eBay iPad App Actually is Awesome

"eBay pushed out version 2.0 of its iPad app a few days ago."

Not exactly known for apps but eBay has really come out with a great one with their latest update. And I have to agree with the reviewer when he asks Facebook if they are listening. I hate the Facebook iPad app. They need to hire the same guys that did the eBay app.

Need a Translation App That Works? Try SayHi

"Talking to someone who doesn't speak English? (Or a language that's other than your native language.)Well, finally, there's an app for that."

It works pretty well if you talk slow per the review. But it is highly rated in the app store and it's on sale now in iTunes for $0.99 USD

AT&T Announces Home Security Service Called Digital Life

"AT&T has announced a new home security and automation service called Digital Life that comes with an iPad and iPhone app with a bunch of security and remote control options."

I like these home automation set ups, makes it easy to monitor things in case you aren't home. And with this one you actually get them to install and monitor. If you are in Dallas or Atlanta, you might want to go to the AT&T site for this since those areas are the first to go live this summer.

Coming to the US: Kyocera Rise, Qwerty Slider with ICS

"Kyocera is looking to regain a foothold in the US smartphone market, and curiously enough, it's doing so by catering to niche audiences. First we saw the Hydro, a waterproof handset, and alongside it is the Rise, which features a sliding QWERTY keyboard."

The Kyocera Rise should be an inexpensive phone with the latest version of Android for people who mainly want to do texting. It's CDMA so you can look for it on Sprint or Verizon. It has a 3.5" 320x480 resolution IPS LCD screen, 512MB of RAM, 2GB of built-in storage and it comes with a 2GB MicroSD card. It has a single-core 1GHz Snapdragon S2 processor that should feel very fast especially with such a low screen resolution. It also has a 1500mAH battery that should provide plenty of juice to get you through the day on this device. We don't know which carrier it will go to but my guess would be Sprint.
It's great to see Kyocera ready to ship the Rise with Android 4.0 but it's really too bad they gave it a screen that's so small and has such a low resolution. Really, I can't believe any manufacturer would release any phone with a lower screen resolution than 480x800. At least they put the needed system buttons on the phone so you don't need to waste more of the screen just to show the system buttons. The keyboard looks like the keys are nicely spaced and I always like having an inverted T layout for the arrow keys but I'm also a fan of a 5 row keyboard so you don't need to use a function button to get numbers.
Are you looking for a lean, mean, texting machine? Are you OK with the screen size and resolution? Check out the hands-on video after the break!

Kate Brooks on the iPad

"There's never been a shortage of hidden objects to find on the iPad, but now you'll at least have the help of Kate Brooks."

Looks like a fun game, and initially it is free to begin, you will have to deal with an in-app cost of $4.99 USD to continue the game. Sounds reasonable if you can play it enough at the beginning to tell if you really like it.

Olympus Announces Tough TG-1 iHS

"Olympus has announced the Tough TG-1 iHS, a high-end rugged, waterproof compact camera. The main selling point of the camera is its 25-100mm equivalant F2.0-4.9 zoom lens. The TG-1 is tougher than previous Tough models, being waterproof to 12m (40ft) and shockproof from a height of 2m (6.6ft) and will have optional waterproof fisheye and telephoto converter lenses available."

What is iHS supposed to mean? Anyway, this is a new Tough camera with increased specifications from the previous models. In particular, the 4x 25mm-100mm equivalent f/2.0-4.9 zoom lens is faster than many other cameras in its class, especially at that wide end with the f/2.0 aperture. The camera has a 12 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor which is stabilised, a 3" VGA OLED screen (but in Pentile layout), 1080p video mode coupled with a 10 FPS still shooting mode at full resolution or 60 FPS at 3 megapixel, and built-in GPS. As with a rugged camera, it features waterproofing and shockproofing. The camera also promises to feature AF technology from the PEN cameras, so hopefully it will be quick (I do suspect the technology is more on the software side). Oh and what modern Olympus camera is without the Art or Magic Filters? Available in June for US$400.

Adobe's Creative Cloud Subscription Service - Worth It?

