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News, Reviews, & Opinion
10 Tips on Using Google Maps on Your iPhone
Google has posted some suggestions to make your Google Maps for
iPhone experience even better.
- Place Pin on the Map
- Street View
- Shake to Send Feedback
- Swipe to See More
- Access Views
- Preview steps in Navigation (Beta)
- 1 Finger Zoom
- Work & Home
- Compass Mode
- Save a Place
Link: Quick Tips on Using
Google Maps for iPhone
Stop Multitasking and Put Your Phone in the
Trunk
Do you think you're being efficient when you check your email while
writing a report about a meeting you attended? How about checking email
on your cellphone while listening to your child describe an incident at
school?
Multitasking Is Telling Someone 'I Haven't Heard a Word You've
Said'
PR: Hard work is the classic characteristic of the American
psyche. Whether driven by guilt, ambition. or just a type A
personality, many of us feel compelled to work as hard as we can and as
long as we can. And, if you can work on more than one thing at a time
so much the better, right?
Wrong.
Business coach Dale Crenshaw, author of "The Myth Of Multitasking:
How Doing It All Gets Nothing Done," debunks the value of multitasking,
which he calls "switchtasking". He also points out that, in some
circumstances, it could send the wrong message.
"Multitasking is a polite way of telling someone I haven't heard a
word you've said," says Crenshaw.
In a recent edition of AWARE, the Minnesota Life Group Insurance
newsletter, Crenshaw and others who have explored the usefulness of
multitasking are quoted about their research and experiences with
multitasking. A management consultant tried for one week to give up
multitasking and went so far as to put his cellphone in the trunk of
his car to avoid driving and talking at the same time.
Do you think you could force yourself to work through your to-do
list one task at a time? Read the article, "Why Multitasking Doesn't
Work" to learn more about Crenshaw and his research, plus some tips for
converting to singletasking.
Link:
Stop Multitasking and Put Your Phone in the Trunk
Apple's Forgotten eMate 300
Newton eMate 300
Macworld's Benj Edwards notes that 15 years ago, Apple released its
first and only touchscreen laptop (so far), the often forgotten
eMate 300, an
oddly-styled translucent green clamshell portable that ran Apple's
Newton PDA operating system and was something of a forerunner for
Apple's iOS iDevice revolution.
Launching it in March 1997, Apple offered the eMate for sale only
through education channels. Powered by a 25 MHz ARM CPU with 1 MB
of RAM and 2 MB of flash memory for document storage, a 480 x 320
backlit grayscale LCD, a PC Card expansion slot, and selling for $799,
the eMate was marketed by Apple as a low-cost educational computer for
children at a time when the entry-level PowerBook 3400c sold for a whopping
$4,500 1997 dollars.
Link: The Forgotten eMate
300 - 15 Years Later
25% of American Adults Own Tablet Computers
PR: Pew Internet's Lee Rainie says one-quarter of American
adults now own tablet computers, a major increase from the first
measurement of tablet ownership by the Pew Research Centers Internet
& American Life Project in the late summer of 2010. In September
2010, 4% of American adults owned tablets, and now 25% do, according to
a survey the Project conducted from July 16 to August 7, 2012.
A demographic breakdown of tablet owners shows that nearly half of
those living in households earning $75,000 or more - 47% - own
tablets.
Link: 25% of American
Adults Own Tablet Computers
iPad mini Wins Because It's Expensive
The Street's Rocco Pendola says people are willing to pay for
something of quality that they know will give them a lot in return, and
in a race to the bottom to create the cheapest and most easily-produced
product, savvy consumers realize that you frequently get what you pay
for. Consider, for example, Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet vs. the
iPad mini....
Link: Apple: iPad mini
Wins Because It's Expensive
iPhone Tops Americans' 2013 Consumer Technology
Wish List
PR: US consumers are more likely to buy an iPhone during the
next 12 months than any other of 22 key consumer electronics products,
according to the latest ConsumerMetrix survey from Strategy Analytics. 23.5% of
2,285 US consumers say they are somewhat or very likely to buy an
iPhone. The next most popular products are the Android smartphone
(21.6%), the portable PC (17.4%) and Apple's iPad (15.3%). Smart TVs
feature next on the list, followed by digital cameras, Blu-ray disc
players and desktop PCs. Products appearing towards the bottom of the
wish list include Apple TV, Internet radios and multi-room music
systems.
"Americans show no signs of falling out of love with the iPhone,"
says Jia Wu, Director, Connected Home Devices. "But interest in Android
smartphones as well as other personal computing devices remains strong,
highlighting the leading role of these smart technologies in today's
technology lifestyles."
The study also identified changes in buying intentions over the past
six months, noting that there has been a strong increase in interest in
mobile phones in general, and intention to buy TVs has also risen
strongly. Interest in buying Blu-ray disc players, however, has fallen,
and there has also been a notable decline in intention to buy portable
PCs and portable Mac computers.
'Steve Jobs Wasn't Malicious, He Was Just Trying to
Get Things Done'
Apple Lisa
Macworld UK's Ashleigh Allsopp reports that the founder of design
firm IDEO David Kelley commented on his friendship with the late Steve
Jobs in an interview with CBS 60 Minutes' Charlie Rose about the
philosophy behind 'design thinking,' noting that Kelley was part of the
team that helped design Apple's first mouse, the Apple III, and the Apple Lisa, and was close friends
with Jobs for more than 30 years. Jobs also introduced Kelley to his
current wife and counseled him to go straight to Western treatment and
focus on spending time with his family rather than seek alternative
cures (as Jobs had done with his own cancer) when Kelley was suffering
from a life-threatening throat cancer.
