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Wacom's latest smartpads marry pen and paper with digital notes
Despite the many high-tech devices on display here at IFA, sometimes all you want is a pen and paper to jot down notes or draw a quick sketch. Still, there's no reason not to marry ink and tech, which is the driving idea behind Wacom's latest line of smartpads that let you capture handwritten notes in digital form. The company's done this before with the Bamboo Spark, but the latest Slate and Folio options provide different styles for the discerning dead tree aficionado.
A closer look at Lenovo's bendable concept phone and tablet
We knew Lenovo's Phab2 Pro and Motorola's Moto Z series were breaking cover today, but the moment that drew the loudest gasps was when a YouTuber bent a phone around her wrist. Lenovo's crazy, flexible devices are incredibly far from being real products, but we still had to track them down to get a closer look at what makes them work. After all, these aren't Kyocera Echo-style, half-assed folding screens -- the Folio tablet and the Cplus phone have display panels that actually contort when you bend their respective bodies.
Logitech reveals iPad Air keyboard cases starting at $99
While Belkin hit the ground running with its iPad Air keyboards and covers first, Logitech has just announced its own bounty of four such accessories. The $149 (£129) Fabricskin Keyboard Folio tops the list with its two-sided case that supports the Air at two angles, housing a water-resistant Bluetooth fabric keyboard with up to three months of battery life. It also uses the SecureLock entry system and comes in red, black or yellow. The Ultrathin Keyboard Folio, meanwhile, has similar features and comes in four colors, but eschews the water-resistant case and keyboard for a lesser sum, $99 (£89). The $99 (£89) Ultrathin Keyboard aluminum cover, meanwhile, protects only the front side of the iPad Air while supporting it as a stand. Available in black, white or a combo of the two, it provides instant sleep/wake functionality and about three months of battery life for the Bluetooth keyboard. Finally, Logitech's $49 (£39) Folio Protective case offers two-sided, water-resistant protection without a keyboard, along with an adjustable stand that can support the Air at almost any angle. Sure, Apple went to a lot of trouble to slim down its flagship tablet, but if you can't resist the siren call of turning it into a notebook, Logitech's new goodies will be available in early November.
Logitech's IFA 2013 lineup includes tablet cases, mice and more, we go eyes-on
We've seen most of Logitech's latest products by way of press shots, but the company was clearly waiting for IFA to trot out the real deals. We caught the peripheral maker as it was in the process of setting of its booth for the show and got a quick tour of what it's working on. First up, the company's giving a little folio love to Android tablet owners, releasing a keyboard case for the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 and protective cases for the 10.1, 8.0 and 7.0. We also got a chance to check out that beefy G602 wireless gaming mouse, which'll give you around 250 hours of gaming on a charge. Speaking of mice, the Ultrathin Touch Mouse is a pretty nice looking peripheral -- one that pairs pretty nicely with its TK820 keyboard. Images below and press info for all of the above after the break. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
HP's EliteBook Folio Ultrabook getting a 1,600 x 900 screen option in March
We'll be the first to admit we've reviewed an overwhelming number of Windows 8 laptops lately, but perhaps you remember the HP EliteBook Folio? If you don't, here's a one-sentence summary: it's a fantastic machine, with long battery life, fast performance and a generous warranty, but it's stuck with a fairly low-res 1,366 x 768 display. As it turns out, HP is already working on a better screen. A spokesperson for the company confirmed to us that a 1,600 x 900 option will be offered to US and European customers starting in early March. No word yet on how much that upgrade will cost, but if the pixel count was the main reason you ruled it out the first time around, it might be worth a second look -- so long as you're willing to wait another two months for it, of course. Update: An HP rep clarified that the 1,600 x 900 screen option is now expected to be available worldwide, not just in the US and Europe.
