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- Intel to Build Next Generation Processor for iOS devices?
- Proporta Leather Protective Case with Stand for iPad 2 – Accessory Review
- Cielo Bird HD- A Learning Buddy In Storybook Form
- Time Inc., Apple Offer Free iPad Access to Print Magazine Subscribers
- Flick Your Way Into Game Center With Flick Golf HD – iPad App Review
- iOS 4.3.3 Released Within a Couple of Weeks – Location Bug Fixed
- Scosche Unveils freeKEY Flexible Bluetooth Keyboard
- Groupon – iPad App Review
- Catalog Spree – A New Way to Shop on the iPad
- Playroom Racer HD – iPad Game Review
| Intel to Build Next Generation Processor for iOS devices? Posted: 02 May 2011 08:47 PM PDT
Currently, the iOS devices processors are designed by Apple, but since Apple does not have any factory, it relies on Samsung and TSMC to build them. Things could change soon, as Intel is giving signs that it may start its own foundry business, in order to build non Intel-branded processors.
According to the article, Samsung will remain Apple’s main foundry for now, but Apple will most likely push for a switch within a year or so, as the Korean company is increasingly becoming a competitor. Intel already designs and supplies various processors to Apple, mainly for the Mac product line. » Related posts:
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| Proporta Leather Protective Case with Stand for iPad 2 – Accessory Review Posted: 02 May 2011 04:43 PM PDT
This notebook style case is made from the highest quality black leather and holds your iPad 2 securely in place, whether you are at the desk in your office or on the couch at home. Installation is easy, requiring you to slide your iPad into position, fold the leather flap behind it and you are ready to go. Proporta’s case incorporates several nice features for any iPad 2 user. When open, the iPad sits on the right hand side with a notepad for notes or doodling on the left. The case also provides cutouts for access to all the iPad 2′s ports, buttons and cameras. A built-in stand is easy to setup by bending the case backwards and standing it horizontally on a table or desk – a real plus for watching movies. The thin profile adds minimal bulk to the overall design of the case, allowing users to slip their device into a briefcase, backpack or large handbag. All packed up and ready to go? A small leather strap and heavy duty snap keep your case securely closed and your iPad thoroughly protected. Proporta guarantees its users a lifetime warranty for their case, a “never argue” return policy, a secure payment and personal information policy (they don’t pass your info on to others) and fast, reliable delivery. The Leather Protective Case with Stand for the iPad 2 is currently available on Proporta’s website for $54.95.   What I liked: The slim profile of this well made case is a big plus for me. I also like a notebook style case and the addition of a notepad is a nice touch for jotting down quick pieces of information. What I didn’t like: It would be nice to have a pen holder together with the notepad so all supplies are readily accessible. It was a little difficult to get my finger into the slot for the Volume and Silent/Screen rotation lock controls, but I think that will be a fairly common problem with the more rounded iPad 2 body design. To buy or not to buy: If you like a nice quality leather case that’s easy to use and looks nice for all your business meetings, Proporta’s Leather Protective Case with Stand is a great choice. At approximately $55, it’s also in line with other similarly styled cases.
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| Cielo Bird HD- A Learning Buddy In Storybook Form Posted: 02 May 2011 03:07 PM PDT
The book was written for children between the ages of three and six. It uses simple words and colorful, original artwork. The narration is clear and dynamic, and sentences are short. The book's protagonist, Cielo is a cute little friendly bird that is looking for an adventure and has plenty to say about it.
When you first open the app, the puffy, yellow bird appears and a woman's voice introduces the name of the story. A red dotted line points out the icon that your young reader should click in order to get started. Each page features the narration, including text, a background sound option and a talking Cielo option. If you tap the icon for background sound, you'll hear anything from a pleasant song to the sound of crickets chirping. If you tap the talking Cielo icon, or tap the bird itself, it will say something like, "Hi There," or "Not Now."
