Sharing USB ports is Ruff

Apologies for the pun, but sometimes the limited USB ports on my Mac really is an issue. My current iMac‘s ports are tied up with a gaming mouse, a cord for iPad/iPhone recharging, an external hard drive, and the cable for an iPod Shuffle leaving nothing for various accessories I’ve been charged with reviewing.

For those of you that can’t make do with a run-of-the-mill USB hub Laughing Squid has a possible solution- the Poodle USB hub. The clever and artistic design transforms a standard unpowered USB hub into something special. For those seeking something unusual or an accessory to show your love of Poodles head fredflare.com – it’s available now for $16.

Read Full Post »

Apple driving iCloud adoption by offering free upgrades to Snow Leopard

As reported by MacGasm (great site, unfortunate name), Apple is giving luddites an incentive to join the rest of us that are enjoying the benefits of iCloud by offering a free upgrade to Snow Leopard . The holdovers that still run the venerable OSX Leopard must first upgrade to Snow Leopard before they can make the jump to Lion, hence the carrot offered by Apple. Even without the free upgrade those that are looking to run the latest and shiniest still have it better than our Microsoft-encumbered friends; upgrades from the venerable XP to Windows 7 Home Premium is still running well over $100 from the Microsoft website. 

Provided your Mac is Lion-capable you really should look into upgrading; I did so on the day the latest version of OSX was available and haven’t been disappointed. Click through for more information; I think you’ll be glad you did.

Read Full Post »

The iPhone reigns supreme

Unless you’ve been hiding in a bunker you’ve heard that the iPhone is an industry-dominating success. From the first generation to the 4S it’s been embraced by an ever-growing demographic seeking the best smartphone that technology has to offer.

Mac Rumors reported yesterday a tidbit that supports this trend- the iPhone represents over half of Verizon‘s smartphone sales for another consecutive quarter. While the overall number is down from the previous quarter’s 4.3 million phones (during the iPhone 4s’ release) the numbers are still overwhelming- a total of 3.2 million iPhones sold during the three month period.

The final numbers tally a total of 6.3 million iPhones activated on Verizon’s network, representing just over half of the carrier’s smartphone business- a staggering figure considering Verizon’s early commitment to Android handsets during the period when only AT&T had rights to the iPhone.

Read Full Post »

Like a good brew? Your iOS device can help you expand your horizons

While not everyone can appreciate the glorious synergy of grain, hops, and genius that make up a good craft beer, those of you like me that do have a new tool in the arsenal to expand your horizons: the Craft Beer App from Affect Global. 

The app boasts a database including all 50 states allowing you to locate local craft beers and breweries, explore brews by region, read in-depth reviews, allow you to post your own reviews and ratings, offer tips on bars and restaurants, and enjoy multimedia like exclusive videos.

The app has received rave reviews from numerous publications like Men’s Health and the LA Times, and has been featured by Apple in the App Store. If you consider yourself a beer aficionado or just want to get more out of a brew than the convenience store cooler can offer check out the Craft Beer App. It’s available now via the iTunes App Store for 99 cents.

Read Full Post »

OSX Flashback malware withers after Apple issues updates

According to a release from Symantec today  the Flashback malware targeting Macs is rapidly on its way to extinction, with the estimated numbers of infected systems plummeting from a high of 600,000 units on April 9 to less than 99,000 as of April 17. Variants of the malware have already popped up but the trend has been consistently and impressively downward.

The credit for such a rapid resolution of the issue has been given to the expedient issuing of updates from Apple and tools from Symantec (the free Norton Flashback Detection and Removal Tool) and others to detect and remove the unwanted code.

Click through to see the posting at Symantec’s website for more in-depth information on the Flashback malware.

Read Full Post »

Something free from MobileFun

A quick plug for my friends at MobileFun.co.UK- they currently have a free delivery code if you purchase the new OneCable multi-device sync/charge cable. Just enter ONECABLE in the rebate section when ordering and delivery is free (up to £2.99- that’s $4.75 for us Continental types).

I’m looking forward to reviewing this product soon; multipurpose accessories are the best to have, and with so many devices needing their own cord the OneCable just might be the go-to connector for your gadget arsenal.

Read Full Post »

Google may release a DropBox Killer

A report from Apple Insider states that Google is set to launch Google Drive, their cloud storage platform, with some features that will place it as a strong competitor to the popular DropBox.

The file synchronization service is rumored to offer 5 gigabytes, more than double DropBox’s entry level storage, and will be compatible with a wide range of platforms including iOS. For those of you like me that already use several Google cloud services the lure of being able to consolidate one more facet of online life with a single provider is strong. How well Apple’s cloud sync platform iCloud will compete is still to be seen; the service is still on the formative stages with refinements to be released with the upcoming Mountain Lion version of OSX.

Read Full Post »

The PowerPot: recharge your devices in the wild

Engadget has announced a new Insert Coin project (their endorsement of a Kickstarter campaign) for a truly promising niche product: the PowerPot. The PowerPot generates electricity for USB-powered (or recharged) devices by heating water in it. The device looks and functions like an ordinary camping or backpacking cooking pot, but also provides 5 or 15 watts of power depending on the model you have. It’s a great idea not only for the tech addict that needs to keep their device charged when camping off grid or for those without access to reliable electricity.

It’s a fantastic idea and a very worthy Kickstarter campaign- check out more at the PowerPot site or Engadget’s article.

Read Full Post »

Cordcruncher- another ‘why didn’t I think of that’ product

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) posted today about an ongoing Kickstarter campaign to fund the production of a product that should have been thought of long ago. The CordCruncher is a fantastic idea: it eliminates the problem of tangled and knotted headphone cords by sheathing them in an adjustable elastic sheath that is both functional and decorative. The only downside to this new accessory is that they don’t appear to have iOS style headphones with an inline microphone and controls. If the Kickstarter campaign is successful hopefully they’d expand the product line to include these features.

I’ve used a very wide range of headphones for my iOS devices, from $5 bare bones Skullcandy earbuds to top of the line $150 V Moda sets. All of them at some point have tangled and/or knotted; an annoyance at the least and possibly detrimental to the lifespan of the earbuds. This Kickstarter campaign will end April 20, so check them out.

Read Full Post »

Apple CEO Tim Cook’s visit to video game firm sparks rumors

The blogosphere is buzzing over a report that Apple’s CEO recently paid a visit to Valve, the video game firm that brought us two of the best games I’ve ever played- the Half Life series and the Left 4 Dead series as well as Steam, a distribution platform that’s been harkened an iTunes for PC gaming. On a personal note, Valve porting the Steam platform to OSX was the final deciding factor for me to abandon Windows and switch to an iMac for my desktop; if you’re a gamer of any degree you need the Steam client.

Rumors of the purpose of the visit abound, from the possibility of Apple participating in the development of new gaming hardware featured in a new Apple TV, to a project focusing on wearable computers to counter Google’s Project Glass eyewear. I’d even love to see this as an overture to bring a whole new line of games and development to iOS; Steam has an iOS app but it’s used only to access the Steam community (a games-only social platform) and the Steam store.

Casual gaming has been big from day one on the iPad, and more involved games have been cropping up over the past year (such as the recently announced addition of Max Payne). Whatever the purpose of Mr. Cook’s visit, I’m excited over the future of gaming in iOS.

Read Full Post »