We love casual strategy games, and when there’s online multiplayer thrown in… well that’s just a little slice of heaven! Here’s an exerpt from their webpage:

A menacing space station has appeared in orbit above the Earth. On board, an army of evil robots is being assembled to invade the planet. Meanwhile, a lone discarded Robo wakes up with a fresh perspective… saving humanity! Can you help our Hero escape the space station and put an end to the evil robot’s nefarious plot? Find out in RoboArena, a new game for the iPhone, iPad, and other devices!

RoboArena is a Top Down Turn Based Casual Strategy Multiplayer Action Game (TDTBCSMAG for short). Inspired by the board game classic Robo Rally, it will be a unique blend of strategy, puzzles, action, and casual fun! You play the part of a small Robo who has woken up in an evil factory designed to create a robot army to take over the world. Your mission is to help the little Robo to escape from this factory and stop the evil plot before it’s too late.

As you play, you must use an increasing arsenal of weapons, armors, and skills to solve puzzles, dodge evil robot drones, and destroy key computers to stop this evil factory. Additionally you will be able to test you skills against advanced AI players as well as humans in Arena and Multiplayer modes where players hunt each other, try to predict their targets moves, lay traps, and avoid enemies across random battlefields in a game of cloak-and-dagger chess. We have developed a unique casual style of game play that will push your planning and strategizing skills to the limit.

A few more features we found include:

• 4 player online multiplayer mode with GameCenter support
• 30 single player levels
• Over 15 unique weapons and armors
• Endless replayability against computerized opponents in Arena mode

How cool does that sound? I can remember playing RoboSport a long time ago, and it rocked. We want to see this game made!! Head on over to the RoboArena Kickstarter page for more info and videos! Help them out if you can, we need to support our local indie developers!!

There are myriads of cases for the original iPad and we expect just as many will soon be in production for iPad 2. But there are a few companies who already have iPad 2 cases on sale, and the look pretty promising. Here are five of the best out there right now.

Proporta Leather Protective Case

Proporta has a whole line of iPad 2 cases out already! Their most basic leather protection sleeve is made of high quality leather and offers protection for your iPad 2 against bumps and scratches. While this isn’t going to act as shock-absorbing super iPad armor, it does keep your device safe and also gives you a classy leather look. The Proporta Leather Case comes in black leather with pinstripe interior or brown leather with tartan lining. [Order On Amazon.com $47.95 Proporta Leather Protective Case]

Proporta Aluminum Case

Much like shields of yore, the Aluminum lined leather case is provides protection in two forms. The aluminum casing will keep your iPod 2 safe from impacts while the leather has a cosmetic appeal, protects it from scratches and bumps, and also can stop flaming arrows of yore, if you encounter those on a daily basis (note: I have not actually tested this).  This case opens like a book and contains access to all ports even in closed position. [Order On Amazon.com $84.95 Proporta Aluminum Lined Leather Sleeve]

Belkin has brought out an iPad 2 case that copies some of the best features from original iPad cases that are very intuitive to your needs and ways of using the device. The case provides protection from scratches and nicks as well as doubling as a stand. You can set it up in typing position with a keyboard, reading position or adjust it to any other you can think of. It also has a cutout slot for camera lens which means you can take pictures while its in the case – sneaky! [Order on Amazon.com $39.99 Belkin Access Folio Stand for Apple iPad 2]

Tuff-luv Marrakesh Multi-view Case

This funky looking case might not be for everyone, but many people love it. I’m guessing there are a lot more ska-loving bikers with iPads in the world than I imagined. This case is hand made with artificial leather and an adjustable viewing angle between 30 and 75 degrees. Your iPad 2 gets strapped in to protect it from slipping out. To top it off, you get a lifetime guarantee! [Order on Amazon.com $69.99 Tuff-Luv Marrakesh Multi-View Cover]

ZAGGmate iPad 2 Case

Zagg has made quite a name for themselves with the original iPad by making some amazing cases with real innovations. They don’t appear to be ready to cede their empire to newcomers for the iPad 2. The ZaggMate iPad 2 case is similar to the award-winning ZaggMate for the original iPad. The case is made of “aluminum with a bead-blasted, anodized finish” – which if I’m remember correctly, means Wolverines claws can’t cut through it. I could be wrong. The Bluetooth keyboard is the same awesome one that the original ZaggMate case sports, making this much more than just a case for protection. [Pre-Order From Zagg.com: 99.99 ZAGGMate w/keyboard]

It looks like you’ll have lots of great options for the iPad 2 as far as cases go. Order one that’s right for you today.

Sky Wars by Digital Prunes

Sky Wars is a great, steampunk themed turn-based strategy game featuring fleets of airships battling it out over a polluted metropolis. Sky Wars is kind of a combination between shuffleboard and bumper cars. On your turn slide one of your airships off toward the enemy team’s ships. The goal is to knock them off the playing field. I’m not sure why going off camera instantly destroys an airship. My guess is there are sky-scrapers just off-screen that they bump into.

As the game progresses, new objects appear in the battlefield. Traps grab your ships on a bungee cord and pull them back, which can actually keep you out of trouble and work to your advantage. Air mines blow you and opponents up. The strategy of this game comes from knowing when to sacrifice one of your ships for the greater good. With Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pass and Play, and Game Center play, you’ll have no shortage of opponents. That reminds me, I’m sorry for what I did to you in our first match Tank Boy, whoever you are.

App Store Link: [free/iPad $.99]

Helmet Hero from Lowell Duke

Helmet Hero reminds me of Megaman in appearance. It has a great comic book thick-lined style that looks so sharp on the iPod. The game itself has a simple and whimsical concept. You are Helmet Hero, a guy who apparently has a great urge to get from point A to point B because he never stops running. You can slow him down or speed him up, but the key to gameplay is quickly changing helmets to plow through upcoming obstacles. Helmets consist of attachments like chainsaws, drills, and spikes – each helmet is able to tear through a certain type of obstacle.

After you get out of the WAY too long tutorial mode, you’ll be in helmet-swapping mayhem-filled goodness with this game. I just can’t help but wonder why Helmet Hero can’t jump though. It sure would make things simpler. Once you get into the meat of the game, you have to constantly change helmets. Some obstacles can only be destroyed running full speed, making for an extremely face-paced workout for your reflexes. Check out this fun little game today.

App Store Link: [free]

If you are going to charge $15 for an app, it better be awesome! I’d pay $30 for this app because it fills some key voids that other iPhone/iPod music-making apps leave out. Music studio is basically a MIDI sequencer, you make lots of tracks, put notes on lines and hear them play back. The samples included of different instruments sound great and the interface is very intuitive. We’ve put it through it’s paces, and here are our findings:

First Impressions

On first impression, Music Studio looks like Akai Synth Station or Beatmaker. The Lite version has a few basic instruments which range from cheap sounding keyboard drum samples to impressive, realistic guitar sounds. You can hit record and play the touch keyboard, or put notes on the bar in a much more controlled fasion. Either way works great. You can overdub multiple recording sessions with the keyboard on the same track as well to create lush, monsterous chords.

Complete With Bells and Whistles (literally)

The effects range from awesome to not-so-awesome. The reverb sounds a little ‘freeware’ to me. Its just not as crisp as a professional reverb effect you’d find on a PC/Mac based software. The filter effect is what makes this program stand out from all its peers on the iPhone. Beatmaker and Noise.IO have filter tools, but no way to automate them. Automation is fancy musician terminology for creating a line graph that controls knobs thru the course of the song.

Music Station’s resonant filter is awesome. It sounds great even when taken to extremes. Its controlled by the accelerometer (i.e. tilting and rocking your iPod) and allows you to record movements and then apply them to certain tracks. This type of control over a filter is key to creating the classic trance sound and drum swells. So far, its the only iPhone app that I’ve seen that lets you do this (iSequence for iPad does this too, but not on iPhone version).

The full version’s samples are also great. They have some crystal clear guitar sounds and even amazing sounding distortion and overdriven guitars, not to mention ethnic instruments and sound effects. This is clearly a great example of what you can do with the iPhone platform that rivals $500 professional desktop tools. Check it out for yourself!

App store link: Music Studio [$14.99/free]

Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunters from Tatem Games

Carnivores is a Jurassic Park inspired modern-day dino-hunting game. With a variety of modern-day hunting gear, you set out for an island filled dangerous dinosaurs. The game has some of the best graphics you’ve seen on the iPhone. It’s a lot like the arcade Deer Hunter game, except these deer have horns and frighteningly clever AI. Once you pass the initial stages, the prey becomes a real threat.

The game has a lot of realism. Using a loud weapon will scare off some prey but attract others. You can go underwater to hide, but you have a limited amount of life. The most realistic aspect is that our hero can’t take 50 hits from a raptor and keep running around! Choose from a free-roaming hunt mode or survival mode which puts you in a corner in front of a rampaging pack of wild dinos.

App Store Link: Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunters [$2.99/free].

Chop Chop Caveman From Gamerizon

Chop Chop Caveman is my favorite out of the caveman and dinosaur games for the iPod. It reminds of a classic game…something about Bonking lots of caveman. The more you Bonk, the more revenge you get and the more Bonking you get to do. I think it was called ‘Big-Headed Baby Promotes Turbo Grafix 16’.

So what if its kind of a knock-off, this game has it all; gorgeous graphics and a fun soundtrack round out solid platforming gameplay. The control scheme is perfect for the touch and is taught to you through a series of caveman wall paintings in the background of the early stages. I love how there are no on-screen controls.

Your hungry little caveman needs a constant supply of dino-meat to stay alive, so its up to you to guide him around and pick up as much as you can. Chase down dinosaurs through jungles, swamps, boneyards, and ice caverns in search of more meat. Each area has its own challenges and baddies. A great casual fun platform game that you’ll enjoy playing through.

App Store Link: Chop Chop Caveman [$.99/free]

9000 BC from Infinindy

One of the newest games for the iPhone in this category, 9000 BC is noteworthy for its very unique artistic style. The entire game looks like a ancient stone-age wall painting that has come to live. You play the role of the tiny stick man with a spear who has to battle off hordes of tribal looking monsters and find food.

The game has a unique aspect to it involving your surrounding environment. If fire monsters are coming toward you, simply drag some water from the beach to extinguish them. When a big cloud appears overhead, drag it around until lighting shoots out. While fun and novel, you may find that many early levels can be won simply by tapping like a mad man. Get your caveman on today with any of these great apps.

App Store Link: 9000 BC [free]

Tron, Eat Your Digital Heart Out!

This is a hot case. After reviewing literally hundreds of iPad cases, we can definitively say that the Venture Case is on our top 5 best iPad cases ever list. From the slick styling and sexy highlights that make you feel like you are in the Tron world, to the clean high quality material down to the cool silver clasp that holds the case shut, this is our favorite alternative to the Apple iPad case. While you are waiting for your shiny new identity disc to arrive, you can at least cover your iPad in the closest thing to a Tron iPad case that’s on the market to date.

More Than Meets The Eye

Not to mix our metaphores here, but there is certainly more than meets the eye with this iPad folio. At first, the venture case folio for iPad may look simple, you might think its another one of the many cheap cases that have been cropping up ever since the iPad came out. It doesn’t have any fancy extras like paper folder, windows, or anything, but you’ll find it’s a testament to functional simplicity and has a heck of a lot of style packed in. Seriously, it does everything you need, and looks super sexy doing it.

Opening up the iPad Venture Case you’ll see that all the buttons and access ports have their proper spaces allowing you access and the ability to charge it while its closed. The iPad itself is protected by a impact-resistant shell that’s molded to keep it from slipping out. This slick iPad folio comes in a variety of cool colors that change the overall look from professional looking leather brown, to wild pink reptile print, and the black with pink or green strip from the Tron world.

One of the coolest little features about this case is that it doubles as a stand. In its open position, a reinforced strip of fabric on the cover comes out at a 30° angle that is the perfect position for using the iPad on a desk or on your lap on the couch.

The Venture folio for iPad is one of the best cases we have ever reviewed. It is high quality, and we absolutely love the tons of styles it is available in. The added stand functionality just makes it that much more useful and attractive. The Case Mate Venture iPad Case and Stand sells for $89.99. Check it out today!

Available in 9+ additional textures and colors!

Black/Green

Black/Pink

Pink/Black

Purple/Silver

Aqua

Green

Brown Leather

Gunmetal

Gold

But what is the surprise going to be? Could it be an iPad 3? If so, what will it look like?? What other announcement will be made? Read on for our predictions…

1. The iPad 3 will actually be the iPad Mini!

You heard it here first. Rumors of the 7″ iPad mini just refuse to die. Even after a direct denunciation by the Steve Jobs himself, we keep hearing rumors that an iPad mini is still a very real possibility. We think that the iPad 3 announcement that could be coming this Fall is indeed going to be this iPad mini we have all heard so much about.

2. iPad 3 will have an OLED Retina Display

Since the iPad mini will have a smaller screen, an OLED retina display is a much better possibility. Up until now, supplies of 7″ OLED screens have been tight, and were expected to ease up in the second half of 2011… just in time for an iPad 3 to be announced… hmmm… Coincidence? I THINK NOT!

3. iPad 3 will be able to compete with the Sony NGP

Who isn’t drooling over the specs of the soon-to-be-released Sony NGP? The power of a PS3 in the palm of your hands is almost too cool for school. Since games are by far the biggest money makers on the app store, it makes sense that Apple will want to keep pushing the envelope and keeping their devices on the top. We are predicting that the new iPad Mini will have enough power to compete on that level, as will the iPhone 5 or 6 soon thereafter.

4. Apple TV will get it’s own app store and enter the console gaming market

This isn’t exactly a revolutionary idea, we have all been calling for it ever since the Apple TV came out. With it’s incredibly low price point, compact size, and already MASSIVE store full of Apps, it makes sense that Apple would want to continue to press its advantage and bring the app store into as many houses as possible. Possibly games will be streaming just like Steam and make use of their new data center that is currently under construction.

So those are our predictions for this Fall’s “big surprise.” What do you think?

Oh, and for an additional little treat, here’s a video of everybody’s favorite tyrant before he found his “Turtleneck of Confidence +3″ terrified to be on camera and about to toss his cookies:

The new device will be thinner, lighter and will come with a faster processor, more memory and a more powerful graphics processor, said the people familiar with the matter. It will have a front-facing camera for the first time for features like video-conferencing, but the resolution of the new iPad’s display will be similar to the first iPad, they said.

More after the jump…

Though Apple of course declined to comment, the iPad 2 will reportedly be available through AT&T and Verizon just like the iPhone 4. If the iPad 2 screen is going to have a resolution that is similar to the original, why were people able to find assets that were double their original size? Possibly this is a bit of misinformation, or Apple was unable to secure higher resolution screens at a competitive price. There have been many reports stating that the amount of power required to run a higher resolution screen and the price tag would both be through the roof.

Also of note was that a rear camera was lacking on the iPad. Most, if not all, of the competing tablets that were announced at CES had rear facing cameras. Whether this will be a big deal or not remains to be seen. With 5MP cameras in our iPhones, I don’t see a need to have one in my tablet. But that’s just me.

No matter what, after the incredibly disappointing unveiling of the Motorola Xoom that has a $799 price tag and no wi fi support enabled unless you purchase a 1 month 3G package, the iPad 2 is just looking better and better.

Ditch Your Old iPad While There’s Still Time!

Now is the time to start ditching your old iPad if you want to get your monies worth if you plan on upgrading. Currently a used iPad with a box (you DID save your box right?) is selling for 85-90% of their original value on eBay! As soon as the new iPad 2 gets announced however, you can count on your current “antiquated” tablet to drop in value. Check out these auctions to see just how much a used iPad is selling for:

As you can see, now is the time to put your iPad up for sale on eBay or Craigslist! Or at least wait one more month before you buy the original iPad as the price will drop substantially!

Ok, so Greenpois0n can jailbreak the iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch devices running on iOS 4.2.1 . Now, Greenpois0n did have a couple of errors when it was first released. The Chronic Dev Team patched those up pretty quickly though! Thanks to one of the members of the Dev Team, the Greenpois0n website is back online and is stable now as well.

Here are some things that I’ve learned from this new jailbreak:

1. If you’re currently tethered because of redsn0w jailbreak, you CAN untether using Greenpois0n with no problems or a restore at all. Just use Greenpois0n like you normally would. You won’t get the loader app but you should have Cydia already because of redsn0w. (Note: this has only been tested by me on iPhone 4 and not any other devices!!!)

2. The custom boot logo is awesome. Can’t wait to see more even though the Greenpois0n one is a little glitchy.

3. It might take it a bit when it gets to “Greenpois0n initialized”. It did that to me. Just give it a bit and it’ll start exploiting after about 10-30 seconds of waiting.

Overall, this is a really great jailbreak. Head over to http://greenpois0n.com/ now and download! Happy Jailbreaking!!!

Early morning, pre coffee, you plug in your iPhone to sync it up, a box pops up and you hit “Ok.” Three seconds later you are cursing and kicking and smacking yourself. We’ve all been there. You just accidentally hit the “Update” button in iTunes and watched as your precious device starts to update and lose it’s  jailbreak. Well, now there’s a new tweak in Cydia called RecoveryGuard that blocks iTunes from updating your device! How does it work? Read more to find out…..

