The “phablet” isn’t for everyone, that much is clear. Some of us like smaller screens and feel that devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 are just too big. That being said, there is clearly a growing demand for larger-sized smartphones, as evidenced by the run-away success of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2.

How well is the Note 2 doing already? In just 37 days, Samsung now has sold 3 million units. This is extremely impressive. The phablet is quickly growing into a mainstream device. After personally reviewing the LG Intuition, I have to say that the 5+-inch smartphone category might seem strange at first but you quickly get these oversized phones.

Some of the most compelling reasons to own the Note 2 have to do with that extra real-estate for reading, browsing and playing games. The exceptional note-taking abilities with the S-Pen are a big part of the device’s appeal as well. One of the best things about Android devices is that there are wide variety of sizes, shapes and form factors. This means that no matter what kind of tastes you have, odds are you will find something that fits your own individual needs.

What do you consider the “sweet spot” for screen size?

Amazon's cloud storage service for photos isn't just for Kindle HD users anymore. The company made its Cloud Drive Photos app available for most Android devices today. Signing in with your Amazon account will net you 5GB of free space for your pictures.

Android phone and tablet users have yet another option for cloud-based storage, though this time it’s specifically for photos. Amazon has made its Cloud Drive Photos app, which is already integrated into the Kindle Fire HD, available on most Android devices. This app looks like a service that will serve constant photo-snappers quite well.

The app initially asks for users to sign in using an Amazon account. You’re going to want to sign up for an account if you don’t already have one, because this app is completely useless if you don’t. The point of a cloud drive service is to save space, not take it up. Once you’re signed in, you’ll be greeted with the app’s home screen, or the “Cloud” tab. This simply explains to you how to access your drive online and add content from your computer that can then be viewed on your phone or tablet.

There is a second tab atop the display in this app called “Photos.” This is where you will actually be able to see the photo content that is currently saved on your device. Your camera roll, screen captures, Draw Something drawings, Instagram images, and all other photographic data is displayed. These are displayed by category, which can then be explored to see what each album holds. Pressing and holding on an album or an individual picture will allow you to manage the selection, prompting you to either remove it from the device or upload it to the cloud. These are very contrary choices, so make sure you select the one you want. The app also doesn’t appear to automatically sync and there is no option to do so in the settings, so you’ll have to manually update your sync after every snapshot, making this app annoyingly out of date compared to options from Google+ and others. 

All users of Amazon’s Cloud Drive Photos get 5GB of free storage. That can be upgraded to 20GB of space for $10 a year. Everything you upload is accessible right from your Amazon account, making it easy to manage from your phone or your computer. The app isn’t exactly feature rich, but it does the job it claims. An auto-sync feature would be nice, but it looks like we’ll have to wait until the next update to see if it’s there.

you can download the Amazon Cloud Drive Photos app on the Google Play store or Amazon’s Appstore.

Looking for accessories to go with your brand new iPad mini? Moshi's VersaCover origami case doubles as a screen protector and an iPad stand.

Congratulations! You’ve braved the Apple line once again and got your hands on the new iPad mini. Now you want to know how to keep the Retina display safe from scratches and dust. Consider Moshi’s VersaCover origami case, an architecturally inspired cover that builds upon Apple’s Smart Cover design. Like its predecessor for the original iPad, you’ll be able to flip, fold, and tuck the VersaCover into various shapes so while it’s not protecting your iPad’s screen, it can function as an iPad stand.

The secret is between the edges of the cover, which contain little magnets to help the ridges connect and stay sturdy when folded. You can use the folds to position your iPad to stand upright or landscape are various angles. The cover itself is also made of microfibers and will support the iPad mini’s auto-wake/sleep feature for a swift access to the menu. Unfortunately, pricing is pretty steep in comparison to the original iPad version. The VersaCover for iPad mini will retail for $55 with a shipment date scheduled by the end of the year, while the original version retails for $60. Moshi’s VersaCover will be available in four color options: Aloe Green, Denim Blue, Sakura Pink, and Velvet Grey. We’re digging the pastel color scheme which makes for a soft introduction to the holiday season.

This weekend the Planetside 2 beta client will be updated with a button that offers players the ability to live-stream their gameplay via Twitch.

With PlanetSide 2, Sony Online Entertainment hopes to drop players into a massive, chaotic warzone populated with other, like-minded virtual killers in an intense race to see who will be the last one standing. Given that premise, it should come as no surprise that simply watching the chaos unfold would have a certain entertainment value, even for people who aren’t playing the game.

Whether or not that proves true, Sony Online Entertainment has announced an agreement with gaming-centric video streaming site Twitch (formerly TwitchTV) to add a new button to the game’s user interface that would instantly allow players to stream their in-game exploits. According to SOE this makes PlanetSide 2 the “first game in market to enable direct one-click streaming to the Twitch platform.” Further, the company claims that it’s currently “ in discussions with other top developers/publishers regarding similar integrations.”

Those that have been following Twitch since back at its days as part of Justin.tv, shouldn’t be surprised by the news. Many see the rise of eSports as one of the next big gaming trends of the coming years, and the rapid success of Twitch is testament to that. One of the most significant problems with the expansion of the medium though, has been the technology needed to stream games. On PCs there are a few options, but console streaming requires specific equipment that most gamers don’t have, and probably aren’t willing to purchase at this time. As Twitch expands and more companies follow SOE in including streaming options, that should change rapidly. 

As for solid, important details, here’s what you need to know: First, this new button will supposedly be updated into the game at some point this weekend. SOE says “sometime between Friday and Monday,” so adjust your schedules accordingly. Secondly, SOE warns that while this new feature will be up and running in the next few days, it may not be entirely functional. The company claims that the button will be visible to everyone in the PlanetSide 2 beta, but that it “will probably not be fully functional until the actual game launch.” Which, for the record, is scheduled for November 20.