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The iPod touch doesn't have a light sensor because it's 'too thin'
Kevin Tofel over at GigaOm stepped into the sunlight this past week (a dangerous endeavor for any blogger, let me tell you), and found out something strange about his new iPod touch: It doesn't have an autobrightness function. That's because it doesn't have a light sensor at all, apparently: There's only a manual setting for the brightness, and when Tofel went to Apple's product page for the new iPod touch, he confirmed that there's no light sensor listed in the various features of the device. While older iPod touch models do have the light sensor function, this current model apparently does not. Why not? An iDownloadBlog reader named Raghid Harake emailed Apple Senior VP Phil Schiller to ask him that very question, and he got the answer that the device is just too thin. Schiller confirmed again that the device doesn't have a built-in light sensor, and reported that the design makes the whole thing too thin to fit one in. Indeed, Apple lost more than a millimeter in the latest iPod touch design, and part of that space means losing the light sensor. Was the trade-off worth it? For Apple, apparently so. While some users might be surprised when their iPod touch doesn't automatically brighten up or down when moving into different ambient light situations, Apple decided that feature wasn't as important as slimming the device down. Do you agree?
iPod touch "significantly" less powerful than iPhone 5
Geekbench has some early benchmarks from the iPhone 5 and Apple's latest iPod touch. Though it's a nice improvement over previous models, the fifth-generation iPod touch didn't fare so well when compared to other Apple handhelds. The new iPod touch scored a 619, which places it right below the iPhone 4S (654) and well above the original iPad (454). It pales in comparison to the iPhone 5, which scored an impressive 1,573. Much of this discrepancy can be attributed to the A6 processor and 1 GB RAM present in the iPhone 5. In comparison, the iPod touch includes an A5 processor and 512 MB of RAM. [Via PocketGamer]
Brookstone's Rover 2.0 iOS-controlled "Spy Tank" a blast to drive
With the holiday buying season just around the corner, we're starting to hear and see evidence of some fun iOS-related accessories to pick up this year. Brookstone has started off by supplying us with a Rover 2.0 App-Controlled Spy Tank (US$149.99) to test. Come along for a ride! The Rover 2.0 is a futuristic little streamlined tank powered by two treads, one on either side. A small WiFi antenna screws into the top, and six AA batteries are loaded into the bottom. Flip on the power switch and the Rover sets up its own WiFi network. It seems to take about a minute for a little blinking green LED to appear atop the tank, signifying that the network is up and running. Next, you pop into Settings and change your WiFi network over to the Rover's network, which is immediately recognizable by the word "Rover" in the SSID. Go to the App Store and download the free Rover 2.0 app. Once it's installed on your favorite iOS device, launch it and immediately you'll see a full control panel for the tank, dominated by the video feed from the Rover. %Gallery-168181% There are two ways to operate the tank. First, you have controls for the right and left treads that you can work in tandem. Sliding both controls forward moves the tank forward, sliding both backwards moves the tank to the rear, and turning is accomplished by moving one slider forward and the other to the rear. There's also a G-Drive mode available that uses the accelerometers in your iOS device to help you steer. I found G-Drive to be much easier to use for driving the tank, although your mileage may vary. Along the bottom of the control panel is a line of buttons. On the far left is a "Stealth" button that turns off the green LED and cranks on an infrared headlight, supposedly to allow you to sneak up on your cat or roommate. However, that's only going to work well if your cat is deaf or your roommate can sleep through hurricanes -- the motors on the tank aren't exactly quiet. Next is a Camera button -- tap it to display a slider to tilt the camera up or down. The Path Record button tracks and records a trip with the tank, while the Path Play button is used to repeat that trip with a tap. A Talk button is used like a push-to-talk button on a walkie-talkie, blasting your voice out of the speaker on the Rover. Volume lets you adjust the volume of the sound feed coming in from the Rover's microphone, and Brights turns on a set of four green lights around the perimeter of the Rover. On the bottom of the video image are buttons for Photo and Video, capturing still images and video to store in your Photo Library. Still quality seems pretty good -- the camera captures images at 320 x 240 pixels, and low-light sensitivity is great, even without the infrared light. Video streams at 25 fps, and can be quite blurry when the tank is turning. But enough of the specs and how this thing works. Is it fun? Heck, yeah! I enjoyed running the Rover around my office, into our master bedroom, and amusing the cat (she was more curious than afraid of the Rover). Like any good treaded tank or personnel carrier, the Rover has no problem going right over small obstacles. Check out the video below for an unedited silent view from the Rover -- in case you're wondering, that structure in the one room is a kitty condo... The range of the built-in WiFi network is about 200 feet in an unobstructed area (outside, for example) and 100 feet in the average house. I didn't test the range, although everything worked nicely at about 50 feet when I was operating the tank from upstairs while the tank was on the lower floor of the house. Any negatives? Yeah, the battery life doesn't seem to be anywhere close to the 2.5 hours advertised by Brookstone, and chewing up AA batteries six at a time is not only expensive, but irresponsible. I'd recommend getting some rechargeables, although I don't know how long they'd last in the Rover. Brookstone could also make some extra bucks by selling a rechargeable pack for the Rover (hint, hint). In conclusion, anyone who has ever wanted to drive a remotely piloted camera vehicle of some sort now has a reasonably affordable solution from Brookstone. The fact that it's a lot of fun to drive? That's just icing on the cake.
