The iPhone does appear with a metal backing

NFC in the iPhone may have to wait another year. Anandtech is concluding that the next iPhone, if it comes with a metal backing, will not be able to support an NFC antenna.We've been hoping for near field communication (NFC) to finally make its way to the iPhone , and there was hope recently that the time had finally come. But apparently we will have to wait some more. AnandTech has concluded that the next iPhone won't be able to support an NFC antenna.AnandTech said given the reports that the next iPhone will have a metal backing, there will not be enough space in the non-metal window reserved for other antennas to support an NFC chip. Jim Dalrymple at The Loop also added his two cents, saying NFC was a no-go on the next iPhone. Other phones have placed the NFC antenna on the battery or the battery cover, but if the iPhone does appear with a metal backing, that should rule out the possibility of NFC, said AnandTech.
"It shouldn't need saying, but having a huge ground plane (the unibody metal back case) in the way of your NFC antenna will seriously degrade performance, thus only the top or bottom windows are logical places to put it," said AnandTech.Placing the NFC antenna at the top or bottom of the next iPhone, however, could create awkward alignment issues for tapping other phones and readers and could cut down on the coupling distance, said AnandTech. That doesn't mean it can't happen, but it wouldn't fit Apple's approach to making polished technology, the blog said.
If this is true, it would be a let down for NFC proponents. While some critics have questioned the need for NFC, there's a lot that the short-distance wireless technology can do. NFC in the iPhone could work with Passbook, an upcoming app that lets people store tickets, boarding passes and loyalty cards as barcodes. Adding NFC could enable tap-and-go payments as well. But NFC isn't just about payments. Users could also utilize NFC to transfer content between devices, obtain local marketing offers from signs or gain physical entry into buildings.With more and more devices coming with NFC, it would seem logical for Apple to join in. Microsoft has said Windows Phone 8 devices will come with support for NFC payments. And Google continues to push on the future of NFC payments with Google Wallet. I've said in the past that Apple could be the biggest catalyst for NFC payments, making the technology accessible to users. Apple's retail stores could also be a great showcase and classroom for teaching people how to use their phones for NFC actions.

Keep Your iPhone Charged With A Solar Battery Pack

Raise your hand if your iPhone has run out of juice at the worst possible time? Yeah, I'm sure that's most of you. Certainly me. That's why I have a battery pack case for my iPhone. While it's good, it does have a little flaw—I still need to plug it in to charge.Now a solar pack can help eliminate some of this need. No, not all, but let's say, a lot. The Monster Watts case acts not just as a batter pack, but it has solar panels so you can recharge your phone wherever the Sun shines!
Leaked images from China of alleged portable Wall Charger have been emerging since Friday that show the typical camera hole in the top left of the case, just like the ones found on pretty much all newew iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad.But in the top center of these iPad Mini cases is another hole that has everyone perplexed.The standard camera hole in the top left tells us that Apple intends on keeping the rear facing camera, but what are we to make the new hole?Some speculation is that with the iPad Mini, and also with the iPhone 5, Apple will be adding a microphone enhancement so as to increase the audio quality of things like the Facetime app, or live video recording.I agree with these speculations because the hole at the top doesn't look to be big enough for anything other than some type of microphone integration.What do you think?  Are we going to see an upgraded microphone on the Wholesale Wall Charger?  Or do you think this eludes to something completely different?
If you own an Apple iPad but would love to have the physical keyboard of a laptop, there are of course many ways you can achieve this, but how about using a physical keyboard case that turns your iOS slate into a MacBook lookalike so it retains the famed Apple styling? Well there is a project running over at Kickstarter that can do that for you, and that project is called the CruxSKUNK case for iPad.The CruxSKUNK case for iPad maintains the simplicity of the iOS tablet whilst keeping true to Apple's design aesthetic, and when the CruxSKUNK is closed measures just 19mm thick coming in at about the same thickness and weight as a Macbook Air, whilst the base is 6mm thick it is the thinnest keyboard for the Apple iPad.The CruxSKUNK offers a full sized QWERTY keyboard, and apart from full size keys they have also added function keys to the top of the functions the user uses most. The case has been designed with a 360 degree hinge, which enables the user to use the device in numerous positions, whilst the 3 main parts of the CruxSKUNK have been machined from a single piece of aircraft aluminum, with those parts sandblasted and anodised to deliver the same finish as your iOS tablet.

