Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Parents Carve-A-Pumpkin for iPad – First Look | PadGadget

The stores are full of pumpkins these days and many of us have plans to carve one in the next few weeks.  If your kids are getting antsy right now, take a look at the new iPad app from Parents magazine and Resolute Digital called Parents Carve-A-Pumpkin.  This cute little Halloween app will let kids design their own jack-o-lantern face right on your iPad.

Little ones playing with Parents Carve-A-Pumpkin have a number of options available to create their one-of-a-kind design.  They’ll start their pumpkin design by choosing from five different types.  Whether bright orange, white or speckled, there’s a pumpkin out there for every child.

The fun and creativity really begins with carving and decorating.  Kids may “carve” their design by hand or select from an extensive collection of eyes, noses, mouths and faces to create the perfect Halloween jack-o-lantern.  Each facial feature can be moved, enlarged, reduced, rotated or even deleted in order to produce the scariest face.  Not interested in “carving”?  Kids can choose to decorate their pumpkins with one or more of the seven decorative designs included in the app.

A great jack-o-lantern deserves a fun background and with 13 backgrounds to choose from, there’s sure to be something to tickle your child’s fancy.  Like most artistic iPad apps in the App Store now, Parents Carve-A-Pumpkin provides kids with the ability to share their spooky creation with family and friends via Facebook, Twitter and email.

Nothing can replace the stringy, slimy feel of pumpkin seeds and “guts” but Parents Carve-A-Pumpkin will let kids repeatedly create and design the perfect jack-lantern.  The people at Parents strive to provide moms and dads with relevant information and activities in its magazine every month and this Halloween pumpkin app is no exception.  If you’re looking for a fun Halloween pumpkin carving app for preschoolers or elementary age kids, give this one a try.  You can pick up Parents Carve-A-Pumpkin in the App Store now for $0.99.

From:ipad books

Sunday, October 3, 2010

123 Glow HD for iPad – First Look | PadGadget

It’s October 1st and before we know it little ghosts and goblins will be searching neighborhoods for tricks-and-treats. I thought it would be fun to take a look at some of the Halloween related iPad apps available in the App Store and get ready for one of the best nights of the year.  Let’s start with a fairly recent addition to the App Store, 123 Glow HD by developer Steve Glinberg.

123 Glow HD is a kid’s painting app that lets little artists create fun Halloween artwork while also learning numbers, letters and colors in four languages: English (American, British & Australian), French, German and Spanish.  If you are familiar with other 123 apps, this one has the same great features with a Halloween twist.

My daughter loves using the palette of 30 glowing colors to “finger paint” pictures with 123 Glow HD.  It’s impossible for kids to go outside the lines and they’re able to blend the colors to create unique pieces of artwork every time.  There are lots of pictures and even stickers too!  With 20 different stickers, 14 Halloween drawings, 10 Autumn drawings, 10 Dinosaurs and 14 Shapes to choose from, kids will stay busy for hours.  On top of all that, they’re also able to add stickers to and paint on photos.  Use one of the ten included in the app or upload your own for a personalized touch.

The iPad version of 123 Glow HD is on sale for $1.99 (50% off) right now and an iPhone/iPod (universal app) version is coming soon.  If you’re a fan of the 123 apps, 123 Sticker HD is another great one that has a Halloween picture.  My daughter has spent hours playing with this app and it’s also available for $1.99 now.


 



iKnow Dogs HD+ for iPad – First Look | PadGadget

I’m playing with iKnow Dogs HD+ Dog Breed Guide and Quiz Game for the iPad by Alphablind Studio as I sit here with my dog Riley at my feet.  I love dogs and I’m impressed by the information contained in this app.  It’s an information packed dog reference guide that will tell you all you ever wanted to know about lots of different breeds.

With access to information on all dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and more than 1200 pictures of dogs and puppies to browse, you’re sure to learn a lot about man’s best friend.

Considering a dog of your own and not sure which breed best fits your lifestyle.  No problem, the facts contained in iKnow Dogs will help you make an informed decision and find the perfect companion for you and your family!

When you launch the app, you’ll pick between Dog Breed Guide and Quiz Game.  The Dog Breed Guide provides you with an alphabetical list of dog breeds to scroll through.  Once you select a breed that interests you, you’ll see pictures and several categories of information.  Get a general description, flip through pictures and find out details about appearance, temperament, characteristics, grooming needs, country of origin and more.

