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Apple introduces new iPod touch without rear camera for $229
Apple has introduced a new model of its iPod touch. The new iPod touch comes in a 16 GB capacity and lacks the rear iSight camera of other iPod touches with Retina displays. This new model of iPod touch does still feature the front-facing FaceTime camera. With the introduction of this new low-cost iPod touch it appears Apple has discontinued the old fourth-generation 3.5-inch screen iPod touches. Besides lacking the rear iSight camera, the new low-cost iPod touch with Retina display only comes in black or silver colors. Its siblings that have a rear iSight camera and come and 32 GB or 64 GB capacities are available in multiple colors. The new low-cost iPod touch does contain the same A5 chip and comes with the same Apple Earbuds as its higher-priced siblings, however. The new 16 GB iPod touch without the rear iSight camera is US$229.
Kwikset introduces Kevo, a smartphone-friendly lock powered by UniKey
It's not the first time that Kwikset's dabbled in wireless locks, but today the company's introducing Kēvo, a smartphone- (and tablet-) friendly lock powered by UniKey. The concept is pretty simple: pair a handset (running a special app) with Kēvo via Bluetooth, and simply touch the deadbolt to lock or unlock your door. A keychain fob is also available for those who have not yet joined the smartphone revolution. Kēvo only responds to touch when an authorized device or fob is detected nearby. A triple tap lets anyone lock your door, which is useful if a visitor leaves after you. The deadbolt is battery-powered using four AA cells that last more than a year with normal operation. It features a ring of RGB LEDs for feedback and a standard physical key for backup. Most of the magic is made possible by tech developed by UniKey. The key (natch) to the entire system is the Kēvo app which lets you manage eKeys. Once logged into the app, you can send and delete eKeys, or transfer them to another device (this also deletes the eKeys associated with a lost handset, for example) -- you can even create eKeys that only work once. Currently, the app is only available for iOS, which is a major limitation, but it supports push, email and SMS notifications and keeps a detailed log of which eKeys have accessed Kēvo and when. Pricing and availability remain a mystery, but all in all the system looks pretty clever. Stay tuned for more details, and check out the link below.
Win a collector's item: a Behringer iNuke Boom Junior speaker dock
I'm usually very good about turning around reviews; usually within a week or two of receiving a review device or accessory I've had a chance to try it out, take photos, and write it up. But there are two things that have been sitting in my office unopened for a few months, and I finally decided to get going on them. One item is a Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 that I'll be writing up shortly now that the weather in Colorado is cooperating (except for the winter storm hitting tomorrow...), but today's focus is on what's in the big box in the corner of my office -- the Behringer iNuke Boom Junior iPod/iPhone speaker dock. Sometimes procrastination is a good thing. I found out pretty quickly while starting to do research for this review that Behringer is no longer making this speaker dock, which was designed to be an affordable mini version of the 10,000-watt, 700 pound, US$30,000 monster that made a splash at CES 2012. The company gave away a bunch of these smaller speaker docks last autumn with a promotion with the one reseller for the product, Costco. Since the iNuke Boom Junior is no longer in production, I'm not going to write a review. Instead, we're going straight to the giveaway. Here are the features of the iNuke Boom Junior: Three-Way Active Design – Stunning concert-quality sound at home Integrated Subwoofer – Powerful, Deep Lows without Distortion Made for iPod, iPhone and iPad – Dock to play or charge your device Auxiliary Audio Input – Works with Android devices and other music players Wireless Remote Control – Controls audio and most iOS devices Master Volume and Bass Contour controls – Tailor the sound to your liking Video Output Connection – Play movies right from your Apple devices to TV Compatible with iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G, iPod Touch, iPod Nano, iPod Classic, iPad and any Android® phone or music player with 1/8" (3.5mm) headphone output I was able to test the iNuke Boom Junior with an iPhone 5 using an Apple Lightning to 30-pin adapter ($29, not included), and it worked fine. There's a small Lucite prop that holds up the iPhone 5, but I would not recommend trying a 4th-generation iPad on the adapter as it's just too unwieldy. An iPad mini worked just fine with the adapter. The sound on this thing is great! Seriously, the built-in subwoofer really does produce quite the boom if you're listening to music with a lot of bass. Surprisingly, though, it also handles the treble end quite well and was perfect for listening to the broad freqency and dynamic range of classical music. And with that short description of the iNuke Boom Junior, it's now time to give this unique device to one of our readers. 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 May 5, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Behringer iNuke Boom Junior speaker dock valued at $179.95. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Baby Monitor 3G makes watching your baby much easier with new OS X version
