Ben's Blog World

Chrome boss suggests full-screen browsing and desktop view coming to Chrome on Android

Chrome boss suggests full-screen browsing and desktop view coming to Chrome on Android

2012-02-20T16:02:00.001-08:00

Source: CNET

Is Google developing a Voice Action remote for Google TV?

Is Google developing a Voice Action remote for Google TV?

2012-02-20T16:01:00.001-08:00

Google may be developing a voice activated remote for Google TV devices, if we're to believe the rumors around the Internet today. Last year Google filed for a patent with the USPTO for a new remote and/or Android application that uses Google's cloud assisted voice recognition technology to navigate through the menus on your Google TV. Of course, everyone is comparing it to Siri, but Google has been working on this technology since they were first to market with Voice Actions in August of 2010.

According to the filings, users will be able to speak into their Android smartphone or dedicated Google TV remote, transmit their speech to Google's servers to be analyzed, then the correct intent will be sent back through the network to the GTV unit. There's also indications here to allow the process to work up to a quarter-mile away, so we can tell our television to be on and have Wheel of Fortune playing when we walk in the door. From the patent filing:

the provision of the query to the television may occur when the user is within a set distance of his home also (e.g., by determining with GPS functionality on the smartphone that he is within 1/4 mile of the home), and the television may be turned on automatically as he approaches the home, with the television tuned to a channel that is determined to be most relevant to the query

Add in additional uses like music controls and application commands, and you'll have a full featured voice remote.

Using your Android phone as a remote for Google TV is something we expect from the people in Mountain View. Tying the two together is natural, and we've already seen an Android app remote that uses voice input, and it works well. Having Google take this further can only mean good things for anyone who's interested in talking back to their television. Hopefully, we see something more about this in the near future -- I'm ready for it.

Source: Patently Apple

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/JUumQg8Io7w/phone-booths-reincarnated-as-bookshelves-finally-make-phone-booths-useful

Phone Booths Reincarnated As Bookshelves Finally Make Phone Booths Useful [Art]

2012-02-20T14:19:00.001-08:00

If you pay close attention to the streets of any city, you might notice the boxy, armored shields that house telephones. Yes! Phone booths still exist. Of course no one ever uses them because everyone has a cell phone but yet they still stand, like unwavering artificial trees. But what if we convert phone booths to bookshelves? Hmm... More »

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Why Facebook Is Missing From Apple’s New Desktop OS

2012-02-20T12:19:00.001-08:00

Facebook is the dominant player in social media, but its direct integration is nowhere to be found in Apple's desktop and mobile operating systems. It's a glaring omission considering Facebook updates are a simple drop-down menu choice in Android and Windows Phone.

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/02/apple-osx-facebook-twitter/

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Monday Brief: BlackBerry 10 OS images, Microsoft’s rumored new music service, and more!

2012-02-20T12:00:00.003-08:00

Monday Brief: BlackBerry 10 OS images, Microsoft’s rumored new music service, and more!
Youtube video link for mobile viewing Mobile Nations Podcast Feed Mobile Nations on iTunes Mobile Nations YouTube Mobile Nations 14: New BlackBerry boss, unstoppable Android, iPad 3 vs. Windows 8

Youtube video link for mobile viewing

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Prada phone by LG 3.0 launches on T-Mobile UK

Prada phone by LG 3.0 launches on T-Mobile UK

2012-02-20T12:00:00.001-08:00

It's been available off-contract for a while, but now T-Mobile UK has launched the awkwardly-named Prada phone by LG 3.0 at subsidized prices. The Prada phone, which we first saw at its launch party in late December, features mid to high-end LG internals and a Prada-designed chassis and user interface.

Tmo UK is offering the phone for free on its 24-month, £36-per-month "Full Monty" contract, which includes unlimited texts, unlimited data and 2000 minutes. If you want to spend a little less, it's also available on a number of £31-per-month deals with unlimited texts, data allowances between 100 and 1500MB, and 300-900 minutes.

Source: T-Mobile UK

Katy Perry
Gina Carano
Britney Spears

Jetbus is a retro-tastic physics game, with a bus

2012-02-20T10:19:00.001-08:00

Once upon a time, there used to be a DOS game with a caveman and a human powered helicopter. The caveman would shuttle around the screen, madly trying to get customers to where they wanted to go.

Jetbus is not that game, but it's obviously inspired by it. You're driving a yellow school bus which has jets. I guess the jet engine takes quite a bit of space inside the bus, because you can only pick up one person at a time.

There are several doors on the screen, each with its own number. As you pick up a person, the status bar at the bottom of the screen shows you which number door you have to take them to.

You must fly your bus carefully, because if it gets bumped around too much, you lose. You earn money on each level, and can visit the garage to buy better jets and damping, power-ups, or even a whole new vehicle.

So while this game isn't made as well as the original that inspired it, it does provide a few minutes of fun. And now, which one of you guys remembers the original and feels like pointing to it in the comments?

Jetbus is a retro-tastic physics game, with a bus originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/15/jetbus-is-a-retro-tastic-physics-game-with-a-bus/

Micron Technology Microchip Technology Methode Electronics Mentor Graphics Ims Health Imation

The Single-Atom Transistor That Could Break Moore's Law [Science]

2012-02-20T08:19:00.001-08:00

In the ongoing quest to push processor performance, the key is being able to effectively shrink their component parts. A new transistor, based on a single atom, may go further than helping speed things up: it could shatter Moore's Law. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/UZ1gmzaKEN4/the-single+atom-transistor-that-could-break-moores-law

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Final day of ShopAndroid.com's President's Day sale -- save 15 percent on everything!

2012-02-20T08:00:00.007-08:00

Final day of ShopAndroid.com's President's Day sale -- save 15 percent on everything!

Today is President's Day in the U.S., and that means it's the final day to save 15 percent on all your Android accessories from ShopAndroid.com! To get your 15 percent discount, be sure to use the coupon code pres12 during checkout.

This offer is not valid with any other coupon and expires at Midnight PST tonight, Feb. 20, 2012. Don't forget about our Fast Free Shipping on US orders of $50 and higher!

Enjoy the Presidential Savings! Start your Shopping Now!

Jessica Biel
Leighton Meester
Jessica Alba
Christina Aguilera

LG unveils Optimus Vu, complete with 4:3 aspect ratio and stylus

2012-02-20T08:00:00.005-08:00

LG unveils Optimus Vu, complete with 4:3 aspect ratio and stylus

LG has made the Optimus Vu official, announcing the 5-inch phone on their Korean Newsroom site early this AM. Running Gingerbread (Android 2.3) and packing a 5.0-inch display with a 4:3 aspect ratio and a specialized stylus, the size alone makes this one a force to reckon with.

The full list of specs according to LG:

139.6 x 90.4 x 8.5mm
Weight: 168g
5-inch IPS 650 nit display at 1024x768
8MP rear camera, 1.3MP front
32GB storage
1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor
Android 2.3 Gingerbread
2080 mAh battery
HDMI
DLNA
Wifi Direct

We've already seen the Optimus Vu holding hands with the other member of the ginormus-phone club, the Galaxy Note (which went on sale for AT&T hours before this announcement), but it's nice to see some clearer press shots. No word on any worldwide release, but we're told to expect it in Korea on SK Telecom in early March. LG also says to expect more at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona about the Vu, and we'll be right there to hear and see it.

We've got more pics and the full presser after the break.

More: LG Korea (Korean)

Malin Akerman
Mila Kunis
Eliza Dushku
Adriana Lima

Motorola brings MOTOACTV to Israel market

2012-02-20T08:00:00.003-08:00

Motorola brings MOTOACTV to Israel market

Motorola this morning announced that its MOTOACTV smartwatch/fitness tracker (read our full review) to the Israeli market. It's available today starting at 1,999 ILS, including VAT. That includes the SF200 sports wired headset, wrist strap, clip and USB cable. For another 399 ILS (plust VAT) you get an arm band, bike mount and wall charger.

MOTOACTV is available at such shops as Wertheimer Sports, gym clubs like Go-Active, or Shvoong & O-store. You can also find it at various major sporting events, Motorola says.

Android Central weekly photo contest winner: Animals

Android Central weekly photo contest winner: Animals

2012-02-20T08:00:00.001-08:00

The winner of this weeks Android Central photo contest is Andrew Hammer. He gives us this lovely picture of a butterfly, taken with his T-Mobile Galaxy S II. It's a stunner, and fits in perfectly with the animal theme we asked for last week. It's hard to believe pictures this great can come from our Android phones. Thanks for entering everyone, and Andrew, check your inbox for details about your prize.

The pictures you guys are sending in are phenomenal. It's difficult for us to pick a winner each week, but we're loving it. Look through this weeks runners-up to see what I mean. We'll be back tomorrow with another contest for the week, as long as you guys promise to keep sending in such great pictures!

Olivia Wilde
Megan Fox
Bar Refaeli

Survival Lab is a fun pixelated game where dying doesn't matter

2012-02-20T06:19:00.001-08:00

In most games, dying is a bad thing. You have to start all over again, or at least revert to the last save point and lose some progress. Not so in Survival Lab: in this pixelated gem you play as a lone individual pitted against ruthless weapons in a sealed chamber. You have to run, jump and duck, collecting little yellow things (I have no idea what they're called).

