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