Armed and Loaded » Portable Gadgets

Gary Marshall: Tablets are no longer just idiot toys

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:07 +0000

From time to time even jaded tech hacks get a "wow!" moment. I had one last night when I saw that Avid had launched an iPad app.

Avid? The high-end video and ProTools firm? An iPad app? Yep, yep and yep.

Avid reckons the iPad makes a great wee video editor, and its Avid Studio plays happily with the firm’s high-end desktop software. It’s right, and it’s not the only firm thinking along the same lines. Apple, of course, already does Garageband and iMovie, Adobe has Photoshop Touch, and there are stacks of digital audio products such as Auria and the tasty-looking Bitwig music studio.

Not bad for toys, eh?

Getting better all the time

What’s really great about this is that we’re still in the very early stages, both in terms of technology – we’ve gone from single core to dual core to quad core tablets already; imagine what horsepower tablets will have in five years – and in terms of what’s possible for our tablets to do.

Take music, for example. You can use your tablet as a quick and dirty composition device, or as a controller for a desktop music production program, or as a fully-fledged studio, or you can slot it into another bit of hardware such as Behringer’s utterly brilliant/completely demented iAxe or its faintly frightening iPad mixers.

This isn’t about whether tablets are better than PCs or vice-versa; it’s about people, and what they can do, and the ever-expanding universe of possibilities today’s technology delivers and tomorrow’s promises.

We’ve only had iPad-y tablets for two years. What on earth will we be doing with them in ten?

Gary Marshall: Tablets are no longer just idiot toys via http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techradar/portable-devices-news/~3/cQCO2DvcoJk/story01.htm”> TechRadar Portable Devices

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Next iOS may feature real-time, ‘competitive’ fitness app

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:13 +0000

Apple is plotting a souped-up Nike+ style application for future versions of iOS, which would allow athletes to compete against each other in real-time, according to a recent patent filing.

The application would link up with specific pieces of gym equipment to write data to an iOS device in real-time and then upload the results to provide a competitive real-time environment.

So, for example, if you’re running on a treadmill in London, you could race against a bloke doing the same thing in San Francisco as if you were on the same running track.

iOS devices would link up with each other and display stats like time, distance, heart-rate, calories burned and even blood oxygen levels.

Providing a competitive environment

The filing, entitled Interfacing Portable Media Devices and Sports Equipment says that information would be communicated between users via a third party website.

The abstract for the filing at the US Patent Office reads: "Circuits, methods, and apparatus that allow sports or other equipment, such as gym or other cardio equipment, to write data to a media player.

"Examples further provide the uploading of this data to a computer and third-party website. To monitor progress, the third-party website can be used to track workout data over time. The third party-website can also collect data from other users, which is particularly useful for providing a competitive environment.

"This data can then be graphically displayed in various ways to provide encouragement."

Nike+ in real-time

Apple has featured the Nike+ software, in various guises, on iPhone and iPad models down the years, but the suggestion here is that Apple thinks it can perhaps do better and turn iOS devices into essential fitness gadgets.

Nike+ currently uploads your workout data after you’ve finished exercising, but this innovation would allow head-to-head competition in real-time.

The app would, of course, require gyms to upgrade their machinery to be compatible with such a system which is probably more of a reach than Apple creating the software in the first place.

You can read the full USPTO filing here.

Gary Marshall: Apple’s numbers have a story to tell

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:18 +0000

Anybody who stuck by Apple in its underdog days should be feeling pretty smug today: after yet another record-breaking quarter, Apple now has all the money in the known universe.

Apple’s profits now exceed Google’s entire revenue, and the world is its oyster.

Tim Cook could commission a helicopter made of cheese, a robot army and a selection of intercontinental ballistic missiles to point at Samsung without making the tiniest dent in Apple’s cash mountain, but that’s not the most interesting thing about the latest financial results.

What’s interesting to me is that once again, reports of Apple’s doom have been wildly exaggerated.

For much of the last year, we’ve heard that Apple’s doomed (John Gruber of Daring Fireball fame has been collecting the predictions). 2011 would be the year that everyone dumps the iPhone for other smartphone OSes. 2011 would be the year that rival tablets give the iPad a wedgie. 2011 would be the year that Apple’s bubble bursts.

It hasn’t burst. And it doesn’t look like it’s going to. Even if you hate Apple with a passion, it’s worth looking at the numbers, because they’re not just figures on a balance sheet. They’re tea leaves, or runes, or crystal balls.

They’re in the money

The numbers are extraordinary. The "disappointing" iPhone 4S drove sales of iPhones to a record high – 37 million in three months – with the 4S far and away the most popular model.