RecoveryGuard works a lot different than most Cydia apps out there, but then again not many Cydia apps have the purpose of what RecoveryGuard’s purpose is. RecoveryGuard, when it has been installed to your device, tricks iTunes into thinking you have the latest iOS firmware. Therefore, when you accidentally hit “Update”, a pop-up will appear from iTunes stating that you’re on the most recent version of iOS when you might be on 4.1!

So, how do you get this tweak? Well, just add the following repo to your Cydia sources, refresh and then search for RecoveryGuard (Remember, your device must be jailbroken in order to install this!!!):  http://cydia.pushfix.info . Enjoy never losing your jailbreak because of iTunes!

A new day, A new jailbreak has just arrived!  The Chronic Dev Team has just been released GreenPois0n RC5 to the public to bring an untethered jailbreak for all iDevices.  Unlike RedSn0w 0.9.7, this does not require 4.2b3 SHSH files to be saved on Cydia.  If you just got your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch for Christmas and want to jailbreak it now, then this is the jailbreak method for you  Method below, and problems and solutions below:

**IMPORTANT** – THIS UPDATE WILL JAILBREAK THE VERIZON AND AT&T IPHONE 4/3GS, IPOD TOUCH 4G/3G/2G, IPAD, AND THE APPLE TV 2ND GEN!

**PLEASE READ** – IF YOUR IPHONE REQUIRES AN UNLOCK, STAY AWAY FROM THIS OR EVEN UPDATE YOUR IPHONE TO 4.2.1!

GUIDE:

STEP 1: DOWNLOAD GREENPOIS0N RC6.1 HERE MAC OSX!

DOWNLOAD GREENPOIS0N RC6.1 HERE WINDOWS!

STEP 2: CONNECT YOUR IDEVICE TO YOUR COMPUTER, AND LAUNCH GREENPOIS0N RC5

STEP 3: CLICK THE JAILBREAK BUTTON AS SEEN IN THE SCREENSHOT BELOW

STEP 4: FOLLOW THE ONSCREEN INSTRUCTIONS AND ENTER YOUR IDEVICE INTO DFU MODE

• Press and hold the sleep button for 2 seconds
• Continue holding sleep; press and hold home for 10 seconds.
• Release sleep button; continue holding home for 15 seconds.

STEP 5: GREENPOIS0N WILL START JAILBREAKING YOUR IDEVICE

STEP 6: ONCE GREENPOIS0N SAYS “COMPLETE” , YOU CAN LET GO OF THE HOME BUTTON AND CLICK THE “COMPLETE” BUTTON AND QUIT GREENPOIS0N

STEP 7: YOUR IDEVICE SHOULD SHOW THE LOADER APP ON YOUR HOMEPAGE; TAP TO OPEN IT

STEP 8: USE THE LOADER APPLICATION TO INSTALL CYDIA.  ONCE THE DOWNLOAD IS COMPLETE, YOUR IDEVICE WILL RESPRING, AND YOU WILL SEE THE CYDIA APPLICATION ON YOUR HOMEPAGE WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY JAILBROKEN AND UNTETHERED YOUR IDEVICE ON 4.2.1.  **YOU MAY DELETE THE LOADER APP AFTER INSTALLING CYDIA**

ENJOY!

PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS WITH THE GREENPOIS0N RC5 UNTETHERED JAILBREAK:

• Problem : I got stuck in “Greenpois0n initialized”, retried, re updated. It remains the same.
• Solution : open “terminal”, type SUDO, open Greenpois0n as “Show package contents”, go MacOS folder & drag greenpois0n to terminal & hit enter. / Via iSurenix /
• Problem : My iPhone / iPod is showing blank (black) screen after jailbreak, iPhone / iPod is still in DFU mode after applying jailbreak.
• Solution : Leave your iDevice for two minutes, now press and hold both power and home button at the same time for 10-15 seconds until your iPhone / iPod boot as normal.
• Problem : Greenpois0n loader is crashing when I install Cydia, I am unable to install cydia via greenpois0n loader.
• Solution : For those having trouble getting Cydia via the GP Loader, just let redsn0w install it (don’t choose the Monte option) / Via MuscleNerd /

MORE PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS WILL BE ADDED HERE IF THERE WILL BE ANY MORE (HOPEFULLY NOT :\)

UPDATE  1: GREENPOIS0N RC5 2 JUST GOT RELEASED! LINK ADDED.

UPDATE 2: GREENPOIS0N RC5 3 JUST GOT RELEASED FOR MAC! LINK ADDED.

GREENPOISON RC5.2 FOR WINDOWS RELEASED! LINK ADDED.

UPRATE 3: GREENPOIS0N RC5 4 JUST GOT RELEASED FOR MAC AND WINDOWS! LINK ADDED.

UPDATE 4: GREENPOIS0N RC5 6 JUST GOT RELEASED TO JAILBREAK APPLE TV 2ND GEN FOR BOTH WINDOWS AND MAC. LINK ADDED.

UPDATE 5: GREENPOIS0N RC6.1 FOR WINDOWS AND MAC JUST GOT RELEASED.  FIX FOR THE IBOOKS BUG INCLUDED! LINK ADDED.

First Impressions

Out of the package, you might be under the impression you are missing a piece. That’s because the ZaggMate case doesn’t cover the back of the iPad but only the screen. Overall, it only adds a quarter of an inch to the iPad. Its so light (12.8 oz) that you’ll most likely forget its even there. This doesn’t mean, however that your iPad is not well protected.  The ZaggMate contains anodized aluminum casing with military grade high-density padding. That’s not just technobabble – you can tell right away that this case protects your iPad as well as any comparable case, and even many higher priced ones!

In a very surreal moment, as I was writing this with the TV just randomly playing in the background, I happened to notice MC Hammer promoting the ZaggMate on Oprah. He threw a ZaggMate encased iPad down as hard as he could, and it was completely fine.

Keyboard Bliss

Whenever a device tries to do everything, we’re always skeptical. Usually one or more of the features are severely underdeveloped or even useless. This is not the situation with the ZaggMate iPad Case with Keyboard. The Bluetooth keyboard is the best we’ve seen to date. Apple’s version feels like an ancient, bulky, relic by comparison.

The layout feels much more intuitive as well. The keys are responsive and have a nice snap to them. The keyboard is very close to the standard keyboard we’ve all grown up using, which means you can probably start typing rapidly with very few adjustments.

There are also some nice iPad function keys similar to those you see on many laptops. The battery holds several weeks of charge. And can be recharged via an included microUSB cable. This is one of the only keyboard and case combos that does not limit your options for displaying and adjusting both the angle of the screen and keyboard. There are even some little rubber feet included if you’d like add some gripping power.

A Case of Brilliance

Have you ever used a new device or heard a new idea that made you think, “this is so obvious and perfect, why didn’t someone think of it before?” This is the kind of feeling you’ll get from this case. It takes care of both protection and supplies a beautiful keyboard without any real drawbacks or problems. We suspect this case will be winning lots of awards in the next year and probably spawn many imitations as the gold standard for iPad case and keyboard combinations. Check out this case for yourself! The ZaggMate iPad Case with Keyboard is available for $99.99. It’s easily the best priced, and highest quality case in its class!

Buying an iPad or iPhone without an iPhone warranty is just a bad idea. These are devices that have glass screens, sensitive components, and can’t really survive a two foot drop (unless you put your iPad in a Zaggmate iPad case, as demonstrated by MC Hammer himself). Plus, you are going to use your iPad or iPhone at home, on the train, in your office, and everywhere else imaginable. Its just a matter of time before a toddler, pet, a teetering cup of coffee, or even the ground find their way into your life the hard way. While AppleCare provides technical support and warranty that covers some forms of disaster, you might find that the price is too steep for what is not covered.

However, you’re not only limited to AppleCare. SquareTrade iPhone insurance offers all the basics you’ll need to protect your iPad and iPhone at nearly half the price of AppleCare. How does SquareTrade measure up?

What You Get

AppleCare is great for those who are going to be prone to technical problems with their iPads or iPhones. If you aren’t particularly computer-savvy or simply don’t have time to deal with configuration issues or other problems that come up with your Apple devices, then the AppleCare warranty is probably worth the money for you. Having tech support available and basic coverage for battery and hardware failures is fine, but its missing the most important protection aspect that SquareTrade’s iPhone warranty offers.

Squaretrade will cover your iPhone for 2 years for just $99. During that time, your iPhone is covered for normal use issues ant tech problems, but here’s the kicker: SquareTrade iPhone Insurance covers your iPhone if it gets dropped or wet (even full immersion)!! AppleCare on the other hand won’t even touch your iPhone if it sees that any moisture has been within a mile of those moisture sensors.

IPhone Insurance Is A No-Brainer…

The biggest thing SquareTrade has going for it is the accident coverage including drops, spills, and whatever else happens. AppleCare does not cover the aforementioned most common i-device injuries. It only covers battery failures (sometimes), hardware issues (occasionally) and other problems like these. Considering that SquareTrade iPhone insurance is only half the price, this might be all you really need. If you don’t see yourself using Apple’s technical support very often (and I’d go as far as to say that none of us here at GumballTech have any need for Apple’s tech support…), SquareTrade’s iPhone and iPad Insurance is your best bet!

With the prices we are paying to get our hands on the latest and greatest Apple tech, there is no reason NOT to get this insurance for your iPhone or iPad. It will save you a TON of heartache and let you rest easy knowing you’re i-device is safe and sound from such monsters as: Toddler-mon, Kitten-chu, and Droppy-mc-droppy-hands-little-sister (yea, you know who you are).

If, however, you do feel you’ll need AppleCare’s help, you might want to just consider getting both. At $50 per year, the extra coverage goes a long way to protect an expensive device that inevitably will find itself in harms way.

Get iPhone and iPad Insurance Today

Leather Jackets Are Always Cool

Now your iPad can enjoy the iconic and ageless fashion of a leather ipad case. Namely, a thick, high-quality, full grain leather that will obviously stand up to a lot of wear and tear. Made from 100% full grain boot leather and lined with pigskin, this is one of the strongest types of leather you can get. With two straps that secure it closed on the back, and lots of opening for ports and buttons , this rugged cover is very usable but will still withstand lots of abuse. It also comes in a variety of colors: Carbon Black, Chestnut, Tobacco Brown, and Dark Coffee.

Usability

So this thing looks great, but it is also quite well thought out as far as design goes. Although the home button is behind the leather, its thin enough so you can still press it. You can charge the iPad while the case is closed too which is an important feature missing from some cases. The straps you use to secure it also double as a stand for watching movies or hooking up a keyboard.

Back to my time travel theory, the Saddleback Leather iPad Case comes with a 100 year warranty. This makes me think Saddleback has already rode their iPads into the future and seen the massive impact this case has had on fashion and technology. Much like a leather jacket, these cases will develop their own distinct character over time, and definitely become an integral part of your overall awesomeness.

By the way, can I please have a copy of that time traveling app? There are some things I’d like to warn 15-year old me about, and possibly some stocks I’d like to buy.

The Saddleback Leather iPad Case is available for $104 and is the last iPad case you will ever need. Go ahead and drool over the other cool leather bags and accessories on Saddleback’s website too while your at it!

Although none of these programs are going to make sounds that will land you a record deal (unless you can convince some suits that you are a minimalist genius), you can create some pretty cool techno, anime or video game styled music, or at least “sketch” out some ideas for compositions without being tethered to a computer.  We’ll review some of the best programs for sampling, sequencing and live performance available for the iPhone and iPod touch.

Bring out the apps…

iSequence by BeepStreet

One of my personal favorites, iSequence is a full blown sequencer for the iPhone. It is limited to 5 tracks but has no limit on instruments. The iSequence comes with tons of great sounds for making lots of kinds of music and great beats, although the collection seems geared toward electronic music.

The interface is the best for any of these apps I’m reviewing. Its incredibly simple and makes sense even to beginners. It is similar to many hardware sequencers that serious musicians may already know how to use. You can also add echos, adjust track volumes, and even do bending notes. You can actually compose quality sounding music on the iSequence.

The iPad version has even more features, including automation – making effects change on the fly during the song. You can create professional level stuff with the iPad version. Both versions have a simple export system that creates a WAV or MIDI file of your song. You can buy more sounds too.

Synthstation by Akai

Akai is one of the more respected names in synthesizer and sampler hardware. Their Synthstation app is highly professional and sounds great. It contains a synthesizer modeled after “old school” synthesizers, complete with knobs and faders. This is cool, but you may find it hard to get the sound you want since there are no real presets to start with. You need lots of experience adjusting parameters to get more than blips and bleeps out of this thing.

The drum machine is, however, awesome. The included kits sound great for hip hop, techno, IDM and jungle. You get some great sounds out of his thing. Its pretty easy to export and create complex sequences to compose actual songs. They also contain good live performance modes that turn your iPod into a virtual instrument.

Beatmaker by Intua

Beatmaker is my favorite sounding drum app for the iPhone. It’s a little confusing at first, since the menus seem a bit overcomplicated. But it has amazing sample banks and excellent effects including Delay, Bit Crusher, Resonant Filter, and Equalizer. It’s the only app that has these tools that react in real time. Fiddling with these on the fly can make some amazing sounds, and you could easily use it to perform live.

Noise.Io by Amidio

Noise.Io is the most exotic and original synthesizer app for the iPhone and iPod. Its not the easiest to use or learn, and it has some serious faults, but you can create some amazing sounds. It is totally built with live performance in mind. Because of that, using this app to create exported sounds to use with other programs is not the easiest thing.

Noise.Io does not use samples or make very good drums. But it creates gorgeous  basslines and lush sound effects. What sets it apart is the touch pad performance grid that changes the sound of your synth as you move your hand. Use two fingers and shaking the device produces even more changes that morph your sound. Its truly a great experience to hear your sound spiraling out of control as you go crazy with your hand.

Music fanatics will have a blast with these programs. Since we all know inspiration often strikes on the toilet, being able to put down a quick idea or melody into your phone while away from home is a great plus. The possibilities of using your phone as a live instrument are pretty intriguing. Just remember not to smash your phone during the grand finale of your show. You might need to make a call later.

Remember the first day of school? Remember how you’d buy all those super cool erasers, pencil sharpeners, folders, and that one giant pencil? Usually by the end of the first day all of that was stolen, except for that giant pencil… Nobody really wanted that thing, but we all had one. Well, now you can get your very own giant pencil stylus for your iPhone or iPad. It’s huge, chunky, and just as hideous looking as ever. Sure, there’s a ton of better iPad styluses out there, but they will probably get stolen anyway! Get your very own Giant Pencil Stylus for $9.99 at ThinkGeek.

iPlunge Phone Stand

Because nothing says ‘put me on your face’ like sticking a bathroom plumbing instrument onto it. I can see the process the design team went through to make this item, starting with a good idea: “Hey the iPhone has a flat back, we should use suction cups for a stand!” but after sending the idea off to their Chinese factories, what comes back looks vaguely similar and not entirely unlike a toilet bowl plunger. So next time you need to prop up your iPhone, or your Guinea pig plugs up the toilet AGAIN, you will totally be set with your very own iPlunge Phone Stand available for $5.99.

Beanbag Cellphone Chair

Beanbags became iconic in the 70’s and 80’s. I can remember begging my parents for weeks to buy me one, and thoroughly enjoying its floppy fun right up until I did a belly flop off my bunk bed and exploded the bean bag all over my room. 20 years later, I’m still pulling beans out of my nose. Now you can give that same joy to your iPhone. Nothing says you’re a groovy dude like sporting your own beanbag chair for your iPhone. 5 inches in diameter, this will provide the perfect place for your iPhone to chill. Or a good place for your Guinea pig to go and sulk after you make him plunge the toilet with your iPlunge. The Beanbag Cellphone Chair is available for $9.99.

Grassy Lawn Charging Station

This one is actually clever, and anybody who has ever been to a hippie juice bar and had an alfa alfa shot will appreciate the irony. It manages to be one of the most attractive charging stations we’ve come across, and at the same time remain utterly useless. Underneath your the green turf lies a compartment to stash all your charging power adapters and cables and you can run them up into the grass to charge your many devices. From beanbag chair to lounging in the park, your devices are going to feel like they are on a pampered vacation! The Grassy Lawn Charging Station is available for $24.99.

Acorn Wooden Speaker With Radio

In New York City, if you carry an acorn around, it means something significant. In the rest of the world it probably means you are a squirrel. This is a clever, and utterly pointless accessory for your iPhone. It is constructed from the wood of an actual acorn tree and has a small speaker and radio inside. You can easily attach it to your iPhone via a headphone jack, and pump your favorite tunes to all of your squirrel friends. No guinea pigs allowed. Or, if you want to listen to the radio on your tiny tiny acorn, you can do that too. The battery will last 10 hours with earphones, 5 hours with speakers, and is rechargeable via usb. Go ahead and put it in your Grassy Lawn Charging Station to be cute. Out of stock as of the writing of this article, the Acorn Wooden Speaker is available through ThinkGeek.

