White iPhone 4: early DIY edition

Sorry, we couldn't wait -- having spent 11 hours on the streets waiting for the iPhone 4, it's only natural to give our precious new toy some extra special care. With the help of iFixit's teardown guide, we decided to take the plunge with our steaming hot Chinese delivery -- a white front cover (with a shiny proximity sensor area above the earpiece), a white back cover (with "XXXXX" marked as the model number, ergo a prototype), and a Retina Display unit. Alas, there weren't any white buttons in stock at the time, but let's pretend this black-and-white combo is the new cool. Read on to find out how the surgery went.

Replacing the back cover is hardly a challenge -- just remove the two screws at the bottom and then slide the cover up, but to get to the front cover you'll need to take out most of the components. We'll be honest with you: dissecting a brand new toy isn't exactly the most pleasant experience in the world. Even with a brilliant teardown guide, there'll always be somewhere that requires super delicate fiddling. For instance, we struggled with removing the battery and the front cover due to some nasty double-sided tape, so we had to poke around extra carefully to avoid any damage. At one point, we spent about 20 minutes wondering why the logic board wouldn't go back in, only to realize that a well-disguised screw was in the way. Other than that, we'd say this was a pretty straightforward mod (so long as you keep track of all your screws, of course).

Once fitted, we were saddened to find out that our white covers weren't complete -- the front one's missing an earpiece grill, whereas the back cover lacks a lens cover and a LED diffuser. We did consider cannibalizing the original black covers, but the small parts needed were strongly glued on. Ah well, considering the mod's in full working order (discounting the infamous antenna issue), we'll make do with this and avoid touching the lens. Now, where do we sign up for eBay?

Apple responds to iPhone 4 reception issues: you're holding the phone the wrong way!?

So, we just spoke with Apple and got the straight dirt on the reception issues that have been plaguing users today... and it's a little surprising. In essence, Apple cops to the fact there are

reception issues with the new iPhone -- namely, that if you cover the bottom-left corner of the phone and bridge the gap between the notch there with your naked flesh, you could see some signal degradation. Yes, you read that right: it's not a software or production issue, simply a matter of the physical location of your hand in regards to the phone's antenna. The company's suggested fix? Move your hand position, or get a case which covers that part of the phone, thus breaking contact. As you can see in the email above which just arrived in our tip box, this is a sentiment which runs pretty high at the company. Here's the official statement:

Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases.

We know what you're thinking, and we're thinking it too: this sounds crazy. Essentially, Apple is saying that the problem is how you hold your phone, and that the solution is to change that habit, or buy one of their cases. Admittedly, this isn't a problem that exists only for the iPhone 4 -- we've seen reports of the same behavior on previous generations (the 3G and 3GS), and there is a running thread about this problem with the Nexus One.

While it is definitely true that interference is an unavoidable problem, we can't help feeling like this is really a bit of bad design. If the only answer is to move your hand, why didn't Apple just move the antenna position? What we can say without question is that in our testing of the phone, we had improved reception and fewer dropped calls than we experienced with the last generation, and we never noticed this issue. Additionally, when using a bumper we can't recreate the signal loss. So, now we have an answer... all we're wondering is whether or not the company will start handing out bumpers pro-bono to those who are experiencing problems. It certainly seems like the right thing to do.

Update: To add a little perspective, check out a video from 2008 after the break showing the same issue with the now-ancient iPhone 3G.

BlackBerry 9800 fully exposed!

We've just been sent a mother lode of shots of RIM's upcoming BlackBerry 9800 - a phone whose market name is still unknown - but whether it's called the Bold, the Torch, or something else altogether, we think we're looking at near-final hardware here. The software is identified as version 0.9, but you can clearly tell from the UI that it's running BlackBerry 6 with an ever-so-slightly refined look and subtle 3D elements missing from prior releases.

