By Caitlyn Muncy

We all love to doodle on an iPad with our fingers as it brings back memories of the simple times of finger painting and building blocks. However, a stylus can come in super handy when you want a bit more control whilst writing on your fancy tablet. A cumbersome problem upon purchasing said stylus is that you have no way of attaching it to your iPad to keep track of it. This can be a very expensive pencil to lose, as they usually run for about $15 apiece. Ten One’s handy dandy product called the Particle Case solves just such a problem for those of you that want to use a stylus, but fear you might lose it a little too easily.

This rubbery black rectangle keeps the most exposed areas of your iPad safe, and has a little grippy thing for your stylus as well. The open back keeps your iPad nice and cool, and doesn’t add much weight to it. There are four little rubber feet on the bottom to provide some distance from whatever surface you may have it on. It is a bit awkward to store if it’s not in use as it’s not paper-thin and made of rubber, but it’s not as though it takes up much space.

This isn’t a particularly useful case in my opinion, but I am on the go pretty much constantly, and as I have to put my iPad in and out of a bag constantly, the stylus still has a chance of falling off, as it’s not really death gripped inside of the holster on the side. If you like to just prop it up and doodle or write with it on a flat surface, then it’s great for walking around the house and not having to constantly having to keep track of the stylus. If you put it on a stand, or constantly are on the run, however, you’ll want a case with more protection, and a carrying container for your stylus so you know you won’t lose it. Buying it from the site will cost you about $35, but you can find it for less elsewhere.

[ TenOne ]

Welcome to this week’s edition of the SlashGear Week in Review! This is the last edition before Christmas; I hope you have your shopping done! Last Sunday we went hands on with the LG VL600 LTE modem and it was really cool. We like the service, but the scant data limits of 5GB and 10GB will keep many from adopting if they plan to use it as a broadband alternative. Monday some really cool cases for the iPhone 4 surfaced from Gear 4 that fans of Angry Birds will like. The cases come in three styles with colors and characters from the Angry Birds game.

More rumors swirled about a half-size iPad that suggest Apple may be working on a smaller version of the iPad. That would be no surprise even if Jobs did already say 7-inch tablets are DOA. A geek took some sticky notes and a string of Christmas lights and hacked them into a way to show which of his pals were online. The lights the geek used are the GE Color Effects GE-35 LED sting and the LED data bus was hacked to create the IM status device.

Coloud has been making headphones that are sports and super hero branded for a while now and those were cool. The company has now rolled out an epic R2-D2 themed set that is really cool and sell for a tick under $50. The rumor that will not die made another round this week with the Verizon iPhone said to be coming right after Christmas. The device is also said to be an LTE handset.

A phone design concept popped up by researcher Fabian Hemmert that has tactile feedback. The phone could hold your hand, blow on you, and kiss you. This will single handedly bring new meaning to phone sex me thinks. One analyst is saying that a new HP webOS tablet is set to hit the market in March 2011. BMO Capital Markets analyst Keith Bachman cites sources in Asia for the tip.

A group of Japanese guys got together and created cool skydiving simulation using Google Earth, a projector, and some fans. The result looks pretty fun and more realistic than you might expect. German doctors made a claim this week that the world has been waiting to hear for decades. The doctors claim to have cured a patient of AIDS using stem cells and other techniques.

GNU Founder Richard Stallman stated this week that the Google Chrome OS is careless computing. He points out that when your data is stored on a company machine rather than your own machine you lose some of your legal rights. An awesome DIY Tron Skatecycle was spied early in the week and the thing has glowing wheels that look like the new lightcycles. The device started out as a device skate cycle called the Freerider.

A cool map of the world that highlights Facebook relationships shows just how connected we are globally. The map shows 10 million pairs of friends out of the 500 million people on the social network. Analysts said this week that they think a Verizon iPhone will gain users mostly at AT&T’s expense. That would mean that the number of new users to the iPhone with Verizon offering one would be less than some might expect.

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg was named the Time Person of the Year for 2010. The magazine says that the site founded by Zuckerberg has changed the way people relate to each other. Tablet sales in the business world are predicted to double according to a ChangeWave survey of businesses. Most of the businesses want to use the iPad and 7% of the businesses surveyed say they already give employees iPads.

A cool new way to raise money for charity has been unveiled by Google. Money for each opened tab on the Chrome browser will be given to charity with a new “Chrome for Cause” program. A wild looking stringless guitar from Misa Kitara has surfaced. The guitar uses a touch screen for strings and can be pre-ordered now for $849 on a normal plastic version of $2899 for an aluminum version.

