Phone accessories can add functionality or fun personalized flair to your device, and it’s even better when you get them on a deal. If you’re looking for a cheap case or battery pack for your iPhone, Amazon is running a today-only sale on many of little-known mobile company Altigo’s accessoriesRemove non-product link. The sale features portable chargers, cases, earbuds, and over-the-ear headphones, for discounted prices ranging from $7 to $35.The cheapest items in the sale are iPhone cases, at $7 each, down from list prices of $14. Available for iPhone 8, XR, and XS Max, these slim cases come in a variety of colors, including clear options, and offer some impact protection.On the upper end of this sale’s price range is a massive 26800mAh portable USB power bank, on sale for $35 from a list price of $66. This portable charger features three USB-A ports, so you can charge up to three devices at once. Built-in heat sensors help keep this charger from overheating, … [Read more...] about Help your iPhone stay safe and last all day with Amazon’s big one-day accessory sale
Mobile
Shampoo magnate uses glasses-free 3D to push budget phones
Be ready for phones that are modest beyond the tentpole 3D feature. The Io 3D centers on a 5.45-inch, 1,440 x 720 display, a quad-core 1.3GHz MediaTek processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, a rear 8-megapixel camera and a front 2-megapixel cam. Move to the Io Pro 3D and you'll get a 6-inch 2,160 x 1,080 display, an eight-core 2GHz MediaTek chip, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, a hybrid 13MP and 2MP rear camera system and a front 8MP shooter. Don't expect excitement when you're not gawking at 3D footage, then, although you do curiously get a year's worth of health care services and insurance coverage (including death) for free.The price is competitive, at least. You can order the Io 3D now for $200 (£140), and the Io Pro 3D for $300 ($250). There's also a plain 2D phone, the 5-inch Io Light ($90) for those that only need the basics. They may be tougher sells when handsets like the Moto G7 are more powerful overall, but consider this: if you ever lose … [Read more...] about Shampoo magnate uses glasses-free 3D to push budget phones
Why today’s iPad lineup is the strongest in years
A few years ago, the iPad was in disarray. Sales were collapsing and the line-up of products was a mess. Fixing things takes time, but look at what we’ve got today: With the introduction of the fifth-generation iPad mini and the third-generation iPad Air, iPad is now Apple’s most coherent and complete product line (contrary to what other Macworlders think).Cleaning up the messAs iPad sales dropped from their early-decade highs, Apple had a problem: to push the iPad hardware forward and please a user base that clamored for more power and features, it would need to develop cutting-edge technology. But the rest of the tablet market (and the education market in general) was going in the opposite direction, toward cut-rate tablets so cheap they’re sometimes sold in bulk.The iPad was caught in the middle. So Apple did the Solomonic thing and cut it in two: The iPad Pro was born, an unapologetically high-end (and expensive) product. That covered the high end, but things were … [Read more...] about Why today’s iPad lineup is the strongest in years
Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs coming soon exclusively to iOS devices
It’s been a minute since Angry Birds was a thing. Once practically synonymous with mobile gaming, the franchise was so ubiquitous that it spawned an animated series and even a star-studded theatrical release. While there’s a sequel film due for release this summer, the mobile gaming world just isn’t that hot on Angry Birds anymore.Perhaps Rovio’s latest project can change that. Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs builds on the versions of the game that were made for virtual reality (Vive and Oculus) and augmented reality (Magic Leap), but it doesn’t require specialized hardware. It uses ARKit to run right on your iPhone or iPad, so all you need is an ARKit compatible device (iPhone 6S or 5th generation iPad or newer).If you’ve ever played Angry Birds before, you’ll recognize the core gameplay. You use a slingshot to fling various birds, each with different effects, at precarious scaffolding built by the nefarious pigs. You have a limited number of … [Read more...] about Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs coming soon exclusively to iOS devices
How phones went from $200 to $2,000
Phones are more expensive than ever. Flagship devices from Apple, Samsung, Google, and other top manufacturers can now cost hundreds of dollars more than they did just a couple of years ago. Now, with the arrival of foldable phones, which are being priced at $2,000 and above, it looks like the upper limit for phone prices is going to keep growing. There are a few different reasons why phone prices have been skyrocketing over the past several years. The first is simple: it’s just sticker shock. In the United States, flagship phones used to cost $200 as part of a mobile phone contract, while their real cost was hidden away in monthly fees. Now that those contracts are dead, phone prices are all stated outright. That explains why, several years ago, the iPhone’s price suddenly jumped up to $649. (Albeit, you’re likely to pay that broken up into monthly chunks.) But sticker shock isn’t the whole story. Phone prices really have jumped another several hundred dollars. … [Read more...] about How phones went from $200 to $2,000