ipodtouch
Latest
iBuku Pets lets you recycle your old iPhone by giving it to your kids
Rather than toss their old iPhone or iPod touch into the trash, an increasing number of parents are giving their worn down devices to their children as toys. I have to agree that an iPod touch with the right apps can be an enjoyable play thing for your little one, but that device is not made Fisher-Price strong. Once it hits the floor with any force, there's a good chance it will shatter. To help protect your device and make it safe for small hands, there is a new cushiony and cute case from Arbor Cube called iBuku Pets. I received a review unit and handed it over to my kids for a week. Read on to see how BiBi, the pink iBuku Pet, fared with my tribe. Design The iBuku Pet is shaped like an adorable pet with ears, an elongated back and chunky arms and legs. It's the perfect size for a preschooler to hold. There is an opening in the stomach area where the iOS device resides. It has a small notch on one end that can house the charging cable. I was able to insert my iPod third generation with the cable plugged into the charging port and could charge the device while it was still in the iBuku case. On the back side of the device is a cavity that can hold spare cables and an opening that is used to route cables for charging. The back is also elongated and acts as a sound chamber to increase the volume of the device. This shape also makes it possible to place the iBuku on a table and it will sit flat without falling over. Material-wise, the iBuku Pet is made of a firm, but spongy material that absorbs much of the impact of a fall. It's flexible enough that your child can wiggle the pet's arms and legs, but firm enough that they won't bend or break. For real young ones, it is biteable and any bites will leave teeth marks in the case. It is non-toxic, Phthalate-free, PVC-free, BPA-free and AZO dye-free. The surface of the case is easily washable with soap and water, just make sure to remove your iOS device first or be extremely careful with your cleaning. The iBuku Pet fits the third- and fourth-generation iPod Touch, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. The fit varies by device, with the iPhone fitting more snuggly than the iPod touch. All devices are secure enough that you can shake, drop or toss the iBuku and the iOS device stays safe inside the case. With the iPhone, children can move the arm to toggle the screen on and off and press buttons on the front of the Pet to control the volume. I used the iBuku with the iPod touch and found that the device was secure in the slot, but it wasn't big enough to be used with the iBuku's buttons. You don't have to worry about connectivity either as the iBuku works with or without WiFi and doesn't require any cellular service plan. Functionality My children loved playing with my iPod touch within the iBuku Pet as it is the right size for little hands. Its chunky arms and legs make it easy to hold, and it is weighted just right for the under-six crowd to carry around. Its bright colors and cutesy appearance really attracts their attention. The iBuku Pet works as described to protect your iOS device. The snug fit of the case and its spongy material did a great job protecting my device. My iPod touch dropped to the floor or pavement several times each day and it was unscathed. The iBuku Pet includes a free app that has the characters, BiBi and Alvi, from the cases. The app is designed for kids in mind with a fun "Smash the Trash" game and a sing-along section with the iBuku Pet characters. The app, though, is geared towards younger children and not toddlers. On-screen elements are not sized for the imprecise taps of a 1-year-old and there is a fair amount of tapping on selections and "next" buttons, which do not work well with little ones. My 5-year-old, though could whip through the app with no problem. You can also install your own age-appropriate apps. One problem with the iBuku Pet concept is iOS itself. I am using the iBuku with an older device that does not support iOS 6, which means there is no Guided Access. Guided Access is an iOS 6 feature that limits what your child can do with your device. You can disable hardware buttons