Think you can identify all the different dog breeds recognized by the AKC?  The multiple choice Quiz Game shows pictures of puppies and dogs and keeps track of your results.  Give it a try and see how well you do.

Additional features of interest include:

- Many additional breeds by the International Kennel Club FCI
- Upload your dog’s pictures and see them in iKnow Dogs
- Celebrity dogs, e.g., “Buddy” of Bill Clinton and “Purdy” of Brad Pitt
- TOP 20 most popular dog breeds in USA
- Save pictures to your photo library and share them with your friends
- Select Your favorite dog breeds
- Metric and US Imperial measures
- No Internet access required

iKnow Dogs HD+ Dog Breed Guide and Quiz Game has been featured in “New and Noteworthy“, “What’s Hot” and “Staff Favorites” in App Stores in over 40 countries.  This fun dog filled app works in both portrait and landscape mode and is perfect for all you dog lovers out there.  You can download it from the App Store for $4.99 now.


 



New ‘Pulse News Reader’ for iPad – Better and Faster | PadGadget

Pulse News Reader, one of the top-selling newsreader apps for the iPad, has been updated. The latest update (v2.0) is available now on the App Store, and for a limited time new users can download the app for $1.99.

The last 4 months have been an interesting ride for Pulse and its two developers at Alphonso Labs. Many of us gave great reviews to the app when it launched back in May. Then, Apple pulled it out of the App Store over the way content was being handled, and a few weeks later the app reappeared. Then, over the last couple of months a few RSS/news feed competitors, like Flipboard, came on board and created some stiff competition.

The new version, Pulse 2.0, expanded to 60 sources of news across five pages, or 12 feeds per page. The developer also redesigned the way you can manage news feed sources. You can press the wheel at the top-left and experience how the app lets you organize your feeds.

Another nice feature is “Pulse Bazaar”, which provides a way to browse and discover good news sources that you didn’t know about. Overall, the new update has made the app more robust and faster.

Editor’s Note: Pulse 2.0 is an iPad-only app for now. Alphonso Labs will release a new version for the iPhone and other mobile platforms in the next few weeks.


 



Bit.Trip Beat for iPad Now Available | PadGadget

The retro hit from Namco Bit.Trip Beat is now available on the iPad. If you’ve never heard about Bit.Trip Beat, the game is a skill-based, rhythm focused, overly colorful and extremely addictive twist on the old school Pong.

Each level of Bit.Trip Beat offers a specific tune, and you are offered an onscreen paddle that you can move across the screen in order to bounce off waves of incoming blocks to the beat of the music. Little by little, the patterns of blocks become more and more complex, and listening/reacting to the beat progressions will become increasingly crucial to progress through the game.

Like the Wii version of the game, Bit.Trip Beat features psychedelic graphics, and will put your coordination skills to the test. The game also offers a fun multiplayer mode if you feel like playing with others. Bit.Trip Beat is available in the App Store, and costs $3.99.


 



Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Sonos Releases iPad App

Sonos Releases iPad App – A Convenient Music Remote System

By Roberto | September 29, 2010 | no comments

Sonos has released their much awaited iPad app onto the App Store. Sonos’ app will turn your iPad into a very convenient mobile music controller for connected WiFi Sonos players around your house. You will be able to play your own music and stream music from a variety of online services. Stay tuned for our upcoming App Review later this week.

In case you’re not familiar with Sonos systems, the company provides a modular set of digital appliances that work with end-user supplied or built-in speakers to form a zoned audio system. You can basically have different music zones around your house that may play the same or different audio.

I downloaded the app last night and started playing with it along with the two S5 systems that Sonos sent us for review. The Sonos iPad app features a very slick design, which makes the whole experience very easy to manage your music library as well as manage popular online music services like Rhapsody, Pandora, Last.fm and others. Via the Sonos app you can basically play your iTunes music library or any other music library you may have created, as well as play music from online radio stations and satellite radio subscriptions.

The Sonos iPad app is available now on the App Store for FREE. Keep in mind that you will need a Sonos music ZonePlayer in order to try all the features associated with this app. Stay tuned for our upcoming in-depth review, which will include the Sonos app and the S5 ZonePlayer.


