Opposing the iPad 3 release for OnLive

When it comes to upgrading hardware for a newer version with more technologically advanced specs it’s almost a no-brainer for some people, and this is especially the case for Apple fans looking forward to the release of iPhone 5 and iPad 3.

Over the last few weeks we’ve studied the latest iPad 3 rumors from the gamer perspective, and looked at what this release could bring for those that love to play graphic intensive games while mobile. This included the possibility of a new A6 chip that could offer a quad core and graphics power 20x the iPad 2, although these are just rumors waiting to be confirmed by an Apple event unveiling the new iPad.

More money for better hardware could be a thing of the past – in the future you might not need to keep upgrading hardware for better graphics when gaming, and instead the idea of cloud computing is gaining increased publicity. OnLive is driving the idea of cloud gaming and saving you money by only spending on games, and letting OnLive worry about the hardware needed to run these games.

OnLive has started to offer support for Android and iOS mobile devices, including phones and tablet PCs. in 2012 some gamers that want extreme mobile graphics, similar to those found on the Xbox 360 and PS3, might not worry about the upcoming iPad 3 release that is expected to push mobile gaming to new levels. These casual gamers could find satisfaction with OnLive and an older iPad they already own rather than upgrading for improved specs, or a mobile phone and older PC that does not need an upgrade thanks to OnLive.

Hardcore gamers not ready just yet – there are still a few reasons why some people find the need to spend money on the latest gadgets to support their gaming, and these include lag and an Internet connection. The connection issue with OnLive can be solved in the U.S. and Europe as support for 4G mobile broadband increases, although the lag issue could still be there until technology improves. Why do you love to buy hardware with higher specs, and do you think cloud gaming could change your ways?

We’ve embedded a video below that runs for around 37 minutes, get a snack first, and gives you some real insight into OnLive. The same video shows you gameplay from a number of games that feature graphics along the lines of the PS3/Xbox 360, although when playing a fighting game the lag is very noticeable and seasoned gamers would not like the experience.

To show you how integrated cloud gaming is becoming we’ve featured another video, which shows a new Google TV with OnLive built-in so you can game without the need for a PS3 or Xbox 360 console, but with similar graphics. Again the lag issue would still be there, and is more noticeable in racing and fighting games.

The choice comes down to the type of gamer you are – It has been rumored that the raw horsepower of the upcoming iPad 3 could equal that of an Xbox 360, which should mean graphics in apps that are right up there with the PS Vita. if you’re a casual gamer always near a Wi-Fi connection then OnLive could be a better and cheaper solution than continually upgrading iPad/phone/PC hardware.

If the iPad 3 released with an LTE/4G connection then this could be the last mobile gaming device you need, which can be paired with OnLive and improved support for 4G connections. then you should never need another gaming device again for better graphics, which could increase to PS4/Xbox 720 type graphics on low spec mobile hardware next generation.

Have you had enough of upgrading hardware for games, and could OnLive gaming for a growing range of devices suit you better? Will you buy the iPad 3? See the videos below to better understand OnLive, and let us know if this type of service is ideal for your gaming needs.

Those of you looking for some of the latest iPad 3 news might want to see a few articles published this week, which includes details on iPad 3 cases and the iPad 3 retina display rumor mentioned again, although in the code for iBooks 2 this time. You might also want to watch out for an Apple event that is rumored for early February and could showcase an iPad 3 with a release date a few weeks later.

Cellcontrol: A Smarter Solution For Distracted Drivers

We’ve seen a lot of tools meant to curb distracted driving, but they’ve all had their share of flaws. A new system called Cellcontrol looks better than most — in part because of its unique, clever design.

Like DriveSafe.ly, PhoneGuard, and SafeCell, Cellcontrol relies an app, which works on most of today’s smartphones. (Most, but not all. We’ll get to that in a minute.)

What makes Cellcontrol different, though, is that it also comes with a bit of hardware that plugs into a vehicle’s on-board diagnostic port, or OBD-II. The device is about the same size and shape of the one that Progressive uses for its Snapshot program. Once attached, it communicates with associated smartphones using Bluetooth — though thankfully, it doesn’t actually require a pairing of the phone and the OBD-II device.

This addresses a major flaw that’s plagued other distracted driving apps — namely, their inability to tell when someone is driving a vehicle or just a passenger. Install Cellcontrol in your teen’s car and on her phone, and it’ll work like a charm when she’s behind the wheel. However, when she’s riding in a different vehicle — probably as a passenger — the app remains off, allowing her to text and email as usual. The same is true when she rides a bus or takes a train. Ultimately, this makes the app less of a nuisance for users, which in turn means that they’re less likely to disable or uninstall it. 

