Wicked Audio Metallics Earbuds Giveaway

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Sometimes we don't even need a reason to do a giveaway of some fun swag. Our friends at Wicked Audio were in the giving mood, so we teamed up with them to give away three pairs of their new Metallics earbuds.

The Metallics (US$12.99) are noise-isolating earbuds that are extremely lightweight for your listening comfort. They come in five tasty metallic colors -- black, green, white, blue and pink. Just fill out the little entry form below and we'll randomly pick three winners, all of whom will get a pair of Metallics in their choice of color.

Here are the official rules:

  • Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
  • To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button.
  • The entry must be made before May 16, 2012 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time.
  • You may enter only once.
  • Three winner will be selected and each will receive a pair of Wicked Metallics earbuds valued at $12.99 in the color of their choice.
  • Click Here for complete Official Rules.

Wicked Audio Metallics Earbuds Giveaway originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 14 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy S3 gets accessorized. Press images revealed

Smartphones over the last few years have been going from strength to strength, with faster processors, higher memory, bigger displays with larger resolutions, and bigger (but not always) batteries to help keep up with the other improvements. Device accessories, which once meant only earphones and an USB cable, have also become increasingly sophisticated. We now have a variety of bluetooth headsets, docks, protective and eye-pleasing covers, HDMI media link devices, capacitive styluses, and a myriad of other useful contraptions that complement our handheld devices.

Keeping with the trend, Samsung followed up the much-hyped debut of the Samsung Galaxy S3 with the promise of a slew of sleek accessories that would be available by the time the device begins shipping. We’ve already heard that the release of the highly-anticipated wireless charging kit will be delayed for a few months. But let’s take a look at some of the other, equally impressive add-ons for the Galaxy S3.

Flip Cover

With most high-end devices rocketing by the $500 threshold, the need to protect and keep devices in pristine condition has come to the forefront. The official flip cover for the Samsung Galaxy S3 is well designed and easy on the eye, while also providing all-around protection.

C-Pen Stylus

The C-Pen Stylus is the thicker version of the S-Pen that accompanies the Galaxy Note. As the S3 stylus does not fit in as a part of the device, the form factor of the C-Pen is more similar to that of regular pen, making it far easier to use.

WiFi Display Hub

Media link devices between the phone and other displays such as the television, are almost a must-have these days. The Samsung WiFi Display Hub lets you project photos, videos, and anything else on your phone, to a TV with HDMI support, via WiFi.

Battery Charger Stand and Wireless charging kit

The Battery Charger stand let’s you prop up the device and charge it wirelessly, while also charging an additional battery that fits into a slot at the back of the stand. With multiple battery charging options, battery dying out is a problem you will rarely have to face.

With the addition of the S-Pebble and multiple car dock options, the Samsung Galaxy S3 boasts a full slate of accessories to complete what is likely one of the best Android experience available.

What are your thoughts? Which accessories do you think are must-have? Will you be buying the Galaxy S3 as soon as it is released? Let us know in the comments section below.


This article, Samsung Galaxy S3 gets accessorized. Press images revealed , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


iConnectMIDI provides for all your MIDI requirements, including iOS

For musicians who use MIDI, it can be difficult and frustrating to get all your MIDI gear to talk to each other, especially all at the same time. Usually you hit some kind of snag, like your USB port not providing enough power to your MIDI device. Or older MIDI gear with 5-pin DIN MIDI connectors won't talk to your computer or newer MIDI gear, which only uses USB.

Additionally, more and more people are using MIDI on their iPads and iPhones to make music, taking advantage of the huge amount of CoreMIDI compatible apps out there.

For the average user, it can be difficult just to connect a MIDI keyboard up to an iPhone, let alone any additional MIDI gear. And if you're the kind of musician that has MIDI instruments and devices scattered all around your work space, then you know what it is to need a MIDI interface.

Previosuly, TUAW has coverd some other solutions, but the guys at iConnectivity have come up with a one size fits all solution: the iConnectMIDI -- a MIDI interface handling up to 12 MIDI connections.

In a small, but sturdy package, the iConnecMIDI has 2 miniUSB ports for iOS or desktop computer (Mac or PC) input, a powered (up to 500mA), standard USB port that can be connected to a hub supporting 8 devices, and 2 MIDI DIN ports for older gear. That's someting I've not seen on other MIDI interfaces!

