|  |  |  | | | | | Appletell | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Section: iPhone / iPod touch / iPad, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Macintosh / Apple Hardware, Macintosh Competitors / Clones, Features, Opinions and Editorials, Originals Seriously. I mean, they’re the largest software company in the world, their operating system still runs the majority of the world’s personal computers, but every time they’re in the news lately, it’s an embarrassment. Let’s start the list. Zune  Zune. The iPod killer. The machine that was going to walk into the digital audio market and show that, once again, there was nothing Apple could possess that Microsoft could not take away.
Today, Bloomberg is reporting a rumor that Microsoft will stop making new versions of the Zune, citing “tepid demand” (that translates to 2% market share in 2009, according to NPD). Two percent. Fortunately, this is the end (allegedly) of the Zune hardware, but the Zune software could still be part of the Windows Phone, right? Which brings us to… Windows Phone 7 Windows Phone 7 was a radically new idea for the smartphone: instead of having your head buried in an app, it was going to let you get in and out of your phone quickly so you could enjoy real life. Turns out smartphone users like their phones better than the real world. According to eWeek, Microsoft’s market share for phones actually fell in the last quarter, down 1.7% to 8%. And they still won’t announce how many phones have actually been sold to customers, rather than shipped to retailers. And then there’s the issue of a lack up updates for Windows Phone 7. While Apple releases periodic updates to iOS that fixes bugs and adds new features (like AirPlay and AirPrint), Microsoft has pulled an update because it created problems with Samsung phones. Now, granted, Nokia has decided to make Windows Phone their main smartphone software (hardly surprising, considering their new CEO is a former MS executive). But when will this happen? Nokia estimates the transition could take two years. Speaking of two years… Windows Tablet Microsoft 7 may be superior to Vista, but it wasn’t designed for tablets (I know, I tried it). But, I’m not a Microsoft user. Surely there must be those who are excited about the idea of using the exact same software on their slate as on their desktop, right? I don’t know. I can’t find any data about Microsoft’s share of the tablet market. The closest I could come was this article stating that Android didn’t have as big a share as everyone thought. Microsoft isn’t even mentioned as a competitor, or, if it is, it’s all speculation that Windows 8 Tablet (an actual tablet OS mind you), won’t appear until next year. Next. Year. But still! Microsoft still has their massive desktop market, right? Market Share Here’s the thing. Apple’s doing really well in the personal computer market. Based on traditional computers alone—laptops and desktops—Apple has 10% of the market. And that’s just in traditional markets. If you consider the iPad as a PC, Apple is the third largest computer maker by market share. Add on to this two things. First, there’s anecdotal evidence that the iPad is cannibalizing netbook sales; netbooks, which are being sold at bargain basement prices and are a growth area for PCs…by which I mean Microsoft. Second, Apple is a profit-driven company, they sell their hardware at a profit, while Microsoft sells their software based on volume. I remember Microsoft from The Bad Old Days, when they were the evil empire. They would enter a market that was established, give away a product for free with Windows (like Internet Explorer), and dominate based on the market share alone. But the problem (for them) is that the personal computer market (tablets and smartphones) is moving away from business and into computer electronics. I’m a firm believer in the idea that Windows was sold to businessmen who thought they could buy cheap PCs and get the Mac GUI. But consumer electronics are sold one at a time, to people. People who will return them if they don’t like the experience, and, more importantly, tell their friends. Microsoft, meanwhile, is still trying to sell to businesses, which was the mistake they made with the Zune—making a music player that the record labels would like. Apple, meanwhile, frustrating as some of their demands may be, tries to make their products fun to use. Simple and elegant. And I don’t know if Microsoft can manage that. What does MS need to do? Can they enter the consumer electronics market? Full Story » | Written by Bill Stiteler for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Section: iPhone / iPod touch / iPad, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, iDevice Accessories, iPod, iPod Accessories, iPod Headphones and Earbuds, Macintosh / Apple Hardware, Peripherals, Speakers and Headphones Signeo USA announced earlier this year their SOUL by Ludacris line of personal audio products. Working with Grammy winning artist Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Signeo is about ready to kick off the SOUL brand with an initial 5-model line-up of high definition headphones that offer “... the elite sound caliber of a professional headphone with a distinct flair for self expression and style.” Driven Ludacris’ vision, and supported by an award-winning design team, the line dons a sleek form factor and presents an array of eye-catching colors and uniquely designed styles. So, let’s take a look: SL300
