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News, Reviews, & Opinion
Apps & Services
Accessories
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These price trackers are updated every month.
News, Reviews, & Opinion
NPD: 90% of iPad Sales Incremental, Not
Cannibalizing the PC Market
PR: Contrary to popular belief, the
iPad isn't causing cannibalization in the PC market, because iPad
owners don't exhibit the same buying and ownership patterns as the
typical consumer electronics customer, according to respected market
research company The NPD Group's new report iPad Owner Survey.
According to the report, only 13% of iPad owners surveyed bought an
iPad instead of a PC, while 24% replaced a planned e-reader purchase
with an iPad. iPad owners, especially consumers who purchased an iPad
within two months of launch, are significantly more likely to own Apple
products and newer technologies, such as e-readers and smartphones.
iPad owners are much more likely than the general population to own
Apple computers, with 48% owning a Mac desktop or Mac notebook, while
NPD's Online Household Penetration Study fielded earlier this year
found Macs in only about 11% of households. In fact, of consumers who
bought iPads in the two month initial launch phase, 50% owned an Apple
computer, while that number dipped to 45% among later buyers. These
buyers were also much less likely to own Windows desktops, with just
53% of iPad owners overall having a Windows desktop compared to 75% of
total households. iPhone ownership also correlated very closely to iPad
owners, as 38% of iPad owners also own an iPhone.
"Early adopters, like iPad owners, follow a traditional pattern of
consumer behavior; they purchase products because they want them, not
because they need them," says Stephen Baker, vice president of industry
analysis at NPD. "However, as Apple increases iPad distribution and
consumer interest peaks, the profile of an iPad owner is much more
likely to mirror the overall tech population. When that does happen
other tech products with similar usage profiles as the iPad, such as
notebooks, netbooks, and e-readers will come under increased pressure
from the iPad. Until then, however, most iPad sales are likely to be
incremental additional technology devices in the home, rather than a
one-for-one replacement of a planned purchase."
For more insight from Stephen Baker about how the iPad is affecting
the PC market read his latest blog post on The NPD Group Blog.
Methodology
The online survey was fielded in August to more than 500 adult iPad
owners by re-contacting them after being identified by screening the
NPD Opt in Online panel.
Editor's note: NPD's conclusions are directly opposite those of
DisplaySearch, which concludes that the iPad is gobbling up a big
portion of the netbook market (see iPad in Tablet Sector Vanguard as Netbook
Shipments Plummet). Or is it just a coincidence that netbook sales
went into decline at the same time the iPad launched? It's one thing to
have statistics, another to correctly interpret them. dk
Link: Nearly 90 Percent
of Initial iPad Sales Are Incremental and Not Cannibalizing the PC
Market, According to NPD
Early Adopters Happier with Their iPads Than Later
Buyers
Stephen Baker, NPD Group Vice President, Industry Analysis
blogs:
"NPD has released the second in its series of iPad surveys. While
the first looked at buying intentions prior to the launch this one is
more focused on what the current ownership looks like and how those
owners are using their iPad. In conjunction with the press release we
thought we would add some color around the iPad experience, bypassing
some of the more contentious product based discussions out there. The
survey provided some in-depth information on all aspects of the iPad,
but today we are going to look at two distinct areas. First, is what
owners like and dislike about their iPads, and second is how consumers
are using their iPad."
Baker goes on to say that a line of distinction was revealed between
early and later iPad adopters, with 80% of early adopters saying they
are very satisfied with their iPad versus just 65% of those who bought
it two months or more after the product launch. He notes that early
adopters are using their iPads for more than 18 hours per week, and
with almost one-third of them that time is still increasing. Early
adopters are 44% more likely to watch YouTube videos, 50% more likely
to watch movies, 60% more likely to watch TV shows, 38% more likely to
be reading e-books, and much more likely to be interacting with more
advanced multimedia features than their late-buying counterparts.
Another interesting insight is that 20% of users' iPad time is spent
with it in bed.
The main complaints registered by users were the lack of USB ports,
which 51% of all users cited as their number one reason for
dissatisfaction, followed by the iPad's lack of an easy printing
solution and multitasking capabilities. Baker notes that Apple will
addressing both of the latter issues with the next iOS upgrade for the
iPad.
Top features are portability, ease of WiFi connectivity (not so much
love for 3G), and ebook capabilities
Link:
I Own an iPad, So What Do I Do with It?
iPhone vs. Original Mac: A Teardown Showdown
![The Original Macintosh]()
PCWorld's Ian Paul says that no two Apple products share
a closer parallel history than the original iPhone and the original Macintosh
computer - each device was revolutionary for its time.
The Macintosh (later known as the Macintosh 128K) "was the first
mainstream computer to include a graphical user interface similar to
the ones we use today. The original Mac OS used movable
application windows and included functions such as drag and drop. The
128K also popularized the use of a mouse and was notable for its
compact dimensions. The iPhone was the first personal computer to
masquerade as a cellular telephone. It also had an intuitive,
exclusively touch-based interface with limited physical buttons and no
stylus - a common device for touch-based phones and PDAs prior to the
iPhone.
"So how does Apple's original landmark product, the Mac, compare to
the current version of the iPhone?"
Paul takes an in-depth look.
Link: iPhone vs.
Original Mac: A Teardown Showdown
ARM Plans to Add Multithreading to Chip Design
IDG News Service's Agam Shah reports that ARM plans to add
multithreading capabilities to future architectures as it tries to
boost the performance of its processors, a company representative said
on Tuesday.
"Multithreading is a way to run multiple threads on a single
processor core to boost application performance. Calculations can be
broken up over multiple threads to yield quicker results," a technology
Intel calls HyperThreading and includes on some of its Core CPUs.
Editor's note: ARM announced
it's first multicore processor, the Cortex A5 MP, one year ago, and
multithreading (as well as multiple cores) can make multitasking work
more smoothly - as anyone who has ever used a single-core OS X Mac
and then gone to a two-or-more processor setup can attest.
dk
Link:
ARM Plans to Add Multithreading to Chip Design
5 Things the Next iPad Needs to Hold Its Edge
PCWorld's Tony Bradley says that if Apple had any doubt when it
launched the iPad, it seems clear by this point that competition in the
tablet arena will be fierce - and that Apple will get the same two year
head start it enjoyed in smartphones with the iPhone. Upcoming tablets
are already raising the bar on the standard set by the iPad, with
competing tablets like the Samsung
Galaxy Tab and the BlackBerry
PlayBook featuring the kinds of features that many had hoped would
be in the original iPad, and promising to offer formidable competition
for the iPad once they hit the street.
Bradley proposes that in order for iPad to maintain its edge, or
even remain relevant, some key elements demand address in the next
generation:
- Camera(s)
- FaceTime
- Processor power
- Memory
- Weight
Editor's note: To which I would add Flash support, full multitasking
and symmetric multiprocessing, which the PlayBook features, and a USB
I/O port. cm
Link: Five Things iPad 2
Needs to Keep Its Edge
Hitachi Demos 6.6" IPS Screen with Retina Display
Resolution
The Register's Tony Smith reports that Japan's Ceatec consumer
electronics show has largely centered on Android tablets and Toshiba's
glasses-free 3D TV line. But what caught his eye perusing an Impress
report on show highlights was Hitachi's 6.6" tablet-oriented LCD panel
that incorporates in-plane switching (IPS) technology for a brighter,
higher contrast image that can be viewed from a greater range of angles
than a conventional LCD panel, and with a better-than-full-HD
resolution of 1600 x 1200, making for a pixel density of 302 ppi, which
Smith observes is only slightly less than the iPhone 4's 3.5" "retina
display", which comes in at 326 ppi - and more than double the density
of the iPad's 132 ppi.
Editor's note: Imagine a next generation iPad with this screen!
dk
Link: Hitachi
Shows Off 1600 x 1200 Panel for 7" Tablets
Analyst: 45 Million iPads in 2011, New Model
Soon
Forbes' Elizabeth Woyke reports that a new analyst research report
out of East Asia by Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White says
that Apple is developing a smaller version of the iPad and suggests
that sales numbers of the original iPad could reach 45 million in
2011.
Link: Analyst Sees 45
Million iPads In 2011, Next Gen iPad Launching Soon
$135 Android Tablet Arriving in UK
PR: UK vendor Morgan Computers is offering a 7" Android-based
tablet computer for £84.95 VAT in or £72.30 ex VAT (roughly
$135 and $115 at today's exchange rates)
With this inexpensive device, you can surf the net, check your
emails, and video chat with touchscreen technology. Download various
applications available via Google Android. Morgans tout it as "the
perfect product for those of you who can't afford an iPad."
Morgan's tablet even goes the iPad several key features better with
its SD Card slot, a USB port, and a camera - all of which the iPad is
woefully bereft, so that users can easily browse images, music, and
documents stored on external sources.
Specifications:
CPU: ARM9 -VIA8505+ 400 MHz- OS: Google Android 1.7.4
- Memory: 128M
- Storage: 2 GB
- LCD: 7" 16:9 TouchPanel
- Resolution: 800 x 480 QVGA
- WiFi: WiFi 802.11b/g
- USB Port: Yes
- SD Card Port: Yes
- Earphone: Yes
- Built in Stereo Speaker: Yes
- Built-in Camera: 0.3 M/Pixel
- Battery: 7.4V 1800 mAh
- Standby time: 3 Hr.
- Size: 195 x 120 x 16 mm
- Codecs Supported: H263 /avi
Morgan Computers says that stock is due in around the 25th October
2010.
Editor's note: The iPad's CPU runs at 2.5x the speed, its 1024 x 768
display runs circles around 800 x 480 (even the 4G iPod touch beats
that at 960 x 640), and its battery is rated at 10 hours. dk
Link: 7-inch
Google Android Tablet with Touchscreen Technology
One Laptop Per Child Preparing Tablet for Western
Markets
The Register's Bill Ray reports:
"One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) has taken $5.6m from chip shop Marvell
to create a tablet PC intended for western consumption, stepping
somewhat away from its stated aim of 'providing an affordable
educational device for use in the developing world'.
"The tablet, which will apparently be demonstrated at the Consumer
Electronics Show in January, will be Android-based rather than making
use of the Sugar environment originally favoured by OLPC...."
Link: One Laptop Per
Child Makes First-world Tablet
Chrome OS on the iPad
SlashDot's CmdrTaco reports:
"A user named Hexxeh has posted a video online of the iPad running
Google's upcoming Chrome OS. Hexxeh was able to put Chrome OS on an
iPad because the open source code for the operating system is available
in its Chromium state, but it's not necessarily true that Apple will
allow iPads to run other operating systems going forward...."
Link: Chrome OS Arrives
on the iPad - No, Seriously!
Poll: 75% of Canadians Drive While Distracted
CTV.ca News reports that while most Canadians say they disapprove of
distracted driving, nearly 75% do it anyway, according to new poll
conducted for Allstate Canada by Leger Marketing. The most common forms
of Canuck distracted driving is adjusting a radio or iPod or eating
while driving, according to the poll.
The article says Canadians are most likely to disdain texting while
driving, 88% of respondents saying they viewed it negatively, yet 8% of
Canadian drivers still admit to doing it, even though it's illegal in
all but two Canadian provinces.
"'Our research shows that Canadians do not fully understand what is
considered to be a distraction while driving and continue to engage in
those dangerous behaviours,' Saskia Matheson of Allstate Insurance
Company of Canada said in a news release."
Editor's note: If changing the volume or radio station on your car
stereo is considered distracted driving, I can't think of too many
people who don't qualify. I also think that's a ridiculous extension of
the distracted driving concept, since this generally involves pushing a
single button to increase/decrease volume or select/seek another
station. Others define distracted driving very narrowly, such as
"driving whilst using a mobile phone to make a call or send a text
message" (Macmillan
Dictionary). We need a standard, sensible definition that everyone
can agree on. dk
Link: 75 Percent of
Canadians Drive While Distracted: Poll
Mercedes-Benz Financial to Equip All US Dealers
with iPad
PR: Mercedes-Benz Financial announced that it is distributing
the 3G version of the Apple iPad to the entire Mercedes-Benz US dealer
network, giving all 355 dealers instant mobile access to its
proprietary dealer point-of-sale system called MB Advantage.
Mercedes-Benz Financial sent the consumer-focused Apple iPad to 40
dealers in June to pilot it as a mobile tool on the showroom floor just
weeks after Apple launched the device. As a result, Mercedes-Benz
Financial became one of the first companies in the world to use the
iPad for a business application.
During the pilot, Mercedes-Benz Financial collected feedback from
dealers on how MB Advantage on iPad performed for dealer finance teams
when interacting with customers.
"MB Advantage on iPad allows Mercedes-Benz dealers to increase their
mobility and efficiency, from the initial finance and lease process
through the lease turn-in process," said Andreas Hinrichs, Vice
President of Marketing for Mercedes-Benz Financial. "The dealer
feedback was so positive, it became a clear decision to make this
business tool available nationwide."
As a result of the dealer feedback, Mercedes-Benz Financial has
developed signature pad functionality for MB Advantage which will allow
customers to sign certain documents electronically on the iPad screen.
That functionality will be available by the end of October.
Many dealers in the pilot found that in addition to the benefits of
using MB Advantage on iPad in the sales process starting with credit
applications or checking special marketing programs with the customer
next to the vehicle on the showroom floor, it also enhanced the lease
vehicle turn-in process such as expediting the inspection and agreement
on maturity statements.
"As I process lease returns on the iPad, customers can accompany me
through the turn-in inspection," said Robert Bostwick, Sales Manager at
Schumacher European in Phoenix, AZ. "I can show them on the iPad what
I'm noting and we can discuss it while the vehicle and the inspection
forms are right in front of us."
In addition to utilizing MB Advantage on iPad, Mercedes-Benz
Financial has a robust mobile strategy, becoming the first auto finance
company a year ago to create an App for customers to manage their
accounts via iPhone and following that with a mobile website for all
Smartphone users in early 2010. As a result, Mercedes-Benz Financial
has received more than $10 million in monthly lease and finance
payments via a payment channel that was established only 12 months
ago.
Link: Mercedes-Benz Financial
Apps & Services
SafeCellApp Launches Advanced Mobile Solution to
Combat Distracted Driving
PR: SafeCellApp launched today as the most advanced iPhone
application on the market to address the growing problem of distracted
driving. SafeCellApp is a mobile application that provides a solution
to keep you safe and legal by warning you of local no-text and no-cell
rules, alerts drivers entering known school zones, and pays safe
drivers back with cash rewards at their favorite retailers.
SafeCellApp will be available for Android mobile phones by
early October and will automatically disable the phone, email, and
messaging functions on 98% of smart phones when the driver exceeds 5
m.p.h. A BlackBerry version is also in the works.
SafeCellApp is the only application that will push current laws in
place for users locations by using GPS technology and a proprietary
database of federal, state, county, and city cell phone usage laws.
SafeCellApp features Continuous Visual Advisory capability, a
function that issues real-time alerts to drivers entering locations
with local restrictions on text or cell phone usage.
"Mobile devices have changed every aspect of how we live and
interact with others. But too many of us find it impossible to ignore
our phones when we are behind the wheel," says Scott Taylor,
SafeCellApp cofounder and chief information officer. "Despite the
increased awareness of the problem, people are not changing their
driving behavior. This application takes the decision making out of the
equation, allowing people to decide to drive safely at the beginning of
their trip, rather than wrestling with the urge to answer the phone or
check their texts once they're already on the road."
Rewarding Good Behavior
Unique to distracted driving applications, SafeCellApp offers
cash-equivalent rewards for safe driving behavior. The application
activates when the device is traveling at speeds in excess of 5 m.p.h.
Using proprietary, web-based tracking and logging mechanisms,
SafeCellApp records trip details including the driver's phone, email
and text usage. These reports, which can be accessed by users, parents,
or companies to monitor driving behavior, become the basis for a
first-of-its-kind gaming feature that awards points for safe driving
that are redeemable for cash rewards at major retailers. Users will
accrue 1 point for every 1 mile driven while adhering to all applicable
wireless laws in their location(s).
Failure to comply with local laws will cost users reward points,
giving individuals, families, and employees yet another motivation to
play it safe while behind the wheel. The rewards program includes more
than 2,000 different products that users can redeem their SafeCellApp
driving rewards points for including Ecerts, Gift Cards, Charitable
Donations, and Merchandise. Retail partners include Apple, Amazon,
Barnes & Noble, and many more.
While the reward program with SafeCellApp will be attractive to
everyone, the hope is that it's a program that finally offers driver's
an incentive to refrain from distracted driving behavior. It keeps you
safe, legal, and pays you back, said Tina Pantoja, SafeCellApp
cofounder and president.
Apple iPhone users can download the SafeCellApp from the Apple
iPhone App Store. Activation of the app's features is $11.99. The
SafeCellApp license is renewed annually at the same cost.
At $11.99 per year, SafeCellApp's cost is significantly lower than
less functional competitive apps. Users who visit the iPhone app store
and purchase SafeCellApp by December 27, 2010 will only pay a one-time
fee and will be granted a lifetime license with free upgrades.
With an extensive list of standard features, each version of the
application was designed to assist individuals, families, and
corporations in correcting the dangerous behavior that has made
distracted driving a national epidemic.
SafeCellApp Unique Features
- Pushes laws based on GPS location
- Alerts Drivers Entering School Zones
- Reporting Capabilities
- Gaming/Rewards Functionality
- Cash Equivalent Reward Redemption
- Continuous Visual Advisory (CVA)™
- Web based trip tracking (Trip Tracker)™
- National Regulation Repository
- Core Features for iPhone
- GPS Enabled
- Software Enabled
- 911 override
- Voice prompts for cell laws
- Passenger disable function
Core Features for Android (October/2010)
- Speed engagement
- Responds with automated in-transit message
- Blocks texting
- Blocks calls
- GPS Enabled
- Software Enabled
- 911 override
- Voice prompts for cell laws
- Passenger disable function
Cell phone Models
- Apple iPhone (OS 3.0 and higher)
- Android (October, 2010)
- Blackberry (late Fall, 2010)
Link: SafeCellApp (download
link)
Free Yap App Automatically Converts Voicemail to
Text
PR: Yap announces availability of Yap Voicemail for iPhone.
The free application automatically converts voicemails into text making
it easier and more convenient to access, search and respond to voice
messages. iPhone users running iOS 4.1 can download Yap Voicemail from
the App Store.
Quickly Read Voicemail Messages
Listening to
long and tedious voice messages is a common gripe. Now, Yap Voicemail
lets users glance at their iPhones to quickly preview messages and
determine whether they require immediate attention. In addition, users
are able to check their voice message in situations like business
meetings or loud settings where listening to messages is not
practical.
Find Important Messages Quickly
Instead of listening to each message until finding that critical
piece of information, Yap Voicemail lets users type in a few keywords
that describe what they are searching. Yap Voicemail displays
transcriptions of all of the voice messages that match.
Reply Using Email and Text Messages
Just because someone called and left a message doesn't mean a return
phone call is required. Thanks to reply functionality that is
integrated with iPhone's native SMS and email, Yap Voicemail lets users
conveniently and quickly respond to voicemail messages via a text
message or email.
Yap Voicemail is powered by Yap's high accuracy, fully automated
speech recognition technology. This is the same technology used by
wireless carriers and service providers charging as much as $5-$10 per
month for voicemail-to-text services. Yap Voicemail offers identical
performance at no cost to iPhone users.
"Converting voice messages into text revitalizes iPhone's voicemail
experience making it a much more powerful and convenient communications
tool," says Igor Jablokov, CEO at Yap. "By removing all pricing
barriers, this superior service is something all iPhone users can now
enjoy."
To learn more about Yap and its Yap Voicemail application, visit
booth #908K at the CTIA Enterprise & Applications show floor.
Link: Yap
Voicemail (download
link)
SpeechTrans Brings Spoken Language Translation to
the iPhone
PR: The language barrier has always been a formidable
obstacle to global commerce, travel, and understanding other cultures,
and SpeechTrans, Inc. has broken that barrier. The company's Speech
Trans application for iPhone, powered by Nuance Communications,
translates spoken language effortlessly and naturally, allowing users
to simply talk into their iPhone in one language, and then hear a
natural voice speaking the translated words in another.
SpeechTrans instantly translates the user's voice for instant
playback in a second language, making it ideal for quick translations
and conversations between multiple parties that do not have a common
language. SpeechTrans utilizes Nuance's core Dragon voice technology -
the same technology at the heart of the trusted Dragon
NaturallySpeaking dictation software and the successful Dragon Mobile
Apps for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The voice-enablement of the app
was developed through Nuance's Mobile Developer Program.
"We created SpeechTrans to make business and pleasure travel more
efficient and more fun," said John Frei, CEO of SpeechTrans. "Studying
foreign languages is always wonderful, but not every traveler has time
for a lengthy language course. SpeechTrans is the perfect translator
when you don't know the language, and helps fill the gaps if you're
still learning."
Both unidirectional and bi-directional language versions are being
developed for translation between English and Spanish, French, Italian,
Russian, German, and Portuguese, with additional languages being added
to the platform continuously. The initial launch offers a
bi-directional English/German app with English/Spanish unidirectional
making it easy for a German or Spanish-speaking person to hold a
conversation with an English-speaking person in near-real time, without
the aid of a third-party human translator.
In addition to speaking directly into the app, users can also take
advantage of the text-to-speech interface, and can both hear and read
the original spoken words and the translations. The added utility of
the text function allows users to correct spellings in the
translations, using the iPhone international keyboard settings. The
recordings or the text translations can be easily emailed or saved for
future reference, a function that makes SpeechTrans an excellent
business and social tool, with Twitter and Facebook integration. The
app comes with 500 preloaded transcriptions; additional transcriptions
can be purchased as needed. It also comes with free unlimited
text-to-speech translations.
SpeechTrans powered by Nuance is currently available for iPhone,
iPod touch, and iPad, with versions available for Android, BlackBerry,
and Nokia smartphone platforms in the future.
