Apple releases a new firmware update for the iPhone and the iPod Touch devices. Version 1.1.4 seems to be a “Bug fixer” and not the big and awaited SDK application. It is hard to spot substantial changes, and we barely can find any visible modification, but those who had no patient, report no damages, even with a jailbroaken phones. My advice is to skip this one and wait for the “real deal”. If you can’t hold yourself, you can download the 162.1MB file via iTunes 7.6.1.9.
[via engadget]
Tuesday is here and new reports are coming from Cupertino’s direction, as Apple has just updated its online store, coming up with a new MacBook and MacBook Pro lineup, equipped with mighty Penryn CPUs and the famous multi-touch technology, as seen on the new MacBook Air. Other specs include 2.4GHz – 2.6GHz with 200GB or 250GB storage for the pros, and 2.1GHz – 2.4GHz with 120GB – 250GB for the Macbooks. The 17-inch model gets 1,920 x 1,200 pixels with LED backlighting and a powerful NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphic card, up to 512MB GDDR3. The rest seems to resemble to the old models.
Update: Apple says that both MacBook and MacBook Pro Battery life has improved, compared to the old models. Check out the table [via gizmodo] :
[via apple]
If you enjoy playing games on your iPhone or iPod Touch units, this is your moment, as both devices get 2 new 3D interface games, enabling landscape or portrait playing mode. iPac3D and Yeti3D bring old PC games experience to your jailbroken handset, providing hours of playable adventures with built-in virtual keys or by swiveling accelerometers. The iPac3D is a three-dimensional Pac-Man and the Yeti3D is more or less a Doom game. To add them to your devices, just follow the instructions: goto Installer > Sources > Add http://www.marcogiorgini.com/iPhone/plist.xml
Update: You can find more new games in here.
[via gmp3]
The legendary Super Mario and his friends arrive to iPhone, thanks to the snes4iphone V1.0.0 emulator. This cool application brings various Mario titles into your handset, providing you hours of playable, fun and intuitive games, using a built-in virtual control pad, allowing you to move, jump, throw and win. Although in-game music is missing, background music sounds amazing, recalls long forgotten times. Check the video:
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/WmJSvzyInHI" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
[via gizmodo]
Yes, you hear it right, the Mac Air can be laser etched with your own personal design. Not sure how many would like to revamp their expensive lappy, but you should know it is possible, as demonstrated by laser master, Phil Torrone, with 1/4 “jacks” underneath the front of the Macbook air to make it level. Looks neat.
Fifth generation 30GB iPod Video owners, who wish to add a Bluetooth connectivity to their players, can easily do so with ipodhackers step-by step tutorial. First thing you have to do is to disassemble the device, then integrate a Bluetooth module into it, remove the hard disk and replace it with a Compact Flash card. The last is needed since the 30GB model is tight to house both the Bluetooth module and the original hard drive. If you are not tech geeks, don’t try to get into this advemture !
[via ipodhackers]
Check this out, refurbished iPod Touches are now available, in Apple’s special deals store, with a 50$ discount, so you can get yours for merely $249. All devices are provided with a one year warranty and the stock is running out very fast. If you prefer these over a new wrapped device, you should hurry up.
[via apple]
Sony wants to turn the games purchase into an easy and approachable experience. The company has officially announced they are developing a wireless store for the PSP consoles, during the GDC conference. The store is expected to be similar to the wireless iTunes, located on iPhone and iPod Touch. Unfortunately, Sony has dropped the availability details, so i guess we all have to wait impatiently for any future announcements.
[via slashgear]
This application, written by Jahanzeb Sjerwani, is pretty cool, as it turns your iPhone device into a wireless trackpad, enabling all of you, couch potatoes, lay back and navigate your desktop with your wandering fingers. In order to add this app, you need a jailbroken iPhone, then go to Installer > Sources > Add http://cnp.qlnk.net > goto utilities and install Touchpad. The software is a VNsea-based (http://code.google.com/p/vnsea), so enjoy your new remote.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/ybQIcsPtahA" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
[via engadget]
It’s super Tuesday, and Apple has a new announcement to make. This time the company slashes the iPod Shuffle 1GB price to merely 49$ and introducing a new 2GB model for 69$. No other changes concerning specs or colors. The new Shuffle 2GB will be available at the end of this month.