High-definition, noise canceling headphones combine sleek style with professional sound - Professional sounding headphones created in collaboration with Grammy award-winning artist Chris "Ludacris" Bridges
- Powered amplification for studio quality balance of deep bass and crystal clear mids and highs
- Features noise canceling technology and comfortable over-ear design to seal in sound, block out ambient noise
- Advanced, breathable headband pad and ear cups
- iPhone® Ready: compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod
- Comes with standard and iPhone detachable cords with in-line remote
- Features sleek folding design and hard protective case for on-the-go storage
- Gold plated connectors provide seamless signal transfer; included: 1/8" (3.5mm) to 1/4 adaptor
- Price: $299
SL150
High-definition on-ear headphones boast professional sound, distinct personal style - Professional sounding headphones created in collaboration with Grammy award-winning artist Chris "Ludacris" Bridges
- Engineered for powerful deep bass with mid and high clarity
- Advanced, breathable headband pad and ear cups
- iPhone® Ready: compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod
- Comes with standard and iPhone detachable cords with in-line remote
- Features sleek folding design and hard protective case for on-the-go storage
- Gold plated connectors provide seamless signal transfer
- Price: $199
SL100
High-definition on-ear headphones deliver big sound with stylish urban aesthetics - Professional sounding headphones created in collaboration with Grammy award-winning artist Chris "Ludacris" Bridges
- Engineered for powerful deep bass with mid and high clarity
- Advanced, breathable headband pad and ear cups
- iPhone® Ready: compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod
- Comes with standard and iPhone detachable cords with in-line remote
- Features sleek folding design and hard protective case for on-the-go storage
- Gold plated connectors provide seamless signal transfer
- Price: $149
SL99
High-definition in-ear headphones designed to seal music in and keep noise out - Professional sounding headphones created in collaboration with Grammy award-winning artist Chris "Ludacris" Bridges
- Superior full range sound technology offers the perfect blend of highs, mids and lows
- Includes small, medium and large replacement ear tips for ideal fit
- iPhone® Ready: compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod
- Comes with a hard protective case for on-the-go storage
- Tangle-resistant cables
- Gold plated connectors provide seamless signal transfer
- Price: $99
SL49
High-definition in-ear headphones offer precision sound and sleek style - Professional sounding headphones created in collaboration with Grammy award-winning artist Chris "Ludacris" Bridges
- High precision audio balance offers the perfect blend of highs, mids and lows
- Includes small, medium and large replacement ear tips for ideal fit
- iPhone® Ready: compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod
- Comes with a hard protective case for on-the-go storage
- Tangle-resistant cables
- Gold plated connectors provide seamless signal transfer
- Price: $69
The SOUL by Ludacris product line will be exclusively distributed by Ingram Micro, Inc. (NYSE: IM) through its Consumer Electronics Division. Learn more at www.soulbyludacris.com. Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Section: iPhone / iPod touch / iPad, iPad, iDevice Accessories  Stephen Silver over at our sister site, E-Gear, has reviewed Bracketron’s Twist 360, an iPad case and stand that allows numerous business and “fun” applications. Bracketron is known for their universal mounting solutions and accessories for GPS units, smart phones, cell phones, MP3 players, satellite radios, and PCs, but it’s their Twist 360 for the iPad that E-Gear calls a “good option.”
The product isn’t the lightest of iPad accessories, but it is one of the more durable and multifaceted. This is thanks to the TwistGrip, a multifunctional object on the back of the mount. It consists of a ring, attached to the back, that shifts up, down and around. You can use it to stand the iPad up, in either landscape or portrait mode, in order to use it without needing to hold it. You can position the stand as a hanger, and hang the iPad on a hook. Or you can even use the back of the case as a handgrip, in order to allay fears that the iPad will slip out of your hand. And best of all, you can do all of these at multiple angles.