For each donut-like yellow thing you pick up, you gain a bit of experience. If you manage to collect several in a row without getting hit, this counts as a combo. You can see my mad combo skills in the screenshot, of course. Collecting combos is a good thing, because a ten-point combo gives you for more experience than just collecting ten dounts one by one (getting hit in-between).

Having experience is useful, because once you die, you get to a screen where you can upgrade your skills. You can learn to run faster, double-jump (and then double-jump higher), and duck. You can also gain more armour so that getting hit won't kill you so quickly.

What makes this simple game so addictive is that when you die, your experience doesn't reset. You just go back to the same level, or another level of your choosing, and keep accumulating more and more experience. Lots of fun, especially if you're into the whole retro-gaming thing.

Survival Lab is a fun pixelated game where dying doesn't matter originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/28/survival-lab-is-a-fun-pixelated-game-where-dying-doesnt-matter/

Interdigital Communications Intel Insight Enterprises Ingram Micro Informatica Infocus

Sabayon Succumbs to Cinnamon's Irresistible Allure

2012-02-20T04:19:00.001-08:00

Tongues pretty much haven't stopped wagging down at the blogosphere's seedy Broken Windows Lounge in weeks now, and these past few days have been no exception. One of the spiciest topics du jour? None other than Cinnamon. Sabayon version 8 just made its official debut -- with a dash of Cinnamon.

Source: http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/74439.html

Silicon Laboratories Si International Seagate Technology Scientific Games Sandisk Salesforce Com

ZTE bringing two scoops of Ice Cream Sandwich to Mobile World Congress

2012-02-20T04:00:00.007-08:00

ZTE bringing two scoops of Ice Cream Sandwich to Mobile World Congress

Chinese smartphone manufacturer ZTE today announced that it will be brining a pair of new Android smartphones to Mobile World Congress next week, both of them running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

The ZTE PF200 sports a 4.3-inch display at qHD (540x960) resolution, with an 8-megapixel rear camera and a front-facing camera for video calling. It'll have LTE, UMTS and GSM radios, as well as NFC, and DLNA and MHL high-def outputs.

The ZTE N910 has a WVGA (800x480) display with 5MP rear camera and front-facing camera for video calling.

ZTE says the phones will be powered by 1.2GHz and 1.5GHz processors, though it doesn't say which is powered by which. You can read the full press release after the break.

iPhone Live 280: Privacy, China, iPad 3, Clear, 8-bit gamepads

2012-02-20T04:00:00.005-08:00

iPhone Live 280: Privacy, China, iPad 3, Clear, 8-bit gamepads
Rene, Georgia, and Seth discuss apps that steal contacts, the China debate, iPad 3 and LTE, Clear, Death Call, Warm Gun, and Instagram apps, and the iCade 8-Bitty. This is

Rene, Georgia, and Seth discuss apps that steal contacts, the China debate, iPad 3 and LTE, Clear, Death Call, Warm Gun, and Instagram apps, and the iCade 8-Bitty. This is iPhone & iPad Live!

Subscribe via iTunes: Audio | Video
Subscribe via RSS: Audio | Video
Download directly: Audio | Video

News

iPad 3

Apps

Accessories

iCade 8-Bitty retro wireless game controller for iPhone, iPad

Hosts

Rene Ritchie (@reneritchie)
Georgia (@GeorgiaTiPb)
Seth Clifford (@sethclifford)

Credits

You can reach all of us on Twitter @iMore, or you can email us at podcast@imore.com, or leave a comment on the website when the show goes live.

We’re here every Wednesday night at 6pm Pacific, 9pm Eastern, 2am GMT at www.TiPb.com/live

For all our podcasts — audio and video — including iPhone and iPad Live, ZENandTECH and Superfunctional, Iterate and Girls Gone Gadgets and more… see MobileNations.com/shows

If you haven’t already please subscribe to all our shows in iTunes and leave a rating. It helps people find the show and means a lot to us!

Thanks to the iMore iPhone Accessory Store for sponsoring the podcast, and to everyone who showed up for the live chat!

LG Optimus Vu specs

2012-02-20T04:00:00.003-08:00

LG Optimus Vu specs

LG Optimus Vu specs as we know so far. (Will be updated.)

Key Specifications:

Chipset: 1.5GHz Dual-Core Processor
Display: 5-inch (1024x768) IPS Display
Memory: 32GB eMMC and 1GB DDR2
Camera: 8MP with AF LED Flash (rear) and 1.3MP (front)
OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Battery: 2,080mAh
Dimension (L x W x D): 139.6 x 90.4 x 8.5mm

From the Editor's Desk: Ch-ch-ch-changes, permissions and paranoia, Droid 4 and Galaxy Note thoughts

From the Editor's Desk: Ch-ch-ch-changes, permissions and paranoia, Droid 4 and Galaxy Note thoughts

2012-02-20T04:00:00.001-08:00

I am an excited editor. No, really.

Excited because I've seen the roadmap for Android Central. Excited for the way we're going to bring you more Android news than ever before. For the way we're going to continue to be your first, last and best source for all things Android. For all the new devices. For all the best apps. For all the live events. For all the tips and how-tos. And for this, I am excited.

You're already getting a taste of it, with the latest iteration to our homepage. If you missed it, read my post on the changes. But the idea is to bring you the most important news quickly and succinctly, as well as continue to cover the bits and pieces that make Android the most fascinating platform around. And, perhaps more important, we're bringing to the front page the latest and greatest forum discussions. The news is awesome and important, to be sure. But the forums truly are where the real work is done. Nearly 700,000 members. More than 1.5 million posts. Members helping members. A kick-ass cadre of moderators and advisors steering things along. All with a sense of respect and professionalism you'll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.

(Fun fact: If you wonder how I ended up with this job, it started by posting the TreoCentral/WPCentral (nee WMExperts) forums back in the day. Dieter Bohn asked if I'd like to try writing and the rest, as they say, is history.)

And this is just the beginning. It's not final, and it's not perfect. We're improving things every day and will continue to do so. If you've got a suggestion on how we can make your time at Android Central better, feel free to e-mail me.

And now, with all that gushing over with, here's how I'm seeing things ...

Verifone Holdings Veeco Instruments Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates United Online Unisys Triquint Semiconductor

Ford sends out OpenXC beta, vehicle-aware apps should be just around the corner

2012-02-20T02:19:00.001-08:00

It's six months since Ford partnered with Bug Labs to build OpenXC and now the system is ready for third-party developers to get involved. Rather than following Renault and others down the Android route, OpenXC is a dedicated platform designed to bring together third-party apps and hardware. It comes with an Arduino-based interface module that hooks up to the car's own systems, allowing the software to work with sensors, audio interfaces, safety devices and whatever other add-ons an owner might want to rig up. One app, developed by India's HCL Technologies, is already complete: it sends location updates to selected contacts to warn them if a driver is running late for a meeting. (Finally, Arduino gets to do something useful.)

Ford sends out OpenXC beta, vehicle-aware apps should be just around the corner originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 02:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electronista | | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/18/ford-sends-out-openxc-beta/

Install the Windows Phone 7 NoDo update regardless of your carrier

2012-02-20T00:19:00.001-08:00

Some of you who own Windows Phone 7 devices are still waiting for your pre-NoDo preparation update -- never mind NoDo itself. A few workarounds have been posted, but unfortunately they didn't work unless your carrier had completed testing and was ready to schedule the update.

Now, however, the Chevron WP7 team's Chris Walshie has delivered a handy little utility that will allow you to update any Windows Phone 7 device -- regardless of your carrier.

Download and install the Windows Phone Support Tool (x86 or x64) and the ChevronWP7 Updater (x86 or x64)
Launch ChevronWP7 Updater and select your language. If your language isn't listed, stop and do not update.
If were running WP7 build 7004 (you can verify in Zune) then run the updater twice.

Once the process completes, you should be able to copy and paste to your heart's content. Let's just hope all this update foolishness gets sorted out before we're supposed to receive Mango.

Install the Windows Phone 7 NoDo update regardless of your carrier originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/04/install-the-windows-phone-7-nodo-update-regardless-of-your-carri/

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From the Editor's Desk: Ch-ch-ch-changes, permissions and paranoia, Droid 4 and Galaxy Note thoughts

2012-02-20T00:00:00.005-08:00

From the Editor's Desk: Ch-ch-ch-changes, permissions and paranoia, Droid 4 and Galaxy Note thoughts

I am an excited editor. No, really.

And now, with all that gushing over with, here's how I'm seeing things ...

President's Day Sale: Save 15% on ALL Android accessories this weekend from ShopAndroid.com!

President's Day Sale: Save 15% on ALL Android accessories this weekend from ShopAndroid.com!

2012-02-20T00:00:00.003-08:00

In celebration of President's Day you can shop all weekend and save 15 percent on all your Android accessories from ShopAndroid.com! To get your 15 percent discount, be sure to use the coupon code pres12 during checkout.

This offer is not valid with any other coupon and expires at Midnight PST Monday 2/20/2012. Don't forget about our Fast Free Shipping on US orders of $50 and higher!

Enjoy the Presidential Savings! Start your Shopping Now!

Malin Akerman
Mila Kunis
Eliza Dushku
Adriana Lima

President's Day Sale: Save 15% on ALL Android accessories this weekend from ShopAndroid.com!

2012-02-20T00:00:00.001-08:00

President's Day Sale: Save 15% on ALL Android accessories this weekend from ShopAndroid.com!

