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News, Reviews, & Opinion
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News, Reviews, & Opinion
iPad Will Replace PC for Some People
Macworld UK's Karen Haslam reports that Apple CEO Tim Cook has
reiterated his belief that the tablet and PC should never converge, but
that he does anticipate the iPad replacing the PC in some cases for
some people. Haslam cites Cook commenting:
"Will the tablet displace the PC market? Today there are a lot more
believers in that. I'd bet there are a lot of people in the audience
who use their iPad a lot more than their computer. I know I do that.
And I love the Mac, but I find myself spending more and more time on my
iPad. As time goes on, I think it will get more and more like
that...."
Adding: "What I see is that the tablet for some people takes over
what their PC was for them. And it will extend the purchasing cycle for
others."
Link: Apple's Tim Cook:
iPad Will Replace the PC 'for Some People'
Is the Retina Display Holding Back iPad
Graphics?
The Verge checks out how the A5X chip handles the demands of
Retina-level resolution, observing that it's rare to see a technically
demanding game run at Retina resolution without some compromises, and
rarer still to see one equal or exceed the iPad 2's graphics
performance at full 2048 x 1536 Retina resolution. They acknowledge
that the new iPad's Retina display is a sight to behold, but it comes
at a cost, and with an iPad 2 on hand you'll quickly notice that
certain sacrifices have been made in favor of resolution, the
iPad 2 tending to handle the game at a steadier frame rate.
They observe that the A5X and Retina display are both very
impressive components, but it's clear that in gaming much of the
former's capability is limited to supporting the demands of the latter,
and that going forward they'd like to see the A5X outshine its
predecessor instead of simply matching it, imagining what could it be
capable of if developers used the quad-core graphics to push higher
quality effects rather than churning out millions of extra pixels for
the Retina display. After all, DVDs manage to look realistic enough at
much lower resolution.
Link: Is the Retina
Display Holding Back iPad Graphics?
Apple Maintains Leading Mobile Device Manufacturer
Status
PR: Millennial Media says Apple continued to be the number
one mobile device manufacturer on their platform in Q1, representing
28% of the top manufacturers impression share. Apple iPhone accounted
for 15% of mobile phone impressions and maintained its position as the
number one mobile device on Millennial Media's platform since March
2010.
Insights
Smartphones led the Device Mix, with 73% of the impressions in Q1
(Chart A). Though overall Smartphone impressions grew from Q4 2011 to
Q1 2012, the percent of overall impressions was relatively flat
quarter-over-quarter. Over the course of a year, however, Millennial
Media have seen significant growth in Smartphone 14% impression share,
as consumers upgraded from Feature Phones to more advanced mobile
devices.
Non-phone connected device impressions, which includes tablets,
increased 33% quarter-over-quarter and represented 20%-33% of the
device mix in Q1, up from 15% in Q4 2011. This demonstrates significant
disproportionate growth of non-phone connected device impressions in
comparison to smartphones and feature phones on Millennial Media's
platform in Q1.
With over a dozen new tablets introduced to the market in 2011, this
growth is largely tied to the increased adoption and usage of tablet
devices.
In Q1, Android led the OS Mix on Millennial Media's platform with
49% of the impressions (Chart C). In the past year, Android has
steadily increased their market share, currently accounting for 14 of
the Top 20 Mobile Phones in Q1 2012, up from 10 devices in the Top 20
ranking a year ago. Android has gained market share in the tablet
marketplace as well, growing from having no tablets on the top mobile
device list to having two tablets - the Samsung Galaxy Tab and the
Amazon Kindle Fire - ranking in the top 20 devices on our platform in
Q1.
Top Five Tablets on the Millennial Media Platform in Q1 2012
iOS represented 33% of the OS Mix on Millennial Media's platform
(Chart C). iOS had been the clear leader as the top OS for over a year,
but was displaced by Android in 2011. This quarter's impression growth
was highly driven by the growth of tablets and likely tied to the
release of the most recent version of Apple's iPad.
In Q1 2012, IDC noted that the worldwide shipments of mobile tablets
are expected to increase 54% year-over-year in 2012. Over the next four
years, tablets are expected to continue to grow at an average rate of
17% year-over-year until 2016, reaching 198 million tablet devices. The
percent of impressions coming from non-phone connected devices -
particularly tablets - continues to grow significantly. In Q1 2012,
impressions came from a variety of tablets, with the iPad, Galaxy Tab,
and Kindle Fire all ranking in the top 20 of all mobile devices on the
Millennial Media platform, when ranked by impressions .
According to eMarketer, women made up slightly fewer than half of
tablet users in 2011, at 45%; the gap in tablet usage between men and
women is expected to level out over time, with 49% of tablet users in
2014 expected to be women.