[via Apple]
If color was your reason not to purchase a new flat MacBook Air, then your excuses are over, thanks to the creative people in colorware. The company customizes a wide range of laptops, based on clients demand, giving them vivid flavors and artifacts appearance. You can choose your style out of 35 aluminum colors and create your favorite design by adding your own logo. The only problem is the price that stands on 500$ for base system color and 50$ per add-on, which makes your MacBook Air adventure very expensive.
[via slashgear]
I guess it was just a matter of time for iPhone bands to start showing up, playing their own repertoire with their handset, now that the Cupertino phone received virtual piano and guitar applications. One of those bands is the iBand, presenting very impressive abilities, combined from 2 iPhone devices and 1 Nintendo DS. Check out the video:
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/Mh0VX74alwk" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
[via gizmodo]
Sumvision unveils the ICE1000, a mini PMP with a 2.8″ touchscreen. It seems everyone wants to have their own touch device and the iPod Touch is the one to set the rally. We’re not so sure this is the right killer but the market votes for the buttons-less players. With a clean design, the Ice1000 might be just the cheaper alternative. Check out the specs:
specifications:
[via gmp3]
E-Light is an indoor/outdoor entertainment light, featuring high-output LED lights, providing 6 – 12 hours of glowing illumination. This cordless light clamps onto your umbrella pole for a convenient outdoor decoration or indoor design. The E-Light has a standard headphone jack, allowing you to connect your iPods and listen to your favorite music via acoustically balanced stereo speakers, delivering high-quality sound. The E-Light comes with 4 AA NiMH rechargeable batteries and you can get yours for $99.50.
[via gmp3]
Samsung introduced the TouchWiz, a new OS interface, designed for its subsequent smartphones. The new UI supports touch features and will be embedded in the company’s upcoming finger-touch handsets. The following video from Phone Scoop, reveals a graphical interface with colorful icons and friendly menus, running fast and seamlessly. I guess the TouchWiz places Samsung in a good position, as the competition with Apple’s iphone becoming intensified.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZF9rcmX83yQ" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
[via engadget]
I like the idea of a virtual orchestra inside the iPhone, allowing you to demonstrate your musical skills in front of the inebriate guests of the local bar. First, it was the virtual guitar, now it’s the virtual piano and i hope we’ll get the trumpet, next. With iAno, you can start practicing your fingers all the way up to the stages of Carnegie Hall, as a pianist. To do so, you will need a jailbroken iphone/ipod touch and some talent. Looks groovy.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/ycIjt-ykWRo" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
Macbook users tend to complain about those ugly marks and dark smudges, decorating their surface as a result of palm contact or dust accruement. To solve the problem and get back to the original shiny white color, Lifehacker posted an interesting solution: All you have to do is spread on some white toothpaste on the given area, let it dry, clean it with a damp clout and…voila ! back to the first days when the white was bright glowing.
[via Lifehacker]
Fresh OTB iPhones are breakable, as the awaited 1.1.3 software unlock is finally here and available for download, thanks to Mr. GEOrge HOTz (Please pay attention to the risks involved in breaking your device). I wonder if this mouse-cat game between Apple and the hackers will continue or the unlocked iphone version will be released as rumored.
[via engadget]
GeoHot’s instructions after the break.
Continue reading iPhone 1.1.2/1.1.3 OTB Version Finally Gets Software Unlock
This new USB mini-plug adapter from Novodio can easily connect your iPod player (or your iPhone) into the wall and charge it without other accessories. The tiny plug has a USB hub on one side and an outlet connection on the other side, for direct charging. Being so small, it takes no place in your luggage and costs around 22$.
[via gmp3]
Another picture after the break.
Continue reading Novodio Miniplug Helps Charging Your iPod On The Go
Super Tuesday is a big US political celebration but also Apple’s announcements day. As we speak, the Cupertino company unveiled the rumored 16GB iPhone for retail price of 499$ and the surprising 32GB iPod Touch for the same price of 499$. Both devices are available immediately worldwide and no other changes were reported. I guess we should be wondering if a 32GB iPhone is coming out this year.
[via Apple]
Firmware version 1.1 can be a dangerous escapade for iPod Classic owners, as we hear the headphones are getting damaged once the update is installed and the device is turned off. For some reason, the latest update sends electric pulses, up to 500mv, causing a real danger to the users and to their earbuds. I guess you should wait with this update until it gets fixed by Apple. If you ran out of patient and already installed it, you should dowgrade to an earlier version.