This particular phone is AT&T-branded, and it starts up with a carrier logo screen that proudly proclaims the 9800 a world phone - sure enough, the About screen shows support for WCDMA bands I, II, V, and VI, which means you'll be able to use the phone for 3G service in Japan and most of Europe. Generally speaking, BlackBerrys haven't been known to be the prettiest things around (with the possible exception of the Curve 8900), but we'll admit -- we're digging this.

Specs:

• GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
• HSDPA 850 / 1900
• Screen: TFT, 65K colors, rezolucija 360 x 480 px, 3.2 inches
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB, 3.5mm audio exit
  
• GPS with A-GPS, BlackBerry maps, akcelerometer
• Video player: DivX and XviD

Windows 7 hits 150 million licenses: that's seven copies a second!

If Steve Ballmer's still pumped eight months later, there's a good reason -- Windows 7 has reportedly sold its 150 millionth copy, just two months after crossing the 100 million mark. If you run the numbers -- and we have -- that translates to roughly seven licenses sold per second since launch, a very convenient number for Microsoft to tout in their marketing communications from here on out. Perhaps execs can celebrate with a nice Windows 7 Whopper, topped with a fresh .dll pickle.

Magic wand remote

If you’re bored of the same old TV remote, why not ditch it for this magic wand remote. Use flicks of your wrist to change the channel and big sweeping moves to record your favourite TV show. The wand will learn up to 13 commands from your old remote and you can choose which moves control each command, making your remote un-hijackable! It will also work on your Sky box, stereo or any other infra-red device.

GREEN SLIM Projectors: Larger Dimension, Greener Operation, and Longer Lifespan!

Gamers out there can expect more fun with the introduction of the newest from Casio – the GREEN SLIM projectors. This new projector line-up offers optimum brightness and images of better quality. Whatever game you’re into, it will help you get the most out of your gaming experience. What’s with these new Casio projectors?

1. They’re mercury-free. Instead of the usual mercury lamp used in traditional projectors, the GREEN SLIM employs laser and hybrid light source. This new light source is beneficial in two ways. First, it’s greener to use compare to traditional light sources. Second, it has a longer lifespan. The light source can last up to 20,000 hours, 10 times the lifespan of traditional projectors.
2. They’re very easy to use. The projectors are very portable because they only weigh five pounds and are very slim, so you can bring them anywhere with you. They’re also easy to adjust, thanks to their powered zoom lens. And lastly, they can be turned on and off quickly.
3. They’re of higher quality. The projectors produce powerful images with vivid colors. They also work within the dimensions of most rooms. Plus, they have an auto keystone feature that adjusts the images when they appear distorted because of the projector’s position.

The GREEN SLIM projectors were on display in the Electronic Entertainment Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center. They come in different models that you can easily choose from. With their slim characteristics and their advanced technology, you can bring your gaming experience to a higher level. Casio offers other Casio super slim projectors at Amazon, all designed for high-quality images.

Adobe announces Adobe Flash Player 10.1 for mobile platforms

Adobe has finally taken the step to introduce Adobe Flash Player 10.1 to their mobile platform partners. This was specially redesigned from the ground up and not based off a previous version, delivering new performance and mobile specific features. In other words, Flash Player 10.1 is the first release which is touted to offer the full Web experience across desktops and mobile devices. Mobile users can now take advantage of the millions of sites that offer rich applications and content within the browser such as games, animations, rich Internet applications (RIAs), data presentations and visualizations, ecommerce, music, video and audio among others.

Adobe hopes that Flash Player 10.1 will see over three million Flash designers and developers team up to unleash their creativity on the world of smart phones, tablets, netbooks, televisions and other consumer electronics devices. Currently, it is one of the top free apps on Android Market, and will also be made available as a final production release for smart phones and tablets once users make the jump to the Android 2.2 “FroYo” update – of course, this depends a whole lot on various carriers elsewhere since many carriers haven’t yet made the jump, with most Android devices still stuck on version 2.1 at the moment. At least we know the Dell Streak, Google Nexus One, HTC Evo, HTC Desire, HTC Incredible, DROID by Motorola, Motorola Milestone, Samsung Galaxy S and others will support Flash Player 10.1, and it will also work on BlackBerry, webOS, future versions of Windows Phone, LiMo, MeeGo and Symbian OS-powered devices as well in the form of over-the-air downloads or being pre-installed in the months to come.

