Oliver Haslam

Two months on – why I am still glad I didn’t buy a new iPad

Oliver Haslam ∙ June 1, 2012

The eagle-eyed amongst you will have already spotted that the title says "two months on" and, clearly, we are beyond the two month mark since the new iPad was made available to an expectant public. The reason for my tardiness is that this post has taken the better part of two weeks to write, and I almost scrapped it on a few occasions.

To understand why that is, let's delve right on in to why I didn't buy the new iPad and, importantly, why I am glad about that fact.

So, before we continue, and before I open myself up to more than my fair share of abuse, I suggest you make yourself a good cup of coffee, and get yourself comfortably. We're about to begin...

Google Schemer for iPhone launches, begins recommending stuff

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

Google has today launched a new app, Google Schemer, which may just make us all that little bit more active and, hopefully, happier to boot.

Let's get this out of the way first: no, we had never heard of Google Schemer, either. In typical Google fashion, Schemer appears to be some sort of beta that is open to everyone, and promises to suggest things to do, or Schemes, based on what you have told it you like. Interestingly, it can also use the weather, time of day and location as metrics for deciding what to recommend. Piqued your interest?

Now that Google Schemer has found its way off of Android and on to iOS, things are beginning to get interesting...

Une Bobine – Kickstarter’s answer to the humble iPhone stand

Oliver Haslam ∙ May 15, 2012

Kickstarter is home to all manner of cool and funky little gadgets. We've been known to lose hours just perusing the offerings of the clever people who put together Kickstarter projects, and sometimes we find one or two that tickle our fancy. Today, we found another to go alongside the many we have brought you already.

The latest specimen is the Une Bobine which, we are told, means "a coil" in French. When you check out the photos of what the thing is, then all will immediately make sense.

Basically, we are dealing with a new type of iPhone stand, but it is so much more, and incorporates a handy USB cable just for good measure. Awesome...

Loewe confirms it is not in talks over a potential takeover by Apple

Oliver Haslam ∙ May 13, 2012

We told you not long ago that German TV maker Loewe was potentially the subject of an audacious takeover bid by iPhone and iPad maker, Apple. The rumor made a modicum of sense considering talk of an Apple Television being in the works just won't go away.

Now though, such a takeover appears to be out of the question, with the Germans themselves saying that no such takeover talks are in process after contacting German site, Heise.

Rumors of a $113 million buyout have been quashed after Loewe's official stance was recorded as there being 'absolutely nothing to it.'

US town to make texting while walking illegal. Really!

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

We all know that texting while driving is a huge safety risk and illegal in most countries and states, but what about texting while walking? Is that dangerous, too? Maybe this is the perfect ad for Apple's Siri?

If you've ever walked into a lamp post whilst sending a message – come on, admit it – then you'll probably say yes, but we doubt most would agree. If you happen to be passing through one US town though, texting while working could actually land you in trouble and hurt your wallet to boot.

Fort Lee, New Jersey, is set to be the first to ban texting while walking, with a fine being levied against those that flout the law. No, really...

Touchtype is a Kickstarter-powered case for your iPad and Apple keyboard

Oliver Haslam ∙ May 12, 2012

We've already admitted to being unabashed fans of Kickstarter here at iDB. What's not to like? It's a great way for inventors and designers to get their ideas into the hands of users when they don't have the means to set up shop on their own. If the product in question is something that is truly unique and a sleeper hit, then we see something truly magical and the project gets funded almost instantly.

The Touchtype iPad case is one such situation.

Another iPad case, you say? We've all got cases already, we don't need another. Well, that's possibly true. But what about an iPad-cum-keyboard case that actually works? Things just got interesting...

iPhone 5 not yet finalized but still set for October release

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

With the iPhone 5, next iPhone or whatever moniker Apple decides to give the next generation smartphone set to be released later this year, much of the discussion of late has centered around what that release will see brought to the table.

