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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Crazy Creatures are Everywhere in My Monster Mayhem — iPad App Review





Whether one looks at a public library’s shelves or peruses the app store, monster-themed books remain a popular choice in kids’ publishing. Digital Leaf’s My Monster Mayhem shares a little girl’s monster-filled adventure through her own home. The story, which is aimed at toddlers through kids in early elementary school isn’t just for Halloween.



Written by Anita Pouroulis with illustrations by Sholto Walker, the digital version of My Monster Mayhem was released before the book’s print version.



As soon as the reader opens My Monster Mayhem he is asked to choose a narrator. Will it be Glenda Wragg (an adult, Leela Kapoor (a child), or no narrator? It’s a little confusing to place this pop-up at the start of the story, and since as the reader has no idea who either of these people are it’s odd to give them names. However, both narrators read the story well.







There are 20 monsters hidden in the pages of My Monster Mayhem. Collecting all 20 unlocks a bonus game. My 8-year-old daughter, who was home from school courtesy of Hurricane Sandy, had no problem finding them. If you get stuck the app tells you on which page they remain, then return to the home screen to play the bonus jigsaw game.



The young narrator explains how all the things her mum thinks are her fault are really caused by monsters. Monsters splash water on the floor, mess up her closets, keeps her from finishing her peas, and leave all the lights on.



In the end the little girl decides it is up to her to protect the house from all of the house by dressing up as a superhero.



Download My Monster Mayhem from the App Store for $4.99.



What I liked: The monsters have great names. The floss monster is Broncus Dentus, and the night monsters are Nocto-No-Noes, while the hideous and toothless Lumpa-Loofis lives under the bed.



What I didn't like: Much of the story’s progression is predictable, then the reader never gets to see the little girl take any action as a super hero. Instead it simply ends. Sholto Walker’s illustrations are a bit derivative. The main character is a cross between Angelica from the Rugrats and Lola from Lauren Child’s Charlie and Lola series.



To buy or not to buy: My Monster Mayhem is neither the most original children’s story, nor is it so singular that it is a must-own title. However, kids will be charmed by Monster Mayhem’s clever creatures.


  • App Name: My Monster Mayhem
  • Version Reviewed: 1.0.o
  • Category: Books
  • Developer: Digital Leaf
  • Price: $4.99
  • Score:

Deal of the Day: 37% off Incipio Premium KICKSTAND Case with Stylus for The New iPad

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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

iPad review (4th generation, late 2012)

Apple iPad 4th generation hero (1024px)



Last week at an event in San Jose, Apple CEO Tim Cook introduced two new iPads. One, the iPad mini, is a legitimately new product.



The other was a small upgrade to the 9.7-inch iPad, bringing a new processor and new Lightning port to the device. But Tim Cook didn't just call the latest iPad a minor, iterative upgrade, or a poorly-disguised excuse to get a Lightning port on the tablet. He called it the "fourth generation" of iPad. Cook touted faster performance thanks to a new A6X processor, with no hit to the iPad's battery life. (And yes, there's a Lightning port.)



The refresh comes at a very odd time — only a few months after Apple unveiled the "new iPad," it's now the old iPad. But is the new new iPad worth envying, or upgrading...



Forums: Hurricane tracking, Apple maps showing improvements


From the iMore Forums




Found an interesting article you want to share with iMore? Have a burning question about that feature you just can't figure out? There is ALWAYS more happening just a click away in the forums. You can always head over and join in the conversation, search for answers, or lend your expertise to other members of our community. You check out some of the threads below:


  • Is the iPhone 5 camera slanted?
  • They really are improving maps
  • iPhone 4 to 5 Any Regrets?
  • Apps for following hurricane news?
  • "Other" taking up too much space

If you're not already a member of the iMore Forums, register now!


Boxee gives out free Boxee TVs


Are you a fan of Boxee TV? If you are than you’ll be glad to hear that Boxee is handing units like treats this Halloween season. Well, as long as you live in the right areas, because they aren’t giving them to everyone.


Matt Smith’s 30th Birthday TARDIS Cake [pic + video]


Yesterday, Matt Smith, the 11th Doctor hit the milestone age of 30 and the Doctor Who production crew decided to do something special to celebrate the event.



The Doctor Who crew thought it would be fitting to make this awesome TARDIS cake to celebrate Matt’s 30th birthday. As if that wasn’t enough, the crew (including his the Doctor’s new companion) put on Matt Smith masks and sang happy birthday as Matt walked into the room (check out the video below to see it).



I guess if you have to work on your birthday, its nice that your co-workers at least do something like make a really cook cake to celebrate it.



Happy Birthday Matt!



Pass this along to any Doctor Who fans you know! Like us on Facebook too!


Matt Smith TARDIS Birthday Cake



Matt Smith Doctor Who TARDIS Birthday Cake





[Source: Doctor Who on Facebook]





Monday, October 29, 2012

Shake up at Apple, iOS chief bouncing out.





Apple is having some internal shuffling going on. The (former) iOS head honcho Scott Forstall will be leaving the Cupertino company in an as of yet unannounced date in 2013. A majority of his duties and responsibilities have been handed over to Jony Ive, who will also take over the direction for Human Interface. Others inside the Apple campus are said to be helping with the rest of Forstall’s load.



Plenty of comments are hitting various boards and sites celebrating the news. Not too many were happy with the design direction Forstall had taken with the recent Apple products and apps. Things like leather-bound calendars and moccasin skinned friend apps aren’t exactly the rage. Add that to the disaster that is Apple Maps and one has to wonder if these things are a factor in Forstall’s abrupt departure decision.



Keep tuned geeks, we’ll keep you informed!




The MacCase Flight Jacket: Elegance and Style with a Relaxed and Rugged Feel.


Siva's Reviews: MacCase Flight Jacket




 



We all love a good accessory bag, something that fuses style and functionality in a way that is comfortable to wear and practical, all at the same time.



 



With that in mind, I'd like to introduce to you, a company called MacCase. MacCase are the manufacturers of an excellent line of leather carry bags that would suit both the modern, technologically savvy traveler, as easily as the fashion-forward cowgirl/boy type. With their sharp looking leather exteriors the MacCase line of leather iDevice bags give a decidedly modern twist to a classically elegant carryall.



 



Siva's Reviews: MacCase Flight Jacket






Siva's Reviews: MacCase Flight Jacket




 



The MacCase Flight Jacket is a premium bag, specifically and perfectly designed for the iPad family. The Flight Jacket is available in two leather options: a finished and textured black leather, or a natural, vintage brown. The Flight Jacket's leather exterior is accentuated with very low profile, sleek metal clasps, and a fully detachable small front pouch. In fact, I have to say, the Flight Jacket is far roomier than its trim lines would have you predict. The fact of the matter is that the Flight Jacket for the iPad has all kinds of extra storage space, with a total of 5 separate storage compartments: the large one for your iPad, two sleeves, one in front and one behind the iPad's pocket, a zippered pouch built into the front cover flap and a fully detachable handbag on the very front. Altogether making for a considerable amount of storage space for such a compact bag.



 



I know Velcro is popular in the word of iOS accessories and bags, though I'm not a huge fan of it, due to the way it ages and collect debris. That said, I'm glad that the minimalistic use of Velcro in select, discreet locations on the brown leather Flight Jacket goes virtually unnoticeable when the bag is closed. On the black leather Flight Jackets, Velcro is even replaced in some points with magnetic closures.



 



It is with a minimum of Velcro and a low profile metal buckle that the front mini-pouch attaches to the main body of the Flight Jacket. This little pocket works great for carrying little things, like charging cables, keys etc. and couldn't be easier to get on or off with a secure buckle and Velcro system of attachment.



 



Siva's Reviews: MacCase Flight Jacket




 



Inside, the Flight Jacket is lined with a plush and shock absorbent microfiber that will even polish your screen if you happen to have it exposed.  If you have a heavy-duty iPad case like the Lifeproof or Otterbox, your iPad won't fit into the designated iPad Flight Jacket. In which case, I'd suggest looking at the matching 11 inch "laptop" model which will fit the encased iPad perfectly. On the other hand, if you use a slim-profile folio case, (like the matching beauty pictured above) your iPad will slide right into the iPad Flight Jacket with no problem. And what's more, with the introduction of the iPad mini, you would of course have even more carry space in the iPad Flight Jacket than when using the larger iPad.



 



The stitching on each bag is precise and this well built shoulder bag looks fit to last for many years of good use. The MacCase logo and name are branded into the hid as is the name of the designer Michael Santoro. The MacCase Flight Jacket wouldn't look out of place in a fancy boutique or high-end retail outlet, and would make a perfect accessory for anyone with a sense of understated high style and fashion. The leather lends to an element of ruggedness naturalness, and the overall design has an urban contemporary elegance to it. The Flight Jacket is designed to keep your iPad safe and secure while also adding flair to even the most casual outfit, without looking out of place in a more formal setting. I'd recommend the Flight Jacket for a wide range of people, from board members and executives to students and professionals, including doctors, teachers, medical staff or attorneys. The Flight Jacket is definitely something you will wear proudly!



 



Siva's Reviews: MacCase Flight Jacket




 



The 11 inch Flight Jacket is available HERE, for $190.00 , while the slightly smaller Flight Jacket designated for the iPad is available HERE, also for $190.00. If I was recommending one over the other, I would definitely suggest going with the slightly larger, 11 inch Flight Jacket, seeing as how it's only a little bit bigger (maybe an inch wider and and inch and a half taller) than the iPad specific version which allows a bit more flexibility as to what else can easily be carried (light-jacket, bottle of water, notepad and books for instance) and, the price is the same.



 



As always, thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more reviews and roundups of great accessories and apps as the holiday season kicks into gear! 



 


Sunday, October 28, 2012

Nexus 7 3G Appears At The FCC


We are expecting Google to announce some new devices at their Android event next week on the 29th of October, one of those is the new LG Nexus 4, and we are also expecting them to announce a new 32GB Nexus 7.



Now it would appear that they will also be introducing another new Nexus 7 tablet, the existing ones only come with WiFi, but a Nexus 7 with 3G has turned up at the FCC.



Nexus 7


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Saturday, October 27, 2012

AT&T to offer Sony Xperia TL this coming November 2nd



When it comes to the world of Android-powered smartphones, you can say that the range of choices are too many to name. After all, with so many manufacturers in the market, it can be quite difficult to make a choice. Sony, ever since making the break away from their partnership with Ericsson, has come up with their fair share of more than decent devices in recent months, and their upcoming device, the Sony Xperia TL, is tipped for a release by AT&T later this November 2nd. AT&T has set the asking price of the Sony Xperia TL to be $99.99, where it will come with a new two-year agreement. The Sony Xperia TL will be featured in the upcoming 007 film, Skyfall, as part of Sony’s marketing campaign.



The Sony Xperia TL boasts of Sony's best HD capture and viewing experiences, not to mention being able to share content across different devices courtesy of One-touch connectivity with near field communication (NFC).



For starters, the Sony Xperia TL will feature a 13-megapixel primary camera that is capable of capturing even the smallest of details to life. In addition, this high resolution fast capture camera will be able to enter the first shot from standby mode in a mere 1.5 seconds, which is enough to capture even some of life's unexpected moments. Regardless of whether you are using the back or front facing cameras, either one are able to capture video in High Definition quality.



The Sony Xperia TL comes with a superb 4.6-inch HD Reality Display at 1280 x 720 resolution which is powered by the Mobile BRAVIA Engine. Should you want to watch content from your smartphone screen to the TV screen, the Xperia TL will be able to do so via HDMI with MHL support or wirelessly through DLNA. NFC technology will also allow the Xperia SmartTags for you to perform a range of customizable functions for different locations and situations. Any takers for this smartphone from Sony Mobile?



Press Release
[ AT&T to offer Sony Xperia TL this coming November 2nd copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]





Grand Theft Auto: Vice City heading to iOS, Android







Back in December last year Rockstar released Grand Theft Auto III on iOS and Android. It was the game’s first appearance on mobile devices and was generally well received even if the controls were a little limiting compared to the original. It joined the previously released GTA: Chinatown Wars which saw a release early in 2010.



This year, Rockstar aims to please mobile gamers again and has announced that GTA: Vice City is also heading to iOS and Android devices soon.



Originally released in October 2002, Vice City is set in the Miami of the 80′s. The re-release for mobile is actually a 10th anniversary celebration, so Rockstar is taking the opportunity to give it a proper update. That includes giving the graphics a HD makeover, releasing a new trailer, and including a load of artwork that has never been seen before from the original development of the game.







If you have already played the game to death, Rockstar may be able to tempt you into purchasing some commemorative merchandise instead. They haven’t announced what that includes yet, but it will all appear on the Rockstar Warehouse online store once the game is available.



The fact Rockstar is promoting Vice City now means the release can’t be too far off. It would be nice to see it appear before the end of October, which means they have until next Wednesday to get it on the App Store and Google Play. As for price, I’m hoping it’s no more than the $4.99 Grand Theft Auto III debuted for last year.



More at Rockstar




What New Markets Will the iPad mini Open for Developers?






The iPad practically became an industry standard for Fortune 500 companies, it did its part to save the newspaper business, and mobile gaming is bigger than ever thanks to the iPad's large screen, fast graphics, and mobility. Will the iPad mini be used for new things? Will a special market open that the smaller tablet will become known for?





The smaller sized tablet market already exists. However, the infrastructure to support those devices was lackluster, at best. Now that the iPad mini exists, we are sure to see an influx of applications that are designed with it in mind.



What we know is that the iPad mini is lighter, smaller, and has updated hardware, but otherwise is about the same as the iPad 2. With that in mind, we can explore the possibilities that the new tablet has to offer.



Since it is small enough to be gripped with one hand, and light enough to not cramp your hand, we will probably see new apps for active users. For example, the exercise market may be interested in developing apps for fitness that will allow you to hold the tablet while working out. Apps that specialize in rock climbing may become a popular category. Imagine climbing vertically up a cliff side and checking on your altitude, oxygen levels, and mile progress on an iPad mini that you've pulled out of your inside jacket pocket.




Because the iPad mini's screen is smaller, don't expect to see games that are specially designed for it. Instead, the digital novel market will likely grow. That is, not analog books that go digital, but books that are created and distributed digitally. The book market is already huge, but it could grow even more with the iPad mini in town. For example, e-books that specialize in cooking, baking and crafting would work great on the smaller screen. When you are in the kitchen, the last thing you need is something taking up more countertop space. It is less likely that the iPad mini will become the standard in classrooms, however. The larger screen of the full-sized iPad is more convenient for textbook learning.



When it comes to photography and cameras, the iPad mini could become the new hand-held camera for filming shots. It is a great pick up camera and since the pixel quality of the back-facing video camera is 1080p, you are getting the same quality you would with standard digital cameras. No, it won't replace professional movie cameras, but it will make things a lot easier for film hobbyists to whip out their device for some stock footage shots. We could start to seem more apps that focus on creating a better user experience for video recording. The video editing apps will be better on the fourth-generation iPad or a Mac, of course.



When it comes to accessories, we are already seeing new things everyday for the iPad mini. The smaller tablet is so fun that we are going to be seeing a lot more than just smaller cases.






For example, if the iPad mini is conducive to an active lifestyle because of its weight and size, we are going to see a lot of accessories that cater to outdoor usage. There will probably be a more accessories that allow the iPad mini to remain out of a sleeve, but will still be protected. Something like a clear case with a D-ring attachment so that you can hook your mini to the back of your backpack, or even dangle it from your belt while you climb.



Because it is so lightweight, we will probably see more display stands and wall mounts that the full-sized iPad couldn't really benefit from. The iPad mini only weighs a little over a half-a-pound. It could dangle from your ceiling with some twine and you wouldn't worry about it pulling the plaster off of your walls.



Camera-related accessories may become a big hit with the iPad mini. We may seem more underwater cases so you can film while scuba diving. The iPad could easily become a documentary camera and accessories to make the tablet into a steady cam would not be difficult to design.



Overall, it is unlikely that the iPad mini will create new markets for textbooks, games and streaming media. Those markets already exist and are better designed for the full-size tablet. However, the smaller size lends itself to a more active lifestyle and convenience for mobility.



The new markets that will unfold over the next year based on the iPad mini are more likely to be dedicated to mobility and outdoor use. We will probably see an influx of digitally created books, but the textbook market will remain focused on the full-sized iPad.



Friday, October 26, 2012

Apple Looking to Patent a Universal Connector








Just when we were starting to get used to the new Lightning connector, Apple files a patent with the United States Patent Office that indicates the company is thinking about a universal connector that would do away with the need for various adapters and limit the number types of ports any single device would need.



From the filing:



Customer confusion may also result as users try to sort through a bewildering array of acronyms. Design complexity may also be increased. For example, to avoid damage, each new connector may be constructed such that a connector insert from a cable that supports one interface cannot be improperly inserted into a connector receptacle for another interface.



Also, as these standards and interfaces evolve, devices with newer connectors may not be compatible with a user’s legacy components. For example, a new computer may have an HDMI connector, while a monitor may have a DVI connector. An adapter to convert signals from HDMI to DVI may be used, but such necessity invokes further customer dissatisfaction.



The new device would feature a design flexible enough to be used by a variety of peripherals, by including “a number of relatively small pads or contacts arranged in an array or other pattern.” This series of pads could be configured to supply ground, power, or signal lines to every and any Apple device you own (without changing shape and therefore requiring new cables and new receptacles).



While this concept may fly in the face of capitalism and eliminate what must be a considerable revenue stream for Apple (selling cables and adapters and accessories, oh my!), it fits their business model much more closely: keeping products simple, streamlined and easy to support.



Would you be upset if Apple released yet another dock connector if it was as universal and multi-purpose/multi-device as this universal connector promises it could be?



Upgrading to Windows 8? Here's what you need to know about iTunes!


Upgrading to Windows 8? Here's what you need to know about iTunes!




Windows 8 hit physical and electronic store shelves this morning, and Mobile Nations' own WPCentral was up early grabbing Surfaces and giving everything a look. For iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad users, however, you can also now get your hands on Microsoft's latest and greatest operating system. If you are a Windows user, like most of us, you can download Windows 8 Pro and install it straight onto your PC as an upgrade to an existing Windows installation or set up your computer as a new PC and wipe it clean.



Windows 8 comes with an upgrade compatibility wizard which will check your hardware and software and let you know what is compatible and what isn't. It looks like the current version of iTunes is compatible -- but there's something you need to be especially aware of.



You need to de-authorize iTunes on your computer BEFORE you upgrade to Windows 8. If you don't do this, it will be authorized as an additional machine and use up two out of your five allowed computers.


To de-authorize a computer in iTunes follow these simple steps:-

  1. Open iTunes
  2. Click on the Store tab

    Microsoft makes Windows 8 available to buy or download


  3. Click on De-authorize this computer

    Microsoft makes Windows 8 available to buy or download


  4. Enter your username and password

    Microsoft makes Windows 8 available to buy or download


  5. Hit Ok and you should get a confirmation message saying "This computer has been successfully de-authorized".

    Microsoft makes Windows 8 available to buy or download



If you decide to upgrade to Windows 8, you can download the update from Microsoft for $39.99 or buy it on physical media for $69.99. If you want to discover exactly what Windows 8 is all about, Microsoft has you covered with a dedicatedWindows 8 portal right here.



I will be updating my computer over the weekend so should have some more information on using your iPhone or iPad with Windows 8. If anyone else does the update, let us know how it goes in the comments!



Source: Microsoft


Thursday, October 25, 2012

Apple Increases European App Store Pricing, Changes Some Countries to Local Currencies

Apple has increased the amount of money charged for App Store pricing tiers for a number of countries across the European Union. The lowest tier is now 0.89, up from $0.89. It is equivalent to the $0.99 tier in the U.S. MacStories has confirmed the following countries have seen a change in pricing:
- Italy
- Spain
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- Greece
- Poland
- Germany
- France
- Belgium
- Austria
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Luxembourg
- Hungary
- Russia
Additionally, several countries have seen App Store pricing change from U.S. dollars to local currencies. Apps in India are now being priced in Rupees, apps in Saudi Arabia are being priced in Saudi Riyals, and customers in the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Indonesia, Israel, Turkey, and South Africa are all seeing purchases listed in local currencies now.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

PadGadget Daily App Deal – 13 iPad Apps on Sale







For today’s Daily Deal we’ve found 13 great apps to add to your iPad collection. We have 8 productivity / entertainment apps and 5 game apps in today’s bundle.



We used our PadGadget Apps Tracker to find these great deals and we’ll continue to look for the best app deals as they pop-up. Some of these apps are up to 67% off so be sure to check them out because they are on sale for a limited time.



Game Apps


  1. Fishdom: Halloween Splash HD (Premium) – This popular puzzle game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $1.99 instead of $4.99.
  2. Hyperlight () – This fun arcade game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now available for Free instead of $1.99.
  3. Ms. PAC-MAN for iPad – This classic arcade game is now on sale for $2.99 instead of $4.99.
  4. ORC: Vengeance () – This fun game from Chillingo has a 4 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $2.99. This app weighs in at 482 MB so please be sure that you have enough space on your iPad before downloading.
  5. Race Of Champions -The official game () – This great racing game has a 4 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $1.99 instead of $2.99. This app weighs in at 354 MB so please be sure that you have enough space on your iPad before downloading.

Productivity and Entertainment Apps


  1. Discovr Movies – discover new movies () – This movie discovery app has a 4 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $1.99.
  2. Discovr Music – find new music () – This very popular music discovery app has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $1.99.
  3. Fitness for iPad – This top iPad fitness app has a 4 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $2.99.
  4. Flickr Studio – This handy Flickr iPad app has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $2.99 instead of $4.99.
  5. Hotel Transylvania Movie BooClips Deluxe – This book based on the movie is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $2.99. This app weighs in at 560 MB so please be sure that you have enough space on your iPad before downloading.
  6. Metronome+ () – This handy musical app has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $1.99.
  7. Treasure Kai and the Lost Gold of Shark Island () – This fun interactive storybook app is now on sale for $1.99 instead of $3.99.
  8. Weather Live () – This extremely popular weather app has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $1.99.

Also be sure to check out yesterday’s Daily Deal to find more great savings.





= Indicates app is Universal and will run on an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.



We use our PadGadget Apps Tracker to constantly monitor the App Store to find the biggest price changes on iPad apps. Our editorial team goes through the data, picks the best deals on the most interesting apps and then brings them to you on a regular basis. All app prices are checked at the time of posting but prices are subject to change without notice. When developers put their apps on sale it’s usually for a very limited time, often 24 hours or less, so be sure to check pricing on iTunes before making a purchase.



Friday, October 19, 2012

Featured Area Layout Changes for the iPad App Store This Week


iPad App Store




Every Thursday afternoon the iPad App Store gets refreshed with new featured apps and content. This week there are also several notable changes to the layout of the Featured area - or at least I've only just noticed them this week.



The first change I noticed is that the Education category now has its own featured area. While the main page of the Featured area highlights apps from all categories and shows popover lists for Games, Newsstand and More, if you tap on the Education tab you get another full featured page treatment but filled with just apps from the Education category. This page has its own New and Noteworthy, What's Hot, app collections (e.g. Reading, Physics, Geography, Astronomy & Earth Science etc), and Quick Links sections.



(...)
Read the rest of Featured Area Layout Changes for the iPad App Store This Week (148 words)


Thursday, October 18, 2012

Notable New iPad Apps: Reddzine – Magazine Style Reddit Client


Reddzine for iPad




Reddzine is a new magazine-style Reddit client for the iPad.



I have to admit that, prior to today, I'd never spent much time at all with Reddit. I was aware that it's a hugely popular site, but I had never quite made the move over to it when Digg started losing steam. So when I received a promo email about the new iPad app I thought it was interesting, and also about time that I took a peek at Reddit - and I'm glad I did.



The app has got a basic, easy to use interface that makes it easy to browse around all of Reddit's good content. It opens to the /Pics section which is full of good stuff - and it's easy to move around to other sections (are these subreddits?, I'm a rookie) with just a couple of taps.



(...)
Read the rest of Notable New iPad Apps: Reddzine – Magazine Style Reddit Client (220 words)


Thursday, October 11, 2012

U.S. House Intelligence Committee’s attack on China’s Huawei, ZTE could trigger major crisis


“A congressional report this week recommended in no uncertain terms that U.S. companies and government agencies avoid two of China’s biggest telecommunications companies. Buying equipment from them risks national security, the report said,” Verne Kopytoff opines for Fortune.. “The House Intelligence Committee’s withering attack on the two Chinese companies, Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp., would seem like a big opportunity for U.S. firms to gain ground. The reality for U.S. businesses, however, could be the very opposite.”



“In response to the congressional assault, China may throw up roadblocks against the U.S. tech imports by raising tariffs or prohibiting certain kinds of equipment, according to trade policy experts,” Kopytoff opines. “Such a tactic would harm U.S. companies, which increasingly count on China for sales and growth. The stakes are huge. Last year, U.S. firms sold $20 billion in advanced technology to China, according to the Commerce Department.”



Kopytoff opines, “The bipartisan congressional report looked exclusively at Huawei and ZTE, two global businesses that sell gear for connecting phone calls and routing Internet traffic. Investigators said that China’s government could tamper with the technology to spy and to steal trade secrets. Both companies failed to provide details about their corporate control and government ties, they said. The presence of Communist Party offices in the companies’ headquarters also raised red flags.”



“Indeed, the situation is complicated by the interdependence of both nations. Cutting off trade is nearly impossible. China needs U.S. technology to keep its infrastructure and factories operating. Meanwhile, U.S. tech manufacturers depend on Chinese components. The lines are so blurry that a product’s origin is often a matter of semantics. Apple’s (AAPL) iPhones and iPads, for example, are largely assembled in China,” Kopytoff opines. “Similar cross-pollination is the norm for U.S. telecommunications equipment makers. Congressional investigators, however, did not look at any security risks created by such ties.”



Read more in the full article here.



Related article:
U.S. House Intelligence Committee: China's Huawei, ZTE should be ban in U.S. – October 8, 2012


Microsoft Office coming to iOS devices next March



According to The Verge, a Micrsoft product manager in the Czech Republic has confirmed that Microsoft Office will be coming to iOS devices next March. Microsoft has said for some time they'd be bringing the software to mobile devices, but they haven't officially announced a ship date. The Verge also saw a draft press release that announces the new products. The coming of Office to the iPad was reported as long ago as last February, when The Daily reported that it was in the works and even published a photo of an iPad running a test version of Office. Of course, there are already many excellent office suites available for iOS devices. The advantage of a suite from Microsoft will likely be a more familiar interface and greater integration with desktop versions of the software.



 



[Update: Microsoft has responded to the report saying it's not accurate.]


Eric Schmidt talks Apple, Maps, patents, and says the Android-iOS platform fight is "defining"


Eric Schmidt talks Apple, Maps, and says the Android-iOS platform fight is




Eric Schmidt, the former Apple board member, Google CEO, and current Google Executive Chairman, has once again given his thoughts on the current relationship between Google and Apple, including patents Apple's current mapping woes. In a sit down with the All Things D's Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher, Schmidt opined that Apple should have kept Google Maps, and that Apple was now discovering that maps are difficult work.



The Android-Apple platform fight is the defining contest. Here's why: Apple has thousands of developers building for it. Google's platform, Android, is even larger. Four times more Android phones than Apple phones. 500 million phones already in use. Doing 1.3 million activations a day. We'll be at 1 billion mobile devices in a year.



We've not seen network platform fights at this scale. The beneficiary is you all, the customer, globally. "This is wonderful."



Of course, iOS is installed on, at any given time, three models of iPhone, the current model and the previous two generations, while Android powers most of the phones from Samsung, HTC, Motorola, etc. So of course there are going to be more Android phones than iPhones. That's just common sense.



Speaking about patents, Mr. Schmidt expressed frustration at patent wars, and the fact that hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent fighting patent trolls. When asked about the Apple/Samsung trial in particular, Mr. Schmidt wouldn't comment directly, though he did offer up an opinion that companies like Google and Apple were not victims in these patent conflicts, but rather it's the smaller companies, those that can't get patents in order to defend themselves, that are really in trouble.



Other topics touched on include Facebook, China, and Google's self-driving cars. The whole interview is interesting and illuminating, and should be read in it's entirety.



Source: All Things D


New TV Advert By Apple For The New iPod





Apple has created a new TV advert in order to show the public their new ideas for the iPod Touch, Nano and the Shuffle. It still seems strange that there is a market for the iPod when there are so many Smartphone's and mobile phones that can offer music storage.







According to the Apple website this what you can expect to find in the new iPod;






For the first time, iPod touch is made from the same kind of anodised aluminium used in the MacBook line. And it's made the same way too: by machining the enclosure from a single piece of aluminium. Which means the first thing you'll notice about iPod touch is its barely-there weight. Then its super-smooth finish. Then all those Apple details - like the highly polished bevelled edges. And iPod touch is made from one of the strongest grades of aluminium there is. Which means that it not only looks and feels incredible, it's tough enough to tag along on more than a few crazy nights out.






The new iPods are already shipping prices start from 40 in the UK or $65 in the US.



Source [Mac Rumours]




Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Analyst: Apple’s imminent ‘iPad mini’ design ‘could outshine new iPad’


“Chatter from Apple's overseas supply chain indicates that the company has not been cutting corners... Apple's "we just want to make great products" ethos will be as evident in the iPad mini as it is in all the company's hardware,” John Paczkowski reports for AllThingsD.



“Tokepa analyst Brian White, who's been travelling around Taipei talking to component suppliers, says the mini - or whatever Apple chooses to call it - may even be slicker than the new iPad,” Paczkowski reports. “‘Apple did not skimp on the aesthetics of the much anticipated ‘iPad Mini,” White says. ‘In fact, we believe the ‘iPad Mini’ could outshine the new iPad in terms of how the device feels in a consumer's hands.’”



Paczkowski reports, “Here at AllThingsD we too have been hearing promising things about the iPad mini's design, which sources say demands a lot of the companies manufacturing it.”



Read more in the full article here.



MacDailyNews Take: Just tell us where to enter our credit card number!


Crazy Taxi by SEGA coming to iPhone and iPad later this month





SEGA has announced that they're bringing their classic video game Crazy Taxi to the iPhone and iPad later this month. If you're unfamiliar with the game, Crazy Taxi is racing game where you must barrel through traffic packed streets, hurdle off parking garages, and perform other crazy stunts score up the most fares.



You wanna get nuts? On the go?



Let's get nuts -on the go!



The most madcap of cab games is coming to iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. When? Whenever the cab gets here - which will be soon! Stay tuned for more!



To see the shortest promo video in the history of promo videos, check out the video below. Any Crazy Taxi fans excited about this one?





Source: SEGA


Monday, October 8, 2012

Concept widescreen printer


I’d like to print on large paper size. In this case, you want to use this printer, which is placed on a tabletop. Here can see the concept of such a printer. Compact printer model will solve the problem of lack of space on the office desk. Its body has a sliding telescopic design. This allows you to print even drawings in A2 format. You’ll also get a handy touchscreen color LCD display to navigate through the menu, and it is going to use individual ink tanks under CMYK mode. It would be cool to get such type of printer that would compatible with wide range of paper sizes. Let this concept turn into reality!

Future technology Concept widescreen printer






Designer: Neilson Navarrete

Future technology Concept widescreen printer


Future technology Concept widescreen printer


Future technology Concept widescreen printer


Future technology Concept widescreen printer




Touch screen table
Efi Space Office Divider Concept
oncept of gadget-Hi-Tech Computer
Polaroid pogo
Remove printer ink from paper
Future technology devices concept



yanko


Insiders Detail Steve Jobs' Role in Apple's Mapping Effort, Desire to Replace Google as iOS Search Engine

Bloomberg Businessweek's profile of Apple one year after the death of Steve Jobs includes an interesting glimpse of Steve Jobs' role in Apple's mapping effort, a project that has been a number of years in the making but which only now has made its way into the public's hands. Unsurprisingly, the report notes that Apple's mapping effort was Jobs' idea, stemming from his concern over Google's presence on iOS devices.
Apple insiders say Jobs himself initiated the mapping project, putting mobile software chief Forstall in charge, and he installed a secret team on the third floor of Building 2 on Apple's campus to replace Google Maps on the iPhone. At the time of his death, Jobs had come to loathe Google, which he felt was copying features of the iPhone while withholding a key feature of Google Maps that allows smartphones to dictate turn-by-turn directions aloud.
Beyond mapping, Jobs was reportedly also considering removing Google as the default search engine on iOS, but did not think it would be feasible.
Jobs also discussed pulling Google search from the iPhone, but figured that customers would reject that move, according to two former Apple executives.
The claim is in line with a January 2010 report from Businessweek claiming that Apple was in discussions with Microsoft to make the switch to Bing as the default search engine for iOS. Apple currently offers users the choice of Google, Yahoo!, or Bing as their Safari search engine in iOS, with the company having also added Baidu in China with iOS 6, but Google's role as the default search engine helps it hold by far the largest share of iOS search traffic.

Steve Jobs through the years


The San Francisco Chronicle has published an online retrospective, “Steve Jobs through the years.”



The set of 59 photos begin with a 1977 file photo showing Apple Computer Inc. founder Steve Jobs as he introduced the new Apple II computer in Cupertino, California and ends with a photo of the hands of Cory Moll, Apple specialist, stands outside the Apple store on Stockton Street holding an iPad displaying a tribute to Steve Jobs in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, October 5, 2011. Moll has worked at Apple for 4 years, and when he heard the news, came down to the store, creating the tribute to Jobs on the Pages application on his way there. Apple announced the death of Steve Jobs, the Apple co-founder, on Wednesday, October 5, 2011.



See the entire photo collection here.



[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Lynn Weiler" for the heads up.]


Best Free iPad App of the Week: Dictionary.com Dictionary & Thesaurus for iPad


Dictionary.com Dictionary & Thesaurus for iPad




One of the best things about using an iPad is all the great apps that we can run on it. There are excellent apps for just about any purpose you can think of. Better still, there are lots of great free apps for the iPad. Our Best Free iPad App of the Week posts highlight these apps.



This week's pick is Dictionary.com Dictionary & Thesaurus for iPad - which I'll just refer to as Dictionary.com from here on. As the name just might give away this is a combined dictionary and thesaurus app with its content pulled from dictionary.com and thesaurus.com.



It's an award-winning and popular app, packed with over 2 million definitions, synonyms and antonyms – and a very useful resource to have around, especially if you have any students in your household.



(...)
Read the rest of Best Free iPad App of the Week: Dictionary.com Dictionary & Thesaurus for iPad (290 words)


Friday, October 5, 2012

TUTORIAL: adding future-proof AAC audio to AC-3-only video files


In my previous article on iOS developers being forced to drop AC-3 support from their players, I've explained you either keep the old versions of your media players or won't be able to listen to the audio track of AC-3-only video files (MP4's, MKV's etc.). In this tutorial, I explain an alternative for people that don't want to do all the hassles of manually backing up and restoring IPA files (one of the ways of playing those files back) or just want to use the most up-to-date versions of multimedia players in the future too.

Note that this tutorial is not only meant for folks that have video files with AC-3 audio only. It's a more generic article showing you how you can use the best OS X apps to add new audio tracks to a video file so that it has multiple audio tracks.

In the article, I only discuss MP4's (basically, the same as M4V's and MOV's) and MKV's, the two most popular multimedia file ("container") formats of today when it comes to non-native camera videos or broadcast formats (this means I don't discuss (M)TS files as they aren't used in non-broadcast movie distribution / ripping). Just a quick recap on the two formats:

1, MKV's are the containers representing the freedom of putting any kind of multimedia content (even the obscurest video, audio, subtitle font, subtitle etc. formats, textual messages for humans etc.) in the same file. It's hardware playback-wise, widely supported on the more open mobile operating systems (Symbian Anna / Belle, Android) and is the native output format of immensely useful DVD / Blu-ray / HD DVD ripper tools like MakeMKV. The latter simply couldn't create MP4's (see next paragraph) out of optical discs because MP4's just can't hold some kinds of data types; for example, Blu-ray subtitles (S_HDMV/PGS).

2, MP4's (M4V's and MOV's) are of extremely high importance to iOS and Apple TV users because it's the only format that these devices can play without third-party apps or without jailbreaking, respectively. And even if you do use third-party apps on iDevices, other container formats can only be played back utilizing the vastly superior hardware acceleration only using certain tricks like behind-the-scene remuxing (dedicated article) - Apple has forbidden the direct hardware decoding of non-native (MP4) files.

MP4's, unfortunately, are really inferior to MKV's in that they can't hold even common video / audio (for example, Vorbis) formats, let alone the above-mentioned native Blu-ray subtitles (PGS). No wonder it's MKV's that MakeMKV rips your discs to and not MP4's.

Now, let's see how you can add an AAC audio track to both MKV and MP4 files originally only containing an AC-3 (Dolby Digital) audio track. Should you want to follow the tutorial, feel free to download THIS (MKV) or THIS (MP4).



MP4's

For the time being, let's start with MP4's as, for some reason,  MKVTools (neither the official nor the latest beta version doesn't seem to behave as it should - it just doesn't convert the test AC-3 audio to AAC on my Mountain Lion MBP. I will definitely return to the question and add an MKV-related section as soon as I find out why it's doing so and update the article. Hopefully I don't end up having to recommend more than one tool for MKV editing. (It's certainly possible - the workflow is just not sufficiently simple without using in-built AAC conversion in MKVTools.)

Get Subler (download HERE; you'll want to choose the latest non-CLI version). Start it.

1, Cmd + O: open the MP4 file:




2, click the + button (annotated in the above screenshot) and select the same(!) MP4 file. You'll be presented a previously not shown, new dialog:






Here, I've annotated a checkbox in the top left corner, in the "Video Track" (see the third, "Name" column) row. You must deselect it to avoid the video track included in the same target MP4 file twice. You must also check whether the "Action" column in the "Sound Track" row reads something starting with "AAC". If it reads "Passthru" (as does the video track in the above screenshot), you'll need to change it to, say, AAC - Dolby Pro Logic II. (If you do plan to add AAC tracks to several files, to avoid having to set this one-by-one, make sure you enable the "Convert: AC3 audio to AAC" checkbox under Preferences > Audio. The enabled state of this checkbox makes this default action to "convert". Of course, as with the non-selected case, you can always override the action to be taken.)

After all this, you'll see the following in the main window:




Note the third row, starting with "na" showing it's still not saved and, therefore, doesn't have a tangible ID in the target file. Don't pay attention to the last, "Format" column (still) showing "AC-3, 6ch" - Subler does know it'll need to convert this audio track to AAC upon saving.

3, Now, press Cmd + S (of course, you can also select Save As not to overwrite the original file) and the file will be saved; now, with two audio tracks. After finishing the saving, the main dialog will also change:




Can you spot the difference with the previous screenshot? If you understand the content of the paragraph starting with "Note the third row, starting with "na" showing" just above, you'll immediately know why there's a "3" instead of the "na" in the first column: this track ID now comes from a real file and not just one that will be created only later. The same stands for the "Format" column: instead of "AC-3, 6ch", it already reads "AAC, 2 ch", showing this particular track is indeed in AAC.

This file can already be played back by both via hardware decoding and from software. (Of course, with the current - rather meagre - processing power of iDevices, you won't want to use the latter with a 1080p movie like this example. Also note that, should you want to synch the video directly to the stock Videos app via iTunes, you'll also need to change its H.264 level by highlighting the Video Track and setting the lowermost "H.264 Video Profile / Level" to High @ 4.1 from the default 5.1 as can be seen in THIS screenshot of the same two-audio track file. (The drop-down menu and the optimal value is annotated.))

Also note that Subler can't directly save MKV files; however, it can remux (change the container of) an MKV to an MP4 file. (Actually, this is why Subler is by far the most recommended remuxer utility for OS X.)