases I have for my other “i” devices of which I am now the proud owner of. If I had to point out a “con” and I guess I should, I would have to say that it would be hard to strap this to your wrist or waist if you go jogging.  You have to open the case up to access the applications inside and that can be tiresome but I would have to seriously say that's about it.  It certainly isn't a deal breaker for me. The Littlest Black Book offers tasteful elegant styling, security and protection that more exposed and sportier cases do not.  At $34.95, it certainly isn't the most expensive case being offered for sale and the Nano cost far more than that.  I am not as cavalier about the “disposable” element of my devices.  I use them and take care of them.  I don't trade them in the second Apple comes out with a new version.   Pad & Quill will help me keep the iPod Nano free from scratches both to the case of the Nano and the screen.  Frankly, if I am going to spend this kind of money for an Mp3 player and I did, I'm going to want a quality case to keep it safe.  Now I have it.

Microsoft launches the Office Next Blog

 

Just like Microsoft did with Windows 8, it looks like they're going to give us a more in-depth look at what they're going to do with the next version of Office (codenamed Office 15). Today the company launched the Office Next Blog. The site will be written by the team behind Microsoft Office and will let us know the improvements they've made, why they did it and what sort of feedback influenced their decisions. Sounds like a pretty good idea, seeing how well the Windows 8 blog was done.

We still haven't got a clue what the Office 15 is going to bring, but the launch of this blog corroborates with rumors about its official announcement next week. Stay tuned and we'll keep you posted. Check out the Office Next Blog via the source link below.

Sony Xperia Tipo with AT&T-friendly 3G hits the FCC

The Xperia Tipo - one of Sony's latest affordable Android smartphones - has showed up at the FCC yesterday, which means it could be introduced in North America soon.

The Tipo that's been approved by the FCC is the ST21a model. Usually, the "a" at the end of a Sony handset's model number denotes a device specifically made for America. Moreover, the handset has 1900x850 MHz WCDMA connectivity, so it's compatible with AT&T's 3G network. Of course, at this point only Sony knows if the Tipo will indeed make it to North America.

Running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Sony Xperia Tipo features a 3.2 inch HVGA scratch-resistant display, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.2MP rear camera, 800MHz processor, 512MB of RAM, 2.9GB of internal memory, MicroSD card support, and a 1,500 mAh battery. The handset has a dual-SIM edition called Xperia Tipo Dual (this one didn't hit the FCC, though).

MapQuest picks TomTom Maps to power iPhone and Android turn-by-turn navigation apps

Still trying to figure out which way to turn when it comes to on-phone navigation? How's about a free option to ponder? MapQuest's gratis iPhone and Android programs are set to get a heck of a lot better, and soon. The company just announced that TomTom would become its maps provider, enabling it to provide coverage for more than 7.5 million miles of roads across North America. Interestingly, it seems that TomTom is finding new life after the death of the PND (personal navigation device) in software; just last month, Apple knighted TomTom to power its own internal Maps app, which is set to debut with iOS 6.

NBC's 2012 London Olympics second screen and streaming apps for Android and iOS launch today

NBC mentioned it would deliver two complementary mobile apps for its extensive London Olympics coverage and now they have arrived. Available for Android phones and tablets as well as the iPhone and iPad, they're built on Adobe technology to deliver the information and live streaming video, as well as handle the TV Everywhere authentication with the cable providers that's necessary to view all of the content. The NBC Olympics Live Companion is specifically designed to operate as a second screen for users to pull up stats and extra info on while they watch TV, and the NBC Olympics Live Extra app delivers video of every event streaming live to users wherever they are. It supports multiple camera angles, social features like the Facebook tie-ins NBC announced yesterday and users can even switch between the two apps at will.

Redesigned PlayStation 3 Emerges In Pictures, May Launch Later This Year!

The new PlayStation 3 console seems to have a design change, particularly a keel-shaped surface with moderately noticeable curves, and also a redesigned front. There's a significant oddness in the design or perhaps it seems so - at least from the pictures we've included after the break. This apparently elucidates the doubts on whether a redesigned PS3 is in the works since the next generation console believed to be known as PlayStation 4 will only debut sometime in 2013, so a redesigned box with perhaps notable improvements is likely to be released in August this year. The pictures were filed for the Brazilian Agency of Telecommunications and suggest the existence of three PS3 models including CECH-4011A, 4011B and 4011C which could probably refer to the 160GB, 250GB and 500GB models of the new PS3 console. Besides this, there are no significant revelations or even a word about the new PlayStation 3 launch, but as far as we can guess, there should be none - at least in terms of processing power and other core components, since an overhauled console is set to be debut later - even if Sony announces a slimmer PlayStation 3 Slim this year - seemingly they'll save the best for the next. Furthermore, the leaked letter allegedly composed by Sony itself clearly mentions that the products have the same electrical components except the storage. We will keep you posted as more details surface. Stay tuned!

