Dress your iPhone up as a universal remote control

Get a handle on your remote-control control issues.

(Credit:zero1.tv)

YouriPhone already controls your life, so it might as well control your television, too.

Plenty of apps let you use your iPhone as a remote control, but when an app alone isn’t substantial enough for you, you can turn to the new VooMoteOne. This consists of a clip-on external device in combination with an app. The whole kit and caboodle costs $99.

Your hundred bucks makes you a god among your household appliances. Follow the straightforward setup wizard and then lord the VooMoteOne over your electronics. Turn them on and off at will. Make them sing louder.

The app allows for profiles so you can set up specific bundles of electronics for each room. The app contains a large database of devices, but it can also learn a new device if you point the old remote control at the LED transmitter on the bottom of the VooMoteOne.

Related links• Apps and accessories that let you ditch your remote control• blueSLR: Control your dSLR remotely via iPhone

The hook for the VooMoteOne is the endless amount of personalization. Combine remotes on a single screen and choose icons to represent your room profiles.

This could be a powerful gadget for people with remote-control control issues. Just set it up and hide all of the old remotes. you are the ruler in your tiny kingdom.

iPhone Aftermarket Emerges as Updates Loom

Yearning for the next iPhone but unsure what to do with your current, soon-to-be-outdated model? Not to worry — plenty of gadget buyback options are available to give you enough cash to pay an early termination fee or snatch up that new, shiny iPhone you desire.

How does that work? because phones are sold for a subsidized price with a contract, users can usually make some money by selling their phone to people who need a replacement device or don’t want to sign a new contract. If you sell at the right time, you can maximize your return and, in some cases, make more than enough cash to buy a new iPhone on contract.

PCWorld took a look at six online options to see how much a used iPhone 4 or 3GS might fetch and which service has the best offer for those looking to trade up this fall.

Keep in mind, you can probably get a little more cash by selling your used iPhone on Craigslist or eBay, but these trade-in programs are convenient and in some cases will allow you to get a price quote locked down for a month.

The services are: BuyMyTronics, BuyBackWorld, eBay Instant Sale, Gazelle, NextWorth and YouRenew. all quotes were based on the devices being functional, in good condition (normal wear, light scratches, etc.), free of water damage, and came with an AC adapter and USB cable.

eBay Instant Sale offered the most cash across the board. At the time of testing I got quotes of $308 for a 16GB iPhone 4; $326 for a 32GB iPhone 4; $168 for a 16GB 3GS and $172 for a 32GB 3GS. the downside is that you must ship your device to eBay Instant within ten days of getting the quote and it only pays via PayPal. other services give quotes that are good for a longer period and offer more payment options, including: checks and store gift cards. (For more information on the different services, check out the chart below; click on this smaller image for an enlarged version.)

Gazelle and YouRenew didn’t offer as much as some of the other websites, but both give quotes that are good for 30 days. that time can make all the difference.

Anthony Scarsella, chief gadget officer for Gazelle, says his website gets the largest amount of trade-ins of Apple products just after a new model is announced. because his website’s quote is good for 30 days and comes with no obligation to sell a device, he says “99 percent” of his customers lock in the price right after the announcement and trade their devices a few weeks later after the new model is released.

Shorter quote lock-in times may force users to trade in an old phone before getting a new one or risk getting a reevaluated price for holding on to the phone. If you’re considering trading in your old iPhone, you should weigh the quote time against the price to figure out which service will work best for your particular needs.

Apple’s typical once-a-year release schedule and limited product line makes its products a hot trade-in item compared to other devices such as Android phones or computers, Scarsella says.

“The iPhone is our number one product. Number two is probably the iPad,” he says. “We got about 10,000 iPads (traded in) when iPad 2 was announced.” he estimates that Gazelle got as many as 3000 iPad trade-ins in the first few days following the iPad 2 announcement.

Scarsella says Gazelle is gearing up for the expected announcement of a new iPhone and iPad in the fall and expects a large amount of older devices to be traded in.

For a more comprehensive look at different buy-back services, check out an in-depth comparison by my PCWorld colleague Jared Newman.

OnStar FMV Review & Rating

A dedicated GPS will spit out directions to anywhere you want to go, but can it send an ambulance if you’re in an accident? Or dispatch a mechanic to fix your flat tire? how about help find your car if it’s stolen? Nope. but OnStar can do all of those things—and more. the service, once found only in General Motors vehicles, is now available as an add-on rearview mirror kit that’s compatible with a long list of cars from various manufacturers. At the press of a button, OnStar FMV serves up quick, accurate turn-by-turn voice directions, connects hands-free phone calls, and delivers various forms of vehicle assistance to make you feel safe when you’re on the road. It’s a unique and well-implemented idea, but when you factor in installation and subscription fees on top of the cost of the hardware itself, you’ll find that behind-the-wheel peace of mind doesn’t come cheap.

Pricing, Design, Features Before we dig in, let’s get the pricing part out of the way: the mirror itself has a list price of $299, but requires professional installation, which the company expects will run between $75 and $100. Initially, beginning July 24, OnStar FMV will be available exclusively at Best buy, while other online and brick-and-mortar retailers will follow. (Some Best buy stores will also offer installation.)