"Today is a big day for Adobe. Not only is the company officially unveiling the next versions of virtually all of the applications in its Creative Suite, but Adobe is also launching its Creative Cloud online offerings. This marks a major change in how Adobe is selling and marketing its flagship product: while the company will continue to offer a shrink-wrapped version of CS6, it's also introducing a subscription service with this update. For $49/month with an annual subscription or $79/month for month-to-month memberships, users can now get full access to any CS6 tool, including Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere Pro and AfterEffects. The suite will also include Adobe's new HTML5 design and development tools Muse and Edge, and will be deeply integrated into the company's tablet apps. Users will be able to download and install these apps on up to two machines."

Adobe recently announced the newest release of Creative Suite, the sixth version (CS6). As shown in the graphic above, there are numerous feature enhancements across all the products in the suite. Upgrading even one of the Abobe apps can be an expensive proposition for most people. Personally, I have a copy of Photoshop that is a few revisions behind, but would like to upgrade it. It is probably a good time to do so from a functionality perspective. What is intriguing with this latest release of apps, is that a new option purchase option is available. Called Creative Cloud, this new purchase option is actually a subscription service. For $49/month (US) with an annual subscription or $79/month (US) for month-to-month memberships, users can now get full access to any CS6 tool. For me, this is an incredibly tempting offer.
The Read link article has all the details about the new edition of Creative Suite, and the new subscription service. Once you've had a chance to read it, drop back here and let me know if you think the subscription service is a good deal.

Windows 8 DVD Playback Will Require Extra Media Center Pack

"Here is something interesting, you may already know that Microsoft plans to sell Windows Media Center as a separate paid pack, but now the company has just revealed that Windows 8 will also stop the support for DVD playback."

If you want to watch DVD movies on your Windows 8 computer in the future, you will have to get the Media Center Pack or the Windows 8 Pro Pack. The basic consumer version of Windows 8 will not include the ability to playback DVD movies. Microsoft's reasoning behind the omission is that more and more consumers are getting content from streaming sources so DVD playback is no longer on the top of the required capabilities list. No word on the pricing of the Media Center Pack yet.

What Can HTPC Users Expect From Intel's Ivy Bridge

"The ability to cram in more and more transistors in a die has made it possible to have both the CPU and GPU in the same silicon."

AnandTech has posted their review of Intel's Ivy Bridge from the perspective of a HTPC user. They looked at refresh rates, decoding and rendering benchmarks, network streaming capabilities, power consumption, etc. Their review is pretty comprehensive and should be a must read for anyone wondering if they should update or keep what they have.

Pentax K-01 Reviewed by Digital Camera Resource Page

"Aside from its unique looks, the K-01 is also a full-featured interchangeable lens camera. It has a 16 Megapixel CMOS sensor, K-mount lens support with built-in image stabilization, lots of manual controls, a boatload of scene modes and special effects, an HDR function, and 1080p video recording."

When the Pentax K-01 was announced, I mentioned (right in the headline no less) that Pentax cannot seem to do mirrorless cameras right. Well, in addition to all the issues that come with sticking to the K-mount instead of developing a new mount for a large sensor mirrorless camera (fat body due to large flange distance for the mirror box, slow AF with some lenses not designed for contrast detection autofocus), Pentax seems to have some terrible quality control issues here. Jeff Keller has a long history of reviewing digital cameras, but I don't think I have seen him point out so many issues in one review before! Nevertheless, if you are still interested, you can read the review, where the output from the camera is actually quite good, but given all the other issues, I think there are better mirrorless cameras out there.

Amtrak Using iPhones to Scan Tickets

"Here's a modern twist on a time-honored tradition for train travelers. Since last fall, Amtrak has been training conductors to use an iOS device to scan passenger tickets on some selected routes, including Boston to Portland, Maine, and San Jose to Sacramento, California."

You can either print out your ticket before hand, or just show the ticket barcode on your iPhone screen so they can scan it. Going paperless, I love it.

iOS Update 5.1.1 Released

"Apple has just released iOS 5.1.1 update for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. This update fixes a number of bugs, including a particular annoying one affecting the iPad 3 which resulted users losing access to their cellular data connection until they rebooted their tablet."

