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]

Live on stage Apple is set to announce their new iPhone 5S as well as launch iOS 7 to the world. While we’re still waiting for the exciting news, Tim Cook is quickly talking about iWork. Which just so happens to be one of the most popular and best-selling mobile productivity apps to date. Focusing […]

Yesterday Sony introduced a gaming device that’s as surprising as the Nintendo 2DS. Alongside its announcement of a new PS Vita model, Sony also introduced the PlayStation Vita TV. But while Nintendo wants to grab new mobile gamers with its new handheld, Sony seems to be going after its existing customers with the PS Vita TV. You’ll see why I say that in a bit.

If the 2DS is a 3DS with no 3D screen, the Vita TV is a Vita that has no screen at all. It needs your TV or HD monitor as its screen. It measures just 2.6″ x 4.1″ x  o.54″ and weighs just 110g (~0.24 lb.). It can play many games PS Vita games as well as the PS One Classics and PSP games in the Playstation Network store. It will use the DualShock 3 controller, which was originally released for the PS3. The Vita TV has a Vita game card slot, an HDMI port, a USB 2.0 port, an Ethernet port, Wi-Fi connectivity and a slot for Sony’s memory cards.

Another compelling feature of the PS Vita TV is that it will also have its own version of Remote Play when the PS4 launches. If you have a PS 4 connected to one TV, you can use the PS Vita TV to stream games to another TV as long as both PlayStation devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. You can see this feature at around 0:44 in the video below:

The PS Vita is also a digital media player. But it’s going to be launched in Japan first so the announced services are mainly for Japanese customers, with the exception of Hulu. Finally, like the 2DS, the PS Vita TV is also cheaper than its full featured kin. It will launch in Japan on 11/14/13 for ¥9,954 (~$100 USD).

It’s not all good news though. As you may have deduced already, the PS Vita TV cannot play all Vita games. That’s because some games, e.g. Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Tearaway make use of the Vita’s touchscreen, which the DualShock 3 doesn’t have. PlayStation Japan has a list of the games that will work with the PS Vita. The obvious answer to this dilemma would be the DualShock 4, but Sony didn’t say if this functionality will be added in the future.

As with the 2DS’ lack of 3D, the disparity between the Vita and the Vita TV could create a lose-lose situation for Sony. If developers keep on making Vita games that require a touchscreen or a touchpad, owners of the Vita TV will be pissed off that they can’t play those games. On the other hand, if more Vita games in the future won’t require the touchscreen, that may render the Vita’s touchscreen and rear touchpad useless. I think Sony should order developers to require the use of Vita’s touch hardware only on games that are meant to be played on the go. In short, only on games designed for a mobile device. Because that’s what the Vita is and that’s what the Vita TV is not. I don’t think Vita TV gamers would care much for an endless running game or a tower defense game.

Another drawback of this strange new microconsole is that it’s not really as cheap as it seems. Sure, at only $100, it’s 50% cheaper than the PS Vita. But the microconsole doesn’t come with a DualShock 3. Japanese customers will have to buy a bundle that costs about $150 if they want a controller included with their PS Vita TV. Then there’s Sony’s most irritating quirk: its memory cards. The PS Vita TV has only 1GB of internal memory, which means pretty soon you’ll have to splurge on Sony’s vastly overpriced proprietary memory cards.

Like I said, the PS Vita TV seems to be aimed at loyal or would-be loyal fans of the PlayStation ecosystem. If you already have a PS3, then you already have a DualShock 3 controller. Got the Vita? Then you have Vita games and at least one memory card. If Ouya and other microconsole makers want to stay swimming with this big fish, I think they have to attack that one weakness: sell cheap and go for casual and retro gamers.

[via PlayStation Asia & Engadget]

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.

Just a couple of weeks ago I thought that this versatile 3D printer was the 21st century printer, copier, scanner and fax machine. I was wrong. AIO Robotics’ Zeus 3D printer is that machine. It prints, scans, copies and faxes 3d objects. Yep, fax.

With Zeus, AIO Robotics is aiming at consumers who may not be as tech savvy as the other early adopters of 3D printing technology.

You can clearly see from its appearance and its user interface that the Zeus is designed to be accommodating and convenient. That’s why it has a fax function. Faxing with Zeus is a remote version of its copying function, which in turn is a combo of scanning and printing. When you select fax, Zeus scans the object to be copied then sends the 3D file to another Zeus printer via the Internet. The receiving Zeus printer will be the one to print the copy of the object, just like with a faxed document.

Pledge at least $1,999 (USD) on Kickstarter to get a Zeus 3D printer as a reward. How awesome would it be if you could just ask Amazon – or your local pizza restaurant – to fax your order to you?