In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you’d like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with “Insert Coin” as the subject line.

Visions of the iPad as a modern-day Etch A Sketch have so far been primarily decorative: they’ve been more about remembering youth than recreating it. That’s why Ari Krupnik & Associates’ officially-sanctioned Etcher iPad case project on Kickstarter stands out. Those knobs? They work, and they’re Made for iPad certified. And, as the Etcher is a product of the digital era, your creations in the custom-written app can be saved and shared to Facebook, Flickr or even YouTube as a time lapse video. Shaking the Etcher will still erase your image — it just doesn’t have to disappear forever this time.

Your pledge level determines not only what variety of Etcher case you get, but how much control you get over the project. Committing $45 is all it takes for the nostalgic red, but if you spend $60, $75 or $100, you’ll have the additional options for blue or a special backer-only color. Those at the $100 level get to vote on what color they and the $75 pledge-makers will see. A $175 outlay will provide early access to the software development kit as well as a say in what open-source license the code will use. Moving up to $210 or $360 will give you that control as well as an accordant five or 10 Etcher cases. If you like what you see, you have just over a month to contribute and make the iPad drawing add-on a reality.

Continue reading Insert Coin: Etcher, the fully functional Etch A Sketch iPad case

Insert Coin: Etcher, the fully functional Etch A Sketch iPad case originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 08:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’re one of the millions who purchased an iPod between Sept. 12, 2006, and March 31, 2009, you might be in for a surprising email from RealNetworks. The company, which developed Real Player and the service Harmony, has officially enlisted iPod owners in a class-action lawsuit against Apple — though you do have the right to recuse yourself.

Why RealNetworks? Back in 2004, the company created the music service Harmony, a digital rights management (DRM) translation service. It allowed users to play songs downloaded from the RealPlayer music store on Apple’s iPod.

But as any iPod user knows, songs must be loaded onto iTunes to be played on Apple’s devices. That’s because Apple created an iPod firmware update not too long after the announcement of Harmony, which blocked it and other music services from uploading songs to the iPod.

Several iPod users filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing the company of unfairly blocking competition. Now — eight years later — it’s gaining steam.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California gave the lawsuit class-action status in November 2011. The website ipodlawsuit.com, which details the entire case, explains:

“The lawsuit claims that Apple violated federal and state laws by issuing software updates in 2006 for its iPod that prevented iPods from playing songs not purchased on iTunes. The lawsuit claims that the software updates caused iPod prices to be higher than they otherwise would have been.”

If you own any of these devices — first through fourth generation Nanos, second and third generation Touches, first through third generation Shuffles, a fifth generation classic iPod or the special edition U2 iPod — you’re automatically included in the lawsuit. (Official notices began going out this week.) But you give up any right to sue Apple individually over the same concerns.

Alternatively, you could also request exclusion from the case. However, if Apple does end up losing, you don’t get to share in any kind of “recovery” that may be rewarded.

So far, there’s no money involved — no actual settlement or reward has been determined.

If you’re one of these iPod owners, will you opt to be excluded from the case, or will you take part in a class-action lawsuit against Apple? Sound off in the comments.

More About: apple, ipod, itunes, lawsuit, trending

Remember the 2005 lawsuit over Apple’s effort to keep RealNetworks’ Harmony DRM off of the iPod, calling the countermeasures an abuse that locked customers into Apple’s FairPlay copy protection and the iTunes Store? You’re forgiven if you don’t — the complaint was filed in 2005. Even with iTunes having gone primarily DRM-free over three years ago, though, owners of iPods bought between September 12th, 2006 and March 31st, 2009 are just now getting notices that they qualify for a slice of any damages if they register and Rhapsody’s former owner the class action group wins in court. Of course, there’s no guarantee that RealNetworks former Rhapsody users will win and get you music money to feed your iPod, iPod classic, iPod nano or iPod touch, but unless you’re planning to sue Apple yourself, there’s no penalty for a legitimate claim.

