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Apple iPad prototype with dual charging docks listed on eBay
From time to time, Apple prototype devices will make their way to eBay. Usually, they're iterations of the device's final design, but this latest one to hit the auction site is really different - it's an iPad with two dock connectors. As noted by MacRumors, the tablet device includes a standard portrait connector and a second one for connecting in landscape. Both ports work for charging and syncing the iPad. It's also running Apple's test software SwitchBoard and has several other markings that suggest it is legitimate. According to the listing, the prototype was disabled before it was discarded, but the seller has restored as much functionality as possible to the device. The eBay auction will end late on Monday May 28 (PDT) and, at the writing of this post, has 19 bids with a current topper of US$10,000.
OG iPad prototype with dual dock connectors hits eBay, teases us with convenience we never had
We're very used to Apple prototypes showing up on eBay. It's not often that we see unreleased iPads get the auction treatment, however, which makes a new listing that much more interesting. A 16GB WiFi version of the original iPad has popped up sporting a second dock connector on its side, a feature that we'd previously only spotted in Apple design patents. The advantage, of course, would be to keep the iPad powered and synced while it's playing a favorite movie in landscape mode. While we don't know how one aaps69 managed to get hands on the tablet, there's some clear signs that the seller didn't just carve an extra hole in the aluminum for kicks: the slate is running the familiar SwitchBoard tool that Apple uses for in-house diagnostics, and there's a raft of old and incomplete part details that suggest this particular iPad was never meant for store shelves. We'll likely never know why Apple left us in a land of solo dock connectors, but we'd take a peek at the source link before it's gone, as more recent Apple prototypes at auction tend to return to the source quickly.
Une Bobine: A Kickstarter succeeds, expands to another market
Une Bobine is a stylish and handy iPhone cable that went from zero to 1000 percent funded on Kickstarter in just 19 days. I covered the device on an episode of TUAW TV Live a few weeks ago, and just love the way that the flexible-but-somewhat-stiff Une Bobine works with an iPhone or iPod touch to not only connect your device for charging and syncing, but also works as a stand. As a result of the hot start this Kickstarter project received, the team decided to expand the product's use to micro-USB devices as well. Not all Mac users use iPhones -- there are a surprising number of TUAW readers who have Android-based phones -- so it is nice that Jon Fawcett and the [Fuse]Chicken team have taken the extra funding from Kickstarter to meet the needs of another market. Fawcett noted that "Micro-usb took significantly more work to achieve because it has one major flaw compared to the Apple 30 pin connector when attempting to do what we are with it. It is simply so small that the phone tends to rock side to side. To solve this, we have engineered a custom micro-usb connector housing that will make the micro-usb very stable on most phones. Because it seemed like an eternity was passing for us to finalize the details for this, we held a spontaneous 'Kickathon' with all of our employees (our name for the Kickstarter version of a hackathon) from 12:01am today until 5:01pm today. The Kickathon had one goal; to finalize the entire design for the micro-usb connector, which included design, engineering, prototyping, and testing. All of these came together by the hard work of our great team!" Une Bobine will be available in a 12" version (Petite Bobine) and a 24" full version, and since the company surpassed a $90,000 "stretch" funding goal, they're adding in a free 3-foot USB extension cable. And of course, it'll be in both Dock connector and micro-USB flavors. Check out another one of [Fuse]Chicken's well-done product trailers below.
Insert Coin: CordLite illuminated iPhone cable (video)
In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. On average, North American consumers will spend a lifetime total of five days on failed attempts to pair their dock connector cable with an iPad or iPhone. Yeah, that's not true, but we can certainly sympathize with frustrated device owners -- fitting a tiny connector to any gadget can be a chore, especially in the dark. Scrap Pile Labs' CordLite sets out to point the way to a successful connection with its built-in LEDs. The illuminated cable is quite simple to use -- with no buttons or switches to fuss with, the connector lights up when you touch the aluminum plates, and powers off the moment it's secured to your device. There's really not much else to it -- CordLite functions identically to an Apple-manufactured cable, though the dock connector itself is significant larger than the OEM variety, at least in its current prototype form. The design team has turned to Kickstarter to get their project funded, with a $70,000 goal. If all goes to plan, they expect to ship black or white CordLites beginning in September at $35 a pop, but as always, getting in during the "pre-order" phase will net you a hefty discount. The first 200 backers can get an early-bird cord in the color of their choice with a $25 pledge, with the required amount jumping up to $30 from there. A $45 pledge gets you an exclusive laser-etched model, while $50 will be met with a pair of early-bird cords. As you may have gathered from the picture above, the first version will only function with Apple devices, though a microUSB cord is also said to be in the works. See it in action in the video demo just past the break.
