ZAGGfolio iPad 2 Folio

Are you looking for a keyboard/case combo for your iPad 2? The ZAGGfolio iPad 2 Folio could be what you need. I've used a number of different ZAGG products in the past and this thin multi-function iPad folio case looks very impressive. I currently use the ZAGGmate with keyboard for my original iPad.

The removeable iPad keyboard works in combination with the built-in stand to give you the most flexibility of use.

You can learn more about the ZAGGfolio iPad 2 Folio here.

Working on the plane with my iPad

Over the weekend, I was on a flight from San Francisco to Philadelphia. I was using my iPad the entire time (using in-flight Gogo Wi-Fi) and at the end of the flight, I had over 65% of battery life. I was surprised at how much work I could get done by using an external Bluetooth keyboard.

When I travel in the future, I may end up leaving my laptop at home. I can access my Windows 7 PC remotely using LogMeIn Ignition and I can run a virtual machine of my Windows 7 computer. As I get more proficient at "pinch-to-zoom" and touch tapping, my efficiency on the iPad is definitely improving. Next: I will connect a Bluetooth mouse to my iPad so that I can replicate a true workstation experience.

Stowaway Bluetooth keyboard works with the iPad

I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that my old Stowaway keyboard (which was originally made by iGo) worked on my Apple iPad. The keyboard is really small, it works on 2 AAA batteries, and the keys are very easy to press. Plus, the keyboard folds up and stows away very nicely (hence, the name). Unfortunately, this little Bluetooth keyboard was discontinued a while back. I should have purchased an extra one when it was on clearance!

As my friend pointed out, an external keyboard makes all the difference in the world if you're doing a lot of typing. The iPad is a great travel device and I look forward to using this on the plane later today. Now, I have arrow keys!

The best iPad case?

This KeyCase iPad Folio may convert your Apple iPad into a laptop.  Is this the "best" case for the iPad? The case has a Bluetooth keyboard, so you don't need any wires or cables if you're  planning on using this case.

According to SlashGear, this keyboard is available for sale in the UK. GearZap sell it for £59.95 ($92) though it’s currently listed as out of stock.

Gift idea for gadget lovers: battery extenders

Shopping for a gadget lover? What does every electronic gadget have in common? They require batteries.

A battery extender makes a great gift. What do I mean by "battery extender?" Well, I'm primarily thinking about external battery packs that allow you to extend the life of your gadget if you're on a plane, bus, train, etc. If you don't have access to a power source and you can't plug in to recharge your device, then life can be quite frustrating if you have a gadget but you can't use it.

I have a robust external battery that I carry so that I can charge and power my laptop (actually, it's a convertible Tablet PC), my iPod, my smartphone, my Bluetooth headset, and any other gadget that requires power either via a USB cable or a proprietary power supply. These external batteries come in all sizes and shapes and they've been great.

Apple Magic Mouse (multi-touch gestures)

If you're familiar with multi-touch gestures on the Mac, then you'll want an Apple Magic Mouse. This is the first multi-touch mouse and it's currently included with every iMac. If you're looking for some holiday gift ideas, this could make a great $69 stocking stuffer. Apple certainly has some of the most talented and creative engineers and designers on staff (yes, some of my MIT college friends work at Apple).

Using Bluetooth wireless technology, this little peripheral requires no wires or cables. You make your gestures on the surface of the mouse, so imagine taking that track pad and turning that into a mouse. Like many mice, this one also features an ambidextrous design. All you creative lefties out there won't be left behind on this one.

Here are some of the gestures you can perform:

• Click: Magic Mouse is an advanced point-and-click mouse that lets you click and double-click anywhere on its Multi-Touch surface.
• Two-button click: Magic Mouse functions as a two-button mouse when you enable Secondary Click in System Preferences. Left-handed users can reassign left and right click, as well.
• 360° scroll: Brush one finger along the Multi-Touch surface to scroll in any direction and to pan a full 360 degrees.
• Screen zoom: Hold down the Control key on your keyboard and scroll with one finger on Magic Mouse to enlarge items on your screen.
• Two-finger swipe: Using two fingers, swipe left and right along the Multi-Touch surface to advance through pages in Safari or browse photos in iPhoto.

