Lego® and iPhone – A Perfect Pair!

Lego® continues to be that international symbol for “I am still a kid at heart.” Let’s face it, once you play with the toy bricks you are hooked. And the addiction continues through your life.

 

iPhones continue to be the international symbol of cool technology. If you are like me, you cannot survive or be productive very long without it.

The good folks at TinkerBrick have decided to merge these two loves into the TinkerBrick™ Lego® Compatble Case. Currently available for the iPhone 4G, this unique innovation is specifically designed to work with Lego®. Whether you own a 4G or not, take a look. It measures 8 Lego® units in width, 14 units in height and thickness of one brick and plate. Lego® units on the device can be attached to other Lego®. The possibilities with the case are endless! Build a stand to prop it up. Make handles to hold it while you game. See the video below for more revolutionary examples of what TinkerBrick has created. The case is available in red, white, black and yellow for just $32.95 and www.tinkerbrick.com contains plenty of ideas and app suggestions to get the most out of the device.

Let's go on, your inner child integrate with today’s technology!

Skype 5.8 for Mac announced

You think that your Mac is the next best thing since sliced bread, at least where the world of computing is concerned? Good news then, with the latest word on the Skype 5.8 for Mac’s release, as this new version of Skype will help send your contact list to the fat house to lose some weight, while making video calls with other mobile users in addition to Group Screen Sharing have just gotten an experience upgrade.

 

Skype 5.8 for Mac was launched recently, and with this particular update, it is said that the overall usability of the Skype for Mac client has been increased, in addition to the folks over at Skype rolling out a bunch of new features that we will look at in closer detail after the jump.

Facebook’s iOS camera app now named Camera•, falls in line with iOS 6 integration

 

If you updated Facebook's newly released camera application for your iPhone or iPad in the past 24 hours or so, you may noticed the app has changed names from "Camera" to "Camera•" and thought it was an error or the result of a glitch. If so, you'll be happy to know that this is indeed the official Facebook photo application, and its mysterious name change was entirely intentional.

Camera• has all the same functionality, and really nothing has changed aside from its subtle name tweak, but why would Facebook go through the trouble of altering the app's moniker and potentially confusing its users? The answer is simple: Apple.

Apple announces high-res laptops, a smarter Siri

Faster, thinner laptops with hi-res screens. FaceTime video chatting over cellular networks. And a smarter Siri.

But no upgrades to Apple TV -- at least, not yet.

That, in brief, is what Apple will be rolling out to its users over the next six months. The company announced these updates, and a bunch of other significant if not surprising news, during a keynote presentation Monday kicking off its annual developers' conference.

Acer Takes on Apple With High-Res Iconia Tab A700 Android Tablet

Jam-packed 10.1-inch model has more memory, and a lower price, than Apple's third-generation iPad

 

Calling a new Android tablet a potential iPad killer is a cliche. But make no mistake: Acer's Iconia Tab A700 has its sights set on doing just that thanks to an impressive set of specs that includes a 1920 by 1200 resolution display and 32GB of storage; and a $450 price that comes in at 25 percent under the price of a same-capacity iPad.

 

The Iconia Tab A700 goes on pre-sale today, and will be shipping later this month at retail and directly via Acer in black or silver.

 

Acer was one of two Android tablet makers to introduce a high-resolution, “Full HD” 1920 by 1200 pixel display earlier this year at CES 2012. Asus, the other manufacturer to do so, followed up its CES announce with a renamed variant at Mobile World Congress; but it has remained mum on U.S. availability. In the interim, Apple introduced its third-generation iPad with a 2048 by 1536 pixel, 264 pixels per inch display, a move that effectively left Android tablets in dire need of playing catch up.

Apple’s iOS 6 gets previewed, receives all new Maps amongst others

So the dust has finally settled after the events at WWDC 2012, so what is new on the software front? Well, iOS 6 has been previewed, where it will come with all new Maps, Siri features, Facebook integration, shared photo streams as well as a new Passbook app. Touted to be the most powerful iOS version and most advanced mobile operating system yet, iOS 6 comes with more than 200 new features, with a beta version being released already to iOS Developer Program members. 

Apple’s next generation MacBook Pro gets Retina Display

It seems that the standard MacBook Pro did not just receive a hardware refresh, but there is also the next generation model – an all new 15-inch MacBook Pro that goes the way of the new iPad as well as iPhone 4/4S, which is to come with a stunning Retina Display. Not only that, this next generation MacBook Pro will feature all flash storage as well as quad-core processors. Despite packing in such firepower, it will not weigh you down literally – how can it do so when it comes in an extremely thin and light design that measures just 0.71-inches and tips the scales at a mere 4.46 pounds? 

MacBook Pro gets refreshed

WWDC 2012 might be a developer’s conference, but it is still a very good reason to celebrate the release of new hardware. Granted, you will not see a new iPhone 5 (or whatever else it is meant to be called) arrive, but then again, Apple is not made up of just the iPhone or the iPad, and have a slew of desktops and notebooks as well to make sure it gets easier to part with your hard earned money, no thanks to their stunning industrial design as a major pull factor, in addition to solid software to back up the easy-to-use hardware. 

New MacBook Air announced

If there ever was a game changing notebook, you can say that the MacBook Air nailed it down right. After all, in the age where netbooks did not really take off due to their limited processing power and super small displays that made it more or less impractical to do serious work, Apple came out with the MacBook Air, and boy, did that piece of hardware take the world by storm. The new MacBook Air was just announced at WWDC 2012 this morning, and what kind of goodness are we looking at?

