Fun photo apps you may not know about for iOS - This week's collection of iOS apps is all about taking photos. The first has its own community, the second a minimalist interface, and the third lets you add your photos to scenes.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Amazon settles with Texas over sales tax
Amazon settles with Texas over sales tax - E-tailer will start collecting sales taxes in the state come July 1, Reuters reports, in exchange for job creation and investment money. Texas, meanwhile, will drop demand for back sales taxes.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Friday, April 27, 2012
Dropbox Brings Automatic Photo Uploading to Mac, Windows
Dropbox Brings Automatic Photo Uploading to Mac, Windows -
Maybe it’s the sudden rush of cloud storage competitors, but Dropbox is suddenly in a big hurry to move formerly beta version features into release. The latest allows Mac and Windows users to automatic upload photos to the service anytime a device is connected.
(Via Mac|Life all.)
Kindle Fire hotter than any Android tablet
Kindle Fire hotter than any Android tablet - CISPA heads to the Senate, Zergs take over Google, and Amazon's Kindle Fire is hotter than any other Android tablet.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Kindle Fire grabs half of Android share in February
Kindle Fire grabs half of Android share in February - The popularity of Amazon's tablet shows no sign of abating, as a new ComScore report indicates.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Amazon releases Send to Kindle for Mac
Amazon releases Send to Kindle for Mac - 
Expanding the Send to Kindle line started by Send to Kindle for PC, Amazon today unveiled Send to Kindle for Mac. Send to Kindle for Mac is a lightweight application occupying 18.5MB of hard drive space. A user drops supported documents on the dock item to automatically send them over Whispernet or WiFi to a registered Kindle device or iOS application ...
Kickstarted Revolve camera dolly entering production
Kickstarted Revolve camera dolly entering production - 
With the help of a successful Kickstarter campaign, Revolve is soon to ship an inexpensive camera dolly system. Compatible with nearly any camera, the system can be used to generate a wide variety of shots and angles and can be used either tracked or on any surface. The initial Kickstarter price for the basic system is $70, other accessories compatible with the Revolve camera dolly are available at additional charge ...
How to replace iDisk with your own net disk
How to replace iDisk with your own net disk - 
The end is near for MobileMe, so what can you do to replace iDisk? One solution is to create your own net disk.
(Via Macworld.)
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Squeeze the Most Juice Out of Your iPhone Battery
Squeeze the Most Juice Out of Your iPhone Battery - Few things are worse on a busy night out than running out of cell phone juice. Here's the rundown on what will and won't make your iPhone (or iPad) battery last the longest, from a former New York Times iPhone app developer.
(Via Wired Top Stories.)
How to Set Up and Secure Your Google Drive
How to Set Up and Secure Your Google Drive -
Today, Google announced a new way to store your files online: Google Drive. This new service lets you sync files from your Mac and your Google Docs folder interchangeable. It's incredibly useful if you like to type out your documents in the cloud and use your iPad to do work, and it's a worthy alternative to using iWork and iCloud. We’ll take you through the process of enabling this new service on your Mac, and we'll also show you how to properly encrypt your files while they're in the cloud.
(Via Mac|Life all.)
Dropbox expands sharing capabilities ahead of Google Drive
Dropbox expands sharing capabilities ahead of Google Drive - 
Dropbox has updated its cloud storage service, adding new ways to share files. As noted on the company blog, users can now share files and folders anywhere in their Dropbox using newly created links ...
Google Drive, SkyDrive, Dropbox? Heck, use 'em all!
Google Drive, SkyDrive, Dropbox? Heck, use 'em all! - Cloud storage services aren't like social media or e-mail services, and CNET's Stephen Shankland says the savvy data consumer can take advantage of that to save money.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Google Drive is not for everyone, so try these alternatives
Google Drive is not for everyone, so try these alternatives - Want the simplest cloud storage solution? The most flexible? The best free service? Here's which is what.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Friday, April 20, 2012
When should I upgrade my projector?