Link: Mobile Mix™
Reports
Apple Makes Patent Application for Optical
Stylus
Apple has applied with the United States Patent Office to patent an
optical stylus and host computing system, in particular a method of
operating the optical stylus that includes determining when the optical
stylus is in contact with a surface based on signals received by a
processor from a pressure sensor of the optical stylus and capturing an
image while the optical stylus is in contact with the surface using a
camera of the optical stylus. The captured image is then transmitted to
a host system.
This optical stylus would be for use with a host device, and
comprise a image capture device configured to obtain images of encoded,
location indicative patterns; a processor coupled to the image capture
device; one or more orientation determining components coupled to the
processor; a pressure sensor coupled to the processor and configured to
sense pressure applied to an end of the stylus; and an antenna coupled
to the processor, wherein the antenna is configured to transmit data
collected by the optical stylus to the host device, wherein the
processor is configured to actuate the image capture device upon
receiving signals from the pressure sensor indicative of pressure being
applied at the end of the stylus, and to transmit data collected by the
optical stylus while receiving signals from the pressure sensor
indicative of pressure being applied at the end of the stylus.
Publisher's note: This sounds like an update to the light pen, which has been
around since at least the early 1980s (its ancestor, the light gun,
goes back to 1952 and was most widely used with
Nintendo's Duck Hunt game for the NES). Traditional light pens and
guns have been wired and worked with traditional CRT monitors, and
Apple's patent moves that forward to work wirelessly with LCD
screens.
Link: United States
Patent Application: 0120127110
iPad Speeds Up Reporting from NASCAR's Pit Row
MacRumors' Jordan Golson says Dave Burns has been covering
stock car racing from pit road for 17 years, including spending the
past 12 covering NASCAR's premiere Sprint Cup Series. These days he's a
Pit Reporter for ESPN, covering Nationwide and Sprint Cup practices,
qualifying, and races, all over the course of a single weekend - every
weekend - for months at a time given NASCAR's grueling 38-race
season.
Golson reports that when the iPad was released in 2010, Burns
instantly saw the potential. He could digitize his notepads, drop the
pen and paper, and carry all his reference material with him to every
race. After addressing concerns about size, durability, using it
outside in the bright summer sun, and - perhaps most importantly -
which apps to use, Burns arrived at his perfect setup.
Link: How an iPad Speeds
Reporting from NASCAR's Pit Row
Automakers Struggling to Create an iPhone-Simple
User Interface
Wired Autopia's Doug Newcomb reports that as automakers continue to
load vehicles with the features and functionality people expect from
their portable devices, the in-dash user interface has become a
branding battleground - and the Achilles' heel of the increasingly
connected car. Newcomb observes that while giving a smartphone or
tablet undivided attention is common if not considered rude, depending
on your circle of friends calling up a Pandora station on your iPhone
while driving has the potential to put your life, and others on the
road, at risk, and that US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has
personally called out automakers for putting tech prowess and profit
before public safety, singling out Ford's Microsoft engineered Sync
system in particular, and Consumer Reports calling the follow-up
MyFord Touch system frustrating and a complicated distraction when
driving, and with Ford dropping to 23rd from fifth place year-over-year
in J.D. Power & Associates' 2011 Initial Quality Study, largely
based on customers complaints with the touch-based system.
Editor's note: If an iPhone-simple interface is the objective, why
not get Apple to engineer it? cm
Link: Automakers
Struggling to Create an iPhone-Simple User Interface
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About iOS Device
Jailbreaking
Forbes' Adrian Kingsley-Hughes answers the query "Should I jailbreak
my iPhone?" and other jailbreaking questions aimed at the newbies to
jailbreaking, so if you're the sort of person who's already jailbroken
an iOS device, not much of this will be new to you.
Otherwise, read on.
Link: 'Should I
Jailbreak My iPhone?' and Other Jailbreaking Questions Answered
G24i Collaborates with Logitech on World's First
Light-powered Keyboard for the iPad
PR: G24 Innovations Limited (G24i), a pioneering manufacturer
of dye-sensitised photoelectric Cells (DSC), has collaborated with
global computer peripherals leader Logitech to create what is claimed
to be the world's first light-powered tablet keyboard folio. The
Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio for
the Third-Generation Apple iPad and iPad 2, announced by Logitech
on May 3, 2012, represents the first major application of game-changing
DSC technology in the consumer electronics space.
The ultra-slim folio delivers tablet protection and features a
built-in Bluetooth keyboard that is powered by any light, even lamp
light. With no silicon components, G24i's DSC technology is
lightweight, power-dense, robust, and flexible; ideal as an integrated,
portable, and environmentally-friendly power source.
The two businesses have worked closely for over two years to deliver
a product that liberates the customer from the burden of having to
replace expensive and environmentally harmful disposable batteries.
