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news is in Mac News Review.
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News, Reviews, & Opinion
iPod 'Most Prized Possession' Among Facebook
Users
PR: After new versions of the iPod were recently launched,
the portable media playing devices have been voted "most prized
possession" amongst Facebook users, coming out just on top ahead of the
Blackberry and closely followed by iPhones and laptops.
Meanwhile, only 1% of respondents regarded their wedding ring as
their most prized possession, whilst cars were the favourites of only
4% of people on the social network. Dogs got 9% of the vote and cats
received 5%.
The survey was carried out in August on behalf of insurance firm
Protect Your Bubble, with 12% of the 500 respondents voting for their
iPods as their most prized possession, just outdoing the Blackberry,
which received 11.5% of the votes.
The first iPod launched in 2001 and the devices are still hugely
popular despite the massive surge in purchases of smartphones in the
last 12 months, with new versions of the iPod nano and iPod touch
recently hitting the shelves alongside the iPod shuffle and the iPod
classic.
Stephen Ebbett, spokesperson for protectyourbubble.com commented,
"As online insurers it is particularly interesting for us to see what
people regard as their most prized possession and with the iPod
evolving so much since its release it has clearly won a place in our
hearts. The popularity of the device over laptops and smartphones is
quite revealing and we offer competitively priced policies to cover the
entire range of gadgets."
"Perhaps some of the results show more about the demographics and
preferences of Facebook users, with wedding rings and cars so far down
the scale, but the iPod definitely seems to still rule as the gadget of
choice."
Survey results in full:
- iPod 12%
- Blackberry 11.5%
- iPhone 10%
- Laptop 9%
- Dog 9%
- Games console 8%
- MacBook 7%
- iPad 6%
- Cat 5%
- Camera 5%
- Television 4.5%
- Car 4%
- Video camera 4%
- Other jewellery 4%
- Wedding ring 1%
Apple products did astonishingly well in this survey, racking up 35%
of the responses among four different devices, and probably in reality
better than that, because it's a good guess that some of the generic
"laptop" vote would've been applied to Mac notebooks as well. Speaking
of which incidentally, when you combine the "laptop" and MacBook totals
(cumulatively 16 %) the old laptop dusts the iPod in most cherished
gadgets quite handily.
Protect Your Bubble is an online insurance provider trying to make
personal insurance simple, easy and uncomplicated from buying a policy
to making a claim. It currently offers gadget, travel, personal
emergency, home emergency, car, life, car hire, home and pet
insurance.
Link: Protect Your
Bubble
Cross-country TextKills Tour to Rally College
Students Against Texting While Driving
Iconosys, the company that developed the Smartphone safety app that
combats the growing social epidemic "Texting While Driving" (TWD) - SMS
Replier - is taking to the road to raise awareness of the dangers
associated with this addictive behavior via a cross-country tour of
college campuses.
SMS Replier eliminates the need for TWD via a fully customizable
auto reply to texts and calls plus other safety features. In concert
with the cross-country outreach, called the TextKills Tour, Iconosys
has developed a "Collegiate Version" of SMS Replier and plans to give
away 100,000 copies, a $2,000,000 value, over the course of the
tour.
Beginning Thursday, September 9th, the tour, led by Iconosys CEO and
founder Wayne Irving II, departed southern California via a 36 foot
motor home with stops at the University of New Mexico and the Art
Center for Design College (both in Albuquerque, Sept. 10th), University
of Denver, (Sept. 11th), University of Iowa - (Sept. 13th),
Northwestern University (Chicago, IL, Sept. 14th), and University of
Purdue (Sept. 15th). Other tour stops are set to include the University
of Arizona and Wharton/University of Pennsylvania. The tour will
culminate in Washington DC on September 21st at the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA) second National Distracted
Driving Summit.
Iconosys is partnering with FocusDriven.org, an advocacy group of
the National Safety Council for victims of motor vehicle crashes
involving drivers using cell phones, for the TextKills College Tour.
Iconosys intends to raise money for FocusDriven.org during this college
tour, including donating $2 from every sale of this special version of
SMS Replier over the next 2 months to FocusDriven.org. The app is
available to everyone and anyone wishing to support this campaign from
Iconosys' TextKills.com website.
The TextKills Tour will be documented and updates posted, including
videos and images at each college and high school visited along the
Tour route daily at TextKills.com
According to the NHTSA, in 2008, nearly 6,000 people died and more
than half a million were injured in crashes involving a distracted
driver. More than 20 percent of all crashes that same year involved
some type of distraction, such as TWD.
At every TextKills Tour stop and at the Distracted Driving Summit,
Iconosys plans to inform and educate about the dangers of Texting While
Driving and other distractions while on the road as well as offer a
"Collegiate Version" of SMS Replier to be known as the TextKills
DriveReply (available on most Smartphones) for download to all in
attendance.
"With the latest reports indicating that 100,000,000 Smartphones are
sold per quarter, we have become a mobile world," commented Irving.
"Iconosys is committed to developing viable, lifesaving solutions for
the addictive and potentially destructive behavior that a growing
reliance on these devices generates.
The worlds infatuation with texting has grown from 4.1 trillion text
messages per year in 2008, to more than 1.6 trillion text messages per
day in 2010. Iconosys Irving warns that the side-effects of this
practice (death and injury due to car accidents) is yet to be fully
realized. It seems to be an undeniable trend that the world is becoming
more and more dependent on texting as a primary means of communication
particularly teenagers who reportedly average over 4,000 text messages
per month. This "always-on" aspect of our daily lives, which borders on
an addiction for many, is opening the worlds eyes to the very real
dangers of TWD.
"We feel that our app provides something akin to a medicinal relief
for those who suffer from what I refer to as texting anxiety, where the
text recipient hears that tone coming from his or her phone, and is
compelled to pick up that phone and check for texting regardless of the
circumstances, adds Irving.
Recently, an independent research firm picked SMS Replier as a best
of breed technological solution to TWD. A copy of their study can be
found at meadresearch.org
Link: TextKills
Tour
Link: SMS Replier
(only available for Android and Windows Mobile at present)
Consumer Reports Still Doesn't Recommend the iPhone
4
A Consumer Reports blog entry notes that "Apple has quietly
discontinued* its free-case program for the iPhone 4 effective October
1", yet says that it will continue to provide a case to the "small
percentage" of buyers who need one due to the phone's antenna
issue.
That's not good enough for CR, which contends that "putting the onus
on any owners of a product to obtain a remedy to a design flaw is not
acceptable to us. We therefore continue not to recommend the iPhone 4,
and to call on Apple to provide a permanent fix for the phone's
reception issues."