and lock your child into an app. You can also disable select features and areas with an app. With iOS 5, my toddler kept pressing the Home button and getting himself out of his games. Once he got into the home screen, he wreaked havoc on the device by deleting apps and inadvertently sending emails, a service that I forgot to turn off before handing over my device. I ended up installing more toddler-friendly games and watched him closely while he played. The lack of any native parental controls, especially on older devices, is something to consider before you turn your iOS device into a play toy. As mentioned above, the iBuku Pet is biteable and any bites will mar the outer appearance of the case. It sustained a lot of biting from my 1-year-old, but he was never able to bite off a chunk. I believe it is both the chunky size of the iBuku Pet and the firm material from which it is constructed that prevented him from getting his full bite into the case. My 3-year-old and my 5-year-old never chewed on the case as they are both past that biting stage. Conclusion The iBuku Pet is a wonderful case for children. It turns an iPhone or iPod touch into a safe toy and has convenience features like in-case charging and backup battery options for parents. Though it is susceptible to bite marks, the iBuku Pet didn't fail during very rigorous testing from my children. It was dropped, thrown, bitten and stepped on and still protected my iPod touch completely. The iBuku Pet is available as a Kickstarter project. Each Pet costs $35 and will ship in time for Christmas. You can select between the Green Alvi or the Pink Bibi character. Pros Durable, spongy material protects your iPhone or iPod touch during a fall Innovative design lets you charge the device and store the cables inside the case Optional battery pack helps keeps your iOS device running even when the battery is worn out Child-friendly design, especially suitable for kids from 3 to 5 years old Cons Susceptible to bite marks from young children Variable fit depending on the iOS device Who is it for? Parents with children 2 years old to 5 years old and an old iOS device laying around %Gallery-172706%
Vectrex Regeneration for iOS recreates the vector-based console we never got to play
Among those of us old enough to have played first-generation game consoles, few will have tried a Vectrex; we typically clung to the familiar Atari 2600 or rebelled with the still very mainstream Intellivision. Thanks to Rantmedia Games' new Vectrex Regeneration for iOS, though, we can generate some what-if nostalgia. The app emulates the tall, vector-based system down to its idiosyncratic noises and color overlays, and those with the foresight to own an iCade controller get an extra dose of authenticity. Anyone with at least an iPad 2 or an iPhone 4 can try the freemium title with a free copy of Minestorm to experiment; if they're fully inclined to drive down memory lane, a $7 Mega Pack will unlock 17-plus original games as well as newer indie releases. Vectrex Regeneration won't make our parents have second thoughts about their holiday gift choices circa 1982, but it's cheap enough to provide a valuable (and potentially fun) history lesson.
Minecraft Reality for iOS finds a home for our blocky dreams in the real world (video)
While it's possible to translate the hours and hours spent building worlds in Minecraft to real objects, we wouldn't say the results always match the initial vision -- they're more likely to involve either a miniature 3D printout or the time and money spent on a whole lot of Lego. Mojang and 13th Lab have developed what's arguably a smarter solution with their new Minecraft Reality for iOS. After scanning the environment, the app can insert anyone's uploaded cuboid masterpiece into a perspective-correct augmented reality for viewing from any angle. Interaction is mostly limited to resizing objects, but the title will display the handiwork of anyone nearby and take a shareable screenshot for posterity. There's no word of an Android version just yet; if that's no obstacle to making dreams a (virtual) reality, however, the $2 to pay for Minecraft Reality is a much cheaper and faster alternative to a mountain of plastic bricks.