What’s more, Cellcontrol can be configured to allow drivers a limited degree of mobile phone use. so, for example, parents can set up an approved list of phone numbers from which teens can receive calls behind the wheel. There’s also an option to allow phone functionality so long as the phone is paired with a hands-free headset. and of course, 911 calls can be made at any time, even when a vehicle is in motion.

That said, Cellcontrol isn’t perfect.

When mom and dad are doing the driving and junior’s in the backseat, his phone is going to be disabled. That’s going to encourage him to find ways around the software — for example, by disabling Bluetooth on his phone. Cellcontrol says that its app prevents any disabling of Bluetooth, but we have a feeling that the company means “while a vehicle is in motion”. even so, there are plenty of apps that can override Bluetooth functionality. 

There’s also the problem of the OBD-II device, which is Cellcontrol’s key selling feature. Given the increasing number of auto insurers who use OBD-II plug-ins to monitor customers’ driving habits, parents may have to choose between keeping an eye their teen’s driving or preventing him from texting behind the wheel, since OBD-II ports can accommodate only one plug-in at a time. 

But the biggest problem with Cellcontrol is that it’s not available for the iPhone. Android, Blackberry, and Windows handsets are covered, but not the ones from Cupertino. Given the huge sales numbers Apple announced earlier this week, that could be a real problem if Cellcontrol’s code monkeys don’t get cracking on an iOS-compatible app ASAP.

Cellcontrol retails for $24.95 per OBD-II device, plus a $7.95 per month subscription. for a quick overview of how it works, check out the video clip below:

Pioneer Announces New Networked Audio Players

Pioneer is joining companies in pre-CES announcements with two new networked audio players. the company unveiled the Elite N-30 and N-50 audio players, devices that can stream music over AirPlay and DLNA 1.5.

Both players feature 2.5-inch LCD screens, Internet radio modes, and can be controlled with iPhone or Android apps. They’re technically very similar, with the same support for MP3, WMA, and AAC files, the ability to play FLAC and WAV files through DLNA 1.5, and lossless audio over Airplay. they can both connect to networks over Ethernet, and optional Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adapters are available to stream music without cables. the need for adapters seems a bit unreasonable, when the players retail for $499 (N-30) and $699 (N-50).

The N-50 features twin EL transformers to reduce interference, an armored chassis to reduce noise, and gold RCA jacks. It also incorporates audio processing features like a Hi-Bit 32-bit processor, Advanced Sound Retriever and Sound Retriever AIR, which the company claims improves the audio quality of compressed files.

CES 2012

Pioneer’s Elite brand is the company’s line of high-end home theater and audio enthusiast products. They’re usually built to be heavier and more solid than regular Pioneer devices, and feature more features and media format support. Pioneer Elite products include Blu-ray players, A/V receivers, and audio players. before the company stopped making HDTVs, the Pioneer Elite Kuro series of plasma HDTVs was regarded as some of the best screens on the market. Sharp has since purchased Pioneer’s Elite brand for HDTVs and begun making Elite-branded LCD HDTVs.

The new Pioneer Elite N-30 and N-50 networked audio players are currently available.

For the top stories in tech, follow us on Twitter at @PCMag.

Kodak files new patent lawsuits against Apple, HTC

Sponsored links, if any, appear in green.

Kodak may be in trouble financially, but that hasn’t stopped its court activity, as it has just filed new lawsuits against Apple and HTC claiming infringement against Kodak’s digital imaging patents.

the camera-maker already has an existing lawsuit against Apple, but today’s filing brings four new claims into the mix. In the suit, Kodak names the iPad 2, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and the iPod touch (4th generation) as infringing (this pretty much covers all of Apple’s devices that have cameras). the four patents address transmitting digital images over a variety of communication services.

the complaint against HTC includes the four patents levied against Apple, but also adds a fifth patent that appears to be related to grabbing still images from a video clip. Kodak lists the HTC EVO View 4G, Flyer, Jetstream, Vivid, Amaze 4G, Desire, EVO Design 4G, Hero S, Rezound, Rhyme, Sensation 4G, and the Wildfire S as infringing, but notes that its complaint is not limited to those devices. Notably absent are any Windows Phone models that HTC produces.

Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents speculates that Kodak has filed these new lawsuits in order to garner attention for its patent portfolio, which it has been trying to find a buyer for. If it shows that it has valuable patents that can be used against device makers, it could have a better chance at selling the suite. so far, that strategy has not quite worked out as Kodak has hoped.

iPhone 3GS activatie

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dpmeijers op 15 januari 2012 #

Ik probeer een iphone 3GS van een vriend van me aan de praat te krijgen, dit is gelukt totdat ik er IOS5 op heb gezet. via de iPhone krijg ik de volgende melding: Uw iPhone kan niet worden geactiveerd, omdat de activeringsserver tijdelijk niet beschikbaar is. Sluit uw iPhone aan op iTunes voor activering of probeer het over enkele minuten opnieuw. Dit heb ik ook al een paar keer gedaan. Ik krijg via itunes nu telkens de melding dat er geen simkaart in de iphone zit, die er wel in zit. Ik dacht daarom aan een unlock en heb dat vervolgens gedaan. Tot mijn verbazing blijft deze melding maar komen?! Wat kan ik doen?

