Ipod Touch -- Engadget

ipod touch posts

Blacksn0w unlock available now for iPhone 3G and 3GS

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Nov 3rd 2009 at 12:23PM

There's no stopping the eternal tug-of-war between the powers that be and the hackers that will, and for the time being it looks like things are back in the hands of the hackers. As of noon today giddy jailbreakers can take the next step and go full-on with blacksn0w, the unlock for the latest 05.11.07 baseband (with tethering enabled to boot). And if that weren't enough, it looks like blackra1n RC3 is alive as well, with Mac and Windows support. What are you waiting for? Hit the read link to get started, if that's your thing. And the battle for the iPhone's immortal soul continues...

[Via On The iPhone]

XM SkyDock now available for iPod touch and iPhone drivers

by Thomas Ricker posted Nov 2nd 2009 at 6:07AM

We know what iPhone owners want: Rosie O'Donnell talking on their car radios from coast-to-coast. Good, 'cause the $120 XM SkyDock is now available for purchase giving you full, touchscreen control and tagging capabilities over your in-car satellite radio. SkyDock features a built-in XM tuner and PowerConnect FM transmitter than bungs into the ol' cigarette lighter / power adapter socket to charge your Apple device while holding it in portrait or landscape modes depending on your preference. While XM keeps things simple by making the App a free download from Apple's App Store, you'll still have to thread the antenna cable along the inside of your vehicle's weather stripping in order to attach the magnetic antenna to your car's roof (just above your front windshield) for optimal results. Sounds messy.

MobileMe media sync detailed in Apple patent application

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Oct 19th 2009 at 3:26PM

What do you know? It looks like Apple's filed yet another patent application. The company's newest is named (in the short, pithy way that patents are named) Synchronization of Media State Across Multiple Devices. Combining the ubiquity of MobileMe with the media syncing that goes down when you dock your iPod or iPhone, the application suggests that soon you might find all your Engadget Show episodes automagically picking up where you left 'em when you switch devices -- without any lag time or any pesky cables. As Macworld points out, also included in the paperwork is distance tracking functionality -- just the thing for automating sync operations when two devices come within range (it's unclear whether this will be done via Bluetooth or WiFi). Perhaps this news isn't exciting to the couch potatoes among us (you know, because they never leave the couch) but all you TV addicts "on the go" must be psyched.

[Via Macworld]

iPhone and iPod touch radio app with iTunes store integration on the horizon?

by Ross Miller posted Oct 13th 2009 at 8:54PM

We know what you're thinking, how dare that new iPod nano have features your premium iPhone and iPod touch handhelds don't? Well, if this 9 to 5 Mac rumor has any merit, Apple is right there with you and has a solution in the works. According to said whispers, a Radio app is in the works to capitalize on the recent models' latent FM tuner. It'll either be standalone or integrated into the iPod app, and either way it'll be able to work in the background while you browse other, not so fortunate apps. The apparent cause for delay is work on a feature that'll identify the songs and link you to the appropriate iTunes page for purchase. As always, this is just a rumor, so do yourself a favor and try not to dwell on it too much, k?

Finger Piano Share plays your Disklavier via WiFi (video)

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Oct 12th 2009 at 1:37PM

Developers at Yamaha seem to be having plenty of fun with their iPhones -- at least, that's the impression they've made this year at CEATEC. Not only have we seen an app that lets you boss around a robotic chanteuse, but they've also put together a little something called Finger Piano Share. Don't let the video fool you, folks -- this is more than just a MIDI controller. Supporting up to ten users at once, this guy not only lets you remotely play your MIDI-enabled Disklavier via Wi-Fi, but you can record your little jam sessions (using the location-aware augmented reality app Sekai Camera) for playback whenever someone goes to the site of the original performance. Sounds like a recipe for a disastrous conceptual art piece if we ever heard one! Video after the break.

