Purported iPhone 5S parts leak showing push button mute switch

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Rumors,

We are about half-way through the iPhone 5 product cycle, and that means it's time for iPhone 5S parts to start leaking. Today, iLab factory is showing what is purported to be flex cables for the iPhone 5S home button, vibrator, volume/mute buttons, and the front camera. Interestingly, the mute switch seems to have gone away, replaced by a mute button instead. As always, these should be taken with a grain of salt, but Apple is definitely set to start ramping up production of the next iPhone since it won't be long before it's introduced to the masses. These parts may also be reserved for the rumored lower-cost iPhone, rather than the iPhone 5S. Time will tell.

Read More | iLab

Scottevest Tropiformer jacket features 22 gadget pockets for $150

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Wearables,

Our friends over at Scottevest have just released its newest jacket, which it says is its best ever in the Tropiformer. In partnership with ThinkGeek, the Tropiformer features 22 pockets of various sizes that can hold things as small as a pen, to as large as a full-sized tablet. Like other Scottevest products, the Tropiformer also features the patented Personal Area Network, which allows you to wire your cabling through the fabric of the jacket itself, keepings things nice and neat. Oh, and the sleeves are connected to the jacket with magnets, making them super easy to remove and re-attach.

The Tropiformer jacket is available now, and can be purchased for $150 in blue, gray, cement, or red. We'll have a full review shortly.

Read More | Tropiformer Jacket

Wolverine hanging out with wolverines

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Movies, Marvel Comics,

Gotta appreciate what many consider to be the most bad-ass comic book character actor taking it in stride. Here's Hugh Jackman, the man who plays Wolverine, hanging out with actual wolverines. You're welcome.

Read More | Reddit

13-inch Samsung Series 9 Premium Ultrabook now available for $1,399

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: PC / Laptop,

Samsung has released its new Series 9 Premium Ultrabook, which you can now purchase. This is a 13.3-inch Ultrabook running a 2 GHz Intel Core i7 chip with 4 GB RAM and 128 GB storage on the SSD. You get a 1080p display, and Intel HD Graphics 4000 embedded, along with a 1.3 megapixel webcam thrown in as well. Naturally, the Series 9 Ultrabook runs Windows 8 (but doesn't sport a touchscreen.)

The notebook itself weighs 2.56 pounds, and starts at $1,399.99. You can pick up the Series 9 Premium Ultrabook now.

Read More | Samsung Series 9 Premium Ultrabook

SimCity comes to Mac on June 11, 1.2 million PC copies sold

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Electronic Arts, PC, Simulation,

EA has announced this morning that SimCity will be coming to the Mac on June 11 by way of its Origin digital download service. While OS X users will have had to wait over two months since the release of SimCity for PC, they will have been spared all of the ridiculous drama that unfolded when the game launched and crushed EA servers, making it unplayable by those who paid for it for almost two weeks. Also of note, the Mac version was written entirely for OS X, so it's a native game.

Any Mac users looking forward to SimCity on OS X?

Read More | EA

T-Mobile offering free iPhone 5 to users who trade in iPhone 4, 4S

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Hot Deals,

T-Mobile USA is set to launch the iPhone 5 this Friday, and in anticipation of the long-awaited event, it's offering current iPhone owners a free iPhone 5 if they switch from another carrier. Here's how it works: you bring in your iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S between April 12 and June 16, and you get a T-Mobile iPhone 5 at no cost up front, and a $120 credit that you can choose to apply towards your bill, extra accessories, or even an outstanding bill. The iPhone 5 would typically cost $100 up front, and an additional $20 per month over 2 years, so you are basically getting it with no up-front cost, and then a six month break on the monthly fee.

Of course, if you are mid-contract elsewhere, you have your early termination fee to worry about, which might put the kibosh on this one for you. However, if you have a spare iPhone 4 laying around, this could be an easy way to try T-Mobile's new smartphone plans out.

Read More | T-Mobile

Why Google will stop developing Android

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Smartphones, Editorial, Features, Google, Software,

"It's important that Apple not be the developer for the world. We can't take all of our energy, and all of our care, and finish the painting and have someone else put their name on it." - Tim Cook, Apple CEO

The same statement rings true for Google. If others are reaping the rewards, and little to nothing is left for oneself, then what's the point? If a product does not meet the expectations set before it, then developing for it doesn't make much sense. If any given product is not self-sustainable, then it is not cost effective and eventually becomes a burden to the maker--even if users appear to enjoy using it. Make no mistake about it, Google is in the business of making money, and everything else is secondary (including good will.)

Google's co-founder and now recently-minted CEO, Larry Page, bought Android in 2005. He also brought along Andy Rubin, one of its creators, over to Google, who recently renounced his post as Senior Vice President of mobile Digital Content. Basically, the guy who was leading Android. It has been said that Sergey Brin, the other tandem co-founder, was not enthusiastic about the purchase. Former Google CEO at the time, Eric Schmidt, now Chairman at Google had a similar reaction. These somewhat pessimistic receptions were also shared by Vic Gundotra, Senior Vice President of Engineering. However, he recanted these thoughts at Google I/O 2010.

Click to continue reading Why Google will stop developing Android

Scientifically-accurate Spider-Man is gross [Video!]

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Television, Marvel Comics,

Look, Peter Parker may be a wimpy nerd and not so superhero-like, but just be glad that the majority of his spider powers are internal. Scientifically-accurate Spider-Man is an alternate take on what the spiderfication of Mr. Parker could have looked like if were moer true to form. You know, stuff like extra eyes, a bunch of hair, and webbing coming out of a different orifice. Check out the video below for a hilarious look at Scientifically-accurate Spider-Man. Just put the kids to bed first.

Click to continue reading Scientifically-accurate Spider-Man is gross [Video!]

Seagate shipping first 4 TB hard drive with 1 TB platters

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: PC / Laptop, Storage,

Seagate is now selling what it deems to be the world's first 4 terabyte hard drive to use 1 terabyte platter technology. The result is a four platter design that means a boost in performance while reducing material costs, resulting in a better drive for less money. According to Seagate, you can store 450 hours of video, 800,000 photos, or 1 million songs on its newest internal drive. As far as data rate is concerned, expect 146 MB per second, and boasts 64 MB cache and 7200 RPM speed. You can pick up the Seagate 4 TB drive on Amazon for $189.

Read More | Seagate 4TB hard drive

Nokia Lumia 521 coming to T-Mobile in May

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Microsoft,

T-Mobile is set to release the Nokia Lumia 521, powered by Windows Phone 8, sometime next month in May. The Lumia 521 sports a 4-inch display, 5 megapixel rear camera with autofocus that records 720p video, and the exclusive suite of Nokia apps like Nokia Music, Cinemagraph, Maps, Transit, HERE Drive, etc. The device will run on T-Mobile 4G (not LTE) network. T-Mobile is keeping quiet on exact pricing and availability for now for whatever reason, but the Lumia 521 won't exactly be flying off of store shelves, so you shouldn't have a hard time finding it once it lands at Walmart, Microsoft Retail Stores, and T-Mobile locations next month.