Apple patent reveals new laminate notebook with hidden display in lid

“Yesterday we reported on Apple commissioning the production of a mysterious fiber carbon product,” Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple. “We were the only source to point out that Apple was also working on ‘glass’ and/or ‘carbon’ fibers for products ranging from the iPhone to a notebook.”

“Today, Apple revealed information about a new notebook product entry that will have a laminate cover that would conceal a hidden camera and mini display on the backside of said notebook,” Purcher reports. “The display won’t be visible until it lights up when the user’s hand hovers over it. It’s simple a fascinating idea – more so because it could lead to an all-new product from Apple.”

Read more in the full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Arline M." for the heads up.]

Related article:
RUMOR: Apple ordering large number of carbon fiber parts for new mystery product – September 26, 2012

Apple Maps and the danger of overestimating your company’s strengths

“As everyone now knows, iOS 6's developers replaced Google's Maps application with Apple's proprietary mapping utility, developed through company acquisitions and with help from TomTom,” Liz Larsen reports for Fast Company. “Initial reviews noted the lack of integrated transit directions (a default in Google's Maps), location inaccuracies, missing landmark information, and imperfect (even melted!) 3-D views.”

“While the critical backlash hasn't dented sales of the fifth-generation iPhone, we can apply this misstep to a larger enterprise issue: How should companies evaluate which functions are better outsourced and which should be maintained in-house? These often mission-critical decisions–when made out of haste or hubris–can be enough to put brand reputation and loyalty at stake,” Larsen reports. “When it came time to execute on the strategy of bringing a previously open-sourced application in-house, it would appear that Apple's product development team had neither the time nor skill set to be successful, thus propelling the brand into an unwanted spotlight.”

Larsen reports, “Choosing to bring a new capability in-house is an exercise in honesty and objectivity, in terms of evaluating your own corporate identity and value proposition. And it is a decision that is best executed by taking personal pride (and even impatience) out of the formula. While some strategic moves may seem like a quick way to win a battle, presenting the best offering will ultimately win the war.”

Much more in the full article here.

Related article:
Tim Cook open letter: We fell short with new Maps app; we are extremely sorry – September 28, 2012

iPhone 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 2: Which one should you get?

Apple has released the taller, thinner, faster, lighter, brighter iPhone 5 -- and we've got your definitive iPhone 5 review right here -- and now Samsung is bringing their next-generation giant, the Galaxy Note 2 to market.

As much as Samsung has been labeled a "copyist" over the course of the last couple years, the Galaxy Note series has always been a big exception, literally. Due to its size, some have labeled it a "phablet", half phone, half tablet. While it's both of those things, it's also neither. It's really a Wacom-style digitizer put into highly mobile form. And as anyone who's ever used a Wacom knows, it resembles a stylus in shape only.

So what happens when you put Apple's precision up against Samsung's power? The iPhone 5's elegance against the Galaxy Note 2's enormity? Let's take a look.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2: Hardware and software

Android Central is working on a full review now, and we'll add a link to it here as soon as it's live. In the meantime, here are James Richardson's first impressions and hands-on with the Galaxy Note 2.

Powered by a quad-core 1.6 GHz Exynos 4 processor, the Galaxy Note 2 has some substantial horsepower behind it, along with a plentiful 2GB of on-board RAM. Combined with a whopping 3100mAh battery, we're expecting some serious longevity from this device. The Note 2 runs Jelly Bean out of the box, making Samsung's phone/tablet hybrid the first to ship with Android 4.1. And it now sports a 5.55-inch (non-PenTile) HD SuperAMOLED 1280x720 display, protected by Gorilla Glass 2. The extra size of the phone does add few of grams to its weight -- at 180 grams it isn't light, but it's not terribly heavy considering its monstrous size.

There are also numerous software enhancements, including the ability to command an on-screen cursor by hovering the stylus over the screen. This can be used to peek into gallery folders, calendar events expandable areas. And the usual selection of Samsung drawing and note-taking apps is included too, as are all of the software features of the Galaxy S3.

• Galaxy Note 2 hands-on

Apple iPhone 5: Hardware and software

The iPhone 5 has a newly re-designed unibody aluminum chassis to allow for a bigger 4-inch screen in a phone that's 12% smaller by volume. It's taller but not wider, thinner and also lighter. That 4-inch screen also uses in-cell technology to combine the touch sensor right into the LCD. At 1136x640 and 326ppi, it's still backlit LED, and still IPS, and technically the best, most advanced panel on the planet for now. Apple also rolled their own, custom Apple A6 processor this time, based on ARM v7s, for amazing performance and excellent power management. There's still no NFC, but there is CDMA, HSPA, and international LTE.

iOS 6 comes loaded on the iPhone 5, and includes a new, controversial Maps app, some great extensions to Siri, deep Facebook integration, Passbook, and enhancements to FaceTime, Mail, Safari, Photo Stream, and Accessibility. And because Apple makes both the hardware and the software, there's no integration, no added interface layers, and a seamless experience overall.

• Complete iPhone 5 review
• Complete iOS 6 review

Apple iPhone 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 2: The bottom line

While the story of the Apple iPhone 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy S3 might remain one of precision vs. power, when it comes to the iPhone 5 vs. the Galaxy Note 2, the elegance vs. enormity line requires deeper inspection. A 5.5-inch phone display is something that fits the needs of a very specific niche -- namely those that want more than a traditional phone -- those who essentially want a mobile notepad.

For this reason, for most people, the iPhone remains the default choice, and the perfect blend of killer design and absolute ease of use. If you don't like something about the iPhone, there are also a bunch of great alternatives to consider, including the Samsung Galaxy S3, HTC One X, or the upcoming Nokia Lumia 920.

The Galaxy Note 2, due to its size and its Wacom technology, is a very, very specific one, and you'll likely know if you need it.

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Apple calls Samsung’s allegation of jury misconduct ‘frivolous on its face’

“Late on Tuesday, Apple filed a first response to Samsung’s allegations of jury misconduct,” Florian Mueller reports for FOSS Patents.

“Apple does not oppose Samsung’s motion to seal all of its related accusations but wonders why Samsung brings such a motion after it ‘failed to redact enough material from its jury misconduct motion and supporting papers to keep the substance of its allegations secret,’ a failure that enabled the media to identify that Samsung’s attacks target jury foreman Velvin Hogan,” Mueller reports. “What Apple does oppose is Samsung’s request that the parties be barred from contacting members of the jury. That request doesn’t make sense to Apple given that the media would still be free to talk to any of the jurors, and in light of the willingness of several jurors to give interviews.

Mueller writes, “What I like about Apple’s motion is that Apple is at the same mindful of the jurors’ privacy and not at all afraid to discuss in public what needs to be addressed because of Samsung’s initiative. I continue to be very skeptical of Samsung’s chances of winning a new trial on the grounds of misconduct.”

Read more in the full article here.

Related article:
Samsung asks for new trial in patent dispute with Apple – September 25, 2012

Car Charger for Apple iPad, iPad2, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod Touch 4G, Nano 6th. Support all iPad, iPod, iPhone Models (Generic, White)

• Plugs into cigarette lighter port to power your device.
• Cable retains its original shape after extended periods of use.
• Comfortable Hand-grip Design.
• Integrated electrical fuse to prevent damage to phone or battery.
• Support all iPad, iPod, iPhone Models

Car Charger for Apple iPad, iPad2, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod Touch 4G, Nano 6th. Support all iPad, iPod, iPhone Models (Generic, White)

Rover 2.0 Wireless Spy Tank Review

 

I have been fascinated by robots since my childhood. It began when I saw the original Lost in Space robot, and was permanently cemented when C3PO and R2D2 were introduced in the original Star Wars. Ever since, I have been hoping that there would come a day when I would be able to command such a robot. Brookstone Innovation, a company that caters to high-tech toy lovers, has released their Rover 2.0 Wireless Spy Tank to people like me who crave to have their childhood dreams incarnated. Rover 2.0 is a remote control toy tank robot equipped with an infrared streaming wide angle webcam that is mounted on the front of the tank. The camera can move up and down (but not side-to-side, since you can use the robot's left and right movement for that purpose), and can stream video back to your iPad or Android device for secret spy missions or surveillance objectives. The two treads make the tank fairly easy to maneuver though the onscreen controls from the free iOS app takes a bit of patience to get comfortable with. The robot carries its own wireless access point and uses it to connect to the Rover 2.0 app. Unfortunately, that means while you're driving the tank, you have to be connected to the robot's access point and not your local WiFi access point. This means you will have to disconnect from the robot and reconnect to your network every time you want to connect your iPhone or iPad to the Internet via WiFi. 

 The iPad app can also be used to activate and capture still photos or moving video from Rover 2.0's on-board camera, steer the robot. The camera has infrared capabilities, allowing you to move the robot (as well as video record or snap photos) in complete darkness. Rover 2.0 can even broadcast two-way audio from the iPad to the Rover's built-in on-board speaker, allowing you to converse in a walkie-talkie mode with those nearby. If this sounds like a lot of fun, it is!  Rover 2.0, as the numerical assignment suggests, is a second generation design improvement over the original Rover product. I never had the chance to review the original Rover, so I don't have a basis of comparison for those who may already own the first iteration. While the improvements made to the original design further refined the product, Rover 2.0 has some technical limitations that indicate further iterations to the hardware and software design may be in the works. Powered by 6 AA batteries, this thing eats batteries for breakfast. Even though the package includes 6 AA batteries to get started with, potential Rover 2.0 owners might consider swapping them out with rechargeable batteries instead. While adding its own rechargeable battery brick would no doubt increase the cost of Rover 2.0 by a significant factor, the fact that the Rover lasts a little more than an hour on a fresh set of batteries means that this robot won't be roaming your hallways all night long. What would have been really cool is for the Rover to have a Roomba-style ability to automatically dock with a charging station when its batteries run low. That way, Rover 2.0 could always be on call, ready for action. Oh well, perhaps Rover 3.0 will offer such a nifty autonomous feature. 

 One nice ability that has yet to be fully realized is the record path feature. This works by activating the recording on the Rover 2.0 app, then driving the robot as normal. Stopping the recording stores the movement instructions for later playback. Unfortunately, only one playback set can be saved at a time, and those instructions are erased when the Rover 2.0 is turned off. Rather than recording a real-time set of movement instructions, the Rover 2.0 iOS application could be enhanced to include a simple series of command execution blocks (ex: turn right, go straight for 10 feet, turn left, stop for 30 seconds, take picture, turn around, go straight for 10 feet, etc.). Multiple instruction sets could be saved and shared with other Rover 2.0 owners. Games could be played to see how quickly a robot could be programmed to run an obstacle course, or run through the layout of a house or building based on the level of the structure and instruction set being executed. Since this should be a simple matter of updating the Rover 2.0 software app, adding such capabilities shouldn't be too difficult. Perhaps we'll see such functionality in a future Rover model. Overalll, the Rover 2.0 Wireless Spy Tank is an initially exciting yet constrained toy that shows a lot of promise of what we might all have in our homes one day. While it might be an expensive glimpse into the future, it might also provide inspiration to a fortunate young person to enter the field of robotics and build a future Rover that elevates it from a toy to an every day household appliance. Product: Rover 2.0 Wireless Spy TankCompany: Brookstone InnovationPrice: $149.99Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

AAPL bulls hopeful missed iPhone 5 unit sales number will catch up to analysts’ expectations

“Shares of Apple (AAPL) continue to be under pressure [today], falling $10, or 1.4%, to $690.07, worse than the 0.7% decline in the Nasdaq Composite Index, after the company this morning said it sold more than 5 million iPhone 5 units since the device formally went on sale last Friday, including pre-ordered units, while stating that demand has exceeded the company's initial supply,” Tiernan Ray reports for Barron’s.

“That was more than the 4 million or so the company sold in the debut weekend of the prior model, the iPhone 4S in October last year, but it was less than figures put out by Wall Street analysts that had been in the neighborhood of 7 million to 8 million units.,” Ray reports. “An article this morning by The Wall Street Journal's Ian Sherr and Ann Zimmerman notes that Apple provided fewer units of the iPhone 5 to its third-party retail partners this year than it has for prior debuts, including Best Buy.”

Ray reports, “Shaw Wu of Sterne Agee reiterates a Buy rating and an $840 price target, writing that the tally ‘is a bit lower than estimates as high as 10 mm’ but that ‘we are not overly concerned as this is still a big number and believe this is more a matter of high expectations getting out of touch with reality.’”

Read more in the full article here.

Related articles:
Analyst: Why Apple whiffed on iPhone 5 sales – September 24, 2012
iPhone 5 sales disappoint as Apple fails to produce units fast enough to meet demand – September 24, 2012
Apple iPhone 5 misses analysts' estimates with over 5 million units sold in first weekend – September 24, 2012
Apple: iPhone 5 sales exceed five million units in first weekend; demand exceeded initial supply – September 24, 2012
Apple: Due to high demand, some iPhone 5 pre-orders will be delivered in October, rather than September – September 17, 2012
France Telecom's Orange: Apple iPhone 5 pre-orders surpass iPhone 4 and 4S records – September 17, 2012
iPhone 5 pre-orders top two million in just 24 hours, more than double iPhone 4S previous record – September 17, 2012
Apple's iPhone 5 sets AT&T sales record; most successful iPhone launch ever – September 17, 2012
iPhone 5 pre-orders sell out in one hour, 22 times faster than iPhone 4S, further spotlighting Apple's dominance – September 14, 2012

Baby pink Back Housing Case Cover for iPhone 3GS 16GB With tools+Free touch pen

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Baby pink Back Housing Case Cover for iPhone 3GS 16GB With tools+Free touch pen

iMore Editors' Choice for September 23, 2012

Every week, the editors at iMore carefully select some of our favorite, most useful, most extraordinary apps, accessories, gadgets, and websites. This week's selections include a fun golfing game for the iPad, an old favorite Twitter app on the iPhone 5, an alternative to YouTube, and an app for finding wallpapers for your iPhone 5.

Wonderputt for iPad - SimonSage

So you didn't get an iPhone 5. That's fine, you still have your trusty iPad, right? Well, this really great mini-putt game came out last week called Wonderputt. It crams a whole 18 holes onto the same single screen, but as you'll quickly discover the course's surreal landscape continually shifts in bizarre and imaginative new ways. The controls are dead simple. All you have to do is drag a line behind your ball, with the length determining strength, and your finger's relative position altering the angle. Players are scored in traditional golfy fashion, with par, birdies, eagles, and the whole shebang. Scores are shared to online leaderboards on Game Center, and meticulous stats are saved on your how many shots you take and how long you take. There are collectibles hidden throughout the course, which are sure to bring you back for more. The graphics are Retina-ready and extremely well-done, and the soft sountrack will make you continually feel like you're in outer space.

Overall, Wonderputt is a charming, sharp, otherworldly experience. Definitely try it out.

• $0.99 - Download Now

Tweetbot for iPhone - Chris Oldroyd

This week, my pick is one that has been chosen before but I want to make it this weeks pick as it has just has received a new update that makes it extra awesome. Yes, Tweetbot now supports the iPhone 5 and its larger 4-inch screen and this apps shows you why that extra screen real estate is so important.

Tweetbot is quite simply the most elegant and functional Twitter app available for iPhone in my opionion and it is a real pleasure to use it. It makes me smile each and every time I hear the well chosen sounds and use the screen switching gestures; it is so intuitive. Tweetbot handles multiple timelines, smart gestures, push notifications, mute filters and much more.

The Tweetbot developers were right on the ball with updating Tweetbot and had iOS 6 and iPhone 5 support built into the app the day before iOS 6 launched and well in advance of the iPhone 5 release. Looking at this awesome app on the iPhone 5 big screen is so much nicer now, that screen was made for apps like this.

If you use Twitter and want an app that works better than any other and also makes you happy using it, make sure you get Tweetbot. Its my most used and favourite app on my iPhone 5!

• $2.99 - Download

Jasmine - Bla1ze

With the release of iOS 6 we saw Apple and YouTube sever ties and take out the YouTube.app. Google has made their official YouTube app available for download but for those of you out there who don't really like that one, there is a new option out there. Jasmine is now available for download and it looks rather fabulous. It's minimalistic in looks and big on function. All the things you'd expect from YouTube are built in such as comments, favourites, playlists and more but you also get the added benefit themes and filtering for notorious spam channels and such. Overall, it's pretty awesome and way better than the Google version plus, it's ready for the iPhone 5. With Jasmine installed, I've now uninstalled the official Google YouTube app.

• Free - Download Now

Retina Wallpapers & Backgrounds - Leanna Lofte

One of the first things I wanted to do once I had my beautiful new iPhone 5 in my hands was go on a hunt for the perfect wallpaper for my home screen. Most of the wallpaper apps out there don't yet offer support for the iPhone 5, but Retina Wallpapers & Backgrounds does! Retina Wallpapers & Backgrounds lets you sort wallpapers by category, download them to your Camera Roll, mark as favorites, and includes a lot of wallpapers for free. If you have an iPhone 5, check this one out!

• Free - Download Now

Reeder - Ally Kazmucha

Reeder has always been one of my favorite RSS apps whether I'm reading news on my iPhone or my iPad. Now that it's already ready for the iPhone 5, the experience is better than ever.

I love that I can see see more content when in portrait mode than before which means less scrolling. While there aren't any new changes to Reeder per say, it's still a great app and is even more enjoyable to use on the iPhone 5. Even if you have an older iPhone or an iPad, Reeder is a must have if you read a lot of news feeds from your iOS device.

• $2.99 - Download Now

Your choice?

Now that we've chosen our favorites for the week, we want to hear yours! Did you pick up a killer app, accessory, or game this week? Let us know in the comments below!

Apple delivers Gatekeeper to OS X Lion users

“Apple has made its Gatekeeper security tool available for customers running the Lion version of its operating system, having previously been one of the main selling points of its Mountain Lion upgrade,” Gareth Morgan reports for V3.

“The security boost comes as the firm also updated its Mountain Lion OS, bringing power nap capabilities to some older models of its MacBook Air and improving Facebook and Game Center integration,” Morgan reports. “The extension of Gatekeeper to Lion users will help keep more Macs safe from the threat of malware, giving users more control over which apps are installed, Apple said.”

Morgan reports, “Apple had originally identified Gatekeeper as a key selling point of its Mountain Lion upgrade. It enables users to set controls over which applications can be installed, potentially limiting installs to ones verified by Apple.”

Read more in the full article here.

MacDailyNews Note: OS X Lion Update 10.7.5 with Gatekeeper is available via Software Update or as a standalone installer. More info and download link here.

Sponsor Thanks – MOBiLE CLOTH

Big thanks to Mobile Cloth for sponsoring the site's RSS feed again this week.

Mobile Cloth is one of the least glamorous but most essential iPad accessories. The iPad, for all its many virtues, remains a huge finger print and smudge magnet - and having a good cleaning cloth around should quickly become a part of any iPad user's routine.

I've tried out plenty of different cleaning cloths with numerous mobile products I've owned over the years, and Mobile Cloth just works the best by far. It makes cleaning the iPad display fast and easy - and the nano size is perfect for keeping closeby even when you're out and about with the iPad.

Here's a nice offer for iPad Insight readers:

iPad Insight readers enter "IPADINSIGHT" at check out and receive 25% Off and Free Shipping on all order over $25 (valid until 9/30/2012 cannot be used for custom product).

Apple A6 die reveals 3-core GPU

“Our good friends at UBM TechInsights sent over the first diffusion images of Apple’s new A6 SoC,” Anand Lal Shimpi reports for AnandTech.

“It’s still too early to tell a lot but we have confirmation of a lot of things,” Lal Shimpi reports. “The image [see full article] shows two 32-bit LPDDR2 memory channels and three GPU cores.”

Lal Shimpi reports, “We’re likely looking at a PowerVR SGX 543MP3 running at 266MHz.”

Read more in the full article here.