Kelley is cited saying that despite being famously picky, Jobs was
not malicious, maintaining that the biggest misconception about Apple's
cofounder was that he was deliberately mean to people. "He wasn't,"
Kelley said. "He was just trying to get things done."
Link: 'Steve Jobs Wasn't
Malicious, He Was Just Trying to Get Things Done', Says IDEO's David
Kelley
Frustrating iPad mini Apple Support Saga
Chronicled
Gear Diary's Michael Anderson reports that just before Christmas he
posted a rant about the support he was getting from Apple regarding an
iPad mini WiFi issue when using the phone and Apple's online support
systems - a problem that had lingered more than 2.5 weeks and was
getting more frustrating by the day. Unhappily, after returning the
iPad to Apple for service over Christmas, it was returned still not
working on 2.4 GHz WiFi (it would work on 5 GHz).
After a torturous process of negotiation, Apple finally did replace
Michael's Mini with a new machine that worked on his WiFi without issue
and has continued to do so, proving that the problem was in fact a
product defect and not a problem with his home network, which had been
insinuated. He contends that non-retail customers are treated as
second-class by Apple Support, resulting in this particular issue
taking four weeks to resolve, involving four shipments back and forth,
and the only reason it got resolved was that Michael himself did the
troubleshooting that Apple either would not or could not do on an issue
that is apparently not uncommon, resulting in his being sent back the
exact same defective iPad mini which was given minimal (and
ineffective) testing without any repair three times before getting
satisfaction, and that simply should never have happened. He observes
that had the (very polite) Apple support people taken the time to
Listen for and resolve any issues or concerns, they would've understood
the situation, and a timely resolution could've been enabled.
Link: The Outcome of My
iPad Mini Apple Support Saga
Office for iOS: Largely Irrelevant
Macworld's John Moltz turns turn back the clock to Macworld Expo
Boston 1997 and the now-infamous Steve Jobs keynote in which Steve Jobs
talked about how great it was that Apple and Microsoft had just
committed to cross-licensing their patents and announced Microsoft's
investment of $150 million in Apple and - a bigger deal for Mac users -
Microsoft had committed to shipping Office for the Mac for five years.
Moltz observes that lack of Office would have killed the Mac back in
1997, but that was then.
In 2013, by most accounts, Apple has more than half of the tablet
market locked up, with most of the rest is occupied by Android or
Android derivatives, and Office isn't available on either platform.
Microsoft's Surface, the only tablet that carries a native version of
Office, is selling sluggishly.
Moltz contends that in the last 15 years, Microsoft Office has gone
from a must-have product to largely irrelevant to the success of the
biggest product category in technology, mobile computing.
Link: Office for iOS May
Be Coming, but Does It Really Matter?
How Chinese Users Charge Their iPads in Cold
Weather
M.I.C. Gadget's Star Chang reports that China is experiencing
unusually cold weather this winter, with the national average
temperature hitting the lowest point in 28 years. The national average
temperature had been 25¡F since late November, the coldest in
nearly three decades. Consequently, Chang says Chinese Apple users find
that they are having trouble charging their new iPads.
While staying indoors at a room temperature of 3-5¡C
(37-41¡F), the cold weather will temporarily prevent the iPad's
battery from holding a charge. Once you move the iPad to a warmer area,
its battery will hold its charge normally. Chinese users are therefore
trying out some unforeseen methods to add juice to their iPad, with the
battery needing to be brought into moderate temperature conditions
before charging. Chang says many Chinese Apple users are finding their
new iPads are afraid of cold air and refuse to be charged, with the
most common method to solve the problem being to put their iPads inside
a warm bedsheet while charging, and some even using a hot water bottle
to warm the back cover as well as using heaters, hair dryers and even
their body heat to make their iPad stay warm.
Link: This Is How Chinese
Charging Their New iPads in Extreme Cold Weather
Rumors of Books' Demise Greatly Exaggerated -
Print Here to Stay
The Wall Street Journal's Nicholas Carr, author of "The Shallows:
What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains," maintains that traditional
ink and paper book fans can take heart, because reports of the death of
printed books may be exaggerated.
Carr points out that a 2012 survey found that just 16% of Americans
had actually purchased an ebook, and that now half a decade into the
purported ebook revolution, the outlook for traditional books is
suddenly looking brighter with growth in ebook sales slowing
significantly and e-reader purchases shrinking, as consumers opt
instead for multipurpose tablets.
Carr suggests that rather than replacing printed books, ebooks will
ultimately evolve into a role similar to that of audio books as a
complement to traditional reading and not a substitute, citing a Pew
Research Center survey released in December showing that while the
percentage of adults who've read an ebook rose modestly from 16% to 23%
during 2012, it also found that that fully 89% of regular book readers
said that they'd read at least one printed book during the preceding 12
months, while just 30% reported reading even a single ebook in the past
year.
How come? Carr fingers increasing popularity of iPads and other
tablet computers that he notes offer a panoply of distractions from
reading that weren't available with dedicated e-reader devices, and the
fact that ebooks can't be sold or given away after they're read which
may also be turning consumers off.
Link: Don't Burn Your
Books - Print Is Here to Stay
Rumor Roundup
Apple Reportedly Planning to Shift Mac
mini Production Line to the US
DigiTimes' Aaron Lee and Joseph Tsai say that Apple is reportedly
set to move its Mac mini production lines back to the US with Foxconn
Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) to be responsible for handling
establishment of the new domestic production facility, according to
sources from the upstream supply chain.
