...it's really what's on the inside that counts.

It’s true what they say: you can’t judge a book by its cover.  The same applies to iPhones.  While the newly announced iPhone 3GS looks suspiciously like a run of the mill iPhone 3G, it’s really what’s on the inside that counts.  The phone now features 256MB of RAM (double that of the original iPhone) and a 600 MHz processor (up from the 412 MHz of the original and 3G models), putting the S (speed) in the iPhone’s new name.  Other hardware improvements include a new 3MP autofocus camera that also shoots video at 30 fps (which you can edit on the phone and send on it’s merry way), HSDPA support, a compass that comes with its own compass application, and voice control.  Like any other phone, the voice control on the iPhone lets you quickly dial up your contacts. But that’s not all: you can use voice commands to also control your music (like on the iPod Shuffle).  People already think you’re crazy now for talking on that bluetooth headset of yours, but they’re really think you’ve lost it when they see you standing in the street yelling at your iPod to play “Hit Me Baby One More Time” again.

The new 'Find my iPhone' feature finds your lost iPhone and displays the location on a Google map.

Software wise, the iPhone 3Gs will come equipped with the third version of the iPhone OS, which allows for spotlight search (as seen on Macs) and allows for a revolutionary new feature known as copying and pasting (really!).  Also notable is the new Find my iPhone feature, which as it says, finds your lost iPhone and displays the location on a Google map.  When activated, you can message your iPhone with a number to call and it will sound a ton whether the phone is on silent or not.  You can even remotely erase all the data on the phone.  Perfect for foiling your archrival (or a nosy boyfriend) who’s run off with your goods.

Best of all, if you’re a non-AT&T subscriber looking to make the switch from your current provider, you can pick up a 16GB iPhone 3GS for $199 on contract or a 32GB for $299.  Current AT&T customers  looking to upgrade from the 3G will have to shell out an extra $200 (sucks to be you!).   Available June 19th in your two favorite colors (assuming they’re black and white) at an Apple store near you!

M.I.S.S. Techcessories: Score Gadgets on the Cheap with Fred Flare

I don’t know if you’ve heard but—the economy still sucks. I know, news to me too.  Not everyone has an extra 2Gs laying around to spend on a Dell Adamo or new iMac.  Don’t despair. The economy will get better one day (I hope…). Until then, if you’re a fashionista on a budget trying to up her tech game, M.I.S.S. has the answer for you: Fred Flare. The Brooklyn based retailer believes great design should be as “entertaining as an old musical or modern music video,” and the products they stock reflect that idea.  Best of all, it’s CHEAP!

Some of their standout products include a two foot tall floor lamp designed like an ice cream cone ($48), compact iPod speakers that look like neon-colored lego bricks ($25), a USB hub made to resemble a row of tulips ($22, consider it going green), and lady bug shaped ear buds for your MP3 player of choice ($15).  Other favorites include a retro receiver for your cell phone ($24), a mixtape USB flash drive ($18) for those who lament the loss of actual mixtapes, and a cheeseburger phone ($24) straight out of the movie, Juno.

Can’t make it to Brooklyn?  All this and more can be purchased in Fred Flare’s online store.  And just think! With the money you saved buying a cheeseburger phone, you might be able to afford an actual cheeseburger. Imagine that.

Apple A Day

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

Let this old time adage be your daily reminder during these times of hysteria. While many are taking extra precautions to sanitize their hands, avoid crowds, and even refrain from traveling, some look at the chances of contracting the swine flu and just proceed with life as it was. Whatever your stance is, one of the best defenses against the swine flu, or better yet any allergy or sickness that may come your way, is to build up your immune system. While I can’t guarantee that eating an apple a day will keep the swine flu away, I do know that apples contain an essential vitamin that can provide immunity against diseases.

