The company created the accessory featuring a full backlit keyboard, battery indicator, smart typing, dedicated lock key  and more. The design and aesthetics of the device does resemble the physical keyboard found on old BlackBerry phones.

The Canadian smartphone manufacturer was quick to notice the similarities and sued Typo. BlackBerry won an injunction however, in response the keyboard maker launched second-gen model called Typo 2 which they believe does not infringe on BlackBerry’s patents.

According to a new report published by The Hollywood Reporter, BlackBerry has filed a second lawsuit against Typo alleging that Typo 2 continues to infringe on BlackBerry’s intellectual property.

The court announced an award of $860,000 to BlackBerry as Typo continued selling its original keyboard despite the injunction. BlackBerry has now demanded for for “enhanced and exemplary” damages for Typo’s continued infringement.

Since iPhones’ introduction in 2007 now every smartphone features touchscreen keyboards. Some device makers initially did try to differentiate their offering from the iPhone by offering a physical keyboard however, that strategy hasn’t worked too well as such phones have clearly not become a huge success.

Typo and Typo 2 caters to a niche segment that still prefers the old-school physical keyboard typing experience. Typo 2 design features flat keys that reduces its resemblance to BlackBerry’s keyboards however, it blocks the home button / Touch ID sensor on the iPhone 6.

Are you a fan of Typo 2 for iPhone? What do you think about BlackBerry suing Typo Innovations LLC? Let us know in the comments below.

iOS 8.2 includes support for the WatchKit SDK, paving the way for developers to create and test apps for Apple’s upcoming Apple Watch. The exact release date for iOS 8.2 is still unknown however, it may be made available publicly few weeks ahead of the Apple Watch launch.

Apple’s new wearable device will work in sync with the iPhone. Using WatchKit SDK app developers can add support to their apps to enable notifications and glances on the Apple Watch.

iOS 8 upgrades haven’t gone very well for users recently as after upgrading users complained about WiFi, battery life and bluetooth issues. With increased use of devices’ storage capacity many users were unable to install over-the-air update and had to resort to installing the update by connecting to iTunes. All these problems combined resulted in slower adoption rate initially when compared with last years release of iOS 7.

Apple touted iOS 8 as the “biggest iOS release ever”. It brought many new features for users and new possibilities for iOS app developers. Notable enhancements included all new Messages app, continuity, added features to camera app, third party keyboards, iCloud Drive, Health app and much more.

The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas always brings to light the newest and most advanced technology related to the mobile devices industry. Often during this event, many company’s unveil iPhone cases and other technology for Apple’s iOS devices. During the first official day of CES 2013, Hyundai, a leading South Korean car manufacturer, announced that it will now support Apple’s “Siri Eyes Free” feature in some its newer cars. The company has synchronized Siri’s commands with its infotainment systems inside of the car.

As a result, users can seamlessly make calls directly through their phones, listen to texts, and play music without having to go through a layer of software from Hyundai. The system does, however, require an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 6.

The Siri Eyes Free feature was introduced alongside iOS 6 and is slowly becoming standard with car manufacturers, with Hyundai being the tenth auto maker to adopt the new feature. Other companies include, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Jaguar, Audi, Toyota, Chrysler, Honda, and GM. GM only supports two models, the Chevy Sonic and Spark.

With Siri Eyes Free, drivers now have Siri as a universal technology on their mobile devices, computers, and now their cars as well. Hyundai has also added other technology to help make the experience with voice navigation and Siri much better for drivers:

Dragon Drive: Developed by Nuance, this automotive-grade voice services platform enables drivers to speak naturally and conversationally with in-car systems for tasks such as dictating messages, searching for music, finding real-time weather and asking for directions.

Mobile High-Definition Link: Delivers 1080p60 uncompressed video with up to eight channels of digital audio from a mobile device to a dashboard display, all while charging the device.

Next-Generation Hardware: Hyundai’s new vehicles will feature the latest hardware with high-resolution multi-touch displays, Bluetooth 3.0, and Wi-Fi/3G connectivity options.

{Via AppleInsider}

ClickStik Bluetooth Remote + Camera Stand Review

“The best camera is the one that’s with you” is attributed to Chase Jarvis and that has never been more true with the quality of camera that are now in cell phones, specifically the iPhone 4S and of course the just released iPhone 5.

