Image courtesy Marshall Aerospace

Feel slightly bad for the folks at Marshall Aerospace out on the tarmac, using forklifts or putting planes together who got used to listening to ambient or Vegan-a-Go-Go podcasts while on the job.

Following the advice of a health and safety expert,  the 1,500 employees of the Cambridge, UK company have been banned from using iPods at work.

“There have been no particular incidents,” said an unnamed spokesman in a press release. “But on our site there are aircraft, forklift trucks and so on moving around - and we are a precision engineering firm. We feel that people should always be concentrating fully.”

He added: “We don’t get middle-aged employees wearing iPods but we do see employees in their 20s who listen to music while working.”

Comforting to know the young ‘uns won’t be distracted on the job.

What other professions should be banned from using iPods at work?

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Take note, readers: eReaders apparently offer frequent/intense mature/suggestive themes! Well, at least this one does.

Again, the problem isn’t so much Apple’s decision—although it seems heavy-handed for a text-based eReader that only grabs content from Project Gutenberg—but a lack of consistency. At the time of writing, Free Books (App Store link) is rated 12+, while Stanza (App Store link) is rated 4+, despite it providing access to Project Gutenberg and a bunch more content.

Here’s hoping Apple soon starts levelling the playing field for all, because it’d be a huge shame for a great piece of indie software to lose sales due to having a rating none of its similar competition has.

Eucalyptus is available for $9.99 on the App Store and comes recommended if you can deal with the kind of mind-warping infrequent/mild alcohol references, infrequent/mild profanity, infrequent/mild horror themes, frequent/intense mature/suggestive themes and infrequent/mild sexual content that Apple argues you’ll find in the text of classic out-of-copyright novels.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

For all of its public perception as a great censoring overlord, the Chinese government leaves plenty of wiggle room for computer manufacturers, including Apple, to avoid complying with recently mandated strict Internet filtering requirements.

While foreign and domestic makers of computers running Windows will eventually have to ship their machines with controversial Green Dam Youth Escort software, other machines running Mac OS X or Linux, for example, will be exempt from the mandate, according to a report at Yahoo Tech.

An Apple sales representative in Beijing indicated Green Dam is not being bundled with Macs sold at the Apple Store there because the software, which blocks pornography and “sensitive” political content, is not compatible with the Mac’s operating system.

In addition, a Lenovo spokesperson confirmed its computers running Linux are also being shipped without Green Dam and said the Ministry of Industry and Information and Technology is not requiring non-Windows machines to come with the program.

A source connected with Green Dam developers said they are testing the software on non-Windows platforms but did not indicate when or if an OS X compatible update might be released.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Police at the Apple Store Clarendon in Arlington, Virginia, where an employee was shot during an armed robbery. Picture by Fox 5.

Updated: Police have confirmed that a 26-year-old female Apple employee was shot in the shoulder and injured at the Apple Store Clarendon in Arlington, Virginia, during a “violent armed robbery” at about 10.15AM.

The suspect rang a doorbell at the back service entrance and shot a female employee as soon as she opened the door, the Washington Post reports. A police spokeswoman said it is unclear if the employee had words with the shooter or put up resistance to the robbery.

According to the Post, only two employees were in the store at the time, the shooting victim and another employee who was in the main showroom. The other employee called police as soon as they heard the gunshot. It’s unclear if there were customers in the store at the time, the police said. The shooting occurred about 15 minutes after the store opened.

The shooting victim was injured in the shoulder. The injuries are not considered life-threatening, police said.

The suspect is described as a medium build black male, aged between of 35 and 45, with facial hair. He was wearing a dark baseball cap, a light-colored shirt and pants. He fled on foot, carrying a handgun.

Security camera footage of the shooting may be released to the public to help the search, police said.

The store is located in the tony Market Common outdoor shopping district, which is considered a quiet, safe area.

“I think it’s a sign of the times, the economy, when you have someone desperate enough to rob an Apple store in an area like this,” said a shopper who was planning to buy a new MacBook.

Shots have reportedly been fired at the Apple Retail Store Clarendon in Arlington, Virginia, according to AppleInsider. One person was wounded in the shoulder, the site says, and taken to hospital in an ambulance. Police are searching for the shooter.

AppleInsider reports:

“Someone was just shot at the store and just were carted out in an ambulance,” that person said. “Unsure what happened but the store is closed down and there are police everywhere.”

Witnesses report hearing a loud bang coming from the back room followed by a woman screaming. A thin-framed, black male believed to be in his twenties and wearing a fake beard was seen fleeing from the rear of the store.

Local authorities have called in air support to help search for the suspect, who was reportedly clad in beige. The victim, whose gender and identity have yet to be identified, is believed to have been shot in the shoulder.

On Twitter, use TyroneFord appears to confirm the report:

“A friend was just in the Apple Store in Clarendon, Va and he claims there were gunshots and screams from the store room,” he tweeted.

The local ABC affiliate is confirming the report: One Confirmed Shot at Arlington Apple Store.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Unfortunately this is bunk, but it’s worth posting anyway because, well, I guess a ton of other websites will publish it.

A new non-slip rubber case for the “Apple iPod Touch 3″ on a junk accessory website hints that the soon-to-be-updated device will have a camera. The rubbery red case has two holes on the back, presumably for a camera.

The third-generation iPod touch is expected in September, and is rumored to include a camera, which would be an obvious upgrade for the device.

However, the tip came from a reader “Jenny,” who has also tipped off CrunchGear and I4U News. Best guess is that Jenny represents the accessory website, Uxsight.com, and is trying to drum up traffic and Google juice.

In her email to CoM, she makes sure to mention the case’s low, low price. “Can’t vouch for the
creditability of the source,” she writes, “but I guess $1.69 is not much of a risk.”

Plus, why are there two holes — one bigger than the other? And why two versions of the case, one with the camera on the left, the other with the camera on the right? UPDATE: As readers kindly point out, I’m as blind as a bat. That’s the inside and outside of the case.

Link to the store.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

A screenshot of the purplra1n website, which offeres the first jailbreak app for the iPhone 3GS.

The first jailbreak application for the iPhone 3GS has been released by premier iPhone hacker George Hotz.

Named “purplera1n,” the unlocking software is Windows-only. Hotz says a jailbreak for Mac is “coming shortly.”

Hotz’s application requires an iPhone 3GS running the 3.0 OS, and the latest version of iTunes — 8.2. Hotz warns that the unlock s beat and to back up the iPhone before running it.

The unlocking process seems straightforward. Writes Hotz on his blog: “Connect your iPhone normally. Click ‘make it ra1n.’ Wait. On bootup, run Freeze, the purplera1n installer app. Hopefully you’ll figure out what to do from there.”