HP EliteBook Folio 9470 review: a business Ultrabook turns out to be one of our favorites
More Info HP unveils second business Ultrabook, the EliteBook Folio Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon review HP Folio 13 review It's sort of wild to think that at this time last year we had only reviewed a handful of Ultrabooks. So few, in fact, that we could count them on one hand: Acer, ASUS, Lenovo and Toshiba. HP made five, with the Folio 13, an ultraportable that was aimed at the business market, but that ended up being our top all-around pick thanks to its stellar battery life, comfortable keyboard and wide port selection. Since then, of course, HP's gone a little overboard with the ultraportables, with glass ones, metal ones, expensive ones, budget ones. Ultrabooks that aren't actually Ultrabooks! It's a vast, sometimes confusing selection. Now, though, almost a year after we reviewed the Folio 13, HP is back where it started with another business offering. The EliteBook Folio ($1,049 and up) has a 14-inch screen this time, and is the first Ultrabook in HP's high-end EliteBook line, typically aimed at corporations and other businesses with IT departments. We know, we know: "pre-boot authentication" aren't exactly the sexiest words in the English language, and indeed, we usually just review laptops aimed at consumers. The thing is, though, the EliteBook Folio isn't your typical corporate box: with a magnesium frame and soft-touch finish, it's attractive enough that it could pass for your personal laptop. So does it perform well enough to use as a work-play machine? Read on to find out.
Review and giveaway: Incipio Lexington and Slim Kickstand cases for the new iPad
Another pair of nice looking and affordable cases for the new iPad arrived at the TUAW Labs a few days ago, the Lexington (US$39.99) and Slim Kickstand ($39.99) from accessory manufacturer Incipio. Both offer full protection for your third-generation iPad and have a micro-suede lining to keep the iPad's aluminum body from scratches, but that's where the similarity ends. Let's take a look at the Lexington and Slim Kickstand, and then you'll have a chance to win these great new items from Incipio. Lexington The Lexington case is probably the more flexible case of the two, with the ability to stand up in landscape mode for viewing or prop up on a desk for typing. The Lexington comes in black and gray exteriors that use a "vegan leather" strap to keep the case closed during transport. What I like the most about both of these Incipio cases is that they're very slim. Too many of the cases that I see are almost an inch thick by the time you take the front and back padding into account. Not so with the Lexington, which is only .56" thick and weighs just 8.3 ounces. %Gallery-152145% Installing the case is a snap -- literally. My new iPad snapped right into the back and was held securely. I was a bit confused by the packaging of the Lexington, which showed that it had a "magnetic front cover." It doesn't, so if you're used to your iPad turning off automatically when you close the Smart Cover, you'll have to revert to the time-honored method of just hitting the sleep/wake switch to turn it off. While the plain black or gray may be rather unexciting, the cases are very professional-looking. As my wife said when I showed her the Lexington, "I want something with a little more color to it!" The Lexington is very well made, reasonably-priced, and offers a lot of protection for both the new iPad and the iPad 2. Let's take a look at its other sibling, the Slim Kickstand. Slim Kickstand The Slim Kickstand, oddly enough, is thicker than the Lexington and slightly heavier -- .64" and 8.8 ounces. Once again, the packaging confused me -- it says that there are three viewing modes, but the actual case only has two slots into which the iPad and cover can be locked for upright viewing. Rather than using the leather strap to hold the cover closed during movement, the Slim Kickstand uses the tried-and-true elastic band. As with the Lexington case, the new iPad clicked into the well-made bottom casing and was held securely. %Gallery-152146% You can get the Slim Kickstand case in any color, as long as it's black. This is also a very professional-looking case, but some choices would be nice. Conclusion and Giveaway While the Incipio Lexington and Slim Kickstand iPad cases aren't the most exciting cases I've seen, they offer a perfect fit for the iPad 2 and new iPad. Both cases would be welcome in an executive suite, and both have a finish that is almost perfect. Some cases I review have looked disturbingly tossed-together, while the Incipio products appear to be manufactured to much higher standards. The best thing about both cases? The price. Considering that