The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/feedlogo.gifThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Hands-on with the new Apple Remotehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/06/hands-on-with-the-new-apple-remote/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/06/hands-on-with-the-new-apple-remote/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/06/hands-on-with-the-new-apple-remote/#commentsFiled under: ,


Like many of the others at TUAW who really wanted to see this remote, I got my new Apple Remote a few days ago, and here are some of my impressions.

Continue reading Hands-on with the new Apple Remote

Hands-on with the new Apple Remote originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Hands-on with the new Apple Remote originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>aluminumApple RemoteAppleRemotehggremoteJoachim BeanFri, 06 Nov 2009 16:00:00 ESTFive Gifts for the Mac AV Geekhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/audio-video-mac-geek-gift-guide/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/audio-video-mac-geek-gift-guide/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/audio-video-mac-geek-gift-guide/#commentsFiled under: , ,

'Tis the season to be buying. But what do you get for that special geek in your life?

I can't speak for your geek, but I know what I'm asking Santa for this year - I just hope he's a TUAW reader. Whether he is or not, maybe going through my list will give you an idea on how to max out your credit card spread some holiday cheer this year.


Dear Santa,

I've been a good boy this year. I've cut back on the booze, and they don't greet me by name at the strip club anymore. So instead of a stocking full of coal, could you find it in your heart to bring me one or more of the following items on the night before Christmas? I know it's a long flight to New Zealand from the North Pole, but you've got to admit, at least the weather down here is waaaay better than in Cleveland this time of year.

First of all, I'd like a shiny new 802.11n Airport Express. I like my Time Capsule (when it's not being a recalcitrant piece of junk), but the 5GHz wireless signal doesn't reach from my living room all the way back to my office. With an Airport Express, I'd be able to extend the wireless signal from my Time Capsule to the other side of the house and geek away in privacy. That way my wife won't have to grit her teeth every five minutes when the theme from Metroid goes off at 80 decibels and tells me I got a new e-mail. And since the Airport Express is 802.11n-enabled, I'd still be able to back up my data to the Time Capsule at a brisk pace.

I'd also like these Shure SE115m+ earphones. I've been using a set of Shure E2cs for about three years now, and I love them, but the one big advantage the SE115m+ has is the controls built into the cord that would allow me to pause, play, and skip through tracks on my iPhone. I'd also be able to take calls, and it even has a built-in microphone. Santa, if I had these earphones I'd be able to put those white earbuds that came with my iPhone into a drawer and never look at them again, and that would make me a very happy boy indeed.

You know how I like to shoot HD video, right Santa? But not those kinds of videos, because that would get me on the naughty list. My MacBook Pro does a good job of encoding video - it works pretty close to real-time - but if I had an Elgato Turbo.264 HD Video Encoder, it would go so much faster. Like 3-4 times faster. That way I could spend less time waiting for videos to encode and more time drinking helping old ladies across the street.

If I'd been a really good boy this year, like if I'd won the Nobel Peace Prize or employee of the month at TUAW, I'd ask for a bona fide guitar amplifier. But since I haven't been that good, I'd settle for a Zoom G2.1U Guitar Effects Pedal with USB interface. This thing will simulate all kinds of guitar effects for me, and it'll plug right into my MacBook Pro. So far playing my guitar through Garageband has been an acceptable substitute for a real, live amplifier, but the one thing I definitely miss is all my effects pedals. Garageband includes lots of neat software effects that simulate pedals, but you can't stomp on them to switch them on and off. I know - I've tried.

Last thing, Santa: if none of those other things will fit in your bag, could you just get me a big, fat iTunes gift card? I've got nearly US$120 worth of songs I want to upgrade to iTunes Plus so I can stop worrying about DRM nonsense on my previous purchases and get higher-quality music in the process.

Thanks Santa. Next year I promise to be more helpful and honest and say fewer naughty words about New Zealand's telecommunications companies.

