GadgetReview

I knew it was coming – well, actually I hoped it was coming, but here it is: HD radio for the iPod Touch and iPhone.  (Last week I wrote about the official release of the XM Skydock for the iPhone and although I think it’s a solid product for anyone willing to pay a monthly subscription fee I couldn’t help but note that I’d prefer an HD Radio version.)

In order to gain access to the 2,000+ HD stations currently being broadcast into your skull, you’ll need to pick up iBiquity’s Gigaware Navigation Control HD Radio Receiver accessory for the iPod Touch and iPhone.  The inline radio receiver, which plugs into the 30pin serial connector, works in conjunction with their free app and allows you to ‘favorite’ stations as well as connect with friends over Facebook, Twitter and email.

Radioshack, who has an exclusive on the product, is selling it for $79.99.  Sure, the price is a bit steep, but compare that against XM’s offering and you’ve got a steal of a deal.

…Continue reading: HD Radio Arrives On The iPhone, Requires Gigaware Navigation Control HD Radio Receiver

Remote the iControlpad, the accessory that turned your iPhone into a real deal portable gaming machine?  Well they’re back, and this time around they’ve gone bigger, bolder and more powerful.  More powerful you say?  Yup, this version has a built-in battery that chargers your iPhone as you hammer out levels of TapTap Revenge, or in their case Mario Kart.

According to the maker, the feedback they got from the first iteration was that it was too cramped.  And then they realized they’d have to produce a different version for each new iPhone.  While I don’t know if this iteration will accept every iPhone currently on the market, its larger size definitely gives way for physical ‘inserts’ to allow for such a feat.

And yes, those are two analog sticks that you’re seeing.  They’ve got access to the parts used on the openPandora handheld.  Can you say ’see you later’ PSPGo?

There is no word on a release date, but let’s just hope they make it foldable for greater portability, because right now it’s looking a bit too fat.

Video of it in action after the ‘leap’ …Continue reading: iControlPad Controller For The iPhone Now Bigger And Badder (video)

‘Stacks’ have long existed in Apple’s Mac OS, but what about the iPhone?  They are now thanks to ‘Stacks’, a piece of software that you can add to your iPhone, that is assuming it’s Jailbroken (aka hacked).

Much like Mac’s OS you can add multiple applications (in Mac OS X you can view multiple files in a folder, at a glance, from your dock) to your iPhone or iPod Touch’s dock instead of just four.  Tap on a ’stack’ and a playing card like display of applications are laid out before you.  If you’ve added too many applications to the ’stack’ it transforms the window to a grid like layout similar to your iPhone’s default screen.

Wired notes that there are a few draw backs to the current interation, such as the lack of icon badges (unread email), visual notifications and a few other minor hiccups.  Problems aside, I think it’s a great idea, though it might defeat the purpose of having four dedicated buttons to choose from.

If you’ve got a Jailbroken iPhone or iPod Touch you can grab ‘Stacks’ now, you’ll just need to make a $1 donation to the developer.

Video after the ‘leap’ …Continue reading: Stacks Software Adds Mac OS X Stacks To The iPhone

Ahhh….Techie new parents are going to love this one.  A new iPhone application entitled The Cry Translator is on its way that will effectively tell you what your gurgling baby is crying about.

The app will listen to a whining child and determine through pitch, volume, tone, and inflection, what the deal is.  Ten seconds later that app will tell you whether the child is hungry, sleepy, stressed, annoyed, bored, or has to let go of a mean steamy (omit that).  From there the app offers advice as to what to do with the translation in order to appease your baby.

Developed by Biloop Technologic, they claim that through clinical testing these translations  are 96% accurate, and the age of the child does not waver the results.  On sale for $10 on November 11th.

But will it work with sputtering brain dead alcoholics?

