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Top 10 Tech This Week (03/09/2013) 2. Socialmatic Camera Creates Real-Life Filtered Pics Instagram's great, but have you ever wondered what it would be like to experience it outside the digital world? Snap a photo, select a filter and then, not tweet it, but print it to physically share? A new company called Socialmatic is hoping to make that a reality.  3. New LED Light Bulb Looks and Lights Like an Incandescent Cree has announced a new series of energy-saving light bulbs that look and function like incandescents. Unlike most LED alternatives on the market, these bulbs start at less than $10 and save up to 84% in energy -- and they're shaped like traditional lightbulbs.   4. 3D Printing Coming to Vending Machine Near You If vending machines can dispense beer, pizza and movies, why not 3D-printed objects? Combining the hyper-local convenience of Redbox with cutting edge technology, Dreambox is a vending machine that aims to fuel the 3D-print...

10 iPad Mini Cases You Can't Pass Up 1. ExoGear ExoShift The awesome ExoShift covers your mini with faux leather, then converts into a two-position stand. Cost: $39.95 2. J. W. Hulme iPad Mini Case With heroic good looks, J. W. Hulme's case for the mini comes with a complimentary embossed monogram. Cost: $195   3. STM Grip for iPad Mini Made from tough polycarbonate plastic, the Grip has two kickstand settings for viewing and typing. Cost: Approx. $60 4. Incase Maki Jacket When it's not protecting your 'Pad, the canvas Maki jacket rolls up into a three-position stand. Cost: $34.95 5. Griffin Folio for iPad Mini What's not to like about this adorable owl-adorned folio case? Cost: $44.99 6. Gumdrop Drop Tech The Drop Tech series promises "shock absorption, drop protection, extreme ruggedness and hard-core readiness for all adventures." Cost: $59.95 7. Belkin Tartan Cover With Stand In three diffe...

10 Android Apps at SXSW 1. Thread Thread aims to answer the "Which Mary is it?" or sometimes, "Who did I ever meet named Chester?" when a caller's name pops up in your smartphone display. It's kind of like a Rapportive for your phone. Download on Android 2. Augment For most, furniture is a rare and expensive purchase, which means you'll teeter between options and possibly never buy because you're "just not sure" it's the right one. Augment aims to help you make this decision with its augmented reality app, which will show you what a couch will look like in your house. Pretty nifty. Download on Android , iOS 3. GroupMe GroupMe allows people to send text messages within groups and at this year's SXSW, launched two new features: sending money and sharing photos. Other apps such as Venmo have offered something similar which goes to show how much easier managing money can be when it's digital. Do...

LG Optimus G Pro (unlocked) review No stylus, but still a phablet done right The good: The LG Optimus G Pro packs a sharp and crisp display, a blazing Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, and Android Jelly Bean. The bad: The Optimus G Pro's hefty size can be cumbersome to handle and it doesn't come with a stylus. The bottom line: Though it lacks a stylus and it won't fit everyone's lifestyle, the LG Optimus G Pro's beautiful touch screen and ultrafast CPU do this handset justice. ================ Debuting at Mobile World Congress, the LG Optimus G Pro is a 5.5-inch device that will launch in Korea this month, followed by a North American release in Q2. The handset is actually LG's third crack at the phone/tablet hybrid niche, after its Optimus Vu and Vu II (the U.S. carrier, Verizon, released the former as the LG Intuition , which received a lukewarm response). But this phone is more than just another attempt; it s...

Dropbox redesigns desktop client to make notifications more visible Dropbox is launching a new design for its desktop client today focused on making changes to user files more visible, by making notifications the core feature of the desktop menu.  The new design, which will become available at noon, replaces the old Dropbox menubar experience with what is essentially a news feed. It tracks files added or changed to your Dropbox, any invitations you have received to join other folders, and any files shared with you. The company said the new design would let users access their files faster. Says the company: "If someone shares a link with you, you can now get to it immediately -- directly from the Dropbox menu. You'll get notifications in real time as people share with you, and can see them later just by clicking the Dropbox icon. You can also accept or decline invitations to shared folders directly from your desktop." The company also ...

Acer expands the C7 Chromebook   If there's one thing you can say about Chromebooks -- specialized laptops that use Google's Chrome operating system -- it's that they have definitely expanded beyond their initial sub-notebook origins. The first Chromebooks were underpowered and underfeatured (although still somewhat overpriced), but now you can get a $1,000-plus HD-screen Chromebook Pixel or a sub-$200 entry level box.  Acer is expanding its C7 line of Chromebooks with a slightly higher-end version called the C710-2055. It expands on the $199 original C7 by doubling the RAM from 2GB to 4GB, and keeping the same Intel Celeron CPU and 320GB HDD.  Of the first Acer C7 Chromebook, we said : "The plastic body feels undeniably "budget," without the often more premium touches of many tablets. A somewhat flexible plastic top lid, glossy plastic screen bezel, and thicker-than-you'd-expect sides with ugly vent grilles complete the port...

Alligator's new prosthetic tail works swimmingly Oddly enough, fish and wildlife officers in the dry, desert state of Arizona confiscate a fair number of alligators each year. Unfortunate alligator Mr. Stubbs was one of those captured critters when he was brought to the Phoenix Herpetological Society back in 2005. He arrived minus a very important body part: his tail. Tailless Mr. Stubbs had to learn how to swim by paddling with his front feet, something that probably caused all the other alligators to snicker at him behind his back. More recently, the society and CORE Institute, a center specializing in orthopedic care for people, banded together to craft a new prosthetic tail for the gator. The silicone rubber tail has a water drainage hole and is held on with nylon straps. It has been painted to match Mr. Stubbs' natural coloration. "The fact he doesn't try to bite it (the tail) is a good sign," Russ Johnson, president of the Phoenix Her...