Hasta La Gadget!

If yesterday’s announcements of a new, touch-screen iPod Nano and a redesigned iPod Touch with a slimmer design and front-facing camera got you ready to break out the credit card, you won’t have to do it and wonder if you can find a case or protector to keep your new gadget safe on the go. Scosche announced a line of cases and screen protectors for the new iPod Nano and the updated iPod Touch, including the new kickBACK t4 iPod Touch case that features a kick-stand on the back and a glossy, rigid polycarbonate exterior that will be available in gray, white, or black. Scosche also unveiled the switchBACK for the iPod Touch, a case that’s similar to the kickBACK but with removable color plates for the rear of the case.

For the new iPod Nano, Scosche announced the tightGRIP silicone enclosure case that fits snugly around the new square-shaped Nano on all sides, with a slot on the back for its clip and space on the front for the touch-screen. The tightGRIP will be available in six different colors that you can choose to match your iPod Nano. All of the new cases and screen protectors are available to pre-order at Scosche’s Web site, and will retail between $14.99 for some of the screen protectors to $39.99 for cases like the kickBACK t4. 

Promotional Image from Apple.com.

The App Store has offered a Remote app for iOS devices for a while now, but the new Apple TV might be the best use-case to show what an app-based touchscreen remote can do.

The new Apple TV had two remotes. The first is the minimalist metal slab that will ship with your tiny box. The second is the iOS application that you’ll download from the App store.

The first iteration of Apple TV had the same little white infrared remote the company used to ship with laptops. It was great for clicking through a slideshow presentation. It wasn’t very good to keep around your living room, unless you stuck it in a bowl with your keys. It wasn’t a real remote, and most people hated keeping track of another remote anyway, especially one that got lost at the drop of a hat.

The new remote, released earlier this year, isn’t a lot different from that old white remote. It’s a nicer device; like everything else Apple makes now besides the new square iPods, it’s a long strip of aluminum. It’s still got just six buttons: up, down, right, left, play/pause and menu.

But that minimalism seems almost smarter now. Apple now seems to be figuring out the exact number of hardware buttons it needs on each device. It took away too much on the iPod Shuffle, so now some buttons are coming back. It wanted to get rid of the buttons on the Nano, so it changed it to touchscreen.

For the Apple TV, it’s keeping the action on the screen, with the software interface. Make that easy to navigate, give people the exact options they need depending on context, and you don’t need dozens of buttons on the remote/media player/phone.

Maybe you don’t even need a remote, though. That’s because Apple TV’s second remote control is the Apple-made mobile device that Apple TV customers probably already own.

Seriously — what are the chances of someone buying Apple TV who doesn’t have an iPod, iPad or iPhone?

[Continue reading]

So we just got our hands on the new iPod touch… and boy is it small. As you would expect, the functionality of the device is identical to the iPhone 4, as well as the functions of the cameras. In essence, it’s a much thinner iPhone 4, with no cell radio and a lower quality still camera. The design is relatively in keeping with previous touches, so no major surprises there, but the inclusion of that A4 chip, higher resolution screen, and front and back cameras makes it a far more versatile device. Take a look at the gallery below if you’re wondering just how much of a sliver this is — it makes the iPhone 4 look… fat.

Update: It’s worth noting that the back camera is clearly not the same 5 megapixel shooter present on the iPhone 4, as the specs on Apple’s page for the touch list the still photo resolution at 960 x 720 — a huge difference.

Continue reading iPod touch (2010) first hands-on! (update: video!)

iPod touch (2010) first hands-on! (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple’s music event was so full of shiny gadgets and awesome news that your head might still be spinning. In case you struggled to keep up with everything or want a review, here are all the highlights: More »

If you were afraid that the iPod Classic may have bit the dust at today’s music event, well, rest assured, it’s still alive. While we awaited word on just that question from Apple, our good friend Michael Gartenberg confirmed with the company that it lives on to see another day.. and a beautiful performance by Chris Martin.

Confirmed: the iPod Classic is alive and well originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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