Apple Sued Over Privacy Issues

Apple is being sued by a California man due to the privacy issues with some of their apps.

Jonathan Lalo filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court in San Jose, California on Thursday, December 23, because he says that Apple produces devices that give access to ad networks to allow them to track a user’s app activity without the consent of the user. The complaint that Lalo filed mentions names like Pandora, Paper Toss, The Weather Channel and Dictionary.com.

Lalo claims that this ad network tracking occurs on Apple’s iPhone and the iPad, and it allows the networks to see which applications people are downloading, how often they use them, and how long they are using them. Lalo also claims that both iPhones and iPads feature a Unique Device Identifier (UDID), a number that is specific to that device, which users cannot block, alter or delete.

According to the suit, the UDID "is now being used by ad networks to track Plaintiffs and the Class – including what apps they download, how frequently they use the apps, and for how long. Some apps are also selling additional information to ad networks, including users' location, age, gender, income, ethnicity, sexual orientation and political views."

It continues saying that due to this, Apple and the app developers both “invaded their privacy, misappropriated and misused their personal information and interfered with the operability of their mobile devices." According to Bloomberg, the suit claims that it is seeking justice on behalf of all of the Apple iPhone and iPad users who have downloaded an app between December 1, 2008 and last week.

"None of the defendants adequately informed plaintiffs of their practices, and none of the defendants obtained plaintiffs' consent to do so," one plaintiff of the lawsuit alleged.

So far, Apple has made no comment concerning the allegations.

Issues over privacy have been prevalent of late. Just last week, there was an article in the Wall Street Journal that discussed how mobile apps send certain information out without the user’s consent or knowledge and that the use was “widely and regularly” practiced by companies. The article focused on a study that examined 101 different mobile applications. It found that iPhone apps gave out more personal information without a user’s consent than Android apps did.

The Journal also included a list of the “leakiest” apps that included Pandora, Paper Toss, and TextPlus 4. These apps send out information including age, gender, ZIP codes and user IDs to several different ad networks. The information that is released the most often, which is usually either sent back to the app manufacturer or sold to an ad network, is the device’s UDID because this information allows companies to see what the owner does with his or her device.

The article in the Journal spurred the Mobile Marketing Association to decide that new, more specific privacy guidelines need to be devised that inform consumers about what information is being released to advertisers and how it is being utilized.

Right now there are two separate suits going on. One deals with the
iPhone, and the other deals with the iPad. A partner in the Fears & Nachawati law firm and the attorney of one of the complainants Majed Nachawati said that he would not be surprised if at some point the cases were consolidated into one case by the judges that are presiding over the cases.

Nachawati also said, "We are also looking at Google's Android platform and a lawsuit against them has not been ruled out.”

After these privacy issues have been made known to the public, there now seems to be a growing concern about users' privacy on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Despite the filing of the two separate lawsuits, some experts are predicting that the court cases will not be successful.

In April Apple did amend its developer agreement to ban all apps from sending user data to third parties unless it was information that was directly necessary for the functionality of the app.

The lawsuits say though that Apple really hasn’t taken any steps to implement or enforce the changes that they have made due to the criticism that they received from advertising networks.

Trip Chowdhry, a research analyst for Global Equities Research, said that he does not think that the lawsuits will have a big impact on investors.

“If this were a major issue, all web browsers would have to shut down and there would not be any advertising on the Internet,” Chowdhry said.

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E Mobile's New Pocket WiFi

Everybody knows that if you want to see the future of technology, then all you have to do is turn your eyes to Japan. Japan has always been one step ahead of everybody else. it seems, when it comes to great innovations in technology. The country has always been on the cutting edge of the industry which is why it is a little surprising to find that public WiFi solutions are very scarce and that those people who want internet on the go usually have to look for a monthly plan. However, E Mobile has been busy creating a lot of pocket WiFi solutions for a while now and their latest one is very interesting.

E Mobile's newest device is a two-for-one combo; a wireless router and a smartphone hybrid. The device retails for around $235 and features an unlimited data plan for as low as $50 a month. The device also has 256MB of RAM, a 2.8-inch touchscreen display, IEEE802.11 b/g/n wireless LAN, support for five connections simultaneously, 2.1 + EDR Bluetooth, a 3.2 megapixel camera, external memory capabilities in the form of microSD/SDHC and Android 2.2.

I know those specs don't make it seem like the greatest phone in the world, but it should appeal to a lot of people who desire their phone and mobile wireless on a single data plan. You will still get all the essential smartphone functions including GPS capabilities and integration with all of the regular Google services just like any other Android phone. People also will not have to wait much at all for this device as E Mobile has slated a mid-January release date.

This is clearly going to be a device suited for a traveling businessman. It gives you the ability to connect your phone, laptop, projector and anything else you need to the internet with absolutely no problem, saving you time and even money.

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E-reader Sales Greatly Increase in 2010

According to Gartner, a technology research and business leader, e-reader sales are set to reach a total of 6.6 million units in 2010. This is up 79.8 percent from the sales in 2009, and in 2011 it is predicted that global e-reader sales will surpass 11 million units, a 68.3 percent increase from this year.

"The connected e-reader market has grown dramatically during the past two years, driven by sales of Amazon's e-readers, primarily in North America,” said said Hugues De La Vergne, the principal research analyst at Gartner. This is the dominant region for e-reader sales, and we predict that it will account for sales of just over 4 million units in 2010."

“North America will remain a key market through 2014, although its dominance will decline significantly as regions such as Western Europe and Asia/Pacific become the leading locations for growth,” he continued. “Growth in North American and other markets will remain constrained by the success of media tablets, such as the Apple iPad."

As of right now, there are three dominant e-reader producers in the market: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Sony. Most likely, there will be new competitors that appear in the very near future that will offer low cost devices. These could definitely cause there to be a little more competition in the e-reader market. PC firms and large consumer electronic producers such as HP and Dell are trying to leave their own footprints and make an impact on the market.

Media tablets are the biggest threat to e-readers. They can offer users better experiences for reading electronic magazines and newspapers due to the fact that most of them have color and full video support. Media tablets are able to support e-reader applications as well as many functions that only media tablets can support.

"With media tablets offering more functionality, e-reader vendors need to target avid readers who may see the value of a stand-alone device that performs particularly well," said Allen Weiner, research vice president at Gartner. "E-reader vendors will also need to offer lower prices than for more fully featured media tablets,” Weiner continued. “This will entail smaller profit margins and potential hardware subsidies at retail, and/or the ability to obtain lower-priced components. We think few end users will buy both an e-reader and a media tablet, so it is important that e-readers retain a price advantage."

This holiday season Barnes & Noble chairman Len Riggio said that his company has barely been able to meet the demand for its Nook Color, and Amazon has said that they have been selling millions of Kindles. Sony, the other dominant e-reader producer, hadn’t really been saying a lot about their holiday sales, but just recently, Sony said that it’s “expecting both the Reader Touch and Daily Editions will sell out around the world before the holidays.”

A Sony rep said that they have sold millions of Readers around the world. The rep continued by saying that cost was not the factor that “it was predicted to be.” Despite the difference in price, the sales of the Reader Touch Edition PRS-650 have overcome those of the Pocket Edition PRS-350.

Both of the models have improved touch screens. The PRS-650 does have a larger 6-inch screen and some added features that are not found on the PRS-350 with its 5-inch screen. The Daily Edition PRS-950 is the only model that features a 7-inch screen and wireless connectivity with both Wi-Fi and 3G. (It is selling right now at Best Buy for $250.)

The important statement that Sony has been making often is “around the world.” Sony is marketing their e-readers inside and outside of the U.S., and they probably sell more Readers outside of the country. On the other hand, the Nook is sold exclusively in the United States, and the Kindle is available in the U.S. and the U.K. This will most likely change sometime soon, as Amazon and Barnes & Noble will probably make a global push in the very near future.