When should I upgrade my projector? - How much better (and cheaper) have projectors gotten? Time for an upgrade?
(Via CNET News.com.)
Striking views of Earth captured in time-lapse video
Striking views of Earth captured in time-lapse video - Coinciding with the anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's first flight into space, a videographer creates a recording that takes viewers on the International Space Station's tour of Earth.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Square looking for more cash at a $4B valuation -- report
Square looking for more cash at a $4B valuation -- report - The payments provider raised $100 million in cash just 10 months ago on a $1 billion valuation.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Shatner takes his millionth Twitter follower to dinner
Shatner takes his millionth Twitter follower to dinner - Troy Pound sounds like someone who might have made a brief appearance in "Star Trek." However, he and his wife were treated to dinner by Kirk himself for being the 1 millionth follower.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Control your Mac from your PC freely and easily
Control your Mac from your PC freely and easily - The free Splashtop Remote app lets Windows users connect to their Macs through a local Wi-Fi network or over the Internet.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Padcaster Turns Your New iPad Into a Complete Video Production Rig
Padcaster Turns Your New iPad Into a Complete Video Production Rig - The Padcaster is a super sturdy, $200 iPad case that attaches to a tripod and a camera lens, promising a cost-effective method for tapping into the performance of Apple's improved camera hardware.
(Via Wired Top Stories.)
Pilgrimage to the grave of Ham the Astrochimp
Pilgrimage to the grave of Ham the Astrochimp - Crave's Nerdy New Mexico series delivers flowers to the grave of Ham the Astrochimp, the first chimpanzee launched into space. It was a big confidence booster for NASA prior to sending humans into orbit. [Read more]
(Via CNET News.com.)
How to Turn Anything Into an iPhone Dock: Part 1
How to Turn Anything Into an iPhone Dock: Part 1 - The phone dock serves as a perfect vehicle for bringing obsolete things you can't bear to throw away back into rotation. Here's the first step in knowing how to make one.
(Via Wired Top Stories.)
Quick Tip: Backing up iOS to iCloud and iTunes simultaneously
Quick Tip: Backing up iOS to iCloud and iTunes simultaneously -
Although backing up your iOS device to iCloud is easy and intuitive, it simply isn’t enough for most users. Restoration of all the data on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad from the cloud is slow and time-consuming and restoration is limited to your most recent backup. However, backing up via iTunes lets you have your iDevice backups saved with Time Machine, allowing multiple restore points. From the iTunes interface it appears you have to choose either local or iCloud backup, but that’s not true. You can do both!
(Via TheAppleBlog.)
Hands On: Is Acer's Iconia Tab A510 Fit for Olympic Competition?
Hands On: Is Acer's Iconia Tab A510 Fit for Olympic Competition? - We haven't dug deep enough into Acer's latest Android tablet to judge its place among the growing legion of tablets running Google's Android operating system -- that will have to wait for our full review. But while the A510 has many high-end specs packed into its 0.43-inch thick body, spending a day using the device makes it clear that this is no iPad killer.
(Via Wired Top Stories.)
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Celebrate Yuri's Night This Thursday!
Celebrate Yuri's Night This Thursday! - Thursday marks the 51st anniversary of the first manned flight into space, when Yuri Gagarin ? aboard his Vostok 1 capsule ? journeyed where no human had gone before. As we have done for the last 11 years, members of Yuri's Night are organizing parties in all corners of our home planet to commemorate the occasion. Parties vary in size from a few dozen to a few hundred people, all started by individuals who view human space exploration as something to honor, celebrate, and rejoice.
(Via Wired Top Stories.)
Publishers Hustle to Make E-Books More Immersive
Publishers Hustle to Make E-Books More Immersive - As tablets drive demand for digital books, a slow-changing industry must adapt to the iPad era. Book publishers face risks and stand to reap great rewards as e-books evolve.
(Via Wired Top Stories.)
