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- Review: Monoprice's iPhone leather-cased battery backup is another great deal
Filed under: Accessories, Hardware, Reviews, iPhone, iPod touch
We like Monoprice around here. They are a wonderful source for cables and iPhone battery backups as well as lots of other accessories and add-ons. We covered their 2200 mAh battery dongle a few months back and nearly everyone who bought one was quite happy including our own Auntie TUAW. The price was great at US$14.50 when reviewed and currently up just about 75 cents to a still absurdly cheap US$15.23. One problem people had with it was that if left in your pocket, the dongle could get loose and stop charging the iPhone. Pushing it back into place corrected that, but it was an inelegant solution.
Getting ready for my trip to the Macworld Expo I wanted something that would stay in place dependably no matter where I put it, so I went back to Monoprice.com, and found a leather case cover with a 2200 mAh battery built in that the iPhone snaps into. The price is ridiculously low at US $20.75, just US $5.52 more than the dongle. This has been on sale for at least as long as the dongle, I hadn't heard anything about it, but decided to give it a try.
What you get is a plastic case housing the battery that your iPhone 3G or 3GS snaps into. iPod touch users need not apply, since when plugging your device into the case, you'll be covering your speaker jack, making the product worthless to you. Connected to the top of the case is a leather cover that you flip to protect your screen. On the left side is an input for the usual 30 pin dock cable to charge the unit. On the front is one light and a toggle switch marked on and off. As is usual with Monoprice, there are no instructions.
You really don't need instructions since it's pretty obvious how it works. Slide your iPhone onto the case's 30 pin dock connector and the fit is nice and snug. Plug in a standard iPhone/iPod cable into the side and the light turns red until fully charged when the light turns green. The on and off switch activates or de-activates the battery backup. I can't come up with a good reason to ever turn it off. The leather flip cover not only protects the screen, but also acts as a stand, when folded back a bit, holding the iPhone upright in either landscape or portrait mode. So much for those little flexible plastic holders. Another nice feature is that if you leave the switch set to on, you can charge both the battery backup and your iPhone at the same time using a standard 30 pin iPhone/iPod cable.
Its closest competor is the Mophie Juice Pack which has a smaller 1800 mAh battery, needs a mini-USB cable to charge, has no screen protection and costs $US 99.95. In its favor though, the Mophie comes in four colors while Monoprice ships only basic black.
The downside of the Monoprice case: It adds a good deal of heft to the svelte iPhone. Batteries aren't light. The upside is that it's US $79 cheaper than the Mophie with a larger battery, screen protection, and you don't need to find that missing mini-USB cable. You'll also save another few bucks by not having to buy a stand. As with anything else I've bought from Monoprice, I recommend it highly.TUAWReview: Monoprice's iPhone leather-cased battery backup is another great deal originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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iPhone - Apple - IPod Touch - Monoprice - TUAW
Переслать - Rumor: Apple gunning for iPad trademark
Filed under: Hardware, iPod Family, Odds and ends, Apple, Mac Pro
Even though the WSJ pretty much broke the story on next week's tablet announcement (when the mainstream media prints something as true, it's true, right?), that hasn't kept the crazy tablet rumors from coming in. Earlier in the week, MacRumors and the no-comment-on-the-name JesusTablet.com delivered more evidence that Apple is fighting for the "iPad" trademark. While it's already nailed down the name elsewhere, in the US, Fujitsu actually originally applied for the moniker, though Apple has made the case to the FTC to pick it up since Fujitsu has "abandoned" it and no one else has used it. There are filed requests to keep the deadline open for complaints against Fujitsu's claim, with an FTC ruling that holds the trademark unclaimed through February 29th. Could be that Apple just wants to avoid confusion with iPod -- it could be the tablet's new name.
Of course, if Apple does name the tablet "iPad," I'll eat my hat. That's a terrible name, even worse than the already hated "iSlate." I can see why Apple would want to get the "i" in there, but what will be interesting is to see if they consider this device an extension of the iPod and iPhone lines or part of the Mac series. Personally, I'd much rather buy a Mac Slate or a Mac Reader (or just an Apple Slate) than an awkward name with the "i" squeezed in front of it. And yes, Canvas is pretty good, too. We'll have to see what the company eventually decides on later this week.
