Hasta La Gadget!

We’ve yet to see concrete proof that Apple’s portable media players will ship with a camera, but the new iPhone OS 4.0 beta shows Cupertino’s at least considering the notion for the iPod touch and even the iPad. It seems AT&T tethering wasn’t the only thing hidden in iPhone OS 4.0 beta 4 — 9to5Mac found a variety of telltale references to an a flash when pouring through the update’s source code. Does that mean that the iDevices will actually get cameras, let alone supporting light fixtures? It’s too early to tell… but we did spot an LED flash on that early iPhone HD, and a recent Vietnamese leak proves that Apple at least prototyped an iPod touch with a camera — though no flash, sadly — as well. Is Apple simply updating their error messages, or is there something to this? You make the call.

iPhone OS 4.0 beta 4 hints at LED flash, camera for iPad, iPod, iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 15:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some are smitten by the iPad, some wonder just what the heck they’d do with the thing. We finally have an answer for members of the latter group: iPad blimp. The lighter-than-air portion of this equation features an Arduino controller board and some helium, while the decidedly heavier-than-air iPad runs an app to receive a video signal from the blimp and to send it controls via accelerometer. It was created by Breakfast NY and made its debut at an after party following the Munny Exhibit, part of Design Week, where it seemed to be quite a hit amongst the gathered group of drunken humanity, who you can see frolicking with the shiny airship after the break.

Continue reading iPad-controlled blimp is one magical dirigible (video)

iPad-controlled blimp is one magical dirigible (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 09:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In-flight entertainment might not be high on everyone’s list of priorities, but from this July, it might become a new point of differentiation between airlines. Bluebox Avionics has announced its new Ai IFE system, which seems to mostly involve just giving travelers an iPad to play around with while gliding through the atmosphere. It “leverages the power, flexibility and quality of the most advanced consumer device ever produced” (they have an Evo 4G? Zing!) and offers Bluebox’s proprietary security solution and tailor-made apps for each airline. One international carrier has already signed up and more are expected to follow.

iPad takes to the skies with Bluebox Ai this July originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 May 2010 06:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s far from unusual to see Apple ripping off others when it comes to spots, and the same is true in reverse. But copying itself? Head on past the break to catch the similarities between Cupertino’s freshest iPad commercial and an eerily familiar Newton ad from yesteryear — something tells us the former will make a somewhat more indelible mark on the world than the latter, though.

[Thanks, Jordan]

Continue reading ‘What is iPad?’ spot deviates little from the days of Newton (video)

‘What is iPad?’ spot deviates little from the days of Newton (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 May 2010 01:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh, Apple. Just a few short months ago, a USB port was (largely) a USB port, charging pretty much any gizmo we could find without so much as a fuss. Now, loads of USB ports are throwing temper tantrums when faced with the energy-hungry iPad, with most simply refusing to charge the thing. Apple contends that a 10W USB port is needed to effectively rejuvenate its first tablet, though some sockets will do the trick so long as you have the display switched off. If you’re looking to quickly evaluate the strength of every USB port in your home or office, QuickerTek’s aptly-titled iPad Charge Monitor ain’t a half bad option. You simply plug this LED-infused dongle into a suspicious port, then connect the product you wish to charge to the other end; the device then glows to tell you how much power is flowing out, though there’s nothing included to deal with all-but-guaranteed bouts of frustration from seeing too few LEDs light up. It’s up for order right now at $29.95, and while you’re over there, you can pick up an iPad solar panel and an iPad external battery pack for $250 each. What a bargain.

[Thanks, Lan]

QuickerTek iPad charge monitor tests your USB port’s output potential originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 May 2010 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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