The biggest fix is for the bug that causes problems on the new iPad when switching between 2G and 3G networks. But the annoying bug that is supposedly fixed is the one I've experienced, namely the one that displayed the "unable to purchase" message when you actually have purchased the item. You can find out more at Apple about this "first ever" iPad 3 update.

Microsoft Welcomes You To Your Home

""More than a decade ago, Microsoft execs, led by Chairman Bill Gates, were touting a future where .Net coffee pots, bulletin boards, and refrigerator magnets would be part of homes where smart devices would communicate and inter-operate. Microsoft hasn't given up on that dream."

Desktop computers, check. Laptops, check. Gaming console, check. Mobile phone, check. Home automation... it looks like Microsoft is intent on offering services for every aspect of your life. Their latest innovation comes to you in the form of HomeOS, a home automation system. Home automation is nothing new, and there are numerous specialized companies ready to offer you fancy, expensive automation systems so you can stand outside your home constantly turning your lights on and off from your phone. If you have an appetite for tinkering, there are more home grown solutions such as LinuxMCE, that while it handles media streaming, also integrates with many other things such as automation and security. Apple is slowly approaching this sort of service as well though right now, it seems mostly just focused on media.
I think that HomeOS could go really well, especially if it integrates with Windows Home Server. It would not make sense if you needed two separate servers to handle your home server-like needs. I have to wonder if there is a great use for this, as them young ones seem to be living a much more mobile lifestyle than before, and whatever you have at home is not as relevant anymore.

Clean Up Some Space by Clearing Up Your Dropbox Cache

"I use Dropbox to sync files across my Macs, but also to collaborate with others using shared folders. One day, I discovered that the disk space on my MacBook Air had dropped substantially."

Once he started poking around he found some files that he didn't really need, all within the dropbox.cache file. Simple but something I hadn't really thought about. I guess this happens in a variety of programs, such as Chrome, so it makes sense to find out where these hidden files are and if you really need them.

Griffin and Crayola Kid Friendly Headphones

"First revealed in January at CES, Griffin and Crayola are now shipping their volume-limiting, kid-friendly MyPhones ($25) and MyPhones Earbuds ($15)."

Very cute and definitely kid friendly. Check out the article for pictures of the earbuds, very clever. Available now on the Griffin site.

AluPen Pro Stylus

The AluPen Pro is a combo ballpoint pen and rubber tipped stylus. The product comes with a replaceable tip for when the little rubber bubble wears out. Also has a small carrying case to protect the stylus and keep it from scratching anything in a bag."

Great option if you are looking for a stylus, since it also has a pen for those times when you need to actually write something down on paper. Best of both worlds. It's available now for around $36.00 USD

iPad as Another Took in System Administrators Toolbox

"John Welch over at Ars Technica wrote a wonderful post about using an iPad as a system administrator's tool, noting that Apple's tablet is "an addition, not a replacement" to the many tools that IT pros currently use to complete their daily tasks."


You can read the Ars Technica article here, but why not right? I mean it makes sense to me, since it has great battery life and easy to use, why shouldn't it be another tool in the toolbox? But whatever your opinion, it's still an interesting article about how one person uses it.

TWC TV App Adds Several Sports Options

"On Friday, Time Warner Cable added a number of national and regional sports networks to the free TWC TV app for iOS and the TWCTV.com Web portal."

If you are an Expanded Basic or higher customer with Time Warner Cable then you can access more things on your iOS device. Unfortunately, you have to be inside your home. I hate apps that restrict you to staying in your home, but if you are one of their customers it will give you mobility, with limits of course.

Get Your NFL Skin for Your iPhone

"When Apple announced they'd picked up Sprint as a carrier for the iPhone, my first though wasn't about data plans or download speeds or this G or that G, it was about the NFL. Finally, after a couple years as an iPhone owner, I'd be able to get a Seattle Seahawks skins for my iPhone 4."

The best thing about getting Sprint on board with the iPhone.

Skydrive Apps for iOS

"SkyDrive, Microsoft's online storage service, is one of the core elements of the company's cloud strategy."