* Editor's note: Discontinued is past tense, and October 1
isn't here yet, so CR's use of the word is incorrect. Every company
blog should have a good editor to catch things like that. CR, better to
refer to Apple's soon to be discontinued or expiring soon
free case program. (I also have issues with the hyphen in
free-case.) dk
Link: Apple Curtails Its
Free Case Program for the iPhone 4
Can the iPad Hack It as a Laptop Substitute for
Real Work?
Can the iPad ever replace the netbook or notebook? The Register's
Tony Smith set out to determine the answer, taking only his iPad to
Intel's Developer Forum and leaving his laptop home.
After four days of using the iPad as a laptop substitute, Smith
determined that while the iPad "comes darn close," it's not quite close
enough. Most of the tasks he put the iPad to were not impossible, just
harder to achieve than they would be on a laptop or netbook. For
example, with the exception of photo editing, there was nothing he
needed to do that he couldn't do using the iPad, although he did pack
along Apple's iPad Camera Connection kit and a Bluetooth keyboard.
Smith notes that the iPad's virtual keyboard lacks cursor keys,
which are essential for quickly selecting areas of text for cutting and
pasting, and that selecting and moving text in general is not well
implemented on the iPad. Another big problem is not being able to see
screens from two apps' simultaneously. Two particular deal-breaker
productivity shortcomings Smith notes are a screen pointer and a mouse
to steer it.
In the positive column, Smith reconfirmed that iPad battery life is
well ahead of the laptop curve, and its diminutive AC adapter is more
convenient to carry than any notebook power brick, not to mention that
the iPad itself is easier to lug around and use while standing than a
laptop.
Back on the downside, Smith found the iPad's poverty of connectivity
frustrating - with his hotel's ethernet Internet connection for example
- noting that had Intel or any other firm handed out press material on
a USB stick or CD, he would have been out of luck, since the USB
adaptor in the Camera Connection Kit only works with self-powered or
externally powered devices, which rules out flash drives.
Smith observes that some of these issues will solved by competitive
tablets that will have USB ports although he hasn't yet seen any with
Ethernet, and he wouldn't want to use a 7" display tablet for this kind
of duty, so nothing smaller than the iPad's 9.7" screen would do, but
10" Android-based tablets are on the way.
However, he affirms that he'll be taking a notebook with him next
time, and that while relying solely on a tablet was an interesting
experiment, it's not one he'll repeat on work trips.
Link: Road
Test: Putting the iPad to Work
'The iPad Is Here to Stay'
PC Mag's Tim Bajarin has posted the third and final installment of
his "100 Days With the iPad" series of reports, with some final
thoughts about the iPad and the future of the tablet market.
Link: 100 Days with the
iPad: Part 3
Commentator 'Can't Resist the iPad'
The Guardian's Dan Kennedy - like many of us Apple-watchers
monitoring the prerelease hype about the iPad last winter - wondered
why so many people were excited about a small laptop without a
keyboard, reasoning that it would be much better if Apple instead
unveiled a Macintosh netbook that you could actually do some work on,
and questioning whether we really needed a third Internet device to
carry wherever we go.
However, Kennedy says that these days, it takes every bit of
willpower he can muster to walk into my local Apple store for, say, a
cable, and not walk out with an iPad he can't afford. He still is of a
mind that the iPad is geared toward passive media consumption rather
than creation, but has concluded that it is the most amazing
media-consumption machine he's ever encountered.
Link: Why, After All, I Can't Resist
the iPad
Will Apple Merge iOS and Mac OS X?
The Mac Observer's John Martellaro notes that Apple currently has
two very popular operating systems - the new iOS 4 and 10-year-old
Mac OS X, which he notes has its roots in some things Apple would
like to leave behind, particularly the PC world and the mouse.
Martellaro discusses at length whether Apple will try to merge these
two OSes.
Editor's note: Whether or not the two OSes get formally merged
somewhere down the line, I think it's almost dead certain that there
will be substantial convergence. cm
Other editor's note: I don't know what Steve Jobs means by "the PC
world", but I don't think the days of "real" computers are going to end
any time soon. For image editing and word processing, give me a nice
big display, a good keyboard, and a mouse over a touchscreen interface
any day. dk
Link: Will Apple Merge
iOS and Mac OS X?
Use a Smartphone or iPad as a DIY In-Dash
System
Wired's Do It Yourself tutorial notes that most new cars offer
onboard navigation and entertainment systems as a premium package.
However, you don't need to take out a car loan just to have some fancy
gadgets on your dashboard. If you're already toting around a smartphone
or tablet, it's every bit as sophisticated as most in-dash units - so
put it to use.
In this guide, contributors take a look at how to build your own
touchscreen dashboard system on the cheap.
The biggest advantage of a DIY in-dash setup is that you can take it
with you. While a car-bound system loses its usefulness when you reach
your destination, you can take your custom, DIY navigation system with
you.
Link: Use a Smartphone
or iPad as a DIY In-Dash System
Adobe Reignites Flash on iOS
The Register's Bill Ray reports that Adobe is steaming ahead with
its Packager for iPhone, a program that recompiles Flash applications
as iOS apps, now that Apple has cleared the technology for iOS
devices.
Adobe will be supporting the Packager tool in Flash Professional
CS5, for which it dropped support when Apple said that Objective C was
the only permitted development language. Apple has recanted that
position, and Adobe now reports that developers have already managed to
get Flash applications approved for the App Store.
Link: Adobe Reignites
Flash on iOS
Apps & Services
PrintJinni Delivers iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
Mobile Printing to Epson All-in-Ones
PR: Epson America, Inc. and Thinxtream Technologies have
announced a new mobile printing application, PrintJinni for Epson, that
allows iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad1 users to easily print
Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, and JPEG files from an email
account to any WiFi-enabled Epson all-in-one. Unlike other mobile
printing solutions, PrintJinni for Epson is an all-inclusive
productivity tool that allows users to download, display, preview, and
print email attachments that maintain accurate formatting.
"PrintJinni for Epson enhances the printing experience for mobile
device users by delivering superior performance where it counts,
whether at home, in the office, or on the road," says Gregg Brunnick,
group product manager, Consumer Ink Jets, Epson America, Inc. "With the
benefit to print to any WiFi-enabled Epson all-in-one, this convenient
app keeps iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad users from being tied to one
printer. PrintJinni for Epson offers the ultimate mobile printing
freedom and superior print quality inherent in Epson's all-in-one
solutions."
