June 1, 2012

If you’re looking for something new to wrap around your noggin this coming season, then put it on your radar that Denon will be bringing 11 new sets of headphones to store shelves this August. That number might seem like quite a lot to digest, but it becomes a lot easier when broken down by category. First is the Exercise Freak lineup, a wrap-around earbud design that sells for $149 and will be available in black, blue and yellow. Beyond that, the company has three additional lineups — the Music Maniac, the Urban Raver and the Globe Cruiser — and each will be available in earbud and over-the-ear form factors. The Music Maniac headphones ($349 and $499) are designed to cater to audio purists with an acoustically flat signature. Most notable about the Music Maniac lineup is the top shelf Artisan model, which rings in at a healthy $1,199 and pits itself against other audiophile mainstays such as the Sennheiser HD800 and Audez’e LCD2. Meanwhile, the Urban Ravers ($249 and $399) place a heavy emphasis on bass, whereas the Globe Cruisers ($179 and $499) feature noise cancellation. As a nice touch, each of the models feature built-in microphones and volume controls.

Denon is supplying iOS apps for each family of headphones, which is a bit of a novel idea, but they vary significantly among lineups. Music Maniac purchasers will be treated to a music app that combines EQ adjustment and integration with TuneIn Radio, while the app for Urban Raver owners focuses on sharing and discovering new music via Facebook and Twitter. Globe Cruiser users will (oddly enough) be treated to a travel app, whereas Exercise Freak owners will find an app that features GPS integration for activity tracking. If it’s any redemption for the fragmented assortment of apps, Denon owners may purchase each individual selection in the App Store for $0.99. If your head isn’t spinning yet, feel free to check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading Denon turns up the volume with 11 new headphone models featuring iOS app integration

Denon turns up the volume with 11 new headphone models featuring iOS app integration originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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June 1, 2012

While WWJC’s already got a healthy list of special guests to address fellow iOS hackers, word has it that pod2g — a well-known and good-looking contributor to the iDevice jailbreak scene — will be the latest guest to join JailbreakCon’s show on September 29th. Better still, the self-professed iOS security researcher will be both speaking and running a workshop there, making it all worthwhile for attendees traveling all the way to San Francisco. For those who want to familiarize yourselves with pod2g, hit the Redmond Pie link below to see his interview by JailbreakCon’s Craig Fox. Or, you know, you can head over to WWJC to meet the man up close and personal — just make sure you get a ticket first before it’s too late!

Hacker pod2g to speak and run hacking workshop at JailbreakCon’s WWJC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 31, 2012

It’s on Apple’s iPhone and iPad, but this is the ITV Player, not the rumored iTV supposedly under development in Cupertino. After initially launching last summer (along with an Android version) offering streaming video on-demand, the UK channel’s iOS app has been updated to version 2.0 to offer a live streaming feed of its two channels. Other than just ITV1 and ITV2 over WiFi or 3G, if there’s a live event being broadcast that isn’t on either, you’ll still be able to tune in via the app. Other new features include AirPlay Mirroring, easier switching between content, improved location detection (to determine what channels are available) and Retina Display quality graphics on the iPad. Unfortunately, The Digital Lifestyle points out catch-up access is still unavailable over 3G, but those with access should grab the new app from iTunes.

ITV Player 2.0 brings live streams of the UK broadcaster’s TV channels to iOS originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 06:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 31, 2012

There’s still no word available on HD video streaming, but Netflix has just released version 2.2 of its app for iPhones and iPads. While the front end got tablet friendly in December and received a Retina Display makeover in March, this version brings a new player UI to all iOS devices. The new scrub bar seems much easier to reach and control now, while the button for subtitles has a received a tweak reminiscent of the new look recently pushed to Netflix’s web based player. Also under that button is a new option allowing for alternate language soundtracks (where available), while the changelog goes on to mention “general performance improvements”. Not documented but present is the addition of thumbnails in that scrub bar, easier access to “do not share” for Facebook-connected members and the ability to restrict streaming to WiFi-only in the settings. The new version is shown above, check after the break for a grab of the old player to see the difference. As always, the latest update can be found in the app store, we’ll let you know if we hear of any extra details or changes on other platforms.

