The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/feedlogo.gifThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comen-usCopyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Apple bans protective screen films from Apple Storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/17/apple-bans-protective-screen-films-from-apple-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/17/apple-bans-protective-screen-films-from-apple-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/17/apple-bans-protective-screen-films-from-apple-store/#commentsFiled under: Accessories

iLounge is reporting that Apple has banned protective screen films from its retail and online stores. Several film-screen manufacturers have confirmed that Apple's ban will take effect in May. Multiple vendors told iLounge that Apple has said that it will remove both film-only solutions from its stores, as well as any case or other accessory that includes film protection as part of its package, such as cases that include film screen protectors.

The ban will reportedly impact all forms of screen film, including completely clear film, anti-glare film, and mirrored film, regardless of whether the purpose of the film is protective, decorative, or both. The ban isn't limited to iPhone films either. Apple will also prevent sales of film for iPods, iPads, and Mac computers.

Apple has not specifically told film vendors why they won't allow sales of films from here on out, but many speculate that Apple believes the sales of films in its stores imply that Apple's device's screens scratch easily. The first iPod nano was infamous for screen scratching and Apple eventually settled a class action lawsuit over the device's screen in 2009. Though some people have reported their iPhone's screen scratching, many reviewers were impressed with the durability of the original iPhone's screen. PC World stated, "We were very impressed that even this deliberate attempt to scratch the screen completely failed" in regards to their first hands on tests back in 2007. With the introduction of the iPhone 3GS Apple introduced an oleophobic screen coating to help keep finger oils from smudging the display.

Apple bans protective screen films from Apple Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple bans protective screen films from Apple Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>apple storeAppleStoreiphoneiphone accessoriesiphone accessoryIphoneAccessoriesIphoneAccessoryscreen protectorScreenProtectorMichael GrothausWed, 17 Mar 2010 15:00:00 ESTGDC 2010: The Parrot AR.Drone's augmented realityhttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/15/gdc-2010-the-parrot-ar-drones-augmented-reality/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/15/gdc-2010-the-parrot-ar-drones-augmented-reality/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/15/gdc-2010-the-parrot-ar-drones-augmented-reality/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Gaming, Hardware, Peripherals, Software, Developer, iPhone

We actually got to play with the iPhone-controlled Parrot AR.Drone quadricopter back at Macworld a little while ago, but we didn't get a chance to see the "AR" part of it (augmented reality, of course) until GDC last week. Parrot pulled out the AR targets for us, and while the games they had running were very rudimentary, we did get a good feel for the action.

The verdict? It works, but it's not that fun yet. Sure enough, when the Drone's cameras picked up the weird pattern of black and white dots and/or the striped tube that the company attached to the top of a second Drone, the iPhone displayed a lock-on target or the weird robot that you can see above (that's the iPhone's video running out to a television, something that's technically a no-no under the current SDK). And when the drone moved around it, the display faithfully showed the 3D model -- it didn't look actually real, but you could fly around and interact with it. And after you blasted it with enough missiles, it exploded.

Continue reading GDC 2010: The Parrot AR.Drone's augmented reality

GDC 2010: The Parrot AR.Drone's augmented reality originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

GDC 2010: The Parrot AR.Drone's augmented reality originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>ar-dronedisplayedgaminggdc-2010gdc2010iphonelock-onparrotparrot-ar-dronerobotsoftwaretuawMike SchrammMon, 15 Mar 2010 13:15:00 ESTSausage stylus comes to the UShttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/05/sausage-stylus-comes-to-the-us/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/05/sausage-stylus-comes-to-the-us/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/05/sausage-stylus-comes-to-the-us/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, iPhone

It was a little less than a month ago when news broke of a South Korean company called CJ Corporation noticing a sharp increase in sales of their frozen sausages. CJ did some digging around and it turned out the good people of South Korea were using their sausages as iPhone styluses. Someone who was sick of taking their gloves off in the cold Korean winter to use their iPhone found out that the sausages were electrostatically compatible with the iPhone's touch screen, and nearly as effective as using a human finger.

