Hasta La Gadget!

The iPhone 4S is a nice phone. But most people think it’s a disappointment. After all, it comes in last years’ skin, and its guts aren’t radically amazing. It’s nothing special. And that means it’s Microsoft’s chance to counterattack. More »

There isn’t actually much new about this awesome DIY project, but it’s the way it brings the various parts together that has us impressed. Designed by Instructables user XenonJohn, with help from software developer David Findlay, the Magic Music Table RFID was designed to let a child with a disability select albums to play back from an iPod touch playlist. The iPod is connected to an Arduino, which tells the device to start playing a particular track based on a selection made with RFID cards. The whole setup is built into a coffee table and the RFID tags are sandwiched inside clear plastic blocks with the album art. You can see it in action in the video after the break and, if you’ve got the patience and skill, you can build your own using the directions at the source link.

Continue reading Arduino, iPod and RFID make beautiful, accessible music together (video)

Arduino, iPod and RFID make beautiful, accessible music together (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Easy to use, and easy to lose: the Apple iPhone Micro USB Adapter

Last year, the European Commission decreed that all future cellphones would have but one kind of charger. No longer would we see different cables for Nokia, Sony, and Samsung. Instead, there would be one charger to rule them all: Micro USB.

Which of course led everybody to wonder if Apple would play ball. There was of course no way that it would drop its proprietary 30-pin dock connector, so how would it comply with EU rules?

With a dongle, of course. Over in Europe, you can now buy an adapter which will let you charge your iPhone (or other iOS device) with a Micro USB cable. It’s a tiny chunk of plastic which slots into the dock connector and provides a standard socket into which any USB cable can be shoved in order to charge or sync the phone.

The adapters cost €9, or £8 in the UK, and will presumably come bundled with the iPhone 4S when it ships. Does this also mean that Apple will begin to ship plain USB cables with its various chargers? I doubt it — the adapter likely takes care of obeying the rules.

Still, for many people this will mean one less charger to carry, and this tiny dongle can be kept in a wallet. I actually do things the other way around, carrying my iPad charger along with a handful of other USB cables to charge other gadgets from it when needed.

Apple iPhone Micro USB Adapter [Apple]

See Also:

• Europeans Realize Dream of a Single Charger for All Cellphones …

If you’re all hot and bothered by today’s announcement from Apple, there’ll be a new way for AT&T customers to snatch up the iPhone 4S. Later this evening, Ma Bell expects to introduce a gem into the App Store that lets users check their upgrade eligibility, and beginning Friday, October 7th, customers will be able to pre-order the A5-wielding beauty from the comfort of their current iPhone. Of course, we’ll be sure to provide an update as the final details become available. Who’d have thought your current handset would play such an active role in its own demise?

Update: As expected, AT&T’s Upgrader app is now live in the App Store. Just take a peek at the source link to get your download on.

Update 2: Apple giveth, and Apple taketh away — in other words, the download has been pulled. Better luck next time? In the meantime, all AT&T customers may check their upgrade eligibility at the carrier’s website.

AT&T goes meta: your iPhone 4S upgrade is just an app away (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, well, what have we here? Hot on the heels of being unveiled to the world, the latest and greatest iPhone appears to have landed with the feds to get the FCC’s stamp of approval. That’s right, an Apple phone bearing model number A1387 has just made it through the commission’s myriad tests unscathed. We can’t say for certain it’s the 4S, but given the timing of its appearance, it sure seems like Uncle Sam’s officially on board with the new iPhone. If the rest of our coverage of Apple’s new handset wasn’t enough for you, hit the source below for the full FCC nitty gritty.

Apple iPhone 4S makes its way through the FCC? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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