Continue reading Netflix for iOS updated with a new player UI, support for alternate language audio and more

Netflix for iOS updated with a new player UI, support for alternate language audio and more originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 21:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 30, 2012

PayPal’s mobile payments have been on a whirlwind American tour this year, but they haven’t had a chance to cross the border so far. Someone must have finally stamped the company’s passport, since it’s now an option for UK residents to pay using the InStore app for Android or iOS. A trio of fashion outlets — Coast, Oasis and Warehouse — can soon scan an on-screen barcode to take payment for that posh new shirt instead of requiring ye olde wallet. As it is in the US, there’s no need for any NFC magic or even an Internet connection to clinch the deal, and there’s still the same access to discounts and refunds as for paper- and plastic-wielding buyers. A total of 230 shops will take your PayPal credit starting May 31st, although they won’t stop your potential fashion mistakes.

Continue reading PayPal mobile payments hit the UK, filling your closet just went wireless (video)

PayPal mobile payments hit the UK, filling your closet just went wireless (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 15:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 30, 2012

Earlier this May, Logitech unveiled its Solar Keyboard Folio for the new iPad and iPad 2, and the accessory maker is rounding out the month by adding another sun-powered peripheral to its stable. Like the Keyboard Folio, the just-announced Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 works with iPads, but it’s also compatible with Macs and iPhones. The K760 has Bluetooth for pairing up to three devices at a time, and it features Mac-specific keys such as Brightness, Command and Eject. Users should get about three months of use after the keyboard is fully charged up via sun or indoor light. We got to do a bit of typing with the K760, and are happy to report that it’s a fairly well-built little grid. The deck feels solid, and the keys have a decent depth to them when pressed. Plus, the spun metal power button and the silver flake paint job lend a premium appearance. It’ll cost $80 when it goes on sale next month, and you can get a closer look at what those dollars will buy in our gallery below. Head past the break for the full PR.

Michael Gorman contributed to this report

Continue reading Logitech outs Apple-friendly Wireless Solar Keyboard K760, we go hands-on

Logitech outs Apple-friendly Wireless Solar Keyboard K760, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 13:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 30, 2012

Apple CEO Tim Cook was careful not to reveal any deep secrets in his sit-down interview with All Things D‘s Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher. But he did drop a few breadcrumbs for Apple speculators to follow.

Speaking about Facebook, Cook said he thought Apple’s relationship with the social network is “very solid” and that Apple could do more with the company. He encouraged people to “stay tuned.” Many read that as a hint that deeper ties to Facebook might be coming in iOS 6 — similar to how Apple integrated Twitter at the OS level in iOS and OS X 10.8 “Mountain Lion” — but Cook wouldn’t elaborate.

If Apple does strengthen its relationship with Facebook, it would be further reason for the company to finally do away with Ping, Apple’s ill-fated attempt at a social network. Cook said he had thought about killing Ping when a member of the audience asked him about it, but he also noted that some customers really love it.

Cook also suggested that Siri, the voice assistant on the iPhone 4S, would be getting some enhancements in the near future. After saying Siri proved that people want to interact with their phones in new ways, Cook said the it could be broader, and that the potential was “unbelievable.”

“I think you are going to be really pleased with where we take Siri,” he said.

SEE ALSO: Tim Cook: Facebook Is the ‘Closest’ to Being Like Apple

Asked about product secrecy, Cook said Apple would be “doubling down” on it, while at the same time explaining Apple would behave more openly with regard to its Asian suppliers’ practices. At the suggestion of an U.S.-based Apple factory, Cook didn’t entirely shoot down the idea, but he did say there would have to be big changes for that to happen.

“Could assembly process be done in the US someday? I hope so,” Cook said. “[There] has to be a fundamental change in education system to make it possible.”

