Mar 24
The $10 MagSafe to MagSafe 2 Converter is annoyingly expensive, but it’s better than buying new gear. And now for $15 you can adopt an annoyingly expensive, but ingenious way to keep track of the tiny dongle. It’s the Apple way. More »
Mar 22
It’s easy to snag a Miracast-capable device if you’re willing to shop for a brand new TV or a set-top box. but it’s much tougher if Miracast is the only thing you’re looking for. Minimalists will be happy, then, that Panasonic just released a dedicated adapter for the job. Plug the very utilitarian-looking brick into an HDMI jack and you can wirelessly stream HD-grade video from any supporting device on the same WiFi network; Panasonic would naturally prefer that it’s the company’s new Eluga X smartphone. The adapter is so far only available in Japan for an estimated and rather steep ¥8,980 ($95), although we’re hoping that it eventually crosses the Pacific at a price that befits the narrow focus.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals, HD
Via: Akihabara News
Source: Panasonic (translated)
Mar 21
Thuraya’s SatSleeve docks your iPhone onto its satellite network, charges it too (video)
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Despite the Gorilla glass, we’re not sure if it’s a great idea to bring that iPhone to K2. Still, if you can fire it up, you can now make satellite calls from Apple’s iPhone 4 and 4s handsets thanks to Thuraya’s SatSleeve. Always-on globetrotter types can slip one of those models into a cradle, dial their pals from virtually anywhere via the company’s own satellite network and even place emergency calls without the handset. The device also includes a built-in battery pack to stretch call times by charging your phone — though given satellite rates, you may get charged more than you think. Thuraya said that an iPhone 5 version’s also in the works, but if you’re okay with Cupertino’s prior models, hit the break for more.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Mar 02
Apple’s Lightning AV Adapter packs an ARM SoC, may use AirPlay-like decoding
Posted in: Today's Chili 
The developers at Panic didn’t start their days with the intention of ripping open a Lightning Digital AV Adapter, but that’s exactly what happened once they suspected it held some secrets. At first, the group hooked the cable up to various iOS devices expecting 1080p mirroring, but were greeted with 1,600 x 900 as the highest possible resolution. A bit bewildered, they noticed MPEG artifacts, which led them to believe the dongle was acting as a small AirPlay-like receiver that supports streaming and decoding. Now entirely suspicious, the team tore the cable asunder and exposed an ARM SoC apparently packing 256MB of RAM. According to the devs, it’s possible that the Lightning connector’s small number of pins prevented Cupertino from delivering raw HDMI output, so they were forced to improvise with the added silicon. We’ve reached out to Apple to nail down just how the cable works.
Filed under: Peripherals, Apple
Via: Apple Insider, The Next Web
Source: Panic Blog
Mar 01
Apple’s Lightning Digital AV Adapter is 50 bucks. That’s expensive. Apple’s Lightning Digital AV Adapter hooks up your iOS devices’ Lightning port to HDMI. But it lags and gives artifacts. Apple’s Lightning Digital AV adapter actually hides a tiny computer inside in the cable…wait what? Yes. More »
Jan 17
IK Multimedia’s iRig HD adapter for iOS, Mac lets guitars ride the Lightning port
Posted in: Today's Chili 
IK Multimedia spent a lot of time at CES 2013 courting Android musicians, but we neglected to mention equal attention spent on iOS at the show through the iRig HD. The company’s new adapter pipes audio from a guitar or other instrument with a quarter-inch plug into Lightning-equipped Apple devices, keeping them in IK’s musical world (and inviting terrible Metallica puns). It’s not exclusively built to jam with an iPad mini or iPhone 5, either, as a modular approach brings the analog-to-digital conversion both to earlier iOS gear and to Macs’ USB ports through relevant adapters. About the only disappointment is the absence of firm launch details, although those should be coming “soon.”
Continue reading IK Multimedia’s iRig HD adapter for iOS, Mac lets guitars ride the Lightning port
Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Tablets, Mobile, Apple
Via: Cult of Mac
Source: IK Multimedia
Dec 02
Datel Adapter Connects PS2 Controller to Wii/Wii U: Wii We Want You to PlayStation
Posted in: Today's ChiliI’ve been keeping an eye on the price of the Wii because I want to play Xenoblade Chronicles and The Last Story. Datel’s soon-to-be-released adapter could prove handy for a longtime PlayStation gamer like me, because it allows one to use a PS2 DualShock controller with the Wii and the new Wii U.
I’m not sure why, but instead of connecting to the console itself, the adapter connects the PS2 controller via the expansion port of the Wii remote control. It also has a button that lets you activate an auto-fire mode, although I don’t know how you’ll select which button to auto-fire or if it will put all buttons on auto-fire when activated. You can pre-order the controller adapter from Amazon Japan for ￥1,781 (~$22 USD).
[via Gamer.ne via Destructoid]
Nov 13
mLogic’s mLink Thunderbolt chassis shipping this month, Red Rocket board version to follow
Posted in: Today's Chili 
If you’re still wondering how to make use of that Thunderbolt port on your computer, here’s a new option. mLogic, a fairly new company that shares the same founder as G-Technology (now under HGST), is now taking orders for the $399 mLink Thunderbolt expansion chassis and will start shipping it this month. What this little box offers is the ability to connect almost any half-length PCIe card to Thunderbolt-enabled computers, so the possibility is endless — be it for RAID storage, high-speed networking or 2K video acquisition. We noticed that the mLink was meant to launch this time last year, but mLogic explained to us that this massive delay was due to the unexpectedly lengthy Thunderbolt qualification process, on top of the company’s further extensive thermal and EMI testing on the product, so it’s confident that it now has a rock solid product.
In addition to this model, mLogic is also working on a variant dubbed mLink R, which is tailored for Red’s Rocket video transcode accelerator. It’s currently listed for a much higher $699, but having seen the much larger Rocket chassis offered by other companies, we’re certain that the better-off production crews will be happy to pay the premium in exchange for portability. Stay tuned for news on its availability.
Filed under: Peripherals
mLogic’s mLink Thunderbolt chassis shipping this month, Red Rocket board version to follow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nov 05
Nov 03
Apple’s Lightning to micro-USB adapter now available in US, not just Europe anymore
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Just in case you thought the Lightning to micro-USB connector was Europe-only (to stave off that pesky European Commission), Apple has decided to sell it stateside as well. The tiny choking hazard recently made its way to the company’s online store in the US for $19 each (over in Europe, it’s £15 / €19), and brick-and-mortar locations will probably get them too — if they’re not in stock already. We’re not sure if there’s a huge demand for this, but if you’re a recent iPod, iPhone, or iPad (Mini or 4th gen) owner with a plethora of existing micro-USB cables, an adapter like this could help lighten your nest of wires.
Filed under: Misc
Apple’s Lightning to micro-USB adapter now available in US, not just Europe anymore originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Nov 2012 02:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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