Apple certainly has to make sure that the sixth generation iPhone is something different, since most iFans were not too happy about the 4S. It appears like the device will indeed be different, coming with a LiquidMetal casing and the earlier rumored LTE support to keep up with the times, if the new rumors are to be believed that is.

According to Gene Munster, analyst for Piper Jaffray, Qualcomm is getting ready to supply the LTE chipset for the next iPhone and the device will possibly be launched this October. Nothing unbelievable about that launch date as it is a year after the iPhone 4S’ announcement.

But what’s more interesting is the info that the upcoming iPhone might be housed in a LiquidMetal casing. In case you are imagining the iPhone in liquid state, LiquidMetal is an alloy of titanium, nickel, copper, zirconum and other metals. If this material is used for making the casing, it will give you the feeling of glass but will be physically tough and also resistant to wear, scratches and dents. Which means those iPhone repair stores which are sustained solely off broken iPhone screens may have a tough future.

Since objects made of LiquidMetal can be formed with a process like injection molding, it is possible to make different physical forms. We are expecting a unique unibody casing.

A new design will always be welcomed as the current iPhone design has been here for nearly two years. And Apple has the exclusive rights to use LiquidMetal in electronic products; their first product was an iPhone SIM card ejector tool. Many other manufacturers are already into new materials for their phones, but the iPhone 5 (or the new iPhone or maybe iPhone T1000 or whatever it will be called) will be more attractive with the benefits of LiquidMetal.

[Image Source]

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Incase has several sets of headphones in addition to their extensive line of iPhone and iPad cases. The company went ahead and slipped these bad boys into all the Apple Stores, which is where I saw it.  I thought, damn that’s a nice headphone box, I wonder what the headphones sound like.

With memory foam wrapped faux-suede padding on the ear cups and head band, the Incase Sonic Over Ear Headphones have a very comfortable fit.  In fact, I fell asleep with them twice and didn’t wake up.  Usually with my Bose quiet comforts I get a sore ear or the cord wraps around my neck, something crazy like that.  That didn’t happen with the Sonic. I could even sleep on them sideways with my ear to the pillow, that’s how soft the memory foam is.  The other nice thing about it is being in this god forsaken frozen land known as Calgary, the faux-suede does keep you a little warm.  I would imagine this could get rather hot and uncomfortable in the beating sun of California.

Of course, being in the Apple Store there are certain requirements.  I think one of them is using that fingerprint loving matte plastic finish to make you’re product look esthetically boardroom prototype pleasing to the Apple store buyers club.  The other requirement seems to be going overboard on packaging. If I were to guess, these boxes probably cost the company a pretty penny. Total overkill if you ask me, and I’m not particularly keen on the whole environmental implications of everyone having to have the best damn box out there.  Make you’re product good and wrap that thing in something biodegradable.  You’ll get more green points with me.

Sound quality I would say is nearly superb.  They are noticeably different than what I am used to, but the warm richness of the sound is nice and they do sound clean and clear.  Its not going to blast your hip hop bass, I think this is because of the faux-suede again not creating that air tight seal on your head.  But the titanium drivers are very tight and warm at the same time.

The 3.5mm input jack on the left ear cup is brilliant.  I’m the kind of guy who trips on his headphones, i’ve resoldered my Bose Triports about 5 times now.  If they were clever enough to do something like this I would have never had that problem.  It just disconnects and probably saves me from suffocation in the middle of the night too.  Incase gives you 2 sets of these nice cables, they are both the same length, just different colors and made of some silicon rubber compound.  They give you one blue and one grey, I would have preferred one longer set and a shorter set for my pocket as I don’t care much for what color my headphone cable is.  Aside from that, you get a 1/4″ adapter too for your guitar amp or whatever else.

Bottom Line

Incase is not an audiophile company, but they did a good job making the Sonic headphones sound worthy.  The elongated ear cups give you a clear, crisp studio sound, with warm rich tones.  The inline iPhone controller and microphone is always a bonus to keep the radiation beast away from our skulls.   The price is right at $150, but I would like to see the company ease up on packaging.  Sure it looks nice on the shelf, but that’s not what counts, I don’t care what Apple says or has done with their wreckless use of packaging material, just focus on products and save a few trees.

[ Incase Sonic Headphones ]

 Features

• Earcups match the natural ear shape for enhanced fit and sound isolation
• Low-mass titanium audio drivers reduce sound distortion
• Suede covered memory foam on earcups
• Fully articulating earcups offer a wide range of adjustment
• Hidden joints and gentle curves maintain a clean and seamless profile
• Signature Incase soft-touch coating delivers a subtle matte finish
• Integrated microphone and remote control for MacBook, iPod, iPhone and iPad
• Right-angled audio jack
• Includes two detachable audio cables in different colors
• Includes premium storage bag with padded faux-fur lining
• Includes 1/4″ cable adapter

• Drive type = Diaphram
• Driver size = 40mm
• Frequency Response = 20Hz – 20KHz
• Impedence = 32± 15% @ 1KHz
• Sound Pressure Level = 103± 3dB @ 1KHz
• THD = Max 3%
• Number of Drivers = 2
• Number of microphones = 1

The post Incase Sonic Headphones Review: They Made Titanium Soft and Warm appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Who needs a fancy Tesla Roadster when you could ditch cars altogether and go for a luxury bicycle? Paul Budnitz, the Kidrobot founder, has created a high-end bike that should last a lifetime. There are two models available; the No1 and No2 bikes are both handmade in the United States.