South Korea is one of the most technologically advanced countries on the planet. Anything they're doing, we want. And now we can have it. CaseCrown, a company that sells iPhone cases, has acquired a large shipment of the Korean sausages. They are on sale for a limited time for only 99 cents (down from $3.99). So if you don't mind carrying a mixture of dubious quality meat around in your pocket and live in a cold area, the iPhone Sausage Stylus may be just right for you! The sausage stylus is compatible with all iPhone and iPod touch models.

Sausage stylus comes to the US originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sausage stylus comes to the US originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>iphonekoreasausagestylusMichael GrothausFri, 05 Mar 2010 10:00:00 ESTThe most awesome iPhone stand ever made out of cutleryhttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/04/the-most-awesome-iphone-stand-ever-made-out-of-cutlery/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/04/the-most-awesome-iphone-stand-ever-made-out-of-cutlery/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/04/the-most-awesome-iphone-stand-ever-made-out-of-cutlery/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Humor, iPhone, iPod touch

That headline is probably a bit of an overstatement, since this is probably the only iPhone stand made out of cutlery. ForkedUpArt of North Salt Lake, Utah, is actually selling two different stands. ForkHead, who you see standing at attention at your right, and SpoonHead, ForkHead's smarter brother.

Sold through our favorite iPhone accessory store, Etsy.com, the ForkedUpArt iPhone stands can be customized if you want, and according to the artist, "I'm making these guys as fast as I can."

How much will one of these unique items put you back? About US$20, plus shipping. That's less expensive than some of the fancy-schmancy stands you can buy through more traditional sources, and let's face it -- these stands are really cool.

[via iPhone Savior]

The most awesome iPhone stand ever made out of cutlery originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The most awesome iPhone stand ever made out of cutlery originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>accessoriescutleryetsyforkheadiphoneipod touchIpodTouchspoonheadstandSteven SandeThu, 04 Mar 2010 09:00:00 ESTRedeye mini puts ThinkFlood's IR transmitter in a smaller, cheaper packagehttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/03/redeye-mini-puts-thinkfloods-ir-transmitter-in-a-smaller-cheap/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/03/redeye-mini-puts-thinkfloods-ir-transmitter-in-a-smaller-cheap/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/03/redeye-mini-puts-thinkfloods-ir-transmitter-in-a-smaller-cheap/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Hardware, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

ThinkFlood released the Redeye in December of last year, which is a little unit that hooks up to your iPhone and, working with a separate app, turns Apple's handheld into universal IR remote. Our own Brett Terpstra liked the device, but said the unit was a little costly and could probably use a few tweaks. ThinkFlood has apparently made those tweaks, however, as they've now announced the Redeye mini, a smaller (and cheaper) form of the IR device. This one doesn't use the dock connector at all -- it's a tiny little unit that just plugs into your headphone port, and then can control any IR remote device with a free app.

The price is only US$49, much cheaper than the earlier device ($188). If you've been looking for a cheap and easy-to-use IR hookup for your iPhone, the Redeye mini might be just what you're waiting for. The press release does mention that the device requires you to run OS 3.2 on your iPhone, but given that the only date listed for sales so far is "Spring," ThinkFlood likely won't release until the new version is out anyway. But it'll be something to keep an eye on for sure.

Redeye mini puts ThinkFlood's IR transmitter in a smaller, cheaper package originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Redeye mini puts ThinkFlood's IR transmitter in a smaller, cheaper package originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>chargercheaperiphonemoneyos-3.2redeye-miniremoteretailspringthinkfloodversionMike SchrammWed, 03 Mar 2010 07:00:00 ESTThe iMaxi: someone had to do ithttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/02/the-imaxi-someone-had-to-do-it/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/02/the-imaxi-someone-had-to-do-it/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/02/the-imaxi-someone-had-to-do-it/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Humor

What can I say? Who didn't see this one coming? Hip Handmaidens, a company that sells handcrafted wares "born out of a bizarre group of talented housewives," has created the iMaxi -- the only Apple iPad case with protective wings. You know, I could describe the case to you, but I think Hip Handmaidens have hit all the puns and innuendo possible:

"With its durable vinyl outer layer and plush, quilted-cotton sleeve, the iMaxi helps keep your iPad clean and dry. Plus, the iMaxi's Velcro-latched, advanced wing design wraps snugly around your device, so your iPad always stays where it should. Best of all, it shields it from all those unsightly and embarrassing data leaks that would make any motherboard worry!"

