Hasta La Gadget!

There are many people who are disappointed with the Maps app after upgrading their iOS version to iOS 6 (all 15% of iPhone users, in fact). Performance of the Maps app is without a doubt behind that of what Google Maps can offer, but to be fair to Apple, this is their first attempt to break away from Google Maps as part of their in-house navigation efforts, so perhaps things might change for the better down the road? We will just have to adopt a wait and see attitude.

Apple did release a statement on where their Maps app in iOS 6 is at the moment, giving us the impression that the Maps app in iOS 6 remains a work in progress, urging folks to continue using it instead of switching to a different app. The statement reads, “We launched this new map service knowing it is a major initiative and that we are just getting started with it. Maps is a cloud-based solution and the more people use it, the better it will get. We appreciate all of the customer feedback and are working hard to make the customer experience even better.”

Hopefully Apple will be as good as their word.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Apple brings iOS 6 3D Maps to new cities, Verizon: too early to discuss FaceTime charges over 3G,

Not everyone is privileged enough to be able to afford Business or First Class seats on an airplane, but assuming you are one of the elite few who can (or your company does not mind lavishing that kind of money on you), then you might be interested in this bit of news: apparently engineers have managed to develop climate control seats for use in airlines. I know, the temperature in the plane is regulated by a central control, so you cannot determine just how cold or warm your personal space is. Luxury cars have already included climate control in their air conditioning systems for quite some years already, so it is nice to see this idea take to the skies literally.

Trust German scientists to come up with this before anyone else, although the climate control airplane seat still remains in its prototype phase, meaning there is still plenty of work to be done before we start to see airlines offer these as part of their attraction. No idea on how much the cost retrofitting existing aircraft will be, but folks who are on long distance flights will definitely appreciate these, otherwise you might just need to stick to asking for an extra blanket (or two). It does seem to not make sense for economy class seats to carry such a climate control system since those are already so crammed in the first place.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: SEAT project to result in more comfortable flights?, Panasonic to Launch Android Remote Controller for In-Flight Entertainment Systems,

Nintendo is starting to make a habit of quietly releasing products at trade-shows they don’t attend. Kyoto’s premiere gaming outfit still isn’t present on the TGS show floor, but Capcom has once again seen fit to trot out the firm’s latest kit: The Circle Pad Pro for 3DS XL. Just like last year’s model, this beefy cradle puts the already large 3DS XL outside the realm of pocket-ability, trading the handheld’s slim profile for a luxuriously thick grip. Indeed, the fatty accessory makes the console quite comfortable to hold, adding a smooth, slightly contoured back, larger shoulder buttons and, of course, that all important starboard analog pad.

The new Circle Pad’s bulk is slightly more forgivable for the size of its host device. Yes, the attachment makes the XL a bit more unwieldily, but its supersized form already made it a non-contender for most pants pockets. Sadly, the accessory still sports its predecessor’s greatest fault: it blocks the 3DS’ cartridge slot. Gamers will have to get used to undocking their console, or else make a habit of buying more downloadable titles. Mum’s still the word on pricing and availability, but the accessory was shown with a copy of Monster Hunter 4, which is due out in March of next year. We wouldn’t be surprised to see it show up in early spring. Hungry for more? Check out our gallery below for an eyeful, or peek past the break for quick video overview.

Continue reading Circle Pad Pro for 3DS XL spotted at TGS, we go hands-on (video)

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Circle Pad Pro for 3DS XL spotted at TGS, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 23:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It seems to be smartphone season at this time of the year, where many of the big players have rolled out their heavy hitters, although Samsung did introduce their flagship Galaxy S3 device earlier than the rest of the pack. HTC has their upcoming HTC One X+ for the Android front in tow after announcing the new Windows Phone 8-powered HTC 8X, while Nokia just announced their flagship Lumia 920 earlier this month, with Apple lifting the veil on their iPhone 5 as well. There can only be one tiger on each mountain, or so the ancient Chinese proverb goes, which means the rest will have to settle for second, third and subsequent fiddles. How do they stack up against one another? Nokia UK has a cheeky but factual infographic that compares the iPhone 5 to the Nokia Lumia 920, and I do admit that the entire thing was tastefully done, concentrating more on pure facts instead of relying on sarcastic verbage alone.

It is very different from Samsung’s “the next big thing is already here” ad, and sports the caption “Good things come to those who wait”. The thing is, will it be able to convince fence sitters to just hold off an iPhone 5 purchase long enough for the Nokia Lumia 920 to arrive at the market? After all, it has already received FCC approval, so it should not be too long down the road. Patience, after all, is still a virtue – one that is lacking in this day and age.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Nokia Lumia 920 passes FCC inspection, ready to rock and roll, Ubergizmo Smartphone Guide – Sept 2012,

We talk about how much paper is wasted each day in offices and homes, where moving to the digital platform is supposed to eliminate the paper problem. The thing is, electronic waste is also a big issue to resolve, and with more and more countries adopting digital platforms, waste from obsolete phones, cameras, computers and other mobile devices have proved to be a potentially huge problem. Not only are circuitry and packaging non-biodegradable, but most of the time they are laced with toxic substances including heavy metals. How about a biodegradable piece of electronics that could even be eaten once you are done with it? Sounds disgusting, but who knows, you might want to slather some ketchup over your keyboard in the future.

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By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Hypermilling concept car does 1325 mpg on diesel, Eco-Friendly Samsung Replenish officially launched by Sprint CEO Dan Hesse,