E-readers are very popular devices. It’s fascinating to see how quickly the devices are spreading not only throughout the U.S. but also around the entire globe. It will be interesting to see if some other manufacturers are more prevalent by next year and how much the devices will increase in popularity.

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10 Tools for the Mobile Businessman

Working on the go is never easy. Trying to balance between packing and unpacking and making sure you always have everything you need working properly can be extremely stressful. But it doesn't have to be. By using the right tools, you can save yourself a whole lot of time, effort and stress. All it takes is a little planning and a little help.

Folder Lock: Folder lock provides you with 256-bit AES encryption wherever you need it. This encryption is good for any type of file or folder on all types of Windows and even data on a USB device.

Dropbox: Dropbox is an online backup option for Mac OS, Linux and Windows. It offers automatic backup, file sync and the ability to track any and all changes.

Evernote: This online note-taking tool auto-syncs with a desktop application to offer mobile access.

LogMeIn Pro: This tool provides seamless and total access to your PC, whether it be at home or at the office, from any computer with an internet connection.

OneBox: This is a virtual PBX service that forwards any and all calls to any location and includes auto-attendant, voicemail, faxing and conferencing.

Truecrypt: Truecrypt is a free open source disk encryption software for Windows, Mac OS and Linux and provides real-time, on the fly automatic encryption.

Mozy: This service is compatible with both Mac OS and Windows and offers automatic, secure backup.

Stixy: Stixy is a free note-taking service that allows you to share notes and files.

GoToMyPC: This tool allows you to access your computer remotely from any computer connected to the internet.

RingCentral: RingCentral is a virtual PBX service that provides instant-on phone, fax and messaging services. It also has features including toll free numbers, dedicated fax lines and multiple extensions.

So there you go, ten tools that traveling businessmen use to make their mobile work force run smoother and better every single day that they are away from their home or office.

Power Point Projectors
Most business class projectors will do a good job of displaying your PowerPoint presentation. If you have a small presentation group, a 2000-lumen LCD projector will be able to produce a nice and clear picture. For larger audiences you should consider a 5000-lumen LCD projector. Visit the Worldwide Technology Rental Company...Rentacomputer.com

4G on T-Mobile Tablets

On Friday, December 10, T-Mobile announced that by next year they plan to add 4G technology to tablets as an integrated wireless connection. One thing that the company unfortunately did not address is which tablets they would be providing this service for.

"T-Mobile will continue to be at the forefront of wireless innovation, delivering an aggressive 4G product lineup in 2011, including 4G tablets," said T-Mobile spokesman Tom Harlin.

"T-Mobile is working closely with the majority of our OEM partners to deliver 4G products by integrating HSPA+ into roadmaps in 2011 as the dominant global standard," the company said in a statement on Friday. "Consumers will continue to see HSPA+ fuel future innovation in a variety of mobile consumer electronics from smartphones and tablets to emerging devices.”

Already, T-Mobile has launched their MyTouch 4G, which was the first of the company’s phone lineups to utilize 4G technology, and obviously from the statements, the company plans to definitely improve its 4G technology use in the near future for phones and tablets. It was in November of this year that T-Mobile announced that its network was worthy of having the title “4G.”

T-Mobile said that they had turned on its HSPA+ in six more metro areas including Chicago. They also announced the retail availability of the myTouch 4G phone and a Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbook with built-in HSPA+.

“HSPA+ is evolving a far more ambitious and long-term road map than was originally envisioned. T-Mobile is using an upgrade to HSPA+ to deliver faster 4G speeds today and is quickly bringing a number of HSPA+ devices to market that greatly enhance the mobile data experience for its customers,” the company said.

T-Mobile chief network officer Neville Ray said, "By the end of this year, we'll have two times [the coverage] out there from anything approaching a competitive LTE or WiMAX footprint."

There has been some major controversy brewing recently over the true definition and wireless standards of “4G.” This all began when the ITU, the global body that is charged with deciding on the wireless standards for things like 4G, said that nothing that was being sold in the United States actually met 4G standards. This means that everyone is making up their own 4G standards and at least in the U.S., 4G doesn’t necessarily mean the same things from carrier to carrier. T-Mobile wants to make it very clear that its HSPA+ is just as fast as Sprint’s 4G WiMAX.

“The footprint of our 4G service is not something that competitors are going to match anytime soon.”

It’s great to hear that tablets on T-Mobile could have 4G capabilities sometime in the near future. It would just be nice to know which tablets they plan to provide the service for. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait too long for them to begin offering 4G service. Until then though, I guess we’re just going to have to wait patiently for T-Mobile to get everything all together and figured out.

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iPad 2 Speculations from Digitimes

There have been a ton of rumors swirling around about the possibilities surrounding the iPad 2. Not a lot of details are known about it besides the fact that it will definitely be an upgrade from the original iPad, and it will address some of the issues that the iPad has been criticized for.

According to a report from Digitimes on Tuesday, December 7th, Apple’s manufacturer Foxconn Electronics will begin to ship out the iPad 2 by the end of February 2011. Now that doesn’t mean that Apple will be making the iPad 2 available to the public yet. It only means that the devices are being shipped to Apple to be readied for release.

The Foxconn Electronics plant, located in Shenzen, China, is rumored to initially supply anywhere between 400,000 and 600,000 units over the course of the next 100 days. Digitimes reported that the hardware that will be featured on the device is still being tested. Digitimes also said that eventually Foxconn will supply Apple with their products from a plant located in Chengdu, but as of right now, those devices are still in production.

Recently, an analyst from Gleacher & Company suggested that the iPad 2 should be on sale in the United States by April, but right now Apple hasn’t said anything about a release date. Earlier reports said that Apple would continue with its typical update cycle and offer the newest version of the iPad for the holiday season, but obviously that isn’t happening.

Although everyone is calling the new version of the iPad the iPad 2, that is not its official name. Apple has not publicized the new name yet. As mentioned above, the new version will take care of many of the issues that people had with the original iPad. It will feature a dual-camera setup, support of Facetime video chat, and much more. Some gamers are hoping that the iPad 2 will also feature a gyroscopic setup for motion control. Reports say that the 30-pin dock connector that is found on the original iPad could easily be replaced with a mini-USB port, a Cortex A9 CPU, and additional memory which could make the new iPad much more powerful.

Since the launch of the original iPad in April, the sales of the device have been incredibly strong. In the third quarter alone, Apple sold 4.19 million iPads. The sales for this quarter seem as though they will not be as high as expected. They will most likely come in somewhere around five million.

Digitimes said that Apple should most likely begin clearing out their inventory so they have room for the new version of the iPad. They continued saying that last quarter Foxconn shipped out around six million iPads, which leaves about 1.8 million devices that have not been sold yet. Apple should order around 1.6 to 1.8 million iPads at the beginning of the year, but after that order, they should start reducing the number of iPads that they ship in so that they have room for the iPad 2.

It is really exciting to see possible release dates for the iPad 2. The original iPad is incredible in itself so it will be even more amazing to see a new and improved version of the device. Hopefully, Apple will soon release some official reports about dates, prices, features, etc., but until then, it is all left up to speculation.

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So, What Do the Masses Think About the Samsung Galaxy Tab vs. Apple’s iPad?

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab is the highly anticipated, extremely hyped-up tablet that was released worldwide about two months ago. In mid-November the device was made available at all four of the major wireless U.S. carriers, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile, which is sure to help boost the Galaxy Tab's sales numbers.