New Maps app under fire, YouTube replacements, updated Apple apps in iOS 6

Wow, it didn't take long for a flurry of articles to appear regarding the shortcomings of the new Maps app. My initial impression is that it's speedy and useful, and am confident Apple will work out the bugs. But it's clear there's a lot of work to be done. CNET has posted an article documenting some of the many errors in the app: giving the wrong names for cities, leaving out locations, putting locations in the wrong place. Huffington Post even has a list of the 10 funniest fails. There are also complaints that the app doesn't offer all of the features of the original Maps app from Google. An article on PCWorld lists 6 Ways Google Maps Beats Apple iOS 6 Maps, such as the lack of public transit information and Street View, as well as poor traffic information. Google has indicated that it will work on making its app available as a download in the App Store.

Apple has not only given us a couple new apps, but iOS 6 also has major updates for nearly every Apple app. I noticed this right away when I used the Podcasts and Mail apps. AppleInsider has compiled a list of the new or changed features of these apps. You might want to check the list for your favorite apps to see what's new. According to AppleInsider, the following apps were updated: iPhoto, GarageBand, iMovie, Numbers, Keynote, Remote, Podcasts, Find My iPhone, Find My Friends, iTunes Movie Trailers, Cards, AirPort Utility, and iAd Gallery. GarageBand, for example, now lets you create custom ringtones and alerts. Podcasts now lets you sync with other devices via iCloud.

In addition to losing Google's Maps app, we also lost Apple's YouTube app. YouTube has made its own iOS app available for the iPhone, but an iPad version is reportedly months away. Meanwhile, other video discovery apps, such as ShowYou, Squrl, and Vidyou, are enjoying the opportunity for increased exposure. Read more on CNET.

Twitter for iPad Updated to Version 5.0

The official Twitter app for iPad (and iPhone) has been updated today, to Version 5.0. The iPad app in particular has had a major design refresh. Here's the full change list for the new version:

- New Twitter for iPad
- New profiles with header photos
- Photo streams on profiles and events
- Other improvements, polish, and fixes

I've only spent a short while with the new version of Twitter for iPad, so I really don't have much to say by way of first impressions as yet. I don't think it matches Tweetbot as yet, but it is good to see the app get a little more ambitious update than it has had in quite a while.

I wish Twitter would change their stance on no longer updating their Mac app, and also on their policies that seem dead set against 3rd party Twitter apps. I'm definitely in the camp that believes 3rd party apps have been a huge part of Twitter's success and they should be looking to increase their support for them, not erode it.

For those of you who have updated to this new version of Twitter for iPad, what do you think of it? What's your favorite iPad Twitter app?

Here's an App Store link for Twitter for iPad; it's a free app.

Like Power Naps Then You Need The Ostrich Pillow

Anyone who knows me will know that I am prone to odd power nap now and then, but these little power ups can be messy affairs with drinks and stuff on your desk. However, this handy Ostrich Pillow gives the power napper a little bit of privacy and comfort all at the same time. It is not on sale just yet as the team behind the Ostrich Pillow are currently looking at raising funds through the crowd funding site Kickstarter.

These are the details for the very interesting if not strange Ostrich Pillow;

OSTRICH PILLOW is a revolutionary new product to enable easy power naps anytime, everywhere, OSTRICH PILLOW's unique design offers a micro environment in which to take a cosy and comfortable power nap at ease. OSTRICH PILLOW has been designed to allow you to create a little private space within a public one, to relax and unwind. Its soothing soft interior shelters and isolates your head and hands (mind and body) for a short break, without needing to leave your desk, chair, bench or wherever you may be.

Backers on Kickstarter will be able to get their hands on one of the first Ostrich Pillows by pledging just $75 in the US or 47 in the UK.

Source [Studio Banana Things]

Starting to See a Few iPad Apps Updating for iOS 6

Last week Apple sent out an email reminding iOS developers to get their apps ready for the impending release of iOS 6. iOS 6 is the next major update to the iPad (and iPhone) operating system, and it is set to be released to the public this Wednesday, September 19.

I'm just starting to see a few notable iPad apps issue updates for iOS 6 over the last few days. Two that caught my eye today are Photogene for iPad, shown above, and OmniFocus for iPad.

Photogene for iPad is a very good photo editing and effects app. OmniFocus for iPad is an incredibly powerful and superb task management app. It's among my most used iPad apps and I couldn't get through a day without it - so needless to say this is one iOS 6 update I am very glad to see.

I imagine we will see a big flurry of iPad apps being updated for iOS 6 over the rest of this week.

Have you seen many of your iPad apps issuing iOS 6 updates yet?

Mossberg reviews Parallels Desktop 8: Works well; superior to VMWare Fusion

“I've been testing [Parallels 8] for about a week,” Walt Mossberg writes for AllThingsD. “It can run older versions of Windows, such as Windows 7, which worked well for me. Because running Windows 8 is a key feature of Parallels, I spent a lot of my testing time using a pre-release version of the new Microsoft operating system via Parallels.”

“Parallels 8 does a fine job of running Windows on a Mac, especially Windows 8. It doesn't emulate every feature, like those taking advantage of a touch screen-which the Mac lacks. But it makes Windows 8 work on a Mac pretty much like it works on a standard Windows PC that you'd upgrade to Windows 8,” Mossberg writes. “And it integrates Windows 8 with some new features of Mountain Lion, like centralized notifications and text dictation... VMware Fusion - a main Parallels competitor from VMware, a large publicly held Silicon Valley firm - also has a new version, Fusion 5, that is designed especially to handle Windows 8... I also installed and tested Fusion 5.”

Mossberg writes, “In my reviews of the last couple of editions of Parallels and Fusion, I've found Parallels, which claims about 70% of the Windows-on-Mac market, superior. I'm sticking with that conclusion. I found Parallels faster at every common task, like starting and restarting Windows, and resuming Windows from a suspended state... I can recommend Parallels 8 as a good solution for running Windows on a Mac simultaneously with Mac programs, and especially for Mac users who want to also use Windows 8 later this fall, or experiment with the pre-release version.”

Read more in the full article here.

iMore Editors' Choice for September 16, 2012

Every week the editors at iMore carefully select some of our favorite, most useful, most extraordinary apps, accessories, gadgets, and websites. This week's selections include a crazy hard abstract puzzle game, a killer audio accessory, a classic comic book, and a app for expecting parents.

Soundwave SW50 Bluetooth Speaker - Chris Oldroyd

I have been on the lookout for a reasonable priced good quality Bluetooth speaker that I can use in my bathroom and bedroom. Sure the Jambox is a lovely solution but the price is just a bit too tasty for me. Instead I decided to go for the Soundwave SW50 Bluetooth speaker and I am really glad I did.

I ordered it from Amazon here in the UK and it cost in total with free shipping, just 20 or $32. It arrived today and to say I am impressed is an understatement. Once I paired it with my iPhone 4S (which was very straight forward) I started to play some music through it and the quality was excellent. The most impressive part is the bass reproduction for a speaker that fits in the palm of your hand and it is really loud, more than good enough to fill a reasonably sized room. It even comes with a rechargeable battery which uses micro-USB to charge it and it can even be used as a Bluetooth speaker-phone.

The Soundwave SW50 is a real bargain and is now sitting in my bathroom. It is compatible with any phone, mp3 player, tablet or laptop that supports the Bluetooth A2DP profile. It's available from Amazon in the UK.

• 19.90 - Amazon UK Link

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Animated, Part 1) - Rene Ritchie

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is arguably the best comic book mini-series ever put to paper. It used an established, classical, iconic character in the Batman, rescued him from the camp of Adam West and the 1960s, and boldly, brutally re-imagined and re-defined him in a way that set the standard for everyone from Tim Burton to Paul Dini to Christopher Nolan. Gone were the "old chums" and "holy blankety-blanks Batman!" and in their place were creatures writhing and snarling, alighting with ancient grace, and howling out how we all felt.

This, the story of Batman's end, was also his new beginning, and a new beginning for the entire comic book -- and comic film -- genres. Brilliantly written and drawn by Frank Miller (who would go on to make Sin City and the 300), its stunning, innovative visuals were not only matched by the pitch-perfect characterization and dialog of the script, but eclipsed by it. This is the Batman as he was meant to be portrayed, as he stood in opposition to Two Face and the Joker, and in contrast to Superman. This is the reflection, the man come to terms with his cost, the man who learned the price of all power -- shattered by age and war, indomitable in will and purpose.

This is Robin Hood launching the arrow to mark his grave. This is the legend. This is the end. This is the Batman.

And now it's in animated form.

Which is good but not great. The animation itself is terrific. Fast, visceral, engaging. The voice is Frank Weller (who was the original Megatron.) The violence and fanaticism is all still there, but Warner Bros. has split the story in two, and this first part has been filled out with material not in the book and not for the better. Likewise, the very best part of Miller's script, the internal monolog of Batman, some of the most iconic writing ever seen in the genre, has been almost entirely stripped out. As a creative choice, that's not only disappointing, it's unforgivable.

However, enough remains that it's still heads and shoulders above what usually passes for comic book adaptions. I watched it with a friend who had the preview screener but who isn't into comic books and was only vaguely aware of the source material, and he absolutely loved it. (So much so he wants to read it now so he gets all that amazing scripting Warner's left out.)

If you liked the recent Batman trilogy. If you liked the Burton films. If you've liked any interpretation of Batman in the last couple of decades, you'll love this, their secret origin.

This the is the Batman come alive again. This is the Batman who owns the night again.

For the last time.

• $19.99 - Pre-order now

And seriously, get the book. It's available in both Kindle and paperback format.

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  $9.99 - Kindle - Download now

  
  
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  $12.62 - Paperback - Buy now

  
  

Super Hexagon - SimonSage

You are going to hate me for suggesting Super Hexagon. Why would I share it, in that case? Because the only way I can cope with how this game has broken my brain is by exposing as many other people to its insanity as possible. Super Hexagon is an intense and obscenely difficult abstract puzzle game with an awesome 8-bit soundtrack. By tapping and holding left and right sides of the screen, you move a small triangle around a stationary hexagon to avoid getting squished by lines and shapes that drift inwards. Sounds easy right? Well, the speed, randomness, and continually shifting colors, perspectives, and shapes may give you more than you bargained for. After playing for about an hour last night, the longest I went before dying was 25 seconds or so. The creator of the game (who made the equally awesome VVVVV title for PCs) tops the Game Center leaderboard with 100-odd seconds. There is no easy mode, there are no save points. There is only a cold uncaring female voice telling you when you lose over, and over, and over again. Despite all of that, I honestly can't put this game down. Get it while Super Hexagon is still on its $0.99 promotional launch price.