There is another jailbreaking application for the iPhone 3.0 from the iPhone Dev Team (The 19-year old Hotz was associated with the group, but split with it). The Dev Team’s app will not work on the iPhone 3GS.

Jailbreaking allows an iPhone and iPod touch to to run unapproved apps through unofficial installers like Cydia and Icy.

Jailbreaking is not unlocking, a different, distinct process that frees the iPhone from the current carrier and makes it available for use with other wireless networks.

Needless to say, Apple sanctions neither process. Both have their risks and have been known to “brick” devices.

Hotz gained fame in 2007 when he became the first person to unlock the original iPhone. Using a combination of software and hardware hacks, the then 17-year-old tried to sell the hacked iPhone on eBay, but pulled the auction when jokers raised the bid price to more than $100 million.

He shortly traded the unlocked iPhone for three locked iPhones and a Nissan 350Z with Terry Daidone, founder of Certicell, a phone repair company in Louisville, KY.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

As the issue of overheating iPhones heats up, Apple might be preparing to point the finger at iPhone owners who fail to keep their iPhones within acceptable temperatures.

Apple recently updated its knowledge base advising iPhone owners how to keep their devices within acceptable operating temperatures.

For many, this was not the answer they were hoping for because Apple’s solution to an apparent defect appears to be to place the burden on the user to ensure their iPhone’s temperature remains within an acceptable range.

What’s troubling about Apple’s position is that it sets the stage for Apple to adjust its iPhone service policy based on the argument that damage caused by overheating the iPhone is the fault of the iPhone’s owner – not Apple.

Remember how Apple resolved the problem with the iPhone’s oversensitive moisture sensor, which some claimed was activated by sweat?

That’s right, if you bought an iPhone with a defective moisture sensor that subsequently gets tripped by sweat or humidity you have to pay Apple $199 for a replacement under the theory that Apple cannot confirm that your iPhone was not exposed to water.

Sound familiar?

Now that Apple has begun to warn iPhone owners of the potential risk of operating iPhones at high temperatures, Apple might begin treating overheated iPhones the same way as iPhones that appear to have been exposed to water.

After all, the iPhone does warn you if its temperature gets too high. Will you be penalized for not taking measures to cool it down? Apple could be embarking on a slippery slope.

Over the course of the last week complaints have surfaced about Apple’s new iPhone 3G S’s propensity to overheat. Although there is little doubt that some sort of defect is afoot, most reports have done little more than repeat the same story: iPhones overheating and, in some cases, turning brown.

Some have speculated that the defect is related to the iPhone 3G S’s new high capacity battery or its 600 MHz processor. Some have blamed the iPhone 3G S’s GPS unit. Others have pointed the finger at the iPhone 3.0 Software – citing the fact that their older iPhone 2G’s and 3G’s had been showing signs of overheating after updating to 3.0.

On June 25, 2009 Apple issued a warning on its support knowledge base indicating that users should take measures to ensure that their iPhones remain (between -20º and 45º C (-4º to 113º F).

What happens if Apple decides to adjust its service policy on iPhones that have been exposed to high temperatures? Suddenly iPhone owners might be forced to pay a premium if their iPhone was used in Southern California or left in a car on a hot summer day. After all, Apple has put iPhone owners on notice.

The jury is still out as to whether this reported issue poses a widespread threat to iPhone owners. Apple, as it appears, certainly feels the same way because they have yet to issue a formal admission to the existence of any manufacturing or design defect. Rather, Apple seems to be hoping that the problem goes away.

Perhaps you can help us gauge how pervasive this problem is?

Is it the new 3G S hardware, a design defect, or manufacturing defect? Does it have something to do with the 3.0 software itself? Or, perhaps, it is a combination of both?

Are the phones overheating completely on their own or under specific circumstances (i.e. running large Apps, iPhone insulated under pillow or blanket, iPhone left in the sun or a hot car)?

If you believe your iPhone has been displaying symptoms of overheating, please contact us with your story in the comments below.

Please explain your iPhone’s symptoms, tell us what model it is and what version of the iPhone OS it is running. What Apps are you using?

Take photos if possible (especially if your iPhone’s body has been affected by high temperatures). We look forward to hearing from you.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Up for sale is on eBay is a sketchy-looking, non-functioning white iPhone described as a prototype demo unit of the brand new GS model.

The auction has attracted two bids and is currently running at $305, even though the iPhone doesn’t work.

The seller says there’s a problem with restoring the software: “This device is not eligible for the requested build,” iTunes says when he tries to restore it.

The seller, vofffka, of Ocean City, New Jersey, says an Apple genius at his local retail store verified the iPhone as an Apple product, but can’t service it, “because it’s never been sold.”

WTF that means, who knows?

The seller has a very high rating. He is currently selling several unlocked iPhones.

Where did he get this prototype? Get this. In the QA section, a potential buyer asks the same question, and gets this reply:

“Hi! It is currently NOT WORKING, I got it on ebay a month ago and the guy I got it from told me he found it in the airport. Thanks!”

Yeah, that makes me feel real keen to bid on this item.

Here’s a link to the auction: White 16GB APPLE IPHONE 3G S PROTOTYPE UNIT!

More pictures after the jump.

Via Fixyourthinking.com

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Here’s a witty idea for putting you overheating iPhone to good use over the July 4 weekend, by freelance illustrator Chad Covino.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Image courtesy New Hope Christian Fellowship

In a move to bring the gospel to the mobile masses, Honolulu-based New Hope Christian Fellowship is claiming to be the first church to broadcast its weekend services live via iPhone.

Though some remain skeptical about the live streaming capabilities of iPhones, even the 3GS, New Hope Christian Fellowship officials say they did a successful test church service run “with hundreds of users” and have enough faith in it to  launch regular live video of services on Saturday, July 4.

“We are always looking for ways that we can leverage technology to reach people where they are at,” said New Hope’s Interactive Developer Peter Thourson in a press release.  “Through live streaming video on iPhone and iPod touch, users across the globe will be able to continue to attend church regardless of where they are.”

Over 12,000 people regularly attend the five weekend services held in six locations in Hawaii, the church says.

This is not your analog, snooze-inducing service coming from a place of fire and brimstone — check out the goofy “money rap” video and the cheerful-looking celebrants who wear leis.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

iPhone hosts nearly half the ads served on mobile platforms.

Apple now has overall market share leadership in the worldwide smartphone segment, having overtaken former frontrunner Nokia based on browser calls for mobile ads. A recent report at BNet Technology cites AdMob statistics that show Apple with 49 percent of mobile ad traffic in the first quarter of 2009, compared to 32 percent for Nokia.