"How to Make Profitable iPhone Apps with NO Programming Experience"

Here's a sample of what we've put in the Guide -

  • The Secret to How We Get Things Done 
  • How to Set-Up Your App Business 
  • How to Get in the App Store without a Business 
  • Must Have Software and Resource Links 
  • How to pick the right audience for your App  
  • Get a head start by sketching out your idea first 
  • How to install and test your new App 
  • How to market your App 


  • Will the iPad be your next Apple TV?

    When the iPad was released this past April, both consumers and the media thought it would quickly become the quintessential video viewing device.  Now nearly six months later, it seems those expectations have largely been met.  The number of TV and video apps for the iPad keeps growing everyday with new apps like apps like yap.TV joining popular choices like Netflix, ABC, and Hulu Plus.  So with this initial success, what is Apple going to do next?

    Earlier today Apple released a new firmware update for the latest Apple TV which provides some clues to what might be in store for the iPad.  Steve Jobs has long referred to the Apple TV as a hobby but it seems that Apple is slowly putting the pieces together to provide a rich TV and video experience for users across multiple devices.

    The first step of the transition has been the move of the new Apple TV to run iOS, the same operating system used by the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.  The fact that these devices now share the same OS means that they can use the same apps.  TUAW was able to dig into the latest Apple TV firmware update and found that there was a single app named Lowtide that provided the Apple TV “experience.” Lowtide is what users interact with when browsing through their video library, selecting services and playing back video on their Apple TV.  Moving Lowtide to the iPad would be a simple exercise for Apple and could open up streaming video directly from the iTunes Store, something currently limited to the Apple TV.

    The combination of iPad, Apple TV, AirPlay and Lowtide could finally bring together the pieces Apple needs to bring movies and TV to users on any device at any time and provide a seamless viewing expereince. Imagine being able to start a TV show in the morning on your Apple TV and then being able to resume watching it on your iPad while sitting down for a quick bite to eat for lunch.  Moving media from one device to another has long been a dream for many users but has largely been held back by a lack of easy to use devices along with complex and expensive content licensing schemes.

    With the iPad, Apple TV and AirPlay, Steve Jobs may finally be moving Apple’s TV efforts from a hobby to a serious business for the computer giant.


    "How to Make Profitable iPhone Apps with NO Programming Experience"

    Here's a sample of what we've put in the Guide -

    • The Secret to How We Get Things Done 
    • How to Set-Up Your App Business 
    • How to Get in the App Store without a Business 
    • Must Have Software and Resource Links 
    • How to pick the right audience for your App  
  • Get a head start by sketching out your idea first 
  • How to install and test your new App 
  • How to market your App 


  • Does Your Doctor Use an iPad?

    Apple’s iPad is popping up in different industries across the country and the medical industry is no exception.  ClearPractice, a provider of innovative software solutions for physicians and medical groups, announced its Nimble app for the iPad.  Designed specifically for the iPad, this comprehensive electronic medical record (EMR) application has the potential to transform the use of technology in the doctor’s office.

    Nimble was designed to be a robust EMR solution for physicians regardless of their location.  According to Joel Andersen, President and CEO of ClearPractice, “We didn’t just replicate our existing EMR system on iPad, we took the opportunity to rethink the EMR experience and do all the things we could never do via other devices or platforms.  Nimble provides doctors instant access to the critical information and patient care tools they need regardless of where or when that care takes place – the point of care is now everywhere.”

    Strong features provide doctors and their staff with the ability to do patient scheduling, lab order/reviewing, electronic prescribing, messaging and much more.  Nimble also seamlessly integrates with ClearPractice’s billing system and practice management software solution.  Connecting through Wi-Fi or 3G to the ClearPractice cloud eliminates the need for data storage on the device, making it both secure and HIPAA compliant.

    Medical software companies have quickly realized the iPad’s potential and like ClearPractice have started integrating iPad support into their products.  Another medical software developer, MacPractice, recently updated their medical practice management and clinical software to support the new iPad as well.  Its software offers doctors assistance with patient registration, clinical recordkeeping, scheduling, ePrescribing, patient medical history and more. “We’ve been overwhelmed with requests from doctors who want to use MacPractice on an iPad,” said Mark Hollis, president of MacPractice.

    With the popularity of iPads sure to continue, there’s no doubt major medical software developers will evolve their products to support the device and who knows, the next time you enter your doctor’s office, you just might find everyone using iPads.


