ZAGGkeys Solo Bluetooth Keyboard and ZAGGfolio iPad case review

I’ve looked at a lot of Bluetooth keyboards and keyboard cases for the three versions of the iPad I’ve owned.  Usually I find the on-screen keyboard is okay for a quick email, but I can’t type well enough with it to enter anything longer than that.  I don’t often need to enter large amounts of text on my iPad, but it would be nice to have a compact case for my iPad that would serve as both a stand and a keyboard for those occasions when I might need it.  I’ve seen many nice cases with a good design and nice construction that all suffer from the same thing – an undersized keyboard with a non-standard layout that still isn’t easy to type on.

ZAGG sent the Gadgeteer a Bluetooth keyboard and case combo that understands that you may always want a case for your iPad, but you don’t always need the weight of a keyboard.  Their ZAGGfolio iPad 2 and new iPad Keyboard case is a protective case and stand for the iPad 2 or new iPad.  The front cover has a rail that lets you slide in the ZAGGkeys Solo Bluetooth keyboard when you need it, and the keyboard becomes a part of the case.  It seems like the best of both worlds.  Let’s give it a look.

When you order from ZAGG, you can order the keyboard and the case individually or as a set.  There doesn’t seem to be a discount for ordering both pieces together, though.

ZAGGkeys Solo Bluetooth keyboard

Let’s start with the keyboard.  The ZAGGkeys Solo Bluetooth 3.0 keyboard is available in silver, black, or white.  I received the silver.  It measures 9.5″ X 6.7″ X 0.4″ and weighs 11.5 ounces.  It’s pretty hefty, but that’s important because the Solo can be used outside the folio case.  The weight of the keyboard counterbalances the weight of your device and makes a sturdy stand.

The keyboard comes with a USB-to-microUSB cable used to charge the internal 510mAh lithium-polymer battery.  ZAGG says you can expect several months of use between chargings.  I plugged the keyboard up to a wall charger;  when I checked a couple of hours later, the keyboard was fully charged.

You’ll notice a channel along the length of the keyboard.  Put your device in this channel, and the keyboard serves as a standalone keyboard and stand.  There’s a rubbery strip along the channel that protects your device’s screen from scratches.  Unlike some standalone keyboards reviewed on The Gadgeteer, you’ll notice there’s no lip or channel around the outside edges.  This keyboard will not fit over your iPad to act as a protective screen cover while you’re carrying it in your gear bag.

You’ll also notice that the keys are low-profile, but they do have a good feel and tactile feedback.

At the top are a power switch, a Bluetooth-pairing button, and a couple of status lights.  After the keyboard charged, I found that pairing with my iPad was a snap.  I entered a 4-digit code on the keyboard to complete pairing.  You can only pair with one device at a time, but I found that my iPad and the keyboard retained their pairing even after they had both been turned off.

You’ll also notice two black, oval pads at the top of the keyboard.  These rubbery pads protect the iPad’s screen when the keyboard is used in the folio case.

If you click on the above image, you’ll be able to see that there are iPad-specific keys where function keys are located on other keyboards.  These keys perform functions like: volume control/muting, media playback, cut/paste/copy editing functions, starting Spotlight Search, starting a photo slideshow, or bringing up the on-screen keyboard.  There’s even a Home key and a lock key that will put your iPad to sleep.  These keys worked well with my new iPad.

The ZAGGkeys Solo Bluetooth keyboard is designed to work with many devices other than just the iPad.  You can see from the compatibility chart I found on ZAGG’s website, the Solo keyboard will also work with iPhones, iPod touch, and various Android smartphones and tablets.  (I believe the poor ratings are because the device is unsteady l in certain orientations.)  You’ll also notice an Android icon on the bottom left of the keyboard.  I don’t have an Android device to test this keyboard with.

Here’s the new iPad in the horizontal orientation.  I found this very stable.

The tilt angle is fixed, but I found it comfortable for viewing the screen while typing.

Here’s the iPad in the portrait orientation.  I found this to also be stable on a table top, but it felt a bit tippy to me on my lap.

Okay, so how does it type?  Surprisingly well!  If you check out the earlier photo, you’ll notice the punctuation keys are where you expect them to be.  This isn’t true of most of the Bluetooth keyboard cases I’ve tried in the past, which all have the letter keys in the normal arrangement and the punctuation keys squeezed in strange places.  Also, keyboards in these cases are constrained by the size of the iPad, so they have undersized keys, too.  I find them difficult to type on because I’m a touch-typist, and the keys aren’t where I expect them to be when I reach for them.  The Solo keyboard felt more normal when I tried it out.  I did some measurements comparing the key sizes on my 11″ MacBook Air, my HP Mini netbook, and the Solo.