many other iPad cases of similar style start at $59.99, it's amazing that Incipio can produce such a high quality product for just $39.99. And now is your chance to win one of these cases from Incipio and TUAW. Just fill out the contest entry form completely and tap or click that Submit button, and you'll be entered into the giveaway. One person will win the Lexington, the other the Slim Kickstand, and both will also get a Plex Clear iPad screen protector ($19.99) with a microfiber cleaning cloth for complete protection. Finally, we're also giving away a personalized Inscribe Pro Stylus and Pen ($19.99). Here are the rules: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. You must enter before April 5, 2012 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. Three winners will be selected. One will receive a Lexington case and Plex Clear iPad screen protector (value US$59.98), one will receive a Slim Kickstand case and Plex Clear iPad screen protector (Value US$59.98), and one will receive a personalized Inscribe Pro Stylus and Pen ($19.99). Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Nominate your favorite iPad case for TUAW's Best of 2011 awards
During December and January, The Unofficial Apple Weblog is soliciting your nominations and votes for the best products for Mac, iPhone/iPod touch, and iPad. We'll start with nominations in a category, and then tally your votes for the top-nominated products a few days later. The winner in each category receives the highly-coveted title of TUAW Best of 2011. The nominations are closed for iPhone apps and accessories, and now the TUAW Best of 2011 awards move to everybody's favorite tablet, the iPad. Today's category for nominations in the TUAW Best of 2011 awards is iPad cases. There are literally hundreds of different cases, most of which have been reviewed here on TUAW during the past year. Whether it's Apple's own Smart Cover (US$39 - $69) that is protecting the screen of your iPad 2, or the Otterbox Defender Series Case ($89.95) creating a zone of protection around the entire device, readers are sure to be vocal about their favorites. Of course there's the entire world of iPad folio cases and keyboard cases to think about. Could it be the luxurious Logitech Fold-Up Bluetooth Keyboard ($129.99) that is the Apple of your eye? Or maybe it's the IPEVO Typi folio ($79) with its removable keyboard and leather highlights? TUAW wants to hear from you -- what's your favorite iPad case? Leave your nomination in the comments below. Voting will start soon! Nominations close at 11:59 PM ET on December 24, 2011.
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: laptops
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. Let's get this out of the way: a laptop is an intimate gift. Even if you were to get away with paying just $400, it's a lot to spend on even your spouse (ten years is the netbook anniversary, right?). Not to mention, your lucky giftee will be spending more time with it, perhaps, than they do their friends, families and pets. At the same time, the selection is nothing if not overwhelming, and if you were to make a spreadsheet tallying prices and specs, you'd notice an uncomfortable similarity across different brands. So, we rounded up some of the best we've seen -- everything from all-purpose notebooks to Ultrabooks to high-end dream machines. If you're thinking of pulling the trigger, hop past the break for a few ideas and the (very brief) low-down on the trade-offs you'll be making.
HP Folio 13 Ultrabook official: starts at $900 with a 128GB SSD and backlit keyboard (hands-on)
And just like that, HP joined the Ultrabook party. After announcing the Folio in Australia yesterday, the company went and made it official here in the states too. And man, do we get the feeling the outfit's been watching the competition very closely: this guy starts at $900 and comes standard with a 128GB mSATA SSD and a backlit keyboard. Provided it comes close to matching its promise of nine hours of battery life, it could give the identically priced Toshiba Portege Z830 a run for its money. Not to mention, it undercuts the MacBook Air ($1,299 and up), along with the ASUS Zenbook UX31 and Lenovo IdeaPad U300s, both of which start at $1,100 with a 128GB SSD and no backlit keyboard. Good on ya, HP. What's that, you say? You want more specs? Rounding out the list, the Folio has a 13.3-inch (1366 x 768) display, optional TPM circuitry and comes standard with a Core i5-2467M processor, 4GB of RAM, a six-cell battery and HP's CoolSense technology. Additionally, it offers a fairly robust selection of ports, including HDMI, Ethernet, USB 2.0 and 3.0, a memory card reader and a combined headphone / mic socket. The trade-off, though, is a slightly thicker chassis than what other Ultrabooks are offering: 3.3 pounds and 18mm (0.7 inches) thick. It'll be available in the US starting December 7th, but we've already managed to snag a few minutes with it, which means we've got photos, video and impressions for you to peek now. So what are you waiting for? Meet us after the break for our hands-on preview. %Gallery-139515% %Gallery-137707%
