Google Reader is a hot ticket for iPhone and iPod Touch users lately. We saw a native attempt at Google Reader, which worked quite well actually. There is just nothing like the real thing though right? So here it is, Google has finally brought full support of its RSS reader, Google Reader, to the mobile Safari browser. The service says it is still in beta, but it seems to be working very well.
“This new version is designed to offer many of the same features as the desktop, while making it quick and easy to act on items. If you’ve used list view, then it should be familiar to you. Scan the titles for an item that interests you, tap and it expands in place. Starring, sharing, and keeping unread are done in place, so you never have to leave the list view or refresh the page. We think it’s a very fast way to power through your reading list.” - Google Reader Blog
The application looks to bring a more desktop like Google Reader experience to the mobile Safari browser. To access the new Google Reader, just visit http://www.google.com/reader/i/ on your iPhone or iPod Touch. The service is still in beta and you will not be redirected to that page just by visiting Reader, so bookmark it for future use.
[Via Google Reader Blog]
Written by Chase Higgins on May 13th, 2008 with no comments.
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It is true that the earbuds that Apple ships with their iPods and iPhones are not the most comfortable. They have gotten a little better, as the newer ones are much less unpleasant than the original earbuds. While I would not say the sound on the earbuds are horrible, they still just do not provide the best sound quality. Thankfully third-party manufacturers have generously stepped up to offload your money in return for some aftermarket ‘buds, but out of the hundreds on offer, which do you go for? Gear Diary’s Chris Chaimberlain has been trying out Comply’s Whoomp! Earbud Enhancers; billed as a middle-ground before you ditch the original ‘buds, can an accessory redeem Apple’s mediocre earphones?
Traditionally you have to purchase high priced head phones to get good quality out of them. Generally, if you want the best quality you are looking at at least $50 bucks. This is for the in ear headphones, which I find to be the most comfortable, and to have the best sound quality. The Whoomp! earbud enhancers can be had for under $20. This makes them affordable enough that it is not unpleasant on your wallet.
The Whoomp! enhancers work by attaching to the end of the earbuds that come with your iPod, or iPhone. They also increase the bass that the headphones deliver, apparently providing more space for the sound to resonate in. They come in black or white, and if you lose one of the pair, a single one can be had for $11.95.
[Via Gear Diary]
Written by Chase Higgins on April 27th, 2008 with no comments.
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Technically speaking, the WildCharge adapter for the iPhone and iPod touch is actually integrated into a high-quality gel case called “Skins”, a gel covered product made of Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE) material. WildCharge wire-free charging technology is located on the back of the case and all you have to do is slip your iPhone or iPod touch into the case and then drop it anywhere on the WildCharger charging pad. It’s that easy. A blue light on the left hand side of the pad lights up notifying you that the juice is pumping through your device.
The silver placemat-like WildCharger pad can charge up to five devices simultaneously (with a maximum power output of 15 Watts), once these are outfitted with the WildCharge adapters. WildCharge hinted that it’s possible for manufacturer to integrate their adapters directly in the devices during manufacture - I’d sure love to see Apple embrace this technology in future iPhone and iPod models! There are half a dozen of phones on my desk at any give time, so you can imagine the clutter from all the wires. They get tangled up, cause my desk to look messy and, worse of all, I’ve got multiple wall-bricks all over the floor underneath my desk. So what’s included? The WildCharger is composed of the charger itself and an AC power adapter, priced at $59.95. I can definitely see myself bringing this on a long road trip to use in hotel rooms. It’s either this or an extension cord because there is hardly ever enough electrical outlets near the nightstand.
As I mentioned earlier, the technology that cuts the power cord on your iPhone or iPod touch is integrated into the back of a gel case, doubling as a protective case for your investment. I personally love the feel of the case or “skin” as Izhar referred to it in the demo video below. The adapter on the back is hardly noticeable. WildCharge plan on releasing a rainbow of colors for you to choose from, starting with black, shiny black, blue, pink, clear and many, many other colors to pick from. If you go with the clear case, you have the option of purchasing one that shows off the guts of the adapter. If that’s your thing, go for it. I prefer the traditional all around black case. Make sure to drop a comment and let me know your favorite color! Ship date is still officially undetermined, but Izhar did mention the iPhone and iPod touch cases “are ready to go, and should launch next month.” The cases will cost $34.95 each. That’s not a bad deal considering most cases on the market average between $15 and $40+.
Slipping the iPhone or iPod touch into the case is pretty simple, taking just seconds to apply. The only suggestion I have for WildCharge is to figure out a way to open up the dock port so that I can sync via my sync cable.