The market shift may have less to do with customer preferences for Apple’s hardware, however, as a recent smartphone industry analysis from Gartner notes; services and applications have become the primary drivers of smartphone success.

The stats appear to vindicate Apple’s approach to application distribution via the iTunes App Store. William Volk, CEO of entertainment and business apps vendor PlayScreen, said on a professional forum posting that “other stores simply aren’t matching the ARPUs [average revenue per user] of the Apple App store.”

The iPhone OS also enjoys a comfortable lead over every other mobile operating system, including Symbian, Research in Motion (RIM), Palm and Windows, with May numbers showing iPhones had 68% of the browser requests in the survey.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Turn any surface into an iPod speaker with the $74 K-box.

If you’ve forgotten those sweet new iPod speakers, but still want to jam out to your favorite tunes, turn any available surface into an impromptu sound system. The K-box ($74.50, pictured) includes an audio input jack and patented technology to send sound waves through the floor, table or whatever is below the cell phone-size unit.

The K-box maker, Kerchoonz, said the mobile resonator employs its own Gel Audio Technology for bass tones coupled with mid- to high- range tones.

The K-box uses a USB connection and operates for 20 hours before recharge.

(Via Gearlog)

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Apple has a support document called “Keeping iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS within acceptable operating temperatures” to which the company has directed those with concerns about alleged overheating problems with 3G and 3GS models of the device.

In addition to offering practical advice such as “Don’t leave the device in your car” (as car interiors can exceed the recommended operating range of -20º to 45º C [-4º to 113º F]), the document also warns that CPU-intensive applications, such playing music or using the GPS while in direct sunlight may also overheat the iPhone.

The OS has a temperature warning screen built in, that appears to indicate when the phone could be running into problems and may not work properly.

Using the iPhone in temperatures over 95 degrees can trigger the temperature warning, according to at least one report. “Low- or high-temperature conditions might temporarily shorten battery life or cause the device to temporarily stop working properly,” Apple warns in the support document, though it says when the temperature warning appears, the phone “may still be able to make emergency calls.”

Recent anecdotal reports of 3GS iPhones overheating, with some white models turning pink as a result, have led to speculation that Apple may have a recall situation on its hands, but the company so far is relying on the fact that “iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS comply with the safety standard for Safety of Information Technology Equipment, IEC 60950-1,” and has had no further comment on the overheating issue.

[GearLog]

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Give your iPhone the perfect home: handmade crystals by Swarovski

If felt isn’t fine and you are bah-humbug about bamboo, consider a crystaline case from Swarovski. The $66 metal case is covered with crystals from Swarovski and is available in several styles, including chromium-plated black, silver-plated pink and gold-plated pink and clear crystals.

The case, from Audrey Charm, promises the crystal bling won’t block your ability to access your iPhone and includes a neopreme lining to protect your Apple communications device.

A diamond-encrusted iPhone case for just $108K.

For iPhone fans with a bit more cash on hand, they can opt for a diamond case from Russian designer GnG. The carbon fiber case has an 18-carat gold case with 600 diamonds. For $180,000 you also get to customize a diamond emblem emblazoned on the rear of the iPhone case.

However, if diamonds are not your style and simple crystals are not enough, Swarovski offers a variety of designs, including The Simpsons, Cookie Monster, or Batman.

(Via Geeky Gadgets)

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Fast Company co-founder Bill Taylor has sparked a bit of a controversy on his Harvard Business Review blog by suggesting the heretical idea that — shock! — Steve Jobs might not be the best role model for other business leaders.

Apparently, it’s deeply offensive to suggest that what makes Steve great are the exact qualities that typically make for bad management at most companies. He micro-manages every aspect of Apple, has been known to fire people with minimal cause, and perennially runs the risk of out-shining his company — which is particularly problematic when his health problems continue to cast into doubt his long-term prospects as CEO.

Foto: Markus Aarstad/www.ps.no

What Taylor is pointing out should be self-evident: Steve is a once-in-a-generation genius, and the reason he can break all of the rules is because he’s an extraordinary individual. If you want to compete with him and be great yourself, the worst possible thing you can do is try to act like him. Think about it: the most embarrassing moments other CEOs have is when they attempt to force the charisma, charm, and chutzpah Steve brings to bear in his keynotes. Whenever Bill Gates tries to act cool, you can practically smell the flop-sweat on him.

The most important question is not, “How do we become more like Steve Jobs?” The best question is, “How do we become the best version of our own company?” That might mean the kind of leadership Taylor espouses in the rest of his column, or it might mean something else. It definitely doesn’t mean replacing your wardrobe with black turtlenecks, blue jeans, and New Balance sneakers. Even when Apple eventually has to replace Steve as CEO, whether in five or, with the assistance of cybernetics, 50 years, the best thing the board of directors could do is look for someone who is nothing like Steve. You’ll never top him in a million years if you play his game, but you might do something awesome on your own terms if you figure out what makes you great.

Note to Silicon Alley Insider: Bill Taylor’s giving Steve wannabes an F — not Steve himself. There’s plenty to admire about him, little to imitate.

Practically Radical blog via Silicon Alley Insider

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

World's cutest iPhone case, from Etsy's Rabbit Rampage

I don’t know why, but a felt representation of a beloved gaming platform designed as a case for my current most-beloved gaming platform? Just makes me sigh. Isn’t it dreamy?

Etsy via iPhone Savior via Gizmodo

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Despite touting its green credentials, Apple is ranked fairly low in Greenpeace's latest survey of green electronics.

Despite touting its green credentials in new TV ads, Apple is ranked fairly low in Greenpeace’s latest survey of green electronics.

Greenpeace’s quarterly green scorecard was released on Wednesday, and while Apple got high marks for reducing toxic chemicals, it got low marks for not supporting global recycling initiatives or using more recycled plastics.

Overall, Apple scored 4.7 out of 10, putting it in the lower half of a pack of 18 electronics manufacturers. Nokia came top with a score of 7.45, and Nintendo came bottom with a score of 1.

Apple has been advertising the green credentials of its new MacBook line in TV ads — proclaiming them the greenest laptops ever.

Greenpeace’s 12th Guide to Greener Electronics ranks tech companies on three main criteria: reducing overall environmental impact, eliminating toxic chemicals, and recycling efforts.

Apple scored higher than rivals like Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Lenovo, which all came near the bottom for failing to eliminate toxic chemicals like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from their products.

Apple has mostly removed PVCs and BVRs, which Greenpeace rewarded with high marks.