Epson MegaPlex MG-850HD projector is a powerful iOS companion
When it comes to giving presentations, teaching classes, or even watching videos or photos in a group environment, there's still nothing to replace the traditional PC projector. Sure, there are little pico-projectors out now, but they lack the sheer power and features of the magic black box that can push out 2,800 lumens of illumination. Epson loaned TUAW a MegaPlex MG-850HD projector (US$799) for review, which turned out to be a helpful companion for giving a volunteer presentation with nothing but my iPhone and iPad today. Like many projectors, the MG-850HD has HD capabilities (720p), has HDMI and VGA connections, can work with a simple USB connection to a Mac or PC, and has a remote for adjusting color, keystone, and resolution. But the MG-850HD has a very unique capability -- a Dock connector onto which an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch can be placed. I first had a chance to see one of these projectors at Epson's booth at Macworld | iWorld 2012, but wanted to use one hands-on. %Gallery-153708% While your iOS device is on the Dock connector, it's getting charged. The projector is able to pump out an image from any iOS app that supports video out, such as Keynote, YouTube, or the Photo Library. Unfortunately, like most devices that support the Dock connector, the MG-850HD doesn't work with the video mirroring capabilities of the latest iPhones and iPads. You can connect via an HDMI cable (not included) to use video mirroring, but not through the Dock. During a presentation today, I used the iOS version of Keynote to deliver the presentation with my third-generation iPad plugged into the MG-850HD. For a remote, I used Apple's Remote application on an iPhone 4S. The iPad, which runs on Verizon's 4G LTE network, was used in Personal Hotspot mode to connect the iPhone remote to the iPad host. The MG-850HD provides extremely bright output. Our presentation was done in a large conference room using a wall as a screen. While I had no way to measure it, the image was probably a good 18 feet wide and about 10 feet tall. Even with some lights on in the room, the image was clearly visible, and all of the graphics looked sharp. One very helpful feature we used was the set of two built-in 10 Watt speakers. Since the presentation didn't have audio, we connected a mic to the audio input and use the speakers to amplify our voices to a large crowd of students. In a pinch, you could use the MG-850HD as an audio speaker dock for your iPhone without even using the projector. The MG-850HD comes with a bunch of pre-set color modes. For home, there are special settings for "living room", cinema, and game, while for businesses there are special color modes for presentation and blackboard. The device can take just about any composite or component input signal up to 1080p in addition to the HDMI, VGA, and Dock inputs. The native resolution is WXGA (1280 x 800 pixels), which means that the HD projection output is limited to 720p. When the projector was turned on and the iPad securely situated on the Dock connector, a "Dock" light illuminated, and a special menu screen was displayed on the screen (wall). Depending on the type of image (still or video) you're projecting, you make a menu selection and then press continue. One concern is that these settings must be made using the included remote control -- if you lose the remote or your batteries die, there are no controls on the projector as backup. There are two very nice security features built into the MG-850HD for instructors; first, there's a standard Kensington lock slot for locking the projector to a heavy piece of furniture. The second is that you can set up the projector to only "unlock" (become usable) to certain iOS devices. You place a device onto the Dock, go to a hidden menu that is only described in the user manual, and then select "iPod Management". Once that's done, pressing a few buttons will display a confirmation screen that asks if you want to register your iOS device. Selecting Yes and pressing the Enter button on the remote control auto-fills the projector's memory with the device serial number. From then on, the projector is only usable with devices that have been registered. In terms of portability, the MG-850HD rocks. I've used a lot of projectors over the years, and this was one of the lightest big-screen projectors that I've ever had the pleasure to carry at just 8.6 pounds. Size-wise, the projector is just 11.5" x 13.4" x 5.1" and could easily fit under an airplane seat. It's obvious that Epson expended a lot of time and effort into making the MG-850HD work well with Apple devices. This is a projector that can be used in both home and business environments to view anything from iPhone slide shows to HD video from a Blu-ray player, and do it well. The price is also fairly reasonable -- a few years ago I purchased a much less capable projector for my business from Dell that cost quite a bit more and broke after only two years. You don't have to take my word for it; the reviews online are equally as happy with the MG-850HD. Whether you need an iOS-compatible projector for work or play, the Epson MegaPlex MG-850HD is an excellent choice.