So, how has it done so far you might ask? Well, just recently, Samsung reported that they had sold over 1 million devices. But how does this compare to Apple’s iPad when it was first released? The larger 9.7 inch screen Apple iPad went on sale this past April and hit the 1 million devices sold mark in about a month, meaning that comparatively the Galaxy Tab is definitely behind numbers-wise. You must consider though that the iPad was a novelty that drew people in with its exclusive uniqueness. It had no real competition when it was released. When taking this into consideration, it shows that realistically Samsung is doing quite well with their Android-based 7-inch screen Galaxy Tab.

The Thanksgiving weekend is sure to have spurred the Galaxy Tab sales, although Samsung has not yet released those sales figures. Individual carriers have said that they are very encouraged by the sales of the Galaxy Tab, but they also have not revealed any of those numbers.

As of right now, despite Samsung’s best efforts to market their new product, it seems as though the iPad will be the dominant tablet this holiday season. In a survey conducted by Piper Jaffray, a hearty 85 percent of respondents said that they preferred the iPad over the Galaxy Tab.

Senior research analyst Gene Munster wrote, "Although we expect both platforms to find success in the market in [2011], we believe iPad is taking an early lead over competing Android-based tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab."

Now it is important to note that the survey was only taken by 65 people, and the Galaxy Tab really hasn’t been out very long, while the iPad has had close to eight months to make its impression. Piper Jaffray chose people at random to participate in their survey. They asked individuals on their way in or out of a large national retail chain store to spend some time with both the Galaxy Tab and the iPad, and they then asked them which device they preferred.

The survey also asked people about their perceived value of both the devices. Respondents said that they felt the iPad (3G + Wi-Fi) was worth $417 (34 percent below its actual price) and that the Galaxy Tab was worth $283 (53 percent below its actual price). People seemed to think that the iPad seemed fancier than the Galaxy Tab. It is interesting to consider what people really felt the value of the devices was. "While the iPad is priced $30 higher than the Galaxy Tab, the perceived value of the iPad was $134 higher," said Munster.

Although right now it seems that the iPad is the preferred device, Piper Jaffray said that they believe both tablets will be successful.

"While we expect both the iPad and Android tablet platforms to find success in the market, we believe iPad is taking an early lead over competing tablets," the report said. "We are modeling for Apple to sell 13 million iPads in [2010], an estimated 89 percent market share with very limited competition; however, we estimate this share will drop to 53 percent next year, with Android-based tablets attracting 33 percent of the market. "

In Apple’s fourth quarter which ended October 31st, they reported that more than 4 million iPads had been sold, and analysts estimated that prior to the Thanksgiving weekend about 8 million iPads have been sold overall since its release. Despite this, Samsung is a fantastic company that is respected by many. The Galaxy Tab also features some things that the iPad cannot offer. I believe that the device will most definitely be a success. It just needs a little time to catch up with the iPad.

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The Primo Power Core from PhoneSuit

When most people travel, they make it their personal mission to take as much technology with them as possible. The thought of being disconnected from the world for even a second sends chills down the spines of many a man. Many people just cannot bear to leave behind their laptops, smartphones or iPods, so they don't. The only problem with this is that all of these devices have batteries that need charging. So, the more pieces of technology you decide to take with you, the more things that need to be charged and the more chargers, cords and cables you have to take with you.

Thankfully, there are companies out there that are dedicated to making universal devices that are capable of charging each and every single piece of equipment you could possibly want to bring along when you travel. One such company is PhoneSuit, and their newest product is known as the Primo Power Core.

The Primo Power Core is a new device from PhoneSuit that acts as a portable power plant. The device features an 8200mAh capacity battery that comes in a lightweight package and has enough power to charge a number of different portable devices multiple times on a single charge. The Primo Power Core features a lot of cool features like automatic amp switching technology which ensures that all of your devices will charge as quickly as possible.

This power core uses high density lithium ion batteries that deliver the 8200mAh of power which is enough to fully charge an iPhone 4 or Android phone up to four or five times or even fully charge an iPad once. An integrated power switch on the device allows you to put the power core in a standby mode which prolongs its power storage allowing you to have it ready for whenever you need it.

What is great about this power core is that it is extremely universal. This device is compatible with almost all smartphones, tablets, netbooks, laptops and mobile devices. The device is also Apple certified, meaning Steve Jobs has yet another device to try and take over the world with. The Primo Power Core works with all types of iPhones, iPods and iPads ensuring that you can always get your Apple crack fix.

Here is a full list of all the products supported by the Primo Power Core. Supported devices include: iPad, iPhone, iPod, Blackberry, Android Smartphones, Android Tablets, Samsung, HTC, Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, LG, Palm, Bluetooth Headsets, GPS, eReaders and a ton more.

The Primo Power Core makes a perfect stocking stuffer for this holiday season and is definitely something every tech junkie will be dying to get their hands on. So, why not make your technology obsessed special someone the happiest little nerd this year and get them the Primo Power Core from PhoneSuit? This device is available now for a market price of $99.95.

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New iPod Dock/Pico Projector?

Lately, I’ve been noticing that companies are beginning to couple certain devices into one convenient device. I’ve especially been seeing this within the projector field. Everywhere you can find phones with projectors, cameras with projectors, and now an iPod deck with a projector. Optoma, a manufacturer of DLP and pico projectors, has just recently announced their new Neo-i. The company says that the Neo-i is the world’s first all-in-one iPod sound dock to feature a built-in pico projector. This is definitely an odd combination, but it could be extremely useful at times.

Although the Neo-i is technically not a portable device, it is very easy to move from place to place. It measures in at 8.9 x 12.8 x 3.1 inches (HWD) and weighs 2.5 pounds. The device features a variety of inputs including a VGA, an A/V jack, an Audio Out, an HDMI, and a DC jack. It also comes with a 16-watt speaker system that provides some great sound including a nice bass reflex for an iPod dock. The docking station of the Neo-i uses Apple’s 30-pin connector. This means that you can use your Apple iPod, iPhone, or iPod Touch with the device, and that the station will charge whatever device you are utilizing. The HDMI and VGA ports even allow you to connect devices like your laptop, Blu-ray player, or Apple TV to the Neo-i. There is also an accessory kit that is offered that will allow you to connect your iPad to the docking station.

Optoma allows you to control your iPhone or iPod from the device with an IR remote that they include with the dock or from the backlit control panel on the top of the Neo-i. You are also able to display the artist name or song or video titles by utilizing the projector, which is awesome. The projector built in to the oval shaped dock is a 50 ANSI Lumen Pico projector. It utilizes LED backlight behind the device's 0.3” WVGA DLP color wheel. This means that the device has a low enough power draw to run on batteries alone. The pico projector can deliver up to a 854 x 480 pixel resolution in its 16:9 format. Its image can be projected at any size from 5 to 120 inches, and it features a contrast ratio of 2000:1.

Unfortunately, the Neo-i iPod Dock/Pico Projector will not be available for sale until sometime in mid-December. It will be selling for $449.

I think that this new technology from Optoma is fantastic. Optoma has been producing projectors for quite some time, so it’s not too incredibly hard to believe that they decided to integrate a projector into an iPod dock. It makes sense. I think it’s a great combination and something that will definitely be a hit with iPod and iPhone users. It’s also going to be released just in time for the holiday season. I think that Optoma will do well with this new product, but I guess we will just have to wait and see.

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New Nook Color at Barnes & Noble

On Tuesday, October 26th, Barnes & Noble released their first major brand color e-book reader. In the past few months, other companies like Literati and Pandigital have released their own color e-book reader devices, but Barnes & Noble is the company that really got things right.

The device has been dubbed the Nook Color. The classy e-book reader features a 7-inch, 1024 x 600 LCD screen from LG surrounded by a black bevel that offers customers over 16 million different colors. The device weighs under a pound, runs Android 2.1, features built-in Wi-Fi, 8GB of memory, and a microSD card slot that allows users to add even more memory to the device. The battery life of the device comes in at about eight hours, which is a lot less than many of the other e-book readers available as of now.

