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Nokia keeps it 'amazing everyday' in the US, gives Lumia 710 owners free colorful covers
If you've snagged one of those Mango-packing Lumia 710s but were quietly wishing to add some colorful spice to it, Nokia's got something in the works for you. That's if, you live in the States, and can bust out a mighty proof of purchase. Once those credentials are in order, you'll need to head over to the promo site and pop in a bit of personal info along with the must-have IMEI digits. The Finnish freebies will let you grab a single Xpress-on cover that comes in a variety of colors, including cyan, fuchsia, yellow and white. There's no word as to when, or if, the nice gesture will hit folks from other countries. That said, those of you meeting the requirements can take advantage by giving the source link below a quick click. And, be sure to let us know how it all worked out.
Judge Xenoblade Chronicles by its (inside) cover
Xenoblade Chronicles "the game" is definitely coming to the US Wii on April 3, but Xenoblade Chronicles "the box art" is more of a vague idea at this point. Nintendo is allowing fans to choose the inside portion of Xenoblade's reversible box art via a Facebook photo poll -- of the four photos shown below, whichever has the most "Likes" will become the US game's reversible image:
SolarKindle cover basks in the sun's rays, charges for days and days
Direct sunlight and Amazon's Kindle have always gone hand in hand -- you simply can't read E-Ink without a strong light source. So, it would make sense to pair that lighting requirement with a solar panel, pack it into a convenient case, toss in a reading lamp and give readers the gift of effortlessly extended battery life -- which is exactly what SolarFocus intends to do. Scheduled to be shown off at this week's CES, the company's SolarKindle adds three months of unplugged use, in addition to 50 hours for its included LED lamp. And unlike most innovations that take their sweet time getting to market, this cover's slated for a January 15th bow, priced at $80. Take that paperbacks.
M-Edge suit accuses Amazon of corporate bullying, patent infringement over Kindle cases
Case maker M-Edge filed suit with a Maryland court last week accusing Amazon of "unlawful corporate bullying" and patent infringement relating to the company's line of Kindle cases. According to M-Edge, the company signed a three-year agreement with Amazon in November 2009 for a 15-percent sales commission, only to have the retail giant demand a new contract with a 32-percent cut a mere two month later. A lawyer for M-Edge told The Wall Street Journal that Amazon punished the case maker over its refusal to play ball, after threats of burying the company's products on its site. According to the filing, M-Edge finally caved and signed a new contract in July of last year, given the fact that Amazon apparently drives nearly 90-percent of the small company's revenue. The suit also accuses Amazon of "knocking off" its reading light-packing covers with lighted jacket designs for the Kindle 3. Amazon, for its part, has refused to comment on the matter.
Three pros score love on Grand Slam Tennis 2 cover
EA has picked three different athletes from three different times and places to grace the just-revealed cover of Grand Slam Tennis 2. '70s American champ John McEnroe is in the middle with the hair, Russia's '00s champ Maria Sharapova is on the left, and current champ Novak Djokovic sits on the right, all with slightly different reactions to what we can only guess are balls hurtling through the air. The diversity of choices emphasizes the game's Legends of Now and Then feature, which offers up 20 pro tennis stars from history to play in virtual person on the court. This version is also notable for "Full Racquet Control," which allows you to use the controller's right stick like a tennis racquet, and full motion controls with PlayStation Move. The first HD version of EA's tennis series will be on shelves next month, February 10 in Europe and February 14 in North America.
SWTOR: So you want to play an Imperial Agent
Espionage! Subterfuge! Classy accents! Such is the life of Star Wars: The Old Republic's Imperial Agent. If a career full of clandestine operations and lots of assassination sounds like a good time to you, then the Agent is your class. Agents can fill one of two roles: ranged DPS and healing/melee DPS hybrid. Whether you prefer to keep your friends alive, shank an unsuspecting opponent, or put a blaster round in someone's head from a mile away, the Agent's got something for you. Did I mention the sexy accent? Mmm.
SWTOR: So you want to play a Smuggler
If someone were to ask Star Wars fans which of the characters had the most personality, most likely they would answer Han Solo. In the Expanded Universe, and most notably in the Star Wars video games, smugglers always mirror this dashing rogue of a character archetype established by none other than Harrison Ford. If that's why you're wanting to play the Smuggler class in Star Wars: The Old Republic, then you're in luck because you'll get exactly what you're hoping for. The SWTOR Smuggler starts out on the world of Ord Mantell, a fringe planet on the brink of civil war. Of course, being a Smuggler, he breaks through the planetary blockade to deliver his shipment of weapons to gangsters on the ground. After that, things get really interesting...