As for the desktop version of Flash Player 10.1 for Windows, Mac OS and Linux, you can always check it out here. Depending on the device and the device manufacturer, the upgrade mechanism will be different.

Facebook Like Button becomes stamp

It’s a tricky thing being a Facebook addict, sometimes the outside world is just a little too bland. Thankfully one addict finally found a way to help you cope when you’re not able to log in. Just pick up one of these rubber stamps and you’ll be able to like things in a true Facebook fashion. Never again will you have to live your real life in a non-cyber way.

This was a design made by Nation, who have actually created it and are now enjoying using the stamp on everything possible. However, they aren’t actually mentioning if their little design studio will be finding a way to disperse the stamps to the public. You could always contact their studio to see if they have any further information though.

Iron Man 2 USB Flash Drives

Do you intend to wear on your sleeves your actual love for the Iron Man 2 movie that was recently shown in theaters? If you do, then here’s another chance for you to buy one of the most incredibly designed USB flash drives since the Steampunk USB.

The Iron Man 2 ISB flash drive is a fully sculpted 3D drive that comes in different sizes and capacity. They are available in 4GB, 8GB and 16GB capacities. The only thing I am waiting for is to know whether these USB flash drives will light up once you plugged them into your USB port.

You can get the 4GB version for about $34.99, the 8GB for $44.99 and the 16GB for about $59.99.

Camcorder Lets You Shoot Home Videos in 3-D

A new camcorder lets consumers play James Cameron at home by creating their own 3-D videos.

Hammacher Schlemmer has started selling what it claims is the first camcorder to shoot 3-D video and let users see the resulting content on the device’s screen, without the need for any special glasses.

With help from a 4-GB SD card, the $600 camcorder can store up to four hours of video or 2,000 3-D still images.

Don’t expect high-quality video though. The camcorder’s two lenses have to work with a 3-megapixel image sensor.

The videos are recorded in 640 x 480 pixel resolution as AVI files. The camcorder can also take standard 2-D movies and pictures.

With the success of films such as Avatar and Up, the 3-D format has made a big comeback this year. Major TV makers including Sony, Panasonic and Mitsubishi are offering large-screen 3-D TVs, even as broadcasters such as ESPN and Discovery prepare 3-D programming.

But it’s amateur content that could be the real catalyst for 3-D’s popularity. Already, some DIYers are rigging cameras and using software tricks to produce 3-D short films, postcards and home videos. Maker Faire had a section this year showcasing 3-D photographs and video from amateurs and professionals.

YouTube started offering a 3-D display option for videos on the site last July.

To create a 3-D image, you need to connect two cameras together, so each shoots the same scene from a slightly different perspective. Software helps synchronize the two sets of images. With some help from 3-D glasses, the brain can be tricked into perceiving depth in these images. There are also ways to offer 3-D–capable small screens that don’t require viewing glasses.

So far, DIYers have hooked together standard Canon cameras, iPod Nanos and Flip camcorders to create a home-brewed 3-D camera.

Consumer-electronics companies are now trying to step in to offer off-the-shelf gadgets. Last year, Fuji released the first 3-D point-and-shoot digital camera, a $600 gadget that, for now, is largely available only in Japan. Earlier this week, Nintendo announced the 3DS portable that allows you to take 3-D photos and play 3-D games with it.

Hammacher Schlemmer’s 3-D camcorder doesn’t require glasses to watch 3-D videos. It includes a media player with a 7-inch screen, speakers and a headphone jack that can display the 3-D content off the device’s storage card.

The battery life of the camcorder, though, seems disappointing. It offers just two hours of operation from a six-hour charge.

Hypospray from Star Trek is real, but with lasers!