Technology's Dark Side: Devious Devices Designed to Harm You

We're accustomed to the idea of hackers' trying to crack our computers, but today our TVs, cars, phones, and appliances are becoming increasingly vulnerable as we use technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, cellular, and GPS to connect them.Though increased connectedness has been a boon to convenience and communication, a sinister flipside has emerged: More and more real-world objects are hackable, some with potentially frightening real-world consequences.Hackers can unlock your car and even start the engine. They can steal your credit card just by walking past youwithout touching your wallet. They can hijack a lifesaving insulin pump and turn it against the user. Here's a roundup of some of the technology that bad guys can use to hack you and everything around you.ATM skimmers are rogue devices surreptitiously attached to automatic teller machines and programmed to read and record your bank card's magnetic strip, and then pass the data on to criminals.
Older ATM skimmers commonly made the card slot look unusually bulky or otherwise tampered-with, but detecting the new skimmers is much harder. They are so thin now that a crook can now insert the skimmer directly inside the card slot at your local ATM, grocery self-checkout, or gas pump, and still leave room for your card to pass through, thus ensuring that only an expert is likely to notice the skimmer's intrusion.The information on your credit or debit card's magnetic strip is useless without the card's PIN code, and even the most sophisticated in-slot skimmer can't retrieve PIN codes. However, criminals have developed transparent rubber overlays that they place over the ATM's keypad, to record the victim's PIN code. ATM skimmers and PIN code recorders can be very difficult to detect before money goes missing from customers' bank accounts.
The term war texting may sound like something that an easily distracted soldier might pause to perform during a lull on the battlefield, it actually refers to the process of hijacking hardware connected to ubiquitous GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) mobile phone networks.Surveillance cameras, home automation systems, and cars often depend on GSM telephony for over-the-air firmware updates. Though GSM makes updating these systems far more convenient, it also leaves them vulnerable to outside attack.Last year at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas, iSec Partners security consultants Don Bailey and Matthew Solnik demonstrated the threat of war texting by unlocking the doors of a Subaru Outback and then starting its engineall remotely.

ibattz Mojo Armor Removable Battery Case for iPhone 4S Review

I've tested rugged cases and battery backup cases, but seldom do manufacturers offer both in one package.The ibattz Mojo Armor Removable Battery Case offers that combination in an impressive case that gives the user a very long battery backup, thanks to not just one, but two removable batteries.Buy one case and get two options. One for a hard day's work in a rugged environment and one for a more stylish alternative.
The ibattz Mojo Armor Removable Battery Case consists of a battery case with a 1700 mAh battery backup that the user can replace with the second battery, also included in the package. A thin plastic back covers battery compartment on the rear of the portable Wall Charger.The user can choose to install a rugged plastic exoskeleton over the battery backing that protects the edges and front of the iPhone with a shock-resistant frame. A silicon covering hides most of the skeleton making it more comfortable to hold. A thin clear covering protects the screen and allows the user to touch the display.
The second option pairs the battery backing with a grey plastic band that only covers the edges of the iPhone. It reminds me of the Apple band that came out with the iPhone 4, except the ibattz band is plastic instead of rubber. It's less protective and more attractive. The user chooses between a more elegant black and gray case or the more protective purple and orange.The ibattz Mojo Armor Removable Battery Case comes with two batteries and an extra charger with USB syncing and charging cable. Wholesale Wall Charger the second battery while using the first until it dies. Then swap batteries. I could use the two batteries so I never have to plug the phone into a charger, ever.
Our charger failed. It wouldn't charge the batteries no matter what we did. ibattz sent us a replacement which works fine. With all the reviews we do we're bound to get a bad unit from time to time.If I want to plug into my computer with the included USB to micro-USB, then the phone will both charge and sync to iTunes. I like that I can use a micro-USB cable since I own so many of them. If someone owns mostly iOS 30-pin dock connectors, then this could cause problems.At first I didn't like the Mojo Armor case. The rugged purple and orange cover isn't my favorite color pairing and I don't like the feeling of silicone cases. For those who don't mind the color or feel, the case works great and protects the phone well. The orange and purple rugged case comes off only when you want it to, but at that time it comes off easier than the gray band. I had a lot of trouble removing the gray band. The thin back only comes off with a lot of force.