IPEVO Typi folio case and Chopstakes styli for iPad
IPEVO is an innovative computer peripheral manufacturer that has produced some rather impressive products -- the P2V USB Document Cam and Tubular Wireless Speakers, to name two -- and is now making a leap into the iPad market with two new products. The Typi (US$79) is a folio case for iPad with a removable Bluetooth keyboard, while Chopstakes ($34.95 - $45.95 per pair) are a pair of styli for your favorite tablet. IPEVO Typi folio case and Bluetooth keyboard TUAW has reviewed a number of folio cases for the iPad and iPad 2. These cases all have one thing in common -- they look somewhat book-like, and totally encase the iPad. For the most part, the cases are made of either a plastic material or a more natural material like leather. We've also reviewed a lot of keyboard cases for iPad -- these are usually designed like a folio, but include a stationary or removable Bluetooth keyboard so that users can type on a real keyboard rather than the virtual keyboard on the iPad. The Typi is a folio keyboard case that comes in either black or tan felt with a brown leather strap. That strap serves several purposes -- when the Typi is closed, it wraps around to the front of the case and holds everything in place with a strong magnet. When the Typi is opened, there is a snap on the strap that plugs into one of three receptacles to prop up the iPad's screen. I have to admit that the Typi is one of the better-looking folio cases I've had a chance to review. The review case has the tan exterior, and it looks very classy with the leather strap. The keyboard is encased is similar leather and is as easy on the eyes as it is on the hands. Like many of the keyboard cases, the Typi has a removable keyboard that is held in place with magnets. If you don't like where the keyboard is, it's no problem to just move it to a more comfortable position. The keyboard comes with a standard micro-USB to USB cable for charging -- there's no AC adapter included, but considering that most of us have either an iPad "brick" or a handful of other USB charging adapters, it's a nice touch that they didn't include another one. At $79 MSRP, the Typi is much less expensive than other keyboard folios I've reviewed. By comparison, the MSRP for the Qmadix Portfolio for iPad 2 is $149, and the two folio cases are almost identical. I could write about the various and sundry positions that the Typi folds into, how the keyboard works with its 13 hotkeys and more, but I'll let you take a look at the very descriptive Typi page to get the details. Be sure to look at the photos in the gallery, though. %Gallery-137334% Chopstakes iPad styli The first time IPEVO told me about the Chopstakes styli (yes, that is the plural of stylus), I wondered why anyone would need two styluses. The Chopstakes come in two models -- Long ($45.95) and Short ($34.95) -- and are made of aluminum that tapers from a square top down to a circular bottom covered ending in a soft hemispherical capacitive tip. A lot of us don't use styluses, so what the heck are you going to do with two? I kind of got the idea about these things when I was experiencing some pain in my right fingertip this weekend. Any time I tried to use a trackpad or my iPad, it hurt. So, being a fan of chopsticks for eating Asian food, I decided to give the Chopstakes a try. I have small hands, so I used the short Chopstakes. First, I used one of the Chopstakes as a regular old stylus. It works very well -- the short model balanced in my hand very well, and the tip provides a lot of pinpoint detail when you use a light tough, or a wider footprint when you push a little bit. The thin cylindrical bottom of the Chopstakes makes it very easy and comfortable to hold -- it's about the same diameter as a stick pen at that point, but the extra heft of the aluminum body makes it feel like a fancy pen. I was very dubious about using two Chopstakes, but I can see several situations where it would be useful. First, if you like to use two-finger gestures like rotate or zoom-in/zoom-out, they're impossible to do with traditional single fixed point styluses. Holding a pair of styluses as if they were a pair of chopsticks makes it possible to do two-finger multitouch gestures while using the Chopstakes. In this case, your hands are further up on the Chopstakes, near the wider and square tops. This part of the design makes