Nothing I like reporting more than reporting on tech from science-fiction that becomes science fact. Especially when it comes to Star Trek, the original series.

Sure the original series just looks bad if you watch it now, and we still haven’t got most of that technology. Sure, most of our cellular phones look like James T. Kirk’s communicator, but as far as hypodermics are concerned, there are still needles. Not like Dr. McCoy’s spray vaccinations that we would like to see being used today.

Until now, at least. In fact, this particular needle-less hypos use phasers! Actually, it doesn’t, but it it does use lasers. These lasers bore holes so tiny that you won’t even feel it go through the skin and cure your diseases.

This is the painless epidermal system, other wise abbreviated to PLEASE. Yes, it isn’t a perfect acronym, but hey, do we need one? After all, wouldn’t injections without needles please everyone?

After all, I remember taking my newborn daughter to a routine checkup, and it was like a stab-fest.

Best of all, there isn’t that weird spraying sound that comes from using those Star Trek hyposprays. Yep, apparently the use of lasers means that there is no noise.

I wonder if you can give the hypospray injections through uniforms. It never made sense how they could do that.

iPhone 3GS vs iPhone 4 – which to choose?

Apple recently announced the new and long awaited for new iPhone 4 but also at the same time a new 8GB more affordable version of iPhone 3GS (which to be fair is still an excellent phone!).

If you’re a newcomer to the iPhone and is considering the latest iPhone 4 as your first when it becomes available on June 24th, here’s a nice and quick comparison of which suits your needs best. Hope this helps anyone struggling to choose which to splash your cash on!

Apple Mac Mini 2010 review: First look

HDMI, SD card port and a faster processor in a smaller package

Apple's Mac mini portable computer has had a reamp, making it not only the smallest, but the most powerful incarnation of the device, with more connectivity than ever before.

The 2010 edition now features a HDMI port for hooking up to a hi-def display as well as a SD card reader for easy transfer of multimedia content. It also boasts a faster Intel Core 2 Duo processor at 2.66GHz and an improved nVidia 320m graphics card and a 320GB hard-drive.

With all that extra bulk you'd expect a little swell around the waistline but Apple has managed to slim down a little with a body measuring just 19.4cm square by 3.6cm tall.

There has been a hike in price and the new mini will cost a cool £649, but for this powerful and portable Mac, boasting the Snow Leopard OS, it doesn't really seem that bad. Check out the video hands-on for a tour of its sexy new body.

Samsung Captivate: AT&T's First Serious Android Phone

Between the Motorola Backflip and the HTC Aria, AT&T hasn't exactly been leading the charge on Android phones. But the Samsung Captivate, coming in the next few months, signals that the carrier is finally getting serious about Android.

As a Samsung Galaxy S phone, it's got impressive hardware: a 4-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen, 1GHz Hummingbird that processes graphics 3x faster than Snapdragon, a 5MP camera that records 720p video, and up to 32GB of combined onboard and external storage.

It also seems as though the Captivate hasn't been hamstrung in the way the Backflip was. Most notably, it'll ship with Google Search instead of the Backflip's pre-loaded Yahoo widget. Although it's not clear if Captivate owners will be able to download third-party apps, something AT&T so far hasn't allowed on their Android devices.

The catch—there's always a catch—is that Captivate will launch running Android 2.1 instead of Froyo. That would be less problematic were it not that the phone isn't launching for another few months, meaning a bump up to Android 2.2 could be quite a ways away. Pricing, too, is still unannounced, and it will be interesting to see how AT&T positions Captivate against its other big summer release.

Still, though, good to see AT&T getting serious about Android, especially if Captivate can live up to its billing.

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Robot Self-Assembles, Then Flies

A flying platform from ETH Zurich is made up of autonomous wheeled vehicle that lock together to share the task of controlled and autonomous flight. The robot, dubbed the "Distributed Flight Array," was presented by Raymond Oung, Raffaello D'Andrea, and others at this year's IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) and was a finalist for best conference paper.