Device Requirements:
- iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
- iOS 3.0 or later
- 1.2 MB
SpeechTrans is currently available in unidirectional
English-to-Spanish for $9.99 through the App Store in the Travel
category, with a free upgrade when the bi-directional version is
available; thereafter the bi-directional version will be priced at
$19.99. A fully bi-directional English-German version is currently
available for $19.99.
Link: SpeechTrans (download links:
Spanish-English,
German-English,
Italian-English,
Russian-English,
French-English)
PlainText, a Free iOS Text Editor
PR: Hog Bay Software's PlainText is a basic text editor for your
iPad, iPod touch, or iPhone with an uncomplicated, paper-like user
interface. Unlike the default Notes app, PlainText allows you to create
and organize your documents in folders and sync everything with
Dropbox.com.
Features
- Folders keep your documents organized.
- Paper-like interface keeps the focus on your text.
- Dropbox sync means your documents are always available.
PlainText works exclusively with plaintext (.txt) files saved in
UTF8 encoding. If you edit a file on your computer and it shows up
blank when synced to PlainText, it's probably because the file wasn't
saved with UTF8 encoding on your computer.
System Requirements
- Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
- Requires iOS 3.0 or later.
Freeware
Link: PlainText
(download
link)
Paint it! Show Turns Your iPad into a Portable Art
Gallery
PR: Corel introduced Corel Paint it Show, the
first photo-painting slideshow app created specifically for the iPad.
Offering a fun way to show off favorite photos from Facebook and the
iPad photo library, Corel Paint it! Show draws you in and offers a
photo-viewing experience unlike any other.
Fun to watch and virtually effortless to use, Corel Paint it! Show
automatically turns your snapshots into a customizable slideshow of
painted masterpieces, right before your eyes. Select an album from your
Facebook account or images from your iPad, start the slideshow and let
Corel Paint it! Show do the rest. You can also save your favorite
painted images on your iPad, post them to your Facebook account, or
email them to friends and family.
"At Corel, we're
continuously inspired by the question, 'What else is possible.' For 25
years, this question has motivated our teams around the world to come
up with new and better ways to help our customers express their
creativity and become even more productive," says Nick Davies, Senior
Vice President, Corporate Marketing at Corel. "With our first iPad app,
we wanted to take the photo-viewing experience one step further. Corel
Paint it! Show transforms your iPad into a portable art gallery, using
a variety of painting effects to transform each photo,
brushstroke-by-brushstroke, into a beautiful masterpiece. It's a unique
and eye-catching way to enjoy and show off your favorite photos and,
watching people play with Paint it! Show, I can tell you, it's
addictive™
Corel Paint it! Show includes 5 different painting effects. The app
will apply effects to your images randomly or you can select specific
effects to be applied. In addition, you can also customize your slide
transitions and access your iTunes Library to add songs or personalized
playlists.
Corel's One-of-a-Kind App for iPad Users
Built on Corel's groundbreaking digital painting technologies, Paint
it! Show is Corel's first iPad app and the latest addition to the Corel
Paint it! product family. Recently, the Corel Paint it! photo-painting
software for Mac and Windows was honored with the PTPA (Parent Tested,
Parent Approved) Seal of Approval, recognizing excellence in family
products.
Corel Paint it! Show is available in English in various markets
worldwide and is priced at 99¢ in the US and Canada from Apple's
App Store.
Link: Corel
Paint it Show (download
link)
Totally Tanach Hebrew Bible Supports Retina
Display
PR: Davka Corporation and Redlex announce the release of
Totally Tanach version 1.1, a major update to the popular
Hebrew/English Bible study app for iOS. Totally Tanach features
verse-by-verse synchronization of English, Hebrew, and Rashi's
commentary, and perfect positioning of Hebrew vowels and cantillation
marks.
Users can browse and study all 24 books of the Bible - from Genesis
through Chronicles - search the texts with the program's Hebrew search
function, and bookmark and email selections for future reference.
Totally Tanach is an ideal study tool for all students of the Hebrew
Bible.
New Features in Totally Tanach version 1.1:
- Universal app - Totally Tanach is now a universal app and runs on
iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
- Retina display support - Totally Tanach provides full support for
the iPhone 4's Retina display, and displays Hebrew and English text
with razor-sharp clarity.
- Additional commentaries - Totally Tanach now includes the complete
Hebrew commentary of Rashi on all 24 books of the Bible.
Program features include:
- Easy navigation to all books of the Bible
- Viewing of Hebrew and English text in parallel columns
- Viewing of Rashi and Hebrew text in parallel columns
- Bookmark and email verses
- Copy and paste of Hebrew and English text
Device Requirements:
- iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
- Requires iPhone OS 3.2 or later
- Universal Application
- 11.6 MB
Pricing and Availability:
Totally Tanach 1.1 is $9.99 (or equivalent amount in other
currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store
in the Reference category.
Link: Totally
Tanach (download
link)
GoodReader PDF Reader for iPad, iPhone, and iPod
touch
PR: GoodReader for iPad is the very first non-Apple app that
was ranked Top Paid iPad App #1 in USA during iPad launch days. Later
it was also ranked #1 in many other countries.
GoodReader is touted as a
super-robust PDF reader with advanced reading, annotating, markup and
highlighting capabilities, excellent file manager, TXT file reader and
editor, audio/video player, and Safari-like viewer for MS Office and
iWorks files.
Within moments of downloading GoodReader, you can be transferring
files directly from your computer over a USB cable (iPads only for
now), a WiFi connection, from the Internet, or from email attachments.
It also easily integrates with MobileMe iDisk, box.net, MyDisk.se, and
other popular WebDAV servers, and also with non-WebDAV services like
Google Docs and Dropbox.
With the PDF Reflow feature, reading your documents on a small
iPhone screen is a pleasure, because it extracts pure text from PDF
files and automatically wraps words. This amazing feature fits all of
the text to your screen perfectly. That means you never have to scroll
left and right to read the text. For a better idea of how on-the-fly
reflow works, sneak a peek at the Reflow screenshot at the top of the
page.
With no bars or buttons blocking the text, you have true full screen
reading. The PDF hyperlink feature allows you to quickly jump back and
forth within the document. Tapping a link will whisk you across a huge
PDF book in an instant, and the "Go Back" button takes you back to the
page you came from. If you already know what you're looking for, the
Text Search feature helps you find your way to the exact info you want
in any PDF or TXT file. You can even use the 50x zoom, which gives you
a better view, without distorting the image. That makes it perfect for
viewing PDF maps or drawings.
GoodReader supports massive PDF and TXT files, but it can also
handle all of the most popular file types:
- MS Office - .doc, .ppt, .xls and more
- iWork'08/'09
- HTML and Safari web archives
- High resolution images
- It even does audio and video
With GoodReader on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, you can read
virtually anything, anywhere. Books, movies, maps, pictures; GoodReader
puts it all in a single app, right in your pocket. From the very first
time you use it, GoodReader is sure to be the most used app you will
ever buy.
New in version 3.0.0, 3.0.1
Major update introducing major new feature - PDF Annotations,
including notes, highlights, markups and drawings (iOS 3.2 or
later):
- all annotations that you create or edit in GoodReader - notes,
highlights, markups, and drawings - are saved in a PDF file, so you
will be able to see them later on a computer or in another copy of
GoodReader on your colleague's device
- all notes, highlights, markups, and drawings created outside
GoodReader, and properly stored in a PDF file, can be viewed or edited
in GoodReader
- types of annotations that you can create and edit in GoodReader:
comments ("sticky notes") with 7 different icons, text highlights,
freehand drawings, lines, arrows, rectangles, ovals, text underlines,
text deletion marks (strikeouts), text insertion marks, text
replacement marks. You can freely adjust color of all of the
above.
- other types of annotations that you can view in GoodReader: text
boxes with callouts, polygons and polylines, "squiggly" underlines,
"cloudy" shapes, rubber stamps, file attachments. All annotations that
can be viewed, can also be deleted. In addition, some of them can be
edited in a limited fashion (color, placement, scale).
- you can now extract files from PDF file attachments
- two main gestures that you should use to work with annotations -
single tap, and tap & hold. Depending on where you tap (on a text,
on an existing annotation, or on a free space on a page), different
menus will be presented to you.
Other important improvements and new features:
- now you can select text directly on a PDF page. Tap on a text and
hold your finger for a while. You can then copy it to the clipboard, or
create markups for it (highlights, underlines, strikeouts, etc.)
- certain not very large files were known to consistently crash
GoodReader (as well as other PDF reader apps) for no apparent reason.
This was the issue with iOS 3.x. We have resolved this issue. It
shouldn't be a problem now, even if you're still on iOS 3.x.
- now we can hide PDF watermarks (adjustable option in settings)
- certain button images in place of PDF links that were not shown
before, are now shown correctly
And some other nice things:
- you can now choose which minimum zoom ratio you prefer for PDF
pages - fit to screen or fit to width (an option in settings)
- we have lifted the limitation for a size of files being extracted
from PDF Portfolios. Now we're able to extract files of any size. Just
make sure that you have enough of free disk space!
- now when you copy a file to the same location as the original, a
copy is created. Very handy if you want to annotate a PDF file, but
also want to leave the original file unchanged.
- a workaround for the issue when WiFi was conflicting with Bluetooth
(slow WiFi connection, occasional WiFi signal drops when Bluetooth
switch is on, etc.) was finally found. Now there should be no conflict
between WiFi and Bluetooth when working in GoodReader.
System Requirements
- iPhone, iPod touch and iPad (GoodReader for iPhone and GoodReader
for iPad are two different applications)
- iOS version: 3.0 or newer
Price: 99¢ (in US App Store, will vary in other countries)
Link: GoodReader (download
links:
GoodReader for iPad,
GoodReader for iPhone/iPod touch)
PDF Expert for iPad - Read, Annotate PDFs Like a
Pro
PR: Readdle releases PDF Expert for iPad, cutting edge
application for working with PDF documents. PDF Expert combines
professional PDF reader, extensive annotation capabilities and powerful
file management in one iPad application. It lets read and search PDF
documents, markup text, create notes, draw with a finger and save all
these changes inside PDF file in a format compatible with Preview and
Adobe Acrobat Reader.
PDF Expert for iPad focuses on solving various tasks that many
people face daily. Managers and executives can proofread and correct
PDF documents on the iPad screen; students are able to make notes and
drawings right on the textbook page during the lecture; scientist can
quickly review tech article and highlight important paragraphs.
To handle these tasks PDF Expert for iPad supports different types
of PDF annotations. In addition to highlights and notes, user can
strike-through, underline and copy text as well as draw right on the
PDF page. The latter function is widely used to highlight text in
scanned bitmap documents as well as for handwritten notes.
Another benefit of PDF Expert for iPad is the ability to edit PDF
annotations created in Apple Preview or Adobe Acrobat Reader. The
function works vice versa too, thus annotations made on iPad could be
changed on the Mac or Windows computer.
