Liquipel could make your iPhone waterproof without a case

Yeah, it sounds too good to be true. But that really is an iPhone in the cylinder above. Liquipel claims to make your smartphone water resistant by bonding it inside and out with a "nano" coating which repels water. While this isn't for deep sea diving, it appears to be an ideal solution if you are clumsy or happen to be around water quite a bit. In the image below, I snapped a pic of a tissue paper coated with Liquipel technology. The tissue is impervious to water absorption, acting more like wax paper. Pretty neat stuff.

The downside (for now) is that you'll have to send your device off to Liquipel for a few days for them to coat it. A rep I spoke to said they are hoping to work directly with manufacturers to integrate their coating before you buy a phone. In that case, you'd buy a water resistant phone automatically, eliminating the need for a LifeProof case or OtterBox if you're just going to have your phone by the pool. I'm hopeful Apple will license or acquire this tech and implement it as soon as possible. While it won't help with gravity, Liquipel certainly seems capable of preventing those spills and splashes that we're all accustomed to -- the ones which make us cringe or, at worst, place our iPhones in a sealed container filled with dry rice overnight (and prayer, for the devout).

Currently the Liquipel coating costs $59 for a 1-2 day turnaround for coating your phone. While the iPhone is certainly supported, it isn't the only smartphone you can protect. But really, if you have one of those other phones, is it worth it? I kid. Check out Liquipel's YouTube videos for more of this product in action. Here's hoping Apple shows some interest in using the material soon -- I'd love my iPhone 5 to be water resistant.

Liquipel could make your iPhone waterproof without a case originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Liquipel could make your iPhone waterproof without a case originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leaked Press Release Reveals AR.Drone 2.0 to Get HD Cameras, New Flight Modes, Better Sensors And Improved Design

Parrot is expected to launch the next generation of their popular remote control quadicopter - AR.Drone 2.0 at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2012, which kicks off at Las Vegas on Tuesday, January 10th. However, Engadget seems to have stumbled on the … Continue reading →

ION Audio follows up iCade with two new devices, iCade Mobile and the iCade Jr.

ION Audio has had a hit this last year with its iCade arcade cabinet, a standalone Bluetooth controller for the iPad that turned Apple's tablet into a miniature arcade system. And now the company is following up that success with three new devices, meant to make games on the iPhone and iPod touch a little more tactile.

The first is the iCade Mobile, which is a Bluetooth-enabled game pad that the iPod touch or iPhone slips into, with a d-pad on the right side and four controller buttons on the left. There are also trigger controls at the top of the device, and all of those controls map to any iCade-enabled games on the iPhone, although games may require some tweaks to fully exploit the different buttons on the iCade Mobile. ION's rep told TUAW that the company looked at what it thought was the most powerful handheld gaming system out there -- "the PSP, and now the Vita" from Sony -- and mirrored its design off of that system. Obviously, developers will have to make their games compatible with all of the extra buttons (powered by two AA batteries, one inserted into each grip on the side), but the iCade already has a nice list of compatible titles, and that list will likely grow going forward. The iCade Mobile is due out this Spring, and will be $79.99.

ION's also making the little iCade Jr., which is basically just a miniature version of the popular cabinet, but with one important difference: There are four buttons on the back of the device, designed to be used as the cabinet is held in your hands, along with four tiny buttons on the front. The iCade Jr. is designed as a smaller, gift version of the iCade, something a little cuter and more "novel" according to the rep. It'll be on sale for $49.99 when it too arrives this Spring.

And finally, the iCade Core is a more traditional iPad dock, that loses the arcade cabinet asthetic for a bigger and more tactile set of buttons and an arcade stick. It has a much more open feel than the closed-in cabinet, choosing to focus on the actual gameplay rather than the (somewhat schtick-y) arcade reference.

Looks like ION is really trying to take advantage of its popular iCade device (which, you may remember, originally started its life as a ThinkGeek April Fool's joke, of all things). We have another meeting with ION scheduled later on this week, so we'll go hands (and thumbs) on with these devices, and let you know what we think.