OnStar FMV

You also need to pick one of two service plans: Safe & Sound, which only includes OnStar emergency and security services, costs $18.95 per month (or $199 per year); Directions and Connections, which includes emergency and security plus unlimited turn-by-turn navigation features, runs $28.90 per month (or $299 per year). if you spring for the full range of services, you’re looking at an initial outlay of about $700 the first year. That’s tough to swallow when, these days, most people carry cell phones to call for help in an emergency, along with Bluetooth headsets that provide hands-free calling in the car. you can also get a very solid GPS device with free lifetime map and traffic updates for about $150. On the other hand, FMV puts all this functionality in a single console that’s a permanent feature of your vehicle. if you invest in the OnStar system, when you sell the car, it will likely add to its value.

The OnStar FMV consists of two pieces: the 23-ounce mirror measures 3.4 by 10 by 1.9 (HWD) and looks a lot like your typical car rearview mirror. but at almost 2 inches deep, it’s bulkier than your typical mirror, though you can’t tell that from looking at it straight on. There’s also a small, unobtrusive black plastic external microphone. in my 2010 Toyota Camry test car, the mic was mounted to the right of the mirror on the car’s fabric ceiling, so the driver’s voice could be heard clearly.

The black frame of the mirror holds a number of illuminated buttons for various functions. the most important, the blue OnStar button, which is used to interact with the system, is front and center on the bottom edge. It’s flanked by the Phone Button on the left, and the Emergency button on the right. up top, above the reflective glass are Volume and Button-Brightness controls.

OnStar FMV Side

The FMV integrates Bluetooth, a cellular radio, a GPS radio, and an accelerometer. the system uses the cell radio to communicate with OnStar and to make hands-free calls without a Bluetooth-enabled phone. the GPS is for navigation, to send emergency and roadside assistance, and can help track your vehicle if it’s stolen. the accelerometer is part of the emergency system, and determines if the car has flipped over in a crash. if it has, an OnStar advisor is automatically alerted. Alternatively, if you get into an accident, pushing the red Emergency button places a priority call to OnStar for help. you can also use the Emergency button to respond to an AMBER alert or get crisis help and evacuation routes.

OnStar On the Road: Navigation, Hands-Free Calling unfortunately (or luckily), I wasn’t able to test the OnStar FMV’s Emergency or Security systems. but on a weekend trip from New York City to Washington, D.C., I put the FMV’s navigation system through its paces. overall, it performed admirably, providing virtually identical routes and maneuvers as a nearby Garmin nüvi 3790T ($349.99, 4 stars), our Editors’ choice high-end GPS.

Driving directions are voice-only, and since there’s no screen, you can’t view your location on a map. Instead of typing an address, like you would with a GPS, you press the blue OnStar button to call an advisor, who looks up the directions and sends the route to your FMV after telling you how many miles you’ll be traveling. this might be a dealbreaker for some, but I got used to the voice-only navigation pretty quickly. Automated voice prompts were sufficiently loud, completely understandable, and came at the appropriate intervals. just like with a GPS, you hear a tone when you’re supposed to make a particular maneuver, and if you miss a turn or leave the route, the system asks you if you want to recalculate the route or cancel it and enter a new destination. if you return to the route on your own, it commences the directions, which is nice if you’re just leaving the route temporarily to, say, fill up your gas tank. besides actual addresses, you can ask OnStar to send you to the nearest gas station, restaurant, or point of interest. (During testing, it helped me find a much-needed bagel shop nearby.) All of your navigation interaction is via voice. if you missed the last maneuver, press the Phone button and say, “Repeat” and you’ll hear your direction again.

What I missed most was visual lane assistance and traffic reporting. many GPS devices, including the nüvi 3790T, clearly show you what lane you need to choose at complicated interchanges, and will reroute you if you’re headed into traffic.

OnStar eNav is a neat feature that lets you research your trip in advance on a PC with Google Maps or MapQuest and send the directions to your car. Once you’re in the car and ready to go, you just push the Phone button and say “Virtual Advisor” and the route is sent to the FMV. eNav worked well in my tests, retrieving my pre-determined routes quickly and accurately.

You get two options for hands-free calls. you can use a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone, or you can purchase minutes for the mirror itself and use it to place and receive calls. the FMV easily paired with my iPhone 3GS and I was able to voice dial my contacts through the system. (Not all phones are compatible; OnStar’s website provides a list of supported handsets.) with both Bluetooth and OnStar’s Hands-Free Calling, transmissions didn’t sound great, with some background static, but were loud and, for the most part, clear.

Overall, the OnStar FMV system is a well-implemented, multifaceted solution to vehicle safety and navigation. It’s a bit of a tough sell, though, especially when you could use an inexpensive GPS device or a smartphone for navigation (plus you get map visuals that way), and a cheap Bluetooth headset for hands-free calling in the car. what you can’t really get elsewhere are the safety features, but opting for only the Safe and Sound service plan means you still have to buy the system and pay to have it installed. if you’re willing to make the investment, OnStar FMV delivers all it promises: Effective navigation services, and peace of mind thanks to its extensive safety features.

More GPS Device Reviews:•   OnStar FMV•   TomTom 1.8 (for iPhone)•   TeleNav GPS plus (for iPhone)•   Magellan RoadMate 2.0 (for iPhone)•   TomTom GO 2535 M LIVE•  more

KiiiTV3.com South Texas, Corpus Christi, Coastal BendSummer gadget and gear guide

By John BrandonProvided by

Summer has reached its peak, and there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the great outdoors. Would a thrilling ride on a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) help? Or, how about an iPhone boom box that might just sound better than your home stereo? We hand-picked a few products to spice up your summer fun at a wide variety of price points for every budget.