These are not my finest photos, because it was hard to hold the tape measure in place and snap a photo.  They are out of focus, but you can still see that the Solo keyboard is very close in size to the netbook keyboard.  I measured from the left edge of the A key to the right edge of the apostrophe key on all three keyboards.  (This is the home row of keys on a QWERTY keyboard.)  The home row on the Air measures 8.15″ (top image), the HP Mini measures 7.5″ (middle), and the Solo keyboard measures 7.25″ (bottom image).  Granted, it’s undersized compared to the Air’s full-sized keyboard, but it’s not much different from the netbook I use for my editing job.  I have trouble with the spacing when I first start using the netbook, but I can quickly adjust to it and type pretty well.  Because the keys are where I expect them to be, I found that I could adjust to the Solo keyboard pretty quickly, too.  I don’t type as fast on the Solo or the netbook as I can on the Air, but I do well.

The ZAGGkeys Solo Bluetooth Keyboard is the best iPad-sized keyboard I’ve tried.  The keyboard alone is $69.99.

ZAGGfolio Case for the new iPad

The ZAGGkeys Solo keyboard works great all by itself, but it doesn’t do anything to protect your iPad while you’re transporting it, and you have two devices to keep up with.  If you add the ZAGGfolio case, you can combine everything into one package.  Best of all, the keyboard isn’t glued in to the case, so you can remove it when you won’t need it and want to travel light.

The ZAGGfolio case is a hard-shell case that’s been wrapped in either polyurethane or leather.  The core is black plastic for either style.  The polyurethane version is available in several colors for $29.99.  I received the brown leather case, which sells for $59.99; it’s also available in black leather or alligator-embossed brown.

The folio case has a pleasant leather smell, and the surface has a grainy texture.  The case measures 9.75″ X 7.6″ X 0.9″ and weighs 7.5 ounces.  Combined the case and keyboard add 1 pound and 3 ounces to the weight of the iPad, meaning the new iPad in this case with keyboard weighs a whopping 2.6 pounds – more than my MacBook Air.

You can see the front right edge of the case has a snap closure that keeps the case closed, so you don’t have to worry about it flopping open in your bag and leaving your screen open to scratches.  Other than the closure, the front is plain.

You can see the front is attached to the back with a leather strip.  The entire leather covering seems to be a single piece, so there’s no stitching.  The back side has a groove in the leather, which allows the case to fold into a stand for the iPad.

The inside is lined with a black velvety fabric that won’t scratch the iPad.  The back side is molded to fit the iPad perfectly. The outer edge has rails around the side (molded into the plastic inner shell) that slide over the iPad to hold it securely in place.  The inner edge of the case cradles the side of the iPad, but it doesn’t snap onto it.  This allows the case to fold into the stand.

Here you see my iPad in the ZAGGfolio case.  You can see that everything on the front is open and completely accessible.  I can use the iPad in the case without the keyboard, and I can even fold it into a stand without the keyboard.  The front cover has rails around the outer edges that you slide the keyboard under.  The keyboard is held securely in place.

The ZAGGfolio case has magnets that operate the iPad’s automatic sleep/wake functions.  This worked well with my iPad, and the snap closure means that the cover doesn’t slide around over the iPad, causing it to wake up in my gear bag.

The top has openings for the headphone jack, the microphone, and the sleep/wake/power button.  I worried that the thickness of the shell and the shape of the opening around the headphone jack would interfere with using headphones, but I was able to plug in my Sony MDR-NC200D Digital Noise Canceling Headphones without any trouble.  Although the sleep/wake/power button seems to blend in with the plastic shell surrounding it, I was able to operate the button with no trouble.

Openings on the bottom left the speaker and the charging port both open.  I could charge using a cable with no problem.  The sound from the new iPad was unchanged by the case.

The camera lens opening on the back didn’t interfere with taking pictures.  Again, the volume rocker felt like it blended in with the plastic shell, but I could easily operate it.  I could use the screen lock switch easily, too.

Here’s the iPad being used with the keyboard in place.  The stand works only for the horizontal orientation.  You just bend the back of the case at that leather groove, and set the free end of the iPad into the groove on the keyboard.

You only have one viewing angle, but I found it to be comfortable for me.  This arrangement was stable when using it on a table top or on a lap.  I didn’t feel like my iPad was going to fall off my lap.

Just like the other keyboard cases I’ve used, you are limited in the ways you can use the keyboard/folio combination.  You have a fixed distance between the keys and the screen and a fixed viewing angle.  Unlike many cases, you can remove the keyboard and still use the folio as a stand for the iPad.  You’ll be able to use just the keyboard on your lap while you iPad stays on the table, or you could elevate the iPad to a higher position to make viewing easier while leaving the keyboard on the table.