On the neverending rumor that Apple is in the early stages of making a TV set, Cook didn’t budge. While he said Apple’s relationship with Hollywood was “good,” Cook simply didn’t answer when asked whether Apple was building a television or even the more general “living room content service.”

Ultimately, Cook guarded against saying too much during the interview, apart from dropping the first public acknowledgement from Apple that Ping is a failure. However, he did reveal some more insight into his thinking, and how profound an influence Steve Jobs has been in his life and career.

What did you think of Tim Cook’s first public interview? Check out the full transcript here, and share your thoughts in the comments.

More About: apple, Facebook, iOS, siri, tim cook

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May 30, 2012

Even if you don’t use Instagram, we’re guessing you’ve encountered an Instagram image somewhere on the web — even if you didn’t realize it.

Instagram’s calling card is the photo filter, a digital layer that, when added to a standard photo, gives it the appearance of professional editing. Some filters enhance the colors in a photo, while other dull the light to a soft glow for an aged, vintage appearance.

But while Instagram’s filters revolutionized mobile photo editing, they’re only a portion of the appeal. The mobile app boasts over 50 million users, despite only living in iOS and Android devices. Instagram launched on Android just this year — it quickly earned 5 million downloads in six days.

Its success caught the eye of the most valuable social network in the world. Facebook acquired Instagram in April for $1 billion. Although we’ve only just begun to witness Facebook’s plans for the photo sharing app, the social giant recently launched its own filter-friendly photo app, dubbed Facebook Camera.

Instagram has surely come a long way, business-wise, since co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger introduced the app in 2010. But on the whole, the app has remained simple, straightforward and social since its inception.

We’re here to share the Instagram basics, whether you’re new to the network or need some additional tips. Better hurry, though — Instagram has undergone such changes in the past few months, who knows what else is in store.

We’d love to learn about your Instagram experiences. How do you use the app? Can you share any helpful advice or anecdotes for new users? Any predictions for the future of Instagram? Please share in the comments below.

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1. Register / Setup

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Instagram has always been an almost exclusively mobile platform. Therefore, you must download the iPhone or Android app to your device in order to register an Instagram account.

Instagram accounts are public by default, but you may elect to create a private account. In that case, only users who you approve may follow you and view your photos. Head to your profile tab and scroll down to “Privacy.” There, you may select to make photos private.

Once registered, change your profile picture and edit your profile information, which includes a brief 150-character bio and a website. You may also edit profile information here.

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2. Notifications

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Since Instagram doesn’t have a web-hosted feed of photos, you’ll be doing most of your browsing on mobile. For that reason, you may choose to enrich your mobile experience by setting up push notifications.

Depending on your level of comfort, enable the following push notifications:

• When a user likes or comments on one of your photos.
• When a user @mentions you in a comment.
• When your photo is posted to the Popular page.

To control the notifications on your iOS device, exit the Instagram app and access the Settings location. From there, find Instagram in the Notification Center and configure your app preferences.

Android Instagram users must change notification settings from the app itself. Head to Settings > Edit Profile > Push Notifications.

If you choose not to enable external notifications, Instagram will still keep you apprised of your account activity in-app. New user and comment notifications appear in the News section of the app (see above-left), which you can access via the navigation panel — the icon looks like a speech bubble with a heart in it.

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3. Connect to Social

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Again, because Instagram is a relatively isolated social app that lives inherently on mobile, it’s important to connect social accounts to get the most out of the experience. You may choose to link Instagram to your Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, Tumblr, Flickr, Mixi and Weibo accounts (the last two apply only to iPhone users in Japan and China, respectively).

To connect social accounts, head to the Profile Tab > Edit Sharing Settings, then choose the network you wish to connect.

Each time you upload a photo to Instagram, you’ll have the option to share to each of the social networks you’ve enabled, or to none. If you choose to share to no social networks, the photo will post only to Instagram, viewable only by those users who follow you on the app. (More on social sharing later.)