Update: RealNetworks has chipped in to let us know that it’s “not involved in any way” with the lawsuit, which is actually an independent complaint centered around the Rhapsody users themselves. RealNetworks hasn’t embroiled itself in a legal fight with Apple to date.

iPod owners notified of RealNetworks-related lawsuit’s class action status, given chance to cash in (updated: not Real) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 07:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook is no stranger to letting members use real money in web apps, but only for in-app purchases. Its new App Center on the web and in mobile versions will let you buy web apps that have an up-front cost to use rather than shoehorning you into a freemium or subscription model. The portal will even have its own shopping portal, although it’ll mostly be based around — surprise — recommendations coming from your social network profile. The addition should, in theory, lead to premium games and other apps that wouldn’t fit into the Facebook Credit mould. Facebook is taking developer beta sign-ups now, although the apps themselves will have to wait.

Facebook starts App Center beta, readies itself for paid web apps originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 18:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Users of the Google+ iPhone app have sometimes complained that their version isn’t given the same love as that for Android users. The TLC level just got a boost today, as a Google+ 2.0 update has remade the app in style: it now has a more immersive “carousel” for streams, with stylized fonts, a greater emphasis on profile photos and a whole lot less of that humdrum white. Actions like a +1 vote are more prominent at the same time. If you’re of the Apple-owning persuasion, you can get the updated app now; Android users are also being teased with a future update that will bring some “extra surprises” within a few weeks.

Google+ for iPhone gets big visual makeover in 2.0 update originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 16:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hey, Mac users: are you ready for an update? Because Apple is dropping its latest OS version on your heads. 10.7.4 just hit, and it brings with it a number of small fixes to help improve things like security, stability and compatibility for your system. The update promises to fix an issue with the “Reopen windows when logging back in” setting, compatibility with some third-party keyboards and the ability to copy files to SMB servers, among others. You can check out a more complete list of fixes just after the break.

Update: Looks as if that nasty FileVault security issue is also being addressed in the update.

Continue reading Apple releases OS X 10.7.4, FileVault bug gets addressed

Apple releases OS X 10.7.4, FileVault bug gets addressed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 16:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP’s spent the afternoon here in Shanghai to share some details about its latest products and strategy, and to our delight, there was one session dedicated to “Style Meets Function,” during which Vice President of Industrial Design Stacy Wolff talked about his design philosophy and design goals for the current market. Most notably, we learned that some of HP’s latest laptop designs were based on the work of its research centers from 11 different cities, and the company isn’t afraid of admitting that it used consultants for an outside perspective as well.

Despite Stacy’s upbeat presentation and interesting stats (apparently these days men have a boring color preference, from first to fourth favorite: black, gray, blue and white), the inevitable question popped up: One lady expressed her concern that the brand-spanking-new Envy Spectre XT reminded her of the MacBook Air a lot, so she wondered if HP’s ever worried that Apple might sue.

Stacy kept his initial reply pretty brief:

“I would go back to the TC1000 [Tablet PC] from about 10 years, and that’s a tablet. I think if you look at the new Spectre XT, there are similarities in a way, not due to Apple but due to the way technologies developed. Apple may like to think that they own silver, but they don’t. In no way did HP try to mimic Apple. In life there are a lot of similarities.”

As always, we wanted more from the horse’s mouth, so we grabbed hold of Stacy right after the session and had a little chat over this topic — you can see the full and surprisingly candid interview after the break.

Continue reading HP on laptop design similarities with Apple’s: it’s a struggle as we drive to simplicity

HP on laptop design similarities with Apple’s: it’s a struggle as we drive to simplicity originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 09:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Evernote provides many a forgetful soul with a much-needed digital crutch, and the less-forgetful minds behind it have just dished out a couple of updates. Mac users get a new “Card View,” which replaces the thumbnail view (with cards, instead of thumbs obviously) and offers up more info at a glance, with some options to customize the view. For those that are a little more lengthy with their prose, the introduction of word- and character-count for each note may also be a welcome addition, as well as a few other minor functional tweaks. If your Apple is a little smaller, then you might notice a few updates also. The Note Editor in the iOS version has had a redesign, with easy access to attachment options and text styling. Again, there are other small improvements too, such as simplified checkboxes for when adding things like “click on the source link to get more info.”

