So you didn’t stay up until nearly 3:00 am last Friday morning to pre-order your iPhone 4S like I did, huh? Well, you missed out on all the fun! So there you are contemplating if you should go stand in lines Friday at one of the three cellular carriers or at the Apple Store. What to do? If you’re thinking, ‘No way I’m standing for hours only to be told there are none left,’ then you have the online alternative. BUT, which one should you go with? Best Buy? Radio Shack? AT&T? Verizon? Sprint? Take a look at STELLAService found before making your next click below and do it the easy way!

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New from the Quirky community comes Ray, a silicone suction cup charger that can attach itself to a window in the direction of the sun or stand up via it’s kick stand. Ray rejuvenates his internal battery to which your USB connected device can suck power from Ray to charge itself. So, instead of waiting for hours for the sun charge your electronic gadget like some other solar powered chargers, you will quickly get power from Ray. Leave Ray in the direction of the sun and come back later to top yourself off. Pretty stinking cool if you ask me! Ray is available for presale in Quirky’s online store for $39.99 (MSRP: $49.99). Get full deets below in the press release.

View Press Release »

The news around Twitter and Facebook is the new iPhone from Apple. Apple’s newly crowned CEO, Tim Cook, took the stage at 4 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, California, for his first Stevenote, er, Keynote. Cook quickly passed the presentation off to familar Apple faces to essentially drag through a complete recap of iOS 5s features shown off four months ago. Reporters grew weary 20 minutes into the WWDC rehash and began playing Angry Birds. In the course of nearly an hour, Apple only disclosed three new items in conversation! If this is what we can expect of future Apple Keynotes, the Jobs Era of slick presentation has already vanished.

Finally, at 55 minutes, the iPhone 4S was revealed. Nothing changed on the outside – no teardrop case like earlier “leaks” reported – but rather under the hood is were the real stuff was. At the heart of the iPhone 4S is the same processor that runs the iPad 2, the dual-core A5. Also sharing components with its big brother is the graphics processing which is told be 7 times faster, though the demo didn’t really seem to indicate this. The antenna has been completely reworked to include not one but two which the iPhone 4S can use both or one or the other for optimal signal. It also uses the new system for premium bandwidth. In fact, Philip Schiller, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing, made a jab at the competition and its 4G speeds pointing out the iPhone 4S 3G speeds equaled that of the LTE phones. Mmm, we’ll see about that, Philly, remember, we’re mostly using AT&T. Additionally, the new 8-megapixel camera was shown off along with the claim of faster access with the ability to take the first picture in 1.1 second. With new infrared and back light technology, this aims to be the best camera on a phone yet with its extreme low light and improved white balance features. The camera will also record 1080p HD video catching up to many Android devices which have been able to make this claim for nearly a year.

The big announcement, the One More Thing if you will, was the fact that the phone will now work at your command. No, not that Voice Command feature we all forgot about, but true voice instructions using the technology of Siri which Apple purchased last year. Siri will do amazing things like tell you the current weather conditions by just asking, “What’s the weather like?” as well as read your incoming SMS and then respond to it with your voice-to-text copy. You can tell it, “Wake me up tomorrow at 8 am” and it will create the alarm for you. Send email, search for a place to eat, add calendar events – to which it will even respond if you have a conflict – and many other features. This is the game changer, as Apple put it, for the iPhone 4S. Because all the text-to-speech and vice versa is happening on the phone and not on the Internet like the original Siri, it requires the power of the A5 chip and thus this iOS 5 feature is only for the iPhone 4S.

On the surface, these features do not sound all that great. Essentially, it’s a tuned up iPhone 4. Additionally, it’s pretty much what everyone expected, no real surprises like past models. In truth, all this iPhone does is catch it up with most Android phones. Google has had text-to-speech for nearly a year on its operating system and HD video is old shoe. Schiller can claim similar speeds with the 3G equipped iPhone 4S but truth is, LTE blows the doors off of AT&Ts network and Verizon’s older EV-DO. In fact, AT&T ignores equipment investment as proof of the many EDGE towers found easily a few miles off of California Highway 99 in the Central Valley at nearly every exit outside of large cities like Stockton or Sacramento. I think Apple is setting itself up for some uproar by neglecting LTE. This will only further Android’s dominance for another year while we await the LTE iPhone.