And now, with these new apps for PCs, Windows Phone, Macs and iOS devices, Microsoft is making a play for Dropbox users. With these apps it adds a folder to your computer, and any changes to files in that folder are automatically sync'd to your iOS devices. But for new users it will cost you 18GB of storage since Microsoft is dropping the free storage amount from 25GB to 7GB. Microsoft says it's because less than 7GB is the amount most of their users have been utilizing. Another advantage for Windows users is the ability to stream or access files remotely via this app. I like the added functionality but not the decrease in storage. What are your thoughts, or do you even use Skydrive?

Report Spam Text Messages With AT&Ts Mark The Spot App

"If you thought your iPhone was safe from the predations of spammers, think again. Because U.S. carriers know that unhappy customers will complain to state attorneys general, the FCC, and legislators about receiving and being charged for unsolicited commercial (and often totally fraudulent) cell phone calls and text messages, mobile companies have policed such activity quite closely."

Use the AT&T Mark The Spot app and you can report any spam texts you receive. Simple to do, with the message in your window, hit the edit button. Then click on the circle to the left of the message so that the red checkmark shows up. Then forward it to 7726, which spells SPAM on your keypad not so coincidentally. And that is that. Easy right?

This Custom iPad Case is Amazing

"Holy crap. Check out this amazing custom iPad cover Redditor 44 Oz. had made for him by Australian-based leatherworking firm High On Glue, made with premium leather, suede lining, a kangaroo leather spine and embossed with the original Apple logo designed by Ron Wayne back in 1976, featuring Sir Isaac Newton resting under an Apple tree."

I'm with the author, as I don't normally like folio cases either but this one is certainly amazing. Makes me wish I had continued on with my leatherwork practice from 4H. If you want to order one, you can go check it out on this page and get your email in, it might be awhile though.

iPhone at Work

"Apple is pushing the benefits of using an iPhone in business with the launch of a new webpage on its site."

"iPhone at Work" has a pretty extensive list of apps to help you in whatever business needs you may have, some of them of course the standard Apple ones. But there are also some other apps that you might find useful. Worth a look, it's well done as is everything Apple does, in my opinion of course.

Google Drive to Offer 5GB Storage

"Sometimes we get lucky, and today is one of those days. I got a draft release from a partner of Google’s upcoming Google Drive service and it gives away a wealth of information about how Google plans to take on the incumbent Dropbox. The short story? 5 GB of storage, and it launches next week, likely on Tuesday at http://drive.google.com"

Cloud storage seems to be pretty hot these days. With long time storage providers like Dropbox and Box, it looks like Google is finally jumping into the fray. Is what they provide good? Time will tell. I think it will partly be a matter of how well integrated their offerings are and how it plays with other applications. I do wonder just what Google will do with the data you store though, as I suspect, much like most of their offerings, they will use it to data mine everything about you, but for 5GB of free storage, off the bat, instead of after referrals, it is tempting.
This does raise the question about cloud storage in general and where it is heading. It looks to become much more generic, and could pose a threat against more specialized storage providers such as imgur. If Google also better integrates its other services with it, it could also compete against companies like Evernote as well. The next few years will prove to be interesting to see who wins out.

Verizon WP8 Devices To Come Before Holiday Season Per CFO

"Shammo also told Reuters that Verizon plans to make its new Windows Phone 8 handsets available later this year, in time for the holiday season, which should see the devices on sale shortly after Microsoft publicly launches the new mobile OS in the fourth quarter."

During Verizon's quarterly earnings report, CFO Fran Shammo voiced strong support for the Windows Phone 8 platform and believes it to be the third ecosystem along with iOS and Android. Also stated was that devices will be available from Verizon before the holiday season. Unfortunately this means there will be no WP7.5 device to supplement the HTC Trophy on Verizon's shelves.

A Speaker Dock for Your iPad From Scoshe

"Speaker docks are a tricky proposition. Build them big enough to boom, and they're hard to fit on your desk or kitchen counter. Build them small, and they usually lack the bass that helps us feel our favorite jams. Scoshe's BassDOCK manages to pack a punch, securely perching your iPad above a compact speaker that fits almost anywhere."

Simple design that works with all versions of iPad, and at $149.99 USD it won't break the bank. And, from the sounds of this review, it does the intended job very well.

