Add some sick modular hardware controls to your Mac for $99 (Kickstarter project) - 9 to 5 Mac

Trackpads and keyboards are great for many things, but there are some tasks where there's no substitute for a physical dial, slider or button. In video editing, for example, there's a reason that professional kit uses a rotary dial to move forward or backward through the video clip. Photo editing and audio work are also far easier with physical dials and sliders.

While there's a whole world of dedicated hardware controllers out there, the Palette project on Kickstarter takes a particularly neat approach: a modular system that you can design to your own requirements. There's a power block, button, rotary dial and slider, and you can mix-and-match them in any layout you like, and they can be made to work with any software … 

Palette empowers you to build a physical interface customized to your personal needs. It's a hardware platform made up of a variety of modules. Each module has a single physical input, like a button, dial or a slider. You snap together modules like Lego. No coding or soldering required!

All modules also have built-in RGB LEDs to help you locate them in the dark, aimed primarily at mobile DJs – though our resident audio expert did observe that the modules would need to be robust to stand up to this work.

You use just one USB port no matter how many modules you use, and the team says it may be possible to switch to Wifi or Bluetooth later just by swapping out the power module.

$ 99 Canadian plus $ 20 shipping to countries outside Canada gets you a starter kit of the power module, then one each of the button, dial and slider. There are more expensive options if you want more modules.

The project currently has $ 86,714 pledged of its $ 100,000 goal, with 30 days to go, so looks like it has a decent chance of making it. You'll need to be patient, though: delivery is set for June next year.

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mac – Google News

Top free apps for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch today - Examiner.com

Top free apps for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch today include a cool new app that plays relaxing sounds of nature, according to a Dec. 6 report in AppCraver.

"Sleep Sounds" by Rory Buckley contains sounds that can be mixed with music or played individually. Relaxing sounds include ocean tides breaking and gentle rain. This free app can either play sounds or music in the background while you multitask, or can play until stopped by the sleep timer. There are 12 free sounds and an option to purchase 12 more. You can download this app at the App Store.

On the other end of the spectrum is the action-packed top free app "Infinity Blade II" which is running free for today. This is the sequel to "Infinity Blade" that was made free recently. This app is normally $ 6.99 and is very rarely made free so now is the time to grab this Game of the Month with stunning graphics. To download this app for free, go to ign.com and tap iPhone.

"Find the Differences Christmas" is trending very hot today. This free app, at the top of new downloads, contains lots of beautiful Christmas paintings—each with five differences. Your goal is to find all the differences while Christmas music plays softly in the background. All together there are 24 levels, 12 free, 12 IAP in-app purchases). This is a perfect fun way to get in the holiday spirit playing solo or with friends and family.

Another top free app which is trending very hot today is "Oh, My Goat". In this free app your aim is to help a goat stop a hunter from turning animals into cubes and carting them away. Reflexes are key in the dodging and jumping you’ll do in this action-filled game of 384 levels. Includes four different environments, each with different dynamics. Supports Game Center leaderboards and achievements.

Free today for a limited time another top free app, "Minigore 2: Zombies", which cut its price from $ 1.99 to free. This intense game is full of excitement as you help John Gore battle armies of zombies on his way to safety. This game has 300 challenges, 60 different enemies and seven bosses. Supports iOS 7 game controllers.

Just made free today is "IQ Mission", which is trending popular right now. Here you’re a secret agent who visits eight cities from Paris to Bejing to connect with informants and solve puzzles that lead to the secret source of the Earth’s energy. With eight types of logical games and 128 levels there’s lots to do here.

Selected as the best new free game in the App Store is "Lawless". This top free game is an insanely cool third person 3D arcade shooter. Here you lead a crew of criminals out to score big using your new contacts and skills. You assemble a crew, recruit friends and allies, take on lots of action-packed gun battles against rival crews and police, plus lots more. There are live missions every month too, which you can play online against others in Game Center.

"Sleep Sounds: Relaxing White Noise and Ambient Music" requires iOS 4.3+, is compatible with iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and is optimized for iPhone 5. Free at the App Store.

"Infinity Blade II" requires iOS 4.3+, is optimized for iPhone 5 and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch. Download for free at ign.com in a cool top free app deal.

"Find the Differences Christmas" requires iOS 5.1, compatible with iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and optimized for iPhone 5. Can be played by ages 6 to 8. App Store free download.

"Oh, My Goat" requires iOS 6.0, optimized for iPhone 5 but is compatible with iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. Free download at App Store.

"Minigore 2: Zombies" contains crude humor, horror themes and violence. Requires iOS 5.0+, is compatible with iPhone 4+, iPad 2+, iPad mini +, iPod Touch (4G+), optimized for iPhone 5.