Now, that said, here is the if of all of this, and it’s a BIG if. If Apple has genuinely pulled off Siri without a hitch, this could blast the iPhone past any Android. With the ability to add calendar events, have SMS conversations, send and receive email, and buy movie tickets, all hands-free in your vehicle, this would make Siri the killer-feature. Now, of course, there’s that IF. While Siri performed well in the quiet auditorium of Apple’s theater, my noisy F-250 cab is a whole different story. I long ago stopped using Voice Command because of it. Even cars with better cabin noise control can struggle with voice and it will be mighty interesting to see if Apple over came this issue.

Now, if Siri turns out to be a dud and unusable in the real world and those Schiller claimed broadband speeds never really happen, then you have just another iPhone 4 with an extra letter. Google will continue to make further inroads with Android and widen the lead over the iPhone reminding many of us of the Windows vs Macintosh days of the late 80s. Interesting enough, that decline came soon after Steve Jobs left Apple the first time. Will history repeat itself?

Apple finally sent out the invites for it’s upcoming “Let’s talk iPhone” event. There is little doubt the next-generation iPhone will be the topic of this gala to be held at 1 Infinite Loops, Apple’s headquarters, in Cupertino, California. Most expect the A5 processor CPU, better camera, and graphic video improvements. Others feel LTE is a possibility of appearing in the next iPhone. Lately touted, Apple-purchase Siri speech-to-text technology called Assistant looks to be on the agenda as well. Still, some think the iPhone will be larger based on leaked photos of upcoming cases like the one pictured above with the current iPhone sitting inside the case with plenty of wiggle room.

First reports of the larger screen seemed to point to Apple responding to the larger Motorola and HTCs that hit Verizon stores in the last few months. In classic Apple style, it didn’t make it too large as to be obnoxious, was the reason. That may be true, but I started thinking about it and wondered why, if these pictures are to believed, would Apple make the next iPhone just a bit larger? It certainly wouldn’t be for the screen. The minor bump in size would be minimal and most likely even unnoticeable in real world use.

I looked at the picture of the case again and thought, “While that’s not much space at all, if you filled it up with something like lithium-ion, then that could be a LOT of space.” You know, the active component of a rechargeable battery? It makes perfect sense when you pop open an iPad and see the majority of it is a battery and because of that, iPads can run all day long without breaking a sweat. The iPhone has been plagued with weak battery life since its inception and while the iPhone 4 claims the best performance yet, I know many users who have said that their 3GS had better life! iFix-it and the likes found little difference in the iPhone 5s battery.

So, if Apple could make a larger footprint, just a wee bit larger, and use it all for a battery, it’s very possible to gain a substantial about of battery life. I could easily see a 50% increase over the iPhone 4 with the added room seen in the next-generation iPhone case. If components used internally shrink, such as memory, then that’s even more room. Moving things around to better pack the board would also give some net gains. Thus, it’s quiet possible we could hear Tim Cook tell us October 4th that the newest iPhone has double the batter life of its predecessor.

Of course, if the larger size is in fact a done deal, the growth could be for other things like an LTE radio, better antenna, or even more memory, though I doubt the latter. But, I really do think we could be finally getting a smartphone that lasts all day. Boy, I really hope so.

If you’re looking for a quick and efficient way to scan barcodes and you have a smartphone or iPad, then you’ll want to give the KoamTac sled a look over. Made for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Blackberry (did we forget that in the heading?), the KDC400 supports both 1D and 2D barcodes as well as triple and Japan dual header MSR. If you know what all this means, then you’ll want to read the press release for the full 411.