PowerPot uses heat to charge batteries and devices
PowerPot uses heat to charge batteries and devices - 
Startup Power Practical has developed a device that uses thermoelectric power to charge or power USB devices. The PowerPot uses heat instead of electricity to generate a charge. Any heat source, such as stove or campfire, can be used to generate power ...
Commodore founder Jack Tramiel dies at 83
Commodore founder Jack Tramiel dies at 83 - Jack Tramiel, founder of Commodore and an influential figure in the early days of personal computing and video games, passes away Sunday at the age of 83.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Kickstarter project promises dirt-cheap smartphone video stabilization
Kickstarter project promises dirt-cheap smartphone video stabilization - Expected to sell for under $20, the SlingShot gives you a steadier grip when shooting movies. It doubles as a tripod mount and triples as an actual tripod.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Hotel’s Free Wi-Fi Comes With Hidden Extras
Hotel’s Free Wi-Fi Comes With Hidden Extras -
Brian X. Chen, for the NYT Bits blog:
After some sleuthing, Mr. Watt, who has a background in developing Web advertising tools, realized that the quirk was not confined to his site. The hotel’s Internet service was secretly injecting lines of code into every page he visited, code that could allow it to insert ads into any Web page without the knowledge of the site visitor or the page’s creator.
Yet another reason to bring your own 3G or LTE hotspot with you when you travel.
(Via Daring Fireball.)
Saturday, April 7, 2012
<cite>To Kill a Mockingbird</cite> Celebrates 50 Years
To Kill a Mockingbird Celebrates 50 Years
(Via Wired Top Stories.)
Keep an eye on those you love with the Withings Smart Baby Monitor
Keep an eye on those you love with the Withings Smart Baby Monitor -
In early March, TUAW's intrepid Dave Caolo reported on the U.S. release of the Withings Smart Baby Monitor, a US$299 device that works with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to let you keep an eye on your baby, aging parents or grandparents, or even your pets. As you'll see later in this review, it does more than your average cheap Wi-Fi baby monitor, even providing a level of two-way interaction.
Japanese case for iPad 2 turns it into full netbook
Japanese case for iPad 2 turns it into full netbook - 
A new notebook case for the iPad 2 has been announced from a distributor in Japan, offering a tactile, MacBook Pro-like "chiclet" keyboard and styling to resemble a netbook. The unit allows both the keyboard and the iPad to be charged using an optional multi-headed connector and includes a standard USB port. The combination case, which is also offered via Amazon Japan, is made of silicone rather than metal for lighter weight ...
Friday, April 6, 2012
Amazon Kindle may get lit E Ink display to fight tablets
Amazon Kindle may get lit E Ink display to fight tablets - 
The combination of a leak and discoveries has revealed that Amazon is likely developing a unique illuminated E Ink screen. A source showing a disguised prototype in person to TechCrunch had an adjustable screen that evenly lit up with a cool light. The effect was like that of a white LED, but softer and easier to read, according to the anecdote ...
Web tool checks if your Mac is Flashback-free
Web tool checks if your Mac is Flashback-free - Have you been put off by the work required to find out if your machine is one of the unlucky ones infected with the Trojan? There's a new Web app that will check your Mac.
(Via CNET News.com.)
NIM's Morgan Guenther: 'We Can Reclaim Leisure Time For Reading' With Digital Mags
NIM's Morgan Guenther: 'We Can Reclaim Leisure Time For Reading' With Digital Mags - Within two years, we won't call newsstands like Next Issue's "a Netflix for magazines" because it's one price for a big catalog of content. We'll call it "a Netflix for magazines" because instead of mail delivery or bulky downloads, the primary delivery mechanism will be streaming high-definition, through-designed magazines over the web.
(Via Wired Top Stories.)
New IBM App Presents Nearly 1,000 Years of Math History
New IBM App Presents Nearly 1,000 Years of Math History - Math nerds and historians, it's time to get excited. Minds of Modern Mathematics, a new iPad app released Thursday by IBM, presents an interactive timeline of the history of mathematics and its impact on society from 1000 to 1960.
