LG wasn’t very forthcoming with details when it announced its new AirpPlay speaker dock back in November, so here at CES 2012 they had decided to prove deeper info for the public.
It looks like a foot square black rubik’s cube, with glossy and matte exterior squares alternating around the outside, along with two mesh speaker grilles on the front corners. Up top is a dock that fits any iDevice and the power button, while a Smart Square screen resides on the front that’ll have touch controls when the dock ships in Q2 or Q3 of this year.
A 3.5mm input jack and a USB port are on the back, and we’re pretty sure that the dongle plugged there is where the AirPlay chip currently resides, though it’ll be baked in before it gets to market. It was hard to evaluate the thing’s sound on the show floor, but with an 8-inch subwoofer inside, the low end came through loud and clear and overall it sounded good.
Let’s get this out of the way up front — this is not a confirmation that Apple is planning to put a quad-core A6 chip inside its next iPad or iPhone. What it does indicate is that Apple may be testing iOS support for quad-core CPUs. 9to5Mac has dug up images from the latest beta of iOS 5.1 that detail the supported number of cores. In this hidden panel, single-core A4s are referred to as “/cores/core.0″ while dual-core A5s are “/cores/core.1.” Now a new listing, “/cores/core.3,” is popping up which, if you start counting with zero, indicates a CPU packing four cores. This doesn’t mean that Apple even has this up and running on test hardware yet, though, merely that software support for quad-core chips is in the works. But, that should be enough to really kick the rumor mill into overdrive.
Your momma always said your handsome mug would take you places. Now it might allow you to access your iPad. An Apple patent application released today describes a facial recognition system that requires minimal computing power, and works whether you’re indoors or out — we don’t use our tablets and phones in a photo booth, after all. The technology works by comparing a current image of your mug to a reference model user profile made using “high information” portions of the human face, like eyes and mouths.
Translation: it’ll take a picture, compare it against the pictures associated with various user accounts on the device and decide if the two images are similar enough to grant you access. Because this is just an application, it’s safe to say we won’t be seeing this kind of facial recognition in iOS anytime soon, but let’s hope it works better than the ICS version if it does.
An important thing to note is that Apple applied for this patent long before Android’s Face Unlock debuted a few months back. The paperwork was first submitted on June 29th, 2010 — it’s just now being disclosed to the public.
Playing a racing game on the big screen can sometimes feel a bit like the real thing, but what happens when the screen is larger than life? Hyundai has created a new iPhone driving game for the Veloster that is interactive on a level that most gamers can only dream of.
If you happen to be in Times Square between now and the end of the year, you can play the game on the massive LED screen on 47th Street and Broadway. In fact, there are a pair of video screens, so up to two players can play at once. We’re guessing this screen beats the two-player setup on most 70-inch LED television screens at home.
Hit the jump to watch Hyundai Race for yourself. And if you will be finding yourself in The Big Apple before New Year’s Day, make sure to download Hyundai Race and get in line… we’re guessing there will be quite a few gamers waiting for a shot at the big screen.
DashCommand for Windows, Android and iOS has been around for a while, but the most recent update for the iPhone allows you to view all the OBD-II-sourced data directly on your Pioneer AppRadio.
As we’ve said before, the real draw of the AppRadio isn’t just its 6.1-inch, capacitive multi-touch screen, it’s the ability for third parties to integrate their apps into the display. In the case of DashCommand, you can port over 229 different data points through your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch using an OBDII connector. A maximum of 27 customizable gauges show you everything from coolant temps to check engine lights, and using the built-in accelerometer and GPS systems, you can also display an inclinometer, G-forces and even race track mapping. Get all the details in at DashCommand’s site.
Looks like LogMeIn Inc. has suddenly cottoned on to the freemium business model, deciding to offer its basic remote desktop app for iPhone and iPad entirely gratis. Previously, you had to hand over $29.99 for the simple pleasure of accessing your PC and Mac desktops via LogMeIn Ignition, but the new free version (simply ‘LogMeIn’) amply provides for that barebones service, while bells and whistles are reserved for those who buy an in-app subscription to LogMeIn Pro at $40 per year — including things like HD video and sound streaming, file transferring and integration with cloud storage services . Confusing matters slightly, the old Ignition app won’t die. It’ll live on in the App Store with a massively inflated price to support old Ignition customers and — most importantly — give them grandfather rights to Pro features, so they don’t feel left out and start sniffing around the competition. There’s a full PR after the break, and it also mentions that Android update is on its way in 2012.
Find yourself something Apple-flavored underneath the Christmas tree yesterday? Need some gentle coaxing into using iTunes? Well, you’re in luck; Cupertino’s annual download giveaway starts today and runs through January 6th. The free gifts kick off with some Coldplay tracks and videos from the band’s latest Apple-sponsored festival appearance. But don’t let that put you off; we expect to see more music, some apps and even books over the next few days. Each one’s available for just 24 hours, so it could be worth checking the dedicated app daily. It’s up for grabs at the link below.
It’s time to show your iPad who’s boss – that is, your iPhone, naturally. The Tizi Remote app is presently available for free via iTunes, letting you use your iPhone to change channels, record shows and pause live TV on iPads connected to the Tizi or Tizi Go TV receivers — and if you happen to have a 4S, you can harness the power of Siri to change channels for you. Sadly, neither of the aforementioned pieces of hardware are available stateside at the moment, so for now, you’ll just have to watch TV shows on your iPad the old fashioned way.
In the market for a new case for the brand new iPhone 4S that you just pick up today? A fan of all things Jack White? If so, Griffin and Third Man records have teamed up to put a vinyl spin on your next Apple-friendly smartphone case. The pair has introduced a set of accessories that make use of a legit 7-inch record die-cut to protect the back of your mobile device, blending analog and digital without making a sound. Each case is comprised of a two-part frame that wraps those precious edges — with openings for controls and jacks, of course — and a piece of genuine vinyl, pressed right in Nashville. You’ll have your choice of three color variants that come with a Third Man-branded vinyl. If that’s not enough, you can spring for a set of three inserts, one from each of Mr. White’s musical projects. Protip: If you happen to opt for the extras and snag The Racounteur’s insert, this collaboration marks the first pressing of “Steady, As She Goes.” Each case is $30 and the set of extra inserts will set you back another Jackson.
Apple is purportedly readying a new certification chip for accessory makers that will allow wireless access and connectivity to that pile of iOS devices you’re hoarding. Announced during an accessory manufacturer’s conference in China, the new chip would allow connections across AirPlay, Bluetooth and WiFi. The Cupertino crew hope that this will encourage even more iOS-friendly add-ons and docks to market. Apple apparently added that it’s working on support for AirPlay over Bluetooth, presumably bringing with it some improved battery longevitiy, and tying into the new low-powered Bluetooth 4.0 found on the iPhone 4S.
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