KeyCase iPad Folio Deluxe with Bluetooth Keyboard - Review

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I first heard about the KeyCase iPad Folio Deluxe with Bluetooth Keyboard on the @BritishMac podcast. Apart from being the longest named iPad accessory I have come across, I thought it looked pretty handy.

I found the @GearZap website and immediately got lost in the masses of iPad accessories.

I asked @Gearzap on twitter if they had a unit I could review and they kindly obliged.

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As soon as I threw a photo of the case online quite a few people commented "What's the point? You've turned the ipad into a laptop?"

I disagree. For a start I don't know of many 9.7" touch screen laptops running OSX. Especially that come with a detachable screen. (I am sure we will be swimming in them soon no doubt.)

After using the case for a few days now. I find myself in two minds as to whether this would be the way I would permanently use my iPad. That said it is a case and if you want to return to the slimmed down ipad for reading in bed etc that's easy enough.

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On the one hand it's cool to have a iPad case that holds a bluetooth keyboard but on the other hand the case does double the size of the iPad. It's a pleather case with magnetic closures. Sturdy and finished well but not the look (or price) of some of the leather cases I have seen.

Being able to switch between the iPad being a social object and a tool for working privately is probably the cases main feature.

Personally I don't do that much typing and I am not sure I would sacrifice the compact size of the iPad in order to have the handy keyboard always ready to go.

I guess whether you grab one of these is down to how much you type and how much you don't mind a 'squidgy' keyboard.

It certainly does remind me of my old Spectrum 48k and as I type this it also feels the same. Ahhh.. i can almost hear Manic Miner playing in the background.

I'll be honest, It was so easy to set up I haven't looked at the instructions till now and although typing with a rubber keyboard takes some getting used to, some of the listed power stats sound pretty impressive.

I was worried that having to power the keyboard separately would be an issue but for starters it's a micro USB connector (I have plenty) and it boasts 100 days of standby time and 90 solid hours of operational 'working' time.

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So for nearly £60 is it worth it?

If like me, you are from the 'Hunt & Poke School of typing' and are not really into banging out essays, then you may be happier getting by with the screen keyboard in order to stay slim-lined.

If you like rubber and you were planning to buy both a keyboard and a case then yes you may well find it handy and a worthy purchase.

You will need more of a quick type to get used to the keyboard though. Give it a few hundred words before you decide if rubber is for you.

Thanks to GearZap for sending me the case to review. They have a shed load of stuff on their site go take a look…

http://www.gearzap.com/ipad-accessories.html

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I'm @Documentally on Twitter
Filed under  //   iPad   review   tech  
Posted September 30, 2010
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FaceTime with @Bennycrime

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I got hold of the iPhone 4 today. I checked the O2 website for stock and saw three phones listed in Western Favell in Northamptonshire. By the time I got there there was one left.

I really did not fancy renewing my O2 contract as I get through way more than the limited 500mb monthly data allowance and already have a really good contract with Vodafone.

Still, i figured as this was the last phone in Northamptonshire and I have 7 days to in which I can take this back I would bite the bullet and fork out the £300 cash and renew an 18 month contract.

The more I think about it the more I feel queasy. 18 months at £30/month is a bloody rip off considering the £19 unlimited data contract I have with Vodafone.

Still, I have it now and although this feels like a painfully expensive handful of tech, it's fully loaded & ready to go.

So far I have only had a chance to use FaceTime with @BennyCrime and it does feel more than just Skype video.

Some folk have been video calling for ages and will wonder what all the fuss is about, especially original subscribers to 3 Mobile. I could never afford the data.

Tomorrow I will have a play with the camera and see if all the hype is deserved.

So far, i think it certainly has a great screen resolution and FaceTime could be really handy. It could also be the beginning of the end for the humble phone call. Imagine every call you got was a video call. Nightmare.

Anyway I'm sat outside watching the sun go down and have a beer to finish. More on the iPhone 4 later no doubt.

I'm @Documentally on Twitter and a little skinter than I was this morning.


Sent from my iPhone4 (but you already know that)

[I must remember to delete that stealth ad.]