is comfortable to hold the styluses like a pair of chopsticks. By the way, if you've never used chopsticks, there's a three-step tutorial inside the cardboard liner in which the Chopstakes are packed. The Chopstakes are packed in a lockable plastic carrying case, perfect for carrying the pair in a backpack or bag. I can think of other uses for the Chopstakes. If you're using a music app, they're quite useful as drumsticks -- I used 'em, one in each hand, on some of the drum kits in Garage Band for iPad, and did a reasonable job drumming (although that's really Dave Caolo's forté). I also played around with the two styli in the fun Bebot app, although I can't really say that it was an improvement over just using two fingers. How did the Chopstakes work instead of a finger on the surface of the iPad? Just fine. And I plan on continuing to use one of the pair as a iPad stylus until my finger decides to stop hurting. Conclusion IPEVO seems to understand the Apple market. They're doing a great job of making well-designed, well-made, and reasonably-priced products that fill specific needs. Sure, there are other folio keyboard cases for the iPad 2 out there, but the Typi is nicely constructed, attractive, and less expensive than similar cases. The Chopstakes are unique, and might find a place in the iPad bag of musicians, painters, and photographers who want to try out a well-balanced and high quality pair of styluses.
Griffin Elan Passport folio for iPad 2: Classy and practical protection
It's no secret that I have a thing for leather ... leather iPad cases, that is. I like the feel, the aroma, and the warmth that seems to come with natural leather. Griffin Technology has added a new folio case for the iPad 2 to its lineup of protection products. The Elan Passport (US$49.95) is a nice looking, slim, and practical leather folio for iPad 2 users. Design All folio cases are somewhat similar -- they feature a book-like design that opens up to reveal the device. Some folios also act as iPad stands, propping the device up in a variety of positions. With the Elan Passport, that's not the situation -- it is simply a protective case. It does have a feature that can be handy for the businessperson on the run. On the left side of the case (when opened) is a pocket for things like boarding passes, photos, or basically anything that is printed and smaller than a U.S. standard 8.5" x 11" piece of paper. I don't believe that a European A4 sheet will fit into the pocket either, unless it is folded. %Gallery-134778% The left side of the case also has four slots for holding credit cards, business cards, ID or the like. Each of the slots is lined and separated from the others, and the lining is smooth to allow for easy retrieval of your cards. Your iPad 2 fits in the right side of the Elan Passport. Holding it in are two fixed leather pieces and a pair of elastic straps with leather highlights. The design makes installing and removing the iPad 2 a cinch, yet the device is held in the folio securely. The inside of the Elan Passport has a smooth microsuede interior to keep your iPad 2 from getting scratches. The stitching on the case is a bit uneven compared to some other cases I've reviewed, but that doesn't detract from the overall appearance of the Elan Passport. Griffin provides a choice of four colors -- black, brown, camel, and red. Like most iPad 2 cases, Griffin added the requisite front cover magnet to turn on the device when the cover is lifted and shut it off when the cover is down. There's also a strap that acts like a "belt" to keep the cover closed; nothing special here, it's not magnetic, just held in place by friction. One last feature: if you use a stylus with your iPad 2, there's an elastic loop that's normally hidden by the iPad that can be flopped outside to hold your stylus in place. Functionality There's really not much to say about the functionality of the Passport Elan -- it works as advertised, it holds business cards and such as it should, and it does a bang-up job of protecting the iPad 2. It's not flashy, so it wouldn't be out of place in the office of a CEO or in the backpack of a student. Price-wise, the Elan Passport is a bit more expensive than it should be. As an example, the much more capable (but less classy) ZooGue Case Genius can act as a folio case, a stand, and a car mount, and it's the same price. On the other hand, there are more expensive cases than the Elan Passport that don't do much more -- take a look at any of the Vaja leather cases, for example. Conclusion Griffin Technology makes quality products for Apple devices, and the Elan Passport folio for iPad 2 is no exception. It's a good-looking and practical leather folio with all of the features you'll need, without adding unneeded fluff.
Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet and Keyboard Folio case hands-on (video)
Two Lenovo tablets in the same evening? Nah, it's not the midsummer sun melting your cerebrum, but the same result just might happen after you ingest this one. True to rumors, the ThinkPad Tablet (yeah, that's seriously the whole name) will indeed be shipping with a full-size USB port and an optional dedicated folio / case, and oddly enough, it's that very peripheral that could set this unit apart from the masses. While it's obviously no big chore to find a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard folio for the iPad, you probably won't find a perfectly matching case with a tried-and-true Lenovo keyboard and a newfangled optical trackpad unless you're ponying up for this guy. Internally, we're looking at the same 1GHz Tegra 2 silicon as found in the more consumery IdeaPad K1, a 10.1-inch (1280 x 800) IPS display, a battery good for up to 8.7 hours of use, 1GB of RAM, 16/32/64GB of storage, 3-in-1 card reader, A-GPS, an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, front (2MP) / rear (5MP) cameras, a mini HDMI port (1080p capable!) and Lenovo's own app launcher / app market. In our discussions with Lenovo, it was made fairly clear that this guy was being aimed more at companies and less at consumers, but there's absolutely nothing stopping the latter from enjoying a solid Honeycomb experience here. In fact, the ability to plug in a common mouse or trackpad (or combo device, for that matter) makes it far more useful than many of the ultraslim slates it'll inevitably go up against. Also unique to the Tablet is a built-in active stylus, which is tailor-made to jot down highly important information cartoons in the company's homegrown note-taking program. The full-size USB port also puts it squarely in Eee Transformer territory, with the Keyboard Folio shown above making perfect use of it. In practice, the accessory worked beautifully, and while the $99 price tag may seem a bit steep, it's not exactly cheap to go out and get a third-party case, keyboard and mouse. The company's demanding $499 (and up) for it's Android 3.1-based biz slate, with initial shipments starting today. Peek the hands-on video just after the break! %Gallery-124969% %Gallery-128424%
Candy Convertible for iPad 2 combines case and stand in faux-nubuck
Folio-style cases are pretty popular for the iPad 2. They come in all sorts of designs, materials and thicknesses. Today we're going to be looking at the Candy Convertible from Hard Candy Cases. The first thing that strikes you about the Candy Convertible after you've prised it out of the packaging is just how nice it feels. Made from faux-nubuck, it feels just like the real thing, both smooth and velvety soft to the touch. It's available in red and white with a black version on the way. I got my hands on the black version of the case, which suits the style and form of the iPad 2 very well indeed. The iPad 2 slides into the case held in by a simple flap that tucks underneath the tablet holding it in place very securely. The beauty of the nubuck-style material is that it's pretty grippy, meaning such a simple mechanism can secure the iPad 2 without weight, bulk or any possibility of scratching your pristine tablet. The case frames the screen on the iPad 2 well -- a little too well in fact, covering too much of the front bezel of the screen. While the front facing camera and the majority of the Home button are easily accessible, the case's frame covers the iPad 2's ambient light sensor. Now we all know the automatic screen brightness adjustment in iOS can be frustrating at times, but to not have the option to use it was a real downer. With the sensor covered the iPad 2 assumes it's in the dark all the time, permanently keeping the screen dim. The only option is to disable automatic brightness adjustment and manually manage your screen brightness. On the iPad 2 it's not that much of a chore, with the brightness slider accessible from the multitasking bar, but all it needed was a small cut out from the top of the Candy Convertible's frame to accommodate the light sensor. Perhaps it's something that can be corrected in future shipping cases, but when questioned about this Hard Candy failed to reply. The rest of the iPad 2 is freely accessible within the case. The buttons, ports, mic, camera and speaker all have suitably sized cutouts in the side and back of the case. This does, however, expose parts of the iPad 2 even when the case is closed, leaving things like the camera especially vulnerable to damage. The screen itself, perhaps the most important part of the