Pong carries most advanced iPad case in the world

The Pong iPad case is said to be the most advanced of its kind in the world, and this is a claim that certainly needs looking into right after the jump. 

Just what makes Pong’s offering come up with a rather self-trumpeting statement? For one, it is said to not only offer protection for your spanking new iPad, but it will also be able to give the 3G/4G and Wi-Fi reception a boost, improving its signal strength in addition to enhancing your download and upload speeds, while increasing its range without sacrificing on the more practical issues of protecting your iPad from knocks, drops and minor scratches. 

Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 targets Apple products

You can say that the world is extremely hungry for energy – new and developing nations are consuming more and more resources as they focus on building up their infrastructure, while the more developed countries work on improving efficiency, by making the most out of the least that they have. Solar power is one renewable energy source that should be looked into serious by just about any company, as it is free, and many countries do get a decent amount of sunlight each year. With the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760, you know that your prayers have been answered, as it will target the Mac, iPad and iPhone.

Etcher delivers Etch A Sketch for the iPad

 

I am quite sure that when you first played Draw Something on the iPad, you must have figured out that the iPad, if it had a properly programmed app, would also be able to double up as some form of Etch A Sketch, a toy that gave you many hours of fond memories as a child. Well, I guess those prayers have been answered, as a Kickstarter project that is looking for the right amount of funding has just announced Etcher – an app for the iPad that has every intention of delivering the Etch A Sketch experience right on the iPad itself. This is more like it – the convergence of the old and the new, merging new technologies with tried, tested and successful ideas.

JBL OnBeat Air grooves to Airplay technology

 

When it comes to audio devices, you know for sure (your ears probably won’t be able to fool you) when you see the logo “JBL” emblazoned across, that quality will be there. I guess that is the case for most, as I am quite sure that there will be a group of you out there who will disagree. Well, one of JBL’s latest releases would be the JBL OnBeat Air – a device that is said to deliver incredible sound over the wireless technology from Apple known as Airplay, letting you stream your favorite tunes via your laptop, iPhone or iPad.

Kensington PowerLift Back-Up Battery, Dock and Stand

 

It seems like there are a lot of external batteries that you can get for your iPod/iPhone, and mophie certainly has some good ones out. This one from Kensington, the PowerLift, is unique as it is a back-up battery, dock, as well as a stand. 

The 1200 mAh battery pack comes with an attached USB cord so it can be charged with anything with a USB port. As you can see in the image, the PowerLift has a kickstand that allows for putting the iPhone or iPod as a display, perfect for watching videos or using FaceTime. 

Olloclip iPhone Camera Lens

 

Everyone and their dog knows by now that the iPhone 4S’ built-in camera is one of the best in the business where smartphone cameras are concerned, and the iPhone 4 follows closely behind. Well, if that is the case, you might want to maximize the potential of your iPhone’s camera with this nifty little accessory, the $69.99 Olloclip iPhone Camera Lens. This is no ordinary fisheye lens, where it plays nice with the iPhone 4S and its predecessor, but is also a quick-connect lens system that will comprise of other lenses such as wide-angle and macro lenses, all crammed in a small and convenient package.

Gavio’s got a speaker for the iPod Nano called “The Pill”

 

As long as there small MP3 players, there will be a market for small MP3 player speakers. This particular one is known as “The Pill”, and it is from a Singapore company known as Gavio. 

There really isn’t much that my Source says about the Pill, other than it is a 5.8 inch speaker system designed for the iPod nano 6th Generation. 

AOC Aire Monitor with Docking Station

 

iPod, iPhone and iPad docks are dime a dozen, but how many of your computers can actually feature a full-fledged docking system that caters for Apple’s range of iOS-powered devices? AOC enters the fray just in time for CES 2012, unveiling the AOC Aire Monitor with Docking Station. Touted to be the ultimate monitor for iPod and iPhone owners, it will offer a 23” Full High Definition monitor that boasts an integrated universal docking station for the iPhone and iPod which will pave the way for immediate video, audio and photo playback.

Get ready for the Age of iWalk!

It is truly amazing that companies can stay afloat with just accessories alone. We have already reported on the quality ones from TYLT, and now it is time for iWalk. 

 

The company has about twelve patented docking backup battery models. The batteries range in power from 800 mAh to 15,000 mAh. 

Rokform Rokbed v3 iPhone case

 

When you have a device like the iPhone and the iPod touch selling like hot cakes, and folks do actually camp outside your store a couple of days before the actual launch date just to be one of the first in the world to lay hands on the latest iPhone, you know that you are on to a winner here. Needless to say, with such a huge market base, third party manufacturers too, are more than happy to see such a successful product being introduced to the world, as it means another avenue for profit has just opened up. The accessories market for the iPod and iPhone range is definitely a money spinning one, especially when you get your formula right.

Xappr – You Knew your Smartphone would Help you Defend the Earth

 

Let me say it again for those of you shaking their head in disappointment and disbelief (and the rare few among us applauding gently) In fact, I don’t own a Smartphone of any kind. I guess I like to delude myself into thinking I’m smart enough all by myself, and while I dabble in iPads and Android tablets and some cloud browsing, I have yet to turn my life over to my phone, although I considered it this weekend, and I consider it everytime I find out about things like the Xappr.