"IQ Mission" requires iOS 4.3+, optimized for iPhone 5 and is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

"Lawless" is only compatible with iPad 2+, iPad mini+ iPad Air, iPod Touch 5+ and iPhone 4S+ and cannot run on earlier devices. Also this free game contains age restricted material so users must be 17+ to download this game from the App Store.

This reporter will be back next time with more top free apps for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Check these out:

• How to unlock iPhone

• How to sell and iPad for cash or credit

• How to free iCloud storage

ipod – Google News

iPad Air heavy case showdown: Griffin Survivor vs. OtterBox Defender - ZDNet

Summary: Both of these armored cases are polycarbonate clamshell, silicone rubber-wrapped monsters designed to take a beating for your iPad Air or iPad mini. But which one reigns supreme?

Ladies and gentlemen… this is the battle you’ve all been waiting for. The iPad Air heavyweight case BATTLE ROYALE!

In the first corner, we have the competitor, the Griffin Survivor. Retailing at $ 79.99, but can be found at various ecommerce sites like Amazon for $ 39-$ 45, this case comes ready to rumble, or ready to go to war, if you read the pure specifications.

Weighing in at 11.5 ounces, it will bring the iPad Air to 27.5 ounces, or 1.71lb if so encased.

I absolutely loved this case. It’s got excellent screen and bezel clearance, and what I think is an ideal mix of rigid polycarbonate housing combined with a very ample amount of silicone rubber.

I used the Survivor for iPad Air for about a week, and although this is without question one of the heaviest, shock and impact-resistant cases you can buy on the market, it didn’t feel like I was holding a brick.

The polycarbonate and the silicone rubber seems to organically “merge” together, particularly in the way the tablet itself gets encased.

Read this

Hard Candy ShockDrop Case for iPad Air (Gallery)

Both rubber and polycarbonate is shaved off in appropriate spots so the case has sort of a sculpted look, while at the same time removing excess material and lowering the weight as much as possible and still being highly protective, particularly on the corners. 

Like many other hardcases on the market, it integrates a permanent (transparent) screen protector. And rather than going for a shock cover with integrated easel/stand like the OtterBox Defender, it includes a clip-on, lightweight stand/easel for propping the device up to watch videos and other content.

I kind of feel like Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear. Instead of reviewing $ 800,000 extreme sports cars, I get to review $ 80.00 iPad cases.

I found this accessory to be somewhat difficult to snap on and off, but it’s a nice addition to the product.

Griffin’s design is also very modern and attractive looking, especially if you are using one of the six different color combinations, which are matched to Apple’s native animated wallpapers in iOS 7.

The Survivor is also the only hardcase i’ve seen that allows you to seal every single one of the ports so as to maximize dust and liquid protection. This includes the rear camera window, which can be opened and closed with a silicone rubber and polycarbonate flap.

And in this corner, we have the Defending heavyweight, the OtterBox.

I received the OtterBox Defender for iPad Air about a week after getting the Griffin Survivor, and I have both cases in-house at the moment, so we have a very close basis for comparison.

What is there to be said about OtterBox’s cases that hasn’t been said before? This case is a rock and is designed to take a brutal amount of abuse. It retails for $ 79.99 but you can get it from online sources for about $ 50. 

What differentiates it from the Griffin Survivor is that it uses proportionately more polycarbonate to silicone in its design, and it also incorporates a shock cover/easel to provide an additional layer of protection when carried.

As with previous models it also incorporates a permanent screen protector in the design as well.

What does this mean for your iPad Air in terms of total weight? 27.3oz or 34oz with hardcover attached. 1.7lbs, about the same as the Griffin Survivor, without the cover.

Gallery

Griffin Survivor / OtterBox Defender for iPad Air, mini & Kindle Fire HDX

With the cover, 2.1lbs, effectively doubling the weight fo the iPad Air.  

It’s also currently only avaliable in their classic “Batman Black” but as they start to manufacture it in volume, there will be three additonal two-tone color combos avalaible, a cyan/grey, a off-white/raspberry and a white/grey.

But hey, this isn’t a beauty pageant or The Biggest Loser. We’re talking about a product for users who are most concerned about protecting the device.

That being said the iPad Air version of the case has been slimmed down from the generation 3/4 “iProtection” model, and changes include a less severe angle of display elevation at the bezel area.

I still think it has (more than) sufficient elevation to protect the screen from a forward drop, but there was definitely more clearance in the previous model and I think the Griffin has a slight edge here as well.

However, once you put the shock cover/easel on top of the device, as I say in the video “ain’t nothin’ gonna break that screen”.

In keeping withe the slimming down the amount of silicone has also been reduced. Again, this is in comparison with previous models, but we’re still talking about a significant amount of silicone rubber wrapping on the case here.