During this time, G24i has extended its indoor light conversion to over
26% efficiency, rating its DSC technology as almost five times more
powerful than its nearest competitor.
Last week in Berlin, the achievement was recognised as the 2012 Best
Technical Development of an Energy Harvesting Device at the Energy
Harvesting and Storage Europe conference.
Bracken Darrell, Logitech President, comments, "We're excited about
the Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio. This signals the future of small
electronics. G24i is at the forefront of a whole new class of
sustainable, self-powered products that don't need charging or
replacement batteries. You buy them and they need nothing but
light.
"G24i's record power density, together with the lightweight, robust
and flexible profile of its cells, gives us confidence that advances in
DSC technology can keep up with the demands of ever-more power hungry
devices in the future."
"G24i and Logitech are proving that being green can also be about
customer convenience, design excellence and cost effectiveness," says
Robert Hertzberg, Cofounder and Director of G24i. "This is not a
novelty product.
"This deal is an important milestone in the development of our
business and its aim to displace disposable batteries with
next-generation energy harvesting technology. The global market for
disposable batteries is worth in the region of $80bn a year."
G24i's technology was developed at Ecole Polytechnique Fdrale de
Lausanne (EPFL), where Logitech also has a long and proud history.
Professor Graetzel's dye-sensitised cell invention is recognised as
coming close to mimicking the light reaction in natures
photosynthesis.
"G24i has made my vision of mimicking nature's photosynthesis a
commercial reality," says Professor Michael Graetzel, recipient of the
2012 Albert Einstein World Award of Science and the 2010 Millennium
Technology Prize for inventing Dye Sensitised Cells. "By leveraging a
renewable energy source that is readily available, G24i and Logitech
can change the face of consumer electronics. I anticipate that this is
the first of a series of successful green products."
The Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio is available in the US and Europe
for a suggested retail price of $129.99.
Link: Logitech Solar
Keyboard Folio (preorder
from Amazon.com for $129.99 shipped)
The Competition
7" Google Tablet to Ship in June
DigiTimes' Monica Chen and Joseph Tsai reports that Google's new 7"
Android tablet, codeveloped with Asustek (a.k.a. Asus), is set to start
shipping in June with initial shipments projected to reach about
600,000 units. Chen and Tsai say the machine will be officially
released in the market in July, according to unnamed sources from the
upstream supply chain, although Asustek has declined to comment.
They note that Google originally planned to release its entry-level
7" tablet in May, but design and costs did not meet its expectations,
and the product got delayed to July for some minor adjustments.
Link: Google 7-Inch
Tablet PC to Ship in June with Initial Volume of 600,000 Units -
Report (subscription required)
Dell Windows 8 Tablet, Hybrid Details Leaked
The Register's Caleb Cox reports that Dell's tablet plans for 2012
have slipped out, revealing a chunky Windows 8 slate and a
tablet-laptop hybrid also set to run with Microsoft's tile-centric OS -
the Dell Latitude 10 dual-core tablet with a 10.1" 1366 x 768 pixel
display, 2 GB of RAM,and up to 128 GB of SSD storage powered by a
two-core 'Cedar Trail' Intel Atom chip, according
to a Neowin report.
Link: Dell Windows 8
Tablet, Hybrid Details Leaked
Apps & Services
Cortex Camera Improves Low Light Camera
Results
PR:
Whimsical Productions' Cortex Camera improves the clarity and
resolution of your photos by combining over 100 frames of video to
create one impressively high resolution and noise-free still
photograph.
Cortex Camera is inspired by the visual cortex, a remarkable feature
found in people. The visual cortex continuously processes visual
information to create a clear picture of our environment. Cortex Camera
mimics this innovation of mother nature to bump the quality of your
iPhone or iPad photos into DSLR territory.
Features
Take full advantage of your device's amazing retina display by
taking the best quality photos possible
- Greatly reduces noise, especially in challenging lighting
conditions
- Increased camera resolution on iPad
- iPad 2: 3.5 megapixels (compared to .7 megapixel standard
camera)
- The new iPad: 8 megapixels (compared to 5 megapixel standard
camera)
- Up to 8 megapixel photos on iPhone 4S
Pinch to zoom
- zoom in further without loss of detail!- Tap to focus
- Easy to use! Just point and shoot (hold the camera steady for about
3 seconds) and your photo is saved to the camera roll.
- Turn off automatic alignment of frames and use Cortex Camera for
long exposure photography
- Optionally save photos in PNG format for maximum quality
Requirements:
- Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
- Supported devices: iPhone 4S, iPad 2, or newer.
- Requires iOS 5. iOS 5.1 or later
$2.99
Link:
Cortex Camera
Free Mobile Mouse Server Lets You Control Your Mac
from Your iDevice
PR: Mobile Mouse Server (formerly Air Mouse Server) is the
server software to accompany the Mobile Mouse App for the iPhone, iPod
Touch, and iPad.