So there’s five things you don’t need for your iPhone. Don’t even bother buying them. You don’t need them. Then again, isn’t that the best kind of thing to buy?

It’s January 2007 and Steve Jobs has just totally sold me on .Mac (pronounced dot-mac, for those who don’t remember). It had website building tools, OS integrated cloud storage in the form of iDisk, cool @mac email addresses and sex appeal.

The one thing that took some convincing was the cool $99 it cost annually. I easily overcame that obstacle and signed up, however. When left to myself, I loved it. I loved tossing things in iDisk and accessing them anywhere. I loved my contacts syncing over the air. I loved my email address. I loved it all.

A year and a half later .Mac became MobileMe and put what some saw as a neglected 90′s technology on modern crack. Everything was refreshed and they even won some awards while doing it. The year was 2008 and my vows were renewed. However, it had it’s critics.

When I told people of my in-love experience with MobileMe, I was rarely met with “Isn’t it wonderful?!” Rather, the response was something along the lines of, “You know you can get all those services for free, right?” But I never listened. The cards began falling in 2009 when a once fringe-ish practice of cloud storage began to hit the public en masse. Everyone around me was adopting cloud solutions and the solution was never MobileMe.

I had a frank discussion with my brother around this same time when I desperately tried to show him how everyone else was wrong and I was right. I showed him iCal on me.com and showed him how you can drag events around and how useful it was. I showed him contacts and how quickly everything could sync. I showed him the email client and showed him all the ways that it was better than other webmail sites. He likely wouldn’t know, but he wasn’t my intended audience… I was.

I wanted to believe so badly that Apple had nailed it. I wanted to know that my money had be well spent and that I was part of a winning platform.

But I can’t fight the truth any longer.

There really are amazing tools and solutions out there that execute every aspect of the MobileMe experience either equivalently or better. And I’ve begun the transition to these other solutions and come May when my MobileMe expires, I’ll not be renewing. Instead, these will be the tools that will be carrying me.

1) Dropbox > iDisk

Dropbox is a cloud storage solution which is free for light users, and cost effective for heavier users. It has both OS integration and a phenomenal web experience. This was the big shift in scales for me. Cloud storage is the only one of the services within the MobileMe family of tools that other companies are charging for. The $99 for MobileMe gets you 20GB, while for the same cost Dropbox will give you 50GB. This is big for me. I use cloud storage like crazy. I have many computers and a smartphone, and it is the easiest way to manage files across multiple pieces and types of hardware. That is one side of it. I also have had better success using Dropbox over MobileMe. The iDisk feature is kind of clunky. It had an extremely hard time understanding when a folder had been deleted. Anytime I would reorganize my files and rename a folder or remove a folder, I would basically have to learn to deal with duplicate folders and empty folders because iDisk would not let me delete a folder once it was created. Dropbox is much more elegant. The whole thing syncs much more quickly and accurately. Folders can be created and deleted at will and I’ve got 150% more storage for the same price. Easy decision.

2) Gmail.com > Me.com

This one is tougher. Email addresses are sacred. Particularly personal ones. I’ve given my me.com address to hundreds of contacts through the years. My college buddies use it, my non-company professional contacts use it. And there is no real way of contacting everyone who will ever email me there and tell them to use a new address. Tough. This was the last element keeping me at Apple’s MobileMe. The fact that they can hold your email address hostage for $100 bucks a year should be criminal. But, this is a bridge I’ve crossed. I’ve already gone through all my memberships and changed them all over to my gmail address. I’ve deleted the me.com outgoing mail server so that all replies are coming from my gmail address. Again, this has been the toughest part of the transition, but worth it to get a free and open email address. I’ll no longer be a slave to that annual fee to continue getting email.

3) Syncing contacts/calendars through Google > iCal

This was one of the things that I’ll just plead ignorance on. When everyone around me was saying that I could get all the MobileMe services from other providers for free, I thought they were being general, when in fact it is true literally. Apple likes to say that their services are “exchange for the rest of us.” Not true. Google uses Microsoft Exchange, literally, and Apple’s services are something that kind of look like exchange if you squint really hard and eat paint chips. As I went through the process of syncing my contacts with Google’s exchange account, I was shocked how easy it was and how fast it was. My calendars went seamlessly as well. No hiccups. No I-think-I’m-gonna-regret-this moment. Just a few minutes between my phone and computer following easy directions.

4) WordPress & Tumblr > iWeb

Software is dying. Particularly Consumer web publishing software. No matter what you need to accomplish, iWeb will cripple you and WordPress, Tumblr and the like will empower you. They are easy to set up, 100% customizable, and require absolutely no programming to use. My mom even has a few WordPress sites she uses and she fits exactly within the iWeb demographic, no offense Mom. I was a big iWeb guy for a long time and had more than a dozen sites setup, but as WordPress got better and better and with other publishing tools like Tumblr popping up, iWeb went from kind of useful to completely useless. I’ve moved on.

So there it is. I’m done! I got everything for free, sans the optional additional storage I purchased from Dropbox, and I couldn’t be happier. 2007 seems so long ago. MobileMe is a tired program and it feels liberating to no longer be tied to something so closed-up. So, 4 years and $400 later, I say peace out, MobileMe, I’ve got all you could offer and more, without you.

3DBoard works by taking advantage of the iPhone’s sensory hardware, therefore giving off a 3D effect to your SpringBoard! You can toggle the effect in the settings app of your device. 3DBoard works with all iDevices on iOS 4.0+ . Check out the link below for a demonstration video of 3DBoard by it’s creator. Note that the video was made before the tweak was released so changes could exist!

What’s so great about this tweak? Well, it adds 3D to your iPhone without the need for 3D glasses! You gotta admit, that’s pretty cool! Now, how would this tweak look combined with DeepEnd? I’m not sure, but I bet the effect would be awesome!

Now this tweak isn’t free though. It’s at a steep price of $2.99 in Cydia, but $2.99 isn’t a bad price for what it does though! You can purchase and download 3DBoard on the BigBoss repo which should already be installed in Cydia.(Remember, you must have a jailbroken device in order to install this!!)

USB Drive allows you to use however much you want of your device’s capacity to create “partitions” in the app for storing content on. You can pretty much make as many partitions as you want, but it’s not recommended due to the fact that it might make your device slow and you don’t want to use too much of your device’s capacity. It has 3 different modes to offer: “Default” mode, “Drive Only” mode (which allows the driver only) and lastly “Drive + iTunes” (which allows you to use the driver and iTunes on your computer). It has been reported that the “Drive + iTunes” mode might make your iTunes not work properly but it’s only temporary. It is also recommended to read the documentation about the modes yourself.

You can get USB Drive yourself for free by adding the following repo to your sources in Cydia (Remeber, your device must be jailbroken!!):

http://apt.dmytro.me/

DeepEnd is a cool little jailbreak tweak which adds a 3D effect to your iPhone 4′s homescreen wallpaper. DeepEnd was coded by well known developer Ryan Petri.

DeepEnd works by using your iPhone 4′s gyroscope to change your iPhone’s screen orientation based on the angle you hold your device, creating a 3D effect to your homescreen wallpaper! Remember, you will need a jailbroken iPhone 4 or other supported iDevice in order to install this!!

You may be asking, “What’s the big deal about this tweak?” Well, it makes a 3D effect on your homescreen wallpaper (which, in my opinion, is pretty cool) and….. it’s free! Download it in Cydia by adding the following repo to your sources:  http://rpetri.ch/repo/

If you’re anything like me, you may not back up your mobile devices as often as you should; and it’s only until your phone gets stolen, lost, or dropped in a toilet that you realize the errors of your ways. But now, thanks to the popular gadget manufacturer, Iomega, there is a mindless solution to one of our most frustrating problems! Check out our review of the Iomega SuperHero Backup Charging iPhone Dock!

Now available at Amazon.com for under $70 (MSRP),  Iomega’s SuperHero Backup and Charger for iPhone does exactly what the title would imply, charges your iPhone while simultaneously backing up your pictures and contacts. However, as blatantly obvious as the product’s name may seem, it doesn’t detail one major feature: Unlike other options that allow you to backup your device, (ie. sync with iTunes) Iomega’s SuperHero saves your data to an included 4GB SD card, which, of course, can be replaced with a larger SD card of your choice. This allows you to sync with multiple iPhones without skipping a beat! (And you don’t have to change the SD card either!) Along with the SD card, the SuperHero comes with an app of the same name which allows you to choose which data gets synched.

You could save the $70 by simply syncing with iTunes, but I mean c’mon, who likes doing that? This mindless solution will be well worth the price once you need it, but until then, it might seem a bit excessive to some…

Overall out of all of the practical solutions to preserve data, this is by far the best on the market. The SuperHero is compatible with the iPhone 4, 3GS, and 3G, and also the third and forth generation iPod Touches.

Here are the release notes:

“iTunes 10.1.2 syncs music, movies, and more with iPhone 4 (CDMA model) and provides a number of important stability and performance improvements.

iTunes 10.1 came with several new features and improvements, including:

• Use AirPlay to instantly and wirelessly stream videos from iTunes to the all-new Apple TV.

• Sync with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 4.2.”

This is not a required update but if you are one of those people planning on getting a shiny new Verizon iPhone 4 next month, then this update is definitely an update for you

This update is not confirmed that it is safe for jailbreakers at the moment.  Check back here for future updates on this.

**UPDATE 1 – ITUNES 10.1.2 IS CONFIRMED TO BE SAFE FOR JAILBREAKERS AND UNLOCKERS**

At the beginning of the year app darling of the running community, RunKeeper Pro, announced that for the month of January all those wishful resolution makers could download the app for free. Today, the plans changed a bit for the company as explained in a blog posted earlier today. Learn about it after the jump..

As the end of January approaches, we have been blown away by the response to this little promotion- millions of new users, lots of existing users making the upgrade and active usage on an ongoing basis more than double what it was before. This means more people getting fit, more people using RunKeeper to do so and a much larger chunk of our userbase benefiting from all of the great functionality that the RunKeeper Pro application offers!

In short, they never thought their app would hit true mainstream. They’re flattered and shocked and a change in pace (ah hem) seems in order.

Based on what we have learned in the last month, and based on our long-term goal of building the biggest most engaged community of users that we can (who get the best fitness results in the process), it became clear what we needed to do. We are pleased to announce that, as of today,RunKeeper Pro will continue to be a FREE download!

That’s right! One of the best running apps out there is now free indefinitely. So go run around for a minute and celebrate, but be sure to download the Runkeeper app first so you can track it all.

So, what’s next for this now uber-successful app? They’ve got a bright future ahead of them which includes possibly an API and other goodies that will treat their community with the thanks they deserve for making RunKeeper Pro the huge success it has been.

The article reports that the iPad 2 production will start at a “small ramp” which means that the production is expected to increase in the second half of the year.  Shipments are also expected to be larger than the first generation iPad which should prevent the stock shortage from last year.

The report also adds that both Foxconn and Pegatron are also part of the process of the production.

According to the source, the iPhone 5 will be handed out by production partners in May, which would then follow the annual June release of Apple iPhones.

Check out this post for a list of the latest rumors and find out which iPad 2 rumors are highly likely, which are just wishful thinking, and which ones are dreamt by attention seekers up whilst on acid trips…

Highly Likely:

Compact Form Factor- This is all but certain, the iPad will be thinner and shaped more like the iPhone 4. The upside is the naked iPad will stop slipping out of our fingers and wobbling around on the table. The downside is that most old cases won’t fit.

Front and Rear Facing Camera- This one is another duh. With Apple trying to unify all their devices, and due to the fact that Facetime works on every single other device, it stands to reason that the iPad will have a front facing camera. Also the new found in the SDK refers to it. Most tablets announced at CES had 5MP rear facing cameras and 2MP front facing cameras. Here’s hoping the iPad 2 has the same!

Higher resolution 2048×1536- Yup this one is probably coming too. The new resolution will be exactly double what the old resolution was. This will allow for easy scaling up of old apps. Upside is that we would see beautiful pictures, games, and movies like never before. Downside is that it would be a resource hog and raise the price significantly

Multi-core processor- Yup, it stands to reason that if the iPad is getting a higher resolution screen, it’s gonna need more horsepower to keep those pixels a-shining. Rumors say it will be the new multi-core A5 processor based on the Cortex A9. Upside is more horsepower and better graphics, and downside is… nothing!

iLife for iPad- There have been a few rumors out there that the new more powerful GPU will make it possible for iLife to run on the iPad. We think there’s a pretty good chance of this, it makes sense that Apple would want to make the iPad into a more useful media editing machine.

Larger Storage Capacity- Duh. According to engadget, devices are reportedly already appearing that have 128 Gigabytes of memory onboard, which is double what you can currently get. This is highly likely to be the case, much more likely than getting an SD card slot.

New Speakers- This is all but certain as well. Leaked pictures from case makers in China show a very large opening on the bottom that would strongly point to the iPad 2 having a newer betterer speaker setup. This is very exciting because the old speakers on the iPad were terrible. Granted… we rarely if ever have the sound on while using our iPad, but if we did… it would be nice to hear some crisp sound.

3 versions of iPad Wi-fi, 3G, CDMA- The rumor goes like this: Apple is expected to release three versions of iPad 2, supporting either or a combination of Wi-Fi, 3G and CDMA, for 2011 with mass production to start as early as the later half of January. Apple will ship about 500,000-530,000 units to channels in January with shipment ratio of Wi-Fi, 3G and CDMA models at 3:4:3, according to industry sources, citing upstream component makers. We see this as being very very likely. The iPhone 4 is coming to Verizon and runs on their CDMA network, it would only stand to reason that the iPad 2 will do the same.

Unlikely:

1 Megapixel rear camera- Disturbing reports are stating that they have found references to the 1MP rear camera on the iPad 2. This is troubling because that would make it pretty much the same camera that Apple slapped on the iPod touch. If this is true, then it would mean the competition has a serious leg up in this aspect, and expect them to flaunt it frequently. That being said, the iPad really isn’t a picture taking device, so it’s not really that big of a deal.

Vibrating Motor- Parts suppliers have reportedly been producing and shipping what was labeled as an iPad motor. We are iffy on this, the report was sketchy at best, however it would be nice.

SD Card Slot- Engadget reported this rumor, calling their source “near certain.” We say this would be unlikely, though awesome if it did come about. The iPhone is on it’s 4th (or 5th if you count the 3GS) revision and it still hasn’t been granted an SD card slot. It would also interrupt their storage based pricing system and open the door to foreign software getting introduced to the iPad that is outside of Apple’s all seeing eye. Hence, we still call this rumor very unlikely.

USB Port- There have been rumors of a USB port coming to the iPad 2 since the original iPad was released. This is partly due to the pact made by European device makers that decided to make micro-USB ports the standard device charging port. Apple’s charging port is of course the iconic 30 pin dock connector. We don’t see Apple doing this, though again, it would be nice since it would mean easier integration and connectivity for USB devices.

Anti Smudge and Anti Reflective Treatment- Any neurotic iPad user can attest to the fact that fingerprints and smudges can become insanely annoying. A juicy rumor from Digitimes states that the new iPads will feature an Anti Smudge and Anti Reflective treatment. We aren’t convinced, though we are hopeful that it does come about!

You Must Be Tripping…

Touch sensitive rear panel- Apple DID register a patent for a touch sensitive rear bevel, but we still think this is highly unlikely to see on the iPad. If only because it’s entirely untested and they wouldn’t include such a new feature on a high profile device right away. Expect to see this in play for the next generation iPhone 5 or iPod touch before you see it on the iPad 2.

4G support- Not a chance. This technology is still in its infancy and hardly applies to almost anybody that lives outside of 2-3 major US cities. Look for 4G support in the iPad and iPhone in another year or two.

White iPad- Globaldirectparts.com has a picture of a white iPad 2 in its product catalog. We doubt this will happen and there’s a high chance that this is just a concept image. With the endless problems Apple has had turning the little iPhone 4 white, it’s highly unlikely that there will be a white iPad 2 this time around.

7” iPad Mini- This theory was quite popular for a while, but it has been all but debunked by Steve Jobs himself who said the “current crop of seven-inch tablets are going to be DOA, Dead on Arrival.” A 7″ tablet would be a stop gap between the iPhone and the iPad and is all but useless. At the very least, Apple will wait to see what consumers think of the current Samsung Tab and other 7″ tablets before considering this.

Removing the home button- According to some reports the new iPad will completely remove the home button in favor of multitouch gestures on the screen for activation and exiting programs. We call bullocks on this rumor. A major part of what makes the i-devices so easy to use is that there’s one button on the screen, and anyone can pretty much figure out what you are expected to do with it in less than 2 seconds of fiddling around. Apple prides themselves on self explanatory design, and would never remove the home button.

Side Docking Port- Some rumors are saying that the iPad will have a port on the side for docking in landscape mode. This is stupid. Apple doesn’t do stupid things, not when it comes to design at least.

There’s enough iPad 2 rumors to keep even the most rabid of Apple fanatics at bay for a while. Check back for updates as more news comes down the pipe!

That’s pretty impressive.

3 days later and Bubble Ball still #1 on the charts.

