Apple Eyes Solar-Powered Gadgets

The iKey? Why not?

(NEWSER) - Steve Jobs may be stepping back , but that’s no reason to stop being jazzed about all things Apple: The company snagged a whopping 563 patents last year, some of which are sure to eventually see the light of day. Mashable reports on 10 you should be particularly excited about:

• iBike: A smart bike concept that tracks data like your heart rate, the bike’s speed, and distance on your iPod or iPhone.
• Wand remote: A remote control for your Apple TV that functions like a Wii remote, using motion control.

Analysts guess $300 scaled-down version of popular gadget in the works

(NEWSER) - Apple will release a fewer-frills, cheaper counterpart to its wildly successful iPhone by the end of the year, a JP Morgan report claims. A Taiwan-based analyst cites an unnamed source in the supply chain and a patent application for a multifunctional handheld device with a circular touch pad, which Apple submitted last week. More»

Scalpers find imaginative ways to take a bite of Apple

(NEWSER) - Apple and AT&T aren’t the only ones cashing in on the iPhone craze. The Washington Post reports on strategies—both high-tech and low-brow—being deployed to profit on tomorrow's release. Many of those camping on lines around the country are being paid for their trouble; offers on Craigslist have been running as high as $1,000. More»

Users complain it's 'unusable'

(NEWSER) - Google finally released its long-awaited stand-alone Gmail client for iPhones, iPads, and iPods today—only to immediately pull it down after a flood of complaints over bugs. “The iOS app we launched today contained a bug with notifications. We have pulled the app to fix the problem,” Gmail’s official Twitter account said. “Sorry we messed up.” A brief message on Gmail’s blog said much the same thing. More»

Technology uses infrared signal to prevent filming events

(NEWSER) - Apple has filed a patent on technology that could ensure you never see someone filming a concert or sporting event on an iPhone again. The technology would allow live event venues to install infrared transmitters that could trigger an infrared sensor in any iPhone held aloft within range, shutting off the camera, according to the Daily Mail . The paper speculates that the technology is designed to appease media companies who don’t want their concert footage scooped by phone-shot YouTube videos. The patent was apparently filed in late 2009, reports the New York Times . More»