Chillingo and 10Tons offer discounts on popular games
It's Black Friday, which means there are discounts galore on hardware and software for Mac and iOS owners. Starting on November 22, game makers Chillingo and 10Tons have discounted a wide number of their game titles including Azkend 2, Tiny Troopers and Cut the Rope. You can browse through the full list below and check out our earlier post which highlights sales from Gameloft, EA and more. 10Tons King Oddball: [iOS Universal, Category: Games] On sale for $0.99, down from $2.99. Blow up tanks! Crash helicopters! Squash puny humans! Collapse structures! Hurl boulders until nothing remains! END THE WORLD! Heroes of Kalevala HD: [iPad, Category: Games] On sale for $0.99, down from $4.99. Build your very own village in the magical world of Kalevala on your iPad! Heroes of Kalevala: [iPhone, Category: Games] On sale for $0.99, down from $2.99. Build your very own village in the magical world of Kalevala! Sparkle the Game: [iPhone, Category: Games] On sale for $0.99, down from $2.99. Break the Orbs and Save the World on your iPhone or iPod touch! Grim Joggers: [iOS Universal, Category: Games] On sale for $0.99, down from $2.99. Jogging becomes bloodsport in this arcade style survival game with Game Center leaderboards and achievements. Puzzle Craft: [iOS Universal, Category: Games] Now free, down from $0.99. Puzzle Craft is the ideal game for Thanksgiving with its bountiful harvest of match-three farming combined with a fun, unique town building simulation. See why fans have been raving about Puzzle Craft. Azkend 2: [Mac, Category: Games] On sale for $3.99, down from $5.99. Step aboard a fantastic adventure! Enjoy amazing match-three gameplay and discover some of the most astonishing worlds ever imagined. Joining Hands: [Mac, Category: Games] On sale for $1.99, down from $2.99. A handtastic puzzle that leaves no hand behind! Full of charm, innovation and originality, but very easy to learn! Chillingo Tiny Troopers: [iOS Universal, Category: Games] Now free, down from $0.99. For those of you seeking something a little more explosive this Thanksgiving, we're giving the gift of Tiny Troopers. Lead a miniature army through 30 missions packing awesome visuals, tactile touch controls, and a cracking sense of humor. Totem Runner: [iOS Universal, Category: Games] Now free, down from $0.99. Legend and lore is the inspiration for Totem Runner. Transform into different animals and mythical creatures to sprint, fly and rampage through a beautifully crafted world that transforms at your heels. Swipe the Deck: [iOS Universal, Category: Games] Now free, down from $0.99. Forget good old-fashioned card games and give Swipe the Deck a go this Thanksgiving. An addictive mix of poker and match-three, keep up with your friends this holiday by swiping their decks in asynchronous multiplayer battles. Critter Escape: [iOS Universal, Category: Games] Now free, down from $0.99. It's never too early to start celebrating Christmas and no one knows that better than the sneaky critters of Critter Escape. Help the critters escape through levels blanketed in snow, sprinkled with gift boxes and brimming with Christmas magic in this seasonal update. Cut The Rope HD: [iPad, Category: Games] On sale for $1.99, down from $3.99. Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks and feasting and what better way to celebrate than with Cut the Rope's lovable green creature with an insatiable appetite, Om Nom. This physics-based puzzler is a holiday treat that keeps on giving.
Black Friday sales on Apple hardware and accessories
Black Friday Sales are starting and we have a growing list of hardware deals for you to peruse. We will update this list on Thursday and Friday, so keep checking back for the latest sales. CrashPlan Online backup service CrashPlan has cut its normal $100+ yearly fee by 97%. You can grab a year's worth of unlimited offsite backup storage for just a few dollars. The price will go up every two hours, until Monday Nov. 26, 2:00PM CST, when your purchase will be discounted 42%. The discount will remain at 42% until the sale ends, 11:59PM CST Monday. . Parallels Parallels is giving away a free Retina MacBook Pro with Windows 8 and Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac every day until December 24th, 2012. The company is also giving away a copy of Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac every day. Details on the promotion are