What Braun’s Design Can Tell Us About The iWatch [Feature]

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Looks a little bit like an Apple product, right?
Looks a little bit like an Apple product, right?

 

 

Whenever rumors about a new product from Apple begin to pop up, so do the concept drawings, 3D renders, and mockups. The latest rumored Apple device to get the mockup treatment has been the iWatch, Apple’s supposed foray into wearable computing.

Already, I’ve seen no less than half a dozen concepts illustrating what people think the iWatch might look like. Some play heavily off of the design of iOS, others take design influences from the iPhone and iPad, and others yet attempt to emulate the 6th generation iPod nano, the closest thing that Apple has made to a watch so far. While all of these designs take influence from what Apple has already created, none of them take into consideration the external influences that shape the way Apple designs their own products.

Files App Is A Beautifully Designed File Manager For iOS [Review]

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One of the longest running complaints with iOS is the lack of a filesystem, particularly for pro users. Some might even say that it’s a problem limiting the adoption of iOS devices as primary computers. To help bridge this gap, developers have released countless file management apps in the App Store, all attempting to solve this issue. The problem is, none of these apps got it quite right. Some had great UIs and a lack of features, while some were visually upsetting while littered with an abundance of options. Files App, a new application from Sonico Mobile, changes all that. Not only does it look great, it provides a myriad of functions as well, making it one of the best file management apps I’ve ever seen for iOS.

Discover The Best Of Macworld | iWorld 2013 In Video

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macworldbugSAN FRANCISCO, MACWORLD/iWORLD 2013

This year’s MacWorld | iWorld show wrapped up this weekend in San Francisco, and to wrap up our coverage of all of the gadgets and accessories shown off at the show, here’s a little compilation of Cult Of Mac’s video coverage of the event.

Which product from the show was your favorite? Tell us in the comments.

The Double Is Like Wheels For Your iPad [Macworld 2013]

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macworldbug

SAN FRANCISCO, MACWORLD/iWORLD 2013

The show floor at Macworld typically houses a familiar array of gadgets and accessories. There’s plenty of cases, docks, and attachments for your iPhone and iPad that are all essentially the same. Perhaps the most unique product at Macworld, however, is the Double, which Double Robotics describes as “wheels for you iPad.”

The Double is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. At first glance, it almost looks like an iPad mounted on a Segway, but it’s much more than that. You can control the Double from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection.

The CameraMator Wirelessly Transfers Your DSLR Photos To Your iPad [Macworld 2013]

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SAN FRANCISCO, MACWORLD/iWORLD 2013

The iPad’s large, beautiful screen has always been attractive for photography applications, and as the device becomes more and more powerful, developers and hardware vendors alike are taking advantage of all the iPad has to offer.

The latest device to do so, the CameraMator, lets you wirelessly transfer photos from your Canon or Nikon DSLR directly to your iPad or MacBook. It’s almost like magic.

The Transporter Is A Private, Internet Connected File Storage System [Macworld 2013]

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macworldbug

SAN FRANCISCO, MACWORLD/iWORLD 2013 – There are plenty of cloud storage solutions out there these days, including services such as Dropbox. Having your files stored on the cloud comes with some downfalls, though, such as monthly payments as well as decreased security. The Transporter, a new device created by the people behind the Drobo tries to give you the best of both worlds.

With the Transporter, you have access to all of your files stored on the device as long as you have an internet connection, but the files themselves aren’t stored in the cloud. By using this approach, you can avoid the hassles of cloud storage while still having the ease of access that services like Dropbox provide.

The Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock Adds Additional Ports To Your MacBook [Macworld 2013]

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SAN FRANCISCO, MACWORLD/iWORLD 2013

While Apple’s newer notebooks like the MacBook Air and Retina MacBook Pro are certainly aesthetically pleasing, some trade offs had to be made in order to achieve such thin machines. Apple has been slowly paring down the number of ports it includes on its notebooks, most notable with the MacBook Air.

Even though these machines are becoming more and more capable all the time, the lack of connections on them puts a serious strain on their functionality. That’s where the Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock comes in. This little attachment for your laptop gives you eight additional ports to work with right on your desk.

The Belkin Thunderstorm Handheld Home Theater Gives Your iPad’s Audio An Extra Kick [Macworld 2013]

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SAN FRANCISCO, MACWORLD/iWORLD 2013

While the iPad’s audio has always been certainly passable in most situations, the tiny speakers that Apple crammed into the device aren’t anywhere near a suitable replacement for the sound quality that can be produced from larger, more substantial speakers.

In order to bridge this gap, Belkin is showing off at Macworld this year what they call the Thunderstorm Handheld Home Theater, a case for your iPad that integrates 2 4-watt speakers for a more immersive experience. Cult Of Mac’s Erfon Elijah talked to Brandon from Belkin at Macworld to learn more about the product.

