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Philips, not Beats, announces first Lightning-equipped headphones (update)
Back at WWDC, Apple announced a new spec for its Made For iPhone program: the ability to use a Lightning cable to connect headphones with iOS devices. With that in mind, and Apple's recent purchase of Beats, many (myself included) assumed that Dr. Dre and Co. would be the first to unveil a set of cans featuring the newfangled feature. Nope. Today, Philips announced that its Fidelio M2L set that will digitally connect with the diminutive jack rather than the 3.5mm port, with a built-in 24-bit digital to analog converter (DAC) to boost sound quality. In addition to the higher-resolution audio, using the Lightning connector will also cut down on crosstalk and noise. Unfortunately, the increased quality appears to be the only spot Philips leveraged the port's abilities as there's no mention of controls and the like. If these look familiar, you might remember the Fidelio M1BT that debuted last year carrying similar stylings. Ready to take the leap? Well, you'll have to wait until December, but when the M2L headphones arrive, they'll set you back €250 (around $323 converted).
Apple isn't going to abandon the 3.5mm headphone jack
There's been some wild speculation by a certain business journal lately that Apple might abandon the standard 3.5mm headphone jack and replace it with Lightning connector headphones that would allow for 48kHz digital sound for the first time. Before we get started lets make one thing abundantly clear; we'd love to own a pair of 48 kHz digital headphones that would allow for lossless audio quality from the comfort of our phones. That being said, anyone who thinks that Apple would completely abandon the standard headphone jack is completely out of his mind. Here's a list of people who would be furious if Apple took away the ability to use standard headphones from all users: Anyone who already bought $100 to $300 headphones which now don't work with their iPhone, including everyone who already owns a pair of BEATS Anyone who now has to pay for a $29 3.5mm headphone jack adapter to use their existing headphones Anyone who just spent $700 on a phone that requires them to have special headphones they can't easily replace Anyone who listens to their iPhone while jogging and goes through multiple pairs of headphones because they sweat a lot Anyone who uses their iPhone for music in the car, but has one of those tape deck to 3.5mm headphone jack solutions Anyone who has an FM transmitter that uses a 3.5mm headphone jack Anyone who forgot their headphones before going to the airport and now has to buy an expensive set of proprietary Apple headphones for their new phone instead of the already overpriced generic earbuds at the airport store Anyone who wants to let someone listen to music on their iPhone but doesn't want to share earbuds Anyone who connects to their home stereo using an 3.5mm auxiliary plugin who can now no longer listen to Spotify on their stereo without buying an adaptor Apple just spent billions of dollars buying a headphone manufacturer. Their next logical step will be to set fire to that headphone manufacturer's customer base by rendering their already overpriced headphones obsolete, right? Headphones aren't chargers. Chargers have one purpose for existing, so we put up with the fact that they are often annoying and proprietary. Your 3.5mm jack and headphones interface with far more objects. You use the standard headphone jack for listening to music while walking, in the car, and at home, all in slightly different ways. You use headphones with different products. Everyone who travels with a portable gaming system or non-Apple laptop would suddenly have a reason not to buy an iPhone, because it would mean having to carry around an extra set of headphones in addition to the ones for your phone. For the casual user -- say your uncle who shrugs at Thanksgiving dinner and says "who cares what kind of phone you have? -- this would be the sort of thing that would drive them towards Android. The Forbes article that inspired this rant lays out what it calls a "very simple and effective roll out trajectory." Here it is: 1. Announce the technology with Beats and headphone partners 2. Unveil clever third party app integration 3. Make this integration inaccessible in any other way 4. Make Lightning port to 3.5mm headphone jack adaptors expensive and bulky 5. In a few years remove the 3.5mm headphone jack from Apple devices citing legacy, greater design flexibility and extra space for a bigger battery This would be effective with the most diehard Apple fans in the world. Everyone else would say "yeah, I'm not paying $29.99 for a headphone jack adaptor I'm probably going to lose while traveling," and then just buy the newest Android smartphone instead. I fail to see where Apple gains ground by making a move that's sure to turn so many existing customers away from their most popular product. If Apple can make Lightning port headphones that provide users with crystal clear digital sound they should. There's certainly a group of customers out there who would want to buy them and would probably pay a premium to do so. Those customers are an outlier. People buy Apple products because, and pardon the cliché, they just work. To force people to buy new headphones for a feature that isn't that important to the general public is removing one of the basic functionalities of every smartphone in the world. If you aren't already an Apple loyalist, what possible reason would you have for sticking with iOS when cheaper, similarly powered, alternatives already exist that work with the headphones you already have? Building better headphones and letting people discover that they want them is a perfectly smart move for Apple to make, but abandoning the headphone jack completely? No way. Apple is in the business of selling hardware. It's a lot harder to sell a phone when one of the most universal features of every other device on the market has been stripped out in a transparent move to force users into a more expensive product. That would be stupid, and Apple isn't stupid, folks.
