Mobile Devices

Medialine's Dutch Tablet Duke

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Medialine launches the Duke of Holland, the latest in the mPad Android tablet line-- now with Android 3.2 (aka Honeycomb).

Duke of HollandIt carries a 10.1" capacitative LED backlit TFT LCD touchscreen with 1280x800 resolution.

Powering it is a dual-core 1 Ghz Tegra T20 processor, 1GB system memory and 16GB eMMC internal storage, while connections come through wifi, Bluetooth and optional built-in 3G.

One can also expand storage via micro SD slot (supports up to 32GB).

Completing the package is x2 cameras (2MP front facing and 5MP back facing), micro USB port and micro HDMI with 1080p video output.

Go Medialine

LEDs Come To iPod Cases

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Skin FlikWho says mp3 player cases can't be dynamic? Improv Electronics launches the Skin Flik, the colour-changing device case for iPod Touch 2/3G.

The case carries a Reflex electronic skin with integrated LCDs, alongside a touch sensitive strip. Swiping a finger over the strip lights up the LCDs, causing the colour change.

The LCDs lie beneath a clear plastic lens printed with a graphic image, parts of which remain clear to reveal the skin beneath.

It also doesn't use power from the device, as it uses two 3V coin cell batteries (included).

Go Skin Flik

Jeff Bezos' Mobile Airbag

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Jeff Bezos might be (obviously) best known for being Amazon's CE, but as a recently public patent filing shows he also has ideas on how to protect mobile devices from... heights. 

Bezos PatentThe patent, titled "Protecting Devices from Damage," describes "a system and method for protecting devices from impact damage is provided. Prior to impact between a surface and a device, a determination of a risk of damage to the device is made. If the risk of damage to the device exceeds a threshold, a protection system is activated to reduce or substantially eliminate damage to the device."

It shows a phone deploying tiny airbags whenever the in-built accelerometer detects a fall-- while a laser (or radar!) detects phone's height. 

Other ideas for falling phone protection include having springs inside the casing and using either a gyroscope or jets of compressed air to change the device's angle while in the air. 

The patent filing itself dates from February 2010, and credits Amazon VP Greg Hart alongside Bezos as inventors. 

Go "Protecting Devices From Impact Damage"

Clipping On to Improve Tablet Sound

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Logitech Tablet SpeakerCustomers wanting to boost their tablets' sound might just get what they want with Logitech's Tablet Speaker, a clip-on solution for their audio problems.

A rubberised clip attaches the speaker to the tablet's back, while it connects to the device via 3.5mm headphone jack.

Logitech says the speaker has up to 8 hours of power, and the battery charges via USB.

The package also includes a travel case for easy storage.

Go Logitech Tablet Speaker

Fusion Garage Returns to Tablets

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Fusion Garage-- maker of the stillborn JooJoo tablet-- announces its return to the mobile device business with a tablet and a smartphone, the Grid 10 and Grid 4.

Grid 10Powering both devices is Fusion Garage's Android-based GridOS, which the company says "reinvents touch computing from the ground up" with a completely gesture-based interface.

The Grid 10 is a 10.1" tablet carrying nVidia's Tegra 2 processor and a 1366 x 768 resolution screen. Connections come through either Bluetooth, wifi or 3G, and the device includes a built-in video calling app (via 1.3MP front-facing camera) and Fusion Garage's Grid Shop app store.

Meanwhile the Grid 4 is a 4" handset, with a Qualcomm dual-core processor, 800 x 480 touchscreen, 16GB memory and x2 cameras (0.3MP front-facing, 5MP rear-facing).

The Grid 10 should be available this September, and Fusion Garage says the Grid 4 will be out by Q4 2011.

Go Fusion Garage