View Press Release »

The next iPhone must have LTE. Not to compete against the other first-generation “4G” phones from Android but to bring back the Apple synergy of its hardware and software. As it stands today, if you have an AT&T (GSM) iPhone 3G or higher, your current iOS version is 4.3.3. Verizon users are still stuck at 4.2.8 absent of many of the GSM users features such as AirPlay. While Apple did not comment if iOS 5 would be pushed to both GSM and CDMA handsets at WWDC, the reality is, subsequent updates will most likely be forked like today’s iOS 4 revisions.

Being behind the GSM folks is no fun, especially if some prime features are not making it to your phone. Couple that with the fact that CDMA can not perform simultaneous voice and data tasks like the GSM 3G iPhones do and now you even more separation. Also certain features, such as disabling Caller ID and Three-way Calling are not supported by CDMA iPhones.

While I despise AT&T and it’s horrible signal, dropped calls, slow data rates, and other issues, at least I have the most current iOS, full-feature set, and when not in an EDGE network – Hey Ha Bell, others are working on “4G” and you still don’t have a full 3G network! – I can chat while checking email or surf the web. These are all important to me and are enough to weigh the scales into the Death Stars favor, just by a tad, for me to carry on another year with it before going to Verizon.

Lastly, even leaving the Evil GSM carrier a year early with its termination fee would be cheaper than purchasing a new LTE iPhone with Verizon since it does not subsidize the iPhone year after year like AT&T.

I guess what it comes down to is over all, Verizon is inferior. Ouch, I don’t like saying that, but it’s the truth as it stands today. However, if Apple surprises us with the next generation iPhone supporting LTE, then heck, it’s good-bye AT&T.

I remember riding my bike through the dirt terrain of San Jose years ago while enjoying the tunes of my Walkman. Yes, I wrote Walkman and yes, it was the one that played cassette tapes. Moving on, both in time and in post, I often longed for easy access to my controls while riding. I came up with a lot of DIY applications but none seemed to really satisfy me.

Years later, the iPhone and iPod touch, and such, rule music and much more on that same path I once rode. While the format of the device has changed, the need for easy access and a great mount hasn’t. Bracketron has answered this void with a snazzy weather proof case coupled with a C-Clamp. For only $40, I would jump on this faster than you could ask, “Where your headphones the yellow kind?”

Press Release
Bracketron, the leading manufacturer in mounting solutions for mobile consumer electronics, announces the launch of the All-Weather Soft Case Bike Mount, the ultimate mobile device mount for recreational and competitive cyclists. The All-Weather Soft Case Bike Mount conveniently positions your mobile device on your bicycle handlebars so you can easily monitor your speed and trip data with your device’s GPS or other cycling apps. The detachable weather-resistant case offers great protection and has a clear screen that allows you to use your device’s touchscreen functions while in the case. The All-Weather Soft Case Bike Mount is available now for $39.95 at Bracketron.com and at REI retail stores in July.

“The All-Weather Soft Case Bike Mount is part of a new line of sports and recreation accessories from Bracketron that offers true flexibility and functionality,” said Mark Mandel, Executive Vice President of Bracketron. “While our in-car mounts remain hugely popular, we’re excited to continue to expand our offering of mobile mounts and accessories to cater to active consumers who use their smartphones and mobile devices to help track and achieve their fitness goals.”

The All-Weather Soft Case Bike Mount is the ideal solution to quickly, easily and securely mount your mobile device on your bike handlebars. The mount does not require tools and sets up in just seconds. It features an adjustable C-clamp with three latch levels that ensure the mount’s tight grip to the bike handlebars. The mount is height adjustable and includes a ball swivel adjustment feature that makes it easy to position your device for optimal viewing. A weather-resistant case snaps onto the mount with a safety lock and can be quickly detached for security purposes when not in use. In addition, water resistant zippers form a tight seal to protect your gadget from the elements. The case includes four protective foam inserts that provide a snug fit for your mobile device when inside, and a clear screen allows you to use your device’s touchscreen while it is in the case. The All-Weather Soft Case Bike Mount is compatible with most handheld mobile devices such as iPhone, iPod, Smartphones and MP3 players.