Continue reading Finger Piano Share plays your Disklavier via WiFi (video)

Blackra1n jailbreak now available for iPhone OS 3.1.2, iPod touch 3G

by Nilay Patel posted Oct 11th 2009 at 4:01PM

Wow, judging by our tips jar we'd say you're all pretty darn excited about Geohot's Blackra1n jailbreak, which lets you open up iPhone OS 3.1.2 devices including the iPod touch 3G and new iPhone 3GSs -- but you can't unlock yet, so don't get any big ideas about switching carriers. Windows-only at the moment, but with this level of enthusiasm out there we can't imagine a Mac version is far behind.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

TomTom iPhone Car Kit returns to UK Apple Store, awaits drama

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 9th 2009 at 5:40AM

It's back. After making a horrendous false start with the early promise of iPod touch support and the inclusion of the iPhone App in its £100 price tag, the TomTom Car Kit has returned to the Apple Store. In a big fat disclaimer, TomTom writes:

The TomTom app for iPhone is not included with this TomTom Car Kit. The Car Kit dock is compatible with all iPhone models, but the TomTom app only works with iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.

We only see it in the UK store at the moment but it's likely to pop on your local store anytime now. Ships in 1-2 weeks.

[Thanks, Joe W.]

iPhone OS 3.1.2 update now live, fixes sleep, network issues

by Nilay Patel posted Oct 8th 2009 at 2:34PM

Apple's just posted up iPhone OS 3.1.2, which purports to fix some of iPhone OS 3.1's Greatest Bug Hits, including: Don't Wake (From Sleep), Lost Network Access, and everyone's all-time favorite, Video Stream Crash Dance. We're updating now, let us know how it goes for you in comments -- and there's an iPod touch update too, we're sure it's just as fun.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Vonage Mobile iPhone and BlackBerry apps available for download

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 5th 2009 at 6:33AM

You remember Vonage right? The trailblazing VoIP company is still around and appears at first glance to have instigated a bit of coup in the battle for VoIP calls over AT&T connections. Unfortunately they haven't, at least not yet. See, the free Vonage Mobile app just added to the iTunes App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch has been approved for making international calls over AT&T's cellular network (take that Skype) in addition to WiFi. Unfortunately, we're not talking about SIP calls over EDGE/HSDPA data. Like the rejected Google Voice app, if you're out of WiFi range but still have voice service then Vonage Mobile will redirect your international call (entered directly into the App or selected from your address book) to a local access number in the US -- you're then using your AT&T minutes while being charged Vonage Mobile's discounted worldwide calling rates. The app is strictly pay-as-you-go for the moment and will not give free global calling to those who subscribe to Vonage's $25 per month Vonage World plan -- Vonage says that will come before the end of the year. The Vonage Mobile app for BlackBerry only works over your carrier's voice network while the iPod touch app only works over WiFi, naturally. Also, BlackBerry users will revert to Vonage's lower rates anytime they make an international call whereas iPhone users must launch the Vonage application first.

[Thanks, Ricky B.]

Entelligence: The Muddled MID market

by Michael Gartenberg posted Oct 1st 2009 at 5:30PM

Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide.

There's a growing category of devices that fall in the space below laptops and above smartphones. It's not a new space, there have been various incarnations over the years, most recently Microsoft's Ultra Mobile PC devices, originally known as Origami. These days, Intel's the one talking about this space, pushing what it calls MIDs, or Mobile Internet Devices. Well that's all well and good -- but what's a MID?

Frankly, MID is an Intel marketing term coined around 2008. In a 2008 Engadget post Intel's Dan Monahan described MIDs as having the following attributes:

Consumer-class lifestyle devices
Runs a 'lightweight" OS with quick startup like Linux
Optimized for things like media playback and web surfing
In 2009 (or so) Moorestown-based devices will be classed as MIDs only

And Intel is aggressive about MIDs -- the company was showing off so many of UMID's devices at IDF last week you would have thought they were among Intel's most strategic and largest customers. But it's clear that the definition has changed over time, as the MIDs at IDF didn't match the specs Mr. Monahan talked about in 2008. These devices all ran Windows and were really scaled down models of netbooks. And although they were impressively tiny, let's be honest -- I'm really skeptical about the future of this class of device, Intel's aspirations aside.

