Does the iPhone 5 Make your Old Accessories Obsolete?

Does the iPhone 5 Make your Old Accessories Obsolete?

I’m on the fence as to how I feel about the new iPhone. I can say that I only recently broke down and got the 4S… only weeks before the 5, which always happens to me. When I start to feel really aggravated I think about all those iGizmo makers, all their stuff just got obsolete as well. The iPhone 5 has a brandy-new plug… it won’t work with things like my old speakers, so now what?

How can I use all my old accessories with this new eight-prong “Lightning” connector. It’s so much smaller than the classic 30-pin connector that graces my iPod, iPad and iPhone. Never fear, of course Apple has you covered, for a price. Check out the Lightening-to-30 pin adaptor already available for pre-order at the Apple Store.

So the new connector will let you get more mileage out of your old accessories although video and iPod out will not be available. So the question is this, is the lure of the new iPhone enough to make you want to shell out an additional 29 bucks to be able to still use your old accessories? or will you step up and buy new ones?

The Lightening-to-30 pin Adaptor is currently available only for pre-order, with shipping expected sometime in October. Sign up for yours at Apple.com and let me know what’s hot (or not) about the new lineup of Apple iGadgets.

source:www.coolest-gadgets.com

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Apple updates their Mac mini, is cheapest Mac to date

When someone says that he or she is going to pick up an Apple Mac computer, you would most probably think that said person does have a pretty full bank account to begin with. After all, Mac computers do carry the reputation (which is not that true anymore these days) that they are more expensive than their PC counterparts. For folks who want the Apple experience without the need for so much firepower, here is news for you – there is a spanking new updated Mac mini that carries with it a third generation dual-core Intel Core i5 and quad-core Intel Core i7 processors, while carrying integrated graphics which are touted to be up to 65% faster than its predecessor. The updated Mac mini will feature 4GB RAM (maximum of 16GB), a quartet of USB 3.0 ports, Thunderbolt support, HDMI output, an SDXC memory card slot, Gigabit Ethernet, and FireWire 800 ports.

All of those will be crammed into the very same compact aluminum form factor, without causing it to overheat or consume more juice than it ought to. In fact, the Mac mini is capable of meeting stringent Energy Star 5.2 requirements and achieve an EPEAT Gold rating. Sipping on just 11W of juice when idle, it has been claimed by Apple to be the “most energy efficient desktop computer in the world”. You can pick up the Mac Mini from $599 onward if you are interested, depending on the configuration.

source:www.coolest-gadgets.com

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Watch an iPad Mini Strip Show

Happy iPad Mini launch day! Sure the iPad Mini is cute. But the gurus at ifixit.com – home of repair manuals and parts for gadgets galore – want to get to the bottom of the device. So yes, they dissected an out-of-the-box unit earlier this week in their iPad MiniTeardown. View the step by step process at the video below or on their website.

Interesting findings along the way include:

• Held together with “lots of adhesive”
• Glass not fused to the front display – makes for easy repairability
• Same metal plate protecting internals, like with newest iPod Touch
• Confusion as to batteries real specs (information on the battery varies versus spec information released by Apple). Regardless, ifixit seems curious as to whether battery will last 10 hours – as reported – as the mini battery has about 50% of the power of an iPad 2.
• Dock connector sodered to the logic board – means connector replacement has to include a new board

As they do with other devices, ifixit gives the iPad Mini a ‘repairability  score’. I’ll let you watch the video to see the results. If an iPad Mini may be in your future but you are seeking feedback take a look and give ifixit’s findings consideration before you buy.

source:www.coolest-gadgets.com

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Router Keeps You in Control

Remember your first router? Oooohhhh, aaaaah. You were the coolest on your block because you could wire CAT-5 allover in order to hookup more than one computer to your whopping 512kbps Internet speed. And then the whole wireless thing happened (thank goodness). Now routers have become so plug and play that my 80 year old neighbor connected his with no problems. Though I’m not sure how many signal poachers he may have. So what happens next? Routers hold a ton of valuable information. D-Link wants you to access it – from anywhere.

The D-Link DIR-605L gives you everything you would expect from a leader in networking technology, plus remote access. The unit provides perfect coverage for medium to large sized homes, with up to 300Mbps and WPS. N standard means it will be backwards compatible and you still have 4 ports if needed. The unique thing about the 605L is that when setup, you get access to your own cloud control which continuously tracks the activities of your router. Add the free D-Link app for iPad, iPhone or Android to your device and you can remotely tap into the activities. View browsing history of whoever may be home while you are at work. The kids will think you have a spy in the house! Nervous about who is using the network while away?  Check which devices are connected to the network anytime or even receive email alerts when unwanted devices attempt to log on. The D-Link Wizard means setup is as easy as you would expect. Right now you can even get a unit at a $39.99 promo price on D-Link’s site (normally $59.99).  So if you ever have nerves about network usage and browsing when you are away the D-Link DIR-605L router can provide invaluable peace of mind and the router technology you need.

source:www.coolest-gadgets.com

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DIY Touchscreen Gloves

If you or someone you know has wanted a pair of those slick gloves to use on touchscreen phones and tablets, stop looking. The good people at Popular Science recently published a do-it-yourself method of turning gloves into gadget gloves. OK, so it may be more fun to buy a pair and gift them. But if you are watching your budget – or want a pair yourself – take a look at these instructions, as republished from Popular Science.

1. Order silver-plated nylon thread (silver conducts electricity). This can be difficult to find in stores, but major online retailers carry it.
2. Pick a pair of gloves to modify. Although leather works, it’s harder to push a needle through.
3. Stitch the figure of a star or other solid shape onto the glove’s index finger with the thread, making sure it will contact both the touchscreen and your skin.
4. Bundle up and tap away.