available on Parallel's website. Amazon Amazon slashed 20 percent off the price of Apple's latest 13-inch MacBook Pro model (2.5 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 processor, 4 GB of RAM and 500 GB hard drive). Normally $1199, the MBP is available for $962.54. Amazon is also selling the OtterBox Defender Case and Holster for the iPhone 4 and 4S for $16, down from a suggested retail price of $49. Best Skins Ever From today through Monday, Best Skins Ever is offering a buy one, get one free sale on all its skins. OtterBox OtterBox isn't discounting its popular cases, but it is kicking off a holiday promotion that'll let you build your own OtterBox case by mixing and matching colors. Available for a limited time for the iPhone 4/4S Defender Series. Mophie Mophie will take 60% off all products until Monday and they will ship your gifts anywhere in the US for free. BearExtender BearExtender is taking 40% off its BearExtender Mini USB WiFi Booster for Macs. You can read more about the Mini Wifi Booster on BearExtender's website and read our coverage from Macworld 2012. BodyGuardz BodyGuardz is taking 40% off all its products for Black Friday. You can get Screenguardz, clear skins, armor cases and more for your Apple devices. Das Keyboard Das Keyboard is taking 20% off all its new keyboards. The sale starts today and only lasts through 11:59 PM Central time on November 26. Use code DASCHEER in the checkout to apply the discount. The discount does not include refurbished keyboards and can not be combined with the Educational Discount. US shipping only. AT&T AT&T is selling a refurbished iPhone 5 for $99 with a two-year customer agreement. ThinkGeek ThinkGeek is having a Black Friday sale that includes the iCade – iPad Arcade Cabinet which is now $69.99 (normally $99.99). The retailer is also selling the iCade 8-Bitty Retro Wireless Game Controller for $19.99 (down from $29.99). The Cube Laser Virtual Keyboard for iOS is $129.99 (normally $179.99) and the Joystick-It Arcade Stick for iPad is $7.49 (down from $14.99). Apple Apple kicked off its Black Friday sale today with discounts on iPads, iPods, Macs and accessories. You can check out our list of the deals here or go straight to the sales. MacMall MacMall is cutting prices on select Apple computers, iPads and a variety of accessories. Highlights include a Retina iPad 4 for $473.99, a 13.3 MacBook Pro (with Retina display) for $1597 and a LaCie 500GB Rikiki USB 2.0 Ultra-Compact Portable External Hard Drive for $59. KB Covers Like KB Covers on Facebook and follow them on Twitter to gain access to a promo code that'll take 25 percent off everything. Netatmo Netatmo is offering its Urban Weather Station for 15 percent off its regular price. To benefit from this offer, you need to visit netatmo.com and enter coupon code MYFRIDAY. The code is in effect until Monday 11/26. If you want to learn more about the Netatmo, then check out the review from Steve Sande. OWC OWC has a Black Friday to Cyber Monday deal on SSDs, chargers and more. Highlights include a $339 WiFi+3G iPad 2, a Newer Technology Power2U! charger for $11.50, the Newer Technology NuScribe Twist Pen + Pro Stylus for $9 and SuperCharged Solid State Drives that start at $99 for 120GB. Zagg Zagg is giving away an Apple iPad 4 every hour, all day long starting at 12 AM MST, Nov. 23rd. You can also get a pair of free earbud headphones with every purchase of $19.99 or more. Speck Speck is taking 50 percent off select bags and cases including its A-line bags, iPhone 3GS cases, and Fitted cases for MacBook Pros. Speck is also taking $10 off of iGuy cases for the iPad. PowerMax Powermax is discounting a variety of iOS accessories, Mac hardware and iPads. Highlights include a factory refurbished, first generation iPad WiFi 64GB for $249 and a Core i5 Macbook Air for $879. Small Dog Electronics Small Dog is offering bonus gift cards and support options when you buy a Mac with AppleCare or an iPad with AppleCare+ (in-store only). The retailer is also taking 50 percent off the AppleTV, 10 percent off Beats by Dre and discounting select software. You can view the promotional material here and visit Small Dog's website for additional details. Best Buy Best Buy is offering $5 off and a free $50 Gift Card with the purchase of a 32GB iPod touch (fifth generation) and $5 off and a free $20 Gift Card with a 16GB iPod nano (seventh generation). The retailer is taking a $60 discount