Five Gifts for the Mac AV Geek originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Five Gifts for the Mac AV Geek originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>airport expressAirportExpresschristmaselgatofeatureshanukkahhggholidayholiday gift guideHolidayGiftGuideituneskwanzaashuresolsticezoomChris RawsonFri, 30 Oct 2009 14:00:00 ESTMagic Mouse lands at many local Apple storeshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/magic-mouse-lands-at-many-local-apple-stores/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/magic-mouse-lands-at-many-local-apple-stores/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/magic-mouse-lands-at-many-local-apple-stores/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I stopped by my local Apple Store (Tucson) today for a quick look around and saw many people playing with the new Magic Mouse. I tried a few 'moves' with in and it seemed a bit nicer and more responsive than I expected. My old Apple wired mouse was starting to wear out so I asked one of the Apple guys when they were coming in. He said "20 minutes ago," so I was snared.

My first 'thrill' was opening the damned box. Like most Apple designed products, the plastic container is very pretty, but was a bit of a struggle to open. I needed a sharp knife, and then had to find the hidden tape that keeps the Magic Mouse attached to a little plastic base.

Since this is a Bluetooth mouse, I paired it to my Mac. It worked out of the box, but I knew there was a software update with new drivers, so I checked and downloaded the new software.

After a reboot, all was well. I have to say that the Magic Mouse has the fanciest control panel in system preferences I've ever seen. There is a little video illustrating how it works. I left the settings to the default, and started mousing away.

There were really no surprises. I have a 30 inch monitor, and can't get all the way across it with a single swipe because I have limited desk real estate. None of the settings would make it better.

The top surface is smooth and comfortable. The mouse does sit lower than a standard rodent, but I wasn't bothered by it. Clicking on the right side of the surface gives you the second mouse button with no pain or problem. You can switch the left and right 'buttons' if you are so inclined.

Scrolling was smooth, and you can adjust the momentum of the scroll. I especially like the 2 finger swipe for going backward and forward in web pages and iPhoto.

The only thing I think was missing is that I'd like the surface of the mouse to mimic the iPhone gesture of pinching and spreading for zoom in / zoom out. You have to use the control key to enable zooming, and I'd rather not have to go to the keyboard for that.

Otherwise, everything was good. I'll get used to the different feel. The mouse comes with batteries already installed so you're ready to go -- once you get the damned package open...

Some of my colleagues here at TUAW will be sharing their thoughts shortly. So far, even though this was a bit of an impulse purchase, the Magic Mouse seems fine.

Magic Mouse lands at many local Apple stores originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Magic Mouse lands at many local Apple stores originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bluetoothMagic MouseMagicMouseMel MartinThu, 29 Oct 2009 17:30:00 ESTMonoprice iPhone/iPod Battery Backup: Such a dealhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/26/monoprice-iphone-ipod-battery-backup-such-a-deal/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/26/monoprice-iphone-ipod-battery-backup-such-a-deal/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/26/monoprice-iphone-ipod-battery-backup-such-a-deal/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In a previous post about offshore iPhone chargers, a few astute TUAW readers mentioned Monoprice.com as a good source for chargers, connectors, and computer, TV and audio cables. In searching their site, I found a real deal.

The Monoprice Backup battery pack is the simplest of devices. When your iPhone or iPod is running low on juice, just plug this battery pack into the 30 pin connector. You can then either keep running with a fairly large dongle hanging off the bottom of your device, or wait and the battery pack will charge your device in 3.5 hours according to Monoprice (or about 2.5 hours according to my tests).

Yes, there are a lot of battery backups that do this, but how many are sold at US$14.50? You read that right, only US$14.50, and for that you get pack with a capacity of 2200 mAh.

For comparison, the capacity of the iPhone battery is 1150 mAh, so this battery should be able to charge your device twice. Due to my ignorance of the vagaries of electricity, mine winds up charging the iPhone about 1.75 times, which isn't bad at all.

Continue reading Monoprice iPhone/iPod Battery Backup: Such a deal

Monoprice iPhone/iPod Battery Backup: Such a deal originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Monoprice iPhone/iPod Battery Backup: Such a deal originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>accessoriesbatteryBatteryPackiphoneiPodiPod accessoryIpodAccessoryDavid WinogradMon, 26 Oct 2009 16:30:00 ESTVrooooom! Start your car (and more) from your iPhone or iPod touchhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/25/vrooooom-start-your-car-and-more-from-your-iphone-or-ipod-tou/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/25/vrooooom-start-your-car-and-more-from-your-iphone-or-ipod-tou/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/25/vrooooom-start-your-car-and-more-from-your-iphone-or-ipod-tou/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

TUAW reader Ethan pointed us in the direction of something new, cool, and available only for iPhone and iPod touch (take that, Palm Pre and Android phones!)