Additional PrintJinni for Epson Features:
- Supports printing of Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents
(Microsoft Office 2003 and 2007), as well as JPEG and PDF files from
email attachments
- Offers easy discovery of supported Epson printers and all-in-ones
over the WiFi network
- Provides simple setup and email attachment support for Gmail,
Microsoft Exchange, Apple MobileMe, AOL, and other IMAP-based email
accounts
- Prints over WiFi without the need for an intermediate PC,
additional software or printer drivers
- Delivers secure encrypted communication for mobile printing
- Receives and prints iWorks documents from the iPad2
Includes free upgrade to iPad-native printing support scheduled for
release in fall 2010
"We are pleased to work with Epson to launch a robust mobile
printing solution for their customers," says Robert Shibata, director
of marketing, Thinxtream Technologies. "The rich functionality of
PrintJinni for Epson will help Apple mobile device users leverage the
superior printing performance and WiFi capability of Epson printers.
Through this joint initiative, we are also looking forward to
leveraging Epson's advanced printing technology expertise to upgrade
and enhance the features of the PrintJinni application."
PrintJinni for Epson, expected later to be priced at $9.99, is now
available in the US and Canada on the Apple iTunes Store for an
introductory price of $6.99. This 30 percent discount is for a limited
time only and includes a one-year subscription to PrintJinni Cloud
Services.
- Supports Apple iPad (in compatibility mode) running iPhone OS 3.2.1
and above, iPod touch, iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS running iPhone OS 3.1.3
and above, and iPhone 4 running iPhone OS 4.0 and above.
- Send iWorks documents in PDF or Office format.
Link: PrintJinni for Epson (download
link)
Parallels Mobile Lets iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch
Use Windows Apps via Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac
PR: At the DEMO Fall 2010 conference, Parallels will premiere
a new complementary Parallels Mobile app for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod
touch. The app and service allows users of Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac
and Parallels Desktop 6 Switch to Mac Edition, which have launched at
retail stores worldwide, to use their iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch to
access and utilize Windows applications running on a Mac from any
network, from anywhere, at any time.
The Parallels Mobile app, a client and a service built upon the
MyParallels services platform, is complementary with either edition of
Parallels Desktop 6 and can be downloaded from the iTunes App
Store.
With Parallels' new mobile app and MyParallels service, people can
freely perform tasks that have been unavailable or limiting to iPad
users, such as printing, viewing Flash-based websites, and full use of
productivity applications like Outlook.
"With the popularity of mobile devices skyrocketing, our customers
overwhelmingly desire the ability to do more from anywhere without the
restrictions that usually come from working remotely," says Serguei
Beloussov, Chairman and CEO, Parallels. "With our new Parallels Mobile
app and MyParallels service, we make it possible for Parallels Desktop
6 customers to access and utilize their Windows apps wherever they
are."
Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac is simply the fastest, smartest, and
most powerful version yet of the number one selling Parallels Desktop
software for running Windows and Mac applications side-by-side on a Mac
without rebooting. With more than 80 new and enhanced features,
Parallels Desktop 6 delivers unprecedented advances in mobility,
productivity, performance, and graphics - the areas people care about
most.
"The Parallels Mobile app and MyParallels service is a great example
of what DEMO is all about. It's an exciting innovation that changes
peoples' expectations about what you can do with technology," said Matt
Marshall, executive producer of DEMO. "We're thrilled that we got to
see it live here first."
Link: Parallels
(download
link)
Link: Video of Parallels Desktop 6
Mobile App
Don't Know Much About America's Civil War? There's
an App for That!
PR: Civil War: America's Epic Struggle (US$.99) from
MultiEducator, Inc. is a comprehensive interactive zooming technology
multimedia course in American history.
Publisher Marc Schulman says that "the enhanced visual and
zooming technologies built into the Apple iPad are adding whole new
interactive dimensions to the teaching of history".
Civil War is an application containing a diverse, comprehensive
multimedia collection of the most important documents, maps, and
photographs in the history of the Civil War at a tiny fraction of what
textbooks and documents would cost.
More than just an ebook with links, the program contains interactive
audio and visual educational features that can only be experienced with
Apple iPod and iPad technologies.
The gives users instant access to hundreds of original documents,
photographs, maps, video, presentations, and even statistics.
When
you open the app, the information can be sorted and organized 18
different ways. There are documents, maps, video and data tables.
Categories of information cover things like battles, navy, Armies,
Economics, Railroads, Music and more. They can be sorted
chronologically or alphabetically. When you tap on a Major Battles you
can change how the battles are sorted.
If you tap on a category a contextual listing opens up and tells you
what else you can get access to. Tapping on the name of a specific
battle, such as Fort Sumpter, brings up more choices and you can choose
from text summaries, to multimedia presentations, to text articles on
various aspects and reports of the battle to field maps, to a dozen or
more photos.
Schulman explains, "You can zoom the photos, turn directions, watch
screaming high-definition color videos with special effects and high
fidelity headphones all on your lap top. The program does this in more
or less detail for each of 26 different battles."
Schulman believes that this has significant implications to teaching
and to education. "It brings education alive in ways people have not
imagined. This has phenomenal implications to creative publishers and
educators. The total experience is now what really matters."
In Civil War, he demonstrates these new capabilities. The
application takes a lot of memory - 248 MB.
As an
example, let's say you are reading the text summarizing a specific
battle. A link allows you to explore a multimedia presentation on the
battle. You can bring up maps of the geography and even link to maps of
the terrain or of the battle itself day by day. You can link right to
an account of the battle from the perspective of Confederate General
Longstreet. Then maybe take a side trip to read a report written by
Union General Grant. Then if you want more there will be anything
between 20 to 100 photos of the battle - all of which are high quality
and which you can zoom into and really explore up close, literally inch
by inch. Then with a click, you can watch a video and listen to the
sounds of the guns and artillery and the screams of men fighting on the
battlefield.
Another nice feature is the ability to email the content of whatever
is being used without leaving the program.
Civil
War: America's Epic Struggle contains over 1,000 high quality photos
(all of which you can zoom into), one hour of multimedia presentations,
over 100 high quality maps; and dozens of firsthand accounts. These
resources combine to bring the story of America's most violent and
dramatic war to life. You can create a "favorites" section or even
e-mail your "favorites" section to a friend, with photos and videos and
more.
Civil War is the latest release in the History on the Go series by
MultiEducator.
- Constitution contains the full text of the United States
Constitution. It provides an explanation of each and every clause, and
commentary on each of the amendments. The complete text of all 85 of
the Federalist papers in also included. Users can zoom in on the photos
of the authentic Constitution document.
- World History includes 350 Primary Source Documents and Speeches
written throughout the course of World History. From the Bible to
Obama's Nobel Acceptance Speech, this application covers the breadth
and depth of world history. The program also includes 19 audio and
video recordings of famous speeches and addresses.
The History on the Go series by MultiEducator, Inc. are available
online at the App Store. Civil War and World History cost $2.99 each,
and Constitution is free.