OtterBox also sent me a Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 version of the Defender which has all of the same protection characteristics of the iPad Air/iPad mini models. If you have a klutzy wife, kid or loved one that’s getting one of those tablets this holiday season, I’d strongly reccomend it.

So which case is better? I think this is one of those comparisons where it all comes down to personal preference and how you feel about the aesthetics and weight tradeoffs. It’s a toss-up.

These are both excellent extreme protective case solutions for iPad Air/mini and you’d be well-served by going with either one. Griffin relies more on the silicone rubber whereas OtterBox relies more on polycarbonate in its protection recipe.

I kind of feel like Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear. Instead of reviewing $ 800,000 extreme sports cars, I get to review $ 80.00 iPad cases.

Read this

Trident Aegis for iPad Air (Gallery)

This is very much like a BMW 7-series vs. Mercedes-Benz S-Class, or Sig-Sauer P226 versus GLOCK 17 bake-off, or any like comparison where you have the two top products competing in each category.

Choice is going to be a very subjective one. There’s no clear “winner” here.

I do happen to like OtterBox’s clean, conservative and polycarbonate-heavy design, and I plan to keep it on the device.

However, the Griffin is really a very nice case, with an attractive active lifestyle branding with a bunch of nice color combos coming out of the gate. OtterBox should definitely not sit on its laurels. 

Are you considering the Griffin Survivor or OtterBox Defender for your new iPad Air or mini? Talk Back and Let Me Know.

ipad – Google News

Fun Foaster iPhone dock will hide in plain sight in your kitchen - Digital Trends

iphone – Google News

2013 in perspective: Doing real work with the iPad - ZDNet

Summary: The end of the year is fast approaching and it’s a good time to turn thoughts to how mobile devices have served me over the past year.

(Image: James Kendrick/ZDNet)

This year has seen the tablet explode, fueled by the appearance of many models running Windows 8. The iPad mini arrived on the scene followed by the iPad Air, both of which kept Apple’s tablets front and center. With PC sales dropping into a tech sinkhole, the tablet has assumed a bigger role in both work and play for many.

This doesn’t surprise me as a long-time tablet enthusiast. I’ve long used tablets in my work, both with and without keyboards. As someone who makes a living with my writing, the keyboard is an important accessory.

In the recent past when I mentioned using one iPad or another with a keyboard for my work, I was flooded with responses that claimed having to use a keyboard with an iPad pointed out a major flaw with tablets. Then Windows 8 arrived, along with tablets that attempted to break into the main tablet market.

Those Windows tablets are often used with keyboards, and comments have changed as a result. Now, when I cover my tablet use, I no longer hear how using keyboards with tablets is a failure of the genre. What I hear instead is that Windows tablets with keyboards are “real computers”, and thus better than iPads for work. Even Microsoft has pitched that in its ads for Surface tablets.

Working in 2013

This is true for some but my own experience is different. I have used iPads with keyboards heavily in my work, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. I open the case and get to work in seconds with my iPad and keyboard.

In 2013 I have written over 250,000 words on my iPads with keyboard attached. That is a lot of writing, and I haven’t regretted a single word.

Most of that work in 2013 was performed with a previous generation iPad, followed more recently with an iPad Air. The latter is what I use currently, I’m using it now as a matter of fact. It is nestled in a ZAGGkeys Folio keyboard case.

This works well for me in spite of the assertion I hear all too frequently that it is not optimal. The fact is it works nicely for my work, which is all the matters to me. How well does it work?

In 2013 I have written over 250,000 words on my iPads with keyboard attached. That is a lot of writing, and I haven’t regretted a single word. The entire system (iPad, keyboard, and apps) works without compromise, and lets me do what I’m paid to do — write (hopefully) compelling content.

Just as I am doing now, the iPad and the apps I use let me focus on just the writing without distractions. I fire up the editor and start writing no matter where I am or what is going on around me. I just write.

In addition to the iPad and keyboard, the apps I use play a significant role in my writing work. There is Mr. Reader ($ 3.99), the app that I use with Feedly to keep my RSS feeds up-to-date. It is a fantastic app, perhaps the best mobile app on any platform. It is a big part of my online research for writing projects.

See related: How to: Writing with Evernote on mobile devices

Then there is Evernote (free), the app I use more than any other. It is where I stash reference material for later access, and my primary editor for writing articles. It is cross-platform so it’s on every tablet, laptop, and phone I use. I can read reference material on my phone when time permits and write on the iPad or other tablet when the time is right. It is the best cloud app I use.