Lee and Tsai note that Foxconn has about 15 operating bases in the
US, and the company reportedly plans to start recruiting workers in
2013 for new automated production lines.
Link: Apple Reportedly
Planning to Shift Mac mini Production Line to the US (subscription
required)
Health Issues
Is Using an iPhone or iPad Causing You Physical
Pain?
Macworld UK's Paola
Bassanese, a massage therapist and wellness writer, notes that our
increasingly symbiotic relationship with iPhones, iPads, and mobile
texting and browsing can wreak havoc with our health, advising that if
you've ever experienced pain, tension, pins and needles, and stiffness
in your wrists, arms, shoulders, and neck, it's time to take action and
rethink your relationship with your device.
Bassanese offers seven specific tips to help prevent pain while
using your iPad or iPhone.
Link: How to Stop iPhone
Neck and iPad Shoulder
The Hidden Health Hazards of Touchscreens
InfoWorld's Franklin Tessler, M.D., C.M, says distracted driving and
walking aren't the only perils lurking behind touchscreen devices like
iPads, iPhones, BlackBerrys, Windows Phones, and Androids.
Tessler observes that although they're not quite as dramatic, other
touchscreen-oriented health hazards are even more insidious because
most people aren't even aware they exist. He notes that ergonomic risks
are nothing new to computer users, with laptops and netbooks presenting
their own health-related problems, but the ascendency of the
touchscreen brings with it new kinds of health hazards and more usage
in risky scenarios.
Editor's note: There's a ton of interesting information about
computer ergonomics and health risks in this article, which is probably
the best and most comprehensive I've encountered on the topic.
cm
Link: The Hidden Danger
of Touchscreens
Tablet-Related Injuries on the Rise
Tablet computers were one of this year's top Christmas presents, but
physiotherapists warn long hours touchscreening pose posture and stress
dangers. For example, office workers in Wales are putting their mental
and physical health at risk by working more than two hours extra each
night at home, a new survey for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
(CSP) reveals.
Nearly two thirds (64%) of office workers polled in Wales for the
CSP said they continued working on smartphones and other devices after
they left the office, and spent an average of two hours 42 minutes
doing so.
The main reasons cited for doing extra work were to 'ease the
pressure of the working day' (32%) and 'want to keep up to date 24/7'
(32%), and 'too much work to do' (33%). An alarming 66% of those
surveyed reported suffering job-related ill health such as headaches
and back pain, and the CSP warns that poor posture when using
smartphones and other mobile devices - which many people do their
additional work on - can lead to back and neck pain, with fewer than
one in four people telling the researchers that they considered their
posture when looking at screens outside of work. Long hours can also
contribute to stress-related illness.
Link: Shock Poll Results
Show 'Screen Slaving' Workers in Wales Putting Their Health at
Risk
The Competition
iPad Left Behind as Rival Tablets Get Multiuser
Support
Want to loan your tablet to a child or friend but don't want to
provide access to all your data? Cnet's Danny Sullivan reports that
Windows, Android, and even Amazon tablets make it easy, but Apple's
iPad has some catching up to do.
Link: iPad Is Left Behind
as Rival Tablets Get Multiuser Support
NPD DisplaySearch: Tablet Market Forecast to
Surpass Notebooks in 2013
PR: Tablet PC shipments are expected to reach more than 240
million units worldwide in 2013, easily exceeding the 207 million
notebook PCs that are projected to ship, according to NPD
DisplaySearch's Quarterly Mobile PC Shipment and Forecast Report. In a
market that has been dominated by one major player, Apple, shifting
market dynamics are creating the opportunity for a greater variety of
choices, which NPD predicts will drive shipment growth in 2013 to 64%
Y/Y.
The report notes that rapid development and adoption of new screen
sizes is allowing both large and small brands to gain market traction
in all regions and create new demand for tablet PCs. The tablet market
has been led by Apple's 9.7" iPad, but in 2013 a new class of small
tablets will take over the market. Tablet PCs with 7"-8" screen sizes
are expected to account for 45%, or 108 million units of the market in
2013, overtaking the 9.7" size which will account for 17% share, or
about 41 million units.
As the variety and demand for new screen sizes increases, and so
will market growth in emerging markets. Having passed EMEA in 2012 to
become the second-largest market for tablet PC shipments, China is
projected to have 27% of the global tablet market in 2013 with
shipments of 65 million units, driven by small local brands. However,
North America will remain the largest market with a 35% share (85
million units) in 2013. In both China and North America, tablet PC
shipments surpassed notebook PC shipments in 2012.
Notebook PC shipments have been slowed by declining demand
worldwide, reaching even emerging markets where low penetration rates
could have stimulated demand. However, increasing tablet PC adoption is
stymieing notebook PC growth NPD says. The second half of 2013 may
provide a respite as new processors aim to bring more tablet PC-like
features, such as instant on, all-day battery life, and sleek form
factors, to notebook PCs.
"The tablet PC market saw increasing investments in North America in
the second half of 2012, from major brands that tested not only new
screen sizes and price points, but also unconventional business models
to support their efforts. The subsequent increase in shipments and
demand underscored the benefits of segmentation in the market as it
drove rapid market expansion," says Richard Shim, senior analyst with
NPD DisplaySearch. "In 2013, further investments are expected
worldwide, stoking demand to the point that tablet PC shipments will
exceed those of notebook PCs."