This offer is not valid with any other coupon and expires at Midnight PST Monday 2/20/2012. Don't forget about our Fast Free Shipping on US orders of $50 and higher!

Enjoy the Presidential Savings! Start your Shopping Now!

Eliza Dushku
Adriana Lima
Freida Pinto
Taylor Swift
Sienna Miller

iPad 3 rumored to have 8 megapixel camera, more tapered casing

2012-02-19T22:19:00.001-08:00

Adding fuel to the blazing hot iPad 3 rumor fire, NextMedia claims to have gotten actual pictures of Apple's next-generation tablet, along with specs indicating the rear camera will be 8 megapixel. Physically, the casing looks very much like the iPad 2 but with shaper, more tapered edges.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/MPQaaUVFHMg/story01.htm

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Deal of the Day – 15.6″ Dell Inspiron 15 Core i3 2.66GHz Dual-core Laptop Plus 6-month Blockbuster Trial

2012-02-19T20:19:00.001-08:00

Today’s LogicBUY Deal is the 15.6″ Dell Inspiron 15 Core i3 2.66GHz Dual-core Laptop (N5040) in Obsidian for $399.99. Features: Intel Core i3-390M 2.66GHz, 4GB DDR3 memory, 500GB hard drive, 8X DVD+/-RW, 802.11n WiFi, VGA webcam, 6-cell battery, 3-in-1 card reader, Intel HD Graphics, MS Office 2010 Starter Edition, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/02/17/deal-of-the-day-15-6-dell-inspiron-15-core-i3-2-66ghz-dual-core-laptop-plus-6-month-blockbuster-trial/

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iMore Picks of the Week for February 18, 2012

2012-02-19T20:00:00.005-08:00

iMore Picks of the Week for February 18, 2012
Every week the editors at iMore carefully select some of our favorite, most useful, most extraordinary apps, accessories, gadgets, and websites. This weeks selections include apps for photo blogging, social gaming, podcasts, an interesting accessory, and a fun children's book.

Every week the editors at iMore carefully select some of our favorite, most useful, most extraordinary apps, accessories, gadgets, and websites. This weeks selections include apps for photo blogging, social gaming, podcasts, an interesting accessory, and a fun children’s book.

To see what we picked, and to tell us your pick, follow on after the break!

Posterous – @sethclifford

Since I just can’t leave well enough alone, I’m always tweaking my workflows and every other kind of flow I’ve got. This week it was all about photos for some reason. I started a Posterous account years ago when it was a new service whose main point of differentiation was that you could send an email to your blog to autopost to it and to your other sites really easily. At the time, it was super cool and worked extremely well. I eventually ended up using it more for just a photo blog, and then for some reason I can’t recall, I just stopped using it all together. I was literally hovering over the “delete my account” button on the site this week because I haven’t used it in so long when I decided to wait and explore a little. I’m really glad I did. The service has really grown a bit and become a really interesting place to host a blog as well as leverage as a platform through which you can post to a variety of different social channels and sites. I downloaded the new app in the App Store (there was a very basic one released a few years ago) and liked what I saw.

The design is pretty nice and clean. It’s easy to get around and you know where you are and what you’re doing quickly. And there’s a lot packed in here. There’s a reader function for people you follow – similar to Tumblr – and you can browse through posts and read your stream from your phone, but I think where the app really shines is both in the posting and management of your site(s). It’s extremely easy to throw a post together and toggle which places you want it to go (it will always go to your Posterous by default anyway). You can add a title, tags, and text as well as slap a location on there in one tidy little interface.

Posterous has also done something that I really like (and think is really smart) and that’s giving you some great admin controls over your sites right from the phone. From the “Profile” tab you can edit your profile and set up and modify autopost options, which means you really don’t have to hit the full site very often if you don’t want to. There are still more advanced things like theming that don’t appear in the app, so not everything is covered, understandably. But it’s still cool to have a few things you can tweak on the fly. If you’re looking for a new clean place to start a sharp little blog and possibly save yourself some work cross posting between sites, you may want to give this one a look.

Free – Download Now

Scramble with friends – @Alli_Flowers

Our “friends” have done it again. First we fell in love with Words with friends, and now it’s Scramble with friends. To say it’s addictive is an understatement.

Similar to many word games we’ve known and loved in the past, Boggle, Bookworm, and others, the idea is to make as many words as you can out of sequential letters in a grid. Did I mention you only get two minutes to find your words? This is fast paced fun, and it brings out our competitive best when you play against your Facebook friends.

You can score extra points by using letters marked double point value – letter or word, depending on your level. And to keep things interesting, you can “buy” help, like the ability to turn your playing area sideways to help see the letters from a different angle; hints for additional words; and the ability to “freeze” your play for an extra five seconds to find even more words.

Free and paid versions are available, but so far only for iPhone, not iPad. Playing double screen on the iPad is acceptable for Scramble, but an iPad optimized version sure would be nice!

Free – Download Now

Pocket Casts – @chrisoldroyd

As a long time user or Instacast, I decided it was time for a change as certain features and more importantly, the interface was starting to get on my nerves. I decided to take the plunge and try out Pocket Casts by the developer with the awesome name of ShiftyJelly.

Pocket Casts is laid out very well, and is very simple yet very powerful as a podcast collector and playback tool. It even provides push notifications when a new podcast episode is available to download. You can also download episodes over the air without the 20MB restriction. All in all I find it to be a much smoother and more intuitive podcast application than any of the other ones I have tried so far.

$2.99 – Download Now

Parcel — @andrewwray

With all the package tracking apps in the App Store, finding which one is best for you can be difficult. My personal favorite happens to be Parcel, which is designed as a universal app for both the iPhone and iPad. Parcel makes tracking packages simple and easy, with over 100 delivery services supported including UPS, DHL, USPS, FedEx, OnTrac and more.

One of the best features in Parcel is barcode scanning, allowing you to quickly input new packages to track without the need to type in a long string of numbers and/or letters. Additionally, Parcel automagically recognizes which carrier the tracking number is associated with, making the process even easier that most other package tracking apps out there. Another neat option is the ability to track your package on a map so you can pinpoint exactly where it is en route, giving you a much better idea of delivery time in case the package runs into any delays or issues.

Push Notifications are also included with Parcel so you won’t need to constantly open up the app when the delivery is coming close to hitting your doorstep if you’re not at home. One important thing to note is that Parcel does come with ads, and only lets you track up to three packages at a time under their free offering. It also doesn’t come standard with Push Notifications. That — along with adding more than three packages and removing the ads — comes at a cost of $1.99 via in-app purchases. Bottom line: If you’re looking for an easy way to track your packages, Parcel is definitely something you’ll want to take a look at.

Free – Download Now

Gripsta – @JorjLim

As I mentioned in my most used accessories post, I don’t own that many accessories for my iPhone or iPad. However I was lucky enough to get my hands on a stand called The Gripsta.

The Gripsta is a stand for your iPhone, iPod Touch (or even Android or Blackberry, if you’re so inclined) made of foam (the same foam you’d find in a stress ball.). The unique design of the Gripsta allows you to stand it up, either in portrait or landscape, with the perfect angles for FaceTime or just watching movies.

I’m finding myself docking my iPhone into the Gripsta and just using the iPhone like normal because of the soft comfort of the Gripsta.

Its soft, comfortable, colourful, useful and a great product to pick up to spice up your desk.

£9.95 (+£2.95 P&P) – Gripsta

Hank Saves the Day (iBook) – @llofte

Hank Saves the Day is a book available in the iBookstore. It’s about a big, friendly monster who has to save a bridge that was destroyed by a giant piece of Swiss cheese. I downloaded this as a recommendation from someone on Twitter and my daughter loves it! She’s only 18 months old, so the big, simple pictures, big letters, and short sentences are perfect for her. She’s already learning to identify objects in the book.

I recommend Hank Saves the Day to anyone with small children, especially since it’s free!

Free – Download Now

Tell us your pick!

Those were our picks, iMore Nation, so now it’s your turn! Tell us your pick of the week below. Give us the name of your favorite app, site, or accessory, and tell us why it made your life more productive, more informed, more entertaining, or just plain more fun.

So what are you waiting for? Jump into the comments and let us know your pick of the week!

Olivia Wilde
Megan Fox
Bar Refaeli

Android Central Editors' app picks for Feb 18, 2012

2012-02-19T20:00:00.003-08:00

Android Central Editors' app picks for Feb 18, 2012

Looking for something new to try out on this long President's Day Weekend? Well, if you already grabbed some accessories at a discount the next thing to do would be to check out some new applications for your device, right? Let's hit the break and check out some of our favorites this week!

League of Evil 2 for iPhone review: this is why evil scientists don’t like cyborgs

League of Evil 2 for iPhone review: this is why evil scientists don’t like cyborgs

2012-02-19T20:00:00.001-08:00

Should you pick up League of Evil 2? Only if you're a sucker for over 100 levels of punishment.

League of Evil 2 launched on iOS last week, making a big splash in the top 25. It's a pretty straightforward platform game with some smooth cortoon graphics. If there's one thing evil scientists hate more than irate lab monkeys and the pesky PETA people that inevitably follow, it's mercenaries with a cyborg arm and the singular goal of making them little more than a pile of gibs and goo.

“Should you pick up League of Evil 2? Only if you’re a sucker for over 100 levels of fun, funny, violent, punishment.”