Atari and Zynga team up to reboot Breakout in 'Super Bunny Breakout' on iOS
Atari may be little more than a vestige of its former self, but that isn't stopping the publisher from crafting new versions of its classic games. "Super Bunny Breakout," for example, is a project created with Ville-crafter Zynga, and it's a new spin on Atari classic Breakout. Not to be outdone, Zynga's added its own Zynga-esque flavor to the game, which means ... in-app purchases. Yes indeed, rather than a regular ol' ball bouncing around a stage, Super Bunny Breakout has players bouncing "a daredevil rabbit with an appetite for revenge -- sadly, that rabbit (and his friends) have seasonal affective disorder (or something) and can't help but lose energy. How to replenish that energy? You'll "collect or purchase coins via in-app purchase," apparently. Despite the stink of in-game purchases, Super Bunny Breakout costs $0.99 and is currently available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch through iTunes.
iPod touch review (2012)
When last we got a new iPod touch, the fourth-generation from 2010, it was so thin relative to other devices of that era we said it looked like "a toothpick." Its 7.2mm thinness was unparalleled -- at the time. But now, just two years later, the iPhone 5 is less than a half-millimeter thicker, and that is of course packing a lot more wizardry inside. Suddenly, that toothpick is looking a little portly, which means it's time for the touch to lose a little weight. Enter the fifth-generation iPod touch, the 2012 model that has slimmed down to a mere 6.1mm in thickness. It's also about 10 percent lighter -- despite being grafted with a new 4-inch Retina display. Not only is it bigger and thinner, but it's far faster and has hugely improved cameras on both the front and rear. The perfect PMP package for $299? Click on through to find out.
iFixit tears into the new iPod touch, bemoans lack of repairability
The folks over at iFixit have gotten their tool-sporting hands all over the new iPod touch, giving Apple's latest music player the customary detailed teardown. The alien autopsy-esque dissection reveals the device's A5 processor, flash memory from Toshiba and a lot of parts secured firmly in place. The latter, naturally, has led to a pretty dismal repairability score for the touchscreen player -- a three out of 10 -- nothing new, really, for Cupertino products, though the company seemed to be moving in the other direction with the new iPhone. Check the source link below for all the gory details -- and yes, iFixit even goes so far as calling the device's home button "weak." Oh snap, guys.
Daily Update for October 10, 2012
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Apple posts new iPod touch user guide
Customers who pre-ordered the new iPod touch and are waiting for it to arrive can occupy their time by downloading an electronic version of the user guide. The e-book includes 138 pages that covers everything from the hardware features of the device to apps like Passbook and Maps. The guide is available for free from iTunes and can be read using iBooks on any iOS device.
Fifth-gen iPod touch and nano now in stores and in the mail (update: limited release)
If you've been waiting impatiently to get your hands on the latest cellular radio-less iOS device, we've got good news. The fifth gen iPod touch with its elongated screen and colorful backplate is available today in some Apple stores across the globe across the country. And, if you preordered the slinky aluminum and glass media player, it should already be in the mail. The latest edition of the nano, which is becoming more and more like its larger sibling the touch every day, is also popping up on shelves. The seventh generation of the tiny player, complete with multi touch screen and 16GB of storage, is cropping in Apple stores for $149 starting today. Let us know in the comments if you decided to pick up either device.