ASUS ZENBOOK UX32VD Ultrabook

As a powerful computing device, the ZENBOOK UX32VD is also equipped with 1GB GDDR5 video memory; full HD 1080p IPS panel with a 178 degree wide viewing angle; and an ergonomic inclined and backlit chiclet keyboard. Regarding battery life, the UX32VD offers up to two weeks of standby in S3 mode and an impressive 200-day in S4 mode. And last but not least, this sleek ultrabook utilizes USB Charger+ technology for quick mobile device charging.

Facebook For Android 1.9.7 Update Released, Now Available For Download!

The Facebook for Android update brings smoother UI navigation, bug fixes and security improvements. Besides, the application also allows to you easily switch between conversations, share bigger photos and even check who's online - just like the desktop counterpart. On a whole, it aims to further improvise the Facebook for Android user experience. Check out the list of features and download link on the other side of break. Keep up with friends, wherever you are with the Facebook for Android app. · Share photos and videos · Text, message and chat · Know who's seen your message, and who hasn't · Play games · Check into places you go · Use your favorite apps The application is compatible with devices running Android 2.2 Froyo or later releases. Click here to download Facebook for Android [Google Play link]. We will keep you posted as more details surface. Stay tuned!

Samsung gets expedited Galaxy Nexus injunction hearing

The US Court of Appeals has granted Samsung's request to expedite its appeal of the preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Nexus. The company must file its court brief to start the process before July 16 and Apple has until July 30 to respond.

The final comments on the case are due on August 6. Moreover, the court has accepted and will consider Apple's response to the temporary stay of the Galaxy Nexus sales.

Apple has also sent letters to some retailers instructing them to stop selling the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 or the Galaxy Nexus. Naturally, Samsung complained about said letters and got the following Apple stance:

Source | Via

Amazon's new Kindle Fire set to debut in early August?

We knew that there would be another Kindle Fire at some point, but we didn't know when it would arrive, or exactly what it'd look like. If the latest report from the China Times is true, however, we can expect Amazon's new slate to ship around August 7th. Like the first Fire, this new version will be built by Quanta, with a metal chassis and displays provided by LG and Panasonic. Other details, like its size or the contents within said metallic frame, are still nowhere to be found. What we can tell you is that the new tablet can't get here fast enough for Amazon given the Fire's declining sales numbers and its fresh competition from Mountain View.

Nikon releases D4 firmware 1.02 with minor display, formatting, network stability improvements in tow

Have you managed to get your hands on Nikon's elusive D4 full-frame DSLR? It should be smooth sailing from here, with the occasional firmware update being your only critical acquisition going forward. D4 firmware 1.02 brings a handful of minor fixes, but if you're in need of any of the enhancements listed below, it's surely a must have:

• Format memory card can now be added to My Menu.
• Gamut for Adobe RGB images displayed in the camera's monitor has now been changed. This enables more vivid display of images.
• The stability of network connections when the FTP upload option is selected has been increased.
• When recording movies using a lens with an aperture ring in [P] or [S] exposure mode, and Aperture ring selected for Custom Setting f10: Customize command dials>Aperture setting, the minimum aperture was applied. This issue has been resolved.
• When a still image captured during movie recording with 1920 ×1080; 30 fps; crop, 1920 × 1080; 25 fps; crop, or 1920 × 1080; 24 fps; crop selected for Movie settings>Frame size/frame rate and Live frame grab selected for Custom Setting g4: Assign shutter button was displayed in Capture NX 2 or ViewNX 2, the position of the focus point displayed differed from actual recording position. This issue has been resolved.
• An issue that caused the camera to freeze when attempting to format a memory card (setup menu > Format memory card) while the camera was connected to a network in HTTP server mode has been resolved.

HTC smartphones did not infringe Apple patents, U.K. Judge ruled

 

The Apple versus HTC war started way back in 2010, with the Cupertino-based tech giant filing its first ITC complaint against the Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer. It was widely known as the first ever lawsuit filed against an Android device manufacturer. Today, the battle for supremacy continues, as Apple, dubbed as the “patent troll”, takes the lawsuit to the U.K. However, it seems that HTC is winning the duel this time around. Bloomberg is reporting that Judge Christopher Floyd has ruled that HTC did not infringe Apple's four patents and added that three of those patents are actually invalid.