Instantly transform your iPhone or iPod touch into motion based
mouse, trackpad, and wireless remote for your computer. Sit back and
surf the web, browse your photo library or control your music player
from the comfort of your couch. This app uses the built in
accelerometer to translate your hand motions into mouse movements on
your screen. It can also operate as a trackpad, allowing you to control
your computer with a single finger.
Suddenly your iPhone, iPod and iPad have become an essential part of
any home theater and a presenter's best friend. Using an innovative
application notification system, your iOS device will always know what
applications are running at any time and show the appropriate keys for
that program, providing you with a single screen for controlling ALL
your media and web applications.
To use this software, you must also download the Mobile Mouse app
from the App Store for your iPhone/iPod or iPad.
New in version 2.6.11:
- Fixed problem with some users not seeing slides show up on their
iPhone when using the Pro
- Presentation remote with PowerPoint
- Fixed problem with slides without titles not showing up
System requirements:
- Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later
- Mobile Mouse Pro for iPhone
Link:
Mobile Mouse Pro for iPhone
Link: Air Mouse Server for Mac OS X
10.4 or 10.5/10.6
Link:
Air Mouse Server for Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later
Mobile Mouse Pro Transforms Your iPhone into a
Wireless Mouse & Keyboard
PR: Mobile Mouse instantly transforms your iPhone or iPod
touch into an in air, wireless remote for your computer! Sit back and
use this remote to surf the web, browse your photo library or control
your music player from the comfort of your couch. Mobile Mouse uses the
built in accelerometer to translate your hand motions into mouse
movements on your screen. It can also operate as a trackpad remote,
allowing you to remote control your computer with a single finger.
Mobile Mouse is an essential part of any home theater PC and a
presenter's best friend.
Mobile Mouse uses an innovative application notification system to
let the iPhone know what program you are running at any time and show
the appropriate keys for that program. This allows Mobile Mouse to
provide a single screen remote for controlling ALL your media and web
applications. Mobile Mouse is the only app to feature a full fledged
dock, just like you'd find on your Mac! Mobile Mouse supports all the
most popular web and media programs for the Mac and PC. New remote
definitions are automatically downloaded daily to your computer, so you
will always have the newest remotes as possible.
Features
- Accelerometer based mouse controller
- Trackpad(full screen vertical and landscape modes)
- Application switcher (works just like the dock in OS X)
- File Browser
- Ability to hide keyboard (shake to hide/show)
- Landscape keyboard (shake in landscape mode to show)
- Media Remote (w/vol up/down and eject buttons)
- Web Remote
- Presentation mode with Pro option (Keynote/PowerPoint)
- Numeric keyboard
- Application notifications
- Remote keyboard with function and arrow keys
- Programmable hotkeys (can be set to run a program or keyboard
combination)
- Scroll pad
- Left and Right mouse buttons
- Multitouch gestures (two finger scroll, two finger tap, swipe
left/right with 4 fingers, swipe up/down with 4 fingers, pinch with 4
fingers, spread 4 fingers, three finger drag, three finger tap, double
tap three fingers, double tap two fingers)
- Modifier Keys
- On screen typing
- Sleep/Wake your computer
- Password protection
- Custom sensitivity settings
- Foreign language keyboards
- Supports Bonjour or static IP
- No screen size limitation. Works with multiple monitors.
- High resolution graphics for retina display on iPhone 4.
Provides remote control capabilities for programs like iTunes, VLC,
Front Row, Windows Media Center, WinAmp, Firefox, Safari, Boxee
Requirements
- Mac OS X Leopard/Snow Leopard/Lion (Intel)
- Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7 (32/64-bit)
- WiFi router (works best on a local area network or Ad hoc
network)
- Mobile Mouse Server Software
BEFORE YOU RUN THE SOFTWARE you will need to download the server
application from http://www.mobilemouse.com
New in version 2.6.1:
- Fixed problem causing the modifier keys to not work with the F
keys
- Fixed problem causing click and drag to not work on multiple
swipes
- Improved trackpad response time
- Fixed slow connection time (Must download version 2.6.6 of the
server from our website or the Mac App Store)
- Added Natural Scrolling option to mimic Lion
- Added Lion gestures as well as the option to program each gesture
on the server for any OS under the Hot Key settings in the server:
- Swipe left/right with 4 fingers
- Swipe up/down with 4 fingers
- Pinch with 4 fingers
- Spread 4 fingers
- Three finger drag
- Three finger tap
- Double tap three fingers
- Double tap two fingers
- Bug fixes
System requirements:
- Mac OS X 10.4 or above
- Windows XP/Vista 32/64-bit
- WiFi router (works only on a local area network over WiFi)
- Static IP address
Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.1.2 or
later.
