CLIQ case adds three NFC buttons on your smartphone

The NFC-enhanced Cliq case comes in your choice of five colors. CLIQ cases

What is your most common app? Kindle? Calendar? Camera? Can you the icon on your home screen, but you must still through the lock screen swipe reader, navigate to the home screen and tap the icon. Phew! Exhausting!

Wouldn't it be great, if only one physical button, now a favorite app or a function could push to start? That's the idea behind the Cliq, a Smartphone case with three built-in shortcut keys.

These keys rely on Near Field Communication (NFC), which means that they wirelessly and without any kind of special power source to operate. Instead, they consider the juice, you need the Smartphone-NFC stereo. And they program their functions through a simple application.

Does that sound familiar? This concept is already surfaced a NFC buttons stickers in the form of pits, providing more or less the same functionality. A better option is the Cliq? That depends on it.

The Cliq app let you customize the three buttons to your liking. CLIQ cases

Because it is a case, it provides protection. But it is available to only a select few mobile phones, at least in the beginning: the LG G2 Google nexus 5, Motorola Moto X and Samsung touch 3, S4 and S5. The dimples does not protect your phone, but it should work with any non-metal case, you already use.

What the Cliq buttons gives you three of them, all lined up in close to the left edge of the housing (if you keep your phone screen front). With the dimples, you get the buttons to position, where you are, at least in the theory-after my experience with a prototype wishing she worked not everywhere.

The CLIQ app promises virtually every adaptation, allowing you an application a flashlight sending a prefabricated text message starts. The developers are also promising compatibility with Automation apps like AutomateIt, and Tasker, means you could trigger may be even more complex actions.

The Kickstarter campaign seeks $40,000, already financed with nearly $17,000 and go about three weeks to raise. The $20 and $25 early backer options are sold out, but you can pre-order yet a Cliq (at the choice of the colors) for $30. Given the fact that a four button dimple is running $27, is no bad costs of entry.

Their thoughts?

Use lateral support, to additional 'buttons' on your Android device add

Interesting projects for Indiegogo late hit heard dimples, an adhesive tape that adds two or four programmable physical buttons on your Android device.

However, as a smart reader called Lukasz pointed out, there is already an app that does the same. It's called lateral support, and enjoy your Android device volume keys for various other tasks to program much in the way that the dimples app with the add on button will do.

It's free, fairly easy to use and remarkably effective. Here to get you started. (Note that my tests on a Motorola Moto X was performed. Their mileage - and - compatibility may vary.)

Screenshot of Rick Broida/CNET

First step: Start page carrier, then touch "To create a new action."

Step two: Select the flashlight, photo, call and message b out of the available functions,.. Tap App for our tutorial, and then choose an app that you want to able to quickly start.

Step three: Now you decide what sequence of volume button presses that you want to use for this link. Up-down-up, for example, or down-down-down can. Make your selection via the buttons on the screen, or use the actual volume buttons. When you are finished, tap done.

Step four: Check the available settings for this action and make the desired changes. To vibrate E.g. not your device, when engaged, disable the action check box. When you are finished, tap Finish.

And that's it! Now, test the configuration to make sure that it works. Wash, rinse, and repeat if you want to create other actions.

Although it, abuse, seem your volume buttons so strange, lateral support provides some useful settings that can smooth the roughness.

By default, the app will restore, for example, the previously set level after run your action. So even if you, say, volume-down four times in a row is the volume to its previous level then press return.

You can also choose whether the app running, while the music plays (by default it is doing) and if it is "listening" button presses. For example, maybe you want to it works only when the screen is turned off.

An another handy tweak is the interval between the clicks (from the keys) change. By default, if you wait more than a second in between it side cancels the action. So you could handle effectively, volume, as usual by persons, who on at least one second between presses.

This is a really cool way, mod, your Android phone or tablet, somewhat iDevice users only wish she could do. (Count me among them.) Lateral support is free of charge, but if you want the premium version (ad-free), there you only $3.32 cost.

Dimples adds four physical buttons on your Android device

The pits are available in different colors, maybe even that coincides with your device. Dimples

I like the tactile buttons, the kind that give me a piece of the answer, if I push them and see in the dark. (Example: if I want to enable Siri, while my phone in my coat pocket, in the car I find this iPhone just by touching the home button.)

But missing the most Android phones (a notable exception, the Samsung Galaxy series) Save physical buttons for power and volume. Wouldn't it be cool if you could just hit some extras?

Dimples

You can; It's called dimples. This deceptively simple sticker about the size of a small patch adds four programmable buttons for Android phones and tablets. Now apply it to the back of your device or case (as long as it is not metal) and then using the dimple app you can set up the buttons.

There is just a hook, at least on paper: pits near field communication, or NFC, a feature required don't any phone or Tablet has. (NFC world has a fairly comprehensive list of where to do that.)

On the back when your device has, you are golden. Dimples requires no battery of own, instead relying on the magical power that emanates from the NFC. (Who would have thought, am I correct?) In a similar way it uses NFC functionality, not Bluetooth or Wi-Fi for their very.

The four keys can be programmed for a variety of functions. Listed examples on the Groove Web site: favorite apps to start music playback, which turn flashlight on, call a contact, turn off Bluetooth, and so on.

Indiegogo campaign in the sale will be in August with a kick-off may 6 expected to be dimpled. Early risers will be for anywhere from $15 to $27, with an expected $29-sale price can get. Update: The Indiegogo campaign is now live.

I don't even use an Android phone now, and I want one of them completely. If nothing else, proves to be something that I was not previously sold the value of NFC technology. Their thoughts?