The BowBlade Takes iPhone Gaming To The Next Level [Macworld 2013]

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SAN FRANCISCO, MACWORLD/iWORLD 2013

When it comes to gaming on the iPhone, most people probably think of Angry Birds-style leisure games. The BowBlade, a new active-gaming device being shown off at Macworld, take an entirely different approach to gaming on iOS. The BowBlade is out to prove that you can stay fit and have fun playing games at the same time.

At first glance, the BowBlade probably looks a little unwieldy. After all, it is about the size of a typical bow. The cool thing about it, though is that the device lets you mount an iPhone inside it which can interact with 35 existing iOS apps for an immersive, active, gaming experience.

The LUMOback Sensor Can Help You Improve Your Posture [Macworld 2013]

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macworldbug

SAN FRANCISCO, MACWORLD/iWORLD 2013

Keeping your posture in check likely isn’t something you often think about on a daily basis. With so many things going on everyday, you may not realize just how bad your posture is, though. That’s where the LUMOback sensor comes in.

The LUMOback is essentially a belt that you wear which detects exactly how you sit and stand throughout the day, and records the data to a companion iOS app. In addition, the sensor will vibrate to tell you if you’ve been sitting or standing poorly for too long.

The Adonit Jot Touch Makes It Easy To Create Art On Your iPad [Macworld 2013]

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SAN FRANCISCO, MACWORLD/iWORLD 2013

We’ve seen dozens of kinds of styli released over the last few years for the iPad, in order to make drawing and painting easier onscreen. While none have been quite perfect, the new Adonit Jot Touch might just be one of the best attempts so far, utilizing some features not seen before in other stylus options.

The CamRanger Lets You Wirelessly Control A DSLR From Your iPad [Macworld 2013]

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macworldbug

SAN FRANCISCO, MACWORLD/iWORLD 2013

Until now, there hasn’t been a great a way to use your iOS device to remotely control high end, DSLR cameras. While the iPad’s multi-touch display is great for monitoring your camera, it’s not always possible to have an internet connection when you’re out in the field shooting.

Thankfully, this problem might become a thing of the past thanks to the CamRanger, a neat device being shown off at Macworld that lets you remotely control your DSLR from your iOS device without an internet connection.

The ScanSnap iX500 Lets You Scan Documents Right To Your iOS Device [Macworld 2013]

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SAN FRANCISCO, MACWORLD/iWORLD 2013 – Fujitsu is making an appearance at Macworld this year to demonstrate their first scanner to work with an iOS device, the ScanSnap iX500. The scanner can connect right to your device using an iOS app to easily view your scanned documents immediately onscreen.

The ScanSnap iX500 is designed to be easy to use, implementing several innovative features. Since the scanner can handle up to 25 documents per minute, it has technology built in to make sure that only one sheet passes through at a time, eliminating time consuming paper jams.

The xPrintServer Lets You Use Any Printer With Your iOS Device [Macworld 2013]

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SAN FRANCISCO, MACWORLD/iWORLD 2013 – Lantronix is showing off at Macworld what they call the xPrintServer, a small device that you can attach to your network to allow nearly any printer to become compatible with your iOS device using AirPrint.

The xPrintServer comes in two models, a consumer edition that should suit the needs of the average user, as well as an office edition more suited for a corporate setting.

 

MPowerd’s Luci Lamp Is Not Only Solar Powered, But Inflatable As Well [CES 2013]

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CES 2013 bug

LAS VEGAS, CES 2013

In a departure from many of the other products being shown off at CES, MPowerd debuted what they call Luci, the collapsible, solar powered lamp. The entire product only weighs 4 ounces, and can easily collapse for storage if you’re traveling.

By simply placing the lantern in the sun for 4-6 hours, you can get up to 12 hours of light. MPowerd says that Luci is perfect for the developing world, where not everyone has access to electricity. It’s also a great idea for camping trips and other outdoor activities.

The Luci is available now from MPowerd for $15.99. MPowered is also setting up a program that will allow them to distribute lanterns to less fortunate countries when you purchase one.

 

The BlueAnt Ribbon Lets You Stream Bluetooth Audio To Almost Any Speaker [CES 2013]

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CES 2013 bug

LAS VEGAS, CES 2013

BlueAnt Wireless is showing off a tiny little device at CES this year called the Ribbon, which they claim can turn almost any speaker into a Bluetooth streaming device. BlueAnt describes three ideal use cases for the device, each providing different functionality.

First of all, the device can be used to clip onto your clothing in order to stream audio from your iPhone. The Ribbon comes with headphones which connect to a standard headphone jack on the device. The controls onboard the Ribbon give you access to media controls as well as Siri.