ASUS' Origami-like Transformer Prime Smart Cover hits Amazon, sporting luxurious folds
The Eee Pad Transformer Prime has yet to start shipping, but when it does, you'll be able to wrap it up in this specialized Smart Cover, from ASUS. Spotted on Amazon's German site, this Origami-like accessory will prop up your Prime in either a vertical or horizontal lying position, much like some of those other "intelligent" covers we've seen. The folds look decidedly ornate, but we'll have to wait a little longer before trying it out for ourselves. It's available now for €39 (about $53), though at the time of this writing, it's also out of stock. %Gallery-139723%
MLB 2K12 names Tigers' Justin Verlander as cover Athlete
2K Games announced this week that the Detroit Tigers hurler Justin Verlander will grace the cover of MLB 2K12, due out when the next baseball season begins in March of next year. Verlander was named Player of the Year and American League Outstanding Pitcher at the recent Players' Choice Awards, and it's likely that he'll pick up the Cy Young Award for 2011 as well, the first time he'll earn that honor. You can see Verlander's virtual arm (and virtual chewing animation) in the quick trailer above. Sure, it's the arm that strikes out batters, but you can't get Detroit to the AL championship without a groovy chew like that one.
Smart Cover can unlock password-protected iPads running iOS 5 (video)
Psst. Hey, do you carry a spare Smart Cover around with you? Well, if you're an unscrupulous sort, you can actually use it to bypass the lock screen of any iPad running iOS 5. This multi-step security hole will let you browse whatever's running behind the passcode screen, whether that's email, apps or the homescreen. To take advantage of the flaw, hold down the power button on the locked device until the power off slider appears, then whip the Smart Cover on, open and tap cancel. Fortunately for iPad owners, the rest of the tablet remains locked-down, but the main problem here is any sensitive information left on-screen. If you unlock the tablet to the main screen, you won't be able to open new apps, although anyone feeling particularly nefarious can apparently delete apps from that meticulously arranged home screen. See how it's done in the video after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Anderson Silva chosen by fans as the UFC Undisputed 3 cover athlete
Reigning middleweight UFC champ (and the guy broadly agreed-upon as the best pound-for-pound fighter currently living in the world right now) Anderson Silva has been voted on by fans to become the cover athlete for UFC Undisputed 3, scheduled for release next January. The decision makes sense for a lot of reasons besides just the vote: Silva is one of the UFC's most popular fighters, and he's been on a streak that's made history and then some, roundly demolishing fighter after fighter in his division with ability that far outweighs most anyone he's ever faced. Silva's last loss was back in 2006, and since then he's gone undefeated in an unheard-of 15 fights, nine of which were title defenses. In short, Anderson "The Spider" Silva isn't just the best guy you'd want on a game about ultimate fighting -- he's the best there is. The game? Oh, um, yeah. We're sure the game is good too.
iFrogz BackBone pairs well with iPad 2 cover
There's a lot to love about the iPad 2's Smart Cover, from the fashionable colors to the multifunctional design to its magnetic personality. Unfortunately, the flappy front piece leaves your iPad's backside unprotected. For those of us who tend to drop our magical and revolutionary (yet not anti-gravity) devices, that's code for trouble. We last rounded up the Smart Cover-compatible case range in June, and not long after that post appeared the fine folks at iFrogz sent over the BackBone rear cover accessory. I've been using the cover for several weeks, and it does the job of protecting the iPad while remaining mostly unobtrusive and light. Like most of the products in this category, the BackBone's form closely tracks its function. It consists of a polycarbonate shell that snaps easily yet firmly onto the iPad's back, covering the corners completely along with the right/bottom edge (in portrait or landscape 'natural' orientation) while leaving the left/top edge clear for the Smart Cover's magnetic latch. There are cutouts for the microphone, headphone port, sleep switch and dock port, along with a gridded section for the speaker. The cover is only a few mils thick (in matching colors to Apple's cover), yet it's tough -- I accidentally dropped my iPad about a foot onto a stone floor, corner first, and not a mark on it. The cover has a pleasant, smooth feel that's still got some grip to it. You can get the cover direct from iFrogz for US$34.99, and possibly cheaper at retail. If you're looking for a simple layer of protection, it's a good option. TUAW's policy is to return or donate all hardware provided for review. For more details, see our policy page.
Hack adds NFC payment to your iPhone
Apple is rumored to be adding NFC support to the iPhone at some point in the future, but here's a way you can add wireless payments to your iPhone right now. You don't have to solder an NFC chipset, install any applications or even apply a sticker, all you have to do is pop off the back of the iPhone and stick an NFC payment card inside. The procedure is detailed over at Unplggd and it seems easy, once you overcome the fear of cracking the glass back of your iPhone.
Samsung pulls controversial Anymode Smart Case, says it never received certification
The Anymode Smart Case for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 may bear a suspicious resemblance to Apple's iPad 2 Smart Cover, but Samsung insists it had absolutely nothing to do with it. In a blog post published today, the company responded to allegations that it tried to market a Cupertino rip-off, claiming that the accessory never received official "Designed for Samsung Mobile" certification. Samsung went on to point out that none of the cases have actually been sold, while confirming that it's "working with Anymode to address this oversight." In the meantime, the contentious Smart Case has been removed from Samsung's Anymode's site, meaning we can finally return to leading healthy, productive lives.
