Will.i.am to launch 14 Megapixel camera addon for iPhone

Telegraph reports that Black Eyed Peas star Will.i.am will be launching an iPhone accessory next week that promises to boost your iPhone's camera significantly.

The first product from his new consumer electronics and app venture i.am+ is an accessory that clips onto an iPhone and transforms the eight megapixel smartphone camera into a 14 megapixel camera, which it is claimed dramatically enhances the clarity and definition of your photographs. Speaking exclusively to The Daily Telegraph, he says: ‘We have our own sensor and a better flash. You dock you phone into our device and it turns you smartphone into a genius-phone. We take over the camera.’

Few details are offered, but it is described as interfacing to the iPhone through the dock-connector and has its own camera and flash hardware.

Source : Macrrumors

Check out this smart dock

This is not your run of the mill charging dock. The Lumawake smark dock for “all iPhones” is a brilliant concept which not only makes it easy to charge your iPhone, but will tie into home automation so that it turns the lights off when you fall asleep and has coffee ready for you when you wake up.

Automation features aside, the Lumawake already has an edge if it can truly handle any iPhone whether it is in a protective case or not. That alone makes for a pretty solid dock. When you consider the automation and sleep monitoring that this smart dock can do, it looks like a winner in every way.

The Lumawake will also simulate a sunrise as part of the “smart wake” technology to aid in a natural awakening from your slumber. It also uses an infrared sensor to gauge when you fall asleep. The Lumawake will integrate with home automation systems, like SmartThings and WeMo from Belkin, enabling it to turn off lights or your TV and turn on your coffee maker and radio.

The app will allow all manner of customization of automation to changing the color of the Lumawake’s dock and it can also be programmed how to handle phone calls and messages. One promising feature about all this automation, it can be directly controlled by you to accommodate sleeping partners, pets, or just turn all the whiz-bang features off and have a solid charging dock for your iPhone that will serve as a handy alarm clock.

Lumawake is crowdfunding this project through selfstarter. The company’s goal is to get 1,000 orders in the next month. The company will ship internationally, and if you are a developer, the company will provide an open API so that you can develop apps for the Lumawake hardware. Early adopters can reserve one for $149. Lumawake will not charge your credit card unless the smart dock is ready to ship.

source: Lumawake

Samsung adds iPad mini, iPad 4, and iPod Touch to lawsuit

The first lawsuit between Apple and Samsung was a bloodbath, and round 2 isn't shaping up to be any less of a battle. Last week, Samsung and Apple both added more products to the pending lawsuits, and today Samsung has pushed even more and added the iPad mini, iPad 4, and iPod Touch to its claims.

This new trial isn't expected to go to court until sometime next year, but when it does it should be just as heated as the last trial. Apple has already named the Galaxy Nexus, the Galaxy S III, the Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1, and a number of other devices. Samsung has added the newest models of iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and the one and only iPad mini to its claims. 

Of course, just like the last time, while there may be substantial monetary compensation awarded one way or the other, by the time the cases go to trial and are settled, none of the devices listed will be current (some aren't even current right now). So, it will be another giant battle with huge sums of money, and no real effect on the smartphone market itself. 

Bravo, Samsung and Apple. YIt's obviously a much better idea to spend all this time, and money on lawsuits rather than something like R&D...

source: Samsung filing via The Verge

New yorkers prefer iPhone over Android

YouTube show Rocketboom has hit the streets of New York City to see exactly where the people's loyalties lie when it comes to mobile operating systems. In this improvised battle between iPhone and Android, it turns out that most people are still preferring Apple's phone for various reasons.

While most people didn't give specific reasons why they prefer one OS over the other, some iPhone supporters did say that the like the iOS-powered handset for its unprecedented ease of use, and that "it just works." Meanwhile, the Android camp mainly voted for the Google OS because of the diverse hardware landscape, allowing manufacturers to produce more affordable smartphones. Some also seemed to prefer Android because of their dislike for Apple.

Of particular interest in the video is one of the interviewed guys who said he likes Android more, because: "it's a very nice place, nice weather and nice people." When asked whether he thinks Android has better apps, the guy answered with something like "Apps, yes! I hope to get some friends to enjoy the, you know, the very nice time. To walk around... although it's a little bit cold." Hilarious, we tell you! But he did seem like a cool dude nonetheless.




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