Jorno Review: Hands-On With a Tri-Fold Portable Keyboard for iOS Devices [iOS Blog]
Continuing on with our series of keyboard reviews, we’re taking a look at the portable, foldable Jorno keyboard. The Jorno made its debut on Kickstarter way back in 2012, and after years of refinements and design changes, the keyboard began shipping out to customers in March of 2015.
The Jorno’s look is quite a bit different than the original concept presented in 2012, but the basic idea is the same — it’s a tri-fold Bluetooth keyboard that collapses down for better portability. The Jorno name heralds the design of the keyboard, which resembles a Moleskine journal when it’s folded up for travel.
What’s in the Box and Setup
The Jorno ships in a compact box that includes the keyboard itself, the cover/stand that holds it up, and a USB cable for charging. Setting up the Jorno takes just a few seconds. When it’s unfolded, it’s powered on (as indicated by a green light) and Bluetooth can be activated by holding down function and tapping the Bluetooth key (the “C”).
From there, it pairs within the Settings menu of an iPhone or iPad like any other Bluetooth accessory.
Design
The Jorno is a two-piece accessory with a QWERTY keyboard and a separate stand rather than a keyboard case, so it’s able to work with a wide range of devices, including the iPhone, the iPad, and other smartphones and tablets. The main component of the Jorno is the keyboard itself, which is collapsible and can be folded down into a 5.7 by 3.5 inch package that’s then covered by the case/stand for travel.
When the Jorno is not in use, the black leather-like stand serves as a case, but when you need to type something, it folds into a triangle shape held together by magnets, much like an iPad Smart Cover. A small plastic lip at the bottom ensures an iPhone or an iPad stays in place, and the magnets that hold it all together are strong enough that nothing is in danger of falling over. Since it’s just a simple stand, the Jorno’s case can hold an iPhone or iPad in landscape or portrait mode for typing, watching videos, and more.
Read more 
WSJ: Regulators will likely approve AT&T/DirecTV merger
AT&T’s $48.5 billion DirecTV acquisition likely won’t go the way of Comcast’s similarly-sized play for Time Warner Cable, which saw plenty of regulator pushback. The FCC and Justice Department are nearing the end of their review of the deal, and at this point it looks like they won’t be blocking it, sources tell the Wall Street Journal. Regulators might still end up placing conditions on the deal, however. It’s not hard to see why the FCC and DOJ find the AT&T/DirecTV union more palatable than the Comcast deal. While the combined company will be a major media player, it won’t monopolize services in any meaningful way. AT&T has also committed to bringing broadband to more rural areas as part of the deal, which likely made the feds warm up to the offer. The WSJ notes that final regulatory approval for the deal could be “weeks away” — expect things to wrap up quickly once that happens.
[Photo credit:AP]
Source: Wall Street Journal
Microsoft’s age-guessing tech highlights effects of homelessness
Microsoft’s how-old.net isn’t the most reliable age detecting software. The company set it up as a demo site and never expected it to go viral (two million shares on Facebook). While thousands of users checked in to see how old an algorithm thinks they are, Toronto’s Covenant House used the social tool as a catalyst for a pressing cause. They created a web ad that shows Cale, a 22-year-old homeless man, stamped as a 43-year-old on how-old.net. “The message was simple: living on the streets robs kids of their youth,” Josie do Rego, Director of Development and Communications, told Engadget. “We wanted to remind people that the streets are no place for young people.”
While the campaign hasn’t gained the same traction as the software, it makes a poignant point. There are about 65,000 homeless young people in Canada. And according to HUD’s latest Annual Homeless Assessment Report, about 194,302 youth and children were homeless on a single night last year in the US.
Covenant House is the largest privately-funded homeless youth agency. It provides shelter and services including counseling, education, job training and more. In Canada, their efforts are largely funded through donors who account for about 80 percent of their $21.8 million budget. “Social tools allow us to instantaneously reach a broader audience,” says do Rego. “[They can] generate more awareness and understanding of the plight of homeless youth, as well as generate donations in support of our programs that help youth move toward independent living,”
[Image credit: Covenant House Toronto]
Via: Fast Company
Here’s what our readers think of the BlackBerry Passport
Though BlackBerry has been trying its hand at touchscreen devices like the Z30 and the recently reviewed Leap, it hasn’t left keyboard devotees behind just yet. Released last fall, the BlackBerry Passport combines a square screen with a three-row keyboard. Our review noted that the oddly shaped screen provides “a good viewing experience” and the keyboard is “an impressive feat of engineering.” However, though the keyboard is “a powerful tool,” the unusual dimensions make one-handed use awkward and the app ecosystem is still rather small. Most damning is the fact that the device’s signature feature, the keyboard, “isn’t among BlackBerry’s best.” But that’s from the perspective of someone who had to type out a review entirely on the keyboard. Plenty of our readers have chimed in about their own Passport experiences to let us know how it fares in the hands of the common office worker and beyond.
“This thing is tuff and doesn’t bend like the iPhone 6.”