Want to hear something even more disturbing? They offer the option of a special blood red threading for that "lived in" look.

The perfect Mother's Day gift anyone? I didn't think so.

UPDATE: Some of the commenters mistakenly believe the "blood red" iMaxi was Photoshopped by TUAW as some childish joke. It was not. Please see here and here.

The iMaxi: someone had to do it originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The iMaxi: someone had to do it originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>caseimaxiipadipad caseIpadCasesleeveMichael GrothausTue, 02 Mar 2010 09:00:00 ESTRoadie-approved iPhone case provides ultimate protectionhttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/01/roadie-approved-iphone-case-provides-ultimate-protection/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/01/roadie-approved-iphone-case-provides-ultimate-protection/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/01/roadie-approved-iphone-case-provides-ultimate-protection/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, iPhone

So, you don't think that the OtterBox 2600 PDA case will provide enough protection for your iPhone? What you need is something like those incredible cases that roadies use to protect instruments and gear.

TUAW reader Stuart tipped us off to such a case, designed and built by a friend who creates cases for bands. While this isn't the most practical iPhone case, it certainly provides a huge amount of protection. It'll also show a certain amount of panache to carry one of these Brady Cases around, flipping open the latches whenever you need an iPhone fix.

If you're interested in ordering a similar case for your iPhone, you can use this contact form to see if Brady Cases will build a custom one for you. Note that this case is not currently listed on the company's web site as a product offered for sale.

Roadie-approved iPhone case provides ultimate protection originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Roadie-approved iPhone case provides ultimate protection originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>guitar caseGuitarCasehumoriphoneiphone caseIphoneCaseroadieSteven SandeMon, 01 Mar 2010 15:00:00 ESTiPod accessory turns up in fine art museumhttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/27/ipod-accessory-turns-up-in-fine-art-museum/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/27/ipod-accessory-turns-up-in-fine-art-museum/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/27/ipod-accessory-turns-up-in-fine-art-museum/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, ipod shuffle

I'm in Chicago right now visiting some of my friends. Yesterday we decided to go to my old workplace, the Art Institute of Chicago, which has one of the best collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art in the world. Imagine my surprise when I found myself staring at a first-generation iPod shuffle accessory.

Some of you may remember this accessory from back in the day when Apple made the first shuffle that looked like a white stick of Wrigley's gum. The accessory/piece of art is called iBelieve and is basically a T-shaped cap that turns your first-gen iPod shuffle into a Cross you can wear around you neck.

The plaque next to the artwork reads:

Scott Wilson
American, born 1969

iBelieve, 2006
iPod shuffle, plastic, and fabric
(including replacement cap)

Before relocating to Chicago in 2006 to set up his own studio, industrial designer Scott Wilson was a lead designer at Nike and IDEO. His innovative projects run the gamut from furniture to household products to high-performance sports equipment. iBelieve is part of a series of self-produced works and was inspired by the current popularity of the iPod. The conceptual design consists of a replacement cap, or what Wilson refers to as a "divine accessory," for the iPod shuffle. When snapped onto a shuffle, the attachment creates a cruciform shape, which enables consumers to profess their devotion to this omnipresent electronic device. Conceived as a tongue-in-cheek commentary on consumer culture, Wilson took advantage of viral marketing techniques and posted the design to a blog, which received 250,000 hits in one day as a result.

I've always known about the various online Apple museums, but who could have imagined that a cap for one of Apple's worst-designed iPods would some day be hanging in the same museum with the likes of Van Gogh's Bedroom in Arles and Edward Hopper's Nighthawks?

iPod accessory turns up in fine art museum originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPod accessory turns up in fine art museum originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Art Institute of ChicagoArtInstituteOfChicagoibelieveiPod shuffleIpodShufflemuseumscott wilsonScottWilsonMichael GrothausSat, 27 Feb 2010 17:00:00 ESTApple files for 'Magic Trackpad' trademarkhttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/26/apple-files-for-magic-trackpad-trademark/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/26/apple-files-for-magic-trackpad-trademark/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/26/apple-files-for-magic-trackpad-trademark/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Hardware, Peripherals, MacBook, iPad

Apple sure likes that word 'magic' lately. We already have the Magic Mouse, and soon we may have a 'Magic Trackpad'. That's the word from the Patently Apple website that keeps an eye on these sometimes mysterious Apple filings. Apple wants to have the rights to 'Magic Trackpad', and wants to make sure no one else can can get their sweaty little hands on it.