Continue reading Entelligence: The Muddled MID market

TI joins HP, creates official business calculator port for iPhone

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 25th 2009 at 9:11AM

Calculators were the original handheld computers, but unlike the whole PDA fad, they've had amazing staying power through their 40-year history -- to this day, buttoned-up dudes crunching numbers at wooden desks have HP 12Cs next to them not for the kitschy retro street cred, but because they're functional, familiar, and do exactly what they're expected to do. Thing is, even purpose-suited perfection can only carry a product for so many years; eventually, raw technology and a new generation of users with different expectations are going to conspire to tear down the status quo. HP was the first giant to recognize that it might be a good idea to have virtual versions of its products available for a more modern medium, porting the 12C and 15C to the iPhone; now, TI -- HP's archrival in the calculator business for decades -- is doing the same by offering its BAII Plus as a $14.99 download from the App Store. That's exactly the same price as the 12C, so come on, you HP and TI diehards -- duke it out and tell us which brand makes the better adding machine once and for all, won't you?

TomTom iPhone Car Kit up for £100 UK pre-order, includes navigation app

by Thomas Ricker posted Sep 24th 2009 at 3:59AM

The TomTom iPhone Car Kit has just gone up for pre-order on the Apple UK store -- we presume it will go global in the hours to come. It'll cost 5 pence shy of £100 and ships in 2-3 weeks with the dock and adhesive disk in the box. Better yet, for that price you also get the £60 navigation app for the UK/Ireland. Then there's this little note:

"The Car Kit dock is compatible with all iPhone models, but the Car Kit app only works with iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G"

So what about the iPod touch compatibility as claimed in the TomTom FAQ? Or is that just a gaming device now?

Update: Just hit mainland Europe for €99,95.

Update 2: Oops! Looks like the page was pulled -- back to waiting! See the original after the break.

[Via Recombu]

Continue reading TomTom iPhone Car Kit up for £100 UK pre-order, includes navigation app

Griffin iTrip now features iPhone OS 3.0 integration

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Sep 23rd 2009 at 11:57AM

Griffin, known for its accessories for the iPod and iPhone, has just announced its latest and greatest (though just how great is still in question). The latest iteration of the iTrip takes full advantage of iPhone OS 3.0, allowing you to control the FM transmitter from your iPhone / iPod touch itself. Aren't luscious touchscreen controls preferable to the iTrip's tiny buttons anyways? In addition to app integration, the transmitter features track and artist information on RDS-compatible radios, SmartScan technology for finding the best available frequency in any locale, and a micro-USB port for charging any USB-powered iPod or iPhone from a charger. iTrip is available for $49.99, and the iTrip Controller software can be downloaded for free from the App Store.

iPod touch with "built-in video recorder" not for sale at Dabs

by Thomas Ricker posted Sep 23rd 2009 at 7:21AM

At this point, it's pretty clear that something went horribly wrong in the development of the iPod touch causing Apple to remove the camera somewhere late in its lifecycle. But if you really need more evidence, take a look at the latest circular from dabs.com, a well-known UK retailer and official Apple reseller. This flyer was recently mailed to subscribers and still lists a "built-in video recorder" as a feature. Of course, clicking through reveals the same ol' iPod touch launched sans camera. While the error could be explained as a simple editing mistake in the creation of the advert, we doubt that's the case -- not with all the case leaks, rumors, and that mysterious internal gap just big enough for a camera sensor. Honestly, we wouldn't be surprised to see Apple sneak out a camera-enabled iPod touch replacement during one of its infamous "The Apple Store is down!" Tuesdays.

[Thanks, Peter M.]

New iPod touch gets a speed test, zips right on by

by Laura June posted Sep 16th 2009 at 11:06AM

The new generation of the iPod touch, we've been told, is roughly 50 percent faster than the previous iteration. Well, the fine folks over at the iPhone Blog have done a bit of information collecting on just that topic -- to see if Apple's latest is actually that much faster. Macworld did testing which showed a reduction in boot times from 31 to 19 seconds, web page loading (using the New York Times) went from 34 to 15 seconds, while app launching saw time reductions across the board. So -- in essence -- yes, the newest iPod touch is about 50 percent faster than the previous model in terms of performance. Hit the read link to hear even more tantalizing details.