Sales are up 128%, and given that many iPhone 4 owners – me included – are hanging on for iPhone 5 before upgrading, and that Apple has barely begun to sell in huge markets such as China, 2012’s numbers are going to be even bigger.

Tablets? 15.4 million iPads, up 111% on the previous year. Whoever’s buying Kindle Fires, they aren’t buying them instead of Apple tablets. Maybe they’re buying them instead of BlackBerry Playbooks, or sheds.

Macs? Up 26%. Even the Apple TV shifted 1.4 million units. The only thing that isn’t doing so well is the iPod, which Apple predicted would be replaced by the smartphone.

To do those numbers at any time is incredible. To do it in the middle of a global recession is bordering on the miraculous.

Apple’s numbers are telling a story, and the story is that Steve Jobs was right: the post-PC era is here. Whether you’re an Apple fan or an Android one, the chances are that more and more of your everyday computing is taking place on a post-PC device – a tablet, or a smartphone.

It’s personal computing, but we’re doing less of it on PCs.

Gary Marshall: Apple’s numbers have a story to tell via http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techradar/portable-devices-news/~3/b71dTc1YaOs/story01.htm”> TechRadar Portable Devices

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Audiobooks.com brings unlimited listening for $25 a month

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:11 +0000

The first all-you-can-eat streaming service for audiobooks has arrived, bringing unlimited access to 11,000 titles for a monthly fee of $24.95.

Audiobooks.com allows members to stream as many books as their ears can muster via the web-browser or through forthcoming smartphone apps.

The service promises seamless listening between all devices and new users can sign up for a free 7-day trial now.

Audiobooks.com will rival the Amazon-owned Audible service which starts at $7.95 a month, but only allows access to one or two books per month.

Full streaming

Whereas Audible forces users to download files to their device, Audiobooks will allow full streaming over the web.

The apps for iOS and Android are in the works, but those users with iOS 5 and Android 2.3.4 will be able to stream directly from the Audiobooks.com browser site.

Support for BlackBerry and Windows Phone devices is also planned for the near future.

Audiobooks’ offering will be seen as the Spotify of the book world, but with a selection of thousands, compared to the millions on offer from the music streaming giants at more than double the price of a premium subscription, that’s where the similarities end.

Supreme Court rules GPS tracking requires warrant

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:10 +0000

Legal authorities cannot use GPS tracking devices on a person’s vehicle without first obtaining a search warrant, the United States Supreme Court has ruled.

The ruling clarifies the Fourth Amendment right of Americans which protects them from unreasonable searches or seizures without a warrant and probable cause.

The Amendment references "persons, houses, papers and effects."

According to the new verdict, instances where "the government obtains information by physically intruding on a constitutionally protected area," includes an individual’s car.

Massive ramifications

GPS tracking is often used by the police and other federal authorities to gain intelligence on the movement of suspects, so today’s legal ruling has massive ramifications.

Monday’s verdict stems from a case where a man was able to overturn his conviction and sentence of life imprisonment for drug dealing.

His legal team were able to prove to the court that police had installed a GPS tracking device on his jeep without a warrant.

The Supreme Court justices agreed that the police had violated his "reasonable expectations of privacy."

Supreme Court rules GPS tracking requires warrant via http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techradar/portable-devices-news/~3/JHm8LayE1N0/story01.htm”> TechRadar Portable Devices

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Sony Walkman B170 bombs the bass

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:00:07 +0000

Sony has announced a new bass-heavy addition to the Walkman brand, the Sony Walkman B170.

The B170 is ridiculously small in stature – it weighs just 28g and is 88.8 x 22.5 x 15.0mm – but Sony reckons this means that it has a number of features to entice people away from their iPods, including the fact that it can be charged in just three minutes.

It is also powerful when it comes to the low end, with a bass boost button that comes with a colour matching power illuminator – letting those around you know just when you have turned the beats up.

Going for a song

The Sony Walkman B170 isn’t for those who like to carry round their whole music collections but with 4GB of space you will get around 400 songs on the device, all played back at 128kbps.

And when we say played back, Sony is quoting an 18-hour battery life which is impressive considering it only takes three minutes to juice the B170 up.

Sony has also combined the MP3 player with a USB stick so you can drag and drop files on to it and plug it into cars with USB functionality.

The Sony Walkman B170 UK release date is February and will come in 2GB and 4GB sizes. Pricing is yet to be announced.

Nike+ FuelBand exercise monitor announced

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:07 +0000

Nike+ gadgets have been inspiring us to, literally, go the extra mile for years now, but the new FuelBand wants to keep you on the move for the whole day.