No one knows exactly what this thing is for, or where it might be used. It could be for the new iPad, or something for the upcoming laptop refresh. It could well be an extension of the work Apple has done on multitouch, or something completely different. Apple has filed under International Classification 009 which includes touchscreen and trackpad tech, so it's possible that they're just covering their bases on their current products, and nailing down a marketing name in advance.

Frankly, we're not quite sure what else Apple's trackpads can do to be any more magic -- you've already got the gestures, the multitouch, and vast application support. What's next -- a genie that appears when you swipe it just right?

Apple files for 'Magic Trackpad' trademark originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple files for 'Magic Trackpad' trademark originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appleinternational-classification-009magic-trackpadmultitouchnamepatentpatentntouchscreentrackpadtrademarkworkMel MartinFri, 26 Feb 2010 20:00:00 ESTHow to turn an 8-track into a speaker dockhttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/24/how-to-turn-an-8-track-into-a-speaker-dock/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/24/how-to-turn-an-8-track-into-a-speaker-dock/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/24/how-to-turn-an-8-track-into-a-speaker-dock/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Humor, iPod Family, Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, Music

I'm a fan of both silly iPod docks and re-purposing old tech gear, so this how-to at Unpluggd hit me in just the right spot. It's really more of a hack than a how-to -- the guy fixed his 8-track player just by replacing a corroded belt, and then used a cassette adapter to connect the 8-track to his iPod's audio output. But it does sound like a fun Saturday project, taking apart an old player, and the retro design of the thing is probably worth keeping around anyway.

The sound quality, as he says, is "interesting," too. But there are probably benefits -- disco just doesn't sound the same through a crystal clear set of speakers playing a digital file as it does going through the dusty old 8-track wires. The funkiness works, in this case.

[Via Cult of Mac]

How to turn an 8-track into a speaker dock originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

How to turn an 8-track into a speaker dock originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>audiobenefitsdiscodockeight-trackfunkhackipodmusicoutputplayerMike SchrammWed, 24 Feb 2010 08:00:00 ESTMystery key on iPad keyboard = Dashboard?http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/23/mystery-key-on-ipad-keyboard-dashboard/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/23/mystery-key-on-ipad-keyboard-dashboard/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/23/mystery-key-on-ipad-keyboard-dashboard/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Rumors, iPad

One of the accessories that will be available for the iPad at its launch is a dock with a full-sized keyboard. On the top row of the keyboard, where the Escape, F1 - F12, and Eject keys are on a standard Mac keyboard, are 14 keys geared toward the iPad's interface. In place of Escape there's a dedicated Home key, then a Search key, keys for increasing and decreasing screen brightness, a key to activate the photo portrait screensaver-like function, a key to invoke the iPad's on-screen keyboard, a blank key, three keys for controlling media playback, and -- hey, wait a minute. A blank key?

MacRumors forum member macduke noticed this completely blank and apparently functionless key, and 9to5Mac picked up on his speculation concerning the mystery. 9to5Mac noted that it's "...silly, even for Apple" to have a key on the keyboard that does nothing and goes nowhere, and they theorize it could have something to do with a Dashboard-like interface on the iPad. Notably, Apple-built applications like Stocks, Weather, Voice Memos, Clock, and Calculator were all absent from the iPads people played around with following its unveiling, which has led to a lot of speculation that such simple, small apps could be bundled into a Dashboard layer on the iPad. If that's so, this mystery key could easily have a Dashboard icon on it when it finally does ship.

It's worth mentioning that the F5 and F6 keys on Apple's aluminum keyboards also currently have no dedicated functions -- those keys are used on the MacBook line to increase and decrease key backlighting -- but the iPad keyboard dock is also missing a function key, making it unlikely that the top row of keys will be usable for anything other than the functions indicated by their on-key icons. Although it's conceivable Apple left this key blank in order to allow users to define their own shortcut for the key, it seems far more likely that Apple is working on some special functionality for that key which it wasn't ready to show off in January. Given the absence of several of Apple's own apps from the iPad, Dashboard seems like a very good fit.

