Hasta La Gadget!

iOS 6 is finally available for public consumption and you can get it one of two ways: You can plug your iOS device in to your computer and check iTunes for an update, or you can go into the settings menu on your iPhone (3GS, 4 or 4S), iPod touch (4G, 5G) or iPad (iPad 2 or New iPad) and navigate to General > Software Update. And while updating shouldn’t wipe out your previously stored data, you should back your device up just to be safe. And if you don’t see the update popping up right away, just give it a minute. These things can sometimes take a while when first rolling out. More »

As we briefly mentioned in our EarPods review, iFixit was able to teardown Apple’s latest generation of earbuds, which are currently shipping with the iPhone 5. While we weren’t quite sure what was going on with their insides, the site has confirmed some of our suspicions and detailed a few other fun facts. As it turns out, the internal layout of each earpiece is essentially that of an average ‘bud with a forward-facing driver. The new top section, with its side-facing audio port, is apparently a good chunk of what affects the sound in unison with those strategically placed vents. The improved bass and low-mid response we noted in our review falls in line with iFixit’s confirmation that the new driver in each Pod is made with a paper speaker cone — in contrast to the plastic used on the older model.

As the site notes, those driver diaphragms should be less likely to blow-out, and the basket behind ’em have also been updated with a cleaner fit and finish. Aside from that, you’ll be pleased to know that the inline remote appears to have an improved seal for protection from the elements, and it’ll hold up better to cable snags. As you might imagine, the $29 headphones have been deemed as disposable rather than repairable. Don’t take our word for it however — you can read the teardown for yourself at the source link below.

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, Wearables

Apple’s EarPods get the iFixit teardown treatment, found to basically be earbuds originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 07:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting tomorrow, iOS users will be prompted to update their devices to the newest iteration of Apple’s mobile operating system. As difficult as it is to believe, we’re already onto the sixth version of the OS, which continues to be updated with new features on a yearly basis. After pushing out so many upgrades critical to plugging a few major feature holes, the vast majority of its 200 advertised enhancements are strictly granular, as Apple continues to polish its popular OS.

That doesn’t mean, though, that this build is coming to the masses without any jarring UI changes: Apple has declared independence from Google by adopting its own Maps, added a few nice features to Mail and iCloud, thrown Facebook integration into the mix and introduced the Passbook for paperless tickets. The question is, how does it stack up against previous refreshes? Read on to find out.

Continue reading iOS 6 review

Filed under: Software, Mobile

iOS 6 review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wow, can you believe it? The iPod touch is now in its fifth generation of existence, which is saying something as we do know that Apple takes a slightly different approach to their product line, more often than not using just the same name no matter which generation it is, while their competitors come up with different kinds of names, although lately Samsung has followed Apple in their footsteps with the Galaxy S range. Having said that, just what does the latest iPod touch deliver to the masses? Let us check out whether a dedicated portable media player has a future in the world of smartphones, shall we?

The new iPod touch, just like the iPhone 5, is the thinnest version of the iPod touch to date, where it will share the same display as that on the iPhone 5 – a brilliant 4-inch Retina display, accompanied by a 5 megapixel iSight camera with 1080p HD video recording capability, running on Apple’s beefy A5 chip (which means there is no A6 processor as found on the iPhone 5). Not only that, Apple has also decided to throw in Siri, the intelligent assistant which first debuted on the iPhone 4S, as well as the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, iOS 6.

The new iPod touch (5G) will come in pink, yellow, blue, white and silver, black and slate colors, where pre-orders for it will start from September 14th onwards. You will be able to choose from 32GB and 64GB capacities, which will retail for $299 and $399, respectively. Of course, you can make a purchase outright on the Apple Online Store from October onwards. Having said that, the fourth generation iPod touch will still remain available, so Apple has not yet phased that out yet. Has the latest iPod touch impressed you enough to cough up money for it?

Press Release

[ iPod touch enters the fifth generation copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Apple’s trio of Lightning adapters aren’t the only connections offered for the iPhone 5, 5th-gen iPod touch and 7th-gen iPod nano; there’s also a new microUSB adapter, though you’ll need to be in Europe to get it. The fourth dongle basically connects a regular microUSB charger – or a microUSB cable for sync & charge – to the smaller Lightning port on the new devices, Apple’s workaround to EC legislation about standardized ports.

That decision by the European Community – that all phones must be chargeable via microUSB – has been a thorn in Apple’s side, given the company prefers to stick with its own, proprietary connections. This new Lightning to microUSB adapter, then, is the workaround.

It’s certainly not as convenient as having an actual microUSB port on the iPhone 5, and nor – frustratingly – will it come in the box. The UK store is currently listing the dongle at £15 with availability in three days, with the French and German stores giving the same ship estimate and a price of €19.

There’s no sign of it in the US store, however, and so it seems those outside of the EC’s regulatory clutches won’t be able to get their hands on the dinky dongle, at least not officially.

More on the iPhone 5 in our full hands-on, and all the latest Apple news in our hub!

[via Engadget]

Apple reveals Lightning to microUSB adapter to pacify Europe is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
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