$1.99
Link:
Mobile Mouse Pro for iPhone
Link: Air Mouse Server for Mac OS X
10.4 or 10.5/10.6
Link:
Air Mouse Server for Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later
TabTimes, the Tablet Business Magazine, Launches
as an iPad App
PR: TabTimes for iPad, a business news magazine entirely
devoted to tablets and delivered as a free iPad application, hit the
App Store this week.
Ready for the post-PC world? Welcome to TabTimes.
As a technology platform, the tablet rivals both the PC and the Web
in terms of creating a paradigm shift. 
But it's not a technology revolution driven by tech
makers: its actually being led by the people using them. Employees are
the prime force pushing tablets into the corporate world. That's more
than consumerization of IT: it's the magic of tablets captivating the
work space.
Almost all news media outlets occasionally touch upon tablets. But
professionals and business users like you need a dedicated,
comprehensive and specific source of information and guidance, to help
you select, buy and use the best tablet devices, accessories, apps,
platforms and services for yourself, your department and your
organization.
TabTimes offers in-depth look at how tablets change peoples lives
and offers actionable advice on how to get things done in the post-PC
era, and will report on the front lines of this revolution with a
business perspective. The journal will focus on how tablets are used
for business, work and productivity, with a mix of news, features,
reviews, interviews and how-to articles.
TabTimes for iPad's content is produced by a team of seasoned and
passionate journalists, who previously worked for PC Magazine, MacLife,
PC World and Infoworld. The content team also includes columnists Ben
Bajarin, a tech columnist for Time.com, Dan Rowinski, a writer at
ReadWriteWeb, and Christina Tynan-Wood, a tech columnist at Family
Circle magazine and a previous columnist for PC Magazine and PC
World.
The intuitive interface of TabTimes for iPad combines the best of
print magazines (depth of content, clean design and pleasant page
flipping) and the best of news blogs (timeliness and straight-to-the
point analysis). Every time users open the app, they will discover the
latest published article. They can then either dive into the article by
swiping vertically, or jump to the previously published article by
swiping horizontally.
Users can bookmark articles within the app, comment on them, save
them for later reading in Instapaper or Pocket, and share them with
colleagues and friends via e-mail, LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.
TabTimes for iPad is updated throughout the day, with a main feature
cover story to be published every evening at 8 PM (Eastern time) on
workdays, and early in the morning on weekends - just when most people
are ready for a reading experience on their iPad.
Written in plain English for a global audience, TabTimes for iPad
highlights technological trends which will shape the tablet ecosystem.
Primarily geared towards managers, IT professionals and business
people, TabTimes' mission is to help them utilize tablets to do more,
work smarter, push their career further and better their business.
In addition to continuous news coverage, TabTimes for iPad will
interview leaders of the tablet industry and professionals who have
already initiated tablet projects in their workplace. TabTimes for iPad
also reviews tablet devices, accessories and apps, and guides readers
on how to get things done with their iPad through tips and how-to
articles.
FileMaker and Accellion are the launch sponsors of TabTimes for
iPad.
TabTimes for iPad is available now in the App Store's Business
category.
Link:
TabTimes
Free Absinthe Untethered Jailbreak for iOS
5.1.1
PR: @pod2g and the @ChronicDevTeam have announced the release
of Absinthe 2.0 at #HITB2012AMS held at the Okura Hotel in
Amsterdam.
Known as the "iOS Jailbreak Dream Team", @p0sixninja, @pod2g,
@planetbeing, @pimskeks released the untethered jailbreak for iOS 5.1.1
on the final day of the week-long conference. Echoing Steve Jobs'
trademark WWDC encore of "... and one more thing", the team announced
the release of Absinthe 2.0 during the closing minutes of their two
hour talk at the conference.
Absinthe 2.0 will affect the majority of Apple devices running iOS
5.1.1 including iPad 1,1 - 2,1 - 2,2 - 2,3 - 3,1 - 3,2 - 3,3, the
iPhone 2,1 - 3,1 - 3,3 - 4,1 and iPod 3,1 - 4,1. The jailbreak does not
support the third generation Apple TV and support for iPad 2,4 will be
added at a later date.
The team announced that the new Absinthe 2.0 will be available
immediately for download from the official ChronicDevTeam website.
The release announcement came after recent rife speculation
spreading through online social networks on the actual release date and
scope of Absinthe 2.0. The jailbreak community's interest was first
piqued when the team announced they were scheduled to appear at
HITBSecConf2012 - Amsterdam to deliver not one but two talks covering
both the Corona (A4) and Absinthe (A5) jailbreaks for Apple devices. On
the 20th of May, a tweet from team member @pod2g stating the release of
Absinthe 2.0 was 'in a matter of days' led to further speculation that
the final release would be made at HITBSecConf which ran from 21 - 25
May.
"We want to take this opportunity to thank Hack in the Box for
giving us the chance to all get together for the first time, especially
in the beautiful city of Amsterdam, it has been a great delight for us
to announce our next release at this event. Thank you to all our
supporters and keep jailbreaking!! :D "
"This was certainly one of the most highly anticipated talks we've
EVER had at one of our HITB conferences, and we've done quite a few of
these. The excitement from the Dream Team followers and overall Twitter
and online buzz has been terrific!", said Dhillon Andrew Kannabhiran,
Founder and CEO of Hack In The Box.
"It was truly an honor to host the Dream Team in their first ever
'real world' meet up and we would like to thank them for taking the
time and effort to make the trip over to not only join us at our third
European outing, but to help kick-start our celebration of '10 years of
HITB awesomeness' with the release of Absinthe 2.0!", he added.
iOS jailbreaking, or simply jailbreaking, is the process of removing
the limitations imposed by Apple on devices running the iOS operating
system through use of custom security exploits. Jailbreaking allows
users to gain elevated access to the operating system. Consequently it
also allows users to download additional applications, extensions and
themes that are unavailable through the official Apple App Store.
This jailbreak supports firmware 5.1.1 ONLY and is claimed to be one
of the easiest jailbreaks to use.
If you are already running a tethered jailbreak on iOS 5.1.1 search
Cydia for "Rocky Racoon 5.1.1 Untether" to simply untether the
jailbreak. It's unnecessary to run this tool.
Requirements:
- Intel
- Mac OS X 10.5 or later
Supported Devices (iOS 5.1.1 only):
- iPad 3 (WiFi/CDMA/Global), iPad 2 (WiFi/CDMA/GSM), iPad 1
- iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 (GSM), iPhone 4 (CDMA), iPhone 3GS
- iPod 4G, iPod 3G
Unsupported Devices:
- iPad 2 WiFi R2 (new model)
- Apple TV 2
- Apple TV 3
Download Links
Link: Absinthe
Accessories
6 Affordable iPad/iPhone Gifts from Kensington for
Dads & Grads
PR: Kensington Computer Products Group offers suggestions for
gifts for the dad or grad in your life with six tech accessories for
tablet, smartphone, or laptop.
"We know Fathers Day and graduation season is a special and exciting
time for so many families, and its important to choose just that
perfect gift that reflects the personality of your tech enthusiast,"
says Juan Rodriguez, Senior Global Product Manager, Kensington. "We
pride ourselves on providing fun and thoughtfully designed products any
dad or grad will enjoy over and over again. These gifts make their
always-connected lifestyles easier and more productive, while being
very good to your spending account."
Kensington
KeyFolio Pro Keyboard Case for new iPad & iPad 2 (SKU
K39357US; SRP $99.99)
Perfect for the on-the-go business dad or recent college grad
starting work for the first time, the Kensington KeyFolio Pro provides
a high-performance keyboard optimized for the touch typist. Built-in
Bluetooth technology delivers wireless operation and one button setup.
A multi-position stand holds your iPad in place while the rotatable
frame offers landscape and portrait use. Optimized for travel and
in-case use, this lightweight and compact design protects your iPad
from wear and scratches. Camera openings allows for front and back
camera use. Compatible with new iPad & iPad 2.
Link:
Kensington KeyFolio Pro Keyboard Case for new iPad & iPad 2
($49.49
shipped from Amazon.com)
Kensington AbsolutePower Dual USB Wall Charger
Every father and
recent student needs a place to recharge when they run out of juice.
Power is never far away with two AbsolutePower Dual USB Wall Chargers
to charge two tablets, smartphones, and other USB-charged mobile
devices simultaneously. Stay connected with the Kensington
AbsolutePower Dual USB Wall Charger with USB Adapter Cables (K39373US;
SRP $34.99). The Kensington AbsolutePower Dual USB Wall Charger with
30-pin Apple Cable (K39525US; SRP $34.99) charges iPad, iPhone, and
iPod devices. Both chargers incorporate dual 2.1 Amp USB power ports
ready to provide full charging support for tablets, smartphones, and
other mobile devices. The AC plug removes for storage and travel.
Link:
Kensington AbsolutePower Dual USB Wall Charger with USB Adapter
Cables ($26.49
shipped from Amazon.com)
Link:
Kensington AbsolutePower Dual USB Wall Charger with 30-pin Apple
Cable ($29
shipped from Amazon.com)
Kensington Chaise
Universal Tablet Stand (K39535WW Black; K39536WW White; SRP
$19.99)
No tech-enthusiast dad or grad will want to give up comfort or
productivity when using their tablet on the go. Enter a simple, mobile,
compact and stylish stand to stay productive anywhere. Unlike other
complicated and cumbersome multi-unfold designs, the Kensington Chaise
Universal Tablet Stand is slim enough for easy travel while providing
maximum stability; one flip and its ready to cradle a tablet even in
the tightest spots such as airplane seat or at a cafe table. It also
offers stability for uneven and glassy surfaces and works with
virtually all popular tablet models.
Link:
Kensington Chaise Universal Tablet Stand, Black ($19.99
from Amazon.com)
Link:
Kensington Chaise Universal Tablet Stand, White ($18.28
from Amazon.com)
Kensington Virtuoso
Mini Collapsible Stylus (K39542WW; SRP $14.99)
Give the gift of creating art, annotating files or capturing content
on the go to the dad or grad you know. The Virtuoso Mini Collapsible
Stylus can expand and contract in size, and dock conveniently to your
iPhone or iPad for quick access and you never have to worry about
losing your stylus again. Navigating apps such as SketchBook,
iAnnotate, and Penultimate is a breeze with the precision offered by
the Virtuoso's touch tip.
Link:
Kensington Virtuoso Mini Collapsible Stylus ($16.56
from Amazon.com)
Kensington Word Lock
Portable Combination Lock (K64684US; SRP $27.99)
All dads and grads need to protect their laptop from theft while on
the go. Protect your laptop and personal information with the
Kensington WordLock Portable Combination Laptop Lock. The push button
design offers one hand operation for easy installation while the
Kensington T-Bar secures the lock to your laptop. WordLock allows you
to set the code with four letter words making it Easier to Set - Never
Forget. The self-coiling cable stretches to 6 to anchor to a desk or
fixed structure yet shrinks to 3 for easy packing.
Link:
Kensington Word Lock Portable Combination Lock ($24.99
from Amazon.com - and just 1¢ shy of free shipping)
Kensington
Aluminum Finish Case for iPhone 4 & 4S (K39388US Black; K39389US
Grey; SRP $24.99)
Give dads or grads iPhone some extra protection from bumps and
scratches in this lightweight aluminum finish case. The aluminum hard
shell case is stylish and protects your iPhone on the move while still
allowing easy access to all controls, touchscreen and ports.
Link:
Kensington Aluminum Finish Case for iPhone 4 & 4S, Black
($20.98
from Amazon.com)
Link:
Kensington Aluminum Finish Case for iPhone 4 & 4S, Grey
($14.03
shipped from Amazon.com)
These Kensington products are currently available for purchase at
Kensington.com,
Amazon.com, and major
resellers.
Kudo Solar iPad Case with HDMI and More
PR: The
KudoCase for iPad, iPad 2, and the New iPad 3rd Generation are pulling
the plug on wasted power by using new solar ink technology to convert
outdoor and indoor light into usable energy to continually charge the
iPad. Whenever light is shimmering around you this solar powered iPad
case is charging your battery.
The KudoCase for iPad 2 is has a list of benefits to offer.
Indoor/Outdoor Solar Power giving you an average of up to 10 days of
use. An extended battery, USB Power-out charger, HDMI, Whistle Locator,
Multiple Stands and the automatic Sleep/Wake feature built in. This
durable case is one you can be proud of with a housing made from
biodegradable grain and the world's only indoor operating organic solar
panel.
Features
- Solar iPad Charger - An innovative concept using new solar
technology to convert indoor and outdoor light into energy to charge
the iPad. For the average user the Kudo is claimed to support up to an
impressive 10 days use on your iPad.
- iPad HDMI Adapter Built In - HDMI now already connected to your
iPad.
Simply
connect the case to any standard HDMI capable TV or projector and
immediately watch YouTube, Movies, Keynote presentations and more
directly off your iPad
- Extended iPad Battery - The Kudo is essentially a self charging
battery backup case. 10 straight hours of use is cool, but 24 hours is
much cooler. The case has a battery always storing energy and
automatically charging the iPad day or night.
- Movie Stand - There are stainless steel pegs in the back of the
Kudo Solar iPad Case to prop different positions. The movie position
makes it easier to watch movies while propped on a table or lap, to
read recipes while cooking and so much more.
- Keyboard Stand - The keyboard position makes it much easier to type
on the iPad. We found propping the iPad up at a comfortable 15 degree
angle makes a surprising difference on your comfort and typing
speed.
- USB Power-Out - The Kudo charges more than your iPad or iPad 2. To
avoid the headache of a dying camera, headset, or dead cell phone you
can just plug it directly into the solar powered Kudo case to charge it
back up.
- Whistle Locator - Exactly what it sounds like. It's easy to forget,
when you're at the office or at home and can't find where you left your
iPad just simply whistle and the Kudo will beep back to let you know
where it is.
