Hasta La Gadget!

Another year, another iPhone announcement. As expected, Apple today revealed their latest and greatest iPhone models – the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C . The 5S builds on the already solid iPhone 5, upgrading its speed, and throwing in a few new capabilities, while the 5C offers a low-cost alternative for markets where Apple isn’t yet a market leader.

“If you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should do something else wonderful, not dwell on it too long. Just figure out what’s next.” That’s the Steve Jobs quote that greeted visitors to today’s announcement event – setting high expectations for Apple’s hotly-anticipated next-gen mobile devices. So let’s see if today’s announcements live up to your expectations.

The iPhone 5S offers a 4-inch retina display, set into a slate, silver or “champagne” gold metal case, made from high-grade aluminum.

It’s powered by Apple’s latest CPU, the A7, a true 64-bit chip which is supposed to run dramatically faster than the A6 found in the current iPhone 5. Yes, the iPhone 5S is the first smartphone with a 64-bit CPU.

Apple claims that running true 64-bit apps, the iPhone’s CPU and GPU are both about two times faster than the iPhone 5 (and an astounding 40 to 56 times faster than the original iPhone if that really matters). Graphics are also now powered by OpenGL|ES 3.0, like the Nexus 7.

The iPhone 5S is also Apple’s first device to include their new M7 “Motion Processor” chip, which combines accelerator, gyroscope and compass in a single package. It works with a new CoreMotionAPI which can tell apps if you’re moving, walking, driving, running, etc, and use this data to drive applications – even going so far as to shut down features which are unnecessary during certain activities – like searching for Wi-Fi hotspots while driving.

iPhone 5S buyers will also be treated to an improved camera. It offers a new five-element lens with an F2.2 aperture, and its sensor is 15% larger than the one in the iPhone 5, allowing for larger pixels and improved image quality and low-light sensitivity. However, the camera’s resolution remains at 8 megapixels. One big change is the camera’s new flash, which now has two LEDs – one cool white, the other warm amber. This allows for over 1000 unique color variations to help the flash color match the colors of surroundings and improve skin tones in flash photos.

The camera can also capture multiple images simultaneously, picking the sharpest image automatically. When shooting in burst mode, the camera app automatically shows you what it thinks is the best shot. It can also capture 120fps slow-motion video at 720p resolution. While we’ll have to wait to see actual images from the iPhone 5S before passing judgment, the sample images shown at today’s press conference were impressive:

One new feature that’s been anticipated for a while is the ability to unlock your iPhone using your own fingerprint. Apple is calling this feature “Touch ID.” A 170 micron-thin fingerprint sensor has been built into the iPhone 5s’ home button, allowing easy authentication without having to remember an unlock passcode. You’ll also notice that the revised home button has a new look, foregoing the square icon in the middle, and adding a color-coordinated metal ring which makes the front of the phone look much more refined. As an added bonus, the sensor/home button now has a sapphire crystal to protect it from scratches.

You’ll also be able to use your fingerprint to authenticate within apps, so you’ll never have to type your password again when buying from iTunes or the App Store.

In addition to the iPhone 5S, Apple also announced the iPhone 5C, an inexpensive version of the iPhone – clearly targeting Asia Pacific markets. Hence the fact that Tim Cook specifically welcomed members of today’s press audience from Beijing and Tokyo locations. But that doesn’t mean Apple won’t sell a crapton of them here in the States this holiday seasons – especially to kids and those who don’t need top of the line performance.

The iPhone 5C is built using a plastic shell, and comes in a variety of colors. Under the hood, it uses the A6 CPU and video camera found in today’s iPhone 5, and still has a Retina display. Basically, the iPhone 5C is a colorful iPhone 5, though the 5C has also got an improved FaceTime HD camera with larger pixels and backside illumination.

The iPhone 5C will come in bright colors including lime green, blue, yellow, pink, as well as white. Contrary to previous assumptions, the build quality for the iPhone 5C looks very impressive, with its entire shell being made in a single piece of hard-coated polycarbonate, with a steel-reinforced structure underneath – which doubles as an antenna.

iPhone 5C users will also be able to pick up a colorful companion case for $20 which will allow them to mix and match colors.