[via slashgear]
The guys in iFixit have been digging inside the new MacBook Air, revealing us its bowels. The slim Air features notable notes like the 1.8″ 80 GB 4200 RPM Parallel ATA hard disk drive, similar to the iPod Classic one and a Broadcom BCM5974 touch screen controller chip, similar to the one in the iPhone and iPod Touch. Check out the other parts in the attached link.
[iFixit via engadget]
Another picture after the break.
If you’ve already updated your iPhone firmware version to 1.1.3 and encountered with some SMS messages disorder, you are not alone. The problem occurs due to different time and date setting from your cellular operators. To fix the glitch you need to turn on automatic date / time updates in your iPhone and Voila !
[via engadget]
Sony produced slim laptops long before Apple introduced the MacBook Air. One of those Sony’s impressive models is the Vaio T Type. The notebook featured 11.1″ panoramic screen (1,366 x 768), Core 2 Duo U7500 1.06GHz CPU, 1GB memory, 80GB hard drive, DVD-R drive, memory card reader, Bluetooth 2.0, fingerprint sensor, built in camera, 802.11a/b/g WiFi support and more. Now, after the Vaio T had lost its slimmest premier to the MacBook Air, Sony has decided to revive the line, adding a stronger Core 2 Duo U7600 1.2GHz CPU and a new stylish cover skin. No further details on pricing and availability.
Update: The new T series skins are selling for $1583 in Japan.
[via akihabaranews]
More pictures after the break.
Continue reading Sony Vaio T Model Gets New Stylish Skin And Stronger CPU
A team of hackers has just revealed a jailbreak for the latest iPhone edition 1.1.3. The jailbreak is available for Mac or PC users with previous 1.1.2 or 1.1.1 jailbroken versions. We’re not sure this one is working with the iPod Touch, but it does work with the iPhone. More instructions here.
Update: please pay attention to the Statement Of Risk, as it says: “As all upgrades are risky, this one is doubly so. You may have to restore your phone using iTunes and start again if it fails. Make sure to back up first”.
[via gmp3]
Apple released a pink 8GB iPod Nano version. We’re not sure if the target is Valentines Day or other charity cause, but the new color is available only in this model with the price of 199$ and a free engraving service.
[via gmp3]
We’ve expected this one to show up, Makayama, a Netherlands based company, introduced a VOICE DIAL application for the iPhone. This application allows you to record voice samples for any contact in your address book and dial up your numbers, hands free, in all languages. You can even surf to your favorite websites by assigning voice tags to your Safari bookmarks. In order to add this app, you need a Jailbroken iPhone, then go to Installer > Sources > Add http://tinyurl.com/2t8cax. The Voice Dial is available for a free trial or a full release purchase, for $27.95.
[via i4u]
Luxury markets keep delivering us new shiny products everyday. Today it is a golden case for the iPhone, plated with diamonds. The case is made of 42 diamonds, 3.5 carats, encrusted on an 18K gold carbon fiber leather case. It is a limited edition, made from the very high-end materials, so if you got some spare 20,000$, you can have one.
[via slashgear]
It’s here, rise and shine, the new MacBook Air, world’s thinnest laptop ever made. We all been waiting for this one, and Apple delivered big time. With a super light, super thin and super glowing look, the MacBook Air features:
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/W7askBmF4_c" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
This is not a new hardware, just a free extensive software upgrade to the Apple TV. The Take Two features AirTunes support, for a complete direct streaming, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, HD movies (4GB Size), movie preview, photo browser, computers-free usage, direct movie rental (priced 2.99$ for older versions, 3.99$ for new ones and 4.99$ for HD movies), and more.
[via engadget]
Check the video after the break.
Continue reading Macworld 2008: Apple Introduced The Apple TV Take II Edition
In addition to all the new features that firmware 1.1.3 can offer, Apple added 5 new applications to the iPod Touch players, including Mail, Maps, Stocks, Weather and Notes. Regretfully, this is not a freebie, and you will have to pay 20$ in order to get ’em.
We’ve already seen couple of videos, introducing some of the elements that firmware 1.1.3 features. Now it gets official and here are some further details:
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/fvKd1tJshrM" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
[via engadget]
Now it is official, Apple announced on movie rentals service for iTunes, that includes titles from major film studios, like MGM, Miramax, Lions Gate, Fox, Warner Brothers, Walt Disney, Paramount, Universal, Sony and Touchstone. The service will offer 1000 films with the price tag of 2.99$ for older versions, 3.99$ for new ones and 4.99$ for HD movies. The rental is available 30 seconds after you picked up your favorite movie and it will last up to 24h.