Link: Civil War:
America's Epic Struggle (download
link)
Fair Auto Repair Goes Mobile with AutoMD.com Free
iPhone App
PR: AutoMD.com, which claims to be the most comprehensive and
unbiased free online auto repair resource, and winner of best
automotive website of 20101, has announced the launch of the
AutoMD Mobile iPhone App. Designed to empower car owners with the
information they need to get fair repair cost estimates, the best shop
for their needs and step-by-step DIY repair guides - whether by the
roadside or at the repair shop - AutoMD Mobile is the most
comprehensive and unbiased free auto repair app available.
"American car owners spend over $200 billion in car repairs every
year, yet 88% of car owners surveyed say they have felt overcharged
when getting their car repaired - and our data shows that they are
probably right,2" says AutoMD.com President Shane
Evangelist. "Now, with the AutoMD Mobile App, car owners can have peace
of mind by literally 'knowing on the go' what their vehicle repair
should cost and the location of nearby shops able to service their
needs. And, if they are DIY'ing it by the roadside or in the garage,
the app provides quick access to step-by-step how-to repair
guides."
AutoMD Mobile for iPhone is easy to use and empowers car owners
to:
- Get Fair and Objective Car Repair Prices on thousands of jobs,
including real-time, vehicle-specific parts pricing
- Find a Local Repair Shop from a database of over 400,000 shops with
labor rates, matched for geography, specific job type and
affordability
- Know How-to Make the Repair with access to thousands of
easy-to-understand "How-to-Repair" guides with step-by-step
instructions for the most common repair jobs
AutoMD Mobile is part of AutoMD.com's mission to serve as an
advocate to empower car owners with the best and most affordable way to
repair their vehicles - whether they're using a repair shop or are part
of the growing population of DIYers. Unlike other repair sites,
AutoMD.com does not rely on revenue from repair shops or dealerships,
so car owners can rest assured that AutoMD Mobile shop listings are
completely unbiased and designed to help car owners choose the best,
most affordable shop for their vehicle issue.
AutoMD.com Mobile App for iPhone is available free-of-charge for the
iPhone, iPod touch and iPad (with operating system 3.1.3 or later) at
the iTunes App Store.
AutoMD.com, a wholly-owned subsidiary of US Auto Parts Network, Inc.
is a comprehensive and unbiased free online automotive repair resource
designed to empower car owners with the best way to repair their
vehicles. Backed by a team of automotive data specialists and certified
auto mechanics who are advocates for the car owner, AutoMD.com allows
both car owners and DIYers to 1. Diagnose car problems, 2. Know how
much auto repairs should cost, 3. Understand the steps needed and the
time it should take with How-to Auto Repair guides, and 4. Find the
right local auto repair shop at the right price for their issue and 5.
Get your auto repair questions answered by the AutoMD.com community.
AutoMD.com was named Best Automotive Website in the 8th annual American
Business Awards, also known as the Stevie Awards.
- AutoMD.com was named Best Automotive Website in the 8th annual
American Business Awards, also known as the Stevie Awards
- AAIA Digital FactBook 2010; AutoMD National Repair Shop Report and
Car Owner Survey 1/2010
Link: AutoMD Mobile (download
link)
MegaReader App Gives Access to 1.8 Million Free
Books
PR: Inkstone Software announces the launch of MegaReader a
highly customizable iPhone ebook reader that gives users the choice of
over 1.8 million free books on the Internet.
The
MegaReader app has been designed to tap into book catalogs such as
Feedbooks, Project Gutenberg, Baen Free Books, Smashwords, and the
Internet Archive allowing users to discover not only the classics (such
as Sherlock Holmes, Pride and Prejudice, and War and Peace), but also
up and coming modern indie authors and publishers.
"The MegaReader app is a fantastic way to explore the nearly two
million public domain titles freely available from the Internet
Archive's BookServer catalog. We are thrilled to contribute to
Inkstone's efforts to bring the enjoyment of these books to readers
around the world said Peter Brantley, Director of the BookServer
Project,Internet Archive.
Once books have been downloaded to MegaReader over WiFi they can be
enjoyed anywhere, anytime without the need for an Internet
connection.
Inkstone Software Founder Patrick Thompson said one of the key
features of MegaReader, apart from the millions of free books on offer,
was the advanced personalization it provided. "Many reading apps
currently available on the iPhone have rather utilitarian and confusing
interfaces or they are very limited in the amount of customization you
can do. We wanted to provide an elegant, easy to use interface that
could be easily personalized to the reader's needs and tastes."
MegaReader gives users the ability to select one of 19
predefined color schemes, or to come up with one of their own from
1000s of available colors. There are also 23 fonts, 100s of font sizes
and a variety of margin widths, line spacing, and text justification to
choose from.
Portrait or landscape modes can be locked depending on preference,
and there is a built-in speed reading test that is used to calculate
and display how long it will take to finish a chapter.
Users can easily navigate and search for books or authors from
within MegaReader by browsing categories (such as mystery, action and
adventure, romance, science fiction), viewing popular or recently added
books, or looking at recommended reading lists and reviews.
The app is preloaded with 22 books to start users off, including
works from Jane Austen, Dale Carnegie, Agatha Christie, Paulo Coelho,
F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jack London, and Kurt Vonnegut. DRM-free books can
also be imported over WiFi.
The app also works with iBookshelf and MyLibrary two popular
cataloging apps to keep track of all physical and digital media assets
and to customize book cover images in MegaReader.
MegaReader is available for $1.99 from the App Store. Screenshots
and more information are available on the MegaReader website.
Link: MegaReader (download
link)
Bella Girl, a Beauty Assistant for the iPad
PR: Hong Kong based Mooee Company Limited introduces Bella
Girl - Beauty Assistant for the iPad. Developed specifically for the
smart ladies who require beauty tools to help them manage their beauty
care needs. Bella Girl - Beauty Assistant consists of several beauty
and shopping tools, a BMI calculator, a calorie counter, a beauty
treatment timer, a size converter for rings, shoes and bra, a period
and ovulation estimator, and smart compare for those avid shoppers.
Developing
specially for nontechnical users, Mooee wanted to create an App just
for the ladies who care about their beauty needs and like to have an
App to keep track of those private information. Bella Girl - Beauty
Assistant consists of a set of beauty and shopping tools for
ladies:
- Ideal Weight (BMI) - Find out where you stand in fitness compare to
your peers
- Calorie Counter - Find out the calories of what you eat or what you
exercise off
- Timer - Special beauty timer allows you to keep tract of your face
mask treatment time, nails drying time, etc. etc.