At the time of the launching of the device, Barnes & Noble’s bookstore will have more than two million books available and over a hundred periodicals. These periodicals can either be subscribed to or purchased as single issues, which is a nice touch.

There are several new things featured in the Nook Color that have not been included with the previous devices in the Nook line. One of these fantastic features is the “Nook Kids” section that offers a variety of different children’s books. Children are given the option to either read the book to themselves or have the book read to them out loud by the e-book itself.

Other great features include the social integration option. It allows users to easily send a quote or status to Facebook or Twitter while reading a book. Also included with the Nook Color is the LendMe feature. This allows users to lend a book to a friend and see the books that your friends have that you might like to borrow. Obviously there are restrictions put into place by the publishers, but no matter what, this is still a really cool feature.

You can expect to have a wonderful reading experience with the Nook Color. The screen is bright and extremely responsive, and navigation is incredibly simple with the device. There is one single button at the bottom of the device that works as the home button. It allows you to go to the home screen or to help navigate books and apps.

The bugs are still being worked out of the Nook Color, but it really does give you a pretty darn good experience. The software found on the Nook Color is definitely much better than the software found on the original Nook. Right now, loading books and apps is rather slow, but flipping through the pages of the books or swiping across the screen is very quick and responsive.

Barnes & Noble says that they will continue to sell the original Nook, which has had a large firmware update that worked out many of the kinks that had been the complaints of many customers. The Nook Color will be available on Friday, November 19th. It will be sold at Best Buy, Walmart, Books a Million, and online for $249. If you’re looking for an e-book reader, the Nook Color is definitely one to keep on your list of possibilities.

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The Samsung Galaxy Tab is Coming Soon

Just recently Verizon Wireless announced that they would be offering customers the Apple iPad in over 2,000 of their stores as of October 28th. Now they have said that they will also be selling the Samsung Galaxy Tab in stores on November 11th for $599.99.

There have been many rumors and speculations circulating about the 7-inch Android tablet from Samsung. Although the tablet will most definitely be made available in Verizon stores, Samsung has said that it will be available from all four of the major U.S. carriers. Unlike Verizon, the other carriers have not come up with a concrete date or price for the tablet.

When Samsung announced that they would be releasing the Galaxy Tab in the U.K. on November 1st, more rumors began to swirl surrounding the tablet. Boy Genius said that the device would be released from Sprint for $400 sometime around November 14th if you signed up for a contract. Without a contract they claimed that the tablet would cost $600. There were also speculations that T-Mobile would offer the device for $400 with a two-year contract and a $50 rebate or $650 without a contract.

The $600 price that Verizon is selling the Galaxy Tab for is without a contract. The carrier will be offering customers a $20 per month plan that will give them up to 1GB of data each month. They are also offering data plans with the iPad that include a 3GB, $35 per month plan and a 5GB, $500 per month plan. As of October 28th, Verizon will also have a 16GB iPad bundle that includes MiFi Mobile hotspot for $629 that can allow you to connect up to five mobile devices.

I have been extremely excited about Samsung’s Galaxy Tab. As amazing as iPads may be, I have a feeling that until the iPad is updated, the Galaxy Tab is going to be even more amazing. The Galaxy Tab can do so many of the things that the iPad unfortunately cannot. It is much closer to functioning like a laptop. It does have a smaller screen than the iPad, but it features things that cannot be found on the iPad like two cameras, phone capabilities with Bluetooth, and flash video support. I think Samsung definitely added some great features to the Galaxy Tab that have been missing from the tablet industry. If I was looking for a tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab would definitely be the first I would consider. Check out more details to see if the Galaxy Tab is right for you.

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Why You Should Never Be Without Your iPhone...

Public and online polling has revealed that the general public truly believes that the iPhone is the ultimate travel tool. The iPhone allows individuals to stay informed, connected, and entertained. A creative consultant who commutes weekly from NYC and London, Felicia Tumaneng, said, “I wouldn't be able to leave the country without it.”

The iPhone is the best electronic guide available right now. Here are some of the ways that you can use your iPhone as the ultimate travel guide.

In the Car
One of the great features is the new TomTom App for the iPhone. It features “navigate-to-photo,” turn by turn directions, and rush hour and traffic alerts. The TomTom App turns your iPhone into a fantastic GPS system. It is available for $39.99.

The useful GasBook app is available at the Apple store for $0.99. This app offers you the most up-to-date gas price listings at stations nationwide. It also includes a fuel log that will keep track of your vehicle’s fuel stats. This is a very convenient app to have on your iPhone.

Trapster is another great app to have in the car. It is the perfect app for those individuals who might drive a little on the speedy side. This app alerts users when they approach speed traps, red lights, speed cameras, police check points, accidents, and other roadway hazards.

At the Airport
FlightBoard is another amazing app to have on your iPhone and is available for $3.99. It gives you an interactive view of over 4,000 airport and 1,400 airline boards. You can view either the arrival or departure board from basically any airport in the world.

The FLYSmart app is free and is geared towards individuals traveling within the United States. This app allows you to not only track flights but also find restaurants, bathrooms, and clubhouses in airports across the nation.

Bored and Need Entertainment
There are thousands of games available for the iPhone at the Apple apps store. One of these incredibly entertaining games is Words with Friends. It is a game that is essentially Scrabble. It is a great game to exercise your mind and waste some spare time when you’re bored.

Recently an app was released that allows subscribers to watch TV on their iPhone. PlayOn is available for $40/year and allows users to watch Hulu, ESPN, Netflix, Comedy Central and lots of other channels right from their smartphone.

Need a Bite to Eat
There are plenty of restaurant locating apps that are available for the iPhone. Yelp is free, UrbanSpoon is free, and Local Eats is only $0.99. These are all great apps that will help you locate any kind of restaurant you want no matter where you are.

Want to Make a Payment?
You can easily pay your bills with your iPhone. Apps like MobilePay USA allow users to make payments directly from their phones. Users simply enter their account information online. The card’s information is not stored in the phone, and a PIN number is required to access the information online. It is a safe and secure app that can be very useful at times.

These are just a few of the incredibly useful travel apps offered for the iPhone. There are plenty more that can be found at the Apple apps store. It is definitely true that the iPhone is the best possible travel companion. It can assist you with so many of your travel needs. So before you walk out the door, always make sure that you have your iPhone with you.

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A Tablet Coming From Motorola

Everyone wants to go head to head with the iPad and put a little competition into the game, and Motorola is not about to be left behind. Unfortunately, it is going to be awhile before we see a glimpse of this tablet from Motorola.

The co-chief executive of Motorola, Sanjay Jha, told individuals at Motorola’s investment conference, “We want to make sure that any tablet that we deliver is competitive in the marketplace, and I think all of us will make sure that we will only deliver that when that occurs.”

I think that it is definitely a good idea that Motorola spends the time perfecting a tablet so that they can be competitive, but I also feel that they should be careful not to take too much time because they do not want the tablet hype to wear off at all.

Some are hopeful that the tablet will be released by early next year, but there are still some issues that need to be worked through. The latest build of Google’s Android is one of these concerns. Froyo, Android 2.2, Google’s mobile operating system, is not exactly one hundred percent ready for a full-on tablet. Jha stated that they simply will wait until the Google, Android software can accommodate a tablet. This is certainly disappointing but understandable.

Motorola has been supporting Google’s mobile operating system a lot lately. They have recently released several Android-based phones including the Cliq, Devour, Charm, Backflip, Droid, Droid 2, and Droid X.