    "How to Make Profitable iPhone Apps with NO Programming Experience"

    Here's a sample of what we've put in the Guide -

    • The Secret to How We Get Things Done 
    • How to Set-Up Your App Business 
    • How to Get in the App Store without a Business 
    • Must Have Software and Resource Links 
    • How to pick the right audience for your App  
  • Get a head start by sketching out your idea first 
  • How to install and test your new App 
  • How to market your App 


  • Movie Collector User? Collectorz.com just released Movies HD for iPad | PadGadget

    If you happen to be a Movie Collector Pro user, Collectorz.com just released CLZ Movies HD for iPad, the perfect companion to browse, sort and search your movie collection. If you have never heard about Collectorz.com’s Movie Collector, the service is a great way to keep track of your collection of DVDs and Blu-Ray Discs, especially if you own hundreds of them.

    The app is easy to use: simply fire up Movie Collector Pro on your Mac or PC, and export your existing database and images to the iPad version of the app (the app supports direct import via WiFi, or you can also transfer your collection through iTunes)

    Like its Mac/PC siblings, CLZ Movies HD allows you to browse your movies collection, and allows you to refine your searches by cover, title, year, format, length, year, index number, ratings… The app also supports cover flows, so you can browse your entire collection by simply swiping left or right.

    Note that CLZ Movies HD is not a stand-alone app, as the app is an add-on for Movie Collector Pro for Mac or PC. The app was released yesterday, and costs $9.99.


    "How to Make Profitable iPhone Apps with NO Programming Experience"

    Here's a sample of what we've put in the Guide -

    • The Secret to How We Get Things Done 
    • How to Set-Up Your App Business 
    • How to Get in the App Store without a Business 
    • Must Have Software and Resource Links 
    • How to pick the right audience for your App  
  • Get a head start by sketching out your idea first 
  • How to install and test your new App 
  • How to market your App 


  • Tuesday, September 28, 2010

    iPad vs. PlayBook, Tab, and Slate | 9 to 5 Mac iPad vs. PlayBook, Tab, and Slate | Apple Intelligence

    What Yours view on this ? Comment Below

    RIM Reveals Its iPad Counter, The BlackBerry PlayBook - With Play Book Keynotes

    rim blackberry playbook

    Image: AP

    Update: Research In Motion is officially in the tablet market.

    Today it unveiled the BlackBerry PlayBook, a thin 7 inch screen tablet, which will be available at the start of 2011.

    RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis emphasized the Playbook's ability to play the "full web," which is basically a euphemism for "Flash." He also said, it's "enterprise ready."

    Lazaridis revealed some tech specs on the Playbook, but didn't demo the product really. We saw it in his hand, but not much else.

    Here's the specs from the press release announcing the PlayBook:

    • 7" LCD, 1024 x 600, WSVGA, capacitive touch screen with full multi-touch and gesture support
    • BlackBerry Tablet OS with support for symmetric multiprocessing
    • 1 GHz dual-core processor
    • 1 GB RAM
    • Dual HD cameras (3 MP front facing, 5 MP rear facing), supports 1080p HD video recording
    • Video playback: 1080p HD Video, H.264, MPEG, DivX, WMV
    • Audio playback: MP3, AAC, WMA
    • HDMI video output
    • Wi-Fi - 802.11 a/b/g/n
    • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
    • Connectors: microHDMI, microUSB, charging contacts
    • Open, flexible application platform with support for WebKit/HTML-5, Adobe Flash Player 10.1, Adobe Mobile AIR, Adobe Reader, POSIX, OpenGL, Java
    • Ultra thin and portable:
    • Measures 5.1"x7.6"x0.4" (130mm x 193mm x 10mm)
    • Weighs less than a pound (approximately 0.9 lb or 400g)
    • Additional features and specifications of the BlackBerry PlayBook will be shared on or before the date this product is launched in retail outlets.
    • RIM intends to also offer 3G and 4G models in the future.

    Original: Greetings! We're here to live blog RIM's BlackBerry Developer conference keynote.

    It should kick off at 4 PM eastern, 1 PM pacific. Refresh your browser for the latest as we go, or click here for the latest.

    Here's a preview of what we're expecting RIM might announce.

    4:05: We're waiting...