I'm @Documentally on Twitter
Filed under  //   apple   bennycrime   facetime   iphone   iphone4   phone   tech   technology  
Posted July 3, 2010
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The iPad - Initial thoughts

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Thanks firstly to @Ilicco for despite being trapped in New York for a week due to a certain cloud of volcanic dust, he managed to get back to the UK in pretty good time to deliver me a 64gb iPad.

The very same iPad I'm writing on now, as I sit as a passenger in the car with my MiFi on the dashboard providing my Internet connection.

I just wanted to jot a few first thoughts down in a blog post as I have had lots of DM's from enquiring minds asking me what I think of the iPad as a device.

So in a nut..

> I am reading more
> I am charging less
> I am listening more
> I am carrying less
> I am spending a shedload on apps
> I am waiting for more tools to be available
> I am looking forward to the next iPhone and OS

I love browsing news, comics and blogs on the iPad. I am finding the Read Later app indispensable as when on the mac and the iPhone I find myself bookmarking articles for later as the iPad is a pleasure to read from.

I can use the iPad for a whole day and still have power for the next. This is pretty liberating when you think I may have to charge my iPhone at 11am after heavy use.

I am certainly finding it easier to soak up content from friends in my networks as well. As a listening/monitoring tool it's second to none.

The photo above shows you the bag (on the left) I have to carry when 'fully loaded' with MacBook pro etc and on the right, the new bag I carry when travelling light. In the small bag I have my iPad, iPhone 3GS, MiFi, Minigorilla & charge cables, mains charger and a Canon Ixus 120is incase I want to shoot HD for later editing.

If you are a media maker then the iPhone and iPad should be all you need and not having the ability to edit raw files or HD video may actually be a blessing as you may not be tempted when all you have to supply is content for the web. I often over shoot in quality and 'dial it down' for the web. With just an iPhone and iPad you have no choice but to shoot lo-Fi and get innovative.

As far as apps go I resisted signing up for the US iTunes account as there seem to be a few apps in the UK store to keep me going and all I have to do is sync to the mac to install. I am waiting patiently for the app explosion in a few weeks. I did buy my most expensive app yet.. 'Things'. It has a great interface and is a really handy tool. £10,99.

I feel I really need a decent case and screen protector.. Also, just in case I do need decent photos or video or audio, the sd card interface looks like a handy purchase. As i am now, I snap a photo on the iPhone and email it to myself. I do have an app that enables me to live sync my phone camera with the iPad but it's not all that. There will be better options soon.. At least I hope so.

When the new iPhone comes out with it's front facing camera and higher quality photos and video, I feel there won't be a need for me to carry a compact camera at all.

Do I pine for a camera in the iPad? In the front yes. I can see how a camera in the back could come in handy for Augmented Reality and overlaying of info on street views etc but for me as a content creator, I really miss recording video to upload straight into my iSight camera on my mac. There are work-a-rounds with the iPhone but ease of use and accessibility is key here.

The next version of the operation system OS4 is really going to shine. Having already had a play on @Computid's phone I can see how it will really assist ease of mobile computing.

I have yet to see just how mobile this is as I am keen to test the iPad with the Solargorilla and Powertraveller mobile power solutions. Having a MiFi has proven so far to be invaluable even if the wifi signal seems to drop out more than normal. I don't know if having a 3G iPad is going to help with connectivity across all your devices unless some killer 3G sharing apps are released.

So, on the whole I am pretty pleased with the direction Apple-shaped mobile computing is going. This is still really early days and in a way it is fun trying to find file sharing, mobile media making work arounds so I can still move about unhindered by a massive bag of tech. I am certainly liking leaving the house with just a small satchel.

As far as writing this blog post in an email went.. I am still not sure how I make a word into a link. (I had to go in and edit later on the Mac.). I can type as fast as I do on a 'normal' keyboard but I am finding the spacebar getting miss hit more than normal.

Cheers for reading this far and as ever, there are more tests to come.