There’s no disputing how good the photos are that the latest generations of iPhones produce, however there are times when you want to be in the photograph. If that’s the case you currently only have a couple of options. You could do one of those at arm length self portraits or you’ll either need to trust your iPhone to someone else to take the photo for you.

Now, though there is ClickStik, a bluetooth remote for your iPhone’s camera and a tripod for your iPhone which allows you to remotely take photographs with your iPhone while being up to 30ft away.

Pairing your device with the ClickStik takes just seconds and with only one button on the remote it’s very self explanatory whether you take the time to read the instructions or not. The tripod is a little trickier to configure.

Firstly it comes in two pieces, the stand collapses for easy travelling and is secured in place when not in use by a velcro strap that doubles as a binding should you want or need to strap the stand down if you are taking pictures under conditions that require it.

Secondly the phone is held in place in a three point holder which will hold your device both with and without a case which can then be screwed to the tripod base. Your iPhone can also be accurately positioned based on your need thanks to two hand bolts that allow you to loosen, move and tighten with ease.

The product is made of plastic and overall the build quality is pretty good. The only piece I have questions about is how strong the phone holster is as it feels that any over zealous usage could result in a break.

Using the Bluetooth adapter to take your pictures couldn’t be easier either. The remote won’t work with the stock camera app so after downloading the free ClickStik app from the App Store and launching it, taking pictures is only a click away.

There is little if no lag between pressing the remote’s button and the photograph being taken and the pictures are automatically saved to your Camera Roll to.

Obviously as the pictures are saved to your Camera Roll you can use them with any app you like but the ClickStik app does include photo editing options itself in which you can add effects, frames, stamps, text and other effects directly in the app. Now, while this is no Instagram it does provide nice options and allows you to share directly to Facebook, Twitter and email should you want to.

At $49.99 the ClickStik offers great value for money, infact with both the tripod and the Bluetooth remote you are getting to tools for the price of one and if you take a lot of photo’s with your iPhone this would be a great tool to add to your iPhone’s Camera accessories.

What we like

• Easy to setup
• Remote and stand in one pack
• Free app with added features

What to know

• May not hold up to over zealous handling

ClickStik Camera Stand Gallery

The game gives you a top down view of the racing track with you and your opponents taking up just a handful of pixels as you race around a variety of tracks that twist and turn around the screen.

The tracks are to scale with the miniature cars but despite their size they provide lots of detail, tricky corners, fast straights and various surfaces that affect the handling of the cars.

The game has a narrative in the single player mode where you play the role of Ryan, a rookie racing driver who you have to bring up through the ranks of five championships on your way to the World Championship Finals.

While the narrative is fun it’s pretty irrelevant to the racing and luckily it doesn’t get in the way of it either. In fact you can move from race to race pretty quickly which means the action keeps coming thick and fast.

You have a choice of controls for your car which includes both touch and accelerometer controls. My weapon of choice was the touch controls which I found very responsive. You only need to worry about steering as acceleration is automatic.

Included with the auto-acceleration is a speed boost which helps you catch up if you are running behind the leader, however this is a double edge sword as this speed boost also applies to your opponents so large leads can be eaten into pretty quickly.

This is no bad thing though as it keeps all of the races exciting right up until the last corner and while this may be a little frustration the speed in which you can replay the race means that you can get your revenge very quickly.

The multi-player options are local bluetooth & wifi and Facebook leaderboards which includes a Ghost Mode so that you can races against your friends ghost cars. These are fun alternatives to the single player mode but GameCenter integration and online multi-player would be nice additions.

If you enjoy racing games of all descriptions you won’t be disappointed with VS. Racing especially if you can grab it while it’s still free. With future free updates also promised this could be a real bargain.

What we like

• Great, responsive controls
• Lot’s of tracks
• Nice looking tracks

What to know

• No online multiplayer
• No Game Center integration

Several days after releasing images of the next generation iPhone 5 mini dock connector, French site, Nowhereelse.fr reposted images from forum Weiphone of what appears to be the iPhone 5 logic board. The logic board, which houses the processor and chips for other functions appears to be built differently than the iPhone 4 and the current iPhone 4S. Leaked parts for the upcoming iPhone 5 have been coming out for several months now, and new parts have been appearing as the announcement date draws closer.