Win an iPad From Gogo, Along With a Year's Worth of Service

"Here's one last opportunity for you to grab a new iPad for yourself, and Gogo's pulling out all the stops to ensure you're happy with your new treasure both on the ground and in the air."

Find out all the details right here.

Win a Souped Up Macbook Pro

"This is just totally sick. The guys over at Germany's Hardwrk have taken 16GB of DDR3 RAM and a 1TB Samsung 830 SATA III SSD bundled up in an SSD-RAID-0, slapped it into a 13-inch MacBook Pr running an Intel Core i7-2640M 2.8GHz chip."

This is sick, and in a good way. Leave a comment here to enter yourself in the contest to win this bad boy.

Flip Steady for iPad, Does This Solve Your Case Problem?

"Still haven't found the perfect iPad case for you? Consider the FlipSteady, now being considered at Kickstarter for the iPad 2 and new iPad."

I use a combo method on my iPad. For the front I use the smart cover from Apple and for the back I use hard shell cover from Scoshe. But I am always on the lookout for something better, and this might just be it. But I don't think I need to hurry over to the their Kickstarter page since they appear to be within $600.00 USD of their goal and they have 55 days left. Clever case indeed.

Apple to Partner With The Tribeca Film Festival

"In a rare event partnership, Apple will be participating in the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival in New York City by holding events and workshops at its West 14th St. and SoHo stores."

This will be going on from April 20th through April 28th, and sounds like lots of activities are planned including free workshops and events where you can meet the filmmakers. You can find out more by going here.

Ars Technica: Challenges Getting Windows Phones Updated

"If these rumors are true, buying a Lumia 900-or any other Windows Phone handset-is a risky proposition. If you buy subsidized, on-contract handsets, you'll typically be eligible for a new subsidized upgrade every two years. A reasonable expectation, then, would be two years of software support in the form of bugfixes and updates. But if current handsets can't run Windows Phone 8, they'll essentially be cut off from future support in about six months. Developers might still target the older handsets to some extent, but many more will be targeting Windows Phone 8's extended capabilities and richer APIs."

If you are contemplating buying a Windows Phone it will be of interest to you to understand the update strategy from both Microsoft and the carriers proving the phones. As is outlined in this article, it is clearly an uneven playing field and playing strategy from the participants. Ars Technica goes so far as to warn you that buying a Windows Phone like the Nokia Lumia 900 could lead you down a path where you cannot get your phone software updated, depending on which partners are involved. Note that the Android world also has some of these types of issues. It is an in-depth article, but well worth the read, and only takes one click to get there.

HTC One S Coming Soon to T-Mobile

"This new-ish page for the HTC One S has a terrific list of all the features available on the One S, still expected to hit store shelves a week from today on April 25th."

This may actually be my favorite phone from the One series. While it "only" has a 4.3 qHD screen (540x960) it still has the same high quality camera, 1GB of RAM, 1080p 60fps video recording, Beats Audio, and Snapdragon S4 processor as the One X. On top of that not everyone wants a huge phone with a 4.7" screen and the One S seems to get better battery life than the One X, possibly due to the One X having a larger and higher resolution display. Both the phones come with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). The HTC One S should be available from T-Mobile for just under $600 on April 25th. Hopefully there will be a subsidized price option as well. Make sure you check the T-Mobile site for more information. My favorite feature of the One series is probably the Snapdragon S4 processor. It's the first 28 nm processor available in a smartphone and offers a "next generation" of speed and battery life.

Would you rather have the super-sized 4.7" 720p display or the 4.3 qHD display with better battery life?

Bluetooth SIG Confirms The Nokia Lumia 719

"The Bluetooth SIG has just approved the Lumia 719, saying it's destined for Asia, North America and South America."

The Bluetooth SIG has just confirmed the existence of the Nokia Lumia 719. The 719 is purportedly soon to see the light of day in Asia, North America and South America. From the product details, it appears the 719 is very similar to the 710 in terms of feature set.

Going by Nokia's past naming conventions, this is probably a CDMA variant of the Lumia 710. Hopefully it is destined for either Sprint or Verizon in North America.

