CES 2014: 3D Systems Releases iSense 3D Scanner iPad Accessory [iOS Blog]

At CES today, 3D Systems introduced an iPad-version of its popular Sense 3D scanner called the iSense. The device clips to the iPad and allows users to scan an object in three-dimensions in real-time, without needing to put the object inside a special scanning box.

The iSense is ideal for physical photography, empowering users to easily capture moments in every dimension. Created for 3DS by Occipital and powered by Structure Sensor technology, iSense can be used on anything and you don’t have to stand still or place an object into a box as required with other 3D scanners. Users simply attach the iSense to an iPad, and they can literally walk around and scan entire objects or environments obtaining a photorealistic copy of the real thing. iSense is powered by the same software as 3DS’ popular Sense scanner.

After scanning an object, users can then transfer the data for editing or duplication via compatible 3D printers. Engadget did an in-depth review of the Sense scanner, the predecessor to the iSense, back in November and found the device to be promising but very much a first-generation product. The site said there is “real potential” for 3D modelers, game developers and the like, but the devices remain very expensive for what they do.

The above video is from the original Sense 3D scanner, not the new iSense. The iSense will be available for $499 in the second quarter of 2014.

Last year, Apple purchased 3D-scanning company PrimeSense, and that company’s Capri sensor enables mobile devices to “see the world in 3D”, a very similar technology to that used in the iSense, though without as much of a focus on 3D printing.

CES 2014: Native Union Shows Off ‘Jump’ Cable/Battery Charger Combo [iOS Blog]

On the CES show floor, Native Union is demonstrating its new Jump accessory, which combines a Lightning cable with an 800mAh battery pack for simple charging and extra battery life on the go.

Jump is like standard battery packs, providing battery life to an iPhone, but because it’s also a Lightning cable, the battery portion of the accessory is charged each time the iPhone is charged. This eliminates the need for the battery pack to be charged separately of the iPhone, which is often an inconvenience that requires an entirely separate cable.

The accessory utilizes an AutoCharge circuit prioritization system to detect when the iPhone battery is full, at which point it charges the battery pack portion of the Jump.

JUMP is not just a charging cable; it also provides your smartphone with a substantial power boost wherever you are, without ever having to remember to charge it. Perfect for work, play, and travel.

Unlike power banks, JUMP charges automatically every time you charge your phone, giving you complete reassurance that whatever situation you are in, there’s always power in your pocket.

Jump is ultra compact (1.9 inches), weighing less than two AA batteries and fitting easily into a pocket. The 800mAh battery pack delivers an extra 1/3 charge, which equates to an additional 3 hours and 50 minutes of talk time or web browsing.

The Jump is currently a Kickstarter project and can be pre-ordered for a $35 pledge. Currently, the project has received just over half of its funding with 36 days to go and will begin shipping to backers in May of 2014 if full funding is reached.

iOS 7.1 Beta 3 Tidbits: Revamped Keyboard, Darker Icons, New Phone Look, and More

Earlier today, Apple released the third beta of iOS 7.1 to developers, which included both bug fixes and a number of visual changes that give several aspects of iOS 7 an entirely new look and feel. For example, the Phone dialer has been revamped with new buttons and several icons have had their color toned down, making iOS 7 less neon.

We’ve rounded up all of the visual changes that have been found in the iOS 7.1 beta thus far, creating an overview of what iOS 7 might look like in just a few months if the revisions make it into the final public release.

Keyboard: The keyboard in iOS 7 has been slightly revamped, making adding a slight boldness to the font and a new design to the delete and shift keys. It also incorporates a somewhat darker, less yellow gray tone. Overall, the keyboard changes have the effect of adding contrast and making the letters easier to see.

iOS 7 keyboard on the left, iOS 7.1 keyboard on the right
Icons: The green color in the Phone, Messages, and FaceTime apps has been toned down and is now darker, especially at the bottom of the icons. This introduces a less neon coloration to iOS 7, cutting down on some of the operating system’s brightness.

Darker iOS 7.1 icons on the top, brighter iOS 7 icons on the bottom
Phone: The Phone app has seen the biggest changes, with a renewed focus on simple, circular buttons. The standard incoming call screen with rectangular buttons has been replaced with a black background and two round Accept and Decline icons.

New incoming call buttons
The “Call” and “End” buttons visible on the dialer have also been replaced with circular icons.

iOS 7 dialer on the left, iOS 7.1 dialer on the right
Wallpaper: When selecting a new wallpaper, users can now choose to turn the parallax effect on or off.

Shut down: The power off screen when shutting down the phone has a new look that does away with the red “slide to power off” and cancel tabs first introduced with iOS 7. The new design includes a power button icon at the top and a cancel icon at the bottom.

Slide to Power Off in iOS 7.1
Accessibility: A New option has been added in the Accessibility’s Contrast menu, allowing users to reduce iOS 7′s white point. This feature joins both the “Button Shapes” and Darken Colors options that were added in an older iOS 7.1 beta.

Music: The Music app has new shuffle and repeat buttons that are more prominent, and iTunes Radio has a revamped “New” button.

iOS 7 buttons on the left, iOS 7.1 buttons on the right
According to a recent report from BGR, iOS 7.1 may not make it to consumers until March, indicating that the software will see a lengthy beta testing period. Beta 3’s release notes indicated a number of known issues that remain with iOS 7.1, suggesting that the update is not yet ready for the public.

CES 2014: OtterBox Introduces New One-Piece Symmetry Series Case for iPhone 5s and 5c [iOS Blog]

At CES today, Otterbox introduced a new series of iPhone cases that are some of OtterBox’s most minimalist yet. The one-piece Symmetry case is available in a number of different colors and graphic designs for both the iPhone 5s and 5c.

The cases leave the front of the iPhone completely exposed, but they protect the sides and back of the device — a very popular style of case. OtterBox also has the Commuter and Reflex series cases, but those use multiple pieces rather than the one-piece design of the Symmetry.

The OtterBox Symmetry Series is the culmination of over a year of design, testing and innovation. This slender, cleanly constructed protective smartphone case is molded into a single piece for ease of installation. A dual-material construction makes Symmetry Series one of the slimmest, most protective cases in its class and a raised beveled edge helps keep the touch screen safe. Internal synthetic rubber with honeycomb coring helps protect the device from drops and shock. A full spectrum of wraparound colors and graphics on the sleek exterior add seamless style that slides easily into and out of pockets.

The OtterBox Symmetry Series will be available for $40 and $45 depending on color. They should be available in early Spring of this year.

Battery, Screen and Manufacturing Issues Plaguing Apple’s iWatch Development

Apple is experiencing multiple development issues with its iWatch, according to a new report from The Information (via Business Insider). The company is said to be facing challenges with screen technology, battery life, and manufacturing.

Multiple iWatch rumors have suggested that Apple is planning to incorporate an OLED display into its smart watch, but The Information notes that the company is actually having difficulties deciding on a screen technology for the device, primarily due to battery issues. For that reason, Apple considered new screen technologies to improve battery life late last year.

Reports of the iWatch’s poor battery life first surfaced in early 2013, indicating that prototypes of the watch were seeing just a few days of battery power before needing to be recharged, with Apple hoping to expand battery life to at least four or five days between charges. It appears that battery life is still a major issue for the device, which is said to utilize a 100mAh battery that is comparable to the 105mAh battery in the sixth-generation iPod nano.

Sixth-generation iPod nano with watch face
The Information’s report also appears to confirm a rumor from earlier this week, which suggested Apple was facing yield problems due to the finish treatments for the body of the device.

Apple reportedly shut down “advanced prototyping” of the watch with an unspecified manufacturer in late 2013, but it is unclear whether the shift was due to the developmental snags. In late 2013, rumors pegged Quanta as Apple’s iWatch manufacturing partner.

Along with manufacturing issues, iWatch development has also been somewhat impacted by the loss of a key team member, Bryan James, who recently left Apple for Nest. James, who previously worked on iPods, was a member of the iWatch team.

Despite the numerous issues Apple is facing with iWatch development, the company still has a “sizable team” working on overcoming the device’s problems. These snags are not expected to delay the iWatch, however, which still has a prospective release date of late 2014 according to the most recent rumors.

CES 2014: iPort Debuts All-in-One Charge Case/Stand for iPad Air and Retina iPad mini [iOS Blog]

iPort today announced new versions of its All-in-One Charge Case and Stand for both the iPad Air and the iPad mini with Retina Display. iPort’s Charge Case and Stand is designed to combine a case with both a wireless charger and a stand.

The iPad fits into the case portion of the accessory and attaches magnetically to the stand/charger. When attached to the stand, the iPad can be rotated into three different mounting angles and two different orientations (both portrait and landscape), making it extremely versatile.

The case, which is designed to remain on the iPad at all times, is compatible with Apple’s Smart Cover, while the dock, which weighs in at over a pound, includes a power supply for charging whenever the iPad is connected.

iLounge reviewed the company’s initial Charge Case and Stand for the original iPad mini and gave it high marks for its unique design and features.

In considering the final value of this system, it’s important to look at its constituent pieces. A good dock without any charging hardware or cables sells for around $30, and a case of this sort would go for $35. Adding a 12W charger and a Lightning cable will cost you another $40, assuming you go with Apple products. That brings you over the $100 cost before you even consider iPort’s wireless charging. Taking the design of the parts and the total value of the bundle into consideration, it’s easy to offer the Charge Case and Stand our high recommendation. iPort got so much right here, and little touches such as the removable Lightning plug pushed the solution over the top from very good to great.

The Charge Case and Stand for the iPad Air and the Retina iPad mini will begin shipping in February and will be priced at $119.95 and $99.95, respectively.