[via gizmodo]
Macworld’s opening day answered all our anticipations, with 5 major announcements from El Stivo. The keynote introduced us as follows:
It’s not that we were strangers to most of the new announcements, on the contrary, most of them already leaked weeks before, and you could read about it in this blog. Lets view some of them in a nutshell:
iTunes Movie Rentals Service
As we already posted, a week ago, Apple teamed up with all major film studios, such as Paramount, Lions Gate Entertainment, Walt Disney, Miramax, Warner Bros, 20th Century Fox and more, to bring the top movie titles into iTunes, and to enable users renting a film directly from their iPhones or their iPod touch devices, for 3.99$ per 24h.
iPhone & iPod Touch Firmware Updates.
iPhone – As we reported several weeks ago, Apple officially announced on Firmware update 1.1.3 which includes:
iPod Touch – This one wasn’t known to us up till yesterday. Apple released some new add-ons to the Touch players. The new update features Mail program, Maps, web clips, stocks, weather and notes. BUT, this is not a free update, this one will cost you 20$.
Time Capsule
To make it simple, this is a wireless backup server. To make it complicated, it is a full Airport Extreme base station with 802.11n wireless and a server grade hard drives that enables to backup all Leopard OS Macs in your network. The Time Capsule comes in 2 configurations:
Apple TV Take Two
The major improvements in Take Two TV is that it requires no computer, renting movies is much easier and you can have them in HD Dolby 5.1 format. The Take Two edition supports audio, video and photo browsing via Flickr. To upgrade your Apple TV to a Take Two version, you will have to update the software. It is free of charge and will be available in 2 weeks.
MacBook Air
This is the big one, that everyone was expecting to hear about. MackBook Air goes live with the title of the thinnest notebook on earth, just 4mm (!). It features:
Further details will be available in the next posts.
Apple is about to announce on a new movie rental service at the MacWorld conference, next week. The service will be available via iTunes and the price should be around $3.99 per 24hr. Apparently, this announcement gets fruition, after Apple managed to team up with the biggest movie studios , such as Paramount, Lions Gate Entertainment, Walt Disney, and the newcomers, Warner Bros and 20th Century Fox.
[via engadget]
iPhone owners are familiar with this problem, if you want to use your advanced earbuds instead of the stock iPhone buds, you can’t, since the iPhone is equipped with a proprietary headset jack. To solve this glitch, Monster introduced the iCableLink, a flexible cable adapter that allows you to connect any earbuds to your iPhone. Mind you, with the new cable, it is not possible to pause music and answer calls while listening. Price should be around 10$.
[via gizmodo]
More pictures after the break.
Continue reading Monster iCableLink Extends Your iPhone's Jack
The mystery behind the next iPhone’s firmware version is making us curious, especially after reading that it will bring some huge and useful changes to the stellar phone. Recent news is suggesting some cool add-ons as:
This all thing makes us wonder if those features were hidden inside the original iPhone, why not providing them when the phone was first released. I guess we will be much smarter after the Macworld event this month.
[via gmp3]
Rumors are floating around about a new firmware update for the great iPhone. The presumably 1.1.3 version shall include some cool features:
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/NYAMXaBISjs" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /][via iTrafik]
Apple stunned the world with the new touch trend of the iPhone and the iPod. The touch screen is comfortable to use and accelerating our actions. However, there are two major flaws: the first one is the smudges and grease that decorate the screen, the second, is the difficulty to touch accurately small icons, like in the virtual keyboard.
So far, people who have tried to use stylus pens, realized it is not usable with the new glassy touch screen, well…not anymore, Pogo created a new stylus pen that can simulates the support of a finger and can be recognized by the iPhone’s touch screen. For those who have fat fingers and can’t use the virtual keyboard, or those who hate the ugly marks on their screen, the new Pogo pen might be useful. Price is set to 25$.
After long expectations and tons of speculations, the new line of PMP players, from Cowon, is going live in the US next week. The players are well equipped and Cowon squeezed into the A3 and Q5W almost every known audio and video formats, to increase the competition with the high rated Archos 605 players.