Apple starts shipping Lightning to 30-pin adapters
According to a report in MacRumors, Apple is starting to ship pre-orders of its Lightning to 30-pin adapter. Apple is supposedly sending out shipping notifications with October 9th delivery dates to Australian customers who pre-ordered the adapter. The adapter will arrive two weeks after the iPhone 5 went on sale and almost four weeks after pre-orders started. Apple's iPhone 5 and new iPod touch ship with a new 8-pin Lightning port that is not compatible with the 30-pin connector used by all iPhone, iPod touch and iPad accessories to date. This adapter will make it easy for iPhone 5 and new iPod touch owners to use these older accessories while they wait for new 8-pin compatible products to hit the market. The Lightning to 30-pin adapter is available from Apple for US$29. Apple is also offering a $39 Lightning to 30-pin adapter that has a short cable.
Parrot Zikmu Solo reaches US in November, makes a tower of wireless sound yours for $999
Parrot has taken some time trotting out the Zikmu Solo speaker since we first saw it at CES, but those enamored with very vertical audio can rest easy now that the unit has a North American release schedule. Both Canada and the US can buy the Philippe Starck-crafted speaker in November, when it will cost $999 for Americans in its black and white guises (sorry, no red for now). While that's a lot to pay for a 100W speaker, Parrot is counting on the unique acoustic design, a conventional iOS dock and a mix of Bluetooth, NFC and WiFi to tempt people away from the land of horizontal sound. It's undoubtedly one of the easiest ways to make a speaker dock the focus of a room -- and that's part of the point, isn't it?
Edifier releases the Esiena and Bric Bluetooth speakers for iOS devices
With the arrival of the iPhone 5 and its legacy-wrecking Lightning port, this holiday season is likely to be the last that heavily features the now-obsolete dock connector. Two products caught in the wrong turn of history are Edifier's new pair of iOS device docks for home and on the go. If you need a "big" sound in a modest package, then the Esiena Bluetooth offers 3-inch full-range drivers and a class D digital amplifier -- and it's also packing Auxiliary, USB, SD card inputs and a digital FM radio. If you're more the adventuring type, then the portable Bric Bluetooth offers 2.75-inch full range drivers and the same class D amplifier in addition to a traveling pouch to keep the hardware safe on your travels. The Esiena will set you back $300 and the Bric a slender $100, with both arriving in the US and Canada from today.
Behringer iNuke Boom Junior shrinks a giant iOS dock, won't trigger as many earthquake warnings
As enraptured as we might be with Behringer's monolithic iNuke Boom, the 8-foot-long frame and 10,000W output don't really lend themselves to a home installation. Not unless we want to produce false positives on the USGS' earthquake meters, anyway. We're happy to say the company has addressed that domestic oversight with the iNuke Boom Junior. The iOS- and iPod-capable speaker dock won't launch nearly as large-scale an audio assault at 50W, but it's also less than a twentieth of the size of its parent; no one will need a forklift to get Junior into the living room. In spite of the less than ego-inflating dimensions, the smaller system appears balanced with discrete woofer, tweeter and mid-range components as well as separate bass control. We just wish it was slightly more futureproof. As glad as we are that the iNuke Boom Junior's $180 price at Costco spares us from raiding our retirement funds, the speaker is still using a pre-Lightning dock connector and lacks any wireless audio -- iPhone 5 owners will have to turn to an adapter or the aux-in jack. At least we won't be violating any local noise laws in the process.
AOL brings its On network to the iPhone and iPad
AOL launched its On network earlier this year, and today, it released a universal iOS app that'll let users watch On video content using their iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The AOL On app lets users browse content from AOL as well as its partners Martha Stewart Living, Omnimedia, E! and Travel Channel. There are about 420,000 clips in the video library that span a variety of topics like technology, food, health, home and more. The iOS app also supports AirPlay, so you can stream a video from your iPhone to your HDTV. The AOL On app is available from the iOS App Store for free. No subscription is required to watch the content, but there are short pre-roll ads. Note: On publisher AOL Mobile and TUAW have the same corporate parent, AOL.
Early iOS 6 adopters report problems getting Exchange push email: are you affected?
