Tuesday
Jul082014

TSA wants you to charge your smartphone and tablet before flying

Seem's like the TSA (Transport Security Administration) has decided to give travellers one more thing to worry about as they struggle to put back their shoes, belts and store their notebooks. Passengers flying to the US will need to turn on ther smartphones as part of the long line of checkpoint rituals they already have to endure in the name of safety and security.

The latest rule states that, "Powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft," this means screeners may now ask travellers to turn on those devices as part of the process. "The traveller may also undergo additional screening," the TSA added. Should a phone or tablet not turn on or be deemed to have low battery power, it might result in confiscation of the phone or tablet. It might be a good idea to invest in an external charger to keep everything juiced pre-flight.

Source: Politico

 

Tuesday
Jul082014

Apple patents way to build all-glass iOS devices, displays and TVs

Aside from their huge investment in Sapphire manufacturing, Apple's reportedly patented a way to build-all-glass devices including iOS phones and tablets, displays and TVs. More precisely, Apple was  granted a U.S. patent covering a method of fusing glass structures together to encapsulate the internal circuitry of an iOS device, and that of larger electronics like monitors and televisions.

Why glass? Well, really, why not? The iPhone 4 and 4s were mostly glass and while that design was opening to cracking and shattering when dropped, it was nonetheless quite a breakthrough and glass is better for all those radios after all. 

Click to read more ...

Tuesday
Jul082014

Nomad expands smartphone charging connector line with NomadClip

Nomad, makers of the super convenient ChargeKey and ChargeCard Lightning and microUSB charging dongles have expanded their line to include the NomadClip which is shaped like a carabiner but which gives users the convenience of charging their devices on any USB-powered plug. Constructed from a tough steel frame and a Bayer Science polycarbonate outer shell, the carabiner is strong and built for the nomad life. Despite it's looks, this is a Non-weight bearing carabiner and not for climbing, just for charging.


Monday
Jul072014

Encryption bug prevents paid apps from working on Android Wear devices

Those who pre-ordered Android Wear devices might have one important issue to contend with: your paid apps might not work on your smartwatch. The apps for Android Wear are usually downloaded from Google Play along with the smartphone component and will be installed via Bluetooth automatically. However, it has been reported that paid apps aren’t transferring to the wearables.

Android Police claims the problem is related to Google’s app encryption measures that is intended to keep pirates away. The Android Wear devices just can’t seem to find these Wear apps in encrypted packages. We’re hoping Google remedies this problem soon.