I am @Documentally on Twitter. http://Twitter.com/Documentally

I'm @Documentally on Twitter
Filed under  //   apple   iPad   iphone   ipod   mifi   mobile   tech   technology  
Posted April 25, 2010
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Redhead LiL Chewy on the Zoom H4n

I first caught glimpse of Redhead Windshields through a link on twitter and thought I'd get one for my Zoom H2. Recently though, whilst in Hong Kong I managed to get hold of a Zoom H4n. I found out that the Redhead's fit both so placed an order.

Dealing with @IAmKaliniPrince was great. I love it when you can converse directly with businesses on twitter.  $35 later and only a couple of days and I had my new 'LiL Chewy' coloured Redhead. All the way from Hawaii.

Now the windscreen included with the Zoom is good but nothing like the Redhead. When I get the chance I'll do a video like the one above and show you a comparison. Not only is it better than the standard shield at protecting the mics from the wind, it's super compact too.

If you want your own Redhead Windshield in the new 'Lil Chewy' colour, @IAmKaliniPrince was kind enough to send me an extra one to give away here.

So if you are a Zoom H2, H4 or H4n user and want a free Redhead windshield.. Let me know in the comments why you want it. If you are the only one to comment then it's yours. If there's a few comments I'll pick my favourite.

I'm @Documentally on Twitter
Filed under  //   audio   h4n   recording   redhead   sound   tech   windshield   zoom  
Posted January 30, 2010
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I'm A Passenger

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It was hard leaving home today. Harder than it has ever been. I guess it's being part of my own little family. Not someone else's family, my own. Weird.

Yesterday was spent packing and repacking, I am a bugger for taking too much kit. The trick is to pack and then ditch half of it.

The problem lies with having a gadget for everything and not a gadget that can do everything. Then there's the issue that many of my gadgets take power. Which tends to come from batteries.. that need chargers ..and cables ..and adapters so those cables can work off a foreign supply.

Anyway, despite all this I am packed into two bags. A backpack with laptop and all the tech i need in order to work. And a holdall with clothes, tripod and non essentials.

I may go into more detail as to what I am carrying as sometimes I am amazed as to how much a person can do with so little. Technically I am playing the part of a videographer, producer, sound engineer, interviewer, archivist, photographer, live blogger and my own general dogs body. I am sure I can rustle up a few other job descriptions like coms expert, secretary, writer etc but I don't want the Union on my back.

Some jobs require a different way of doing things. As a vlogger who loves to travel and has done so to some random parts of the world before, I guess on this occasion I'm the perfect choice for The British Council who need a fast turn around on some important media, from multiple locations worldwide. It's great working for an organisation that is not afraid to experiment in new ways of capturing and distributing multi-media. As an organisation centred around communicating and educating cultural relations internationally, it makes perfect sense to be moving with the times.

What used to take a team, can now be done by a well equipped individual. I guess I will come to find out how well equipped I am over the next week as I grab interviews photos and video, travelling across Asia.

Should my trusty Vodafone data sim manage to get some content out, it will no doubt pass through my Twitter account @Documentally

To find out what the British Council are all about you can visit their site and follow @BritishCouncil on twitter.

I'm @Documentally on Twitter
Filed under  //   asia   bc75   british council   gadgets   photo   tech   train   travel   vlogging  
Posted January 16, 2010
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Samsung ST550 - Nearly a good camera

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When i first saw the TV add for the Samsung ST550 I thought it would be a top vlogging camera. It's duel screen would mean you could monitor the composition of your video as well as your photos.

(Here is a short clip from the camera that cut off as tha memory card was crap.)

