bluetooth

Hands On: Belkin FastFit Slim iPad Keyboard

Mike Hudson Leave a comment

Belkin FastFit Slim iPad KeyboardSince the day the iPad came out, I have always been a big fan. However I have never really been able to get on with the on-screen keyboard. I think typing on the screen feels somewhat ‘numb’, and typing large volumes of text is almost out of the question. Which is why I am a big fan (and owner of many) bluetooth iPad keyboards.

In a previous review I wrote about the Kensington KeyFolio, which had taken pride of place in my laptop back… That was until the Belkin one came on offer on Groupon.

I had nothing against the Kensington one, asides from the fact the case was a little bulky and it added a bit of weight to the iPad. The Belkin one on the other hand couldn’t really be much smaller or lighter.

The keyboard features a whole raft of function keys, which gives quick and easy access to some of iOS’s harder to find controls.

It also features a magnetic strip, which keeps they keyboard neatly attached to the iPad and wakes the iPad when the screen is lifted. So the keyboard also acts as a screen protector of sorts.

The next feature may divide the masses, as the keys on the keyboard provide that reassuring ‘click’ as they are pressed. Most other bluetooth keyboards seem to stick to a rubberized key, meaning less noise.. After spending several hours using both, I think I actually prefer the click of a plastic key!

The good:

  • The click of a plastic key
  • The multiple screen positions
  • The quick access function keys
  • The magnetic strip
  • Supports AutoWake

The bad:

  •  The click of a plastic key (if that bothers you)

The bottom line:

This keyboard is perfect if you are an infrequent iPad traveller, who just needs something to ease the pain of on-screen typing. If you are a more frequent traveller, you may want to consider something slightly more robust, perhaps the Kensington Keyfolio

Rating:

Rating: 4

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CoPilot Live 8 for iPhone (#CoPilot)

Mike Hudson 1 Comment

Since the first release of TomTom’s navigation software and hardware I have been a massive fan. Installing the software on nearly every Windows mobile device I have owned. Since progressing unto an iPhone it seemed to make sense to check out the market and see what else was on offer.

I looked at TomTom for the iPhone, but was put off with the price tag. Reviews on iTunes suggested additional hardware would be required. 
Which is where CoPilot took over, CoPilot Live 8 is available on the iTunes store for £29.99 and includes a lot of features which are optional extra’s if you was to purchase the TomTom package.
One main appealing feature being the ‘clearer guidance at junctions’ feature. I have seen TomTom’s offering of this recently – and wasn’t that impressed. I have not yet had the opportunity to properly test the feature on CoPilot due to work commitments. However, no doubt it will be used heavily when I go to London next week.
CoPilot even claims to keep providing faultless directions when travelling through tunnels. Which I know from experience is something TomTom does not do well! One other big feature I love is the way you can control your iPod music without having to quit the CoPilot application. Which makes this plus my music collection and my iTrip the perfect companion for long journeys.
Some of CoPilots other features are:
  • Turn after turn indicator – makes driving more predictable, as you get to see not only the next turn on your journey, but also the one after that!
  • Speed Limit Alerts – Which makes one less thing to worry about on the unknown roads
  • 3D Landmarks – Make’s the maps and directions look a little more like what you can see out of your window
  • Brand Name POI’s – find those commonly known brands in and around your location and destination
  • Full-featured walking mode – for those places your car just cannot reach
  • Photo Navigation – navigate to the geo-tagged location of one of your phone memories pictures
  • Fuel Prices – Don’t just search for a fuel station, search for the cheapest!
  • and many many more!
You can find the full feature list over at CoPilot’s website
CoPilot is available from the iTunes Store however, this should be download via iTunes on your PCMac to prevent issues during download.
But what about TomTom Home? Well CoPilot has an equivalent, CoPilot Live Central offers all of the features you would expect to see in a sat nav’s docking station control app. 
CoPilot is compatible with a massive list of devices, not just the iPhone – if you are wondering if your device is compatible head over to there compatibility matrix.

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