Former Apple accessories engineer is behind Square's new svelte credit card reader
Square yesterday unveiled its next-gen credit card reader, set to be released in 2014. The new design is super thin, with the peripheral's thickness being slashed by an impressive 45 percent. As it turns out, there's a strong Apple connection to the new, super-svelte Square reader. Shrinking down a device that's already quite thin is no small feat. It requires an incredible amount of engineering acumen, a complete re-thinking of the original design and, in Square's case, even custom designing some of the device's components. The man at Square tasked with slimming down the popular card reader was Jesse Dorogusker, the company's VP of Hardware. Before joining Square in 2011, Dorogusker, an electromechanical engineer by training, spent eight years working as a director of engineering in Apple's accessory division. While there, Wired reports that Dorogusker helped spearhead development of Apple's ultra-compact Lightning connector. The Wired article describes, in fascinating detail, the amount of work that went into improving a device that really only has one task -- reading credit cards. By tweaking the design of the spring to which the magnetic read head was attached, the team was able to fine-tune the friction customers feel when swiping their card. At one point in development, they found that the level of contact they needed to successfully transfer data from a card resulted in a swipe that felt too loose. And when the swipe felt too loose, it felt like it wasn't working, and would thus require another swipe. So they increased the friction above what was actually needed–an adjustment that was overkill from a technical point of view, but resulted in a swipe that felt perfect to the hand. The entire article is definitely worth a read if you're at all curious as to the design and engineering efforts that often accompany making an already small device even smaller and, more importantly, more functional.
LA County sheriff's deputy saved by iPhone charger cable
A Los Angeles (Calif.) County sheriff's deputy was injured in a shooting Tuesday morning in Inglewood, Calif., but things could have been worse had it not been for an Apple Lightning charger cable that was in her pocket. The charger cable actually deflected a bullet that would have otherwise been embedded in the deputy's hip. In a tweet from the LA County Sheriff official Twitter account, the brave sacrifice of the Lightning cable in taking one for its owner was referred to as a "miracle." From the looks of the cable, the USB end took the brunt of the bullet. Needless to say, the deputy may need to visit an Apple Store soon and get a replacement. Thanks to TUAW reader Noel S. for the tip.