ION Audio follows up iCade with two new devices, iCade Mobile and the iCade Jr. originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

ION Audio follows up iCade with two new devices, iCade Mobile and the iCade Jr. originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gametel bluetooth controller for Android and iOS hands-on

Last time we saw the Gametel Bluetooth controller, it was an Android-only affair, but here at CES, the company informed us that it now works for iOS and PCs, too. It's been available in Europe for €58 for awhile now, and Gametel will be bringing it stateside sometime soon -- Q1 is what we were told. Given its price across the pond, you can anticipate it costing north of $60, though economies of scale being what they are, that price may drop precipitously should it prove popular in the US.

We got a little handsy with the thing, and found it to be a surprisingly sturdy affair. You see, it attaches itself to your handset with a plastic spring-loaded clamp, and despite feeling a bit flimsy, it held the phone quite securely as we shook it to and fro. It's definitely a nice alternative to touch gaming in our opinion, though it's not perfect. We wish the backside shoulder buttons were positioned at an angle because they were difficult to press with a phone attached. See what we mean and more in the gallery below.

Sean Cooper contributed to this report.

Gametel bluetooth controller for Android and iOS hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leaked Memo Reveals Apple, RIM And Nokia Providing Backdoor Cellular Access to Indian Military

ZDNet reports that according to leaked documents that are internal communications between the Indian military, Apple, RIM and Nokia are providing backdoor access to the Indian military to monitor cellular communication. The documents were leaked by a group of Indian … Continue reading →

CES 2012: iCade iOS Game Controller Expands to iCade Jr., iCade Mobile, and iCade Core

Ion Audio's original iPad iCade started life as a ThinkGeek April Fool's joke but has since become one of the most well supported iOS game controller accessories. If you aren't familiar with it, it was a small arcade cabinet stand that allowed you to prop your iPad up and play games using a real joystick and buttons. The company behind the iPad gaming accessory has now announced that they have expanded to three new models to service a broader range of iOS devices.

iCade Core - Pictured on the top right, the iCade Core offers a stripped down version of the original iCade cabinet and supports the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. Like the original iCade, the iCade Core lets you play your iOS games with a real joystick and buttons. Communication is done through Bluetooth, but a 30-pin connector is included to allow for charging while playing. No pricing yet for this slimmed down version.

iCade Mobile - Pictured top left, the iCade Mobile is a device that wraps around the iPhone or iPod Touch to give you more of a mobile handheld gaming experience. Again, using Bluetooth alone for the communication, it offers a swiveling landscape or portrait orientation. This one will cost $79.99 when it becomes available this spring. Engadget took this video showing it in motion.



iCade Jr. - Pictured below, the iCade Jr. is a shrunk down version of the original iCade. This version is made specifically for the iPhone or iPod Touch and lets you prop up your device in this miniaturized arcade cabinet. It comes with an arcade joystick and 4 front facing buttons a 4 rear facing buttons. It also offers a dock connector for charging. This one is expected to cost $49, again coming in spring.


There have been other similar mobile gaming accessories for iOS devices, but the iCade seems to be the one that has garnered the most support amongst gaming developers. The new devices will likely be directly compatible with the existing list of iCade compatible games.

The most notable titles include Atari's Greatest Hits, Pac Man for iPad, Temple Run and iMAME (no longer available).


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Netflix for iPhone, iPad goes live in the UK

Netflix is now available in the UK, and that means it’s now available for iPhone and iPad in the UK App Store (and Android too). One month of service will run you £5.99 which isn’t too far off the US or Canadian prices.

Content is… content. It sounds like it’s okay at launch but stuff will come, stuff will go, so if you see something you like, start watching it now.

It’s a universal binary, so if you’re in the UK and you try it out, let us know how it works for you.

• App Store link

Boostcase hands-on

It's a myth that phone cases must choose between form or function. Boostcase, which is currently available for the iPhone 4 and 4S, combines both seamlessly. It's a modular system with a 1900mAh battery pack that doubles the life of your device. And, while it does add some bulk, it has two distinct advantages over similar options like Mophie's Juice Pack. For one, the battery is removable -- so you only need to make space in your skinny jeans if you know you're going to need it. Additionally, since it's modular, you're able to customize it to your liking. Batteries are available in black or white, while the simple plastic cases are available in a veritable cornucopia of hues. The Boostpack charges through standard micro USB, and can actually charge your iPhone directly -- eliminating the need for that pesky proprietary 30-pin connector. A battery and case package is available for $80, while standalone plastic cases cost #35. We're told the batteries will also be sold individually for between $50 and $60. Check out the hands on gallery below.