BestBuy has an exclusive on the new Viper SmartStart System, which can do a number of things for your wheels:
  • Start your car with virtually unlimited range
  • Warm your car in winter; cool your car in summer
  • Unlock your car or truck
  • Arm the alarm to protect your car
  • Activate panic alarm to protect yourself
  • Receive push-button status notifications
It uses a free iPhone app [iTunes link] to give you that remote love, like when you are visiting friends overseas and want to scare people by starting your car up while it's sitting by itself in the airport parking lot. The developers also note that in the near future, a new release of the app will give you push notification if your car alarm goes off.

There are two versions available: a module (SmartStart VSM100 Module, US$299.99) for cars that are already equipped with compatible Viper starting systems, and a fully loaded package (SmartStart VSM4000 System, US$499.99) for the rest of us.

Some of the app reviewers have noted that you're not only paying for the system and your iPhone bill, but there's also a US$29 monthly annual GSM service bill that you'll have to pay (the first year of service is complimentary with your purchase). However, if the money isn't an object and you're already clueless about what to get a loved one for Christmas, this might be an idea to consider.

Vrooooom! Start your car (and more) from your iPhone or iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Vrooooom! Start your car (and more) from your iPhone or iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bestbuyHGGiphoneipod touchIpodTouchremote startRemoteStartViperSmartstartSteven SandeSun, 25 Oct 2009 21:30:00 ESTGelaskin review: Dark Horse style!http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/gelaskin-review-dark-horse-style/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/gelaskin-review-dark-horse-style/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/gelaskin-review-dark-horse-style/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's likely you've heard of GelaSkins before. They make stickers to cover a variety of gear. They are of a nice thickness with a slight texture, and removal won't hurt either your equipment or the GelaSkin itself (if you're careful).

Here's the latest project from the GelaSkin folks: They have partnered with Dark Horse Comics to release skins featuring art from Dark Horse titles. You may remember the announcement earlier this year at San Diego Comic-Con that these were coming; and now they are available for pre-order (the first wave is available next Friday). They're starting off properly, too: Buffy, Hellboy, Mr Toast, and Umbrella Academy to name a few. (NOTE: While GelaSkin makes skins for a variety of devices, the Dark Horse line is limited to 13"/15" laptops and iPhones.)

One of the things I have always loved about GelaSkins is the quality of the printing on them, and these skins are no different. I have laid my eyes and hands upon the iPhone varieties of the Buffy Season 8 #1 skin and the Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite skin, and they are beautiful in person. Add to that the coordinating wallpaper created to go with each skin, and now you have covered the front AND the back of your iPhone with something pretty cool.

Continue reading Gelaskin review: Dark Horse style!

Gelaskin review: Dark Horse style! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Gelaskin review: Dark Horse style! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>AppStoreComicBookscomicsiphoneskinKelly GuimontSat, 17 Oct 2009 11:00:00 ESTFound Footage: iPhone as remote controlhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/16/found-footage-iphone-as-remote-control/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/16/found-footage-iphone-as-remote-control/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/16/found-footage-iphone-as-remote-control/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Earlier this week, news of iDriver hit the Internet. In case you missed it, it's an app that was developed by computer science researchers at Berlin's Free University to drive a modified minivan, the "Spirit of Berlin." Steering, break and accelleration commands are sent over Wi-Fi. In the demo video, researchers are driving it around an airport for testing. I'd really like a turn.

Of course, this isn't the first iPhone-controlled vehicle we've seen. Here's a video roundup of iPhone- and iPod touch-powered vehicles both big and small.

