Hasta La Gadget!

Earlier this month, we told you about the free TouchPads being custom wrapped for the devs at WebOS Internals. It seems that those fortuitous webOS junkies have upheld their end of the deal, as the first delectable homebrew patches have begun to show up in Preware. As we’ve seen, this tech is offered at no cost — and HP continues to reach out to devs of unofficial apps, making the situation a win for everyone. Check out a shot of the first patch officially completed for webOS 3.0 below (Glass Effects Squite), and hit the source to keep an eye on what’s brewing next.

Continue reading TouchPad homebrew patches surface in Preware, devs keep on giving

TouchPad homebrew patches surface in Preware, devs keep on giving originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 01:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In this week’s app roundup: Google+, unveiled; GPS, painted with direction; North Korea, photographed; iPhones, playing dead; Instagram, challenged by Google; background checks, forever creepy; fourways, on Fring; and much, much more. More »

It’s not just Apple’s App Store striding past milestones today, Microsoft’s Windows Phone Marketplace has also rounded a notable marker in its development. Specifically, it’s now reported to have passed 25,000 apps by one site tracking comings and goings within it, though that figure’s up for debate as the other WP7 apps tracker still lists the total at just under 25k. The main point is that the WP7 ecosystem is growing, and faster than previously at that — it took until the end of March to accrue 11,500 apps, a span of five months from its launch, whereas the last 13.5k have come in the brisker period of three months. Provided this acceleration continues, and there’s no reason to expect it’ll slow down with Mango on the horizon, Microsoft’s mobile OS reboot promises to be in pretty competitive shape in time for its first anniversary — a notable feat considering how far behind WinMo had fallen. Perhaps RIM can use this as an instructive example?

[Steve Ballmer image courtesy of Reuters]

Windows Phone Marketplace now populated by 25,000 apps, speeding up rate of growth originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 09:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ever felt the need to customize vehicles and search dealer inventory, right from the comfort of your smartphone? Us neither, but here’s the General with another app to whet our appetites. While certainly not the first of its kind, the GMC showroom app for iOS (coming soon to Android), allows you to specify drive-type, trim, and both exterior / interior colors. Once content with your selections, you’re shown nearby dealers carrying exact replicas of your magnificent taste. Unfortunately for us, the app makes no mention of the closest EN-V. If SUVs are your thing, however, have a peep at the free app at the source link below.

Continue reading GMC showroom app tells you where to pick up your dream SUV, doesn’t help with down payment

GMC showroom app tells you where to pick up your dream SUV, doesn’t help with down payment originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Wakemate promises to get you out of bed pain-free, every morning

Wakemate promises to bring you around from the land of dreams into an alert, awakened state every single morning, without a klaxon or bacon cooker in sight.

It’s wristband that monitors your movements throughout the night and, when you get close to your pre-set optimum waking time, it waits for the shallowest part of your sleep cycle before sounding the alarm. The Wakemate pairs with your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth, and uses this to track your sleep and wake you with your favorite music.

Our sleep runs in 90-minute cycles, and ideally we should wake at the part of shallowest sleep. If you feel like your regular alarm clock sometimes drags you from the very depths of sleep, that’s because it is — it’s waking you from deep sleep.

There are iOS apps which use the iPhone or iPad’s accelerometers to do the same thing and — once calibrated — they do a good job. They also require you to sleep with your device in the bed, and for the app to remain powered on, draining the battery rather quickly. Bluetooth also sucks the juice from your phone, but not nearly as much.

The Wakemate is available to buy right now, for $60. Or you could do what I do, and live nine time zones ahead of your employer, so that you can get up as late as you like and still be early.

Wakemate product page [Wakemate. Thanks, Renee!]

See Also:

• Wooden Dock Turns iPhone into Retro-Tastic Alarm Clock
• iPhone Alarm Bug Lets Europeans Snooze an Extra Hour
• Wake Up! Five Great iPhone Alarm Clocks