[Via 9to5Mac]

Mystery key on iPad keyboard = Dashboard? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mystery key on iPad keyboard = Dashboard? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>acceDashboardiPadkeyboardrumorChris RawsonTue, 23 Feb 2010 12:00:00 ESTTUAW review and giveaway -- BookArc from Twelve Southhttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/22/tuaw-review-and-giveaway-bookarc-from-twelve-south/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/22/tuaw-review-and-giveaway-bookarc-from-twelve-south/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/22/tuaw-review-and-giveaway-bookarc-from-twelve-south/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Macbook Pro, MacBook, MacBook Air

It's no surprise that TUAW bloggers like the products from Twelve South. They're made only for Macs, they have excellent quality and the company always sends us items to give away to our readers. We've previously had giveaways for the BackPack, BassJump, and now we're giving away a stylish BookArc.

The US$49.00 BookArc takes advantage of the ability of Apple's MacBooks (Air and Pro included) to work as a desktop machine when the screen is closed and the computer is connected to an external mouse, keyboard, and monitor. You could just lay your MacBook on the desktop, but then it takes up valuable real estate. How about if you could just position your laptop vertically so it takes up a minimum amount of your desktop? That's what the BookArc is all about.

Like the other products from Twelve South, the BookArc is attractively packaged, so it makes a wonderful gift for your favorite MacBook owner ... or yourself. After opening the box, you see the aluminum BookArc with one silicone insert installed, and deeper inside the box are two more inserts. These inserts grip and cushion your MacBook, so you'll want to make sure you have the correct one installed. Not to worry -- they're easy to install and remove. There's not too much more to say in terms of a review, other than the BookArc looks great and it does its job well.

If you're not familiar with how to use your MacBook with the display closed, TwelveSouth thoughtfully provides a link to an Apple Knowledge Base page that has instructions.

Now, it's time for a TUAW reader to win a BookArc. Here are the details:

Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older.
To enter, leave a comment telling us what kind of MacBook you're going to use with the BookArc.
The comment must be left before Wednesday, February 24, 2010, 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time.
You may enter only once.
One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
Prize: One Twelve South BookArc desktop stand for MacBook ($49 value)
Click Here for complete Official Rules.

Good luck! Check out the gallery below for some shots of the BookArc you may soon be using.

Gallery: Twelve South Bookarc

Thank you. No, thank YOU!

Silicone inserts

Holding my MacBook Air

Side view

Box Shot

TUAW review and giveaway -- BookArc from Twelve South originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW review and giveaway -- BookArc from Twelve South originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bookarcclamshellgiveawaymacbookmacbook airmacbook proMacbookAirMacbookProtwelvesouthSteven SandeMon, 22 Feb 2010 08:00:00 ESTWin a limited edition set of Beatles MusicSkins from TUAWhttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/19/win-a-limited-edition-set-of-beatles-musicskins-from-tuaw/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/19/win-a-limited-edition-set-of-beatles-musicskins-from-tuaw/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/19/win-a-limited-edition-set-of-beatles-musicskins-from-tuaw/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, iPod Family, iPhone

Although you still can't get your Beatles fix through the iTunes Store, Apple Corps has made a license agreement with MusicSkins, the maker of music-related vinyl skin products for electronic devices. As a result, you can now purchase Beatles personal device skins featuring the Beatles logo and cover art from "Abbey Road," "Yellow Submarine," "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," "Rubber Soul," "Let It Be," "With the Beatles," and "Hard Day's Night."

We have something completely different we'd like to give away to one lucky TUAW reader -- a limited edition (one of only 250) Beatles Album Jacket set with MusicSkins for the iPhone (2G, 3G, 3GS), iPod touch (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation), iPod nano (5th Generation), and iPod Classic (80GB, 160GB). This features the full set of album cover art from the Beatles, and there are two MusicSkins for each of the iPod / iPhone types noted. If you don't have all of the devices, you can give some away to your friends as gifts!

To enter this special giveaway, just leave a comment below with the name of your favorite Beatle (and no, Pete Best, Stu Sutcliffe, and Brian Epstein don't count). Here are the details of the giveaway:

Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older.
To enter, leave a comment with the name of your favorite Beatle -- John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, or Ringo Starr
The comment must be left before Wednesday, February 24, 2010, 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time.
You may enter only once.
One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
Prize: One Limited Edition set of MusicSkins featuring The Beatles (Value: US$120.00)
Click Here for complete Official Rules.