Greenpeace also praised Apple for:

Toxics: Apple generally gets high marks for removing PVCs and BFRs, and for planning to remove all chlorine and bromine.
Recycling: Apple operates recycling programs in countries where more than 95% of its prodcuts are sold, including countries where no recycling laws exist.
E-Waste Reporting: Apple recycled 30.5 million pounds of electronics; a recycling rate of 38% in 2008, as a percentage of sales seven years ago.
Green Advertising: Greenpeace praised Apple’s new ads highlighting the green credentials of its new MacBooks.

But Greenpeace criticized Apple for:

Eliminating More Toxins: Apple’s provided no timeline for eliminating nasties like beryllium and arsenic.
Global Recycling: Apple has not pledged support for the Individual Producer Responsibility program, which pressures firms to take responsibility for the lifetime of products, cradle to grave.
Recycled Plastics: Apple doesn’t use enough.
Global Greenhouse Gas Reductions: Apple doesn’t support mandatory reduction of global greenhouse emissions.
Renewable Energy: Apple doesn’t disclose the amount of renewable energy it uses.

Apple in the past has been targeted by Greenpeace, mostly for failing to on its environmental performance. But in 2007, Steve Jobs posted an long, detailed statement about Apple’s green performance and goals. Greenpeace has also been criticized for its green electronics reports. The group — which is clearly activist — uses published results to compile its surveys. So Apple may be running its HQ entirely on solar power, but receives poor marks if it fails to report this.

Apple didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Below is a copy of Greenpeace’s explanation of Apple’s score in more detail (PDF).

And here’s Greenpeace’s full Guide to Greener Electronics - 12 (PDF).

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

C-licensed picture by Peter.

Some freshmen at the University of Florida are required to start school with an iPod Touch in hand.

Officials recently put “important notice” up red text on the College of Pharmacy website to warn the fall class of 2009 that they must show up for class with an iPod touch or an iPhone.

The 8G model, which will set freshmen back $229 unless they get it with the back-to-school offer, meets the minimum requirement.

The Florida decision comes a couple of months after the University of Missouri journalism school first said they required the Apple device for new students, then backed down on whether the requirement was, uh, really a requirement  or simply recommended after criticism that they were pushing Apple products and bumping up student expenses.

Via Apple Insider

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

CC-licensed picture by dsearls.

Halitosis and letting them see you sweat are so old school: the social paranoia du jour is gadgetiquette, especially the use of smartphones at work.

A survey of 2,000 UK 18-24 year olds found that at over half know an iBore, reports techradar, though less than 30% will admit to plaguing the rest of the populace with their Apple devices, iPhones in particular.

Annoying, apparently, is not in the hand of the beholder.

The NYT also recently ran a story on smartphone etiquette, opening with an anecdote about a client fiddling with his iPhone for the first half hour of a meeting:

Someone peeked over his shoulder. “He was playing a racing game,” Mr. Hobbs said. “He did ask questions, though, peering occasionally over his iPhone.”

But, Mr. Hobbs added, “we didn’t say anything. We still wanted the business.”

Having been on both sides of the boardroom/boredroom, it’s a tough call: there’s no point in competing with someone who’s thumbing away while you speak, but during the occasional stultifying soliloquy it’s nice to be able to firm up later plans for reinvigorating drinks.

What makes an iBore, exactly?

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Apple rightly has a reputation for making quality gear. The company doesn’t make junk that breaks down in a few months, or even years. Or even 20 years.

MacMedics, a repair shop in Millersville, Maryland, recently serviced a Macintosh IIci, which was on the blink after two decades of faithful service.

Introduced in September 1989, the Mac IIci is one of the most popular early Macs. It was the first to have built-in color video, three Nubus expansion slots, and a 40 or 80 MB hard disk. It originally sold for $6,700.

The machine was putting up funny patterns on the monitor. The client thought it was the screen, but it was actually the main logic board. He’d been using the machine for 20 years — 20 years! — and had no interest in upgrading to a modern Mac.

The client had some software that HAD to run on system 7.0.1, so MacMedics set him up with an old PowerMac 5200 (circa 1995). The 5200 features a blazing fast 75 MHz PowerPC chip, a whopping 8 MB of RAM, and a 500 MB hard drive. It comes in an attractive  all-in-one beige case that includes a 15″ color monitor.

MacMedics had to rescue the customer’s data. He’d not performed one backup in two decades. And here’s the best part, he had only 2.2 MB of data to rescue.

“Here’s a tip,” says MacMedics. “Don’t wait 20 years to make a back up.”

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Sony's iPod Features Wi-Fi Streaming

Sony Wednesday introduced two iPod speaker docks with Wi-Fi streaming. The NAS-Z200iR (shown) includes a hand-held remote allowing media to also stream from your PC, PlayStation 3 or the Internet.

Along with Wi-Fi streaming, the networked Sony unit includes  a CD player, AM/FM radio plus USB inputs.

A more streamlined unit, the CMT-Z100iR, provides what’s described as a “stealth” display, providing rear access to controls.

The CMT-Z100iR , available in black or white, includes two 20-watt speakers. The unit will be available within a month and is scheduled to arrive in Europe in mid-September. No word on when the units will appear in the U.S.

Sony's CMT-Z100ir iPod Dock

More information on the Sony iPod speaker docks can be found in this press release.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Welcome to Macintosh, the feature length documentary that explores the many ways Apple, Inc. has changed the world, jumped from the international, independent film festival circuit to pay-per-view cable TV Wednesday.

The film, which relies on notable personalities associated in one way or another with Apple, such as Andy Hertzfeld, co-creator of the original Macintosh, and long-time Mac evangelist Guy Kawasaki, tells the inside story of what makes Apple different and will now be available to over 20 million subscribers to the Comcast cable network in both the Pay-Per-View section and the “Movie” section of Comcast’s On Demand service.

“The goal was to make a film that you can show to anyone, even someone that has never used a computer, and have them understand why so many people love Macintosh,” says Josh Rizzo, Co-Director. “Availability to all US Comcast customers goes a long way toward completing that goal.”

If you’ve seen it, you know Welcome to Macintosh is really a love song to Apple and though the film is in no way authorized, sponsored or otherwise approved by the company, it’s a good bet there will be cheering in Cupertino once the ancillary sales begin to roll in from people who come to Apple through having seen the film.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Dyson Energy Bracelet converts body temperature to electricity.

Are you tired of walking, running or otherwise moving to eek a bit of electricity from the numerous gadgets converting kinetic energy into power for your iPhone? Get ready for extra talk time for just being alive. The Dyson Energy Bracelet converts the temperature difference between your body and the surrounding environment into enough electricity to talk a few more minutes on your favorite Apple communications device.