Liquid Image Explorer Series 8 MP Model 304 ($99)

One of the most innovative products in our round-up, the Liquid Image 304 works as a standard set of swimming goggles, rated for plunging about 15 feet below the surface. yet, an 8-megapixel camera is built in for snapping photos and recording short VGA video clips. Camera controls are designed for easy access: you press a button to switch between still shots and video. During video recording, a blue light blinks to show you that it’s working. the goggles use microSD cards for storing images and video.

Bushnell Hybrid Golf Rangefinder ($499)

There are plenty of iPhone apps to help you on the golf course, like Golfshot and GolfLink Game Tracker, but who wants to carry around an expensive phone in a golf cart? the rugged Bushnell Hybrid Golf Rangefinder is a point-and-shoot device. once you locate your course (there are 16,000 of them built in) you can check the exact distance to the front, center, and back of the green. you can also check the distance to a bunker or other obstruction. the idea is that knowing the exact distance helps you pick the right club. the Golf Rangefinder uses both GPS coordinates and a laser to check distances. the device weighs only 8 ounces and, at about two inches wide and four inches long, fits in the palm of your hand.

Joby GorillaTorch SwitchBack ($60)

Here’s an innovative product for summer camping trips. the 8.8-ounce GorillaTorch SwitchBack is two products in one. after dark, you can use the torch for lighting in a tent or around the campsite. There’s a switch to control brightness level and to turn the light red, which preserves night vision. the light uses one 130-lumen LED, two extra LED lights, and two red LED lights. Tucked inside, there’s a head strap for wearing the SwitchBack. the GorillaTorch is ideal for camping because the legs on the torch wrap around just about any object, such as a camping chair or tree branch. and, it runs on two standard AA batteries

Air Hogs Hyperactive ($50)

This palm-sized RC racer is intended for indoor or outdoor use. each car comes with a set of large, rugged tires for gravel or a BMX dirt track. On concrete, the included set of racing tires provide better grip for faster laps – up to about 20mph. the controller uses 2.4GHz wireless, which is more accurate and provides better range — about 50 feet — than the typical radio-frequency controllers. the cars use an “adaptive suspension” that’s forgiving over rocks and garden hoses.

Eton Raptor ($150)

This 11.3-ounce safety radio, which has a large carabineer for clipping to your backpack, draws power from the sun using solar panels. the Raptor provides “direct charging”– when you connect your phone, it charges right away and keeps charging as the unit draws solar energy. (Some phone backup battery chargers need to be fully charged before you can power up your phone.) the Raptor also has an altimeter (for your current altitude), barometer (pressure and temperature) and compass. There’s a built-in AM/FM radio, weather bands, clock, and alarm. and, there’s even a bright built-in flashlight and a bottle opener. the device is rated for light drops and is dust-proof and splash-proof.

Otterbox Reflex $45

Not every smartphone case works the same. the Otterbox Reflex, available for the iPhone 4, iPod Touch, and the BlackBerry Curve 8500/9300 is made from a rugged plastic. Unlike some cases, the Reflex has wide openings for connecting a USB cable or earbuds. the case snaps into two pieces so you can pull the bottom off and snap your phone into a docking station. It comes in four colors including a bright blue.

Altec Lansing Mix BoomBox IMT810 ($300)

Meant for summer parties, this massive docking station works with the iPhone 4 and many other MP3 players. there are large side handles for moving the radio around. the boom box has chrome accents, side 5.25-inch subwoofers, and runs on eight D-Cell batteries for about 24 hours. the IMT810 uses xDB technology, which allegedly filters out distortion for booming bass that doesn’t sound flabby. a slider covers your phone when it is docked to keep it from falling out; the phone only charges when the boom box is plugged in.

Sip N’ Go Reusable Water Bottle ($8)

These 17-ounce water bottles roll up for easier transport. fill them with water, and they form into a large bottle. There’s a carrying ring and a carabineer you can clip to your backpack. Large snaps hold liquid inside the bottle, and felt durable and rugged. the bags, made of a chemical-free plastic, can be frozen with the liquid inside before you head out on a hike. Bottles weigh only one ounce when empty.

Oakley Wind Jacket Sunglasses ($220)

Available in matte gray and black, these special-purpose sunglasses are for use on motorcycles and other open-air vehicles like an ATV or UTV. the sunglasses fit snugly to your head, and come with two lenses for daytime and nighttime use. the Wind Jacket uses an anti-fogging technology to keep your vision clear, and all the high-end UV protection you’d expect from an Oakley product.

Suunto M5 ($209)

You might think Nike has a corner on fitness watches with the plus system that works with your iPhone. this Suunto M5 watch does not need a phone to keep track of your calories burned or your heart rate. a heart monitor strap connects to the watch over a wireless signal. When you are not working out, the display shows the current time and calories burned. the M5 can be connected to several accessories including one for tracking bike distance and a GPS for way finding on your run.

Celestron SkyProdigy 130

Here’s what we like about the Celestron SkyProdigy 130, which was a CES innovation winner from this year. First, setting up the telescope is a breeze: the parts all snap into place. a handheld remote lets you adjust the telescope quickly. you can connect the unit to your computer and zero-in on about 4,000 registered objects in the sky. the 18-pound telescope auto-aligns by clicking one button. the battery pack lasts for about 30 hours of use. the telescope has a focal length of about 26 inches.

Dyson Digital Slim ($300)

For clean-ups after all your summer excursions, this new handheld vacuum from Dyson uses a motor that spins three times faster than most – turning the brushes about 1,500 times per minute. Like the full-size Dyson models, the Digital Slim uses a proprietary cyclone technology based on centrifugal force that tends to keep the dirt compacted and the vacuum from clogging up repeatedly. the 22.2V lithium battery lasts for about 15 minutes of constant vacuuming. this model uses anti-static carbon fiber brushes, which Dyson claims will not wear out, even after several years.