Having a baby requires constant vigilance -- morning and night you are watching over your little one to keep them safe and happy. One indispensable tool for parents is a baby monitor that lets you watch over your child from afar. If you have an old iOS device lying around, then you might want to skip the traditional audio- or camera-based monitors and take a look at Baby Monitor 3G and its new OS X version to see if this software package fits your baby-watching needs. Baby Monitor 3G from TappyTaps works like a standard baby monitor system with an iOS device serving as a monitor in the baby's room and a second device as the parent's listening station. You can use two iOS devices as the baby-parent station pair or add in a Mac now that the latest version of the Baby Monitor 3G software includes an OS X app. The system works best over WiFi, but you can configure it to work over 3G as well. In my case, I set up an old iPhone in the baby's room as the baby station and configured both my iPad and my Mac to be parent stations that let me watch my child while I am downstairs. Setting up the software is a bit more complicated than just install, launch and go. You have to pair your devices before the two can connect as a baby and parent station. Pairing is easy and requires you to enter a code from the baby station into the device that is the parent station. A video within the app shows you how to pair the two devices if you are confused by the setup. Once the devices are paired, you don't have to pair them again unless you uninstall the Baby Monitor software. The OS X version of Baby Monitor 3G serves as a parent station and is very similar to the iOS app. The app launches as a normal-sized window that takes up half the screen on my 13-inch MacBook Pro. It also can be configured to display in a small square that you can place in the corner of your screen. To save battery life, Baby Monitor 3G lets you listen to an audio stream of your baby. Just like the iOS version, the OS X app lets you turn on live video so you can watch your child and make sure he or she is safe. Live video works only on WiFi; you will view a still shot over 3G/4G. If you need additional lighting at night, you can tap the flash button on the parent software and turn on the baby station's camera flash. Be prudent in using the flash as the LED is bright and can startle a half-asleep baby. I found this out the hard way one night at 3 AM. When your baby cries, the monitoring software turns red and you can hear the crying over your speakers or headphones. If you are using your iPhone as the parent station, you can also get a vibration alert. There is no support for notifications, so you do have to listen for your child or keep an eye on the software. The app keeps track of when your baby last cried, so you can glance at it and see that your child cried x number of minutes ago. If you want to soothe your child, you can speak to them using the speaker on the remote device. The only detractor that I found was a pairing limitation that allows the baby station to connect to only one parent station at a time. I could listen to my baby while downstairs on the treadmill, but my husband couldn't connect at the same time on his iPad in the living room down the hall. The connection was just for one baby station and one parent station only. This limitation doesn't dissuade me from using Baby Monitor 3G, but you should keep it in mind when comparing this software with other systems like this audio-only one from Vtech that has one baby station and multiple monitors. Baby Monitor 3G is available for the Mac and costs US$4.99 in the Mac App Store. The iOS version is available for $3.99 in the iOS App Store.
Little Inferno out on Mac
Little Inferno arrived on iOS in January. It's a wicked, little satirical adventure about burning toys that's gotten a lot of critical acclaim. Now, the game is available on the Mac. You can pick it up directly from the developer Tomorrow Corporation, or grab it on Steam or Gamersgate. Tomorrow Corporation says it's also working on an iOS version that's designed to work with older hardware, so the game will soon be playable on the iPhone 4 and fourth-gen iPod touch models as well. There's also a Linux version in the plans. I haven't played much of Little Inferno, but the reviews on it are really great, and it looks like a creepy, yet moving take on consumerism and "play" itself. And, of course, great games are always welcome on the Mac platform. [via Joystiq]
Apple agrees to $53 million settlement in iPhone and iPod Touch warranty class action
Wired is reporting that Apple has agreed to a $53 million settlement in a class-action suit focusing on Apple's warranty practices regarding water damage in older iOS devices. The settlement agreement, which was leaked to Wired, has already been signed off on by Apple chief litigation counsel Noreen Krall and now awaits the official signatures of the remaining parties. The lawsuit alleges that Apple improperly refused to honor warranty agreements for iPhones and iPod Touch devices which were seemingly damaged by water. As a quick primer, iPhone and iPod Touch models come with Liquid Contact Indicators (LCI) which change color from white to pink or red when they comes into contact with water. Apple's warranty coverage, however, doesn't extent to water damage. As such, when an affected customer would bring in a damaged device with a red LCI, Apple refused to honor the warranty agreement by refusing to repair or replace it. The problem with Apple's bright line rule, however, is that the the LCI was prone to change colors when exposed to humidity. Though Apple on its own website explains than an LCI is designed not to be triggered by changes in humidity and temperature, 3M, who makes the tape, said that such factors can sometimes cause the LCI to change color. The devices encompassed in the lawsuit include the original iPhone, the iPhone 3G, the iPhone 3GS and the first three generations of the iPod touch. The