Learn more here: http://www.apple.com/magicmouse

I was tempted to buy a netbook today

I saw what appeared to be a killer deal today: A GPS-equipped Dell netbook that includes turn-by-turn navigation features for $499. (I passed on the TV tuner because I never have time to watch television)

Now, let's step back for a minute. How do you use a netbook in your car? Who needs a netbook when you can simply buy a standalone GPS navigator like a TomTom, Garmin, or Magellan for less than $499?

But then again, who needs a standalone GPS unit when you can simply get a GPS-enabled smartphone and install turn-by-turn navigation software made by TomTom, Garmin, and several other major companies?

Fortunately, I did not purchase this netbook. I have enough computers (including some that have built-in GPS functionality) and I really don't need another gadget right now. My HTC Touch Pro2 works just fine as a GPS navigator. My OQO model 02 and my Samsung Q1 Ultra (Ultra-Mobile PC or UMPC) are great gadgets that are capable of GPS navigation if I pair a Bluetooth GPS. My Lenovo Thinkpad X200 tablet PC has a built-in GPS because of the built-in WWAN radio.

So why was I tempted to buy this Dell netbook? Because you simply don't see too many netbooks advertised as a GPS navigator with turn-by-turn navigation software. As netbooks continue to evolve, perhaps a built-in GPS will become a standard feature. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and fairly standard features. Built-in WWAN is getting to be a standard feature, and this often means that you'll get a built-in GPS antenna.

Sorry Dell, maybe next time. $499 is just too much. $299 is a different story. Of course, if others are looking for a netbook that includes either a built-in GPS or a built-in TV tuner, then you should take a look at the Dell Mini 10 and 10v (starting at $299, but going up to $499 for the nicer models).

More discussions about the Apple Tablet

Have you read the BusinessWeek story about the upcoming Apple Tablet? Will we see different screen size configurations in this upcoming tablet? Will the price point of less than $700 be enough for consumers during this economic depression? Will it compete against the Amazon Kindle as some form of an e-book reader? Will it run the iPod OS or some modified version of Mac OS X? Will early adopters who buy the new Apple tablet get punished as they lower the price after a few months? Will there be a keyboard option? (I'm guessing you'll be able to use a Bluetooth keyboard, but that's just a guess). Will it have an internal GPS chip?

Click here to read the BusinessWeek story.

Running Windows 7 on my Thinkpad X200 Tablet PC

I've been running Windows 7 RC (32 bit) on my Lenovo Thinkpad X200 Tablet PC for a while now. I did a clean install on a blank hard drive. Then, I ran ThinkVantage System Update 3.14 to download drivers and it loaded drivers that were marked as XP/Vista. Currently, most of the drivers seem to work with Windows 7, but there are a few exceptions.

• Intel Turbo Memory seems to be working.
• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are working.
• The built-in AT&T WWAN is working.
• Built-in camera is working.
• Multi-touch screen working (active digitizer plus passive touch-screen).
• Fingerprint reader is working.
  
• ThinkVantage Active Protection is working.
• Modem - not tested. Who still uses a phone modem these days?
  

Allow me to continue my testing and I will post regular updates.

Vista SP 2 Experience So Far

Don't expect any noticeable changes in performance with Vista SP (Service Pack) 2. Everything on my Lenovo Thinkpad X200 Tablet PC feels the same so far, but I wonder if I was plagued with some bugs that were unbeknown to me.

According to PC World, here's what you can now expect:

• Blu-ray and improved Bluetooth support:
• Fixes Wi-Fi issues when Vista awakes from sleep mode.
• Improves performance of Vista desktop sidebar gadget, allowing for RSS feeds to perform better.
• Address overall Vista system performance issues. Microsoft says SP2 repairs nearly 700 nagging Vista bugs and security updates.
• Boosts power management efficiency by 10 percent.
• Gives your computer support for VIA Technologies' new 64-bit CPU
• Lets your system support exFAT, which can handle larger files and can also use UTC timestamps so you can synchronize files across different time zones.

I'm not too impressed, but I am impressed with Windows 7 and I'm eager to run that on my Thinkpad.

Bluetooth 3.0

It's exciting to see how Bluetooth technology has improved mobile computing. Bluetooth 3.0 is coming soon! I use my smartphone to connect my laptop or UMPC to the Internet and I often tether (or connect) via Bluetooth. Bluetooth 3.0 is going to be really fast and I'm eager to see how it will impact mobile computing and healthcare.