Street style has become a thing thanks to the internet. Sometimes it’s annoying and self serving but oh my god can I get those shoes in green? You can shop all the fashion you see blogged about with Fashion Kaleidoscope. More »
Each week Joshua Fruhlinger contributes This is the Modem World, a column dedicated to exploring the culture of consumer technology.
When I was a kid, my parents actually rented our home phones from the phone company. They were hard-wired to the wall — no detachable RJ cables. The phones were heavy, and when you needed a new one, you would call the phone company and get in line. They would then come out in four to six weeks and install the new phone for you at your expense. If you wanted to move the phone to another room, the process was like calling an electrician: holes were drilled, ladders were scaled and money was spent.
The phone equipment itself was drab, heavy and came in your choice of two colors: boring and depressing. Answering machines were rare — instead, you had to use expensive answering services staffed by cranky women from New Jersey.
Continue reading This is the Modem World: Can I pick my own set-top box, please?
Filed under: Displays, Misc, Household, Internet
This is the Modem World: Can I pick my own set-top box, please? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
So, we know that the iPhone 5 will come with a different connector than what we’re used to seeing. However, if you have some devices with a 30-pin connector laying around, the iPhone 5′s new Lightning connector is probably going to cause some problems. That’s where Apple‘s new adapters come in – they were detailed earlier today at Apple’s event, but the company didn’t talk pricing while it was up on stage.
Prices for these adapters have now surfaced on Apple’s website, however you’re going to have to hand over some cash to get one. The regular old Lightning to 30-pin adapter is going to set you back $29, whereas if you want a Lightning to 30-pin adapter with a 0.2 meter (about 8 inches) cable, you’ll have to shell out $39. Apple also has a Lightning-USB cable to connect your shiny new iDevice to your Mac or PC available for $19.
The prices on the Lightning adapters seem a little on the high end, but to be fair, the price of the Lightning-USB cable is the same price as the old 30-pin to USB cable was – $19. Apple is probably going to get a few complaints about those $29 and $39 price tags, but it looks like you’ll be stuck paying up if you have a 30-pin device you’d like to connect to your iPhone 5. These new adapters and cables are compatible with the iPhone 5, the 5th generation iPod Touch, and the 7th generation iPod Nano, but Apple warns on the listings for the adapters that they won’t support all 30-pin devices.
Which devices are being left unsupported is currently a mystery. All three are available for purchase now, and while the Lightning-USB cable appears to be shipping immediately, the two adapters won’t be shipping until sometime in October. What do you think of these prices – are they too high, or are they something you can live with?
iPhone 5 Lightning connector adapters priced is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Chrome users on Android might have felt a bit neglected over the last couple of months, during which Google pushed a few updates to its browser on iOS while leaving its own platform untouched after it dropped the beta tag in June. That changes today as the Android version is getting its own update, which the team says automatically brings improved sandboxing technology on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean to keep any potentially malicious websites contained thanks to the operating system’s user ID isolation technology. According to the changelog it also integrates location preferences with system level Google apps settings, brings playback controls to fullscreen YouTube videos and fixes aimed at third-party input method editors (IMEs), which is helpful if you’re typing in another language. There’s also a few other security fixes and bugs squashed, check the Chrome releases blog for cash payout details or hit Google Play to grab the update.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile
Chrome for Android’s first post-beta update brings better sandboxing, other tweaks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 17:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | 
Chrome Blog, Chrome Releases, Google Play | Email this | Comments
If Star Trek: The Next Generation was any indication, we’re still hundreds of years away from actual holodeck technology that lets us travel the world without ever leaving home. But a music video for a Belgian group called Willow comes pretty close to recreating the experience using nothing but a triad of video projectors. More »
Apple’s Phil Schiller said today that Apple had to work hard to make the new iPhone 5’s camera fit in the thinner body. So how good (or bad) are its photos? Look at these official and allegedly unprocessed images (you know, unlike some of Nokia’s). More »
Apple has a tradition of timing FCC filings for new wireless mobile devices so that they appear just as soon as they’ve been announced, and it’s not about to let up now. We’ve got a trifecta of approvals on the way for 2012 that start with the iPhone 5. What’s hard to miss is the absurd number of cellular bands at work: as Apple had to make separate iPhone 5 models to cover every LTE carrier it supports, on top of the usual alphabet soups for CDMA and GSM, the filing combining the two devices is one of the largest we’ve seen to date. The addition of 5GHz WiFi support only compounds the situation.
A pair of iPods also made their appearances today, and they’ve been given the regulatory once-over as well. The iPod touch has the 5GHz WiFi band included and isn’t special by itself, but the new iPod nano is noteworthy simply for showing up at all — the inclusion of Bluetooth means a spin past the testing facility in addition to some wireless audio. We’re still digging to see if the iPhone or new iPods have any surprises, although you can have a first-hand look through the source links.