Alongside a whole list of fantastic features (super fast -- no effective latency, multi-platform compatibility, no computer required), iConnectMIDI can be programmed to route and filter your MIDI data just how you want it. For example, get your iPad to talk to just one connected keyboard or all connected instruments. Or, as iConnectivity explains, "filter out all pitch bend data going out of ports 3 and 7... [or set] all data from three keyboard controllers go to one connected synthesizer."

I got a chance to use the iConnect MIDI for myself, and although my setup is not very complicated, it was great to be able to hook everything up together and see it work seamlessly. And not to worry about power (except for my iPad)!

At US$199.99 (with a promotional introductory price of $179), the iConnectMIDI is not for the light MIDI user. But considering its cutting edge feature set and tidy, sturdy footprint, if you're using the ever expanding range of iOS MIDI apps alongside your traditional MIDI gear, the iConnectMIDI needs to be at the center of your MIDI world.

iConnectMIDI provides for all your MIDI requirements, including iOS originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 11 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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99Bill produces first iPhone credit card reader in China

99Bill, a leading electronic financial service provider in China, is launching a new mobile payment solution that looks surprisingly familiar. The square-shaped 99Bill Card Reader plugs into the audio jack of your iPhone or Android device and lets merchants accept credit card and bank card payments on the go. The company is hoping to take advantage of the growing interest in mobile payments and smartphones, which are taking China by storm.

Show full PR text
99Bill's Smartphone Card Reader to Enable Massive Mobile Payment in China

99BILL CORPORATION CARD READER 99Bill's Smartphone Card Reader to Enable Massive Mobile Payment in China. (PRNewsFoto/99Bill Corporation) BEIJING, CHINA

BEIJING, May 8, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- 99Bill Corporation, China's leading electronic financial service provider, announced the official launch of its new mobile payment product 99Bill Card Reader. By simply plugging the tiny 99Bill Card Reader into Smartphone audio jack, merchants can accept bank card and credit card payments on the go, and make more sales quickly. The patented solution supports both iOS and Android platforms.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120508/CN02862)

Statistics shows that China has huge demands for card present transactions, but still lags behind other markets around the developed world where POS devices are extremely common. According to People's Bank of China, the nation had issued a total of nearly 3 billion bank cards by the end of 2011, an increase of 22% from the previous year. Meanwhile, there were only 3.18 million merchants using a total of 4.82 million POS devices in China.

The 99Bill Card Reader creates an entirely new card present payment solution for merchants and consumers by tuning smartphones into POS devices. According to iResearch, China's leading internet-based research firm, there were a total of 72.1 million smart phones being sold in 2011 alone, an increase of 103.1% over the previous year, and this trend is expected to continue in 2012 with an estimated 113 million being sold throughout the year. The increasing penetration of mobile devices gives 99Bill Card Reader a natural edge in this market segment.

With 99Bill's patented technology, the 99Bill card reader solution supports both pass code and signature based bank card transactions. This is especially important in the China market, where pass code enabled bank cards are the most common.

Oliver Kwan, CEO of 99Bill, said, "We always position ourselves as a comprehensive B2B and B2C payment solution provider for business customers. This Card Reader can significantly increase the number of bank card acceptance devices in China and give our business customers more choices to accept payments. We will continue to introduce more innovative payment solutions that really work, and help our customer grow their business."

The 99Bill Card Reader takes advantage of the convenience and ubiquitous nature of mobile devices to enable mobile selling for large companies and face-to-face transactions for small-to-medium size businesses. The first commercial use of such a product in mainland China, 99Bill has already signed agreements with three insurance companies to support their mobile sales forces. In China's mobile payment market, 99Bill has introduced a wide range of innovative products over times, including WAP, IVR, and InAPP based mobile payment services.

As China's leading provider of electronic financial services, 99Bill provides a comprehensive suite of electronic payment solutions that are actively used in 20 major industries, including airline, online and offline retail, insurance, education, logistics, etc. In 2011, the company obtained the six payment service licenses issued by the People's Bank of China, the most of any e-payment company in the industry.

99Bill produces first iPhone credit card reader in China originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 11 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FreedomPop iPhone case to offer free 4G connectivity

Earlier this year, FreedomPop said it was working on an iPhone case with an integrated cellular radio that would provide users with free mobile broadband access on Clearwire's 4G WiMAX network. Now, the company is taking pre-orders for this 4G WiMAX sleeve.

Each sleeve will cost US$99 and will include 500 MB of free mobile data. This is a drop from the planned 1 GB of data FreedomPop hoped to offer. You can bump up that data by participating in a social service that'll earn you an unspecified amount of data for connecting with your friends. Customers can also transfer unused data to other customers who need the extra capacity. (Note that the company's pre-order page still says "up to 1 GB of free data.")