Web browsers also play a huge role in my work, and Safari on iOS7 is the one I use. I still use Chrome on most devices, but on the iPad it’s always Safari. It is fast and clean, and similar to the way Chrome syncs things to the cloud, Safari syncs everything to iCloud so my iPad and Macs are the same.

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I use other apps, e. g. Tweetbot ($ 2.99), but the ones I’ve mentioned are the software tools I use most. The process I’ve adapted is smooth, fast, and seamless. I pull the iPad out of the gear bag and I’m working in seconds, no matter what I need to do.

The main function I need is where the iPad with keyboard really shines. I can and do write better on this system than on any other. That blows people away but it’s true. I have a better writing environment on the iPad than any other tablet. Heck, it’s even better than my expensive MacBook Pro for writing.

You may not agree with me that the iPad with keyboard is better than other options. That’s OK, but I’m talking about my work and needs and this is definitely the best.

I’ve used lots of tablets including those running Windows and Android, but the iPad outshines them all. I’ve come to think of my iPad and keyboard as the ultimate writing machine, and that’s priceless to me. Contrary to what Microsoft would have you think, no Office is required for my work.

The iPad may not be the best choice for others, I always recommend using what works best for you. Windows tablets and Android tablets are certainly good fits for some and that’s what those folks should use. Just don’t tell me what works best for me, I already know.

See related: 

• 2 keyboards for iPad Air: ZAGGkeys Folio and ZAGGkeys Cover
• Top iPad keyboards: 2013 First Edition
• Two keyboard cases for iPad mini from ZAGG change the game
• 9 best iPad keyboards (hands on): March 2013
• Lure of the iPad Air
• iPad Air: Color me surprised
• iPad Air: No Apple keyboard needed
• 5 good office apps for the iPad

ipad – Google News

Ryan Seacrest wants to pimp your iPhone - CNN

The Typo keyboard case was two years in the making and is partly the brainchild of “American Idol’s” Ryan Seacrest.

• The Typo iPhone case was dreamed up at a dinner with TV host Ryan Seacrest
• The case adds a BlackBerry-style keyboard
• Seacrest joins Justin Timberlake, Ashton Kutcher in the tech startup world

(CNN) — Steve Jobs. Bill Gates. Mark Zuckerberg.

And now … Ryan Seacrest?

The “American Idol” host, radio personality and seemingly ubiquitous showbiz presence has co-founded a tech startup that seeks to make it easier for people to type on their iPhones. Seacrest also is helping bankroll the company, Typo Keyboards, which makes an iPhone case that includes a BlackBerry style keyboard.

The Bluetooth-enabled accessory, for the iPhone 5 and 5S, was apparently the result of a dinner shared by Seacrest and co-founder Laurence Hallier, a real estate developer and serial entrepreneur who, like his partner, doesn’t like typing on a touchscreen.

TV personality Ryan Seacrest doesn’t like typing on virtual keyboards.

“One night, we were out to dinner and both had our phones on the table. Two people, four phones!” reads a blurb on the Typo website. We looked at each other and thought there was an easy solution to the problem.”

They said they both looked for iPhone keyboards and, when they weren’t happy with what they found, decided to make their own.

The case, which sells for $ 99, is available for pre-order and is scheduled to ship next month.

But … Seacrest? Really?

It’s his first venture into the tech startups, to be sure. He joins the likes of Justin Timberlake, Ashton Kutcher and MC Hammer (yes, MC Hammer) as an entertainer dipping a toe into the tech world.

Reaction online was predictably snarky.

“Surely this must be a typo…,” one Twitter user wrote. (We see what you did there.)

Not everyone was down on the idea, though.

“Best news ever. … The iBerry is coming. The iBerry is coming,”
iphone – Google News

Dell Venue 8 Pro tablet selling for $99 this Monday at Microsoft Store locations - ZDNet

Summary: After the first 20 are sold at each brick-and-mortar outlet, the price goes up to $ 199 while supplies last. The first 100 tablets sold through the Microsoft online store will also be available for $ 99, or $ 199 thereafter.

They might not get the love that Apple stores often do, but Microsoft has slowly amassed more than 40 retail locations over the last couple of years. If you haven’t been to one yet, and you’re in the market for a new Windows 8.1 tablet, you might want to pay a visit this coming Monday.

CNET review:

Dell Venue 8 Pro

That’s because Microsoft is offering the Dell Venue 8 Pro for just $ 99 on December 9 — and only through its physical stores. That’s a massive discount from the $ 299.99 price that Dell itself sells the base model for. In fact, Dell didn’t even offer much of a deal on it during Black Friday/Cyber Monday, choosing just to throw in a free case and a year’s worth of accidental damage service if you purchased at the full price.

Of course there’s a catch. Only the first 20 Venue 8 Pro tablets sold in each location will be available at the $ 99 price. After that, the price shoots up to $ 199 as long as stock lasts (though it may be as little as 10 additional units at a store). That’s still a pretty good deal, but the price difference should prompt you to arrive early if you want a chance at the better bargain.

While your best opportunity to score the Venue 8 Pro for dirt cheap is by physically showing up at a Microsoft store, the company’s online store will also offer the $ 99 price for the first 100 units sold. Again, once that quota is reached, the tablet will be available for $ 199 until supply runs out.

Is the $ 99 price enough to get you to go to a Microsoft store on Monday to buy a Venue 8 Pro? Let us know in the Talkback section below.

Via The Verge

tablet – Google News

REVIEW: Toby Mac more traditional Christian than hip-hop at Reading's ... - Allentown Morning Call (blog)

Despite his success as a Christian hip-hop artist (and plenty of urban posturing; more about that later), Toby Mac’s “Hits Deep” tour that stopped Thursday at Reading’s Santander Arena owed its success far more to traditional music, and the tradition Christian label, than any rap cred.

The most explicit example of that was the fact that the show was designed as a multi-act showcase that included five other Christian acts – none of whom were hip-hop, and with whom Mac collaborated for some of his best songs of the night.

Even when he wasn’t singing with acts such un-hip-hop acts as alums
mac – Google News

Cook County technology: '8-track tapes in an iPod world' - Chicago Tribune

Lydia Murray, Chief Information Officer for Cook County and head of the Cook County Bureau of Technology, spoke to the City Club of Chicago on Dec. 3, 2013, introduced by her boss, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Murray explained the county's technology hurdles and why "zombie systems" are "the equivalent of using 8-track tapes in an iPod world."

ipod – Google News

Free iPhone apps for iPad, iPod Touch for downloading now - Examiner.com

Free iPhone apps for iPad, iPod Touch for downloading now includes the free music app "Groove", which has just been redesigned for iOS 7, according to a Dec. 5 report in AppCraver.

If you can imagine Apple Genius on steroids, then you can imagine "Groove", a free app that personalizes your music collection. "Groove" also organizes your music, controls volume, new mixes, playback, adds album art and artist photos, integrates with iTunes Match and Apple TV, and lets you share your favorite songs with Facebook and Twitter friends.

The best deal today in free iPhone apps that are compatible with iPad and iPod Touch is the game "Sprinkle Islands". This game app is reduced from $ 1.99 to free for a limited time, starting today. In this cool game you help residents extinguish fires that break out all over the beautiful island of Titan. This isn’t as easy as it sounds because fires occur in places that can only be reached by using obstacles, elevators and buttons to reach them and water is scarce.

"Garfield Kart" is trending very popular today. In this addictive karting game whose price is free for today (Reg. $ 1.99), players choose a character, like Garfield or Odie, and race no-holes-barred in either multiplayer or solo mode. What is so cool about multiplayer mode is that it doesn’t matter what platform or device the other players are using—you can still play against them even if you’re using an iPad and they are using an iPhone (or even a PC)!

Trending popular today too is "Petting Zoo". This funny and quirky app is also running free today (Reg. $ 1.99). "Petting Zoo – Animal Animations" is an interactive picture book that contains illustrations of 21 animals that you swipe and tap to see how they react. For example, can a dog breakdance? What would an elephant do in your bathroom?

"Groove" requires iOS 7, is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch and is optimized for iPhone 5. Free.

"Sprinkle Islands" iOS 4.3+, is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch and is optimized for iPhone 5. Free to download.

"Garfield Kart" iOS 4.0+, is compatible with iPhone 3GS+, iPad and iPod Touch (3G+) and is optimized for iPhone 5. Price dropped to Free.

"Petting Zoo – Animal Animations" iOS 6.0, is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch and is optimized for iPhone 5. This "App of the Week" is fun for any age.

Check these out:

• Cyber Monday deals plus best deals going on right now

• Best Cyber Monday deals as mobile use grows

• iPhone apps deals for iPad and iPod Touch too right now

• How to free iCloud storage

• Online Black Friday deals heat up with new Walmart deal

• Early Black Friday deals going on now, biggest markdowns coming

• Apple trade-in iPhone, iPad program now includes water damage

• Best Black Friday deals so far for 2013

• Free Apple update for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV fixes bugs

• Apple Black Friday plans include early hours like Walmart, Best Buy

• Apple Black Friday deals leaked at Best Buy, Target, Walmart

• iPad mini for sale now at Apple Online Store

• U.S. Postal Service delivery days expand to Sunday for Amazon

• Good free apps for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch for today

ipod – Google News

Babysitter's dream? An iPad case for babies - Fox News

Busy moms and dads who have no time to read to or talk with their infants can now belt the tykes into a baby seat just inches from an iPad – and let the computer take care of those pesky parental duties.