Welcome To The Wild Wild West Of App Store Development!

What’s more impressive is how the App store is turning the gaming world on it’s head. It’s the Wild West out there, a clever idea and a sweet app can turn you from zero to hero in under 24 hours. What used to be a closed market has opened up, and indie game developers of all shapes, sizes, and ages are crawling out of the woodwork hoping to make their mark. The iPhone, iPod, and iPad are quickly becoming the most popular gaming devices out there, and are putting the nails in the coffins of former contenders like Nintendo and Sony Playstation.

With over 160 million iOS devices out there right now, and that number growing exponentially every quarter, the potential market for reaching people is huge! This is both good news and bad news for all of you indie developers out there. While the market is getting bigger, so is the competition. Big name companies have moved into the app store and are able to propel their games to the top of the charts from sheer size alone. Getting noticed on the app store is just going to get harder and harder.

However the story of Bubble Ball is an encouraging one to all indie developers out there. It’s still possible to get lucky. All you need is a clever idea and the determination to see it through. Of course, a little marketing can’t hurt either. In the near future, we’ll be writing a series of iPhone game marketing tutorials using some little known methods that just may open your eyes to the possibilities out there!

Before now, the choices for tablet computers has been… underwhelming. Part of the problem is that any company these days can slap together some second rate hardware, a touch sensitive screen, throw Android on it and call themselves a tablet PC. They are cheap and skanky… and that’s about the only upside. That is all about to change though, the competition is finally stepping up to the bat. Check out our lineup of what could very well be the next iPad killer!

Smart and Sassy- Blackberry PlayBook

You know this girl, she’s about 5′ nothing, smartly dressed, Starbucks barista glasses, often found in libraries and has a slicing wit. There’s more than meets the eye here for anybody man enough to brave the biting sarcasm and cutting wit. For years now, BlackBerry has been synonymous with business. Their PlayBook is going to have a 7″ screen, 1GB of ram, a 1 GHZ dual-core processor, 3MP front facing camera and a 5MP rear camera. There will be WiFi support, bluetooth, a micro HDMI and micro USB port and it will pair seamlessly with your BlackBerry. RIM is touting this tablet as a gaming and enterprise device like no other. However, if you don’t already own a BlackBerry, the pairing features won’t be quite as seamless as you can see from this interview. Will the lack of 3G support be an issue? Will it’s small 7″ size be a boon or a bane? We’ll have to wait and see what this smart and spunky tablet does. Expect to see her on the shelves in March of 2011 in the US.

Sporty Spice- Motorola Xoom

Sporty and sexy, long legs, blonde hair, blue eyes, this tablet has all the right features in all the right places. With at 10″ screen, two 1GHz processor chips, a 1280×800 resolution screen, 3G and 4G support, Google’s Android 3.0, front and back cameras, and a host of other exciting features, this tablet is sporty and just may steal the crown from the iPad. It’s bursting with potential, and has enough horsepower to kick some tail. Is this just another pretty face or will it make a splash? Don’t know, but we’re excited to find out! Watch for this sporty tablet to be released in March 2011

Girl Next Door- Toshiba Tablet

The Toshiba Tablet has many of the same features as the Motorola Xoom, but adds in a few other interesting tidbits. It’s got the same supercharged dual core processors, the same 1280×800 resolution, the same front and rear facing cameras, and even comes with a removable battery, GPS, and digital compass built in. Also the Resolution+ video enhancement features give your videos a HD-like look to make your videos and pictures look even better. It doesn’t appear to have 3G support yet, and is lacking a flash. It’s also a bit and heavier than it’s counterparts weighing in at 1.7 pounds. Toshiba will be providing it’s own app market which will likely run tandem with Google’s Market under Honeycomb. While it doesn’t stand out from the crowd with anything overly flashy and cutting edge, it is a polished and durable tablet and makes a solid entry in the new lineup of iPad killers to be released in the first half of 2011. We’ll be keeping an eye on this girl next door and reporting back soon!

Office Bombshell- Samsung PC 7

The Samsung PC 7 is more than just a tablet, it’s a hybrid touch screen device with it’s own slide out keyboard. It’s part netback, part laptop, and part Windows tablet, and it’s all sorts of sexy! 10’1 inches of slick lines and graceful curves, and underneath is a steel blue keyboard and trackpad that slide out when you really need to get to work. Intel Atom z670 CPU, 2GB of DDR Ram, 3G and WiMax connectivity, a 9 hour battery life, and the list just keeps going on. Heavier than a tablet, but lighter than a netbook, it bridges the gap that few have managed to cross. This office bombshell of a tablet may not be for everybody, but for those who want a good mixture of netback and tablet, this is the device for you.

• White iPhone 4 box (I’ll get into this below)
• White front glass panel (retina display + digitizer, fused together)
• White back glass panel (with the glass lens and flash diffuser)
• White headphone jack
• White dock connector
• A free [cheapy] case

Okay, sounds good, right? Not exactly… Let me just quickly say that the quality of the glass (for both the front and the back) are of poor quality. At first, everything seemed alright, but within 3 days, things started going downhill. On the outside (and inside), it seemed as thought that these parts were as close as you can get to the real Apple OEM deal. The inside of both the front and the back look extremely identical to the parts you’d find on a legitimate black iPhone 4.

I was originally sent all of the parts, EXCEPT for the white home button and the free little case. Luckily, I had a white home button from my previous conversion (by iFixYourI). I can care less about the case, but it’s a bit disappointed that they forgot to send these things to me. I went ahead and started to take apart my iPhone 4 – That was the easiest part. Putting the new parts in where quite a pain, so much that I accidentally ripped a piece of the ribbon cable that the volume buttons connect to (the silent switch and volume buttons are connected to the headphone jack cable). So, I paid a total of about $60 to ship the phone to them (overnight), and for them to ship the phone back to me. All they did was fix the volume buttons. They also didn’t swap out my old white home button for theirs, so that was also disappointing. So far, everything’s looking to be horrible. It gets better…

Within 3 days of owning these parts, the back cracked (obviously), and the the middle portion of my touch screen stopped working (see the above screenshot). Made with SketchBook X, you can easily see that the middle portion of the screen is completely dead. Very disappointing, and this happened just 3 days after receiving my iPhone back from iPhone4WhiteKit. I didn’t drop my phone at all. They’ve emailed me last week, saying they were going to send me these parts, but they haven’t responded to any email since then. Quite disappointing, especially when my phone is in this bad of condition. It’s barely useable, and the cracked back is dangerous.

Let me talk about the white iPhone 4 box that they include. They claim on their website that this isn’t some fake Chinese box, but it actually is. There are a number of indicators. If you look up the UPC and model number, the iPhone 4 that shows up is a BLACK UNLOCKED model, not the white one. Another indicator? The little iPhone 4 quick-start guide that comes in the little packaging envelope is of horrible quality. The printing isn’t centered onto the pages, and the actual letters aren’t nearly as clear as on the legitimate one.

The white headphone jack is a bit odd. While nobody really knows what the real white headphone jack looks like, the light from the display will shine through it. Also, headphones don’t seem to “click” into place. They just sort of slide in. The connection just doesn’t seem as secure, despite everything working properly.

So far, the only part that I’m satisfied with is the white dock connector. It hasn’t given me any problems [yet].

What more can you say? The customer service is slow, and the quality of the parts are below what you’d expect. This is the second white iPhone 4 conversion service that I’ve reviewed, and I think I’m not doing anymore. Was a waste of money.

Verdict? While your experience may vary, I would stay away from these guys. If you’re looking to convert your black iPhone 4 to a white one, you should just stick with your black one until Apple releases the white one, or if they never do, then just stick with your black phone. It’s not worth it.

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

Video

Photo Gallery

Notice the lack of iOS 4.3b1 for the iPhone 3G and the second generation iPod Touch. Maybe Apple’s finally dropping support for those devices?

[spoiler show="Show release notes" hide="Hide release notes"]

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A lot of people have already flocked to our website to try and grab the downloads. We’re not planning on uploading these, as it’s a beta, and requires the device’s UDID to be activated with a developer account. We only upload firmwares that are Golden Master builds, or betas that don’t require an activated device. If you really must have the beta (it’s just a beta…), then contact the person who has activated your UDID. Sorry!

Also, the “Personal Hotspot” feature requires carrier activation.

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

Check the product out here: http://www.xtand.net/alupen.html

Be sure to follow me on Twitter @besweeet for more CES and tech coverage! http://twitter.com/gumballtech

Also, don’t forget to come by tomorrow! There are lots of live blogs that we’ll be doing.

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2011/01/04/ces-unveiled/feed/ 0 http://www.gumballtech.com/2011/01/04/ten-one-design-unveils-fling-tactile-game-controller-for-ipad-at-ces-2011/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2011/01/04/ten-one-design-unveils-fling-tactile-game-controller-for-ipad-at-ces-2011/#comments Tue, 04 Jan 2011 18:05:28 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4871

While gaming on the iPad can be someone difficult and/or uncomfortable, Ten One Design (the makers of the Pogo Sketch) are hoping to make it more enjoyable. They’re calling if “Fring”, and it’ll make gaming on the iPad more practical. Full press release below!

[spoiler show="Show press release" hide="Hide press release"]

Ten One Design Unveils Fling Tactile Game Controller for iPad at CES 2011

Montclair, NJ (January 4, 2011) – Ten One Design, creator of the first capacitive touch-screen stylus for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, has announced its revolutionary tactile game controller for iPad – Fling. This patent pending device adheres to the iPad’s screen over the directional pad of any applicable game to deliver ultimate control and superb response for full gaming immersion. Fling’s unique spiral design creates actual physical resistance so gamers are assured of greater directional control.

Fling works with any iPad game with a directional pad, or virtual joystick, including Meteor Blitz, Across Age and Super Megaworm, among many other First Person Shooter and RPG titles.

To use Fling, launch the game of your choice, secure Fling’s center control over the game’s directional pad. Then simply place your thumb on the center control to navigate easily through the game.

Fling’s unique transparent and flexible design provides an unrestricted view of all on-screen action. Plus, the suction cups allow simple attachment and detachment for spontaneous gaming sessions. Click here to see full video demo.

The included microfiber bag is ideal for on-the-go storage and doubles as the perfect screen cleaning cloth to eliminate unwanted smudges and fingerprints.

Available with Ice, Ninja and Ultraviolet accents, Fling can be pre-ordered now at www.tenonedesign.com for just $24.95 and will begin shipping at the end of January.

ABOUT TEN ONE DESIGN, LLC

Ten One Design, LLC, is a New York-based design firm established in 2007 to create innovative solutions for and enhance the quality of the ever-changing mobile lifestyle. By striving to improve the status quo and develop groundbreaking products like the Pogo Stylus, the Ten One Design brand is dedicated to being first and best. For more information about Ten One Design, please visit www.tenonedesign.com.

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We’ll try and bring you a hands-on demo while at CES in a few days. Follow @besweeet for all things CES and tech!

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2011/01/04/ten-one-design-unveils-fling-tactile-game-controller-for-ipad-at-ces-2011/feed/ 0 http://www.gumballtech.com/2011/01/04/speakal-unveils-2011-line-of-advanced-iphoneipod-docking-sound-systems/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2011/01/04/speakal-unveils-2011-line-of-advanced-iphoneipod-docking-sound-systems/#comments Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:34:36 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4853 Finally! Some new speaker docks (for iDevices, of course) that seem pretty cool! Speakal has unveiled a line of new iDevice speaker docking systems. We’ll be sure to try and get a demo of all of the units at CES in a few days. Full press release and information are below.[spoiler show="Show press release" hide="Hide press release"]

Speakal Unveils 2011 Line of Advanced iPhone/iPod Docking Sound Systems

Culver City, CA – January 4, 2011 – Speakal, a company driven by its passion for sound, intelligent technology and innovative designs, is proud to debut its new lineup of vibrant and colorful sound docks for 2011. With this new line, music enthusiasts now have a collection of uniquely designed sound solutions to match their individual lifestyles.
SBPKX-100 – SBPKX-100 is a portable docking sound system that comes in an array of stunning colors complemented by a soft colorable LED light. It features high quality audio with an acoustic accelerator and DSP audio processing and an AM/FM alarm clock with 20 pre set stations. The LCD clock automatically syncs up with your iPhone/iPod to ensure the time is always accurate. You can plug it into the wall or power it up with AA batteries making it a great solution for around the campfire or trips to the beach.

SB 12 – This premium speaker system surrounds your iDevice with a colorful halo of powerful sound. Its modern, industrial design superbly complements the modern home with a thin disc of superb fidelity featuring touch controls.

iExecutive – This luxury docking sound system boasts a wide array of playback options with iPod/iPhone/USB/SD/Bluetooth compatibility. It’s sleek, aerodynamic design coupled with a powerful 20W subwoofer make this the ultimate centerpiece for the modern office. Additional functionality includes a radio, alarm clock, 20 pre-set channels, and video output.

Kurve – This compact, tubular sound dock blends 20 watts of clear and powerful sound with a colorful, clean form that accents your tunes with style. An integrated LED with 4 levels of brightness helps customize the atmosphere of any room.

SB5 – This fashionably designed oval speaker cranks out powerful bass with over 27W of total output. Bluetooth capabilities allow you to control your playlist from the comfort of your couch.

“Our lineup of speaker solutions offers something for every type music enthusiast” said CEO David Solomon. “With a variety of vibrant color options we have a design that will perfectly match your personality” added Solomon.

Speakal’s innovative 2011 lineup of lifestyle-oriented, intelligently designed technology solutions will be on display this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in the North Hall-iLounge Pavilion at booth #4616.

For more information about Speakal visit www.speakal.com

About Speakal

Speakal Corporation is a privately held, United States company, based in Culver City, California that earned its worldwide recognition by delivering consumers unique product designs that combine intelligent technology, high quality sound, durability, and functionality. Established in 2008, Speakal was able to expand their reach and presence in the United States, Canada, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East markets. Speakal continues to gain market share by introducing new audio product designs and diverse product lines that relate to the different end-users life styles and that hold special value for them. For more information, please visit www.speakal.com.

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Be sure to follow @besweeet and @gumballtech on Twitter for all things CES and tech!

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2011/01/04/speakal-unveils-2011-line-of-advanced-iphoneipod-docking-sound-systems/feed/ 0 http://www.gumballtech.com/2011/01/03/mili-power-unveils-mili-hd-at-2011-ces/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2011/01/03/mili-power-unveils-mili-hd-at-2011-ces/#comments Tue, 04 Jan 2011 04:39:48 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4846

Looking for an iPad HDTV dock? MiLi has the answer, and they’ll be showing it off at CES this week (which we’ll be at!). The MiLi “HD” is compatible with all Apple iDevices and can output a video signal of up to 1080i (even though no iDevice is capable of outputting that high of resolution). Full press release below!

[spoiler show="Show press release" hide="Hide press release"]

MiLi Power to Unveil MiLi HD at 2011 CES, Bringing Your Mobile Content Directly To Your Home Entertainment System In High-Definition

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We’ll be sure to give you a hands-on while at CES!

Be sure to follow @besweeet for tweets about CES and all things tech!

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2011/01/03/mili-power-unveils-mili-hd-at-2011-ces/feed/ 0 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/31/a-very-simple-and-sleek-ipad-home-screen-setup/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/31/a-very-simple-and-sleek-ipad-home-screen-setup/#comments Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:29:20 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4815 What you’re looking at is a screenshot of my iPad with its new home screen setup. Of course, I’m jailbroken, so I get a lot of cool extra goodies. Full information after the break.First, the lock screen! There’s nothing special here, except for the slide-to-unlock bar has now been extended all the way across the screen. At the moment of writing this post, I don’t have this installed anymore because it’s quite annoying.

The wallpapers are called “Elemental Flow” by Nemed on deviantART. It’s a very simple wallpaper that’s available in both red and blue flavors. They also come in a number of resolutions, including copies for the iPad and iPhone 4. I’m using the “Fire” wallpaper on my home screen, and the “Water” wallpaper on my lock screen. I can swap these whenever I’d like.

The home screen has no icons in the actual page. Everything is kept in the dock, thanks to FolderEnhancer (available in Cydia for a couple of bucks), which really lets you use Folders the way they meant to be. That’s about it. Oh! For the carrier, I didn’t use MakeItMine or any special app. I simply edited the K48AP.plist file located in /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/.

Follow me on Twitter for all things tech! http://twitter.com/gumballtech

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/31/a-very-simple-and-sleek-ipad-home-screen-setup/feed/ 1 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/29/iskin-duo-for-ipad/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/29/iskin-duo-for-ipad/#comments Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:00:25 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4754 Time for some more cases! Today, I’ll be talking about 5 iPad cases. Some are great, and some are bad. All of these cases are priced between $39.95 and $49.95 and offer unique design choices. Let’s take a look!

iSkin Duo, $49.95

iSkin claims their Duo to be the “best silicone cover”, but is it really? It’s a very nice case. Available in a number of different colors, this big $50 piece of silicone will protect nearly every part of your iPad, except for the screen. The silicone also covers all of the bezel. The back of the case is semi-transparent, so you can proudly show off that Apple logo. There’s a nice texture on the sides for added grip. I think that iSkin’s claim is spot-on.

