When Apple [AAPL] announced iOS 4 they said a large number of enhancements had been included. These of course include multitasking as well as many other popular features that have been publicly known. Another one of the new features is called iPod Out which appears to have been overlooked somewhat. Thankfully, BMW has an all seeing eye and spotted the new feature allowing them to create quite a decent interface for their cars.

iPod Out is a function that enables an external screen to display and control music playback. Docking an iPhone running iOS 4 for example, could allow a car to have a screen installed and all the iPod controls appear on screen within the car.

BMW will be doing this with their BMW and Mini entertainment systems. The iPod Out function works on any iOS 4 device which includes the iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4 and iPod touch second and third generation. [Read more…]

We are hearing from I4U today that the next generation Sony PSP 2 could get a 3G connection built in. One step that some people are thinking of is the PSP’s leap in to 3D like the Nintendo 3DS although this is unlikely to happen when the nextgen PSP 2 launches.

By building a 3G connection in to the PSP 2 it essentially allows games to be on-line wherever they are to download new games and other content as well as play on-line gaming with others without the need of a wireless hotspot.

As well as providing content and “possible” on-line gaming to the PSP 2, the 3G connection would also let users surf the internet wherever they can pick up a 3G signal. [Read more…]

Apple [AAPL] is rumoured to be moving a few key people around to work on Apple TV. It seems like the project is getting a big push from the company to make it more main-stream than previous attempts.

We have heard previously that iOS might be running on the Apple TV which could indicate an app store could be involved as well as an easy to use iTunes service. Mix that in with iTunes Cloud and potentially the Apple TV will be able to receive streaming content for the TV.

A rumour is also saying that Apple are in talks with bringing TV show rentals to Apple TV which could see a 99 cents cost for a 24 hour rental with a 30 day expiry date. [Read more…]

Last week, Amazon announced that a new Kindle DX was being launched. The new DX comes in Graphite and also has a price drop too taking it down to $379 which is $110 cheaper than the previous DX.

“There’s no turning back once you read on our beautiful new Kindle DX screen,” said Steve Kessel, senior vice president, Amazon Kindle. “With 50 percent better contrast and darker fonts, you’ll find it easier than ever to read wherever you happen to be, whether it’s outside in bright sunlight or under the low light of your living room. We’re excited to offer the new Kindle DX with free 3G wireless at the lower price of $379.”

[Read more…]

The TV-B-Gone is a small gadget that allows you to turn off almost all TVs by the push of a button. This new version is the pro version that allows you to switch off TVs off at 110 meters away.

To achieve this, more emitters have been added to the device as well.

We’re not sure why there needs to be “pro” TV turner-offers, but if you feel the calling to the profession, who are we to question your destiny? The TV-B-Gone Pro looks like a small mp3 player, but contains eight infrared emitters that will turn off 90% of TVs in any country in the world. With the touch activated switch, you’ll be able to turn off any TV within a matter of seconds. It even has an instant reactivation feature so you can turn off many TVs in quick succession – perfect for causing havoc at your local electronics store or at the gym.

[Read more…]

Sony has announced that a new white Sony PS3 slim is due to be launched in Japan on July 29. The new model will have the CECH-2500 marking on it and when available will cost around $400 (34,980 yen).

Last month some details of new chipsets (including the CECH-2500) were sent in to the FCC. This news from Sony confirms what was actually happening there to some extent. Other news shows that the PS3 in Japan will soon not be available in 120GB and 250GB capacities. Instead a couple of news models will be released with 160GB and 320GB capacities. Both models will be available in the regular black or the new “Classic White” as it is being referred to as. [Read more…]

This Pinball Machine is used in a Nike Store and rather than using a traditional layout with bumpers and rails etc… it uses a large LCD screen allowing any pinball game to be played.

The Pinball machine is themed in a football way and uses a football pinball and Nike shoes as flippers.

The digital pinball machine is over in a Nike shop in Spain and is part of a World Cup campaign called Write the Future. [Read more…]

If you have used a digital camera or any gadget that requires batteries, occasionally you insert the batteries the wrong way preventing the device from working till you switch them around.

Microsoft [MSFT] has invented a new technology called InstaLoad that allows a device to be powered regardless of which way you put the batteries in. The smart design uses contacts in the gadget that allow for either + or – to make contact with them. Depending which side of the battery hits the contact, the correct metal contact will be made inside the gadget and vice versa on the opposite end of the battery. [Read more…]

We’re not 100% convinced that these will be actually made, but a company – the one behind the recent Batpod replica, is claiming to be selling five street legal TRON Lightcycle replicas.

The Lightcycles are being built with the exact same specs of the movie bike except the lack of a light trail obviously. Each bike comes in black and there will be five made available numbered 001 – 005 with a sixth 000 model as a prototype. Each will have accent colours of either red, blue, yellow, green and orange.

Each bike will be custom built and be supplied with either an electric motor or a high performance gasoline engine. The transmission also can be suited to the buyer.

The back cover opens up at the push of a button and there is a neon glow that exits from the back of the bike to resemble the lightcycles colored light trail from the original game. These bikes will also come with a TRON style helmet (Not DOT Approved)

[Read more…]

Nintendo America’s president, Reggie Fils-Aime, mentioned on Jimmy Fallon that the launch of the Nintendo 3DS was going to be next year.

This falls in-line with what we have heard before other than one region getting it this year.

According to Nintendo though, he got the release year wrong. Nintendo sources in Japan were told that the Nintendo 3DS isn’t launching next year. This adds a little confusion though as Nintendo also will not announce if it’s launching this year either. [Read more…]

We have featured a number of teardowns here on gadgetvenue from the company called iFixit.

Up till now we haven’t really seen much at all of those who run the iFixit site. All we ever know of is a guy called Kyle who emails us from time to time to let us know what the latest teardown is along with a few details of what was found.

The LA Times managed to get to spend some time behind the scenes to find out what iFixit is, who is behind it and how it all runs. [Read more…]

Nintendo finally unveiled the Nintendo 3DS last week at E3. The system uses a unique 3D screen that gets rid of the requirement to wear glasses. We now have heard some of the technical details which shows what chip powers the 3D graphics.

The chip is called the PICA200 chip and from what we understand, it is quite capable although generally unheard of. It is clocked at 200MHz and is capable of shifting 15.3 million polygons per second or 800 million pixels.

This chip can run the 3DS with anti-aliasing at full screen also. [Read more…]