Good luck!

Win a limited edition set of Beatles MusicSkins from TUAW originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Win a limited edition set of Beatles MusicSkins from TUAW originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>beatlesgiveawayiphoneipodipod nanoipod touchIpodNanoIpodTouchlimited editionLimitedEditionmusicskinsThe BeatlesTheBeatlesSteven SandeFri, 19 Feb 2010 19:30:00 ESTPatent application hints at future of Magic Mousehttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/18/patent-application-hints-at-future-of-magic-mouse/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/18/patent-application-hints-at-future-of-magic-mouse/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/18/patent-application-hints-at-future-of-magic-mouse/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Hardware

The US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application that hints at the future of Apple's Magic Mouse. It describes three new sensors and a triple-axis gyroscope to detect the roll, pitch, and yaw of the mouse. This means that a user could tilt the mouse from side to side to produce a horizontal scroll, a vertical scroll or to tilt a graphic. Additionally, the mouse described in the patent has a convex underside to make all that tilting easier.

You can see the full application and even more images here. Of course, Apple patents many technologies that never see production.

The Magic Mouse became the first multi-touch mouse when it was released last year, replacing the Mighty Mouse and its temperamental scroll wheel. We'll have to wait and see if this even more magical mouse gets produced.

[Via MacDailyNews]

Patent application hints at future of Magic Mouse originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Patent application hints at future of Magic Mouse originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>magic mouseMagicMousemighty mouseMightyMousepatenttrademarksDave CaoloThu, 18 Feb 2010 14:00:00 ESTSavant: iPad to "Redefine home automation"http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/16/savant-ipad-to-redefine-home-automation/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/16/savant-ipad-to-redefine-home-automation/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/16/savant-ipad-to-redefine-home-automation/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Hardware, Software, iPad

Automating one's home with a Mac isn't new. Indigo has been around for a while, as has XTension. Heck, you can even feed your dog remotely. The folks at Savant offer a way to control your home or office's entertainment system, climate, security cameras, lighting and more with an iPhone or iPod touch. To say that they're excited about the iPad would be an understatement.

In an interview with Electronic House, Savant president Jim Carroll called the device's release a "...watershed moment." He also confirmed that his company is working on an iPad app, including some "pretty cool" plans for the device's large screen.

For now, home automation can be expensive, but Carroll believes that the iPad will change that. With a device that starts at US$499 (and should only get cheaper) and runs App Store apps, more and more people will be able to take advantage of this technology. Of course, that doesn't mean your home will be as cool as Daniel Graystone's overnight, but it's progress.

At the very least, imagine a beefed-up version of Apple's Remote app that went beyond Apple TV and iTunes sharing. We're living in the future!

Savant: iPad to "Redefine home automation" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Savant: iPad to "Redefine home automation" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>accessoriesautomationhardwarehome automationHomeAutomationIndigoipadiphoneipod touchIpodTouchremote controlRemoteControlsavantsoftwareX10XTensionDave CaoloTue, 16 Feb 2010 14:00:00 ESTMacworld 2010: MyFrogz cases, designed by an iPhone apphttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/15/macworld-2010-myfrogz-cases-designed-by-an-iphone-app/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/15/macworld-2010-myfrogz-cases-designed-by-an-iphone-app/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/15/macworld-2010-myfrogz-cases-designed-by-an-iphone-app/#commentsFiled under: Macworld, Accessories, iPhone, iPod touch

There were a lot of case vendors and manufacturers at Macworld, and we didn't have time to run around and talk to all of them (not to mention that most of them aren't all that interesting anyway). But we did make a stop by the iFrogz booth, because we'd heard about something interesting they're doing with their customizable MyFrogz iPhone cases. Theirs is the first case that you can completely customize with an actual iPhone app. To start, you go into an AT&T store (the deal is an exclusive there, but only for a little while longer), and buy a card with a code on it for US$39.99, which comes with just a plain clear case. With that code, you can then go onto the MyFrogz iPhone app, and design your own case in terms of top and bottom colors out of 100,000 combinations. Finally, you enter your information into the app, along with the code from the store, and iFrogz will send you your customized case.

