scratch

Mix like a pro DJ with VirtualDek

The first disc jockeys discovered that using side-by-side turntables is the best way to cue up tunes for broadcast or dancing. DJing has gone from a skill to a performance under the hands of today's turntablists, but you don't need to invest in a pair of analog decks to mix beats like the pros with VirtualDek 2.2. This digital music suite uses two virtual turntables with realistic action to make playing and mixing MP3s, WMAs, and WAVs nearly as easy as cueing up vinyl tracks with a stylus. With a central mixing panel, syncing, direct monitoring, scratching, … Read more

Ion Scratch 2 Go turns you into DJ Suction Cups

LAS VEGAS--Achieving DJing glory on the iPad is possible thanks to some pretty nifty apps out there, but there's always been something missing from the experience. A cold flat screen just can't replicate the dynamism and quirks of real knobs and records. Ion Audio is taking a shot at putting the feel back into tablet DJing with a set of tactile controls.

A demo unit of Scratch 2 Go is on the show floor at CES 2013. It consists of a slider control, two round discs for scratching control, and two banks of three knobs each for all the fine tuning. They hang onto the screen thanks to what Ion describes as "industrial suction cups."

The suction cups feel pretty solid. Pull them up and look below to see what makes this tick. Underneath, the spinners have what looks like the tip of a touch-screen stylus. It's nothing fancy, but it works.… Read more

How its aluminum housing may be causing iPhone 5 shortages

Cuts, scrapes, and scratches are part of what seems to be slowing Apple's iPhone 5 supply.

According to Bloomberg, the smartphone's delicate aluminum housing, coupled with increasingly stricter quality control, has slowed production and added to the device's supply shortfall.

When Apple launched the iPhone 5 last month, fanatics flocked to stores and Web sites to get the device -- but many were met with "sold out" and "check back soon" notices. Early reports said one of the reasons for the shortage of phones was the device's new LG Display technology.

Now … Read more

Eight fixes the iPhone 5 needs

Three weeks into using the iPhone 5, there's an awful lot I like: the screen, the weight, the speed, and even features like turn-by-turn navigation, which has become my lifeline while moving out to the suburbs with a car. It is, without a doubt, my favorite iPhone. However, there are aspects I'd like to see addressed: Maps is at the top of the list, obviously. But there are also some small features in iOS 6 that could stand to be improved. And, there are some nonsoftware issues as well.

"Better reception or Wi-Fi quality" isn't … Read more

Finding flaws in the iPhone 5

Monday's CNET Update is a bit scratchy:

Apple sold more than 5 million iPhone 5 units as of the first weekend. That's a million more than the launch of the iPhone 4S. But looks like Apple could have sold many more if there was enough supply. Several retail stores in major cities had only 8 or 10, according to reports, and didn't get enough to fulfill preorders.

When you have millions of people around the world racing to be the first to have one, there are high standards. So there's been quite a bit of press … Read more

iPhone 5: Say hello to scuffgate?

If you bought Apple's iPhone 5 today and noticed a ding on it, you're not alone.

On message boards and social media, new iPhone 5 owners are complaining of small scratches and nicks on their new smartphones, purportedly located near the antenna markers on the side of the device or near the screen. The issues appear mostly limited to the black version of the iPhone 5. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

We spotted at least three dozen examples of consumers frustrated with small abrasions discovered after unboxing their shiny new iPhone.

Mash up video clips with effects and music

VJay, from the makers of DJay for iPhone, is mixing software for videos much like a DJ setup, but instead you'll record, mix, and add audio and effects to create cool-looking video mashups.

The interface is sleek-looking and fairly easy to use with a little bit of digging around. It is set up with video screens on the bottom on both sides, then the main viewing window up top. On each side you can touch a button to add a video source and work with playback and loop controls. You also have a button that brings up tools for … Read more

From Nissan, a self-healing iPhone case

Ever gotten a shiny new iPhone case, only to drop it and see it get scratched up within days? The same self-healing paint used to keep some Nissans blemish-free could be the next big thing for protecting iPhones.

Scratch Shield paint developed by Nissan can repair small scratches on a surface in a few hours. Made from polyrotaxane, the chemical structure of the paint enables it to react to small chips and fill in the gaps. It's currently used on the Nissan Murano, 370Z, and X-Trail, but the auto manufacturer has found a much larger market for its smart paint in iPhones. … Read more

Is Apple bumper case scuffing steel antenna band on iPhone 4?

According to a growing thread in the Apple Support Discussions forums, the Apple bumper case, made specifically for the iPhone 4 (and a major part of the "Antennagate" solution), is scratching the steel antenna band.

ASD user Dayvidpriddy reports:

"I received my black bumper about a week ago now. Took off the bumper tonight to clean my phone down and there are scratch marks on the steel band from the bumper (this is caused from the pieces of hard plastic on the underside of the bumper."

Many of the comments after the initial post point out … Read more

Is your iPhone 4 showing scratches? (poll)

Could the iPhone 4 have a scratch problem? Earlier Wednesday, gadget blog Engadget released photos of a five-day-old demo unit with some very discernible scratches on the back side.

This, despite the fact that the new iPhone is made of hardened glass on both the front and rear, and that Steve Jobs himself said it's better at resisting scratches.

(Bad day for Apple: This comes hot on the heels of reports of discolored screens.)

It remains to be seen whether this is an isolated incident or the iPhone 4 is indeed scratch-prone, at least on the back. For what … Read more