League of Evil 2 launched on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad last week, making a big splash in the top 25. It’s a pretty straightforward platform game with some smooth cortoon graphics. You play a government special agent with a few robotic enhancements, and have to navigate through a level full of traps and henchmen to capture briefcases full of classified in intelligence, and deliver a righteous uppercut to the evil scientists in charge of building weapons of mass destruction. You’re ultimately rated out of three stars for how quickly you liquify the evil scientist, and if you nab the suitcase in the level. There’s full Game Center support, and it’s universal, so you can enjoy this one on the iPad too. There are five chapters, each consisting of 20 levels or so. After you finish each one, you unlock a different outfit which you can swap out mid-game.

The original League of Evil game was more or less the same thing with one notable difference – the graphics. The original had a charming 8-bit feel to it, which suited the simple platform gameplay and the old-school Nintendo control scheme. Although it didn’t take advantage of the high-res display on the latest iOS devices, the first League of Evil was perfectly playable on older devices, going all the way back to the first-gen iPod touch. Seeing as the gameplay has changed little between the two iterations, the developer, Ravenous Games, has smartly provided their title for every tier of iPhone owner. Beyond graphics, the other major addition to League of Evil 2 is boss fights. This pit you against a particularly large opponent that somehow doesn’t explode into a million pieces with the first punch. Unfortunately, the game is hard enough that I didn’t even get that far in, so can’t comment much on exactly how hard those bosses are.

Perfecting wall slide and double jump techniques are vital to getting around in League of Evil.

The controls are dead simple, and amply large. Navigating any given level tends to involve sliding down walls and frantically double jumping to avoid obstacles. I did find that often my finger would slip off one of the directional arrows if I had a particularly long run. If your aim is remotely off on either the jump or attack button, it can easily mean a level restart, but this is mostly nitpicking. Overall, I found the control scheme simple and easy to use.

Although the core inspiration for this brand of platform game is the classic PC, Nintendo, and Sega Genesis titles of the late 80s, the original League of Evil feels very much like Super Meat Boy. Super Meat Boy is a “casual” game that started on PC and Xbox, and is coming to mobile soon, though it will apparently not control anything like the original game. League of Evil stands more on its own thanks to the smoothed-out graphics, and the ability to do more than just jump, but the gib-filled explosions enemies make when you attack them always reminds me of SMB.

All you have to do is punch an evil scientist. Easy, right?

I would deign to call League of Evil 2 a casual game, only because it’s fairly unforgiving of failure; one small misstep, and you’re exploded into a pile of guts. The sense of humour is top-notch, though a little violent if you have an aversion to that sort of thing. The graphic style is fluid and sharp, but I definitely feel that it lacks the charm of the original. Should you pick up League of Evil 2? Only if you’re a sucker for over 100 levels of punishment. Right now, it’s only $0.99, so it’s not a huge investment, but that price is going up to $2.99 soon.

$0.99 – League of Evil 2

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/1ZTj12dUpts/how-to-keep-your-macs-ssd-trim-and-healthy

How to Keep Your Mac's SSD Trim and Healthy [OSX Apps]

2012-02-19T18:19:00.001-08:00

The TRIM command is an essential part of SSD maintenance and helps keep the drive running at top speed. It's available natively for Macs using SSD's purchased from Apple but if you've got a third party drive, enabling TRIM requires some fancy Terminal work. Until now, that is. More »

Adobe Systems Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Alliance Data Systems Alltel Amazoncom America Movil

Add a Windows 8 user tile to your Windows 7 taskbar

2012-02-19T16:19:00.001-08:00

Now that Windows 8 images have begun leaking out, it's only a matter of time until developers start releasing mods for Windows 7 which mimic upcoming features. Over at Into Windows, they've spotted one such mod already.

In the earliest Windows 8 images, we saw Windows Live integration on the taskbar. In the far right corner, there's a user tile displayed. If you'd like to do the same on Windows 7, download Taskbar User Tile from DeviantArt user AngelWZR.

Once installed, your current picture will appear on the taskbar. Click it, and a menu appears which allows you to log off, switch users, and access the control panel. Right now, the mod only works if your taskbar is displayed on the bottom of your Windows desktop.

Add a Windows 8 user tile to your Windows 7 taskbar originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/06/add-a-windows-8-user-tile-to-your-windows-7-taskbar/

Shaw Communications Mcafee Maximus Mantech International Manhattan Associates Lsi

iPad vs. Laptop – Which Is The Best Buy?

2012-02-19T16:00:00.007-08:00

iPad vs. Laptop – Which Is The Best Buy?
Apple has been revolutionizing the world of personal computers and gadgets of today. When you are deciding to buy your personal computing machine, it is understandable that you will face a dilemma when choosing iPad vs Laptop. While iPad and iPad 2 owners are continuing to grow as years go by, the owners of laptops are likewise enjoying growth, as shown by various sales surveys. This inspired us to compare these two gadgets in this iPad vs Laptop article. iPad [...]

Apple has been revolutionizing the world of personal computers and gadgets of today. When you are deciding to buy your personal computing machine, it is understandable that you will face a dilemma when choosing iPad vs Laptop. While iPad and iPad 2 owners are continuing to grow as years go by, the owners of laptops are likewise enjoying growth, as shown by various sales surveys. This inspired us to compare these two gadgets in this iPad vs Laptop article.

iPad vs Laptop – Portability

When it comes to size and portability, the iPad might well earn all the points. iPads are significantly smaller than laptops. iPads can be stored and grabbed from the carry case or bag with a lot of ease, unlike laptops. Moreover, it is easier to access an iPad while on the go rather than a laptop which needs to be woken from sleep mode. While there are some laptops that come in sizes less than 12 inches, their computing power is usually compromised due to decrease in processor capacity.

iPad vs Laptop – Computing Power

The iPad 1 contains an Apple A4 processor that is capable of reaching a CPU speed of 1GHz while the iPad 2 contains an Apple A5 processor that has a dual core CPU with clock speed of 1GHz and a GPU clock speed of 200MHz. It contains a memory of 512MB at 533MHz. These figures show optimal computing power as compared to other computers in the market today. Laptops normally contain higher specifications and computing power. In fact, a laptop priced similarly with an iPad would normally carry three to four times the computing power of the iPad or iPad 2. Clearly the laptop is the winner in this category, especially when factoring in the power you get for the price.

iPad vs Laptop – Battery Life

The Battery life of an iPad is a breakthrough in itself. An iPad could run for up to 10 hours in a single charge. A regular laptop would do the same work for about 30 minutes to 1 hour before completely draining out its battery. This is because the iPad’s CPU power is designed to conserve power and capacity when not in use. Moreover, an iPad charger is very compact and small compared to a laptop charger.
Both iPads and laptops contain inherent strengths and weaknesses that makes a huge impact on the different computing requirements of its users. In order to come up with the right choice, you must first ascertain your computing needs and circumstances and ultimately make a decision based on those assessments. Reading more iPad vs Laptop articles and reviews will surely shed some light on your options.

Android Central international round-up - Feb. 18, 2012

Android Central international round-up - Feb. 18, 2012

2012-02-19T16:00:00.005-08:00

Mobile World Congress is just around the corner, and this week we've seen a torrent of rumors and leaks surrounding what'll be unveiled in Barcelona in just over a week.

As the clock counts down, we're not expecting things to get any less crazy in over the next seven days, so why not stop and reflect on the past week's international developments...

Got some international news? Be sure to tip us at the usual address!

Verizon continues their 4G LTE rollout and expansion, 7 new markets now covered

Verizon continues their 4G LTE rollout and expansion, 7 new markets now covered

2012-02-19T16:00:00.003-08:00

While their commercials have gotten some attention from the likes of Saturday Night Live, Verizon continues their 4G LTE rollout and expansion having most recently added 7 new markets to the mix. As announced on the Verizon website earlier, the new markets are:

Little Rock, Ark.
Rapid City, S.D.
Clarksville, Tenn.
Cookeville, Tenn.
San Antonio, Tex.
Rochester-Area, New York

In addition to those areas, Verizon has also added 13 new cell sites in and around Cabot, Jacksonville, Sherwood, the Little Rock Air Force Base, Ward, Austin and Gravel Ridge to ensure coverage along the Highway 67/167 corridor. Need to see if you're covered? Check out the source link to view Verizon 4G LTE coverage map.

Source: Verizon

Nicole Scherzinger
Katie Cassidy
Arielle Kebbel

President's Day Sale: Save 15% on ALL Android accessories this weekend from ShopAndroid.com!

2012-02-19T16:00:00.001-08:00

President's Day Sale: Save 15% on ALL Android accessories this weekend from ShopAndroid.com!

This offer is not valid with any other coupon and expires at Midnight PST Monday 2/20/2012. Don't forget about our Fast Free Shipping on US orders of $50 and higher!

Enjoy the Presidential Savings! Start your Shopping Now!

Avril Lavigne
Fergie

Mountain Lion vs. Windows 8: Two Paths to Platform Convergence

2012-02-19T14:19:00.001-08:00

Now that Apple's offered a sneak preview of OS X Mountain Lion, we can begin to compare it with Windows 8. Both OSes draw inspiration from, and aim to integrate with, mobile devices. Each OS faces the same basic challenge, but approaches the problem with different strategies.