iPad, is well protected though with a rigid flap that covers the the screen. Unfortunately there is no clasp or strap to keep the Convertible closed when your iPad is not in use. In practice this didn't cause much of a problem in day-to-day operations, but if you were to put your iPad in a large bag, there is the possibility of the flap to opening leaving your iPad's screen exposed. Hard Candy also didn't see fit to bestow the Candy Convertible with the magnets required to automatically turn off the iPad 2's screen when you close the cover, something that meant I left the screen on by accident on many occasions having got used to the Smart Cover and many other cases that have that auto-sleep functionality built-in. The Candy Convertible is designed so the front flap also folds to support the iPad 2 in a landscape orientation, both stood up perpendicular to the table or propped up at about a 40-degree angle for easier typing. The front cover folds round the back and fits in a small flap on the back, which holds the cover in place. Unfortunately the arrangement means that the case will not stand up in portrait, but the landscape stand makes for a decent video watching experience. The inside of the front flap also has a little credit-card sized pocket, handy if you need to carry business cards or a credit card. Just don't expect to get the card out of there in a hurry because the faux-nubuck grips the card pretty hard. %Gallery-127625% Verdict The Candy Convertible is a decent all-rounder. It's well made and will last considerably longer than some of the cheaper no-name folio style cases out there. The case offers good protection while being thin enough to not add much extra bulk to the svelte frame of the iPad 2, with the tablet and case reaching about 1.4 cm thick at it's bulkiest point (dimension in the case 19.7 cm x 25.4 cm x 1.4 cm). It stands up reasonably well using the front cover as a support in landscape -- it's just a shame it won't stand up in a portrait orientation, and that Hard Candy failed to include magnets for auto-sleep and covered the ambient light sensor with the inside frame. If you can get over those drawbacks, however, then the Candy Convertible looks good, feels nice and will protect your iPad 2 reasonably well. The Candy Convertible is available for $44.95 plus shipping in red, black and white.
Toshiba Folio 100 Android tablet gains responsiveness, dignity via new firmware update
Hard to say if this injection of code will be enough to get Toshiba's Folio 100 back on PC World shelves, but for those who already snatched one off of there, it's bound to improve morale. Word on the street has it that Tosh has just issued a new firmware update (v2.2.5.0053) to the aforesaid device, and while it doesn't include Adobe's Flash Player 10.1, it does aim to improve the screen / touch responsiveness, issues with lag, pinch-to-zoom capabilities and audio / video processing. We're also getting the impression that the genuine Android Market is staying far, far away from this build, but we'd love to hear if your slate is acting any nicer post-update. Hit us up in comments below, won't you?
PC World stops selling the Toshiba Folio 100, we go hands-on to find out why (video)
£999.99 ($1,612) for a Toshiba Folio 100?! That's a fair bit more expensive than its original $560 price point -- either its Tegra 2 chip's made out of gold (which would explain its rarity) or someone got super bored at that PC World store in the British Midlands. Soon after receiving this photo, we put on our detective hat and headed over to our local branch in London, only to find that it had already stopped selling the offending Android tablet merely ten days after its European launch. We quizzed the staff about the aforementioned £999.99 pricing and then all was clear: apparently this is a standard internal convention to stop its folks from selling certain products, so the price tag and display unit you see above weren't supposed to be there at all. Oopsie! So why is PC World (and the whole DSG International chain) pulling the Folio 100? Turns out this has nothing to do with Toshiba; but it's simply because of a high return rate from disappointed customers. In fact, head over to MoDaCo and you'll see a screenshot of PC World's internal memo that confirms this sad news. We had already given the tablet some decent (and disheartening) hands-on time back at IFA, but since our new friends at the store kindly offered to let us unbox a Folio 100 for a giggle, we decided to give it another go. And boy, it sure was a letdown: you'll see in our hands-on video after the break that the 10.1-inch LCD is haunted by an inferior pixel density plus narrow viewing angles; and the cheap plastic casing doesn't help, either. Most importantly, the official Android Market app was still MIA, which is no doubt the biggest turn-off for the buyers. Too bad, Toshiba, but do come back next year when you have Honeycomb and some decent screens. [Thanks, John L. and Adam C.] Update: Some commenters are pointing out that many software bugs -- especially in the Toshiba Market Place app -- and the lack of pinch-to-zoom in the browser are to be blamed as well. Yikes.%Gallery-107388%
