If you're needing to keep Mike & Mike an arm's length away at all times, ESPN has refreshed its Radio app to help with just that. Now optimized to the iPad in addition to the iPhone and iPod touch, the software allows you to sort your listening habits by sports, teams and athletes that you follow. The free version offers access to podcasts, the 20-minute SportCenter cycle, and offline listening for on-demand content. Currently, the premium version of the app is free as well -- touting custom stations / playlists, live audio pause / rewind, myESPN personalization, alerts / push notifications and a few more gems to keep you well informed on the latest Red Sox debacle. After a "limited time," though, you'll have to shell out $4.99 for the premium app and its 35 ESPN radio stations. What about Android and WP7 devices, you ask? The folks in Bristol claim that apps for those platforms will arrive later this summer.
Continue reading ESPN Radio app gets a refresh, now properly outfitted for the iPad
ESPN Radio app gets a refresh, now properly outfitted for the iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 03:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Pilots aren't the only ones updating their workflows with modern technology. Amtrak conductors have been getting schooled on how to use iPhones to scan passenger tickets on select routes since November -- forcing hole punches to collect dust on a lonely shelf at the station. By the latter part of this summer, 1,700 conductors will be using the aforementioned smartphones on the outfit's trains throughout the US which allows them to track passengers with more ease than manual ticketing. The $7.5 million system affords passengers the choice of printing the tickets or loading a bar code on their smartphone of choice before getting the iPhone's scan. Inside the dedicated app, riders can book and modify reservations easily without having to worry with a refund from an agent first. There's only one small hiccup: currently Amtrak's app is only available for iPhones. But, the government-owned corporation says that an Android release is in the hopper and should see daylight this fall. For now, non-iOS users must load their tickets though a mobile site in order to save a tree or two.
Amtrak readies conductors to trade in their hole punchers for iPhones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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It's no secret that a few of us here at
Engadget HQ have an affinity for
mobile recording tech. Perhaps you could blame some of our fledgling amateur music careers, but at any rate, we love to get our hands on tech that allows us to lay down tracks on-the-go. It's also no surprise that
Apogee would offer up another product that would look to do just that. As a complement to the outfit's
Jam guitar adapter, the Apogee MiC is the latest foray into mobile recording. Much like its guitar specific counterpart, the MiC is both iDevice and Mac compatible and its compact stature won't take up precious real estate in your travel pack. But, as you may expect, staying mobile comes at a premium. So, is the $249 price tag a deal breaker for the MiC? Is it a small price to pay for adding a solid microphone to your mobile recording setup? Journey on past the break to find out.
Continue reading Apogee MiC review
Apogee MiC review originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Think the iPhone is popular in the States? Well, the device is taking off in Asia as well. Based on a report from research firm IDC Japan,
Apple snagged the largest share of mobile phone shipments in the country for the quarter at 26.6%, ending the market dominance of local manufacturers. Popularity of the
iPhone 4S rose during the period from October to December and propelled the device maker past Fujitsu /Toshiba's mark of 18.3% and third place Sharp, coming in at 15.7%. Sharp still owned the top spot for 2011, though, with 20.1% of total shipments while Apple finished the year third with 14.2%. For more stats on the Japanese smartphone market, hit the source link below to read on.
IDC: iPhone becomes top-selling cellphone in Japan over the Fall quarter, gives Sharp a run for its money originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Ever wish your car's infotainment system played nice with your iPhone 4S right out of the gate? Well,
Mercedes-Benz is doing just that will an update to the COMAND system in A-Class autos. With the aid of two apps -- Digital DriveStyle and Drive Kit Plus for iPhone -- you'll be able to access your Apple smartphone's contents via a built-in display and navigate that iTunes library with an armrest-mounted Controller. Siri will be riding shotgun as the personal assistant can be accessed through the onboard system to send messages, select music, check the weather and schedule meetings. The aforementioned smartphone integration will be available through the entry-level "Audio 20" configuration. Digital DriveStyle is available for as a free and also touts Garmin navigation, AUPEO! radio, Facebook, Twitter and a Car Finder. While the new tech is only rolling out in A-Class right now, MB says that the B-, C- and E-Class autos will get cozy with your iPhone this fall. More details await in the PR below.
Continue reading Mercedes-Benz updates A-Class infotainment system, focuses on iPhone and Siri integration
Mercedes-Benz updates A-Class infotainment system, focuses on iPhone and Siri integration originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Looking to save some coin on those international calls to your mates in Brussels?
Vonage has just rolled out new
Android and
iOS apps that do just that. The Vonage Mobile app offers free talk and text for corresponding with fellow app users worldwide by way of WiFi or data connection. Need to update app-less Auntie Em while backpacking through the Swiss Alps? The outfit says it'll save you 70% over major carriers and costs 30% less than Skype. For calls to folks without the app, users can add calling credit in either $4.99 or $9.99 increments right from the iTunes store or Android Market. The software also makes use of your existing number and extensive list of contacts without the need to create
another username. Right now, calls to any phone in the US of A, Canada or Puerto Rico are free from the app for a limited time -- so long as you stay under 3000 minutes per month, of course. Hit the source link or PR below for more information before heading to your app repository to snag the free download.