To date, for example, all iPhones have featured a 3.5-inch display while the Android-powered competition has seen huge variation in display sizes and technology over the last 48 months. Could the iPhone 5 see a new form factor, complete with new screen size? While possible, the suggestion now is that the intricacies of the iPhone 5 have yet to be finalized at Apple with less than six months to go until the handset is expected to begin shipping.

The latest claims come from iMore, whose sources appear to be confident that October is still the month we will be lining up outside our local Apple Stores, even if Apple itself doesn't quite know what the thing we are buying will look like...

Samsung’s hand shown, will Apple come through with the next iPhone?

Oliver Haslam ∙ May 8, 2012

We may still be a good five months away from Apple's expected iPhone 5/Next iPhone announcement, but Samsung has already shown its hand with the Galaxy S III.

Building on the already hugely popular Galaxy S II handset, the third generation of the Galaxy S line will feature some interesting software additions alongside a reasonable speed bump and rather large screen. All in, it's an impressive-looking update for a company that has already shown that it is more than capable of going toe-to-toe with Apple when it comes to kicking out huge sales numbers and satisfied customers.

But shy of taking the Roman numeral approach to naming conventions and calling the next iPhone the iPhone V, what will Apple do to take the fight to Samsung now that the Koreans have firmly placed their stake in the ground? What must Apple do in order to compete with a handset that has seen almost as much excitement and expectation as any Apple product? The truth is that it might not actually need to...

Sony’s magnetic fluid speaker dock makes speakers interesting again

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

There isn't anything much more boring than iPhone speaker docks. They do what you would expect, and that's get audio out of an iPhone, iPad or iPod and tries to look good in the process.

Sony has somehow managed to pique our interest though, with two new speaker docks being announced that offer something a little different to the bland, boring speaker docks that have become the norm of late.

Sony's two new models, the catchily named CMT-V75BTiP and CMT-V50iP, feature a new type of speaker dampening. Rather than the traditional dampening, these new speakers are actually damperless, with magnetic fluid being used to passively damp the movement of the speaker cone...

One in ten men apparently more fond of iPads than the ladies

Oliver Haslam ∙ April 18, 2012

It's no secret that we are big fans of the iPad here at iDB. The clue is kinda in our name, but even we don't quite understand this latest statistic to come our way.

Put together by online casino Roxy Palace, a recent survey suggests that one in ten, or around 11% of men asked would prefer to get their greasy mitts on a new Apple tablet rather than a lady friend.

We had to read that a few times to make sure we hadn't imagined it but sure enough, that's what the numbers say. Just to add a little fun to proceedings, the poll also asked whether people would prefer any other kind of tablet to a new love, with the number dropping to just 4%...

Apple forced to pay $7,500 over firebug iPod nano

Oliver Haslam ∙ April 15, 2012

Remember those 1st generation iPod nanos that Apple recalled recently? You know, the ones that were prone to overheating and, in extreme cases, catching fire? It turns out Apple didn't quite get them exchanged quickly enough.

A Japanese judge has ruled in favor of a couple from Tokyo who were unfortunate enough to own an original iPod nano, purchased in 2005. Five years later, the device was found to be getting unusually warm during charging and, once in the hands of a poor Japanese lady, burst into flames.

The result was badly burned hands which took a month to heal, and a court case which resulted in Apple being asked to cough up some cash by way of compensation...

A bulletproof iPhone case, because you can never be too careful

Oliver Haslam ∙ April 14, 2012

We all like to protect our iPhones and iPads as much as possible, which explains why the case making business is such a lucrative one. If you look anywhere online, then you'll be able to find an iPhone or iPad case to suit your mood and price range. Choice is clearly king.

Even with all that choice though, we are willing to say that it is a safe bet that you haven't come across one of these cases before. For starters, it isn't the best looking case around there, and it certainly isn't the thinnest at one-inch thick. It ain't the cheapest either, at $648 per unit.

It does have one thing going for it,though. Namely, this particular case is bulletproof...