Obviously, the process isn't exactly instant (and to be honest, the case isn't anything special). But the idea is very interesting -- they're using an iPhone app to conduct business that might be done more traditionally elsewhere. When the iPhone was first introduced, we heard all about Starbucks using it to order coffee, or Barnes and Noble using software to let you order books in-store. But we haven't seen much of that innovation at all, so it was surprising to find it (even in an imperfect form) in the iFrogz booth.

Macworld 2010: MyFrogz cases, designed by an iPhone app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Macworld 2010: MyFrogz cases, designed by an iPhone app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appapp storeAppStorebusinesscasecustomizationinnovationmyfrogzMike SchrammMon, 15 Feb 2010 20:00:00 ESTMacworld 2010: Armpocket cases are a family affairhttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/15/macworld-2010-armpocket-cases-are-a-family-affair/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/15/macworld-2010-armpocket-cases-are-a-family-affair/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/15/macworld-2010-armpocket-cases-are-a-family-affair/#commentsFiled under: Macworld, Accessories, Odds and ends, iPhone

We stopped by the Armpocket booth at Macworld last week, and while we expected to find just another accessory sales pitch, we found something surprising: a family. The product was actually designed by a couple named Jyette Nielsen and Mark Morgan, and as Mark explained the cases to us (which are made from high-quality, renewable materials like recycled bottle plastic and natural bamboo), we could see that this was a product with real people behind it. He's a retired military guy, and he and his "significant other" ("She's too smart to marry me," he joked) simply had a problem and came up with a solution: they're both runners, and they needed a sweat-proof, secure case to keep their iPods and cell phones in. Armpocket was the case they came up with.

Morgan told me he didn't have any significant manufacturing experience -- the couple just went around to various trade shows and chose materials and designs based on what worked for them, and now they go around and sell their cases in retail and at the trade shows (their son was in attendance at Macworld also, selling and demoing the cases). And the Armpockets are impressive -- while they're a little bigger than the standard case, the material is all moisture resistant, the padding grips your arm well while holding your phone securely in place, and there's even something called a "flexi-lock" audio port for holding the headphone cord. The cases are US$22.95 for the regular iPod versions, up to $32.95 for more extensive models.

Obviously, we didn't get to go running around the Macworld floor, so in terms of testing, I can't recommend this case over any other sturdy iPhone armbands out there. Still, it was nice to find some real people behind these often faceless accessory vendors.

Macworld 2010: Armpocket cases are a family affair originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Macworld 2010: Armpocket cases are a family affair originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>accessoriesarmpocketcasesecoiphoneipodjyette-nielsenmacworld2010mark-morganmaterialsMike SchrammMon, 15 Feb 2010 19:00:00 ESTMacworld 2010: Fastmac's USB-enabled wall outlethttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/15/macworld-2010-fastmacs-usb-enabled-wall-outlet/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/15/macworld-2010-fastmacs-usb-enabled-wall-outlet/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/15/macworld-2010-fastmacs-usb-enabled-wall-outlet/#commentsFiled under: Macworld, Accessories, Peripherals

I didn't go to Macworld in San Francisco -- something about having the world's largest ocean between me and there made the trip's cost prohibitive -- but I've been keeping tabs on the product announcements anyway. There's been quite a few things that have piqued my interest, but there hasn't been anything that I've seen that made me sit up straight in my chair and cry, "I want that. I want that NOW!"

Until now, that is. Fastmac has developed the U-Socket, a power outlet you can buy to replace the existing power outlets in your home. That doesn't sound particularly noteworthy until you note its one very enticing feature: two USB ports built right into the sides of the outlet.

I don't know about you, but I have a ton of devices that charge via USB: an iPhone, several iPods, PS3 controllers, and more. Sure, all of them will charge through one of my MacBook Pro's three USB ports, but if I'm using those for something else, it's into the wall with them, and that requires a USB power brick of some sort to take up room on my already very crowded power strips. It would be far easier to just plug them straight into the wall. With Fastmac's U-Socket, you can do exactly that, and for less than the cost of Apple's $29 USB charger -- currently the U-Socket is available for pre-order for $19.95 and is expected to start shipping in the first quarter of this year.

