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TomTom iPhone app hits 1.3, gains real-time traffic and Google local search

Here lately, Navigon has been crushing it on the iPhone GPS front. Every couple of weeks, it seems that MobileNavigator is getting yet another fantastic update, all while TomTom’s lackluster offering hangs back in the land of complacency. Thankfully for us all, the outfit has just pushed out the v1.3 update, which adds real-time traffic (an unfortunate $19.99 add-on), Google local search, updated roadways, automatic music fading between text-to-speech instructions and the ability to add locations from other apps and websites. We’d still recommend Navigon’s software if you’re looking to buy into iPhone GPS for the first time, but this is certainly a boon for those already locked into the TomTom alternative.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

TomTom iPhone app hits 1.3, gains real-time traffic and Google local search originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Analogue Tape Glove Sounds Interesting

Can’t think of an interesting project to kill your weekend with? Well, the guys from SignalToNoise came up with a rather interesting project, the Analogue Tape Glove. Basically it’s a mash of a couple of old tape decks, an amplifier, some glue, and a nearby wall. When it’s all set in place, you’ll be able to play the music that’s on the old magnetic tapes by dragging the fingertips of the modified glove across the surface of the tape. Of course, the sounds will vary and it’ll probably sound just strange, but then again, it’s a strange concept to begin with. At least you’ll have something to do with those old cassette tapes lying around in your attic, right? Video of the setup in action after the jump.

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One man band rocks the iPod touch, rescues the MIDI clarinet from obscurity

Continue reading One man band rocks the iPod touch, rescues the MIDI clarinet from obscurity

One man band rocks the iPod touch, rescues the MIDI clarinet from obscurity originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zoom G2Nu and G2.1Nu guitar effects pedals offer direct USB recording

Zoom is kind of like Mitsubishi — it sort of does it all. Months after shipping one of the greatest pocket audio recorders every known to man, the company is now hitting back with none other than a pair of guitar effects pedals. The G2Nu and G2.1Nu boards both feature 100 preset guitar sounds, 20 of which have purportedly been given the almighty thumbs-up from Steve Vai. If you’re curious about differences, the latter adds a built-in expression pedal for additional control, but frankly, the expected capabilities aren’t what we’re interested in. Both devices sport integrated USB ports that enable them to operate as audio interfaces; in other words, axe slingers can record directly to their computer through this box, and the 1.9-inch display helps you keep track of what’s going on. Regrettably, pricing and availability details have been conveniently omitted, but we suspect it’ll be hitting Sam Ash, Sweetwater and the rest of the gang soonish.

Continue reading Zoom G2Nu and G2.1Nu guitar effects pedals offer direct USB recording

Zoom G2Nu and G2.1Nu guitar effects pedals offer direct USB recording originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pink Floyd only wants you to download their entire albums, not individual songs

There was an interesting debate on today’s Ron and Fez that speaks to a subject we’ve been whinging about for some time now: digital delivery of content, specifically of music. Pink Floyd has won a court ruling that will put an end to places like iTunes selling its songs individually. The band feels that their music can only truly be appreciated in the album format, from start to finish, and it never liked people being able to pick and choose what songs they wanted to download.

The Engadget Show: Inside chiptunes and 8-bit visuals

Greetings humans! If you’ve seen The Engadget Show, then you’ve been privy to some pretty incredible performances by a group of musicians and artists who eschew familiar instruments in exchange for hacked and modded handheld gaming devices. We grabbed our cameras and got a brief look at the history of the chiptunes movement, the difference between Game Boy music and music from Game Boys, and most importantly, how these artists and visualists make it all happen. Kick back and take a look at the segment (featuring the likes of Glomag, Paris, and Outpt) — you’ll be glad you did!

Special guests: Glomag, Paris, and Outpt
Produced and Directed by: Chad Mumm
Executive Producer: Joshua Fruhlinger
Edited by: Michael Slavens
Opening titles by: Julien Nantiec

Download the Show: The Engadget Show Segment – 005 (HD) / The Engadget Show Segment – 005 (iPod / iPhone / Zune formatted)

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Continue reading The Engadget Show: Inside chiptunes and 8-bit visuals

The Engadget Show: Inside chiptunes and 8-bit visuals originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audio Lounger Concept Looks Desirable

We certainly don’t mind tech seeping into our everyday items, and the Audio Lounger concept certainly looks like one of those things we wouldn’t mind making room for. It sports four built-in high quality speakers and a (rather noticeable) large subwoofer, not to mention a touchscreen panel on the upper side of the seat to keep you in touch with your favorite music. This design by Matt Hardman also includes LED lights that offer ambient light that can be set with a range of colors, giving this concept lounger a futuristic look. Now we only have to wait for someone to mass produce this.

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Landport Solar Sound Speakers

Solar gadgets never seem to get old, and next up is Landport’s Solar Sound speakers, laying claims to be Japan’s first set of solar powered speakers. The solar panel is rather obvious at the top of the speaker, but in case you want some music to serenade your partner at night, you don’t have to worry, as the device can offer between five to eight hours of playback time, thanks to its built-in lithium-ion battery, which can be charged via USB. The Lanport Solar Sound speakers are currently going for 5,250 yen (US$60).

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Guitar/headphone interface for iPhone

The slew of music recording / creation apps for the iPhone all share the same weakness. They rely on the internal microphone, and a recording quality microphone it is not. The Guitarbud from PRS Guitars gives you a direct input into your iDevice without taking away headphone capability.

It’s a simple, yet effective little cord. All [...]

Pioneer DJM-2000. Turntables are out, touchscreen is in

DJ gear is unique in audio in that more than any other equipment, it has to be flashy and able to take a pounding. Usually in the form of spilt beer. My main concern with Pioneer’s new DJM-2000 is how the touchscreen will react to the rough-and-tumble world of house music and ecstasy. But it [...]

iPhone SDK 3.2 showing first hints of multitasking for third-party apps?

Naturally, we need to first disclaim this noise by saying that rumors of third-party multitasking capability in the iPhone are as old as the iPhone SDK itself. That said, it’s hard to ignore a new reference to a “multitasking dialog box” buried deep within the iPhone SDK 3.2 beta that — while not new to beta 4 specifically — we’re told didn’t exist in 3.1.3. Now, the wildest possible speculation would have us believing that this is the very first by-product of a new multitasking system for developers that’s being developed for the platform, presumably destined for an appearance in OS 4.0 when it’s introduced along with new hardware this summer — but it’s just as likely that Apple will continue to keep the iPhone’s multitasking capability to itself, a function it uses liberally among the phone and music apps, just to name a couple. For what it’s worth, AppleInsider is citing a tipster claiming that Apple’s got a “full-on solution” to multitasking that would properly address its main concern — battery life issues — for release this year, so maybe we’ll be able to chuck those awful push notifications before we know it. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be over here in the corner running a few dozen apps on our Pre Plus.

iPhone SDK 3.2 showing first hints of multitasking for third-party apps? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Use your computer’s SPDIF connection if it has one

I’ll just come out and say it. I’m dumb. Clearly. I’ve been listening to music from my computer for ages. Longer than some of you have surfing the Internet, but I’ve never used a computer’s SPDIF connection before. It’s been on my last few primary computers, too. Instead, I’ve just been using a simple L/R [...]