Head over to E-Gear for the full Bracketron Twist360 review. Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Section: iPhone / iPod touch / iPad, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, iDevice Apps  New iPhone, iPod touch and iPad product announcements for March 14, 2011:
New iPhone, iPad and iPod touch apps - edenpod has introduced NewtonApples 1.0 for iOS, their new arcade game where players save Sir Isaac Newton from getting hit by falling elements, and discover his three Laws of Motion at the same time. The goal is to pop falling red apples, slice falling green apples, and flick away descending green leaves, allowing Newton to get his well needed rest under the apple tree. Players score points by preventing Newton from being hit twice.
- MotionPortrait will be donating all sales from the company's 12 iPhone apps to the Japan Tsunami & Earthquake Relief to assist the relief and recovery of the victims and areas affected by this devastating earthquake. The donation period will be effective immediately starting today through March 31, 2011. 100% of sales from their apps, offered at $0.99 each during this period, will be donated to relief agencies.
- XS2TheWorld has launched 360° Video, a mobile app which puts the user at the centre of moving video, creating interactive, immersive worlds on the iPhone 4 and iPad. The app goes further than ever before in creating branded moving worlds that users can enter, control and explore. Working in a similar way to online 360° images, and using the accelerometer on the iPhone 4 and iPad, the mobile app places the viewer at the centre of moving footage so they can look around the environment and even interact with elements such as text, images or links.
- Athena’s Tiles, an edge-match puzzle from Sphere & Cylinder LLC, is now on the App Store. It is open to players with color vision or manual dexterity issues, and those who cannot read or use numbers. The app can play itself showing the moves to a solution. Puzzles are solved at the player’s pace. There is no competition with other players and no time pressure. The 26 levels each have an unlimited number of games. Difficulty goes from preschool to adult.
- CRIRS REI, LLC has announced MiBeerAge 1.4 for iOS, an update to their app that calculates the age in days, of any bottle or can of beer. It will be free for St. Patrick’s Day from 3/14-17. Ideally, beer should be consumed within the first 30 days of bottling. The app allows the user to select the brand of beer, enter the alphanumeric code printed on it, and then decodes the exact number of days since the beer was canned or bottled. More than 30 different brands are included with free updates.
- Mirial today announced that iPad 2 has been added to the list of certified devices for Mirial ClearSea, which already includes iPhone 4, iPod touch 4th gen, iPad and iPhone 3GS. ClearSea features high-quality video conferencing, supports both SIP and H.323 standards and optimized in order to get the most out of the mobile networks. It enables iPhone users to connect to other iPhones, iPods, Android devices, Windows PC and Mac, or to any H.323/SIP standards-based video conferencing equipment.
- Cute Logic has introduced Cute Slideshow 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. Cute Slideshow allows users to take their treasured photographs and combine them with transitions, text and music to create beautiful and stylish slideshows. Slideshows can be saved and played back later. With an iPhone 4 or 4th generation iPod touch, users can play back slideshows on a television or monitor.
- Steinberg Media Technologies has introduced LoopMash 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. Combining a simple yet awe inspiring 3D user interface, this refreshingly new music making and mixing app allows users to merge up to four musical loops simultaneously to create their own unique tracks. LoopMash allows users to create new jams quickly regardless of whether they have previous experience with sound mixing or not.
- DotTribes and The Green & Energy Consulting Group have released iEV 1.0.1, the world’s first electric car simulator for 3G, 3GS and 4G iPhone devices. This app enables people to simulate an electric vehicle’s battery and range behavior while they are driving their normal car. With this information drivers can get to know their personal range and battery capacity requirements before buying an electric car. This is an update adding translations to French and Polish.
- iPhoneXCoder has announced Real Drums 3.0 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices. Real Drums turns any iPhone or iPod touch into Professional Drums. Easily set instruments and sound kit from the application menu. Real Drums was developed to give you the best sound performance with no latency. Real Drums features 6 types of drums, including bongos and special Kitchen Drums make with real kitchen pots and pans.