The bracelet includes a mini USB connection which Apple and other cell phone makers earlier this week approved as a universal standard (at least in Europe) for recharging mobile phones, starting in 2010. A price and distribution date have yet to be announced. More information is available at Yanko Design.

Unlike the Viber Burst kinetic device we talked about recently, the Dyson bracelet employs the thermoelectric effect to convert body temperature into electricity. Although the thermoelectric effect is commonly used in temperature sensors, it can also be used to generate power. (Here’s a fuller explanation of the science behind the gadget.)

Recharge your iphone using kinetic energy

Until now, most human-produced cell phone chargers have used kinetic energy. Australian design student Josh Pell created the Viber Burst, a cell phone charger created with flexible components that can be tied to your shoe, thrown in your bag or held in your hand during a walk or run.

Earlier this month, Tremont Electric unveiled its nPower PEG (Personal Energy Generator, which can recharge a cell phone with just an hour of activity. The inventor, Aaron LeMieux, came upon the idea after walking the 1,500-mile Appalachian Trail.

Nokia earlier this year also introduced a way to harvest energy that usually goes to waste. Nokia’s UK researchers developed a way for its phones to collect 50 milliwatts of ambient energy produced by radio waves from TV towers, Wi-Fi transmissions and elsewhere. Phones using the technology will appear in the next three to five years, according to Britain’s The Guardian.

(Via EnviroGadget)

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Michael Jackson is likely make more money in death than he ever did in life — the Elvis effect. And it’s already started.

Jackson sold a record 2.6 million digital downloads in just one week, according to preliminary sales numbers from Nielsen SoundScan.

The sales make Jackson the first artist to sell more than one million digital songs in one week. The week before his death, Jackson sold 48,000 songs, illustrating how big a jump this week’s numbers are.

Jackson’s records are dominating the charts. Six of his albums are in the top 10 Top Digital Albums chart, a record, and 25 of his singles are in the top 75 Hot Digital Songs.

Like Elvis, Jackson is likely to bigger earner in death than he was in life. Elvis earned a whopping $52 million in 2007 — $8 million more than living pop stars like Justin Timberlake ($44 million) and Madonna ($40 million), according to Forbes.com.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Fake iPhones are getting much better. This iPhoney is almost identical to the genuine article, until it's booted up. It was bought by Steven Fernandeez of Toronto. CC-licensed picture by Steven Fernandez.

Counterfeit iPhones have come a long way. They’re now almost identical to original iPhones, fooling bargain hunters on sites like eBay.

Look at the video below from Dana Stibolt, founder of MacMedics, who was given a fake iPhone bought on the auction site.

At first glance, it’s almost identical to current models, from the touchscreen to the volume switches on the side and the dock connector on the bottom.

“It looks EXACTLY like an iPhone,” says Stibolt. “But it does not work very well, and when it does work, it is very slow.”

Last year, knockoff iPhones were easy to spot. They were thicker, bulkier and often had extra buttons or keyboards.

Popular Chinese iClones like the A88 or SciPhone i68 are clearly fake.

But now convincing counterfeit iPhones are appearing on eBay and Craigslist. Unlike most previous knockoffs, these are almost indistinguishable from the originals.

“The fit and finish are pretty Apple like,” says Stibolt. “If you showed it to someone or you were using it in public, I don’t think you could tell. My only complaint was the lens of the phone was plastic and not glass. If they had used glass, it would have been very clever.”

Stibolt says the fake iPhone he examined had some cool extra features like built-in FM radio and a docking station with a speaker. He says the buyer bought the fake iPhone because it was advertised as unlocked, and he wanted to use it with a different carrier than AT&T. He paid about $250, Stibolt says.

The packaging of the new knockoff is especially realistic. It’s more or less identical to Apple’s packaging, and pictures of the box feature prominently in eBay listings. This makes the iPhoney look more genuine. (See related story about knockoff earbuds).

The new fake iPhone has an Apple logo on the back, making it a counterfeit rather than an iClone. When booted up, the home screen and icons are the same as the iPhone’s. But that’s where the similarity stops.

The software can’t be effectively copied, and the iPhoney soon betrays its Linux and Java roots. Many of the apps appear to work — the phone makes calls and checks email — but a lot of the software is slow and clunky.

The number of fake iPhones on the market is difficult to guage. One expert in counterfeiting, the audio manufacturer Shure, said counterfeiting is on the rise.

“With the increasingly globalized economy, counterfeiting continues to proliferate,” says Paul Applebaum, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Shure, which has battled counterfeiters for several years. (see the full interview here). “This may be partly because modern technology makes it easier to produce counterfeits and the internet makes it easier to market and sell them to unsuspecting buyers.”

But how much counterfeiting is done, is impossible to say. “It’s difficult to know, because there is no reliable data about the counterfeit market,” says Applebaum. “Making and selling counterfeit products is a criminal activity, and as you might expect, counterfeiters are not eager to report their sales figures.”

However, there seems to be an increasing number of ripoff reports. EBay buyer lansingmike212, for example, is currently trying to sell a knockoff iPhone, though he’s warning buyers it’s not the genuine article. “Understand what you are bidding on,” he says.

Stibolt was asked to evaluate the fake iPhone in the video below by PayPal. Before issuing a refund, the company requires an authorized Apple service provider to certify it’s a fake, which Stibolt did.

Neither eBay nor Paypal responded to a request for comment. Apple also didn’t respond for a request for comment.

How can you tell if the iPhone you’re bidding on is a knockoff? Easy: the price is too good to be true.

The MacMedics iPhoney video is here.

Via Hardmac.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Mozilla’s new Firefox 3.5 browser, released on Tuesday, adds porn mode, big speed improvements and location services.

But one feature for MacBook users has been removed from previous beta releases — the multitouch twist gesture for navigating between tabs.

It’s a handy gesture. With a twist of your fingers, you can whiz through open tabs just like using Control-Tab.

Here’s how to re-enable it.

For owners of new MacBooks that support trackpad gestures, there are several multitouch gestures enabled in Firefox, including pinching to zoom in, and spreading to zoom out. There’s also swiping three fingers down to page down, and three fingers up to page up.

But the twist gesture in various betas was removed from the final release because it was too easy to invoke accidentally, Mozilla said. With it, you can to jump backwards and forwards between open tabs, just like using Control-Tab.

But it can be re-enabled:

In the address bar, type: “about:config”

A warning message will pop up about fiddling with advanced settings. Hit “I’ll be careful,” and proceed to the settings screen.

In the filter bar at the top, type “gesture” and the list of settings will be narrowed to multitouch gesture settings.