Boostcase hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Powerbag introduces a ton of ways to charge just about everything

If there's one pain we know better than any at CES, it's the heartbreak of an empty battery. Powerbag feels our pain. The company has just launched a whole mess of ways to make sure your mobile gadgets don't lose their ever-precious charge. At the top of the list, of course, is the new Powerbag, the company's bread and butter. At tonight's CES kickoff event, it was showing off a messenger bag version of the product.

Not surprisingly, this carrier doesn't have the sort of cache of, say, a Crumpler bag. This is a big bag that charges up to four mobile devices at the same time -- it looks about as dorky as you'd suspect from such a product, but when it comes to the love of your mobile devices, sometimes such vanity has to go out the window, right? Among the upgrades to the line is a slimmer battery, for charging your devices on the go -- certainly a welcome change. You can pick a Powerbag up now for $140.

Also new is the myCharge Folio, an iPhone 4S case with a built-in USB cable that mimics the design of the Apple Smart Cover for the iPad and promises to double your battery life for $80. The $100 myCharge Duet also has a built-in USB cable and comes in two pieces, so you can slide off the battery, when you need the thing to be a little less bulky. The myCharge Concierge, meanwhile, is a portable charger with two USB ports for and an integrated car adapter that pops out. It'll run you $40.

The myCharge Scout runs the same, featuring an integrated USB cord and a proprietary Apple connecter. For $60, you can pick up the myCharge Quest, which packs in a USB cord, and connecters for Apple and microUSB devices.

Continue reading Powerbag introduces a ton of ways to charge just about everything

Powerbag introduces a ton of ways to charge just about everything originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BiKN for the iPhone hands-on (video)

We don't know about you, but we're pretty prone to losing stuff -- everything from our precious phones, to our keys to, occasionally, our fellow bloggers. BiKN is a hardware and software-based solution that allows you to track you loved ones and things using simple 802.15.4 radio tech instead of battery-sucking GPS. The two hardware components that will be shipping later this month are an iPhone case, which connects through the 30-pin connector and tags which you can attach to keys, bags, or the belts of wandering children. You can leash items to you using the free app so that an alarm will sound -- on both ends if the person or item wanders out of a particular range. You can also simply ping them if you've misplaced them. It even simply measures how far away another phone or tag is. And, since it's a two way system with a battery integrated in the case, if you lose your iPhone and the battery is dead you can still find it using one of the tags. A package containing the case and one tag will be available for $100, while a kit with two tags will retail for $120. Additional tags can be purchased in packs of two for $50. Check out the gallery below and the video after the break.

Mat Smith contributed to this report.

Continue reading BiKN for the iPhone hands-on (video)

BiKN for the iPhone hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CES 2012: LaCie Hub Connects eSATA Drives to Thunderbolt Macs

CNet reports on a new eSATA Hub from LaCie which allows you to connect external eSATA drives to your Thunderbolt equipped Mac.

The hub comes with two Thunderbolt ports and two eSATA ports. Users can connect up to two eSATA drives to the hub for use on their Thunderbolt equipped Macs. The additional Thunderbolt ports can also be used to daisy chain additional Thunderbolt peripherals off the device.

eSATA is a high performance drive connector used to connect external hard drives to your computer. eSATA has never been a standard option on Macs, but is a faster alternative to USB 2.0 and Firewire and is commonly found on high performance external drives and storage arrays. As noted by CNet, eSATA devices are also presently cheaper than their Thunderbolt counterparts. While Thunderbolt has a higher maximum speed than eSATA, if you are just connecting a single external drive (and not a drive array), it's not likely to exceed the upper limit of eSATA.

So, for those who are have existing eSATA drives or are waiting for Thunderbolt drives to drop in price, this could be a good interim solution. Unfortunately, LaCie hasn't released a price yet, but this eSATA hub is expected to be available during the first quarter of 2012.