The shape is the first thing anyone will notice about the Passport, with nixxonexxo commenting on how “unusual and weird-looking” it is, though it still “looks great” in person and it fits in a pocket just “fine for a phone this large.” Indeed, the Passport fits great in the pockets of various articles of clothing, including geneismean‘s skinny jeans, ttwb‘s jacket and the top pocket of goodtobe‘s Kenzo blazer. And while it does leave a very odd shape in geneismean’s pants, he cheekily comments that the square bulge just indicates he’s “happy to see everyone.”
Though the square screen resulted in such an atypical shape for the Passport, plenty were happy to make the trade-off. Aspani says the screen is “easy to look at” and ZzaqpazZ found that the blueprints and CAD files he uses at his metal-fabrication business looked great on the Passport, “much better than the typical rectangular phones.” The square screen also means square photos, but aspani doesn’t mind, finding the shape “works great in reports.” And the photos themselves look “ridiculously amazing” to geneismean, with incredible depth and color.
Venture just below that screen, though, and the Passport starts to stumble. Goodtobe says the keyboard “takes a bit of getting used to,” while adityan had a little less patience, calling it a nightmare and “colossal failure” due to its limited features and unresponsive trackpad. ZzaqpazZ thought the inability to steer in games using the keyboard was “a real letdown.”
“I use my laptop in the field 50 percent less with this phone.”
Then again, the Passport isn’t really meant as a game-playing device. POPPKPD finds it handy as a “mobile office” thanks to features like BlackBerry Blend, while goodtobe notes it “has already saved me having to dash to the laptop several times.” Ttwb agrees, calling it “the first device that doesn’t give me the feeling I need to return to my computer to answer longer emails.” Self-described “power user” lloydlawrence calls it a beast that “really delivers the tools you need to get you through the day.” Tomsevo also appreciates how “business-like” it is, stating that “my phone needs to be my communicator, not my entertainment hub.”
Its unusual shape and limited app selection might restrict the audience for the Passport, but nixxonexxo does note that “if you’re looking for security and productivity, then this is the only phone you need consider this year.” STEMAT calls it a phone for “someone who is looking to break away from the mold and stand out in the crowd with something that is new and innovative.” Ultimately, lloydlawrence says it’s “like marmite: You either love it or hate it, but it really is like nothing else on the market.”
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Blackberry
Verizon is buying Engadget, not its editorial
Verizon is buying Aol, and so Engadget’s going to be owned by Big Red, too. What’s that mean for you, our readers?
Well, nothing, really.
In the time that I have been editor-in-chief, the Engadget team has done some incredible work to deliver on the editorial mission I laid out just over a year ago. And things are going according to plan. Engadget’s audience is larger than it’s ever been (thanks!), and we continue to grow thanks to the strength of our reporting. We will continue to tell the stories that give you the full picture of how technology is changing our world and affecting our lives. And yes, that includes coverage of some of Verizon’s not-so-favorite topics, like the Patriot Act, net neutrality and online privacy.
Verizon, for its part, has made its contempt for the FCC’s recent rulemaking efforts to ensure an open internet well-known, and it has a recent track record of not respecting users’ privacy. The company has also publicly opposed the Patriot Act’s mass surveillance practices it was forced to comply with. Regardless of the actions or views of our new corporate parent, Engadget’s mission will always be to impartially report the news with wit and insight.
Of course, I understand the questions about Engadget’s ability to maintain its editorial integrity in the wake of this acquisition. After all, Verizon has done nothing to earn us any benefit of the doubt — quite the opposite, actually. But it doesn’t matter who pays our salaries; we’re not in the business of censorship. Engadget’s editorial isn’t for sale. It never has been, and it never will be. Not as long as I and Executive Editor Christopher Trout are running things. Actions speak louder than words, however, and it’s time to get back to work. Stick around, I promise you won’t want to miss what’s next.
Filed under: Announcements, Verizon
Verizon and Sprint will pay $158 million to settle customer complaints
The mobile carriers always seem to be in a little bit of hot water don’t they? Maybe it’s because they are always playing games with billing, throttling, and anything else shady they can think of.
This time around it’s a practice called “cramming” which is when customers are billed for third-party services they didn’t request. In most cases, it resulted in a $10 monthly charge in which Verizon and Sprint declined to offer refunds. According to the Federal Communications Commission, both carriers received roughly 30% of the charges.
After an investigation, Verizon will pay $90 million and Sprint will pony up $68 million. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said, “For too long, consumers have been charged on their phone bills for things they did not buy. “We call these fraudulent charges ‘cramming,’ and with today’s agreements we are calling them history for Verizon and Sprint customers.”
Sprint is back pedaling a little bit in that they say they already “took proactive steps to monitor the third-party ecosystem.” and that they “returned tens of millions of dollars long before the government initiated its investigation of our industry.” Verizon is singing the same tune as a spokes person said “Well before any government action, Verizon Wireless stopped allowing companies to place charges for premium text message services on customers’ bills. Today’s settlement reflects Verizon’s continued focus on putting customers first.”