Peyton Hillis wins Madden 12 cover vote
Witness! Cleveland has a new -- and most unlikely -- sports icon in Peyton Hillis, who has been voted to the cover of Madden 12. Hillis, the could-be star running back for the Browns, trounced Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick in the final round of EA Sports' five-week, bracket-style cover competition. Hosted in collaboration with ESPN, the vote-driven promotion featured a player representative from 31 one of the NFL's 32 teams and ... the Seahawks fans (who were eliminated in the first round). Hillis' inspiring run, no doubt propelled by the passionate (desperate?) Cleveland fans that have been aggressively campaigning across social media networks, included defeating Green Bay Packers QB and Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers, the bracket's #1 overall seed. "I didn't think I had a shot," said the humble Hillis during ESPN's "SportsNation" show this afternoon, during which the winner was announced. Both Hillis and Vick were present on set for segments of the hour-long episode, doing their best to remain composed and engaged in the topics presented by hosts Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd, while a countdown timer ticked away. With the lights dimmed, Cowherd excitedly announced that "almost 13 million people voted" before he declared Hillis as the winner. The beefy back was then awkwardly goaded on by the two hosts, and even Vick, to flex his "guns" as the show cut out for the next program. [Note: Not official cover art.]
Keepin' it real fake: the iPad Smart Cover done wrong (video)
Let's be honest, the only time you're likely to consider Apple's prices for own-brand peripherals reasonable is when someone else is paying for them. It's not unusual, therefore, for folks to look to complement their walled Apple garden with a few well selected accessories from the grey market. Such as this here Smart Cover knockoff, which saves you a whopping six bucks off the Apple price at only $33, comes with detachable (no user assistance required) hinge elements, and has a special pet-repelling odor as an added extra. Yes, it's pretty terrible and self-destructs the moment you look at it. And, naturally, it's available to watch on video right after the break.
iPad 2 gets a magnetic cherry cover to top off its delicious hardware cake (video)
Killing time until the iPad 2 finally becomes available across Europe later today? Well, now you can stoke the flames of anticipation by taking a gander at this here wood cover made specifically for the magnet-infused new Appletablet. It comes from a single piece of cherry wood and rolls up into a stand, providing a pair of landscape positions and a sturdy base for keeping the slate vertical should you wish to gaze upon it in portrait mode. Frankly, Apple should've been the one to come up with this refinement on its Smart Covers, though at least a small company like Miniot spares us the overblown rhetoric about life-changing gear purchases. Price isn't too bad, either, with orders starting at €50 later on today. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Original iPad retrofitted to play nice with Smart Cover, magnets largely to thank (video)
Although we don't exactly know how they work, magnets are one of Earth's many fascinations and are used in many gadgets today -- perhaps most notably in Apple's new Smart Covers. As you might have already known, the iPad 2's first party screen concealer uses a bunch of magnets to make the magic happen; it snaps on and fits almost too well. By taking a few rare earth magnets and gluing them to the original slate's hip, blogger Dan Provost is able to use a Smart Cover with the iPad uno. He positioned them according to how they stuck to the hinge of the cover, which explains the lack of spacing between the four magnets. As you'll see in the video, Apple's screen protector works well with the tablet, but it lacks the auto-unlock mechanism found in the iPad 2. Care to give your original iPad a taste of modernity? Hit the more coverage link to find the main ingredient for this DIY project.
Madden 12 cover athlete vote expanded to 32-team bracket
Perhaps channeling the spirit of "March Madness," EA Sports and ESPN's SportsNation have partnered to present a five-week, bracket-style voting campaign for the Madden 12 cover athlete -- labor disputes be damned! The first round, which starts today and runs through next Sunday, divides the field of 32 players (one from each NFL team) into two sides of seeded match-ups, with quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Philip Rivers representing the two #1 seeds. (League MVP Tom Brady is noticeably absent from the field of candidates.) It's unclear how exactly the rankings and players were determined, but the first round craftily pairs match-ups by division, playing off of heated rivalries. While this setup encourages each team's dedicated fan base to vote (for themselves in the case of the lowly Seahawks), those loyalists might first have to overcome superstition. While electing Panthers' offensive tackle Jordan Gross to the cover would be quite a coup for Carolina fans, can they really risk cursing the standout lineman? Perhaps the best strategy, then, is to vote for the teams and players you hate the most.
Visualized: Smart Cover magnets can turn your Apple tablet into a FridgePad
Has the iPad 2 not proven its versatility to you yet? Well, buy one of those "don't call it a case" Smart Covers that Apple launched with it and you'll be able to turn your new dual-core slate into a bona fide FridgePad. Just add fridge.