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ZOMM announces the Lifestyle Connect, keeps your trusted friends one button away

The folks that developed the Wireless Leash Plus, keeping your iPhone close at hand via Bluetooth, have taken the personal security bit of that device a step further. ZOMM has outed the Lifestyle Connect, a personal security monitor that alerts someone from your network of trusted pals in the event of an emergency with a single button push. The device works with any Bluetooth-enabled phone and can also put you in touch with a Personal Safety Concierge 24 hours a day. And does so via the built-in speakerphone on the device if your handset happens to be beyond your reach. In the event of an emergency, the round-the-clock assistant can summon the proper authorities to your GPS location. When not serving as added individual security, the kit can be enabled as a Bluetooth speakerphone for more everyday use. Featuring both classic and low energy Bluetooth, the Lifestyle Connect can last weeks on a single charge before being replenished via USB or wall adapter. For a full rundown, peep the PR that follows past the break before snagging yours in Q2 2012.

Continue reading ZOMM announces the Lifestyle Connect, keeps your trusted friends one button away

ZOMM announces the Lifestyle Connect, keeps your trusted friends one button away originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sculpteo 3D printer iPhone app: make a vase based on your profile, because you can

Continue reading Sculpteo 3D printer iPhone app: make a vase based on your profile, because you can

Sculpteo 3D printer iPhone app: make a vase based on your profile, because you can originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iCade cuts the fat for CES, introduces handheld brother

The iCade has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a ThinkGeek April Fool's gag. After trading out a fictional 30-pin dock connector for a very real Bluetooth radio and well, actual existence, it even spawned a (notably competitive) copycat product. This week, ION is unveiling a pair of new iCade products at CES, streamlining the original nostalgic tablet dock, as well as expanding its tactile toggles to iPhone and iPod touch owners.

The iCade Core faithfully recreates the original rig's control setup, Bluetooth connectivity, and passthrough charging cable, but kills the cabinet motif in favor of landscape support. Although there's no word yet on pricing for slimmed down arcade dock, ION says it should launch sometime in 2012. The new iCade Mobile, on the other hand, is penned in for a Q2 launch; it'll set you back $100 and score your iPod touch / iPhone four shoulder buttons, four face buttons and a classic D-Pad. The gamepad dock also swivels your device into landscape and portrait modes. Stay tuned for our hands on, or read on for the official PR.

Continue reading iCade cuts the fat for CES, introduces handheld brother

iCade cuts the fat for CES, introduces handheld brother originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CES 2012: AR Drone 2.0, OCZ External Thunderbolt SSD

A few more interesting items are starting to leak out ahead of CES 2012.

AR Drone 2.0


Engadget publishes a press release for Parrot's new AR Drone 2.0 which sports a 720P HD Camera. The original AR Drone was shown off at CES 2010. It's an iPhone-controlled quadricoptor that uses a number of sensors, including a downward facing camera, to help stabilize its flight. You control the flying machine with the use of your iPhone.

The 2.0 upgrade now offers a 1280x720 resolution camera that can be used to record videos as well as new flight control modes to allow for easier handling. Per Gizmodo:

Perhaps best of all, it's now even easier to pilot. Before you had to rely on the camera to know which way the AR.Drone was facing, and then send commands from the drone's perspective. That option is still available for advanced users, but the AR.Drone 2 now senses where you are, so tilting your phone/tablet away from you will send the drone away, and tilting it to your right will make the drone go that way, too. It's incredibly intuitive.

The 2.0 version of the AR Drone will be $299 and available in the 2nd Quarter of 2012. This video shows the original AR Drone in action:



OCZ Thunderbolt SSD


PCPer spotted this new external SSD coming from OCZ. The company had previously offered a similar external USB 3.0 SSD, but this new model brings Thunderbolt support.

According to OCZ, the Thunderbolt-equipped SSD should have transfer rates as high as 750MB/s and "improved latency and highly accurate time synchronization" for professional audio/video work. No timeframe on release, but more details may arrive at next week.


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Apple giving backdoor cellular access to Indian military?