Just in time for Christmas, toymaker Fisher-Price has unveiled the "Newborn-to-Toddler Apptivity Seat for iPad," a baby seat that features a plastic case designed to hold an iPad smack in front of baby's eyes – and developing brain.

"Lock your iPad device inside the case to protect from dribbles and drool. Play and learning are at baby's fingertips, with free apps you can download for your iPad," the company's product listing on Amazon gushes.

The $ 79.99 seat is also "designed with a 3 point restraint for safety" – and to make sure junior can't escape.

‘If you want to damage your child's development, buy this chair.’

- Jood Milne Home, an Amazon reviewer

But while some lazy parents might jump at the chance to let their babies vegetate watching the high-tech boob tube, others were outraged at the idea.

"Don't buy it, tell all your friends not to buy it, and for goodness sake don't give it to a BABY!!" Hope Moffatt commented on Amazon.

"I am disgusted with Fisher Price and urge Amazon to reconsider carrying this terrible contraption!! … the American Pediatric Association recommends NO SCREEN TIME for babies under 2. babies need to move to understand and explore their world and they need to manipulate things, not passively watch them!" she fumed.

"Horrible. Damaging. Terrible idea," added Jood Milne Home, another Amazon reviewer.

"If you want to damage your child's development, buy this chair. Children of a very young age are genetically programmed to respond positively to interacting with PEOPLE. Even if they are just watching the world go by. This is a horrible gadget," she wrote.

Dr. Nava Silton, a child psychologist, told Fox News the main worry is that parents will use the seat and iPad as a babysitter, exposing their kids to the screen for hours on end.

But a Fisher-Price rep defended the product, saying it's up to parents to decide if they want to expose their children to a bombardment of pre-school digital programming.

"We created the Seat iPad feature for those times when parents want to use this visual display option as another way to stimulate and engage their baby," said Kathleen Alfano.

"If parents don't want to use the iPad, they can remove the device and a mirror will be overhead, or they can remove the bar completely. The choice is theirs."

Get more tech news and reviews at The New York Post.

ipad – Google News

Apple's tight grip: iPad Mini Retina still not in carrier stores - CNET

The iPad Mini with Retina Display is still a no-show at Verizon and AT&T stores, as Apple continues to control the launch of the high-res tablet.

December 6, 2013 11:35 AM PST

iPad Mini Retina

(Credit: Apple)

The newest iPad Mini with Wi-Fi and cellular capability (3G/4G) has yet to reach carrier stores in the US, pointing to Apple’s tight control of supply.

Verizon shows the iPad Mini with Retina Display back ordered until December 16, as of Friday morning Pacific time, while AT&T is still showing 21-28 days when the device is ordered online.

Neither carrier, when contacted by CNET, could provide information about when the iPad Mini Retina would reach its stores.

T-Mobile’s Web page for the iPad Mini Retina is showing, as of Friday, that the tablet will be “available for shipment soon,” but no target date is given.

Meanwhile, the availability of all iPad Mini Retina models — both Wi-Fi-only and cellular versions — on Apple’s store page has improved somewhat: availability is now 5-7 days, a slight improvement over the 5-10 days that the company had been showing last week.

Cellular models of the iPad Mini Retina are also available for walk-in purchase at many Apple stores across the US, despite the fact that this is not possible at Verizon and AT&T.

Related stories

• First iPad Mini vs. Retina: No contest
• Supply of iPad Mini with Retina ramps up to 4M — report

Apple did a low-key launch of the iPad Mini Retina on November 12 amid analyst commentary and reports that the displays were in short supply.

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook was cautious about supply of the Mini Retina during Apple’s fourth-quarter earnings conference call.

“It’s unclear whether we’ll have enough for the quarter or not,” Cook said.

Rhoda Alexander, director of Tablet and Monitor Research at IHS iSuppli, points to initial “production problems” as the reason for Apple’s tight control over supply of the tablet.

“Even though they were able to ramp up more quickly than anticipated in November and December it still takes a while to get those products out,” said Alexander. “So, they’re managing the rollout very carefully.”

The availability of the iPad Mini Retina cellular models contrasts with the iPad Air sales launch. When Apple started selling the iPad Air on November 1, it was available at Verizon, AT&T, and other carriers on the same day. Currently, carrier outlets like Verizon and AT&T typically have the Air at stores.

The new iPad Mini sports a 2,048×1,536-resolution display that boasts 326 pixels per inch — one of the highest of any tablet to date. Analysts believe the display has been a challenge to make in the large volumes that Apple demands.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

ipad – Google News

Ryan Seacrest wants to pimp your iPhone - CNN

The Typo keyboard case was two years in the making and is partly the brainchild of “American Idol’s” Ryan Seacrest.