Two of these settings have been left blank: “browser.gesture.twist.left” and “browser.gesture.twist.right”

Double click “browser.gesture.twist.left” and in the dialog box that pops up, paste “Browser:PrevTab”

Do the same for .right but paste “Browser:NextTab”

The changes are immediate; no restart is necessary.

To jump between tabs, simply twist two fingers on the trackpad. It’s a movement like walking your fingers past each other without lifting them off the trackpad — a kinda finger moonwalking.

Via MacMagazine. Thanks Rafael.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

What it is: Archon Classic is an iPhone app that brings my favorite-ever Mac game to the iPhone — perfectly. It’s basically like extraordinarily Manichean version of chess — the battle between not just white and black pieces, but light and dark forces. And instead of merely taking other pieces as you do in chess or checkers, you must battle for each square you try to claim, with action and heated attacks. Whether you’re a phoenix, a shapeshifter, a golem, or a troll, you need quick reflexes to win.

Why it’s cool: Way back when my family got its first Mac Plus, one of the very first games we installed on it was Battle Chess, a title that had chess pieces actually fight each other instead of claiming their squares. Here’s the problem. It was actually completely lame. It was exactly like chess, except that it had slow-loading and highly repetitive animation sequences. I wanted real battle chess. I wanted to fight for each inch of precious territory. Needless to say, I stopped playing.

My frustrations were quickly remedied when my cousin introduced me to Archon for the NES. It was exactly what I had been looking for but better. We had a fierce, almost bitter rivalry. He was inevitably Light forces, I was Dark. And we would play again and again for hours. Eventually, I found Archon for Mac, and enjoyed it in its keyboard-driven black-and-white glory. Every once in a while when we get together, we still play it.

All of which is why I’m so geeked to play Archon Classic for iPhone. The $4 game has updated graphics sharper than any previous version, an intuitive touch interface, and the smoothest emulated D-Pad I have ever experienced on the platform. I played one game, and it was just like old times. Anyone who has ever enjoyed the original Archon will love this. I haven’t tried the multiplayer over WIFI yet, but I’m looking for challengers, if you’re interested.

Where to get it: You can find the App Store link here.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Image © David Hockney

In a move that’s a bit like thumbing his brush at the lawyers who sent a nastygram when we mistakenly reported David Hockney’s gallery artworks were created on his iPhone, the artist is offering free downloads of three wallpapers made on his device.

The unsigned trio of flower paintings from the 72-year-old pop artist maestro — painted with the Brushes app on his iPhone (it’s revealed  for certain this time) — do sort of look like something you could  do yourself.

Image © David Hockney

Still, these are the quick sketches Hockney makes daily and sends to friends and family. He likes the fact he’s giving them away, saying “my real vanity is the vanity of artists, I like my work to be seen.”

Image © David Hockney

The wallpapers are offered gratis to promote a BBC documentary on Hockney and are only available for the next 48 hours.

Hat tip to CoM reader Paul Dixon.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

The iPhone 3.1 beta has been released to developers, and includes some cool features, including Voice Control over Bluetooth.

Baseband has been updated to 5.08.o1, so don’t install the beta if your iPhone has been unlocked with the ultrasnow hack — it will permantly lock it.

The beta also allows edited videos to be saved as a copy, preserving the original. And MMS is on by default, but doesn’t work for AT&T subscribers.

The full list, via the QuickPwn website, after the jump.

According to the QuickPwn website, here’s what’s been discovered in the iPhone OS 3.1 beta so far:

• The baseband has been updated to 5.08.01 - ultrasn0w users should not use the iPhone OS 3.1 beta, otherwise their iPhones could be permanently locked!
• iPhone 3GS - When you’re trimming your videos you now have the option of saving the original video by tapping the “Save as copy” button.
• Voice Control is finally working over bluetooth now!
• When you move your icons around the iPhone vibrates
• MMS is enabled by default but does not work for AT&T users
• The AT&T profile is updated to 4.2
• Improvements to OpenGL and Quartz
• There’s now a VideoEditorController API - Allows third party apps to call up video editing UI
• Video picker API

QuickPwn promises to post more features as they are discovered!

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

What it is: Lala is a newish (about a year old) web-based music marketplace, but to brand it as simply that does an extreme disservice to an interesting, innovative Internet destination that, given enough publicity, strong management and bit of good fortune could become the first online music store to give iTunes a real run for its money as a music distributor.

Why it’s cool: When I was a kid growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, I spent uncounted hours in the music listening rooms at the back of Pop Tunes on Summer Avenue, where I discovered the heritage of the city they call the Home of the Blues, and learned about the ground-breaking artists who gave birth to the Blues’ baby, Rock & Roll.

Pop Tunes was a great spot to get in out of the hot summer sun or the cold winter rain, where I could browse the racks, amassing a stack of LPs and 45s, both old and new, and head for one of the four or five sound-proof listening rooms at the back of the store, where I’d listen to my heart’s content before deciding which of the albums or singles my meager allowance or paper route money would buy me any given week.

By the time I left home for college in another of the great music cities in the US - New Orleans - I had a music collection numbering over 1000 lp records and another few hundred 45rpm singles.

What does my ancient music-buying experience have to do with Lala and this review? Join me after the jump, where I try and tie it all together for you.

I’ve got over 10,000 songs in my iTunes collection but the overwhelming majority of them got there by my ripping CDs from my own collection and putting them into iTunes. Of course, I have bought music on the iTunes store, and there’s no denying that, as a music industry lawyer I know in Los Angeles says, “iTunes is the only online music store that matters.”

However, one thing I’ve always found limiting about iTunes, and a feature that seems to have been copied across the board by other online music retailers, is the 30 second preview.
Sure, you can check out any song in the collection, but the limitation to what can often seem like a randomly selected 30 second slice has always left me feeling short-changed.

Which is why, when I discovered Lala I was immediately transported to the halcyon days of my youth. You can listen to any of Lala’s more than 7 million songs all the way through once before being limited to a 30 second preview, and the effect of that feature is not only a feeling that the retailer is treating you fairly in the complex dance that can go on between buyers and sellers of music — but it also has the effect of providing you a way to check out whole albums and genres of music in what amounts to potential hours and hours and hours of free listening.

In my personal view, the complete listen-through feature is enough on its own to make Lala worth checking out the next time you want to buy some music.

But the site designers have built-in other innovations that make Lala a serious long range contender.

Web-only versions of songs you add to your collection, which is instantly accessible through any browser on any computer anywhere in the world, cost only 10¢. Most MP3 versions of songs available on Lala cost only 89¢ (79¢ if you’ve already bought the web only version) and are delivered in completely DRM-free 256kbps files that you own and can do with as you please forever.