off select Retina iPads and iPad 2 models. The $100 iTunes gift card is also available for $80, a 20 percent savings. Target Target is offering a variety of gift cards when you buy select Apple music players and iOS devives. You can get a free $40 Gift Card with purchase of an iPod touch 16GB (fourth Gen), a free $20 Gift Card with purchase of an iPod nano 16GB, and a free $60 Gift Card with purchase of an iPad with Retina Display. Radio Shack Radio Shack has select iPhone cases and iPad SmartCovers on sale. Walmart Walmart is discounting select iPods and iPads including an iPod touch 16GB fourth generation bundle for $179 and an Apple WiFi iPad 4 bundle for $479. The retailer is also selling the iPad 2, 16GB with WiFi for $399 and the iFrogz® Boost Speaker for $19.88 (down from $39, in-store only). h.h. gregg h.h. gregg is taking 20 percent off Belkin Tablet, iPad and iPod Accessories. All iPods are also on sale. You can view the details in h.h. greg's Black Friday ad preview. Belkin Belkin is selling select iPhone, iPad and iPod touch cases for $10 and $20 today. Each order includes free shipping. GoSmart Buy 2 GoSmart Styluses and get 1 Stylus free using code WERSMART when you shop at Amazon.com. Starts on Black Friday, Nov. 23 at 3 AM PT and lasts until 12 AM Midnight PT. SensoGlove Get the new version of SensoGlove at 20 percent off at $71.20 (normally $89) using the promo code "BlackFriday12". Starts on Black Friday, Nov. 23rd and lasts until Nov. 30th. The Great Kat Guitar Shredder Get 50% off Great Kat Black Friday Sale Package of Guitar Goddess CD, Extreme Guitar Shred DVD, autographed photo for $8.50 (normally $17). Starts Wed., Nov. 21 and lasts until Nov. 24. Tiger Direct If you are in the market for a Macbook, TigerDirect is selling a Core 2 Duo MacBook for $599 after a $100 instant coupon.
Algoriddim's vjay gets remixed for iPhone, mobile movies meet the mash-up (video)
When it comes to holding the party down on an iPad or iPhone, djay by Algoriddim's been a front-runner ever since it came out. Then came vjay for video spinning iPad owners. Now, that video follow-up is ready for the main arena, as it's just been release for iPhone / iPod touch. Now you can mash-up your favorite videos right on your phone, add soundtracks to your existing clips, and throw down some effects for good measure. If you kinda dig what you create, you can -- of course -- share it with the world, or throw it up on the big screen. Not sure your cat clips will cut the mustard? Worry not, as there's purpose-made bundled content thrown in with the deal. And at just $0.99, it won't hurt the pocket it was built for, either.
Sky+ app update brings remote control features to iPhone, iPod touch
It's been a few months since UK TV operator Sky added remote control features to its iPad app, and now there's a similar refresh for the iPhone and iPod touch. The v4.2 update gives users brings remote control with support for gestures, DVR scheduling and management, a new guide as well as revamped navigation and search on the smaller screens, as long as they're connected to the same WiFi network as the box. The Android app is still without the new features, however they're promised to arrive there "in the coming months." As usual the update app is available at no charge via iTunes, hit the link below to check it out, or check out the press after the break for more details along with a demo video of the iPad version.
David Gilmour concert to be released as iPhone, iPad app
Rather than stick to a DVD-only distribution for concerts, DVD authoring group The Pavement is turning to smartphone apps to reach a larger audience. The company is working with David Gilmour, formerly of Pink Floyd, who will become the first musician to release a concert as a smartphone app. The now solo artist is releasing a compilation of songs recorded during Robert Wyatt's 2001 and 2002 Meltdown Festival. The critically acclaimed performance features Gilmour alone with just his voice and along with a vocal choir that's accompanied by a group of acoustic instruments. Robert Wyatt, Bob Geldof and Pink Floyd's Richard Wright also join in on some of the performances. I've seen clips of the show on YouTube and the music is top-notch. The concert app will be available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch starting November 19, 2012. According to David Gilmour's website, the app will cost £5:99, US$8.99, or €6.99 or the equivalent.
