May 21, 2012

The Daily: Now Available on iPhone

May 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Today, the news publication application, The Daily, has finally ventured outside of the iPad realm, making the application now available for both iPhone and iPod Touch. The Daily, which became available a little over a year ago launched only with the iPad. This was a smart move at first, due to the iPad being so welcoming for magazine/newspaper readers, because of the large screen size. However, iPhone users felt forgotten by the publication.

The Daily for iPhone, now available in the App Store, isn’t as visually appealing as the iPad version. In fact, it seems a bit of a simple and dry design. However, the features are still there. You can view headlines, news slideshows, and more. However, due to the smaller device size, The Daily felt it was appropriate to compliment it with a smaller cost. The Daily for iPhone users is now available for $1.99 a month, and $19.99 a year. If you are already an iPad subscriber, access to The Daily for iPhone is free, so enjoy!

Filed Under: App Reviews, News, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Apple To Replace Kids Station Macs With iPads

April 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

When you walk into an Apple store, aside from the numerous iPads and iPhones that line the tables, there are also Macs that are available for potential buyers to enjoy. Away from these gadgets, there is a place for kids to enjoy Macs where games are preset for them to relish. However, this picture of a typical Apple store will change just a bit. Now, many Apple stores are beginning to replace the Macs in the children’s section with iPad devices.

As we know, Apple has always had the children’s section in their stores since its start. However, they have been relatively unchanged since 2001. While the Macs have updated when the product line updates accordingly with refreshing product lines, the section has been a place exclusively for iMacs.

With kid-friendly classics, like Fruit Ninja, the iPad and iOS in general has an abundance of child friendly applications. A third of American homes now have Apple products, so many children are familiar with how it’s used. The change over was first witnessed in a French Apple store, so we have no word on whether this was just testing, will be something locked to just certain stores, or will be implemented in all stores.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Google Drive: The Overview

April 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Google released, on Tuesday, Google Drive, a service that allows you to save you digital information in the cloud. You can access the information you save on Google Drive online and on your smartphone. Google Drive is working toward becoming competition with other cloud based services like Dropbox. Google Drive is compatible with Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. You can collaborate with the documents you save on Google Drive. Google Drive gives you 5GB of memory for free to any user. Today, we will take a look at a couple of features in Google Drive.

Features in Google Drive

Like other cloud based services, Google Drive is working toward becoming the service that will have your information safe and available anywhere. From your laptop to your iPhone, Google Drive wants to be the service that keeps your information safe. However, unlike other services, Google Drive allows you to make changes and edits to your and other files saved on the service. This is perfect collaboration that you won’t find with the other services. Google Drive is also linked with Google search. For example, when you search for a photo in web search, there is a section on the options section on the left that allows you to just select to search for your photos.

Availability and Costs

Google Drive isn’t available yet, it is expected to be available in the near future. However, we do know how much Google Drive will cost. Google Drive took a tip from Dropbox and ensured that all users will be able to use free space to start with. All users get 5GB to start, from there if you require more space, it will be available for $2.49 for 25GB, 100GB for $4.99, and 1TB for $50.00. These prices are monthly. Still, when compared to Dropbox for example it’s cheaper to choose Google Drive. With Google Drive, 100GB costs $59.98 a year, $200 a year with Dropbox.

Filed Under: App Reviews, News, Reviews, Tutorials Tagged With: , , , , ,

Repeatedly Rejected Facebook App Makes it Through

March 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I am a very light Facebook user. I say this in terms of posts I post every week. I log on every day, have notifications activated, so I know when I get a post. However, in terms of contributing posts, I do so when I feel it’s important. This is because I feel we are tracked down too much these days, our every move watched. As a blogger, with pretty much my life story and then some online, I know how privacy is valued. However, Facebook has been seen as the cause of many individuals loosing their privacy, or at least the tool. The newest Facebook related application seems to make this more of a thought.

The developer IZE, not Facebook, published an application today that allows you to view where your Facebook friends are. To remind you of an important face, this application was rejected by the App Store twice, but now it seemed to have made it through. The application is by request, you must send your friend a request to use Find My Facebook Friends. From there, they will download the application on their phone and you can then see where they are. You can then choose who to share your location to. If they are near you, a notification is sent.