Evernote updates Mac and iOS apps, makes it harder to forget those chores originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 08:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Those of us who’ve been eying the Kingston Wi-Drive but have been disappointed with the iOS-first emphasis can rejoice, as a new firmware update is expanding access in a big way. At a minimum, anyone with a web browser can now stream music, photos and videos to their heart’s content once they’re linked to the drive over WiFi. And if you’d rather use a native app, any Android 2.2 or later device is now an option instead of having to turn to one of Apple’s gadgets or the Amazon Kindle Fire. Future Wi-Drives should have the firmware loaded from the get-go. The apps as always remain free, although you’ll need to spend a minimum of $50 to join the club with a drive of your own.

Kingston Wi-Drive update opens access to web, Android aficionados originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 08:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The corners of the Earth that don’t have a new iPad have been quickly shrinking, and Apple’s tablet is about to get nigh-on inescapable as of this weekend. A round of 23 more countries is getting the 2012 refresh on May 11, most of it being South American countries such as Foxconn’s new manufacturing hub, Brazil. Parts of Africa and southeast Asia will be served as well, such as the home of our favorite unofficial hands-on sessions, Vietnam. Seven Persian Gulf countries will get their Retina Display fix one day later. By the time the weekend is up, the iPad will be available in nearly 90 countries on this planet, which makes it highly likely that anyone reading this article can find the slate in a local retail store.

New iPad to hit 30 more countries this weekend, work on its tan originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 01:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Don’t have an AirPrint-enabled output machine to get that much-need TPS report off of your iPad? Worry no more. Netgear has you covered with an update to its Genie app for both Mac and PC. With the aforementioned software running on your computer, you’ll be able to print from your iOS device to any printer just like it was outfitted with AirPrint right out of the box. Your Apple or Windows machine acts as a liaison of sorts via its network or USB printer connection to get the job done. Sure, you’ll have to keep the application churning constantly in the background, but the app is free and provides a much cheaper solution that splurging for a new printer. Looking to take the revamped software for a spin? Hit the source link below to start your download.

Continue reading Netgear updates its Genie app to make even the loneliest printer AirPrint compatible

Netgear updates its Genie app to make even the loneliest printer AirPrint compatible originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 00:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The short list of TV and internet providers that support ESPN’s TV Everywhere play, WatchESPN, just grew by one with the addition of Comcast to a list that already included Time Warner, Bright House and Verizon. Part of a deal reached back in January, ESPN has managed to tie its live streaming service in with Comcast’s Xfinity TV protocols, similar to the adjustments made by HBO to open up HBO Go streaming on the Xbox 360. One downside however is that for the moment Comcast customer access is restricted to the website (XfinityTV.com access is coming soon) and iPad / iPhone apps (an update is required first). The Android app that launched a year ago is, for the moment, not supported, although access there is promised “in the coming months.” As we heard in January this just the beginning, as similar Watch services will be rolling out for Disney Channel, DisneyXD and Disney Junior as part of the mouse company’s TV+ program. For now those live feeds of ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com (Buzzer Beater and Goal Line are available in their respective seasons) will have to do however, as the channels and cable services try to add more features and access to keep subscribers happy, or at least still paying, whether they’re at home or away.

Continue reading WatchESPN finally streams to Comcast customers, but not on Android

WatchESPN finally streams to Comcast customers, but not on Android originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 23:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Since 2009, ad industry execs in the know have figured out where to find pearls of wisdom on creativity, how to deal with clients and, of course, life itself.

Lee Clow’s Beard.

The legendary TBWA\Chiat\Day adman behind Apple’s “1984″ TV spot doesn’t have a Twitter account, but since 2009, a Dallas-based copywriter has been penning bits of wisdom under the handle “Lee Clow’s Beard.” The account has close to 26,000 followers.