John Deere EZtrak Z655 ($5800)

This 54-inch wide zero-turn riding mower finely cuts your grass – almost like getting an expensive haircut for your lawn (seriously). the Z655 uses cutting edge (ahem) technology to make sure the cut is even and the clippings scatter widely. Zero-turn mowers have been around for a while, but John Deere perfected the Z655 for precision cuts: you move two rods independently to turn, and can make sweeping turns close to the edge of the lawn. the mower uses a 27 horsepower V-twin engine. Most importantly, because of the smoother steering, you can mow faster – about half the usual time.

Polaris RZR XP 900 ($15,999)

If extreme, bone-crunching mayhem is what you’re after, this racing UTV (utility terrain vehicle) is for you. the RZR XP 900 is known as a “side by side,” in that you can bring along one passenger. (Thankfully, there’s an extra handlebar on the right side and seatbelts.) the engine is an 88-horsepower, 900cc, twin-cylinder, electronic-fuel injected monster that sits behind you. the UTV has 13 inches of ground clearance with thick undercarriage panels. With a low center of gravity, the RZR feels sure on the road. the best feature: massive struts (adjustable in all four corners) and a well-engineered suspension mean you can fly up an embankment and hardly feel the bump. top speed? Fifty to sixty, if you’re daring.

2011 Nissan 370Z Roadster ($38,200)

For the ultimate summer outing, this Nissan 370Z Roadster with a newly designed shape and vastly improved engine make for a glorious getaway. the 332-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine is remarkably powerful for a small car. the soft-top cover folds automatically into a rear compartment. With punchy Xenon headlamps, 270 lb-ft of torque for quick acceleration, a six-speed manual transmission, and a sleek wind-resistant design, this sporty convertible is one of the best roadsters Nissan has ever made.

Verbatim Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard

For many of us, typing on our iPhone or iPad is usually limited to entering passwords or replying text messages. But if you often work on the go and have to bang out emails, picking up an accessory such as the Verbatim Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard will save you a lot of time and frustration. this portable keyboard is designed to be ultra-compact while delivering the convenience of a traditional keyboard along with some extras.

The Verbatim Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard is designed to work with your iPhone and iPad (iOS 4 or higher) but can also work with Bluetooth-enabled Android 3.0 tablets and the BlackBerry PlayBook. It comes in a nice leather carrying case and measures roughly 6.25″ x 4″ x 0.75″ when folded closed. its plastic body feels relatively solid and has some weight to it that’s not as ideal but also not enough to be a problem.

The keyboard clicks open nicely upon pressing a latch and sits in place thanks to four small rubbery feet. the standard style keyboard, as opposed to a chiclet style keyboard, has some non-standard key sizes to fit into a smaller footprint. for instance, the “G” and “B” keys are a bit smaller to fit on either side of the center hinge while the “V” key is larger and all the top-row number keys are much smaller. the space bar is also split into two keys. for touch-typers this may slow you down a bit, but should be quick to get used to.

There are also some additional media controls and keyboard shortcuts that work especially well with the iPhone and iPad. there are the usual play/pause, fast-forward, rewind, and volume up/down buttons on the left side along with some dedicated keys including Control, Function, Alt, Alt Gr, @, and Menu, which works with other keys to replace hot keys or shortcuts such as “Ctrl+V” for pasting. Two dedicated Home keys are also available with square symbols as is a key for toggling on/off the on-screen soft keyboard.

It uses two AAA batteries that fit into a compartment on the left side next to a battery life status indicator LED, the Bluetooth connection status LED, the on/off switch, and a recessed pairing button. Additionally, on the top left side of the keyboard there’s a latch for locking the keyboard in the open position while on the top right side there’s a hidden iPhone stand that pulls out to spring open.

Pairing of the keyboard with an iPhone and iPad worked smoothly although it requires you to use a paper clip or a pen to press the recessed pairing button. this would have been better if designed differently. the blue LED indicator is very bright; a little irritating on the eyes and it blinks rapidly when you first turn on the keyboard. Once paired, however, it blinks every couple of seconds and would be alright if it wasn’t so darn bright. Thankfully the battery indicator LED doesn’t light up unless you’re getting low on power.

The unusual key sizes did take a bit of getting used to and the typical “Ctrl+C” and “Ctrl+V” copy and pasting required replacing the Control key with the Menu key. there are also a host of other hot key combinations for Android-specific functions such as for quickly bringing up Gmail, Browser, Calendar, Maps, and YouTube.

The included stand works nicely for your iPhone sitting in the landscape orientation, not so well in portrait mode, and forget about trying to keep an iPad on it.

Overall the Verbatim Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard is a good choice if you’ll require heavy typing on your iPhone or iPad. It’s a step up from the more flimsy alternatives and is just as portable in size. Although it’s a bit heavier, it provides a much more solid typing experience. the Verbatim Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard is a bit pricey at $104, but a quick search through the world market shows that it can be had for under $60 on Amazon, which makes it an excellent new accessory to help you stay productive while on the go.

Pioneer AVIC Z130BT Review – Car GPS (Navigation) – CNET Reviews

If the iPhone has the latest version of the Pandora Internet Radio application installed, you can take control of the stream using the AVIC’s touch screen to select from your Pandora stations, thumbs-up or thumbs-down songs, and bookmark artist and songs you’d like to check out later.