PC Gaming Will Never Die! Introducing the Alienware X51

"The X51 is basically the size of an Xbox 360, but the insides are pure PC: Alienware employs a Mini-ITX motherboard, desktop-level Sandy Bridge Intel processors, and a full-sized double-slot graphics card (rotated ninety degrees and connected via a riser card to the PCIe 2.1 x16 slot)."



The gaming industry has seen a lot of changes over the past few years. While gaming consoles have traditionally dominated the market, the rise of casual games on the iPhone and Android have gained a lot of attention lately. PC gaming, though, is like that that kid you see at the school dance, standing in a corner, all alone, trying to look inconspicuous. He may have a lot to offer, and really is a great person, but no one wants to even talk to him because he does not quite fit in with the rest of the crowd. Despite all the love that other gaming platforms get, there is still a great market for PC gaming and the success of Steam suggests that it is not going to die anytime soon. The Alienware X51 looks like a good stab at helping to create more interest in the platform.

The biggest problem I see with the PC platform is its complexity. Performance varies widely, depending on what hardware you have, and with most games being 3D, a lot of computers that use integrated graphics find the experience less than stellar. Distribution services like Steam go a long way to simplifying the distribution chain, but until games can offer a much more stable platform like that which you see with a console, or a mobile device, I am certain that many people will remain put off by the whole thing.

Mastered For iTunes for High Fidelity Music

"Apple's trying to differentiate iTunes from its competitors with a new "Mastered for iTunes" section that's filled with high-fidelity, ear-pleasing music."



If you aren't happy with the run of the mill iTunes music, head to the Mastered for iTunes section to get some higher quality tracks. These files minimize the lost data that happens when music is compressed, so you get more of the dynamic range of the original 24-bit source file. You can get much more detailed information than I am able to provide by heading over to the Mastered for iTunes site.

Go Where No Bird Has Gone Before

"They've conquered smartphones and social networks. Next up for the Angry Birds? The final frontier. We've got the exclusive scoop on the next official game in Rovio's blockbuster, bird-flinging franchise: "Angry Birds Space." The game is due to smash into mobile devices on March 22."



The latest installment of the Angry Birds franchise is launching March 22! It will feature space themed game play complete with planets, zero gravity and, of course, birds - including new birds! Are you excited for the newest Angry Birds game?

Google Files Patent For New Unlock Methods

"A new Google patent application that was published by the by the US Patent and Trademark Office earlier this month, reveals that Google will offer Android OEMs new options to unlock future Android devices. One method simply involves using voice recognition while a second method involves a nifty two-icon methodology."



I'll just say I'm not a fan of any of Apple's lawsuits. It's unfortunate that things have gotten to a point where Google needs to patent an idea for a lock screen just to protect themselves. I do love Google's new idea for unlocking. I'm not so sure about the voice based unlock but dragging items to a target sounds very cool to me. It seems like it would give a lot of flexibility while still making it unlikely that you'll do something accidentally.

What do you think of the new unlock screen? Do you like the idea of a voice activated unlock feature?

Google Flight Search is Now Smartphone Optimized

"All the key flight-finding features of the desktop version are present: search, discover by location, filter by price, airline and calendar view, and have been optimized for the small screen."



While it isn't a native app it looks like Google did a great job of bringing their web based Flight Search to the smartphone. It's very fast and easy to use, that's for sure. In about four taps I was ready to book a round trip flight. I don't fly often but next time I do I'll definitely give this a try. Just go to www.google.com/flights with your smartphone web browser to try it.
What's your favorite flight planning app? Would you consider using Google Flight Search instead or what features does Flight Search lack?

Barnes & Noble Open to Repartitioning Nook

"One of the big differences between the Barnes & Noble NOOK Tablet and the Amazon Kindle Fire is that the NOOK Tablet offers twice as much storage space. While Amazon's tablet has just 8GB, the NOOK Tablet is now available with either 8GB or 16GB."



So you say you want to use more space on that shiny nook you bought for your own programs? Well B&N seems open to that. Not bad for all of the Nook users out there who are itching to fill up their tablets with more apps!

Nokia Lumia 710 Reviewed

"The Nokia Lumia 710 is the second offering into the Windows Phone arena from Nokia, following the release of the Nokia Lumia 800 late last year."