Marshall, known for its amps, has brought some more more than just music to your skull with it’s update to the Marshall Headphones Major. These cans bring you a mic and remote to allow you to put Blindside’s latest album on pause while taking a call.

A single press of the button plays, or pauses, your music. When a call is coming it, the press answers that call and another press hangs up the caller and resumes your tunes. Double presses skips forward while a triple press brings you back in time with backing up in your selection. Sorry, there is no quad pressing allowed.

Pricing and more information can be found at Marshall Headphones.

Following the launch of the major new version of WritePad for iPad last month, PhatWare has released an update of WritePad for iPhone to bring the same powerful features, including synchronization of WritePad documents with Evernote. WritePad is PhatWare’s popular note taking and handwriting recognition software for iPad and iPhone devices.

In addition to Evernote synchronization, WritePad 5 now offers an improved handwriting recognition engine with a letter shape selector, which may reduce the user’s learning curve, and adds the ability to upload WritePad documents to Google Docs and send SMS directly from WritePad.

“WritePad’s text editing apps for iOS provide an intuitive, innovative way to take notes on mobile devices”, said Seth Hitchings, Evernote’s VP of Platform Strategy. “Allowing users to synchronize their notes with Evernote means that notes taken in WritePad become available everywhere, whether it’s across mobile devices or on the desktop. We’re excited to have WritePad join our partner community and provide our users with new ways to capture information.”

WritePad is an advanced note-taker for iOS, which converts practically any handwriting into computer text. Notes created with WritePad can be send via email or SMS, Tweeted, saved, posted on a Facebook Wall, printed, exported as PDF, translated to other languages, synchronized with Dropbox, and exchanged directly between two or more iOS devices. WritePad also features integration with events, contacts, maps, and other iPhone resources.

With WritePad, users can:
· Create and edit text documents using the advanced handwriting recognition engine or iPhone keyboard for text entry in landscape or portrait mode.

· Improve productivity by utilizing inline gestures, spell checker, context analyzer, and shorthand features.

· Improve overall handwriting recognition quality with the Statistical Analyzer by addressing common recognition errors. If this feature is enabled, WritePad will learn the user’s own handwriting style.

· Email, Tweet, SMS, Print, or post Facebook updates directly from WritePad.

· Synchronize WritePad documents with Dropbox, Evernote, and iTunes or upload documents to Google Docs.

· Translate documents to 13 supported languages using Bing Translator.

· Change WritePad’s appearance by manipulating text, page, and ink colors using the customizable Styles feature.

A video demonstration of WritePad is available at http://www.phatware.com/iphone

WritePad Availability and Pricing
WritePad 5 for iPhone for English, French, German, and Spanish languages are available now in the iTunes App Store for $3.99 each. For more information about the WritePad product line, please visit PhatWare’s web site at http://www.phatware.com/writepad

GPS has become a tough market to separate yourself from the competition since Apple introduced applications for its widely successful iPhone platform. NAVIGON has given the traveling public Traffic Live, ZAGAT Survey, and Panorama View 3D in hopes to attract the attention of others. Today, it brings some reality to your screen as in the form of augmented reality. According to NAVIGON, MobileNavigator’s augmented reality on your iPhone, “helps find points of interest close-by, presenting them in an augmented reality view.” In other words, the burger joint will be floating to the left on your screen and the ribs joint on the right in its near vicinity to you. This basically means, POIs (points of interest) are going to stick out like a sore thumb thus finding them easier.

Also added to the 1.8 release will be Safety Cameras or as we like to call them here in the States, easy money for the city.

Get the rest of the deets below.

Press Release
NAVIGON AG, a leading provider of mobile phone on-board navigation, today announced the availability of the eighth update for its iPhone app, MobileNavigator, the most feature-rich navigation solution on the iOS platform. The update adds a Reality Scanner feature that helps finding points of interest close-by, presenting them in an augmented reality view. Version 1.8 also includes safety camera alerts as an In App Purchase, an at-a-glance traffic gage and a new NAVTEQ map. In conjunction with the update launch, MobileNavigator apps and In App Purchase prices will be reduced by up to $15 thru April 28, 2011.