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Okay, admittedly, sometimes you really want just the right skin for your iPhone or iPod.  Your skin says a lot about who you are, how you feel about stuff, and junk.  And of course, you definitely want the coolest one you can find.  And maybe you can’t find a skin with your favorite supermodel on it, or with a sharp enough resolution image of the Klingon Empire’s sigil.

Now, you can make your own.  Thanks to the iaPeel (like eye appeal, only Apple style) you can print off gadget skins for your Apple portables in whatever format you want.

The iaPeel kit will set you back a mere $21, and comes with some basic design software and five skins that’ll work with your inkjet printer of choice.  Plus, you can make your Apple gear into total clotheshorses and make multiple skins, for different occasions or even days of the week.  Imagine the fun you’ll have with your friends when you whip out your iPhone and say, “This is my Thursday skin.”

Of course, if you actually do try that, you may not have friends much longer….

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So a strange development took place on Sunday–a Dutch hacker is currently holding what amounts to several jailbreaked Apple iPhones.

Just in case you’re wondering about the terminology here, a jailbroken phone is basically a hacked iPhone that allows you to install software from other sources besides Apple’s App Store.  The need for jailbreaking has fallen off somewhat in recent days, but there are still plenty of phones out there already that have been jailbroken.

But when you jailbreak an Apple iPhone, you force the resetting of a password that controls remote access to the general password coded in at the factory level.  Now, if you’re smart, you’ll quickly change that password to something you know well.  But a lot of people either got lazy or busy or just plain forgot, because they left their iPhones in the ORIGINAL PASSWORD SETTING.

And that’s where the Dutch hacker swung in.  He changed the passwords, effectively locking people out of their own phones until they pay him a ransom of five euros via PayPal.  Meanwhile, Apple considers jailbroken phones to have voided their warranties, so it’s pretty much either pay off the hacker or lose your phone until he’s arrested and forced to confess.

So if you’ve got a jailbroken Apple, you may want to switch that password around before the Dutch hacker gets you…if he hasn’t already.

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What would probably look cooler in an actual booth at a Hard Rock Cafe than at your place, this cheapo “Limited Edition” iPod dock could make a decent gift idea for that certain nostalgia freak in your family.

At only $15, I can’t imagine the sound quality to be anything of value, but it is cheap enough to buy for your bathroom or walk-in closet.  Especially if you like the included digital FM tuner.  Also featuring a line-in for CD and MP3 players, it will also run off of 4 AA batteries or a wall plug.

Limited Edition always denotes a “Buy Now” type of attitude so don’t hesitate!

[via ChipChick]

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A reliable source in the past,  China Ontrade has just released this picture of what appears to be the body casing of a iPhone 4G.  While none of this is official by any means, it will surely churn out some decent comments from people in the know.

A 4G iPhone is expected to be released in 2010 and will be the biggest Apple news of the year.

Let’s hope the new iPhone uses some of these recent Apple patents to increase battery life.

Should we expect the same design factor?

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Late last week Scosche introduced the powerFUZE car and home USB chargers for mobile products.  It does double duty by incorporating not only an AC plug with a dedicated USB port, but also features a removable car cigarette lighter USB charger that can either be used at home as a second USB port for dual charging or plugged into the car for on the go power.  I really don’t get it since the whole idea of a separate charger for the car and the home is to leave them in each respective place so you don’t run out of juice when in a pinch.

You can grab one now for $30.

Of note, you can purchase these items separately, so it’s more a question of convenience.

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While I’m confident that satellite radio is sure to fail that doesn’t mean that new and cool products for the service aren’t worth noting.  Starting today XM’s Skydock is available for purchase from a barrage of retailers including Amazon, who has it for about $95.  If you recall, the Skydock is essentially a glorified cigarette charger and turns any iPhone (or iPod Touch) running the XM iPhone app into a satellite radio, that is assuming that you’ve attached the magnetic antenna to your car’s roof.

Personally, I’d prefer an HD radio dock, which doesn’t require a hefty monthly subscription.

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