New to this generation of the receiver is Aha Radio support, which–through an app on a connected iPhone–means you can listen to local traffic reports, news broadcasts, restaurant reviews, and even your friends’ Facebook status updates while rolling along at highway speeds. You can select between these feeds with taps and swipes on the AVIC’s touch screen and can add or remove channels from the app itself (while the vehicle is stopped, of course.) we found it a bit odd listening to our friends’ updates in the system’s robotic text-to-speech voice, but for those of you who are addicted to social networking, this could be a cool way to catch up with your friends. There’s also a feature called Caraoke (really), which lets people share recordings of themselves singing while driving. in theory this is a fun feature, but after the first five or six submissions we checked out were either nonsense or just downright profane, we quickly removed this channel from our listing. This is, of course, a shortcoming of the Aha Radio service and not the AVIC-Z130BT, and doesn’t affect its score.

Unfortunately, iPod and iPhone connectivity requires the CD-IU51V interface cable you’ll have to purchase separately. Attempting to connect an iPhone via USB only will still give you access to all of the functions described above, but without the interface cable you won’t actually be able to hear anything, which sort of defeats the purpose.

The AVIC-Z130BT features an integrated HD Radio tuner, which we’re happy to count among the available digital audio sources. HD stations feature much clearer audio than standard ones. It takes the tuner a second to lock into the HD stream so you get a sort of before and after effect of hearing the audio suddenly become more crisp. like most HD Radio receivers these days, the AVIC’s includes the iTunes Tagging function that allows you to add songs heard on HD Radio stations to a playlist on a connected iPod or iPhone for later purchase in the iTunes Store.

GPS navigation One of the main functions in the AVIC-Z130BT’s arsenal is turn-by-turn GPS navigation. You can switch between navigation and audio/video playback with the dedicated Mode selection button. however, destination inputs are still initiated from the Home screen via the Destination menu.

Navigation includes spoken turn-by-turn directions, but does not support text-to-speech. This means that when approaching a turn, street names such as “Main Street” will not be pronounced aloud. Instead, you’ll get a simple, “Turn left in 500 feet,” for example. the navigation interface seems to have received a visual refresh since the last we saw it in the AVIC-Z120BT–certainly, since our first experience with the AVIC-Z110BT. Maps now have a crisper look that makes them easier to read, and graphic elements, such as the graphic lane guidance, now have a more polished appearance and smoother animations.

We liked that traffic data is displayed on the map. Incidents show up as small yellow icons that can be tapped for more information and flow data is represented by color-coded lines alongside the highways. a red line along a stretch of road means there’s a traffic jam. because the data is pulled from local RDS-TMC sources, you’ll usually only have flow data available for major highways with road sensors. also, the AVIC-Z130BT’s routing algorithm didn’t seem to take traffic into account when selecting a path to a destination, nor did it present alternate routes when we encountered a traffic jam. at the very least, the system does take traffic into account when calculating estimated arrival times, so you’ll know just how late you’re going to be.

We will give the AVIC-Z130BT this: the routes that the system chose for our test destinations usually lined up with our own local knowledge of the best route. we also liked that the system was extremely quick to lock in on its GPS position and remained remarkably accurate even in the urban canyons of downtown San Francisco. because the system uses a combination of internal accelerometers and a direct connection to the vehicle’s speed sensor, it’s possible that over time the system could even become more accurate as it learns the vehicle’s behaviors at a variety of speeds.

In sum the previous Pioneer AVIC-Z models are a among our favorite all-in-one receivers and a tough act to follow, but the AVIC-Z130BT still manages to impress. in one box, it has all of the cabin tech must-haves: hands-free calling, digital audio playback that’s safe and easy to use, and turn-by-turn directions with traffic. whether you’re looking to stop there or to keep going, adding rear seat entertainment, external amps, and a backup camera, you’re likely to be happy with what the AVIC-Z130BT offers. however, as good as it is, it’s not a perfect unit.

We’d like to see that iPod interface cable included in the box in the next generation; there’s no reason to have to buy that separately when iPhone app controls top the list of selling points for this unit. more importantly, we’d like to see the navigation software taking better advantage of traffic data. while we’re pushing the tech envelope, why not add an option for higher-resolution traffic data than RDS-TMC service?

If you took our advice and picked up one of the previous-generation AVIC-Z models, don’t fret. There’s not much new in the AVIC-Z130BT to give you buyer’s remorse–unless you’re a huge fan of Aha Radio, which we frankly weren’t that impressed by.

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Rovio, Maker Of Angry Birds, Sued For Patent Violations

Posted on: Monday, 25 July 2011, 11:00 CDT

Rovio, the maker of the hugely popular Angry Birds app, is being sued by a tiny American company which claims it owns the patents on the method used to buy new levels for the game, the Telegraph reports.

The move by Lodsys, over the type of app payment system being used, has already put off many UK developers from selling their mobile apps in the US for fear of possible patent infringement or other legal matters.

Lodsys, a one-man company based in Marshall, Texas, filed the patent lawsuit against the Finnish company in a Texas court, and also has begun suing some of the biggest names in mobile gaming, including EA, Atari, Square Enix, and Take-Two Interactive.

The growth of lawsuits in the US by so-called “patent trolls” — which do not make anything but simply demand payments after asserting intellectual property rights — threatens to shut down the booming mobile app market, which is expected to be worth more than 4.5 billion dollars this year and double that by next.

“The US patent system allows software implementations of ideas to be patented, which differs significantly from the European Union, although the European Parliament has been considering aligning patent rights with the US,” according to Startup Smart, a website for new businesses and entrepreneurs.