In addition to audio interaction, each page will animate when you touch Cielo. The bird will change colors, look up, or move forward a bit. Some pages include animated background images that change color. It is very engaging for young children and has an educational value in teaching them to read. Since Cielo has catch phrases that can be repeated with one touch, it is highly likely that this adventurous little bird will annoy you to the point of madness, but what talking kids toy doesn't have that problem? The app is available for the iPhone and iPod Touch for $1.99 and there is also a free flip book available if you want to watch Cielo fly. What I liked: The book is very simple with colorful animated images. Children between the ages of three and six will find this book very entertaining. What I didn't like: The story does not have an ending. Although it is not mentioned in the iTunes summary, it is only part one. The story doesn't make a whole lot of sense by itself. Assuming the price will be the same for the second installment, the story will cost at least six dollars on the iPad. I know that a three-year-old won't really care about the plot, but I want to know what happens to Cielo.
To buy or not to buy: As children's interactive books go, it is a fun and educational way to help little ones learn to read. At a price of $2.99, it is not exactly a great deal, but it seems to be representative of the average price of similar apps.
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| Time Inc., Apple Offer Free iPad Access to Print Magazine Subscribers Posted: 02 May 2011 02:11 PM PDT
However, after months of negotiations and debates, Time Inc. has finally agreed with Apple to allow print magazine subscribers to access the company’s iPad editions for free. Unsurprisingly, the main reason for the disagreement has always been about money. Time has pushed strongly for its readers to pay their subscriptions directly to the publishing company, while Apple has always wanted the readers to pay via their iTunes accounts giving the company a 30% cut of the revenue. Apple has always wanted to own the subscriber data and relationship, while the publisher has claimed it also has a right to establish a closer relationship with you for its own marketing purposes. Starting today, subscribers to print versions of Fortune, Sports Illustrated, and Time will be able to access the iPad editions via the corresponding apps at no cost. The corresponding magazine apps will authenticate print magazine subscribers as legitimate users. However, keep in mind this does not mean that you will be able to purchase exclusive Time Inc. digital subscriptions via the iPad apps. Time remains in full control of the subscription process, which means that subscribers will need to purchase a print magazine subscription and later activate it through the corresponding iPad apps. Let’s not forget either about Apple’s June 30th deadline for subscriptions. Apple’s subscription plan actually has a compliance deadline, which means that existing apps on the App Store will enjoy a grace period before they need to fully comply with Apple’s guidelines. Will this force Time Inc. to start offering a subscription plan via iTunes after all? It is great to see publishers and Apple being open to dialog around this topic. Perhaps, this could pave the way for better deals in the near future. However, it wouldn’t hurt to see Time and Apple reach an agreement to offer a free issue once in a while, to keep us readers engaged. » Related posts:
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| Flick Your Way Into Game Center With Flick Golf HD – iPad App Review Posted: 02 May 2011 12:22 PM PDT
If you are not a fan of golf, don't be deterred by the name. This game, while using a tee and golf ball, is anything but. It is a fun and addictive game of flick. There is no practicing your swing, no playing against the pros and no detailed rules of the game. You just flick your way to a hole in one with none of the boring stuff.
The game starts you off with a training course at the driving range where you learn the basic game play and hone your skills. Once you have the idea, you can either play a game of Quickshot, Quickshot pro, or enter the world tournament. You play on such beautiful courses as Turtle Cove, Kaikua Beach and Crescent Bay. Each course has different and increasingly more difficult obstacles. Although the game does get harder to play, it is not impossible to get through. You have to meet a certain amount of points in order to unlock the next, but with practice, this can be done fairly easily. A fun feature to this game is that you don't just flick your ball and hope it lands on the green, you control the ball's movement in mid air, including back spin if you've overshot. It really makes you feel like a golfing master. Flick Golf is also available for the iPhone and is regularly $1.99, but is also on sale for $0.99. Grab these deals fast though, the games have been on sale since the beginning of April and my prediction is that the price will go back up soon.
What I liked: It's not golf. The game is easy enough to play to become addictive without forcing you to be too involved. The graphics look amazing on the iPad What I didn't like: Every so often, an ad for one of Full Fat's games will pop up. At full price, that will probably ruffle a few feathers. To buy or not to buy: Flick Golf HD is a definite buy at only $0.99, especially with the added features.
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| iOS 4.3.3 Released Within a Couple of Weeks – Location Bug Fixed Posted: 02 May 2011 11:08 AM PDT
Last week, Apple issued a press release to address the iOS location issue, a bug that prevents GPS-enabled devices such as first and second generation iPad 3G, as well as iPhone, from purging location data stored to help them calculate their location faster. According to BGR, the update will be released within the next couple of weeks, and will also address the following items:
While the location tracking issue was discovered some time ago, it didn't get much coverage until the Guardian published a piece about it a couple of weeks ago. In Apple's own words, “Apple is not tracking the location of your iPhone [and iPad 3G]. Apple has never done so and has no plans to ever do so.”
