The iHome iP76, which pulses and strobes, ships in July for $199.99 (click to enlarge).

(Credit:
iHome)

This one’s for the kiddies, tweens, or anybody who wants to go clubbing at home.

Yes, iHome’s upcoming iP76 LED Color Changing Speaker Tower with Bluetooth has 16 multicolor LED clusters that do all kinds of fun stuff. That’s right, this pedestal-style iPhone /iPod speaker dock can be customized to feature your favorite color and includes such options as color fade, pulse to music, and strobe effect for the “ultimate light show.”

Time to fire up Pink Floyd. I mean Bieber.

Oh, and the tower also charges your iPod or iPhone and has a component video connection so you can output video from your device to your TV with the proper cable (no mention about that cable being included, however).

The iP76, which expands on iHome’s growing line of GlowTunes products, ships in July for $199.99.

[Read more]

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Patently Apple )

Discovered by Patently Apple in a group of 21 patents issued to Apple by the Patent and Trademark Office, the in-vehicle remote-control patent describes a product designed for drivers wishing to control their iOS devices more easily.

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Currently, drivers must fumble around with their iPhone , iPod , or iPad to change songs, get directions, or make calls if their car’s in-dash system doesn’t support iOS devices. This lack of integration can cause serious distractions for drivers.

Apple ‘s solution is a small device that would attach to any steering wheel, allowing users to connect to their iOS devices and control basic functions.

As pictured in the patent, the remote would resemble Apple ‘s iconic c… [Read more]

From left: iPod Nano watch, Swatch Microsoft/MSN watch, Fossil Wrist PDA, Sony SmartWatch.

(Credit:
Sarah Tew/CNET)

My watch is an iPod Nano. It’s not perfect. In fact, there are many ways I’d like it to be better. But, it works. It also looks cool.

Those are two seemingly small details that are in fact quite major when considering a smart watch these days. “Working” is a matter of opinion and design in some cases, but the point is that the iPod Nano-as-a-watch does exactly what you think it does, and it does it well. So far, that can’t be said for Sony’s SmartWatch, a confusing remote for Android phones that ends up doing less than you expect it to, yet somehow is hard to even work in that limited capacity. I had a chance to try one out here at CNET, and was surprised at how Sony’s solution was good-looking, but a complete slave requiring Bluetooth and an Android phone to get anything done — even tell the time. That’s a problem. A good watch can’t mess that part up. Related storiesWhy my new watch is an iPod Nano… [Read more]

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CNET)

I play a lot of video games. I have a Windows gaming rig and an Xbox 360, and my iOS devices are filled with games from every genre. I would consider myself a fairly skilled gamer, but there are certain types of games designed to challenge even the most seasoned fans.

Back in January, I wrote a similar post called “Games that make you rage on iOS.” One of the games I’m focusing on today is the sequel to a game I wrote about then, but it definitely hasn’t lost its rage-inducing qualities.

It’s important to note that for this collection I recommend grabbing the iPad versions of the games in question (if you own an iPad) because when you play a hard game, you want any advantage you can get and the iPad’s larger screen gives you a little more room to work with. However, all of the games listed are available for iPhone and iPod Touch as well.

This week’s collection of apps will test your patience in the extreme. The first is the sequel to a game I wrote about in the above-mentioned post. The second is a new game from the popular Stickman genre. The third is an escape game that’s not immediately rage-inducing, but once you get into it, you’ll quickly recognize why it’s part of this collection.

… [Read more]

If your iPhone , iPad, or iPod Touch is running iOS 5 or higher, you can now receive software updates over the air. What this means, to you, is that you’ll no longer have to tether to a computer to download and install the update. Instead, you’ll be alerted on your device of an available update. You can then can download and install it while on the go. Here’s how it works.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET)

To check for an available update, to go Settings > General > Software Update.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET)

If an update is available, you’ll see a screen similar to that above. Here you can see software update iOS 5.1.1 is available, and it’s 54.5MB. The general notes don’t really tell the whole story of what’s included in the update, so make sure to tap on Learn More to see what exactly is included.

Some words to the wise: make sure iCloud has a current backup of your device; should anything go wrong during the update process, you’ll need to restore to a recent backup. You can watch this video covering how to manually start an iCloud backup. Once you’re ready to update, tap on Download and Install.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET)

You’ll have to accept some terms and … [Read more]

JailBreakMe, one of several jailbreak options.

