Extreme Sleeve™ 2 for iPad/10" Tablet - Products

I don't really need a new iPad case so I'm not planning to buy one of these really neat soft shells from G-Form. That said, if the iPad 3 appears and if I yield to its charms, this bright yellow sleeve is top of the list of candidates to replace my ageing Belkin.

You can find all the details and a couple of fairly impressive promotional videos here: http://www.g-formuk.com/products/ipad-extreme-sleevetm-2-more-edge-protection-more-room.html

Monster Watts Hybrid Solar Battery Case for iPhone 4 / 4S by Douglas Tam — Kickstarter

Nice idea but I think the changeable wrappers are a bit of a gimmick and the photograph of the prototype makes it look a little plasticky for my taste. Might be ideal for a heavy phone user in a sunny climate, though.

> The Monster Watts hybrid solar charger battery cases combine a solar charger with built-in back up battery power in protective and stylish cases for the iPhone 4 / 4S.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1213149932/monster-watts-hybrid-solar-battery-charger-for-iph

Google to launch Nexus tablet

From AppleInsider comes news that Google want to get into the tablet market:

> Google Chairman Eric Schmidt has teased that his company plans to release an Android-powered "Nexus" tablet within the next six months to take on Apple's market leading iPad.

By my reckoning that'll be over two years since the launch of the iPad and a few months after the launch of iPad 3.

Details: http://iphone.appleinsider.com/articles/11/12/19/google_promises_to_release_tablet_of_the_highest_quality_in_6_months.html

Facebook's iPad App has a Missing Feature

Facebook's iPad app isn't bad but it has at least one problem. Unusually, the Return button can't be used to send chat - you always have to tap "Send". That's a bit weird but if you're trying to use an Apple Bluetooth keyboard it becomes downright awkward. Once you've connected the keyboard you can happily type away only to find that the Send button has disappeared. To send you message you have to switch off the keyboard, tap your message, wait for Send to appear, then tap Send.

Feature request: allow "Send on Return" or keep the Send button visible even when a BT keyboard is active.

Apple iTV - Really?

Talk about overreaction. The long-rumoured Apple iTV is an obvious next step for a company focussed on delivering innovative media consumption devices but when has Apple ever done anything just because it was obvious? It may well be that they've solved all the problems (see my earlier post on the subject) but speculating about release dates is just daft, as is trying to work out how far behind any new product might leave competitors. Get the (utterly non-existent) facts here: Sydney Morning Herald.

RIM PlayBook; RIP?

Here's a quote from RIM spokesperson Marisa Conway, rejecting claims of the PlayBook's demise as speculation:

"Rumours suggesting that the BlackBerry PlayBook is being discontinued are pure fiction. RIM remains highly committed to the tablet market and the future of QNX in its platform."

The key part is "RIM remains highly committed…". If the PlayBook was selling well they would have said "The PlayBook is selling well and is on course to take x% of the market in 2011", or something along those lines. I suspect that PlayBook is dead and RIM are just waiting for it to stop twitching before they give it a decent burial. PlayBook hasn't taken anything from iPad and anyone wanting a smaller form factor will almost certainly now buy Amazon's new Kindle Fire. I give PlayBook about six weeks.

Apple officially announces iPhone event for Oct. 4

The end is in sight - Apple have scheduled their next iPhone announcement for Tuesday next week which will, hopefully, mean new hardware and the release of iOS 5.0.

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/09/27/apple-officially-announces-iphone-5-event-for-oct-4/