Techradar.com have done an extensive review of the Lumia 710, which looks to be Nokia's offering to the young and trendy set, as well as to the more budget conscious. What's the verdict: it's a decent handset which would be a winner if the price were a tad lower. For the details, head on through the link for the full review.

InstaCam: New Photo App For Windows Phone

"InstaCam is a Windows Phone Instagram client that just hit the Marketplace yesterday. It allows you to take pictures on your phone, add different effects, and then share them via Facebook, Twitter or email. You can log into your Instagram account to check "likes" and comments on your uploaded content. You can also view other people's photos and leave comments, or follow them if you're a fan of their work. The search function can find photos based on key words in pictures' tags. Not an Instagram user? No worries, you can still use InstaCam to browse content anonymously."

Instagram is a very popular iPhone app and service. While Instagram is not currently available for the WP7 platform, this new app enables Windows Phone users to get in on at least some of the fun. Hit the Read link for additional details, but be aware that with this version you cannot actually upload photos to the Instragram service.

The Logitech M600 is a Touchy Mouse

"With the Logitech Touch Mouse M600, things are set to improve, making mousing feel like second nature. You are able to scroll, swipe and surf regardless of where your fingertips rest on the mouse, and it does not matter whether you are a southpaw or not."


There are Touch people, Touchpad people and there are Mice people. Okay, there are probably some TrackBall people around, and TrackPoint/AccuPoint people too. Having grown up in front of desktops, I find mice the most efficient way of navigating my computing. For tablets and phones, sure, touch is great, but it is the mouse I crave when I want to deal with lots of information. But with Logitech's latest creation, why not get the best of both worlds? Touch mice have been around for a few years in several incarnations. I remember one of Logitech's earliest attempts 8 years ago with the v500, though that did not support multi-touch. The only problem is that I do not know if I will feel comfortable looking like I'm fondling my mouse while I whisk through all that data.

Olympus Announces OM-D E-M5 Micro Four Thirds Camera

The big news of the past 24 hours is Olympus's E-M5 camera, which is part of the OM-D line. For the uninitiated, Olympus used to make small and very well-made film SLRs back in the day, under the OM moniker. I myself started photography using dad's OM-1 almost two decades ago. Ah, the memories!
Well, while Olympus is trying to stir feelings of nostalgia, I can say that the OM-1 and this E-M5 are quite different beasts once you get past the superficial. The E-M5 is a digital camera through and through, with the controls pretty much geared towards an electronically-controlled lens mount, unlike say, the Fuji X100. Still, it does look good, and the accessory battery grip is really retro; I have not seen something like that since the old motor winders back in the days of manual focus SLRs.

The camera itself is made from the best Micro Four Thirds has to offer. Highlights include a sensor that is the 16 megapixel Live MOS affair that goes from ISO 200 to 25,600 (presumably from Panasonic; about time Olympus ditched that old 12 megapixel sensor), a contrast-detect system that Olympus promises to be world's fastest (challenging cameras like the mighty Nikon D3S and Canon EOS 1DIV), an improved sensor-shift stabilisation system that promises to keep track and correct movement in five different axis, 1080i video at up to 60 FPS, continuous shooting at 9 FPS with single AF, 4.2 with continuous AF, 3" tilting VGA (presumably using a Pentile arrangement) OLED screen, a great SVGA EVF and a weather-proofed body that offers complete weather-proof capabilities when used with the right lenses. Despite that faux pentaprism hump (it is its successor, the EVF hump), there is no built-in flash, just like the old OM cameras.
Other niceties include things like a Live Bulb mode, so you can keep track of the exposure when it is progress. Ever shot in bulb and have no idea how long to open the shutter for, especially in conditions where the light level is rapidly changing? This is the crutch. There is also a tone curve overlay for finer control over how the camera handles shadows and highlights, though I suspect that is more for JPEG shooters.

All that nice stuff does not come cheap. The camera will ship in April for US$1000 for just the body, $1100 with a 14-42mm kit lens, and $1300 with the new 12-50 powerzoom lens (which is weather-proof). Along with the camera, Olympus also announced a 75mm f/1.8 lens, a 60mm f/2.8 macro, and a new flash with an LED for video work, the FL-600R. The FL-600R will ship in April for US$300, while pricing information for the lenses are not available.