You can read more about the FreedomPop case on the company's website and watch a promotional video about the sleeve in the YouTube video below.

FreedomPop iPhone case to offer free 4G connectivity originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 11 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Galaxy S3 Wireless Charging Kit to be delayed until September?

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The Samsung Galaxy S3 was unveiled with a lot of fuss a week ago in London, and alongside Sammy’s latest flagship came an extensive line of accessories. The S Pebble, the AllShare Cast Dongle, and the Wireless Charging Kit were just a few of the ones that drew our attention, and, while we didn’t know anything official about their launch, we hoped to see them hit the market at around the same time with the Galaxy S3. However, it now seems that at least one of those exciting accessories will not be available until September, which is a whole three (or four) months after the S3’s launch.

I am talking about the Wireless Charging Kit, whose launch might be heavily delayed, according to a report from Slashgear, based on a “source” from UK retailer MobileFun. The retailer didn’t wish to comment on the reasons behind the delayed launch, but regardless what justification will Samsung come up with, early S3 adopters should be pissed.

The wireless charging capabilities of the new Galaxy phone were almost unanimously hailed by journalists and simple tech lovers, so to not be able to take advantage of that function for a full three months is an utter disappointment.

wireless-charging

As much as we’d like to speculate on the possible cause of the delay, we have no idea what could have caused it. The guys at SlashGear say that it might have something to do with Samsung’s recently announced “Alliance for Wireless Power” with Qualcomm, but I personally can’t see why that would be a cause for such a hassle.

SlashGear also speculates that alternative, third-party wireless charging solutions will most likely be offered during the next few months, in an attempt to compensate for Samsung’s delay. However, we would advise you to wait for the official accessory rather than pay big bucks for gizmos that might or might not work properly. After all, we’ve waited so long for this phone that a month or two extra shouldn’t make that much of a difference, now should it?

As a reminder, the Samsung Galaxy S3 will be hitting Europe by the end of May, according to official information, while US availability is still kept under wraps. “Sometime this summer” is all Sammy’s saying about the S3’s American launch, but pretty much all rumors point towards a June release.

Stay tuned on our website to find out everything there is to know about the S3 and the S3’s official accessories! In the meantime, tell us what you think about the delayed launch of the Galaxy S3 wireless charging kit.


This article, Rumor: Galaxy S3 Wireless Charging Kit to be delayed until September? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Glif+: Even more iPhoneography love in the same small package

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If there's one accessory that every iPhoneographer should have in his or her pocket, it's the Glif. You probably remember our previous coverage of this cool little gizmo -- it fits onto the side of an iPhone and has a standard tripod screw mount on the bottom. Now Studio Neat has made the Glif even spiffier with some new additions. The Glif+ (US$30) adds two pieces to the original Glif ($20) to make it even more useful.

What's new? Well, there were always two little problems with the original Glif -- first, it was easy to lose and second, if you put the iPhone and Glif into an odd position the phone could fall out. By adding the Serif and the Ligature to the Glif, Studio Neat solved both issues.

The Serif is a tiny plastic piece that snaps onto the existing Glif and provides an "arm" that holds the iPhone into place, even when the Glif and iPhone are hanging upside-down. Of course, you can always use your Glif "sans Serif" in the traditional manner...

The Ligature is a tiny metal ring that screws into the bottom of the Glif, allowing you to attach your Glif to a key ring or hang it from a strap. This should be very useful for keeping the Glif close at hand for your iPhoneography needs.

If you already have a Glif, you can buy just the Serif and Ligature in a "+Pack" for $12. Oh, and one more thing -- the box that the Glif+ comes in? It can even be used as a tripod. Very clever, these Studio Neat guys.

[Thanks to Photojojo.com for providing a review unit]

Glif+: Even more iPhoneography love in the same small package originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 07 May 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Check out the Galaxy S3 accessories: S Pebble, AllShare Cast Dongle, C Pen stylus. Prices to be announced soon

Yes, boys and girls, the Samsung Galaxy S3 is finally here! And it’s ready to play with a wide range of new accessories designed for what could be the most powerful smartphone ever.

So far, we only have rumors about the S3’s availability in some important markets, including the US, but we do know that you’ll certainly dig (most of its) accessories.

AllShare Cast Dongle

First off, there’s the AllShare Cast Dongle, which is, by far, the most interesting Galaxy S3 accessory. The dongle (or hub, we’re still unsure how Sammy will market it) will turn the S3 into a multimedia beast, as it will enable you to connect the phone to your TV, wirelessly. It supports Wi-Fi b/g/n connectivity, as well as 1080p output, and the guys at Pocket-Lint are reporting “really good video and audio quality” both for the live camera and for running movies.