ballpark estimate for payouts is about $200 per claim, but that figure could either rise or decline depending on how many affected users actually submit a claim. The type of device affected will also influence the extent of individual payouts. The reason the last iPhone model included in the suit is the iPhone 3GS is because Apple in 2010 began requiring employees to look for other signs of water damage when a user brought in a device with a red LCI. Whereas employees under the previous protocol would void the warranty of an affected device out of hand, court documents posted by Wired indicate that Apple's liquid-damage policies for the iPhone and iPod touch were made less stringent in December 2009 and June 2010 respectively. As part of the settlement agreement, Apple also agreed to set up a website where users can learn about the case and access all documents needed to either submit a claim via the web or by printing out a mailable form. Interestingly, the agreement requires that Apple make a published notice alerting the public to the settlement agreement in both the USA Today and Macworld magazine. Naturally, Apple notes that it enters into the settlement agreement "without in any way acknowledging any fault, liability or wrongdoing of any kind."
Brass instruments make custom iPad amplifiers
Speaker and amplifier choice is a personal thing, with some focusing on sound quality and others preferring form over function. If you are looking for something unique, then you should check out this Analog Tele-Phonographer spotted by Boing Boing and crafted by Christopher Locke. Each unit is handmade from salvaged trumpets and other brass instruments. It's technically an amplifier so it doesn't need any external power source to fill a small room with music. Because of how they are made, each one is unique both in appearance and performance. [Via Boing Boing]
Weekend Poll: Does the budget iPhone have legs?
Rumors continue to fly about a budget-priced iPhone. Although we here at TUAW remain completely agnostic on the likelihood of this product, we certainly can understand why Apple would benefit from a low-cost product -- and not just for emerging markets like China. Consider the iPad 2. It's still for sale, with a budget price and great Apple engineering. The iPad 2 and the mini represent affordable products with high demand that consumers are choosing over high-end features like Retina displays. Why wouldn't an iPhone benefit from a similar pricing spectrum? It's not the extra phone hardware (you can buy a cheap phone at any TracFone or Cricket dealer) that's driving costs. Even the lowest-priced current iPhone model (the iPhone 4) requires a 2-year commitment in the US. That commitment and low up-front costs hide the true price of the unit. The iPhone 4 still costs US$450 contract-free. America's bizarre contract plans hide true hardware prices. This is particularly frustrating to our overseas-based TUAWians. They want to buy a modern iPhone running the latest iOS but an affordable price and not necessarily with all the latest bells and whistles of the sexy flagship release. Paying US-style high-but-hidden-costs for Apple handsets goes against the grain. High handset prices also work against US adoption amongst high schoolers, an important market. Today's HS kids expect a lot of sophistication from their phones and aren't willing to settle for the iPod touch. They want data, texting and calling plans more than they care about gyroscopes, top-end cameras and Retina displays. Their parents, footing the bills, are searching for bargains and compromise. If they can't get it from Apple, they'll get it from other vendors. It's a vast untapped market for Apple, full of potential. You'd think if Apple could deliver a modern, feature-packed mini iPad for about $300, they'd be able to ship a low-end iPhone for near that, plastic chassis and all. What do you think? Is an iPhone 5B ("B" for bargain") phone in the works? Or is this something that Apple will avoid in order to preserve its premium brand? Cast your vote in the poll and then join in the comments with your analysis and opinions. %Poll-81056%
Toy Fair 2013: Ubooly is soft, squishy and smart thanks to the iPhone
Like Macworld/iWorld, Toy Fair 2013 is filled with products that began life as Kickstarter crowdfunding efforts; Ubooly is one of them. This combo of a plush bear and an iOS app received more than US$28,000 in funding on Kickstarter in April 2012. It later received $1.5 million in seed funding. The Ubooly plush is an orange bear that appears to be missing its face. Users download the free app and activate it, then insert an iOS device into the plush upside-down to add a face. From there, a child can interact with the Ubooly in a number of ways, ranging from playing various games to telling jokes to simple stories. The plush is padded with memory foam, so it can handle being thrown or dropped and you don't have to worry about damaging your iOS device by accident. Still, as with a lot of the toys that Mike Rose and I saw at Toy Fair yesterday, it's best to use an older iPhone or iPod touch with Ubooly. You can use iPhone models going back to the 3GS and iPod touches starting with the fourth generation. The app also can be used on its own without the Ubooly pet. Outside of the plush, there are a number of mini-games that can be played and rooms for Uboolies that can be decorated using using in-app purchases. This is a great way to test the Ubooly with your child before investing in the plush toy. As with all situations with children using apps with in-app purchases, you should lock out store access so your child doesn't go overboard buying extras without your approval. Ubooly is $29.99 through its website, but is currently on sale for $19.99 at ThinkGeek.