Belkin Express Dock for iPad: Review and giveaway
Belkin continues to roll out an impressive array of Apple accessories, with the new US$59.99 Express Dock for iPad (and any other device with a Lightning connector) being the latest in a series of new products. The Express Dock comes with a 4-foot USB cable and is primarily designed for use with a Lightning-equipped iPad. Made out of a good chunk of aluminum that weighs about 13.1 ounces (371.4 gm), the Express Dock is not going to tip over when you pop on iPad onto it for recharging. There's also a rubberized material on the bottom of the dock to prevent it from sliding. The most useful feature of the Express Dock is a dial located on the back of the dock that provides a way to extend or retract the Lightning adapter so that it works with just about any case. There are iPhone cases (the Twelve South HiRise is an example) that have the ability to be adjusted during setup, but not "on the fly" -- and so far, this is the only adjustable iPad dock I'm aware of. Since the Lightning adapter and cable are built into the Express Dock, there's no need for you to use one of your own or buy another for use with the dock. The Express Dock is tilted at a nice angle for reading, perfect for those situations where you're reading an iBook and want something to hold and charge your iPad. The Express Dock base is a rounded square about 3.25 inches (8.26 cm) on a side, making it a bit of overkill for an iPhone 5/5c/5s or iPod touch (fifth-generation). For those smaller devices, Belkin makes a less expensive ($39.99) and more colorful (six colors) dock called the MIXIT ChargeSync Dock Conclusion Belkin has designed and built a very useful charge and sync dock for any Lightning-equipped iPad or iPad mini. Pros Very well-built and sturdy. Weight of the base means that the dock is stable even when a full-sized iPad in a case is placed onto it. Four-foot cable is nice as it allows users to get a bit of space between their computer (or wall outlet) and the iPad. Lightning adapter vertical adjustment allows the Express Dock to work with just about any iPad case. Cons None. Who is it for? Any person with an iPad (fourth generation) or iPad mini who would like a stable and sturdy charging and sync dock. Giveaway Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before October 18, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Belkin Express Dock for iPad valued at US$59.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Tiny ChargeKey for iPhone 5 is always handy and ready to go
Charging cables that are at your fingertips all the time just keep getting smaller and smaller. Back in March of this year, TUAW reviewed the ChargeCard, a USB to 30-pin Dock Connector charging cable the exact size of a credit card. Now there's the ChargeKey for iPhone 5 (US$25), an even smaller emergency charging cable that's the size of a house key. Not surprisingly, both products are made by the same California company, Nomad. The design of the ChargeKey makes it a snap to attach to your keychain or to remove it for a quick charge. On one end is an open-faced USB connector, while a Lightning connector sits on the opposite end. If you're anywhere that there's an open USB port, you can plug in your iPhone (or iPad -- the ChargeKey is designed to withstand up to 3.1 A of current) to top it off. At $25, you're really paying for the convenience of having a cable you can attach to a keychain. Apple's Lightning to USB cables run $29, but other manufacturers sell short 4-inch cables for as low as $11.90 each. The company is doing an initial production run of 10,000 ChargeKeys, and plans to ship them to purchasers on November 30, 2013.
Wake up to a Lightning-equipped iHome iDL45 alarm/dock
Alarm clock radios have been around for decades, and when iPods and iPhones jumped onto the scene, we started to see a new accessory: the alarm dock. Basically, this was your standard clock radio with a trusty 30-pin Dock connector on top, and your iPhone could receive a charge while you slept and let you listen to your iTunes playlist if you didn't want to have the local FM station blasting you out of bed. iHome is now shipping the iDL45 Dual Charging Stereo FM Clock Radio with Lightning Dock and USB Charge/Play for iPad/iPhone/iPod (US$99.99), and it's perfect for your Lightning-equipped iPad, iPhone or iPod. That's a mouthful, so for the rest of this review I'll call it the iDL 45, OK? Design The iDL45 is an attractive-looking clock radio, featuring white numerals and control icons on a stark black background. Atop the unit is the Lightning dock, and there's a USB port on the side for charging your other devices -- basically anything that charges via USB. Since you can pop anything from an iPod touch to a full-sized iPad onto the Lightning connector, there's a "backrest" (for lack of a better word) to prop up the device and make sure it's not putting undue pressure onto the connector. The digital tuning FM stereo radio gives the iDL45 6 preset stations, perfect for those times when you want to scan stations for local news in between the ads and jock talk. The iDL45 has a battery backup, so you cannot use a power outage as an excuse as to why you overslept... %Gallery-192328% Like earlier iHome products, the iDL45 is designed to work with a companion application. The free app automatically syncs the clock to your iPhone's time, so there's no need to tap buttons to set the clock and it handles daylight savings time changes with ease. That app is also used to set up the dual alarms both of which can have full week, weekday and weekend settings. Functionality The fun part of reviewing the iDL45 was setting it up with bogus alarms for testing. Once you unpack the iDL45, place it on a nightstand, plug it in (there's a really nice long cord) and drop your iPhone onto the Lightning port, you'll be asked to install a couple of apps onto your device. One of them, Alarms, can be used to just set