Swivl motion-tracking dock now shipping to early adopters, future YouTube stars
Good news are in for folks who swiftly snagged one of those motion-tracking docks we showed you a while back, as they are now being prepped for shipping. After many months of teasing, it looks like the Satarii Star Swivl is finally getting ready to leave its prototype days behind. Those who unleashed the hefty $179 on the add-on can expect it to be on its way as soon as today. As for the ones who missed out on the first batch, you'll have to get in line and sign up via the company's site to know when more pop up. Also available now is a companion iOS app, which can be used to remotely trigger the camera for some self-recording action. We know you've waited long enough to take the Swivl for a spin, but in the meantime you can remind yourself why you bought in by peeking at the flaunting press shots below.
The iPhone's head start on computing's future
Imagine you're working on a complicated Photoshop document at home and need to go to work. Instead of uploading to Dropbox or saving to a thumb drive, you merely unplug your iPhone. You drive across town, get to your desk, dock your iPhone, and your desktop immediately springs back to life with your work still in progress. That idea of personal computing, known as modular computing, is behind an article in Time this week studying Apple's impact on the future of personal computing. Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies, Inc., theorizes that one day the iPhone will serve as a very small device that has a custom user interface, all your data, operating system and more. You would then go hook the iPhone up to any screen and have your personal computer right there - no laptop necessary. It would be able to drive a high-resolution monitor and software that requires more processing power than current-generation iPhones have. Bajarin says Apple is already experimenting with this future. He points to AirPlay and the ability to use an iPhone in an audio docking system. He also thinks the 30-pin dock connector, which was recently dismissed by iMore's Rene Ritchie, was specifically built with this mythical connected future in mind. Bajarin says only two-thirds of the 30 pins are used for syncing, charging and audio/video output. Apple could use the rest to power other functions. It's easy to see how Bajarin could make this leap of logic. Do you think this is the future, or is Apple going in another direction?
The case for ditching the Dock connector
Apple's 30-pin Dock connector has spawned generations of cables, docks, and accessories that all use the wide dongle we've all become familiar with. But is it something that has outlived its usefulness and is ready for replacement? That's the question iMore's Rene Ritchie discussed in a post yesterday, and his opinion is that Apple may move to an updated "micro dock" this year. Why? Ritchie notes that design changes like this are not unprecedented in the world of Apple, citing the move from mini SIM cards to micro SIM for the original iPad and removing the antenna from the inside of the iPhone for the iPhone 4 and 4S. The changes provided the extra space under the hood required for a larger battery, a power-hungry Retina display and backlight, 802.11n Wi-Fi and more. Ritchie points out that the current dock connector takes up a relatively large amount of space that could be better used for a 4G LTE radio. While the change might not occur in the next generation of iPad expected to be announced in the next few weeks, it could be a requirement for the iPhone 5. Ritchie doesn't think Apple would go to Thunderbolt, since iOS doesn't use the PCI Express architecture, nor does a micro-USB connector make much sense as it doesn't add a lot of speed to the connection. There's less of a need now for a connector that does more than just charge the device. With Wi-Fi sync and installation of apps and AirPlay connections to speakers and TVs, the need for a wired connection has waned. Last year's move to iOS 5 brought about the "PC-free" era, no longer requiring a PC or Mac to complete the initial setup of an iOS device. Apple would, Ritchie comments, upset a lot of customers and accessory manufacturers with a change to a new connector. But the company has always been willing to take a chance, pulling floppy disk drives, optical drives, and FireWire ports from new Macs as the need for those components disappeared. What will take the place of the 30-pin Dock connector? Your guess is as good as mine (or Rene's). This year seems like a likely time for the change to come, and we'll all get a chance to embrace change for better or worse.