Looking for a tablet now or in the near future? Check out the Kindle 3G, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, or Facetime-Compatible iPad.

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Facetime-Compatible iPad from Apple?

According to sources, Apple is already hard at work updating the iPad. There are a variety of new features that the iPad will include, but one of the most exciting features is Apple’s Facetime video chat capabilities.

Apple will have to build a user-facing camera into the iPad. It will most likely be very similar to the built-in camera on the iPhone 4 or the newest version of the iPod Touch. Apple Insider sources are saying that this revamped version of the iPad is already in the testing phase and should be released no later than the first quarter of 2011. Apple really hopes to be able to release their new iPad before the 2010 holiday season.

The iPad has taken the world by storm. I think that these new upgrades will only cause sales to go up even more. In July Apple had sold over 3.27 million iPads. The demand for iPads was incredible when they were first released. Apple’s shipping process was disrupted for months. They were forced to delay the shipping of U.S. and international orders of the device due to the unbelievable popularity and sales of the iPad. Starting in late August, Apple finally has been able to get a handle on their iPad sales. Orders that are placed now are shipped within 24 hours.

Facetime has become one of Apple’s newest technological advances that they are incorporating in their devices. It only makes sense to include it with the iPad. Facetime is something that people want in their devices. It’s a novelty that deserves to be a part of an elegant device like the iPad. If Apple can have the newest version of the iPad with Facetime available before the holiday season, I have a feeling that lots of lucky people will be finding iPads in their stockings. I guess we’ll just have to see if Apple can get it all together by then.

Not sure if you're convinced the iPad is the tablet for you? Check out Samsung's Galaxy Tab or the Kindle 3G.

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Comparing Samsung’s Galaxy Tab and Apple’s iPad

The tablet industry is booming right now. It seems that every leading technology company feels the need to release a tablet after observing the continuously growing popularity of the Apple iPad. On Wednesday, September 1 Samsung announced that they are joining the tablet movement with their Galaxy Tab. From the looks of this device, it seems that it could quite possibly give the iPad some serious competition.

The iPad has dominated the tablet industry up to this point. Why is that? Well, yes it is constructed extremely well and has incredible features, but it also is one of the very few tablets to actually make it on the market. There are a few other tablets available to date, but they don’t even come close to measuring up to the iPad. Now that the Galaxy Tab is set to be released soon, that could all change.

Unfortunately, Samsung has not given a specific date for the release of the Galaxy Tab. Representatives have said that it will be released in the United States and Europe sometime “in the coming months.” An actual working device was revealed to the public at the IFA trade show in Berlin recently. This at least gives some hope that the release date will be sooner rather than later.

So how does the Galaxy Tab compare to the iPad you might ask? Well, take a look at them side by side.


































I don’t know what you may think about this, but in my opinion, there are definitely some features on the Galaxy Tab that could give it the edge over the iPad. I guess we’ll just have to see what everyone thinks when Samsung releases the tablet. I think that Apple needs to be getting ready to release a new and improved iPad though, in case the public goes for some of the Galaxy Tab’s features that aren’t found on the iPad.

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The New Kindle 3G

It is sad but true. The paper book may be fading into obscurity, but is this really such a bad thing? Sure, a shelf full of books may look outdated and pretentious in a few years, but the slow creep of change from paper to digital does nothing but good for the environment and makes reading on the go simpler than it has ever been before. Amazon was the first powerhouse on the e-reader front with its Kindle, and even though many other contenders have appeared, Amazon's newest version of the Kindle offers new features that prove that Amazon is still in the lead.

Amazon has always aimed to make the Kindle appear, and to a certain extent feel, like a regular paper book. The screen has always looked like paper and ink, but with the Kindle 3G the contrast has sharpened for clearer text and sharper images. Maybe one of the biggest draws for the new Kindle 3G is that it can be read in bright sunlight. This is a major improvement over other e-readers and a big convenience for reading outside. It is endlessly frustrating to bring a book to the beach only to end up squinting the whole time. The Kindle 3G looks similar to older models, but this time around it has become even lighter at 8.5 ounces and slimmer at 1/3 of an inch. This makes the Kindle 3G lighter than a paperback and incredibly easy to travel with. Sleek and black, with a well spaced QWERTY keyboard, the Kindle 3G is appealing to the eye as well as simple to use.

People who read vary greatly, some have a veritable library in their homes while others pick up the occasional paperback at the grocery store. Kindle 3G can appeal to any type of person, serious reader or no. For those who boast books in the thousands, Kindle 3G has doubled the storage capacity of older models with the ability to hold up to 3,500 books. For the casual reader it is possible to have a quick read anywhere. With the Whispersync network books are downloaded in less than 60 seconds to the Kindle 3G, and once they have been purchased the books can be accessed on any Kindle compatible device, such as a computer or iPhone. The selection of Kindle books is massive. Amazon boasts 670,000 books available for Kindle download. Kindle books are also cheaper than regular paper books, often costings dollars less than their paper counterparts. If it is hard to decide which book to download, Kindle 3G also offers free samples of books to help the customer make a selection. For the frugal reader, Kindle 3G offers over 1.8 million free out-of-copyright books. Books by independent or unpublished authors can be found for little or no charge as well.

Along with upgrades on older features and newer features to ease the complications of reading on the go, Kindle 3G offers some features completely unheard of in previous Kindle devices. First off, Kindle has enhanced its PDF reader, so work related documents can be read without the need for a netbook or laptop, making working on the go easier. Also, as its name states, the Kindle 3G offers 3G wireless coverage in over 100 countries and territories. Even if one opts for the cheaper Kindle without the built in 3G, the newer models offer built in WiFi so the internet can be accessed at WiFi hot spots. Why all the internet capabilities in a device that is strictly used for reading? This newest version of the Kindle has the new WebKit based browser, a completely new addition to the Kindle family. With the WedKit browser the internet can be accessed anywhere by Wifi, making web browsing quick and accessible.

Full of new features and improvements on old features all in a smaller package, the Kindle 3G will soon become a must have for those who read on the go. Thousands of books are available at the fingertips of Kindle owners, and with the Kindle 3G those books are becoming as easy to read as those printed on paper. With better looks, performance, and new built in web browsing, the Kindle 3G is sure to become a staple of the reading world.

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Rent Your Textbooks with Your iPhone

Summer is coming to an end, and school is getting ready to start back up. If you’re looking for a way to save some money this school year, Chegg.com is there to help you. Books can be extremely expensive, but with the new app from Chegg.com, you can search for books, compare book prices, and actually rent the books right from your portable device.

This is a free app that is available for your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. It gives you the exact same experience as the Web site does. Students can search for books by title, author, or ISBN. You can also scan the barcodes on books, compare rental and retail prices, rent books, extend or purchase your rentals, track shipping, or find the nearest UPS location.

This app is so convenient. The moment you get your class syllabus you can start renting all the books that you need. It’s just one more thing that can help make the school year run a little bit smoother.

Right now you can use the coupon code MOBILE when you check out to get 10 percent off of all your rentals and purchases in August. To download the app, check out chegg.com/mobile.

Looking for more great apps? Check out the top 10 free apps for iPhone.

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Amish Country Ohio Wireless Coverage

Tomorrow I leave for a weekend trip to Amish Country Ohio, an area around Holmes County. I was curious which of my wireless devices would have services so I decided to do a quick check. I have a Motorola Droid through Verizon Wireless and an Apple iPad with service through AT&T.

I did a quick Google search for Verizon and AT&T's respective coverage maps and was (somewhat) surprised by what I saw. AT&T didn't have what they call "Moderate" coverage, they had "No Service Available." Even in the city of Berlin, which is a major tourist attraction, the best coverage they could "possibly" offer is shown as "Moderate."

Verizon, however, had full digital coverage for the entire county and surrounding areas.