- Event Calendar - Specialized calendar to keep track of your beauty
treatment schedules, your period and ovulation schedules
- Converter - To convert rings, bras and shoes in foreign sizes
- Smart Compare - To allow you to compare and decide which cosmetics
to buy that is better value
- Feature Highlights:
- Bella Girl has a personal mode that remembers all your personal
measurements and requirements so that you can access any tools and
retrieve your personal data immediately, no need to reenter them
- Bella Girl also has a guest mode, where you can share the App with
your friends to use the beauty tools
- Bella Girl has a privacy lock so your period and ovulation dates
will not be visible to others
- Timer has specific presets for you to set your nail polish drying
time, hair coloring time, beauty bath soak or Jacuzzi time and most
importantly your face mask time. It allows you to customize your
specific brand of beauty products
- Converter specially for ring, shoe and bra size converts between US
sizes and other international sizes
Device Requirements:
- Compatible with iPad
- Requires iPhone OS 3.2 or later
- 28.7 MB
Bella Girl - Beauty Assistant 1.0 for iPad is $6.99 and available
exclusively through Apple's App Store in the Healthcare & Fitness
category.
Link: Bella Girl (download
link)
Builder Pro: Over 400 Formulas for Builders
PR: New
York based MultiEducator, Inc. announces Builder Pro 2.0 for iOS, the
latest version of their reference, formula, and calculation app for
builders. Builder Pro includes over 400 formulas used by builders, and
includes the complete International Building Code 2006 (to be updated
at the end of 2010), the complete International Plumbing Code, the
complete International Mechanical Code, and half the Americans with
Disabilities Act Codes and Drawings, and half of the National Electric
Codes and Drawings. The International codes have been adopted by most
states in the US and many places worldwide. Over the coming months
Builder Pro will be expanded to include the whole codes as well as
Plumbing, Fire, and Elevator Codes. When the codes are all completed
the price of Builder Pro will go up; however, all version 2.0 users
will receive free upgrades.
Optimized for full screen display on the iPad, Builder Pro provides
an easy way for the user to quickly find what they may need. Fully
searchable by key word(s), pages can be marked or saved as favorites,
and recent pages are listed. The app includes over 400 formulas, plus
hundreds of charts, drawings, tables, and calculation templates which
perform all the math necessary based on values entered. MultiEducator
has specifically designed the app to be easily expanded and updated,
with new content released monthly. Included are more than 25
sections:
Main
Sections:
- International Building Code - 35 Chapters with over 100 pages
- Americans with Disabilities Act Codes & Drawings, including ADA
2008 Amendments
- International Mechanical Code - with complete definitions, rules,
and specs
- National Electrical Code (first half; second half available
soon)
- Building Charts and Tables- Occupancy, Egress, Doors, Aisles,
Building Heights, etc.
- HVAC Charts - Ductwork, Pumps, Energy Values, Humidity, Air Change,
etc.
- Electrical Charts and Tables - Wire Size, Wire Gauge, Load, Voltage
Drop, etc.
- International Plumbing Code - 16 Chapters plus Appendices, over 200
pages
- Plumbing Charts and Tables- derived from the International Plumbing
Code
- Plumbing Drawings - derived from the International Plumbing
Code
- Financial Calculations - derived from the International Plumbing
Code
- Concrete & Excavating - Coverage, Bricks, Slabs, Aggregates,
Sidewalks, etc.
- Costs Formulas - derived from the International Building Code
- Materials Needed Formulas - derived from the International Building
Code
- Building Code Formulas - Code Calculation, Fire Resistance, Allowed
Loads, etc.
- Acoustical Formulas - Absorption, Reverberation, Volume, Surface
Area, etc.
- Boiler Formulas and Drawings - 15 chapters on boiler operation and
steam flow
- Condensation Formulas - Vapor Diffusion, Vapor Resistance, and
Water Drainage
- Carpentry Formulas - Loads, Lumber, Joists, Sheet Rock, Roofing,
Stairs, etc.
- Electrical Formulas - Batteries, AC/DC, Generators, Impedance,
Motors, Wiring, etc.
- Piping Formulas - 20 chapters including Weight, Pressure,
Expansion, Sizing, etc.
- HVAC Formulas - Refrigeration, Steam, Temperature, Heating Design,
etc.
- Plumbing Formulas - Pumps, Water Heaters, Water Flow, Water
Temperature, etc.
- Material Weights - tables pound/cubic ft., pounds/cubic yd.,
tons/cubic yd., etc.
- Area Formulas - Area, Surface Area, Volume, Perimeters,
Circumference, etc.
- Conversion Formulas - over 200 formulas including Flows, HVAC,
Power, BTUs, etc.
Version 2.0 of MultiEducator's Builder Pro adds native iPad support,
allowing much more convenient operation on a larger touchscreen. Also
new is: the completion of the International Building Code with 23 new
chapters and 140 additional charts; completion of the International
Plumbing Code with an additional 10 chapters and 60 charts; four more
sections of the Electrical Code with 40 more charts; and a new
Conversions section with an additional 60 conversion formulas.
"Our iOS Formulator Series for building professionals now contains
25 different apps," commented company President Marc Schulman. "Builder
Pro 2.0 is a compendium of our four most popular: Carpentry Pro,
Electrical Pro, Plumbing Pro, and HVAC Pro, making it a real
value."
Device Requirements:
- iPhone, iPod touch, iPad
- iOS 3.1 or later
- 44.2 MB
Builder Pro 2.0 is $17.99 and available worldwide exclusively
through the App Store in the Business category. Review copies are
available upon request.
Link: Builder
Pro (download
link)
OCRKit Mobile: Mobile Text Recognition for the
iPhone
PR: OCRKit Mobile is a Text Recognition specifically
developed for mobile use and brings a fast, accurate and easy to use
text recognition to Apple's iPhone. The new application OCRKit uses
advanced OCR -Optical Character Recognition- technology to recognize
the text in graphics which is particular useful for photos of documents
while on the go. It allows to edit and furthermore copy and paste the
text to other iPhone applications.
Unlike other offerings, OCRKit performs all image processing
including the OCR directly on your iPhone. No image data is transferred
to servers over the air, your data plan is saved and OCRKit just works
while abroad.
OCRKit is developed with the main focus on usability and simple to
use. By taking a picture of a document, letter, contract, poster, note
or business card it recognizes the text and shows it on the screen.
Ready for processing, which allows you to further edit and work with
the text. Copy and paste it to another apps and exchange it with
friends and colleagues. It helps you to easily bring graphical
information fast and into a textual form on your iPhone.
The OCR requires a sharp image with macro focus, and thus works best
with the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. The 5 megapixel camera of the iPhone
4 and OCRKit can potentially replace an entry-level portable scanner
for working with paper documents abroad.
OCRKit
comes with support for different OCR languages, including: English,
Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.
OCRKit mobile features:
- Streamlined and easy OCR for iPhone
- As simple as taking a picture
- Simply copy and paste text to other apps
- Without any limits
- Securely on your iPhone, no data is send to Internet services
Device Requirements:
- iPhone and iPod touch
- Requires iPhone OS 3.1 or later
- 7.6 MB
OCRKit Mobile 1.0 is $4.99 or €3.99 and available worldwide
exclusively through the Apple iTunes Store in the Productivity
category. Promotion codes are available for qualified reviewers. Please
contact us for free promotion codes, and specify which website or blog
you are working for.
Link: OCRKit
(download
link)
Accessories
Apple Peel 520 Turns iPod touch into a
Smartphone
PR: Does your iPod touch suffer from iPhone Envy? Not for
long: GoSolarUSA Inc. announced a deal today with innovative Chinese
developer Yosion to bring that company's cutting-edge Apple Peel 520
product to the United States.
Both companies signed a funding option agreement last week. Under
the agreement, GoSolarUSA will work with Yosion to develop the Apple
Peel 520, file for a US patent and distribute it in the US.
When used with Apple's iPod touch, the Apple Peel 520 functions as a
protective skin that adds mobile voice and text messaging capabilities
to the touchscreen media player. The startling new technology
represents a more affordable alternative to purchasing Apples pricier
iPhone, and with 275 million iPods already on the market, the Apple
Peel could be an instant hit. Yosion announced last week that
Septembers initial manufacturing run is already sold out.
We are so pleased to have reached this agreement with Yosion, said
Tyson Rohde, President of GSLO. We see the Apple Peel 520 as a stunning
breakthrough in mobile technology, and were proud to work with Yosion
to develop this product for the US market.
The Apple Peel 520 is the creation of 22-year-old Chinese programmer
Pan Yong. The gadget slips over the iPod touch's case and includes a
battery, dock connector, and SIM card. Once the proper software is
installed, the Apple Peel adds the ability to make voice calls and text
messages using the iPod touch. When fully charged, the Apple Peels 800
mAh battery offers nearly five hours of talk time and 120 hours of
standby use.
The Apple Peel 520 first made waves online in the US last month when
it was featured on
CNN.com and earned positive buzz from
Engadget.com, among other websites.
For right around $60, this device really does transform the iPod
touch into a smartphone, Rohde said. If there is a hotter iPod
accessory anywhere in the world, we certainly haven't seen it.
The option agreement signed by both companies on Wednesday requires
that both parties negotiate in good faith to reach terms on a
profit-sharing agreement. It has been filed as a material contract with
GSLOs public filings.
Link: Apple Peel 520
Hold Your iPhone with the Smartphone Stand from
newPCgadgets
PR: newPCgadgets has just introduced the Smartphone Stand,
perfect for businesses like restaurants, hotels, bars, or anywhere else
people gather with their phones. The Smartphone Stand holds most cell
phones and smart phones, including the popular iPhone, Droid, HTC EVO,
BlackBerry, and dozens more. newPCgadgets is a leader in the design and
manufacturing of space-saving accessories for the mobile
environment.
The
Smartphone Stand holds most cell phones and smartphone's; including the
popular iPhone, Droid, HTC EVO, BlackBerry, and dozens more. Fewer of
your customers will misplace or forget their phones, because they are
now in plain view.
Business owners can now provide their customers with a convenient
stand to hold their smartphones at a comfortable viewing angle. Parents
can use the Smartphone Stand to entertain their children with games or
movies; professionals attending a business lunch or dinner will love
the ability to view text messages and incoming calls faster. Anyone
with a phone can benefit from the new Smartphone Stand.
The stainless steel construction ensures a durable product that is
easy to clean and long-lasting. The stackable space-saving design
allows you to place as many as you like at each table or workspace
without taking up much space. Best of all, the price is very
affordable. Prices are as low as $2.19 in quantity. Also, as a unique
signage opportunity, private labeling is available in larger quantity
orders.
Give your business, school, restaurant or hotel the competitive edge
by providing your customers with the new Smartphone Stand from
newPCgadgets. Additional details and ordering information are available
directly from newPCgadgets.
Link: Smartphone
Stand
modulR iPad Case and Accessory System
Shipping
PR: modulR has announced the immediate availability of its
Apple iPad Case and Accessory System. Unique from typical iPad cases,
the modulR product line includes a protective, ergonomic iPad Case +
Cover and interchangeable accessory attachments, including a wall mount
and display stand. The Case and accessories are available now at
modulrcase.com and will be available in retail outlets soon.
"The iPad is transforming computing, and modulR will
transform the way people use their iPad"
"The iPad is transforming computing, and modulR will transform the
way people use their iPad," says Josh Beatty, modulR cofounder and CEO.
"The positive press, buzz and number of preorders we have received for
our initial products have been very gratifying, and we're excited to be
fulfilling orders."
Inspired by the promise of the iPad, modulR set out to extend the
iPad's versatility to all areas of people's lives, helping to make the
iPad more accessible, useful and practical. "modulR makes it easier for
you to use your iPad everywhere you go," adds Beatty.
modulR takes an innovative, design-forward approach that allows
users to incorporate iPads into their active, mobile lifestyles.
Distinctive ergonomic nodes on the back of the modulR Case create a
comfortable, secure grip for the iPad and also extend the iPad's uses.
The nodes connect to an ever-expanding line of modulR accessories that
allow you to mount, position and adapt the iPad to your needs -
wherever and whatever they are.
modulR's innovative Case + Cover along with two accessories - a
low-profile Slim Mount for wall mounting and a simple and elegant Quick
Stand with two viewing angles for typing and tabletop viewing - are now
available. They can be purchased separately or together as part of a
limited offer $99 Starter Package.
Additional modulR accessories currently in development include a
widely anticipated Universal Swing Arm, a stylish Shoulder Strap and
simple Headrest Strap. These accessories will be introduced later this
year.
Link: modulR iPad
Case
IvySkin Reinvents iPhone 4 Cases with Multi-Touch Glass Screen
SmartCase
PR: IvySkin announces the new generations of its line of
protective cases for the Apple iPhone 4. The all new Quattro 4 cases as
well as the SmartCase for iPhone 4 are the world's most advanced iPhone
4 accessory. Featuring interchangeable battery pack and patented
Touch-Thru glass Multi-Touch screen, exclusive to IvySkin USA.
The all
new Quattro 4 case for the Apple iPhone 4 offers the most comprehensive
protection while providing a superior form and design. Throughout
several generations of iPhones the legendary Quattro Series cases have
set the performance benchmark for case design and protection. The new 4
is based on our award winning Quattro T4 design for the iPhone 3GS. The
Quattro 4 features a patented Xylo Glass technology for the ultimate in
Touch-Thru design. Authentic glass ensures that you will not lose any
sensitivity while using these cases.
The all new SmartCase 4 for iPhone 4 is both iconic and legendary in
design and performance, with features that are second to none in the
market today. Fully understandable since it embodies much of what has
been learned through 3 generation of iPhone case design. This case is
stronger, more compact, and packed with features unlike any other
iPhone case in its class.