Each wheeled vehicle has its own power, motor, propeller, flight control system, sensors, and wireless communication. The researchers write on their website:

Joined together, however, these relatively simple modules evolve into a sophisticated multi-propeller system capable of coordinated flight.

The individual robots dock together at random, bound by magnets. But the robots doesn't simply fly in a locked positions with the others. They form a network, exchanging sensor information so that each robot can figure out how much thrust is needed (based on its place in the system) for the whole array to take off.

Once the system is hovering, the robotic modules can correct for disturbances, based on their place in the configuration and the system's overall motion. When the robot is done flying, it breaks apart and each robot falls harmless to the ground. See it in action in a 2010 video below.

Interesting stuff--this could be useful for situation of surveillance or search and rescue, where you might have to figure out on the fly what size and shape robot you need. Also, a robot made of many identical modules like this is likely to be more robust--if one parts breaks, it can reconfigure or substitute in a different one.

i-Got-Control iPhone Universal Remote

The iPhone is one hot gadget no matter how you look at it, and even its detractors cannot deny its appeal to the general populace – just take a look at how many more folks out there who tote around an iPhone just for the sake of looking cool?

Well, it isn’t just all looks only as we know without personality, a device cannot last this long in the market. One of the strengths of the iPhone would be its App store that offers a bunch of useful and quirky apps, where today the i-Got-Control iPhone Universal Remote speaks for itself by letting your iPhone be used as a universal remote. It basically enables you to control thousands of devices through an intuitive touchscreen interface.

For those who can’t seem to find their device on the list, you can always learn its codes and save them as a new device. Retailing for $69.99 a pop, you will need to get your own iPhone first. Hopefully it won’t drain your battery even further, as the iPhone’s daily battery life is already rather poor in relative to other smartphones.

iWatch

The iWatch is as fanciful a design as you could wish for. The concept timepiece is a wrist-sized iPhony, a tiny iPod Touch on a strap. It’s also gorgeous.

The design is from the Italian ADR Studio, and exists only in the world of Photoshop. The main screen, seen above, shows the time, date and weather (Rome’s looking very inviting this month). The gallery goes on to show the Bluetooth syncing options (to iPad and iPhone but not a computer, oddly) and a picture of the iWatch throwing a projected movie onto a wall (hell, it’s a concept design: why not dream a little?) Read the specs and you learn that there will also be an RSS reader, Wi-Fi and 16GB memory.

I would buy one in a second, like Cult of Mac’s resident deviant John Brownlee (who also – curiously – claims the iWatch makes his “heart flutter”, despite the fact that he demonstrably has no heart in his dry, rattling cage of a chest). Sadly, it will never be so, and instead I shall be forced to strap an iPod Touch to my forearm like some giant, lottery-winner’s Rolex.

Window Phone Concept Adapts to Weather and Humidity

Seunghan Song created a concept mobile phone dubbed the Window Phone and we found out that this device can transform its look, like a window that reflects the outside weather. Window is a thin and transparent plastic sheet, basically, as you can see in the images below.

The handset will remain clear when the day is sunny, or it shows drips of water and look humid if it’s a rainy day. Snowy days will make it look foggy and frozen. Of course, the device is all about its cool touchscreen and it also supports handwriting recognition.

You can also draw and write text messages on this “sheet”, that’ll also recognize the symbols you draw and maybe even gestures.

Windows Phone 7 Concept is an Alienware Handset

Egyptian conceptual artist Sherif Mohsen recently showed the world his new creation, a Windows Phone 7 concept handset, bearing the Alienware branding. This ubercool device features a 4.2 inch AMOLED touchscreen display, a 1.3GHz CPU, a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and dual LED flash, plus the ability to play back HD Videos.

The Alienware concept phone also supports 3G HSDPA connectivity and its design looks pretty cool, specially since there are a lot of colours to choose from. What do you think?