Here are some examples of how Instagram has affected, and in some cases, revolutionized social media:

• Facebook Releases Instagram Clone
• Meet @TextInstagram — Instagram Without Photos

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4. Add a Photo

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The bread and butter of Instagram is, obviously, sharing photos. Before you explore much else, I suggest you test it out.

Click the blue camera button in the center of your Instagram navigation panel. By default, Instagram activates your device’s camera, so you may either choose to snap a picture then and there, or choose a picture already saved to your phone. If you choose the latter, click the double-square button on the lower-left of the screen.

If you choose a photo from your camera roll, keep in mind that Instagram sizes photos to perfect squares. Therefore, if you select a photo that was originally taken horizontally (landscape), you’ll have to crop some portions of the image — either that, or live with the default black border.

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5. Filters / Borders

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Once you’ve either taken or selected a photo, a set of tree icons appears beneath the image. These are the 17 famous Instagram filters which add different pre-determined layers to your photos, and give the effect that you’ve altered or professionally edited them. Many filters add “vintage” effects, which have certainly pleased many a hipster.

Scroll through the filters and experiment with the best one for that particular image. You’ll soon find that certain filters work well with specific types of photos, whether outdoor panoramas, personal portraits, odd perspectives, intense colors, etc.

Each filter also has its own associated border. For instance, the Earlybird filter adds rounded edges to your photo, and Kelvin adds a rough, sandpapery frame. You may, however, choose to forego borders altogether by tapping the square “frame” on the upper-left of the edit screen.

Check out these photos, which all take full advantage of Instagram filters:

1. Circle, Indonesia

Courtesy of @bogieeryawan

Click here to view this gallery.

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6. Tilt-Shift

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Another celebrated editing option on Instagram, tilt-shift allows you to selectively focus certain planes of the photo, almost as if you were using a special DSLR lens. Tilt-shift gives the appearance of an altered depth of field, which can make smartphone snaps look stunning when used wisely.

Experiment with the tilt-shift feature by tapping the button above the photo that looks like a water droplet. From there, choose either the horizontal bar or the circle. The bar adds a thin field of focus across your image, which you may tap and move up and down, or two-finger tap and swivel to rotate. Or move the circle tilt-shift across your photo for a more focused effect.

You’ll find that tilt-shift elevates many photos to a professional (and sometimes artistic) standard. But other times, tilt-shift can seem out of place. Use your best judgment and artistic know-how to determine the effect you’re looking for.

Here’s why Android users got excited:

• Instagram Adds Popular Tilt-Shift Feature to Android App

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7. Other Options

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Before saving your photo, test a few other edit options. Tap the sun icon on the lower-left of the edit screen to apply the Lux effect — essentially, an auto-enhance button that enriches the colors in your image.

Additionally, the curved arrow to the right of the frame option rotates your image, and the next camera icon flips your camera front-facing so you can take a picture of yourself.

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8. Share

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Once your photo is ready to go, click the green checkmark. This brings you to the social sharing screen.

If you wish, add a caption explaining what you’ve photographed, an anecdote, or really anything your social networks would enjoy. Feel free to add category hashtags and @mention people, especially if you plan to share via Twitter. The caption will be the text of the tweet, and the app will file hashtags and @mentions accordingly.

If you’ve enabled location services, you even have the option to tag where you took the photo.

Then, depending on what networks you’ve linked to Instagram, toggle the accounts to share across those platforms.

The way your photo appears when posted depends on the style of the social network to which you post. For instance, if you share to Twitter (see left), Instagram tweets a link to your photo, along with the text you choose as the caption. Instagram photos appear natively on Twitter.com, which means you don’t even have to click the link to view someone’s photo — you may simply expand the tweet to view directly. When sharing to Facebook, your Instagram photo will appear in the news feed with the attached caption.

You may also choose to retroactively share the Instagram photos you’ve already posted. Head to your profile, then select a photo. To share, click the icon on the lower-right of the screen — it has three dots. Choose the “Share post” option and select one of your networks. Or choose “copy URL” to share manually.

At this time, you may only share another user’s photo if A) you use iOS 5.0, and B) you tweet the photo. Android users do not have this feature. Follow the steps to enable this capability here.

