gTar iPhone guitar hands-on

When we first caught word of the gTar, it was a bit of a mystery, with an online presence amounting to little more than a low-res press shot, an enigmatic YouTube teaser and assorted specs coming out of South By Southwest and various investor sites. This week, however, brings TechCrunch Disrupt to town -- and Incident Technologies has braved some unseasonable New York City storms to come along for the ride. We managed to snag some time with the iPhone-docking instrument ahead of its debut on stage this afternoon.

Details are still a little scarce -- but here's what we know: the company is looking for a summer release for the educational instrument. In the meantime, Incident has thrown up a Kickstarter page, so you can get in on the action. A limited number of investors can get their hands on a unit for the low, low donation price of $350, once it goes into production. That's $100 off the estimated $450 retail price point -- not cheap, sure, but there are a couple of things to note here. First, we played with the gTar for a bit and we can say, definitively, that this isn't just some cheap, plasticky toy -- this feels like a real, amateur-level electric guitar. Also, for whatever it's worth, that price also includes a backpack carrying case -- so that's something, right?

Follow along after the break to get some fingers-on impressions.

Continue reading gTar iPhone guitar hands-on

gTar iPhone guitar hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ion iCade Mobile and iCade Core review

The iCade Arcade Cabinet famously began life as an April Fool's joke, pulling the video game equivalent of Pinocchio by transforming in a real salable product. The $100 arcade machine-shaped iPad enclosure / controller hit the sweet spot between functionality and retro gaming nostalgia, proving successful enough that Ion found itself with a solid reason to expand the line. Notable amongst the new arrivals are the iCade Core, which offers up the same feature set as the original iCade in a more portable joystick form, and the iCade Mobile, a re-imagining of the product as an oversized iPhone case. The Core carries the same price tag as its predecessor, while the Mobile clocks in at $20 less. So, are these additions worthy of the iCade name? Or would the line have been better served as a one-off? Insert a coin and find out after the break.

Continue reading Ion iCade Mobile and iCade Core review

Ion iCade Mobile and iCade Core review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Apple dumping Google for own Maps app in iOS 6

Granted, Apple and Google aren't quite the bosom buddies they once were, but how far is Cupertino going to free itself from the Android-maker? Well, Apple's picked up a number of mapmakers and is now reportedly getting ready to unveil a Google map competitor for iOS. 9to5Mac is reporting that the mapping solution will be in-place for the next major version of the mobile operating system, combining technologies gathered with the acquisition of Placebase, C3 Technologies and Poly9. The star of the show is said to be the 3D mode with graphics nabbed from C3. All Things D has "independently confirmed" the forthcoming app reinvention, with sources adding, (hopefully a bit hyperbolically) that it will "blow your head off." According to rumors, we'll be finding out a lot more come WWDC next month.

Report: Apple dumping Google for own Maps app in iOS 6 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 May 2012 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T CEO voices regret over iPhone unlimited data model

It's always refreshing to hear the head of a major corporation cop to past mistakes -- particularly in front of a large crowd of on-lookers. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson admitted some misgivings about the way the carrier handled iPhone data, telling a crowd at the Milken Institute's Global Conference in Los Angeles, "My only regret was how we introduced pricing in the beginning, because how did we introduce pricing? Thirty dollars and you get all you can eat." Stephenson drove the point home by adding, "Every additional megabyte you use in this network, I have to invest capital."

And, for the record, that certainly wasn't the only thing about the iPhone that kept the exec up at night. Stephenson again,

You lie awake at night worrying about what is that which will disrupt your business model," he said. "Apple iMessage is a classic example. If you're using iMessage, you're not using one of our messaging services, right?

No one ahead said it was easy being the chief.

AT&T CEO voices regret over iPhone unlimited data model originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 May 2012 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook to buy Instagram

We think the fact that Instagram is connected to other services beyond Facebook is an important part of the experience. We plan on keeping features like the ability to post to other social networks, the ability to not share your Instagrams on Facebook if you want, and the ability to have followers and follow people separately from your friends on Facebook.