(Via Wired Top Stories.)
Going to the Cloud? You Don't Have to Go All In
Going to the Cloud? You Don't Have to Go All In - If you are struggling to develop your cloud strategy, consider the option of spreading your resources to multiple providers, and using a single company to manage those resources. Don't think that you have to go all in, writes Todd Nielsen.
(Via Wired Top Stories.)
Baseball Apps: The 7 Best Downloads for MLB Fanatics
Baseball Apps: The 7 Best Downloads for MLB Fanatics - Whether you?re a diehard fan of a local team or a numbers junkie who records scores of every game, you can make the 2012 Major League Baseball season even better with the help of key mobile apps. We present the seven best.
(Via Wired Top Stories.)
Best headphones for under $100
Best headphones for under $100 - Looking for an affordable pair of headphones that sound really good for the money? Here are CNET's top picks.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare: Tools of the modern burglar?
Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare: Tools of the modern burglar? - Most thieves can't get enough social media. A survey of cons says it's practically part of the job description these days.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Thursday, April 5, 2012
600,000 Mac Users Afflicted with Flashback Trojan -- Are You One of Them?
600,000 Mac Users Afflicted with Flashback Trojan -- Are You One of Them? -
It was inevitable, really -- the increasing popularity of Apple mobile products has driven more and more PC users over to the Mac, and like that innocent little puppy you brought home from the pound, them dog’s got fleas… or in this case, a new Mac trojan known as Flashback.
(Via Mac|Life all.)
Batter Up: The best ways to watch baseball on your digital devices
Batter Up: The best ways to watch baseball on your digital devices - 
Another baseball season is underway, and tech-savvy fans have more ways than ever to stream high-quality video and audio at their command. Here are all the options available so that you never have to miss a single pitch.
(Via Macworld.)
Mac Flashback malware: What it is and how to get rid of it (FAQ)
Mac Flashback malware: What it is and how to get rid of it (FAQ) - The Flashback Trojan is the latest malware attack to target Apple's Mac platform. Here's your guide to what it is, whether you have it, and how to get rid of it.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Amazon Kindle bookstore now available in Spanish
Amazon Kindle bookstore now available in Spanish - Dubbed "eBooks Kindle en Espanol," the new e-book store will offer Spanish-language books and publications.
(Via CNET News.com.)
'Flashback' trojan estimated to have infected 600K Macs worldwide
'Flashback' trojan estimated to have infected 600K Macs worldwide - A trojan horse named "Flashback" that surfaced last year is believed to have created a botnet including more than 600,000 infected Macs around the world, with more than half of them in the U.S. alone.
(Via AppleInsider.)
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Arizona pushes law to make 'annoying' comments illegal
Arizona pushes law to make 'annoying' comments illegal - What if obnoxious or aggressive remarks made on Facebook and Twitter ended in criminal charges? Some free speech advocates are saying that's what a new law in Arizona could do.
(Via CNET News.com.)
New iOS App Helps Ship Captains Avoid Whale Collisions
New iOS App Helps Ship Captains Avoid Whale Collisions - Whale Alerts, a new iOS app released today, helps mariners avoid collisions with endangered North Atlantic right whales by displaying whale locations on a real-time, digital map.
(Via Wired Top Stories.)
An iPod touch for kids and parents: one dad's guide
An iPod touch for kids and parents: one dad's guide -
I've been separated for about two years now; as any part-time custodial parent will tell you, it can be tricky to communicate with the kids when you're not around as much. This past Christmas I decided to get an iPod touch for each of my kids. At the time, they were living about 30 minutes away from me, and for whatever reason we didn't always have nightly phone calls to stay connected.
"If only there was some easier way to stay in contact," I thought, "then they won't have to miss me as bad." Well, the experiment has been a success. In the process it yielded a few interesting tips for divorced parents, and also anyone considering an iPod touch for a kid under 11 (as both of mine are).