Lala also has built-in social media features that allow you to find and follow other Lala members, discovering music through friends and other ‘influencers’ on the site. Songs can be rated and you can make notes about music in your collection for your own reference or to guide others in their pursuit of new music.

The clean, uncluttered, intuitive interface will be familiar to anyone who’s ever used iTunes and it allows you to easily organize your collection by artist, album or song, make playlists, share songs or albums via email, embed them into websites and post to Twitter, Facebook and Lala itself.

Using Lala’s Music Mover plug-in, uploading your current iTunes collection to Lala is effortless and instantly makes your music collection available to you anywhere in the world you can open a browser and get on the Internet.

Lala gives you 25 web songs free just for signing up so, it’s worth a look and a listen. I’ve only been using Lala for a few days, but I’m already having more fun with music than I’ve had since I was a kid riding his bike down Summer Ave. in Memphis, with Pop Tunes’ glowing neon record album beckoning me in the distance.

Where to get it: Signing up for Lala is absolutely free at http://www.lala.com.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Apple is advertising for a rare job inside its design studio. The studio is ultra secretive. The new design documentary, Objectified, from which this still of Jonny Ive is taken, is one of the few films to shoot inside the studio.

Apple is advertising a rare job in its storied design department — and it’s a cool one.

Apple is looking for a computer modeling expert to make 3D renderings of concept products.

“CAD sculptor/digital 3D modeler needed to create high quality CAD models used in the industrial design and development of new products,” says the job posting on the Dezeenjobs website.

Headed by Jonny Ive, Apple’s design department is one of the most famous industrial design groups in the world. Employing about a dozen world-class designers, the studio is responsible for a string of trendsetting products, starting with the original iMac (which launched an industry see-through electronics) to the iPod and it’s iconic white earbuds.

Whoever gets the job will be one of the first people in the world to get a peek at whatever Apple is working on. Only CEO Steve Jobs and a handful of top executives get to see products in development.

The vast majority of Apple employees don’t see a final product until the day it is launched, even if they helped build it. Software programmers never see the actual hardware, and hardware engineers work on bulky prototypes housed in big polypropylene boxes.

Only the design department gets to see the final shape of the new product, and the studio is ultra-secretive. Housed in a nondescript building off Apple’s main campus, entry is limited to a chosen few. Even Apple’s previous CEO, John Sculley, was denied entrance. His electronic badge wouldn’t let him (he threw a fit).

The job sounds cool, but the job posting warns it is not a design job, nor a stepping-stone to a design job. Too bad.

The full job posting after the jump:

Dezeenjobs: Apple in California are looking for a CAD sculptor/digital 3D modeler:

CAD Sculptor/Digital 3D Modeler

CAD sculptor/digital 3D modeler needed to create high quality CAD models used in the industrial design and development of new products. This is not a design position.

The CAD sculptor is responsible for interpreting and defining the design intent of the industrial designer using Alias software while working with mechanical engineering, manufacturing and tooling requirements. 3D CAD data is used to develop product concepts and details for appearance models and renderings as well as production level surfaces used for engineering and tooling.

This position requires an advanced understanding and use of 3D surface modeling software, preferably Alias Studio or Rhino. Also helpful if the candidate is familiar with rendering/ visualization software tools, various CAD file format translations, and mechanical design of molded plastic parts.

The CAD Sculpting team is integral to the design and development of current and future Apple products. Candidate must have excellent problem solving and interpersonal skills and must be deadline-driven. At least one to three years experience in industrial design, model making, and product design, or related field is desired; however, a recent graduate with the right skill set will be considered.

Proficiency in Alias Studio or a similar surface modeler is required, and an understanding of Unigraphics or other solid modeling CAD packages is preferred. BS or BA in Industrial Design, Transportation Design, 3D Animation/Modeling, Fine Arts or Engineering desirable.

Candidates must keep in mind that this is not a designer position nor is it a stepping-stone to a designer position.

Please submit resume and portfolio to email hidden; JavaScript is required

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Congratulations are in order to the winners announced Tuesday among the more than 2500 entrants to Fuze Meeting’s recent “Tell a Story” contest for designers and other creative users of Fuze and the web-based presentation sharing site Slide Share.

The $5,000 Grand Prize went to SlideShare user “slides2407” for the presentation “Drunkenomics - The Story of Bar Stool Economics”, while four additional category winners, including the makers of “Super Cool Dudes” (embedded above), who won for Best Design, collected iPhones and $100 iTunes Gift Cards.

SlideShare supports Keynote, PowerPoint, OpenOffice and PDF presentation formats and is one of the fastest-growing communities of presentation-sharing ideas on the web.

The contest was judged by a panel of business and technology luminaries including

• ♦ Don Tapscott - author or co-author of 13 widely read books, including Wikinomics, the best selling management book in the United States in 2007;
• ♦ Pete Cashmore - CEO of Mashable and a Top 25 Forbes Web Celeb in 2007;
• ♦ Tony Hsieh - CEO of Zappos, an online show retailer with merchandise sales over $1 billion in 2008 by focusing relentlessly on customer service;
• ♦ Ann Handley - chief content officer of MarketingProfs and the MarketingProfs Daily Fix; and
• ♦ Om Malik - journalist with over 15 years experience covering technology and business; founder and senior writer of gigaom.com

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

The felt case protects your iPhone and iPod

If you’re looking for a “green” way to protect your new iPhone, felted cases appear the latest fad for eco-conscious Apple fans. The latest example: the Domo Kun iPhone case. The  felt case, designed for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPod Classic, is emblazoned with Domo Jun, the monster serving as a Japanese TV mascot.

The felt monster measures 4.7-inch  x 3.1-inch, but the Etsy artist announced Tuesday the hand-made item was sold-out, just a day after putting the iPhone/iPod holder on the site. A similar fate met another iPhone case, a felt version of an old-style rotary phone.

The retro phone case for your iPhone

In a sign of the popularity of home-made felted alternatives to mass-produced holders, the retro iPhone case sold out June 1, the same day it was offered on Etsy.

However, felt fans still have options. If you’re looking to house your iPhone in something warm and fuzzy, another artist has a felt iPhone holder which closely resembles the iconic Apple device. Priced at $39.50, the felted item measures 14.5 cm x 8 cm.

If you’re not into warm and fuzzy, there are alternative carrying cases for your iPhone, including Paul Frank’s  silicon skull and cross bones, available at the Apple Store.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Remember when Lonnie told you about an easy, fool-proof way to turn on iPhone tethering in the US? Well, there’s a way, way easier method, and it’s much, much more foolproof.