Game will let you sing and dance like Michael Jackson

The still-untitled video game will feature such Jackson hits as "Beat It," above, and go on sale by the holidays

(CNN) -- Michael Jackson's brilliance as a performer will live on in a video game that gives fans the chance to sing and dance like the King of Pop.

Game-maker Ubisoft said the forthcoming game, which does not yet have a title, will let players "step into the shoes of Michael Jackson himself and relive his most iconic performances through their own singing and dancing."

The game will feature such Jackson hits as "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" and will go on sale before the holiday shopping season.

No game play or trailer videos were shown during Ubisoft's press conference this week at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, California. Real dancers came on stage and performed to "Beat It," but few other details were revealed.

It is not the first time the late pop icon has been featured in a game. Jackson was a digital character in a 1980s arcade game and also had his own console title -- both tie-ins to his 1988 movie, "Moonwalker."

Development of the upcoming video game has the blessing of Jackson's estate. The singer died of cardiac arrest a year ago this month.

"It is a game that the entire family can experience and enjoy together and this is something that would please Michael tremendously," said Michael Jackson Estate co-executor John McClain, in a statement.

Players will try to mimic the moves they see on the screen, as in this "Billie Jean" scene.

A Ubisoft press release said the game will include "the most famous tracks" from the singer's extensive catalog of hits. Fan reaction to the game on the singer's website has been mostly positive.

"This is awesome ! My kids are gonna flip!!! I'm excited to get this for my kids. WE LOVE YOU MICHAEL JACKSON!" said one fan.

Another was more skeptical: "MJ's probably rolling over in his grave right now (if he hasn't already) with all the ubiquitous money-making schemes. If he had wanted all this he would've done it when he was alive!"

Ubisoft spokesperson Lisa Revelli said the title will be available using Microsoft's Kinect for the Xbox 360, Sony's Move for the PS3, and Nintendo's Wii as well as the handheld PSP and DS devices. She said for the Kinect/Xbox 360 version, the game will not feature avatars to represent the player, but the actual players themselves on-screen.

The game's release may coincide with the arrival of a new album of never-before-released songs from Jackson, due in November.

iPhone 4 introduction

Great video about iPhone 4!

iMovies for iPhone!

Along with HD video recording, the iPhone 4 is getting a way to edit it right on the phone itself: iMovie for iPhone.

Obviously, it's pretty basic video editing, as its on a phone. But you're able to combine various clips, add music, photos, titles and transitions as well as basic effects. You'll recognize the effects from the desktop version of iMovie, where you're able to do stuff like add the "Ken Burns Effect" with slow-mo zooming and panning.

You're able to export in 360p, 540p and 720p, as well. The app will set you back $4.99 from the App Store.

Bluetooth Laser Virtual Keyboard

This tiny device laser-projects a keyboard on any flat surface... you can then type away accompanied by simulated key click sounds. Pull this baby from your pocket and use it to compose an e-mail on your bluetooth enabled PDA or Cell Phone.





Details and Specs:

Keyboard Projection
Light source: Red diode laser
Keyboard layout: 63 key / full sized QWERTY layout
Keyboard size: 295 x 95mm projected keyboard size
Keyboard position: 60mm from VKB unit
Required Projection surface: Non-reflective, opaque flat surface
Visibility: Good contrast up to 600 lux ambient illumination

Keystroke Sensor
Ambient illumination: Works under all standard indoor illuminations up to 600 lux
Detection: rate Up to 400 characters per minute
Detection algorithm: Multiple keystroke support
Effective keystroke: Approximately 2mm
Operating surface: Any firm flat surface with no protrusions greater than 1mm

Bluetooth
Bluetooth Spec: Bluetooth v1.1 class 2
Bluetooth Profile Supported: HID and SPP
Range of Frequency: 2.4GHz Spectrum
Transmission range: 9m
Number of supported passkeys: 5

Electrical
Power source: Integrated, 3.6V rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Battery capacity > 120 minutes continuous typing
Charge Method: Included 100-240V AC Wall Adapter

Dimensions
Approximately 35 x 92 x 25mm (1.38" x 3.6" x 1")

Compatibility
Support for PalmOS 5, PocketPC 2003, Windows Smartphone, Symbian OS, and Windows 2000/XP (Mac OSX will work but drivers are not provided. See the bottom of this page for details.) Look below for a list of specific compatible devices. Please note your device may still work properly if not on this list as long as it supports one of the OS listed above.

