OS X Mavericks, The New Mac Operating System

Apple admitted it had trouble naming the next generation of OS X, but it picked a name devoid of cats so that it'll continue on for years to come. OS X Mavericks 10.9 is what it's called, Apple's impressive next-generation Mac operating system slated for a fall release. Little has been done done in terms of user interface design, however, a lot has been focused on improvements and more than 200 new features that some more notably intelligently help prolong battery life thru smart power consumption and power-saving technologies like App Nap that run seamlessly behind the scenes as you work to reduce CPU load by slowing down apps that are hidden in the background when you are focusing on something else.

Among a sea of new features and enhancements which some include power users in mind, OS X Mavericks supports up to 4K display resolution and a featured called Multiple Displays allows the system to operate individually across multiple external displays whilst retaining menu bars and docks on each screen instead of relying on one primary display interface to handle different tasks. It also has deeper iOS app integration than Lion has with apps such as iBooks and Maps now available on a desktop level. Your iOS apps will sync with your OS X apps, and Finder has been enhanced with organization tabs and tagging for quicker more specific search results.

Apple got rid of Scott Forstall's old school design choices which included wood, leather and felt elements in app interfaces. The newly designed Calendar app for example is now more simplistic look to coincide with the rest of the stock apps. There's a lot more to discover, and you can learn more about OS X Mavericks on Apple's detailed OS X Mavericks overview page. 

New iOS 7, OS X Banners Revealed At WWDC 2013

With just 3 days to go before WWDC 2013 begins where Apple will unveil its latest iOS and OS X operating systems, purportedly along with a few new hardware announcements, banners of Apple's iOS 7 were hung up at the Mascone center in San Francisco where this year's WWDC event will be taking place. One of the main banners shows a colorful, thin and minimalist "7" (the new iOS 7 logo we presume) with a very subtle gradient background grid supposedly denoting a complete design overhaul of iOS - which is what we're all expecting it to be.

In addition, it looks like OS X will be receiving a more modern and minimalist facelift judging by the new OS X "X" logo plastered on one of the many welcoming, but mostly teasing banners at the Mascone center. There's no doubt Apple wants to convey a refreshing change. The two banners feature an identical sleek font that Apple has never used before indicative of a more uniformed design language being implementing across the two platforms. From what we can tell, this is a huge design change that leaves behind the glossy reflections and heavy bold design that has been present in Apple's repertoire over the years. Here's what last year's WWDC banners of iOS 6 looked like. So far we like what we see, sir Jony Ive.

Why You Shouldn't Purchase The New 16GB iPod Touch

In case you haven't heard, Apple released a 16GB iPod touch without a rear-facing 5-megapixel iSight camera at a more affordable $229 price point. The thing is, as a consumption device the new 16GB iPod touch will quickly fill up with hefty games, music and movies. For an additional $20, you can get a refurbished 5th generation iPod touch with 32GB of storage and a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera capable of recording 1080p videos with even more colors to pick from for $249. Apple's refurbished iPods are practically new and come with a one year warranty, but you can only purchase them online. The new 16GB iPod touch isn't worth purchasing with such a small difference in price compared to a like-new 32GB model offered by Apple itself. 

Apple Releases New Cheaper iPod Touch 5 With 16GB Of Storage

Today, Apple has introduced a cheaper iPod touch 5 with a 16GB storage capacity for only $229. The new model is available now, and still has the same 4-inch Retina Display, ultra-slim aluminum build, a dual-core A5 chip and all the usuals as the more expensive 32GB and 64GB models; even a set of EarPods. The catch? It lacks a rear-facing camera (you've got an iPhone for that no?), the loop strap and it only comes in one color, silver. Still, great news for minimalists all around. In a move towards offering more affordable products that will enable more people to enjoy the fruits of Apple, it is rumored that the company will eventually release a more affordable iPhone model as well. This is a great start so far.

Mutator Silence Switch Will Really Mute Your iPhone With A Twist

Are you someone who uses their iPhone's mute switch on a daily basis only to be reminded that, well, it really silence your iPhone completely. The mute switch is actually only designed to mute your ringtone and not Siri, music, video, mail alerts, camera shutter and other apps that can disturb your one simple request for silence. Mutator is one clever little low-profiled dongle shaped like a pyramid that plugs directly into your headphone port, and with a twist, Mutator will instantly and completely silence your iPhone from any and all unwanted sounds except for any alarms you've set of course.

It also won't interfere with the actual mute switch, meaning it won't silence your ringtone/text audio notification instead. Twisting it back disengages its silencing effect. That quick and brilliantly easy. A white indicator is notched into one side of the Mutator to serve as a visual on/off indicator. The one negative concerning such types of add-on accessories like the MyLED and many before it, is having to sacarfice your one and only headphone port.

You can pre-order it via Kickstarter right now for $16, in either black or white.

Trunk Bends Over Backwards As A Posable Short Lightning Cable

Among the plethora of short Lightning connector cables that have recently hit the market comes a more versatile accessory called the Trunk. Not only is it a shortened USB to Lightning connector charge & sync cable, but a cable that can be bent like a gooseneck into a vertical in-car GPS stand among other uses when plugged into a USB outlet. It's solid, yet it's also flexible just like Laffy Taffy. Now let's see your limp Lightning cable do this. The Trunk is made by iLoveHandles, the same folks that have come up with other ingenious accessories for Apple products like the Facet magnetic pyramid stand for iPads.

By the look of it, the Trunk doesn't seem like it would fit many protective iPhone 5 cases so keep that in mind. A micro-USB variant is also available in black for all you Android users. Both can be pre-ordered now for $20, and are expected to ship on June 15.

Ultimate Ears UE Boom Wireless Portable Speaker Has It All

Can't get enough of these portable Bluetooth speakers? You're in for quite a treat if you're shopping around for that awesome package of portable audio goodness because Ultimate Ears has recently come out with the UE Boom, a powerful wireless Bluetooth speaker capable of pushing out loud 360-degree sound to liven up your boring party wherever it may be. Marketed as a versatile speaker with speakerphone features and oversized on-board volume controls, the UE Boom is also built to withstand a splash of water thanks to its unique acoustic protective skin that makes it water and stain-resistant.

Its got dual 1.5-inch performance audio drivers as well as two 2-inch passive radiators to help separate bass from mids and highs, which we think is going to make the UE Boom a very compelling portable speaker at its $200 price. Other features include NFC for easy touch pairing with Android NFC enabled devices, ability to join a second UE Boom to a single audio source for a stereo sound using an iOS or Android device, and last but not least the UE Boom packs a 15-hour rechargeable battery housed inside an attractively designed body no less. You can pick one up now in 6 different colors.