• $0.99 for iPhone and iPad - Download Now

Baby Names

My second baby girl is due and January and my husband and I are having a heck of time choosing names that we like within our specific criteria. I've been using the baby names feature of some of the pregnancy apps that I have, but haven't had much luck. Today, I decided to download Baby Names, an app who's primary purpose is to help you with naming your child -- and it's amazing! Baby names comes with 60,000 names for boys and girls and lets you sort them by origin, popularity, or alphabetically. Baby names also comes with pre-created idea lists for ancient, animal, beautiful, Christmas, city, color, cowboy, fall, preppy, southern, spiritual, spring, strong, and summer names, as well as flowers and trees, number one names, old time names, popular in California, trending down/up, and U.S. Presidents. You can also search for specific names and add your own.

The UI for Baby Names is great and each name includes the pronunciation, its meaning, and its popularity ratings going back over a hundred years (if the name has been around that long). When you encounter a name that you like, you can mark it as a favorite so that it's easy to see a list containing only the names that you like.

With Baby Names, I may not have settled on a name, yet, but I've been exposed to many more that I like. Baby Names is a free download, but you are limited to minimal browsing before being prompted to purchase the $1.99 upgrade for full access.

• Free for iPhone - Download Now

Your choice?

Now that we've chosen our favorites for the week, we want to hear yours! Did you pick up a killer app, accessory, or game this week? Let us know in the comments below!

Flipping Tip: Catch students doing something right!

 

Catch a student doing something right today!

Motivation is a key factor and you can make a huge impact on it by catching a student doing something right and praising them for it. Now let's take it one small step further.

Why not use your iPhone and iMovie to capture your praise and his/her pride in a job well done. A short videoclip is all you need. 

Let's say a child has done a nice job on a painting. When you post it on the wall have your student stand beside it and videotape their expression as you offer a few words of praise.

Better yet! Have the student say something about their work before you praise them.

Now it won't take long to point-and-shoot a video and imagine how proud your student will be. Isn't that pride well worth the $4.95 you paid for iMovie at the Apple iTunes App Store?

Spruce your videoclip up right if you wish. iMovie comes with visual themes and you can choose your favorite theme music and sound effects too. 

Share the pride! You can email or memo the video to the parents. Or post it on your school website if its secure. Sharing will payback dividends. Parents will have a favorable impression of you and the school. The Principal will be impressed with your creativity and commitment.

Your peers will want their own iPhones equipped with iMovie too.

Can you get a 3rd generation 8GB ipod touch?

I don’t know a lot about ipods, so as well as the question above what is the difference between a 3rd generation and a 2nd generation ipod?

When Its Cold You Can Talk To The Hand

The winter weather will soon be upon us and that means gloves, but have you tried using a phone while wearing gloves? Well it is not easy and yet the solution to this problem is in fact a pair of gloves! These are of course specially designed gloves, that have a Bluetooth connection and built in microphone and speaker. However, none the less these are hi-Call gloves that allow you to use the phone in the cold.

These are the features and details for the very useful hi-Call Bluetooth connected glove;

Bluetooth talking glove! hi-Call is a Bluetooth glove that allows you to talk through your hand. The left glove has a speaker and a microphone sewed into thumb and pinkie, in order to speak to the phone, while protecting from cold. A pair of warm gloves, perfect for every sport, from skiing to running, with hi-Call you can control the touch screen of your smart phone thanks to the capacitive technology.

The Hi-Call Bluetooth glove is priced at 40 in the UK and $64 in the US

Source [Technabob]

All-New YouTube App Released Ahead of iOS 6, iPad Version Coming Soon

Much like those who ask for a Kleenex when they are looking for a facial tissue or request that you make a Xerox when what they really want is a photocopy, YouTube is becoming a proper noun these days… this place where we all go to see the videos that everybody is talking about. Just ahead of the exected release of iOS 6, our trusted Internet friend has released an update for their iPhone and iPod touch app (with a new iPad version expected very soon)!

Even though the app was already pretty easy to use (my three-year-old daughter is a pro when it comes to finding hilarious-to-her cat videos), but now the interface is even simpler. A quick swipe against your screen gives you access to a new YouTube channel guide that outlines your subscribed channels with instant access to everything you are interested in! An improved search interface will give you suggestions while you type and makes it quicker to sort through the returned videos and channels. As always you can surf the related videos (which should keep you busy for an hour or ten once you find a topic or theme you really enjoy).

In case you were concerned that you would run out of things to watch, the new app also gives you access to tens of thousands more videos!

Embracing social media a little tighter, the app lets you share your favorite finds with your friends via Google+, FaceBook, Twitter or even text messaging directly from the app. Never again will you wonder just how to share that crazy clip of a rock band whose music video takes place atop a series of operating treadmills.

You can grab the updated YouTube app for your iPhone or iPod touch free of charge from the App Store.

Vodafone UK ready to roll with stockpiled nano SIMs for Apple iPhone 5 launch

“Vodafone UK has confirmed, on a now pulled blog post, that it has 500,000 nano SIMs in stock and ready to roll out for those that want them,” Stuart Miles reports for Pocket-lint.

“But wait, there aren’t any phones available in the UK that will take the new nano SIM yet – that’s because, at the time of writing, the iPhone 5 hasn’t been launched yet,” Miles reports. “‘They're so slim and tiny you might only be able to handle them with tweezers – but imagine the extra space the new nano-SIM card frees up inside your handset,’ Vodafone tells us, before adding: ‘The first devices have now been announced - and Vodafone has now got 500,000 of the new 12.3 mm x 8.8 mm nano-SIMs in stock.’”

Read more, and see the photos of the tiny new nano SIM, in the full article here.

How to copy, forward, and delete iMessages

Replying to an iMessage (or SMS or MMS) is only one of several things you can do with the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and Mac Messages app. You can also copy it, forward it, or delete it altogether. Copying an iMessage is a great way to move important information to other apps, like Mail or Notes or for searching in Safari. Forwarding is a super fast way to share one person's iMessage with another. And deleting, if you've received something personal in a text -- or sext, we don't judge! -- is the perfect way to maintain your privacy.

How to copy an iMessage (or SMS) on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad

Copying is handy for a time when you only need to copy the text from an individual message to the clip board and paste it somewhere else. That can be in a new or existing message or into a completely different app. This is the option you want to use if you need to use the content in a way other than forwarding it in another iMessage or SMS.

1. Launch the Messages app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
2. Select the message thread containing the message you'd like to copy.





3. Tap and hold on the specific, individual message you want to copy.





4. Tap on the Copy option in the popup menu.

The text of the iMessage (SMS) is copied to the clipboard and you are now free to paste it wherever you'd like.

How to forward iMessages (or SMS) on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

1. Launch the Messages app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
2. Tap on the thread (the contact's name containing the message(s) you'd like to forward.





3. Tap the Edit button in the upper right hand corner.





4. Select the message(s) you'd like to forward by tapping on them.
5. A red checkmark appears next to the selected messages. If you accidentally select one, just tap it again to deselect it.





6. Tap the Forward button to forward the message(s).
7. The message(s) will automatically create and populate a new message.
8. Start typing the name of the contact you'd like to send them to and select them or tap the blue "+" sign to add the contact from your contacts.





9. Tap send and the messages you selected will automatically be forwarded to the contact you selected.

How to delete iMessages (or SMS) on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

1. Launch the Messages app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
2. Tap on the thread containing the message(s) you'd like to delete.





3. Tap the Edit button in the upper right hand corner.





4. Select the message(s) you'd like to delete by tapping on them.





5. A red checkmark appears next to the selected messages. If you accidentally select one, just tap it again to deselect it.

The messages will now disappear from the messages thread and you're done.

How to delete iMessage (or SMS) threads on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

Deleting individual messages can be time consuming. If you're just trying to clear out your messages, you can mass delete threads in order to expedite the process.

1. Launch the Messages app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
2. Tap the Edit button in the upper left hand corner.





3. Tap on the red circle icon to the left of the thread you want to delete.





4. Tap on the red Delete button to confirm.

The thread will now be erased from your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. Alternately, if you just want to quickly erase a single thread, you can:

1. Swipe across the thread with your finger (as if you're crossing it out).





2. Tap on the red Delete button to confirm.

How to copy iMessages in OS X Mountain Lion

1. Launch the Messages app on your Mac.
2. Click on the thread you'd like to copy a message from.
3. Highlight the iMessage you'd like to copy, just like you would text anywhere else on your Mac.
4. control + click (if you've got a gesture action for right-click, you can do that instead) and select Copy from the context menu. (Or you can just type command + c on your keyboard.)

How to delete iMessages in Mac OS X Mountain Lion

Unfortunately, OS X Mountain Lion does not currently allow you to delete individual iMessages. You'll have to delete the entire thread.

1. Launch the Messages app on your Mac.
2. Find the thread in the left hand navigation pane that you'd like to delete.
3. When you hover your cursor over the text thread in the left hand pane you'll see a grey x button appear to the right of the iMessage thread.
4. Click on it.





5. click Delete to confirm.
if you are sure you want to delete the entire thread,

Dear President Obama, ask not how you can dial an iPhone, ask how iMore can help you dial!

U.S. President Obama seems to have had some problems using an iPhone -- the most usable phone in the world -- this week. He'd borrowed it to make some thank you calls, but couldn't get it to dial. Years of living with BlackBerry had apparently hard-coded hard keyboards into his muscle memory, and made capacitive touch a challenge. Dave Boyer from The Washington Times reports:

"It's not clear he knows how to dial on an iPhone," the reporter wrote in a pool report. Finally, Mr. Obama said, "Oh, I got to dial it in. Hold on, hold on. I can do this. See, I still have a BlackBerry."

Anyone who listens to the iMore show knows that I use the dialer almost exclusively to making calls and it works fantastically well. Clearly, all President Obama needs is an iPhone of his own, and a little time on iMore, particularly our iPhone help and how-to section and our iPhone help and discussion forums. They're friendly, fast-paced, fun, and guaranteed to get anyone from the chief executive of the United States to the chief media officer of Mobile Nations familiar with all the features of modern, mobile touchscreen computing in no time.

Source: The Washington Times