    4:12: Some intense techno music just kicked in. Should be happening soon.

    bbdc

    4:15: Announcer just said "Welcome to Devcon." (Apologies now for future misspellings.)

    4:16: Here we go -- CEO Mike Lazaridis takes the stage. Teases a "special announcement."

    Sold 150 million BlackBerrys, have 50 million subscribers. Sold 12 million BlackBerrys in last quarter. #1 smartphone in North America, Central America, the UK, and many other places.

    300,000 registered developers globally for RIM.

    4:19: Another thing that caught industry by surprised is 28 million BBM subscribers, adding over 2,000 per hour.

    bbdc

    Will be opening up BBM as a social network for applications. This will drive adoption of new apps.

    4:21: 1.5 million apps downloaded per day. With carrier billing, it will be easier than ever.

    4:22: Blackberry advertising service, and BlackBerry payments. In-app payments, and local ads to generate revenue immediately.

    4:23: Make it easier to make apps -- BlackBerry WebWorks. Makes it easier to make apps in just days. "Anyone that knows HTML can now make apps for BlackBerry." They can leverage all the BlackBerry features.

    4:24: (Transitioning...) BlackBerry is number one solution for enterprise, government and law enforcement. When we talked to CIOsa decade ago, they said we needed professional grade security.

    4:26: When we come up with a solution, we aim really high. We added multitasking from day one. Everything at your finger tips. Recently, CIOs want us to amplify BlackBerry. They want spreadsheets, videos, uncompromising web experience. Want us to leverage investment.

    Let me show you blackberry amplified...video...as with any BlackBerry ad, we're not sure whats being sold here... There we go -- TABLET! Called playbook.

    bbdc

    Looks small. "Everyone needs a great PlayBook."

    Always on, ultra thin, 7 inch screen. 9.7 mm thin. Full web -- Flash. It supports 1080p. Front and rear camera in HD.

    4:32: This thing is enterprise ready. Take advantage of BlackBerry pairing. Out of the box compatible with 250,000 servers.

    1 GHz dual core processors, symmetric processing, for real true multitasking.

    bbdc

    bbdc

    4:35: QNX man takes the stage. The company that did the OS for the Playbook. Very nerdy fella.

    4:40: Taken experience from various big tech industries and focused it to build the BlackBerry tablet OS. It will enable a new world of computing.

    bbdc

    4:41: This will be a great gaming experience. And a FULL WEB experience. They can't say that enough. An "incredibly performing Flash 10.1" and we'll provide Adobe 10.1.

    4:43: CEO of Adobe is here. He's always at these things.

    4:44: RIM CEO, I've heard it said you can't make a bad application with Adobe tools, and that certainly is true.

    4:45: And the Adobe CEO is gone! That was quick.

    4:46: That's it from Lazaridis. We didn't hear anything about price. Looks like the Playbook won't come out till 2011.

    Here's some crisp shots of the PlayBook from the AP:

    playbook

    rim playbook

    Image: AP

    What You think On this Gadget?

    Can It give tough time to Ipad?

    Discovering Ancient Pompeii with iPad

    The Project

    The Pompeii Archaeological Research Project: Porta Stabia (PARP:PS) is bringing to light a largely forgotten corner of ancient Pompeii that has great potential for enlightening Pompeian and Roman history. Through the full range of archaeological inquiry – archaeological excavations, structural and artefactual analyses, and geophysical surveys – we are revealing the dynamic structural and social history of an entire Pompeian neighborhood. The research area covers a working-class district (modest houses, shops, workshops, and hospitality outlets) that sat in the shadow of to the so-called 'entertainment district' - an area comprised of two theatres, a large public colonnaded courtyard (Quadriporticus), three temples, and a forum. Here was the social and cultural centre of Pompeii. This project thus presents a unique opportunity to examine the complex decisions involved in the planning, integration, and use of public and private space in the ancient city. The results are contributing to a more detailed and reasoned understanding of the roles that non-elites played in the shaping of an ancient city, and how these families responded to various Mediterranean-wide socio-economic developments.

    In Pompeii — the longest continuously excavated archaeological site in the world — iPad is revolutionizing how scientists work in the field. Rather than recording notes and sketches on paper, researchers at the site use iPad and apps to capture invaluable historical data faster, more easily, and with far better accuracy.