(Credit:
Steven Musil/CNET)

Third-party gadget warranty service SquareTrade today expanded its coverage, and now supports jailbroken iPhones.

That procedure — which gives device owners deep system-level access, letting them install third-party software from places other than Apple ‘s App Store — voids Apple ‘s own warranty, and that from carriers.

A company spokesperson said the change affects both new and existing coverage holders.

No word yet on if this extends to iPads and iPods, which SquareTrade also covers as part of its warranty service. The three gadgets share the same operating system.

SquareTrade’s been around since 1999, but didn’t home in on selling warranties until 2004. It garnered more attention by offering accidental damage coverage on devices before the makers themselves offered it. Apple , for example, only added damage coverage with its AppleCare+ program last October. SquareTrade secured a … [Read more]

The $99 Pop Video pico projector is available for pre-order now, though it's ship date is unknown.

(Credit:
Micron Technology)

Looking into the future concept artists often equip their dream iPhones with built-in pico projectors. That feature probably isn’t coming to an iPhone anytime soon, but Micron Technology’s upcoming $99 Pop Video pico projector accessory may be the next best thing.

The key feature here is the 30-pin connector that allows you to dock your iPhone or iPod , forming one compact unit. While some of the larger pico projectors like the BenQ Joybee GP2 have an integrated dock, the Pop Video is designed to be much more portable, fitting into a pocket when not in use.

Brookstone's competing Pocket Projector for iPhone 4 costs $229 (click to enlarge).

(Credit:
Brookstone)

Brookstone is offering up a similarly styled pico projector that’s simply called the … [Read more]

Skype change list for version 4.0.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET)

A popular choice for VoIP users and those who make international and video calls, Skype (free for iPhone or iPad) received a few improvements today that tweak the interface and give you more control over your video calls.

The overall interface has been slightly tweaked to look a bit smoother with a new header and buttons that are more aesthetically pleasing and better match the colors of the rest of the interface. The contact view now shows more contacts on screen, with smaller icons that don’t take up as much space as they did in previous versions.

The most noticeable new enhancement is the ability to touch and drag your video preview (the picture in picture view where you can see yourself during a video call) so you can move it anywhere on the screen during a call.

Skype will now also relaunch if the app is unexpectedly shut down while running in the background. The folks at Skype say the app has also been upgraded with better accessibility options, and several bug fixes.

The updates in version 4.0 apply to all iOS versions of Skype, so your iPad, iPhone , and iPod Touch will all share these new features. Both the update and the full ap… [Read more]

Now you see it. Here's a wristlet version.

(Credit:
Nicole Kelner)

Some people suffer from anxiety when their phones are out of sight and out of reach. Did I leave it at home? What pocket did I put it in? I can’t find it. The sky is falling!

There’s a line of purses that could be classified as anti-anxiety iPhone carriers. Nicole Kelner posts her wares on Etsy. These handmade purses and wristlets feature a clear pocket designed to hold an iPhone at the ready at all times. Prices are all pretty close to $20.

These creations are interesting on a couple of levels. On one, it turns an iPhone into a key part of your purse’s aesthetics. On another, it adds a certain level of practicality. You can access your buttons, keep your phone dry in the rain, and not lose it in the depths of your purse.

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To get the full advantage of the iPhone pocket, you’ll want to use an … [Read more]

(Credit:
Apple )

Though iPads, iPhones, and iPod Touches are becoming less and less dependent on being connected to a computer, one important part of owning an iOS device still requires a Mac or PC — backup.

The piece of mind that comes along with having an accessible backup for all your contacts, calendar events, texts, apps, and photos goes a long way. For users who experience a malfunction of their device that requires it to be replaced, they must have a current backup of their information or be subject to losing it when Apple replaces their unit.

The wireless sync hubs that sources reporting to 9to5Mac say are going to be added to Apple Store Genius Bars aim to solve that problem. Once installed, users will be able to backup their iDevice data at the Genius Bar, get their device replaced, and re-sync all their content right at the bar.

Now, instead of leaving the Apple Store with a replacement iPhone and none of your apps, you’ll be able to get right back to playing Angry Birds and responding to text messages with a stream of Emoji icons.

Related StoriesHow to set up and optimize your brand-new iPad… [Read more]