Hands-on with the HP SlateBook X2

Text and photos by Corey Herscu

The SlateBook X2, to be known going forward as the X2, is one tough puppy that I just couldn't find a good place for in my rounds.

Doubling as a stand-alone tablet and Android-powered laptop, the idea sounded great at first; issue is: I couldn't quite find a comfortable place for it. Why? Let's take a more in-depth look at the hybrid tablet.

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SwiftKey Note keyboard app for iOS leaked

SwiftKey Note for iOS. pic.twitter.com/x4cJkq0KC5

— @evleaks (@evleaks) January 23, 2014

Long revered as one of the best mobile keyboards available for use on Android devices and tablets, even going as far as licensing its software to BlackBerry for the BB10 OS, Swiftkey keyboard, or some form of it in a new app, may now be finally seeing its way onto Apple's iOS platform.

Although not much is known in regards to an official release, prolific technology leaker @Evleaks, who is known for being spot-on with his scoops, posted the image above on his Twitter account moments ago. Stay tuned for more. We highly doubt this is purely a replacement keyboard for iOS, it is likely a standalone app.

BlackBerry 10.2.1 will include a 'floating action bar'

Despite their current ups and downs in the market, BlackBerry has remained committed to rolling full steam ahead with updates to their BlackBerry OS. Version 10.2.1, which was just released to developers as a Gold SDK, has just had another small feature added to it: a "Floating Action Bar”. Which is essentially sees BlackBerry adding a back button, attachment, send and other icons above the virtual keyboard on some of its screens.

Michael Clewley, Director of Handheld Software Product Management at BlackBerry, said “Users are still accustomed to the gestures based on the user interface and the fact that the BB10 using this strongly we wanted to eliminate confusion on specific screens. With 10.2.1, we added the action bar floating above the keyboard to better show the actions, but also the back button on your doorstep.”

Cool forward-thinking idea from BlackBerry! I look forward to trying it out.

via BerryReview

Review: Logitech Ultrathin Bluetooth keyboard for Apple's iPad Air

By Corey Herscu

In my extensive time using Logitech products, from speakers to headphone and back, never have I been more impressed any product than I am with the ‘made for it’ usability of the Logitech Ultrathin Bluetooth keyboard for the iPad Air.  It’s simply incredible. In fact, over the Christmas holidays, I found myself using this combination for my daily work/email grind, only switching to a full laptop when it came to needing to use Photoshop or write longer-form reviews. Yes, I know, I could have quite easily done both on the iPad as well; it came down to comfort level at that point.

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