up alarms and give you stats on how long you're sleeping. It's ad-supported, but all of the ads seem to be iAd placeholders. I'm not sure of why anyone would use the Alarms app when the iHome Set app is much more useful. It provides settings for things like the FM radio presets, brightness of the clock display, volume, and it lets you set the alarm times and sources as well. While I was fooling around with this app, I checked for a firmware update for the clock and was surprised to find one -- who knew that you could update your alarm clock with an iOS device? The sound on the iDL45 was surprisingly good. I mean, I don't expect much from a plastic alarm dock, but the sound had a good, rich quality to it. The software worked like a champ and the app was extremely easy to figure out, although I suggest setting up the iDL45 well before you go to sleep in case you run into any questions. Conclusion With the iHome iDL45, the old traditional clock radio has just had another nail hammered into its coffin. Not only does the iDL45 work seamlessly with the free apps from iHome, but it has a pleasing design and good sound quality. The best thing? It works with your Lightning-equipped iPhone 5, iPad mini, 4th-generation iPad, or 5th-generation iPod touch. Pros Works with free iHome apps to provide control of every function Clock time is auto-synced with the iPhone time Lightning connector support! Ability to charge devices that don't use Lightning connectors through a USB port White display is very readable, even when dimmed considerably Surprisingly good sound for a clock radio / dock Ability to upgrade the clock radio / dock firmware through the app Battery backup built in Cons No AM stations, so you can't listen to some sports broadcasts Choice of apps is confusing; iHome should just point users to the iHome Set app Who is it for? Perfect for the iPhone-wielding office or blue-collar worker or student who needs to awake on time. At $100, it's reasonably priced and would make a good gift. Giveaway And speaking of gifts, TUAW and iHome are giving away an iHome iDL45. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before June 27, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive an iHome iDL45 alarm dock valued at $99.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Sony outs Lightning-friendly speaker dock in Japan, alarm clock and radio features in tow
Sony may have unveiled a slew of new audio products back at CES 2013, but the company has been relatively quiet when it comes to launching ones that are compatible with Apple's novel Lightning connector. That being said, it looks as if folks in the Land of the Rising Sun will soon be able to pair their current-gen iOS device with a dock from the PlayStation maker, thanks to the recently announced SRS-GC11IP. Pictured above, this little 0.8W speaker isn't loaded with fancy features like Bluetooth 4.0 or WiFi, but it does offer convenient functions such as an alarm clock and AM / FM radio -- these, of course, go along with the ability to also play tunes straight from a Lighting-ready iDevice or, with the proper RDP-NWC11 model, a new-era Walkman and many different smartphones. Whether we'll ever see the as-yet-unpriced tubular peripheral hit other markets, well, that still remains to be seen, with Sony only going so far as to listing it as "coming soon" on its Japanese website.%Gallery-184886%
Here's how Apple's Lightning-to-HDMI digital AV adapter probably works
Last week, we shared how the folks at Panic had pulled apart one of Apple's Lightning to HDMI digital AV adapters in an attempt to figure out why it didn't seem to output true 1080p HD video. To their surprise, they found that it contained a tiny computer featuring an ARM processor and 256 MB of memory. They had some thoughts on how the accessory might be working its magic, namely that it could be using AirPlay in some way, but now someone claiming to be an Apple engineer has come forward with what's said to be the official explanation of how it works. Posting to Slashdot, the anonymous individual claims that AirPlay isn't actually being used at all, and that contrary to some speculation the adapter's processor doesn't run a stripped-down version of iOS: What happens here is that we use the same hardware to encode an output stream on the fly and fire it down the Lightning cable straight into the ARM SoC the guys at Panic discovered. Airplay itself (the network protocol) is NOT involved in this process. The encoded data is transferred as packetized data across the Lightning bus, where it is decoded by the ARM SoC and pushed out over HDMI. This setup is apparently future-proof according to the poster, since it's entirely software-driven. Apple engineers are apparently aware that the current implementation leaves something to be desired since it introduces lag and compression artifacts, but the adapter's firmware is supposedly upgradeable and improvements will evidently be made to the compression in future iOS updates. The information coming from this anonymous source lines up pretty closely with what we've been told by David Stanfill, founder of AirParrot and Reflector developer Napkin Studio. Stanfill, who has extensive experience with AirPlay, told us that he "[doesn't] believe that the AirPlay itself is being used here, [but] it certainly seems like the underlying hardware that powers AirPlay mirroring is being used for the AV Lightning adapter." Stanfill concurs that this "also explains the limited resolution support -- keeping costs down and performance up means the higher h264 levels needed to support more pixels likely aren't supported by the SoC employed in the adapter." "This does not seem very forward thinking on the part of Apple," Stanfill added. "If the lightning cable is their solution for the foreseeable future, don't hold your breath on putting that retina iPad full-resolution on your 4K TV in a few years. At least not without heavy MPEG artifacts."