PDAs
HP 1940
HP 2210
HP 4700
HP 5550
HP rx3417
HP rx3715
Dell Axim 50 X50V
MIO 336 BT
Palm Tungsten T3
Palm Tungsten T5
Palm Zire 72


Smartphones
Nokia 3650
Nokia 6600
Nokia 6260
Nokia 6630
Nokia 6680
Nokia 7650
Motorola A1000
Motorola MPx220
HP 6300 Series
Sony Ericsson P800
Sony Ericsson P900
Sony Ericsson P910i
Xplore M68
Palm Treo 650
Dopod 565
i-mate SP3
Qtek 8010
SPV C500
MD2000
MDA II
Qtek 2020
XDA II
Dopod 700
i-mate PDA2K
MDA III
Qtek 9090
VPA III
XDA IIs
Dopod 699
M2500
Qtek 2020i
XDA IIi
Dopod 818
i-mate JAM
M500
MDA Compact
Qtek S100
XDA mini

PCs and Laptops
Windows 2000/XP Drivers and Software Included
Important Mac OS Note:
We were able to get the Bluetooth Virtual Laser Keyboard to work with Mac OSX using the built-in bluetooth support in the OS. However, there is no driver software for Mac included with the keyboard and therefore no way to set the keyboard preferences such as brightness, key-repeat rate and sensitivity. You have been warned!

Specifications for iPhone 4G Leaked

Well it's that time of year again, and the number of speculations, leaks and purported photos and videos of the next-generation iPhone is sure to increase. The latest blurb to sweep the web involves tech pundit John Gruber mocking the Wall Street Journal for not having any interesting information. He then goes on to drop some killer specs for the upcoming iPhone release,
apple iphone fourth generation.


This mockup of the next generation iPhone has nothing to do with Gruber's information (predictions?) but we liked the fact that it resembles the iPad. Back to the specifications of the iPhone 4G:


Screen resolution improvement to surpass the competition. Gruber claims Yukari Iwatani Kane gave him the scoop on a 960 x 640 resolution screen. This would beat the Droid (854 x 480) and the Nexus One (800 x 480).


The same source claims the iPhone HD, as some are dubbing the new device, will have an A4 system on a chip, or something from the same family. For those not familiar, this processor was developed by Apple in-house specifically for the iPad.


But wait, there's more. Gruber continues by saying there will be third-party application multitasking. Apple watchers and iPhone fans have been waiting for this feature since day one. Finally the "battery issues" and other excuses Apple has been giving us for no multitasking except native apps (iPod for example) have been overcome.


Last but not least Gruber also drops "second front-facing camera." Video conferencing anyone? This jives with the photos and videos that have been coming out showing a longer iPhone frame and possibly space at the top for new hardware. Many have speculated the aspect ratio on the new screen could be 16:9.

Nintendo 3DS

Though shaping and play style is still as old school as ever, Nintendo is somehow following the trend of 3D, with their gem called the Nintendo 3DS. Yes, as the name said, you get to play 3D games on this new handheld. Following the success of the Game Boy, and Game Boy Advance, and the last DS, the 3DS still looks like a brick. But when its covered up, it looks like Nokia’s old communicator.

The 3DS is Nintendo’s answer to 3D gaming, and its showing off its glass-free technology at E3 press conference. Its something that Kyoto-base game company would like to call “a solution that lets you take 3D gaming along with you wherever you go”. Somehow, we don’t need the bulky glasses when playing the 3DS, which seemed rather unbelievable and breath-taking, when every other major player requires 3D glasses for their product.