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Facebook to buy Instagram originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim Cook pays a visit to a Foxconn factory, smiles for the camera

We can't say we're particularly surprised, but Apple CEO Tim Cook managed to take some time out of his whirlwind tour of China to pay a visit to a Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou charged with making those shiny new iPhones. The above shot of the bespectacled executive in the bright yellow smock was issued by Apple itself to document the trip. The overseas visit and the ensuing factory tour all come in the wake of a new focus on the working conditions of Foxconn factories that arrived thanks in part to a report from This American Life later retracted by the show.

Tim Cook pays a visit to a Foxconn factory, smiles for the camera originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Insert Coin: JuiceTank is a two-pronged iPhone case

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.Granted, claims by the JuiceTank's creators that their product is "the first ever iPhone charger and case in one" may be a bit overblown, but its design is certainly novel enough to make us give it a second look. The product looks like a pretty standard hard-shelled iPhone 4 / 4S case from the front -- flip it over though, and you'll see two charging prongs embedded in the back. Click the button just below and they'll pop up, allowing you to plug the handset directly into the wall -- no cords or separate chargers needed. Of course, this initial version is made specifically for North American-type outlets, so if you live outside the region or travel a lot, the novelty might be lost on you. If you're covered, however, you can pick up a limited edition green version by being one of the first 400 people to pledge $40 or more. Check out a video explanation / plea after the break.

Continue reading Insert Coin: JuiceTank is a two-pronged iPhone case

Insert Coin: JuiceTank is a two-pronged iPhone case originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple name-drops Corning as iPhone glass manufacturer, we feign surprise

For a company so focused on secrecy, Apple never really did all that good of a job keeping its connection with Corning under wraps. We've always suspected that the company enlisted the Gorilla Glass maker for the iPhone, though it didn't really go out of its way to admit it -- even going so far as omitting the New York-based company from its 2011 suppliers list. Cupertino offered it a little love today, however, giving Corning a nod in its chipper job creation report. While it didn't actually mention Gorilla Glass by name on the page, Apple was happy to talk up the "Corning employees in Kentucky and New York who create the majority of the glass for iPhone."

Apple name-drops Corning as iPhone glass manufacturer, we feign surprise originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Twitter Promoted Tweets: coming to an iPhone, Android app near you

Twitter Promoted Tweets: coming to an iPhone, Android app near you originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Insert Coin: Node helps your smartphone monitor pretty much everything

Continue reading Insert Coin: Node helps your smartphone monitor pretty much everything

Insert Coin: Node helps your smartphone monitor pretty much everything originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Insert Coin: Aqua Tek S wants to be your desert island iPhone case

Have any immediate plans to go to war, escape nuclear fallout or get shipwrecked in the middle of the Pacific? Boy has Snow Lizard got the iPhone case for you. The Aqua Tek S is rugged, waterproof, battery-powered, solar panel-packing and in some cases camouflaged -- all said, it looks to be a beast of an iPhone 4 / 4S case that'll make your Otterbox case look like Samuel L. Jackson in Unbreakable. The twist ending here is that the case is currently seeking funding over on Kickstarter, with less than a month to reach its lofty goal of $75,000. When it hits, it's expected to run a pricey $130. Press info and a video of the case in action, after the jump.

Continue reading Insert Coin: Aqua Tek S wants to be your desert island iPhone case

Insert Coin: Aqua Tek S wants to be your desert island iPhone case originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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G-Form pulls a hat-trick with iPhone case hockey video

It wouldn't be a proper G-Form product release without the accompanying outlandish promotional video. So, when the company offered up its new iPhone 4/4S case, it made its way to an empty ice skating rink, grabbed a hockey stick and went to town, showing how the thing holds up to the punishment of an 82 mph slapshot. The case incorporates the company's favorite shock absorbing substance, Poron XRD and comes in two styles: X Protect and Extreme Grid. They'll run you $40 each, when they ship at the end of the month -- the video below, on the other hand, is free.