Eyes-on with Energizer's LED lighting solutions and USB chargers at CES 2012
Energizer doesn't get much coverage here at Engadget, primarily because those AA cells you see at the Walgreens checkout counter haven't changed much throughout the years. Every now and then, however, there are special events such as CES, where the company that keeps going and going trots out its latest products for techies to fawn over. This year, we got to check out its lineup of USB power solutions designed for the home and automobile, along with a very handsome set of LED lights. Next month, Energizer will release new 5W chargers that include either a USB cable or Apple's dock connector. These are available for both the home and car, and will retail for $24.99 each. Perhaps most intriguing, however, is a product that combines both a wall and car charger into one handy unit. Known as the 2-in-1 USB Charger, it will retail for $39.99 and is set to hit store shelves this summer. In every situation, a cord management system is built into the unit, which is simple, effective and thoughtful. Then we have its beautiful accent lighting solution that makes up the Edge Collection. Available in small and medium sizes, they were introduced in September of this year and feature rather dramatic dimming options that respond to touch at the base of the unit. A single press will turn the light on or off, while a continual press causes the lamps to slowly dim or brighten in a slow and smooth gradation for a perfect lighting level. They do get quite bright, too, as the small light ($64.99) puts out up to 350 lumens, while its larger brother ($79.99) pushes it all the way to 400 lumens. With no physical switches and bulbs that don't need to be replaced, Energizer's Edge Collection seems to be a long-lasting product that can either add a curious focal point or elegantly blend into the background of any room.
Swivl intros companion iPhone app, we make sweet video with it
Sure, when we first encountered the device formerly known as Satarii Star it may have been a pipe dream in dire need of funding (and frankly a better name), but after playing with the company's latest Swivl prototype we can confirm it's very much real and honestly, pretty darn cool. For those unaware, the $159 "dock" of sorts, rotates whatever you stuff into it a full 360-degrees all while chasing a portable marker. New today, is an accompanying iPhone app that can remotely trigger recording from the marker all while including other niceties like the ability to lock focus during capture. So how did we get along with our limited time with the startup's latest prototype? Hop on past the break to find out. %Gallery-142160%%Gallery-142167%
PhotoFast iFlashDrive now available to pre-order in US and UK
We previewed the PhotoFast iFlashDrive back in June and it's a neat concept: a USB flash drive that also packs Apple's 30-pin dock connector, so you can increase the storage on your iDevice. If that piqued your interest, you'll be glad to know it's available to pre-order in the US and UK. The 8GB flavor will cost you $99.95 (£65), 16GB $149.95 (£95) and for users with a serious need for mobile storage, a 32GB stick is $199.95 (£130). iCloud? Who needs it.