“In its eighth version, MobileNavigator delivered over 30 new features since our launch almost two years ago, helping drivers navigate stress-free through even some of the most challenging situations on the road.” said Gerhard Mayr, vice-president worldwide mobile phone business, NAVIGON. “MobileNavigator not only provides accurate directions but acts as a travel assistant with many industry first features. The new Reality Scanner function provides an innovative way of displaying points of interest close-by. Instead of showing them on the map, the feature projects them onto a real-time camera view.”

MobileNavigator 1.8 New Features:

Reality Scanner is a navigation industry first augmented reality feature for the iOS platform, providing an instant and effortless way of identifying destinations close-by. Users simply point the iPhone in any direction from where they are and instantly points of interest icons appear directly onto a live camera view, indicating the exact position of the location. Pedestrians won’t miss a beat while they are on foot, in a couple of taps destination such as restaurants, bars, hotels, and more are at their fingertips. Reality Scanner provides this information immediately, providing a quick overview of the immediate surroundings.

Safety Cameras alert drivers of upcoming static speed and red light cameras along the route, helping to potentially avoid costly tickets. The feature integrates the database from the industry’s number one safety camera detection company, RoadTraps. This database provides access to over 3900 speed and red light cameras in the US and is regularly updated to ensure the latest cameras are detected. NAVIGON Safety Cameras is available as a single In App Purchase of $4.99.

Traffic Check is an easy to read, at-a-glance gage graphic that appears after route calculation and inform drivers of current traffic conditions. The Traffic gage pop-up informs with a green, yellow, and red meter and disappears within a few seconds, indicating how the traffic situation is on the route ahead. If more detailed traffic coverage and alternate routes are needed for users who are not already using the built-in Traffic Live feature, a direct link to the In App Purchase is provided within the graphic. By tapping the “i”, the meter will flip directly to the apps extra menu where the In App Purchase can be made.

The Latest Maps by the leading map provider NAVTEQ.

Future Version Benefits NAVIGON is currently working on some major additions for MobileNavigator and only those who have this latest version are eligible to take advantage of the benefits in the next version.

MobileNavigator transforms the iPhone and iPad 3G into a comprehensive navigation device, comparable to standalone units. The app helps drivers to arrive stress-free and on time with
spoken directions and a unique combination of advanced driving guidance. Features include lane assistance, traffic rerouting, parking options, safety camera alerts, weather information
and much more. By providing directions even in areas without a cell or wireless signal, and the latest NAVTEQ maps saved on the phone, the app always has you covered. It is the most
feature rich on-board navigation application and a top-grossing app several times in 29 different App Stores around the globe.

Pricing and Availability
NAVIGON’s North American apps and selected In App Purchases are up to $15 off until April 28, 2011. The promotional offerings are below next to the regular prices.

Applications
MobileNavigator North America: $44.99 instead of $59.99
MobileNavigator USA: $34.99 instead of $49.99
MobileNavigator Canada: $34.99 instead of $59.99
MobileNavigator US MyRegion East, Central or West: $24.99 instead of $29.99, additional regions $12.99 instead of $14.99.

In App Purchases
Safety Cameras: $4.99
Traffic Live: $14.99 instead of $19.99
ZAGAT Survey® Ratings and Reviews: $7.99
Panorama View 3D: $9.99

Accessories
NAVIGON Design Car Kit for iPhone: $44.95 instead of $49.95, available at BringMobi.com

MobileNavigator 1.8.0 is compatible with iPhone 4, 3GS, 3G iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G. The app also runs on first generation iPhone and iPod Touch, but third party accessories for GPS reception are required for these devices. *iOS multitasking is supported by the iPhone 4 and 3GS only.

For more information, please visit: www.navigon.com/iphone.