Data extracted from an iPhone location file – Credit: Guardian When asked about why the files was designed to hold up to a year's worth of location data, Apple simply explained that a bug prevents iPhone and iPad 3G to purge the file – technically, Apple never planned to record more than seven days' worth of location data. » Related posts:
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| Scosche Unveils freeKEY Flexible Bluetooth Keyboard Posted: 02 May 2011 09:49 AM PDT
A few things set this keyboard apart from the competition, including being fully water resistant and having a 30 foot wireless range. Also, a retractable USB charging cable provides a nice touch. Given the high quality accessories coming out of Scosche already, including a full line of cases, cables and power chargers, I think you can expect nothing less than the best from this keyboard.
Scosche has made it easier for travelers. By releasing a water resistant keyboard that can be cleaned easily, and paired with a number of devices including the iPhone and the iPad 2, this only means traveling with and purchasing fewer devices. If you do a lot of typing on your iPad and iPhone, an external keyboard will come in very handy. The price tag may be a bit too expensive for an accessory, but in line with other flexible keyboards out there and the value added ability to use with multiple devices could help offset the cost for some. The freeKEY – Flexible Water Resistant Keyboard is available now for $59.99. » Related posts:
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| Posted: 02 May 2011 09:28 AM PDT
All users have to do to take advantage of the heavily discounted item is make an account with Groupon, which in turn makes it easier to be notified when a new deal emerges. The iPad app itself further expedites the process by eliminating the need to print out your purchased Groupon ever again. The folks at Groupon have worked out deals all over the country (over 170 major cities), so no matter if you are travelling or at home, you have the opportunity to save. The Groupon iPad app allows users to log into their account which will automatically bring up the Groupons in their chosen area. If you are travelling and want to change your location, the ever growing list of cities is also available to select from. The app even saves your recent cities right at the top of the list to save you the scrolling time. Once users have found their deal of the century, they can buy the Groupon without ever leaving the app by using a credit card linked to their account. When considering whether or not to buy, information on how many others have purchased the Groupon, how much you are saving, how much time you have left to buy, and even the closest location to use the Groupon is conveniently available. A detailed explanation of the Groupon also appears just in case you needed to snap out of your dreamlike state of disbelief.
Other useful features include a categorization of your Groupons, from nearby to recent and of course expiring. The expansion of the map allows users to find the nearest Groupon locations from within the app also. Users can also access their account information from the app, allowing for the addition of credit cards, default locations, among other things. What I liked: At no point does the app try to connect users to the website. Instead, it opens smaller windows within the app. The pictures (especially for food items) are extremely enticing. What I didn’t like: Loading times were sometimes slow, and tapping was sometimes less responsive than usual. To buy or not to buy: Since the app is free, you would be crazy not to download it. The deals that you have to buy in the app are huge money savers and are definitely worth checking out every time a new one pops up.
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| Catalog Spree – A New Way to Shop on the iPad Posted: 02 May 2011 08:08 AM PDT
The app is free, and it lets users browse through different catalogs and subscribe to favorites, from retailers such as Nordstrom, Dwell Studio, Artful Home, and Napa Style. It's as simple as opening the app, selecting a catalog, and shopping away.
As soon as you see an item you like, simply tap it and a popup window gives you a larger view of the picture and description. From this screen, you can add it to a favorites list, share it with your Facebook and Twitter friends, or buy it. Tapping buy sends you instantly to the retailers website, where you can purchase it in a few clicks. The touch response and accuracy is impressive, you'll always click on the exact item you want. If you don't, the item list on the side shows all of the items available on the page.
