A Dragon To Set Verizon On Fire

I love a good rumor as much as the next, but this looks to be getting closer and closer to reality.  The HTC Dragon, or Passion, is due to hit Verizon sometime around the middle of December.  This will be another member of its AnDroid family.  What’s special about this phone?  Well, it will be the first smartphone to use Qualcomm’s 1 GHz Snapdragon processor.  Other alleged goodies include:  a 5 megapixel camera, Android 2.0, and a 4.3″ touchscreen. 

The announcement and rumors of this phone is what’s keeping me waiting from buying one of the current Droid phones.  All of the reports on various Android phones say HTC’s Sense UI is the best out there.  So, if this phone is going to have a faster processor and a better interface, it will beat the Droid.  However, it will give Verizon the 2 top Android phones available.  You can never have too many good choices. 

Via Brighthand.com

Review: Another Extreme Challenge – The Otterbox 2600 Dropped on Tile Floor

Here we are again, with another “Extreme Review” of another Otterbox case, the 2600, is a moderately priced case at $49.95.  This case is larger and wider than the Otterbox 1900 used in my previous review.  Special thanks to Otterbox for providing us with a 2600 testing unit for this review and for my use.

The Otterbox 2600 case is well constructed and provides protection from dropping, as well as water and dust.  Even though the manufacturer advertises that this case is crush-proof, since the glass on the PDA is not protected by a hard cover, we decided not to opt for a Suburban drive-over this time, as the last time after the review we were told that the pressure of the drive over could damage a device, as the cases do flex ever so slightly.

Throughout this review we will be protecting a much larger  and wider PDA device, that is, the Toshiba E800, which has a thick extended battery pack attached and is longer than most PDAs on the market.  Unfortunately, the previously reviewed Otterbox 1900 case was not tall or thick enough to protect the oversized Toshiba PDA.  Actually this is the only case that is large enough to fit this device.

What is inside of the package?

• The Case
• Extra Foam Padding for thinner devices.

Since the Toshiba E800 is a thick device, only one foam pad was necessary to firmly secure the device in the case and it did not slip or move throughout our testing.

Also of note is the construction of this clear plastic case, which is really Polycarbonate & ABS Shell, in disguise, as you will see in our test video that when dropped on a tile floor, I was not able to even find a scratch on the case…wow!!  This is a strong case indeed; don’t let the clear plastic fool you!

At the top of the picture below are two additional foam pads to provide a secure fit for your device, as this case does not have a strap, as with the Otterbox 1900, rather this case relies on a pressure fit.  Don’t worry though, our device did not slip throughout the testing.

Also thanks to the reflection in the picture, it is possible to see the clear plastic membrane that protects the screen of your mobile device, as well as allows for writing input and throughout our testing allowed audio and microphone recordings to be unimpaired.

Music Plays clearly through the membrane, as well as the nice feature of being able to write on the case enclosed PDA, while the device is secured inside the case.

Here is a picture of the Toshiba E800 with extended battery pack firmly secured inside the case.  Note the vertical cut-out on the right of the screen which allows for secure storage of a stylus.  A slightly thicker stylus will firmly fit into the custom slot.

Center the device face-down into the case, as shown and then close the back of the case and secure the latches.  Actually, it was easier to secure the device in the case with this Otterbox, than it was in the last review, as a strap in not used to secure the device from the inside.  I like the way that the E800 fit securely by pressure alone.  Note that on the top of the case is a slot that allows for a twist tie or a padlock to make sure that the case does not open, while under extreme conditions.

The hinge is thick and sturdy and looks like it will provide many years of service.

The latches are also very sturdy and securely fasten, providing a reliable closure, as the hinges did not open during our testing.

Unlike the Otterbox 1900, the 2600 does not have any pass-through ports or expansion capabilities, however, this was of no consequence to me, while testing the Toshiba E800, as I did not have any accessories that required that functionality.

The Neoprene strap is flexible, just like on the Otterbox 1900 and provides a secure feel while carrying the case.  The strap is easily adjusted by means of Velcro fasteners on both ends.  I removed the case for the testing, however it was very difficult to re-feed the strap back through their channels in the case, as the straps fit is very tight in the slots.  I recommend only taking of the strap infrequently, as a result of my experiences trying to re-thread the  strap.

Here is a close-up showing the convenience of writing through the case’s plastic membrane.  I was impressed by how easy it was to write through the membrane.

And now for our Video Review:

Otterbox 2600 Review

JAMM Review Summary

Things we liked: Everything!

Construction:  Strong enough to withstand damage from being dropped onto a tile floor and also great water-tight protection.  The strap gave a secure feel when holding the case.  The Stylus holder keeps a stylus firmly in place and is convenient.  The hinge is thick and durable.  Finally I was able to find a large and wide enough case to accommodate even a Toshiba E800 with a thick expansion battery.

Durability: The front of the case has a rubber rubber protector that is elevated from the mobile device’s screen to protect the glass during accidental drops, like the one we inflicted in our video review.  The Heavy-duty latches stayed closed during our testing.  The rubber pads that secure the device on the inside of the case protect, as well as keep the device firmly in place.

Ease of Use:  All buttons on the front of the mobile device can be easily accessed, including the touch screen through the plastic membrane.  The membrane that protects the screen and also allows writing with a stylus also does not dampen the device audio or recording.

