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These USB to Lightning charging cables are AWESOME
No, I'm not being overly effusive about a USB to Lightning charging cable; I'm just referring to the brand name for a line of accessories. Awesome Cables used crowdfunding and some design smarts to create charging cables that are a bit different from what you'll get from most other manufacturers. Today we're looking at a pair of these cables, both of which use a braided, non-tangle covering on the exterior. The Mamba Cable (US$30) is Apple MFi-certified, and what you're going to love about this cable is its length - it's 10 feet (3 meters) long! No more sitting next to a wall outlet while charging; you'll be able to hang out at a distance. The Lightning connector and USB plug both have aerospace aluminum shells, and there are good-sized stress relievers on both ends as well. Unlike the stock Apple cables, you're not going to eventually see cracking where the cable meets the connectors, and that's a good thing. The Mamba Cables are expected to ship this month, and you can pre-order them now in either Lightning or micro-USB styles ($20) in black or glow-in-the-dark. The other cable I tested was the 6-foot Braided Awesome Cable 2.0 ($22) in a fun Camo finish (note: the Camo finish was apparently still visible to my cats, who like to play with it). Only the black cables are showing as shipping at this time, but you'll be able to get them in gold, silver and blue finishes soon as well as the Camo pattern. There's usually not a lot to say about charging cables - you plug 'em in and they work. But if you're the type of person who is constantly plugging and unplugging charging cables and has had to replace short, cheap plastic cables frequently, spend a few bucks more and consider getting one of the Awesome Cables. I have to admit, they live up to their name. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible
Engadget giveaway: win an iPad Air 2 and iXpand drive courtesy of SanDisk!
Let's face it, devices offer more storage space than ever, but our expectations (and file sizes) are growing too. If you'd like to free up some room and quickly transfer files between iDevices running iOS 7.1 or greater, SanDisk's new iXpand could be a welcome addition to your arsenal. This flash drive has USB and Lightning connectors for high-speed data transfers, and with its companion app, you can even watch AVI and WMV clips on your iPhone or iPad without conversion. The company has provided us with a 32GB iXpand for one lucky Engadget reader this week, and they'll also get a new iPad Air 2 to round out the deal. All you need to do is head down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning this spacious tablet and flash drive combo. Winner: congratulations to Thomas N. (New Port Richey, FL).
Blue Microphones Mikey Digital goes Lightning, sounds great
For reporters, podcasters or musicians on the go, you really want the best possible sound quality without having to lug a lot of equipment around. That's why portable digital stereo recorders like those from Zoom are so popular -- they're compact, and they capture incredible sound. The iPhone and iPad can make recordings, but the built-in microphones leave a lot to be desired. That's why small digital mics like the Mikey Digital (US$99.99) from Blue Microphones are so useful -- you can get amazing sound quality while using your Apple device so you don't have to carry yet another piece of gear. I first reviewed the Mikey Digital in 2012, but iOS devices have now moved on to the Lightning adapter so the old Mikey Digital required a 30-pin to Lightning adapter in order to work; in other words, one more adapter to lose. The new device just plugs right into that Lightning port on your iPad Air, iPad mini, or iPhone 5/5s/5c. I thought it would be a good time to take a fresh look at the Mikey Digital. Specifications Dimensions: 2.5 x 2.5 x .5 inches (63.5 x 63.5 x 12.7 mm) Weight: .18 pounds (81.6 grams) Microphone type: Stereo pressure gradient condenser Sampling: 44.1kHz/16-bit Polar Patter: Cardioid Frequency Response: 35Hz - 20kHz Features: auto level sensing, low gain, and high gain settings; 230 degree swivel mount; 1/8" instrument, external mic, or line level input; pass-through USB connector for device charging Design Highlights With the exception of the Lightning connector, not much has changed with the design of the Mikey Digital. It's still small enough to fit into a