[spoiler show="View the iSkin Duo gallery" hide="Hide the iSkin Duo gallery"]

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Hard Candy Cases Street Skin, $39.95

The Street Skin is quite a heavy-duty case. Made of really thick TPU material, this case is somewhat difficult to install. But once you do get it onto your iPad, the fit is nice and tight. This case also comes with a little screen cover that you can put onto the case when the iPad is not in use. The back of the case has a really weird texture that isn’t very comfortable to hold. It’s available in 3 different colors.

[spoiler show="View the Street Skin gallery" hide="Hide the Street Skin gallery"]

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Gumdrop Cases Surf Convertible, $44.95

Of the 5 cases reviewed in this post, this one’s my favorite. It’s a lot like Apple’s official iPad case. The Surf Convertible is available in 3 different colors. The reason I like this one the most is that it’s very functional. The front portion can fold all the way back so that you can stand your iPad up for movie watching or general use. There’s also another angle that’s perfect for typing. My only complaint about this case is that the front cover doesn’t stay shut, but a piece of velcro should fix that problem.

[spoiler show="View the Surf Convertible gallery" hide="Hide the Surf Convertible gallery"]

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Hard Candy Cases Bubble Sleeve, $49.95

If a regular case isn’t your thing, then maybe an actual carrying sleeve would be of interest. The case has molded bubbles on the outside, and on the inside, there’s a nice padded area to keep your iPad’s screen protected in case of any drops. There are 4 little rubber bumpers that your iPad rests on. It’d be nice if there was some snapping mechanism so that your iPad actually stays put in the bumpers instead of just sitting on top of them.

[spoiler show="View the Bubble Sleeve gallery" hide="Show the Bubble Sleeve gallery"]

[/spoiler]

Gumdrop Cases Moto Skin, $39.95

Last but not least, the Moto Skin. It’s very similar to the Street Skin in terms of texture and feel. The Moto Skin’s available in 4 different colors, and is also a little difficult to install. The fit, though, is very nice and it really gives your iPad a rugged and hard-core look. The tire tread pattern carries over to the side of the case, so it gives you a lot of extra grip without feeling weird.

[spoiler show="View the Moto Skin gallery" hide="Hide the Moto Skin gallery"]

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If you know of an iPad case that you’d like us to review, let us know below!

Follow me on Twitter for all things tech! http://twitter.com/gumballtech

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/29/iskin-duo-for-ipad/feed/ 3 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/27/retinapad-for-ipad-2x-the-way-its-meant-to-be/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/27/retinapad-for-ipad-2x-the-way-its-meant-to-be/#comments Tue, 28 Dec 2010 03:38:53 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4738

Real Racing 2 - Before (left), After (right)

The first that came to mind? “WOW”. Ryan Petrich’s latest hack for jailbroken iPads is “RetinaPad”. It’s $2.99 in Cydia, and it basically allows you to run apps in pixel-doubled mode the way they’re meant to be. If an app contains retina-display graphics, then RetinaPad will allow you to use those graphics instead of the standard pixel-doubling method. This allows for crystal clear images and text. What about regular apps? Those are going to look great as well. We have several before and after comparisons after the break!Here’s a quick look at RetinaPad’s settings in the stock Settings application:

The settings for RetinaPad

And now, for the comparisons! The before is on the left, and after is on the right.

Real Racing 2

Skyfire (for iPhone)

Skype!

Speedtest

TWiT

If you’re using an application that doesn’t have retina display graphics, it’ll still help out a little bit. Instead of getting really jagged images, it’ll be smooth, but a bit blurry.

Bejeweled 2

Centipede

The Price is Right

You can easily tell the difference. I’m still blown away by how well this works.

Again, it’s $2.99 in Cydia. Go get it!

Follow me on Twitter for all things tech! http://twitter.com/gumballtech

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/27/retinapad-for-ipad-2x-the-way-its-meant-to-be/feed/ 3 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/26/jailbreak-all-idevices-untethered-with-redsn0w-0-9-7b1-read-first/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/26/jailbreak-all-idevices-untethered-with-redsn0w-0-9-7b1-read-first/#comments Sun, 26 Dec 2010 19:09:04 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4727

Earlier today, the iPhone Dev-Team released the first beta of redsn0w 0.9.7 (for Mac OS X). This new beta will allow users to run an untethered jailbreak on ALL iOS devices running iOS 4.2.1. If you don’t know what untethered means, please click here to understand the difference between tethered and untethered. How-to and downloads after the break.

** BEGIN IMPORTANT NOTE **

This jailbreak is nowhere near complete. Users who plan on trying this on devices that they use daily may want to hold off. Why? There are LOTS of problems with this jailbreak, all of which the Dev-Team should have sorted out within a week or two.

What are the problems, you ask?

1. Bringing up the multitasking dock results in a respring.
2. Playing ANY music at all results in a respring or app crash.
3. Bluetooth is completely disabled.
4. YouTube app crashing.
5. Videos aren’t playing.
6. Chances of having to restore from scratch.
7. AirPlay doesn’t work.

ALSO! Your SHSH blobs for 4.2b3 will need to be on file in Cydia. If you’re currently jailbroken (hopefully you are), open up Cydia, and make sure you see “4.2b3″ at the top of your screen. If you don’t, then wait for the official jailbreak.

The tethered jailbreak for iOS 4.2.1 has been out for quite some time, and works just fine. If you ABSOLUTELY MUST BOOT UNTETHERED, then go ahead.

So… If you’re a tinkerer and don’t mind missing out on some core functionality and don’t mind restoring and losing all of your data, then go for it.

** END IMPORTANT NOTE**

You’re going to need to download a couple of things:

1. redsn0w 0.9.7b-1 (currently Mac OS X only)
2. iOS 4.2 beta 3 IPSW for your device
3. usbmuxd

Just download the first 2 to your computer. For usbmuxd, you’ll have to do some setting up. Once you get the software installed and running, run ./tcprelay.py -t 22:2222. Run this command before following the actual steps below. You might also need to chmod +x tcprelay.py first (to make it executable).

Once you’ve got everything ready to go, simply:

1. Open redsn0w 0.9.7b1
2. Browse for your iOS 4.2.1 IPSW
3. Check the “Jailbreak Monte (untether)” box, and nothing else (assuming you’re already jailbroken… If you’re not, just check the first box, and when that’s all done, check just the second box).
4. Follow the on-screen prompts.

That’s about it! You should be in iOS 4.2.1 (untethered). Tired of the bugs? We told you so. Just wait for the final jailbreak to come out, hopefully within the next couple of weeks.

Follow me on Twitter for all things tech: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/26/jailbreak-all-idevices-untethered-with-redsn0w-0-9-7b1-read-first/feed/ 2 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/22/ios-4-2-1-jailbreak-taking-longer-than-expected/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/22/ios-4-2-1-jailbreak-taking-longer-than-expected/#comments Thu, 23 Dec 2010 02:29:25 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4710

While comex’s latest tweet doesn’t surprise me, I sort of expected it. Apple is getting better and better at patching up certain exploits and making things harder for iDevice hackers.A few weeks ago, it was said that the untethered iOS 4.2.1 jailbreak (and the updated ultrasn0w with iPhone 4 support) would both be released before Christmas, which is only a few days away.

While the actual details of this delay are unknown, we’ll never know when or if it’ll come. We also don’t know if comex is just playing around, or if he really is having troubles.

But, if comex really is having problems, we could always rely on geohot!

Follow us on Twitter for all things tech! http://twitter.com/gumballtech

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/22/ios-4-2-1-jailbreak-taking-longer-than-expected/feed/ 0 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/21/ipad-2-what-it-needs-and-will-probably-have/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/21/ipad-2-what-it-needs-and-will-probably-have/#comments Tue, 21 Dec 2010 20:29:15 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4690

An early case for the next-gen iPad 2. Does it accurately represent the next iPad? Only time will tell.

Everybody knows that the iPad 2 will be released in a few months, right? Some of you are probably saying “big deal”, but this is going to be the next top gadget for 2011. What’s going to make it so popular? The momentum from the first iPad.

The iPad has really been taking off. A few weeks ago, it was said that the iPad drove Apple first place for North America mobile PC sales, and third worldwide [source]. This is only going to get better for them, because even large corporations, who are planning on purchasing a tablet computer during the first quarter of 2011, will be purchasing an iPad [source].

So what’s going to make the second generation iPad so popular? Well, nobody (in the general public) knows exactly what it’s going to have, but some of the more obvious features should be coming to it.

First, it’ll be getting a camera, or maybe even two. It’s guaranteed that there will be a front-facing camera for FaceTime calls and more. There may also be one on the back of the iPad, which will allow for avid photography. While a lot of people don’t see a rear-facing camera to be practical, it would be nice to have one, and I think that Apple will definitely put two cameras on there.

Next up, speed. The iPad was the first iDevice to use Apple’s A4 1GHz SoC (system-on-a-chip), which combines the ARM Cortex-A8 processor and the PowerVR graphics processor. The iPhone 4, iPod Touch 4G, and the Apple TV 2 were next to use this chip. While it’s nice and fast, a lot of recent applications could use a faster piece of hardware (such as recent games, albeit they have decent frame rates and look great). One could only imagine how much smoother recent games would play, and how much snappier things would be. Because of this, I believe Apple will be using some sort of dual-core processor (possibly clocked at 1.5GHz per core or higher) and a much more powerful GPU.

How about the 9.7″ display? Anything smaller than that just doesn’t seem very practical, so the screen size will most likely be staying the same, but how about its resolution? The iPhone 4 introduced the Retina Display, which was (and still is) the highest resolution display for its size (960×640). You can’t even see the pixels on the screen, where on every other mobile device, you can. This produces very crisp and clear images. The iPod Touch 4G was the next device to take this display. The iPad’s 9.7″ display has a resolution of 1024×768. The iPad’s screen is nearly 3x larger than the iPhone 4′s, yet its resolution is only a little bit larger. So, Apple will most likely be introducing a much higher resolution display, possibly at 1280×960 or 1400×1050 (and will stay at its 4:3 aspect ratio).

Design wise, nothing will really change. It’ll probably be a little thinner and a little lighter (like Apple usually does with revisions of all of their products).

And finally, ports. The iPad 2 is rumored to have a built-in SD card slot for offloading photos and videos from a camera directly onto the iPad. Some of the leaked iPad 2 accessories suggest that there will be an SD card slot at the bottom of the device, which would be really useful for a number of reasons. Click here to go to a website that has a number of iPad 2 cases, ranging from silicone and hard-plastic cases to a leather folio.

The next iPad isn’t going to a huge revision, but there will be enough changes that would probably make a lot of current iPad users make the upgrade. Personally, I’ll be sticking with my first generation iPad, as it suits my needs just fine, and I could live without the cameras (already have an iPhone 4 with me everywhere).

I’d love to hear your comments. Think this is a decent list? What do you think will be on it? Leave your feedback down below.

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/21/ipad-2-what-it-needs-and-will-probably-have/feed/ 1 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/20/powermat-complete-wireless-charging-system-for-iphone-4/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/20/powermat-complete-wireless-charging-system-for-iphone-4/#comments Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:00:10 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4669 I’m sure you’ve all heard of Powermat. They make a number of wireless charging solutions for a number of different phones. They also have a complete system for the iPhone 4 that comes with the charging mat, charging case for the iPhone 4, and a wall charger. It gives you everything you need to wirelessly charge your iPhone 4. Priced at $59.99 from Powermat’s website, this fairly affordable kit will allow you to effortlessly charge your iPhone 4.

What you get

As mentioned in the intro, with this kit, you get:

• Charging mat
• Charging case (for the iPhone 4)
• Micro USB cable
• Wall charger

How the kit works

Here’s how you get everything working (it’s self-explanatory, but here I go anyway): Take the wall charger and plug it into the charging base. Take the charging case and slide your iPhone 4 into it. Place the charging case (with your iPhone installed into it) onto the base. The charging will immediately begin.

There’s a light at the front of the charging mat that lights up whenever you begin to charge your iPhone 4. There’s also a little chime that sounds when it begins to charge, too.

A look at the charging case

As a case, it’s not too bad. The top portion flips backwards so that you can slide your iPhone 4 down into the rest of the case. The back of the case has a rectangular cutout for the camera and the flash. The bottom of the case has a cutout for the microphone and speaker. Also at the bottom, you’ll find the micro USB port so that you can charge and sync your iPhone 4 to your computer while the phone’s still inside of the case. There’s no lay-on-the-table design at all with this case, so if protection is something you’re looking for, then you’ll probably want to swap your iPhone 4 out of this case.

Wrap-up

While I’ve never been a fan of these wireless charging systems, they are pretty cool. You can, for instance, put the charging base on your night stand next to your bed so that, when you actually go to bed, you can simply place your iPhone 4 onto the base so it’ll start to charge. There are a number of other scenarios where this would be useful. Overall, this is a pretty cool kit, and if you’re new to the wireless charging market, then this Powermat kit is the way to go. We’ll give this kit a nice 4/5.

Check out Powermat’s website: http://www.powermat.com/

Check out this complete charging system: http://www.powermat.com/us/whats-new/powermat-wireless-charging-system-for-iphone-4r.html

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

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]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/20/powermat-complete-wireless-charging-system-for-iphone-4/feed/ 2 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/17/iskin-solo-vu-for-iphone-4/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/17/iskin-solo-vu-for-iphone-4/#comments Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:00:02 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4650 For our final iSkin iPhone 4 case review, we’ll be taking a look at the iSkin Solo Vu. Available in 3 [dark and ugly] colors for $39.99 each, this case offers a unique TPU and plastic design. It also features an integrated dock-cover to keep that nice and clean. Do check out our full review after the break .

What you get

As with all iSkin iPhone cases, you won’t get any screen shields. Instead, you get a little kit that includes an iSkin microfiber cleaning cloth, an antistatic cleaning wipe, some iSkin stickers, and a little card that tells you where you can download the user guide, not that you really need it.

The case!

The back of the iSkin Solo Vu has a pretty cool design to it. The semi-transparent portion you see in the above image is a piece of plastic, whereas the rest of the case is soft (yet durable and strong) TPU. The plastic portion has a neat little texture on it. Also on the back, you’ll find the camera cutout, which features a black lining in it to help eliminate the flash issue that some people are having with iPhone 4 cases.

The rest of the case is similar to other iSkin cases, where you have a cutout for the silent switch, microphone, 30-pin dock connector, and speaker. The volume up and down buttons have a little covered nub, which provides great feedback.

The top of the case is completely open, and this helps with the installation and removal of the case on your phone. This also allows you to use whatever sized headphone jack that your headphones may have.

The bottom of the case features a dock port cover. While you don’t exactly need one of them, it’s nice that it’s integrated right into the case. To actually open it, you’ll really need to stick your fingernail into the case to get it open, or your finger will just slip right off. The dock cover is in there pretty tight.

Colors…

iSkin’s choice of colors for the iSkin Solo Vu are quite disappointing. It’s available in black, purple, and red (the one we have). These colors are very dark and boring. We really wish they would make the Solo Vu with some brighter choices of color. The darkness of the purple and red versions of this case is quite ugly.

Wrap-up

The iSkin Solo Vu is a great case for those of you who really care about design, while still maintaing functionality and protection. Our only problem with this case is with the dock cover (we wish they would’ve done without it) and the horrible choice of colors. With that being said, this case still gets a good 3.5/5.

Check out iSkin: http://www.iskin.com/

Check out the iSkin Solo Vu: http://www.iskin.com/iphone4/solovu/

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

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]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/17/iskin-solo-vu-for-iphone-4/feed/ 2 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/17/iskin-solo-fx-for-iphone-4/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/17/iskin-solo-fx-for-iphone-4/#comments Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:00:27 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4632

The iSkin Solo FX for the iPhone 4 is a very simple and stylish iPhone 4 case. It’ll give your device a big splash of color as well as protecting it. Available in a number of different colors from iSkin.com, this thin TPU case will make it seem as if you’re using a different device! Available for $34.95, we think you’ll love this case as much as we do. Check out our review after the break.

What you get

As with all iSkin products, you don’t get any screen protectors with your case. But, you do get a microfiber cleaning cloth, an antistatic cleaning wipe, some iSkin stickers, and a card that tells you where you can go to download the user guide for this case (not like you need one).

Design and protection

The case is made of a very soft (but durable) TPU material. This case is pretty unique, because at the top of the case is a large opening for installing your iPhone. The back of the case has a pretty cool “circle-ish” texture to it, and you can feel the outlines of the circles. Drop protection is decent, thanks to the soft material that this case is made out of. We really like how bright and eye-popping the colors are.

Installation and removal

Installing your iPhone 4 into the Solo FX is a breeze. Simply slide it into the case through the top opening. You won’t have to worry about your iPhone 4 sliding out. It’s a very nice and tight fit.

Removing is just as simple as the installation. You’ll want to stick your finger in the dock connector opening at the bottom of the case, and push up on your iPhone enough so you can pull the rest of the iPhone 4 out through the top of the case.