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/02/mountain-lion-vs-windows-8-two-different-paths-to-platform-convergence/

Rf Micro Devices Red Hat Radisys Rackable Systems Quest Software Quantum

New Hope For Open Source Textbooks

2012-02-19T12:19:00.001-08:00

A college textbook can cost a staggering $200. Over four years of study, students can easily spend thousands of dollars on books on top of a hefty tuition. The situation is not much better in public elementary, middle and high schools, where taxpayers pick up the bill. California spends around $100 on every math and science book for its 2 million high school students, for example. But textbooks don’t have to be such a financial burden.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/YTCq8l8d9zY/

Sandisk Salesforce Com Saic Rockwell Automation Rf Micro Devices Red Hat

Rumored prototype iPad 3 logic board shows Apple A5X chip

2012-02-19T12:00:00.007-08:00

Rumored prototype iPad 3 logic board shows Apple A5X chip
Adding to the ever-growing iPad 3 rumor mill, a new photo has surfaced on the WeiPhone forums showing a system-on-a-chip nestled onto a prototype logic board, carrying a previously unheard of "A5X". The A5X chip also includes a date code of "1146", which would peg production at or around November 14th-20th of 2011.

Adding to the ever-growing iPad 3 rumor mill, a new photo has surfaced on the WeiPhone forums showing a system-on-a-chip nestled onto a prototype logic board, carrying a previously unheard of “A5X”. The A5X chip also includes a date code of “1146″, which would peg production at or around November 14th-20th of 2011.

This could mean a) the iPad 3 will have an updated variant of the Apple A5 chipset rather than an Apple A6 chipset as previously speculated; or b) this specific prototype was being tested on a variant of the A5 while work was still in progress on the Apple A6.

The A5X chip is model #S5L8945X, which matches an iPad 3 iBoot log reported by BGR a couple weeks ago, and indicates a less dramatic update than than the previous 30X to 4X jump between the original iPad and iPad 2. If the A5X ships with the iPad 3, it could mean Apple is sticking with the original dual-core architecture of the A5-powered iPad 2 rather than going to a quad-core architecture, as previously rumored. This wouldn’t overly affect speed and power, as an A5X would likely be faster and incorporate a newer graphics chip as well, but it could reduce flexibility and the number of complex tasks the iPad 3 could do at once.

We won’t know the broad strokes for certain until Apple makes an official announcement, likely on March 7th. We also won’t know the details until after Apple delivers the iPad 3 to customers, the date of which is still up in the air. Then the teardown companies will get at it and give us a more detailed look.

In addition to a new chipset, the iPad 3 is expected to include a high-resolution 2048×1536 Retina display, possible 4G LTE network support, and a higher quality 8 megapixel camera and slightly adjusted tapered casing.

Source: WeiPhone via MacRumors

Eliza Dushku
Adriana Lima
Freida Pinto
Taylor Swift
Sienna Miller

Rumored prototype iPad 3 logic board shows Apple A5X chip

2012-02-19T12:00:00.005-08:00

Source: WeiPhone via MacRumors

League of Evil 2 for iPhone review: this is why evil scientists don’t like cyborgs

LG Optimus Vu gallery

2012-02-19T12:00:00.003-08:00

LG Optimus Vu gallery

Following is a gallery of the LG Optimus Vu, a 5-inch Android smartphone with a 4:3 display.

Nikki Reed
Elisha Cuthbert

League of Evil 2 for iPhone review: this is why evil scientists don’t like cyborgs

2012-02-19T12:00:00.001-08:00

Should you pick up League of Evil 2? Only if you're a sucker for over 100 levels of punishment.

“Should you pick up League of Evil 2? Only if you’re a sucker for over 100 levels of fun, funny, violent, punishment.”

Perfecting wall slide and double jump techniques are vital to getting around in League of Evil.

All you have to do is punch an evil scientist. Easy, right?

$0.99 – League of Evil 2

Lily Allen
Nadine Velazquez

CyanogenMod team seeks donations to support hardware requirements

2012-02-19T10:19:00.001-08:00

The CyanogenMod team is seeking donations from the community to help bolster the hardware needed to keep things going. There are some 56 devices supported on CM's official listing, and nightly builds and official releases take some serious hardware to crank out. And that costs money. Writes CyanogenMod:

We need to purchase new hardware to take on this task. A couple of solid, stable Xeon-class servers with large amounts of RAM and fast disks. Virtual private servers won’t cut it for build machines.

CyanogenMod is not a for-profit business. We are just a bunch of geeks, trying to make our phones more awesome. The donations we get currently cover our operating costs and occasionally go towards developer devices. This time, I need to ask for help from the community for something a bit larger. We need to purchase these servers in order to bring the build infrastructure back to full capacity.

As such, there's now a PayPal widget at the bottom of the CM site that allows you to donate as much or as little as you want.

Update: And the CM team has hit its goal.

Source: CyanogenMod

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/5cjKU7IH1UE/story01.htm

Standard Microsystems Sra International Spss Spansion Sonus Networks Sonic Automotive

Listen to New Tunes, Play a Trippy Space Shooter, and Poll the Masses [Video]

2012-02-19T08:19:00.001-08:00

I like listening to new music, I like playing games based around the sounds of that new music, and I like gathering the public opinion on everything. You too, right?

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/5t4hIUaEPvA/

Thq Texas Instruments Teradata Teletech Holdings Technitrol Taketwo Interactive Software

iPad vs. Laptop – Which Is The Best Buy?

2012-02-19T08:00:00.005-08:00

iPad vs Laptop – Portability

iPad vs Laptop – Computing Power

iPad vs Laptop – Battery Life

Olivia Wilde
Megan Fox

Late-night poll: Is your Android phone rooted?

2012-02-19T08:00:00.003-08:00

Late-night poll: Is your Android phone rooted?

Since we started doing our polls each weeknight, the most popular requested subject from you guys was about root. People want to know who is rooting their phones, and why they're doing it. It's a choice everyone should consider before making, as these little (and not so little) pieces of glass and plastic can get pretty darned expensive to replace. Futzing around with the software can be a risky move, and when your done your phone is a bit less secure.

But man, can it be fun. So let's take a poll and see what the average reader of Android Central has to say. Do you root your phone?

Charlize Theron
Anna Faris

Late-night poll: Is your Android phone rooted?

2012-02-19T08:00:00.001-08:00

Late-night poll: Is your Android phone rooted?

But man, can it be fun. So let's take a poll and see what the average reader of Android Central has to say. Do you root your phone?

Anna Kournikova
Hayden Panettiere
Cameron Diaz

President's Day Sale: Save 15% on ALL Android accessories this weekend from ShopAndroid.com!

2012-02-19T06:19:00.001-08:00

This offer is not valid with any other coupon and expires at Midnight PST Monday 2/20/2012. Don't forget about our Fast Free Shipping on US orders of $50 and higher!

Enjoy the Presidential Savings! Start your Shopping Now!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/3_9nrt2O4NI/story01.htm

Emulex Ems Technologies Emc Electronics For Imaging Electronic Data Systems Electronic Arts

Internet Explorer 9 nears 4% share on Windows 7, IE6 extinction countdown picks up steam

2012-02-19T04:19:00.001-08:00

Microsoft has shared some news about the state of its most and least loved Web browsers -- Internet Explorer 9 and 6, respectively. Even with IE9 only recently exiting beta, Microsoft reports that 3.6% of Windows 7 users are now running the new browser (no mention of Vista... what's with that?). The post also reveals that the adoption rate is almost five times what IE8 garnered in the early going.

It's also interesting to note that there are now more than 1,000 sites utilizing Internet Explorer 9's Windows 7 integration features -- like the new desktop notification support we showed you in Hotmail.

But perhaps the best news of all is that Microsoft's IE6countdown.com now has more than 400 partners and is generating nearly two million pageviews per month, helping to lure users away from the woefully out-of-date browser. Can the end come soon enough, DS readers?

Internet Explorer 9 nears 4% share on Windows 7, IE6 extinction countdown picks up steam originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/01/internet-explorer-9-nears-4-share-on-windows-7-ie6-extinction/

Standard Microsystems Sra International Spss Spansion Sonus Networks Sonic Automotive

Late-night poll: Is your Android phone rooted?

2012-02-19T04:00:00.007-08:00

Late-night poll: Is your Android phone rooted?

But man, can it be fun. So let's take a poll and see what the average reader of Android Central has to say. Do you root your phone?

Avril Lavigne
Fergie

LG unveils Optimus Vu, complete with 4:3 aspect ratio and stylus

2012-02-19T04:00:00.005-08:00

LG unveils Optimus Vu, complete with 4:3 aspect ratio and stylus

139.6 x 90.4 x 8.5mm
Weight: 168g
5-inch IPS 650 nit display at 1024x768
8MP rear camera, 1.3MP front
32GB storage
1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor
Android 2.3 Gingerbread
2080 mAh battery
HDMI
DLNA
Wifi Direct

We've already seen the Optimus Vu holding hands with the other member of the ginormus-phone club, the Galaxy Note (which went on sale for AT&T hours before this announcement), but it's nice to see some clearer press shots. No word on any worldwide release, but we're told to expect it in Korea on SK Telecom in early March. LG also says to expect more in Barcelona about the Vu, and we'll be right there to hear and see it.