According to a group of hackers in India, Apple could be giving backdoor access to their government, along with RIM and Nokia. In exchange for mobile presence they have allegedly given them access to cellular communications. The agreement appears to be called RINOA (Rim, Nokia, Apple).

Several documents have been found referring to RINOA as how information was gathered from some of these government bodies. I know India is a large country but I’m not quite sure what is more damaging – not having a presence there at all or betraying your customers’ trust by allowing the local government to access data without your knowledge.

Source: ZDNet

Review + giveaway: Griffin Woogie plush toy case for iPhone and iPod touch

The Woogie by Griffin is a soft, plush, huggable, toy that doubles as an iPhone or iPod touch case. It’s meant for children, to give them something to hold up their iPod touch for easy game playing or video watching, or to protect your iPhone if you’re letting them use it.

With big round body and five legs, the Woogie is easy to position whether it’s on the floor, a table, in a car, or on a lap. It comes in either pink or blue and the big round body is soft and fuzzy/furry to the touch. Even on its own could be a fun toy for a young child but what makes it even better is the clear, capacitive window in the front that holds an iPod touch or iPhone. Kids can cuddle the toy and play with the device right through the window, and if they drop it or knock it or kick it, the plushie offers a lot of protection.

The good

• Soft, cute, and cuddly
• Weighted feet so stays in place
• Makes an iPhone or iPod touch harder to lose
• Hold up to the bumps and drops kids are likely to put it through.

The bad

• Larger to pack and carry than a regular case
• Would be nice to have strap/backpack option
• Don’t feed it after midnight.

The conclusion

The Woogie is great for young children, wether around the house or to take on a trip. It’s huggable, luggable, and colorful for them, and easy to find and safer to keep an iPhone or iPod touch in for you. That’s a really smart combination.

The giveaway

Leave a comment below telling us why you’d like a Woogie of you very own. Only one comment per person, please! Make sure you leave a real email address. We won’t share it but we’ll need it to contact you if you win! Contest starts now and ends Friday, January 13 at 12pm PT. Now hurry up and enter!

Source: Griffin

App Giveaway: Safety Photo+Video for iPhone and iPad

Safety Photo+Video is an iPhone and iPad app that lets you protect your photos and videos from prying eyes. It’s equipped with a dot pattern lock system for extra security, and in addition to being able to lock the entire app, you can lock individual albums.

You can now keep your most private photos and videos away form unauthorized access. Introducing the Safety Photo+Video. Used the most advanced security system to protect your photos and videos. You can then browse, organize, share, and manage your photos and videos right on your iPhone or iPod Touch.

• Dot pattern lock style for higher security. (New)
• Universality : This app is developed for both iPhone and iPad, you need to purchase only once. (New)
• Photo Geotag and EXIF data viewing. (New)
• Support Video. (New)
• Passcode lock for individual album. (New)
• Passcode locking style. (combination, keypad lock)
• Selectable stylish theme, yet easy to use interface
.
• Take private photos and videos from within the app.
• Extremely simple to import photos and videos from photo library
.
• Export photos to your iPhone/iPod Touch.
• Create albums for your photos.
• Passcode protect individual album.
• Supports move, copy & paste.
• Full Retina display support.
• Upload/download from PC to iPhone via web browser/iTunes file sharing.
• Share photos and videos within 2 iOS devices with Safety Photo+Video installed via Bluetooth/Wi-Fi.


Giveaway

The good folks at Eightythree Technology have given us promo codes to give away to 5 lucky winners! For a chance to win, just leave a comment below!

Safety Photo+Video is available on the iPhone and iPad for $0.99.

• App Store link

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

SuperSwitcher: Jailbreak Tweak Allows You to Access Your Favorite Apps And Also Some Settings Toggles From Multitasking Tray

iOS developer – Akhil Tolani who according to his Twitter profile is only 14 years old has released a nifty jailbreak tweak called SuperSwitcher, which allows you to bookmark your favorite apps so that you can access them easily from … Continue reading →

Microsoft Exec Admits Windows Phone 7 Was a Reaction to The iPhone

In a rather candid chat with The New York Times, Joe Belfiore, an engineer on the Windows Phone team, admitted that the platform was indeed a response to the iPhone. In his own words: “Apple created a sea change in … Continue reading →