The S Pebble

Another accessory that sounds exciting on paper, but is still pretty much shrouded in mystery, is the S Pebble. Introduced as the “perfect music companion”, it appears to be nothing more than an MP3 player (pictured below). Why would you need an MP3 player to go with your phone? Well, the S Pebble is designed to replace your phone when carrying a smartphone isn’t an option, such as when out jogging or doing housework. Think of it as a iPod nano replacement, one that connects directly to the Galaxy S3 and has a claimed battery of 17 hours. If the price is right, the  S Pebble could be a pretty sweet deal for many users. For the time being, though, we can’t help but praise this accessory’s cool and unique design.

 

 

Battery Charger Stand and Wireless Charging kit

The battery charger stand and wireless charging kit might not sound spectacular, but are certainly cool. Anything wireless is cool, especially if it helps your phone remain fully juiced at all times. Wireless charging is still in its infancy, but will catch on, as more and more manufacturers are planning to make it a part of their devices. No cords, no wires, no hassle. Nice.

Unfortunately, the stock Galaxy S3 will not include wireless charging support. You will need to buy a separate backplate that contains all the needed tech.

wireless-charging

C Pen

Next up, the C Pen  is a capacitive stylus pen “exclusively optimized” for the Galaxy S3’s screen, which features a 3 mm rubberized tip and an aluminum body that matches the S3′s sleek design. We haven’t had a chance to play around with it, but we hear that it’s pretty much like the Galaxy Note’s S pen, which is certainly a good thing.

Docks

The Premium Audio Dock, Desktop Dock, and Universal Vehicle Dock should cover all your needs and desires in terms of keeping the S3 docked and cozy on your desk or on your vehicle’s dashboard. Each of the three has its own set of original features and functions, with the first two playing music and charging the S3, while the third is perfect for mounting the phone in your vehicle, in either portrait or landscape mode.

Covers

Samsung previewed a series of covers (a “flip cover”, “protective cover” and “slim cover”) to keep your phone safe in “difficult” environments and to protect it against bumps and bruises.

Flip-Cover-accessoire

HDMI adapter

Finally, Sammy mentioned a S3-specific HDMI adapter, whatever that means.

These are pretty much all the Galaxy S3 accessories officially announced as coming our way “soon”. As you’d expect, we have no release dates or prices for any of the products mentioned above. This information will probably come when the S3 is launched.

We’ll keep this list updated with more accessories to help you get the most out of your experience with the new Sammy flagship.

What do you guys thing about the Galaxy S3 accessories? Do you think you’ll end up buying any of them? Why? Why not?

No related posts.


This article, Check out the Galaxy S3 accessories: S Pebble, AllShare Cast Dongle, C Pen stylus. Prices to be announced soon , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Logitech intros new Solar Keyboard Folio for iPad

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Logitech has been hitting the news a lot lately, first with their Ultrathin Keyboard Cover (US$100, and -- ahem -- we're still waiting for a review unit) and now with the Solar Keyboard Folio ($130, available for pre-order).

The new case is of the familiar folio style, flipping one way for typing and another for viewing media. It also features the popular "magnets in the cover" trick to turn your iPad 2 or third-generation iPad on and off with a flick.

Logitech's marketing materials say that the Solar Keyboard Folio's Bluetooth keyboard will last for two years of typing two hours per day once fully charged, and it appears that sunlight or lamp light will continue to trickle charge the battery so it's topped off.

We're hoping to get one for review in the near future, so stay tuned.

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Logitech intros new Solar Keyboard Folio for iPad originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 03 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Logitech intros new Solar Keyboard Folio for iPad

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Logitech has been hitting the news a lot lately, first with their Ultrathin Keyboard Cover (US$100, and -- ahem -- we're still waiting for a review unit) and now with the Solar Keyboard Folio ($130, available for pre-order).

The new case is of the familiar folio style, flipping one way for typing and another for viewing media. It also features the popular "magnets in the cover" trick to turn your iPad 2 or third-generation iPad on and off with a flick.

Logitech's marketing materials say that the Solar Keyboard Folio's Bluetooth keyboard will last for two years of typing two hours per day once fully charged, and it appears that sunlight or lamp light will continue to trickle charge the battery so it's topped off.

We're hoping to get one for review in the near future, so stay tuned.

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Logitech intros new Solar Keyboard Folio for iPad originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 03 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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