While I realize we are talking about AMISH COUNTRY here... and the need for wireless/cellular service is probably limited, it brings up what I've always known: AT&T's coverage fails in comparison to Verizon's. I had hoped to be able to leave my laptop at home and use my iPad for everything; now, however, I'll have to bring my laptop in case I need to tether it to my Droid for access to my office.

Why can't AT&T offer better coverage? Why can't they partner with or piggy-back off of Verizon's network? Something. Anything. But as the maps above show... AT&T needs to do something.

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AT&T’s U-Verse App for iPhones

On Monday AT&T announced a brand new app that is very convenient for iPhone users. This app allows you to download and watch certain shows with its new U-verse DVR system.

This AT&T U-verse app seems to be a response to a similar app that was released by DISH Network. Both apps allow you to utilize your phone as a sort of remote control. AT&T customers that have a U300 package or better will even be able to instantly stream shows right to their iPhones.

"We're making it possible for you to watch TV shows on your iPhone at no extra charge. It's just one more valuable and innovative feature available on U-verse TV," stated chief marketing officer at AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets, David Christopher. "Our U-verse multi-screen promise is now a reality for millions of U-verse TV customers, with content available on U-verse TV, U-verse Online, and today, U-verse Mobile. No cable provider comes close to matching the cross-platform experience we're delivering today, and we'll continue to add unique features that further integrate these screens."

Unfortunately, AT&T has not really said whether or not this app would work with Apple’s iPad. The iPad has the same OS as the iPhone, but it is still unclear whether or not the app will work for both devices.

Also, the names of the shows that users will be able to stream have not yet been revealed by AT&T. It is said that they will be from “several popular networks,” but who knows what that means?

No matter what, this is still a very cool new app. It allows you to not only record your favorite shows that you might miss but also watch some of them in your spare time. This is a perfect app for iPhone users that are always on the go. If you forget to set your DVR, it’s not an issue because you can take care of everything from your iPhone. This is definitely a very convenient app to have.

Want more cool apps? Check out the top 10 free iPhone apps.

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So You Want a New Smartphone?

It seems like everyone has a smartphone these days, and now you've decided to throw yourself into the mix, but which one do you choose? BlackBerry has always been thought of as a great business tool, but these days almost everyone has one. Apple's iPhone has been growing its presence in the business world and it's very trendy. Then there's the newest kid on the block, the Android, which seems to be all the rage these days. Which one is right for you? You are the only person who can make that decision, but here is a quick look at a few pros and cons of each phone to help you with your choice.

BlackBerry by Research in Motion

Facts:

• BlackBerrys have been on the market since 2002.
• They were originally made for the corporate world but have since become consumer devices as well.

Pros:

• BlackBerrys are very durable (something to keep in mind if you're always on the go).
• There are many different models available, many of which are pleasing to the eye.
• The phone's keyboard is easy to use and offers a number of shortcuts.
• BlackBerrys have an excellent battery life and out-perform the other phones in this category.

Cons:

• There aren't nearly as many apps for BlackBerrys as there are for the other phones.
• Blackberry Apps are more expensive than those for iPhone and Android.
• The phone can't seem to completely shake its corporate image. (This could be a pro or a con, but many average consumers see it as a con.)
• Web browsing on the BlackBerry is not as great as on the other phones.

iPhone by Apple

Facts:

• The iPhone debuted in 2007.
• The phone has a strong fan base, much of which came from Apple brand loyalty.

Pros:

• The App Store has more apps available for the iPhone than you could ever imagine.
• The iPhone uses Safari for web browsing and overall, it provides a much better online experience than the other phones.
• It has a sleek, shiny look that is very pleasing to the eye.
• Its operating system has a lot more features than those of the other phones.

Cons:

• The iPhone breaks very easily. A friend of mine purchased one about a year ago, dropped it on his kitchen table the day he got it and to this day, it still has a huge crack in it.
• If you're looking for a business smartphone, the iPhone may not be it. It's designed for the average consumer.
• The iPhone has a very short battery life which seems to get worse over time.
• Right now, AT&T is the only carrier for the iPhone.

Android by Google

Facts:

• You can find the Android operating system on a number of different devices.
• Android started out on Google-brand hardware which didn't last very long
• Android recently became the top-selling mobile operating system.

Pros:

• The Android Market may not have quite the apps the Apple App Store does, but it's giving the company a run for its money.
• You can choose from a number of different hardware options.
• Android offers Microsoft ActiveSync for corporate messaging.

Cons:

• Like the iPhone, many of the Android devices offer a very short battery life.
• Even though there are tons of Android apps out there, a lot of them are bad. Really bad.

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Fashion26's Socialight Concierge Service

Spending time in New York City anytime soon? Well, if you are, there is a new mobile app that you absolutely have to check out.

The Garment District, New York City’s high-end fashion design center, can be an amazing experience or a complete nightmare. Fashion26 hotel and Socialight, a location-based social media platform that helps connect media content to a physical location, have come together to make navigating the fast-paced streets of New York’s fashion district much easier.

Fashion26 is a Wyndham hotel that just opened in April of this year. The goal of Fashion26 is to cater to the needs of tourists spending their time in New York’s fashion center. The hotel’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Diedre Yack, says that they really wanted to make Fashion26 stand out from the other hotels in the city. In December of 2009 they discovered Socialight and teamed up to develop a mobile service based app for NYC that guides tourists throughout the fashion district.

The app is called Socialight Concierge, and it offers restaurant, shopping, and art recommendations and even walking audio tours. It can provide instant links to NYC concierge services and access to NYC’s subway map. Yack says that Socialight Concierge is simply an extension of the normal concierge services offered. According to Yack, guests have liked and appreciated the app that lets them know about nearby sales, free museum passes, and tons of other useful tourist information.

Socialight’s services go way beyond Socialight Concierge. The Socialight platform finds user-generated content like video, audio, text, imaging, and comments that are all filtered depending on the user’s interests, locations, and times. Now it is very different than the other location-based services that are currently available like Foursquare or Gowalla. Socialight really lets the user customize the experience according to their interests.

The co-founder of Socialight, Dan Melinger, says, “The most interesting part of this to me is how it can enhance one's experience in a city. People aren't going to want to spend all day searching for events in the city. With location-smart push notifications, we can engage with people in a more mutually beneficial way."

The app is basically free with an open API. Socialight makes their money by teaming up with companies like Fashion26 hotel or by charging a small fee to publish an application. Right now it is only available on Apple’s iPhone, but very soon there will be an Android version of the app.

Socialights Concierge is only going to have more opportunities to profit as it gains popularity. There is a ton of potential for restaurants, shops, and museums to utilize the app for advertising to curious tourists. This could definitely bring in the cash for Socialights. They already have sponsorships like the guest bike rental discount with Chelsea Bicycles.

Socialights has a variety of different mobile apps all over the world. Their new Socialight Concierge app can definitely be a huge help if you’re spending some time in New York City. It can give some great tips about the best shopping, restaurants, and museums that NYC has to offer.

Looking for other mobile apps? Read all about the best free iPhone apps of 2010.

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Best Business Apps for Android

The Android operating system that is taking over the smartphone market is becoming increasingly popular among business professionals. But where do you look to find the best apps to fill your specific need? You could go to the Android Market, but it's often hard to find the app you need by simply browsing. Here is a list of the top 10 best business apps, from Forbes.com

1) ALOQA - Aloqa is an app that is a must have if you travel a lot. Even if you don't, it's quite handy. What it essentially does is take your location and based on the things you like, it will show you on a map where those things and places are. So if you're in a meeting with a client, and someone suggests heading out for coffee, you can simply look at your Aloqua map, and if there's a Starbucks in the area, you'll know exactly where to go. It also lets you know the location of gas stations, movie theaters, parks, wifi hotspots, restaurants and your business contacts.