The Nike+ FuelBand, announced on Thursday, is designed to be worn throughout the day and monitors your calories, steps, time and NikeFuel.

What’s NikeFuel you ask? Well it’s the points that you acquire with your movement throughout the day based on the goals you set every morning.

The NikeFuel meter has 20 LED lights and it’s your job to turn them from red to green as you tick off your movement targets.

Boot in the rear

The wristband syncs up wirelessly with an iPhone app via Bluetooth or can be plugged into your Mac or PC via USB.

It congratulates you on achieving your goals and gives you a pleasant boot in the rear end if you need to push a little harder.

Cycling legend and Nike ambassador Lance Armstrong said: "What’s great about the idea of NikeFuel and the FuelBand is the way it provides real information and numbers to show how much people are doing all day, every day. That’s what will get people challenging themselves to do more and better their own scores. It’s a tool to get people more active."

The release of the Nike+ FuelBand follows the launch of the Jawbone up wristband, which offers similar always-on functionality. It’s getting harder and harder to be lazy. Thanks, a lot tech.

The Nike+ FuelBand will be available in the UK from May 1st and will cost £139.

YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtfJAyjkkGs

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HMV Listening Post app wants you to buy CDs

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:07 +0000

HMV has announced a new app for iOS which allows users to take a photo of a CD cover, listen to the content of that CD and then buy it online.

Nope, we don’t really get why you would want to do this either but you now have the option.

HMV has been struggling to find its footing on the high street for some time now, with many an online retailer snapping up its customers with tax-free discounts on physical media.

Now it seems that HMV is branching into the app world to entice people back to the company, with its HMV Listening Post app.

The listening post is one thing that HMV is renowned for and you can still find the posts in the bigger stores – they are made by TouchVision – but HMV seems to want to give you this feature even when you haven’t stepped foot into one of its physical stores for some time.

Put your listening ears on

The problem with the app, though, is that you can only buy actual CDs from it – so this isn’t the portal to online that you have been waiting for from HMV, just another way to buy their CDs online.

"Listen to music previews by taking a photo of a CD cover or searching for an artist," explains the listing on the App Store.

"The HMV listening post recognises albums from a photo or search and enables you to listen to preview clips from the track listing."

Besides apps, HMV has been busy creating an online film portal called HMV On-Demand.

Currently the service can only be viewed from a computer – we’re thinking that maybe it should have focused on making an app for this than offering a glorified link to its online site.

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Amazon Send to Kindle gets documents to your reader quicker than ever

admin — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:00:09 +0000

Amazon has released an application that allows users to send documents directly from a PC to their Kindle.

This will come as a relief to many Kindle users who have been using the less convenient method of emailing documents to a Send to Kindle email address.

The new software means that PC users must simply right click on Word documents, PDFs, text files and images and select the "Send to Kindle" option.

Multiple files can be sent in this way, meaning it’s potentially a big time saver for Kindle power users.

Think before you print

There’s also the option to send documents from the print menu by selecting "Send to Kindle" from the list of installed printers.

At the moment, Send to Kindle is Windows-only, so Mac users will have to keep doing it the hard way for the time being.

Documents can also be stored in the Kindle Library cloud service for downloading later, or across multiple devices. Currently the only reading application supported is the Kindle App for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.

Send to Kindle for PC is available to download free from Amazonnow.

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Samsung: Connected devices can replace books in schools

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:06 +0000

Samsung believes that its technology can revolutionise UK schools, with the electronics giant claiming that the likes of its Microsoft Surface toting SUR40 along with tablets and laptops are powerful tools for education.

Samsung’s vice president of IT in the UK, Graham Long believes the poor humble book can be consigned to the past, with 3D monitors and connected devices taking the lead.

"Imagine schools without books, but with 3D displays, connected devices for every student in the classroom, and homework submitted online via the cloud," he said.

"This can be a reality with Samsung’s range of AV and computing products."

BETT on it

Samsung is exhibiting at the BETT 2012 conference, where it will showcase the SUR40 interactive table alongside the SDP-860 Visualiser, the 700T Slate PC and ranges of laptops.

They will be featured alongside Samsung’s "Power over Ethernet Cloud Computing" technology with Thin Client Displays compatible with Citrix and Microsoft and Zero Client displays compatible with VMware.

Long added: "Samsung is leading the market in cloud displays, and with its broad range of products for the education sector will open up virtualised learning for classrooms all over the UK."

Samsung: Connected devices can replace books in schools via http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techradar/portable-devices-news/~3/ixqBA9ZB798/story01.htm”> TechRadar Portable Devices

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