Simply point Mobile Safari to http://help.benm.at, select your country, download the profile for your carrier, and install. The settings menu will add an Internet Tethering toggle in the Network section. Then just pair with your computer over Bluetooth or plug in via USB  and go. No restart required. It’s really that easy.

Performance has been rock-solid in my experience, both for tethering Mac and Windows machines. Performance is terrible on EDGE and very nice on 3G, with battery life not noticeably worse than just browsing on Safari. And maybe a little bitter once the display goes to sleep. But I’m not running BitTorrent through the thing, either.

AT&T should have a killer offering on their hands once this actually ships. It would also be nice if AT&T tweaks the interface so you can turn on tethering without pulling your phone out of your pocket. Honestly, the only complaint I have. Anyone tried it outside the US? Really seems like something that should fly under the radar so long as you’re not downloading the whole Internet over it…

And, it goes without saying, this is use at your own risk and Apple will laugh at you if you brick your phone.

(And yes, I know we’re late, but I never recommend running something risky on your hardware if I haven’t done it myself. This is as close to safe as it gets.)

Richard Lai via Engadget

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Id Software has released Doom Resurrection for the iPhone and iPod touch. It’s the first official release for the iPhone/iPod touch in the storied Doom franchise, which is now 16 year’s old and still running strong.

The $9.99 game is an “all-new chapter in the Doom saga,” says ID Software.

The first-person-shooter is based on 2005’s Doom 3, not the seminal Doom Classic, which runs on just about every gadget known to man, including the original iPod (if it’s already hacked to run Linux).

Unlike previous versions of Doom, the gameplay is not free flow. The character moves along a pre-determined path, blasting zombies and demons and dodging oncomong projectiles. Aiming is controlled by the iPhone;s accelerometer and reportedly works well.

“We built a completely new play style for this game,” says ID Software’s CTO John Carmack. “We have no worries that we’re going to do something utterly not fun.”

Carmack says he plans to release his port of Doom Classic to the iPhone and iPod in coming weeks.

Link to Doom Resurrection on the iTunes App Store.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Micro USB Chargers will be standard for European smartphones

UPDATE: The headline and photograph in this article have been updated to correctly state the standard agreed to by the handset makers referenced in the story.

Major cell phone handset makers including Apple, Nokia and Research in Motion (RIM) have agreed to back a European Union initiative to support standard device chargers that will charge any phone through a micro-USB port, according to a Reuters report Monday.

The agreement among 10 companies controlling 90% of the cell phone market in Europe calls for phones compatible with standard charging devices to be available in Europe beginning next year, according to EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen, who said, “People will [no longer] have to throw away their charger whenever they buy a new phone.”

At its inception, the agreement applies only to data-enabled smartphones, perhaps the fastest growing segment of the mobile handset market, and will affect only devices produced for use in Europe.

Verheugen hailed the agreement as a boon for consumers as well as the environment and estimated it will help reduce tons of eWaste generated annually by consumers.

Significant unanswered questions remain: what took them so long, and where is the rest of the world in this deal? Do device manufacturers have to be cajoled by regulatory bodies continent by continent to adopt a standard that should have been in place at least a decade ago?

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Steve Jobs is back in charge at Apple HQ after a liver transplant. CC-licensed photo by Andy.

Steve Jobs is officially back at work after six-month’s medical leave, an Apple spokesperson just told Bloomberg reporter Connie Guglielmo in a phone interview.

“Steve is back to work,” said Apple spokesman Steve Dowling on Monday. “We are very glad to have him back.”

Jobs is working at Apple a few days a week and working from home the remainder of the time, Dowling added. Jobs reportedly returned to work last week, but Monday’s statement is Apple’s first official word.

Jobs took six month’s medical leave in January, promising to return by the end of June. Monday is June 29. During his absence, Jobs had a liver transplant in Memphis, TN.

LINK.

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

So you don’t really need a MacBook that morphs into an unmanned aerial vehicle to get your express letter delivered, but kudos to the folks who made this video showing that the French postal service might be capable of  movie-like transformer special effects.

Via The Register

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

iTunes is hosting a free month-long concert series — 31 nights, 62 bands — at  London’s  Roundhouse in July.
With that many acts, there’s bound to be something to tickle your eardrums, the line-up so far includes Oasis, Madeleine Peyroux, Kasabian, The Hoosiers and Franz Ferdinand.

Tickets for the third iTunes Live concert series are give-aways, only, drawn from a pool of friends of the free music fest on Facebook.  (And just like your real friends,  the organizers have will access to your profile information, photos and your friends’ info).

If you can’t make it to London, you can check out live broadcasts and video highlights, before the concert recordings are sold at 22 iTunes stores worldwide — again, if you become an Tunes EU fan on Facebook .

Via MacWorld

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.

Recharge your iphone using kinetic energy

Is your iPhone about to die, and you’ve lost your cell phone charger? An Australian design student now has an answer: just get moving. The Viber Burst design concept will turn walking, jogging or any movement into a cell phone battery recharge in just two seconds.

“Viber Burst can be worn as a feature piece of contemporary jewelry on footwear, it can also be a key ring or kept in a handbag,” designer Josh Pell said. The device includes a variety of designs and colors that “enable the user to connect with the product on an emotive level,” the Swinburne University student told the Australian Design Awards.

Although no production date was announced, the Viber Burst can attach to your shoe, purse or be held in your hand. The device is weather resistant and built to withstand punishment: the components use a flexible circuit board. When a product does appear, look for it in recycled packaging, designer Pell said.

The Viber Burst is not the first device aimed at harvesting natural energy to power our electronics. Earlier this month, Tremont Electric unveiled its nPower PEG (Personal Energy Generator, which can recharge a cell phone with just an hour of activity. The inventor, Aaron LeMieux, came upon the idea after walking the 1,500-mile Appalachian Trail.

Nokia earlier this year also introduced a way to harvest energy that usually goes to waste. Nokia’s UK researchers developed a way for its phones to collect 50 milliwatts of ambient energy produced by radio waves from TV towers, Wi-Fi transmissions and elsewhere. Phones using the technology will appear in the next three to five years, according to Britain’s The Guardian.

The onslaught of kinetic energy charging devices come on the heels of a EU decision designed to increase the ‘greening’ of cell phones: a universal standard for chargers.

Phone makers to support universal charger

Apple is among the cell phone makers who have agreed to support the Micro-USB as a standard for future rechargers. Up until this time, each handset used a customized charger which often was thrown away when a different phone was purchased. Along with Apple, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG, RIM, NEC and Qualcomm will support the standard.

Cell phone rechargers using the Micro-USB standard will appear starting in 2010, according to reports Monday.

(via Ecofriend)

This article is copyright Cultomedia Corp.