Brad Molen contributed to this report.
Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio/Video, Mobile
iPhone 5, updated iPod touch and iPod nano models reach the FCC right on cue originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 17:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | FCC (iPhone 5), (iPod touch), (iPod nano) | Email this | Comments
Now that we know much, much more about Apple’s latest iPhone, we can’t help but wonder why certain features are missing from the iPhone 5. For instance, near-field communication — standard in many iPhone competitors — is notably absent. This seems especially odd considering iOS 6’s Passbook feature, which acts like a virtual wallet for gift cards, boarding passes, and other such things, would be a perfect fit for NFC technology. “Passbook does the kinds of things customers need today,” Apple senior VP Phil Schiller told All Things D.
Schiller also explained the reason for the iPhone 5’s new “Lightning” port, which allows for faster data transfer between phone and computer, but also requires an adapter ($29) for use with Apple’s previous wire standard. Apparently Apple’s future lineup would be impossible without the new connecter, according to Schiller. He attempted to assuage concerned consumers with one hopeful promise: “This is the new connector for many years to come.”
And finally, when pressed on wireless charging — a main feature of Nokia’s flagship Windows Phone 8 device, the Lumia 920 — Schiller said such a feature offers little to consumers beyond confusion. “Having to create another device you have to plug into the wall is actually, for most situations, more complicated,” he said. As per usual, the iPhone 5 will charge via USB — using the new dock connector, of course. But surely, turning a bunch of cables into just one giant wireless charging plate aligns well with Apple’s simplicity design, right?
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Apple’s Phil Schiller explains new ‘Lightning’ port, doesn’t think much of NFC and wireless charging originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 17:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Nerf’s doing it, and so is Hasbro, but there’s plenty of room for other folks in the laser tag market, and Hex3 is a startup looking to get in on the action. Called the AppTag Laser Blaster, it combines old school IR-based laser tag with new school augmented reality. Like its aforementioned competition, the gun uses your Android or iPhone (yes, that includes the 5) and a companion app. The app turns your phone into a HUD when playing with friends or an AR window when you’re shooting solo.
Gallery: Hex3 AppTag Laser Blaster hands-on
Where AppTag differs is in how the pistol communicates with your phone. It uses a proprietary high frequency audio signal that requires no pairing or other similar procedures — you simply load up the app, clamp it to the gun and you’re good to go. Additionally, AppTag’s removable pistol grip is attached to the gun via a rail mount. That means the system can be attached to existing Nerf weapons and even real firearms should you be so inclined, plus there’s a corded pressure switch that you can affix to the trigger of any gun. For now, there are a handful of games included in the app, but Hex3 is releasing an SDK so that developers can get creative building their own using the blaster’s four buttons, trigger and reload switch. Interested? AppTag’s currently up for pre-order at $59 bucks a pop, with shipping slated to start in 4-6 weeks. Before you part with any hard earned cash, however, check out our video after the break to see in action.
Filed under: Misc
Hex3 AppTag Laser Blaster turns iPhones and Androids into augmented reality laser tag gun sights (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 17:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Hex3 | Email this | Comments
The folks at iLuv have submitted their collection of iPhone 5 cases and accessories this afternoon, starting what’s certainly going to be a mega-wave of similar releases from companies from all corners of the iOS-loving universe. The iPhone 5 has a display that’s increased in size while the body of the device has gotten thinner and lighter – and taller. And the headphone jack has moved to the bottom of the iPhone right alongside the connector jack which is now much smaller than ever before – and called Lightning! These bits and more have been taken into account with iLuv’s new line – available soon!
What you see above is the iLuv Camera Case – made to hold your iPhone 5 with a special pocket up front for your EarPods earbuds while you’re on the go – otherwise looking like the lens of a camera for your heavy shooters. The folks at iLuv are also bringing on their popular Pulse Case with dual-layers of color and texture, the Mazarin Diamond Cut Hardshell Case, and the Regatta Case with two-layer protection and a high-gloss exterior with TPE on the inside – hardcore! Below you’ll see the iPhone 5 Topog Mesh Softshell Case with a raised topographical lattice design on the back. Made to fit your palm in three lovely colors.
You’ll find Snoopy Vintage Series cases for the iPhone 5 from iLuv as well as Snoopy Glow cases coming up too. The iPhone 5 has some Festival Hardshell cases coming from iLuv and the Mummy & Ninja Silicone Character Case will be popping up soon too. You can find all of these cases at iLuv’s online store immediately if not soon – and they’re also, for the most part, available for the iPhone 4S as well. You can now grab the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 4 for much lower prices than ever before from Apple as the iPhone 5 becomes the new hero – check it out!
Hit up our Apple portal today for more information on the iPhone 5 as details continue to explode forth – also check our iPhone 5 hands-on post for an up close and personal look at the device as it stands today!
iLuv accessories start the iPhone 5 torrential downpour is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