Conclusion

I like both the ZAGGkeys Solo Bluetooth keyboard and the ZAGGfolio iPad case together and separately.  If you don’t need to travel with the keyboard, you could just leave it on your desk at home for those times when you need it, and you won’t have to worry about a separate stand for the iPad.  If you want a sturdy hard-shell case for your iPad, you can use just the ZAGG folio alone, and you’ll have the bonus of a sturdy horizontal stand.  (It’s also easy to slide the iPad out to use it caseless, while leaving the keyboard and folio behind when you want.)  When you use them together, you have a protective keyboard case that has one of the best keyboards I’ve tried for touch typists in this form factor.  At $100 for the keyboard plus polyurethane case, it’s certainly one of the cheaper keyboard case options I’ve tried. At $130 for the leather case with keyboard, you add a touch of sophistication for not much money.

Product Information

Price:$69.99 for keyboard alone; $59.99 for folio case in leather or $29.99 for polyurethane. There's no discount for buying the combination.
Manufacturer:ZAGG
Retailer:ZAGG
Requirements:
  • iPad 2 or new iPad for the folio case.
  • See the chart (in the review) for devices compatible with the keyboard.
Pros:
  • Keyboard isn't full-sized, but all keys are where you expect them. It's as easy to type on as my netbook.
  • Magnets in the folio use the iPad's automatic sleep/wake function.
  • Function keys to control media playback, volume, and other iPad functions.
  • Keyboard can be used with just the iPad because it has a built-in stand.
  • Keyboard can work with iPhones, iPod touch, and various Android smartphones and tablets.
Cons:
  • The keyboard, folio case, and iPad combined weighs more than an 11" MacBook Air.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: ,

ZAGGkeys Solo Bluetooth Keyboard and ZAGGfolio iPad case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 14, 2012 at 11:00 am.

Google Latitude check-in deals now available across the US

Recently, Google has been busy beefing up Latitude to make it more competitive with other location apps -- and more fun to use. Location history was added recently, iOS users can post check-ins via Latitude, and now Google has begun rolling out location-based deals which are tied to the service.

If you're in the U.S., you can now score local savings at participating merchants by checking in with Latitude. Google will also be offering "status deals," which users can unlock by visiting a particular merchant on a regular basis. Mashable notes three status levels: regular, VIP, and guru -- though partners can apparently customize those titles if they choose.

Right now deals are available from merchants like American Eagle Outfitters, Arby's, Finish Line, Macy's, Quiznos, and RadioShack.

Google Latitude check-in deals now available across the US originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 08:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/08/google-latitude-check-in-deals-now-available-across-the-us/

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A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app

Android Honeycomb'ish smartphone Music appUpdate: Tech From 10 seems to be offline -- but we have lots of images and a hands-on review if you want to see what the new Music app is like.

In what is probably a bit of a big-G whoopsie, the folks at Tech From 10 woke up to find a new, test version of Android Market installed on their Galaxy S.

Visually, the new version is almost identical. The carousel of featured apps has been updated slightly, and apps now have a 'Content rating,' but that's it (image after the break). The interesting bit, however, is the inclusion of alpha and beta apps -- most notably, there's a new version of the Music app, which looks like a scaled-down version of the Android 3.0 Honeycomb Music app (see right).

Also available from the test Android Market is 'Google Gallery 3D New 10.2', 'Google - Camera v12' and 'Google Desk Clock 10' -- but, curiously, all of the apps refused to launch on Tech From 10's Galaxy S (Vibrant) smartphone. Are they Honeycomb apps? Or, more likely, are they destined for the next Android smartphone OS, Ice Cream?

If you want to try out the new Honeycombish Music app, Tech From 10 has made the APK available for download. You can also download the three Google apps, if you want to have a poke around.

Continue reading A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app

A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/05/a-sneak-peek-at-the-next-version-of-android-market-and-music-app/

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How Many Decks Would You Need To Build a Full-Sized House of Cards? [Educational]

If the cost of materials and labor have deterred you from building your dream home, there might be another option. Your typical house of cards usually stands no larger than a living room coffee table. But with this simple online calculator, you can determine how many decks you'd need to build a home suitable for your family to move into. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/jxlizwNiy04/how-many-decks-would-you-need-to-build-a-full+sized-house-of-cards

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Boxee TV Brings Unlimited DVR Recording to the Cloud

DVR all the shows. Photo: Boxee

The ability to record a show and play it back later (sans commercials) has changed the way we watch television. But all those unwatched episodes of Doctor Who eat up precious storage. Eventually, you have to either watch the show or delete stuff. Boxee aims to eliminate that Sophie’s Choice of media consumption by storing recordings in the cloud.