2)GoAruna - GoAruna allows your phone to link up with your desktop for simple file sharing. This app is a two-parter, there's a desktop application to easily upload your files to a cloud-based storage device. Your Android phone can be used to download and upload files to and from your phone without the hassle of connecting it to your computer.

3)Mobile Defense - This is a must have security app for your phone. What mobile defense allows you to, should your phone ever be lost or stolen, remotely lock, backup, locate or wipe your Android phone.

4)Quote Pro - Quote Pro allows you to check multiple portfolios with the swipe of your finger. It provides advanced stock chart and details, news feeds, and quotes from yahoo. Quotes are delayed by 20 minutes, but prices are refreshed every 10 seconds.

5) Hoccer - Hoccer is an app that literally allows you to throw information at someone or, if you're so inclined, a large group of people. If you want to exchange your contact information, you simply flick your wrist at the person your sending it too, similar to a Frisbee, and the transaction is done. You can also "Hoc" your texts, pictures, a file, even an entire presentation!

6) Evernote - Evernote is an app that allows you to literally save files, notes, even voice recordings all in one place. You can access your account with your Android phone and via the internet.

7) Seesmic - Seesmic is a great twitter app to have in your arsenal. It allows you to quickly access multiple twitter accounts so you can switch from your business twitter account to your personal account with the swipe of your finger. It also allows you to use your bit.ly account, to track your link data. The interface is nice and smooth and very easy to use.

8)BuzzDeck - This is an app that allows you to take all the websites you use to gather your daily news and integrates them into one central location. You can get news and updates from over 1,200 sites and make a customized feed to only get the news and information you want.

9) K-9 Email - K-9 is an open sourced email client for your Android phone. It has more features and controls than the default email app on Android. You can configure to IMAP, POP3, and WebDAV email protocols, search multiple inboxes, and my personal favorite feature: you can change the frequency it checks for new mail.

10) Google Voice - Google Voice is a great app! It allows all of your phone numbers to be synced with one central number. It will transcribe your voicemails and send them to you in an email. "Other features include listening to messages while they are being left, recording calls, making low-cost international calls and blocking annoying callers by marking them as spam."

There's so much Android can do, and the Android Market is full of great apps for business as well as personal use. I suggest starting with these 10 apps to help you work on the go.

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CNN Apps for iPod/iPhone

CNN has announced new international news apps available for the iPhone and iPod touch. The apps are available at the Apple App Store and provide you with the ability to follow news by topic, upload iReports, watch video, and more. CNN already has a domestic app available for download.

Features include push notification, regionalisation and personalisation tools, and more. News from around the globe can be viewed through text, video, and photos, as well as content uploaded through iReport from users.

Nick Wrenn, Vice President of digital services for CNN International said of the apps, "Our users, including many business travelers, understand that the world is a highly connected place. Our aim with the CNN App is to serve their mobile needs, putting relevant news, analysis and video right at their fingertips in a form that is both personally relevant and easy to use."

Here is a more detailed look at what the apps have to offer:

• "My CNN" allows users to follow a story or topic and get alerts when something new related to that topic or story is published.
• Users can save stories to read offline.
• Readers can choose a particular area such as Middle East, Africa, Asia, or Europe to get news from.
• iReport allows users to upload video and pictures to CNN's user-generated news community, weigh in on other news stories, and view what others have to say or post.
• The app features easy to navigate news headlines from several categories, including "Top Stories," various regions of the world, business, travel, tech, sports, and entertainment.
• Stories are easy to view and easy to share via email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
• Videos are available on demand.

For more information, visit the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPod touch or CNN.com. The international app is free.

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HelvetiNote App for iPad: Best Note Taking App Available

The iPad is a fabulous piece of equipment that is useful for many things including: checking your e-mail from the comfort of your bed, watching a movie on a long flight, or simply entertaining yourself on the subway. You are most likely fascinated with vast amount of state of the art applications this sleek little device provides. You may also find yourself quite disappointed in the performance of the note taking app that comes standard with the purchase of your iPad in comparison to the other apps your iPad provides. That is why Apple has been working to bring you their newest note taking app, HelvetiNote.

The Standard note taking app that comes with the iPad is somewhat useful, but it seriously lacks in note taking features. HelvetiNote is much more efficient. It is set up to get the thoughts out of your head and onto your iPad. The app is simple in its functionality and is aimed to replace the Notes app on your iPad with its smart, elegant, Helvetica-font-oriented interface.

HelvetiNote is an incredibly simple app to use. To begin creating a note you simply tap the screen and type away. The process is both quick and straightforward, and the app works in both landscape and portrait mode. Portrait mode allows you to view more of your note as you jot down your thoughts. However, if you like having more room to type, you would certainly opt for the landscape view. It offers a nice roomy keyboard and still allows you a view of your note that’s just not quite as generous as portrait mode.

While you are typing out your note, you can choose to have the toolbar open on the screen or hidden away. The toolbar includes a search field, an option to add new notes, and a button to hide the toolbar. The toolbar also displays all of your created notes, cataloged in chronological order. When the toolbar is hidden, the note itself takes over the whole display. The background takes on the appearance of a lined piece of notebook paper and places the title that you have chosen for the note at the top.

One of the most attention-grabbing features of HelvetiNote is its sketch mode. Located in the upper right hand corner of the display screen are two little buttons that permit you to toggle between text input and sketch. While in text mode you can type away your thoughts, then at a touch of a button you can flip over to sketch mode and draw out a diagram within your note. Sketching is quite simple you just use your figure and you can sketch anywhere in your note. If you make a mistake, no need to worry you simply tap the eraser or press a button that will remove the entire sketch without causing any harm to your text.

One of the biggest disappointments about HelvetiNote is that the text doesn’t recognize a sketch and will type right over top of a drawing. Likewise, you can sketch over text. It would have been nice if Apple could have made it so text was aware of the sketch and could avoid it on its own, but overall it is a small inconvenience.

Another let-down about HelvetiNote is that it doesn’t sync apps with your desktop or any other service. This didn’t really bother me but some people did find it disappointing. However there is a button in the lower right hand corner to e-mail your notes.

Overall HelvetiNote is an excellent note-taking app. It’s well designed, easy to use, and has lots of great features that make it very enjoyable to work with. It’s perfect for taking notes in meetings and classes or just jotting down your thoughts when inspiration hits. Also, it’s an excellent value from the Apple store at only $2.99.

Looking to try out an iPad? Check out rentacomputer.com where you can easily rent an iPad or call and talk to a tech travel agent today at 800-736-8772.

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Never Be Late Again with the iHome+Sleep App

Do you find yourself getting to work late or missing important deadlines? What about when you're on the road? Does that hotel wake-up call really wake you up? If you're looking for a new alarm clock with lots of other neat features, iHome+Sleep is the app for you!

Made by iHome, a popular iPod and iPhone accessory brand, iHome+Sleep has a lot to offer. You can create multiple bedtime and wake-up settings with alarms, wake and sleep music, social networking updates, personal reminders, and more. Basically, you can create your own sleep profiles. In addition, the app can be used with some of iHome's hardware or "App-Enhanced" products.

You can also choose music to wake up to from your iPod library, get the weather with the weather widget from The Weather Channel, check up on your sleep stats, and even use it with Facebook and Twitter.

But according to iHome, the app is not yet finished. In the weeks and months ahead, the company will be adding even more features. These will include the ability to sleep and wake-up to internet radio stations, background alarms with multi-task support, improved alarm settings, an improved menu, separate wake and sleep volume/fade settings, and iPhone landscape mode, among others.