So how does it work? The way I understand it, electrical current is delivered to the shiny metal stripes on the pad from the AC adapter, which is then passed to the little metal bumps (aka the adapter) and then on to the iPhone or iPod touch. Yes I’m aware this technology has been around for ages, but heck, the folks at WildCharge figured out an ingenious way to put it into practice. All I care about is charging takes the same amount of time with WildCharge as it would plug in.
In conclusion, I love the technology and I love that it finally cuts the (almost) last cord attached to my iPhone! Is WildCharge right for you? Well, only you can answer that. Before making the purchase, factor in the price of $60 for the WildCharger pad and an additional $35 per adapter for your iPhone, iPod touch, BlackBerry 8800, Pearl or a third-gen iPod. At the end of the day, if you have the cash and find the product convenient to have, then make the purchase.
WildCharge road map…
Yes, I’d mentioned the BlackBerry 8800, Pearl, and third-gen iPod adapters earlier and yes, they are coming soon. In the case of the BlackBerry 8800, the version I saw didn’t have a pass through for a USB plug. Izhar briefly mentioned they’re looking into the “possibility” of making the mod to accommodate it. And you’re probably wondering what if you have a Samsung, Motorola or Nokia handset? Well, rest assured that WildCharge is planning to release a universal adapter with exchangeable tips. While I’m not allowed to say too much, what I’m permitted to share is that the adapter has a magnet that’ll attach to the back of your handset with an arm-like extension outwards towards the power adapter, whether it be a USB, miroUSB or even a proprietary plug such as on Samsung handsets.
Reference design for the iPod nano.
In theory…this is how I’d like for things to look in the future…
BEFORE
AFTER
Written by Vincent Nguyen on April 24th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on iPhone Accessories and Apple iPhone and Featured Stories and iPod Touch and Featured and iPhone archive.
An Apple spokesman has confirmed to Forbes that the company has agreed to buy the boutique microprocessor design specialists PA Semi. Known for their expertise in low-power mobile processors, PA Semi was founded in 2003 by Dan Dobberpuhl, a lead designer on early ARM chips; the company currently employs 150 people. Speculation is rife that PA Semi chips will now find their way into the iPhone and future portable devices by Apple.
Although neither company would comment on the value of the deal, a person familiar with the arrangement has suggested it was a cash sale worth $278 million. The buy has come as a surprise to many analysts, who expected Apple’s headline-grabbing relationship with Intel to see future mobile devices using the chip company’s own Atom platform, itself a low-power design. It’s been suggested that Apple’s acquisition is in part to further seal off the potential of upcoming products leaking, which has historically plagued the run-up to each eagerly-anticipated launch. Negotiations took mere weeks, although prior to the Intel deal Apple and PA Semi were in talks which then fell through.
This doesn’t mean, of course, that we’ll see a PA Semi chip in the 3G iPhone; the deal is too recent for that. But given the ongoing rumors of an Apple UMPC - possibly in the form of a larger, maybe QWERTY-equipped iPod Touch - and the iPhone’s further blurring of the smartphone, MID and UMPC niches, it’s unsurprising that the company is looking for highly efficient mobile processors. According to Forbes, Apple plans to continue to supply and support existing PA Semi customers, but keep future chips exclusively for itself.
Written by Chris Davies on April 23rd, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Apple iPhone and Apple and iPod Touch and 3G iPhone and Featured.
DropCopy is an application for the iPhone and Mac that makes copying files to your iPhone from a Mac, or vice versa, simpler than ever before. DropCopy is only for Mac OSX, so sorry Windows users. Windows users are SOL because the company does not intend to port it over.
DropCopy works on a jailbroken iPhone or iPod Touch. The application is simple, and dead efficient. The application runs on the Mac in the background, allowing easy access. You browse your Mac for files to transfer, and when you see something you like, you just drag it to a circle near the top left of the desktop. You will then be prompted to select a destination iPhone or iPod Touch, and voila, done. Files transferred to your iPhone via DropCopy are stored in the ~/Media/DropCopy folder by default, but another folder can be chosen if desired.
Transferring files from your iPhone is just as easy. You open up the DropCopy application on the iPhone, and you are greeted with a help screen to tell you how to do it. DropCopy is great for quick transfers, and is a good alternative to SSH. The application only allows transfers to the iPhone when it is open, it does not run in the background, and poses no security risk.
You can get DropCopy for your Mac from here. For the iPhone, the application is already listed in Installer.
Written by Chase Higgins on April 18th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Software and iPhone 3rd Party Apps and iPod Touch and iPhone archive.
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