The upper screen is surprisingly only 3.5-inches, the size of an iPhone 4. Not as wide as we’d expect. There is a slider on the side that lets you tweak the 3D effect, seemingly enabling you to adjust its depth based on your distance from the screen, or turn it off entirely. As with the current DS, the bottom is a touchscreen, and is not 3D.

The analog stick on the side is called a “Slide Pad”. There’s a gyro motion sensor, making the 3DS compatible with DSi games. Two cameras are integrated inside, making capturing 3D photos possible. Nintendo is also talking about how the system will seek out Wi-Fi hotspots or other 3DS systems “without you knowing,” which sounds a bit gloomy. Systems can communicate regardless of which games are being played. It can even pull in new DLC directly from other consoles, all without a monthly fee.

Nintendo didn’t mention anything about release date or price, which is rather odd. From the looks of the photo, 5 colors seemed to be the choices. There’s black, cyan, red, purple, and orange. There’s an insanely long list of available games from multiple developers, which seemed to be of great news from Nintendo. The 3DS has been claimed by Nintendo to have the biggest launch support pool ever.

Publisher	Game
Activision	DJ Hero
AQ Interactive	cubic ninja
Atlus	Etrian Odyssey
	Shin Megami Tensei
	Shin Megami Tensei: Persona
	Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
Capcom	RESIDENT EVIL® REVELATIONS
	SUPER STREET FIGHTER IV 3D Edition (name not final)
Electronic Arts	FIFA Soccer
	Madden NFL
	The SimsTM 3
Gameloft	Asphalt GT
Harmonix	Music game
HUDSON SOFT	Bomberman franchise
	DECA SPORTS franchise
	KORORINPA franchise
KONAMI	Baseball franchise
	Contra franchise
	Frogger franchise
	HIDEO KOJIMA’S METAL GEAR SOLID SNAKE EATER 3D “The Naked Sample”
	PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER franchise / WINNING ELEVEN franchise
LEVEL-5	Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle (name not final)
Majesco Entertainment	BloodRayne: The Shroud
	A Boy and His Blob
	Face Racers: Photo Finish
	Lion’s Pride: Adventures on the Serengeti
	Martha Stewart
	WonderWorld Amusement Park
Marvelous Entertainment	BOKUJYOUMONOGATARI 3D (name not final)
NAMCO BANDAI Games	Dragon Ball® franchise (name not final)
	Gundam® franchise (name not final)
	PAC-MANTM & GALAGATM (name not final)
	RIDGE RACER® (name not final)
	Super Robot franchise (name not final)
Nintendo	Animal Crossing
	Kid IcarusTM: Uprising
	Mario Kart
	nintendogsTM + cats
	Paper Mario
	PilotWings Resort
	Star Fox 64TM 3D
	Steel DiverT
ROCKET	Crash-City GP
	VS-robo
SEGA	Sonic (name not final)
	Super Monkey Ball (name not final)
SQUARE ENIX	CODENAME: Chocobo Racing® 3D
	DRAGON QUEST® franchise
	FINAL FANTASY® franchise
	KINGDOM HEARTS franchise
Take-Two Interactive	Carnival Games® franchise
TECMO KOEI GAMES	DEAD OR ALIVE® 3D (name not final)
	DYNASTY WARRIORS® (name not final)
	NINJA GAIDEN® (name not final)
	SAMURAI WARRIORS® 3D (name not final)
TOMY	LOVELY LISA 3D
	NARUTO SHIPPUDEN ACTION
THQ	de Blob 2
	Kung Fu Panda Kaboom of Doom
	Marvel Super Hero Squad Infinity Gauntlet
	The Penguins of Madagascar
	Puss N Boots
	Saints Row: Drive-By
Ubisoft	Assassin’s CreedTM Lost Legacy
	Battle of GiantsTM: Dinosaur Strike
	Driver® Renegade
	Hollywood 61 (name not final)
	Tom Clancy’s Ghost ReconT
	Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Chaos TheoryT
Warner Bros	Batman franchise
	LEGO franchise