You can currently get the free app for your iPod or iPhone, but in the future, iHome plans to make it available for the iPad, as well. For more information, visit iHomeAudio.com.

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BMW's New iDevice Makes Your Commute Entertaining

BMW is stepping things up a notch when it comes to listening to your iPod in your car. Sure, there are several ways to do that in many cars now, but BMW's next-generation iDevice will let you control your apps while you drive, from your dashboard. Or, just to be safe, when you're sitting in a parking lot or your driveway, right? Perhaps your passenger could do the controlling?

Anyway, the new iDrive allows you connect your iPod or iPhone through the iPod out connector and in turn, you'll be able to get data from your media players. If you check out the video below, you'll see that it's really a very gorgeous-looking new feature and would really come in handy during long commutes. It almost makes me wish I still drove 45 minutes to work each day! OK, not really, but it is that neat!

As for safety, it's probably a lot safer than switching songs on your actual iPod while driving because it's a lot bigger and located on the dash. You won't have to worry about messing around with your touchscreen or the wheel on your iPod. On the other hand, BMW may see this as an easy way to avoid putting a fancy entertainment system in its new cars.

Check out the video for more information about the plans to integrate BMW cars and your iPod or iPhone.




Check out these related stories:
1. BMW's Vision EfficientDynamics Concept Car
2. Emergency Stop Assistance from BMW
3. The PoolPod: Floating Waterproof Wireless iPod Speakers

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The GO! Sleeve Keeps Your iPad Safe

The new GO! iPad Sleeve from Shin Norie has just been released. It is a protective sleeve that is made out of waterproof all-weather fabric that will keep your iPad safe and sound. The Cross-Climate performance fabric is perfect for the sleeve. It is soft and breathable, while keeping out water and allowing heat to escape. You will never have to worry about the elements getting to your iPad again.

The sleeve is generously sized. There is plenty of room to accommodate the iPad, even if its in the Apple iPad Case, and it gives it plenty of protection with the foam padding and microfleece lining. The microfleece even helps to clean off the iPad’s screen every time to put the device into the case or pull it out. The GO! Sleeve uses a Velcro flap and a ZipSeal closure to keep your iPad protected.

The GO! Sleeve is available in several different colors and designs. You can get your sleeve with either a red or gray stripe design or a red or gray arrow design. You can also choose to customize your sleeve by taking advantage of the company’s free one color personalization offer that includes text and/or graphics. The Go! iPad Sleeve is now available from the Shin Norie online store for $49.95. This sleeve is the perfect way to make sure that your iPad is safe whenever you’re on the go.

Click here for more information about Apple's iPad and here for iPad Rentals Nationwide.

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Track Business Expenses with iSpend

Finally, there's an app to keep track of business expenses. Often, it is difficult to keep track of expenses on business trips, especially for small businesses. Maybe you don't have time to record and file each transaction you make, maybe you're in a situation where it would be impersonal to do so. Whatever the reason, at the end of the trip you have to organize all your loose receipts at the end of the trip to try to determine your costs. It's almost always a headache because of the difficulties of recording and examining every transaction.

iSpend will solve all your expense tracking needs. Recording a transaction literally takes seconds and you can even take a photo of the receipt if necessary. At the end of the trip, you will have all your expenses organized by time and date of input. It will even condense your expenses into a report that you can export directly to any web browser.

Because no exceptional organizational skills or effort are required to use this app, no longer will you have to worry about being reimbursed properly for expenses incurred on business trips. You can then focus more time and effort on the more important things. You'll be surprised at how much more productive your trips can be when you don't have to waste your time on frivolous expense tracking.

Read reviews and learn more about iSpend at Apple's official site. Don't go on another trip without it!

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Cooking With Your iPad

When you're working long hours and then coming home to cook at night, you probably don't have time to copy down recipes. I know, there have been many times I've found a recipe online and lugged my laptop into the kitchen to work from being careful not spill anything on it. Apparently I'm not alone and now iPad owners can turn their new gadgets into virtual cookbooks with a couple of new apps. The New York Times recently took a look at some of those apps and they chose two that stood out above the rest.

First of all, the Times' Test Kitchen says the iPad is so much easier to cook from than your laptop and or cell phone and in the beginning it offered, at least ten cooking apps, with more being added weekly. But the app they chose as the best one is BigOven Pro. The BigOven Pro app is free for iPhone but you have to pay $9.99 to get it on your iPad. The 170,000 recipes are a group effort, entered by the app's 800,000 registered users. The second runner up to BigOven Pro is Epicurious, which features over 28,000 recipes from Conde Nast publications such as Gourmet and Bon Appetit. Epicurious is free.

So how do the two compare? The two apps have lots of similarities. Both apps offer duplicates of the same dishes with slight variations, which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on who you ask. If you put your iPad in a horizontal position, the search and navigation controls on both apps move to the left side. With both you can email recipes or compile a grocery list based on the recipes you choose.

According to the New York Times, BigOven's grocery list feature is easier to use. In addition, its Use Up Leftovers feature is another cool thing to take advantage of. You can take three ingredients from your fridge or cabinets and type them in to get a list of recipes you can create with them. As the Times points out, this is especially great when your brain is fried from work and you're not in the mood to get creative with recipes. Big Oven also has a nice, if not always helpful glossary.

Another cool feature of BigOven is What's Cooking Around Me? It shows you the recipes people in your geographic area are cooking. The New York Times calls it "strange" and "creepy" but I think it sounds kind of neat and like a great way to find recipes you may not find otherwise. Then again, do you really need to know if your neighbor is making spaghetti that night?

Epicurious is said to be better for "those who like to browse" and of course if you don't want to dish out the $10 for BigOven, Epicurious is free. But hands down, BigOven is considered the better option due to all of its extra features.

Read more about the two apps at the New York Times.

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Grow a Garden With Your iPhone

With spring in full force, and summer just around the corner, many people are looking for things to do outside of the office. One great idea that's not only fun, but can be very economical and burns calories, is growing your own garden. But if you're anything like me, your thumbs aren't exactly green. Never fear, if you have an iPhone, these ten apps, as picked by ABC News, can help you plant, grow, and harvest your very own garden.

1. Landscaper's Companion (Price: $9.99) If you're looking for tons of information, this is the app for you. This encyclopedia-type app features over 1,400 plants from 16 categories such as shrubs, annuals, and house plants, and has nearly 6,000 photos.

2. Fruit Garden ($1.99) If you're growing fruit, this is a great app! It explains harvesting, tips and tricks, soil preparation, planting, and recommended varieties of 22 different fruits.

3. iGarden USA ($4.99) This app allows you to pick your zone and harvest fruits and vegetables based on it. Simply select your seed an it'll show you which days to harvest, planting depth, space between rows, and the best temperatures for germination. It even suggests insecticides to keep pests off your plants.

4. Bugs & Insects ($0.99) With over 900 pests in its database, this app is great for determining who is eating or visiting your plants. You can even create a "favorite" bugs list. Though "favorite" may not be the right work here.

5. Botany Buddy ($5.99) Here you'll find information on over 1,300 trees and shrubs. You'll get very detailed information and share your collections with other gardeners through their website. This app is normally $9.99, but for a limited time, you can get it cheaper.

6. Botanical Interests ($5.99) With this app, you'll get advice on 287 different kinds of vegetables. Who knew there 26 types of lettuce or 20 different types of tomatoes?

7. Herbs+ ($1.99) This app is great for herb gardeners and offers information on 25 different varieties, including how to plant it, how to cook with it, and even how to use it for health purposes.

8. Garden Pilot ($2.99) This app features over 14,000 different plants and covers everything from diseases to fertilizers, chemicals, and organic gardening. It also shows you which plants you can purchase from your local retailer.

For more information and more gardening apps, check out abcnews.go.com.

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