Cowon A3
This player is a successor of the legendary A2 player from Cowon. The new A3 looks pretty much the same as the old one but the 4″ screen supports a much better resolution – 800 x 480, with 16 million colors. Here are some more details:
This multimedia machine makes a huge interest and will compete head to head with the new Archos 605 players. Here are some more details:
[via engadget]
Many people were disappointed after they were proven wrong, expecting for a third generation iPhone version to be launched in Europe last month. Instead, they received the same 2.5G version, as they could find in the US already. Well, now they can raise a smile, due to floating rumors stating that a 3G iPhone version will be available next year.
It seems that Apple had some apprehensions releasing a 3G iPhone, that would suffer from a drained battery and won’t be able to compete with the advanced European Cellular market. Although there is no official statement, we hear that Apple might overcome the battery problems, and with the aspirations to get a foothold in Europe, it is reasonable to see an updated version of the iPhone, coming out soon…
We hear that Meizu might present its new M8 player on the next CES show in Vegas on January 2008. The player is, literally, an iPhone clone prototype, with aplenty of similar outside and inside interface look. The M8 has a 3 inch 16M TFT touchscreen and a 3 mega pixel camera. In addition, it will include WiFi, Bluetooth, TV Out, USB, USB OTG, GPS and more. A wide range of audio and video formats will be supported.
Meizu M8 is expected to be available on February 08, in Asia. We wonder when will it be available in the US, since Apple’s attorneys are not planning to let this iPhone clone to be launched without an injunction.
[Via generationmp3]
Good news for Apple. The iPhone selling in Germany turned to be a huge success. Apple, via T-Mobile, managed to sell over 10,000 units, just after 24 hours (!). It seems the Germans are excited with the new shiny phone that has landed in the European continental and already makes huge waves.
In addition, we are hearing that Apple upgraded the European iPhones, and installed a new firmware version in the bundle. Version 1.1.2 supports multi-language system and multi virtual keyboards. Also, there are hints for an optional voice recording in the latest firmware. As for the open/closed saga, you have guessed right, the phone is locked and unjailbreak, so the cat and mouse game is still on…
[via generationmp3]
Archos released, worldwide, its new fifth generation players, and they are already becoming one of the best portable players distractions money can buy.
The new shiny serious comes with some novel traits and very attractive price tags.
As a result of a limited storage capacity (8/16 GB) and a mediocre screen and video capabilities from the new Apple iPod Touch, many consumers have turned to search for other alternatives, and realized there is a very strong iPod buster in the market – the Archos Gen 5 players.
Despite its bulky body, compared to the iPod, the Archos fifth generation present stellar abilities (specially the 605 series).
With a stunning 4.3 inches touch screen and an amazing resolution of 800 x 480 – pixels, the Archos is without any question, the big winner.
It has a built in WiFi, an optional Opera browser with flash 7 (plugin cost 30$ and can ran youtube and google maps easily), supports many music/video formats, and even has an optional DVR station to record any TV or DVD movie with a simple push of a button from your couch.
The new generation supports UPnP technology which allows the 605 unit to stream files and videos from your own PC, directly to your player/TV.
For more about the new Archos 605, read the following review from ArchosLounge.
[via engadget]
A year after releasing the new Zune player to the market, and a month after Apple released its new iPod players, Microsoft is announcing on the second generation of the Zune.
The new Zunes have two main configurations – Hard Drive and Flash Drive players.
Hard drive Zunes – The Zune 80 – comes with 80GB of storage. Screen size has increased to 3.2″, thats 2 inch more than the first generation. It is much thinner than the first one, and it will be available in black color.
price – 250$
Flash Zunes – Zune 4 and Zune 8 – comes with 2 capacity storage: 4GB and 8GB respectively. This flash players, remind Apple’s first nano players, come with 1.8″ and will be available in red, black, pink and green colors.
prices – 150$ (4GB) , 200$ (8GB)
On recent weeks, Apple managed to get into direct conflicts with its consumers, worldwide. The last trigger was the innovative iPhone that created a huge buzz all over the world. Apple, in some typical corporation decisions, managed to piss off many iPhone buyers and millions of technology fans.
What Happened?
The first strategic decision from Apple was to diminish simfree, lock the iPhone exclusively to AT&T, and prevent other networks users from using it.
The second strategic decision was to slash the 4GB iPhone and to cut the 8GB iPhone price from 599$ to 399$, thats 200$ after only 2 months, since launch day.
Following furious reactions from iPhone owners who felt they have been screwed for been loyal to Apple by purchasing it first, Apple decided, in a precedent way, to compensate the first buyers by refunding them with 100$ store credit.