As the market pioneer in delivering enhanced Polycarbonate
protection for digital devices, IvySkin continues to provide superior
and cutting edge solution for the new iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 embodies
the notion of what IvySkin stands for; thoughtful designs that make no
compromises when it comes to protection.
The Quattro 4 case retails for $44.99 and comes with Glass
Touch-Thru scratch free screen in addition to the Polycarbonate shell
that snaps on the back of the iPhone. It is now available in four
colors at IvySkin online and at retail stores in the coming weeks.
The SmartCase 4 retails for $79.99 and comes with Quattro 4 case
along with a 1500 mAh battery pack. In addition to the Glass Touch-Thru
screen. It is now available for preorder in four colors at IvySkin
online and at retail stores in the coming weeks. For additional
information on these or other IvySkin products, contact PR
representative Sara Cohan or 201-266-5555. Follow us on Twitter for
live social updates.
Link: IvySkin Quattro 4
Link: IvySkin
SmartCase
Targus Announces New iPad Accessories
PR: Targus Inc. has announced the debut of new accessories
for the Apple iPad, including cases, a charger and a Stylus. With the
addition of the new accessories, Targus will have a complete collection
of gadgets geared toward the iPad.
"Given the success we have experienced with the initial launch of
our iPad cases, our new cases and accessories are anticipated to be a
hit as well," says Al Giazzon, vice president of US marketing at
Targus. "Each accessory was specifically designed with the iPad user in
mind by incorporating practical features to heighten the utility of the
device and meet the user's day-to-day needs."
Spruce Mini Messenger for iPad - TBM022US
The eco-friendly Spruce Mini Messenger is designed specifically for
the iPad and constructed of recycled polyester material. It is PVC and
nickel free to reduce harm to the environment during manufacturing. In
addition to protecting and storing an iPad, the Spruce Mini Messenger
features pen loops, a business card holder, and a mesh pocket for other
small accessories as well as two additional zippered compartments. With
an adjustable, padded and removable shoulder strap, the Mini Messenger
is easy to tote. Available in black with green inner lining for an MSRP
of $39.99.
Zierra Case for iPad - THZ023US/THZ02302US
The Zierra Case features a sleek, sharp design with additional
pockets for business cards, photos or notes as well as a loop for
stylus or pen storage. The soft inner lining keeps your iPad scratch
free while the protective top grain leather exterior ensures your iPad
is safe as it travels. The case also converts to a one-position stand
for in-case viewing and the integrated screen cleaning kit keeps
smudges at bay. Available in black (THZ023US) or red (THZ02302US) for
an MSRP of $54.99.
Stylus for the iPad - AMM01US
Targus' new Stylus enables the user to easily draw, take notes or
simply turn a page with a durable rubber tip that won't scratch the
iPad's surface. The Stylus engages directly with the device and does
not require power or software to operate - simply pull it out of the
box and start typing. The Stylus for iPad is available for an MSRP of
$14.99.
Mobile Charger for iPad (DC) - APD04US
The Targus Mobile Charger for iPad is small, compact and hooks up
via your vehicle's 12V outlet for powering iPads, iPods and iPhones on
the go - great for maximizing all of that time spent in the car. To
maximize its usage, the device can also be used to power or charge
other devices with a USB connection. The Mobile Charger is available
for an MSRP of $24.99.
Targus' new iPad accessories are immediately available. These and
other Targus accessories are available at Targus.com as well as through
leading retailers, VARs, e-tailers, and direct marketers.
Link:
Targus iPad Cases
Kensington's New iPad Accessories Deliver
Continuous Power and Protection Everywhere You Go
PR: Kensington Computer Products Group has introduced three
new iPad accessories to help boost productivity for users of the tablet
computer on-the-go or in the car. Kensington's connectivity enhancers
are designed to be the breakthrough iPad accessories for users in need
of extra versatility and best performance everywhere they go, anyplace
they stay. The clever new products are a natural extension of
Kensington's celebrated line of smart made simple computing and
smartphone accessories, now offering power and protection to bring
unlimited use to the iPad.
Kensington's PowerBack Battery Case with Kickstand and Dock is an
innovative, all-in-one design that integrates battery charging,
protective casing, three-position kickstand and dock abilities. The
built-in charger provides up to five extra hours of power for iPad,
while the simple slip-on case protects the tablet computer in a compact
and easy to carry form factor for use in all environments. The
PowerBack's kickstand adapts to individual user needs by offering three
convenient viewing modes for iPad: portrait mode is best for photo
viewing and web browsing, landscape mode makes video watching a joy,
and typing mode makes texting and emailing via iPad easy and
comfortable.
Eliminate the need for multiple chargers with the Kensington Wall
Pack Duo Charger that simultaneously powers two iPad, iPhone, or iPod
devices from a single wall outlet. Featuring a low profile design that
is ideal for everyday use at home or in the office, the extra power
source also includes a detachable USB sync cable to sync devices from a
computer. Kensington's PowerBolt Duo Car Charger offers a quick charge
on the road to both an iPad and iPhone, iPod, or other mobile device,
and features two power ports to simultaneously renew energy for maximum
efficiency.
"We recognize that the iPad is the next generation of personal and
professional technology, creating a new demand for convenient power and
protection for an everyday digital lifestyle," said Juan Rodriguez,
Senior Global Product Manager, Kensington. "We strive to develop
products that help deliver user efficiency and complement all
environments in which mobile users spend their time, regardless of
whether it's at home, on the road, or in the air."
At the June 2010 Worldwide Developer's Conference, Apple
announced1 its extraordinary success in iPad sales with an
estimate that there is one iPad sold every 3 seconds. Since then, the
high demand for the product continues to grow from business users in
particular. In fact, according to a recent report2
by BusinessWeek, the future enterprise device of choice for mobile
workers will be an iPad. As today's workforce relies more on the tablet
computer to complete business tasks and transactions, accessories that
extend connectivity of the iPad will become essential to achieving
productivity.
PR: Kensington PowerBack
Battery Case with Kickstand and Dock (K39249US; SRP $129.99)
The Kensington PowerBack Battery Case with Kickstand and Dock slips
over the back of your iPad to provide power, protection and a
convenient prop. With up to 5 extra hours of power, you'll have plenty
of juice for app use, web surfing, and movie watching. The 3-position
steel kickstand even holds your iPad handsfree in typing, portrait, or
landscape modes.
- Built-in 4400mAh battery provides up to 5 extra hours of power
Micro USB charge and sync port lets you charge and sync without
removing the PowerBack
- Built-in speaker deflectors for clear, crisp sound
- LED battery fuel gauge indicates charge amount
- Soft touch finish case protects your iPad from bumps and
bruises
Kensington Wall Pack Duo Charger
(K39232US; SRP $29.99)
Simultaneously charge two iPad, iPhone, or iPod devices from a
single wall outlet with the Kensington Wall Pack Duo Charger. It's 2.1
Amp ready to provide the quick charge your iPad needs and includes a
detachable USB sync cable that you can use to sync your devices from
your computer.