The four patents that Apple accused HTC of infringing include the slide-to-unlock feature, software allowing users to touch the screen in two spots simultaneously, and tools used to scroll through photographs and change alphabets. The court ruled that Apple's photo-management patent is valid but it determined that HTC did not infringe it. "Competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours," Apple said in a statement. On the other hand, HTC spokesperson Andrea Sommer said that HTC is  disappointed that Apple continues to favor competition in the courtroom over competition in the marketplace.

U.S. Judge Rejects Samsung's Request; Galaxy Nexus Remains Unavailable… Or Is It?

 

U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, has rejected last Tuesday Samsung's request to lift a pre-trial injunction that would prohibit sales of Galaxy Nexus smartphone in the country. This comes after Judge Koh granted last week Apple's request to block the sales of Samsung's Android smartphone.

The judge also rejected a similar request to lift the ban on selling Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the United States. But Samsung is not giving up just yet, as it has also appealed to a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., which has exclusive jurisdiction over intellectual property disputes.

Because of the injunction, Samsung and Google (developer of the phone's Android OS) will have to find a workaround to sell their Galaxy Nexus to eager Americans. Sources say that a software patch will be implemented “imminently” to avoid patent infringements from Apple. Also, the phone is currently listed in Google Play store as “coming soon,” just in case the software update would make the Galaxy Nexus clear of any legal issues.

Photo credit: Reuters/ Bobby Yip

Evigroup SmartPaddle Pro tablet dual boots into Windows 7 and Windows 8

 
Want to get a Windows-based tablet but you're not sure if you want it to run Windows 7 or Windows 8? You're in luck. The folks over at Evigroup have recently announced their new Intel-based tablet – the SmartPaddle Pro. What separates this tablet from other Windows tablets out there is its ability to dual-boot into Windows 7 or Windows 8. Granted, Windows 8 is not out, but the tablet will be shipping with the developer preview version of the operating system when it goes on sale. After Windows 8 is finally released, owners of the SmartPaddle Pro will be able to update their tablets to the full version of the operating system for free.

Specs of the tablet include: a 11.6″ touchscreen display, an Intel Atom N450 processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 32 or 64GB SSD. The tablet will be priced at 759 Euro ($951). No word on a release date or if it'll be making its way over to the US, but it certainly is an interesting idea that may or may not catch on. What do you think?

Nokia PureView 808 likely to be announced in the US on Monday

More than a month ago, Nokia USA's president said the company was planning to release the 808 PureView smartphone Stateside. And it looks like an official announcement related to this will be made on Monday, June 18.

Over at its US Facebook page, Nokia has shared three images which promise something for Monday. The PureView smartphone isn't mentioned, but all images are related to the 808 number. The first one is satellite photo of Hawaii, which has the 808 telephone area code. The second one shows the Roland TR-808 drum machine. And the third one matches the cover of an album released by a band called 808 State. And if that's not enough, All Things D reports that unnamed sources say the upcoming announcement indeed "has to do with the U.S. availability of the" PureView 808 - which, with its 41MP Carl Zeiss rear camera, seems to be the best cameraphone ever made.

As previously rumored, the 808 PureView might be sold in the US only unlocked, hence we will probably not see any mobile carrier offering it.

Mysterious Motorola slider spotted, heading for Sprint, not Verizon

Still in love with a hardware keyboard, and looking for something new on Sprint? You might be in luck, as this little guy (and it does seem little by today's standards) was spotted in the Android Central forums.

Not much can be said about the device, other than the buttonless approach from Motorola (thank you, Moto, somebody's got to follow Google's Android 4.0 guidelines). Android Central is guessing a qHD screen, possibly LTE. However, I have to reiterate again: nothing other than the 5-row keyboard, running ICS, being a Motorola device and heading for Sprint (there's a Sprint Music app) can be determined with certainty.

T-Mobile LTE, HSPA+ expansion update

 T-Mobile has put out a press release to give an update regarding the work on establishing their 4G LTE network and introducing their HSPA+ services on the 1900 MHz spectrum. The entire release is posted below, but the main points are:

1. LTE trials are underway, and the network should launch next year.

2. HSPA+ on the 1900 MHz bandwidth is currently being tested, and was spotted by a few people in San Francisco near the Moscone Center.

3. New equipment has been installed at “modernized GSM/HSPA+” sites, and the aim is to reach 2,500 sites by the end of July.