[via Mashable & MacNN]
Update: A legal source of ours says this is not tablet related -- not only does Fujitsu have more right to this trademark than Apple does, since they're the senior user and they've actually sold a product, but Apple is probably only filing for it so they can keep a lock on anything that sounds like "iPod," not because they want to call the tablet "iPad." False alarm. We guess that we'll see plenty of those in the runup to next week's announcement, so keep your cynical hats on.TUAWRumor: Apple gunning for iPad trademark originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Review: On the road with the Magellan Premium Car Kit
Filed under: Accessories, Hardware, Reviews, iPhone, iPod touch
Magellan was nice enough to loan me a Premium Car Kit for the iPhone or iPod touch, so I put it in the car and drove around on both city streets and highways to get an idea how it worked, particularly with the excellent Magellan Road Mate software [iTunes link].
The Magellan kit is advertised to work with most other GPS apps, and can be used with many iPhone cases so you don't have to pull your iPhone out of a case to get it into the cradle. Setting up was easy: just plug in the cigarette lighter power adapter, plug the other end of that cable into the cradle, and using the provided suction cup to attach it to your glass windshield. I was able to do that without incident. When the unit powers up, it is automatically in pairing mode, and my iPhone found it quickly and paired.
I have an InCase rubberized case for my phone, and even with the case, my iPhone seemed to fit into the cradle just fine, but more on that in a moment. The Premium Car Kit has a built in GPS receiver, and I found that signal acquisition seemed faster than using the iPhone built-in GPS. The product is advertised as working with any iPod touch (2nd generation or better) but since I don't have one of those laying around, I didn't get a chance to test that claim.
The unit also has an internal speaker, and it was louder than the iPhone alone, so hearing traffic directions was easier. The Magellan app allows access to your playlists, and I was able to get some music playing, and while it too was louder than the speaker on the iPhone, I didn't find the volume high enough to want to listen to music that way.
The cradle lets you flip the phone to either a portrait or landscape orientation, so I used the landscape view, which the Magellan app supports, along with most of the GPS apps available. The cradle also has a mini jack for audio out which will allow you to listen to music through your car system if you have the proper inputs.
There were some negatives, though. First, I received messages each time I put my iPhone in the cradle that the hardware was not built for the iPhone, the unit then asked me if I wanted to go into Airplane Mode. I thought that was a bit strange, so I said no, and continued to navigate. I began to suspect that my case was the issue, and sure enough, when I took my phone out of the case I did not get the warning. While my case is pretty thin and seemed to fit fine in the cradle, it is clear that all the contacts weren't lining up exactly right.
Once I had my bare iPhone settled in, I drove around and found navigation was excellent, the turn by turn directions were clearly audible, and it was a lot easier than just having my iPhone on the seat next to me.
I took 2 calls while I was navigating. Neither call was very loud, unfortunately, and at highway speeds one call was almost impossible to hear. I did turn the volume of the cradle all the way up, but it just wasn't enough, especially if the road noise was high. In contrast, navigation directions were quite audible.
With the iPhone in the cradle, power was not a problem, but when I plugged my phone in it had a 58% charge. After an hours driving, I still had only 58% charged. That suggests that the charger is maintaining power levels but not adding anything. My guess is that keeping the screen on and using the GPS full time wasn't giving the iPhone a chance to catch up.
So what were my overall impressions? I think the unit is a lot easier than holding your phone or depending on the built in iPhone speakerphone to hear directions. Although plastic, the unit seems sturdy enough. It was a lot easier to navigate with the Car Kit than without, and I believe the built-in GPS receiver enhanced performance. I really did think phone call volume was just too low, and I expect the promoted ability to work with your iPhone in a case may disappoint some people.
I did try the unit with the Navigon app [iTunes link] (which, it should be noted, costs another $90 to buy), and it worked fine; directions were quite audible. At U.S. $129.99 I find this item a bit pricey, close to the price of buying a small, low end dedicated GPS unit. TomTom has a similar unit at $119.95 and Navigon has a simpler cradle which is just a suction cup and charger. For the price, the Magellan works as promised -- as a cradle with a lot of bonuses -- but it's one of the more expensive options out there. If all you need is dedicated GPS device, you can probably find one of those on sale for about the same price.TUAWReview: On the road with the Magellan Premium Car Kit originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Five widgets for Friday
Filed under: Software, Productivity
As we've previously pointed out, in many ways, Dashboard Widgets are the precursor to iPhone apps. Need to know when your latest packages will arrive? Yes, there's an app for that. But there's a widget too. Need to figure out how many pesos are in a dollar, or what a Quarter Pounder with Cheese comes out to in the metric system? There's an app, and a widget, for that as well. For this Friday afternoon, here are five useful Widgets to help you make the most of your Mac. And best of all, they're all free.