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The Pope gets Twitter account

So here are millions and millions of folks out there who already own a Twitter account, with some stalkers having more than just one. Well, one of the world’s most revered spiritual leaders, the Pope, has finally jumped aboard the Twitter bandwagon officially, where he is now able to send Twitter messages to the Catholic faithful via the handle @pontifex, which is actually his personal account, at least according to the Vatican. According to a spokesman, Pope Benedict XVI intended to “reach out to everyone” with tweets – and in order to achieve the maximum exposure, whatever the man of God tweets will be translated into eight languages.

It is said that if you want to know just what the Pope’s first tweet is all about from the @pontifex account, then wait for December 12th to know more. @pontifex means “pontiff” as well as “builder of bridges”, and both of them are very apt for a man of the Pope’s stature. Of course, this December 12th would not be the first tweet from the Pope, as he already sent his first tweet in 2011 (albeit using a Vatican account) in order to roll out the Holy See’s news information portal.

Greg Burke, senior media advisor to the Vatican, said, “We are going to get a spiritual message. The Pope is not going to be walking around with a Blackberry or an iPad and no-one is going to be putting words into the Pope’s mouth. He will tweet what he wants to tweet.”

According to the Vatican, the Pope will rely on a question-and-answer format for his first Twitter session, where he will focus mainly on answering questions concerning the faith, limited by just 140 characters tops for each reply.

In fact, the Vatican has already begun to invite folks to start sending in questions ahead of time so that the Pope will have enough time to formulate his answer when the time comes. Will the Pope overtake Justin Bieber in terms of Twitter followers eventually?

source:www.coolest-gadgets.com

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Fears Rise Among Free Net Advocates as UN Meeting Kicks Off

Today in international tech news: An international gathering to discuss regulatory changes to the Internet has netizens spooked. Also: Yahoo is hit with a huge fine in Mexico, Australia is the latest nation to focus on multinationals' tax-avoidance practices, and a handful of China's Web-based companies are financing growth with debt.

The UN-sponsored World Conference on International Telecommunications, which will feature government regulators from 193 countries, opened Monday, prompting fears that the meeting could ultimately damage Internet freedom.

According to the BBC, the UN's International Telecommunications Union is trying to allay concerns that the conference will result in restrictions to free speech and the flow of information. Google, for its part, has warned that the event is a threat to the free Internet, invoking the adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

The ITU, founded in 1865, was originally designed to focus on telegrams, but now oversees other types of communications. It has, for instance, helped develop standards for international telephone networks and allocates communications satellite orbits.

The current conference, which could last up to two weeks, marks the first time since 1988 that the ITU "has overseen a major overhaul of telecommunications regulations."

The U.S. has warned that some of the proposals put forth are invasive and violate democratic ideals. To wit, Russia and some Arab nations are pushing for permission to do things such as restrict content or impose universal identification for Web users.

Yahoo Faces Hefty Fine in Mexico

Yahoo faces a US$2.7 billion non-final judgment in a Mexican lawsuit over a Yellow Pages listing service.

According to Bloomberg, the litigation was brought by Worldwide Directories SA and Ideas Interactivas SA. They allege a breach of contract, breach of profits and lost profits.

The $2.7 billion verdict, however, might not stand. The figure likely represents more money than Mexico's entire Internet advertising industry has generated and probably is not a credible amount, according to an expert cited by Bloomberg.

Yahoo's market value is roughly $22 billion.

Australia Takes Tough Stand on Taxes

Australia will crack down on practices -- legal though they may be -- used by multinational companies to avoid paying taxes.

According to Reuters, Australia's proposals include the preventing profit shifting and eanalyzing strategies to reduce tax bills that are employed by multinational companies. They harken to similar decreesfrom Britain and Germany..

On Nov. 22, Australia's assistant treasurer, David Bradbury, singled out Google, detailing the company's strategies for limiting corporate taxes.

He dubbed Google's tax structure a "Double-Irish-Dutch Sandwich," referring to its practice of routing income to Ireland, then sending a royalty to a Dutch subsidiary -- which then repays a second Irish holding company controlled in Bermuda. Bermuda, it so happens, has no corporate tax.

According to documents, last year Google's Australian subsidiary paid $815,074 in tax. Media reports, however, have pegged Google's Australian advertising to be worth more than $1 billion. Google asserts it has done nothing illegal.

Australia's proposals could discourage foreign companies from investing there, according to tax specialists cited by Reuters.

Chinese Net Companies Cash In on Low Interest

A trio of dominant Chinese Internet companies are fueling growth with billions of dollars in debt, according to Reuters.

Baidu, which operates China's dominant search engine; Alibaba its top e-commerce outlet, and Tencent Holdings, which operates the wildly popular messaging service QQ, have accumulated a combined $6 billion in debt. The companies plan to use their coffers to bolster their domestic lead, expand their operations abroad and maybe buy foundering rivals.

Reuters attributes the funds to ultra-low interest rates on U.S. government bonds, which has driven down borrowing costs around the globe.

Baidu, for instance, is reported to have raised $1.5 billion -- in November alone -- largely by selling 10-year bonds at a yield of 3.518 percent. This, Reuters explains, is tantalizingly close to the rate of U.S. Treasury Bonds, which are considered more or less risk-free. In May 2011, Google sold 10-year bonds with a yield of 3.734.

By David Vranicar
TechNewsWorld 
source:www.technewsworld.com

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