Ports and coverage

What I like a lot about this case is the fact that it covers the top and bottom portion of the phone. The top has a large cutout for the iPhone 4′s sensors, front-facing camera, and the earpiece. The bottom portion is covered, so you have a little cover for the home button. The “click” is pretty “mushy”, but it still works just fine.

The top of the case, as mentioned earlier, is completely exposed, so you aren’t getting too much protection here, but this is somewhat a good thing for a few reasons: Makes it easy to put the case on, and it allows for using any sized headphone plug that your headphones may have.

The left side of the case has a great sized cutout for the silent switch, as well as a few covered areas for the volume up and down buttons..

The bottom of the case has individual cutouts for the microphone, 30-pin dock connector, and speaker. As always, we love it when cases have individual cutouts for everything at the bottom of the case.

The back of the case is where you’ll find the cool “circle-ish” texture, as well as the cutout for the camera and flash. There’s even a black liner inside of the cutout which will eliminate the flash issue that some people are experiencing. This liner also fits in nicely with the rest of the case.

Wrap-up

We really enjoyed using the iSkin Solo Fx. It provides an amazing design and a good amount of protection for iPhone 4′s. It has a great feature-set, is priced right, and is available in a number of really cool looking colors. We’re giving this case a solid 5/5.

Check out iSkin: http://www.iskin.com/

Check out the iSkin Solo FX: http://www.iskin.com/iphone4/solofx/

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

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]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/17/iskin-solo-fx-for-iphone-4/feed/ 0 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/17/speck-candyshell-for-iphone-4/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/17/speck-candyshell-for-iphone-4/#comments Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:00:02 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4619 The Candyshell by Speck Products is a very popular case for the iPhone. It combines a hard outer shell and a soft inner layer to provide both protection, and an awesome design. Available in a number of different colors and designs, the Candyshell is a great case for anyone. Priced at $34.95, you can’t really go wrong.

What you get

Speck is known for never including any extras with their cases – No screen protectors, no cleaning cloth, no nothing. But, you do get a little removal instruction guide, as it may be a little confusing to remove your phone from the case at first. So if you think about it, the price may seem a little steep. ALL case companies should provide screen protector with their cases.

Design and protection

As mentioned in the intro, the Candyshell combines a hard plastic outer shell, and a soft TPU layer on the inside. This helps give the case a great design while offering a great bit of protection. The TPU layer will help with shock protection. The plastic outer layer will get dirty and will scratch, so you’ll want to clean the case every few days (no matter what color combination you choose).

Around the edges of the case, you’ll find little slits in the plastic shell where the TPU portion sticks out of. This makes it so that removing your phone from the Candyshell is a bit easier, as you can flex portions around the case if you need to.

The camera and flash cutout on the back of the case is nice and large. Speck decided to put a black liner in the cutout to eliminate the flash issue, which is a really nice touch.

The power button and volume buttons are a little mushy (there isn’t as much of a “click” as we would’ve liked) when pushing them down, but they still work fine. The silent switch cutout is a bit hard to get into.

The bottom of the case features individual cutouts for the microphone, 30-pin dock connector, and speaker. We love the individual cutouts, and wish all cases did this.

Despite there being 2 layers of case, it’s still pretty thin and shouldn’t add too much bulk to your device.

Installation and removal

Installing your iPhone 4 is fairly simple. We like to start button-side first. Once you get half of your phone into the case, simply push the other half into case.

Removing your iPhone from the case is a little difficult. You have to push on the back of the case and sort of pry the phone out of the case. Make sure to refer to the removal guide if you’re confused.

Wrap-up

The Candyshell is the first case to provide 2 simple layers of protection (that we’ve already mentioned a few times). This makes the case really unique and nice looking. There are a few other case manufacturers who are trying to make similar cases, but aren’t doing too well. We really love the design and simplicity of this case. If you’re undecided as to what sort of case you’re really looking for, then the Candyshell is a great way to start. You won’t be disappointed with this case. We’ll give it a 4/5.

Check out Speck: http://www.speckproducts.com/

Check out the Candyshell: http://www.speckproducts.com/iphone/iphone-4/candyshell.html

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

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What you get

Like most iSkin cases, you don’t get any screen shields (which should come standard with all iPhone accessories). Instead, you get iSkin’s cleaning pack, which includes an iSkin branded microfiber, antistatic cleaning wipe, some iSkin stickers, and a card that tells you where you can download the user guide (not that you need one). And of course, you get the iSkin Solo, and the iSkin revoClip.

The iSkin Solo

First, we’ll talk about the case. The Solo is made of a nice and soft TPU material. The fit around your iPhone 4 is, for the most part, decent, but here’s the BIG problem: The top of the case is constantly pushing down on the power button. A quick Google search for “iskin solo iphone 4 power button” reveals a number of people who were experiencing the same issues. iSkin is supposedly working on a redesign, but we haven’t heard of such news.

The top of the case has the power button cover (of course), and a cutout for the 3.5mm headset jack and the noise-cancellation microphone. The left side of the case has a nicely sized cutout for the silent switch, and a couple of covered sections for the volume up and down buttons, which are nice and clicky. The bottom of the case has individual cutout for the microphone, 30-pin dock connector, and the speaker. We like it when cases have individual cutouts for the bottom. And finally, the back of the case has the large cutout for the camera and the flash. There was slight problems with the flash washing out our images.

We really want to like this case, because as a case, it’s really great, but the power button needs to get fixed.

The iSkin revoClip

If you’re into using iSkin cases for your iPhone 4, then the revoClip is a must-have accessory. It works with other iSkin cases, and will also allow you to stand your iPhone horizontally so that you can watch videos or use your phone while it’s sitting on your desk. It’s really handy, and the fact that it’s also a belt clip makes it even better.

Wrap-up

For the most part, this is a pretty decent kit. If it wasn’t for the iSkin Solo’s power button problem, this would be a great buy. But, until they get this fixed, you should just stick with getting the revoClip. We’ll give this package a 2/5.

Check out the iSkin: http://www.iskin.com/

Check out the iSkin Duet: http://www.iskin.com/iphone4/duet/

Check out the iSkin Solo: http://www.iskin.com/iphone4/solo/

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

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]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/16/iskin-duet-for-iphone-4/feed/ 0 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/16/impactband-for-iphone-4/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/16/impactband-for-iphone-4/#comments Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:00:54 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4588 How often do you drop your iPhone 4 onto the ground? Do you ever get worried? If you answered “yes” to the second question, then BaseOneLabs has the solution for you! Their Impactband TPU bumper will, for $21.95, allow you to worry no more.

What you get

The Impactband is a rather affordable iPhone 4 case, priced at $21.95. Its packaging is similar to that of the official iPhone 4 bumper. All you get is the bumper itself. It would’ve been nice if they could’ve thrown in a few screen protectors.

The Impactband itself is made of a very heavy-duty TPU material, allowing for great shock protection when it’s dropped onto the ground. The case itself is also fairly lightweight, and is easy to install. The fit of the case onto the iPhone 4 is perfect and fits tightly around the phone.

What we like

We really like the simplicity of the Impactband. It’s thicker than most bumpers, which provides even greater protection. We aren’t worried about it making our phone look ugly or bulky, as we’re worried more about protection, not aesthetics.

The amount of protection that you get is superb. BaseOneLabs tested the Impactband at a drop height of 16 feet, and everything made it out just fine. We’ve tested it at up to 15 feet, and everything also made it out without any problems. Then again, we dropped our phone onto flat surfaces, but if you’re out near some rocks and you drop your phone, the impact of the rock hitting the iPhone’s screen (or rear glass) could break it.

What we disliked

THE LACK OF COLOR CHOICES! Yes, black is a universal color, but it would be awesome to see the Impactband in green or red. The lack of a front and rear screen protector was slightly disappointing. That’s about it!

Wrap-up

The Impactband was definitely a pleaser. It’s cheap, lightweight, looks decent, simple, and provides a great deal of protection. We’re giving this case a solid 4.5/5.

Check out BaseOneLabs: http://www.baseonelabs.com/

Check out the Impactband: http://www.baseonelabs.com/products/impactbandtm-for-iphone-4

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

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]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/16/impactband-for-iphone-4/feed/ 0 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/14/white-iphone-4-pictures-resurface-on-apple-com/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/14/white-iphone-4-pictures-resurface-on-apple-com/#comments Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:40:35 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4554

The white iPhone 4 has always been a little mysterious. Announced with the current black iPhone, it still hasn’t reached Apple’s lavish stores.

Apple originally delayed it for vague reasons, and then again. The white iPhone then completely disappeared from Apple’s website. The site now has both this thumbnail as well as a high resolution picture in the iPhone 4 gallery. Earlier this month a picture “confirming” a Spring white iPhone. Could the rumored LTE iPhone be available exclusively in White to (further) encourage people to switch from AT&T?

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/14/white-iphone-4-pictures-resurface-on-apple-com/feed/ 3 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/13/belkin-shield-eclipse-for-iphone-4/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/13/belkin-shield-eclipse-for-iphone-4/#comments Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:00:25 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4512 If you’d like to add a quick splash of color to your iPhone 4, then the Belkin Shield Eclipse case for the iPhone 4 might be just what you’re looking for. Made of hard polycarbonate, the Shield Eclipse will protect your phone while giving it a pretty cool look on the back. It’s available for $29.99 from Belkin.com, and comes in 4 different colors. Check out our full review after the break, will you?

What’s included:

Unsurprisingly, this Belkin case doesn’t come with any extras; No microfiber, screen shield, or even a little user’s guide. All you get for your $30 is the case itself.

What we like:

This is the first case we’ve seen where, on the back, the top half of the case is clear, and the bottom half is the same color/material as the rest of the case. There are individual cutouts at the bottom of the case (microphone, 30-pin dock connector, speaker). The silent switch cutout is nice and large. While we love the way the white iPhone 4 looks inside of this case, we can’t say the same thing about the black version.

What we don’t like:

It’s a little difficult to install and remove this case. There’s also no lay-on-the-table design, at all; The top of the case is flush with the screen of the iPhone 4. We did experience some issues with the flash washing out our images, which is due to the shiny and reflective top half of the back of the case. Finally, the buttons (power, volume up & down) are very mushy and hard to press; There’s no feedback at all. This may be good if you often accidentally press these buttons.

Yay or nay?

We’re going to have to say don’t buy for this case. While its design is unique and interesting, the features of the case were quite disappointing and leave a lot to be desired.

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]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/13/belkin-shield-eclipse-for-iphone-4/feed/ 0 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/10/materialsix-real-wooden-iphone-4-back-plates/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/10/materialsix-real-wooden-iphone-4-back-plates/#comments Fri, 10 Dec 2010 23:58:44 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4477 The following review was done by our friend @mathewrice. Give him a follow!

When I first saw a snapshot of a Material6 replacement back plate, I was instantly intrigued, a company that was truly offering something different. Not metal or plastic, but Real Wood is the claim to fame here. Created by Matt Turner and Randy Lively, two Apple enthusiasts, Material6 set out to design something unique in a growing market of aftermarket replacement parts.

What it is:

Material6 provides iPhone 4 owners the option to own a custom, precision cut, real wood replacement back plate. Each season, three different varieties of wood are used to create back plates for. When we contacted Material6 woods Wenge, Roble Burl and Birdseye Maple were available to order and we took all three. Material6 confirmed with us that they use the same materials that the OEM back plate uses in Apple’s Glass Back Plate, less the glass of course. Things like the back plate frame, camera lens and screw mounts all hold up to OEM standards. The wood is adhered to the back plate frame via translucent industrial double-sided tape, as would be expected.

How it works:

Material6 includes the tool you’ll need (1x #00 Philips screw driver) and a very easy to follow instruction card that has only four steps. Remove two screws, remove original back plate, replace with new back plate and return screws, it’s that simple. Once installed, the back plate really adds a warm feel to your phone. With the Wenge model, you can actually feel the grooves of the natural wood while you hold the phone in your hands. Your camera will function just as you’d expect it, no issues with recessed cutouts like some metal back plates from other companies. You can really tell that Material6 cut and finished the wood with precision.

What we liked:

After having played with the metal back plates, the original glass and the Material6 wood back plates; it was very comforting to have such a different feeling in a phone. These days’ phones are either metal or plastic and always feel either cheap or mechanical. Wood feels warm and welcoming and reminds you that you’re still human, considering how much time we spend with electronics. When others look at your phone, they will need to do a double take and then ask if its real to which you’ll respond, most definitely, touch it and see for yourself.

What we didn’t like:

As much as the unique factor plays a huge role in the Material6 product line, it’s not without its issues. Our back plates arrived in individual boxes with each back plate slipped into a plastic sleeve and attached to the bottom of the box with very strong double-sided tape. The problem here was that the plastic sleeves were not strong enough to prevent the back plates from emerging prematurely; they actually broke free from the confines of the sleeves. In one of the boxes, the sleeve was attached upside down and the process of detaching the sleeve from the tape actually broke one of the tabs that the back plate uses to attach to the phone. We also had issues with the screwdrivers included where only 2 of 3 the provided Philips tools were capable of removing the phones screws. The tips of the tools were not the right size even though they said they were. We really had a big issue though with the fact that Material6 couldn’t figure out a way to mount the flash diffuser. They have a perfectly cut hole for it, but work around the issue by slapping a piece of plastic behind the hole. We also noticed that on 2 of the 3 back plates; the camera lenses were poorly colored black. We were able to wipe off the coloring to reveal the true silver metal color.

Final thoughts:

Material6 is the only company known to us that offers real wood replacement back plates for iPhone 4. To that effect they have a niche in the market. The back plates retail for $89.00 and if you are looking for something to make your iPhone 4 stand out from the rest, a Real Wood Back Plate from Material6 will do more than accommodate your need to differentiate yourself from the masses of iPhone junkies like us. For the price though, we also think the little details that have been overlooked should be addressed.

Check out MaterialSix at their website: http://shop.materialsix.com/

Also, big thanks to MaterialSix for sending these out for review!

Photo Galleries

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mathewrice

Some of Real Racing 2′s features include:

• 30 officially licensed cars
• 16 car grid against AI, and 16 player online racing – an iOS first
• Career mode with well over 10 hours gameplay and a range of event types
• Earn in-game currency to buy and sell cars, and buy upgrades
• 5 game modes: Career Mode, Quick Race, Time Trial, Local Multiplayer (8 players), Online Multiplayer (16 players)
• 15 locations with 40 miles of highly detailed race track
• Vehicle damage
• Online Save Game
• Game Center and Cloudcell integration, multiple profiles
• Wide range of control options
• HUD with minimap that can be turned on or off
• 5 camera angles including fully 3D cockpit view, and TV style replays
• Powered by Firemint’s exclusive Mint3D™ engine

For FULL details with LOTS of screenshots, CLICK HERE.

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]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/10/real-racing-2-full-details-announced-10-released-december-16/feed/ 0 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/06/joby-gorillamobile-for-iphone-4-review/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/06/joby-gorillamobile-for-iphone-4-review/#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2010 14:00:23 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4206 If you love taking pictures and videos with your iPhone 4, then the Gorillamobile (by Joby) for the iPhone 4 may be just the thing you need to really take them to a whole new level. Priced at around $40, this tripod kit features a bumper-style case for the iPhone 4 that fits perfectly onto Joby’s popular ball-joint tripod. Is this for you? Read our full review after the break!

Included in the packaging is the tripod, a regular mount (for devices such as a digital camera or a camcorder), the iPhone 4 bumper, and an instruction manual.

The bumper isn’t the easiest thing to install, and will require a quick skim over the small instruction booklet. Once you have the bumper on your phone, it fits perfectly and provides a good amount of protection. From a case standpoint, it’s not too bad. It’s lightweight, adds a small amount of bulk, and will protect the edge of your phone and from some light drops onto the ground. There are some metallic button covers for the power button and volume buttons. On the bottom of the case, there are individual cutouts for the microphone, 30-pin dock connector, and speaker.

To use the case with the tripod, you can simply slide your case into the mount of the tripod, and it’ll stay securely in place. You can then begin to position the tripod wherever you’d like. If you wish to use a device with a tripod mounting hole, you can use the included camera clip. The clip slides onto the tripod mount just like the bumper does, and it snaps securely into place.

As you can see from the images above, there are a number of practical uses of the Gorillamobile. It all depends on your actual needs. Either way, you’ll get just the right angle for any picture or video.

In the end, the Gorillamobile is a great buy for all mobile photographers and videographers. It’s easy to use, lightweight, and everything is portable. It’s also reasonably priced at around $40. My only gripe is that it doesn’t come with any sort of carrying case. But, I’ll let that one slide .

You can save 25% off your order when combining products over at Joby.com. This is valid only between 11/26 and 12/25. For a full list of deals, see the image below.

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/06/joby-gorillamobile-for-iphone-4-review/feed/ 0 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/03/real-racing-2-official-screenshots/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/12/03/real-racing-2-official-screenshots/#comments Sat, 04 Dec 2010 05:03:26 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4430 Firemint this morning has released some official screenshots of their upcoming Real Racing 2 iOS game. Two more screenshots are after the break!