The DisplaySearch Quarterly Mobile PC Shipment and Forecast Report
covers the entire range of mobile PC products shipped worldwide and
regionally. With analysis of global and regional brands, the Quarterly
Mobile PC Shipment and Forecast Report provides an objective, expert
view of the market with insight into historical shipments, revenues,
forecasts and more. For more information about the report, contact
Charles Camaroto at 1.888.436.7673 or 1.516.625.2452, e-mail
contact@displaysearch.com or contact your regional DisplaySearch office
in China, Japan, Korea or Taiwan.
For more information on The NPD Group's latest market research,
including its recent press release on the company's Consumer
Electronics Holiday Sales Report, visit: http://goo.gl/LBkzO
Link:
Tablet PC Market Forecast to Surpass Notebooks in 2013, NPD
DisplaySearch Reports
First African-Designed Tablet and Smartphone
Released
SmartPlanet's Dave Mayers
reports that VMK, based in the African Republic of Congo, is offering
the world's first African designed mobile consumer electronics
products, its Way-C tablet and Elikia smartphone.
The Way-C is roughly the
size of Samsung's Galaxy Tab, measuring measures 7.4" x 6.7" x 0.5" and
weighing 13.4 ounces. WiFi connectivity and 4 GB of internal
memory come standard, and selling for $300, it's cheaper than the iPad
mini.
The
Android-based Elikia has a 3.5"
display, rear and forward facing cameras, 512 MB of RAM, a 650 MHz
processor, and retails for $170 without a contract.
Both products are manufactured in China, and Coleman observes that
much of the marketing behind the Elikia and the Way-C appear to flatter
Apple's marketing of its counterpart products.
Link: First
African-designed Smartphone and Tablet Hit Market
A Tablet Computer, from Congo
The South
African TechCentral site notes that Congo-Brazzaville - based VMK's
Android tablet is the first tablet computer designed and engineered on
the African continent, with a 1.2 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM,
4 GB of internal memory, and WiFi support, and running version
2.3.3 of Google's Android operating system with a distinct user
interface called Kongo.
According to VMK CEO Vrone Mankou, who is cited explaining that
while VMK tried to keep its tablet as African as possible, it couldn't
be assembled there, so that part of the process has been outsourced to
China, and that while the VMK tablet is designed for emerging markets,
it will be available globally.
Link: A Tablet Computer,
from Congo
Microsoft Surface vs. iPad: Which Is Winning?
Fairer Platform notes that with Christmas behind us, only the final
tallies are left to ponder, and in the competition between Microsoft
Surface and Apple's iPad, the winner isn't in question - only the
iPad's margin of victory, leaving little question that the first round
of the Microsoft Surface vs. iPad battle clearly goes to Apple.
Link: Microsoft Surface
vs. iPad: Winning?
Lenovo Pioneers 'Interpersonal Computing' with
Company's First Table PC
PR: Lenovo has announced the IdeaCentre Horizon Table PC, the
company's first "interpersonal PC," a multi-user, multitouch, multimode
device for the home that allows users to turn their personal computing
experience into a shared computing experience.
As a Table PC, Horizon can lie flat on any surface, lets two or more
people use the screen at the same time, supports interactive physical
gaming accessories and is designed for touch screen game-play among
several players. Horizon takes advantage of Windows 8 touch
functionality to bring customized games from Electronic Arts and
Ubisoft to life in a way players have never seen before. Horizon can
also easily transform into a 27" high-performance desktop to handle
whatever productivity tasks users need to do.
At the
2013 International Consumer Electronics Show this week, Lenovo is
demonstrating a large 39" widescreen Table PC, code-named "Gamma."
While still an early concept, Gamma illustrates the outstanding
multi-user entertainment experiences such a large screen can provide
and is indicative of Lenovo's future direction in Table PC
computing.
We've seen technology shifts across the four screens, from the
desktop to the laptop, tablet and smartphone, and yet, while people
have more computing power than ever before, there is still room for
technologies like Horizon that bring people together. Horizon makes
personal computing interpersonal computing with shared, collaborative
experiences among several people, said Peter Hortensius, president,
Product Group, Lenovo. Now many people can enjoy different photos,
music and video on the same screen, and they can play games with our
special accessories that blend physical and digital interaction.
Horizon reflects our commitment to delivering the innovative products
that define the PC Plus era.
A Table PC for the Home
Horizon unleashes the power of Windows 8 and brings multiplayer
games to life with its gigantic screen, dynamic graphics and 10-finger
touch. It comes with a special set of accessories including an e-dice
and four joysticks and strikers to offer a completely new digital
gaming experience that combines the physical gaming accessory with the
onscreen action. For the player, the action is part physical, part
digital - an activity that Lenovo refers to as "phygital."