On Tuesday, Boxee officially introduced the previously leaked Boxee TV. While adding DVR to a set-top box is nothing new, what is new is the basically unlimited cloud-storage functionality. No more deciding which shows to keep and which to delete. Boxee calls it No Limits DVR. For $15 per month, the service allows you keep all your shows. All. Of. Them. However, at launch, it works only in the top eight TV Markets: New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Sorry, San Francisco and Cleveland.

Boxee says that it will be adding additional markets in 2013. In the meantime, the media streamer retains some of the core Boxee experience. The device ships with Netflix, Vudu, YouTube, Vimeo and Pandora apps. The Boxee Box on the other hand supports hundreds of apps. The Boxee TV will not support that huge library of applications. But, at least it will actually fit in your entertainment system.

The Boxee TV will cost $100 and will be available in November.

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/10/boxee-tv-dvr/

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Speedtest.net overhauled with new look, new features

speedtest
Speedtest.net is pretty much the go-to site for quickly figuring out how fast (or slow) your connection really is and comparing the numbers your ISP boasts with what it actually delivers. And now it's got a new coat of paint and a couple of neat features. In brief:
  • New UI: The map widget is much improved; it actually looks like a map now, and it's easy to see where you are.
  • Smart server selection: If there are several test servers nearby, Speedtest will now ping each to see which has the least latency and use that for the test. You can still specify servers manually, too.
  • User accounts: You can sign up for a free account and aggregate results from several computers/connections.
  • Speed Wave: This new feature lets you add your test results to the results of many other users, and get a nice composite view.
All in all, you get some nice, new functionality and a snazzier interface to boot. Nice!

Speedtest.net overhauled with new look, new features originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/07/speedtest-net-overhauled-with-new-look-new-features/

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New details on new Macs rumored for Oct. 23 Apple event

New details on new Macs rumored for Oct. 23 Apple event

Apple is reportedly holding an iPad mini event on Tuesday, October 23, and iMore has heard for a while that new Macs would likely be along for the ride. A 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is one of the most likely things we'll see, and Mark Gurman from 9to5Mac has some details:

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro will be sold in two configurations, with differing processors and storage, and will be available for purchase soon after introduction.

As mentioned before, the 13-inch MacBook Pro will probably require a discreet GPU to handle Retina duties, something that makes Retina challenging for smaller machines, but has a small enough screen not to make panel pricing or yield impractical. In other words, it's the next logical candidate and should basically look like a smaller, more compact version of the current 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro.

Update: John Paczkowski of All Things D is also reporting on the new 13-inch Mac Book Pro:

The machine, a 13-inch version of the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display that debuted in June, will feature the same thin chassis, all-Flash storage and a 2,560-by-1,600 pixel density display comparable to the 2880-by-1800 pixel of its predecessor, sources say. No word yet on price, though it will obviously be a bit less than $2,199 base-line price of the 15-incher.

New Mac minis and new iMacs should also make an appearance. WeiPhone.com posted some interesting possible details about those this weekend. (Google translated).

the the new imac design has epoch-making significance. The innovations include: the side from the side almost can not see the imac's thickness, similar to water droplets curved design tetragonal type than it is now almost completely different. Process, the screen the special glue "sticky" on the panel in front with a special glass attached to the surface, very beautiful. Narrow design, but the bottom of the front is still wide-brimmed design. The bracket made some changes. Stronger performance, the price will be more expensive than the current imac. The first release of the 21-inch product, the follow-up to re-introduce the 27-inch.

So, take a Retina MacBook Pro-style display, extend the chin down and widen the base as minimally as possible to fit the actual computer components, and... profit.

Update: More on the aforementioned new Mac mini from Mark Gurman at 9to5Mac

Alongside the smaller iPad, Apple plans to announce a new version of its Mac mini. Sources say that these Mac minis will come in two standard configurations, with different storage and processor options, and a third model that runs OS X Server.

We should find out more in just over a week.

Source: 9to5Mac, WeiPhone.com, All Things D, 9to5Mac

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/-122_dvV4aA/story01.htm

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Rdio posts Android beta app with new sidebar UI, unified playback and remote control

Rdio posts Android beta app with new sidebar UI, unified playback and remote control

Rdio has spent a large part of 2012 revamping its mobile app, and a new beta shows that it's still full of ideas with two months left to go. The 2.3 test version makes the ubiquitous hidden sidebar even more unavoidable than we've seen before, but those not irked by UI homogeneity will be happy to see Rdio gain some multi-device harmony: along with syncing whatever's being played from desktop to mobile and back, the beta introduces a remote control that lets Android gear either serve as the remote or as a target for other devices. A play-later queue persists across devices, too. Although we haven't been given a timeframe for the finished version pushing out through Google Play, there's nothing stopping avid subscribers from taking a slight risk with the beta and getting a taste of their musical future.

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Rdio posts Android beta app with new sidebar UI, unified playback and remote control originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 21:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/qCWOQZd1hEo/

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