There are many great and safe possibilities with this application, however many more faults are hard to ignore. Having your location in the hands of not only the developer, but also the possibility to accidentally get in the hands of the wrong person can send chills to some people. Additionally, the beginning downloaders are reporting a crashed application, so if you are in fact interested, you should wait about two weeks. Lastly, it’s not free, it is a $0.99 application. That’s not expensive, but not something I’m willing to pay for either. But, that’s just me. If you downloaded the application and enjoy the experience, or you can live without the application, let us know.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , ,

Your Guide to The New iPad Lines on March 16th

March 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The new iPad was announced almost a week ago. On the day of the announcement, individuals were able to make their pre-orders online. However, one day after pre-ordering became available, individuals were presented with information saying that the new iPad was sold out online. For individuals not savvy enough to know, they may think that it will only be available once the stock is replenished online. However, all Apple followers know that the new iPad and all other launches will be available a week or so after, in store. However, even those in the know aren’t always prepared for the long lines. This guide will help you survive them.

Before March 16th

Sell Your Older Model

If you haven’t sold your older model – be it the original or iPad 2 – then you may be at a slight disadvantage. Unlike selling it even the day before the announcement, where most un-tech savvy individuals won’t know that a new iPad would be announced the next day, individuals now know about the new iPad. Would they be willing to pay $500 for your good condition iPad 2, even with the wireless keyboard and smart cover, or would they rather have the iPad 3? I’m sure you know the answer to that question. However, you aren’t out of luck. If you sell your iPad at a reasonably low price, consumers may see that the new iPad and the iPad 2 are quite similar and saving the extra $150 may be worth it. Make sure to sell your device right away. At this time, the selling and purchase of an iPad is a buyers market than a sellers market. If you are the individual looking for an iPad, you are thrown deals left and right. However, with everyone wanting to get rid of their old iPad, you have a lot of competition!

Prepare Your New iPad – Before It’s Even in Your Hand

Even though you don’t have your iPad yet, you can make many steps to make your new iPad feel at home once it is in your hands. Make sure to backup your old iPad completely to make sure that once you sync your new iPad, it will be filled with the correct content. Additionally, begin shopping for some cases and accessories now. It’s highly likely that most stores won’t have accessories for the new iPad, however, many online retailers do. We will go more into this later in the guide.

Head To The Store – Prepared

You’re now ready to head to the stores. Depending on your location, your store may have a much larger line than usual or an astronomically larger line than usual. Either way, you should expect a very long wait. If you are an individual who has a special order (shopping for family, or wanting an iPad that will be less in stock – like the 64 GB WIFI + 3G White iPad will be rarer than a black, 16GB WIFI only one), then you should head to the store at least sometime around the day before, or at least night before, to guarantee your model will be in stock.

On March 16th

Prepared To Pay

March 16th is here, you are in line, you have your new iPad in hand and you’re ready to pay. You take out your wallet and get the card out to find that you either don’t have enough funds, or systems seem to be down. You have just become that guy – the one who slows down an already busy line and day at Apple. To prevent yourself from becoming that guy, you should take a couple of precautions to plan ahead of time. For individuals who remember Apple’s rule with the first iPad, about only accepting cards. Since the iPad 2, consumers could pay for their iPad with cash only as well as with cards. However, if you do have a card, that should be a preferred payment. This is to prevent having a bank load of money with you in line, you’re just inviting trouble with having all of that money. If you don’t have a credit card or debit card, you can also go to your local store and get a gift card. Most have a $1000 limit, make sure to read the fine print beforehand to be sure.

Know How to Set It Up

You have your new iPad, not only did you survive the lines, but you have a gadget that many individuals may have missed out one when pre-ordering became unavailable. Consider yourself lucky. Now that you are safe and home, it’s time to sync your device if you haven’t already. This can take a while, but is well worth it when complete.

Protect Your New iPad

Within 30 days, you have the option to purchase Apple Care +. This is worth purchasing and actually a privilege, especially since this relatively new option was only a dream a while back. This allows for two accidental damage incidents (with a $49 service charge), without having to pay $500 for a new iPad. This covers drops, water damage, etc. This is an essential for any new iPad user. Additionally, make sure to invest in a good case soon. Most retailers like Zagg usually have cases like these available for purchase days leading up to an official launch. Stay tuned to their sites and sites like theirs to see what they have to offer. While the iPad 2 and new iPad look alike, the new iPad is a bit heavier and thicker.