Lodsys owns patents granted between 1999 and 2009, and first filed claims against seven companies last May. it has since removed one claim — against Wulven Games — but added Rovio’s versions of Angry Birds for iPhone and Android.

The move shows that Lodsys is “not afraid of suing deep-pocketed app developers,” Florian Mueller, a specialist in intellectual property lawsuits, told The Guardian. Lodsys is also suing computer giant HP, as well as clothing company Adidas, retailer best Buy and the new York Times.

Mueller pointed out that bringing Angry Birds into the case makes it clear that Lodsys is going after developers writing apps for phones using Android software, which now make up the best-selling smartphones.

Lodsys is asking for injunctions and damages in its complaint, although the company has yet to publish an update on its blog to explain the decision to add the five new companies in its lawsuit.

Apple inc. is likely to get involved in the case on behalf of its developers. Apple filed a motion in June to intervene in the case, claiming that its existing license for the patents in question also covers iOS developers — a claim Lodsys disputes.

“While the developers will likely be interested in resolving this case as quickly and inexpensively as possible, Apple’s interest is in protecting its broader license rights with respect to thousands of App developers for Apple products who may be the subject of future Lodsys lawsuits or threats,” said Apple’s motion, making it clear that the company did not expect the small independent developers originally sued by Lodsys to be able to fight the company in court.

While many Europeans companies are thinking about removing their apps over lawsuit fears, it is unlikely for Rovio and EA to follow suit. Games are the most lucrative category in app stores, with iOS remaining the lead mobile platform for the vast majority of mobile game firms.

  • Rovio
  • Lodsys

Source: RedOrbit Staff & Wire Reports

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Getting Sticky With it: A Hands On With Clingo

Buying a new cell phone or smartphone leads to the inevitable purchase of a new set of accessories. Car mounts, docks, and other add-ons tend to work with only one particular phone, leaving you with a slew of stands and cases lying around.

Allsop hopes to change that with Clingo, its line of universal wireless accessories. not just your average mount or stand, each of the Clingo accessories uses an adhesive to keep your device in place, but it doesn’t leave any residue behind. the company claims the sticky stuff will hold any device as long as it isn’t in a case, won’t leave any residue, and will stay sticky as long as you rinse it off periodically.

Allsop let us try out a handful of the sticky peripherals: the Podium, Mobile Stand, Game Wheel, Mobile Tether, Parabolic Sound Sphere, and Air Vent Mount.

Clingo Stuff

The most traditional of the accessories is probably the Universal Podium (above, holding the iPod), Its list price is $34.99. It’s a sturdy steel platform (two of them would make a decent pair of bookends), holding your phone or other mobile device on your desk or counter. you can twist the top to change the viewing angle for when you watch a video or check some email, and it can even be detached for when you need to give the adhesive a good cleaning. on the downside, the podium has no adhesive material on the bottom, so the Podium might shift as you prod a touch screen.

The Podium’s little brother is the Mobile Stand ($19.99 list), comprised of two plastic pieces on a hinge. Both pieces have the adhesive on them, keeping the stand from moving around your desk.

Clingo Wheel

Not all the devices are solely for holding your phone in place. the Game Wheel ($24.99 list) looks and feels quite a bit like Nintendo’s Wii wheel, though a bit smaller, and its purpose is virtually identical as well: games, especially those involving the accelerometer. Your device sticks to an adhesive strip in the center, and while playing Doodle Jump on an iPod Touch, the wheel allowed for subtle movements that may not be achieved by palming the device. if you play a game that doesn’t use require a gyroscope, however, it may get in the way.

the Game Wheel is supposed to add protection too, as the outside plastic encompasses the entire device and prevents a screen from hitting the ground when dropped. this worked with the thin iPod touch, which survived a three foot drop, but bigger phones like a Motorola Droid stuck out of the wheel. Depending on the device, volume and power buttons may be difficult to reach while in the wheel, but it’s a neat toy regardless.

The Mobile Tether ($17.00 list) is an interesting concept, though not particularly necessary. Like the stand, the tether is two pieces of plastic on a hinge, which open up to reveal adhesives on both sides. the phone goes on one side, and the other side sticks to the monitor on your laptop or desktop while tethering or charging. the hinge is pretty weak when compared to the mobile stand, and it only works on the left side of the screen because of the hinge design.

The Car Vent Mount ($24.99 list) required some assembly, but when put together it snaps onto the fins of your vent for hands-free visibility. the ball and socket used in the Vent Mount didn’t provide as wide a viewing angle as the Universal Podium, and frequently snapped off. the mount, however, stays sturdy on your car, though it does block your vent.

Clingo Sound Sphere

Probably the most innovative member of the Clingo line–at least as a concept–is the Universal Parabolic Sound Sphere (say that five times fast). it will run you $39.99 at list price.

Beyond those that we tried, other accessories are available including a tablet holder and different style car docks.

Allsop claims that by rinsing the adhesive with water you can rejuvenate your Clingo. we took the dirtiest one we had after testing, ran it under the sink, and let it air dry. it was just as sticky as when we took it out of the package.

The whole idea behind Clingo is actually quite clever. using the adhesives, they will work even when you upgrade to your next phone. the adhesives are strong and don’t leave any residue when you peel your phone off of them. the one downfall is that despite being made to work with any device, some do not hold up as well as others. Clingo products worked fine with most devices including an iPhone 4, iPod Touch, Motorola Droid and Samsung Galaxy S, but when I put an HTC Droid Incredible onto the Podium, it fell right off. this may have been due to the Incredible’s slightly protruding camera or the contoured soft-touch plastic, but the fact remains: some devices will not work as well as others.