Toshiba Folio 100 now shipping its Tegra 2-powered Froyo wares around Europe
If you're LG, you wait until Android becomes a tablet-worthy OS before bringing out your Tegra 2 slate. If you're Toshiba, you're too busy shipping your 10-inch Froyo tablet to care. The Folio 100, powered by NVIDIA's latest and greatest ARM SOC, is making its promised Q4 2010 arrival today, as it begins shipping all across Europe. There are still no release plans for the US, but Euros can now enjoy a 1024 x 600 resolution, 16GB of internal storage, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, mini-HDMI, USB and SD card-reading ports, and up to seven hours of battery life. €399 ($560) is the last price we heard for this Android Market-deprived slate, though we'd recommend trying one in person before letting go of that cash -- our own impressions of the Folio 100 weren't overwhelmingly positive. Update: Toshiba has furnished us with updated pricing. Germany will have to pony up €429 for the 3G-less Folio 100 or €529 for the 3G-equipped SKU (available Q1 2011), whereas Italy gets both of them cheaper at €399 and €499, respectively, and UK buyers will have to find £329 for the thriftier model. All prices include local sales tax.
Adonit Writer adds one more option to the iPad folio + keyboard barrage
We weren't too fond of the AIDACASE KeyCase Folio, but we should've known a flood of alternatives would be hitting the market shortly thereafter. Adonit dropped us a line to say that its rival is in the final stages of production and should be ready to order by Christmas, and while the final edition will add a lot of polish, there's a gallery of pre-pro shots just below for your perusal. The Writer iPad folio + keyboard combines a Bluetooth keyboard with a case, and the board itself slides on a magnet for maximum positioning awesomeness. There's also a quick iPad release, auto-keyboard sleep function and an exterior that'll look far sexier than what you're seeing here. Hit the source link to be alerted when it goes on sale, and as for pricing, expect to part ways with $120 or so. Or $420 when combined with a Colorware Grip for iPad. %Gallery-106021%
AIDACASE KeyCase Folio Deluxe for iPad Bluetooth keyboard case review
We were expecting a flood of iPad-oriented Bluetooth keyboards to hit the second Apple announced that its tablet would support them, but it's basically been crickets so far -- except for the AIDACASE KeyCase Folio Deluxe, which we first saw hit the FCC in April and is now finally shipping. But after all the wait, is it actually worth $100 to lug this thing around with your iPad? We've been testing a review unit -- head past the break to find out. Update: The video should be working now (if you were having issues). Sorry about that folks! %Gallery-102620%
Toshiba Folio 100 preview
We just got to handle the Folio 100, after witnessing it bolted to a wall earlier, and we have to admit that it's lighter and thinner than it looks at first glance. Unfortunately, it still feels pretty cheap, and we're not sure how much we trust ourselves one-handing something this large and fragile seeming. Our brief glimpse of Toshiba's custom skin on here was most depressing -- it's not final, but we're not sure why Toshiba is even bothering showing anything in this abysmal state. The bits we've seen of Toshiba's market (for music, apps, e-books and so forth) look a bit better, but as far as we know there's no official Android Market on this thing -- a kiss of death for almost any Android device. Toshiba's biggest failure here, however, is probably the LCD it sourced for this tablet -- the screen looks as cheap and low res as could be, and while a €399 list price is decent for a tablet this size, it hardly seems a good excuse to stoop to KIRF-level components. Hit up the gallery for all the angles, along with some comparison shots with the mind share monopolizing iPad. Update: We just heard from Toshiba's US team and there are apparently no plans to bring the Folio 100 stateside. Given our lackluster first impressions, we can't say we're all that upset by that...%Gallery-101154%