Screenshot Plus
At the top of the list is Steven Chaitoff's Screenshot Plus. The app, err widget, is in many ways just as functional as a full-fledged desktop app. Although Realmac Software's Little Snapper (which I use regularly) offers advanced editing and capturing niceties, for many Screenshot Plus is more than adequate to suit their screen capturing needs. The Widget allows you to capture your full desktop, any window, a defined area and, yes, even individual Widgets (it's what I used to capture the images for this post).After you've finished with your capture, you have the option to automatically save an image in a particular format (jpg, gif, png, tiff and pdf) and the ability to automatically save a snapshot with a prefix (i.e., "Capture-1"). But there's also the option to not save at all and, instead, just copy your capture onto a clipboard -- which you can use to paste anywhere.
Boxee Remote
I'm a big Boxee fan, and the Boxee iPhone remote app [iTunes link] is great. For the times you don't have your iPhone near you or don't feel like reaching in your pocket, there's the Boxee Remote by Lot 49. Currently in its version 1.1 flavor, the Widget, as implied in its namesake, allows you to remotely control (within your LAN) a computer with Boxee installed. So, instead of telling little Jimmy to turn the noise down, you can turn it down for him.
Album Art Widget
Besides displaying the album art of the currently playing song, Liquidx's Album Art Widget will fetch it as well. However, you have to manually tell it to fetch it; it doesn't do it automatically if artwork is missing. And if you happen to like whatever song that's playing, there's the ability to rate songs.iStat nano
Is my MacBook running a bit hotter than usual or is it just my imagination? With iSlayer's iStat nano, you can find this out, and much more. iStat nano allows you to look at various metrics about your Mac, including CPU temperature, battery cycles you've been through, uptime and memory usage.Secret Notepad
While Stickies are included in the default Dashboard package and are useful for jotting down little notes, there may be times where you'd want to keep your notes from prying eyes. This is where Simple Widget Factory's Secret Notepad comes in handy. After typing in your notes, clicking on the lock button will require a password to be entered in order to view and edit them.Leave us a comment below about some of your favorite Dashboard Widgets!
TUAWFive widgets for Friday originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Found Footage: Steve Ballmer signs student's Mac
Filed under: Hardware, Humor, Odds and ends, Found Footage
Earlier this week, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gave the keynote address to the Nashville Technology Council, which was held at Trevecca Nazarene University (TNU) in Nashville, TN. Steve, who is on a multi-city tour to promote Microsoft, joined other prominent technology professionals like Abbie Lundberg, editor-in-chief of CIO Magazine.
After the speeches were done, Steve did a meet-and-greet with TNU Students to answer brief questions, sign autographs and so on. One student asked for Steve's autograph -- on a MacBook Pro.
To his credit, Steve handled the awkward moment well (as another student's camera rolled), writing "Need a new one? Steve Ballmer" smack-dab over the laptop's logo. Kudos to Steve for his cool-headed response (we can't imagine what Steve Jobs would do if asked to sign a Dell) and for that student with the nerve to pull such a stunt.
You can see close ups of the signature here.
[Via MacDailyNews]TUAWFound Footage: Steve Ballmer signs student's Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Weekend Apple Store news
Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail
The weekend's almost here, thank goodness. Here's some Apple Store news to get you in a recreational mood.
First, the new Frankfurt Apple Store is set to open this weekend after a brief delay. Originally slated for December, the grand opening was canceled just two days before the scheduled date. The reason given was (and I'm relying on Google translate here because I don't speak German) that "it still wasn't completely perfect for an opening," so we assume that construction delays or other finishing touches took longer than expected. The event was re-scheduled for January 2010 without a specific date.
That mystery date turned out to be this Saturday, January 23rd at 11:00 AM. You'll find full travel directions here. Let us know if you attend the opening!
Additionally, ifoapplestore reports that Spain's first Apple Store will appear in Valencia. According to ABC.es, the store will occupy a part of the beautiful and historic building at Calle de Cristóbal Colón 25, designed by architect Lucas Garcia Cardona in 1889. The city is keen to ensure that changes made to the structure by Apple will not violate the "...the special protections afforded the (historic) building."
If you're in Valencia and notice any construction or other obvious signs of large-scale work on this building, let us know.TUAWWeekend Apple Store news originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Tablet analysis and opinion: What TUAW has put on the table
In light of the current tablet frenzy, TUAW is not alone shouting "Tablet, Tablet!" from the rooftops. The tablet has been a widespread and consistent story from several directions which we have been compiling and discussing. Over the last few weeks, TUAW has depended on multiple background sources who have information about the device, as do scores of other sites and news outlets.