You will have to replace your existing power outlets yourself, but that's honestly not all that difficult to do. Personally, if I was a homeowner instead of a renter, I wouldn't hesitate to replace every outlet in my house with one of these. I'm not the only one: according to Ars Technica, Fastmac is looking at selling the U-Socket to hotels, conference centers, airports... basically anywhere business road warriors or travelling geeks with lots of gear they need to charge on the go, so even if you don't get one for your own home, you might be seeing a lot of U-Sockets in the near future.

[Via Ars Technica]

Macworld 2010: Fastmac's USB-enabled wall outlet originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Macworld 2010: Fastmac's USB-enabled wall outlet originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>USBChris RawsonMon, 15 Feb 2010 08:30:00 ESTMacworld 2010: ScreenGuardz Privacy film keeps prying eyes off your iPhonehttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/12/macworld-2010-screenguardz-privacy-film-keeps-prying-eyes-off-y/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/12/macworld-2010-screenguardz-privacy-film-keeps-prying-eyes-off-y/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/12/macworld-2010-screenguardz-privacy-film-keeps-prying-eyes-off-y/#commentsFiled under: Macworld, Accessories, Interviews, iPhone

NLU Products makes a very large line of screen and computer protection products. I got a chance to speak with Kirk Feller the President and CEO of the company about their newest product ScreenGuardz Privacy (US$19.95), that was released last month at the Consumer Electronics Show.

With the iPhone gaining more functionality seemingly every day through third party apps, privacy has become a concern. I really don't think I want someone looking over my shoulder when I'm doing online banking or reading private email. Kirk told me that there is a large demand for products that not only provide screen protection, but also increase privacy protection.

ScreenGuardz Privacy is a very sturdy screen protector for the iPhone 3G and 3GS. The film used to cover the screen adheres using static electricity making it easy to put on and take off. But there are a lot of screen protectors out there, some offering privacy protection. This does it a bit differently.

Using tiny louvers built into the film, ScreenGuardz Privacy uses four way privacy protection. This means that whether you are using your iPhone in portrait or landscape mode, anyone to your side will see a dark screen. It also helps reduce the amount of light put out by the display which may be distracting in some situations. According to Kirk, other privacy protection products are fine under normal use, but turn the phone to landscape mode and your screen will be visible to any prying eyes. This is the first screen protection product that gives you full privacy protection,

I played with it for a few minutes and it worked exactly as advertised. The iPhone felt just as responsive as ever, but unless you were looking directly at the display, the screen appeared dark and this was true any way I held the device. This is a very simple idea, but the implementation is perfect. It's easy to install, and gives you some peace of mind. For anyone concerned with sensitive data, it seems well worth the price.

Click the 'Read More' link to see a short video of ScreenGuardz Privacy in action.

Continue reading Macworld 2010: ScreenGuardz Privacy film keeps prying eyes off your iPhone

Macworld 2010: ScreenGuardz Privacy film keeps prying eyes off your iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Macworld 2010: ScreenGuardz Privacy film keeps prying eyes off your iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>NLUScreenGuardscreenguardz privacyScreenguardzPrivacyvideoDavid WinogradFri, 12 Feb 2010 21:00:00 ESTFrozen sausage as iPhone stylushttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/12/frozen-sausage-as-iphone-stylus/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/12/frozen-sausage-as-iphone-stylus/http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/12/frozen-sausage-as-iphone-stylus/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Hardware, Humor, Odds and ends, iPhone

Using an iPhone in the cold presents a quandry. You don't want to freeze your fingers, but gloves make the touchscreen difficult to use. Unless you've got Dots Gloves.

Or sausages.

In South Korea, CJ Corporation noticed a sharp increase in sales of their frozen sausages. Not because they're especially tasty, because cold commuters have discovered that they make an effective iPod stylus. It seems that they're electrostatically compatible with the iPod's touch screen, and nearly as effective as using a human finger.

Here's a Google-translated story on the phenomenon from a Korean newspaper (the translation into English is quite poor, but you'll get the idea).

I don't know about you, but i'll be buying a box of Jimmy Deans this weekend.

[Via Daring Fireball]

Frozen sausage as iPhone stylus originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Frozen sausage as iPhone stylus originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>hardwarehumoriphonekoreakoreanodds and endsOddsAndEndssalessausagestylusDave CaoloFri, 12 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST