Taito InvaderCade turns your iPad into an arcade machine

Taito, creators of the classic arcade game, Space Invaders has decided to hop on the iPad arcade cabinet craze and launched its own version of the iPad accessory. Called the InvaderCade, this contraption turns your lovely tablet into a screen for you to blast aliens with. Featuring a ball-top joystick and a single button to fire your ship's gun, gaming hasn't been this simple in awhile.

All you have to do is plug your iPad into the InvaderCade, launch the game and you're good to go. If you don't want to disturb your neighbors or friends while playing this game, there's even a headphone jack for you to use. And when you're not blasting aliens in the game, it even serves as a charging dock, so at the very least you'll have a nice looking speaker dock you're your iPad (yes, it comes with stereo speakers).

It's not the first time we've seen such accessories for the iPad, and it definitely won't be the last, but hey - nobody's forcing you to purchase one right? The InvaderCade will be available for around $205 in Japan on October 11th.
source:Ubergizmo

Bentley demos 100,000 euro Executive dual-iPad interior for Mulsanne, we take a seat

Lots of people do lots of things to make their cars and interiors more distinctive, but when Bentley does something to make the interior of one of its cars stand out, you know it's going to be special. And expensive. Welcome to the Executive Interior Concept, inserted in the Mulsanne. The Mulsanne is a big, luxurious auto with a twin-turbo V8 slung out front, and with this very special (100,000 euro option) package the interior's received some twin-augmentation as well: two iPads. Join us as we get comfortable.

Let's start in the trunk, where you'll find a Mac Mini installed. This is connected to an LCD that pivots down from the ceiling in the interior, controlled by a Magic Trackpad that sits in between the rear seats, slotted neatly into a little leather pouch. (There's a keyboard tucked in there too.) And that's just the beginning.

Press a button in the center console and a wood-encased tray gently folds down from the back of the seat in front - there's one in each. Once folded down you can hit another button on the right side and the tray automatically (and noisily) splits in two, exposing an iPad 2 in the top and a Bluetooth keyboard in the bottom. From here you can make some last-minute adjustments to your hostile takeover proposal - or maybe play a little Angry Birds - while Jeeves up front whisks you in comfort to the office.

Right now this is just a concept and it's unclear whether Bentley will actually offer the thing, but if it does you'd again be looking at a cost of 100,000 euro. That's on top of the 250,000 the car itself will set you back, of course. Start saving.
source:Engadget

Qantas testing out iPads for use as inflight entertainment

Tablets are starting to make their way as into our flights, with United Airways opting to replace their heavy flight bags with the iPad, and now it looks like Qantas will be turning to the iPad for use as inflight entertainment.

At the moment the idea is being tested on one of the airline's Boeing 767-300 jets, whereby each passenger will get their own iPad 2 (making it 254 in total). Some spare iPad 2s will be brought on board in case of hardware defects. Those sitting in coach will find the iPads in the seat pockets in front of them while business class travelers will have the option of attaching the iPad to a flexible stand.

The tablets aren't tethered but a safety measure in the form of software has been built into the iPad. The tablets will boot straight into Qantas' Q Streaming app where it will basically provide more or less the same type of entertainment found in their regular inflight entertainment units.

If you'd rather not use an iPad, or if you prefer using your own, the good news is that the end goal of this trial process is enable Qantas' Q Streaming service to be delivered onto the passenger's own device, such as their own iPads, iPhones, along with Android handsets and tablets.
source:Ubergizmo

Belkin intros three ways to turn your iPad into a pricey kitchen accessory

Belkin showed off a trio of accessories last night aimed at incorporating your shiny Apple tablet into your kitchen routine. At the top of the list is the Chef Stand + Stylus, a $40 table top stand with a rubbery stylus that lets you use the iPad without dirtying it up with your greasy mitts. The stylus lives in a holster on the stand's rear. The $40 Fridge Mount turns the iPad into a $500 grocery list, securing the slate to your fridge door with 3M Command Strips. The Kitchen Cabinet Mount is the priciest of the bunch at $50 - but is arguably the handiest, or at least most versatile, clamping the iPad to a cabinet or shelf.
source:Engadget

Apple's iPad 2 and new Windows 8 tablet face off in 11-minute video

Microsoft's OS of the future will make its way to a range of devices, but all eyes are on one market in particular: tablets. Microsoft is beyond focused on proving that it can compete in the tablet space, which is currently dominated by Apple's iPad line. WinRumors sat down with an Apple iPad 2 running the latest iOS 5 beta and a Windows 8 tablet prototype on Thursday, and spent nearly 11 minutes comparing the two slates on camera. The video runs through a wide range of functions, giving users a good idea of how the two devices match up. Of course, the Windows 8 build on the tablet in the video is an early beta that is likely about a year away from release, but Microsoft chose to make the build available to the public so it's obviously open season for showdowns.

source:Boy Genius Report

Report: Foxconn's Brazil factory ready for business, will begin shipping iPads in December

It appears that Apple is about to expand its manufacturing operations to Brazil, where a new Foxconn factory is already in place and ready to churn out iPads, according to a report from national media outlet UOL. Aolizio Mercadante, the country's minister of science and technology, confirmed the news this week during a hearing held by the Commission of Economic Affairs. "At first many doubted, but it will be the first time that [Apple] will produce iPads outside Chinese territory," Mercadente said. "We are taking a big step for digital inclusion in the country." Located in Jundiaí, the new facility was constructed under a joint venture between Foxconn and the Brazilian government, with the former reportedly contributing $12 million to the initiative. Rumors of a South American expansion began circulating earlier this year, with many expecting Foxconn's Brazil-based operations to get underway during Q1 of 2012, according toDigiTimes. Construction, however, appears to have wrapped up ahead of schedule, with Mercadante claiming that iPad shipments will begin in December. Apple, for its part, has not commented on the report.
source:Engadget

BrainKiss app for iPad tells you if you're attracted to someone

You know how there seems to be an app for everything? Apparently there's an app for the iPad that tells you if you're attracted to someone or not. It's called BrainKiss, and it's not some silly “love calculator” type app where you put in two names and get a random result. BrainKiss relies on the use of sensors hooked up to a person's head in order to detect the alpha and beta waves in the brain.

Users have to look into the subject's (in this case - a person) eyes for 15 seconds, while the sensors transmit the readings to the iPad app. The app then calculates from the readings whether or not the user is interested in the person they were staring at - and that's it. What both parties do after the discovering attraction is up to their discretion. BrainKiss is being demonstrated at the Tokyo Game Show this year, so if you happen to be there, you can give it a shot.
source:Ubergizmo

3G iPad 2 marked as “discontinued” at Target?

According to TiPb, a tipster sent them what appears to be photos of Target's inventory, which showed that the 16GB 3G iPad 2 on both Verizon and AT&T are marked as discontinued. Given our previous report and reasonings on why Apple would not be releasing an iPad 3 this year, this is indeed rather puzzling as to why Target would be marking the 3G versions of the iPad 2 as being discontinued.

Based on what TiPb's tipster told them:

"That implies that we will not be ordering more, which implies a new iPad is forthcoming rather soon (October-ish, say). Either that or Target's exiting the iPad business, which seems unlikely. A lot of the cases have gone clearance too."

What do you guys think? Did someone photoshop a Target inventory just to stir up some drama, or could it be a glitch in Target's system, or could be something else entirely?
source:Ubergizmo

iPort announces LaunchPort inductive charger for iPad 2

Interested in some inductive charging for your iPad 2? If the idea of inductive charging sounds good to you, and with the added bonus of it being a wall mounted inductive charger feels like icing on the cake, iPort may have something for you with their LaunchPort wall mounted inductive charger for the iPad 2.

As the name implies, the LaunchPort can be wall mounted and is an inductive charger and it will consist of three parts. The PowerShuttle which is a hard case with inductive charging meant to house your iPad 2, then there is the BaseStation which is table top mounted charging station for the PowerShuttle, and finally there is the WallStation which is the wall mounted charging station for the PowerShuttle.

The PowerShuttle "sticks" onto the BaseStation and WallStation magnetically and will allow the user to rotate the iPad as they please. We can't speak for the strength of the magnet, but it does seem a little scary (and dangerous) to leave your iPad on the wall connected via only a magnet, but based on the demo video (below) it seems secure enough.

The PowerShuttle case is not just a hard case with inductive charging capabilities. It seems that it has been designed in such a way that supposedly passively amplifies and directs sound towards the front of the iPad, which apparently will result in a better listening experience.

If all that sounded good, be prepared to pay as the PowerShuttle case will retail for $149, the BaseStation for $199 and the WallStation for $199. The LaunchPort is expected to be made available in Q4 2011.

source:Ubergizmo

Details on new battery suggest thinner, lighter iPad 3 design

Apple has secured Simplo Technology Co. and Dynapack International Technology Corp. to supply battery packs for the vendor's upcoming iPad 3 tablet, Taiwan Economic News reported on Tuesday. According to the report, the new batteries will be thinner and lighter than the modules used in Apple's current iPad 2 models, and Apple's cost for the power packs will apparently jump by between 20% and 30% as a result. The report also states that Apple's new iPad 3 batteries will feature a longer service life than the previous-generation packs used in the iPad 2. A thinner, lighter battery could mean Apple is conserving space for a new beefier Retina Display, or it could mean Apple is slimming down the iPad 3 case from the iPad 2′s already-svelte 0.34-inch-thick profile. Apple is expected to launch the iPad 3 early next year.
source:Boy Genius Report

LaunchPort wirelessly charges iPad 2, infects users with glee

Shiny, happy people staring at iPad 2s? Why, it must be the power of inductive charging, or just hyper-enthusiastic marketing. Revealed at CEDIA 2011, Dana Innovations' recently announced LaunchPort system takes the convenience of wireless charging and slaps it on your wall. Of course, there's the regular ol' option to have your Apple slab recharge from a flat top surface, but then you'll be missing out on the 360 degree pizzazz. The price of this fancy doesn't come cheap either, with both the wall- and base-mounted options costing $200 each, plus the $150 for the mandatory PowerShuttle sleeve and the $10 pre-order fee. Now, how badly do you need to show off that Jony Ive-designed tablet? Skip past the break to witness overacting at its finest.
source:Engadget

Adobe finally brings Flash to iPhone and iPad

During the IBC trade show in Amsterdam on Friday, Adobe officially took the wraps off of its new Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5 and Adobe Flash Access 3.0 products, which will allow iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users to access Adobe Flash content. Apple, which has long rejected Adobe's Flash technology, doesn't need to approve the tech for it to work, either. “With Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5, media publishers now have a single, simple workflow for delivering content using the same stream to Flash-enabled devices or to the Apple iPhone and iPad,” Adobe said in a statement. Flash Media Server 4.5 allows publishers to stream Flash content to iOS devices, which means support within the iOS Safari browser is not required. Instead of relying on a device's processor to render the stream, which often degrades battery life and slows a device down, Adobe's Flash Media Server 4.5 does all the legwork. Adobe Flash Media Server is available immediately to publishers for $4,500. Read on for the full press release.

Adobe Announces Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5 and Adobe Flash Access 3.0

New Ways to Deliver and Protect High-Quality Video Online and On-device Simplify Streaming Media and Content Protection for Superior Video Experiences Across Desktops and Devices Including iOS, Android and Playbook

IBC 2011 September 08, 2011 10:12 AM Eastern Daylight Time

SAN JOSE, Calif. & AMSTERDAM–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced at the IBC 2011 Conference and Exhibition significant new releases of industry-leading streaming video solutions, including Adobe

"Adobe has a deep heritage in providing video solutions for delivering content online and on-device. With Flash Media Server 4.5 and Flash Access 3.0, we're enabling businesses to reach more customers and more devices, helping them increase the impact of video experiences, enhance their brands and ultimately, drive business success"

At the IBC 2011 Exhibition, Adobe will demonstrate its streaming video solutions including the Flash Media Server family, Flash Access, the Open Source Media Framework (OSMF) and Adobe Pass, Adobe's content authentication solution for TV Everywhere, at its stand (Hall 7 Stand 7.G27) in the RAI Convention Center, Sept. 9-13 in Amsterdam.

"Adobe has a deep heritage in providing video solutions for delivering content online and on-device. With Flash Media Server 4.5 and Flash Access 3.0, we're enabling businesses to reach more customers and more devices, helping them increase the impact of video experiences, enhance their brands and ultimately, drive business success," said Pritham Shetty, vice president, Video Solutions, Adobe.

"When your business is based on delivering live, broadcast-quality video streams for high-profile events to massive audiences across the world, having strong technology backing you is vital," said Ben Rolling, vice president of development for AEG Digital Media, the leading provider of complete webcast management and media services for live streaming events and online video. "Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5 improves the stability of our video streams, decreases load times, and helps us better manage encoding and bitrates for an improved end-user experience on mobile devices and online. We can trust that it will deliver rock solid video streams and please our clients, advertisers and viewers, whether we're streaming the royal wedding or the Grammy Awards."

Premium Video Streaming with Flash Media Server 4.5

Flash Media Server 4.5 expands on its mobile delivery options with the addition of iOS support and enables content owners to create HTTP content on the fly to reduce costs brought on by device proliferation. New features of Flash Media Server 4.5:

• Delivery to iPad and iPhone enables businesses to use the same media and live streams to deliver full adaptive bit-rate experiences to platforms supporting Flash, as well as Apple devices, including iPad and iPhone.
• Integrated Content Protection simplifies deployment and reduces infrastructure cost, enabling seamless streaming for advertising-funded online video.
• On-demand Stream Packaging eliminates the need to prepare and protect assets ahead of time, reducing complexity and storage costs and simplifying publishing for businesses so they can use one set of source video to reach multiple downstream devices.

Premium Video Monetization and Content Protection with Flash Access 3.0

Flash Access 3.0 builds on Adobe's strong traction in video delivery by extending support to reach mobile devices. This allows content providers to securely deliver and monetize content with a single back-end workflow, delivering rich, engaging experiences on desktop, connected TVs, Blu-ray players, tablets and smartphones. New features of Flash Access 3.0:

• Support on Mobile Devices will include Android tablets and smartphones, as well as other mobile devices, allowing video programmers to leverage the same content delivery, protection and monetization infrastructure to target mobile devices, following the upcoming release of Adobe Flash Player 11 and Adobe AIR 3 (set to be available later this quarter).
• Scalable License Delivery and in-band Key Rotation enables Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (MVPDs) and programmers to offer television experiences over IP, whether over the open Internet or on a managed network, at massive scale. With Flash Access 3.0, it is now possible to securely deliver multiple TV “channels” to millions of subscribers with a cost-effective premium content protection solution.
• Compatibility with Industry Standards including UltraViolet, an industry-standard, cloud-based digital rights locker system that will allow consumers to create personal virtual video libraries and access them across multiple devices. Flash Access has been approved for use with UltraViolet, set to be released this fall. Flash Access 3.0 and the upcoming versions of Flash Player 11 and AIR 3 will be able to be leveraged by content retailers, service providers and device manufacturers to create full UltraViolet experiences, including playback for the UVVU Common File Format.

Pricing and Availability

Adobe Flash Access 3.0 is offered at per unit CPM pricing. Adobe Flash Media Streaming Server 4.5 is offered at US$995. Adobe Flash Media Interactive Server 4.5 is offered at US$4,500. Adobe Flash Media Enterprise Server 4.5 pricing can be quoted by contacting Adobe. Products can be ordered today at www.adobe.com/go/fms and are available immediately.

source:Boy Genius Report

NBC iPad app now streams full episodes

Good news for fans of NBC shows - the iPad app that was released earlier this June has received a major update. Users can now stream full episodes of their favorite NBC shows using the app on their iPad tablets, as opposed to just short clips when it first made its debut. Everything that's available on NBC.com (which is pretty much everything on the network) can now be streamed on the iPad.

The update also brings new features such as the ability to “follow” a show so that they won't have to search for new episodes each time it is aired. The app is free and available on the Apple App Store. What are you waiting for? The Office is ready to be streamed.

source:Ubergizmo

LG Display back on track with iPad 2 displays

A while back the iPad 2 faced shortages due to some production issues with LG Display (LGD). As most of you already know, Samsung, Chimei Innolux and LGD are the primary manufacturers for the displays on the iPad 2, and issues such as failing drop tests and backlight bleeding have caused a disruption in the production cycle, thus causing the entire world to experience long delays in getting their iPad 2s.

According to Digitimes, it appears that LGD has managed to get back on track and are now pushing out 4 million displays a month since August, an increase from their 2.6 million that was reported in July. These output levels are said to maintain throughout September as well, and hopefully the rest of the year in time for the holiday season. If you happen to be living in a country where iPad 2s are in short supply, hopefully things have already started to pickup!

source:Ubergizmo

LG fixes iPad 2 display issues and boosts panel shipments

In early August, we reported that Apple started boosting its iPad 2 display panel orders with Samsung after LG's panels failed to meet the iPad maker's quality requirements. DigiTimes said on Friday that LG has addressed the quality issues and has now boosted its shipments back to their original levels. The South Korea-based company reportedly shipped 4 million 9.7-inch iPad 2 panels during the month of August, up from the 2.4-2.5 million it shipped in July, and it is expected to maintain its current volume through September. Taiwan Economic News said Foxconn-owner Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. has boosted its projected iPad 2 shipments for the third quarter to 20 million units, although DigiTimes said Apple is expected to ship 12-15 million iPad 2 devices.
source:Boy Genius Report

Soulo karaoke mic for iPad coming to a thin partition wall near you

We've just seen First Act's wireless karaoke kit for the iPad passing through the FCC, suggesting it may be on track for a fall launch. The hardware will count for nothing if the accompanying app from sister company Seven45 Studios hits a dud note, but we guess it looks functional enough. The receiver makes up for its dock-hogging ways by providing a video output so you can check your lyrics on a bigger screen. It should also register your wails, screeches and caterwauls at a distance of up to 20 feet from the AA-powered mic. No word on pricing or availability just yet, but you can warble your interest at the second source link below.

iRig Microphone for iPhone, iPod, and iPad

source:Engadget

Judge Requests iPad Sales Figures in Australian Galaxy Tab Suit

As a preliminary injunction holds the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 from Australian shelves, the judge presiding over the suit filed by Apple has requested to see iPad sales figures for the US and UK in order to better understand the impact of Samsung's tablet. As Apple's case largely rests on the Android tablet creating confusion due to its similar “functionality and appearance” to the iPad, leading to lower sales than should be expected, the company will surely be resilient to reveal that sales are up 183 percent from last year. As Samsung continues to strongly defend its Galaxy Tab, we find it hard to believe that a figure such as that could have any judge believing that the Galaxy Tab has caused a significant reduction in the movement of iPads.

source:Android Phone

Atari Arcade – Duo Powered Joystick for iPad

Apparently Atari was pleased with the reception received by their iCade controller done in conjunction with ThinkGeek.  They are introducing their own Atari Arcade – Duo Powered Joystick for iPad.  Atari is apparently working with Discovery Bay Games to make/sell the controller.  There isn't much information available at Discovery Bay – just that it's coming soon.  No price is listed.  It's designed to work with the Atari's Greatest Hits iPad app, which is available for free in the iTunes app store.  It should be noted that the app gives you access to 100 of Atari's games, but you'll have to purchase them.  You can buy 25 collections of four games for $0.99 each or get the entire collection for $14.99.  The game is available now.

source:The Gadgeteer