Belkin fills the void with first third-party Lightning accessories for Apple devices
When Apple dropped the 30-pin connector in favor of Lightning for the iPhone 5, new iPods and new iPads, it also dropped much of the current accessory market: short of an expensive adapter, years of collecting docks and more exotic peripherals were for nought. Belkin is stepping into that vacuum with what it says are the first officially sanctioned third-party Lightning accessories. Neither its Charge + Sync Dock (seen at left) for the iPhone 5 nor its Car Charger for Lightning (right) are what we'd call revolutionary, but they both cover missing pieces of the puzzle -- including Apple's, as the tech firm skipped making an iPhone dock of its own for this generation. Should either the audio-supporting dock or the iPad-capable charger sound appealing, both are up for pre-orders today and will ship in mid-November for $30.
Why Lightning is extra awesome
Updated for clarity & to note that 30-pin cable is also universal for iPhone and iPad. Apple's Lightning cable received a fair amount of criticism when it was introduced along with the iPhone 5. The new port replaces the 30-pin connector found on previous iPhone models and contains proprietary technology that makes it difficult to clone. As noted by Jason Perlow of ZDnet, customers who use the port may miss their arsenal of 30-pin accessories, but they may come to appreciate the technological advantages this new cable system provides -- especially when compared to the mixed bag of charging standards on the Android side. The biggest advantage of the Lightning cable's design is that it lets you insert the cable into your iOS device in any orientation. Unlike the standard micro-USB connector and even Apple's 30-pin port, you don't have to eye the port and line up the sides to make the cable fit. Coming from someone who recently replaced the dock connector on an iPad and a Kindle Fire, this is a huge advantage over other port technologies. Apple's Lightning connector also can carry up to 12W of power, which is plenty to charge either an iPhone or an iPad (when paired with an iPad 2A charger), just as you could do with the 30-pin cable. As Perlow points out, this is quite different from the micro-USB connector world of Android devices; there is no standard for conventional USB that supports more than 9W. This means complications and frustration for tablets that need 10W; either they need proprietary chargers or they charge at the 5W rate. I don't need to tell you how convenient it is to have one cable and one power adapter to charge an iPhone, iPad, iPod and iPad mini, especially one that's built to last and that you can plug in without looking. This transition period from the 30-pin to the world of Lightning may be frustrating, but it will be brief -- and the next generation is going to be noticeably better.
Tokyo University of Technology's Pinch interface creates ad hoc video walls from mobile devices (video)
Most video walls would be just a tad too large for the average living room, but the Tokyo University of Technology might have a clever technique to make them travel-sized. Its new Pinch interface joins mobile devices (currently iOS hardware) into a single display simply by making the namesake gesture between at least two gadgets: WiFi keeps them in sync and recognizes the relative size and orientation. While we probably wouldn't resort to a wall of iPads in place of a large TV, there's clear practical uses like extra-large creative apps, communication and very local multiplayer games. The best news may be that the university isn't keeping the technology to itself. It wants developers to borrow Pinch for their own apps, which could lead to a legion of smartphones and tablets getting extra-cozy.
Apple iMessage sees second outage in a week, iTunes UK follows suit (update: back up, in theory)
Apple may have a lot of iMessage users, but it has also had its share of teething troubles as the chat service (and iCloud) grows. That's certainly been true this month: Apple has confirmed that, for the second time in a week, iMessage is down for at least some users. There's a real chance those conversations won't go through unless it's between iPhone users that can try SMS. More pressing for anyone in the UK is a wider iTunes outage, as we've heard multiple reports of the app and media repository being inaccessible in the country no matter what device they use. We've reached out to Apple and will update if there's an explanation or a repair schedule for either outage. For now, we'd suggest that iMessage lovers communicate through social networks and passive-aggressive word choices in Letterpress. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Update: And no sooner than we post than Apple has iMessage back up and running. Let us know through tips if you're still having iMessage or iTunes UK trouble, however.