  Press Release

Fast Progress on 4G Network Modernization

June 14, 2012

We’re making great progress in just three short months since we first announced T-Mobile’s $4 billion 4G network evolution plan, including network modernization and deployment of long term evolution (LTE) service in 2013. Here are some of the highlights:

Just last month, T-Mobile announced multi-year agreements with Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks to support our $4 billion 4G network evolution plan, which will include a modernization of 37,000 cell sites and a move to the latest, state-of-the-art, LTE release 10 capable equipment.

Initially, this effort will improve existing voice and data coverage, make our 4G network compatible with a broader range of devices (including the iPhone), and pave the way for long term evolution (LTE) service next year.

With contracts in place, we’re making excellent headway on our network infrastructure transformation. By the end of this month we expect new equipment to be installed at our first 400 modernized GSM / HSPA+ sites and we plan to grow this to over 2,500 sites by the end of July.

We’ve also secured zoning approval or do not require zoning for over 19,500 sites and have completed necessary entitlement work, including obtaining building permits for over 4,000 sites.

As new equipment is in place, we’re turning up some small scale tests of 4G HSPA+ service in our 1900 MHz spectrum. Some customers with unlocked iPhones recently saw evidence of those tests; clocking much faster data speeds at the Moscone West conference center in San Francisco. More of these speed sightings will occur as we work toward introducing 4G HSPA+ service in our 1900 MHz spectrum in a large number of markets later this year.

Finally, LTE trials are underway and this summer we’ll begin using Release-10 equipment in these trials. The ability to launch with this next version of LTE technology is one advantage of launching next year.

Microsoft's mystery announcement happens Monday at 6:30pm EST, get your liveblog here!

What to do when Microsoft schedules two major announcements in one week? Plan a liveblog and cue the speculation, of course. With a sneak peek of Windows Phone Apollo coming in just two days, we're pretty confident tomorrow's press conference won't have anything to do with mobile phone software. But Win8 tablets? Perhaps a Kindle Fire competitor running Windows RT? Now we're talking. Or maybe there's a piddly chance we'll actually hear more about Xbox Music? With no hints coming out of Redmond, your guess is as good as ours until the event kicks off. Be sure to bookmark this link and join us tomorrow at 6:30pm EST as we give you up-to-the-minute coverage, live from Microsoft's press room in Los Angeles.

AOC Aire iPlay is the First LCD Monitor with Built-in iPod/iPhone Docking Station

The AOC Aire iPlay (e2343Fi) is a 23″ inch monitor that is only 12.9 mm-thin and offers full HD 1080p resolution, a 50,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio and 2 ms response time. The feature that sets this particular monitor apart from all the others on the market is that it has a built-in 30-pin docking station that allows video, audio and photo playback from iPhones and iPods. Built-in speakers offer SRS Sound and special Screen+ software allows the user to divide the screen into four self-contained work areas. The 23-inch AOC Aire iPlay (e2343Fi) would make a great gaming monitor for your Xbox or other console, or a second monitor for your PC. It is available for $279.99 MSRP at Amazon.com and other online retailers. AOC has a facebook contest going on right now to win one of these monitors just by liking their page.

Leaked document sheds light on next-generation Xbox, Kinect 2

Even though Microsoft confirmed that we wouldn't see it, some fans were still disappointed the company didn't reveal details regarding its next-generation Xbox gaming console at this year's Electronics Entertainment Expo. A newly leaked 56-page document detailing the “Xbox 720” may ease those frustrations, however. The document, which appears to be from mid-2010, presents a road map for the future of the Xbox platform through 2015. Microsoft will reportedly release the next-generation system during the 2013 holiday season as previously reported, as part of a $299 bundle with new Kinect hardware. The software giant is looking to sell more than 100 million units during the console's 10-year life cycle. The Xbox 720 will include support for Blu-ray, true 1080p and native 3D output, and will be six times more powerful than the current Xbox. At the time this document was created, the company was planning to use six to eight 2GHz ARM/x86 cores, with two additional ARM/x86 cores that would power the console's operating system and three PowerPC cores for backward-compatibility. The documents suggest that Microsoft is currently working on a new Kinect accessory as well that will be more accurate, with dedicated hardware processing and support for four-player tracking. Other improvements include a higher quality RGB camera, stereo imaging and improved voice recognition. Microsoft is also apparently planning to offer a head-mounted display device similar to Google's Project Glass. The hands-free glasses will be able to connect to Xbox Live and deliver real-time information on people, places and objects. The product is referred to as both “Kinect Glasses” and “Fortaleza Glasses,” and is scheduled for a 2014 release according to the leak. The information was originally posted on Scribed, and while there is no way to prove its authenticity, it has since been removed at the request of Covington & Burling, a law firm that represents Microsoft.