"Wide popularity of the iPad among education and business customers
unveils that people need Acrobat Reader equivalent on their devices.
PDF Expert for iPad is the very close alternative to desktop PDF
readers and with later releases we plan to extend application
capabilities even further" explains Igor Zhadanov, Readdle CEO.
Online storages are perfect complement to the iPad, therefore PDF
Expert for iPad can connect to Dropbox, GoogleDocs and MobileMe iDisk
directly. User can download document, review, annotate it and put back
online - all within several finger taps.
Device Requirements:
- Compatible with iPad
- Requires iOS 3.2 or later
- 6.4 MB
PDF Expert for iPad 1.0 is offered at the introductory price of
$4.99 (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available
worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Productivity
category.
Link: PDF
Expert for iPad (download
link)
Master Lock Launches Free Mobile App and Website
for Secure Password and Data Storage
PR: From PIN codes and key codes, to passwords and lock
combinations, most people are on password overload. Over time, these
passwords and codes have evolved from simple 4-digit PIN numbers to
complex combinations requiring letters, numbers and symbols. People are
forced to choose between ones that are easy to hack or easy to forget.
Thanks to the new Master Lock Vault, consumers can now store and
retrieve all of their confidential access information in one free, safe
and convenient location; no matter how complicated a combination may
be, it will never be lost or forgotten again.
With the
Master Lock Vault, consumers only need to remember one unique password
and username that they create on www.masterlockvault.com. In addition,
smart phone users will find a mobile version available at the same
address. Those with Apple devices such as the iPhone, iPad or iPod
touch can download the free Master Lock Vault app from the App Store
for instant access to stored information anytime, anywhere. Users
simply set up an account, then can review, add, change and delete
stored information quickly, easily and safely from any computer or
smart phone.
"We are becoming a more security-conscious society surrounded by
passwords, and it's not easy to remember them all, much less store them
safely," says Rebecca Smith, vice president, marketing for Master Lock.
"As a leader in off-line security solutions, it's only natural that we
take our expertise online and provide consumers with the safest method
to store and retrieve passwords and combinations in a secure
environment from a brand they trust."
The
Master Lock Vault provides the highest level of website security
available today - a 256-bit encrypted connection - for safe storage of
users' security sensitive information. As a result, the Master Lock
Vault is safer than storing information offline where it could be
discovered, leaving you at risk for identity theft. A green bar and
padlock symbol in users' browsers alerts them to the fact that they're
on the secure site. Information stored in the Master Lock Vault cannot
be accessed by Master Lock, and Master Lock does not share users'
information with anyone, ever.
For additional protection with safeguarding your information, Master
Lock encourages you to:
- Never use the same password for multiple accounts
- Never write down your password in a public place, such as in a
Rolodex or on a sticky note on your computer monitor
- Never create passwords that are easy to crack, such as
- Default passwords (guest, admin)
- Dictionary words (rabbit, Packers)
- Words with numbers appended (password1)
- Words with simple obfuscation (p@ssw0rd)
- Double words (fishfish)
- Common keyboard sequences (qwerty)
- Common numeric sequences (911)
- Identifiers (555-1234, 01/12/1965)
- Anything personally related to you (license plate number,
birthday)
Link: Master
Lock Vault (download
link)
iPhone Life Releases New Version of Its Free
Magazine App
PR: Longtime technology firm Thaddeus Computing, publisher of
the popular iPhone Life magazine, has released their new iPhone Life
app version 2.0. The free app lets users access daily iPhone Life
blogs, current news from other web sites, tips, archives of previous
issues, and the best iPhone sites around the globe. The app has been
redesigned from the ground up and features a new user friendly
interface. It is optimized HD for both the iPhone and iPod touch and
the iPad.
iPhone Life is the only print magazine 100% devoted to iPhone, iPad
and iPod touch users. Each issue features reviews of the best apps, the
top accessories and the latest news from Apple. Additionally, readers
can discover in each issue exciting games, plenty of tips and hidden
features, iTunes and Safari how-to's, the iPhone in the workplace,
excellent articles about creating apps, and autobiographies from iPhone
and iPad users. iPhone Life also publishes an annual buyer's guide and
how to guide.
New Features:
- Now Available on the iPad
- New user-friendly interface
- Landscape Mode
- Free Digital and Print Magazine Trial Offer
Feature Highlights:
- Read the latest iPhone Life blogs
- Get iPhone News from the top iPhone web sites
- Read reviews on featured Apps
- Learn hidden features with tips and tricks
- Enjoy articles previously published in iPhone Life
- Subscribe to iPhone Life
Designed specifically to take advantage of the device's unique
abilities and interface, the new App makes content from the magazine
and the iPhone Life website easily and conveniently readable on the
iPhone or iPad, and provides a window into the content from the top
iPhone sites throughout the web
"Enthusiastic iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users who want to learn
and know more will love this App," said Hal Goldstein, Executive Editor
at iPhone Life. "Every day on your iOS device, you can check out the
latest reviews and news, traverse to the iPhone sites, and read content
from past issues."
System Requirements: iPhone, iPad or iPod touch (all versions)
Offered as an excellent and convenient extension to both the print
magazine and website, the iPhone Life App is completely free and
available now. iPhone Life magazine is printed bimonthly and available
through subscription and newsstands worldwide. New users may subscribe
now ($15.97) and save 72% off the news stand price. Two year
subscriptions are only $24.97.
Link: iPhone
Life (download
link)
Link: Free Digital
Issue
Link: Free Weekly
eNewsletter
LED Light for iPhone 4: Free LED Flashlight
Utility
PR: Blue Wind announces LED Light - for iPhone 4 LED
Flashlight Version 1.04, an update to their extremely popular, free
flashlight utility for iPhone 4. Number one in the Top 100 Free
Utilities in the US App Store on 9/26/10, the utility enables the
iPhone 4 owner to set their camera's flash to remain on continuously,
creating an anytime, anywhere emergency flashlight. The update
incorporates newly designed icons, complementing the instant activation
flashlight, easy on/off button, strobe light function, and on/off sound
effects.
Weighing only 4.8 ounces, the 4.5 x 2.3 inch iPhone 4 is one of the
few things, like a wallet, that people take with them everywhere. Now,
to this ubiquitous, cybernetic Swiss army knife comes a free app
providing the most basic utility of all: light. Walking down unlit
country paths, searching dark closets, resetting circuit breakers,
reading on a bus, LED Light is handy, bright, and the perfect emergency
flashlight. It is one of the few free utility apps that nearly every
iPhone 4 owner is likely to use on a daily basis. Blue Wind advises
that LED Light consumes power quickly, and that continued use of the
flash may dramatically decrease battery life.
Feature Highlights
- Simple, practical alternative or emergency light source
- Instant on continuous or strobe light
- Bright white LED produces 45 lumens, more efficient than
incandescent or halogen
- LED beam brighter than screen-based flashlight utilities
"Apple finally put a high quality still/video camera light on the
iPhone," stated Producer Doosun Hong. "Now, with iPhone 4 the user can
use the camera function under almost any conditions, and use LED Light
to provide emergency light anytime."
Device Requirements
- iPhone 4
- iOS 4 or later
- 2.3 MB
LED Light - for iPhone 4 LED Flashlight Version 1.04 is free and
available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Utilities
category.
Link: LED Light
for iPhone 4 (download
link)
Accessories
ColorWare Grip for iPad
PR: The ColorWare Grip for iPad is designed to let you
carry your iPad securely and with style. All Grips are carefully
manufactured in Minnesota using aircraft-grade aluminum to create a
durable and perfectly fitted handle.
ColorWare's design studio is simple to use and will allow you to
customize your Grip. Browse product images and videos, or spin the
product in the 360º section to see every angle. You can even share
your designs with friends over your favorite social networks.
With a color and finish of your choice, the ColorWare Grip will
fit your on-the-go lifestyle while setting your iPad apart from the
rest.
Features:
- Aircraft Grade Aluminum
- Fits all iPads
- Installation Tools Included
- Secure Fit
- Made in Minnesota
The downside? The Grip costs (gulp!) $300
Link: Grip for iPad
Go Unveils Dual-USB Chargers for Convenient
Charging of Multiple Electronic Devices at Once
PR: iGo has unveiled the small and convenient iGo Dual-USB
Chargers ($19.99 MSRP) for mobile electronic devices, such as mobile
phones, MP3 players, portable game consoles and more. While most USB
chargers on the market only have one USB port, iGo's new wall and car
chargers have two USB ports. With the ability to charge two devices at
once, the new iGo Dual-USB Chargers provide the ultimate in charging
flexibility.
"With
the proliferation of electronic devices on the market, we challenged
our engineers to design a family of sleek chargers that could
conveniently charge multiple devices at once. Whether you are at home,
in the office, or on the road, the iGo Dual-USB Chargers offer a
flexible charging solution"
Measuring less than two and a half inches long and only
three-quarters of an inch thick, the versatile iGo Dual-USB Wall
Charger is one of the smallest wall chargers on the market. The charger
also features folding AC plug blades, making it a convenient travel
charging solution for powering electronic devices while on the go. And
when it's plugged in, there is no need to worry about wasted power
since the iGo Dual-USB Wall Charger has excellent no-load power
consumption and exceeds Energy Star requirements by more than 85%.
For those who find themselves on the open road, the iGo Dual-USB Car
Charger provides two USB outputs that can simultaneously charge two
phones, iPods, Gameboys, or any other mobile device. The iGo Dual-USB
Car Charger works with any standard in-vehicle outlet, allowing users
to rapidly charge virtually all of their electronic devices at once
while in the car.
Both iGo Dual-USB Chargers eliminate the need for multiple chargers
by including USB power cables that attach to any iGo power tip.
Additionally, any standard USB charging cable can be used, increasing
the chargers' usefulness. When purchased at iGo.com, the Dual-USB
Chargers also include one free power tip for a mobile electronic
device.
"With the proliferation of electronic devices on the market, we
challenged our engineers to design a family of sleek chargers that
could conveniently charge multiple devices at once. Whether you are at
home, in the office, or on the road, the iGo Dual-USB Chargers offer a
flexible charging solution," said Michael D. Heil, president and chief
executive officer of iGo.
Link:
iGo Dual-USB Wall Charger
Link:
iGo Dual-USB Car Charger
Padacs Announces Premium iPad Keyboard Case
PR: International specialist mobile accessories company
Padacs has announced the Rubata iPad keyboard case, a premium
leather-bound cover with a built-in Bluetooth keyboard with special
iPad keys.
Available early November, the Rubata Bluetooth keyboard will
extend the excitement of Padacs just-released Toccata keyboard case,
which has proved hugely popular with US reviewers.
Rubata differs from the Toccata through its 100 per cent leather
case, a hard plastic shell keyboard and special keys that make the iPad
even easier to use. Special keys include one touch access to functions
such as Select All, Copy, Cut and Paste as well as keys for Blank
Screen, Slideshow and Search.
The Rubata Bluetooth keyboard case costs $99.95.
Padacs currently ships its products throughout the US, Canada, and
Australia.
Link: Padacs Rubata Bluetooth
Keyboard Case