[Via Popsci]

Continue reading Found Footage: iPhone as remote control

Found Footage: iPhone as remote control originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Found Footage: iPhone as remote control originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>iphoneipodrcremote controlRemoteControlDave CaoloFri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 ESTOffshore iPhone/iPod USB power adapters: Caveat Emptorhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/14/offshore-iphone-ipod-usb-power-adapters-caveat-emptor/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/14/offshore-iphone-ipod-usb-power-adapters-caveat-emptor/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/14/offshore-iphone-ipod-usb-power-adapters-caveat-emptor/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When I opened my iPhone 3GS, I was surprised to find that the power adapter was nothing but a little 2-prong AC plug (I live in the US) that allowed you to plug in the standard USB to 30-pin connector to charge the phone.

I wanted to get a spare; checking online told me that the Apple Store wanted US$29 for the little plug, which just seemed like too much for too little, so I went shopping.

On eBay I found a bunch of auctions based in Hong Kong selling what looked like the exact same thing for anywhere from under around $2-4, and they often included the USB cable to boot.

I ordered four from a vendor and after a few weeks received them. They looked perfect, right down to the little green dot -- but none of them worked. They might start charging, but after a few minutes the iPhone would beep a few times and I would be informed that "this accessory is not compatible." And so it went for all four pieces. After sending some pictures back and forth and reading a few emails containing a combination of surprise and amazement from the vendor, my money was refunded.

Undaunted, or maybe just dumb, I went back to eBay and found another vendor that claimed to be selling, "100% Brand New Original OEM Charger and Original OEM USB Cable for iPhone/iPod" for around US$4. I just checked eBay and found this same vendor raising the price to US$10 in one auction and lowering it to $US.01 in another.

Continue reading Offshore iPhone/iPod USB power adapters: Caveat Emptor

Offshore iPhone/iPod USB power adapters: Caveat Emptor originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Offshore iPhone/iPod USB power adapters: Caveat Emptor originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>accessoriesaccessoryamazon.comchargerebayhong kongHongKongiphone 3giphone 3gsIphone3gIphone3gsDavid WinogradWed, 14 Oct 2009 18:30:00 ESTDead Time Capsules can hang out togetherhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/11/dead-time-capsules-can-hang-out-together/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/11/dead-time-capsules-can-hang-out-together/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/11/dead-time-capsules-can-hang-out-together/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We reported on the abundance of Time Capsule failure-to-boot after 18 months in September. A new site has emerged from the mist to help Time Capsule owners who are struggling to get Apple to acknowledge the issue. TimeCapsuleDead.org exists as a register for the owners of dead Time Capsules and has links to self-help discussions as well as the Apple Feedback page. Of the devices that have been registered thus far, the average time until ports-up is 17 months and 29 days -- eerily close to the estimated 18 month mark.

We'd like to give you a friendly reminder that our own Lauren explored the AppleCare agreements, and found that any computer-centric AppleCare agreement that's in force should cover this Time Capsule failure (as it's considered a peripheral used with the Mac). That does not mean that our readers who don't have a current agreement should be left begging on the streets by Apple. This is something that needs to be addressed. Hopefully this new site will be a good resource for all of our readers.

Thanks, Pim and KB!

Dead Time Capsules can hang out together originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Dead Time Capsules can hang out together originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>applecaredead time capsuleDeadTimeCapsuleservicetime capsuleTimeCapsulewarrantyJosh CarrSun, 11 Oct 2009 18:00:00 ESTTUAW Review: OWC Mercury On-The-Go SSDhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/07/tuaw-review-owc-mercury-on-the-go-ssd/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/07/tuaw-review-owc-mercury-on-the-go-ssd/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/07/tuaw-review-owc-mercury-on-the-go-ssd/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A few weeks ago, we ran a short post about the release of OWC's Mercury On-The-Go Solid-State Drives. The drives, which come in the same miniscule transparent drive enclosures used by OWC for the rest of the bus-powered drive line, use SSD technology to provide users with more shock resistance and higher read speeds than traditional "spinning platter" hard drives.

OWC provided a demo unit for TUAW to try out, and I had an opportunity to use the drive in both day-to-day Time Machine backup work and for backing up some large video files. While the drives, which come in 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB sizes, are more expensive than their hard drive counterparts, they do offer benefits that may be critical for some users.