I do recommend that parents think hard about getting their kids iOS devices before making the leap. Most kids I have met under 10 are not responsible enough to "own" an iPod touch without a lot of supervision.
E-book settlements near, Apple said still holding out
E-book settlements near, Apple said still holding out - 
Some progress has been made on trying to negotiate a settlment on e-book antitrust disputes in the US and Europe, insiders disclosed Wednesday. Hachette, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster have reportedly agreed to terms that would dissolve the iBookstore deals they struck, the Wall Street Journal said, which gave them control over pricing and required that they offer no lower price than at Apple's store. Apple, Macmillan, and Pearson, however, were claimed to be "reluctant" to make a deal ...
Rocker Neil Young challenging MP3s with new audio format
Rocker Neil Young challenging MP3s with new audio format - The famous musician has filed several trademarks related to a new high-definition MP3 alternative, reports Rolling Stone. The government could register the trademarks by the holidays.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Get a DataJack MiFi Hotspot for $49.99
Get a DataJack MiFi Hotspot for $49.99 - You also get a free 200MB data plan for the first month. After that, service will run you at least $9.99 -- but the good news is there's no contract.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Apple should dump the iPod Touch
Apple should dump the iPod Touch - If it were anyone else's product, the iPod Touch would be considered a runaway success. But as part of Apple's iOS dream team, it's an underachiever that should fall on its own sword.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Assessing apps for the blind
Assessing apps for the blind - Eliza Cooper, a blind social media consultant, helps critique new apps aimed at blind users of the iPhone.
(Via CNET News.com.)
How to protect yourself online in three easy steps
How to protect yourself online in three easy steps - Although the Web can feel like the Wild West at times, with gunslingers everywhere looking to separate you from your privacy, your log-ins, and your cash, there are some concrete steps you can take to avoid dem long-eared galoots.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Apple retains master decryption key for iCloud
Apple retains master decryption key for iCloud - A new analysis of Apple's iCloud service has revealed that the company holds a master decryption key and retains the right to screen for "objectionable" content or hand over information to legal authorities.
(Via AppleInsider.)
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
DIY external MacBook battery
DIY external MacBook battery -
Evan Rodgers took a CCTV battery, a third party MacBook car charger, and some soldering tools to create a do-it-yourself external MacBook battery. As he points out in his post on The Verge, a little elbow grease and electronics know-how will save you from having to buy a costly commercial solution. You can check out his DIY video below and read his detailed instructions on The Verge's website.
DIY external MacBook battery originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST.
Use the MacBook Air SuperDrive with (almost) any Mac
Use the MacBook Air SuperDrive with (almost) any Mac -
The Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive is only officially supported on the MacBook Air or Mac Mini, but what if you have another Mac that you want to use it with? Turns out you can make it work by editing one text file and then rebooting your Mac.
The MacBook Pro shown above is mine. The story behind that damage is fairly long and emotionally painful, involving airline travel, delays, and an unexpected layover in Vegas. The only good part of the story is that the SuperDrive did not work before it happened. When I purchased my MacBook Air, I bought the SuperDrive because there are still times when I need it. I knew that it was restricted to the MacBook Air (later expanded to the Mac Mini), and I assumed that there was a good reason. Maybe the USB port on the Air and Mac Mini sent more power than other USB ports. Maybe there was some other reason.
Thanks to the magic of the Internet, I learned about Lukas Zeller and his instructions on How to make the MacBook Air SuperDrive work with any Mac.
When I first read them, this involved getting editing a binary with a hex editor. Now, I'm a nerd, but I'm not a über-nerd. I'm also really extremely very much opposed to hacking system binaries, kexts, etc. because it could cause all sorts of problems and whenever there is a new version of Mac OS X, your change is either going to get blown away or may cause problems or it may work. That is only a one-in-three chance of success. Those aren't very good odds. So I didn't do it.