The Days After March 16th

Be Prepared for A Choppy Ride

Oh, the joys of being an early adopter. Despite the heavy tests Apple has, you are always prone to being apart of the early adopter problems, like what we saw with the iPhone 4 and “antenna gate”. This is the time when mass users will reveal any parts of the new iPad that just aren’t working out. Apple will most likely offer a solution to the problem, like how Apple offered free cases to new iPhone 4 purchasers to alleviate the antenna gate issue.

Fill It Up

You have a new iPad, now use it for what it’s for, the apps. Even if you had an old iPad, there are many other applications out there that show off the new Retina display or take advantage of the newly improved camera. Additionally, iPhoto for iOS was newly released at the event, this is a great purchase for any new iPad user looking to take advantage of the new iPad’s camera and screen.

Filed Under: News, Tutorials Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The iPad 3 Is Now Here…(Or Is It?)

March 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The iPad 3 is finally here. However, there’s one thing about that sentence that is a bit of a lie. The iPad 3 isn’t the device that is here, Apple didn’t name the new iPad such, but the new iPad is simply known as iPad. There are no numbers, nothing about HD, the new iPad is simply called iPad. Is Apple taking the distinctive route usually taken by celebrities and actors with one name, trying to make a statement, or could Apple just simply not think of a name better than just iPad. We probably won’t know, but iPad is now the name and the features that it holds are pretty nice. Let’s take a look at them now.

iPad Avaliability

The iPad will be available for pre-order today. You can also pick it up at the store on March 16th. The iPad will be available in the launch countries from the United States to Canada, Australia to the UK. There will also be availability in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan. With European customers in Germany, France, and Switzerland. The iPad will be available internationally outside the launch sites by March 23rd. The iPad 2 will still be available for purchase, for $399 for the 16 GB WIFI version only. The iPad will be available for $499 for 16GB WIFI, $599 for the 32GB WIFI, and $699 for the 64GB WIFI version, there isn’t a 128 GB option for neither WIFI nor WIFI + 3G, despite the hopes of many. The WIFI + 3G version will be available for $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64 GB.

iPad Specs

The new iPad will include an A5X chip, which will provide for improved performance. This is following the A5 predecessor. The new iPad will also include a Retina display that, while the same size as the iPad 2, will have a much a better appearance that you have to see to believe. As Apple put it, in a corny way, the new Retina display is “Resolutionary”. The new iPad has a 10 hour battery life and is a bit heavier and thicker.

iPad + LTE

The new iPad now comes with LTE support for AT&T and Verizon. Additionally, international users who have LTE support can also use it with their respective carrier. There is also support for the Personal Hotspot. The 10 hour battery life will come in handy for extended LTE support. However, as a friend on Twitter mentioned, with endless carriers cutting the limits individuals can use when it comes to data, many individuals may not be able to fully test the limits of their battery lives with LTE all in one day or at least in one sitting.

Better Camera and Now with Dictation

The new iPad comes with an improved camera, five megapixel rear and an iSight front facing camera. There is also video recording support for up to 1080 p HD. This is now in line with the iPhone 4S’s HD video capabilities. Additionally, the new iPad also has voice dictation support. This is the closest at the moment that we may get to Siri for iPad. However, for now, if you aren’t familiar with voice dictation, you have the ability to say what you want your iPad to type.

Your iPad, Protected

Lastly, one great addition to the event today was the announcement of Apple Care+ for iPad support. If you aren’t familiar with Apple Care+ support, it allows protection for accidental damages and an extended warranty. The extended warranty now allows for three years of iPad protection. If, and we hope it doesn’t happen, the inevitable occurs where you have an accidental damage, you have two chances both costing you $49 each. Just make sure you sign up within 30 days of you purchase. As of now, we don’t know the cost of Apple Care+ for iPad.

Now that you’re planning to purchase the new iPad, why not take advantage of the many discounts out there with Apple? Search online for apple voucher codes and start saving today!

Filed Under: Featured, News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The iPad 3 Will be In Stores On…

March 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Apple is expected to be the final word on what the iPad 3 will include tomorrow. The company has been under the radar over the past two months over the expected announcement, with TheAppleFreak reporting on it back in January. Now, we know that the iPad 3 will include more features, better camera, a magnificent screen, and more. However, one thing that isn’t set in stone is exactly when the iPad 3 will be released – until now. An Apple Store insider has reported that the iPad 3 will most likely be available in stores on March 16th, nine days after tomorrow’s announcement. This is in keeping with our previous assessment that it will be available within a week of the announcement, a commonplace with Apple.

