Booq Booqpad - that melded a magnetically-attached

Last April, TUAW reviews a very unique iPad Air case - the Booq Booqpad - that melded a magnetically-attached agenda case with a paper notepad. At the time it garnered a 4-star rating thanks to its flexibility and that paper notepad. Today I'm looking at the BooqPad for iPad Air 2 (US$60.00) and we'll see if that changed.

Specifications

• Exterior dimensions: 7 x 9.5 x 0.9 inches (178 x 242 x 24 mm)
• Weight: 0.88 lbs (0.4 kg)
• Compatible with: iPad Air 2 only
• Color: Gray only
• Comes with removable/replaceable 50-sheet paper notepad

Design

Like the previous iteration of the Booqpad, the new version consists of a slim folio that, when opened, features a paper notepad on the left side and a magnetically-attached tray for the iPad on the right side. A slender magnetic catch keeps the cover closed while you're in transit. Around the outside of the paper notepad side are slots for business cards, and you can get refills for your notepad in blank, lined, or graph paper formats ($10 for 3 pads).

That catch is different from the one on original iPad Air version of the Booqpad, which was rather wide and could actually hold a Pencil by FiftyThree stylus.

The case also acts as a stand, with the section of the folio that the polycarbonate iPad tray attaches to folding to accommodate a variety of angles. Should you decide that you'd like to use the iPad Air 2 on its own without the folio, just give it a pull and the tray/iPad combo comes out. Just bring that tray back to the folio and hold it near, and it snaps right back into place.

Functionality

While I still like the idea of the Booqpad, I'm not sure that I'm quite as enthusiastic about it as I was last year after seeing dozens of other iPad case/stands. It definitely fills a specific niche, but it doesn't have the adjustability of some competing folio-type cases.

In addition, Booq used to include a screen protector with each Booqpad. That's no longer the case, which is a little odd - perhaps the company found that nobody was using the screen protectors?

Maybe the idea of having a paper notepad alongside your iPad excites you, and if it does, then the Booqpad is just the case for you. Otherwise, it might be worth your while to just grab any old folio type case and slap in a Post-it® 5 x 8 inch notebook pad.

Conclusion

About a year after the first Booqpad arrived on the scene, we're seeing the new model for iPad Air 2. Booqpad is still unique, but we're wondering if that's because no other manufacturer really thinks a combo paper notepad/iPad case is worthwhile. It's a well-done case; it's just that the idea seems a bit less exciting than it did a year ago.

Voice-Controlled real-time strategy game

 There Came an Echo, the voice-controlled real-time strategy game from Iridium Studios starring nerd royalty Wil Wheaton, is due out on February 24 for $20 via Steam for PC. The release date comes courtesy of a new trailer (below), featuring players that Iridium "totally found on Craigslist." These uninitiated few try out There Came an Echo's voice controls, including the ability to change characters' names to things like "Sweetie Pie" and something naughty that appears to rhyme with "Duckface."

There Came an Echo was successfully funded on Kickstarter in March 2013, raising $115,000 of a $90,000 goal. It's Iridium's second successful Kickstarter game, following Sequence. There Came an Echo stars Wil Wheaton and Ashly Burch, and puts players in charge of a small, gun-wielding squad in a near-future sci-fi environment.

"Corrin (played by Wil Wheaton) is a 31-year-old cryptographer and inventor of a very particular encryption algorithm ... one that currently holds safe a shocking secret," the game's Kickstarter reads. "His comfortable existence is interrupted by the enigmatic Val, who informs him that his life is in very imminent danger. His desperate attempts to uncover the truth are aided by a mercenary, Miranda; a vengeful young woman, Grace; and a mysterious British gentleman named Syll."

Players are able to customize the voice controls in There Came an Echo, and Iridium promises that it's possible to play the game without speech at all. It's also coming to Xbox One and PS4, eventually. [Image: Iridium Studios] 

(Play video)

Iridium Studios

This article originally appeared on Joystiq at http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/voice-controlled-rts-there-came-an-echo-speaks-up-in-feb/

The all new A7 packed with features

While many gadget makers announced new products at CES last week, Samsungwaited until today to unveil its new Galaxy A7 smartphone.

One of the slimmest Galaxy handsets to date at 6.3mm, the 5.5-inch A7 comes with a focus on the social experience. It has 16GB of memory, 2GB of RAM, and a 2,600mAh battery. There's a 13-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front-facing camera with advanced selfie functions that allow the user to take photos using voice commands or hand gestures.

The A7 runs two quad-core processors: the LTE version has 1.8GHz quad-core and 1.3GHz quad-core processors, while the LTE/3G dual-SIM version has 1.5GHz and 1GHz quad-core processors.

For those who still use phones to make phone calls, the Samsung Galaxy A7 includes the "Always Clear Voice Auto Control" feature, which reduces background noise, and LTE Category 4 support.

For the security conscious, the A7 has Private Mode—an added layer of protection for important files and documents saved on the phone.

Running Android 4.4 KitKat, the mid-range phone comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC capabilities.

"We strive to develop devices that appeal to a broad range of consumers and are ahead of the next big social trend," Samsung CEO JK Shin said in a statement. "Combining both a stunning metallic design and a powerful performance, the Galaxy A7 is stylish while delivering the superior user experience."

Samsung has not officially announced availability or cost, but SamMobile tipped a €509 ($600) price tag, starting at the end of the first quarter.

The A7 comes several months after the October debut of the Galaxy A3 and A5, which sport 4.5- and 5-inch displays, respectively. For more, check out Samsung's comparison of the three handsets.

And the race has started

As is usually the case for CES press conferences, Sony had a massive TV on hand for its Monday night event, but it also had something a bit smaller - a stainless steel version of its SmartWatch 3.

The updated smartwatch will arrive in February. It still sports a 1.6-inch, 320-by-320 TFT LCD display, which is made to work in bright sunlight. It also has an IP68 water protection so you don't have to worry about it in the rain. It charges via microUSB.

Sony also tipped a new SmartWatch 3 holder, which will allow for customized straps. That will be available in the next few months.

The SmartWatch 3 has some standalone capabilities, and Sony talked up two apps that will take advantage of this: Golfshot and iFit, for golfing and fitness, which will be free to SmartWatch 3 users starting this month.

Also today, Sony highlighted its revamped lineup of Bravia 4K Ultra HD TVs, which will range in size from 43 to 75 inches.

Mike Fasulo, president and COO of Sony Electronics, talked up the "ultra-thin floating style" on the new XBR X900C Series, which he said are Sony's thinnest TVs yet at 0.2 inches, which is even slimmer than its Xperia smartphone.

The sets, which will be available in the spring, feature edge-to-edge viewing on their 3,840-by-2,160 4K resolution displays. They run a new 4K processor known as the X1, which will "analyze and upscale 4K resolution, providing the best image quality, regardless of the image source," Sony said.

They will also support Google's Android TV operating system, which Fasulo said will let viewers "use your TV with the interface you're familiar with and enjoy content on smartphones, tablets, and TV seamlessly."

But 4K TVs are no good if you don't have any 4K content to watch. To that end, Sonysaid its new TVs will support more than 1,300 movies, TV shows and other 4K titles through partnerships with Video Unlimited 4K, Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Ultraflix, and Toon Goggles.

Also on the 4K front, Sony added 4K video capture to its consumer Action Cam and camcorder lines. To show off what the new machines could do, Sony had Tony Hawk (pictured) try them out on the slopes and his skateboard.