Here’s the hands-on BlackBerry Passport video you’ve been clamoring for [Updated]

So how about it, prospective smartphone buyers? Are you still clamoring for the BlackBerry Passport? If so then you’ll definitely want to check out a new video flagged by CrackBerry that was produced by U.K. retailer Carphone Warehouse that gives us a nice little hands-on demonstration of BlackBerry’s upcoming smartphone that will go head-to-head with the iPhone 6 and Galaxy Note 4 this September.

FROM EARLIER: BlackBerry: Consumers are ‘clamoring’ for our new square smartphone.

In the video, Carphone Warehouse shows off some of the Passport’s outside-the-box features such as the new touch-sensitive physical keyboard that essentially doubles as a giant trackball that will let you scroll up and down on pages just by running your fingers over its keys. Carphone Warehouse also praises the Passport’s wide square display, which it points out is terrific for everyone who loves reading and editing spreadsheets on their smartphones. In other words, it looks like the Passport will be a tool, not a toy, that can be used for real work.
The video also shows off the new BlackBerry Assistant feature, which for the first time gives BlackBerry users the same kind of voice-enabled personal assistant that’s long been enjoyed by iPhone fans with Siri and by Android fans with Google Now.

UPDATE: Well, that’s annoying — the video has now been taken private, likely because it showed off key features on a device that hasn’t officially been released yet. If we find another version of the video saved elsewhere, we’ll be sure to post it below.

UPDATE 2: We knew you wouldn’t let us down, Russian YouTube users! Check out a new copy of the video below:




Source : bgr.com

[Continue reading...]

Typo BlackBerry-esque iPhone keyboard draws lawsuit

Remember that BlackBerry keyboard-looking case for the iPhone that popped up at the tail end of 2013? Looks like BlackBerry saw it too, and they weren't too happy about how similar it looked to their own handset models. The Typo iPhone keyboard is the subject of a brand new California court case which suggests the accessory is a "blatant" copy of BlackBerry's own designs.

While we'll leave the chatter about BlackBerry's current financial situation and sales to the SlashGear BlackBerry tag portal for your perusal, today's lawsuit isn't really about the cash. Instead it's about BlackBerry's protection of their own patent rights, the likes of which they have plenty of, to be sure.

    "This is a blatant infringement against BlackBerry's iconic keyboard, and we will vigorously protect our intellectual property against any company that attempts to copy our unique design. From the beginning, BlackBerry has always focused on offering an exceptional typing experience that combines a great design with ergonomic excellence.

    We are flattered by the desire to graft our keyboard onto other smartphones, but we will not tolerate such activity without fair compensation for using our intellectual property and our technological innovations." - Steve Zipperstein, BlackBerry's General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer

How this will affect the appearance of Typo Products at CES 2014, we can't be sure. This is their headline product, after all, using the following introduction for their Digital Experience appearance during the conference:

    "Introducing what people all over the world are already calling a total game changer..the first ever physical keyboard for an iPhone..the Typo Keyboard." - Typo Products

Stay tuned and we shall see! This company was founded by founded by entrepreneur Laurence Hallier and TV host and media personality Ryan Seacrest, certainly nothing to scoff at lightly!





VIA: Engadget, BlackBerry

[Continue reading...]

Xbox One and PS4 keyboard and mouse integration being hacked with XIM4

While users of both the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 will still be using standard controllers for first-person-shooters for the foreseeable future, the creator of XIM is hard at work hacking. A fellow by the name OBsIV has created a hardware system called “Xbox Input Machine” - having started this project approximately 6 years ago on the Xbox 360 - now appearing on the Xbox One and potentially the PS4 as well.

Use of this device and software system has a lot of potential for those wishing to win at all costs - it’s a whole heck of a lot easier to destroy your enemy with a mouse in a shooting game than it is with a joystick. While the creator of the XIM suggests that it’s been difficult to overcome the massive amount of work developers have done in optimizing their games for joysticks, it’s been worth the time in creating “Smart Translators”. The creation of “Smart Translators” has allowed XIM to essentially become a plug-and-play setup for the end user.

    ”Consoles are living room experiences. XIM will take opportunities to enable mouse (and "mouse-like") gaming from the couch. This includes support for wireless hand-held devices. It will also take opportunities to enable "surface-free" mouse-like gaming.

    We are very interested in adapting the upcoming Steam Controller for console gaming. XIM is in a unique position with its Smart Translators to make a device like that work very well on consoles.” - XIM developer OBsIV

The fourth iteration of XIM - XIM4 - is being created now, working with the following abilities. It’s also important to note that this hardware/software solution is not fully developed a this point - it’s in a beta that’s being extended to the XIM community right this minute.

    • Next-gen console support as well as current-gen in a single device
    • A new real-time wireless configuration experience through smart phones, tablets, and PCs
    • New advanced configuration features for hard-core gamers
    • Cross-over controller support
    • Best-in-class precision mouse translation

At the moment the team behind XIM has it working with Xbox One and will be continuing to develop unique setups for each individual game. The community will be helping with this development as well, and the XIM4 hardware will be shipping sooner than later. PlayStation 4 will be supported in the future, while the current problem is the lack of wired connectivity between the console and standard Dualshock 4 controllers.

The release of XIM4 - the hardware bit - is targeted at the first quarter of 2014. We’ll be keeping you up to date too - stick around!


   NOTE: Have a peek at more info on the XIM3 (the newest version out before this next-generation XIM4) in our December 2010 article on the subject. Again, XIM has been around for a while!




VIA: Engadget

[Continue reading...]

Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard and Folio promise slim iPad Mini protection

Logitech has announced two new folio products aimed towards iPad Mini owners who want a bit of protection and a mobile keyboard without bidding farewell to the tablet’s thin form factor. The Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Folio and Folio Protective Case are both aimed at the smaller iPad model, and promise to be both ultrathin and ultralight without compromising in quality.

The Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Folio is said to be the company’s lightest and thinnest keyboard folio thus far, featuring a keyboard layout it calls “unique” for easy typing despite being smaller than standard size. There are iOS shortcuts on-board, among them being copy, cut, and paste, with Logitech assuring iPad Mini owners that typing can be performed as quickly as on a traditional keyboard.

And then there’s the folio itself, which Logitech says is both ultralight and ultrathin, designed specifically to complement the design of the iPad Mini. As you can see in the image above, it can be used as a stand, as well, which can be adjusted to multiple positions to facilitate a variety of needs. Logitech doesn’t get into too much detail regarding the materials used for the folio, however.

The company says it uses state-of-the-art materials, and that as such the folio is water resistant and designed to protect from common bumps and scratches and such. The keyboard connects to the slate via Bluetooth. The Keyboard Folio is now available for sale on Logitech’s website for $89.99 USD.




SOURCE: Logitech

[Continue reading...]