Arcane Legends adds capture the flag
It's the popular sport of summer camps everywhere, and now capture the flag is coming to mobile devices. Spacetime Studios is introducing the game into Arcane Legends as the first step toward a larger PvP offering. Capture the flag takes place in a 4v4 arena and comes complete with achievements, titles, and leaderboards. Spacetime has plans to add more PvP modes and maps in the future. The studio said that Arcane Legends has been downloaded more than four million times to date. [Source: Spacetime Studios press release]
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.
FreedomPop pals up with TextPlus to offer free SMS
FreedomPop's made a name for itself by selling cases that enable iPod Touch users to get at least 500MB of data each month for free, and now the company has partnered with TextPlus to give users the ability to send SMS messages as well. Along with a basic free plan, FreedomPop will offer three pricing tiers, maxing out at $15 for unlimited text and 1,000 voice minutes. The partnership will come to full fruition sometime in the first quarter, though the company doesn't specify any additional details. We have the press release ready for your perusal below the break.
Apple granted design patent for fourth-gen iPod touch, reminds us of the shorter, plumper past
Merry Christmas! The USPTO is celebrating in a big way, with the copyright stamp making some pretty big rounds today. First up is a design patent for an iPod touch, which Cupertino filed back in August of 2011. It looks to be the fourth-gen model from 2010, especially given that the patent focuses on the very rounded edges. This iPod touch was the first version to include both front- and rear-facing cameras, and in any case, the design is miles thicker and shorter than this year's touch. As Patently Apple points out, this document also happens to be one of the last to list Steve Jobs as an inventor.
Amazon Instant Video streaming app now available for iPhone and iPod touch
iPad owners have had access since early August, and at long last, iPod touch and iPhone users can say "Us too." The second major reason to crack open the App Store today has just surfaced, with Amazon confirming that its Instant Video app is now available for two of Apple's more bantam iOS products. Much like the iPad version, this one provides access to over 30,000 titles from Prime Instant Video available to Prime members for no extra cost, while the roaming public at large can tap into some 140,000 titles at various price points. To watch movies or TV episodes from Amazon Instant Video on iPhone and iPod touch, customers can simply search for the content they've already rented or purchased from Amazon Instant Video, and the company's also throwing in "Your Watchlist" and "Your Video Library" features, too. Per usual, the app itself is free to download, and there's a link to the App Store over there in the source section. Oh, and for those wondering about AirPlay support? Unfortunately, it remains audio-only. We just tested the new build using a 3rd-generation iPad as well as an iPhone 4S to an Apple TV, and while the app happily passed audio from a film to our television, the video remained on the device itself. This, of course, is a particular bummer given that there's no Amazon Instant Video app for Apple TV.
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%
Arcane Legends arrives on iOS
Arcane Legends' staggered rollout crossed a major barrier today, as Spacetime Studios' newest title got approved for the Apple app store and released for iOS. It's currently available as a free download with in-app purchases. This makes it the fourth MMO in Spacetime's Legends series. Massively's Beau recently took some time to sit down with the MMO and suss out whether it has that Spacetime charm. We've also seen Arcane Legends' short cinematic trailer. The game launched a couple of weeks ago for both Android and Chrome. Spacetime reports that to date, Arcane Legends has accumulated more than two million downloads. To celebrate the iOS launch of the game, the studio posted a few new screenshots of the game, which you can check out in the gallery below! [Source: Spacetime Studios press release]%Gallery-170781%
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.
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.
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.