Accessories: Multiple accessories are available as below.

Things that we would like to see: A plastic flip-cover  (like on the Otterbox 1900) that protects the glass on the device cover, since the mobile device’s glass is still exposed and the membrane will not protect against a direct-hit to the screen.  We would also like to see rubber around the case, as this would protect the plastic from scratches, as well as more durable.

The Price is a reasonable $49.95, which is well worth the money, if you are looking for a rugged case that will protect your thicker and oversized mobile device.

Review: iSkin ProTouch Classic and FX for MacBooks

What I like about the ProTouch silicone keyboard cover is how it has changed my MacBook habits: with a cover over my keyboard at all times I no longer have to worry about dirt collecting on the top or whether the cookie crumbs will slowly infiltrate and ultimately take over the underside of certain keys, adding an undue amount of *crunch* to every single letter I type.

More Care-Free Computing…
The ProTouch lifted a weight from my shoulders and I feel a lot more free around my computer, and it’s been great for snacking and surfing. I’m now free to biscuit away while I review, and review while I biscuit.
What’s great is that the ProTouch covers your keys from food and finger oil, but feels almost exactly the same when you type. Pressing on keys doesn’t present quite the same sensation because you can feel the silicone border around keys – but this is something I got used to within a day.  Typing is actually a little quieter, since the silicone tends to hold the plastic keys in place so they don’t rattle as much while you type.

Classic vs FX…
I was sent the Classic and FX skin in Black/White for review, and although they’re priced at different levels, there isn’t a big difference between the two: both of them feature the same fit and protect the keyboard from crumbs and minor spills.
The major differences are cosmetic: colour and a small spot on the keyboard. The Classic features a transparent look and an embossed iSkin logo along the right side of the keyboard, whereas the FX is a solid white with black keys and a smooth spacebar. The keyboard logo on the Classic is a very minor detail, but since typing is such a particular thing it’s probably still worth nothing. I don’t really notice it because I press on the keyboard with my left thumb, but it is strange that they’d switch the logo location on the “low end” ProTouch model and keep the logo above the arrow keys on the FX.
Another little advantage that the FX skin has is how it affects the keyboard backlight. By default, the backlight on the MacBook keys tends to glow a little too harshly for my tastes — almost as if Apple just stuck little light lights behind the keys and called it a day (is the light in the back? Presto, backlight!). It’s a far cry from the smooth, pulsing sleep light along the front of the machine. The ProTouch FX fixes that a little bit by dulling the illumination and making it look a little more uniform. The backlight looks softer and more subtle under the FX, and it’s a welcome change.

After a month of usage…
I wasn’t sure about this product when I first received it, but it’s probably become my favourite iSkin offering by far. I use my MacBook Pro daily for surfing and writing and both skins have held up quite nicely, although the spacebar cover on my TouchPro FX is a little wrinkled since I used it more often. I believe a month is a decent amount of time to test the ProTouch, and it’s proven to be a very solid and useful accessory.

Conclusion
The ProTouches are about as close to a necessary accessory for my uses as I can think of — I’m not a very messy computer user and I’m usually really careful around the sensitive parts of the machine. What the ProTouch does for me is ease a lot of those concerns about crumbs, finger oil, and dirt mucking up my keyboard and just let me enjoy using the thing. This luxury doesn’t come cheap, but judging from the durability and quality of the product in this last month of usage, I believe the iSkin ProTouch Classic is priced just right at $25. The ProTouch FX is priced at $5 more and really only adds colour and a bit of backlight dulling, so if you’re just looking for simple, subtle keyboard protection, stick to the ProTouch Classic and type away.

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You can pick up your own iSkin ProTouch Classix or FX for $25-30 on iSkin.com.

eReader App Available for Android

eReader.com, the World’s Largest ebook store and Barnes and Noble company has released an app to be able to view its ebooks on Android devices.  The new software will allow for downloading books from their store and managing your online bookshelf.  Great news for both readers and Android fans!!!  First, Android is being included more and more when it comes to applications.  No longer is it just iPhone and WinMo.  Second, now there is a giant source for grabbing books on the go with lots of new Android devices out soon.   

 

Via jkOnTheRun

Evidence suggests Apple at work on Mac OS X 10.7

I saw this on AppleInsider today and was intrigued by it. The staff there indicate that they aren’t surprised that work on 10.7 has already begun. As a software quality professional I agree. As a consumer, I was a bit surprised. The bits for 10.6.2 are still cooling, and Apple is pressing ahead with 10.7. I wonder what it will include..?

Apple is unsurprisingly already at work on the next version of its operating system, according to a new technical message that references Mac OS X 10.7.

As first discovered by MacRumors, a new database entry for the open source "launchd" framework responsible for booting Mac OS X references "11A47" with a new error message. Based on Apple’s numbering scheme, the numerical prefix of a Mac OS X build determines the version number, and 11A47 would suggest a reference to the next version of the operating system, Mac OS X 10.7.

When it shipped, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard carried the build number 10A432, and subsequent updates 10.6.1 and 10.6.2 had the prefixes 10B and 10C, respectively. For Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, 10.5.0 builds leading up to launch were represented by the prefix 9A.