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Turn your iPhone into a vintage rangefinder

Gizmon's iCA case comes in black, white, and brown.

(Credit:four Corner Store)

Fans of vintage cameras can now dress their iPhones in Gizmon’s iCA case, which makes the handset look like a Leica rangefinder camera. the iCA case also comes with some useful functions, such as the ability to capture images via the case’s shutter button and frame the scene with its optical viewfinder.

Made of polycarbonate, the $65 case also has a lens mount for users to swap four lenses, a tripod socket for long exposures, and strap lugs for you to loop your handset on a neck strap like a regular camera.

An entire system of accessories is currently in the works, with the company looking into developing attachments such as special-effects filters, an external flash, and acar accessory stand, to name a few.

(Source: Crave Asia via Petapixel)

Apple iPhone 5 To Be Completely Redesigned For Fall 2012 Release

Buyers awaiting a brand new iPhone 5 in 2012 won’t be disappointed, a source close to the company’s development branch says the iPhone 5 will be a completely redesigned Smartphone unlike anything we’ve seen to date from Apple.

Speaking to BGR the source has revealed that the company wants to use a plastic or rubber material similar to those found in their bumper cases. According to the insider the rubber would likely be used as a bezel surrounding the front edge of the phone, much in a similar way the 3GS bezel was prominently featured.

According to the source the new design and material would allow the glass iPhone face to join to a new aluminum back plate. the design change would also cover a redesigned antenna system that surrounds the device.

An earlier report pointed to an aluminum design with a 4-inch display.

Of course at this point rumors are likely to be molded into new design features and ever changing specs. It should be noted that unlike past rumors that have been proven correct this rumor has not been verified by parts manufacturers who usually leak certain details about design feature requests made to their company’s.

Does the new rumored iPhone 5 design sound like something you would be willing to invest in or upgrade to or does Apple need to announce even bigger changes to their Smartphone line?

iSkin’s new iPhone 4/4S case has Year of the Dragon aura

It doesn’t look like iSkin will quite make the arrival of the Year of the Dragon, which kicks off on January 23, but it’s trying to get close with its new “dragon-themed”iPhone 4/4S Aura cases, which were spotted atCES in Las Vegas.

iSkin was also showing another new line of cases for iPhones and iPads that will be released “by Spring” with a kind of ruggedly smooth leathery look that got a lot of good feedback at the show. that line will be called Vintage.

The Canadian accessories company has also hired supermodel and Montrealer Rick Genest, who’s alternatively known as Zombie Boy and Rico the Zombie, to be part of its new ad campaign.

“He’s sort of our new spokesperson,” said a non-tattooed company spokesperson.

No word on when exactly the Dragon Aura will ship, but it’s expected to cost $44.95 and come in a few different colors.

IPhone 4g and its many accessories

Many different types of items, accessories, clothes etc are bought everyday by a person. People are sometimes in a habit of buying several items regularly. the items bought, can be related to clothing, shoes, bags, makeup and cosmetics, household accessories, gadgets etc. To elongate their use, they have to be secured. It is the same case with electronic goods and machineries. the main aspect to secure them is because they are expensive and need to be used for a longer period. the way they are secured, increases their life span. By securing them, they keep in a good condition for long and smooth the progress of their use to a person. that is one way, of spending less and increase the sturdiness of the items.

The new smart phone, iPhone 4g, has entered a tough competitive market with unique features and different functions. Buyers love it and others want to own it because of its facilities. while buying an iPhone 4g, the first accessory to buy, that comes to mind is not a headphone or a charger. the answer is clear. the most important of all other accessories for iPhone are the iPhone 4g cases. the reason why they are bought is to provide the phone protection and safeguard. These cases protect every inch of the iPhone with providing security to ports and the touch screen against accidental damages.

Many businesses have entered the market to provide accessories and unique iPhone4 cases for the new series. Online markets and market places provide a long range of extraordinary, varied and designer covers and cases for the gadget. This gadget, which has the ability to use the cases and covers of its previous versions, has intrigued many people. It has given business opportunities to the online stores and websites to expand the variety of iPhone 4g cases and other different accessories by designing the previous versions accessories for it as well. This is why; iPhone 4g accessories are the more among the different accessories for other smart phones.

The option of customizing the iPhone 4 cases and covers has also touched the competitive market of accessories for the phone. It has created arenas to make unique iPhone 4 cases by the person’s own choice. Nowadays, websites and different online portals provide a drawing space to create free templates with the customizable features for the iPhone 4g cases. the variety for iPhone 4g ranges from a huge collection of different options for textures, colors, designs, and the material according to choice. This way, the iPhone can be styled and protected with the cost of only one aspect.