Real Racing 2 is definitely shaping out to be a must more realistic game. Release date and pricing are still unknown at this time.

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

The Usage menu on an iPad (4.2.1).

First, you’ll need iFile. We’ll be using it to open up a few .plist files so that we can access the usage menu.

BUT, if you’re on an iPad, I went ahead and uploaded the 2 modified .plist files for ease-of-use. Just extract the two .plist files over to /Applications/Preferences.app. DOWNLOAD HERE

General.plist in iFile.

Using iFile, navigate to /Applications/Preferences.app/. Open up General.plist. Look for “USAGE”. Remove the “requiredCompatibilities” for the USAGE area (see the screenshot above).

Usage Statistics.plist in iFile.

Next, open up “Usage Statistics.plist”, also located in Preferences.app (see the screenshot above). Do the same thing for “USAGE_HEADER”, “USAGE_ELAPSED”, and “STANDBY_ELAPSED”.

Finally, open up Settings, go into General, and you should now see the Usage menu. Leave any questions or comments down below if you need help.

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]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/27/enable-the-usage-menu-on-ipad-and-ipod-touch/feed/ 11 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/24/fix-the-gsc-wildcat-error-with-fullforce-for-ipad-in-cydia/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/24/fix-the-gsc-wildcat-error-with-fullforce-for-ipad-in-cydia/#comments Wed, 24 Nov 2010 20:40:45 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4401 Many iPad users are having problems with installing FullForce onto their devices in Cydia, where they’ll get some sort of “gsc.wildcat” dependency error. Luckily, I was able to figure out how to get around this (my iPad’s running iOS 4.2.1, jailbroken of course), as I haven’t been able to find any sort of fix online. This fix is VERY easy and VERY quick.

So, open up Cydia on your jailbroken iPad, and install iFile (if you don’t already have it). Next, open iFile, and navigate to /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app, and open “K48AP.plist” using iFile’s property list viewer/editor. Look at the screenshot below, and add a new key called “wildcat”, and make it true. Save the file, reboot your device, and try the install again.

There you have it! A quick and simple fix to a problem that oh-so many people seem to be having.

ALSO! Double check to make sure you have the same exact formatting. Failing to do so will make the .plist file useless and your device probably won’t boot (but you should be able to fix it without a restore thanks to afc2 filesystem access). You may also want to try using a property list editor on your computer to make the appropriate changes.

If you’re having problems, post below in the comments area and I’ll try to answer them.

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/24/fix-the-gsc-wildcat-error-with-fullforce-for-ipad-in-cydia/feed/ 61 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/24/difference-between-untethered-tethered-and-semi-tethered/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/24/difference-between-untethered-tethered-and-semi-tethered/#comments Wed, 24 Nov 2010 20:21:00 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4397 A lot of people recently are confused as to what the difference is between a tethered, untethered, and semi-tethered jailbreak. iOS 4.2.1 is somewhat of a challenge for hackers, but the dark side always wins. This post will easily explain what these three things mean and how they may be important to you.

iOS 4.2.1 is in fact jailbroken, but it is a semi-tethered jailbreak for most newer devices.

Untethered

An untethered jailbreak is where you can reboot your device without having to worry about it not booting up again.

Tethered

A tethered jailbreak means you have to plug your device into your computer and re-run some jailbreaking software to get your iDevice up and running again. Failing to do so will leave your device at the “connect to iTunes” screen.

Semi-tethered

A semi-tethered jailbreak is where you’ll be able to reboot your device without needing a computer, but 99% of jailbreak related hacks, mods, and applications won’t work at all. BUT, sometimes your device may just get stuck at an Apple logo because of some problems with MobileSubstrate extensions. If this is the case, you’ll have to plug your iDevice into your computer and re-run some jailbreaking software to get everything going again.

Currently, the iOS 4.2.1 jailbreak for the iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS (new-bootrom), iPod Touch 3G/4G/MC is semi-tethered, so you’ll be able to boot it just fine (as long as you aren’t using MobileSubstrate) without the need of a computer.

Leave any of your questions below in the comments area, and I’ll try my best to answer them.

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]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/24/difference-between-untethered-tethered-and-semi-tethered/feed/ 9 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/24/app-locket-keep-your-ios-apps-secure/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/24/app-locket-keep-your-ios-apps-secure/#comments Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:10:01 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4256 AppLocket is a jailbroken mod available in Cydia that adds a configurable passcode to certain applications on your iDevice. It’s $1.99 and installs as a little pane in the Settings application, as is the trend these days (very few Cydia packages actually install as apps anymore.) I’d say $1.99 is a fair price for what this app does.

In the settings pane, you can set which apps you want to lock, as well as how you want to activate the locking.

If you go to ‘Locked Apps’ you’ll have to enter your password. Now, the default password is ‘alpine’ which took me a while to figure out. I actually ended up Googling it to find the answer. Only later did I discover that there was a conveint little section in the Settings called ‘Tutorial’. This is a screen which tells you the basics and also the default password, which happens to be ‘apline’.

Once you’ve overcome that obstacle, you should find a screen where you have most of your settings. Here you can change a password, set your apps to locked or unlocked, toggle a numeric password, and so forth. Switching ‘Lock Apps’ to On will simply lock your apps, asking for a password for the ones you have specified. Speaking of that, there is big list of all the applications you have just below the main options. These are conveintly grouped by stock apps, App Store apps (ones you’ve downloaded) and folders. Yes, you can even lock entire folders, which I think is pretty cool. I didn’t notice this at first, because I didn’t scroll all the way down.

Once you’ve gone through all those settings, you’re pretty much good to go. All you need to do now is set your activation (how you want to toggle app locking.) I think that when you download AppLocket, you also download Activator, but I can’t be sure. Anyway, you probably know about Activator. It’s only one of the most awesome mods you can get. Here it’ll let you set what gesture or button combination activates locking. I have mine set to holding on the status bar, which seems to work well. The app will also alert you if there is any conflict between gestures. (maybe you already assigned an action to holding down on the status bar).

So there you go! Those are the settings for the app, and if you do the gesture you assigned, you should get a pop-up saying your apps are locked. If you tap on one, you’ll have to enter your password, and you’re in. This is one time only, so if you exit back to your SpringBoard and try to go back in, you’ll be prompted for your password. If you want to unlock all of your apps at once, just do the gesture you set and enter your password.

That’s about it for AppLocket! Just a simple little $2 app that can prove very useful if you lend your phone to a lot of people (like me) or if you’re just paranoid. Have fun, and don’t forget your password!

A lot of people have asked for in-game footage from Real Racing 2. The game is still in active development and as we now have licensed cars, everything is a little more involved. However, we’ve just shot a quick video (with an iPhone 4!) of a preview build of Real Racing 2 to give you a small taste of what’s to come. The video shows the Nissan GT-R (R35) and you’ll also notice that we have added a minimap, which was a popular request. The HUD can be turned off if desired.

We love racing games, and we’re building Real Racing 2 to be the kind of premium game we enjoy playing ourselves: incredibly fun, with beautiful graphics, intuitive controls and lots of content. The career mode alone will easily provide 10 hours of gameplay: win races to earn in-game currency and reputation. Buy and sell cars, unlock new tracks and championship events to progress your career. Customise your cars by adding performance enhancements or respraying.

We are aiming for a pre-Christmas release and will support iPhone 2G and iPod touch 1, up to the latest devices with a particular focus on bringing out the best of the iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4 hardware.

Here’s the video:

The driving physics still don’t look as realistic as they should be (turning is way too easy to do even at high speeds), but it’s still going to be a great game nonetheless.

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/24/real-racing-2-actual-gameplay-footage/feed/ 2 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/23/a-tour-of-cydia-for-ios-4-2-x/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/23/a-tour-of-cydia-for-ios-4-2-x/#comments Wed, 24 Nov 2010 03:57:38 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4367 With more and more people jumping on the iOS 4.2.1 jailbreak bandwagon, there are a few small tweaks to Cydia that have been made. A lot of bugs have been fixed, and there have been some nice UI changes.

Below is a gallery of the way Cydia looks and acts on a jailbroken iPad running iOS 4.2.1 (jailbroken with redsn0w 0.9.6b4).

You’re probably asking how well the jailbreak currently is while on an iPad running iOS 4.2.1. It’s not that bad! A lot of MobileSubstrate extensions work just fine, such as SBSettings and WinterBoard. I have had some problems with qTweeter constantly crashing SpringBoard, but that’s one of the risks that you take when becoming an early jailbreak adopter.

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/23/a-tour-of-cydia-for-ios-4-2-x/feed/ 2 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/22/apple-to-release-ios-4-2-1-today-for-iphone-ipad-and-ipod-touch/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/22/apple-to-release-ios-4-2-1-today-for-iphone-ipad-and-ipod-touch/#comments Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:01:20 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4229

UPDATE: iOS 4.2 (where’s 4.2.1?) is now available for download and installation via iTunes.

UPDATE 2: The MD5 sums of the GM release and today’s release are EXACTLY the same, so if you’ve already downloaded and installed the 4.2.1 GM from us, then you don’t need to do anything and you shouldn’t see an update in iTunes. You can either download iOS 4.2.1 directly through iTunes, or from us using various file sharing mirrors and direct links to Apple’s files.

Apple today, at about 10:00am Pacific Time, will be releasing iOS 4.2.1 to the general public. The first beta of iOS 4.2 went live for developers in mid-September. Although they’re saying iOS 4.2, it’ll most likely be iOS 4.2.1. Full press release and general information after the break!

Press Release

[spoiler show="Show press release" hide="Hide press release"]

Major Software Update Brings Multitasking, Folders, Unified Inbox, Game Center, AirPlay & AirPrint to iPad

CUPERTINO, California—November 22, 2010—Apple® today announced that iOS 4.2, the latest version of the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, is available today for download for iPad™, iPhone® and iPod touch®. iOS 4.2 brings over 100 new features from iOS 4.0, 4.1 and 4.2 to iPad including Multitasking, Folders, Unified Inbox, Game Center, AirPlay® and AirPrint.

“iOS 4.2 makes the iPad a completely new product, just in time for the holiday season,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Once again, the iPad with iOS 4.2 will define the target that other tablets will aspire to, but very few, if any, will ever be able to hit.”

iPad users can now run their favorite apps and switch between them instantly, while preserving iPad’s legendary battery life. Users can organize their apps with drag-and-drop simplicity using Folders, and Mail now features a Unified Inbox, fast inbox switching and a threaded message view.

Game Center allows iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users to challenge and play friends or be matched automatically with new opponents, showcase their scores and achievements, and discover new games their friends are playing.

AirPlay is a new feature for streaming music, video and photos wirelessly from iPad, iPhone and iPod touch to Apple TV®, transforming Apple TV into a great accessory for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. iOS users also will be able to use AirPort Express® and AirPlay to stream wirelessly to any stereo or powered speakers, or directly to AirPlay-enabled speakers coming to market in the months ahead.

AirPrint is a next-generation Wi-Fi print architecture that dramatically simplifies printing by completely eliminating printer drivers. A selection of AirPrint enabled printers including the HP Photosmart, HP LaserJet Pro and HP Officejet will be the first to support printing direct from iOS devices. iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users can simply tap to print their documents or photos wirelessly to any printer that supports AirPrint.

The Find My iPhone (or iPad or iPod touch) feature is now free to use without a MobileMe℠ subscription and helps you locate your missing device.* The Find My iPhone app is a free download on the App Store℠ and lets users easily locate a missing device on a map and have it display a message or play a sound. Users can even remotely lock or wipe data from a lost device to protect privacy.

Other new features that iOS 4.2 brings to the iPad include: the ability to rent TV episodes directly to iPad using the iTunes® App with a 30 day viewing window and a 48 hour session window once playback is started; the ability to easily find and highlight specific words and phrases on web pages in Safari®; enhanced enterprise support so businesses can take advantage of stronger security features, new device management capabilities and improved enterprise integration; industry-leading accessibility enhancements; and support for 25 additional languages, including Korean, Portuguese and Traditional Chinese.

The revolutionary iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before. You can browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, using the innovative Multi-Touch™ user interface. iPad weighs just 1.5 pounds, making it easy to carry and use anywhere.

Today, customers have downloaded more than seven billion apps from the groundbreaking App Store and more than 300,000 apps are available to consumers in 90 countries, with more than 40,000 native iPad apps. Over 125 million iOS users around the world can choose from an incredible range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel.

Availability
The iOS 4.2 update is available today to download to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch by syncing the device with iTunes 10.1. iOS 4.2 is compatible with iPad, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, second and third generation iPod touch (late 2009 models with 32GB or 64GB) and new iPod touch. Some features may not be available on all products. For example, Multitasking requires iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, third generation iPod touch (late 2009 models with 32GB or 64GB) or later.

*The free Find My iPhone feature is available for iPhone 4, iPad or new iPod touch (4th generation).

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.[/spoiler]

The iPad will see the biggest number of features, as some features from iOS 4 for the iPhone and iPod Touch will be available to iPad users.

Jailbreak/Unlock

While unofficial jailbreak modifications have been released for iOS 4.2.x for quite some time, the iPhone-Dev Team (and others, such as Geohot and Chronic-Dev) should be releasing their jailbreak software shortly after launch. The iPhone-Dev Team should also be releasing an updated ultrasn0w unlock shortly as well. Both the jailbreak and unlock may be released today, or within a few days from now.

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/22/apple-to-release-ios-4-2-1-today-for-iphone-ipad-and-ipod-touch/feed/ 7 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/19/tunebug-vibe-review/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/19/tunebug-vibe-review/#comments Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:45:33 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4119 “WOW” was the first thing that came into my head when first using the Tunebug Vibe ($69.99). This little surface-based speaker system will pack a punch (in terms of volume) for anything that’s plugged into it. The Vibe features Tunebug’s patented “SurfaceSound” technology, which puts out sound waves through most flat surfaces, theoretically turning it into a speaker.

Included in the package is:

• the Tunebug Vibe
• a carrying box (can also be used a surface)
• 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable
• USB to 3.5mm cable (for charging)
• quick-start guide

Once you’ve fully charged the device (recommended before first using it), you can go ahead and use the included 3.5mm audio cable and plug it into your favorite device, and into the Vibe. After holding the button (on top of the Vibe) for a few seconds, it will turn on. When the light around the button is green, then that means it is on and ready to go. When you’re charging it, the light will turn amber (yellow).

The Vibe features a built-in rechargeable 450mAh lithium-ion battery, which can provide up to 5 hours of playtime. In my testing, I was able to get just about 4 hours and 45 minutes of battery life when my iPhone 4 was putting out half the audio volume, which is actually plenty (of volume) for this little device. Not too bad! Charging the Vibe can take a while, though.

If you were to start playing music while the Vibe is, for instance, upside down, the volume that’s coming out of the speaker is quite low. BUT, once you put it on a flat surface, such as the included carrying box/base, that volume will get MUCH louder. I was really shocked by how loud it can get.

In terms of audio quality, it’s not that great by any means. There’s a good bit of bass (that can actually be felt), but the overall quality of the output audio is somewhat poor. Audio can also become distorted at high levels. But, don’t let that get to you (unless you’re a true audiophile), as this is a very small and portable package for outputting audio.

Overall, the Tunebug Vibe is a very nice portable speaker. Even though it’s priced at around $70, you’ll be very please and surprised by the overall quality and volume of the Vibe. It’s really neat, and a lot of people will enjoy it.

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

Photo Gallery

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/19/tunebug-vibe-review/feed/ 0 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/19/firemints-real-racing-2-cinematic-trailer/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/19/firemints-real-racing-2-cinematic-trailer/#comments Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:35:40 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4210 Firemint has posted the first trailer to their upcoming Real Racing 2 game for iOS. It features a number of real cars and lots of collisions (with damage!). View the video after the break.

Also announced are the:

• 2010 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500, the
• 2010 #33 Jaguar RSR XKR GT, and the
• 2010 Nissan GT-$ (R35)

It’s going to be a pretty awesome game.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/19/firemints-real-racing-2-cinematic-trailer/feed/ 2 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/18/iphone-4-case-giveaway-agf-vandelay-wholster/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/18/iphone-4-case-giveaway-agf-vandelay-wholster/#comments Fri, 19 Nov 2010 05:26:58 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4197 Time for another iPhone 4 case giveaway! This time, it will be of the Vandelay case by AGF. It’s a 2-piece hard shell case with a lot of impact protection, and it also comes with a holster. Each case retails for $34.99.

Click here for more information on this case.

To enter, simply leave a comment below (for this blog posting). The comment could be about anything. One comment/entry per person. The winner will be picked at random.

The contest will run from now until Wednesday, November 24, 2010. We’ll then pick 1 (one) winner, and send out the prize. Good luck!

BUT! IF you don’t happen to win, you can pick this case up for $34.99, OR you can order it on 11/29 and receive 40% off by using the coupon code CASECRAZE.