Panic digs into the Lightning digital AV adapter, finds a surprise
The folks at Coda and Unison developer Panic Inc. have a good old fashioned mystery on their hands, and it all revolves around Apple's digital AV adapter for iPhone 5 and iPad mini with Lightning connectors. As they tell it, the Coda crew was recently trying out the accessory for capturing video from iOS devices when they noticed something wasn't quite right -- namely that the maximum resolution capable using the adapter wasn't full 1080p and the video signal didn't seem as pristine as it should have been. This lead Panic to wonder if the adapter wasn't sending a "pure," direct signal via HDMI. Lo and behold, when they literally cracked open the US$49 accessory, they found that it seems to contain what amounts to a dedicated, ARM-based system on a chip (SoC) with 256 MB of RAM. They believe the SoC could be performing something akin to AirPlay streaming from the attached device to the HDMI connector, resulting in the compression artifacts and other quality issues including input lag. Of course, they can't be entirely sure this is what's happening, but all available evidence points in that direction. Why take this approach versus the direct output provided by the 30-pin digital AV adapter? Panic thinks it may have something to do with the Lightning connector not having enough pins to provide true video output, or that Apple wanted to shift as much hardware outside of the iPhone 5 and iPad mini as possible to keep production costs (and weight, and battery drain) down to a minimum. Either way, it certainly is an unusual find and one that anyone planning to output video from newer iOS devices will want to bear in mind.
Zoom iQ5 professional stereo microphone hands-on
Earlier at CES, we got our hands on the Rode iXY 30-pin stereo microphone iPhone add-on that left our Lightning users a bit sad. Cheer up! The folks over at Zoom got us over to their booth to take a peek at the company's new iQ5 professional stereo microphone. The iQ5 is a different beast than its aforementioned competition in that it works in conjunction with native iOS applications. What this means is that you can use it while recording video on your iOS device. The microphone itself rotates for this specific purpose, allowing for both horizontal and vertical audio recording in raw, 90- and 120-degree field positions. The recording resolution is capped at a respectable 16-bit/44.1kHz -- though slightly less than we were hoping. We didn't get a chance to actually hear an audio sample from the iQ5, but we're pretty confident it'll sound better than the standard mic equipped on any of the supported devices. The Zoom iQ5 lacks a bit in customization department as well as build quality -- we're generally not fans of the cheap plastic construction, which is unlike most other Zoom products. The spec sheet certainly leaves us wanting, but it's a start in the right direction for current-gen iOS devices. The iQ5 will set you back $100 and will start shipping Q2 of this year -- until then check out the gallery to hold you over.