Now, it’s also the subject of a book. LeeClowsBeard, a lavishly illustrated hardcover compendium of some of the best tweets over the years, will hit Amazon at the price of $24.95. (Sorry, there’s no Kindle version.)

The book is credited to the Twitter account, but the agency plans to reveal the copywriter’s identity next week, a TBWA rep says. The unnamed writer doesn’t work for the agency and hadn’t met Clow before he started tweeting. “He was deciding between [Clow's] beard and [Goodby Silverstein and Partners co-founder Jeff] Goodby’s ponytail,” the rep says. “The beard won out.” Rob Schwartz, the chief creative officer for TBWA, tracked the writer down and introduced him to Clow, who came up with the idea for the book.

Clow, a close friend of Steve Jobs’s, headed up Apple’s account both in the Mac days and when Jobs returned in 1997. (Jobs called him “the best guy in advertising” in Walter Isaacson’s bio Steve Jobs.) However, Clow is clearly taking a hands-off (or “beard-on”) approach to social media. “He understands the technology,” says the rep, “but he doesn’t see the point.”

Some tweets from the book:

“Clients”

Click here to view this gallery.

More About: Advertising, apple, steve jobs, Twitter

Apple already made clear that it was expanding iOS 5-like notifications to the desktop with OS X Mountain Lion, but it now looks as though that’s extending to your web browser, too. Some visitors to iCloud.com have reported seeing notifications show at the top of the page that were both based on iOS’ look and which were clearly not ready for prime time — not unless Default Title for English is a new iCloud feature, at least. There’s no indication of how advanced notifications might become in Apple’s web portal, or if they’ll transition from development cocoon to public butterfly at all. In the meantime, though, keep an eye on the top of your browser and let us know if you see anything leap out in the near future.

Apple inadvertently teases iCloud.com banner notifications, pings your browser iOS 5-style originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 14:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last week, Judge Lucy Koh informed Apple and Samsung that they would have to reduce the number of patent claims at issue in the parties’ Northern District of California litigation. And now, each has complied, with Samsung dropping its total number of asserted patent claims from 75 to 15, while dismissing two patents from the case altogether. For its part, Apple has reduced its case to one claim from each of its asserted utility patents, its four iPhone and one iPad design patents, and its trade dress claims for those two devices. Keep in mind, however, that they did so without prejudice, which means that either party can reassert these dismissed claims in a later lawsuit. That said, the parties have at least attempted to placate Judge Koh in order to keep their July 30th trial date, which is when the real legal fireworks begin. Feel free to check the filings below for the full scope of this most recent patent pruning.

Apple and Samsung finally agree… to drop a plethora of claims from their patent spat originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 13:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What are you going to do when you get an unprecedented response from your new Kickstarter project? You throw in some extra features to keep your new fans happy. Allerta, the same company behind the InPulse smartwatch, has announced that its new Pebble smartwatch will now arrive with low-power Bluetooth 4.0 compatibility. The watches will still interact with Bluetooth 2.1, but inclusion of the latest version should ensure a better degree of future-proofing, with a view to hooking up with wireless heart monitors in the near future. The new feature will be built into the watches ahead of its release and enabled with a later software update. Better still, the makers promise that these Bluetooth plans have been in the pipeline for a while and shouldn’t affect the watch’s launch date.

Pebble watch gets updated to Bluetooth 4.0 before it even arrives originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Having become a staple for 35 million life-observing extroverts already, Twitpic has suddenly decided to launch itself into the world of iOS apps. You may justifiably question the point of yet another platform for sharing photos and videos over Twitter, given how well the official app, Instagram and others now handle such things. But then you’d be missing out on a community that has been steadily growing since even before mobile photography took off, and whose visual ramblings are actually much funnier and more amazing than even the brightest shots of the Dutch skyline.

Twitpic for iPhone brings four years of image-sharing history, one year too late originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 05:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will the next generation iPhone be officially known as the iPhone 5? That’s what a recent complaint Apple filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) hints at.