Nowhereelse noted in their report that this logic board likely belongs to the iPhone 5 because of how the screw holes line up with other logic board shells leaked prior to this one. Weiphone has a proven track record with photos of iPhone logic boards, accurately releasing images of the iPhone 4S logic board which turned out to house the A5 chip.

In recent months, a number of parts have surfaced for the next generation iPhone 5, including a 9 pin charger and even a fully assembled model. The iPhone 5 is expected to be announced as soon as September 12th and will likely be available for pre-order soon after, perhaps even the same day. The iPhone 5 is expected to have a larger 4 inch screen, likely a faster processor, mini dock connector, relocated FaceTime camera and headphone jack, and a thinner unibody design. Apple’s iOS 6 is also slated for release alongside the iPhone 5.

{via MacRumors}

Rumors that Apple was looking to introduce a smaller dock connector in the next generation iPhone 5 have been around on the web for several months now. However, in the last several weeks, numerous leaked images of the iPhone 5 enclosure suggest that a smaller dock connector and charger will make it to the final product design.

Late last week, several images of the alleged mini dock connector surfaced online, posted by French site Nowherelse.fr, all but confirming that the next gen iPhone 5 will be carrying a 9 pin dock connector that strangely resembles the USB stick provided with Macbooks for reinstalling OS X. This would mean that the 30 pin dock connector, introduced with the original iPod over 10 years ago would now be replaced with smaller and thinner technology. According to recent reports, the new dock connector will likely improve I/O connectivity, allowing the transfer of data in a much shorter time with less electrical contacts than the 30 pin connector.

Sources have also reiterated claims that the charger now has the ability to plug into the iPhone on any side and does not have one designated orientation.It has been said that this new mini dock connector is much like a MacBook’s Mag-Safe connector, allowing users to insert any side of the charger into the device. Although other variations of the connector have been specualted about, ranging from 16 to 19 pins, 9 pins appears to be accurate and likely the version Apple will release next month.

So as not to cause a major rift in its iOS line-up, Apple is expected to provide users with an adaptor to connect to the current 30 pin connector as well. The iPhone 5 is slated for announcement next month on September 12th, alongside the public release of iOS 6.

{via AppleInsider}

Apple recently released iOS 6 Beta 4 to developers, adding several new features in settings and to existing apps. Following the release, the developer community began to notice a major change in the update, noting that the dedicated YouTube app on iOS was no longer included.

The YouTube app has been a part of iOS since 2007 and was introduced alongside the iPod touch. The latest beta arrived as an OTA update at first, followed by release online in the Developer Center. As with all betas in the past, the latest version, with Build 10A5376e arrives just three weeks after the last Build 10A5355d.

Developers have noticed several changes in the update, including a new “Wi-Fi Plus Cellular” feature in Settings which allows the iPhone to fall back on cellular data when WiFi does not work properly. Other features include an update to the Passbook app, giving it a dedicated section in the App Store and displaying apps compatible with Passbook. A new “Bluetooth Sharing” feature also allows users to determine which devices can share data via Bluetooth.

With all of these updated features, as well as the removal of YouTube, Apple appears to be cleansing iOS of technology from other companies. Apple commented on the removal of the YouTube app to The Verge, saying the following:

Our license to include the YouTube app in iOS has ended, customers can use YouTube in the Safari browser and Google is working on a new YouTube app to be on the App Store.

YouTube also commented on the removal:

We are working with Apple to make sure we have the best possible YouTube experience for iOS users.

Google’s presence in iOS is now very limited and will be transferred to individual apps on the App Store as opposed to being integrated into the OS itself. This first began when Apple replaced Google with Baidu as the default search engine, followed by the removal of Google Maps in iOS, and now the removal of YouTube. iOS 6 is expected to be released later this Fall in the September / October timeframe alongside the next generation iPhone 5.