Designer based unique iPhone 4 cases are also very coming while buying an iPhone 4g case. Many brands have introduced a huge variety of cases. There are online stores of clothes that also provide iPhone cases and covers, matching with the clothes you buy. It is a good business and a horizontal integration strategy to enhance a business.

I am a professional writer and have experience in dealing with the unique iphone 4 cases and iPhone 4g cases. if you need any help or reviews on the iphone accessories then don’t hesitate to contact me.. This article, IPhone 4g and its many accessories is available for free reprint.

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Juice Boxes

Anyone who’s ever taken their iPhone on a road trip has at some point yearned for a little extra juice along the way. In the middle of a cross-country flight, or in the middle of nowhere in the backcountry, a back-up power source isn’t just a handy extra, it can be a necessity.

Here are a few options to give you a few more hours of GPS-assisted navigation on your hike, one more run through Flirtin’ with Disaster on I-95, or an extra hour of Edge before the plane lands. All of these battery cases not only boost your iPhone’s staying power, but they also provide extra protection and some enhanced functionality.

With its clean lines and snappy colors, Mophie’s Juice Pack ($80) has the kind of looks you wouldn’t mind showing around the office. The matte texture helps gives the phone some extra grip, but the case also completely wraps around the iPhone, acting as a fully protective sleeve. I dropped my Mophie-encased phone several times on concrete and tile without scratching it. It just about doubles the iPhone’s battery life, so you blow through a few seasons of American Dad before you kill the battery.

The Juice Pack gives you the option of using either the iPhone’s battery or the spare battery first. if you opt to run down the iPhone’s battery first — which is recommended, as being on a constant charge takes energy — just flip the switch on the bottom of the case to stand-by mode.

The case needs to be attached to the iPhone to charge. The case is a bit bulkier than most protective cases, but it’ll fit into all but the skinniest of skinny jeans.

WIRED Good-looking. Doubles battery life. Drop-worthy protection.

TIRED Too bulky for some hipster pockets.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Sol’s case ($90) is not only the longest-lasting battery case in this lineup, it’s also the only one with a solar panel to let you charge the phone au naturel.

It’s also remarkable as a speed charger. when the battery inside the case is fully charged, it can juice up your phone extremely quickly — it charged my dead iPhone 3Gs in under an hour, rather than the standard 3-hour charging time through a wall socket. But if you just leave the phone in the case all the time and let the power trickle in as needed, it can triple the life of your iPhone. It kept my iPhone alive through a 12-hour trip to the summit of Mt. Shasta. It would be great for a century ride, especially if you plan on using your battery-sucking GPS all day, or even if you just want to stay connected so you can Instagram the whole thing.

When both the phone and the case are depleted, the Sol Hybrid case can charge up not only with sunlight, but also with artificial indoor lighting. be aware that fully recharging the case’s battery, even in full sun, is an all-day task.

The Hybrid is the least protective of the cases, however. It’s a bit thicker than the Mophie Juice Pack, but it doesn’t fully cover the top of the iPhone. if you drop it and it lands top-down, you could be hosed.

Solmarketplace.com, $90

WIRED Monster battery life extension. Solar charger provides energy in emergency situations. Speedy iPhone charge. One unexpected, yet welcome, feature is the LED flashlight on the bottom of the case.

TIRED not as protective as other options. Solar charger is too slow to be used for anything other than emergencies.

Rating: 8 out of 10

In the iPhone playground, the Magellan ToughCase ($100) would take the other cases’ lunch money.

Big and burly, the Magellan’s key strength is its durability. In Yosemite, I dropped the case a few times, even kicking it into a stream when trying to balance the iPhone camera and a water filter. my phone came out of the woods safe and sound.

In addition to protecting your iPhone against everything from gnarly drops to total submersion, the Magellan also sports an extra boost of juice for your phone, roughly doubling your battery life. That’s decent, but other cases offer more longevity. It also tightens the GPS accuracy to about 10 to 15 feet. That’s not a huge advantage over the iPhone’s 21 feet, but if you’re adventure racing, or if you’re a geocacher who doesn’t mess around, the Magellan can give you an edge.

It’s definitely too bulky to serve as an everyday case for city slickers, but when you’re going to be in the wild, or if you work in construction, the ToughCase will keep your iPhone safe and powered up.

MagellanGPS.com, $100

WIRED makes your iPhone almost impervious to harm. Increases the accuracy of the GPS reading to about 10 to 15 feet. Doubles battery life. if you’re in bear country, the Magellan can be used as a weapon when placed in a tube sock and swung overhead.

TIRED Freaking huge.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Photos by Ariel Zambelich/Wired