For the last few weeks, I’ve been testing out both the RAVPower Wireless Charger and the xRobot Power Bank, two unique takes on the conventional way to charge your devices. While both products come from the same family, their functionality couldn’t be farther apart. Let’s take a look how both worked.
We know that Bluetooth keyboards are usually the go to solution for a bringing a traditional typing experience on the iPad. We’ve reviewed plenty from Logitech in the past that we highly recommend, but today the company launched what it says is a better solution for iPad keyboards in the classroom. Logitech says having to connect multiple iPads to Bluetooth keyboards in classrooms is a big hassle for teachers, and to combat that it is introducing a plug-and-play, wired keyboard in both Lightning and 30-pin variants:
“Schools are increasingly purchasing iPads for use in the classroom,” said Mike Culver, vice president and general manager of mobility at Logitech. “While tablets are enabling new ways of teaching and testing, there’s a challenge when a teacher needs to simultaneously pair multiple iPads with multiple wireless Bluetooth keyboards. We developed the Logitech Wired Keyboard for iPad to specifically solve this problem, so students can now simply plug it in and start typing.”
The full-sized keyboard has the usual iOS hotkeys, a durable, spill resistant exterior, and the low profile keys you might be used to from other Logitech keyboards.
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Pro, home, and car audio company Pyle is launching a few retro inspired rotary telephones that connect to your mobile devices. The PRT35I, for instance, includes a built-in iPhone dock, a button to switch between iPhone and landline, and a 3.5mm jack for any device that doesn’t fit the dock. It appears to be shipping with a 30-pin connector, so Lightning devices will have to be connected externally.
Pyle has the unit listed for $110 on its website, but you can already find it for under $100 on Amazon.
These classically designed rotary desktop telephones, handcrafted from real wood and adorned with brushed copper parts, work with landlines allowing for normal telephone functions, as well as smartphones. In addition to letting you talk on your smartphone in style, using the handset also helps shield you from up to 99 percent of the radiation absorbed when speaking directly into cellular phones. The collection is compatible with all 3.5mm jack mobile phones and tablets, including iPhone, Android, Blackberry, iPad and the latest MacBooks.
Pyle is also launching a couple of other models today without built-in iPhone docks, including the PRT55I, PRT15I, and PRT25I.
Pyle’s Retro Telephone Collection Features Include:
• Retro-style telephone with handcrafted wood base and brushed copper parts
• Standard telephone features and functions including last number redial flash function, and ringer high/low selection.
• Compatible with any mobile device with a 3.5mm jack
• Eliminates up to 99% of the radiation absorbed from direct cellphone use
• One button pick-up/hang-up
• One button transfer between landline and smartphone
• PRT35I model also charges your mobile device
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj1iO78d6AM]
With the unveiling of Apple’s new Lightning connector and often necessary 30-pin adapters for the iPhone 5 and refreshed iPod lineup, it is perhaps a perfect time for Jawbone to declare “The Dock Is Dead” in its latest ad for the Big Jambox wireless Bluetooth speaker. We put previous generations of the speaker to the test, but the new Jambox has since improved on many of the areas that the old model lacked. We also had positive experiences reviewing other products from Jawbone in the past.
As noted by MacRumors, an eBay listing popped up today showing what appears to be a prototype 16GB iPad with two dock connectors. The iPad has always included the same, single dock connector that allows docking in portrait orientation, but the prototype in the listing shows a second dock connector that would allow for docking in landscape view.
We heard rumors several times as far back as the original iPad launch that Apple was working to add a second dock connector. The rumors were supported by several patents that surfaced. They detailed possible advancements Apple could make to its dock connectors on iOS devices. As pointed out by the report, the prototype in the eBay listing does not actually have any iPad trademarks, but just a prototype ID number instead. Otherwise, it appears to be genuine with components carrying “part numbers and copyright dates from prior to original iPad’s components.”
Recently launched as a Kickstarter project, Jon Fawcett and his new company [Fuse] Chicken invented a flexible gooseneck accessory with a built-in USB cable that doubles as a shapeable stand and dock for your iPhone.
The benefits of the Une Bobine (which is French for “A coil”) are obvious from the images above— the ability to adjust your iPhone to an appropriate position in various scenarios, such as charging, while still being able to place the device at eye-level. It also holds your device in landscape mode, as you can see in the images.
Although the Kickstarter project already surpassed its funding goal of $9,800, you can preorder yours now by pledging $25. The company planned to start shipping Une Bobine roughly 45 days after reaching its funding goal, and it appears to still be on schedule.