The Horizon Table PC includes Lenovo App Shop, a dedicated apps
store powered by Intel AppUp giving users access to 5,000+ multi-user
entertainment apps. Horizon also comes with exclusive access or package
of preloaded gaming and educational apps from industry leading vendors
including Electronic Arts, FableVision, Open Labs, Ubisoft, FilmOn TV
and hundreds of top games and apps from BlueStacks so players of all
ages can:
- Become a real estate tycoon in a modern take on the classic
MONOPOLY
- Maneuver the Lenovo joystick uniquely customized for FishingJoy and
Raiding Company
- Discover, download and run chart-topping phone and tablet apps on
the Horizon Table PC powered by BlueStacks
- Challenge friends and family to race their way to the finish line
in Draw Race 2 HD
- Vie to grab the spotlight and be crowned King of the Opera
- Create music and songs like Grammy-award winning artists do with
Stagelight
- Access more than 120 streaming TV channels on FilmOn TV
- Enjoy painting and coloring in the Paint, Color Corner app or play
contest games in Lenovo Best Guess
With Horizon's smart hinge system, users can easily lay it flat and
in so doing, the Lenovo Aura multi-user, multitouch interface (UI) will
automatically activate. This simple UI lets families play, learn or
enjoy multimedia content together on one screen. Aura also serves as a
great way to launch preloaded gaming and educational apps or download
new ones from the online app store.
In addition, Horizon performs beautifully as a family's main
all-in-one desktop for work and play. Its impressive large backlit
screen can be seen from virtually any angle and its NVIDIA GeForce
graphics make content look gorgeous with smooth and seamless video
playback, eye-popping graphics and heart-pounding Dolby Home Theatre v4
audio. To support such a command performance, Horizon is powered by
Intel Core i7 processors.
As an option, Horizon offers a moveable and space-saving Horizon
Multimode Table. This adjustable table allows users to change the angle
and height position of the Table PC, from lying flat to a straight-up,
'wall-like mount' at 90 degrees. Lenovo offers an array of protection
services for the Horizon Table PC, including In-Home Warranty upgrades
for service at the owners home or business and up to three years of
warranty coverage. Additionally, Lenovo Premium Supports expert
technicians are available when needed with convenient over the phone or
remote session support from the comfort of home.
The IdeaCentre Horizon Table PC will be available beginning in early
summer through Lenovo business partners and lenovo.com. Prices start at
approximately $1,699.
Apps & Services
Keep Your iPhone or iPad Running Efficiently with
SYSTEM UTIL Dashboard
PR: AppHome has announced SYSTEM UTIL Dashboard 1.0 for the
iPhone and iPad. SYSTEM UTIL Dashboard is a new system monitoring tool
that lets users see how they're utilizing device disk space, device
CPU, data connections, and battery from a single intuitive hub. Its
dedicated usage monitoring modules make everything available to users
for review at a glance, and with six uniquely categorized modules:
Battery, Memory, CPU & Processes, Disk, Network, and General.
Compatible with all iPhone and iPad models, this intuitive
system monitoring tool gives users the power to see how they're
utilizing disk space, device CPU, data connections, and battery from a
single easily navigable hub. To celebrate its live rollout, AppHome has
also announced a limited time promotion on SYSTEM UTIL Dashboard that
will see the app's price drop from $1.99 to $0.99 for a limited time.
SYSTEM UTIL Dashboard is currently available for download in the App
Store's Paid Utilities category.
Knowledge is power, and this mobile tool gives users just that.
Knowledge of how their iOS device is running, how it's utilizing its
power and computing capabilities, in turn giving them the power to
adapt and use it in ways geared to unlock its full potential. SYSTEM
UTIL Dashboard's dedicated usage monitoring modules make everything
available to users for review at a glance, and with 6 uniquely
categorized modules included - Battery, Memory, CPU & Processes,
Disk, Network, and General - every component of their iOS device is
covered.
Unlike intrusive "performance boosting" apps that interfere
with and wantonly augment how users' phones and tablets run, SYSTEM
UTIL Dashboard is designed to give users a window into their devices
inner workings. Every module can be opened to reveal specific
statistics, battery life, which apps are running and which ones are
eating up memory, which files are cluttering up disc space, how fast
Internet connectivity is, and more. It's all presented via an interface
that takes seconds to breeze through, complete with graphs to help it
all sink in seamlessly. Don't let your iPhone or iPad get cumbersome,
get yourself back in the driver's seat with the help of SYSTEM UTIL
Dashboard for iOS.
Device Requirements:
- iPhone 3GS, 4, 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3/4/5 gen) and iPad
- Requires iOS 5.0 or later
- 12.5 MB
For a limited time, SYSTEM UTIL Dashboard 1.0 is 99¢ (or
equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide
exclusively through the App Store in the Utilities category.
Link:
SYSTEM UTIL Dashboard
Car Town Streets: Find, Build, and Race With All
Your Favorite Cars
PR: In Cie Games'
Car Town Streets, players find, build, and race with all their favorite
cars, joining the game's virtual host Roxy in her quest to restore Car
Town to its former glory when autos ruled the streets. Players can also
form teams and compete in head-to-head race battles for ultimate
victory.
Car Town Streets Features:
- Explore and find over 60 of your favorite cars.
- Tune up your fleet of cars and form the best teams to defend
against rivals.
- Restore cars in your garage.
- Design your town with a variety of roads, businesses, and
shops.
- Visit and send gifts to Game Center and Facebook friends.
- Upgrade your cars with a wide selection of parts.
- Make your cars work for you doing fun stuff like delivering
pizza.
- Name your cars with custom license plates.
- Watch movies at the drive-in theater.
- Service your cars at your own tire shops, gas stations, and car
washes.
Special Content:
- Build out tracks for a Hot Wheels loop-de-loop and live out
daredevil thrills
- Take a ride in the Ecto-1 vehicle and visit the Ghostbusters
headquarters.
