Apple, iPod and the beloved iPhone are three of the most popular topics among gadget blogs. Here at GetUSB we don’t bring you all the Apple news, just the most interesting.
« Previous EntriesMacBook laptops don’t come with VGA out or DVI out connectors for extending one’s video screens to more then the MacBook itself. Today Wisair announced a solution for just that with their Wireless USB DisplayDock Set.
Wisair’s DisplayDock solution allows Mac users to connect to a monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers, via a single wireless link with a single adapter that connects to a USB port on the MacBook. Since we haven’t seen a big offering to help out MacBook users we expect this to be a big hit with the MacFanBoys.
Wisair will be OEMing the solutions via three vendors [Atlona, Source R&D, Cables Unlimited and Olidata in the UK.
Some major points to consider:
No price yet was announced from the Press Release or OEM sites. Product will be available the first of March.
The Stanza app is a program for the iPhone which is an eBook reader. It is slick software, easy to use, and allows you to load books via USB cable. Well, it did.
The latest update from iTunes for the Stanza app indicates the USB connectivity feature will be removed from the application. So if you want it, don’t update it.
The Washington Post called the maker, Lexcycle, and asked about the details and their spokes person said, “[Lexcycle is] forbidden from discussing the specifics of the conversations with Apple on this matter.”
It’s fair to say that Apple is keeping complete control of the device so that additional storage [non iTunes content] cannot be loaded along with reducing any virus possibilities hitch-hiking in via removable storage.
To learn more visit the Washington Post article.
Yup, today was the day that Apple announced their iPad product. The very first thing we noticed was a lack of USB ports for storage and connection; however, Job’s didn’t forget it.
The iPad camera connection kit comes with a male adapter card to connect either USB or SD cards. Given the slim dimensions of the iPad we can understand the lack of design integration for USB, but SD or even microSD, now that makes sense. Our only conclusion is a lack of real-estate on the PCBA used to make the iPad.
Interesting side note: Apple has the exclusive patent on the 30 pin female connector it uses and plans to NEVER license it out. I know the USB kit has a male connector, it just reminded me of reading that info a couple weeks back.
Source: StumbleTweet.
TouchScreen Preschool Games has just released another iPhone app; Mister Rogers.
GetUSB.info doesn’t make it a habit of reporting on iPhone applications, but when you know the author and game publisher it’s worth taking a moment and saying “good job.”
Murtha Design had their first block buster iPhone app, ShapeBuilder and from that success Murtha Design has teamed with PBS.org to develop the Mister Rogers iPhone app.
Mister Rogers Make a Journal encourages children to identify and talk about their feelings about their everyday experiences like school, playtime, and friends. The App features an animated version of favorite Neighborhood of Make-Believe character Daniel Striped Tiger, who invites children to make a journal to help them reflect on the things they do and to express how they feel.
What is amazing about this application is the goal of establishing Emotional Development truly works. I have a 4 and 6 year old child and they both create journals about their day and from simply listening to their interaction with the program, I can learn about my child’s day without pressuring them for daily activity reports and grilling them on “how was school today?”
Here is a clip of the Mister Rogers iPhone app in action: (more…)
AT&T reports that smart phone users, which make up 3% of their market, are eating up nearly 40% of the data bandwidth on their mobile network.
To no surprise, AT&T is considering ways to free up network bandwidth so that everyone without a smartphone, isn’t effected. So what does this mean? It means AT&T might be giving a screw j_b to iPhone users. - by far the biggest consumers of bandwidth from smartphones.
iPhone users on average consume five to seven times more data per month than average wireless subscribers, according to analyst firm Sanford Bernstein. And all this usage is clogging the network, causing many iPhone users, especially in large cities such as New York and San Francisco, to experience dropped calls, slow 3G service, and issues connecting to the network at all.
So what is AT&T considering? I would think upping the usage fees, but this might not work for those who don’t care about monthly fees. Another approach are incentives.
“We’re going to try to focus on making sure we give incentives to those small percentages to either reduce or modify their usage so they don’t crowd out the other customers in those same cell sites,” said de la Vega according to a transcript of the conference. “And you’ll see us address that more in detail.”
Either way, I have a strong feeling AT&T will be limiting or slowing data usage for iPhone users. (more…)
I’ve read several articles about how to improve the iPhone, most notable are CNET’s comments and iSmashPhone comments. Both articles have good ideas about improving the iPhone software, but there are five user improvements which I would like to humbly suggest.
To me, these are fundamental improvements for an everyday user. What do you think?
1) How many times have you read an email chain with an attachment? With the small screen of the iPhone even the shortest email requires you to scroll. With a long email you must scroll forever to get to the attachment. Why can’t Apple make a “paper clip” icon at the top to jump directly to it?
2) I’m the type of iPhone user that likes to keep everything clean and up-to-date. So why is it that I can listen to a Voice Mail from a recent caller, but I still need to click the “Recent” icon to remove the notification. It should be removed automatically when (more…)
We know the Nano and iPod Touch don’t come with speakers, so it was nice to see the latest product roll-out from Green Power. Their sliding speaker system is quite nice, compact for the iPod line.
A miniUSB port makes the connection between the iPod and the speaker system. Green Power reports a long playback of nearly 12 hours, but I find that hard to believe because my iPod barely stays charged for 12 hours using the ear buds.
The slider speakers are 1.5Watts which should carry a fairly good sound for desktop use at the office or maybe a quite pool side background music.
No report on price, but if they tag it more than $25, you wont see many takers. (more…)
Apple, iPod and the beloved iPhone are three of the most popular topics among gadget blogs. Here at GetUSB we don’t bring you all the Apple news, just the most interesting.
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