pocket comfortably, and Blue Microphones thoughtfully provides a small carrying bag to slip the Mikey into for that very purpose. What I've always liked about the Mikey Digital design is the swiveling mount. If you have your iPad or iPhone mounted on a stationary tripod or stand for recording video and sound, you can swivel the mic around so that it points directly towards your sound source. One side of the mic has a Blue Microphones logo on it, and as long as that's pointed towards the sound source, you're going to get great sound. Functionality Highlights You'll need an app like Garage Band to record and edit the sound you've captured. When the Mikey D. is under the control of a recording / editing app, all three LEDs light up. During recording, those LEDs will flash red if you're overloading the mic and clipping sound. The other side of the Mikey Digital has a sensitivity selector for loud sounds (live music, sporting events, etc... in the 100 - 130dB range), quiet sounds (distant noises, un-amplified lectures, and other sounds in the 45 - 65dB range), and an Auto Mode for speaking voices in interviews, acoustic instruments, etc... To test the new Mikey Digital I read the first paragraph of this review, first with the built-in microphone on an iPad Air and then with the Mikey D. Both intros were recorded with the Mikey Digital as well. As you can hear for yourself, the iPad Air built-in mic recording is somewhat clipped and also has a bit more noise in the background. The additional directionality provided by the Mikey Digital eliminated that noise, and there is additional depth and warmth in the recording that wasn't there while using the built-in mic. The sound quality -- at least to my ears -- wasn't as good as I expect from a much more capable (and expensive) pro desktop mic, but for a portable, stick-it-in-your-pocket microphone, it was definitely acceptable. So there it is: the Mikey Digital does provide better sound quality than your built-in mic. The big question you need to ask yourself is "Do I want to spend that extra $100 to get better sound?" If you need extra sensitivity for recording lectures, if you want to be able to make bootleg recordings at loud concerts without overloading the built-in mic, or if you want a very compact mic that can go with you just about anywhere, then the Mikey Digital is worth the $100 price tag. If, on the other hand, you're doing studio recording with an iPad and want the absolute best in sound, you probably want to shell out the extra quid and a much more professional microphone like the Blue Microphones Spark Digital ($199.99) or the recently-reviewed IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD ($129.99). Conclusion Compact, directional, and with built-in settings that allow optimum sound recording under a wide range of situations, the Blue Microphones Mikey Digital is an excellent choice for a portable iPhone or iPad mic. While it offers better recording quality than what you'll get with the built-in microphones on Apple's iOS devices, those wishing for the best possible sound will want to spend a bit more to get a top-end mic. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible
Zoom iQ5: A tiny professional stereo microphone for Lightning connector devices
For podcasters, reporters and others who want to capture sound on the go with their iOS devices, there's been a lack of options for the newer models of iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Why? Well, those models sport the new Lightning adapter. Zoom, the company that makes those amazing digital recorders like the H1 through H6 line, is now shipping the Zoom iQ5, a tiny Lightning-equipped stereo microphone to help you capture high-quality stereo sound. Specifications Suggested Retail Price: US$99.99 Dimensions: 58.6 x 62.45 x 38.5 mm Weight: 30.5 grams Audio quality: 44.1 kHz/16 bit Connectors: Lightning connector, USB Mini-B connector (for recharging your iOS device), stereo mini jack for combined headphone/line level output Microphone: Mid-side (M-S) stereo mic (90°/120°/M-S) Design Highlights The first thing that jumps out at you about the Zoom iQ5 is just how small it is. The microphone is in a spherical ball that's held by two small arms. The ball can be rotated 90 degrees around two different axes, allowing users to set up proper stereo L-R orientation regardless of how their iOS device is held. A switch on the left-front side of the iQ5 provides a way to set the pickup for either directional or more omnidirectional stereo. According to Zoom, the iQ5 uses two microphone elements -- a directional "mid" mic that grabs sound coming in from the front and a bidirectional "side" mic that picks up ambient sound. Mid-side recording captures the mid and side mic signals as RAW data, which is then post-processed to adjust the stereo width or collapse the signal into mono. The mid-side post-processing can be done with Zoom's free HandyRecorder app, which I found to be surprisingly useful. For additional information on the mic design and the app, I'll defer to this video from Zoom. There's also a switch for gain control, which can be turned off, set with a limiter to avoid overpowering the mic or set to auto gain presets for concerts, solos and meetings. Once again, the presets require Zoom's HandyRecorder app. A mic gain wheel on the right side of the iQ5 makes it simple to manually adjust gain as well. Functionality Highlights One note to potential users of the iQ5 -- you'd better use it with a case that allows full access to the bottom of your device, since I found that I could not install it on my iPhone 5s without removing the case. Once the case was removed, plugging in the iQ5 immediately rewarded me with a glowing red LED indicating that the device was powered up. Having used some of Zoom's digital recorders for podcasting, I was dubious that the iQ5 would be able to capture audio with the same clarity and depth of sound as those dedicated devices. I'm glad to say that I was wrong. Monitoring the recording in progress was helpful, and there was no noticeable lag. I won't go into too many details about the HandyRecorder app, only to say that it works well and is simple to figure out. One issue I have is that the only way to share your recordings is through SoundCloud. For podcasters, having the ability to send files through FTP is often a requirement. There's no way to do that; you can't email the files; nor can they be saved to your song library. However, that's a problem with the app, not the microphone. You can always choose to use a different application like GarageBand or BossJock Studio. One possible issue -- twice during my testing I heard what appeared to be interference from the iPhone's cellular radio through the Apple headset I was using to monitor. That doesn't happen when I use the headset normally, and the sound did not appear on the recording I was making. I'm wondering if it was feedback from the Apple headset's built-in microphone interfering with the iQ5, so I'd warn users to use headsets without a mic for monitoring purposes. Conclusion The Zoom iQ5 is perfect for anyone who wants to do high-quality digital stereo recording, whether it's for interviewing, music or nature sounds. This compact and lightweight mic can slip into a pocket for immediate availability, and it's less expensive than most of the dedicated digital recorders. Rating: 3-1/2 possible out of 4 stars possible Giveaway One lucky TUAW reader is going to get his or her hands on a Zoom iQ5. 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 January 27, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Zoom iQ5 Professional Stereo Microphone with Lightning Connector valued at $99.99. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Where there's a Spark Digital, there's Lightning
It's not the biggest news of the day by any stretch of the imagination, but if you're a user of one of Blue Mics' wonderful Spark Digital microphones (US$199.99), you'll be glad to hear that the device is now available with a Lightning cable for use with your favorite new iOS device. If you're unfamiliar with the Spark Digital, be sure to check out the TUAW review of the microphone. In the past, the Spark Digital shipped with a USB connector that could be used with any USB-equipped Mac or PC, as well as with a 30-pin Dock Connector cable for use with previous generations of the iPhone and iPad. Now the device can use the thin, direction-independent cable to connect to all of the more recent iOS devices that use the Lightning standard for charging and syncing. For those who purchased a Spark Digital with the 30-pin adapter cable after August 1, 2013, Blue Microphones is making the Lightning cable available for free when you provide proof of purchase. If you bought a Spark Digital earlier than August 1 or can't find that receipt, a Lightning cable is available for just US$28 (email service@bluemic.com to request the cable).
EU may force Apple to change Lightning connector
EU lawmakers today agreed to a draft regulation stating that all consumer electronics manufacturers must use a common standard battery charger device. While the law may not take effect until 2017 or after, that means that Apple -- which uses its own Lightning adapter rather than the micro-USB connectors adopted by most other smartphone and tablet manufacturers -- would be forced to change its connector standard. The draft legislation could be voted on as soon as March 2014, at which time it will need to be turned into national laws by each EU state. Manufacturers will have another year after state adoption to comply, which means that 2017 is about the earliest that Apple might have to change the Lightning connector. However, this entire situation -- which was brought on by consumer advocates -- might be a moot point. A new USB connector, under design by one of the original USB architects, Ajay Bhatt, is being considered for adoption and would provide a reversible plug similar to the Lightning connector. This new standard will be called the Type C USB connector, and it might be well worth Apple's investment in time and money to influence the design to be compatible with Lightning. Other changes are included in the draft legislation, including common rules for radio equipment including mobile phones and data modems, as well as forcing manufacturers to register products prior to market release. A similar registration program is already in place in the United States, where the Federal Communications Commission must approve products prior to sale.
LA County sheriff's deputy saved by iPhone charger cable
A Los Angeles (Calif.) County sheriff's deputy was injured in a shooting Tuesday morning in Inglewood, Calif., but things could have been worse had it not been for an Apple Lightning charger cable that was in her pocket. The charger cable actually deflected a bullet that would have otherwise been embedded in the deputy's hip. In a tweet from the LA County Sheriff official Twitter account, the brave sacrifice of the Lightning cable in taking one for its owner was referred to as a "miracle." From the looks of the cable, the USB end took the brunt of the bullet. Needless to say, the deputy may need to visit an Apple Store soon and get a replacement. Thanks to TUAW reader Noel S. for the tip.
Belkin Express Dock for iPad: Review and giveaway
Belkin continues to roll out an impressive array of Apple accessories, with the new US$59.99 Express Dock for iPad (and any other device with a Lightning connector) being the latest in a series of new products. The Express Dock comes with a 4-foot USB cable and is primarily designed for use with a Lightning-equipped iPad. Made out of a good chunk of aluminum that weighs about 13.1 ounces (371.4 gm), the Express Dock is not going to tip over when you pop on iPad onto it for recharging. There's also a rubberized material on the bottom of the dock to prevent it from sliding. The most useful feature of the Express Dock is a dial located on the back of the dock that provides a way to extend or retract the Lightning adapter so that it works with just about any case. There are iPhone cases (the Twelve South HiRise is an example) that have the ability to be adjusted during setup, but not "on the fly" -- and so far, this is the only adjustable iPad dock I'm aware of. Since the Lightning adapter and cable are built into the Express Dock, there's no need for you to use one of your own or buy another for use with the dock. The Express Dock is tilted at a nice angle for reading, perfect for those situations where you're reading an iBook and want something to hold and charge your iPad. The Express Dock base is a rounded square about 3.25 inches (8.26 cm) on a side, making it a bit of overkill for an iPhone 5/5c/5s or iPod touch (fifth-generation). For those smaller devices, Belkin makes a less expensive ($39.99) and more colorful (six colors) dock called the MIXIT ChargeSync Dock Conclusion Belkin has designed and built a very useful charge and sync dock for any Lightning-equipped iPad or iPad mini. Pros Very well-built and sturdy. Weight of the base means that the dock is stable even when a full-sized iPad in a case is placed onto it. Four-foot cable is nice as it allows users to get a bit of space between their computer (or wall outlet) and the iPad. Lightning adapter vertical adjustment allows the Express Dock to work with just about any iPad case. Cons None. Who is it for? Any person with an iPad (fourth generation) or iPad mini who would like a stable and sturdy charging and sync dock. Giveaway Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before October 18, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Belkin Express Dock for iPad valued at US$59.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Tiny ChargeKey for iPhone 5 is always handy and ready to go
Charging cables that are at your fingertips all the time just keep getting smaller and smaller. Back in March of this year, TUAW reviewed the ChargeCard, a USB to 30-pin Dock Connector charging cable the exact size of a credit card. Now there's the ChargeKey for iPhone 5 (US$25), an even smaller emergency charging cable that's the size of a house key. Not surprisingly, both products are made by the same California company, Nomad. The design of the ChargeKey makes it a snap to attach to your keychain or to remove it for a quick charge. On one end is an open-faced USB connector, while a Lightning connector sits on the opposite end. If you're anywhere that there's an open USB port, you can plug in your iPhone (or iPad -- the ChargeKey is designed to withstand up to 3.1 A of current) to top it off. At $25, you're really paying for the convenience of having a cable you can attach to a keychain. Apple's Lightning to USB cables run $29, but other manufacturers sell short 4-inch cables for as low as $11.90 each. The company is doing an initial production run of 10,000 ChargeKeys, and plans to ship them to purchasers on November 30, 2013.
Wake up to a Lightning-equipped iHome iDL45 alarm/dock
Alarm clock radios have been around for decades, and when iPods and iPhones jumped onto the scene, we started to see a new accessory: the alarm dock. Basically, this was your standard clock radio with a trusty 30-pin Dock connector on top, and your iPhone could receive a charge while you slept and let you listen to your iTunes playlist if you didn't want to have the local FM station blasting you out of bed. iHome is now shipping the iDL45 Dual Charging Stereo FM Clock Radio with Lightning Dock and USB Charge/Play for iPad/iPhone/iPod (US$99.99), and it's perfect for your Lightning-equipped iPad, iPhone or iPod. That's a mouthful, so for the rest of this review I'll call it the iDL 45, OK? Design The iDL45 is an attractive-looking clock radio, featuring white numerals and control icons on a stark black background. Atop the unit is the Lightning dock, and there's a USB port on the side for charging your other devices -- basically anything that charges via USB. Since you can pop anything from an iPod touch to a full-sized iPad onto the Lightning connector, there's a "backrest" (for lack of a better word) to prop up the device and make sure it's not putting undue pressure onto the connector. The digital tuning FM stereo radio gives the iDL45 6 preset stations, perfect for those times when you want to scan stations for local news in between the ads and jock talk. The iDL45 has a battery backup, so you cannot use a power outage as an excuse as to why you overslept... %Gallery-192328% Like earlier iHome products, the iDL45 is designed to work with a companion application. The free app automatically syncs the clock to your iPhone's time, so there's no need to tap buttons to set the clock and it handles daylight savings time changes with ease. That app is also used to set up the dual alarms both of which can have full week, weekday and weekend settings. Functionality The fun part of reviewing the iDL45 was setting it up with bogus alarms for testing. Once you unpack the iDL45, place it on a nightstand, plug it in (there's a really nice long cord) and drop your iPhone onto the Lightning port, you'll be asked to install a couple of apps onto your device. One of them, Alarms, can be used to just set up alarms and give you stats on how long you're sleeping. It's ad-supported, but all of the ads seem to be iAd placeholders. I'm not sure of why anyone would use the Alarms app when the iHome Set app is much more useful. It provides settings for things like the FM radio presets, brightness of the clock display, volume, and it lets you set the alarm times and sources as well. While I was fooling around with this app, I checked for a firmware update for the clock and was surprised to find one -- who knew that you could update your alarm clock with an iOS device? The sound on the iDL45 was surprisingly good. I mean, I don't expect much from a plastic alarm dock, but the sound had a good, rich quality to it. The software worked like a champ and the app was extremely easy to figure out, although I suggest setting up the iDL45 well before you go to sleep in case you run into any questions. Conclusion With the iHome iDL45, the old traditional clock radio has just had another nail hammered into its coffin. Not only does the iDL45 work seamlessly with the free apps from iHome, but it has a pleasing design and good sound quality. The best thing? It works with your Lightning-equipped iPhone 5, iPad mini, 4th-generation iPad, or 5th-generation iPod touch. Pros Works with free iHome apps to provide control of every function Clock time is auto-synced with the iPhone time Lightning connector support! Ability to charge devices that don't use Lightning connectors through a USB port White display is very readable, even when dimmed considerably Surprisingly good sound for a clock radio / dock Ability to upgrade the clock radio / dock firmware through the app Battery backup built in Cons No AM stations, so you can't listen to some sports broadcasts Choice of apps is confusing; iHome should just point users to the iHome Set app Who is it for? Perfect for the iPhone-wielding office or blue-collar worker or student who needs to awake on time. At $100, it's reasonably priced and would make a good gift. Giveaway And speaking of gifts, TUAW and iHome are giving away an iHome iDL45. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before June 27, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive an iHome iDL45 alarm dock valued at $99.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Here's how Apple's Lightning-to-HDMI digital AV adapter probably works
Last week, we shared how the folks at Panic had pulled apart one of Apple's Lightning to HDMI digital AV adapters in an attempt to figure out why it didn't seem to output true 1080p HD video. To their surprise, they found that it contained a tiny computer featuring an ARM processor and 256 MB of memory. They had some thoughts on how the accessory might be working its magic, namely that it could be using AirPlay in some way, but now someone claiming to be an Apple engineer has come forward with what's said to be the official explanation of how it works. Posting to Slashdot, the anonymous individual claims that AirPlay isn't actually being used at all, and that contrary to some speculation the adapter's processor doesn't run a stripped-down version of iOS: What happens here is that we use the same hardware to encode an output stream on the fly and fire it down the Lightning cable straight into the ARM SoC the guys at Panic discovered. Airplay itself (the network protocol) is NOT involved in this process. The encoded data is transferred as packetized data across the Lightning bus, where it is decoded by the ARM SoC and pushed out over HDMI. This setup is apparently future-proof according to the poster, since it's entirely software-driven. Apple engineers are apparently aware that the current implementation leaves something to be desired since it introduces lag and compression artifacts, but the adapter's firmware is supposedly upgradeable and improvements will evidently be made to the compression in future iOS updates. The information coming from this anonymous source lines up pretty closely with what we've been told by David Stanfill, founder of AirParrot and Reflector developer Napkin Studio. Stanfill, who has extensive experience with AirPlay, told us that he "[doesn't] believe that the AirPlay itself is being used here, [but] it certainly seems like the underlying hardware that powers AirPlay mirroring is being used for the AV Lightning adapter." Stanfill concurs that this "also explains the limited resolution support -- keeping costs down and performance up means the higher h264 levels needed to support more pixels likely aren't supported by the SoC employed in the adapter." "This does not seem very forward thinking on the part of Apple," Stanfill added. "If the lightning cable is their solution for the foreseeable future, don't hold your breath on putting that retina iPad full-resolution on your 4K TV in a few years. At least not without heavy MPEG artifacts."
Panic digs into the Lightning digital AV adapter, finds a surprise
The folks at Coda and Unison developer Panic Inc. have a good old fashioned mystery on their hands, and it all revolves around Apple's digital AV adapter for iPhone 5 and iPad mini with Lightning connectors. As they tell it, the Coda crew was recently trying out the accessory for capturing video from iOS devices when they noticed something wasn't quite right -- namely that the maximum resolution capable using the adapter wasn't full 1080p and the video signal didn't seem as pristine as it should have been. This lead Panic to wonder if the adapter wasn't sending a "pure," direct signal via HDMI. Lo and behold, when they literally cracked open the US$49 accessory, they found that it seems to contain what amounts to a dedicated, ARM-based system on a chip (SoC) with 256 MB of RAM. They believe the SoC could be performing something akin to AirPlay streaming from the attached device to the HDMI connector, resulting in the compression artifacts and other quality issues including input lag. Of course, they can't be entirely sure this is what's happening, but all available evidence points in that direction. Why take this approach versus the direct output provided by the 30-pin digital AV adapter? Panic thinks it may have something to do with the Lightning connector not having enough pins to provide true video output, or that Apple wanted to shift as much hardware outside of the iPhone 5 and iPad mini as possible to keep production costs (and weight, and battery drain) down to a minimum. Either way, it certainly is an unusual find and one that anyone planning to output video from newer iOS devices will want to bear in mind.
Zoom iQ5 professional stereo microphone hands-on
Earlier at CES, we got our hands on the Rode iXY 30-pin stereo microphone iPhone add-on that left our Lightning users a bit sad. Cheer up! The folks over at Zoom got us over to their booth to take a peek at the company's new iQ5 professional stereo microphone. The iQ5 is a different beast than its aforementioned competition in that it works in conjunction with native iOS applications. What this means is that you can use it while recording video on your iOS device. The microphone itself rotates for this specific purpose, allowing for both horizontal and vertical audio recording in raw, 90- and 120-degree field positions. The recording resolution is capped at a respectable 16-bit/44.1kHz -- though slightly less than we were hoping. We didn't get a chance to actually hear an audio sample from the iQ5, but we're pretty confident it'll sound better than the standard mic equipped on any of the supported devices. The Zoom iQ5 lacks a bit in customization department as well as build quality -- we're generally not fans of the cheap plastic construction, which is unlike most other Zoom products. The spec sheet certainly leaves us wanting, but it's a start in the right direction for current-gen iOS devices. The iQ5 will set you back $100 and will start shipping Q2 of this year -- until then check out the gallery to hold you over.
Romo gen 3 gains Lightning connector, we go hands-on (video)
Remember Romo, the adorable iPhone-faced track-equipped robot? We met up with Romotive in Vegas at CES 2013 to play with the 3rd generation model that was recently launched on Kickstarter. The company also gave us an exclusive first look at a 3rd generation prototype with Lightning connector. We sat down with CEO Keller Rinaudo to discuss the new robot and catch up on what the team's achieved over the past year. As a refresher, we first encountered Romo when we covered it for our Insert Coin feature in October 2011. Back then, the robot used rudimentary analog electronics and plugged into the iPhone's headphone jack. After a successful initial Kickstarter campaign, Romotive moved from Seattle to Las Vegas where we caught up with the team on our stage during CES 2012. The 2nd generation model was available both pre-assembled and it kit form with support for iOS, Android and Windows Phone. It was upgraded to digital electronics but still used the audio interface to control its tracks and featured hacker-friendly auxiliary ports. Hit the break for more.
$635,000 in bogus Lightning cables nabbed in Alaska
One of the functions of the US Customs and Border Protection agency is to seek out and seize counterfeited goods, and the Alaska Dispatch is reporting that the CBP nabbed more than US$635,000 in counterfeit Lightning cables and adapters during a search in Anchorage. The cables and adapters had come from China on a cargo plane, destined for spots around the US. The products came in boxes with fake Apple logos and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) trademarks, but spokesman Frank Falcon of the CBP reported that they "stood out" as counterfeits, packaged in cardboard packs that were of sub-standard quality. An unnamed Chinese manufacturing firm is responsible for the shipment, and Falcon noted that the seizure of the counterfeit goods will "bring more scrutiny" to future shipments from the company. There are safety concerns with such counterfeits, as unauthorized use of the UL logo could mean that the cables were never evaluated for electrical shock and fire hazards. There's also no way to be sure that the cables will even work. All of the items seized by the CBP will be destroyed. [via 9to5Mac]
Apple ends Kickstarter project over Lightning licensing rules (updated)
Update: Ars Technica reports that Apple has reversed course on its decision and is allowing 30-pin and Lightning dock connectors to be on the same device for charging. The team behind the Kickstarter-funded POP power station must refund all the money it collected after it failed to get approval from Apple to use the Lightning cable in its device. The POP portable power station is a high-capacity charger with four built-in retractable cords that charge an iPhone, iPad or Android device. Launched with the slogan "Power where you need it," the POP could charge multiple devices at once using either power from an outlet or from an integrated 26,000 mAh battery. The project stumbled when it failed to get approval from Apple to use the company's Lightning connector. Apple has a strict program that governs the use of its Lightning connector