Case

Just Cover It Up! Pritect – A Privacy Guard for the Xbox 360 & Windows Kinect

by Michael Sheehan on March 27, 2012

in Case, Consumer Electronics, Gadgets, General, Hardware, Microsoft, Opinion, Review, Safety, Security

Post image for Just Cover It Up! Pritect – A Privacy Guard for the Xbox 360 & Windows Kinect

Sometimes low-tech is the best way to go. I hadn’t really thought much about the Kinect for Xbox and Window in terms of privacy, until the folks at Catalyst Components reached out to me about their new product called the Pritect cover. It’s a privacy guard for the Xbox 360 Kinect. What is the Kinect? It’s a gesture, motion and sound interaction device that is used in conjunction with the Xbox 360. It can be used for navigation of the Xbox 360, or, more often, used with a variety of Xbox games. Instead of using a game controller, your gestures, voice and body movement are captured, recorded and analyzed, eventually translated into actions on the Xbox 360.

Pritect Environment

So why would you need to do anything about privacy? GASP! Are you living under a rock? Or perhaps you are hyper focused on all of those other privacy and security issues out there and simply forgot that if you have Kinect. Well, you potentially have a window into your life that could be exploited (I don’t believe this has happened) or recorded accidentally (have you looked at your Xbox configurations to see when and what is recorded?) or captured on purpose (for advertising purposes).

Sure, you could disconnect the Kinect from the Xbox when it is not in use, but that is a bit of a pain. So, Catalyst Components came up with a simple yet effective solution for security your Kinect camera privacy – the Pritect Cover. This $9.99 product is a hard shell cover that slips over the Kinect. It is padded and lined inside so it won’t damage or scratch the Kinect.

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Custom Cases for Gadgets like Kindle Touch or Macbook Air, Hand-Crafted by Rickshaw Bagworks

by Michael Sheehan on January 5, 2012

in Case, Consumer Electronics, Gadgets, General, Hardware, Opinion, Review, Video

Post image for Custom Cases for Gadgets like Kindle Touch or Macbook Air, Hand-Crafted by Rickshaw Bagworks

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting a local San Francisco business to see their craft in action. The company is Rickshaw Bagworks and they built, based on my choice of color and material, one of the best blogger backpacks that I have owned. My full review from back in 2009 goes into the details of materials and color selection and shows the manufacturing process photographically.

This year, I received a couple of really cool products from them, again completely hand-crafted in San Francisco. And one of them was the first-ever production of a carrying case for the new Kindle Touch. (The screen shot below is from the Rickshaw Bagworks homepage and it shows the new sleeve case for the Kindle Touch – the one that they custom-built for my wife.)

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Here is the color version of the Kindle Touch sleeve above:

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ClamCase Transforms Your iPad into a Netbook with iOS Benefits

by Michael Sheehan on June 7, 2011

in Apple, Case, Consumer Electronics, Gadgets, General, Hardware, iPad, Review, Tablet, Video

Post image for ClamCase Transforms Your iPad into a Netbook with iOS Benefits

I finally got my hands on a ClamCase. When it was first announced, long before there were all of the other hundreds of bluetooth keyboard cases for the iPad, the ClamCase design really intrigued me. Now I have spent a few hours testing it out and I finally have something to write about. Over the past year that I have had my iPad, I have tested out quite a variety keyboard cases. This one is quite unique in that it fully envelopes the iPad in essentially a netbook-sized keyboard layout.

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So, why would anyone want a case/keyboard combo that weight 1.8 lbs (note, the original iPad weighs about 1.5 lbs)? I mean, that is a 3 lbs. device all total. That is the same weight as the MacBook Air. And I have gotten a lot of comments to the effect of – “why would I want that. Wouldn’t a netbook or a laptop simply be better?” Well, for starters, you get the fun and flexibility of a tablet device but with the keyboard and its associated functionality of a netbook or MacBook Air. The MacBook Air will set you back about $1000 and a netbook is probably $300+. The original iPad (if you can find one) and ClamCase combo is about $300, plus the $119 for the iPad 1 version of the ClamCase. Version 2 of the ClamCase for the iPad 2 should be coming out soon.

Below you can see the innovative hinge in action. This one one of the nicer ways to view iPad content (e.g., a movie). Other cases I have found to be a bit clumsy at this, but it is quite easy to do with the ClamCase. At the bottom of the review, you can see another photo that shows the ClamCase in the “tablet” mode. Do note how thick it is.

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4-Way iPad Keyboard Case Review: Sena Keyboard Folio, Kensington KeyFolio, ZAGGmate & tyPad

by Michael Sheehan on February 13, 2011

in Apple, Case, Consumer Electronics, Gadgets, General, Hardware, iPad, Opinion, Review, Tablet, Video

For many people, the iPad is fine the way it is…as just a tablet. However, for me, I needed something that was more than just a tablet but less than a laptop or even a netbook. That sweet spot requires one key thing…literally, a physical keyboard. So, why would anyone want to lug around a keyboard? I actually know quite a few people who do. There are two quite good external Bluetooth keyboards, one being the Apple Wireless Keyboard and another being a Microsoft one (that I reviewed). But personally, I didn’t want to lug around an external keyboard everywhere. Lucking there are quite a few Bluetooth keyboards that are popping up that are built into cases that protect your iPad.

HTD_keyboard_cases

In this review, I’m going to look at 4 Bluetooth keyboard cases in particular:

I wanted to include one more in my review, specifically the ClamCase because it has a unique design but unfortunately they were unable to send me a sample to review in time for this article (perhaps later).

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MacWorld 2011 – Sort of a Yawner with a Few Moments of Wakefulness

January 31, 2011

I have been going to the MacWorld Expo for many years now and I’m really sad to see it losing much of its excitement. When Apple was there, showcasing new products and innovations, there was a vibrancy and energy. Ever since Apple pulled out of the Expo, I feel that it has been going downhill. [...]

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Mophie does iPad Cases too, the Right Way! I’m Liking the Workbook.

December 8, 2010

I have reviewed a bunch of Mophie devices (iPhone battery cases) and when they asked me if I wanted to take a look at their new iPad case, I couldn’t resist. I have a variety of iPad cases lying around my office, some I have reviewed and use, others I just have tried for a [...]

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iPad Cases to Match Your Personality – Targus “Protect What’s Inside”

December 1, 2010

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty overwhelmed by all of the iPad case choices out there. As with any time Apple launches an iOS device (e.g., iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch), within a few days/weeks/months, there are a slew of cases that trail behind. I kind of equate it to an ice cream truck [...]

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