What is that vitamin? Read the rest to find out more…

Read the full story

Isn’t it about time you showed your ears some appreciation and replaced your iPod earbuds with something a lot less…crappy?  Check out Onkyo’s MHP-UW2 Bluetooth Headphones for iPod.  Designed with a frequency response of 50Hz~20kHz, these headphones provide an amazing, recording studio quality sound without the need for pesky wires.  They’re encased in a sleek metallic shell, feature remote controls on the headphones themselves, and have soft, buttery ear-pads that will leave your ears feeling nice and comfortable after extending listening sessions.  Battery life lasts a good eight hours (on a three-hour charge), and Onkyo has thankfully included both a USB charging cable and a couple of mini-jack cables so you can keep listening via wire when the juice runs out.  At $270 they cost about as much as a brand new iPod, but it’s totally worth it so you can hear every last note in that one Kenny G song you love so much.  Available now.

First Incase released its popular slider case for the iPhone 3G in a plethora of fresh, Spring hues.  Now Speck is getting in on the act, adding four new colors to its ever expanding line of SeeThru hard shell cases for MacBooks - hazard orange, aqua, green, and purple.  The new colors join the already available pink, red and clear cases from Speck.  Specially designed for the new line of unibody MacBooks, the transluscent SeeThru hard shell case allows you to access all the MacBook’s ports and CD/DVD Drive while providing maximum protection from any scrapes and scratches that might occur during transport.  And, unlike with other cases, you can still open and close your MacBook all the way.  You can get yours today for the 13” and 15” aluminum unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro for $49.95.

What’s old is new again.  Apple has quietly dropped a 4GB iPod shuffle that ditches the design of the previous version in favor of something more in line with the first generation shuffle.  There’s one major difference, though: this new shuffle features no face buttons whatsoever, moving all controls to an inline remote on the bundled earbuds.  The new design also adds a “Voiceover” feature that tells you what song is playing and who performs it at the touch of a button.  Voiceover speaks 14 different languages, from English (obviously) to Turkish.

On the downside, the 4GB shuffle is currently only available in silver and black, and the 2GB storage increase costs users 2 hours in battery life (10 hours of running time instead of the previous version’s 12 hours).  If none of that bothers you, though, you can pick yours up today at Apple’s online store or any of their retail stores for a cool $79.

Apple has refreshed it’s iMac line, with updated 20-inch  and 24-inch models sporting some recession friendly pricing.  The aluminum and glass casing on the outside remains the same, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts.  On the lower end of things you can pick up the 20-inch iMac for only $1,199 with a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics card. The 24-inch iMac, starting at just $1,499, includes up to a 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM, a 640GB or 1TB hard drive, and a variety of graphics cards ranging from the same NVIDIA GeForce 9400M featured in the 20-inch model to the more powerful NVIDIA GeForce GT 130 or ATI Radeon HD 4850.  All models are available for purchase now online or at your local Apple store.

Own an iPhone 3G and in the market for a new case for your precious, scratch prone investment?  Incase has you covered.  The company just released their incredibly popular slider case in four fresh new spring colors - vivid orange, vivid green, muted cyan, and magenta.  Made of lightweight hardshell plastic and featuring interior rubber guardrails to provide shock absorption in addition to impact and scratch protection, the case is thin enough to maintain the iPhone’s sleek dimensions yet durable enough to protect from all those accidental drops.  And, unlike some other cases, you still get easy access to all the controls on the side.  Purchase yours today at Incase’s online store for $34.95.

Santigold (everyone getting use to the name change?!) is playing live this Friday evening at the Apple Store Soho as part of the iTunes: Live from Soho series.

Santigold: Live from Soho

Friday, February 20 @ 7:00 pm
The Apple Store Soho
103 Prince St., NYC

Oh and it’s freeeee!

The new iPod Nano is out now and available in 8GB and 16GB. The Nano has a new “Genius” feature that makes using it really easy. “With the new Genius feature, iPod nano makes playlists of songs that go great together. Give it a shake to shuffle your music. Turn it on its side and flip through albums with Cover Flow.” Wow. It’s like it can read your mind - quite, well, Genius! The Nano has an updated curved aluminum and glass design and come in And, it comes in a rainbow of nine colors. I love the purple and the charcoal grey. The Nano is available in stores now and here!