• The Typo iPhone case was dreamed up at a dinner with TV host Ryan Seacrest
• The case adds a BlackBerry-style keyboard
• Seacrest joins Justin Timberlake, Ashton Kutcher in the tech startup world

(CNN) — Steve Jobs. Bill Gates. Mark Zuckerberg.

And now … Ryan Seacrest?

The “American Idol” host, radio personality and seemingly ubiquitous showbiz presence has co-founded a tech startup that seeks to make it easier for people to type on their iPhones. Seacrest also is helping bankroll the company, Typo Keyboards, which makes an iPhone case that includes a BlackBerry style keyboard.

The Bluetooth-enabled accessory, for the iPhone 5 and 5S, was apparently the result of a dinner shared by Seacrest and co-founder Laurence Hallier, a real estate developer and serial entrepreneur who, like his partner, doesn’t like typing on a touchscreen.

TV personality Ryan Seacrest doesn’t like typing on virtual keyboards.

“One night, we were out to dinner and both had our phones on the table. Two people, four phones!” reads a blurb on the Typo website. We looked at each other and thought there was an easy solution to the problem.”

They said they both looked for iPhone keyboards and, when they weren’t happy with what they found, decided to make their own.

The case, which sells for $ 99, is available for pre-order and is scheduled to ship next month.

But … Seacrest? Really?

It’s his first venture into the tech startups, to be sure. He joins the likes of Justin Timberlake, Ashton Kutcher and MC Hammer (yes, MC Hammer) as an entertainer dipping a toe into the tech world.

Reaction online was predictably snarky.

“Surely this must be a typo…,” one Twitter user wrote. (We see what you did there.)

Not everyone was down on the idea, though.

“Best news ever. … The iBerry is coming. The iBerry is coming,”
iphone – Google News

Apple Finally Signs Deal With China Mobile for December iPhone Launch - Mac Rumors

Apple and China Mobile have finally reached a deal that will see the world’s biggest mobile carrier offering the iPhone on its network, reports The Wall Street Journal.

China Mobile, which has more than 700 million subscribers, is expected to begin selling the iPhone around December 18 following a China Mobile conference in Guangzhou where the company is also expected to debut its 4G network. Earlier today, the Chinese government finally granted TD-LTE licenses to China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom, the country’s three major carriers.

China Mobile is one of the last major carriers in the world that does not currently offer the iPhone, and the deal could bring a huge boost in sales to Apple. Currently, only China’s smaller carriers, China Telecom and China Unicom, offer the iPhone on their 3G networks.

A deal with China Mobile would give Apple access to a subscriber base that is seven times the size of Verizon Wireless, the U.S.’s largest carrier. Greater China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, is Apple’s third biggest market after the U.S. and Europe in terms of revenue.

Apple and China Mobile have been in talks for several years, and CEO Tim Cook traveled to China to meet with China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua back in July where the two made headway on a potential deal.

News of a finalized deal has been expected since September, as the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c were the first iPhones supporting China Mobile’s TD-LTE standard. Apple also received the final license it needed to operate on China Mobile's wireless standard back in September following the launch of the newest iPhones.

Update: A China Mobile spokesperson tells Reuters that the two companies are “still negotiating”.

“We are still negotiating with Apple, but for now we have nothing new to announce,” China Mobile spokeswoman Rainie Lei said, declining to elaborate. Apple also declined comment.

Related roundups: iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s

iphone – Google News

Applebee's plans to install 7-inch tablets at every table - Digital Trends

tablet – Google News

Walmart Cyber sales 2013 iPod Touch: iPad Mini Retina, iPad Air deadlines loom - Examiner.com

With the Walmart Cyber sales 2013 in full swing, it is worth noting that if you want to receive an iPad Mini with Retina display by Dec. 24, you must place your order with the Apple Store today, according to a Dec. 4 I4U report. If you are hoping for an iPad Air, you must order it by Dec. 9. Of course, these are Apple Store deadlines, and it is possible you could get a Walmart Cyber sale on these two devices and still receive them in time for Christmas.

With Walmart revealing new Cyber sales each day, it is impossible to know if either the iPad Mini with Retina or the iPad Air will be included. The best thought is that purchasing one of these Apple tablets will result in a free Walmart gift card if you buy one through the retail giant. Of course, you may want to buy them from Walmart no matter what if you happened to miss the Apple Store’s Christmas shipping deadline.