Umiushi Smapho 2800 portable charger hands-on: one plug for iPhone, another one for micro-USB
As an Engadget reader, you'll gain extra street cred if you're using an iPhone and, well, a non-iPhone at the same time; or maybe you've got all your media content on an iPod instead of having everything on your non-Apple smartphone. Either way, this means that you'd need to carry at least two types of cables for emergency charging on the go. To save the hassle, PANS Ltd. from Japan has come up with a neat solution: Umiushi Smapho 2800, which is apparently the industry's first external battery with a built-in iPod dock connector and a micro-USB plug, both of which can be used simultaneously to sip on the 2,800mAh reservoir with 5V 1A output. Sure, you could alternatively just get hold of Apple's micro-USB adapter and keep one micro-USB cable with you, but if you're also looking for an external battery anyway then the option's there, too. Expect to see the Smapho 2800 in various markets in two months' time. Update: OK, so this is indeed not the first dual-plug type battery -- reader scoobydooby pointed out that Powermat's "Power! Dual 1850" does the same thing, albeit with a smaller capacity. %Gallery-135908%
i-FlashDrive lets you quickly share files between PC and iPhone
Our sister site Engadget has discovered a must have accessory if you're constantly finding yourself wanting to share files between your iPhone and PCs. PhotoFast's i-FlashDrive features a USB 2.0 port on one end and an Apple 30-pin dock connector on the other. Plug the USB drive into your PC or Mac and drag any files onto it just as you would with a normal thumb drive. When you're done, simply plug the drive into your iPhone's dock connector and use the Apple-approved app to move copy the files to your iPhone. I know, you can just use iTunes to sync files or drag and drop files to certain apps, right? What makes i-FlashDrive so handy is for those times when you want to copy files between a computer and iPhone and you don't own one of those devices. For example, you might be in a business meeting and want a copy of a 100 MB Keynote presentation a colleague has on his MacBook, but all you've got on you is your iPhone. Simply use the i-FlashDrive to copy the file from the MacBook and then plug it into your iPhone and copy it from the drive. i-FlashDrive won't be available in the US until July and it will come in sizes ranging from 4 GB to 32 GB with prices from US$95 to $180. [Via Engadget]
Apple granted patent for a 'reduced size multi-pin connector,' namedrops USB 3.0 and DisplayPort
Apple has just collected the US Patent Office's approval to add another to its vast hoard of patents. This one, numero 7,918,689 in the USPTO annals, describes a multi-pin male plug connector and a corresponding female receptacle, with the innovation being a reduction in size thanks to a single row of contacts. You can think of it as Apple's next generation of 30-pin connectors, or rather the next generation as the company envisioned it back in late 2008, the date of filing for this document. Back then, while the age of the click wheel was still upon us, Apple wanted to transfer USB 3.0 and DisplayPort signals over its newfangled plug, aspirations that were codified in claim 11 of its patent. We may now be a solid 30 or so months removed from that doc hitting the Patent Office's inbox, but the desire to have advanced data transfer tech integrated straight into the company's proprietary connectors is unlikely to have withered. Would it be a stretch to expect Apple's now working on a similar solution for the Thunderbolt interconnect -- whose plug looks identical to the one used for DisplayPort -- that is presently gracing its MacBook Pro line? %Gallery-120503%
Apple granted patent for DisplayPort/Thunderbolt, USB 3.0 dock connector
Apple has been granted a patent for a new type of dock connector, discovered by PatentlyApple. The new dock connector is a "hybrid DisplayPort/USB 3.0 high speed connector." According to the patent-tracking site, "This new and extremely slim connector will work on all iOS devices like the iPod and eventually work its way through Apple's entire hardware lineup." While Apple typically files patents for technologies that never see the light of day, PatentlyApple speculates that this new dock connector could be unveiled later this year or in 2012 when Apple adds USB 3.0 ports to its Mac computers. The patent also suggests that future iOS devices may have Thunderbolt connections since a DisplayPort and Thunderbolt connection are physically similar. Apple added Thunderbolt to the latest MacBook Pros, and it's widely expected that all Macs introduced from now on will sport the new port. A combined Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 connector would cover the Mac and PC spectrum -- while all newer Macs are likely to have Thunderbolt ports, most mid-level to low-end PCs will probably only sport USB 3.0 ports. [via MacRumors]
Apple's Digital AV Adapter also works with iPhone 4, fourth-gen iPod touch, and first-gen iPad
In case you're wondering whether Apple's forthcoming Digital AV Adapter is worth your $39, you might be pleased to know that said HDMI dongle is also compatible with the latest crop of iOS devices before the iPad 2. This includes the iPhone 4, fourth-generation iPod touch, and even the first-generation iPad. Alas, both movies and slideshows will be capped at 720p output from these older devices, whereas the iPad 2 goes a little further with screen mirroring of up to 1080p -- we're guessing the beastly dual-core A5 chip is what makes the magic happen here, though movie output's also limited to 720p. And hey, we're only a few months away from finding out if the next iPhone will also get some 1080p love, so no pressure on buying this dongle just yet.