Then Lukas also found an easier way which only requires editing one line in one text file ...
The Complete Guide to Backing Up Your Mac
The Complete Guide to Backing Up Your Mac -
Here's something no one likes to think about: backing up your Mac. It's an arduous task, but backing up your system periodically is important to ensure you don't lose data to hardware malfunction, human error, or software corruption. With multiple backups both onsite and offsite, you can keep yourself from becoming just another victim to data loss.
It is estimated that more than 140,000 hard drives fail each week in the U.S., and more than 2,000 laptops are lost or stolen each day. Don’t become a statistic. Read our guide and protect yourself from losing all of that precious information.
What You’ll Need:
>> External hard drive (we like these)
>> Carbon Copy Cloner
>> Backblaze
You should always have multiple backups of your computer, because one backup simply isn’t enough. At a minimum, you should have one onsite backup that you backup to daily; an offsite backup (stored off your premises) that is backed up weekly; and (optionally) an online backup solution that is kept up-to-date as much as possible. We’ll show you how to get started backing up with Time Machine, Carbon Copy Cloner, and Backblaze.
Backing Up with Time Machine
If you have Mac OS X Leopard (10.5) or higher, then you already have Time Machine. This is a “set it and forget it” type of back up solution that lets you plug in a hard drive and not worry about your backups until you need them.
(Via Mac|Life all.)
Use (almost) any remote with an Apple TV
Use (almost) any remote with an Apple TV - While the small, sleek aluminum remote that comes with the Apple TV is nice, it may be one too many. The Apple TV can work with many other infrared remotes, and an Apple technical document outlines the procedure for having the Apple TV "learn" your remote.
You'll need to use the Apple remote to set this up, and you do so by choosing Settings > General > Remotes from the Apple TV's interface. Choose Learn Remote, and press the six buttons that the Apple TV needs to learn.
Some remotes may not work, so read Apple's technical document for more information.
(Via MacOSXHints.com.)
Dropcam ships smallest Wi-Fi monitoring camera
Dropcam ships smallest Wi-Fi monitoring camera - 
Dropcam, makers of the Echo wireless camera home monitoring system we had a chance to review earlier, has now shipped what it calls the smallest HD Wi-Fi video monitoring camera. The Dropcam HD is paired with a free Android (free, Google Play) or iOS (free, App Store) app that lets users see what it sees from wherever they are, as well as through any browser. It offers 720p video quality and is powered through a USB port ...
Barnes & Noble optimizes Nook app for new iPad
Barnes & Noble optimizes Nook app for new iPad - 
Barnes & Noble has just released an updated version of its Nook for iOS app (free, App Store). It has been optimized for the new iPad and its Retina display with sharper graphics, words, and images. Otherwise, 3.1.3 brings with it more reading options, letting users have single- or dual-column views when in landscape orientation on the tablet, like in an actual book. The highlight feature is also now much easier ...
Who knew? 72-year-old census data proves irresistible
Who knew? 72-year-old census data proves irresistible - A data dump from the 1940 census reveals life in the Great Depression and the New Deal era -- and draws huge digital crowds that overwhelm servers.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Is Pad & Quills new case for the iPod nano cute or what?
Is Pad & Quill's new case for the iPod nano cute or what? -
Pad & Quill makes amazingly cool book-like cases for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and other devices like the Kindle and Nook. Today they announced their latest product -- the Littlest Black Book for iPod nano.
The case uses Pad & Quill's wonderful bookbinding and woodworking skills to their fullest extent, creating a leather-bound case that cradles the tiny iPod nano in the cutest case EVAH! Lest you think this is some sort of silly April Fools joke, you can actually back the project on Kickstarter to get this little guy into production.
Apple, publishers to settle e-books price-fixing suit: Report
Apple, publishers to settle e-books price-fixing suit: Report - Though Apple is not likely to take a major financial hit after the settlement, Amazon stands to gain upward of $1 billion in revenue, one analyst says.
(Via CNET News.com.)
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