Car Town Streets features
cars by over 35 licensed manufacturers, including: Acura, Alfa Romeo,
AMC, Aston Martin, BMW, Buick, Chevrolet, DMC, Dodge, Dodge Ram, Fiat,
Ford, Honda, Jeep, Lamborghini, Lancia, Land Rover, Mazda, McLaren,
Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Pagani, RAM, smart-for-two, Subaru, Toyota,
Volkswagen, as well as discontinued marques Plymouth, Pontiac, Hummer,
Humvee, and Willys.
Car Town Streets is completely free-to-play, but some game items can
also be purchased for real money. If you don't want to use this
feature, simply disable in-app purchases.
Car Town web players should
also note that this game does not connect to your existing web city.
Car Town Streets is an all new mobile game.
New in Version 1.1.4
- The new build includes loading time optimization and resolves
several memory-related crash issues.
- There are additional minor tweaks and updates for improved overall
performance.
System requirements:
- Requires an Internet connection to play and is compatible with
iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
- Requires iOS 4.3 or later.
Link:
Car Town Streets
Convert Your Discs to Digital with Walmart
Entertainment's Disc-to-Digital Program
PR: With Walmart Entertainment's Disc-to-Digital program, you
can now store your Blu-ray discs and DVDs in the Cloud, and enjoy the
convenience of watching your movies without your discs. You'll get
to:
- Stream directly to your VUDU-enabled devices such as iPad,
computer, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Blu-ray player, and HDTV
- Upgrade your DVD titles to HDX(*) and enjoy the best cinema
experience
- Safeguard your movies by storing them in the cloud forever and
future-proof your collection
- As an added benefit, the VUDU service is now UltraViolet compliant.
UltraViolet is a new industry standard for storing your movies in the
cloud. All Disc-to-Digital titles and movies(*) you own on VUDU will
now be UltraViolet compatible.
How much does it cost to convert a DVD or Blu-ray disc to digital
and add it to my UltraViolet and VUDU account?
- $2 per DVD to convert to Standard Definition (SD)
- $2 per Blu-ray disc to convert to High Definition with Dolby
Digital Plus Surround Sound (HDX)
- $5 per DVD to convert and upgrade to HDX
UltraViolet is a new industry standard that allows you to store your
movies securely in the cloud. It keeps a permanent record of all your
movie purchases so you can build your digital movie collection safely
and securely. With UltraViolet, you can now easily access your movies
any time, any place on your favorite connected devices, including your
TV. VUDU is the first and only company to offer thousands of titles in
UltraViolet accessible across millions of VUDU-enabled devices.
Disc to Digital is an UltraViolet program backed by many of the
world's leading entertainment and technology companies and offered by
Walmart. Creating a free UltraViolet account is a necessary step to
initiate the Disc-to-Digital program. Once you create your UltraViolet
account, any movies from participating studios that you purchase
electronically on VUDU, including any past purchases, will be
automatically registered within your UltraViolet account at no extra
charge to you. You will also be able to redeem UltraViolet e-copies
offered with select DVDs and Blu-ray discs offered by participating
studios.
You can stream and download any UltraViolet movies using VUDU, at no
extra charge to you, regardless of where they were purchased, provided
that: 1) you have registered those movies in your UltraViolet account
and 2) VUDU has a licensing relationship with the participating studio
or distributor.
Why aren't all of my movies available for Disc-to-Digital
conversion?
The list of movies available for Disc-to-Digital conversion is
comprised of titles that have been legally cleared for digital
distribution from studios participating in the UltraViolet program. We
expect the number of titles available for Disc-to-Digital conversion to
grow over time.
If you purchase a movie to own on VUDU, as long as the movie is
available for UltraViolet redemption and your VUDU and UltraViolet
accounts are linked together, the title should be added and accessible
through both your UltraViolet and VUDU account. Look for the
UltraViolet logo to see if a movie is UltraViolet-compatible. There is
no cost for watching your UltraViolet movies using VUDU.
Studios supporting UltraViolet include Paramount Home Media
Distribution, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox
Home Entertainment, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Warner
Bros. Home Entertainment.
Link: Walmart Entertainment's
Disc-to-Digital
Accessories
Smartphone Controlled Bluetooth Smart Wireless
Intelligent LED Light Bulb
PR: Smart Home Labs has introduced the RoboSmart wireless LED
lighting system that enables smart lighting control via your
smartphone, tablet. or computer over Bluetooth Smart wireless. The
wireless LED light bulb is available for preorders on the world's
largest open-funding platform IndieGoGo.
RoboSmart Light Bulb is an energy efficient Bluetooth Smart
enabled LED light bulb, which can be simply controlled from any
Bluetooth Smart enabled Mobile device, with customizable apps for both
iOS and Android.
The unique combination of energy efficient LED design and Bluetooth
communications allows anyone the freedom to fully customize control of
their home lighting, not previously possible with standard LED
bulbs.
Harnessing the company's RoboSmart technology allows for total
control over the brightness, timer functionality and proximity modes.
The key to this unique control is the marriage of smart electronics
within the LED light bulb.
Every RoboSmart Light Bulb utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth
4.0) as the wireless connection to the on board processor, real time
clocks and memory.
Installing the RoboSmart Light Bulb is as easy as screwing in a
light bulb and installing the Smart Lights App on your smartphone.
Control of the RoboSmart Light Bulb can be as easy as programming a
timer and letting the processor do the rest (leave it and forget it)
for fully automatic time based on and off times, scene lighting and
proximity detection.