Source: LG Korea (Korean)

Nikki Reed
Elisha Cuthbert

Android Central Editors' app picks for Feb 18, 2012

2012-02-19T04:00:00.003-08:00

Android Central Editors' app picks for Feb 18, 2012

Ciara
Blake Lively
Scarlett Johansson

Google Chairman Eric Schmidt selling 2.4 million shares, worth nearly $1.5 billion

2012-02-19T04:00:00.001-08:00

Google Chairman Eric Schmidt selling 2.4 million shares, worth nearly $1.5 billion

When I need cash, I go to the bank. (Or, more accurately, to a shoebox under the loose floorboard in my pantry. Shhhhh.) When the chairman of Google wants cash, he sells stock. According to an overnight SEC filing, Eric Schmidt -- as part of a prearranged trading plan -- is selling some 2.4 million shares of Class A Google stock.

That's somewhere around $1.44 billion dollars worth, going by Friday's close of trading, which saw Google drop 1.88 to end the day at 604.64. Wowzers.

The SEC filing notes that before the sale, Schmidt owned 9.1 million shares of Class A and Class B stock -- about 2.8 percent of Google's outstanding capital stock. With that, Schmidt had 9.7 percent voting power. After the sale, Schmidt owns approximately 6.7 million shares -- about 2.1 percent of Google's total outstanding stock -- and will have 7.3 percent voting power.

Source: SEC

Pen�lope Cruz
Hilary Duff

Ridiculous Fur Case Adds Brushing To Your iPhone Cleaning Ritual [Cases]

2012-02-19T02:19:00.001-08:00

My iPhone already has no problem attracting all manner of mysterious dirt and crap, so the last thing I need is one of these Monster fur cases that's going to turn it into a magnet for dust, lint, and fuzzballs. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/8SL_Hqo7Jn4/ridiculous-fur-case-adds-brushing-to-your-iphone-cleaning-ritual

Pricelinecom Qimonda Qualcomm Quanta Computer Research In Motion Rogers Communications

Google counting down, building up to Mobile World Congress

2012-02-19T00:19:00.001-08:00

You didn't really think Google would have just any old countdown page for Mobile World Congress, did you? And instead of saying Google's counting down to MWC, it looks more like el Goog is building up to MWC. What you see above is where we stand as of Feb. 17, and just below is a little slider that goes from a blank canvas to what should be a fully formed Android extravaganza.

Google's not going to half-ass its MWC presence, that's for sure. Last year there were smoothies of every major version flavor (well, most of them anyway), a two-story slide, and more developers than we could shake a stick at. It was magical.

Source: Google at Mobile World Congress

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/rBr4tjf9GOA/story01.htm

Level 3 Communications Lawson Software Land Software Lam Research L1 Identity Solutions Kingston Technology Company

iOS 5.1 rumored to bring rich text to Notes app

2012-02-19T00:00:00.007-08:00

iOS 5.1 rumored to bring rich text to Notes app
iOS 5.1 has been in beta for a while now, but it looks like several features have remained hidden from developers thus far -- potentially including rich text formatting for the Notes app. Previously limited to just plain text, iPhone Hellas reports that users will soon be able to include bulleted lists, links, underlined text, change the font color and more.

iOS 5.1 has been in beta for a while now, but several features have remained hidden from developers thus far — potentially including rich text formatting for the Notes app. Previously limited to just plain text, iPhone Hellas reports that users will soon be able to include bulleted lists, links, underlined text, change the font color and more.

OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion will be getting rich text editing in the new Notes app for Mac, so this would mean parity between the platforms. If accurate, it’s great to see Apple pushing Notes a little further, as it’s been essentially the same since the early iPhone OS days. It probably won’t have any effect on App Store note-taking apps, which often include additional features, or features Apple would never add, like Dropbox or Box.net support, or allow hand-writing support.

Like the Photos app, it’s just bare bones functionality.

iOS 5.1 has been rumored to hit the streets on March 9th from operator profile code uncovered in the latest beta release, which is also right around the time we think Apple will be announcing the iPad 3.

Source: iPhoneHellas

Angelina Jolie
Vanessa Hudgens
Danneel Harris
Zoe Saldana

iOS 5.1 rumored to bring rich text to Notes app

2012-02-19T00:00:00.005-08:00

Like the Photos app, it’s just bare bones functionality.

Source: iPhoneHellas

Lily Allen
Nadine Velazquez

Android Central Editors' app picks for Feb 18, 2012

2012-02-19T00:00:00.003-08:00

Android Central Editors' app picks for Feb 18, 2012

Lindsay Lohan
Eva Mendes
Julianne Hough

Apple grants ABC’s Nightline exclusive access to their suppliers’ factories in China

2012-02-19T00:00:00.001-08:00

Apple grants ABC’s Nightline exclusive access to their suppliers’ factories in China
Responding to the ongoing controversy surrounding working conditions in Chinese factories, Apple has granted ABC News and their Nightline series exclusive access to go inside Foxconn and take a look around. Nightline new anchor Bill Weir has gone to Shenzhen China with film crew in tow to bring back the visual documentation of what exactly happens there.

Responding to the ongoing controversy surrounding working conditions in Chinese factories, Apple has granted ABC News and their Nightline series exclusive access to go inside Foxconn and take a look around. Nightline new anchor Bill Weir has gone to Shenzhen China with film crew in tow to bring back the visual documentation of what exactly happens there.

“For years, Apple and Foxconn have been synonymous with monster profits and total secrecy so it was fascinating to wander the iPhone and iPod production lines, meet the people who build them and see how they live. Our cameras were rolling when thousands of hopeful applicants rushed the Foxconn gates and I spoke with dozens of line workers and a top executive about everything from hours and pay to the controversies over suicides at the plant and the infamous “jumper nets” that line the factories in Shenzhen. After this trip, I’ll never see an Apple product the same way again” said Weir

The full broadcast will take place on February 21st, at 11:35 p.m., ET on the ABC Television Network but portions of it will be spread across the ABC networks line up.

Source: ABC News

Charlize Theron
Anna Faris

What the hell did we just do to Android Central?!?!?!?

2012-02-18T22:19:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the next iteration of Android Central. We'd give you a version number but, frankly, we have no idea what version we're on.. Just like Android, we keep on doing our thing. (Though we're able to get updates to all of you at one time, which is awesome.)

So what's new? We just rolled out a new version of our homepage filter, with much more filtering power behind it.

You now have three main options for content on the Android Central home page.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/lttk385FGFo/story01.htm

L1 Identity Solutions Kingston Technology Company Key Jds Uniphase Jda Software Group Jack Henry And Associates

Google's Blogger platform adds five new HTML5 Dynamic Views

2012-02-18T20:19:00.001-08:00

Google, as part of its ongoing and much-needed overhaul of its popular Blogger platform, has just enabled five dynamic, HTML5ish, AJAXy 'Dynamic Views'. There's a video introducing the new layouts after the break.

The five new views provide fresh and interesting ways to explore your favorite Blogger blogs. The Mosaic view, for example, creates a wall of thumbnails -- click one, and it zooms to fill the screen; click it again and it minimizes. Flipcard is similar to Mosaic, but not quite as eclectic. Sidebar, Timeslide and Snapshot round off the new views, with each one obviously targeted at different types of content, from photo blogs, to text-only philosophy blogs, and everything in between.

For now, you have to visit a Blogger blog and add /view to the URL to enable the new Dynamic Views. If you own a Blogger blog, you can disable the new views -- and really, why weren't they disabled by default?

If feedback is positive -- which we're sure it will be -- these Dynamic Views will soon be enabled by default. You'll also be able to edit the views in much the same way as current Blogger templates.

Continue reading Google's Blogger platform adds five new HTML5 Dynamic Views

Google's Blogger platform adds five new HTML5 Dynamic Views originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/31/google-blogger-platform-introduces-five-new-html5-dynamic-views/

Pricelinecom Qimonda Qualcomm Quanta Computer Research In Motion Rogers Communications

Apple revamps ‘Getting Started’ guide for iOS developers, makes it more useful and more elegant

2012-02-18T20:00:00.007-08:00

Apple revamps ‘Getting Started’ guide for iOS developers, makes it more useful and more elegant
As the Apple ecosystem continues to grow, helping to get new iPhone and iPad developer up to speed as quickly and productively as possible is increasingly important to Apple. To help make this point ever so clear, Apple has just revamped their Getting Started guide for iOS developers.

As the Apple ecosystem continues to grow, helping to get new iPhone and iPad developer up to speed as quickly and productively as possible is increasingly important to Apple. To help make this point ever so clear, Apple has just revamped their Getting Started guide for iOS developers.

While Apple has always made a concerted effort to make getting started on iOS development easy, the unveiling of their new development document called “Start Developing iOS Apps Today“ lays things out in a even more simplified, more elegant manner then in the past, and it looks pretty impressive.

The document is made available to all, so there is no need for a developer account to view the information. More importantly, the guide appears to be most suited for someone who is just starting out on iOS development as it triages some of the more complex or difficult concepts and sticks to the basics. It offers a concise general overview of what to expect, should you proceed to the next level.

Previous documentation posted by Apple always seemed rather daunting and, quite frankly, was overloaded with information that could potentially scare off developers by offering too much. This new document however, seems quite a change from that as it offers the basics and feels quite welcoming in the fact that it is beautifully laid out. If you’re looking to get into iOS development, it should be your first stop in the process.