- Newsy, a multisource video news analysis service producing daily videos for the iPad, iPod and iPhone today announced that it has updated its applications to enable Airplay with the release of Apple's iOS 4.3. Newsy, recent winner of the Appy Award for best news app, is now fully Airplay-enabled—allowing users to stream Newsy content to their Apple TV and view next generation news on their television in stunning quality.
- Industrial Brothers has announcd the release of their third mobile title, 2Bit 1.0. 2Bit is an exciting, single-player, retro-inspired arcade game that rewards well-timed action, nerves of steel and displays of courage. Loaded with multiple grids of action, this Tron-like adventure is OpenFeint enabled allowing players to see how their high-scores rank on the Global leader-boards. 2Bit 1.0 launches with both a full and lite version.
- Obvious Apps has launched Fairytale Beginning for the iPhone and iPad, a “Sex in the City 2.0 for the modern day.” Fairytale Beginning is a great example of how our society is progressing from soap operas, to edited reality tv, to unedited blogging. Readers can be a fly-on-the-wall and witness Whitney and Cayden’s daily interactions online, and if they are so inclined, can interact with them through Twitter.
- Designed by the same creative minds that brought you Swapsies, TallyTots is a new, interactive counting game designed to help children learn all their numbers from one to 20. And it's loaded with counting adventures that will keep them busy for hours. Whether they're picking apples, feeding a chipmunk or racing cars around the track, your little learners will love the game that turns numbers into action, and learning into a whole lot of fun. TallyTots is available now on the iPad for an introductory price of just $1.99.
Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Section: Mac Software, Miscellaneous / Other  Macintosh product updates and announcements for March 14, 2011:
Software - System Support Products, Inc., has announced Stock Calculator 2.0, an update to their profit/loss and share price calculator app for Mac OS X. Stock Calculator is ideal for performing ‘what if’ analyses, such as determining what share price a stock needs to attain in order to return a specified profit. It can determine the total cash outlay, per share buying price, or number of shares as well as the net profit amount and total return percentage, or the per share selling price.
- Mac Bundle Pro has presented its latest product MegaBundle, which contains 9 Mac apps for only $39 (USD). LucidChart, Notebox 1.2, Chikoo, Speed Download 5, Radium 2.7.5, Aperture Themes 2.0, Pages Templates 6.0, Proview 1.2, iResize will be available at special price until March 27th. Applications and licenses will be sent immediately after payment is completed. Mac Bundle Pro staff created MegaBundle according many requests and suggestions offered by our customers.
- TheMacBundles has released its March Bundle of 10 highly rated apps, added new titles to its innovative BYOB stores, and posted a free bundle offer on its website. TheMacBundles’ no-gimmick bundles provide users with the same software, support, licenses, and upgrade benefits that apply to users who paid the full retail price for the software. The BYOB stores enable users to build their own customized bundles.
- Searchware Solutions has announced on the Mac App Store Print Window 4.1.3, the premier Mac OS X utility for generating printed file listings from the Finder. Generate and print file/directory listings of the currently selected window or folder with complete control over the way file listings. To celebrate, the company is offering special pricing of 50% off the normal price on the Mac App Store and for single-user licenses from their website.
- Independent software developer Christian Kienle has announced Store News 1.1, his free application for Mac OS X, now available in the Mac App Store. Store News is the quickest way of finding out the best deals in the Mac App Store. An app that cost real money yesterday could be totally free today. Sporting easy-to-use interface, Store News shows both categories of apps that are totally free and apps that still cost a little bit of money.
- St. Clair Software has released App Tamer 1.0.5, an update to their Macintosh utility that automatically pauses applications to improve battery life and reduce CPU usage. App Tamer’s unique AutoStop capability automatically pauses applications when you switch away from them, and then restarts them when you click back to them. The new version of App Tamer adds a convenient contextual menu and addresses compatibility issues.