{via MacRumors}

On Wednesday, iLounge reported on some of Apple’s upcoming product refreshes, including the next generation iPhone 5 and iPad Mini. The report mentions that the sixth generation iPhone will be sporting a smaller dock connector, as seen in previous reports but also points out that the connector will contain 8 pins as opposed to the current 30 pins. Numerous reports in recent weeks have suggested that the new dock connector will contain 19 pins, however, this report states otherwise.

According to two sources, Apple’s new Dock Connector features only 8 pins, seemingly contradicting claims of “16-pin” and “19-pin” connectors. […]

Both of our sources concur that there are eight pins in a line within the new Dock Connector, which may well receive a different name going forward.

The report also describes some details about the design of the dock connector, noting that the design will have the ability to connect on either side of the charger as opposed to users figuring out which side plugs into the dock connector correctly. This would give the iPhone 5, iPad 4 and fifth gen iPod touch chargers almost Magsafe style connection, allowing the charger to be inserted in any orientation. However, the report does not set forth any claims that the charger or dock connector would use magnets of any sort.

Aside from revealing details about the new dock connector, the report also speculated on the possibility that Apple’s upcoming iOS devices will gain a cross device integration feature in iOS 6 that would operate on low power consuming Bluetooth 4.0 technology. This would allow iOS devices to communicate with each other without being connected to the cloud.

For example, the report gives an example of an iPod nano being able to display a text message that comes through an iPhone. Although the dock connector has been seen in images and videos across the web, the status of any cross device integration features remains unknown and may not be confirmed until the release of iOS 6.

Apple’s next generation iPhone is expected to be announced on September 12th, with a release on Friday, September 21st. The next generation iPhone is expected to be released alongside an iPad Mini and the public version of iOS 6.

{via MacRumors}

Apple has been rumored to release an updated line of MacBooks, most notably the new MacBook Pro, which is expected to take on the thin design of the MacBook Air. On Monday, Chinese forum Weiphone released an image of what appeared to be a specs sticker on the back of a 13.3 inch MacBook Pro box. The image revealed only minor additions to the MacBook Pro line, such as the new 2.5GHz Ivy Bridge processor as well as the new Intel HD Graphics 4000 GPU. The specs also reveal that Apple is adding USB 3.0 for faster charging and data transfers as well as Bluetooth 4.0.

Although there were rumors that the MacBook Pro would be receiving the popular Retina Display, it appears that it will remain at the same 1280×800 resolution. Hard Drive and SuperDrive remain unchanged as well. It is likely that Apple is adding features very slowly so as not to cause any major changes to the operation of the battery in the Macbook. Adding a Retina Display could lower the battery life drastically, as would the addition of more RAM, and a faster HardDrive or SuperDrive.

The authenticity of the image remains unknown, although WWDC 2012 could bring hardware releases alongside a suite of software offerings, such as iOS 6 and perhaps another preview of OS X Mountain Lion. It is unclear if Apple will still be introducing a thinner 17 inch model, as the image only specifies the 13.3 inch model, but remains unknown until final announcement by Apple.

{via MacRumors}

At the recent MFi Technology Summit (Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod) in Shenzen, China, Apple announced a new standard for communicating between Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay on iOS devices. Speaking to a crowd of 2,000 MFi developers, Apple is looking to expand the availability of MFI accessories, which have not kept track with the growth of iOS devices.

Apple seems to have a plan to expand AirPlay wireless devices market to be 7 times larger by promoting iPod Accessory Protocol (IAP) via Bluetooth implemented in iOS 5. AirPlay wireless devices has only 2% of MFI program licensed yet.

The announced standards, Bluetooth 4.0 and a certification chip, are already in place in the iPhone 4S. Bluetooth 4.0 works well with battery-powered devices as it uses little energy. It is believed that this could potentially expand the AirPlay market by sevenfold using the iPod Accessory Protocol (IAP) that is part of iOS 5. Applications in health care and gaming are seen as potential growth areas.

{via AppleInsider}

Last week, rumors and reports from various sources suggested that Apple would be releasing an updated Macbook Air with a faster processor and integrated Thunderbolt technology. On Wednesday, Apple did exactly that and released new Macbook Air models with Sandy Bridge chips from Intel, thunderbolt ports and Mac OS X Lion preinstalled.