Each mode lends the RoboSmart Light Bulb to multiple locations
within your home. Control options can be enabled, such as having your
lights slowly turn off after departing the garage, to unique proximity
lighting where the Smart Lights App can tell when you're nearby and
turn on and off one or more RoboSmart Light Bulb as you move within
range, a typical scenario for your porch or driveway light. Users can
utilize their standard light switches to turn on the RoboSmart Light
Bulb with a preset brightness settings. The RoboSmart Light Bulb can
also be controlled from multiple Bluetooth enabled smartphones,
providing custom features to each user.
The highly energy efficient Robolight is claimed to easily pay for
itself many times over in energy savings, looks just like a traditional
incandescent bulb, provides high power LED illumination, along with the
flexibility of wireless home automation from your smart phone.
Additional features and capabilities include:
- Each RoboSmart Light Bulb can be assigned a unique light, group and
room name by the free Smart Lights App for easy identification.
- Warm white light 2700K or 3000K at 480 and 800 Lumens
- Fully dimmable attractive design with omni-direction light
dispersion.
- Full Automation: RoboSmart Light Bulb has 100 levels of brightness,
can turn on or off, or run programs at set dates and times based on
your scheduling preferences.
- Proximity and Indoor Location: RoboSmart Light Bulb can tell when
you arrive and when you leave. They can follow you around the house,
automatically turning on and off as they sense you approach or
depart.
- Lighting for information at a glance
- RoboSmart Light Bulb can alert you to important information, such
as important emails or social media messages.
- The Smart Lights App allows multiple RoboSmart Light Bulb to be
grouped together for simultaneous control, allowing the production of
any light scene combination.
- Power Monitoring
RoboSmart Light Bulb reports power consumption for periodic
reporting
Federal legislation is mandating a phasing out incandescent bulbs by
2014, both business and consumers will require an equivalent
replacement bulb. Smart Home Labs is proud to offer our retail and
business customers the best intelligent LED light bulb on the
market.
Publisher's note: RoboSmart Light Bulbs sell for $49 each or four
for $160.
Link: RoboSmart Light Bulb
1 TB Seagate Wireless Plus Mobile Storage: Now You
Really Can Take It All with You
PR: Seagate Technology plc has announced the next evolution
of the company's wireless storage category, Seagate Wireless Plus
mobile device storage, at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show. Designed
to wirelessly stream content for up to eight smartphones or tablets
with enough space for up to 500 high-definition movies, this new
wireless hard drive will extend the limits of today's mobile
lifestyle.
The new Seagate Wireless Plus now also includes a 10-hour battery
life to match that of most tablets and smartphones. With the integrated
1 TB drive, you'll have all you need to be entertained anywhere
including long road trips or flights without an Internet
connection.
Seagate Wireless Plus mobile device storage is accessed through the
mobile Seagate Media app for Apple iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire HD
devices. The Seagate Media app has been developed for all major mobile
devices, including Android, Kindle Fire HD, Apple iOS, and will also
work with just about any device that can connect to a WiFi network.
Additionally, you can use Wireless Plus to enjoy video, photos, music,
and even documents on the big screen via Apple Airplay, DLNA, or an app
designed specifically for Samsung Smart TVs and Blu-ray players.
Seagate created this new category of wireless storage devices in
2011 to address consumers desire to enjoy more content than tablets and
smartphones can hold with their limited storage. A CES 2013 Best of
Innovations Award Winner, the new Seagate Wireless Plus includes a new
option to save content and files to the drive wirelessly through the
new Seagate Media app. For the first time, consumers will be able to
enjoy capturing a great HD video on their iPhone and then wirelessly
uploading it, in full resolution, to Wireless Plus with its 1 TB
of storage.
"Smartphones and tablets offer amazing new opportunities for Seagate
to provide new consumer storage solutions in an increasingly mobile
world," says Scott Horn, vice president of marketing at Seagate.
"Seagate developed the concept of wireless storage to consumers with
the freedom to enjoy their documents, movies, photos, and music
anywhere in the world, especially when they can't connect to the
Internet. Seagate Wireless Plus builds on the success of our
first-generation product and takes it even further."
The new 1 TB wireless drive comes with a removable SuperSpeed USB
3.0 adapter for quick loading of photos, video, music, and even
documents. Fill it up and go for true anywhere access of all your
favorite entertainment or much needed work-related files anywhere.
Because the Wireless Plus creates its own WiFi network, there is no
need to stream or download your content from the Internet or to spend
money on a data plan. Everything is with you, where you want it, when
you need it with a secure and wireless connection.
"Less than half of US mobile phone users are highly satisfied with
the storage of their mobile phone, and almost 20% are dissatisfied with
their mobile storage capacity," observes Brett Sappington, Director of
Research at Parks Associates. "As consumption of video on smartphones
and tablets continues to grow, consumers will seek the best ways to get
content to their mobile device without eating up all of the data in
their monthly service plan."
Seagate Wireless Plus mobile storage is currently available from
Amazon and BestBuy.com, for an MSRP of $199.99.
Link:
Seagate Wireless Plus (preorder
for $199.99 from Amazon.com)
Belkin FastFit and Convertible Keyboard Cases for
iPad
PR: Belkin is showcasing
the newest additions to its award-winning lineup of iPad keyboard
cases, the FastFit and Convertible Keyboard Cases for iPad, at the 2013
International CES in Las Vegas. 
The new cases - along with Belkin's Ultimate
Keyboard Case and full line of iPad and iPad mini accessories - are on
display at Belkin's booth in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention
Center until January 11.
