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The Ultimate iPad Stand

Cody Lee ∙ April 22, 2011

Have you ever tried looking at a recipe application on your iPad while trying to cook? Or tried to learn how to play the guitar via an iPad app? These things would be so much easier if you had someone or something to hold your tablet for you.

Enter the Kickstarter project by designer Seth Quest. It looks like him and his partner just recently raised enough money to fund production of their prototype, the Hanfree.

The iPad accessory is designed to hold your iPad for you, leaving your hands free to do other things. The Hanfree is essentially a case attached to a wide base, with a steel neck and a ball and socket joint.

This setup allows for 360 degree rotation of the iPad, so it can easily be switched from landscape to portrait mode. The see-through case securely grips your iPad as you're using it, and the stainless steel neck pivots so you can swing the device out of the way when you're not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9VkOTONWaM

I think the design is fairly brilliant given the options of iPad stands currently available. Apparently others think so too. The Kickstarter project has exceeded its $15,000 goal and is set to be funded early next month.

Even though they've already collected enough to start production, they are still taking donations. If you pledge $50 or more, you get a Hanfree once they start shipping. Not a bad deal considering the product will retail for $79.99.

What do you think?

Adobe Looking to Finally Bring Flash to iOS, Sort of

Cody Lee ∙ April 16, 2011

We've talked about Adobe Flash on iDB quite a bit. The absence of the platform plugin in iOS products has been a hot button issue since the original iPhone was released. For those who have been living under a rock for the last few years, let me break it down for you.

Adobe's Flash is used in close to 80% of the top 100 most visited websites, so needless to say, it's pretty popular. Apple, the maker of some of the hottest portable electronics right now, has barred Flash from its mobile platform for several reasons. And now it looks like after years of watching home-grown tweaks bring Flash content to iOS devices, Adobe might finally have an answer of their own...

Wiimote and iPhone Make Beautiful Music Together

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

It seems like you can never get enough high-tech innovation, especially when it involves using ordinary products to accomplish extraordinary things. We've shown you 3D graphics on the iPhone 4 in the past and even lenses that give the iPhone 360-degree video capturing abilities. What could they possibly come up with next?

Let me introduce you to Tim Soo. On top of being a medical student, he also happens to be a hacker/musician. His Kickstarter video asking for donations to fund an interesting project has really been making its rounds on the internet recently...

iPhone App Prints a 3D Model of Your Face

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 25, 2016

We've seen some pretty cool ideas come from software developers and engineers involving the iPhone. Although many of these technology demos never make it to consumer products, it's always fun to see what people dream up.

This time we have an application that's already made it to the App Store, but the innovation it uses is still astounding. Trimensional is an app for the iPhone that has the ability to scan 3D objects. While that alone might seem boring, it's what you can do with the scanned image that's so interesting...

Impressive iPhone 4 3D Demo, No Glasses Required

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 11, 2018

The 3D graphics effect has been done on iDevices before. Apps like Labyrinth for the iPad 2 and the Cydia 3DBoard tweak use the accelerometer in the device to manipulate graphics based on user movements. This is a neat circus trick, but the device must be moved to create the 3D effect.

Jeremie Francone and Laurence Nigay of the EHCI Research group have created an impressive tech demo of 3 dimensional graphics on the iPhone 4. Instead of using the accelerometer, they use the device's front facing camera. How's that possible?

The iPhone Killed the Flip Video Camera

Alex Heath ∙ Updated May 11, 2018

Cisco has announced that it is discontinuing production of the Flip video cameras. The Flip brand was the king of portable HD video in its prime, but the doors are now closing on the the line of handheld camcorders.

Cisco is a company that's main focus is enterprise and networking, so it was always odd that they produced such a consumer-based product as the Flip. It appears that Cisco will be re-focusing its attention back to the enterprise field, and abandoning the now unprofitable Flip series.

Smartphones, namely being the iPhone, now have built-in HD video recording. It seems obvious that the Flip just couldn't keep up with its competition...

Want Glasses-Free 3D on Your iPad 2?