Browse some great Instagram photos here:

• Facebook HQ on IPO Day, As Seen on Instagram [PICS]
• 21 Ridiculously Cute Dog and Cat Instagram Pics

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9. Follow Users

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Now you’re ready to find users to follow. Chances are many of your social media friends are already using Instagram, and on top of that, a bunch of celebrities are, too.

Head to your profile tab and select “Find Friends.” You may search for friends who have connected their Facebook and Twitter accounts to Instagram, or you may input your phone’s contact list to generate further connections. Or search by name, username or tag (e.g. “#skydiving”).

Finally, Instagram does a great job curating suggested users and trending photos. Head to the Popular page (see right), denoted by the star on your navigation panel, and peruse photos that strike your fancy.

Once you’ve followed some users, you’ll begin to see their photos appear in your news feed, accessed by tapping the icon that looks like a house on the left side of the navigation panel. Alongside user photos, you’ll see people who have liked or commented on the photo. Add your own two cents!

Learn more about interesting Instagramers to follow here:

• 25 Most-Followed Users on Instagram [PICS]
• 12 Extravagant Instagram Pics by the Rich and Famous

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10. Getting Around the Web Barrier

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As you’ve probably surmised by now, Instagram’s web presence is quite prohibitive. It relies on social integration for navigation, sharing and discovery, however clunky the process may be.

In its Help Center, Instagram admits, “While we’re still developing our web presence at instagram.com, we encourage you to check out third-party sites that have been created using the official Instagram API.”

It highlights sites like Webstagram, Flipboard and Prinstagram for viewing photos on the web and printing photos off the web, among others.

Many users wish they could access their Instagram news feeds on the web, similar to Facebook. It stands that we’ll likely see a bit more web integration now that Facebook owns Instagram, but for now, Facebook’s focus is primarily mobile. Instagram may have to wait. Until then, enjoy the app and get filtering!

In addition to Instgram’s suggested third-party apps, give these a go:

• Pinstagram! How Two Friends Merged Pinterest and Instagram in Two Days
• Pixlr Aims to Fill the Hole Between Photoshop and Instagram
• Snapstagram Wants to Print Your Instagram Photos [VIDEO]
• Browse Your Instagram Feed On Your iPad’s Retina Display With InstaPad Pro

More About: android, apps, Facebook, features, instagram, iOS, photography, Social Media

May 29, 2012

We’ve already heard Apple is working on an in-house app that will rid itself of Google’s mapping data. Now pictures of Apple’s 3D map app have popped up online, ahead of its expected launch this summer along with the company’s iOS 6 software update.

Tech site BGR has acquired some images — albeit blurry ones — that appear to show Apple’s new map app. The feature is expected to be unveiled at the Worldwide Developer’s Conference (WWDC) in June, along with iOS 6.

Moving away from Google Maps, which has been included on iOS devices since the launch of the original iPhone, Apple is expected to incorporate a 3D map view into its new app. Since the company purchased 3D-mapping company C3 Technologies last year, this would be a natural implementation of that technology. As BGR noted, the tech has already been incorporated into the beta version of the new iOS software.

SEE ALSO: Apple Announces WWDC 2012 Keynote

Building an in-house mapping app has been on the company’s radar for quite some time. In fact, it purchased mapping company Placebase in 2009. Besides the telltale acquisitions, Apple publicly said it was creating its own traffic database last year, and it used opted not to use Google map data in the iPhoto app for iPad released in March.

According to BGR, the iPhone version of Apple’s new maps app will include a “locate me” feature similar to Google’s Maps app for Android devices. To go in and out of 3D mode, the images show you have to peel back the right lower corner of Maps (like you would turn a page). There will also be an icon to switch it and out of 3D mode.

Would you use this map app? Is it better than Google Maps? Let us know in the comments.

Image via BGR

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BONUS: Big Announcements from Apple’s WWDC

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2003: iLife

At WWDC ’03, Apple announced its first bundled suite of creative and media management software, iLife. It included iMovie, iTunes, iDVD and iWeb.