A crazy self-sterilizing door handle won a Concept Design Award. The thing is really cool and kills off germs on its own. Door handles transmit more germs and illness than I care to think about. Geeks and Lego never fail to impress and this cool T-800 bust made from Lego is no exception. The statue even has glowing red eyes and base has tiny Lego skeletons inside.

For most of us, the largest utility bill is electricity. A concept home has debuted that is square and covered in solar panels to generate electricity. The panels power the hot water, lights, AC and all else in the concept and might even have power to sell back to the electric company. I have never seen a house key that was cool until the Keybrid turned up. The key has a ring integrated into the design and can be used as a money clip or clipped to other things. You can pick up a pair of the things for about $17.

Word Lens for the iPhone is an app that can translate signs in a foreign language so you can read them. The app is cool and it only works for printed text (naturally). PDP is showing off its cool Tron: Legacy controller that is licensed by Microsoft for the Xbox 360. The controller has glowing orange lines and sells for about $50.

EA has some of its coolest iPhone and iPad games on sale right now for the holidays at 99 cents. There are a bunch of different games available from Tetris to Madden NFL and more. A live video demo of the Notion Ink Adam tablet surfaced from the company for us all to drool over. The tablet looks pretty cool to me, check out the video for yourself here. Thanks for reading this week’s edition and have a Merry Christmas!

By Andrew Liszewski

In my wildest fantasies I one day envision a world where people won’t have to carry wallets. At the most a single piece of plastic will take care of all our spending/identification needs, and maybe even that’s over thinking it. But there’s no point in getting caught up in dreams when we’re stuck living in this rip-off version of 2010 where ‘the man’ forces us to carry stacks of plastic cards wherever we go. But I rebel whenever I can, and to this day I’ve spent most of my free time on the hunt for the perfect minimalist wallet. And I think I may have found it.

The Mojito is from a Georgia-based company called Malcolm Fontier, and while I don’t remember where I first stumbled across it, I do know it instantly struck me as being a candidate for ‘Andrew’s perfect wallet.’ You’d think that since my only criteria is ’slim & minimal’ finding an adequate solution would be an easy task, but over the years everything from clips to business card holders have failed me time and time again. But I think the Mojito has the potential to go the distance! And to make things even better it turns out that Malcolm Fontier makes an iPhone case embracing the same minimalist aesthetic, and I had a chance to check them both out. More after the jump.

Now when hunting for a slim wallet you have to be willing to make some compromises when it comes to how many cards you can carry. If you ditch that massive leather filing cabinet in your back pocket for something that can slip into the front pocket of your jeans, you’re going to have to let a few things go. But if you’re willing to do that, I can’t recommend the Mojito enough.

As you can see the wallet is actually designed to be just a bit shorter than the your standard credit card, which is probably one of the more important things you carry every day. Not only does it make the wallet lighter since there’s less material, but leaving the top of the cards exposed also makes them easy to remove from the wallet’s main slot. But you don’t have to worry about the cards accidentally falling out since the Mojito features a small elastic strap designed to hold the cards securely in place. It’s also kind of like the trademark of these wallets, and I’m sure I’ll be asked about it from time to time when I go to reach for a card.

On the other side of the wallet is a pocket designed to serve as a sort of money clip for storing cash. If you’re already a fan of carrying slim wallets you’re probably already used to tri-folding paper bills so they take up less room. And you’ll need to do the same with this wallet. But trust me, once you start doing it, you’ll never go back to half-folding your bills again.

I’ll also point out that while the Mojito products might look like leather, they’re actually made from polyurethane with a nylon lining. So if you’re not a fan of an animal having to die so that you have a place to carry your cards, they’re a nice alternative to a leather wallet.

Malcolm Fontier claims the Mojito can hold up to 4 cards in the main slot, but with a little extra effort, and some stretching and flexing over time, I can think you can easily squeeze 5 in there if needed. Or 4 with a couple of business cards. Out of the box the Mojito I tested was kind of stiff, so inserting and removing cash and cards was a little difficult, but over time the material will definitely relax, so I’m not worried about it. Nor should you be.

And I have to say I’m not really sure how anyone can make a wallet any slimmer or more compact without making too many compromises on what it’s able to hold. I know you can always just throw the cards and cash in your pocket loose, but I like having them all together inside a wallet at the end of the night so when I empty my pockets I know things aren’t going to disappear.