At the heart of both models is a Titanium Cantilever frame that’s said to be as light as carbon fiber, stronger than steel, and rust and corrosion-proof. The frame’s curved tube bends under pressure to absorb road shock. The No1 commuting bike is described as the fastest commuting bike in the world and is meant for riding to the office or breezing through European cities like Copenhagen. You have the choice of a belt-driven single speed or for an extra $750, an 11-speed internally geared transmission. The bike sports mounts for a rack and a water bottle. Gear and brake cables are hidden inside the frame so the aesthetic value of the bike is not ruined.

No2 is meant for “sunny spring days and errands around town” and features a 3.4 pound titanium frame and fork, and superfat tires. The giant front wheel will roll over anything, including curbs and you can take it out on dirt roads.

Sounds awesome, right? The price tag, not so much. The bikes come in at $5,500 a piece and come in three frame sizes. There’s a 60 to 90 day production window.

The post High-end titanium Budnitz bikes $5500 each appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

“256-bit AES data encryption and controls which will allow IT administrators to remotely control the phone i.e. lock/data wipe in case it gets stolen or lost.”

You get Froyo, a 3.1-inch HVGA display, that QWERTY keyboard you’ve come to love, corporate mail, world mode for international roaming, 3G hotspot, 5MP camera, Bluetooth 2.1, and access to Android Market of course. Look for the XPRT to hit the usual channels on June 5 for $129.99 on an eligible two-year contract.

Tapping into the bread and butter of Nextel, we have the Motorola Titanium. It’s the first Nextel Direct Connect smartphone with Android 2.1. Going beyond the PTT function, the Motorola i1 successor gets a 3.1-inch touchscreen, military grade toughness, QWERTY keyboard, corporate mail, 5MP cam, GPS, and stereo Bluetooth.   They’re not as sexy or svelte as the consumer-targeted smartphones, but these are more suitable for guys working in the field.  No word on Titanium availability just yet.

The post Motorola XPRT Smartphone is the Android Blackberry appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

With summer just around the corner, more folks are going to be hopping onto their two-wheelers to trek around the city. Unfortunately, there are thieves lurking around every corner, so you’ll want to have the right kind of security. The TiGr lock could be the elegant lightweight ticket.

Unlike conventional D-style bike locks, the TiGr is made of a flexible titanium bow. Like a giant flexible U, it’ll wrap through your front wheel and around the thing where you’re securing your bike (e.g., parking meter). The two ends of the TiGr then meet back up where you secure them with a locking cylinder.

The idea is that you get “a really secure bike lock that’s actually sexy.” The titanium is flexible, but very difficult to cut (it stood up to a 48-inch bolt cutter). When riding, the TiGr can then wrap around the top cylinder of your bike (and you stow the locking cylinder in your pocket).

It seems like an interesting idea, but I imagine the titanium could make this lock a fair bit pricier than conventional steel counterparts ($150 for your own). If you want to see it made into a reality, head over to the Kickstarter page and pledge your part. The project needs $37,500 and it has raised over $19,000 thus far.

The post TiGr Titanium Bicycle Lock Keeps Security Elegant appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Yes, I suppose you could just carry around your run of the mill Swiss Army knife, but it’s unlikely that it’ll be made from titanium. For something a little more robust, you might take a look at the Wrex Titanium Pocket Wrench.

It doesn’t come with a magnifying glass and a set of tweezers, but this multi-tool does come with a sharp blade, a wire stripping hole, a double-ended screwdriver bit, a 1/4-inch hex bit, and a bottle opener, all to go along with its usual wrenching duties.

That’s the good news for all the mobile handymen (and handywomen, for that matter) in the audience. The bad news is that it weighs in at a rather substantial $179 and you’ve got to wait until next month to buy one. Titanium doesn’t come cheap at $180!

[Read via Wrex]

The post Wrex Handles Pocket Tools in Titanium appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

You know, I thought I was pretty good about the mobile lifestyle. Yes, I use a desktop as my primary computer, but thanks to services like Google Docs and Dropbox, I can pack up my laptop and work from just about anywhere with Internet access. The Yill, by Werner Aisslinger of Younicos, takes this concept to a new level.

The white wheel of a contraption isn’t some fancy luggage for you to take to the airport. Instead, the Yill is a “self-contained energy storage unit.” Thanks to its lithium-titanium battery, you can effectively have loads of power with you anywhere you go. When it runs out, you can top it back up with a standard wall charger or via renewable sources like solar cells.

Yes, you’ll still need to pack your laptop. Yes, you’ll likely still need to bring along a tetherable smartphone, MiFi device, or Internet stick. But hey, at least you’ll have up to 300 watts of electricity at your disposal. The alternative, of course, is to just bring a couple of extra batteries for your phone and laptop rather than lug around a luggage-sized contraption.

Or, you know, take a little time off until you find a suitable wall outlet.

[Giz via Design Boom]

The post Yill White Wheel: The True Mobile Office with Power to Go appeared first on Mobile Magazine.