WIPO is a United Nations agency that protects intellectual property including instances of alleged cybersquatting. Apple’s claim, first reported by Fusible, concerns the iphone5.com domain.

The iphone5.com domain name was registered in Feb. 2008 through a registrar based in Australia. The site currently hosts smartphone advertisements and iPhone-related message boards.

One thread, started Sunday afternoon, urges iphone5.com visitors to help prevent an Apple takeover. A user called Morphius writes:

Yes, You as the community can play a huge part in all this. we as members here before the 4s was even released at iphone5.com should stand our ground against Apple. We have every right to be a fan of the iPhone and to talk and discuss about it. THEY WIILL NOT SHUT US DOWN!!!!!

Call Corporate Of Apple and tell them to stop there persuit!! Blow up there phones, Spam there emails, call there Administration! Do something to get our point across.

Another thread contains a poll asking whether Apple should take be able to take control of the domain. At time of writing, 23 votes split 60-40 in Apple’s favor.

Speculation about what Apple’s next iPhone will look like and feature has been rampant in recent weeks. Many bloggers and Apple fans have simply taken to calling it the iPhone 5, although no official name has been announced.

Whether iPhone 5 will end up being the device’s official title or not, Apple’s play for the domain name makes sense given the level of buzz online. Rumors indicate the new version will feature a larger screen and be made of a futuristic material known as LiquidMetal.

Apple is not new to jumping on what it sees as infringing web domains. In late 2011, the company won claims to iphone4s.com, as well as several other iPhone-related properties.

Earlier last year, the company won rights to the domain iPods.com.

Do you think iphone5.com should be handed over to Apple or left with those who registered it in 2008? Let us know in the comments.

BONUS GALLERY: New iPhone Could Look Like This

Check out these renderings designer Antoine Brieux made based on the latest iPhone 5 rumors.

New iPhone?

Click here to view this gallery.

More About: apple, iPhone 5, Mobile, trending

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Plugged your iDevice into an iTunes-equipped machine lately? You should. Apple has just let loose iOS 5.1.1, a seemingly minor point update that actually promises to fix quite a few (potentially) substantial quirks. Coming two months to the day after the iOS 5.1 software update, the extra 0.0.1 is said to improve reliability of the HDR option for photos taken using the Lock Screen shortcut, address bugs that could prevent the new iPad from switching between 2G and 3G networks and solve a few issues that were affecting AirPlay video playback “in some circumstances.” There’s also improved reliability for syncing Safari bookmarks and Reading List, and Apple has purportedly fixed an issue where ‘Unable to purchase’ alert could be displayed after successful purchase. Sucked the update down yourself? Let us know how it goes in comments below, and peek the full changelog just after the break.

Update: Looks like iOS 5.1.1 has already been jailbroken. Huzzah!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Apple’s iOS 5.1.1 update for iPad, iPod touch and iPhone: fixes AirPlay and network bugs, jailbroken already

Apple’s iOS 5.1.1 update for iPad, iPod touch and iPhone: fixes AirPlay and network bugs, jailbroken already originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 13:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pilots aren’t the only ones updating their workflows with modern technology. Amtrak conductors have been getting schooled on how to use iPhones to scan passenger tickets on select routes since November — forcing hole punches to collect dust on a lonely shelf at the station. By the latter part of this summer, 1,700 conductors will be using the aforementioned smartphones on the outfit’s trains throughout the US which allows them to track passengers with more ease than manual ticketing. The $7.5 million system affords passengers the choice of printing the tickets or loading a bar code on their smartphone of choice before getting the iPhone’s scan. Inside the dedicated app, riders can book and modify reservations easily without having to worry with a refund from an agent first. There’s only one small hiccup: currently Amtrak’s app is only available for iPhones. But, the government-owned corporation says that an Android release is in the hopper and should see daylight this fall. For now, non-iOS users must load their tickets though a mobile site in order to save a tree or two.

Amtrak readies conductors to trade in their hole punchers for iPhones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 13:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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