Belkin's new FastFit keyboard is a compact and affordable all-in-one
keyboard solution. Featuring the Belkin's TruType keys and two viewing
angles for optimal comfort, the laptop-style keyboard allows you to
type fast with fewer errors. It also converts into a cover, snapping
securely to your iPad's frame to protect the screen from scratches and
scuffs.
The Belkin FastFit Keyboard (F5L141) - $79.99
Well-spaced,
TruType keys for comfortable, laptop-like typing experience- Integrated Keyboard Cover and screen protection
- Auto-awake magnets wakes up your iPad when opened
- 2 Viewing Angles for optimal comfort, each with portrait and
landscape viewing modes
- 60 hours active battery life, 2,000 hours standby battery life
- Rechargeable using micro USB cable
- Durable construction protects your iPad
- Sleek design to minimize bulk
- Compatible with iPad 2, 3rd and 4th Generation iPads
The Belkin Convertible Case for Apple Keyboard is claimed to be the
only case specifically designed to hold both your iPad and Apple
wireless keyboard. It folds into a stand for ergonomic typing and
viewing and its strong, adhesive pads keep both the iPad and keyboard
secure in one sleek case for protection and portability.
Convertible Case for Apple Keyboard (F7N045) - $49.99
- Slim, lightweight and portable
- Comfortable viewing angle
- Super-strength adhesive pads
- Aluminum smart clip snaps on to keep everything in place
- Durable fabric construction in three colors, black, gray and
red
- Sleek design to minimize bulk
The Belkin FastFit Case and Convertible Case will be available in
January 2013 at Belkin.com and select retailers nationwide.
Impecca Eco-friendly Bamboo Bluetooth Keyboard for
iPads, Android Tablets, and Smartphones
PR: Impecca has
launched their new Bluetooth Bamboo Keyboard for tablets, iPhones, and
other Bluetooth devices. The newest addition to Impecca's elegant
environmentally sustainable green line of bamboo computer accessories -
and claimed to be the first bamboo computer products available in the
market. The Impecca Bluetooth Bamboo Keyboard is created for
eco-conscious consumers. Inlaid with bamboo, the keyboard will
harmonize nicely with professional offices, at home, school, or
anywhere a natural looking work environment will be appreciated.
The Bamboo Keyboard includes a fixed bamboo panel on its bottom rear
that automatically positions it in the forward raked orientation many
users prefer, and conforms to standard QWERTY keymapping plus an
assortment of special hot keys. It is compatible with iPads, Android
tablets, netbooks and other Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices.
Impecca Bluetooth Bamboo Keyboard Features:
- Lightweight wood-themed keyboard.
- Available in natural bamboo color.
- Green product - environmentally friendly.
- Wireless through long-range Bluetooth up to 33 feet (10
meter).
- Bamboo covered with solid metal construction.
- Compatible with platforms including Android, Surface, Kindle,
Nexus, iPad, Android tablets, smartphones and other Bluetooth-enabled
mobile devices.
- Designed for ergonomic comfort.
"Impecca believes its important to incorporate environmentally
sustainable elements in our products," says Impecca president John
Bock. "We believe consumers also like buying environmentally friendly
products, especially when they are unique and aesthetically
appealing."
The Bluetooth Bamboo Keyboard will be exhibited for the first time
at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held January 8-11, 2013 in Las
Vegas, Impecca Booth #30935, South Hall.
The Impecca Bluetooth Bamboo Keyboard is priced at $99 MSRP, and
will be available February 2013 at impeccausa.com and major
retailers.
Presentation & Protection
Incipio Unveils iPhone 5 Atlas Waterproof
Ultra-Rugged Waterproof, Dustproof, Drop and Shockproof Case
PR: Incipio has
unveiled the highly anticipated iPhone 5 Atlas Waterproof Ultra-Rugged
Case for launch at AT&T stores nationwide and online next month.
The first of its kind for the brand, Incipio's innovative Atlas case is
waterproof, dustproof, drop and shockproof, and includes a simple to
use App and water damage warranty.
Precision engineered with a co-molded Plextonium
ergonomic space frame design, impact resistant Flex2O soft shell
detailing and complete waterproof enclosures, the Atlas case provides
the utmost protection for the mobile device while maintaining complete
access to all ports, buttons and controls. The cases tempered glass
covers the iPhone 5 screen to provide optical clarity and protection
against harsh conditions and rough environments. Ergonomically designed
sidewalls for added grip, the Atlas case is amazingly slim and sleek
despite its added layers of defense.
Incipio's ruggedized case is perfect for adventure anytime,
anywhere, with waterproof gaskets for your charging port and headphone
jack. The Atlas case is waterproof up to 2 meters (6.56 feet) for 1
hour, meets USA Military standards of protection, and has a full IP-68
rating against water and dust.
"We have been delivering dependable protection for
mobile devices for over 13 years and are thrilled to announce this
revolutionary, multifunctional case for AT&T customers," says Andy
Fathollahi, Chief Executive Officer of Incipio. "It was important for
us to develop a case that users can enjoy even in the most rugged
conditions."
iPhone 5 Atlas Waterproof Ultra-Rugged Case
includes user-friendly instructions and a simple to use App that allows
users to complete warranty registration in a matter of minutes and
store a copy of their receipt for convenient future access. The Atlas
case comes with the Incipio Atlas One Year Limited Warranty against
water damage.
The Atlas case launches next month at AT&T stores nationwide and
in a variety of color combinations, including Black/Grey, White/Grey,
and Pink/Grey.