Click here to view this gallery.

More About: apple, apps, Google, iOS, iOS 6, ipad, iphone, iphone apps, trending

May 29, 2012

If you like to remain informed and entertained while on-the-go, you’re no doubt familiar with the deluge of live radio broadcasts and on-demand podcasts accessible from your smartphone — the selection is awesome, but it can also be a bit intimidating. Now, the creators of Stitcher are looking to bring a bit of insight to the discovery process with a new service known as The Stitcher List. Here, users may browse 15 different categories to find weekly updates of trending shows, along with the most popular and the most shared broadcasts of the week. The Stitcher List is set to go live on the company’s website today, and the wheels are already in motion to integrate it with Stitcher’s multi-platform smartphone apps. So, if you’ve been meaning to find a reason to untangle those earbuds, consider this your sign.

Stitcher Radio debuts The Stitcher List, a new way to discover podcasts worth listening to originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 May 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 29, 2012

Scalado‘s latest 99 cent app for iOS only does one little thing, but it does it well. Its singular mission is to let you share an image from your Camera Roll to any web-connected display in front of you, without having to navigate through a more sophisticated file-sharing platform or use extra hardware on the receiving device. That recipient can be anything — a smart TV, tablet, PC, Mac, games console, whatever — so long as it has a browser pointed at the Photobeamer homepage. That page displays a QR code, which provides all the clever linkage you need: you simply load up the app on your mobile, pick the image you want to share, and then point the rear camera at the QR code to beam the image across via the web.

Having given it a quick test, we’d say it’s definitely up to regular domestic challenges where you just want to display a few photos rather than perhaps videos or presentation slides, and where there’s no need to print or store shared images. You can swipe left and right between different pictures in your gallery, and also choose whether you want those images to be fitted to the recipient display or resized to fill it. There’s a video after the break to help you decide if that’s worth a dollar, while the Photobeamer app itself waits patiently at the iTunes link below.

Continue reading Scalado Photobeamer for iOS brings rapid photo sharing to any web-connected display (video)

Scalado Photobeamer for iOS brings rapid photo sharing to any web-connected display (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 May 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Photobeamer (iTunes), Scalado  | Email this | Comments

May 29, 2012

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.

Imagine an iPhone cable that was only four-inches long, doubled as a tripod and could bend to your every whim? That’s the idea behind Twig, designed by former WIMM engineer Jason Hilbourne, who wanted something sturdier, smaller and more portable than Cupertino’s “limp noodle.” In partnership with an iOS accessory maker, the cable’s three sturdy prongs will transform into a dock, wrap around objects or create a free-standing tripod for your FaceTime needs. It needs $50,000 to turn from dismembered action-figure prototype to reality, with an $18 pledge enough to secure you one of the first to leave the factory. After the break we’ve got the pitch footage, which includes what happens when you start prototyping with your Speed Racer dolls.

Continue reading Insert Coin: Twig, the tiny iPhone cable that’s also a tripod (video)

Insert Coin: Twig, the tiny iPhone cable that’s also a tripod (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 May 2012 07:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 29, 2012

There are many options available if you want to control your appliances over WiFi, but how about an oven with its own SIM card and phone number? That’s exactly what AGA has done with its latest kitchen-oriented offering, the iTotal Control range cooker. Regardless of whether you’re cooking in one, or all three of its ovens, sending an SMS message to this smart appliance lets you control each one. It even texts you back to confirm whether your commands like “baking oven on” successfully initiate. The cooker naturally works over WiFi as well, giving you an on-screen emulation of its control panel on either your computer’s web browser or AGA’s iOS and Android apps. An external GSM remote access device — basically a router / modem — connects to the appliance to make it all happen, with cellular service provided by Orange. Ready to get cooking? The iTotal Control is set to sell for a hefty base-price of £10,090 (~$15,826), and you’ll also be tied to a one-year contract with Orange for £5.95 (~$9) a month to enable the texting functionality. Simmer over the details at the source link below.