Romo gen 3 gains Lightning connector, we go hands-on (video)
Remember Romo, the adorable iPhone-faced track-equipped robot? We met up with Romotive in Vegas at CES 2013 to play with the 3rd generation model that was recently launched on Kickstarter. The company also gave us an exclusive first look at a 3rd generation prototype with Lightning connector. We sat down with CEO Keller Rinaudo to discuss the new robot and catch up on what the team's achieved over the past year. As a refresher, we first encountered Romo when we covered it for our Insert Coin feature in October 2011. Back then, the robot used rudimentary analog electronics and plugged into the iPhone's headphone jack. After a successful initial Kickstarter campaign, Romotive moved from Seattle to Las Vegas where we caught up with the team on our stage during CES 2012. The 2nd generation model was available both pre-assembled and it kit form with support for iOS, Android and Windows Phone. It was upgraded to digital electronics but still used the audio interface to control its tracks and featured hacker-friendly auxiliary ports. Hit the break for more.
iLuv unveils the Aud 5: a Lightning speaker dock with Bluetooth connectivity for non-Apple wares
Lightning speaker docks have started popping up on the regular and now iLuv is looking to join the party. The outfit has outed the Aud 5, a speaker dock that connects to the latest iPhone and iPod while sporting both Bluetooth and 3.5mm aux connections for the rest of your gadget arsenal. Touch controls get cozy up top for track adjustments and "high power amplification" for the sound output. While pricing details haven't been released, we do know that you'll have to wait until May to snag one.
iHome iDL100G Lightning Dock hands-on
iHome didn't waste any time getting word out about its suite of CES-ready wares last week and here at CES Unveiled 2013, we're getting our first look at the stars of its lineup. Hailed as a first for the company's product line, the iDL100G and the iDL45 are two docks that support Apple's new Lightning port, making them attractive options for owners of the iPhone 5 or refreshed iPad and iPod. The triple-charging dock -- iHome's highest-end model -- retails for $150 and is fairly attractive, though it doesn't match the luxury of the Jony Ive-crafted hardware it's made to service. Up top, there are two Lightning ports to accommodate compatible devices (one dedicated as iPad charging station) and an array of buttons for alarm settings, snooze as well as bedtime, which works with a free iHome+Sleep iOS app. The 3Wx2 speakers aren't the most robust -- we noticed distortion when volume was approaching max -- but it seems serviceable as a Bluetooth-enabled FM tuner or iTunes playlist outpost. It's not currently available, but you can look for it and the lower-end iDL45 dual charging dock to hit retail shelves later this March. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub. Sarah Silbert contributed to this report.
$635,000 in bogus Lightning cables nabbed in Alaska
One of the functions of the US Customs and Border Protection agency is to seek out and seize counterfeited goods, and the Alaska Dispatch is reporting that the CBP nabbed more than US$635,000 in counterfeit Lightning cables and adapters during a search in Anchorage. The cables and adapters had come from China on a cargo plane, destined for spots around the US. The products came in boxes with fake Apple logos and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) trademarks, but spokesman Frank Falcon of the CBP reported that they "stood out" as counterfeits, packaged in cardboard packs that were of sub-standard quality. An unnamed Chinese manufacturing firm is responsible for the shipment, and Falcon noted that the seizure of the counterfeit goods will "bring more scrutiny" to future shipments from the company. There are safety concerns with such counterfeits, as unauthorized use of the UL logo could mean that the cables were never evaluated for electrical shock and fire hazards. There's also no way to be sure that the cables will even work. All of the items seized by the CBP will be destroyed. [via 9to5Mac]
iHome unveils CES 2013 lineup, outs Lightning port-compatible docks and others
Joining the fray of other companies ready to jump the pre-CES gun, iHome's announcing its full product suite just prior to its official Vegas showcase. Billed as a first for the audio solutions outfit, the iDL100 and iDL45 -- set to retail for $150 and $100, respectively -- are both charging stereo FM clock radio docks that feature Lightning port connectors (two in the case of the former model) to link up with Apple's latest batch of iOS products, in addition to a sole USB port and auxiliary in jack. The company's also releasing a slew of Bluetooth-enabled, USB-charging products, the most notable of which are a new $200 "retro boom box," dubbed the iBT44, that allows for wireless music streaming from any compatible iOS or Android device and the iB85, foldable headphones that incorporate an inbuilt mic and on-ear remote for $100. There's a bit more to the company's lineup than just those headliners, so head on past the break for the full rundown of what iHome has to offer next week in Vegas.