Each day this week, new Walmart Cyber sales 2013 are revealed. After this week, you can expect some special deals for Green Monday too. One of today’s big sale items is the LEGO 600pc Building Kit or LEGO Duplo 85pc Building Kit for just $ 25. Another deal is on a current generation Apple product. The Apple iPod Touch 5th Generation with Bonus Accessory Kit is on sale for just $ 299. This iPod Touch has a 4-inch retina display.

If you would rather not mess with the Apple Store or Walmart for your iPad Mini or iPad Air, Best Buy happens to have each of these highly sought after Christmas gifts in stock during its Cyber Week 2013 sales as well. If either of these popular tablets is on your holiday must have list, then you probably should not hold out for a sale on them right now.

ipod – Google News

iPhone Clip-on Lens Brings You Closer Than Ever - Mashable

What’s This?

By Lance Ulanoff2013-12-06 02:05:40 UTC

Smartphone photo technology is decent enough now that the pros don't have to be too embarrassed about taking pictures with their phones. Take, for example, the iSight camera on the iPhone 5S. The lens is good and the aperture is wider than ever, and Apple backed it all with a larger sensor. Yet it has its limits.

That's where add-ons like Olloclip come in.

See also: 7 Super-Slim iPhone Cases

Olloclip, which started as a Kickstarter project roughly a year and a half ago, is now an $ 11 million business, according to company execs, which sells change-pocket-sized 3-in-1 iPhone lenses that let you add fisheye, wide angle and macro lenses. I've been using one for over a year and love it. Its telephoto option is also pretty handy.

Olloclip now has a new set, and it's all about getting close — very close. Its $ 69.99 Macro 3-in-1 offers three different macro magnifications: 21x on one side, 14x on the other, and 7x when you unscrew the 14x. As with previous Olloclips, this one slides snugly onto the corner of your iPhone 5S or iPhone 5 and sits perfectly over the smartphone's built-in lens.

Without the lens, the iPhone can get within a couple of inches and produce clear, well-exposed images. The macro lenses, on the other hand, let you get within an inch or so of your subject. Of course, when you're that close, it can be tough to hold the phone still, especially if you're trying to capture a tiny subject.

Olloclip's solution for that problem is rather smart. The add-on ships with two cones that clip over the lenses and ensure you’re at the exact distance to put your subject in perfect focus — while keeping perfectly still. If you're shooting a bug, it will still walk around under the cone. It could be the perfect opportunity to try the slo-mo video mode on the iPhone 5S iSight camera.

While the cones are semi-transparent, though, they don’t let all available light in. As a result, my initial shots of water droplets on an apple were a little less impressive than they should have been. When I removed the cone and carefully steadied my hand, the water drop came alive, thanks to the light of the room reflecting off and through it.

I tried out all three lenses, but quickly fell in love with the 21x lens. It lets you get so close. I've added some of my favorite examples, above and below; on the left side is the shot without the Olloclip Maco 3-in-1, and on the right is the shot using the 21x lens.

Olloclip also rolled out new 3-in-1 lenses for the iPhone 5C. They’re available in the Apple Store with the new macro set, which includes the three lenses, an iPod adapter, two cones and a soft carrying bag.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Image: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker

Topics: camera, Gadgets, iPhone, iPhone 5S, lenses, Mobile, Tech

iphone – Google News

Freddie Mac: 30-year mortgage rate 4.46%; highest since September - Los Angeles Times

Good news for the economy translated into bad news this week for mortgage borrowers, who were being offered an interest rate of 4.46% for the typical 30-year fixed loan, the highest level since mid-September, according to Freddie Mac.

The rate, released in a report Thursday, contrasted with 4.29% in last week’s survey of lenders by Freddie Mac. A year ago the typical rate for a 30-year home loan was 3.34%, according to the widely watched survey.

Lenders across the country told Freddie Mac they were offering 15-year fixed home loans to solid borrowers at an average 3.47% early this week, up from 3.3% a week ago and 2.67% a year ago.

QUIZ: How much do you know about mortgages?

The higher rates, if sustained, would further douse a major boom in refinancing by homeowners. They also could dampen demand for home purchases, particularly in places like Southern California that have seen large increases in home prices in the last two years.

That would increase pressure on mortgage lenders to continue cutting their staffs. Major banks already have laid off tens of thousands of employees in reaction to higher interest rates and declining numbers of distressed loans.

Better-than-expected reports on private job growth and new home sales contributed to the run-up in mortgage rates, Freddie Mac chief economist Frank Nothaft noted in Thursday’s report.

Good economic news raises the probability that the Federal Reserve will soon start reducing its enormous purchases of bonds. The program is designed to stimulate the economy by keeping long-term interest rates low.

ALSO:

Economic growth higher than first reported for third quarter

Young homebuyers priced out of Southland single-family market

California economic recovery coasting along, but riding is rough inland

mac – Google News