I was wrong. The front facing screen although very cleverly hidden behind the plastic body and perfect for composing your cheesy self portraits in front of tourist attractions, for some strange reason is not activated during video recording. I figured it must be just 'off' as the default and could be turned on but no.. At least I think not. Neither me of the friendly shop assistant could find out how to turn the duel front facing screen whilst shooting video. This was pretty disapointing as as soon as I saw the camera I thought about it as a vloggers camera. I imagine this is a simple firmware upgrade that's needed so Samsung, if you are watching.. You really have missed a trick and I would have certainly considered your camera over the Canon Ixus 120is I eventually bought. Although saying that, your audio was nowhere near as good as the Ixus so if you get the chance, please sort that out as well. ;o)

So very nearly a great blogging tool. Hi-res photos and HD video in a device that has a front facing screen. It appears only half thought out. I am certain if the camera companies spoke to more of the users out there they'd sell more devices to corners of the market still waiting for someone to do it right. There were a few interesting features on the camera but I havn't gone into detail about these or the other things I didn't like I don't think any person that reads this blog would buy it anyway. As it stands the screen is more of a gimick for taking self portraits.

I'm @Documentally on Twitter
Filed under  //   camera   review   samsung   tech   video   vlogging  
Posted December 5, 2009
// 2Comments
 

Canon Ixus 120is

I have blogged about this camera on my main blog OurManInside.com

I though I'd better post something there as it has been seriously neglected since Posterous came along.

I'm @Documentally on Twitter
Filed under  //   canon   documentally   review   tech   video  
Posted November 15, 2009
// 4Comments
 

Home Is Where The Tech Is

I have always had to have some kind of tech with me when in the outdoors. Even if it is a compass or a fancy multi-tool. It's more than just being prepared.

I could live without it but it goes a hell of a long way to making any trip or adventure more 'comfortable'.

In this case a home comfort for me tends to be tech related. I can feel at home anywhere, especially if I have a bag full of tech. To eat, sleep or communicate with.

I'm @Documentally on Twitter
Filed under  //   VloMo   VloMo09   camping   canoe   documentally   kayak   scotland   tech   video  
Posted November 10, 2009
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Petzl MYO RXP (First Look)

I just got hold of a Myo RXP from Petzl. Winter is setting in and living in the country means, like broadband, street lighting is not yet every where.   Some places I walk the dog are close to pitch black and where there are dogs, there's poo. I guess I needn't go any further.

This is the first Petzl head torch with programmable regulated lighting levels allowing you to customise up to ten levels of power into three lighting modes from 8 to 140 lumens. One setting for walking the dog (as low as possible, just enough for poo scanning) one for cycling in the woods (long beam reaching ahead) and one for nipping the back way to the local pub (diffused and wide for climbing fences and avoiding nettles).

The Petzl Myo RXP Features

  • Wide angle impact resistant polycarbonate lens
  • Operates on 3 alkaline or rechargabler AA/ LR6 batteries
  • It's compatible with lithium batteries
  • Water-resistant

The Petzl Myo RXP Specification (according to the website)

  • Regulated power levels gives constant lighting power and automatically switches to reserve power mode when batteries are almost discharged.
  • Three lighting levels can be chosen (choose from among ten levels between 8 to 140 lumens)
  • Choice of the order of activation of the three lighting modes
  • Flashing mode frequency can be programmed (slow, fast, SOS signal)
  • User-friendly programming in three steps, using the two buttons
  • High-output lighting:160 lumens (Boost mode), 8 to 140 lumens (programmable levels)
  • Shines up to 97 metres in Boost mode
  • Compatible with lithium batteries
  • Wide Angle lens allows to quickly switch from flood beam proximity lighting
    to focused long-distance lighting in a single movement
  • 95 h battery life with program level no.1
  • Lightweight: 175 g
  • Battery charge indicator light: warns when the batteries are 70 % and 90 %
    discharged
  • Switches are protected from accidental operation when light body is in upright
    position
  • Water resistant for all-weather use
  • Compact design
  • Adjustable elastic headband 
So, I'll give this a try and no doubt pop back to report on if it's any good or not.

(I will say I thought the packaging was over the top and dangerous. I would have been happy if the product cane in a rubber band. It's not like you need hardcore display packaging when purchasing of the net.)

I'm @Documentally on Twitter
Filed under  //   documentally   head   light   packaging   petzl   review   tech   torch   video  
Posted October 20, 2009
// 0Comments
 

More Power to My iPhone

I'm @Documentally on Twitter
Filed under  //   documentally   iphone   power   tech   video  
Posted October 18, 2009
// 5Comments