Hasta La Gadget!

Apple’s introduction of the Lightning connector means that people like me who have both a new and an old iOS device have more cables to keep track of and less USB ports to plug them into. If you’re looking for a simple and cheap solution, have a look at the Bi-Cord. But just look at it, don’t put down money for it just yet.

The Bi-Cord has a USB connector at one end. Then it splits into two cords, one with a 30-pin connector and one with a Lightning connector. Future versions could have connectors for other devices such as a micro-USB. Its inventor, Patrick Graham, claims that the Bi-Cord can be used to charge two devices at once. What I don’t know is if the cord can also sync two devices at once. The cords are each 6′ long and are made of braided nylon for added durability.

Pledge at least $15 (USD) on Kickstarter to get a Bi-Cord as a reward. On one hand, that’s a good deal, considering Apple sells its cables for $19 each. On the other hand, if I were you I’d wait until Patrick reveals more information about the Bi-Cord’s parts, particularly if Patrick uses Apple-certified connectors. Because if the connectors are not certified all we have here could be two broken cables in one.

After a month of failed negotiations and back and forth spats, Time Warner Cable and CBS have finally arrived at terms they both can live with. The two companies have signed a deal that will bring back CBS content for the cable service provider’s subscribers. The spat between the two companies started at the beginning […]

For those who find sports is the string keeping them from cutting loose of traditional pay-TV services, ESPN president John Skipper’s comments today are a bit of good news / bad news. Speaking to Bloomberg, he revealed the network has had talks to offer its content on internet TV services like the ones we’ve heard Google, Sony and Intel (among others *cough Apple*) are interested in offering. What he and a network spokesman made clear however, is that any agreement would involve those services offering a package of channels, just like current cable, satellite and telco providers. That would make it harder for any online service to differentiate itself on content or pricing, but we’ll have to wait for one to actually launch to find out for sure.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: Bloomberg

Time Warner will briefly lift its CBS programming blackout on Thursday night, just long enough to air the Democratic NYC comptroller debate. It’s a small victory for democracy in a feud that’s been grinding on since August 2nd. [WSJ]

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Where the Microsoft-made Xbox One is set to continue the model set with the Xbox 360 as a middle-point between cable and your TV, Sony’s reported deal with Viacom may just remove the third party altogether. According to news reported this week by the Wall Street Journal, Sony has only to lay out the final […]