FreedomPop ships its 4G-enabling iPod touch case, lets us nearly go phoneless for $99 (update: plan clarifications)
FreedomPop's gamble on free WiMAX data launched in beta at the start of month, but early adopters had to be contented with conventional hotspots and modems at first; those of us with a fixation on data-only cellular handsets had to keep waiting. We can stay slightly cooler-headed now that the provider is shipping its iPod touch 4G Sleeve. Shelling out $99 grafts a 4G hotspot to the back of the fourth-generation media player that gives it independence from WiFi as well as connection sharing with eight other devices -- at least, for anyone willing to burn through that 500MB of free monthly data in record time. About the only catches are the $10 per gigabyte overage fee and a design that's just slightly behind the times for iPod addicts. While some of us will still cling to smartphones for coverage or legacy reasons, others who mostly communicate through Instagram food photos could have that excuse they need to drop cellular phone service once and for all. Update: Thanks to reader (and early adopter) Penn who pointed out that overages are $20 per gigabyte if you're on the free plan -- it's only $10 if you're a regularly paying customer.
The Engadget Show 37: Halloween Spooktacular with Wayne Coyne, movie monsters and ghost hunting!
Welcome boys and ghouls, to a very spooky episode of The Engadget Show. We've got plenty of tricks and treats for you in this Halloweentastic October episode. We kick things off with a trip to Oklahoma City, to the home of Flaming Lips frontman, Wayne Coyne, who talks Parking Lot Experiments, Halloween displays and why if your phone screen isn't broken, you aren't living your life. Next up, we'll show you all the necessary tools for a proper ghost hunt, with a little help from author Mary Roach, Ghost Hunters' Adam Berry and the crew of the Central NY Ghost Hunters. In Vermont, we have a conversation with robot head Bina48 to find out what it really means to be alive and we travel to Los Angeles to talk to movie makeup Wizard Kevin Yagher and the costume experts at Global Effects Inc. And when the Engadget Van breaks down outside of an electronics store, it's up to Tim, Brian and rock band, Free Energy, to solve a very spooky mystery. All that plus a new Ask @hodgman and a gadget table featuring the new iPod touch, Kindle Paperwhite and Galaxy Note II from Dapper Cadaver, our favorite place to buy prop corpses in the Southern California area. Jump on in after the break -- if you dare!%Gallery-168911% Hosts: Brian Heater, Jordan Morris, Tim Stevens Guests: Wayne Coyne, Mary Roach, Kevin Yagher, Adam Berry, Chris Gilman, Jesse Thorn, John Hodgman, Bruce Duncan, Stacey Jones, BJ Winslow Musical Guest: Free Energy Producer: Ben Harrison Executive Producers: Brian Heater, Joshua Fruhlinger Download the Show: The Engadget Show - 037 (HD) / The Engadget Show - 037 (iPod / iPhone / Zune formatted) / The Engadget Show - 037 (Small) Subscribe to the Show: [iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (MP4). [Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (MP4). [RSS MP4] Add the Engadget Show feed (MP4) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically. [HD RSS] Get the Engadget Show delivered automatically in HD. [iPad RSS] Get the Engadget Show in iPad-friendly adaptive format.
Apple adds Rubles and other currencies to App Store, bumps minimum price to €0.89 in Europe
After announcing slightly under par financials, Apple has added more ways it can be paid for apps, though it also bumped the minimum freight to get one across Europe. The new lowest price users in France, Germany, Italy and other nations "over there" can pay for an app is now €0.89, a euro-dime bump from before -- apparently due to the weak euro and local tax hikes. On the other hand, Cupertino also added more currencies accepted at its store: South African Rand, Turkish Lira, Russian Rubles, Indian Rupees, Isreali New Shekel's, Saudi Arabian Riyal, Indonesian Rupish and UAE Dirham can all now be used to pay. Apple has tinkered with its prices before in varying amounts overseas depending on the nation, so you may want to check your own country's App Store for the news -- bad or good.