- 2.1 Amp ready to provide quick charging for iPad
- Low-profile design takes up just one wall outlet
- Detachable USB wall adapter
- Simultaneously charge two devices including two iPad, iPhone, or
iPod devices from a single wall outlet
- Detachable USB cable charges and syncs your iPad, iPhone, or iPod
from your laptop or desktop computer
Kensington PowerBolt Duo Car Charger (K33497US; SRP $29.99)
Charge two devices simultaneously with the PowerBolt Duo from
Kensington. It features two charging ports: the powerful 2.1 Amp port
has the juice you need to charge your iPad, while the 1 Amp port
simultaneously charges your iPhone, iPod, or other mobile devices.
- Two USB power ports
- 2.1 Amp USB port has the power to charge your iPad
- 1 Amp USB port charges your iPhone or iPod
- Detachable USB cable charges and syncs from your computer or
car
- Ultra-small size
- LED power indicator
- iPhone and iPod touch models require iPhone OS 3.0 or later
These Kensington iPad accessories are currently available for
preorder at Amazon.com and Kensington.com and other major
retailers.
Link: Kensington iPad
Accessories
New Kensington iPhone 4 Accessories Take Power and
Protection in the Car and On-the-Go to the Next Level
PR: Kensington Computer Products Group has introduced three
new products to its collection of iPhone 4 accessories for continuous
power on-the-go. An impressive handsfree car device designed with
wireless connectivity, voice command control, sound amplification,
securing and charging abilities for iPhone 4 makes the ultimate driving
companion to make handsfree interaction while driving smarter and
easier than ever before. Two additional juice boosting accessories
include: a battery charging case for iPhone 4 with a card stand and a
three port charge and sync hub. Kensington's new additions have taken
productivity, safety and multitasking with iPhone 4 to the next
level.
With Kensington accessories, iPhone 4 users now have enough power to
complete their day while enjoying new or favorite applications,
participating in FaceTime calls, creating HD video recordings, and
more. The all-in-one Kensington AssistOne Handsfree Car Device with
Voice Activation allows handsfree interaction with your iPhone so you
can take full advantage of your phone - even in the car. Built-in
Bluetooth connectivity allows wireless calling and media playback,
while voice controls answer, decline, place a call, and even launch
music - all handsfree. Kensington's PowerGuard Battery Case with Card
Stand powers and protects iPhone 4 simultaneously and even includes a
handy card stand that props up the iPhone during FaceTime chats for
maximum comfort. And the Kensington PocketHub 3-Port USB and Sync
offers a reliable standalone charge and sync ability for any iPhone or
iPod, plus three additional USB ports for additional devices.
keniphonehub.jpg½"The beauty of the iPhone 4 is that it's so
much more than just a mobile phone, so its accessories must hold up to
the same rigorous, multipurpose use," says Jim Murakami, Global Product
Manager, Kensington. "Whether it is voice activation, more talk time or
an extra USB port, we have designed all of our iPhone accessories to do
more of what you want, when you want and where you want it. These
accessories offer ultimate convenience, power, and protection and
should become a 'must have' for today's iPhone 4 user."
As the iPhone has transcended industry standards of multifunctional
technology, so must the accessories that support it. The constantly
interactive device demands accessories providing extended power,
productivity and protection. Whether you are a business executive, road
warrior or gadget junkie, time is important, sometimes critical.
Kensington products keep pace with the 'always on' experience that an
iPhone offers by matching the device's attributes of being grab and go,
easy to use and just the right feature set.
Kensington AssistOne
Handsfree Car Device with Voice Activation (K39200US; SRP $99.99)
Turn your iPhone into the ultimate travel companion with the
Kensington AssistOne Handsfree Car Device with Voice Activation. Much
more than just a secure mount for your iPhone, this car device adds
handsfree talking, voice activated controls and amplifies sound for
turn-by-turn directions and podcasts, all while charging. Even when
you're in the car, your productivity can just keep on rolling.
- Bluetooth connection pairs easily with iPhone for wireless calling
and media playback
- Voice controls let you answer, decline or place a call, as well as
launch music-all handsfree
- Multifunction button launches iPhone Voice Controls with a single
tap
- Flexible arm holds your iPhone securely - even when in a case
- Built-in mono speakerphone and noise and echo canceling
microphone
- Audio AUX out port delivers pure sound through your car stereo
(auxiliary cable not included)
- Micro USB port charges iPhone with included charging cable
- Low profile car charger
Kensington PowerGuard Battery Case with Card Stand (Black,
K39260US, White K39287US, Blue K39288US; SRP $59.99)
Slip the Kensington PowerGuard Battery Case with Card Stand onto
your iPhone 4 and you'll have hours of extra power for web surfing,
calls, apps and more. Plus your iPhone will be protected by the
PowerGuard's tough case. There's even a handy card stand that props up
your iPhone for handsfree FaceTime chats.
- Adds 4 hours of extra talk, 5 hours of video, 22 hours of
music*
- Provides the power you need to enjoy multitasking between apps,
FaceTime calling and more
- Insert the provided card stand and the two-position stand holds
your iPhone 4 handsfree in portrait or landscape mode
- Micro USB charge and sync port
- LED battery fuel gauge
- Soft touch finish feels great in your hand
- Built-in volume control button
- Three stylish colors to choose from: Black, White and Blue
Kensington PocketHub 3-Port USB and Sync (K33952US; SRP
$39.99)
Stay connected to your peripherals while charging and syncing your
iPhone. The Kensington PocketHub 3-Port USB and Sync has a built-in
30-pin connector port that lets you charge and sync your iPhone, plus
three additional USB ports for connecting your camera, flash drive,
mouse and other USB devices.
- Three USB 2.0 ports let you stay connected to mouse, keyboard and
more
- Plug and play, and hot swappable for instant connectivity
- Functions as a standalone charger for your iPhone or iPod
- Compatible with iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, iPhone and iPod
touch, 1st, 2nd and 3rd generations
These Kensington products are currently available for preorder at
Amazon.com and Kensington.com and other major retailers. For additional
information on the new and existing line of Kensington products,
visit:
- Source: "iPad at WWDC: One Sold Every 3 Seconds, iBooks Gains Adobe
PDF Support" by Kevin Tofel, June 7, 2010: http://bit.ly/bcjtJ2
- Source: "Connected Workers Going iPad for Connectivity" by Kevin
Tofel, August 24, 2010:
Link: Kensington iPhone
Accessories