Continue reading Vonage Mobile app allows free calls and texts worldwide to fellow Android and iOS users
Vonage Mobile app allows free calls and texts worldwide to fellow Android and iOS users originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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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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In the market for a
new case for that
iPhone 4S? A fan of all things Jack White? If so,
Griffin and Third Man records have teamed up to put a vinyl spin on your next Apple-friendly smartphone case. The pair has introduced a set of accessories that make use of a legit 7-inch record die-cut to protect the back of your mobile device, blending analog and digital without making a sound. Each case is comprised of a two-part frame that wraps those precious edges -- with openings for controls and jacks, of course -- and a piece of genuine vinyl, pressed right in Nashville. You'll have your choice of three color variants that come with a Third Man-branded vinyl. If that's not enough, you can spring for a set of three inserts, one from each of
Mr. White's musical projects. Protip: If you happen to opt for the extras and snag The Racounteur's insert, this collaboration marks the first pressing of "Steady, As She Goes." Each case is $30 and the set of extra inserts will set you back another Jackson. If you want a closer look before parting with fifty bucks, hit the gallery below.
Continue reading Griffin and Third Man Records team up for add vinyl to your iPhone case
Griffin and Third Man Records team up for add vinyl to your iPhone case originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sure, we've seen
Siri used to do
a host of things, including
controlling the temperature in a hacker's home. But the folks over at
Autoblog were curious to know just how well the virtual assistant would work with Bluetooth-enabled car stereos. Once your
iPhone 4S is properly tethered, holding down the handset's home button will activate Siri. Treating her as an incoming call, your Notorious B.I.G. playlist will pause before the ready-for-command chime sounds. The in-car assistant was tested on two Mercedes-Benz automobiles, a Chrysler 300, a Dodge Charger and a Nissan Maxima, with the Maxima showcasing the best results. It comes as no surprise that mic placement on each stereo and in-cabin background noise provided a noticeable difference in Siri's listening abilities during the test. For a glimpse of the action before trying it out yourself, hit the video just past the break.
Continue reading Siri lends a hand via your Bluetooth-enabled car stereo, reminds you to buy milk (video)
Siri lends a hand via your Bluetooth-enabled car stereo, reminds you to buy milk (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sure, audio recording via the stock mic and iOS app is pretty serviceable for most tasks, but what about capturing that next Avett Brothers gig? You need look no further than
Tascam's iM2 stereo microphone for your Apple handheld or
slate. Equipped with a pair of condenser microphones -- the same kit as the outfit's
DR-series recorders -- the iM2 plugs right in to the dock port of your iOS device. The duo is adjustable over 180-degrees for the perfect capture and it sports its own preamp and analog-to-digital converter to cut out unwanted coughs and increase those vicious banjo chops. Since the peripheral doesn't use the stock iPhone preamp, it is capable of capturing up to 125dB levels without distortion. And don't worry about that
4S dying mid-set, as the iM2 features a USB input that enables charging through the encore. If you're jonesin' for a closer look, hit the gallery below before grabbing yours for $80.
Tascam unveils iM2 microphone add-on for iOS devices, makes live Foo Fighters bootlegs a breeze originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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If you're looking to get your smartphone more in-sync with your car, you may want to consider
a new Toyota with the Touch Life infotainment system. Given a compatible smartphone / app combo, it can mirror the phone's display on its 7-inch touchscreen for access to navigation, music or social networking services.
Nokia owners can connect their
Symbian Belle devices by way of
MirrorLink, developed by the Car Connectivity Consortium, in its first deployment by the automotive industry.
Apple iPhone (and iPod) faithful will have to install Application Launcher in order to sync up with the infotainment system. If driving distractions are a concern, steering wheel controls play nice with the tech as well -- it's not quite
SYNC Applink, but we'll take it. Toyota promises features and smartphones will continue to be added, but for a current list of compatible cars, devices and apps, check the press release below.
Continue reading Toyota introduces Touch Life smartphone mirroring system, your Prius and iPhone can become one
Toyota introduces Touch Life smartphone mirroring system, your Prius and iPhone can become one originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 01:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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If you've unboxed a shiny new
iPhone 4S from
AT&T today, you've most likely had an experience similar to many others who made the same purchase: frustration. It seems that the surge in activity from the release of Apple's new handset has reduced activation traffic on Ma Bell's network to a crawl. This isn't the first time the carrier has had
issues on launch day -- but back then, it didn't have any competition. Now that
Verizon and Sprint have joined the iPhone party, the pressure's on and AT&T's not looking good compared to the other carriers who don't appear to be having issues. As if that weren't enough for the folks in Cupertino,
iCloud had a rocky debut this week as well -- from absent verification emails to an inability to backup data. Apple has documented all five of the new service's foibles via the coverage link below, but it appears everything's been peachy since early this morning. So, have you been waiting for your
new iPhone to be more than a shiny new paperweight? Leave a comment, and let us know.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
iPhone 4S welcomed by AT&T activation delays, iCloud stumbles out of the gate originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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