Cody Lee ∙ April 11, 2011

We've shown you some pretty sweet iPad 2 hacks recently, but this one takes the cake. A couple of guys from the EHCI Research Group have managed to create basic 3D graphics on the iPad 2, using the front facing camera. Confused yet?

The technology is called head tracking, and has become fairly common verbiage among tech websites. Essentially your head movements can be captured and turned into commands for applications or controls for games.

These guys obviously didn't get the memo. They have decided to use head tracking to present 3D graphics on Apple's latest tablet. Their software uses the front facing camera to judge your position in relation to the iPad, and then it manipulates the graphics accordingly.

We track the head of the user with the front facing camera in order to create a glasses-free monocular 3D display. Such spatially-aware mobile display enables to improve the possibilities of interaction. It does not use the accelerometers and relies only on the front camera.

Still not impressed? You've got to check out the video below. Although many critics have brushed 3D technology off like a passing trend, companies like Nintendo are starting to take it seriously. But do we really need it in the iPad? If nothing else, this has to be one of the coolest non-jailbreak hacks I've seen.

It's currently just a tech demo, and has yet to be decided if/how it would be implemented in user software.

Would you want 3D graphics for your iPad 2?

[macstories]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBQQEcfkHoE

Watch Every SouthPark Episode for Free on Your iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 11, 2018

One of the major advantages to owning an iPhone is all of the access to free content. Apps like TV.com, WatchESPN, and others allow you to watch popular media for free on your iPhone, as long as you have an internet connection.

For all of you jailbroken users, I have another app for you that will fill the need to watch free content on your iDevice. Its name is iSouthPark and it claims to allow you to watch all 209 episodes of the popular South Park cartoon on your iPhone for free. It certainly sounds enticing, but how does this work?

Current Cable Subscribers Can Watch ESPN for Free on Their iPhones

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 17, 2019

We told you how to watch every game of March Madness on your iPhone, but what do you do now that the tournament is over? If you are still looking for a free way to get your sports fix on your iPhone, then pay attention.

Streaming content to mobile devices is a hot topic right now. Time Warner Cable has recently gotten into hot water over their iPad app that streams TV channels to subscribers' devices. While it looks like some networks are unhappy with the way the digital revolution is going, others are embracing it.

ESPN liked the idea of streaming content to user's devices so much that they made their own iOS app for it...

Fring Announces that Group Video Chat is Coming to the iPhone

Alex Heath ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

The popular video chat app called fring has announced that it will bring the world's first group video chat functionality to iOS and Android. The fring app offered video chat on the iPhone long before Facetime, and it's exciting to see such an innovative team bringing group video chat to the mobile space.

The group chat feature will allow you to have simultaneous video chat with up to four friends at once. Check out the demo video below...

First Official iPad 2 Commercial Hits Air Waves

Cody Lee ∙ April 3, 2011

Although we've brought you iPad 2 videos before, they were obviously pokes at the famous Cupertino commercials and not the real deal. Apple's marketing team has been relatively quiet about the iPad 2, until now. Yesterday, the first official iPad 2 commercial hit the air waves.

In typical Apple fashion it was simple, elegant, and to the point. The 30 second spot showed off some popular iPad 2 apps like Garage Band and iBooks, but what really stood out was the commentary.

In what appears to be a nod to puzzled competitors, the voice over vaguely reveals Apple's secret to the iPad's success.

"Faster, thinner, lighter, those are all good things. But when technology gets out of the way, everything becomes more delightful, even magical. That's when you leap forward."

While other companies are worried about the technical specs, Apple is after the best end user experience. This explains why tablets such as the Motorola Xoom are experiencing dismal sales.

If you market your product with buzz words like dual core and megapixels, you are pitching to a small audience that actually cares about hardware specs. That's why Apple uses magical in their commercials, it appeals to more people.

Check the commercial out below. What do you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyEpaPEbjzI

What the World Will Look Like in 30 Years, Thanks to the iPhone

Alex Heath ∙ Updated May 11, 2018

Have you ever wondered about what the future will look like? Specifically, how catalytic devices like the iPhone will shape the coming years?

We may very well already be living in an "iWorld," but The Freestyle Show has put together a quite satirical video showing what our world will look like in 30 years. Needless to say, it's filled with iPhones...