The latest Sandy Bridge chips are also included in the new Mac Mini, also introduced today. Both the Macbook Air as well as the Mac Mini retain their original design but get major internal changes as they now support Bluetooth 4.0, a new specification that offers ultra low-power data transfer and has the ability to open the Macs to a variety of new wireless peripheral devices.

Apple also brought back the Backlit keyboard to the Macbook Air, a feature that was in the original but was removed in the Fall 2010 refresh. The Macbook Air and new Mac Mini will be shipping with Mac OS X Lion pre-installed, which also released today alongside the new hardware.

“Portable, affordable and powerful, MacBook Air is the ultimate everyday notebook,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “MacBook Air features our most advanced technology and is an ideal match for Lion, especially with its new Multi-Touch gestures, full-screen apps, Mission Control and Mac App Store.”

The new Macs join the Macbook Pro with Thunderbolt technology and have the ability to hook up to Apple’s new LCD display

Apple has truly stepped up the game in terms of affordable, portable, and powerful with the latest iterations of the Macbook Air, Mac Mini, and the driving force behind them, Mac OS X Lion.

{via MacRumors}

Jawbone Icon (Hero) [rating: 5/5]

I used to laugh along with the comedians as they would make jokes at the men and women who would walk the streets, shops and even around their own homes with bluetooth headsets permanently poking out from their ear. I could never be like that, or so I thought…

The first thing that impressed me with the Jawbone Icon was it’s great packaging, just like Apple, Jawbone have pushed out all the stops in ensuring that not only does the bluetooth headset look great on display in it’s plastic case atop the packaging but that all the accessories including multiple ear pieces, charger, sync cable and manuals are all beautifully encased in the box below.

I was falling in love with this device even before I’d started using it!

The bluetooth headset itself is compact, sleek and perfectly formed and the multiple ear pieces ensure that you get the best fit possible straight out of the box, in fact it’s the most secure and comfortable blue-tooth device I’ve ever worn.

There are two physical buttons, an on/off switch on the rear of the device and a multi-purpose button on the top that is used for handling calls, volume control and other actions depending on which app you install on your blue-tooth device.

Pairing the device was easy too, although before that I did something that I’d never done with a blue-tooth headset before and that was to connect it to my computer with the sync cable so that not only could I charge it but also make sure it had the latest version of the software installed.

The apps that you get to install via the online synchronization include the simple choice of the voice used that talks to you, to the more complex apps that will read sms, email and other app information to you as you use Jawbone Icon. These more complex apps usually cost you although most come with free trials.

Even without the additional apps though the device works flawlessly. I’ve been using mine with my iPhone 4, a phone not known for it’s great blue-tooth functionality, and yet jumping from a voice call to listening to a podcast has been great.

Another nice touch on the iPhone is the addition of an on screen icon that displays the battery life of the Jawbone Icon which is a very nice. Not that battery life has been of any concern at the moment even when listening to hours of podcasts on my headset as I do.

The Jawbone Icon comes in a range of 6 designs and is available in the Touch Reviews Accessories Store for $79.95 which is $20 cheaper than Apple’s own online store and if you are on the lookout for your first, or a new bluetooth device you can’t go wrong with the Jawbone Icon for iPhone.

Pros

• Sleek & Stylish Looks
• Easy to setup and use
• Multiple voices and apps

Cons

• A new permanent fixture to my ear!

Gallery (Click image to enlarge)

Pundsack was asked via email whether the Cupertino company had bought Wi-Gear, to which his reply was simply: “I wish!” He added that “Wi-Gear and its IP are still available for sale,” and in a later email he explained that the company ceased operations due to a lack of funding.

All of the evidence for the rumored buy-out seemed to be pretty promising: Wi-Gear’s homepage featured a message that explained the company was to cease operations and that it was unable to respond to press enquiries, and Wi-Gear’s co-founder Michael Kim was listed as an iOS Bluetooth Engineer for Apple on his LinkedIn profile.

It seems, however, that those dreams of shiny white Bluetooth headphones with your next iPod are, for now, out of the window. Although, with Wi-Gear’s co-founder now working on Bluetooth within the Apple ranks, wireless headphones could still be in the pipeline.