Continue reading G-Form pulls a hat-trick with iPhone case hockey video

G-Form pulls a hat-trick with iPhone case hockey video originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Path apologizes, deletes user contact data and updates app

The path to the executive apologies is paved with good intentions -- like the one issued today by Dave Morin. The Path CEO / co-founder posted a note apologizing for the contact sharing functionality that got his iPhone app in hot water. The letter titled, simply, "We're Sorry," outlines the company's focus on security (which it takes "very, very seriously") and the intended use for the feature, which uploaded user contact info to help connect people on the service. As a sign of good faith, the company will be deleting all of the uploaded information and making available version 2.0.6 of the service, which allows users to opt-in or out of contact sharing.

Path apologizes, deletes user contact data and updates app originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon unveils two AirPrint printers, thinks you should print more stuff from your iPad

Want to print stuff from your iPad, but hate drivers and cords and stuff? Good news, Canon's offering up the Pixma MX512 and MX432, two all-in-one inkjets that offer up Apple AirPrint support, letting users wirelessly prints photos, docs and the like from their iPad, iPhone and iPod touches running iOS 4.2 or later. Canon also used the announcement to reaffirm its commitment to the technology, ensuring as before that it "will be available with the majority of Canon PIXMA Wireless All-In-One inkjet printers launched from this point forward." A brief, fully printable press release can be found after the break.

Continue reading Canon unveils two AirPrint printers, thinks you should print more stuff from your iPad

Canon unveils two AirPrint printers, thinks you should print more stuff from your iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Xappr, because your smartphone doesn’t look enough like a gun

You love your smartphone -- and who can blame you, really? There's seemingly no limit to what it can do. But ask yourself this: does it look enough like a gun? The answer is almost certainly a big, fat "no." Thankfully, the Xappr is on its way from Metal Compass, set to help smartphones everywhere live up to their full laser gun potential. The company tells us that the accessory will work with iPhones and Android and Windows handsets (though only iOS and Android games are available, at present). Metal Compass expects to ship the thing in June, but you can pre-order one now, if you dare, for the low, low price of $30 (plus a full $15 in shipping, here in the States). Shoot past the break for a press release.

Continue reading The Xappr, because your smartphone doesn't look enough like a gun

The Xappr, because your smartphone doesn't look enough like a gun originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Target confirms Apple center openings, talk to Geniuses where you buy your socks

Target this week confirmed rumors that it will be adding Apple mini-stores to a handful of its retail locations. A representative for the bullseye store told The New York Times that 25 locations will be getting what it describes as "extended displays." The mega-retailer refused to go into details, so far as what the areas will stock, but it will likely contain, at the very least, the iPads and iPhones the store already carries. Not word on an exact date, either, but the areas should be open before year's end.

Target confirms Apple center openings, talk to Geniuses where you buy your socks originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shazam launches new Player app, lets you get to know your jams better

Shazam today released its first fully new app since the launch of the familiar self-titled music tagging app. The new, simply-named Shazam Player offers up streaming lyrics, YouTube videos, concert dates and lets you make playlists on the go. You can also share your favorites via Facebook and Twitter, to properly avoid becoming a musical shut-in. Press release and video after the break.

Continue reading Shazam launches new Player app, lets you get to know your jams better

Shazam launches new Player app, lets you get to know your jams better originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Pixel Bros. blocky Mario game gets renamed, hits the iPhone

Remember that super square game of Super Mario Bros. we told you about last year? Well, it looks like it's finally made it to the next level, landing on the iPhone -- albeit with a slightly less infringing name. Super Pixel Bros. has been revamped and rebranded Pixel Land, and you can download it today for $0.99. The game uses 64 pixels to create 24 levels of damsel-saving action. Demo video located after the jump.

Continue reading Super Pixel Bros. blocky Mario game gets renamed, hits the iPhone

Super Pixel Bros. blocky Mario game gets renamed, hits the iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:20:00 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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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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