Of course, the new phones will come pre-installed with iOS7, which adds a refined new user interface, an easy-to-access control center, improved notifications and Siri, AirDrop file sharing, iTunes Radio and hundreds of ther refinements. iOS7 should be available for download starting on September 18th. In addition, all newly-purchased iOS devices can download Apple’s popular iPhoto, iMovie, Pages, Keynote or Numbers apps for free.

The iPhone 5S will sell for $199(16GB), $299(32GB) and $399(64GB), and the iPhone 5C will sell for $99(16GB) and $199(32GB) – all requiring a two-year contract. Both the iPhone 5C and 5S will be available on September 20th in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and the UK. Apple will begin to take pre-orders for the iPhone 5C on September 13th on the Apple Store, while you’ll just need to line up on the 20th for the iPhone 5S.

In addition, T-Mobile will offer unlocked versions of the iPhone 5S for $649 (16GB), $749(32GB) and $849(64GB), while unlocked 5C’s will sell for $549(16GB) and $649(32GB).

Unlike past generations, the iPhone 5 is being discontinued, instead of being offered at a discount, while Apple will continue to offer the old iPhone 4S (8GB) for free with a two-year contract.

[Image Credit: Engadget & The Verge]

It’s not a good idea to hold your smartphone in your hand while driving. It’s better to have some sort of heads-up mount where you can quickly look at items on the screen without taking your eyes off the road. While there are tons of mounts on the market, most of the ones I’ve seen are difficult to install, or cause irreversible changes to your car or mobile gadget, or are inconvenient to attach devices to. Not so with iOMounts‘ iOauto Pro mounting kit.

Its adjustable bracket installs to your car in seconds, without any need to drill holes or screw anything in place. iOauto mounts use a heavy-duty magnet to hold your device in place, which means installing and removing your gadgets takes just a second. It’s strong enough to hold all smartphones (with or without cases), GPS units, or small tablets.

This is achieved by attaching a small adhesive metal disc to the back of your mobile device. The kit includes two of these discs, which are held in place with a very strong adhesive. The disc itself is very unobtrusive and about the thickness of a credit card.

You have the choice of attaching the disc directly to your gadget, though I opted for first sticking on one of iOmount’s removable vinyl stickers on the back of my iPhone’s Mophie battery case – just in case I ever want to remove it.

Each iOauto Pro comes with a car-friendly mounting bracket from ProClip. These are custom-made to fit individual makes, models and years of cars. In my case, the bracket attached neatly to a gap in the dashboard on the bottom edge, and hooked into the A/C vent on the top. Fitting the mount to the car takes seconds. There’s a small adhesive strip on each end of the bracket to help hold it in place, but it doesn’t leave any permanent marks.

Once in place in your car, attaching your device is just a matter of holding it in front of the iOauto until it clicks in place. This creates an unbelievably stable and strong grip for your gadget. With my iOauto mount in place, I took a couple of long road trips – at high speeds and with the top down on my convertible, and the bracket didn’t flinch. Not even Chicago’s most evil speed bumps or potholes made my phone move.

Perhaps my favorite thing about the iOauto Pro is its clever magnetic ball-joint style design. This allows you to position your device at whatever angle you want, or switch from landscape to portrait modes without detaching your gadget.

It works quite brilliantly. And if you’re wondering if magnets can damage your gadget, nope. As long as your device doesn’t contain a magnetic hard drive, you’re all good. Since 99% of today’s mobile devices use solid state storage, you should be fine.

The iOauto Pro is available now for $80(USD), including a ProClip mount for your vehicle of choice.  There’s also a less expensive version that forgoes the angle control, but I think the extra $10 for the Pro mount is worth it, so you can angle your gadgets exactly how you like.

The Owlet isn’t a baby monitor is the usual sense of the word. I mean, it lets you monitor your baby, but not in the way that most baby monitors do, which is let you hear what’s going on at the moment.

Instead, the Owlet is actually a bootie that measures your baby’s vital stats. It’s pretty compact and fits into a washable bootie (yes, it’s waterproof too), so it shouldn’t be too hard to keep this particular monitor on your child.

The Owlet works in conjunction with an app that lets you see how your baby is doing, providing quick stats on your baby’s position, temperature, oxygen levels and heart rate. It can also detect if they are sleeping.

Its creators were hoping to raise $100,000 to fund production, and have already exceeded their goal. The project was rejected by Kickstarter (I’m not sure why), so they have taken to creating their own crowdfunding site to raise the money. You can make a pledge of $159(USD) to get one of your very own Owlet baby monitor. That seems like a small price to pay to have this sort of peace of mind.

