Android Captivate and Vibrant get reviewed — the competition
AT&T and T-Mobile bring the Android competition with the Samsung Galaxy S-class Captivate and Vibrant
Phil Nickinson, my counterpart over at sibling site Android Central has just posted his AT&T Android Captivate review and T-Mobile Android Vibrant review, the latest, greatest US GSM competition to our own iPhone 4. They’re both Galaxy S-class devices, but one of the strengths of Android is the ability for manufacturers like Samsung and carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile (and Verizon and Sprint when their versions launch) to modify and customize the hardware and software to make their devices distinct.
Ally already posted her thoughts on the AT&T Captivate vs. iPhone 4, so if you’re trying to decide between the two, or between them and the T-Mobile Vibrant, give Phil’s a read to and then come back here and let us know what you think.
Android Captivate and Vibrant get reviewed — the competition is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb – The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
Apple Store Down! [Not for White iPhone 4]
TiPb nation, rev up your ZOMGS and get ready for SQUEEE — the Apple Online Store is down world wide.
Now before you get too excited, this is not for the White iPhone 4. That’s been delayed until later this year. Unfortunately, this time it’s probably not for any iOS devices. If the rumors are true, what we’ll see today are 12-proc Mac Pro, updated iMac, 27″ LED displays, and maybe — just maybe — the MagicPad multitouch trackpad for the Mac.
Give us your best guesses in the comments and we’ll find out just as soon as the store comes back up.
Apple Store Down! [Not for White iPhone 4] is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb – The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
Apple releases iOS 4.1 beta 2 for developers
Once again keeping to the every-2-weeks cycle, Apple has released iOS 4.1 beta 2 for developers. If you’ve got an account, head on over to developer.apple.com and update your SDK and firmware.
We’re guessing Apple plans on doing what they’ve done in year’s past — keep releasing betas until they hold a fall Special Music Event and show off the final version along with a new iPod touch G4.
If anyone notices anything new in beta 2, we’ll update!
[developer.apple.com, thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Apple releases iOS 4.1 beta 2 for developers is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb – The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
Belkin Max Sleeve for iPad – accessory review
YouTube Link
The Belkin Max Sleeve for iPad not only does a great job of protecting your iPad, but it gives you a little extra room to stick some of your accessories in as well. The case is made of a fabric material that is pleated on the front. This is what allows you to have a zipper compartment in the front to stick your other gadgets in.
The inside of the case is a foamy white mesh material. It’s extremely soft so you don’t have to worry about it scratching your iPad. It’s also a loose fit, which means you won’t damage your iPad while taking it out and putting it back in the case. There’s always a down side to a case not fitting snugly though, and that’s if you forget to zip it and pick up the case by the wrong end, it’s very likely your iPad could go crashing to the floor. We didn’t have this happen with this case, but I could see that being a problem as the material on the inside doesn’t offer any grip.
The way we cast that fear aside was to put a silicon case on the iPad and then put it in the Belkin Max Sleeve. The silicon provides the grip and solves the issue. I know a lot of people wouldn’t want to buy 2 cases so it isn’t an ideal situation. My advice? It’s a great case worth the money, just be careful how you pick it up, or make sure you always zip it up.
Other than the sliding out of the case issue, this is a great case and well worth the money. It offers superior protection in an unobtrusive form factor. Even though it’s small, it still lets you stow away other objects, which is nice. If there’s any girls out there like me that hate carrying around a laptop/iPad bag and a purse, this is awesome. Simply throw your phone, credit cards, etc in the front pouch and you’re good to go. You can purchase the Belkin Max Sleeve for iPad from the TiPb Accessory Store.
Pros
Allows for extra storage room in the front pocket
Material on the outside is easy to grip on to
Material on inside won’t scratch your iPad
Cons
Inside material is a little slick so forgetting to zip up could cause an iPad to fall out
Zipper on front pocket is sometimes a bit hard to pull
Belkin Max Sleeve for iPad – accessory review is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb – The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
Apple, EFF comment on Jailbreak DMCA exception
Given yesterday’s Library of Congress exceptions to the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) for Jailbreak and Unlock, it was only a matter of time before both sides, Apple and the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) commented.
Here’s what Apple told Cult of Mac:
“Apple’s goal has always been to insure that our customers have a great experience with their iPhone and we know that jailbreaking can severely degrade the experience. As we’ve said before, the vast majority of customers do not jailbreak their iPhones as this can violate the warranty and can cause the iPhone to become unstable and not work reliably.”
And here’s the EFF
By granting all of EFF’s applications, the Copyright Office and Librarian of Congress have taken three important steps today to mitigate some of the harms caused by the DMCA,” said Jennifer Granick, EFF’s Civil Liberties Director. “We are thrilled to have helped free jailbreakers, unlockers and vidders from this law’s overbroad reach.”
So anyone here heeding Apple’s warnings of doom and gloom, or are you two busy partying in the streets in celebration of your new legal standing?
[Cult of Mac, EFF]
Apple, EFF comment on Jailbreak DMCA exception is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb – The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
Apple brings multitouch to desktops with Magic Trackpad
The Apple Online Store is back up and with it comes the Magic Trackpad, bringing full on MacBook-style multitouch goodness to Apple’s desktop line.
It’s got click, scroll, swipe, and rotate, so if the Magic Mouse just wasn’t enough for you, here’s the escalation you’ve been waiting for. Oh, and there’s an Apple battery re-charger to go with it.
And while it’s not the iPhone or iPod touch “Magic Trackpad” app I’ve been waiting for — can you please get on that Apple? — it does show Apple is continuing to leverage their technologies across their various platforms, devices, and machines, creating a virtuous cycle iOS is sure to benefit from as well.
(And no, there’s no info on whether or not it will work as a companion to the BT Keyboard for iPad — we’ll have to try it when it arrives).
$69. Anyone besides me picking one up?
Apple brings multitouch to desktops with Magic Trackpad is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb – The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
The feeling of dunking yourself into a nice, cool pool during the hot and sweltering summer weather is a refreshing one – but how about merging water-based activities with basketball? Doesn’t sound as though both will jive, but with the Pool To Pavement Basketball Hoop, you can be sure to have a smashing good time with your mates. This basketball hoop can not only be used when you have your feet firmly planted on terra firma, but it also can be used at the poolside, boasting a shatterproof polycarbonate backboard which can be lowered to place the breakaway 9″ rim only 3 1⁄2′ above the pool’s edge, letting you enjoy aquatic layups, bankshots, and dunks thanks to the 7.5″ mini-basketball that comes with each $199.95 purchase. Just make sure the platform is filled with water or sand to keep it stable.
[ Pool To Pavement Basketball Hoop copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]