Continue reading AGA’s iTotal Control range cooker packs GSM connectivity, lets you pre-heat via SMS or web

AGA’s iTotal Control range cooker packs GSM connectivity, lets you pre-heat via SMS or web originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 May 2012 01:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 29, 2012

There are many options available if you want to control your appliances over WiFi, but how about an oven with its own SIM card and phone number? That’s exactly what AGA has done with its latest kitchen-oriented offering, the iTotal Control range cooker. Regardless of whether you’re cooking in one, or all three of its ovens, sending an SMS message to this smart appliance lets you control each one. It even texts you back to confirm whether your commands like “baking oven on” successfully initiate. The cooker naturally works over WiFi as well, giving you an on-screen emulation of its control panel on either your computer’s web browser or AGA’s iOS and Android apps. An external GSM remote access device — basically a router / modem — connects to the appliance to make it all happen, with cellular service provided by Orange. Ready to get cooking? The iTotal Control is set to sell for a hefty base-price of £10,090 (~$15,826), and you’ll also be tied to a one-year contract with Orange for £5.95 (~$9) a month to enable the texting functionality. Simmer over the details at the source link below.

Continue reading AGA’s iTotal Control range cooker packs GSM connectivity, lets you pre-heat via SMS or web

AGA’s iTotal Control range cooker packs GSM connectivity, lets you pre-heat via SMS or web originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 May 2012 01:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 28, 2012

Taking full advantage of the Lumix FX90‘s WiFi capability, Panasonic has unveiled its companion apps for both iOS and Android devices. Throwing in shutter functionality and zoom control alongside a larger viewfinder, it’s pretty much a glossy dumb remote; there’s no further features to make the most of your precious smartphone, although the camera itself is already capable of linking up your camera shots with your major social network of choice. The app requires a firmware update on the camera, but it should ensure all those self-portraits really pop in the future. Download links for the wannabe self-obsessed are waiting below.

Panasonic Lumix FX90 gets remote app for iOS and Android originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 14:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  App Store (iTunes), Google Play  | Email this | Comments

May 28, 2012

We’re very used to Apple prototypes showing up on eBay. It’s not often that we see unreleased iPads get the auction treatment, however, which makes a new listing that much more interesting. A 16GB WiFi version of the original iPad has popped up sporting a second dock connector on its side, a feature that we’d previously only spotted in Apple design patents. The advantage, of course, would be to keep the iPad powered and synced while it’s playing a favorite movie in landscape mode. While we don’t know how one aaps69 managed to get hands on the tablet, there’s some clear signs that the seller didn’t just carve an extra hole in the aluminum for kicks: the slate is running the familiar SwitchBoard tool that Apple uses for in-house diagnostics, and there’s a raft of old and incomplete part details that suggest this particular iPad was never meant for store shelves. We’ll likely never know why Apple left us in a land of solo dock connectors, but we’d take a peek at the source link before it’s gone, as more recent Apple prototypes at auction tend to return to the source quickly.

OG iPad prototype with dual dock connectors hits eBay, teases us with convenience we never had originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 12:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 28, 2012

973,086 iOS devices were jailbroken in a single weekend thanks to Absinthe 2.0, which was released on Friday. Chronic-Dev, one half of the Jailbreak Dream Team tweeted the announcement yesterday, adding that 211,401 of those freed were third-generation iPads. If you want to loosen your own Apple-branded handheld from the clutches of Cupertino’s control, then the warranty-worrying software is still available — with the promise that it’s so easy, your grandma could do it.

Absinthe 2.0 used to jailbreak nearly one million iOS devices in a single weekend originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 07:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 27, 2012

Videoconferencing apps like FaceTime give you direct and live interaction with another person — and conventional phone calls let you do the same thing — but that’s hard to do while texting. Here’s Feel Me, an iOS app concept that shows you in real time what your texting partner is doing.

Created by Marco Triverio as his final project at the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design, it adds a subtle dimension to texting, where you can see a small red dot that shows where on the screen the other person’s finger is currently pressing.