iPad Case Review: ReflexCase for iPad 2 and the New iPad Review

For tablet users who still can't leave their paper and pen behind, the ReflexCase is the answer to carry both of your digital tool and the non-digital tool in one place. The portfolio style case has a tablet holder on the left and a paper notebook holder on the right. It's very protective and fits both the iPad 2 and the new iPad 3rd gen. The case comes with either red fold-over flap or a black one in shiny synthetic leather.The ReflexCase has a unique design in tri-fold form. The case comes in a large portfolio style that can accommodate the size of a standard 8.5" x 11.3/4" legal notepad with a cardboard backing. When the case is open, you will find a tablet holder on the left that's smaller than the case since the iPad models are smaller than a legal notepad and the paper notepad on the right. The additional flap keeps the case closed so that you can't see there is a tablet inside, and prevents anything you store inside falling out. The case offers a thin elastic strap also to keep the closure flap shut. The tablet holder isn't tight fitting, and can hold either the iPad 2 or the new iPad 3rd gen comfortably.
The ReflexCase uses synthetic leather for both exterior and interior coverage. The only place that's not covered with the smooth material with a slight sheen is inside the tablet holder. The interior on that is soft touch surface that feels nice and won't scratch your tablet. The entire case has dual layer foam insert that feels surprisingly rigid yet very padded, and it can certainly protect the tablet from bumps and bruises. The oversized portfolio also provides good shock absorption, as the outer casing will hit surface and cushion the fall. The material on the closure flap is shinier than the rest of the case.The ReflexCase holds the iPad 2 or the new iPad in its tablet holder by four corners and the left side.
The holder is side loading: there is a zippered opening on the left that allows you to slide in the tablet easily and shuts the holder securely with a zipper. The zipper is small and soft, and shouldn't scratch the surface of your iPad. All ports and buttons are exposed as the case only holds the tablet by the corners. The tablet holder has a cutout for the front camera and a perforated button covering the Home button. The case does not have a cutout for the rear camera. The short closure flap on the ReflexCase can also work as a built-in stand. It creates a comfortable viewing angle for FaceTime video chat and movie watching. Though it creates a slight tilt when you fold the portfolio case outward, the case doesn't create enough of a angle for typing on the screen comfortably.

Third Rail iPhone Case with Smart Battery

The Third Rail is an iPhone case that gives your phone an extra boost via a Smart Battery attached on the back. Until recently I'd never bothered to get a case for my iPhone, instead relying on screen protectors; that approach worked fine, but when I was offered the chance to try out a Third Rail charging case I decided to give it a try.One of the selling points of the Third Rail case is their claim that the external battery means the case is much slimmer than other battery cases, but from what I've seen this is not exactly right. Once the external battery is attached, it still makes my phone look like a mid 90s clunker at almost 2cm thick. The case, which is currently only available in black, comes with Buy cheap gps online (more can be purchased separately) and a cable to attach your phone in its case to a USB charger. Also included is an adapter which allows the Smart Battery to charge up any device that uses a USB charger such as a Kindle.
I mostly liked the case itself. However one thing about it that I don't like is the exposed metal connectors on the back; not only do they make the case look quite dated, they make me very nervous about putting the phone down where there might be even a drop of moisture (not that I made a habit of putting my phone in puddles, before but you know what I mean.) GeekMom Nicole also received a Third Rail case and found herself unimpressed as she didn't feel it was very protective, certainly compared with her Mophie case which she felt was substantial enough to not "break into bits at the first good drop". I don't share her concerns, however.
The external battery is small and very lightweight as well, it connects to the case easily by clicking into slots on the back. A switch at the bottom of the case determines whether or not power is flowing from the battery to the phone — meaning that you can attach a fully charged battery but not send power to your phone until you want to. If the battery is attached and the phone is plugged into a computer, then both it and the battery will charge simultaneously; if another item is attached to the battery's "out" port then it can be charged at the same time. Three things charging together is great for people on the go, and I like can charge it all up while I sync my phone to iTunes. The battery also has a button which lights up a row of Wholesale Universal Portable Battery to tell you how much power is remaining.And for me, this is the part in the review where things take a downturn. I took the case with me to London Film and Comic Con to give it a good test run, I knew I'd be using my phone a lot on the convention floor so I could use the extra power. For the trip I was taking my phone and iPad. And this created a problem for the Third Rail case. You cannot use an Apple charger when the case is attached as it blocks the port at the bottom of the phone. This gave me two options: A) take my iPhone charger instead, which struggles to charge my iPad or, B) take the iPad charger, remove the case every night and charge the phone from that, losing the ability to charge the battery. I chose option B as I knew I'd need the iPad more.