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/18/iphone-4-case-giveaway-agf-vandelay-wholster/feed/ 23 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/18/ios-4-2-1-gm-download-for-all-devices/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/18/ios-4-2-1-gm-download-for-all-devices/#comments Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:34:32 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4181

UPDATE 11/22/2010: Apple has officially released iOS 4.2.1 to the public. If you’ve already downloaded and installed one of the IPSW files from this post, then you don’t need to do anything and you shouldn’t see an update at all in iTunes. The MD5 sums of the GM release and the IPSW that Apple just released today are EXACTLY the same. HERE’S APPLE’S OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FOR IOS 4.2.X.

UPDATE 2: We’ve added direct download links to the IPSWs that are directly from Apple’s servers, and have also added the Apple TV 2G 4.2.1.

Today, Apple has unexpectedly released the iOS 4.2.1 GM seed to developers. Like we usually do, we’ll be downloading and uploading all 7 IPSW files to the public. Release notes (they’re the same as the 4.2 GM seed), download links, and FAQ are all after the break. While you’re at it here is an easy way to unlock and jailbreak your iPhone.

Release Notes

Here are the official release notes for the iOS 4.2.1 GM seed. They’re exactly the same as the iOS 4.2 GM release notes.
[spoiler show="Show release notes" hide="Hide release notes"]

iOS SDK Release Notes for iOS 4.2

Important: This is a preliminary document for an API or technology in development. Although this document has been reviewed for technical accuracy, it is not final. Apple is supplying this information to help you plan for the adoption of the technologies and programming interfaces described herein. This information is subject to change, and software implemented according to this document should be tested with final operating system software and final documentation. Newer versions of this document may be provided with future seeds of the API or technology.

Introduction

iOS SDK 4.2 provides support for developing iOS applications and includes the complete set of Xcode tools, compilers, and frameworks for creating applications for iOS and Mac OS X. These tools include the Xcode IDE and the Instruments analysis tool among many others.

With this software you can develop applications that run on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 4.2. You can also test your applications using the included iOS Simulator, which supports iOS 4.2. Installing iOS SDK 4.2 requires a Macintosh computer running Mac OS X 10.6.4 (Snow Leopard) or later.

For more information and additional support resources, visit:

http://developer.apple.com/programs/ios/

Bug Reporting

Please report any bugs not mentioned in the “Notes and Known Issues” section using the Apple Bug Reporter on the Apple Developer website at:http://developer.apple.com/bugreporter/. Additionally, you may discuss these issues and iOS SDK 4.2 in the Apple Developer Forums:http://devforums.apple.com.

Notes and Known Issues

The following issues relate to using the 4.2 SDK to develop code.

Xcode

• There is a new Base SDK setting called “Latest SDK”. This is the recommended choice for all projects and will cause your project to always build against the newest available iOS SDK.
• The Overview popup menu will display “Base SDK Missing” if a project was created with an SDK earlier than iOS SDK 4.2. However, after selecting a new SDK that Overview popup may still display “Base SDK Missing”.To work around the issue, close and reopen the project window.

Audio

• The iPad screen rotation lock switch now functions as a sound/silent switch in iOS 4.2. This switch behaves the same way as the Ring/Silent switch on iPhone.Applications targeted for iPad will need to take this into account when implementing audio behaviors.
  For more information on audio behavior guidelines and how to implement them, see “User Experience Guidelines” in iPhone Human Interface Guidelines and the Audio Session Programming Guide.

Calendar

• Calendar can now import .ics files directly as a way to add events. If your app has access to .ics files, you should test importing them using theUIDocumentInteractionController API.

GameKit

• Applications can use the GKFriendRequestComposeViewController class to initiate friend requests.
• The GameKit view controllers for leaderboards, achievements, matchmaking, and friend requests must be presented modally. Presenting them any other way will result in an exception and unexpected behavior. This affectsGKLeaderboardViewController,GKAchievementViewController,GKMatchmakerViewController andGKFriendRequestComposeViewController.
• In iOS 4.2, the local player is automatically authenticated again when an app enters the foreground. This will generate an authentication changed notification. If the app is linked with iOS 4.2 or later, the authentication completion handler will also be called (it is retained indefinitely).

GDB

• During debugging, pausing or resuming an iOS application while it is backgrounded is currently unsupported and can result in undefined application behavior.

MapKit

• For applications built against iOS 4.2 and later, MapKit will now conditionally display annotation views based on the currently visible region of the map. To account for this, developers should make sure they reuse annotation views as documented and never assume that the absence of an annotation view implies the absence of a corresponding annotation

Printing

• iOS 4.2 devices can print wirelessly only to printers that support AirPrint and are running the latest available firmware. Some currently available printers that support AirPrint are:
  • HP Photosmart Premium Fax e-All-in-One Printer – C410
  • HP Photosmart Premium e-All-in-One Printer series – C310
  • HP Photosmart Plus e-All-in-One Printer series – B210
  • HP ENVY 100 e-All-in-One Printer Series – D410
  • HP Photosmart eStation Printer series – C510

Simulator

• Building an app that weak links CoreVideo.framework against the 4.2 Simulator SDK and then running that application against the 3.2 Simulator will result in a crash. The same configuration will work when building against the 4.2 device SDK and running on a 3.2 device.

Weak Linking

• The following frameworks currently do not support weak linking by way of the NS_CLASS_AVAILABLE macro:
  • AV Foundation
  • Core Animation
  • Core Telephony
  • MobileLaunchServices
• When targeting older versions of iOS, you can check the class availability in these frameworks by calling the NSClassFromString function and seeing if it returns a non-nil value. For information about using the NS_CLASS_AVAILABLE macro, see “iOS 4.2” in What’s New in iOS.

[/spoiler]

FAQ

A lot of people will ask simple questions that have simple answer. We’ve put some of the more common ones in a little FAQ.
[spoiler show="Show FAQ" hide="Hide FAQ"]

What’s a GM?

If you don’t know what GM is, it stands for “Gold Master”, a term that means that the particular software version is either final, or close to final. Due to past experiences with Apple firmwares, the GM ends up being the final release version.

Do I need a developer account for this?

NO, you DON’T need a dev account for this. Anybody can freely install these onto their devices.

Do I need Windows or Mac OS X?

Either one, it doesn’t matter.

Do I need iTunes 10.1?

Yes, iTunes 10.1 is required for iOS 4.2.x.

What if I’m jailbroken/unlocked?

Stay away from this until further notice.

[/spoiler]

Download Links

Here you go
[spoiler show="Show download links" hide="Hide download links"]

iOS 4.2.1 GM (APPLE TV 2G) – 267.08MB

• Apple (direct)
• Multiupload (direct)
• Rapidshare
• MegaUpload
• Depositfiles
• Hotfile
• zShare
• Uploading

iOS 4.2.1 GM (IPAD) – 551.3MB

• Apple (direct)
• Multiupload (direct)
• MegaUpload
• Depositfiles

iOS 4.2.1 GM (IPHONE 4) – 624.23MB

• Apple (direct)
• Multiupload (direct)
• MegaUpload
• DepositFiles

iOS 4.2.1 GM (IPHONE 3GS) – 401.31MB

• Apple (direct)
• Multiupload (direct)
• Rapidshare
• MegaUpload
• Depositfiles
• zShare
• Uploading

iOS 4.2.1 GM (IPHONE 3G) – 322.89MB

• Apple (direct)
• Multiupload (direct)
• Rapidshare
• MegaUpload
• Depositfiles
• Hotfile
• zShare
• Uploading

iOS 4.2.1 GM (IPOD TOUCH 4G) – 608.61MB

• Apple (direct)
• Multiupload (direct)
• MegaUpload
• Depositfiles

iOS 4.2.1 GM (IPOD TOUCH 3G) – 389.21MB

• Apple (direct)
• Multiupload (direct)
• RapidShare
• MegaUpload
• Depositfiles
• Hotfile
• zShare
• Uploading

iOS 4.2.1 GM (IPOD TOUCH 2G) – 346.71MB

• Apple (direct)
• Multiupload (direct)
• RapidShare
• MegaUpload
• Depositfiles
• Hotfile
• zShare
• Uploading

[/spoiler]
ENJOY!

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/18/ios-4-2-1-gm-download-for-all-devices/feed/ 121 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/18/stylus-pen-by-hard-candy-cases/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/18/stylus-pen-by-hard-candy-cases/#comments Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:00:41 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4109 Have you ever wanted a stylus for your capacitive touch screen device? Chances are that your answer may be a “no”, but what if you could get the features of a stylus combined with a ink pen? The Stylus Pen by Hard Candy Cases does just that and is priced at $34.95. Offering a top-notch design and replaceable ink, the Stylus Pen is great for writing on paper and for controlling a device, such as an iPhone.

Made of nice-and-shiny chrome, the Stylus Pen is a real high quality piece of work. It has a bit of weight to it (seems to weigh about as much as an iPhone 4), but I like to have weighted pens. You can pop off one end of the pen and it will reveal either the stylus or the ink pen. If untwist the grip portion of the pen even further, you can replace the ink. The stylus portion is made of some sort of rubber material, and is very sensitive when using it on a mobile device (which is a good thing). Casual scrolling of web pages and news articles is a breeze.

While there isn’t much more that can be said about something like this, I will say that this product has made our holiday gift guide. You get the best of both worlds: An ink pen for physical writing, and a stylus for use on a mobile device. It weighs more than the average pen, but the functionality overcomes that possible downside.

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

Photo Gallery

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/18/stylus-pen-by-hard-candy-cases/feed/ 0 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/17/3-random-iphone-tips/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/17/3-random-iphone-tips/#comments Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:35:27 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4139 Now, you may have seen other articles giving you ‘tips and tricks’ for your iPhone.  Those are usually beginner tips that anyone with an iPhone would know right off the bat.  I am attempting to show you something new that you didn’t know.

1. Easily crop a photo: You don’t need an app like Photoshop mobile to do a simple crop!  Just go into your photos app, zoom in an image by pinching or double-tapping, and then take a screenshot.  Done!  The cropped photo is saved to your camera roll.

Cropped photo!

2. Calculator: A few things here.  You obviously know that you can tilt your phone for the scientific calculator.  If you want even more mathematical functions hit the second function button in the top left:

Also, you can copy and paste numbers into the calculator.  Just hold your finger over the calculator ‘screen’ and you’ll see options for copy and paste.  And one more: you can delete single numbers from the calculator screen by swiping to the right or left.  I have actually found this one very useful.

3. Swipe to go back: This is not hugely useful, but it’s cool, and very few people know about it (as far as I know.)  If you’re in the iPod app, and you’re at the Now Playing screen, you can swipe your finger to the right, and you’ll go back to the last screen you were at (for example Playlists.)  Apple drops no hints as to this feature, and that’s what makes it cool.  Almost like an easter egg.

So those were just 3 of my favorite little iPod/iPhone tips.  I tried to make them interesting and not too basic.  If you have any cool ones, share them in the comments below!

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My Website: aelandT3.com

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/17/3-random-iphone-tips/feed/ 1 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/17/real-racing-2-update-real-cars/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/17/real-racing-2-update-real-cars/#comments Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:55:29 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4150 Real Racing, possibly the best racing game for iOS, will be receiving its second version later this year (or early next ?). They’ve been sending out periodic emails showing off the changes and new features for the second version. The first email was just an announcement email. This second one, sent out a little while ago, shows 2 real cars.

The original Real Racing featured fake and basically boring vehicles. Real Racing 2 will feature real cars, which is a very good thing. The image above features a 2006 BMW Z4 M Coupe, and a 2010 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R. Here’s the games’ icon below:

Stay tuned for more updates as they are sent out!

Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/17/real-racing-2-update-real-cars/feed/ 2 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/17/pogo-sketch-review/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/17/pogo-sketch-review/#comments Wed, 17 Nov 2010 14:00:14 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4101 A stylus may sound like something that shouldn’t even exist anymore, but there are times when one might like to have one. A stylus could be used for casual web-browsing, sketching/art, and a lot more. The Pogo Sketch by Ten One Design would be the one to get. Priced at a reasonable $14.95, the Pogo Sketch (also available in multiple colors) will suit the needs of anyone who just so happens to want a stylus. Not only does it work on mobile devices (any capacitive touch screen device), but it also works on the trackpad that’s found on the MacBook Pro and Magic Trackpad.

Made of lightweight high-end anodized aluminum, the smooth surface appeals to anyone and provides an acceptable amount of grip. The shirt clip at the top of the Pogo Sketch makes it easily accessible from a shirt pocket.

The stylus itself is a pleasure to use. I’ve been using it on an iPhone 4, Samsung Focus, and my MacBook Pro’s trackpad, and it works beautifully with all devices. What’s really neat is that you could combine a stylus and use Ten One Design’s “Inklet” application for Mac OS X to turn the trackpad into a little tablet for pressure-sensitive drawing (a list of just some of the compatible programs are available here) and handwriting recognition.

Overall, this is a very nice product (albeit there’s only so much one can say about a stylus)! Its design will please everyone who would like a stylus, and is the go-to choice for a stylus.

If you’d like to save some money on the Pogo Sketch, visit Ten One Design’s website on 11/26 between 12 a.m. and 12 p.m. to save between 25-50% off all of their products, or on 11/29 between 12 a.m. and 12 p.m.

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]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/17/pogo-sketch-review/feed/ 0 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/12/download-ios-4-2-gm-build-2-for-ipad/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/12/download-ios-4-2-gm-build-2-for-ipad/#comments Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:48:19 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4082

Today, Apple has released a second GM build for the iPad, and the iPad only. Lots of people experienced the “wifi bug”, so this is probably what Apple has fixed in this build. More information and download links after the break!

FAQ

A lot of people will ask simple questions that have simple answer. We’ve put some of the more common ones in a little FAQ.
[spoiler show="Show FAQ" hide="Hide FAQ"]

What’s a GM?

If you don’t know what GM is, it stands for “Gold Master”, a term that means that the particular software version is either final, or close to final. Due to past experiences with Apple firmwares, the GM ends up being the final release version.

Do I need a developer account for this?

NO, you DON’T need a dev account for this.

Do I need Windows or Mac OS X?

Either one, it doesn’t matter.

Do I need iTunes 10.1?

iOS 4.2 requires iTunes 10.1. Anything earlier than that will not work.

What if I’m jailbroken/unlocked?

Stay away from this, for now.

[/spoiler]

Download Links

Here you go . Regarding iTunes 10.1: When you install it, the installer/readme will say 10.0.1 (or something like that), but it’s actually installing 10.1. Don’t worry.

iOS 4.2 GM (release 2) for iPad (551.24MB)

• Multiupload (direct)
• Megaupload
• Depositfiles

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]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/12/download-ios-4-2-gm-build-2-for-ipad/feed/ 53 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/12/how-to-enable-airprint-on-10-6-5-in-1-click/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/12/how-to-enable-airprint-on-10-6-5-in-1-click/#comments Fri, 12 Nov 2010 14:08:29 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4078 Apple, oddly enough, removed AirPrint from 10.6.5 at the last minute. Nobody knows why, but if you want it back, you can easily “hacktivate” AirPrint with this simple and free tool.

Homepage |  Download

Just click on “hacktivate”, and the proper files for AirPrint will be transferred over.

Enjoy!

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]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/12/how-to-enable-airprint-on-10-6-5-in-1-click/feed/ 2 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/11/firemints-real-racing-2-announced/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/11/firemints-real-racing-2-announced/#comments Fri, 12 Nov 2010 01:21:13 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4069 Earlier today, Firemint announced that Real Racing 2 [for iPhone] will be coming. Actual details of the game are currently unknown.

If you’re unfamiliar with Real Racing, it’s a very awesome arcade-style racing game for iOS. Hopefully, RR2 will have more realistic handling and real/actual cars and tracks.

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gumballtech

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/11/firemints-real-racing-2-announced/feed/ 0 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/11/froyo-on-your-iphone/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/11/froyo-on-your-iphone/#comments Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:11:14 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4049

While some Android devices are still waiting to get their dedicated version of Froyo, it looks like the original iPhone and iPhone 3G have received theirs. With the help of Bootlace you can install Android 2.2.1 on the iPhone without the need to even use a computer. While you could install Android before, Bootlace just made it that much easier for us.

To get it running you need the following:

• Original iPhone running 3.1.2 or 3.1.3
• iPhone 3G running 3.1.2 through 4.1

To get some lovely instructions you can head here. Have fun and show it off to you Android friends who are still stuck on Android 2.1.

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/11/froyo-on-your-iphone/feed/ 1 http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/09/faceit-3gs/ http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/09/faceit-3gs/#comments Wed, 10 Nov 2010 01:09:31 +0000 admin http://gumballtech.com/?p=4032

Feeling a bit jealous that your friend can FaceTime and you can’t? Missing a loved one off at college and want to seem? If you got yourself a jailbroken iPhone 3GS then you can add yourself to the FaceTime crowd. Using Faceit-3GS you can make and receive FaceTime calls from any other FaceTime capable device. Of course there is no front-facing camera on the iPhone 3GS but maybe you don’t care. If you’ve just been itching for this feature then head on over your local Cydia store and download it right away.

The link below shows the guys who made it happen. This is the same time you first allowed you to FaceTime over 3G. Translated into English from Arabic, sans Google Translate. Now FaceTime away.

iPhoneIslam Team

]]> http://www.gumballtech.com/2010/11/09/faceit-3gs/feed/ 2