Review: iDapt i4 Mobile Device Charging Station.

Ah, electricity. The life blood that keeps us electronic-toting, gadget-loving nerds alive. Well, ok. Actual blood keeps us alive if you want to get all technical. But for all intents and purposes, it’s electricity that keeps us moving. But unlike our gadgets when we venture too far from a power outlet, we manage to keep going…and going. Our unlucky gadgets on the other hand don’t fare so well — the permanent standby claims them. Of course, a fresh outlet and 1-2 hours later is all that’s needed to resurrect those beloved electron-loving devices we cherish so much.

But if you’re like me, you don’t have one or even two gadget mouths to worry about. Noooo sir (or mam). You’ve got 7, 8, 10, or more gadgets all clamoring for digital juice. Most of us don’t have six outlets by our end table. Power strips work wonders but lead to wires all over the place. The next best solution is a multi-device docking/charging station. And today, that’s exactly what we’re taking a look at — the iDapt Mobile Device Charging Station.

iDen, pack your bags. Love, Dan Hesse.

To those in the tech world, one of the worst acquisitions ever to occur was that of Sprint and Nextel. Nextel was just so…old. The iDen network is a joke. The only reason it’s still here is because of it’s walkie-talkie feature. And even that isn’t unique to just iDen phones anymore. Virtually every major carrier now has their own push-to-talk solution. Further watering down iDen’s usefulness is the simple fact that it pales in comparison to even 3G technologies such as HSDPA/HSUPA and HSPA+, let alone 4G services. So it isn’t that surprising to hear Sprint CEO, Dan Hesse start shouting that the end is near for iDen/Nextel.

In regards to the Nextel iDen network, Hesse stated:

Over time, we’ll have fewer and fewer customers on the iDEN network. That allows us to use some of that capacity on the network that is freed up and use it for CMDA. It’s a gradual process. There will be an end date for all 2G, just like there was an end date for 1G.

Don’t worry yet, iDen users. Sprint can’t just go shutting off a network used by millions at the drop of a hat. But take heed, the end is near. In the following weeks and months, we’ll keep a close eye on this as something as simple as a start date for an iDen shutdown would be mighty helpful.

On the flipside, the spectrum gained from the shuttering of iDen services will open it up to more useful things such as 4G. For Sprint, that means more WiMax availability. Down with iDen I say!

How to watch the World Series online because Fox sucks.

Cablevision subscribers and baseball fanatics probably already know how the Cablevision vs. Fox spat is going. Actually, it’s not going — for end users that is. Fox has blocked all broadcast content from Cablevision subscribers until they can get more money. (Is it ever any different?) As such, end users suffer. But that’s ok. While Fox may not care about you or want your money, there are ways to get around it.

It’s called Postseason.TV. And while it’s not free…it works! But let’s be real, a one-time fee of $9.95 isn’t really all that bad. Adding to that service, you can even stream all of the Postseason.TV content to your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch though the MLB At-Bat app.

One of these days, Fox, along with all the other content owners, will learn that greed only harms themselves. Customers will find other means to satisfy their multimedia hunger.

[Update: 2] And the plot thickens: White iPhone 4 actually cancelled, delays are a smokescreen?

Well this would certainly qualify for “scandalous” — A source of BGR close to one of the manufacturers for Apple’s iPhone 4 has come forward to shed some potentially saddening news. Specifically, the delays Apple is torturing us with are supposedly mere smokescreens for the cold hard truth — the iPhone 4 in white garb has been cancelled. The delays are an “easy” way to keep the original issue (paint matching between back case and home button) at bay while also allowing Apple to push off the possible fix until the iPhone 5 drops.

Speaking of that paint matching issue, the same source also claims that the manufacturers aren’t saying anything confirming Apple’s (and the rest of the world’s) belief that it was a manufacturing issue, and that that is a second smokescreen to the real issue. What that “real” issue exactly is isn’t mentioned. It’s certianly believable that Apple would purposely holding back the white iPhone 4, instead aiming to pick up the pieces and continue on with the iPhone 5. But it just seems so…odd. Though as all things of this nature go, tread lightly and avoid the salt.

Update

A post over at Cult of Mac points the blame finger at not the home button or mis-matched back case, but the camera. Specifically, the rumor (that we’ve heard tossed around a bit before) claims that the translucent white glass back of the white iPhone 4 lets too much light back into the case, screwing around with the camera sensor. As such, all pictures taken with the white iPhone 4 are washed out. This issue is magnified when using the flash. A “source close to the matter and Apple” said that the issue is severe enough that a complete redesign of the phone is looking to be the only solution — hence the multiple delays.

That definitely sounds plausible. Why can’t Apple just tell us what’s going on?

Update

And now the white iPhone has been pulled again. Cancelled? It’s looking more like it…

Spotify: “Absolutely not for sale”.

Remember back into the past…like…12 hours ago when we were talking about a potential Spotify + Apple deal? Apparently it isn’t happening. (But that’s what they always say, isn’t it?) Of course, when the communications director (Jim Butcher) of the company in question — A company that doesn’t often comment on internet rumors. — comes forward and bluntly says that they’re not for sale, it tends to hold a bit more weight.

We wouldn’t normally comment on this kind of speculation, but we wanted to make it clear that we have absolutely no intention of selling Spotify. We’re working hard to build the best music service we can and are in this for the long haul.

It’s no secret that Spotify is tearing it up overseas. Adding to the doubt of a potential Apple take over, Apple wouldn’t really gain anything new that they didn’t already acquire when they picked up Lala last year. Of course, common sense, rationalization, and company employee statements are hardly “set-in-stone” proof one way or another. What do you guys think?

The future of LTE so far: 160+ operators in 64 countries.

Sometimes in regards to technology, just because something is new or technically better than the tech it aims to replace doesn’t mean it will actually take off and garner a massive public following. When 4G first started being bantered about, there were several different specifications vying for supremacy. Fast forward through several years of corporate bickering and gander at the future of cellular technology: LTE. Here in the U.S. and AT&T are the biggest names pushing the 4G wave. But how are things fairing across the planet?

Quite well according to the GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association). In their latest report, 113 firms have already committed (and/or started) to deploying LTE 46 countries. A further 43 “pre-commitment”/”we’re thinking about it” trials or pilots are being carried out in 18 other countries. The grand total: 156 operators in 64 countries. It’t not really a surprise to see LTE enjoying widespread acceptance. But it’s nice nonetheless. 4G is coming.

Zotac GTX 460 x2: for those who want a streamlined SLI option.

Generally speaking, if you have one graphics card and want better performance, you buy a second and slap it into your rig. If your graphics card was laughably week to begin with, sometimes even upgrading to a more beefy single card is all that’s needed. Both single and dual-GPU configurations have the pros and cons. Thankfully, during most product cycles, Nvidia and ATI have given us the best of both worlds — “x2″ editions of GPUs which feature two GPU dies on a single PCB.

With Nvidia’s GTX 460 being hands down one of the most attractive options for cheap speed, SLI seems like a no brainer. Hell, two of these cards pair together can easily beat a single GTX 480 as well as stand toe-to-toe in several different games with CrossfireX ATI 5850′s and to a slightly lesser degree, CrossfireX 5870′s. Obviously, these cards have some power.

And now it gets even better as Zotac has announced plans to release an “X2″ version…