Continue reading TUAW Review: OWC Mercury On-The-Go SSD

TUAW Review: OWC Mercury On-The-Go SSD originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW Review: OWC Mercury On-The-Go SSD originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>owcportablereviewssdstorageSteven SandeWed, 07 Oct 2009 11:00:00 ESTTUAW and Scosche are giving away a tapSTICK for 3rd gen iPod shufflehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/06/tuaw-and-scosche-are-giving-away-a-tapstick-for-3rd-gen-ipod-shu/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/06/tuaw-and-scosche-are-giving-away-a-tapstick-for-3rd-gen-ipod-shu/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/06/tuaw-and-scosche-are-giving-away-a-tapstick-for-3rd-gen-ipod-shu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

When you think about the 3rd generation iPod shuffle, you probably don't think about getting a case for it. After all, the little music box is less than 2 inches long, .7 inches wide, and .3 inches thick, and it comes with a clip.

The designers at Scosche Industries realized that some shuffle owners might like a way of keeping their devices from getting scratched or wet, as well as having a way of using any earphones with the shuffle and still be able to control it.

The tapSTICK comes in white or black polycarbonate plastic, and slides over the outside of the shuffle. It has three buttons on it that allow you to control play, adjust volume, navigate playlists, and even activate the VoiceOver feature on your iPod shuffle. It also comes with a 3 foot audio cable that connects to most audio systems, including those in cars:

While nobody at TUAW had a 3rd generation shuffle to try out the tapSTICK on, the good folks at Scosche did make one available for a giveaway to some lucky TUAW reader / shuffle owner. To enter, just leave a comment telling us how many times you've misplaced your 3rd generation iPod shuffle. Here's the scoop:
  • Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
  • To enter leave a comment telling us how many times you've misplaced your 3rd generation shuffle.
  • The comment must be left before Friday, October 9, 2009, 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time.
  • You may enter only once.
  • One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
  • Prizes: One Schosche tapSTICK in black (Value: US$29.99)
  • Click Here for complete Official Rules.
Good luck!

TUAW and Scosche are giving away a tapSTICK for 3rd gen iPod shuffle originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW and Scosche are giving away a tapSTICK for 3rd gen iPod shuffle originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>accessoriesAccessorygiveawayipodipod shuffle 3gIpodShuffle3gshufflewhere did I put itWhereDidIPutItSteven SandeTue, 06 Oct 2009 22:00:00 ESTTUAW Review & Giveaway: OtterBox Commuter / Commuter TL iPhone caseshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/05/tuaw-review-and-giveaway-otterbox-commuter-commuter-tl-iphone-c/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/05/tuaw-review-and-giveaway-otterbox-commuter-commuter-tl-iphone-c/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/05/tuaw-review-and-giveaway-otterbox-commuter-commuter-tl-iphone-c/#commentsFiled under: , ,

After the debacle earlier this year when I lost my iPhone 3G, I decided to not only protect the new phone -- my lost 3G had been "naked" -- but make sure that whatever I used to protect it had a bit of heft.

My choice of case was the locally-grown (Fort Collins, CO) OtterBox Defender, which fit the bill perfectly. It has what OtterBox refers to as a 3-layer design, including a thick screen protector, a hard shell that encloses the iPhone, and a rubberized exterior jacket that cushions shocks and keeps ports covered. While it has been an awesome case in terms of protection, it's pretty chunky and I've often wished I had something a bit skinnier.

OtterBox came to the rescue last week with a new line of protective cases called the Commuter. There are two models -- the Commuter (US$34.95) and Commuter TL (US$29.95). Like the Defender, these cases work with both the iPhone 3G and 3GS. Read on to hear more about the OtterBox Commuter cases, and a chance to win either a Commuter or Commuter TL case from TUAW and OtterBox.

Continue reading TUAW Review & Giveaway: OtterBox Commuter / Commuter TL iPhone cases

TUAW Review & Giveaway: OtterBox Commuter / Commuter TL iPhone cases originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW Review & Giveaway: OtterBox Commuter / Commuter TL iPhone cases originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>casegiveawayiphoneiphone 3giphone 3gsIphone3gIphone3gsotterboxprotectionSteven SandeMon, 05 Oct 2009 10:30:00 ESTNew, Star Trek-ish Apple multitouch patent surfaceshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/02/new-star-trek-ish-apple-multitouch-patent-surfaces/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/02/new-star-trek-ish-apple-multitouch-patent-surfaces/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/02/new-star-trek-ish-apple-multitouch-patent-surfaces/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Details of a recent Apple patent have just emerged, and they describe a potential new multitouch input method that sounds like it came right off the Starship Enterprise. The patent describes a large multitouch-enabled surface that will allow differentiation of input between all ten fingers at once, plus palms and wrists.