Rara.com expands to iOS, Windows 8 and more countries
Rara.com has been mighty busy since its luddite-friendly music streaming service launched at the end of last year, and now it's reporting the outcome of those 10 months of toil. In addition to an improved web experience and new Android widget, an AirPlay-compatible app for iOS is now available, with software for Windows 8 arriving alongside its launch. Rara's 18 million tracks haven't only invaded other platforms, but other countries, too -- residents of Brazil, Mexico, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Africa and Portugal have joined the party, bringing the total number of compatible countries to 27. Lenovo is also getting a piece of the action, as a worldwide agreement means Rara software will now come pre-installed on the manufacturer's Android tablets and Windows 8 gear. Want to hear more about Rara's recent accomplishments? Then head for the PR after the break.
The iPad mini vs. the competition: fight!
The traditional trail of inventory listings, leaked casings and internal components have teased us enough: it's finally time to get down to the nitty gritty specs, and see how Apple's latest (and daintiest) iPad shapes up to the competition. We've collected a trio of like-sized slabs to pit the device against, just for the fun of it. Read on to see how it stacks up against its peers. For more coverage, visit our Apple Special Event hub!
iBookstore lines its shelves with paid content in New Zealand, 17 Latin American countries
iDevice owners in New Zealand and 17 Latin American countries are no longer restricted to a diet composed of free content when it comes to their respective iBookstores. A quick search of the storefronts will reveal virtual shelves stocked with paid-content that haven't yet found their way to the shops' homepages. Reside in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru or Venezuela? Head on over to the appropriate store and books with price tags will be available for purchase. If this is any sign of what Apple has up its sleeve for tomorrow, we suspect that "a little more" will involve a bit of reading.
Node modular iOS sensor hands-on
With the spate of bad publicity surrounding all those Kickstarter projects that never make it beyond the funding stage, there's a certain surreality to actually holding a crowd-funded device in your hands. But here it is, the Node, a project we highlighted in its infancy, way back in February. The whole thing blew way past its funding goal, scoring $76,000 out of a requested $50,000. And now, roughly eight months later, the product has been shipped out to enthusiastic supporters all over the place, inside an unassuming white box. Since its inception, the Node's been an interesting (if not particularly easy to explain) proposition. Now that we've got our hands on one, not all that much has changed -- which is to say, in its early stages, there's a lot of potential, but its still a bit of a hard sell. Hardware-wise, the Node's a solid proposition -- the size and shape of a roll of quarters. The body is made of a white plastic, with Node logos indented on either side. Next to one, you'll find a micro-USB port for charging, and by the other, you get the power button, which also serves to turn on the flashlight module. Inside the body, you've got the battery (which should give you 12 to 14 hours with Bluetooth on), an accelerometer, magnetometer and gyroscope.%Gallery-168812%
Distro Issue 62 arrives with Apple's iPod duo, a superslim PS3 and Wacom's multi-touch display
At its event in San Francisco a few weeks back, Apple had more up its sleeve than just an aluminum-clad smartphone. In the latest issue of our weekly, we put both the new iPod nano and iPod touch through their paces to find out how they fare against their elder siblings. If a duo of PMP reviews doesn't snag your attention, we also throw down the review gauntlet on Wacom's Cintiq 24HD touch and this year's slimmed-down PlayStation 3. Eyes-On peeks at an ultrathin ultrabook, Weekly Stat examines emoticon use and Time Machines tallies up some more gadget history. The week's end is mere hours away and the usual download links that follow can help you settle in for a bit of leisurely gadget reading. Distro Issue 62 PDF Distro in the iTunes App Store Distro in the Google Play Store Distro APK (for sideloading) Like Distro on Facebook Follow Distro on Twitter