If you’re a customer of either Sprint or Verizon, you are encouraged to check your bills for any unauthorized charges. Are you a victim of this tactic? Let us know in the comments.
source: Huffington Post
Come comment on this article: Verizon and Sprint will pay $158 million to settle customer complaints
Distracted Driving Laws Yet to Catch Up With Apple Watch
While several states and countries have laws in place that make operating a handheld device such as a smartphone or portable media player illegal, the release of the Apple Watch has created a gray area in terms of distracted driving legislation. Given that the Apple Watch is technically not a handheld device, the laws in many jurisdictions are left open to interpretation at this point.
Regardless of the laws in your local area, it is highly recommended that you keep your eyes on the road and remain focused on driving at all times. Using your Apple Watch while driving is dangerous for both you and the drivers sharing the road with you, no matter how skilled of a driver you may be, and distracted driving in general is still a punishable offence in many jurisdictions.
United States
In the United States, many states have similar distracted driving laws with different conditions that must be followed. All states except Arizona, Missouri and Montana have a text messaging ban that could extend to the Apple Watch, or confirmed plans to enact one within the next six months, and Arizona is the only state without a text messaging ban for novice drivers entirely.
None of the U.S. states have updated their distracted driving laws to specifically address the Apple Watch or other wearable devices¹, and National Safety Council CEO Deborah Hersman confirmed in April that no states currently have plans to do so. Essentially, this means that the Apple Watch is not illegal to use or operate while driving in the country, but it is still highly unrecommended.
Last month, a Coalition Against Distracted Driving led by Stephen L. Joseph filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles court against Apple, Samsung, Google and Microsoft, seeking an injunction that would require the companies to fund an “effective and ongoing” national public education campaign in the United States that explain the risks of using smartwatches and smartphones while driving.
To check distracted driving laws on a state-by-state basis, the U.S. government has setup a useful website called Distraction.gov that displays an interactive map outlining primary and secondary laws for text messaging and cell phone use behind the wheel. Currently, 45 states, DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands ban text messaging for all drivers.
Canada
In Ontario, for example, it is illegal for drivers to talk, text, type, dial or email using hand-held cell phones and other hand-held communications and entertainment devices², such as smartphones, portable media players, GPS systems and laptops. The province has not currently designated the Apple Watch or other smartwatches as being illegal to use while operating a motor vehicle.
Nevertheless, endangering others because of any distraction in Ontario can result in being charged with careless driving, which carries penalties of six demerit points, fines up to $2,000 and/or a jail term of six months and up to a two-year license suspension. Ontario Provincial Police officers are free to interpret the Ontario Highway Traffic Act as they wish as it relates to distracted driving.
Québec’s Highway Safety Code outlaws holding or operating handheld electronic devices with a telephone function while driving, but does not make any references to the Apple Watch or other wearable devices. The Canadian Press reported in September 2014 that Québec was reviewing its distracted driving law³, but the province has yet to make any changes to date.
British Columbia has a similar ban on holding or operating handheld electronic devices while driving, but has not specifically outlawed using the Apple Watch behind the wheel. The province’s Motor Vehicle Act further stipulates that drivers must not send or receive text messages or emails on any type of electronic device, and new and learning drivers are prohibited from using any electronic devices while driving.
Ultimately, this information should be followed for reference only and does not serve as legal advice. We encourage drivers in various countries to check their local laws for the most accurate and up-to-date information. More importantly, remember that you are sharing the road with others and drive safely.
Third-gen Moto X could boast 16-megapixel camera with OIS
The next-gen Motorola X could pack a 16-megapixel rear camera that offers optical image stabilization and slow-motion video capture. That is, of course, provided the recent rumors prove to be accurate.
Reportedly, the 2015 version of the Motorola flagship line will record video at 1080p at 120 frames per second; at 720p you’ll have 240 fps as an option. Additionally, Motorola will allegedly return to using the Clear Pixel technology.
Other specifications being tossed about for the Moto X 2015 include the following:
via PocketNow
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Madfinger Games offering $0.99 title sale for 5th anniversary and much more
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This week is officially the 5th anniversary week for game developing studio Madfinger Games. Many of you have been around with the company for titles like Shadowgun, Samurai II: Vengeance and the Dead Trigger series. I know I still kick back with some Shadowgun: Deadzone, the online multi-player version of the 3rd person shooter title, from time to time. In celebration of 5 years of gaming, the company is offering up all the paid titles from their portfolio for just $0.99.
As for the titles that are already free to play, like Dead Trigger 2, you will find yourself able to pick up select in-game content for 50% off the normal retail price tag with models and additional content in Monzo for 70% off.
On May 15th – 17th gamer’s are invited to play in a tournament on Dead Trigger 2 and you will find yourself picking up some free gold.
Finally, they say they are officially launching the Unkilled website on May 14th. I did a quick Google search and the page seems to be up already. Unkilled is the next big game from the company and keeps with the zombie theme a bit with some killer looking graphics and monstrous zombies. Take a look at the trailer for it below.
Direct yourself over to the Madfinger developer page and take a look.
Source: Madfinger
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AIVAnet 