Hasta La Gadget!

A new app will turn your iPhone 4 into a mirror, ready to help you apply lipstick or get your hair just right (I’m looking at you, Gadget Lab review supremo Danny Dumas). The combination of a front-facing camera and the hi-res “retina” display turns out to be perfectly for a spot of mobile vanity.

The Lady often borrows my iPod Touch to use the scuffed but still reflective back plate as a mirror. I’m not sure if it’s to touch up her makeup or to just check herself out, but it works. Until now, iPhone owners had to buy apps which promise to turn the handset into a mirror, but do no more than switch off the display, letting you stare at yourself through a screen, darkly.

DLP Mobile’s version, though, is the real thing, piping the video feed live from camera to screen, and even offering color-corrections for ambient light. The app, called Mirror App, will be in the App Store on iPhone 4 launch day, June 24th, with one extra, probably unwelcome feature that your real mirror will never suffer from: it will be serving up iAds.

Who Needs a Mirror When You Have a Cellphone? [NYT]

Photo: DLP Mobile

With less than a week to go until the iPhone 4 gets into our hands (or at least, the hands of the lucky 600,000 who managed to order one) is there anything we don’t already know? After all, between Gizmodogate, Steve Jobs’ keynote presentation and Apple’s own website, the new features are all covered.

Or are they? “Happy Swenak”, reader of Czech blog Jablíčkář.cz has gotten his hands on yet another stray iPhone 4 and has put the camera through its paces. Apple’s sample photos might be un-retouched, but they are also taken in almost perfect lighting conditions. Swenak took some more regular snaps, along with unedited video, and despite a little over-exposure, the results look fine.

The site is taking a hit right now so the video footage is almost impossible to stream, but I managed to download the 13.2 MB file to view offline. The quality is surprisingly good. Viewed full-screen on my 20-inch monitor, the picture is sharp and (when paused) detailed. The lowdown: H.264, 1280 x 720, at 29.97 fps, AAC audio, 10.87 Mbit/s data rate. Despite the rather large depth-of-field, which is caused by the small sensor, this could easily be taken for footage from a larger digicam.

Finally, Jablíčkář.cz also shared some info on battery life. After an hour of pretty intense use, including gaming and video, the battery had dropped by just 10%. It seems like Apple’s claims for battery life are getting more and more accurate.

Czech user testing iPhone 4 [Jablíčkář]

Photo: Happy Swenak

See Also:

• Apple Sells 600000 iPhones Despite 'System Malfunctions,' Orders …
• Photo Gallery: Hands-On With the iPhone 4
• Why the iPhone 4 Camera Is So Promising
• iPhone 4 + Glitchy Launch = Huge Demand Anyway

This article was written on September 24, 2007 by CyberNet.

While eBay isn’t the best place to buy everything, it’s not a bad place to purchase a used computer. There are some risks involved, but in general, the majority of transactions on eBay will be trouble-free if you know what you’re doing. Here are a few helpful tips for buying a used computer on eBay that will give you a great eBay experience.

1. Know what you’re looking for and do your homework! I can’t tell you enough how important it is to research the computers you might be interested in, read reviews, and know exactly what it is you want before you go browsing eBay for a computer. You’ll also need to determine whether a desktop or laptop is best for your needs.
2. Determine the price you’d like to get the computer for and decide right then and there that even if the auction is nearing the end and it’s gone out of your price range, that you won’t give in and bid higher than you wanted to. It’s easy to get caught-up in the excitement of auctions and you could end up spending more than what the computer is even worth. Sellers know this which is why often times, they’re more willing to put an item up for sale as an auction versus buy-it-now.
3. Compare the costs of buying used versus new. Often times you can buy a new computer for nearly the same price as some of the used computers selling on eBay. Determine if buying used is worth it.
4. Read the description. Actually read it from top to bottom.  Look for an extremely detailed description of the product. Some of the details that should be included: Are there any scratches, blemishes, or cracks?  Is the battery still working? How long does the battery last? Are there any dead pixels? How often was it used? What accessories are included? What software will be installed on it including the operating system?
5. Check for warranty information. Is there a warranty, and more importantly, is the warranty transferable? Alienware is one example of a company that does not allow users to transfer a warranty to a new user.
6. Ask questions – Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If the seller is reliable, they’ll answer you promptly and thoroughly .
7. Shipping – How will the computer be shipped and what will it cost? Some sellers may charge a hefty shipping charge, beware!
8. Watch out for scams – they happen.  If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. PayPal is your best bet for a secure transaction.  If a seller asks you to wire the funds or even send cash, it’s a scam!
9. Look for clear pictures that show any blemishes the computer may have. This is important! Those who are trying to scam you will usually only show a manufacturers picture. If the seller lists in the description that there are cosmetic imperfections, there should be clear pictures of them so that there’s no question about the condition of the computer that you’ll be receiving.
10. Feedback – check to see what kind of feedback the seller has.  Were there any major complaints from previous buyers? What kinds of items has the buyer sold in the past?

Once you feel confident that you know how to buy a computer on eBay, go ahead and check-out what sellers have to offer at http://computers.ebay.com. Good luck!

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If you’ve been waiting for a colorful and portable way to protect your iPad that stops just short of a protective sleeve or a bulky case, the new iSkin Duo and iSkin Vu may be perfect for you. Neither case offers the kind of rugged protection you’ll want for carrying your iPad on a road trip or through an airport, but they’re both designed to allow you to use your iPad on a day to day basis while keeping it safe from scratches and damage.

The iSkin Duo is a thin, molded silicone case that has protective covers for the earphone port, volume, home, and sleep buttons. The silicone is smooth and non-porous to resist dust and lint, and has been treated with antimicrobial protection, if you’re the type who worries about germs on your iPad. The iSkin Duo also comes in seven different colors, including a see-through “arctic” version that’s almost clear.

The iSkin Vu is a more firm and rugged case with a semi-clear design on the back and combines a hard plastic shield on the back with a softer bumper that’s easy to handle. The Vu has a hatch on the bottom that allows you to dock or plug in your iPad when not in use without having to remove the skin, and has recessed covers for the other buttons.  Both the iSkin Duo and the iSkin Vu are available now for $49.99 and $64.99 respectively.