New News For 13.01.2011

iHandy Level App Review–Surprisingly Valuable For The Woodworker

An interesting new app to talk to you about today, folks, as I plunge back into the depths of iTunes (which, by now, you’ve probably come to expect of me on Thursdays) to check out what’s going on in there. And what I’ve got for you is one for the mechanically inclined among you, the iHandy Level.

The iHandy Level is, basically, an app for construction, giving you a level in your iPhone (or iPad or iPod Touch). You’ll get the option to hold the bubble and release it, as well as adjust the sensitivity of the bubble so you can

track things a little slower. If you’re up for spending a little cash, dropping two bucks on the app will get you access to a protractor, ruler, plumb line, and surface level.

Even at the free level, the level actually works really well, showing you precisely whether whatever you’re setting your Apple gear of choice down on is level or not (turns out the table at my favorite coffee shop is canted at about a two degree angle). Expanding outward gives you plenty of other carpenter’s tools, and they work about as well as the level does.

Sure, the whole thing is really niche, but for carpenters, this would likely be a truly great thing. Use your iPod for music, and then turn around and use it for a level or protractor. It just adds to the versatility of the whole thing, and there’s nothing I like so well as getting a variety of uses out of any one particular item. Versatility is just the best thing you can get out of a device, and this is the kind of thing that improves the versatility.

You may not get a whole lot of value out of this, but if you’re any kind of woodworker, you’ll definitely want this on hand.

The Good

Works well

Offers terrific versatility for woodworkers

The Bad

Incredibly limited

Score 7 / 10

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How to Remove DRM from iTunes Video Purchases and Rentals [ITunes]

We've looked at removing DRM from iTunes movies and TV shows on Windows, but what about Mac OS X? Here's how to rip out the DRM and turn that copy-protected M4V file into a regular old MP4 on your Mac. More »






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DIY Removable Cleats Keep You from Slipping on the Hard Winter Ice [DIY]

Winter can be a dangerous time to walk outside, even to just grab the mail or do a bit of yard work. DIY web site Instructables shows us how to keep from slipping on ice with a cheap pair of DIY cleats. More »






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Motorola Atrix 4G on Video: a Graphical Powerhouse

Among the many new handsets debuting at last week’s CES, the Motorola Atrix 4G commanded much of the attention. The smartphone uses a high-resolution 960 x 540 display powered by Nvidia’s Tegra 2 and will run on AT&T’s HSPA+ network in the first half of this year. Perhaps the most unique aspect of the Atrix 4G is the ability to dock the phone in a laptop shell or a computer-like dock with USB ports, HDMI out and a wireless keyboard / mouse combo.

The modular docking options show promise, but I’m not yet sold that mainstream consumers will take to them. However, they’ll likely want to use the Atrix 4G as a miniature set-top box for big screen video or for rich 3-D gaming, so I captured those uses in an under four minute video. Tegra 2, which was inside most of the new phones and tablets, is surely up to the task for graphic intensive applications. At the end of the video, you’ll see how it handles a gallery full of images which fly across the screen without a hint of lag.

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Verizon Launches iPhone 4, Available February 10th

Today marks the end of a very, very, very long march towards the Verizon iPhone. Years of fruitless rumors can now be put to rest as the iPhone 4 will soon be available in a CDMA flavor on Big Red's 3G network "early next month." At New York's Lincoln Center, Verizon announced that it began negotiating with Apple to bring the device to the network back in 2008, and that it has been internally testing Apple's iPhone 4 internally for roughly the last year on its nationwide network. Verizon customers will have a choice of iOS, Android or BlackBerry when shopping for a smartphone. It also means that iPhone fans no longer need to sign a contract for AT&T service, which has been the frequent target of reliability complaints since the launch of the original iPhone back in 2007.



The version being offered by Verizon is essentially the same device being offered on AT&T, including the speedy A4 processor, HD video capabilities, Facetime support and Apple's high-resolution retina display. The 16GB model will sell for $199.99 with a two-year agreement (the same deal offered by AT&T) starting on February 10, while the 32GB version will run $299.99. Though, due to limitation of CDMA tech, you won't be able to simultaneously talk on the phone and browse the Web as you can with the AT&T iPhone the Verizon version does have the ability to turn into a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to five other devices, something Android users have enjoyed for sometime now that has been missing on iOS. The question now is, how will AT&T respond to losing its exclusive hold over the iPhone and how will Verizon's network hold up if, as expected, millions of customers flee AT&T and snatch up the Verizon iPhone?



Update: Engadget reports that, thanks to the slightly repositioned volume buttons and mute switch, current iPhone 4 cases and bumpers might not fit the Verizon version. The switch to CDMA necessitated a redesigned antenna, which resulted in the minor shift in placement. So, if you were considering jumping ship to Verizon and just reusing your old iPhone case, you might be forced to throw down for yet another overpriced case.

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