[via C|NET]

Yep, the rumors were spot-on. At the 2013 IFA trade show, Sony revealed two of the most unusual cameras you’ll ever see. The Cyber-shot QX10 and QX100 Lens Cameras pack all of the necessary hardware inside a tiny cylinder, save for a viewfinder. Why? Because the two point-and-shoot cameras are meant as an upgrade for people who use their smartphone as their main camera. Now their phones can just be viewfinders, or even ditched altogether.

Remember the WVIL camera concept that appeared in 2011? The QX cameras are a lot like that. As Sony Alpha Rumors leaked a couple of weeks ago, the QX100 (seen above) has the same lens and 20.2mp CMOS sensor as the beloved RX100 Mark II camera while the QX10 (below) shares the lens and 18.2mp sensor of the WX150 point-and-shoot. Both cameras have their own battery and a slot for a microSD, microSDHC or a Memory Stick Micro card.

As you’ll see in the pictures and videos below, Sony is pushing these cameras together with the newly introduced Xperia Z Android smartphone. In fact, Sony is selling a plastic case that makes it easier to attach the QX cameras to the Xperia Z. Makes you wonder about the other Sony device in the images eh? It’s safe to assume that both the Xperia Z and the mystery device support NFC, which is the easiest way to pair the cameras to a phone. But the QX cameras can also be used with other Android phones and even iOS devices via the Sony PlayMemories app and a Wi-Fi connection.

To be clear, both QX cameras can be used on their own, but if you can afford either camera chances are you also have an Android or iOS device. If so, you can use the cameras’ clamp to attach them to your mobile device. Then get the PlayMemories app so you can use your device as a viewfinder, like so:

But as was imagined with the WVIL, you can keep a QX camera detached from your mobile device to make it easier to shoot from odd heights or angles…

…or to include yourself in the shot:

Then you can view, save or upload the photo or video on your mobile device using Sony’s app. The cameras will stay connected to your mobile device up to about 30ft., but the connection will likely be cut off if there are walls or other thick objects between the two devices.

Here’s Sony with more about the QX100 and QX10:

The cameras seem like great ideas for casual users, but they do have a couple of tradeoffs, most notably the way they connect to a smartphone. If you’re fortunate enough to have an NFC enabled phone, connecting to the lens cam is as easy as touching the two devices together, which automatically authenticates and connects them via Wi-Fi. However, if you don’t, you’ll have to manually connect them via Wi-Fi. It’s not clear if this creates an AdHoc Wi-Fi network between the phone and the lens, or if it requires a Wi-Fi infrastructure connection to be available. I’d assume it’s the former, which would mean your smartphone will be temporarily disconnected from any live Wi-Fi connections while connected to the camera. Then there’s the process of taking pictures with the camera. I have not tested either of the cameras, but David Pierce of The Verge did. Skip to about 0:40 in The Verge’s hands-on video below and you’ll see what I’m talking about:

Not exactly smooth, eh? Then again, unless you have the Nokia 1020 the QX cameras are significantly better than your phone’s cameras. Ultimately that should be their main selling point. You can pre-order both the QX100 and QX10 from Sony’s online store or from Amazon. The QX100 costs $500 (USD) (its big brother, the RX100 costs $750) while the QX10 costs $250 (the WX150 costs $400).

I hate wasting food. I hate having to bring up that old “kids are starving in Africa” reasoning, but I will anyway, because it’s true. However, I don’t believe in gorging yourself with food either, just so you won’t have any leftovers. There’s always storing them away in the fridge so you can finish them the next day or sharing them with random people through Leftoverswap.

LeftoverSwap is an app that’s currently in development, which lets you connect with people who might be hungry for your leftovers. I’m not kidding.

Here’s how it works: If you’re a giver, simply take a picture of your leftovers, name it and upload it to the app. If you’re a taker, browse the leftovers near you and arrange for a pickup or delivery.

The app’s website points out that some glaring statistics: 4o% of food produced isn’t eaten, but actually goes to waste. Aside from that, 70% of people are overweight, with about 99% not needing that second helping of whatever dish they’re about to pig out on.

It’s too bad though that the people who need your leftovers the most (such as homeless people and streetchildren) probably don’t have smartphones.

[via Geekologie]