Apple’s next-generation iPad tablet will go on sale in initial launch markets on March 16th according to a new report. Citing an unnamed “Apple Store source.”

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , , ,

Confirmed: iPad 3 Announcement for March 7th

March 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Come Wednesday, March 7th, we will know a little bit more about what the new iPad 3 will include. When it will hit the store shelves and in your hands, and if the rumors of a price hike are true. Apple will announce the new tablet at the Yerba Buena Convention Center in San Francisco. The press photos and invitations hint that the new iPad’s screen looks magnificent and a tad bigger, give or take the angle of the photo. In addition, what we can give an educated guess is that the iPad 3 will be faster, possibly with the new A6 processor. While we can be certain that the iPad 3 won’t be available on March 7th, history shows us that pre-orders will either be available by then or at least a week after the announcement. So, if you haven’t sold your iPad yet, get to it now! In addition, for reporting purposes, we call the iPad 3 so, however, we won’t know until March 7th if that will be the official name for the gadget. Whether it’s called the iPad 3, 3S, or HD, we know the screen is amazing and we will show you the invite below showing the screen in all of it’s glory.

Filed Under: Editorials, News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Apple To Release Thinner MacBook Pro?

February 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

If reports are true, Apple could have a new lineup of Macbook Pro models as early as next month. Reports from various sources say that the technology giant is looking to April or May for a new release. This comes as Apple is also expected to announce the iPad 3 in the coming days, less than a week to be exact. The new lineup will be much thinner, a trend in the laptop scene since the release of the Macbook Air. The new lineup will also include just the 13 and 15 inch. While we aren’t sure if there’s a reason behind this, a good assessment is that the 17 inch may house too much power to fit into a thinner model, however this assessment could be incorrect. In addition, Intel is coming out with the new Ivy Bridge processor. Will it be included in the new Macbook Pro models? We don’t know just yet, but we will keep you tuned.

Apple is expected to launch new MacBook Pro notebooks with an even thinner and lighter design than existing models in April, at the soonest. (Digitimes)

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Great Apps for Watching The Oscars

February 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Oscars are an event that different individuals have different opinions of watching for. Some individuals take it as a regular award ceremony that don’t really affect their television schedule. However, others love The Oscars and even have “watch parties” to enjoy the awards fun with friends. However, if you don’t have individuals to make it a fun event with, but you still want to enjoy it, then there are many applications available to enjoy The Oscars. From television applications and even an official application, these are the best Oscars apps on the App Store market today.

GetGlue

GetGlue is one of my favorite television applications on iPhone. GetGlue is pretty much the Foursquare of television. Once checked in, you get a sticker for the show that you have watched. These stickers can add up to more prizes, tangible ones. For The Oscars, you can stickers for watching the actual event and related television shows that may cover the Oscars or interview nominees. GetGlue is free, so download it now to enjoy the show!

Official The Oscars App

What’s better than the official application? The official Oscars application is available for iPhone users and allows you to get the behind the scenes information on The Oscars. You can get information on all of the nominated actors and award information. You can also enjoy The Oscars with special video streams. This allows you to choose the video point you want, without having to wait for the official television show choosing it for you. This means if you want to focus on the red carpet, you can. Lastly, you can choose who you want to win the awards.

Miso

Miso is your one stop shop for activities related to television shows. Along with the myriad of choices for trivial games and polls, you can also view and even create games and activities based on a television show. This is a great application for watching television shows with friends, or just making a show more fun and interesting to watch. Like GetGlue, you can get awards for checking into television shows, including The Oscars. During Oscar season, you also can check out live cameras and take polls for Miso.

IMDB for iPhone

IMDB is any movie lovers essential application. Since we are watching the awards for actors and actresses, this is an essential application for settling the inner conflict of remembering who played who in which movie. You can type names or titles, and results will appear right away. However, these features are available year round, nothing special. So, IMDB has provided a special Oscars section for enjoying and watching the festivities.

IntoNow for iPhone

I received an email from IntoNow a couple of days ago about their Oscar special features for this year. IntoNow, the application that allows you to check into a show by placing the phone next to the TV to pick up the audio which identifies the show, will have a couple of features allowing you to choose the best Oscar clothes, voting for who you think might win, and more. Any IntoNow user knows that, when you aren’t checking into to shows, the application will be used for great discussion. Twitter and Facebook hook up helps with this discussion feel as well.

Filed Under: News, Tutorials Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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