Iphone 5 Accessories - Tapping A World Of Possibilities And Fun

Using a phone is essential! However, getting it equipped with proper sets of accessories is even more critical. These iphone 5 accessories make life simple by offering various productivity solutions, which in turn saves on time and improve efficiency. Widely you can categorize these accessories in several types, depending upon their use and functionality. There are some which help you to stay organized, some help you to excel with their aid and some simply add protection to the phone. For example a screen guard will protect your iPhone 5s screen from scratches. The crystal clear high definition screen is a pleasure to look at. However, regular use invites scratches on the screen. It becomes painful to look through the scratches.
Also productivity accessories like car chargers will save you from your phones battery running low. Connectivity is the spice of life and justifying your phones battery running out is a shame. Other accessories pertaining to audio are headphones, Bluetooth headsets, and Bluetooth speakers. These let you to continue your calls wirelessly. Even high quality headphones keep you entertained with digital music player built within your phone. If you love music you are game for it. Some other range of productivity accessories will be data storage cards. You can accommodate whopping size of data in your phone. For business enterprises this becomes a blessing, as there are no chances of getting deprived with important office communication and data transfers.
A few other accessories that compliment your iPhone 5 are decals, signal boosters, audio connector pins, highly portable usb car chargers, docking, and mounting solutions for cars and indoor use and beautiful style. You can even get a few photography accessories, which can rediscover the hidden photographer within you. There are some accessories, which offer vital solutions for large data transfers between your phone and a computer. Data cables do help you in quickly loading your iPhone 5 with documents, videos, and MP3s.All these accessories are devised specifically to improve your productivity and efficiency. Some of these protective accessories help you to keep your iPhone safe and sound. The whole purpose of using all these accessories is to make life smooth and easy even on the go. Summing up, accessories do help to streamline your life during various occasions; you can select wisely and be a prudent owner of iPhone 5 accessories, which will be the escalator to a new world of possibilities right at your fingertips.

Mophie's Outride mounts your iPhone on your bike, surfboard and more

When I use a battery pack I tend to grab my Mophie Juice Pack Air for my iPhone. Brad is fond of the Juice Pack Plus. Their latest case doesn't have a battery, but that's not the point. The Outride (coming soon) is designed to mount your iPhone onto your gear, such as a skateboard, mountain bike, surfboard or whatever (street luge?).Obviously the Outride is waterproof and shock-resistant, but it also features a wide-angle lens, which is a lot more fun when recording the perfect wave. Naturally, there'll be an Outride app, which will allow you to "follow and interact with other riders and professional athletes while watching the latest rides from around the globe." I don't know how much I'd use the app, but I'd certainly be firing up iMovie more often.
Outride's mounts will cost you extra, ranging from $129.95 to $149.95. The case will be available in mid-September but you can sign up now to be notified the moment 8inch wifi tablet is released. For adrenaline junkies who use their iPhones to record video, this is like a dream come true. Just don't go trying to record your own Nitro Circus, OK?There is an opening for the rear facing camera and as clearly stated in the paperwork provided with the case it is offset a bit when you first start using the case. Oberon states that the leather will stretch naturally over time and the camera will line up in the opening. It's great to see they thought about this rather than just lining it up to start where it could have been blocking the camera as the leather stretches. You also get full access to your 3.5mm headset jack, Apple connection port, volume button, slide/lock switch, and power button.
Oberon Design uses lead-free Britannia Pewter in their products as you can see in many image on their website. A small piece is secured to the top cover, smaller than that seen on their other buy china tablet online. You then place the short elastic loop over it and hold the case closed.There is a thinner elastic strap coming out of two holes in the right side and if you want to use the case in landscape orientation you pull out this elastic strap (it is secured under the back cover and won't come out all the way), fold the case back, and set the elastic over the flap found on the inside of the front cover piece. You can then prop up the case and your iPad in landscaper orientation to enjoy movies or work with Office documents. To go back to portrait orientation you pull the elastic back through to the inside back cover pocket. I thought it was hilarious to read their instructions with one line that states, "Turn your cover to a horizontal position and set on a tabletop & Bob's your uncle!"