Evado Filip’s VIVOPlay Lets You Track Your Child’s Location [CES 2013]

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CES 2013 bug

LAS VEGAS, CES 2013

The VIVOPlay, a new device from Evado Filip, combines a watch with a phone in order to keep your children safe when wearing the device. The VIVOPlay, which uses GPS, Wi-Fi, and GSM for location tracking, is specifically set up to help parents and their children stay in close contact in the case of an emergency.

The VIVOPlay works with a iOS and Android app to give you full control over the device’s capabilities. The parent can set up to 5 “safe zones” that define boundaries within which their children should stay. If something goes wrong and the child leaves the zone while wearing the device, the parents will be alerted to the activity.

Hitcase’s iPhone 5 Case Is Virtually Indestructible [CES 2013]

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CES 2013 bug

LAS VEGAS, CES 2013

iPhone protection company Hitcase is debuting a new iPhone 5 case at CES which is going up against the like of Otterbox to provide a secure shell for your iPhone 5. Going one step further, Hitcase has also made a harness system for the case itself, so you can mount your iPhone in a variety of different ways.

Like you’d expect from a rugged iPhone case, the Hitcase is waterproof up to 10 meters and fully protects all of the iPhone’s ports and switches. The back even integrates a wide angle lens for shooting scenes while outdoors with the case.

The Cocoon IQ Collection Is A Smart Way To Organize Your Gadgets [CES 2013]

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CES 2013 bug

LAS VEGAS, CES 2013

Cocoon is showing off at CES this year a new bag that combines the best of their organization tools with the familiarity of a carrying case for your devices.

The IQ Collection, as it’s being tentatively called, is based around Cocoon’s Grid, a storage system that keeps a wide variety of your gadgets secure and organized while you’re traveling.

The Pogo Connect Just Might Be The Best Stylus For Your iPad [CES 2013]

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CES 2013 bug

LAS VEGAS, CES 2013

When it comes to styluses for your iPad, there’s quite a few options, but none are quite like the Connect, Pogo’s newest stylus that they’re showing off at CES this year. The Connect is a pressure-sensitive stylus with some unique features that set it apart from the rest.

The Pogo connect lets you rest your hand on the iPads screen while drawing, something that can come in handy when using the stylus for extended periods of time. Because of this, your hand won’t get sore trying to rest it on the bezel to avoid unwanted input from your wrist.

HEX’s New Backpacks And Headphones Are Great Accessories For Your Mac [CES 2013]

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CES 2013 bug

LAS VEGAS, CES 2013

Cult Of Mac’s gadget hunter Erfon Elijah stopped by the HEX booth at CES this year to check out some of the company’s new products, including a new backpack as well as some custom designed headphones.

HEX’s products are focused heavily on great design, and it shows in the new Origin backpack that was demoed at CES. Instead of going with run-of-the-mill materials, HEX developed the material for the Origin backpack themselves, to get just the right texture.

Lego’s Mindstorms EV3 Can Be Controlled With Your iOS Device [CES 2013]

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CES 2013 bug

LAS VEGAS, CES 2013

Lego is showing off a new version of its popular Mindstorms robotics kit at CES that adds some incredible new technology. The third generation Lego kit includes support for mobile devices, meaning that you can now control your Lego creations with your iPhone.

As Mindstorms continues to evolve, the technology in them improves as well. The heart of the EV3 is powered by Linux, which allows the creator to program the creation remotely from your iOS device.

Lego plans to make the Mindstorms EV3 available sometime in the second half of 2013, with a retail price of $349.99 It seems like just yesterday that Legos were just plastic bricks…

The Fitbit Flex Wristband Helps You Wirelessly Track Your Activity [CES 2013]

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CES 2013 bug

LAS VEGAS, CES 2013

Fitness technology company Fitbit has unveiled a new product this year at CES that they call the Fitbit Flex, a bluetooth wristband. As with many other products announced at this year’s CES, the Fitbit Flex works with an iOS app over Bluetooth 4.0 to keep your fitness data up to date.

The Fitbit Flex companion app tracks your activities, and keeps a record of how many steps you’ve taken, the distance you’ve traveled, how many calories you’ve burned, as well as the quality of your sleep.

Fisher-Price’s New Apptivity iPad Case Is Perfect For Kids [CES 2013]

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CES 2013 bug

LAS VEGAS, CES 2013

Fisher-Price is showing off a new iPad case along with some apps at CES that are perfect for any child. The Create and Learn Apptivity case, as it’s called, is a rugged, kid friendly case made for use by children. It not only securely holds the iPad, protecting the entire unit, but also has an integrated handle and stylus connected to the case.