More Affordable 4K Displays Introduced at CES 2014

A number of companies introduced new 4K display options at CES this week, and, though some 4K monitors have seen early teething pains with the new Mac Pro, the new displays are expected to be compatible with Apple’s new pro machine.

4K displays saw significant price drops in 2013 with a number of models introduced in recent months but these new options are, for the most part, significantly cheaper than currently available 4K monitors.

Lenovo debuted its ThinkVision Pro2840m, a 28″ 4K display aimed at professionals with a 3840×2160 resolution. The monitor should be available in April for $800.

Asus also has a 3840×2160 display available, a 28-inch panel called the PB287Q, priced at $800. It will be available in the second quarter of 2014.

Finally, Seiki confirmed to MacRumors that it will announce a new 28″ 4K display tomorrow, likely a budget-option as the company currently has a 39-inch 4K television available for just $500, significantly cheaper than similar alternatives.

LG previously announced a 4K display, the 31-inch 31MU95, that is wider than most other options, using a 21:9 ratio ultra-widescreen panel at 4096×2160, whereas the other available options use a 16:9 ratio. It will also offer 34-inch and 29-inch options at similar formats, likely for significant price premiums over similar-sized displays. Those panels should be announced later this week at CES.

CES 2014: Signal Announces ‘RP One’ Xbox-Style Gaming Controller for iOS [iOS Blog]

Signal today announced a new iOS 7 controller, the RP One, a Bluetooth gamepad with a traditional console-style design. Because it works wirelessly over Bluetooth, the RP One is able to connect to both iPhones and iPads running iOS 7.

The RP One has been designed with serious gaming in mind, offering a “full scale” ergonomic shape to fit a range of hand sizes. The current prototype includes a directional pad, two analog sticks, two triggers, and four action buttons.

Each RP One includes a universal stand for all of Apple’s iOS devices, compatible with most covers and cases. The RP One controller offers up to 10 hours of battery life.

The RP One most closely resembles the recently introduced SteelSeries Stratus, though it has a more promising design that mimics the popular Xbox controller. Early controllers from Logitech and MOGA connected via the iPhone’s Lightning port, which excluded them from functioning with the iPad.

Currently, multiple games like Dead Trigger 2, Asphalt 8: Airborne, and Bastion include iOS 7 controller support.

Like the other iOS 7 controllers, the RP One will retail for $99.99. It is expected to be available during the first half of the year.

Imagination Technologies Announces PowerVR Series6XT Successor to Apple’s A7 Chip Graphics

Imagination Technologies yesterday announced a new Series6XT generation of its PowerVR graphics architecture, representing a successor to the Series6 graphics used in Apple’s A7 chip for the iPhone 5s, iPad Air, and Retina iPad mini.

Series6XT cores achieve up to a 50% performance increase on the latest industry standard benchmarks compared to equivalent configurations of previous generation cores. And with a significant increase in raw GFLOPS, Series6XT delivers the industry’s best performance in both GFLOPS/mm2 and GFLOPS/mW.

Apple currently uses Imagination’s quad-core G6430 graphics in the A7, and the new Series6XT architecture brings a GX6450 model as a direct successor with potential for inclusion in future Apple A-series chips. But as noted by AnandTech, typical lead times on moving from licensing announcement to consumer availability suggest that these new graphics options may not appear in shipping chips until the latter half of 2015.

Series6XT is designed to be a moderate feature upgrade and power/performance optimization pass for Series6, integrating various innovations over the past couple of years to keep Imagination’s designs performance and feature competitive. Series6XT comes 2 years after Series6 licensing was announced at CES 2012, and roughly half a year after the first SoCs implementing Series6 GPUs were released to consumers.

Apple has used versions of PowerVR graphics throughout its history of iOS device chip development, leading all the way back to the original iPhone in 2007. In line with Apple’s preference for Imagination’s graphics offerings, Apple has been a leading investor in the graphics company for some time, making several purchases that pushed its ownership stake in Imagination to nearly 10% by mid-2009.

Mophie Debuts ‘Space Pack’ Battery Case With Built-In Storage [iOS Blog]

Mophie today added to its existing lineup of Juice Packs and Powerstations, introducing the new Mophie Space Pack. Like the company’s Juice Packs, the Space Pack is a 1700 mAh battery case, but it also includes built-in storage, increasing the storage capacity of the iPhone by 16 or 32 GB.

Designed for the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 5s, the Space Pack doubles the battery life of the iPhone, connecting via the Lightning port to offer both increased battery and additional storage. The built-in storage can be used for any file type, including photos, videos, and music.

The Space Pack uses an accompanying Space app to organize stored files into Collections that are easily managed. Accessing files does not require a data or Wi-Fi connection and content like music and movies can be played directly from the Space app.

Mophie’s Space Packs will be available for pre-order today, priced at $149.95 for the 16 GB version and $179.95 for the 32 GB model. The cases will begin shipping on March 14.