Source: Apple, via TNW

AnnaLynne McCord
Kate Beckinsale

Motorola XYBOARD tablets rooted with the same method as Droid 4

2012-02-18T20:00:00.005-08:00

Motorola XYBOARD tablets rooted with the same method as Droid 4

Remember that controversial Motorola Droid 4 root method we talked about last week? You might have skimmed over the part where the method was presumed to work on just about any Motorola device, but it seems to be true -- the Motorola Droid XYBOARD (both versions) have been rooted using the method.

There's not a lot to actually do with your XYBOARD that needs root just yet, but we're sure all that will change soon now that an easy method is available. It looks simple enough -- install some drivers then run a batch file to root the tablet. You can find all the particulars and the needed files at the source link, and of course join the discussion in the forums if you hit a snag.

Source: Vulnfactory.org

Marisa Miller
Cat Power
Moon Bloodgood

Motorola XYBOARD tablets rooted with the same method as Droid 4

2012-02-18T20:00:00.003-08:00

Motorola XYBOARD tablets rooted with the same method as Droid 4

Source: Vulnfactory.org

Anna Kournikova
Hayden Panettiere
Cameron Diaz

Motorola Droid X may soon be in line for another update

2012-02-18T20:00:00.001-08:00

Motorola Droid X may soon be in line for another update

Word on the street is that Motorola's getting ready for another one of its "soak tests," this time on the venerable Droid X. No real details yet on what it could be, and we're not expecting the Droid X to be updated to Ice Cream Sandwich. The e-mail we've been tipped to reads as follows:

Hi,

Thanks for joining the Motorola Feedback Network. We are inviting owners of
the Motorola Droid X on Verizon to participate in an early preview of a new
software release, and provide feedback.

Click this link to take a short enrollment survey if you wish to take part.
Please note that you must be a member in good standing of the Motorola
Owners' Forums to be included. The registration window is short so please
respond as quickly as possible.

This is a confidential test under the terms of the Motorola Feedback Network.
Do not post any details or information about this on any public sites.

Thanks -- please understand that start times are always fluid. We ask for
your patience if you register but don't hear from us right away.

Matt & Mark
Forum managers
Motorola Owners’ Forums

Ah, ol' Moto Matt's got a partner in crime now, eh? Sing out if you hear something.

More: Motorola Droid X forums

Ciara
Blake Lively
Scarlett Johansson

Pantech Burst review

2012-02-18T18:19:00.001-08:00

Consider the high-end smartphone. While you lust after those, Pantech is on the prowl, steadily adding to and improving upon its army of budget offerings in the US. It may not be as formidable a force as the Samsungs and Motorolas of the world, but the outfit is finally beginning to leave a mark. Once a complete unknown outside of Asia, the phone manufacturer is keeping itself incredibly busy on this side of the Pacific, cranking out low-cost devices for AT&T and Verizon. Now, Pantech's focus has turned to LTE, starting with the $50 Breakout on Big Red, followed by a smartphone and tablet option on Ma Bell.

Pantech Burst official on AT&T

Pantech Burst hands-on

Pantech Element hands-on

The Pantech Burst is the inaugural entry-level LTE smartphone in AT&T's lineup, debuting at $50 with a two-year commitment. Don't let that bargain-basement price turn you off, though -- this thing's got plenty of mojo to back it up, which makes the Burst a stark contrast to its Verizon counterpart. But what can we expect from a budget-friendly handset? Is Pantech finally pushing out a device that will help it earn a new level of respect from American consumers? We're bursting at the seams to answer those questions and take the device for a spin after the break. (Yes, we just went there.)

Gallery: Pantech Burst hardware overview

Continue reading Pantech Burst review

Pantech Burst review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/avtP1PbE9dM/

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President’s Day Sale: Save 15% on ALL iPhone & iPad Accessories this weekend in the iMore Store!

2012-02-18T16:19:00.001-08:00

In celebration of President’s Day you can shop all weekend and save 15% on all your iPhone & iPad accessories Phone & iPad Accessories this weekend in the iMore Store

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/ERZp-71AXEQ/story01.htm

Network Appliance Netgear Ncr National Semiconductor National Instruments Motorola

Apple settles iPhone 4 class-action antenna suit, US customers to receive cash or a free bumper

2012-02-18T16:01:00.003-08:00

Apple settles iPhone 4 class-action antenna suit, US customers to receive cash or a free bumper
If you cast your mind back to the launch of the iPhone 4, you may recall a bit of shenanigans over the performance of its antenna. You may remember the death grip and what quickly became known as “antennagate”.

If you cast your mind back to the launch of the iPhone 4, you may recall a bit of shenanigans over the performance of its antenna. You may remember the death grip and what quickly became known as “antennagate”. Apple even had an event to explain what the issues were with the antenna and then offered a free bumper case to anyone who bought an iPhone 4 for a limited time only.

A lot of people were still not satisfied and a total of 18 class-action suits were brought to the table; these were consolidated into one case. The case claimed that Apple was “misrepresenting and concealing material information in the marketing, advertising sale and servicing of its iPhone 4 particularly as it relates to the quality of the mobile phone antenna, reception and related software.”

The case has now been heard and as part of a preliminary approval, US residents who purchased an iPhone 4 will be entitled to $15 in cash or again a free bumper case from Apple. All original buyers of the iPhone 4 should receive an e-mail alerting them of their entitlement before April 30^th. If you qualify, you have a further 120 days to claim your $15 in cash or free bumper case.

Source: cnet

Pen�lope Cruz
Hilary Duff

Best Buy employee auction site loaded up with discounted iPad 2′s ahead of iPad 3 launch

2012-02-18T16:01:00.001-08:00

Best Buy employee auction site loaded up with discounted iPad 2′s ahead of iPad 3 launch
It looks like Best Buy is trying to offload some iPad 2 inventory on their internal employee auction website ahead of the iPad 3 launch.

It looks like Best Buy is trying to offload some iPad 2 inventory on their internal employee auction website ahead of the iPad 3 launch. Offering internal employees reduced prices isn’t an uncommon practice among retailers in the lead up to product refreshes from Apple, as some retailers offered the first-gen iPad at lower prices both internally and at retail stores before Apple officially announced the iPad 2 last year.

The iPad 3, which is expected to be announced on March 7th and to ship sometime soon thereafter. Expected features include high-resolution Retina display, quad-core Apple A6 processor, and possible 4G LTE support. (We’d also dearly love better cameras.)

Along with case leaks, constrained supplies, and tons of rumors, consider this just one of the many signposts that we see along the way, alerting us to the iPad 3 event, and release, coming up ahead.

Angelina Jolie
Vanessa Hudgens
Danneel Harris
Zoe Saldana

Angry Birds headed into space on March 22

2012-02-18T16:00:00.003-08:00

Angry Birds headed into space on March 22

Maybe Rovio's running out of holidays, because it's sending the Angry Birds into Space next month, as part of a deal with brings in NASA and National Geographic as launch partners. Details from Yahoo Games suggests that the new version of Angry Birds will introduce new gravity-based gameplay as well as slow-motion puzzles and "lightspeed" destruction.

Rovio plans a simultaneous launch across all mobile platforms, including Android, from Mar. 22.

We've got the full teaser trailer after the jump.

Source: Yahoo Games, Rovio

Verizon continues their 4G LTE rollout and expansion, 7 new markets now covered

Verizon continues their 4G LTE rollout and expansion, 7 new markets now covered

2012-02-18T16:00:00.001-08:00

Little Rock, Ark.
Rapid City, S.D.
Clarksville, Tenn.
Cookeville, Tenn.
San Antonio, Tex.
Rochester-Area, New York

Source: Verizon

TripAdvisor app for Windows Phone 7 now available

2012-02-18T14:19:00.001-08:00

TripAdvisor, the popular travel planning tool, has just launched an app for Windows Phone 7. Just like the mobile website, the app allows you to search for anything travel-related -- from hotels and flights to restaurants and points-of-interest to visit once you reach your destination.

Geolocation is supported, which allows TripAdvisor to quickly locate places nearby. But while that's a neat feature, it's also a bit of a downer -- because, really, it's about the only feature TripAdvisor for WP7 brings to the table that its mobile Web app doesn't already offer (its browser-based geolocation doesn't work with WP7 at the moment).

While it's nice to see Windows Phone 7 users getting some big-name apps, it'd be even nicer if we saw some packing a bit more swagger.

Still, TripAdvisor for WP7 might just be worth installing on your device if you're frequently on the go -- at least until a better browser arrives with the Mango update.

Gallery: TripAdvisor for Windows Phone 7

TripAdvisor app for Windows Phone 7 now available originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/05/tripadvisor-app-for-windows-phone-7-now-available/

Earthlink Dst Systems Discover Financial Services Diodes Inorated Diebold Dell

Daily Crunch: Rectangle

2012-02-18T12:19:00.001-08:00

Here are some recent stories on TechCrunch Gadgets: Motorola Droid 4 Review: This Keyboard Rocks, But That’s About It Review: The Playstation Vita, Sony’s Portable Powerhouse More Backpedaling: Netflix Brings Back the $7.99 DVD-Only Plan ProView Is Suing Apple Over The Rights To An iMac Clone Foxconn Increases Wages, Raises Pay By 16-25% For Chinese Workers

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/BNVttoMhHt4/

National Instruments Motorola Moodys Miscrosoft Office Microsoft Microsemi

HTC adds more North American phones to Ice Cream Sandwich update list

2012-02-18T12:01:00.003-08:00

HTC adds more North American phones to Ice Cream Sandwich update list

HTC sends word via its official Facebook page that in addition to the handful of phones already announced, Verizon's Rhyme, Droid Incredible 2 and Thunderbolt will be getting the latest version of Android later in the year. And on the Canadian side, the manufacturer has confirmed that the HTC Raider on Rogers and Bell will also see ICS in the months ahead.