In essence, once implemented this would enable a multitouch surface to act like one big keyboard and mouse combo - think the iPhone's keyboard (on steroids) combined with a Wacom tablet, and that's just the start of the possibilities such a device allows.

Naturally this patent application has people buzzing about the long-rumored tablet, but properly realized this device could easily be applied to any Mac as a one-stop replacement for the keyboard, mouse, and any other number of input devices. That said, this may just turn out to be one of Apple's many phantom patents - the company often patents concepts without ever bringing them to fruition. Still, the thought of one day being able to tap away on a glass surface that you can manipulate into any configuration you want? Make it so, Apple.

[via Engadget]

New, Star Trek-ish Apple multitouch patent surfaces originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)New, Star Trek-ish Apple multitouch patent surfaces originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>multitouchpatenttabletChris RawsonFri, 02 Oct 2009 08:00:00 ESTEyeTV app for iPhone releasedhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/30/eyetv-app-for-iphone-released/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/30/eyetv-app-for-iphone-released/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/30/eyetv-app-for-iphone-released/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Elgato, maker of EyeTV, has released EyeTV for iPhone [iTunes Link], an app that allows access to both live and recorded video content from any Mac running EyeTV 3.2 or later. The $4.99 app lets you view live and recorded TV on your iPhone or iPod touch over your local network, and it also allows you to access the same content from a remote WiFi location using a service called MyEyeTV. Unsurprisingly, just like SlingPlayer, access over 3G isn't possible.

Accessing either live or recorded TV over your local network is simple, and usually works well. Recorded content plays back almost immediately with barely a stutter to be seen -- the caveat to this is that all recorded content has to be rendered into a format the iPhone will understand, which can take a while if you have a slower Mac. Live TV takes longer to load on your iPhone and is far more finicky. I found the only way to get reliable, stutter-free playback on my iPhone was to close the EyeTV playback window on my Mac. Apparently the strain of displaying content on my Mac and simultaneously streaming it to my iPhone was just too much for a 2.6 GHz processor to handle.

You can set video quality on Live TV from 80 kbps to 800 kbps, and there's also a setting that allows you to always use highest quality when you're on a local network. Again, streaming over my local network almost always worked well, so long as I wasn't trying to play back content on my Mac at the same time.

Continue reading EyeTV app for iPhone released

EyeTV app for iPhone released originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)EyeTV app for iPhone released originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>elgatoelgato eyetvelgato systemsElgatoEyetvElgatoSystemseyetveyetv3iphoneipod touchIpodTouchChris RawsonWed, 30 Sep 2009 09:40:00 ESTTUAW and Mophie team up for a great giveawayhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/28/tuaw-and-mophie-team-up-for-a-great-giveaway/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/28/tuaw-and-mophie-team-up-for-a-great-giveaway/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/28/tuaw-and-mophie-team-up-for-a-great-giveaway/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

You remember Mophie's Juice Pack Air, don't you? It's a cool little "backpack" battery for the iPhone 3G and 3GS that adds life to your talking, texting, gaming, video, music, or surfing fun. We gave one away back in June, and it was a very popular giveaway.

Now Mophie has added a new product line, the Hip Holster series. These are padded premium leather holsters just the size to hold an iPhone dressed in a Juice Pack or Juice Pack Air. Each Hip Holster is priced at US$29.95, and they're available now through Mophie's website.

Mophie and TUAW would like to give away a matched set -- one Juice Pack Air and one Hip Holster -- to one lucky reader. You can enter the drawing by leaving us a single comment below; tell us what will you do with the extra battery power you'll get from the Mophie Juice Pack Air.

