Nexus 7 Aluminium Keyboard and Case

Mini Laptop?

Just a quick review of a new case I got for my Nexus this week.
The case is available from several outlets, but Infinite Zone sell it for the very good price of £13.99 and delivered it two days after my order.
This review is going to be quite easy, it one of the "does what it says on the tin" kind of situations. This keyboard is good quality, similar to a high end laptop although obviously much smaller. It connects easily via Bluetooth and is therefore completely wireless and doesn't need to touch the Nexus 7 in order for it to work.  The keyboard needs a separate charger which can be a problem - I am going to investigate some form of "Y" lead to split the normal micro USB into two.
Normally, you sit the nexus 7 on top of the keyboard which makes what is basically a small laptop. I thought that I would miss a mouse or touch-pad, but actually it is very easy just to touch the screen when you need to.
As a keyboard, I would rate it as 8/10, the only limiting factor is the smaller form factor, but unless you want to carry a large keyboard around with you, I dont see how this could be improved. The keyboard also makes a very good nightstand with the Nexus at just the right angle for bedside clock, if that tickles your fancy.
As a case, it is very good. The style of the cover is identical to the Nexus 7 so you effectively get a double sided Nexus 7 that can cope with most of the rigours that the Nexus is likely to encounter when in your pocket of bag. The Nexus clips into the cover but is easily unclipped. It does add to the bulk quite a lot, making the combined tablet and case 20mm thick as opposed to 10.5mm for just the Nexus. It does mean that if you use the Nexus as a normal tablet and just use the cover for protection when not in use, then you will be using the beautifully thin and light Nexus on its own, a definite advantage compared to other case designs.
Weight is also a factor, the combined tablet and case are 550g compared to just 340g for the Nexus on its own. I don't see this as an issue, as the combined weight isn't too bad and you wouldn't really notice it when you are carrying it around. Its a different story when you are using the tablet though, but as I have already said, you use the tablet completely uncovered so it isn't really a problem.
As a case, I would rate this as 8/10 - it provides good protection but could be lighter, which would probably mean it would be as good as a cover!
So, two scores of 8/10 would surely mean that I give this case 8/10 overall, but I would actually go one higher and say 9/10. The whole concept of a mini laptop and also the very high build quality without adding to the cost make this cover a steal.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Slim-Mobile-Bluetooth-Wireless-Aluminum-Keyboard-Case-for-Google-Nexus-7-/390528385359?ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:GB:3160

My Bubble Wasn't Protected

After falling off my road bike and smashing my iphone 4 rear screen a couple of years ago, I took out an insurance policy with Protect My Bubble so that I would be covered for any future damage or loss.
Actually, it only cost £18 to repair the phone, the back comes off in a surprisingly easy way (just two screws, and on my phone they were normal Philips although Apple have now "encrypted" them to a weird Pentalobe to increase customer frustration)
Anyway, the iphone5 failed to appear as Apple were extracting some more revenue by pretending they had upgraded the iphone4 by adding a letter S to the name, so I decided it was time to jump ship and go over to Android. The Galaxy S2 didn't disappoint and I have been very pleased with it. It is really robust, its dropped it many times without issue, not even a scratch. The build is certainly very plasticy but that is the very reason that it stands up to so much abuse.
On a morning I have a set routine which is my way of making sure nothing is left at home. My phone, wallet and headphone pouch go into the back left pocket of my cycling jacket. The other day this went wrong, and somehow when I got to school (a fifteen minute journey), the phone had gone.
My wife retraced the route, but the phone had gone. Time to ring Protect My Bubble!
They didn't seem to know who I was, even when I gave them an account number, but eventually I was put through to a claims department. They sent me an email with some forms to fill in. They said I had to get the phone blocked and get a crime number from the police. Of course, the police wouldn't give a crime number because it was a lost phone not a crime. They also wanted proof of purchase, but didn't accept that I didn't have this. I've had an O2 contract for ten years and upgraded regularly, getting any documentation emailed to me. Protect My Bubble wouldn't accept a forwarded email so I have to wait for O2 to send me an paper copy of the phone invoice, scan it and email it to them.
It took five days before I had a phone call from them and they said they were ringing to just go through the details of my claim.
I told them what had happened again, and they said they would be in touch. Two days later I got a letter saying they wouldn't cover me because my written statement said that the phone was in my trouser pocket whilst my verbal account said it was in my jacket!
I then Google'd Protect My Bubble and came across hundreds of similar accounts, whole web sites and even a whole Watchdog episode about them, all saying that they renege on paying out at the slightest reason and even when you successfully appeal, they then take six months to pay out.
My advice to anyone insured with them is to either switch companies, or put the payments into a glass jar until you need it!
Ive now ordered a Nexus 4, which has the benefit of when Im out of my contract, my payments will halve, (3 currently do a fifteen pound unlimited data plan), so the savings will also go into the jar so I can still upgrade every year!
Oh, and please tell everyone about this post so they learn all about how protected your bubble actually is!

Great beer and a bit of a bug!

Haven't got my s2 as I dropped it on  the way to work this morning, so I'm using the nexus 7 to take a pic of this lurvely RCH Old Slug stout which is on sale at the Cricketers in Horbury. Its a really nice pint and I intended to write a longer post until I saw the photo!
It would seem that the nexus seven takes photos in mirror image, great for web chatting but not good for using it as a camera.

Addendum - just loaded the blog post on my Chromebook - seems the photo is correctly shown when you post it!