The Swann device

Swann is a company that made its name in home security with things like cameras. The company branched out into RC toys and sells for interesting remote control flying toys. Swann has now announced a new flying toy called the Swann Quad Starship that looks similar to the Parrot AR.Drone. The Swann device has four rotors and is much cheaper than the Parrot device.

Swann is selling the Quad Starship for $79.99 and it will be available in stores like Amazon, Fry’s, Tiger Direct, and B&H. The flying toy has a 2.4GHz controller and a 330 foot range. That means you can control the toy from a long way away. Power for the controller comes from four AA batteries.
The helicopter charges with a USB cable. Like most flying toys of this type, the flight time is very short. Each charge of the helicopter gives you eight minutes of flight time. The toy is designed for indoor flying and is light enough that it shouldn’t break anything in the hose if you crash. The quad Starship can fly forwards, backwards, and sideways. It can also perform stunts like flips and more.

Verizon Droid DNA Getting Android 4.2.2 with Sense 5

Verizon is rolling out the much awaited Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update with Sense 5 UI for HTC Droid DNA. It might be a little too late, but it should make some of the Droid DNA users happy.  HTC also announced a few weeks back that Droid DNA will also get the taste of Android 4.4 KitKat by the end of first quarter of 2014, which is way too far. Anyway, the update for Droid DNA will roll out in two parts, and when complete, will update HTC Droid DNA to Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with Sense 5 UI.

 First, users will be asked to download and install the software version 2.08.605.1, followed by version 3.06.605.4. The update is rolling out now via over-the-air and should hit all Droid DNA devices tied to Verizon in the coming weeks. The update brings several new features and enhancements, including BlinkFeed as well as Sense 5 UI that brings a new dialer, gallery, calendar and contacts list, along with a bunch of bug fixes and improvements. Verizon has posted a 5-page change log for the update, which can be viewed using the source link at the end.

It’s a little disappointing to see that HTC didn’t release the Android 4.3 update as a majority of handsets these days are running the latest version of Jelly Bean, while many of them recently received it. The manufacturers are now spending their resources on Android 4.4 KitKat update, which should hit a handful of devices early next year.

Asus PadFone Mini Images Leaked

Earlier this week, we heard a rumor that ASUS Padfone Mini will launch next week, and it could be true. Earlier today, @evleaks posted a press render of the purported ASUS Padfone Mini, showing the handset from front and back. It looks similar to what we’ve seen in earlier leaks as well.

The device come with a 4.3-inch display sporting a resolution of 960 x 640 pixels, while the tablet part comes with a 7-inch display that the phone plugs into to enable the tablet. Under the hood, ASUS Padfone Mini is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 400 chipset, dual-SIM support and runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean pre-installed out of the box.
There are no more details about other specifications nor its pricing. A rumor has it that ASUS is holding a press even on December 11th where the company is expected to unveil the Padfone Mini. It’s also not clear whether the device will hit US or not, but it’s safe to assume that it will launch in Asia and Europe.
Let’s wait until Tuesday and see if it’s true. We’ll update you about its pricing and specifications as soon as it gets official. But, we’re hoping that it will be cheaper than the existing PadFone.

Typo Keyboard Case for iPhone 5 and 5S Available for Pre-order

Touchscreens are becoming more popular these days and typing on them isn’t a big problem, but there are a few people who would prefer a physical keyboard. Well-known entertainment personality Ryan Seacrest and Typo’s co-founder invested over $1 million in a typo case that can transform you iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S into a Blackberry. Yes, it may sound a little weird, but this case adds a physical keyboard to you iPhone, thanks to the Typo Keyboard case with a claim of 50 percent improved typing speed.

 The case adds a physical keyboard to your iPhone, which looks pretty similar to the one found in Blackberry handsets. The typing case brings 40 percent more screen space and comes with a full backlit keyboard covering the home button on the handset. Here’s some of the features offered by the Typo Keyboard Case for iPhone 5 and 5S. It looks quite similar to the keyboard found in Blackberry Q10.