iPad 2 rumored to bring a Retina Display, more docks, and a camera
Now that iOS developers are rolling out plenty of iPad optimized versions of their apps, they may soon need to create yet more variants for the next generation iPad. Reports out of Taiwan are now saying that Apple will utilize a Retina Display, but if they do, resolution will have to increase from the current 1,024 x 768 and 132 pixels per inch to somewhere well north of 2,048 x 1,536. Other changes that might arrive in iPad 2 include a USB port, a second dock connector to allow landscape use in the keyboard dock and dual (or at least front facing) cameras for FaceTime. Jonny Ive and the crew will probably find a way to make iPad 2 slimmer and lighter than the original as well. A newer version of the tablet sounds great (and is practically guaranteed, even if not all of these features are). But a full-sized Retina Display could be a tough thing to pull off, and would likely provide some more supply issues for Apple. On the other hand, it's always possible that Jobs could simply redefine the meaning of Retina Display, trending downward from the 300+ ppi he touted when the iPhone 4 was revealed last June. Since doing anything other than simply quadrupling the resolution the way that the iPhone did would make scaling more problematic, it seems probable that the iPad 2 display will keep the current resolution while perhaps getting other improvements like less glare and better viewing angles. As for the other features, we'll have to wait and see what shows up on stage with Steve at the next event.
iPad patent suggests landscape dock connector ... again
We've heard about this before, but a new patent illustration hints again at a second dock in a future version of the iPad, one that will enable you to both charge and sync your iPad from a landscape setup. Honestly, it seems a little redundant to have two dock connectors on there, since you'll never use more than one at a time anyway. Still, competitors are already making use of a landscape charging setup, and Apple's been hinting about switching to a landscape charging display for a while. Could be that when we do see the next version of the iPad announced (likely next January), you'll have your option of which way to display it while charging.
Debunk: Leaked iPad photo doesn't show next gen design
By now you may have seen some photos of an alleged iPad casing doing the rounds that is purported to be the next generation of Apple's tablet. In the pics, you can clearly see that there are two distinct slots for the company's 30 pin dock connector, which would allow you to plant the iPad in either landscape or portrait mode. Unfortunately, this isn't a sign of things to come -- it's a future that never was. According to a trusted Engadget source, what the image actually shows is a rejected concept from the current generation iPad. The story goes that originally there had been plans to feature two dock connections, but close to the last minute a design decision was made to kill the landscape port. It's still possible that Apple has decided to go back to the two-port design, but in all likelihood this is a piece of a prototype which has found its way into the world. If the story we've been told is correct, then there would likely be dozens if not hundreds of these back pieces floating around China. From what we can suss out, this is not the direction Apple is going in for the next version, but hey, if come January we see a new iPad with two dock connectors -- drinks are on us.
iControlPad using unlicensed dock connection, forced to go Bluetooth
The folks at iControlPad can't seem to catch a break -- the design for the plug-in iPhone controller was finally finished, but the creators are now backing off of that design. Specifically, they're worried about Apple's lawsuit against Sanho, in which the battery manufacturer was sued for creating products that unofficially connected to dock connectors on iPhones and iPod touches. Because the iControlPad was originally designed to plug right into the dock connector on the iPhone (and presumably, its creators don't want to have to pay the "Made for iPhone" fee to officially license that hardware), it's got to be tweaked for Bluetooth support instead. Fortunately, Bluetooth support was always an option, as there is a chip already inside the device. But the software will apparently have to be worked on, leading to even longer delays in production. At this point, it's hard to believe the product will ever actually get out the door in a mass market state. But that doesn't mean there isn't still call for buttons -- maybe some enterprising accessory maker will pick up the gauntlet and run with it. Since the iPhone was introduced, gamers everywhere have been asking for some type of external controls for iPhone games, and maybe the iControlPad's setback will provide some drive for someone else. [via Cult of Mac]