We all know about the central issue surrounding iOS 6. For the suits and ties among us, however, there's a potentially more glaring problem with Exchange support. Some users quick to upgrade to Apple's latest mobile OS report losing automatic push delivery of their email, requiring that they check for themselves to get any fresh messages. The issue isn't carrier- or device-specific, and attempts to reboot, reconfigure or restore devices are at best temporary fixes: what flows smoothly at first runs dry several hours later. Apple technicians are aware that the flaw exists, but it's tough to know if and when engineers will have a fix -- the company typically waits until it has a solution in hand before it goes on the record. We've reached out to Apple for a possible comment all the same. In the meantime, let us know if your Exchange access (or push data as a whole) is going awry. [Thanks, Daniel] %Poll-78044%
Zeebox second screen TV companion app crosses over to the US, with a boost from Comcast and HBO
While it seems like every network is rolling out its own personal second screen app for tablets and / or phones, over in the UK Zeebox has been trying to corner the experience across channels and providers with its app. Available as an app for iOS and Android and also on the web, it brings a customized TV guide, live chat, social network sharing and remote control features to the TV experience, and now it's come to the US. Other than the typical second screen experience, its main hook is an "OpenBox" API and tags that allow content providers to customize the experience for their viewers... and then sell them stuff like video on-demand or related merchandise. On this side of the Atlantic Zeebox has secured backing from Comcast / NBC Universal, giving it financial and promotional support as well as covering more than 30 networks right away. It also means it can eventually act as a remote control for Comcast users, which may be an advantage over competition like Miso, GetGlue and IntoNow, and can flex its muscles paired with hundreds of shows like The Voice, Notre Dame football and HBO content like True Blood. Out of the box, the app's social ties and careful metering may be a programmer's dream as it monitors who is watching what live, but we'll have to see more of the second screen content come to life if it's going to catch on socially. A customizable guide (yes, you can hide or reorder channels at will) is a nice touch and so is being able to see what your friends are viewing with Facebook Open Graph and Twitter hooks -- but only if they're actually using it. If you want to check it out, the free apps are linked below and the full press release follows after the break.
How-to posted for jailbreaking iOS 6 on A4-powered iPhones, iPods
Once the gold master version of iOS 6 landed in the hands of developers, the iPhone Dev Team was quick to release an iOS 6-compatible version of its Redsn0w jailbreak tool. Now that iOS 6 is available to the public, select iPhone and iPod touch owners can download the tool and jailbreak their device. This latest version of Redsn0w includes support for iOS 6 devices with an A4 processor, which limits the jailbreak to the iPhone 4, the iPhone 3GS and the fourth generation iPod touch. You should also note that this is a tethered jailbreak, so you will have to connect your iOS device to your Mac every time you reboot your phone. If you don't mind the tethered part of the jailbreak, Redmond Pie has an excellent set of directions that'll step you through the process. iPhone 5, iPhone 4S or iPad 2/3 owners running iOS 6 will have to wait for the Dev Team to successfully jailbreak those devices and package the hack into a public-friendly format. There's no ETA on when the Dev Team will release the jailbreak for these newer devices, so owners will have to practice patience while the Dev Team works out all the details. [Via Engadget]
PSA: Passbook supported apps now listed in iOS 6 App Store
Now that iOS 6 has officially landed, Apple has pulled back the veil revealing the first wave of apps to support its new Passbook feature. The initial group of companies to jump on the bandwagon include: Ticketmaster, Live Nation, Lufthansa, MLB.com At Bat, Sephora to Go, Walgreens and Fandango Movies. While this list is a tad bit shorter than we hoped for, it's safe to say that more apps will follow in the not-so-distant future. Want to be the first to know when they arrive? Be sure to keep an eye on the Passbook section of the App Store for the latest updates.
Apple updates nearly every app for iOS 6, sneaks in key GarageBand, iPhoto and Podcasts updates
If you didn't already know that iOS 6 was out in the wild, Apple just delivered a torrent of mobile app updates to make it perfectly clear. Virtually every app that isn't preloaded now has explicit iOS 6 support to keep it running smoothly, and some of the upgrades are thankfully more than just skin-deep compatibility tweaks. Among the highlights are Podcasts' new subscription list syncing through iCloud, ringtone creation with GarageBand and iPhoto support for 36.5-megapixel image editing on the latest devices -- you know, for that moment you need to tweak Nikon D800 photos on an iPhone 5. We're including direct links to a few of the juicier updates, but we'd recommend checking AppleInsider's comprehensive list to see everything that you're missing.
iOS 6 now available to download for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch (update: full changelog)
Cupertino's newest hardware may have us purring, but Apple hasn't left those of us with existing hardware out in the cold. iOS 6 should be appearing as an available update right now, or at least very shortly -- depending on how taxed those servers get. It'll be compatible with every iPhone since the 3GS, iPod touch 4G / 5G and this-and-last-year's vintage of the iPad. Given the inexorable march of technology, some of the newer features won't work on the older devices, but you can use our compatibility checker to determine what new things you'll be able to do in the next few hours. We've had notes from our tipsters that the update is arriving a few minutes early (with photographic proof above), but so far we've had nothing here. [Thanks, Jim]