and the POP power station didn't meet the company's requirements that the connector be used alone in a product. A device with a Lightning connector cannot be paired with an Android-compatible microUSB cable or even a 30-pin cable for older Apple devices. Edison Junior, the company behind the Kickstarter program, is disappointed with this decision and has decided to abandon further work on the project. The company is refunding all the funds collected from supporters and absorbing any credit card fees as well as a whopping 5 percent Kickstarter fee totaling US$11,000. Edison Junior CEO Jamie Siminoff told Wired that the company would consider releasing the power station in an all-Android version or with Apple's older 30-pin connector, if there was enough demand from customers or retailers. [Via Wired]
Philips outs new speaker docks with Lightning connector, prices start from $90
Docking speakers that are friendly with Cupertino's shiny new Lightning connector are far from being a dime a dozen just yet, which is to be expected given the small amount of time it's been around. Staring today, though, we can add Philips to the small list of companies who are now offering a solution for those of you who would like to turn your iPhone 5 into a modern day alarm clock (among other things, of course). Thankfully, Philips brought plenty to choose from, with the outfit outing the Bedroom DS1155, Room-to-Room DS3205, Portable DS7580 and a high-end Lifestyle Music System DMC2067. These Lightning-equipped iDevice companions will be available this month starting at $90 for the DS1155 and $130 each for both DS3205 and DS7580, while the more powerful DMC2067 is yet to receive a price tag of its own.
Apple snagged partial rights for 'Lightning' trademark from Harley Davidson
Who says big companies can't be bros when it comes to trademarks? Since Apple had no need for its Lightning connector to appear on "motorcycle parts, slot machines or tachometers," it buddied up with Harley Davidson to secure partial use of the cycle maker's IP for its new iDevice interface, according to recent info from the European trademark office. That allowed it to use a name that's sympatico with its Thunderbolt moniker, while presumably letting Harley retain the rights for its heavier metal accessories. Also, should Cook & co. run up against a mid-life crisis, at least they'll have quick relief on speed-dial.
Griffin PowerJolt SE Car Charger with Lightning Connector: A first look
In a refreshing development, a lot of Apple-approved iOS accessories with Lightning connectors are starting to hit the market. Over the past few days, we've seen items from Scosche, Belkin and JBL come out; today we're looking at Griffin's PowerJolt SE Car Charger with Lightning Connector (US$24.99). The charger comes with a coiled cable that measures 23.5 inches in length out of the box, but can be stretched to over four feet in length. That's perfect for those situations where the kids are sitting in the back seat of the car with your iPad mini, but your only power plug is in the dashboard. The PowerJolt SE plugs into any car power outlet with an unobtrusive spring-loaded plug that really stays in place. On the other end of the cable? A Lightning connector to keep your new iPhone 5, iPad mini or other device happily charged up. The charger puts out a full 10 W of power at 2.1 Amps. When the PowerJolt is plugged in and ready to go, an LED power indicator glows white. There's also a built-in self-resetting "SmartFuse" to protect against power fluctuations. For me, the PowerJolt SE is the perfect solution. I currently use a third-party iPhone mount in my car with a separate charging cable; I'll be able to continue using that mount by just swapping out the existing charger for the PowerJolt SE. It's great to see Lightning accessories coming out in droves before the holiday buying season. If you have a favorite Lightning accessory you haven't seen covered on TUAW yet, please let us know in the comments.
Apple announces fourth generation iPad
Consumers and competitors alike apparently can't get too comfortable with the pace of iPad updates, because just six months after the "new iPad" came out, Apple has announced the fourth-generation iPad. Powered by an A6X chip, it doubles the CPU performance of its predecessor. It has a 720p FaceTime HD camera and has "greatly expanded LTE coverage" according to Phil Schiller. The newest iPad comes with the same Lightning connector as the iPhone 5 and the newest iPods. It's available at the same prices as the third-generation iPad and has the same Retina display.