Here are the rules and a link to the obligatory legal statement:
  • Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
  • To enter leave a comment telling us how you'll use the extra power you get from a Mophie Juice Pack Air.
  • The comment must be left before Friday, October 2, 2009, 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time.
  • You may enter only once.
  • One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
  • Prize: One Mophie Juice Pack Air valued at US$79.95 and one Mophie Hip Holster valued at US$29.95.
  • Click Here for complete Official Rules.
Good luck!

TUAW and Mophie team up for a great giveaway originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW and Mophie team up for a great giveaway originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>giveawayholsterjuice pack airJuicePackAirleathermophieSteven SandeMon, 28 Sep 2009 17:00:00 ESTTomTom announces iPhone car kit pricinghttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/25/tomtom-announces-iphone-car-kit-pricing/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/25/tomtom-announces-iphone-car-kit-pricing/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/25/tomtom-announces-iphone-car-kit-pricing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The TomTom navigation app [iTunes link] for iPhone has been available since August of this year, but many TUAW readers have told us they're holding off on a purchasing decision until they can see how the announced iPhone car kit enhances the use of the app.

The car kit, which includes a secondary GPS receiver and speaker as well as a mount for holding the iPhone, is scheduled to ship in the U.S. in October. TomTom International B.V. has announced the pricing for the mount, which has a suggested retail price of US$119.95 or €99.95.

Several GPS blogs are already questioning the pricing, noting that the total price for the kit and app will be US$219.94, more than some much more capable personal navigation devices. On the other hand, the car kit isn't patented, so other companies may come out with less expensive options in short order.

[via GPSTracklog]

TomTom announces iPhone car kit pricing originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TomTom announces iPhone car kit pricing originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>car kitCarKitgpsiphonepersonal navigation devicePersonalNavigationDevicetomtomSteven SandeFri, 25 Sep 2009 13:00:00 ESTFashion alert! Pogo Stylus / Pogo Sketch now in hot pinkhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/18/fashion-alert-pogo-stylus-pogo-sketch-now-in-hot-pink/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/18/fashion-alert-pogo-stylus-pogo-sketch-now-in-hot-pink/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/18/fashion-alert-pogo-stylus-pogo-sketch-now-in-hot-pink/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We've discussed Ten One Design's Pogo Stylus and Pogo Sketch before; they're great if you like to sketch and need a finer brush than your finger can provide.

Now the company has provided just the thing for the artistic members of our readership, and a good reason to show a booty shot on TUAW -- the new Hot Pink versions of the Pogo Stylus and Pogo Sketch.

While the model in this photo appears to have neatly manicured nails, our contact at Ten One Design says that many women with long, luscious nails have been buying the Pogos so they can keep those back scratchers and still be able to use the touch user interface of the iPhone and iPod touch.

The Pogos are also useful with the Autograph application. I use one with my MacBook Air to make my signature via the touchpad look a lot more like it's been done with a pen.

The hot pink anodized finish for the US$14.95 Pogo Stylus or Pogo Sketch joins the other colors: black, white, and my personal favorite, gunmetal. And yes, this is a slow news day...

Fashion alert! Pogo Stylus / Pogo Sketch now in hot pink originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Fashion alert! Pogo Stylus / Pogo Sketch now in hot pink originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>booty callBootyCallbreast cancer awarenessBreastCancerAwarenessfashionfingernailspinkstylusSteven SandeFri, 18 Sep 2009 13:10:00 ESTBlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac on September 25th?http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/18/blackberry-desktop-manager-for-mac-on-september-25th/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/18/blackberry-desktop-manager-for-mac-on-september-25th/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/18/blackberry-desktop-manager-for-mac-on-september-25th/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Even though the iPhone, in its several iterations, is most likely the smartphone of choice for the discerning Mac user, that doesn't mean Mac users choose the iPhone exclusively. In fact, RIM's BlackBerry device still commands a sizable share of the smartphone market. So, if you happen to be one of those people who use a Mac and a BlackBerry, wouldn't it be nice if both of your devices could work together by synchronizing files, music, video and more seamlessly via an application supplied by RIM themselves to maximize compatibility?

Well, that dream may become a reality according to a tipster who gave the scoop to the folks at the Boy Genius Report. According the the Boy himself, RIM is poised to give Mac and BlackBerry users something they've sorely needed: a brand new, updated and super cool BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac on September 25th.