In that light, we've assembled this round up of analysis and opinions posts, based on the most-likely credible rumors and sources we've been able to dig up from the last few years. Here are some of our longer discussion pieces that you might have missed the first time 'round.
Publishing different: What the tablet brings to the table
Like newspapers before them, traditional book publishers are facing the reality of the new digital world. With Apple's much anticipated tablet expected to debut within the next few months, they're...
App Store approvals and the tablet: why it matters
When iTunes Connect returned after its Christmas break, developers noticed that things had changed quite a bit on the App Store approval front. Applications that had formerly taken ten to fourteen...Tablet speculation: How could a tablet connect to the world?
Do you know what word Dave Caolo is hearing in his sleep? Tablet. What phrase is trending mightily on Google Search? Tablet. What is every Apple fanboy and fangirl dreaming of for...um...some new...Also of interest:
- Talking tablets with Aaron Vronko of RapidRepair
- iPhone devsugar: Working with tablet resolutions
- Pricing the tablet: How high can they go?
- TUAW Watercooler: Apple's next big thing
- A Mac tablet? Not just yes, but 'heck yes'
- Buyer's Guide: 33 things you don't need if you have an iPhone
- Apple's original tablet
- Our iTablet Dreams: What TUAW is wishing for
TUAWTablet analysis and opinion: What TUAW has put on the table originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - iPhone dominating mobile web in Americas and Europe
Filed under: iPhone
The news isn't that terribly shocking. AdMob has released its latest report that the iPhone is not only the leading smartphone in North America, but in other parts of the world as well. We've covered some of their previous reports charting the iPhone's growing dominance. The iPhone is topping smartphone operating system use in the following markets:
- North America: 54 percent
- Latin America: 56 percent
- Western Europe: 78 percent
- Eastern Europe: 51 percent
- Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand): 92 percent
The report also shows that even though the iPhone is still the top smartphone in North America, Motorola's Droid is gaining ground. It was the third most commonly used device, just behind the iPhone and iPod Touch, and the second most-used smartphone. The much-hyped Palm Pre barely takes a sliver of the market here.
You can study the entire report over at AdMob's site.
[Via Electronista]TUAWiPhone dominating mobile web in Americas and Europe originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Transmission 1.8 released, now featuring support for magnet links
Filed under: Software, Freeware, Open Source
Transmission, the venerable BitTorrent client for Mac, has just received an overhaul in the form of a "huge listen-to-the-users release." From the release notes the following enhancements are included: - Added support for magnet links
- Added support for trackerless torrents
- Redesigned tracker inspector tab
- Quick Look restored for Snow Leopard users
TUAWTransmission 1.8 released, now featuring support for magnet links originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Tablet rumors: 3G, dual dock connectors, user interface
Filed under: Rumors, iPhone, iPod touch
Your latest serving of Apple's tablet rumors comes courtesy of iLounge, which is claiming two "double-confirmed" details about the forthcoming device:
1. The tablet will have dual dock connectors: one on the bottom just like the iPhone and iPod touch, and one on the long side so you can charge the device in landscape orientation.
2. Similar to the original iPhone, which had a mostly aluminum back, the tablet has a metal backside with a long, non-metal strip allowing for wireless access. There could be any number of antennae behind that strip, from the 802.11g wireless currently in iPods and iPhones, to 802.11n for faster networking, and even - potentially - a 3G antenna. iLounge goes on to speculate what sort of fees might be involved with the tablet's data services through a provider like Verizon or AT&T; short answer is, based on current rates, it won't be cheap.
In other tablet-related news, Gizmodo has posted a lengthy article proposing that the tablet's interface will basically be a blown-up version of the iPhone OS. After reading Gizmodo's argument, it's hard to disagree with them. While a traditional desktop and folder OS would probably appeal more to the geeks among us, that approach has historically been a failure with Windows-based tablets, and the iPhone interface expanded into a full-sized computer could be exactly what Joe Consumer needs to get over his unease and fear toward computers. The iPhone's interface is much more intuitive than Windows or even the full version of OS X, so running an entire, full-fledged computer off of it seems like exactly the next logical step in the user interface evolution that Gizmodo claims it to be.
What do you think? Is the tablet destined to be just a blown-up iPhone? Let us know in the comments.TUAWTablet rumors: 3G, dual dock connectors, user interface originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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