But while I’ve managed to slim my wallet’s contents over the years, recently there’s another item that I end up taking with me wherever I go. My iPhone. So thankfully Malcolm Fontier also makes a larger version of the Mojito, cleverly dubbed the iMojito, which lets you carry your iPhone (all generations) in addition to your cash and plastic.

Like with the Mojito wallet the iMojito swallows up about 90% of your iPhone, leaving the top 10% exposed making it easier to remove. And to ensure it doesn’t accidentally slide out once the case has been broken in, the iMojito also features that clever little elastic strap. But instead of a single pocket designed to hold just cash, on one side you’ll find 3 separate pockets for holding your plastic, business cards, receipts, money or whatever you can think of.

Now obviously the final package is no where near as small and slim as the Mojito wallet is, but it can still be easily slipped in a pocket, and I think it’s a great way to carry your iPhone and your wallet essentials all in one.

However, those of you looking for a case that will provide absolute protection for your iPhone from top to bottom will need to remember that the top bit of your iPhone will remain exposed when using the iMojito. So the risk of it getting scratched up from keys or coins when stashed in your pocket is still there. As someone who is paranoid about such things, I feel obligated to mention it. But seeing people walking around using their iPhones with cracked screens and what-not, I know it’s not a concern for everyone.

It’s nice to stumble across the perfect (insert whatever you’re looking for here) after a long search, and I really think the Mojito could end up being the perfect wallet for me. So much so that I feel like I should order a stack of them to keep as backups for when they eventually wear out from day-to-day use. The iMojito is also a nice alternative to the Mojito if you want to keep your iPhone crammed in there as well.

And to top it all off, I have to say I even really like the Malcolm Fontier packaging which features a clever sliding insert which slightly hangs out the bottom of the outer sleeve, mimicking the unique design cues of the wallet and case.

Pros:
+ Quite possibly the smallest, slimmest wallet you can buy.
+ Reasonably priced.
+ The Mojito wallet is available in a variety of color combinations.
+ High-quality construction and stitching.
+ Made of durable polyurethane instead of leather.

Cons:
- If you’re not already carrying a slim wallet you’ll have to get used to carrying a minimal number of cards.
- Slightly stiff out the box, making it difficult to insert and remove cards. But it will loosen up over time.
- iMojito case will not completely protect your iPhone from scratches.

Links:
Mojito Wallet – $25
iMojito iPhone Case – $35

If you have any questions about the Malcolm Fontier products you’d like answered, please feel free to leave them in the comments, and I’ll try to respond to them as best I can.

Can’t have enough Androids in your life? Well, here’s another one! Alternately known as the Knight or the Speedy, HTC’s upcoming Android device has made a couple of premature photo appearances in an effort to help sell some cases for its future self. The guys at HTCPedia report they have all the cases in their imagery in stock and confidently identify the Speedy Knight as a 3.7-inch QWERTY slider, while the phone’s UI and rear inscription leave no doubt about it running HTC’s Sense skin for Android. The likeliest scenario for this phone’s retail future is that it’ll be dubbed the EVO Shift 4G and exploit Sprint’s WiMAX airwaves, leaving the only unresolved issue as a one-word query: when?

Continue reading EVO Shift 4G (aka HTC Knight / Speedy) shows up in accessory pics, exhibits dubious dress Sense

EVO Shift 4G (aka HTC Knight / Speedy) shows up in accessory pics, exhibits dubious dress Sense originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 03:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By Andrew Liszewski

For once here’s a post about a LaCie enclosure that doesn’t include any specs about gigabytes or capacity. That’s because their new ‘Tank’ case doesn’t come with a drive inside. You’re welcome to stick one in there, but it’ll be just as happy to protect other smaller electronics or valuables from dust, pouring rain, drops, shock and anything else that falls under the U.S. Military’s IP-63 specification.

A customizable foam interior ensures that what’s inside won’t bang around while in transport, which is important because LaCie seems to be positioning this as a safe way to ship or mail hard drives. Since it’s lacking in storage the Tank will only cost you ~$31 (£19.99) and even though it’s currently only listed on the U.K. LaCie website, I’m sure it will eventually make its way over here.

[ LaCie Tank ] VIA [ Professional Photographer ]

By Andrew Liszewski

At first glance I rolled my eyes at the iProp, thinking it was kind of overkill when it came to iPad stands. But as I perused the photos of it in use on their website, I thought of a lot of places where I’d actually find it quite useful. I particularly like the alarm clock idea, or for use in bed in general when my laziness is cranked to 11 (or should that be -1?) but even while crashed on the couch or working at my desk, being able to swing it around or easily re-position would be extremely convenient.