This information isn't 100% confirmed, but Boy Genius does let it slip that he's using a previous build of the software and that it is "running beautifully." So, I guess that's a good sign this is probably one dream that will, in fact, come true -- and very soon.

BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac on September 25th? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac on September 25th? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>BlackberryBlackberry DesktopBlackberryDesktopRIMChris UllrichFri, 18 Sep 2009 11:30:00 ESTWhat will they think of next? A real keyboard for the iPhonehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/16/what-will-they-think-of-next-a-real-keyboard-for-the-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/16/what-will-they-think-of-next-a-real-keyboard-for-the-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/16/what-will-they-think-of-next-a-real-keyboard-for-the-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If there's one gripe I hear about the iPhone, it's that it doesn't have a "real keyboard." Sure, you can tap with one or two fingers (or thumbs) pretty quickly on the virtual keyboard, but it just doesn't have that nice tactile feedback that you get with, say, a BlackBerry keyboard.

Mobile Mechatronics, the same people who are bringing you the Blur Tripod mentioned on TUAW earlier today, will be officially announcing their iTwinge snap-on keyboard for the iPhone tomorrow.
This is a cool little unit, at a price of US$29.99, that is likely to be very popular with the BlackBerry set. The iTwinge snaps onto the bottom of the iPhone, then allows you to use the keyboard for thumb or finger typing into any iPhone app that would normally use the virtual keyboard.

While you wouldn't want to keep the keyboard attached to your iPhone all the time -- it covers up almost half of the screen -- it would be perfect for those situations where you aren't near a laptop or desktop computer but still want to be productive. I'd love to have one of these to use with our blogging system so I could blog and edit from anywhere.

Mobile Mechatronics has begun taking pre-orders for the iTwinge, with shipping expected to begin on November 19th. I just wonder if the name has something to do with carpal tunnel syndrome or "BlackBerry Thumb" that you can get from overusing thumb keyboards...

What will they think of next? A real keyboard for the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)What will they think of next? A real keyboard for the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>blackberry thumbBlackberryThumbiphonekeyboardSteven SandeWed, 16 Sep 2009 14:30:00 ESTiPhone photo news: tripods and water drop lenseshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/16/iphone-photo-news-tripods-and-water-drop-lenses/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/16/iphone-photo-news-tripods-and-water-drop-lenses/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/16/iphone-photo-news-tripods-and-water-drop-lenses/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The iPhone has made photography fun for me again. I frankly hated the cameras I had in some of my other, older phones, and I don't like carrying around my big Canon digicam all the time, so having a fairly capable camera in my pocket has opened up my photo-taking horizons again.

When I got the 3GS this summer, one of my first tests was to take some macro pictures using the camera. Sure, the 3GS is better at macro photos than the original or 3G models, but it still isn't a "real" macro camera. What if I wanted to take close up pictures of a tiny insect or a detail of a flower stamen?

The Apple Press has a great little tutorial today on how to take better macro photos with the iPhone using alternative lenses. I'll leave reading the post as an exercise for our readers, but let it suffice to say that you can do a lot of really cool macro shots with an iPhone by putting a small drop of water onto the lens. The Apple Press also provides a link to Amazon for an inexpensive magnifier that can fit in your wallet, perfect for those who are a bit queasy about putting even a drop of agua on their iPhones.

Meanwhile, the geniuses at Mobile Mechatronics are now selling an inexpensive product designed to help you take better photos with your iPhone. The Blur Tripod ($US14.99) consists of an iPhone tripod adapter, a mini tripod, and an upcoming companion app called Blur Software that provides an adjustable delay to your iPhotography so that all vibrations in the iPhone / tripod combo are damped out before the photo is snapped. The app is going through the labyrinthine approval process right now, and will hopefully be approved by Apple in the near future.

In the meantime, I'm going to go out and take some more pictures and video with my iPhone. What's your biggest wish for iPhone photography? A telephoto lens? A flash? Leave your comments below.

iPhone photo news: tripods and water drop lenses originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)iPhone photo news: tripods and water drop lenses originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>closeupsiphonemacrophotographyphotographysoftwaretripodSteven SandeWed, 16 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST