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News, Reviews, & Opinion
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News, Reviews, & Opinion
More iOS Devices Sold in 2011 Than All Macs Ever
Made
Asymco's Horace Dediu comments on Apple CEO Tim
Cook this week at Goldman Sachs citing 55 million iPads sold to date,
observing that to put that metric in context, "it took us 22 years to
sell 55 million Macs. It took us about five years to sell 22 million
iPods, and it took us about three years to sell that many iPhones.
Dediu notes that the iOS platform as a whole reached 316 million
cumulative units at the end of last year, overtook the OS X
platform in under four years, and more iOS devices were sold in 2011
(156 million) than all the Macs ever sold (122 million).
Link: Apple Sold More
iOS Devices in 2011 Than All the Macs It Sold in 28 Years
Apple's Toughest Competition Is Apple
PR: Rhoda Alexander, senior manager, tablet and monitor
research for IHS iSuppli, says that although soaring sales of Amazon's
Kindle Fire and other low-priced tablets trimmed Apple's media
tablet market share in the fourth-quarter, it was Apple's own newly
introduced iPhone 4S that proved to be the strongest competitor for the
iPad during the final three months of 2011.
Apple shipped 15.4 million iPads and iPad 2s during the fourth
quarter of 2011, according to the IHS iSuppli Display Materials &
Systems Service at information and analysis provider IHS (NYSE: IHS).
But while shipments were up 39% from 11.1 million in the third quarter,
Apple's share of the global media tablet market slipped to 57% in the
fourth quarter, down from 64% in the third quarter, as presented in the
table below.
"Shipments of the iPad line fell short of IHS estimates in the
fourth quarter as many loyal Apple customers devoted their dollars to
shiny new alternatives," says Ms. Alexander. "However, the primary
alternative wasn't the Kindle Fire - which debuted to solid sales in
the fourth quarter - but Apple's own iPhone 4S smartphone. The rollout
of the iPhone 4S in October generated intense competition for Apple
purchasers disposable income, doing more to limit iPad shipment growth
than competition from the Kindle Fire and other media tablets.
Amazon Opens Fire on Apple
The debut performance of the Kindle Fire played a strong role in the
share shift as well, particularly in the US market, which accounted for
more than half of global fourth-quarter media tablet sales. Amazon
shipped 3.9 million Fire tablets in the fourth quarter, allowing the
company to garner a double-digit share of the market, at 14.3%. This
drove Amazon to become the world's second-largest tablet shipper in the
fourth quarter, surpassing Samsung Electronics.
"Kindle Fire shipments in the fourth quarter came right in line with
the IHS early December forecast of 3.9 million units, representing a
respectable start for the Fire," Alexander notes. "However, the
long-term viability of the product will hinge on the success of
Amazon's business gamble, which depends on tablet sales driving
substantial new online merchandise sales at Amazon.com in order to
attain profitability."
Sharing the Tablet Wealth
For the entire year of 2011, Apple shipped 40.5 million iPads and
iPad 2s, up 168% from 15.1 million in 2010. This gave the company a 62%
share for the year, down from the dominant 87% in 2010, when Apple had
the media tablet market all to itself for most of the year.
Despite Amazon's strong showing at the end of the year, Samsung held
on to second place, with shipments of its Galaxy Tab line amounting to
6.1 million units, or 9.4% of the 2011 market. Amazons share for the
year amounted to 6%.
Stress Tablets
The fourth-quarter introduction of value-priced tablets, most
notably the Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble's Nook, created chaos
across the Android tablet marketplace, forcing competitors to slash
pricing in order to clear inventory.
"The surge in non-iPad shipments in the fourth quarter was achieved
at considerable financial cost, with sharp price reductions across most
of the competing Android tablets and actual product giveaways from a
number of vendors as part of promotional efforts for other electronic
products," Ms. Alexander notes.
In the wake of the new low bar for pricing set by the Fire and the
Nook and the looming Google acquisition of Motorola Mobility,
manufacturers and branded vendors are looking to Windows 8 tablets as a
more profitable alternative. Watch for a surge of Windows 8 and
ARM microprocessor-based tablets in late 2012 and early 2013.
Apple's Tablet Plans
Apple is set to reclaim its tablet market share when it commences
volume shipments of the next version of the iPad, which is expected in
the second quarter of this year.
IHS iSuppli anticipates strong sales for the iPad 3, with demand
expected to outstrip supply for several months. The new device is
reported to feature a QXGA retina display with a pixel format of 2048 x
1536, as well as Siri, the popular voice interface of the iPhone 4S. As
with previous iPad releases, Apple is anticipated to stage a staggered
rollout, introducing the new product in different countries around the
globe as supply improves.
iPad Owners Older and Wealthier Than Other Tablet
Owners
PR: iPad owners tend to be older and have more money, but as
tablets have become more mainstream and more widely distributed, those
high-end demographics are shifting.
According to market research firm NPD Groups' new study,
"Tablet Adoption and Insights
Report", more than 40% of iPad owners have a household income of
$100 thousand or more, compared to 26% of non-iPad owners. More recent
tablet owners make less money and are younger than the early adopters,
with buyers at the end of 2011 being 50% more likely to have an income
under $45 thousand, and 33% more likely to be under 34 years of
age.
"As the demographic of the tablet owner continues to change, the
tablet market is beginning to take on a new role," says Stephen Baker,
vice president of industry analysis at NPD, "We are seeing some of the
tasks traditionally performed on devices, such as PCs, now being
performed on the tablet. In fact, all five of the top activities
shifted towards the tablet between early and late 2011."
Yet, regardless of usage trends, the vast majority of consumers are
not rejecting other devices. Only 10% of tablet owners have decided
they don't need a PC notebook that they were once considering. This
same trend is also reflected among non-tablet owners, 26% of whom say
they are likely to buy a notebook in the next year, while just 18% say
they will purchase a tablet.
"Even as consumers increasingly use tablets for tasks that were once
exclusively done on their PC, they continue to plan new PC purchases,"
says Baker. "Usage is still evolving and most people, being inherently
conservative in their device outlook, continue to hedge their bets on
their device preference by planning to maintain an array of products to
afford them maximum flexibility."
The survey is based on a US rep sample of more than 1,114 consumers
completed the survey through NPD's online panel in December 2011. A
pre-identified sample of 3, 600 tablet owners were part of the
survey.
Link: NPD:
iPad Owners Are Older and More Wealthy Than Other Tablet Owners
iPad 2 vs. Kindle Fire: Report Reveals Top Consumer
Issues
It is well documented how the iPad 2 and Kindle Fire stack up when
it comes to features and pricing, but FixYa, the leading product
Q&A destination on the Internet, sheds light on the top consumer
issues on each device. The findings, which are included in the FixYa
Tablet Index, are based on tens of thousands of issues for each
product.
Top Kindle Fire Issues
- One-Click Shopping Security: Amazon has made online shopping
a breeze, with the Kindle Fire storing your credit card information as
well as instituting one-click shopping. Although convenient, consumers
complain that the lack of password authorization represents a huge
security issue, with the possibility of accidental purchases (such as
children or touchscreen foul-ups) and greater losses in the case of
theft. This is an especially important issue due to the social nature
of tablets, which are often being used as family devices. Worse, there
is no direct fix for the issue (although Amazon has signaled that they
are working on one), aside from password protecting your WiFi
connection and device.
- WiFi Connection Issues: The Kindle Fire's WiFi has been
plagued with significant issues from the start, with numerous FixYa
users complaining of faulty connections, getting kicked off in the
middle of browsing, and being unable to connect to the Internet at all.
Considering the fact that WiFi is the only way users can access the
Internet on the Kindle, this problem is a significant one for anyone
who wants to spend a lot of time online. Updating Kindle software to
the latest version has a 30% chance of solving a WiFi related
issue.
- Lack of Parental Settings: A common issue owners have with
their Kindle Fire is the lack of parental controls for children safety.
Once again, this poses a larger issue due to the social and family
nature of tablet devices: children can easily access content that
parents don't want them to see. Setting a WiFi password only solves
this problem for web browsing.
Although more reliable overall, the iPad 2 also has some serious
issues:
- WiFi Connection Issues: iPad 2 owners have reported fairly
widespread issues with connecting to (and staying connected to) WiFi.
Although this is a widespread issue that affects those without a
3G-enabled iPad or those close to their monthly data cap, there are a
number of successful fixes. Turning WiFi on and off, renewing the DHCP
lease, and resetting the WiFi network settings usually solves the
issue.
- Backlight Bleeding: 15% of iPad 2 issues registered are
related to display problems, mostly the prominence of splotchy light
patches around the edges of the device. This is an eyesore that becomes
more noticeable in the dark. Adjusting device screen brightness can
alleviate this somewhat, although a full fix is more difficult because
it is a hardware issue.
Below is how the top 5 troubleshooting issues broke down for each
device:
Top 5 Kindle Fire Problems
- Cant Turn Off One-Click Shopping, 30%
- WiFi Connection Issues, 25%
- No Parental Settings, 15%
- Touchscreen Precision, 15%
- USB Issues, 10%
Top 5 iPad 2 Problems
- WiFi Connection Issues, 35%
- LED Display Issues, 15%
- Microphone Quality, 15%
- USB Issues, 10%
- Screen Issues, 10%
"Product call centers are the closest thing to consumer hell, making
the Web the new owners manual," says FixYa CEO Yaniv Bensadon. "We see
this firsthand and have experienced an explosion in consumer issues
with tablets, mainly the variety of devices running Android software.
Despite Apple's godlike status with consumers, it is no stranger to
consumer issues, as noted in toady's report."
FixYa brings consumers the most comprehensive solution database in
the world. The FixYa Tablet Index was generated from over 20 million
users, 650,000 experts and 10 million product problems and solutions.
FixYa's unique access to crowd-sourced product Q&A from consumers
grants the company transparent data that no other service can claim to
provide. FixYa's troubleshooting data comes from real-life consumer
experience with products and product problems.
About FixYa
In 2005, entrepreneur Yaniv Bensadon set out to build a community
resource capable of providing relevant and up-to-date troubleshooting
information, gathering consumer-generated practical product tips and
sharing them in one user-friendly site. Today, with over 20 million
visitors and two million products in its database, FixYa continues to
empower individuals to repair and improve upon their already-purchased
possessions. FixYa is a place where individuals can share real world
experience and connect to provide each other practical advice. From
fixing cars, to cameras, to iPhones, FixYans are part of a DIY
revolution that helps empower techies, tinkerers and hobbyists across
the globe.
FixYa is a venture-funded Web 2.0 company located in the heart of
Silicon Valley with offices in San Mateo, California.
Link: FixYa
Tablet Report, February 2012
More Than Half of Kindle Fire Owners Plan to Buy an
iPad 3
PR: TechBargains.com, a deal aggregation website for
electronic products, has released its iPad 3 survey results, revealing
that a surprising 48% of those surveyed will buy an iPad 3. Of the
respondents, 58% want to upgrade their current tablet and 74% concede
that no tablet compares to an iPad. The anticipated high price tag of
Apple's next iPad is the main reason 16% of shoppers will not buy the
iPad 3 and why 35% remain undecided. The survey also found that more
than half of owners of the recently released Kindle Fire will buy an
iPad 3.
"When it comes to tablets, Apple's iPad will continue to remain the
leader," says Yung Trang, President and Editor in Chief of
TechBargains.com. "But what's very interesting is that Kindle Fire was
released just three months ago and yet more than half of Fire owners
already know that they will, in fact, buy the iPad 3. This could be a
commentary on consumer dissatisfaction with Amazon's product or simply
a message that the iPad's user experience remains unparalleled."
Kindle Fire vs. iPad 3
With the recent release of Amazon's Kindle Fire, a surprising 53%
will buy the iPad 3 (6% will wait in line on the release date, 17% will
buy online on the release date, and 30% will wait and buy the iPad, but
with no set time frame). The survey indicated that 85% of those Kindle
Fire owners who will buy the iPad 3 want to upgrade their current
tablet and 73% say no tablet compares to an iPad. Additionally, 31% of
Kindle Fire owners are undecided about their plans to purchase an iPad
3 and 16% do not plan to buy the iPad 3 (of those respondents, 78% wont
buy an iPad 3 already own a tablet and 71% say iPads are too
expensive).
iPad & iPad 2 vs. iPad 3
Of the survey respondents 66% of iPad owners and 56% of iPad 2
owners plan to purchase the iPad 3 which indicates consumers' strong
Apple loyalty and the eagerness to have the latest products available.
Additional survey results indicate:
iPad Owners
- 35% are undecided if they will purchase the iPad 3
- 8% will not purchase the iPad 3 (of those 91% already own a tablet
and 72% believe its too expensive)
iPad Owners iPad 3 Wish List
- 85% want a quad core processor in the iPad 3, 80% want a memory
card slot, 80% also want a USB port, and 76% want a better speaker
iPad 2 Owners
- 32% undecided if they will purchase the iPad 3
- 13% will not purchase the iPad 3 (of those 94% already own a
tablet, 65% say iPad is too expensive)
iPad 2 Owners iPad 3 Wish List
- 83% want a better speaker in the iPad 3, 83% quad core processor,
79% memory card slot, 77% USB port
Who Is Buying the iPad 3?
The survey revealed that men (51%) are more likely than women (35%)
to purchase the iPad 3. The main reason men and women were either
undecided or were not going to purchase an iPad 3 was because they felt
it was too expensive. On the other hand, the main reason men and women
will purchase an iPad 3 is because they believe no other tablets
compare to iPad. Additionally, the survey found that respondents ages
31-50 are most likely to buy an iPad 3.
Consumers' iPad 3 Wish List
The survey included questions regarding what features consumers
predict will be included in the iPad 3 and additions they wish Apple
would make. The majority of people (67%) believe the iPad 3 will have
an upgraded camera to record video in 1080p and 8 MP for high
resolution photos. 92% of respondents predict the iPad 3 display will
have an increased pixel resolution than the 1024 x 768 of the iPad 2, but people were split on what the new
resolution will be. The display size and price of the iPad 3 will
remain the same as its predecessor, according to the majority of
shoppers. Consumers also shared a wish list of features they would like
to see included in the iPad 3. The results include the percent of
people who want the following features:
- Quad Core Processor: 85%
- Better Speaker: 82%
- USB Port: 82%
- Memory Card Slot: 81%
- Less Reflective Screen: 72%
- Siri: 65%
- Support for Thunderbolt (42%) and Multiple User (51%) accounts
ranked low on wish list
"It's clear from the wish list results that consumers don't want the
iPad 3 to be a slight improvement over the iPad 2; they're looking for
a significant leap in tablet functionality and specs from Apple's
newest device. That means addressing some elements that left users
underwhelmed, like wanting a faster processor or a less reflective
screen," says Techbargains.com Editor Jeff Haynes. "The storage
features from the wish list probably wont be included, but those stats
speak to the consumers desire for Apple to increase its storage options
away from iCloud, especially if it wants memory intensive apps or
initiatives, like the new textbooks through iBooks, to really take
off."
Link: Who Is Going to
Buy iPad 3? (PDF)
Apple, Please Steal These webOS Features
IgnoreTheCode blogger Lukas Mathis says that when Apple introduced
the first iPad in 2010, he bought one
immediately. He didn't know what he'd use it for but was sure that he
would find some use for it. However, he says he never did. He played
around with it, wrote some code for it, but eventually stopped using
it.
"I would pick it up from time to time to read something or watch a
YouTube movie," he relates, but even that was a rare occurrence. "I
have since picked up an iPad 2, and I'm using it a lot more than the
first iPad, but again, I'm pretty much only using it to consume
content."
Mathis says he suspects that most people use their iPad's similarly
to surf the Web, watch movies, play games, and read books and graphic
novels. Essentially, to consume, so when he bought a TouchPad after HP
discontinued it, he never assumed he would end up using it for actual
work, but he affirms that he's doing just that.
The operative question is why was it so easy to use the TouchPad for
work, but not the iPad? He thinks it's because there are a number of
things the TouchPad does that make it more suitable for work and
suggests that with it becoming increasingly obvious that HP won't do
anything useful with webOS, it's time for Apple to start "stealing" the
things it does well, such as:
- Switching Apps
- Document management on iOS is a mess.
- Multiple Document and Application Windows Open
- The Keyboard
And these are just some of the things that make it easier to do
actual work on a TouchPad, compared to an iPad.
Link: Please Steal These
webOS Features
Is Texting Dumbing Us Down?
TG Daily Staff note that University of Calgary researcher Joan Lee
suggests it is, that individuals who text more are less accepting of
new words, while those who read more traditional print media - such as
books, magazines, and newspapers - are more accepting unfamiliar terms,
noting that traditional print media expose people to variety and
creativity in language that is conspicuously absent in the colloquial
peer-to-peer text messaging used among youth or "generation text," and
that while reading encourages flexibility in language use, along with
tolerance of different words, also helping individuals develop skills
that allow them to generate viable interpretations of new or unusual
words, texting, by contrast, is associated with rigid linguistic
constraints that caused students to reject many of the words in the
study.
Link: Is Texting Dumbing
Us Down?
US Department of Transportation Proposes
Distraction Guidelines for Automakers
PR: Welcome news for those of us increasingly concerned about
the safety implications of increasing presence of attention-distracting
electronic features in automobiles, US Transportation Secretary Ray
LaHood on Thursday announced the first-ever federally proposed
guidelines to encourage automobile manufacturers to limit the
distraction risk for in-vehicle electronic devices. The proposed
voluntary guidelines would apply to communications, entertainment,
information gathering and navigation devices or functions that are not
required to safely operate the vehicle.
Issued by the Department's National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), the guidelines would establish specific
recommended criteria for electronic devices installed in vehicles at
the time they are manufactured that require visual or manual operation
by drivers. The announcement of the guidelines comes just days after
President Obama's FY 2013 budget request, which includes $330 million
over six years for distracted driving programs that increase awareness
of the issue and encourage stakeholders to take action.
"Distracted driving is a dangerous and deadly habit on America's
roadways that's why I've made it a priority to encourage people to stay
focused behind the wheel," said Secretary LaHood. "These guidelines are
a major step forward in identifying real solutions to tackle the issue
of distracted driving for drivers of all ages."
Geared toward light vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans,
and other vehicles rated at not more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle
weight), the guidelines proposed today are the first in a series of
guidance documents NHTSA plans to issue to address sources of
distraction that require use of the hands and/or diversion of the eyes
from the primary task of driving.
In particular, the Phase I proposed guidelines released today
recommend criteria that manufacturers can use to ensure the systems or
devices they provide in their vehicles are less likely to distract the
driver with tasks not directly relevant to safely operating the
vehicle, or cause undue distraction by engaging the driver's eyes or
hands for more than a very limited duration while driving. Electronic
warning system functions such as forward-collision or lane departure
alerts would not be subject to the proposed guidelines, since they are
intended to warn a driver of a potential crash and are not considered
distracting devices.
"We recognize that vehicle manufacturers want to build vehicles that
include the tools and conveniences expected by today's American
drivers," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "The guidelines
we're proposing would offer real-world guidance to automakers to help
them develop electronic devices that provide features consumers want
without disrupting a driver's attention or sacrificing safety."
The proposed Phase I distraction guidelines include recommendations
to:
- Reduce complexity and task length required by the device;
- Limit device operation to one hand only (leaving the other hand to
remain on the steering wheel to control the vehicle);
- Limit individual off-road glances required for device operation to
no more than two seconds in duration;
- Limit unnecessary visual information in the driver's field of
view;
- Limit the amount of manual inputs required for device
operation.
The proposed guidelines would also recommend the disabling of the
following operations by in-vehicle electronic devices while driving,
unless the devices are intended for use by passengers and cannot
reasonably be accessed or seen by the driver, or unless the vehicle is
stopped and the transmission shift lever is in park.
- Visual-manual text messaging;
- Visual-manual Internet browsing;
- Visual-manual social media browsing;
- Visual-manual navigation system destination entry by address;
- Visual-manual 10-digit phone dialing;
- Displaying to the driver more than 30 characters of text unrelated
to the driving task.
NHTSA is also considering future, Phase II proposed guidelines that
might address devices or systems that are not built into the vehicle
but are brought into the vehicle and used while driving, including
after-market and portable personal electronic devices such as
navigation systems, smart phones, electronic tablets and pads, and
other mobile communications devices. A third set of proposed guidelines
(Phase III) may address voice-activated controls to further minimize
distraction in factory-installed, after-market, and portable
devices.
The Phase I guidelines were published in today's Federal Register
and members of the public will have the opportunity to comment on the
proposal for 60 days. Final guidelines will be issued after the agency
reviews and analyzes and responds to public input.
NHTSA will also hold public hearings on the proposed guidelines to
solicit public comment. The hearings will take place in March and will
be held in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, DC.
Link: Proposed
Guidelines (PDF)
Rumor Roundup
iPad 3 Chip Leak Indicates Dual-core, Not
Quad-Core
The
Register's Caleb Cox reports that the next-generation iPad will feature
a dual-core A5X system-on-a-chip, if spy shots of a supposed iPad 3
logic board that surfaced online are of the real thing.
Cox thinks that the quad-core A6 silicon some have been predicting
for the iPad 3 was also cast into doubt earlier this month, when photos
purported to be of Apple's iBoot bootloader programming tool were
leaked, referring to an ARM chip dubbed the "S5L8945X", a revelation
that now is further backed by these images of an AX5 chip posted on
Chinese site WeiPhone.
Link: iPad 3 Chip Leak
Squeaks Dual-Core Tweaks
iPad 3 Rumor Roundup
M.I.C. Gadget's Steve Lo has posted a compendium of iPad 3
rumorobilia, with all the purported specs covered and what he says is
an exclusive in-depth look at the back shell of the iPad 3, claimed to
be a production piece from one of his most reliable sources.
From a Chinese forum comes a gallery of photos claimed to be showing
the production facilities for iPad 3 Retina Display screens said to
have been taken at Taiwan-based LCD backlight unit maker Radiant
Opto-Electronics' plant in Wujiang city.
There's also the Chinese Weiphone forums shots of a prototype iPad 3
logic board showing an A5X system-on-a-chip.
Rounding up everything he's seen and heard from his sources, Lo says
he believes the specs of the new Apple tablet will include:
- A 9.7" 2048 x 1536 Retina Display.
- Possible quad core A6, but dual core for sure with processing power
required for the Retina Display.
- A much improved camera, although maybe not be 8 MP as
production costs are high, but photos show the iPad 3 camera lens is
noticeably larger than its predecessor
- The unit is expected to be about 1-1.5mm thicker depending on your
model, but it does fit inside some iPad 2 cases despite this, being
only marginally thicker than the iPad 2, but with edges tapered and a
narrower bezel.
- LTE/4G has been tested, but the market is limited, so perhaps we
will not see anything outside of 3G connectivity.
- The memory capacities will stay the same at 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64
GB.
- According to one of M.I.C. Gadget's sources, a sub-$400 device with
7" screen is in development and will be offered with a low voltage ARM
processor, a powerful GPU, and a large battery. It is targeted at
developing nations like Brazil and China to compete with the smaller
tablets, and with a Q4 release date in time for Christmas 2012.
Link: The iPad 3 Rumor
Roundup
Apps & Services
Nebulous Notes Dropbox-Enabled Text Editor
PR: Featured three times on Lifehacker.com as one of the
best tools for getting things done, Nebulous Notes is a powerful, yet
simple, text editor for note-takers, writers, and coders. Your notes
are backed up and available from Dropbox, the best back-up service in
the world. Free accounts on Dropbox come with 2 GB of space,
enough to store 500 copies of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace.
Nebulous Notes Features
- Open and edit all plain text files (.txt, .md, .c, etc.)
- Preview files in HTML, MarkDown
- Supports saving and opening in all file encodings (useful for
international users)
- VoiceOver hints
- Print documents using AirPrint
- Supports TextExpander touch snippet expansion
Features Lacking in Competing Apps
Open files
from any Dropbox folder- Customizable themes
- Macro system lets you add frequently used keys to a toolbar (like {
} [ ] = %, etc.).
- Macro system also has basic text-substitutions for convenient HTML
tags
- Protect the app with a PIN
- Search for text with a document
- Customizable themes
- Fullscreen support for "Writeroom"-style editing
- "Insert Tab" key (multiline tabbing and un-tabbing supported)
- Turn off word-wrapping
NOTE:
Nebulous Notes is only for plain text editing, and can't edit Word
Documents or PDFs.
New in Version 5.1
Major Updates:
- Now you can change line spacing
- Now you can sort local files (I know, long time coming)
Minor Updates:
- Added Gentium Plus (Full Unicode) Font
- Added Inconsolata Font
- All connections use HTTPS
- Tapping the line number in the popup selects the line
- Added $line macro to select the line
Updates To Preview Markup:
- Now you can use custom CSS for Markdown Previews
- Preview Markup now clears its cache before loading
- Addresses and links are automatically detected in Preview
Markup
System Requirements:
- Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
- Requires iOS 4.3 or later.
Nebulous Notes sells for $3.99. An ad-supported "lite" version is
also available.