A few of the Clingo products, like the tether and the car vent mount, could use some improvement, and some accessories feel either unnecessary or cheaper than their counterparts that are monogamous with one device. they are wonderfully gadget-polygamous, working well with many devices, and you simply can’t argue with that.

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LG KE850 Prada Unlocked Phone with Touchscreen, 2 MP Camera, MP3/Video Player, and MicroSD Slot–International Version with No Warranty (Black) Reviews

LG KE850 Prada Unlocked Phone with Touchscreen, 2 MP Camera, MP3/Video Player, and MicroSD Slot–International Version with no Warranty (Black)

  • This unlocked cell phone is compatible with GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. not all carrier features may be supported. it will not work with CDMA carriers like Verizon Wireless, Alltel and Sprint.
  • Tri-band GSM cell phone compatible with 900/1800/1900 frequencies and GPRS/EDGE data capabilities
  • Elegantly designed mobile phone inspired by Prada fashion with touchscreen controls; 2-megapixel camera/camcorder with Schneider Kreuznach optics
  • Bluetooth for handsfree devices and stereo music streaming; MicroSD memory expansion; digital audio player
  • Up to 3 hours of talk time, up to 300 hours (12.5 days) of standby time

The LG PRADA Phone introduces the world’s first advanced touch interface which eliminates the conventional keypad making the overall usage experience a highly tactile one. an extra wide LCD screen maximizes visual impact, allowing the user to benefit from several key features of the phone, including the 2 megapixel camera featuring Schneider-Kreuznach lens, video player and document viewer capacity. above all, these features contribute to the phone’s beautifully sleek and simplistic appearance. Glowing icons on the face of the phone disappear when not in use to reveal a pure, un-adulterated black exterior. The phone is ultra thin (just 12 mm), nonetheless it hosts an array of additional multimedia functions, including an MP3 player and a music multitasking function for messaging. it also boasts an external memory slot, allowing the user to increase memory capacity for images, music and film clips.Offering a sophisticated design developed with Italian luxury fashion house Prada that’s mixed with a cutting edge user interface technology from LG, the tri-band PRADA Phone by LG (KE850) brings much more to the party than just stunning good looks. Its minimalist, black-tie industrial design has been complemented by a 3-inch touch screen that enables you to control virtually all the phone’s functions with just your finger–no stylus needed. It’s also loaded with bounty of features you expect from a top-of-the-line mobile phone: 2-megapixel camera with Schneider-Kreuznach optics, Bluetooth connectivity for stereo headphones, multi-format digital audio player, FM radio, MicroSD expansion, and PIM organizer applications to keep you on schedule.

Sleekly designed with a gorgeous black-and-silver fashion/industrial look, the PRADA phone measures just 0.5-inches thin. Turn the PRADA Phone over to take 400 x 240-pixel widescreen video or 2-megapixel still photos. this unlocked cell phone can be used with a GSM network service provider and it provides tri-band voice connectivity (GSM/GPRS 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz), enabling you to travel the globe and stay in contact. it also can handle high-speed data connectivity via EDGE data networks, which is fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services (with average data speeds between 75-135Kbps), including video and music clips, full picture and video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and email on the go. it does not come with a SIM card, and it requires that you provide a SIM card for usage with your selected service provider.

Amazingly small with a body that measures 3.9 x 2.1 x 0.5 inches, the PRADA Phone weighs just 3 ounces (50 percent less than the Apple iPhone). The candybar has an understated, Avante-Garde design that resembles a highly styled high-definition television. it features a piano-black casing on the back and on the front surrounding the screen, and its features are softened by gently rounded corners. The sides are accented by a polished silver metal.

You’ll interact with the PRADA Phone primarily with your finger on the 3-inch (diagonal) touchscreen, which has a resolution of 240 x 400 pixels and a display capability of 256K colors. The Flash-based user interface displays glowing icons that disappear when not in use to reveal a stark black Prada theme. However, the UI can be changed to one of three pre-loaded themes–the Butterfly and Fish themes actually place a small creature on the standby screen that can follow your finger around. The standby screen is also home to the clock, which is operated with finger taps and can be dragged around the screen. The PRADA Phone offers a virtual numeric keypad, instead of a virtual QWERTY keyboard, for dialing of numbers and writing text messages (with help from the integrated T9 predictive text entry technology). The main menu system is arranged like tabbed folder pages full of icons and is intuitive and quick to learn.

At just 3 ounces, the PRADA Phone is less than half the size of Apple’s iPhone. The display can’t be used with a stylus because of its capacitive touchscreen technology, which requires a human touch. Coated with a material that stores electrical charges, this capacitive touchscreen uses electro-conductivity to sense your touch and then sends precise horizontal and vertical location information to the processor about the charge that gets drawn at the point of contact.

Unlike Apple’s iPhone, the PRADA Phone does have a number of real off-screen buttons and controls. The call control and back keys are on the front of the device, a lock key and a multi-function camera/music key are on the right edge, and the ring profiles key, volume control, and charger/headset port are located on the left edge.

The 2-megapixel, auto-focus camera features a lens made by Germany’s Schneider-Kreuznach, which is known for it’s high level of optics quality. it tops out at a resolution of 1600 x 1200 pixels, but also offers a range of resolution choices down to 320 x 240 pixels. it includes a self-timer, three quality modes, four color effects, white balance settings, a choice of shutter sounds, and a multishot mode. You can also shoot video clips with several resolution choices (including 400 x 240-pixel widescreen, matching the PRADA Phone’s screen, and the more standard 176 x 144 QCIF).

