Hasta La Gadget!

As our extensive KIRF library shows, China’s one wild country that can make almost anything you don’t want, so don’t mind us while we inspect this new finding with extra caution. This particular Chinese online seller not only claims to have parts for the next-gen iPhone, but also one white face plate — something not seen on iPhones thus far. While we drool over the thought of an all white Apple handheld, there are still questions to be answered here: the seller wasn’t able to explain what that silver bit above the speaker is, nor have we seen white back plates to match this. Furthermore, we were given a “maybe” for a bulk order of 15 to 20 units, which is quite a lot for something that’s not even out yet, but we were told over the phone that there’s always a back door to Foxconn as long as you wave cash at someone. Not that you should engage in such risky business, plus this piece’s authenticity will be revealed in about three weeks’ time, anyway. One more shot after the break.

[Thanks, Francesco]

Continue reading White front plate looks all set and ready for next-gen iPhone, or not

White front plate looks all set and ready for next-gen iPhone, or not originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 16:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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That picture above is about all you need to know, because if you go to this product’s website there’s virtually no text — just that self-explanatory image showing the thing and what it does. The thing is the iAngle and what it does is double as an earbud case and a mini stand, perfect for your coach class commutes. Massive advancement in the world of gadgets? Hardly, but it’s a neat little deal, and at $10 it won’t break the bank either. We’re thinking it might work with other gadgets too, at least those of roughly the iPhone‘s thickness, but you’re on your own for verifying that hypothesis.

iAngle holds your earbuds and your iPhone… at an angle originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 10:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve been intrigued by the Square Payment System since it first ditched its Squirrel costume back in 2009, and now it appears we’re on the eve (or eve of the eve, or pretty close anyway) to its release for not only the iPhone, but for the iPad and for Android as well. The software is said to be hitting App Stores and Markets this week, working with a sugar cube-sized card reader that pops into the 3.5mm headphone jack, a device that the company is giving away for free to those who sign up. Using it will not be free, with retailers paying fees starting at 2.75 percent plus a 15 cent surcharge, but that’s considerably cheaper than many other options out there (which often require costly hardware to boot). There’s another new video after the break, and we can’t wait for these things to start showing up at the farmer’s market. No more early morning ATM runs!

Update: Apps for the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices are now live in their respective download abodes. None will require that you enter a single digit of your credit card.

[Thanks, Ed]

Continue reading Square mobile payment system goes live on iPhone, iPad, and Android this week (video)

Square mobile payment system goes live on iPhone, iPad, and Android this week (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 09:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nike is making millions from its Apple-friendly wares, designed to turned technophiles into fitness freaks. Imagine the possibilities if the iPhone could not only track your running stride but also monitor your heart rate while doing it. That’s one of a suite of potential uses for this patent app from Apple, a Seamlessly Embedded Heart Rate Monitor. The design is for a series of electrodes that are, well, seamlessly embedded into the shell of a given device in such a way that they are “not visibly or haptically distinguishable on the device.” The device could then, with a touch, measure heart-rate, uniquely identify a user, and even “determine the user’s mood from the cardiac signals.” Just imagine the new flood of EKG-related apps: iPalpitate, Murmur Maker, Cardiac Arrest… the possibilities are endless.

[Thanks, Staska]

Apple’s Seamlessly Embedded Heart Rate Monitor could turn the iPhone into a new-age mood ring originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 May 2010 07:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While we can’t honestly imagine an iDevice user going about their life without connecting to the iTunes App Store at least once in a blue moon — if not on a semi-permanent basis — the statistically-significant NPD Group decided to look into the matter regardless. Sure enough, the org reports that a full three-quarters of iPhone and iPod touch users in the US do indeed download apps and entertainment content from the internet. In case you’re wondering, that figure beats the pants off those connecting from their video game consoles (19 percent) or Blu-ray players (17 percent), but both of those are obviously biased towards physical, disc-based media. Before you dismiss these findings as obvious, however, let’s read between the lines — if 75 percent of Apple’s touchscreen devices are pulling content from the web, that means the other one-quarter have gone without. If not apps, what the heck are those devices being used for?

NPD: 75 percent of US iPhone, iPod touch users download content, other 25 percent think Opera Mini is a tiny concert originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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