Link:
Nebulous Notes
Link:
Nebulous Notes Lite
Dragon Go! Travel Search Now Powered by
Expedia
PR: Nuance Communications, Inc. has announced that its Dragon
Go! app for iOS and Android now lets people truly go anywhere with the
ability to speak and quickly find and book flights, hotels, and more
with direct access to Expedia. Dragon Go!s all new travel search
capability allows people with iPhones and Android devices to easily
find and book the best travel deals available just by using their
voice.
Expedia joins the more than 200 content providers that have made
Dragon Go! a success for iPhone, iPod Touch and most recently, Android.
Dragon Go! combines Nuance's Dragon voice recognition with natural
language understanding to understand not only what people say, but what
they mean. The result is direct, instant access to the most relevant
content and knowledge on the mobile Web to get more done, faster and
easier. Forget the hurdles posed by traditional mobile search
applications no boundaries and no scrolling through blue links. And
with Dragon Go!'s unique, open design consumers and content partners
experience each brands familiar look and feel.
"Old school mobile search is fading. The majority of consumers don't
like blue links, scrolling, or pecking. Consumers want personal mobile
assistant capabilities with unfiltered access to content and
knowledge," says Michael Thompson, senior vice president and general
manager, Nuance Mobile. "With direct access to services like Expedia,
consumers can do just about anything from anywhere - even book a last
minute trip with just a few spoken words.
Dragon Go! lets consumers say virtually anything and immediately
jump to relevant destinations and with the addition of Expedia, people
can find and book accommodations for their favorite destinations. For
example, say: "Available flights from Boston to San Francisco in March"
to instantly see flight schedules and pricing, and the opportunity to
buy tickets directly from Expedia.
"Find 4-star hotels near me," when traveling and you need to book a
room at a hotel closest to your current location on Expedia. Swipe over
to the Yelp tab for additional feedback.
"What are the best resorts in Cancun?" to see reviews and ratings of
the top resorts on Expedia, and see what others have to say with just a
quick flick on over to the Twitter tab.
"Our consumers already love that they can find and book a flight,
hotel room and more on Expedia from just about anywhere with their
iPhone or Android device. And with the addition of Expedia to Dragon
Go!, even more mobile consumers will have direct voice access to the
best travel deals around," says Jeff Warren, vice president, product
management, Expedia Worldwide.
When traveling, Dragon Go! gives people direct access to local
restaurant reviews, directions, weather, and more. For instance,
say:
- "Where can I get the best Italian food in Las Vegas?" to get
reviews from Yelp as well as book a reservation via OpenTable.
- "Find sunglasses near me," and be taken to Milo.com for a list of
local retail shops that sell the shades you want, as well as the
ability to purchase sunglasses online.
- "What is the weather going to be like in Tahoe today?" to get
detailed weather forecasts from Accuweather.com and other top weather
services.
- "Play Drive By by Train" to instantly play the song downloaded to
your device, or play it from your Pandora station.
"We've combined natural language understanding with a unique design
and open access to content to deliver what consumers truly want - a
better search experience," says Vlad Sejnoha, chief technology officer,
Nuance. "We're committed to the continuous enhancement of our natural
language technology and the addition of new content providers to make
Dragon Go! the go-to mobile concierge."
Dragon Go! features the largest direct-access content ecosystem in
mobile today, with content provided by AccuWeather, Ask.com, Bing,
Dictionary.com, ESPN, Facebook, Fandango, Last.fm, LiveNation,
Milo.com, OpenTable, Pandora internet radio, Rotten Tomatoes, Spotify,
Twitter, Wikipedia, Wolfram|Alpha, Yelp, YouTube, Yahoo!, and many
others - and now Expedia.
Dragon Go! is available for free in the iOS App Store.
Link:
Dragon Go!
MobileLutions Makes Major Improvement of iPhone
Distracted Driving Software
PR: MobileLutions has announced a new release of the iPhone
MobiLoc software, incorporating a significant modification so the phone
will not be as dramatically affected by the use of GPS for calculating
speed, but still protect the customer from the dangers of distracted
driving. Couple the iPhone software with a strong cell phone policy and
corporations will significantly enhance their ability to deal with
distracted driving.
While many firms believe a solution needs to be implemented to
protect their employees, their company and the public from the dangers
and the liability of distracted driving, if the iPhone is hampered by
having to be constantly charged, it prevents the workforce from
adopting the technology.
Larry Eppard, MobileLutions founder, says, "This is a critical
upgrade to the iPhone software. Since MobiLoc is the only iPhone
solution for distracted driving for the business community, it is
critical the battery not be the obstacle for adoption. This upgrade
should allow potential customers sitting on the sidelines because their
mobile workforce does not always have a way to immediately charge their
iPhones to now move forward."
The dangers of driving and using a cell phone continue, firms are
being held liable for their employees actions and continue to move to
the forefront of the legal process. Add to this the NTSB announcement
in December of 2011; calling for a nationwide ban on cell phone use in
a vehicle, the motivation for companies to be proactive in addressing
distracted driving has taken a front seat. See http://www.ntsb.gov/news/2011/111213.html
for full details of this announcement.
With this release of software another barrier has been removed from
using MobiLoc. With a cost of pennies a day per phone, it's arguably a
no-brainer to lockdown and control your employees phones, especially if
you provide the phone and/or the vehicle they are in.
A strong defense for employers to protect against liability is to
adopt and implement written policies that ban the use of mobile devices
while driving; and ensure that these policies are adequately
communicated to employees. MobiLoc is an employers added assurance that
their safety policies are being enforced.
The upgraded software is immediately available to all MobileLutions
customers as well as for sale in the App Store.
Link:
MobiLoc
Link:
MobiLoc Plus
Free Medical Marijuana App
PR: As more people own smartphones, it is important to create
mobile marketing apps that focus on three key principles: immediacy,
simplicity and context, according to a new research report by
Forrester. With this in mind, Doobons.com has launched its new
iPhone/iPod/iPad app as a discreet and easy way for patients to
instantly locate nearby medical marijuana dispensaries and other
resources. The easy-to-use medical marijuana app is already earning
rave reviews from users, and has a five-star rating, the highest rating
available in iTunes.
The Doobons.com website was just launched in November 2011 as a way
to simplify online searches for medical cannabis resources and make
medical cannabis approachable to all adults, even those with no
previous experience with the medical marijuana industry. As a
smartphone app, Doobons offers an even more convenient, on-the-go
tool.
"Mobile apps are a necessity - people are always on the go and not
in front of their laptop," says John, founder of Doobons.com. "We
launched the app 10 days ago, and without even marketing it, over a
hundred people have downloaded it - and the number of daily downloads
is growing fast."
The Doobons app's simple interface allows users to quickly find
resources like dispensaries, doctors, lawyers, delivery services and
discounts in the immediate area. Users can either allow their device to
use geolocation to pull up medical marijuana resources nearby, or
search by city name or zip code and customize the type of search
results in the settings tab.
Users can also choose to have the app display search results as
icons on a Google map or as a list. A single click on a location
reveals contact information and directions to the business. The
simplicity and usefulness of these features make the app highly
recommended by users, who describe it as easy to use and extremely
handy.
Doobons.com was designed to be convenient and to appeal to everyone,
including those who are new to the world of medical cannabis. While
most of today's online medical marijuana directories are designed for
patients who already know at least something about using medical
marijuana, Doobons.com is designed to be user friendly for patients of
all ages and experience levels.
Doobons.com is more than just another online medical marijuana
directory. The sites News, Resource, and Blog pages provide valuable
information and advice for patients and caregivers. The information
posted helps new patients learn about the ins and outs of the world of
medical marijuana, and existing patients stay abreast of
developments.
The five-star-rated Doobons app is now available for free on the
iTunes app store for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (3rd
generation), iPod touch (4th generation) and iPad that runs on iOS 4.3
or later.
For more information about Doobons.com, call (415) 524-8099 or go to
http://www.Doobons.com .
Link:
Doobons
Accessories
Tubi Natural Sound Amplifier for iPhone Inspired
by Classic Phonograph Design
PR: IPEVO, Inc. has announced the release of its
Tubi Sound Amplifier for the 3rd and 4th generations of Apple's iPhone.
Tubi takes advantage of precise shape and dimensions to naturally
amplify and enhance the audio output from a mounted iPhone. Tubi is
available now through IPEVO's online store at a price of $999.
Via passive amplification, Tubi significantly increases the volume
of music output from iPhone's built-in speakers. Amplification occurs
naturally and without electricity. In addition to increasing volume,
Tubi creates a "fuller" sound by casting sound waves in a variety of
directions, increasing reverberation. This fuller sound also
characterized by listeners as richer or warmer is ideal for
instrument-focused, non-electronic music such as classical music, jazz
and mood music.
Tubi's most striking feature is the brass horn that rises high above
the mounted iPhone. This warm yellow horn, constructed with real
hand-crafted brass, pays homage to the classic phonograph of the late
19th and early 20th Centuries. The black base is made from a solid
block of aluminum. Due to these top-grade materials, Tubi's impressive
dimensions, and the piece's overall "throwback" conception, IPEVO
intends Tubi as an exclusive, premium accessory piece for music
aficionados, and particularly fans of classic instrumental music.
Tubi accepts iPhone 3G/3S as well as the newer 4G/4S. Swappable
adapters for either generation are included. And while no electronic
technology is necessary for sound amplification, a USB port in the rear
of the base allows the user to charge the iPhone while the device is
mounted.
"We pulled no punches with Tubi," explains Royce Hong, CEO and big
head of design of IPEVO. "We wanted to offer a bold, unmistakable
showpiece for iPhone owners and music lovers. Tubi's high-quality
construction and sweeping dimensions reflect this approach. The iconic
phonograph horn has been updated with the elegant, modern aesthetic
that our customers have come to expect from IPEVO products. Aurally and
visually, Tubi is simply enchanting. It has a unique ability to impress
and excite."
Tubi Natural Sound Amplifier for iPhone 3 and 4 is available
exclusively through IPEVO's online store.