In mere seconds, and in 5 clicks, I could have just theoretically purchased myself a handmade pottery and glass salmon shaped platter. Amazing, right? It certainly puts an end to long and frustrating phone calls with salespeople, or order forms that take forever to send. Currently there are only 12 catalogs available and they may not be the hottest selections (with two kids party catalogs, two food catalogs, and two more kid oriented catalogs, among other things) but this app is the start of something that's going to be great. Sure, you can always go directly to these websites, but there's just something about seeing those full color catalog spreads that Catalog Spree perfectly captures, in a great new digital format. Check it out in the app store – it’s a free download so you’ve got nothing to lose – except maybe a few bucks when you find something you can’t resist! » Related posts:
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| Playroom Racer HD – iPad Game Review Posted: 02 May 2011 06:30 AM PDT
The goal in Playroom Racers is to win races against other toy cars and collect stars to unlock more levels. Right now, there are a total of four levels, but trust me, you never get tired of playing them because you see something new every time. There is also a timed mode where you can practice getting your best time on the track, and a star mode where you zoom around and collect stars to add to your star count.
The graphics are just plain adorable. As you drive around a track constructed from colored pencils, you will see things like legos, alphabet blocks, toy airplanes, candies, stacking rings, and tons more. All the toys are so well done that it really does feel like you're driving around in a child's room. The music is fun and upbeat without being too repetitive, and I love the squeaking sound that happens whenever you hit a menu button.
If you get tired of looking at the same old truck, don't worry, you can go to the garage option on the main menu which allows you to choose from six cars you can unlock with stars, and each car or truck has separate painting options, giving you a multitude of looks to choose from. Playroom Racers is highly customizable, even down to the controls. There are six different ways to control your car: touch steering (using up/down/left/right buttons on the side of the screen), touch steering with autogas, tilt steering (you can adjust sensitivity), tilt steering with autogas, virtual stick (a stick on the left side of the screen), and virtual stick with autogas. I seemed to do best with the default touch steering, but no matter how you like to play, there's an option for it. This game is great for anyone, from young children to adults. Difficulty can definitely ramp up with easy, medium, hard, and extreme modes. There's a star reward even if you don't win, but a much higher star reward when you do. On the track, there are blocks, dice, and sticky patches to avoid. The consequences for hitting these get more severe if you ramp up the difficulty. I think a 5-year-old and a 20-year-old racing pro could both get a lot of enjoyment from this game thanks to such clever difficulty options. Gameplay is simple though. There are obstacles, and you can knock your opponents cars over in some situations, but there are no speed boosts or other items to get, and your general speed never goes up. That's something I felt the game was lacking. Though the graphics don't get repetitive and keep it interesting, the simple gameplay certainly does. What I liked: The graphics. I'm not a fan of racing games, but this one got my attention right away and I had a lot of fun zooming around each playroom. What I didn't like: Gameplay is too simple. Not in terms of difficulty, because it can certainly be difficult, but in terms of options for variations in speed, etc. To buy or not to buy: This creative, fun game is a good value at $1.99 and has a lot of replayability potential. It will take awhile to get the stars to unlock the all of the modes and customization options, which will keep gameplay fun for quite awhile. If you like racing games, or have a child who does, this is one you won't want to miss.
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According to a new report from 
I’ve been to a number of meetings recently where the majority of attendees arrive with iPads in tote and the one thing everyone has in common is a nice case. If you’ve already got your new iPad 2, are waiting for it to arrive in the mail or looking to buy one in the near future, you’ll definitely need a good case to protect your device from the bumps and scratches of everyday use. UK based Proporta might have just the case you’ve been looking for with its high quality, professional looking Leather Protective Case with Stand.
The story between Apple and Time Inc. started a bit rough last year when both companies were battling over iPad magazine subscriptions. Time has always been trying to roll-out a subscription program for its Sports Illustrated, Fortune and Time magazines, but Apple prevented the New-York based company from moving forward by 
Full Fat has just released a major update to their popular game of Flick Golf and Flick Golf HD. Now, you have even more chances to score big with five new courses, 15 new achievements, a new game mode and Game Center integration. In addition to all of these great new features, the 
For those of us who do a lot of typing on our mobile devices, we’ve wished for an external keyboard from time to time. Scosche has responded with their new freeKEY, flexible water resistant keyboard for the iPad and iPhone.
Usually when you run across something that looks like a deal on the Internet, it is too good to be true. Despite your instincts telling you that it is a scam, 
Look out, wallets! There's a new way to shop on the iPad, and it's dangerously easy. A few days ago, Padopolis released their new 
We've all played with toy cars at some point in our lives, and now Playroom Racers is bringing that pastime back in a brand new way. Playroom Racers is a charming racing game for the iPad and iPhone where you control a toy car and drive around a colorful and whimsical playroom race track.
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