Messenger & Travel Bag
The KudoMate is an ideal companion for the Solar KudoCase. Sleek,
slim, and elegant yet with plenty of space and pockets for storage,
it's offered at a discount when ordered with the KudoCase.
- Protective Case - The Kudo is also a hard shell iPad case with a
soft rubberized coating. The cover is made from biodegradable grain to
be tough of protection while easy on the earth.
- Eco Friendly - Not only is the iPad Kudo solar power with a corn
grain housing, to help this case shine even brighter Kudo have
partnered with trusted groups to plant a tree for every iPad Kudo
registered. Buy one Get one Tree. This will offset any potential carbon
footprint left behind from manufacturing.
Notes: The average user uses their iPad about two hours a day and
accumulates either 14 hours of indoor light (windows, lamps, etc.), one
hour of sunlight 
(dashboard, windowsill, etc.), or a combination of both per
day. The Kudo iPad solar case brings in a constant trickle of energy
throughout the day. Sunlight is much stronger than indoor light, but
electronics are typically used indoors, and the Kudo is capable of
drawing energy from the home or office as it continues to work even in
low light environments. More light and less use means longer iPad time,
conversely less light and more use means less iPad time before charging
the old-school way. A lifeguard that only uses their iPad solar case a
little may go weeks or months without needing a charge but an Internet
junkie living in a basement may only go a few days.
Price: $199.99
Link:
KudoCase for New iPad and iPad 2
Link: KudoCase for
Original iPad
Logitech's New Solar Keyboard for Mac, iPad, and
iPhone
PR: Logitech has announced an expansion of its solar powered
keyboard lines with the new Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 for
Mac, iPad or iPhone. A continuation of Logitech's solar series, which
started with the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 and has
continued with the Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio for iPad, this new
keyboard adds Bluetooth connectivity with an easy-switching capability.
It allows you to simultaneously pair multiple devices and quickly
switch among them with the push of a button.
"Laptops, smartphones and tablets are ubiquitous both at work and at
play," says Denis Pavillard, vice president of experience design at
Logitech. "Because Apple devices are central to this trend, Logitech is
committed to improving the way people interact with them. With its
simple solar charging, familiar Mac layout and comfortable design, the
Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 will appeal to Apple users
worldwide."
One Keyboard for All Your Apple Devices
Logitech Brand Manager Todd Walker says that when the company
released the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 for the Mac last
fall, some customers let them know 
they wanted a solar keyboard that used a Bluetooth
wireless connection. Logitech listened, and with the new Logitech
Wireless Solar Keyboard K760, up to three different devices can be kept
paired via the easy-switching Bluetooth connection that allows you to
quickly and easily switch from your Mac to your iPad with the press of
a button. Switching back is just as easy.
The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 is stylish and compact
with onboard cells that are powered by light for hassle-free charging.
With its easy-switching Bluetooth connection, you can pair your
keyboard to as many as three devices and switch among them without
having to reconnect. This means you can move from typing on your Mac to
your iPad to your iPhone and back again with the simple push of a
button.
An ideal keyboard solution for your favorite Apple device, the
Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 features a slim, minimalist
design and Mac-specific keys, 
including Command, Brightness, Eject and more. The
unique Logitech concave key design facilitates comfortable, quiet
typing, and for iDevice users offers more speed and precision than
typing on an onscreen keyboard.
With its environmentally friendly PVC-free construction, fully
recyclable box and onboard cells for charging, the Logitech Wireless
Solar Keyboard K760 is designed to minimize its environmental
footprint. Similar to the existing Logitech Solar Keyboards, you can
charge this keyboard in any light low light or lamp light, indoors or
outdoors. Fully powered, the keyboard works for at least three months,
even in total darkness (based on average use per day of eight
hours).
The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 is expected to be
available in the US and Europe beginning in June 2012, for a suggested
retail price of $79.99.
System Requirements
- Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) or later (Intel only)
- iPad or iPhone with iOS 4.0 or later
- Light source from sunlight and/or indoor lighting
- Internet connection (for software download)
Editor's note: I have been using a Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard
K750 as my main workstation keyboard for the past 10 months and can't
say enough good about it (see
my review on PBCentral). This new 'board makes the concept more
portable with Bluetooth connectivity instead of conventional RF so it
can be used with iOS devices. cm
Logitech K760 with a more traditional Mac layout.
Publisher's note: The layout of the K760 that we've seen on most
websites (including Logitech's) has an oddly shaped Return key further
to the right than Mac users are used to (a problem with the original IBM PC
keyboard as well, but that was way back in 1981). We've seen
another layout online as well (above), most notably
on Cnet.com, that more closely mirrors the traditional Mac layout.
We're hoping that's the one that's going to ship.
Link: Logitech Wireless
Solar Keyboard K760 (keyboards on Logitech
store, not yet listed at Amazon.com)