When your finger and the other person’s finger touch your screens in the same place, there’s a vibration or a sound. It’s an emotional connection — almost like the two are physically touching.

So far, the idea is in the concept stage, and Travario invites all those interested to visit his site and leave an email address or follow him on Twitter @FeelMeApp if you’d like to be notified when the app becomes available. Here’s his full demo on Vimeo.

Let us know if you think there’s something romantic and interesting about this. What other uses could be devised for such technology?

More About: apps, design concept, iOS, mashable video, trending

May 26, 2012

Playing mobile games with your friends just got a little more vocal. Sing Something is like a combination of Draw Something and Karaoke — it’s a social singing game that has you sing a song from a selected category, and your friends try to guess what tune you were trying to belt out.

While the game wasn’t made by Draw Something creator OMGPOP (which was recently purchased by Zynga), it shares quite a bit with that game in terms of play.

“We love singing in the shower and always wanted to create a music based game, we just couldn´t find the right recipe,” Vlado Hrincar, one of the developers for the app told Mashable. “Then we came across the Draw Something concept and that was it. Enlightened by the idea, we put our next-big-thing gaming project on hold and started working on Sing Something.”

To get started with Sing Something, select a friend to play with and a song to sing from a set of three options. If you know the song, you can go ahead and belt it out to send your musical stylings to your friend. The game doesn’t provide you lyrics for the tune while you’re actually singing, but it does give you links to a few YouTube videos where you can get an idea for what the song is supposed to sound like.

When you receive a song, you get to guess what hit your friend likely butchered by selecting letters from a virtual keyboard to fill in the blanks for the song and artist, hangman-style. Sing Something currently has a library of over 1000 songs based on the personal likes of the programmers as well as what tunes are popular on YouTube.

“Currently we have four categories (80s, 90s, 2000s, 2010-2012), covering the overall history of the modern music,” Hrincar tells us. “We are planning to add at least 10 more categories, focusing on specific genres or artists — Madonna, Jackson, and yes, Justin Bieber too and Rebecca Black if we’re really evil.”

Much like with Draw Something, you and your friend earn coins when you’re able to guess a tune correctly. You can also use bombs to get different song choices or eliminate some of the available letters when you’re guessing to make things easier.

The game started out as a weekend project and quickly spiraled into a full-blown app. While currently only available for iOS, there are plans in the works to make the app available for Android as well as add new categories.

While definitely a fun concept, Sing Something will certainly be more awkward to pull out on the train or at the lunch table than its drawing counterpart.

Do you think the singing game will catch on like Draw Something? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

More About: App, Draw something, game, iOS, iphone, Sing Something

May 25, 2012

To hell with Instagram. Seriously. It’s not that we don’t understand the appeal of the photo filter standard bearer, it’s just that it lacks a cleverness and visceral quality that InstaCRT has in spades. See, rather than simply recreate retro effect with some software trickery, InstaCRT actually uses the aging titular tech to achieve its goals. The concept, while clever, is actually pretty simple: you take a photo on your iPhone using the InstaCRT app, it’s then uploaded to the developer where all the magic happens. Your image is displayed on a tiny 1-inch CRT (harvested from an old-school VHS camcorder) in the company’s office, a picture of your photo is then taken with a fancy DSLR, and the resulting image is sent back to you. The results are monochrome, loaded with scanlines and just slightly distorted — offering a sense of physicality that other photo filter apps just can’t match. However, as clever as the concept is, it’s equally innefficient and, as more people start using the app, the wait between snapping a pic and getting the finished product back, gets longer and longer. (We had to wait almost four minutes for the image above.) Still, we can’t help but fall in love with InstaCRT… at least until the next photo filter app hits the market. Don’t miss the video after the break, and hit up the source link to buy it now for $1.99 and see how fast we can crash the developer’s servers.

Continue reading InstaCRT puts all other photo filter apps to shame (video)

InstaCRT puts all other photo filter apps to shame (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 May 2012 15:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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