The Bluetooth version 2.0 wireless connectivity includes profiles for communication headset, data transfer and the A2DP Bluetooth advanced audio profile, which enables you to stream audio to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. The integrated digital audio player offers support for a variety of formats (MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA, RA), as does the video player (MPEG4, H.263, H.264). Your entertainment options are expanded even further with a built-in FM radio (which is used in tandem with the included headset attached, as it serves as the antenna).

While not fully considered a smartphone, the PRADA Phone comes equipped with document viewers offering compatibility with today’s most widely recognized file formats, including text files, PDFs and Microsoft Office documents–Word (.doc), Excel (.xls), and PowerPoint (.ppt) files. it also includes a full range of personal information management (PIM) organizer applications (calendar, to do list, world clock, unit converter, and calculator). With its fast USB 2.0 connection, the unit can also be used as a mass storage device. The phone has an expansion slot for MicroSD memory cards, which currently provide a maximum capacity of 4 GB of storage (as of August 2007).

Other features include:

  • Phonebook stores up to 1000 contact entries with up to four numbers, one e-mail address, and a memo field for each entry
  • Call log records 40 dialed/received/missed calls
  • Support for polyphonic and MP3-based ringtones (40 channels)
  • Vibration mode
  • Pre-loaded games: Halloween Fever, Photo Puzzle, Virus, Pipe
  • Proprietary port for headset jack
  • Speakerphone for handsfree communication; voice recorder
  • SMTP and POP3 email
  • SMS and MMS messaging
  • WAP 2.0 Web browser

Vital Statistics The PRADA Phone by LG weighs 3 ounces and measures 3.9 x 2.1 x 0.5 inches. Its 800 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3 hours of talk time, and up to 300 hours of digital standby time. it runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What’s in the Box?

  • Standard battery
  • AC Travel charger
  • Stereo Headset
  • Leather Carry Case
  • USB data cable
  • Sync software CD-ROM
  • User manual

List Price: $ 349.99 Price: $ 120.00

Tale of two defendants: HTC, Nokia fates diverged in Apple case

Back in March 2010, Apple filed separate suits at the U.S. International Trade Commission against Nokia and HTC, accusing both cellphone makers of infringing Apple’s smartphone patents. In April, the ITC staff recommended that the patents Apple had asserted against both Nokia and HTC should be tested in a consolidated case. Nokia and HTC supported the proposal. Apple’s lawyers at Kirkland & Ellis complained that the partial consolidation would aid Nokia and HTC by creating “complexity and delay,” but the lawyers didn’t fight hard against it because they didn’t want the case — which had the potential to knock iPhone competitors out of the U.S. market — to get bogged down.

The consolidation had clear advantages for the defendants and disadvantages for Apple. Nokia and HTC could mount a joint challenge to the validity of the Apple patents, pooling ideas and resources. Meanwhile, on the infringement side of the case, Apple’s Kirkland lawyers had a doubled workload to master the technology in phones made by both Nokia and HTC.

When the case was tried before ITC administrative law judge Carl Charneski in April and may, Nokia and HTC both had A-list defense counsel: Alston & Bird for Nokia; Keker & Van Nest and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan for HTC. (Quinn, remember, regularly represents Google; HTC phones run on Google’s Android platform.) the three defense firms worked together, incorporating one another’s briefs and presenting joint expert witnesses to opine on the validity of the Apple patents.

And then the fates of Nokia and HTC diverged dramatically. In June, Nokia announced that it had reached a global megadeal with Apple, with Apple agreeing to pay hundreds of millions of dollars for Nokia IP. HTC waited for Judge Charneski. his initial determination, issued Friday afternoon, found HTC to infringe two valid Apple patents. (HTC is off the hook with respect to two others.) Though the administrative law judge’s determination can be appealed to the full ITC, the preliminary ruling sent HTC’s share price off a precipice.

How did two defendants end up with such different results?

The answer to that question lies in litigation’s increasingly strategic significance for big businesses. Apple’s consolidated ITC case against HTC and Nokia was just one piece in the litigation chess game Apple is playing with every cell phone maker. Consider Apple’s smartphone litigation history with Nokia, a company which is allied with Microsoft in the great smartphone showdown. Nokia has a vast patent portfolio, including crucial 3G intellectual property. It initiated a patent war with Apple; Apple’s ITC complaint against Nokia was in retaliation for Nokia’s infringement claims against Apple. the litigation between the companies was more important in determining how big a licensing deal Apple would sign than in determining whether Apple would sign any deal at all.

HTC has far less leverage with Apple, which is why its loss in the ITC consolidated case looms so large. HTC is a young company without much IP Apple needs. It’s also closely allied with Google — Apple’s sworn smartphone enemy, thanks to Android. If Apple was unlikely to work out a licensing deal with HTC before Judge Charneski’s ruling, it’s even less likely to do so now. (Things can change, of course. HTC has said it will ask the full ITC to review Friday’s initial determination, and its own ITC infringement suit against Apple, tried right after the completion of the consolidated case, has not yet been decided.)

Apple still has major pending smartphone cases in the works with Motorola and Samsung. Both are veteran cellphone pioneers with valuable technology, a la Nokia; both also use Google’s android operating system, like HTC. Should be very interesting to see whether they end up like Nokia or HTC.

(Reporting by Alison Frankel)