Link:
Tubi Natural Sound Amplifier for iPhone
spiderArm iPad 2 Modular Mount System Holds iPad
Where You Want It
PR:
spiderArm Ltd. has announced worldwide availability of its spiderArm
iPad mount system, a complete interchangeable ergonomic support system
for the iPad 2 with 360° adjustability and home-to-work versatility
that helps reduce neck strain and long-term injuries. The modular
system allows users to create a handsfree viewing set up that provides
the most precise and enjoyable experience with their device; therefore
reducing potential muscle fatigue, eye strain and neck strain that can
occur from extended use of technology devices.
The spiderArm retails for $79.99 and is available at
spiderArm.com.
The system includes two base units; a two-way SurfaceMount that is
padded to protect furniture and can be secured to a table or desk, and
a three-way VersaMount for securing onto a wall, under a cabinet or
near your work station. Much like spiders themselves who can survive in
all types of habitats, the spiderArm system can be used in nearly any
environment and the multiple mounts provided in the system means you
can move your iPad from room to room even from home to office wherever
you use your iPad the most.
Additional product features include:
- Three modular extension arms with 270 degree joints that freely
adjust to any angle and height. These arms help the user to build a
system using either one, two or three of the arms, resulting in a set
up that provides a precise, ergonomic and handsfree viewing experience
customized just for them.
- The spiderArm mount system provides endless uses and its
versatility allows the user to place it nearly anywhere. The spiderArm
may be used around the home, in the office, or for commercial and
professional uses due to its rugged, polycarbonate construction.
- The secureSnap outer casing allows for a quick attachment of the
iPad; the device eases onto the base and is snapped onto the unit at
all four corners for a secure fit. This casing is connected to the
first and shortest arm provided in the system which features a ball
joint connection and a 360 degree adjustment knob that provides a
secure connection as well as the ability to angle it based on viewing
preferences.
- A fashionable yet durable, quality finish in piano-key white color
and soft, anodized-finish aluminum tubes.
Under counter mount option keeps iPad safe from harm and away from
spills and splashes in the kitchen, in a lab or on your desk.
"Each day we are seeing more medical reports and media coverage
about the injuries being caused by poor posture, abnormal neck
positioning and over exertion of arm muscles due to the extended use of
electronic devices," comments Tim Henderson, inventor of the spiderArm.
"We expect our system to stand apart from other cases or stands on the
market because it was designed with the iPad users versatile lifestyle
in mind one minute they are accessing recipes while cooking in the
kitchen and the next they are viewing movies on their iPad in bed. The
spiderArm is there for every situation to support their device and
accommodate their viewing needs."
Tim Henderson is the creator of the patented design behind the
spiderArm. His background in design and production are evident in its
superior construction and functionality. The product has been designed
to accommodate the users personal lifestyle, and accessories are being
introduced rapidly by the company to provide even more mobility of the
product.
For more information, visit spiderArm.com or call (800) 531-8289
Link: spiderArm
Caze Zero 5 Pro Claimed to Be Thinnest Case for
iPhone 4S/4
PR:
Caze has released the Zero 5 Pro Clear collection for iPhone 4S/4. It's
an advanced version of Zero 5 (0.5mm) which Caze claims is the world's
thinnest clear iPhone case and the perfect mix of Zero 5 and Bumper. It
adds just 0.5 millimeter in thickness so you will hardly even know that
it is on. The sleek, one-piece design shields your phone from scratches
with an ultrathin but very durable polycarbonate back plate. Its
ultra-slim rubber frame cushions and protects the edges of your
phone.
Zero 5 Pro provides protection for your iPhone 4/4S with all around
coverage, including the built-in Dock Connector port cover, headphone
port cover and back & front screen protectors. With an extra
coating, Zero 5 Pro is more scratch resistant than ever. The back of
the case has a precise cutout for the iPhone's camera and flash.
As the name
implies, Zero 5 Pro is very slim and only has a 0.5mm wall thickness.
It is made of GRILAMID TR-90 which is lightweight, remarkably tough,
highly flexible, shatterproof and highly resistant to UV damage.
Besides its super slim body that measures only 0.5mm in thickness, Zero
5 Pro is durable and offers comprehensive protection to your iPhone
4S/4 without adding any extra bulk. A stragetically-placed Dock
Connector port cover and headphone port cover can effectively prevent
the dust from getting into your iPhone 4S/4. It has complete access to
all the main ports and buttons of your device. Charging doesn't require
removal from the case.
Zero 5 (0.5mm) Pro Clear collection features a 0.5mm clear back
plate and an ultra-slim bumper. It is a bit raised to protect your
screen from further scratches when laid on a flat surface. To ensure
all-around protection, the package comes with a free screen protection
kit (front & back films) for added shield.
If you're looking for an ultra-slim one piece case that is not only
able to shield your iPhone from scratches and bumps but also prevents
dust from getting into the Dock Connector port and headphone port of
your iPhone 4S/4, Caze Zero 5 (0.5mm) Pro Clear collection could be
your choice.
Colors obtainable for now are clear, black and white. It works with
the AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint iPhone 4/4S, and will fit both the
Black and White models. You can preorder now at iPhone Caze official
website and shipping will start on the 21st of February.
Link: Zero 5 Pro