Windows 8 Keyboards, Mouse launched

Microsoft Corp. has launched mice and keywords to work in sync with its new software Windows 8 for PC and tablets as it works on its own accessories to compete with Apple's Inc iPad.Microsoft said"the wireless wedge mobile keyboard" is going to cost $79.95, and will feature a protective cover which doubles itself as a stand for tablet. It will also sell Wedge touch Mouse which is pocket size for $69.95. Both will use Bluetooth for connection with tablet or computer. Windows 8, the next version of Microsoft flagship software is releasing in October. It will run on PC and tablets including its own machine, Surface. The mice and keyboards software are designed to compete Apple's leadership in the tablet world and increase the sale of Surface when it goes in the market for sale later this year.
According toRedmond,Wash., it will sell a Sculpt touch mouse for $49.95and full size Sculpt Keyboard at the same price. Both the product will work using a Bluetooth connection. The revenue of Windows fell 13% to $4.15 billion in the last three months till the June end, failing to cover the estimate of the analyst $4.44 billion as per the data compiled by Bloomberg. It was actually the 5th instance in nearly 2 years that the unit has failed to cover the estimate.Apple's iPad promises to remain the worlds tablet leader till 2016 even when it loses some of its market share as said by Gartner Inc. An estimate says that iPad will hold a 46% of shipment in 2016, down from an estimated of 61% this year as said by Gartner. The tablets which run on Google Inc. Android software may reach 37% from 32% till 2016. Microsoft which has no percent of the tablet market till last year is expected to hold 12% by 2016.The percentage is expected to increase as report by Gartner was issued before Microsoft unveiled its Window tablet.
As we've seen, there will be no shortage of tablet / keyboard hybrids on offer when Windows 8 starts shipping this fall. But since those keyboard docks will typically be sold separately, that means you're also about to see loads of third-party alternatives. Not to be left out, Microsoft just announced a Bluetooth mobile keyboard, along with its smallest-ever mouse.My colleague Jeff Dedekker is trying out the new Third Rail System — and he says he's loving it.The Third Rail System replaces all existing charging accessories by offering optional add-on battery power for your iPhone 4 when you need it, and doubling as an external battery solution for charging all other mobile devices.The slim case measures 126.05 x 61.69 x 11.73 mm (4.96 in x 2.43 in x 0.46 in) and weighs only 0.9 oz. It's made of hard plastic with a soft-touch coating. It's compatible with both the AT&T and Verizon iPhone 4.The Smart Battery is a super-slim rechargeable 1250 mAh lithium-ion smart battery that slides onto any Third Rail Slim Case for portable power, and also serves as a stand-alone universal charging solution for any device.

iPad in court irks judge hearing 2G scam case

A special CBI court hearing the 2G spectrum allocation scam case on Friday expressed displeasure over use of an iPad to record the proceedings on Thursday and warned against such practice in future. After the day's proceedings were over with the recording of testimony of a prosecution witness, special CBI judge O P Saini drew the attention of lawyers to an iPad inside the courtroom in live recording mode.The counsel appearing for Essar Teleholdings Limited, an accused firm in the case, submitted that the device belonged to an employee of the company and it was left inadvertently in the court. "The act is totally indefensible," he added. While the judge did not take any action after the counsel "profusely apologized", he, however, said, "It is apparent that court proceedings were being recorded secretly and surreptitiously in an unauthorized manner. "The court let off the employee with a cheap Universal Portable Battery that such incidents should not be repeated in future.
 "The iPad be returned to the concerned person after deleting the recording there from. The accused persons are directed to ensure that such acts are not repeated by their employees, agents or associates in future," the judge said.Meanwhile, the CBI opposed the plea of Unitech MD Sanjay Chandra, accused in the 2G case, for permission to go to Thailand saying his "frequent visits" may hamper the trial. CBI prosecutor A K Singh told judge Saini that Chandra, who had moved the court for permission to go to Thailand from August 2 to 8 for business work, was allowed to go abroad in the last two months and his visits may affect the trial."Chandra was allowed to visit abroad in June and July. Considering the fact that a serious trial is going on mycharge portable power bank, such frequent visits may hamper the trial," Singh told the court.
 Still looking for a slick way to protect your iPad? You're in luck. This week, we have several Hardbook S Series Cases for the new iPad from Spigen to give away. The Hardbook S is a luxurious and protective case that is specially treated to be resistant to water and contamination. The case is hand crafted with premium paper material that is uniquely patterned for a beautiful look, and is designed to work just like the combination of the Apple Smart Cover. It features embedded magnets to automatically trigger the sleep and awake function when opening or closing the cover.