More details and photos at the link, along with a preview! Be sure to see the grip, it just so old school!

Kodak to Cease Making Digital Cameras

"Kodak has announced that it is ceasing production of digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames."



Kodak has been a real mess for the past 20 years, with management trying to keep a hold on a lucrative but dwindling core business. As Kodak exits a market it never really could compete in against the Japanese, I wonder what the post-bankruptcy future it has? Paper? More film? Licensing the name is only going to go so far without some innovations from the parent company. In the end, I think this pretty much confirms Kodak as a has-been.

Iphone Extra Layer of Glass

"Instead of opting for a flimsy plastic screen protector, try protecting your iPhone's screen with another thin layer of tough glass."

If I didn't already have one backup of Invisishield on my shelf, and planning on buying the iPhone 5 this summer, I think I'd give this a go. Basically its a thin shield of glass to offer even more protection for your iPhone screen. At roughly 84.80 MYR it isn't a cheap malaysian gadget, but if it works then well worth it I'd say.

Another Option for 5GB of Free Online Storage

"Dropbox is dead simple for syncing files across your computers, but doesn't offer much in the way of customization or advanced features."

Signup couldn't be easier, and it gives you some flexibility and customization about what you want to sync from your computer. You can also keep files in sync across various devices. Free storage is always a good thing and they also offer reasonable storage rates should you need more than 5GB. But remember that you should also keep a stored copy that you can access in case the online version gets lost. Stranger things have happened. You can check it out here.

Attention Malaysian Smartphone Gamers, This Xappr is for You!

"Xappr is a gun accessory for your iPhone that'll instantly appeal to everyone from fans of the original Duck Hunt on Ninteno to the latest Halo or Call of Duty FPS shooters."

Awesome concept for smartphone games that are first person shooters. You can preorder yours here, and they are expected to run about $30.00 USD when it is launched this summer. Yes, this is made to use with any smartphone, be it iPhone, Android or Windows Phones.

RCA's USB Wall Charger, Just Plug It In!

"Most modern smartphones, tablets, MP3 players, and other malaysia gadgets rely on USB-based chargers. Some of these come with their own AC wall adapters, while others include nothing more than a USB cable-meaning you have to plug them into your computer to get them charged."


The nice thing about this thing is that you just plug it into the existing outlet, so it's basically a cover. No need to replace the current outlet so you don't have to worry about shocking yourself silly. And it goes for the small sum of $15.00 USD at Lowes (currently out of stock in my area), or you can get it at Amazon.com for $12.47 USD (currently in stock with both white and almond colored versions).

The Hidden iPad Keyboard Keys

"If you're an iPad "power user," you're probably familiar with its useful split keyboard for typing with your thumbs.But did you know that Apple snuck in six hidden virtual keys to ensure that you never stretch your thumbs too far?"


I will have to give this a go the next time I have my iPad out, it might help my typing speed!

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7: Great Tablet w/Ice Cream Sandwich

"Samsung wants to make an Android tablet for everyone, which is why they have four screen sizes: 7.0", 7.7", 8.9", and 10.1". For many, their 7.0" and 7.7" tablets provide an excellent level of portability while also giving you plenty of screen to warrant a great tablet experience."

A super AMOLED Plus screen with a pixel density of about 196 ppi (iPad 2 is about 131 ppi, for comparison) at 1280x800 makes this tablet a delight to the eyes. Two models are currently shipping: one with wifi and one with wifi and unlocked GSM/UMTS bands. A 4G LTE version is planned for 2012 from Verizon. An unusual (but interesting) feature, the Tab 7.7 has an earpiece, making phone features a possibility, bit it is not yet enabled in the software. Overall, this is a great tablet, but is currently hampered (per the reviewer) by Android 3.2's quirkiness. Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) is expected sometime in 2012 Q1. Battery life is outstanding, thanks in part to the Super AMOLED Plus screen's efficiencies. There are currently several resellers, and costs start at $572 for the wifi-only version, or $668 for a version that'll work with an AT&T SIM. With Android 4.x onboard, this may be getting close to the perfect tablet: long battery life, beautiful screen, and fast!