Apple ends Kickstarter project over Lightning licensing rules (updated)
Update: Ars Technica reports that Apple has reversed course on its decision and is allowing 30-pin and Lightning dock connectors to be on the same device for charging. The team behind the Kickstarter-funded POP power station must refund all the money it collected after it failed to get approval from Apple to use the Lightning cable in its device. The POP portable power station is a high-capacity charger with four built-in retractable cords that charge an iPhone, iPad or Android device. Launched with the slogan "Power where you need it," the POP could charge multiple devices at once using either power from an outlet or from an integrated 26,000 mAh battery. The project stumbled when it failed to get approval from Apple to use the company's Lightning connector. Apple has a strict program that governs the use of its Lightning connector and the POP power station didn't meet the company's requirements that the connector be used alone in a product. A device with a Lightning connector cannot be paired with an Android-compatible microUSB cable or even a 30-pin cable for older Apple devices. Edison Junior, the company behind the Kickstarter program, is disappointed with this decision and has decided to abandon further work on the project. The company is refunding all the funds collected from supporters and absorbing any credit card fees as well as a whopping 5 percent Kickstarter fee totaling US$11,000. Edison Junior CEO Jamie Siminoff told Wired that the company would consider releasing the power station in an all-Android version or with Apple's older 30-pin connector, if there was enough demand from customers or retailers. [Via Wired]
Apple snagged partial rights for 'Lightning' trademark from Harley Davidson
Who says big companies can't be bros when it comes to trademarks? Since Apple had no need for its Lightning connector to appear on "motorcycle parts, slot machines or tachometers," it buddied up with Harley Davidson to secure partial use of the cycle maker's IP for its new iDevice interface, according to recent info from the European trademark office. That allowed it to use a name that's sympatico with its Thunderbolt moniker, while presumably letting Harley retain the rights for its heavier metal accessories. Also, should Cook & co. run up against a mid-life crisis, at least they'll have quick relief on speed-dial.
Griffin PowerJolt SE Car Charger with Lightning Connector: A first look
In a refreshing development, a lot of Apple-approved iOS accessories with Lightning connectors are starting to hit the market. Over the past few days, we've seen items from Scosche, Belkin and JBL come out; today we're looking at Griffin's PowerJolt SE Car Charger with Lightning Connector (US$24.99). The charger comes with a coiled cable that measures 23.5 inches in length out of the box, but can be stretched to over four feet in length. That's perfect for those situations where the kids are sitting in the back seat of the car with your iPad mini, but your only power plug is in the dashboard. The PowerJolt SE plugs into any car power outlet with an unobtrusive spring-loaded plug that really stays in place. On the other end of the cable? A Lightning connector to keep your new iPhone 5, iPad mini or other device happily charged up. The charger puts out a full 10 W of power at 2.1 Amps. When the PowerJolt is plugged in and ready to go, an LED power indicator glows white. There's also a built-in self-resetting "SmartFuse" to protect against power fluctuations. For me, the PowerJolt SE is the perfect solution. I currently use a third-party iPhone mount in my car with a separate charging cable; I'll be able to continue using that mount by just swapping out the existing charger for the PowerJolt SE. It's great to see Lightning accessories coming out in droves before the holiday buying season. If you have a favorite Lightning accessory you haven't seen covered on TUAW yet, please let us know in the comments.
Apple announces fourth generation iPad
Consumers and competitors alike apparently can't get too comfortable with the pace of iPad updates, because just six months after the "new iPad" came out, Apple has announced the fourth-generation iPad. Powered by an A6X chip, it doubles the CPU performance of its predecessor. It has a 720p FaceTime HD camera and has "greatly expanded LTE coverage" according to Phil Schiller. The newest iPad comes with the same Lightning connector as the iPhone 5 and the newest iPods. It's available at the same prices as the third-generation iPad and has the same Retina display.