A ball and socket joint which connects the iPad holder to the rest of the stand means you can rotate it 360° or angle it however you want, and a generous 2 feet of articulated goose neck makes it easy to finesse its position. And while the forked base looks like it might be easy to tip over, it weighs in at 3lb. 13 oz. which should be more than enough to counterbalance the attached iPad. When it’s officially available sometime in the Spring of next year the iProp will sell for $79.95, but if you pre-order now you’ll get free shipping as an incentive.

[ iProp ] VIA [ The Gadgeteer ]

If you are the proud owner of a new HTC HD7 Windows Phone 7 smartphone you will want to keep the thing shiny and looking new. What you need is a case that is as cool as the smartphone is. Speck has announced a new case for the HD7 that should be launching really soon called the PixelSkin HD.

At the time I write this, the case is not on the Speck website, but it will land on the site here when it launches. Speck notes that it will also be offered in the T-Mobile stores to buy along with the phone. The new case is the PixelSkin HD and it comes in two colors. The case has a blocky square design that makes the phone easier to grip.

The case also allows users to access the kickstand for propping the phone up. It comes in black or pink colors and will sell for $29.99. The grid of blocks is matte finish with the layer under the blocks having a shine to them. The case is very nice looking.

By Andrew Liszewski

You have to be a brave soul to let your kids anywhere near your iPad with magic markers in hand (are they really that magic?) but I like what Griffin has created here. It’s a shatter-resistant polycarbonate shell that turns your iPad into a tracing desk, allowing kids to slip in a standard letter-sized piece of paper and trace out an image to be colored in later. Now I know that some of you are recoiling in horror thinking about the ink that might soak through onto your iPad’s display, but the case also includes a polycarbonate transparent screen shield, so in theory it’s completely safe.

There’s an accompanying LightBoard Trace app that’s free to download which includes 35 tracing patterns, animations and even a game that teaches kids how to write their names, but I like the flexibility of also being able to just trace out any old image on screen. My dreams of an L.A. Law themed coloring book might finally come to fruition! $39.99 available directly from Griffin.

[ Griffin LightBoard ] VIA [ Gearlog ]

By Andrew Liszewski

While we get emails all day long about new product announcements, the majority of them are for cases designed for the iPhone or other iDevices. Like by a longshot. Occasionally a clever or useful design will come along, but most of the time our eyes will just glaze over at the monotony of seeing the same thing again and again. But every once in a while there’s a rare gem that gets us really excited, or leaves us scratching our heads. The iBlackBoard, which is thankfully just a design concept by KALOMIX LIMITED, falls into that latter category.

Now I can see the benefit of being able to quickly jot down notes without even having to unlock the iPhone, or even being able to sketch your own custom case design, but with chalk?! Really? Not only does it mean you have to carry a piece of chalk around, but that dust is going to inevitably find it’s way inside every nook and cranny of your phone. And when that happens please let me know because I’d like to be there the day you try and explain your situation to the Genius at the Apple Store.

[ KALOMIX LIMITED - iBlackBoard iPhone Case Concept ] VIA [ GadgetReview ]

By Caitlyn Muncy

We recently received a few cases from iLuv, which I was very excited about…at first. Upon opening the package, I saw that we had received three different kinds of cases falling under the name of: Glacier, Spectrum, and Silk. Catchy names for pretty much the same case with slight differences.

The Spectrum is a silicone case that comes in a variety of colors, and although its squishy, silky feel is appealing, its ability to stay on the phone was not so great. It can take a hit on the sides and back, but the case slides off the corners easily. It is extremely comfortable, and can save your phone from a little damage, but as an overall case I wouldn’t recommend it.

The Silk and Glacier version can easily be lumped into one category as their only real differences are that one is clear, and has a glossy plastic feel, and the other is a see-through color with a smooth outer surface. They both hold the phone in place via tension and a miniscule lip that catches onto the metallic part of your mobile device. The face plate of glass is completely exposed on all sides. All of their cases do come with a screen protector, but with no side to cover up the edges, this will peel off much faster than it would with a different case. It also has “iLuv” tattooed in giant letters on the back which just looks obnoxious as you can still see the lettering on the back of the phone and they lay on top of one another.

These cases generally run about $15 brand new, but when looking on the web I found them for about 4 or 5 a piece. Overall these cases are not worth putting the money into, because you’ll likely need a new phone if you rely on these.

[ iLuv ]