We have more good news related to Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, and can confirm that upgrades are planned for Verizon Wireless customers with the HTC Rhyme, HTC Thunderbolt, and DROID Incredible 2 by HTC, as well as the already announced HTC Rezound.

In addition, the HTC Raider is on the list to receive ICS for customers of Rogers and Bell in Canada. Stay tuned for more news on Ice Cream Sandwich releases in the coming weeks.

So great news for owners of those phones, especially the long-suffering Thunderbolt, which took long enough to get bumped from Froyo to Gingerbread. HTC expects to begin updating international handsets to ICS in the next month, starting with the Sensation and Sensation XE.

Source: HTC USA Facebook

Lindsay Lohan
Eva Mendes
Julianne Hough

P90X review: Best bootcamp-style home fitness app for iPhone

2012-02-18T12:01:00.001-08:00

P90X review: Best bootcamp-style home fitness app for iPhone

"P90X is a popular fitness program that's made a bold leap onto the iPhone with outstanding content, if not polished experience."

P90X -- short for Power 90 Extreme -- is trendy fitness system that aims to get you into better shape in 90 days through a combination of exercise and nutrition, all highly packaged, polished, and available for purchase right on your iPhone.

“P90X, the popular hardcore home fitness program, has made a bold leap onto the iPhone with outstanding content, if not polished experience.”

P90X — short for Power 90 Extreme — aims to get you into better shape in 90 days through a combination of traditional exercises and nutritional advice, all highly packaged, polished, and available for purchase right on your iPhone. If that sounds slightly cynical, it is. The amount of money made from people buying and never using commercial home fitness programs probably tends towards the infinite at this point. From Jane Fonda to Richard Simmons to Tony Little to Billy Blanks to Jillian Michaels to Tony Horton, the amount of video tapes (Wikipedia it!) and DVDs collecting dust on our collective shelves could fill gyms around the country. But the age of physical media is over. We have iPhones and iPads now, devices that can not only show us the latest, freshest workout trend, but unshackle us from the living room TV and let us watch them anywhere, at any time. Moreover, since our mobile devices are tied into the rest of our lives, they can remind us when to work out (calendars and task lists), and the data they collect can help us track our progress more easily than ever before (location, time, movement).

P90X has been available in DVD form for a while and so P90X for iPhone can be used in 2 ways — as a companion to help you schedule and track your P90X DVD progress (or just your progress in general if you’re already familiar with all the exercises), or in its own right if you buy the in-app purchases and watch the workout videos right on your iPhone.

P90X for iPhone does a great job getting you started, but also offers a good variety of exercises to keep you going.

The P90X app itself is $4.99 and the in-app pricing for the workouts are as follows:

$59.99 for the all bundles
$29.99 for bundles of workouts (chest and back, shoulders and arms, legs and back, etc.)
$6.99 for individual workouts (plyometrics, Yoga x, Kenpo x, core synergistics, etc.)

There are both traditional fitness workouts, the bread and butter body-parts stuff, and some variety like the Yoga and Kenpo workouts. (Which shouldn’t be confused with traditional holistic or martial arts, but include different enough movements to keep things fresh.)

As you might have picked up from the intro, I have a bias against these types of commercial packages. P90X, for example, litters the registered trademark (R) symbol around almost more than they do the exercises, and the app actually has you agree to terms and conditions for their content when you launch it for the first time (even movie apps don’t typically do that). It makes you think the lawyers and accounts were as involved in the planning and design and the exercise and nutrition experts. That’s okay. Products are supposed to make money. It’s just a little to overt and, frankly, tacky in this case and makes me take them a little less seriously.

Back to the app. It’s not the best user interface or user experience. It requires taps sometimes when swipes would feel better, it has tips that are helpful but not perfectly implemented, and it’s heavy — lots of video and resources — so older devices may struggle with the load.

The content here is king, however, and there’s enough really good stuff that any quibbles about tackiness and UI polish quickly fade. When you’re sweating up a storm, you just need to know what to do next and how to do it. In those areas, P90X is excellent.

You can choose individual workouts in P90X for iPhone, but the real benefit comes from starting a 90-day guided program.

First time users can easily get started with a 90 day program and are immediately assigned some easing-into tasks, like taking a profile photo, inputting measurements, and taking a fitness test to establish a starting point. This data is fed into the P90X profile tab so you can make the experience feel a little more personalized, as well as view your achievements (+1 for game-ification), check your progress, and re-take the fitness test.

Once you’re ready to get going, you can schedule your workouts, choosing between P90X classic, lean, or doubles, and it will push the appropriate times into the built-in calendar (but not into the main iOS calendar, at least as far as I could tell). If you exercise on your own — spin class, hot yoga, Pilates, obstacle courses, grappling, whatever, you can add those in as well. If you use their online “Team BeachBody SuperGym”, you can sync between your iPhone and the site.

All of your progress gets charted so you can hold yourself accountable to your goals. There’s an option to keep a nutrition log in the app as well, but it’s not very robust and while convenient to keep everything in one place, if you’re serious about it you my want to try a dedicated diet app like Weight Watchers Mobile

It wouldn’t be an iOS app without a social component either, would it? Not only do you have the usual Twitter and Facebook options, but P90X even includes support for Apple’s Game Center so you can share with the world and get a little peer-pressure working for you as well.

With P90X for iPhone, you can use it as a companion for the DVDs (or your existing exercise knowledge), or buy video workouts via in-app purchase.

The exercises available via in-app purchase are well presented. Much to their credit, P90X doesn’t use a fitness model in a thong and a hero pose for the actual exercises, but instead a realistic trainer doing realistic training. The camera moves in and out, and around, so you can get a good idea of the movements involved. They also mention tips on proper positioning and form, though the primary goal here is fitness, not functionality, so you don’t get Muscle Balance and Function focus or precision.

There are popup warnings if you try to do something like two resistance workouts in a day (“Tony would want you to back off a bit”), which is great for beginners who might try to start off too quickly only to get injured, get discouraged, and ultimately fall off course.

Better integration with the iPhone would be welcome. Having the schedule show up in the built-in Calendar app or Reminders app would be great. Tying into the GPS and clock to track activities automatically, where and when possible, would be welcome. Pretty much anything and everything that got the management out of the way so you could focus on the fitness activities should be the goal.

You can run P90X for iPhone on the iPad, but there’s no universal app or specific iPad app version yet, so you’re stuck in double fuzzy chunky 2x mode. If you are at home, however, thanks to AirPlay mirroring on the iPhone 4S, you can beam the content to your Apple TV and watch any in-app purchased workout videos on your big screen.

The good

Well packaged, well planned, well presented content
Thoughtful progression for new users
Videos available on-device (via in-app purchase)
Good variety of exercises

The bad

User experience needs more polish
Commercial nature of the program is too overt and distracts from content
Bootcamp-style might be tough for first-timers

The conclusion

P90X is a popular fitness program that’s made a bold leap onto the iPhone with outstanding content, if not polished experience. If you’re already all in on P90X, the iPhone app is a great companion and will make it easier to track and keep up with your goals. If you’re new to mobile health, and you’re looking for something a little more hardcore than your typical TV fitness show, P90X is a great way to get started. (It may be a bit much for an absolute first timer, however, so start slowly and work your way up to P90X if it’s something your want to try.)

And if you’re joining us for Mobile Nations Fitness Month, and P90X is your plan of choice, jump into our Health & Fitness Forum and work out with us!

$4.99 – Download now

AnnaLynne McCord
Kate Beckinsale

Apple rumored to be improving fast Camera access in iOS 5.1

2012-02-18T12:00:00.003-08:00

Apple rumored to be improving fast Camera access in iOS 5.1
The current method for fast camera access in iOS 5 might soon be changing into a faster camera access in iOS 5.1, according to Blog do iPhone.

The current method for fast camera access in iOS 5 might soon be changing into a faster camera access in iOS 5.1, according to Blog do iPhone. The existing method involves double-clicking the Home button and tapping the Camera icon to quickly switch to the Camera app. That’s 3 actions and a wait for a separate app to launch or come to the foreground. The new method is a gesture — a slide up to reveal an embedded camera. That’s 1 action and no wait for a separate app. You just slide and shoot.

They’re only showing pictures of the supposedly new user interface, so it’s hard to tell how it feels in implementation. If accurate, Apple would have to give it enough traction and timeout so you can’t accidentally reveal the camera in your purse or pocket, and leave it on to drain the battery.

Likewise, since fast camera access bypasses the passcode lock, hopefully Apple will add a Settings toggle to disable it when and if you want to, like for when your prankster friend is visiting and tries to photo bomb you.

iOS 5.1 has been in developer beta for a long while now, with current guestimates pegging its release sometime in March to coincide with the iPad 3 release.

Source: Blog Do iPhone

More: iPhone photography starters guide, iPhone photography projects, iPhone photography forums