- #nowplaying offers users the ability to easily tweet the information, cover art & rating from their favorite songs. Merging your most harmonious hobby with your most satisfying social network. #nowplaying allows users to listen to and tweet their favorite tracks in one effortless process. Simply by opening “#nowplaying”, a message is pre-composed based on the song the user is listening to. Then send, or edit, the tweet and the details of your current track will be forwarded to all your followers.
- Reggie Ashworth has announced VidConvert 1.0.2, an update to his new video converter for Mac OS X. VidConvert is a video converter designed to make converting your videos simple and easy. VidConvert will convert just about any type of video into one of the many popular formats of today. Creating videos for your iPhone or iPad, for your Mac or TV, or formats such as DivX and MPEG are just a click away with VidConvert.
- Eternal Storms Software has introduced ScreenFloat 1.0, their brand new app for Mac OS X. ScreenFloat simplifies the users’ workflow by letting them create screenshots that float above all other windows, eliminating the need to resize or move windows around just to keep it visible on the display. ScreenFloat includes customizable keyboard shortcuts, as well as a handy Shots Browser to categorize and organize screenshots taken with the application.
- Nova Development is offering 8 great Mac titles for only $49 for limited time of 30 days (for the first seven days, another free title is included). There is something for everyone—from the new TechTool Pro (a comprehensive utility program), and other titles such as audio/video converter and personal finance to greeting card designer and so much more in The Mac Super Bundle (a $300 value).
- Beezwax Datatools and FM::Nexus have released Inspector Pro 3.0v2, an update to the leading tool for analyzing & debugging FileMaker database systems. Inspector Pro 3.0v2 now supports FileMaker Server, allowing a team of developers to easily collaborate on database optimization. Files can now be opened on iPad using FileMaker Go. Version 3.0v2 gathers a summary of unreferenced objects in a FileMaker database solution, & the update includes various fixes to address known issues.
- ProteMac has announced a thoroughly updated release of the full-featured software NetMine 2.0. This unique and at the same time beautifully simple program is designed to control and monitor all the Internet and network activity on your computer. Including groundbreaking features such as precise identification of application’s address and port and indication of timeframes for NetMine’s activity, this software represents the high-level security for your Mac.
- Sweeter Rhythm LLC has released Harmony 2.0. Harmony is a worship presentation application for Mac OS X Snow Leopard and version 2.0 has over 20 new features and improvements. Harmony 2.0’s Themes feature addresses the number one feature requested by customers: more control over text. In addition to Harmony 1.0’s groundbreaking LyricDance motion-lyric and Quartz Composition features, Harmony 2.0 supports Concord.
- Mac App Mondays are here again and Aspyr is offering our Mac App titles at 50% off. This is a great chance to get one of these classic gaming titles: Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Colonization, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.
Hardware - Newer Technology, Inc. has announced the NewerTech NuShelf Mount for installing one or more 2010 Mac mini computers and/or Apple Time Capsule wireless hard drives under a desk, shelf, or cabinet. Designed and Made in the USA and priced starting from $39.95 MSRP, the precision manufactured acrylic NuShelf Mount is an ideal solution for saving desktop space by relocating a 2010 Mac mini and/or Time Capsule to a more protected, unused mounting location.
Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Section: Mac Software, Graphics / Design, Reviews Provides: Drawing and painting tools
Format: Download
Developer: Autodesk
Minimum System Requirements: Mac OS X v10.6.6
Processor Compatibility: Intel Only
Price: Free
Availability: Now
Version Reviewed: 5.0.1 Advanced drawing and image editors like Photoshop, Illustrator and their open source brother GIMP give graphic designers access to the wide range of tools they need to do their jobs. Sadly, if you are not familiar with them, there can be a major learning curve. That’s time that you may not have or may not want to invest in making one simple graphic. What if you're not a graphic designer? What if your needs are simpler and a programof such as Illustrator is too complex (and too expensive)? That is where a piece of software like Sketchbook Express can come in handy. It offers you a set of basic tools that will allow you to make solid graphics that can then be used in a variety of applications for desktop publishing.
The software does allow users to work with layers, up to six at a time during a session, but it also has a compression feature, which will save all of your work as one layer when you close. If you want the ability to save and export the layers, you’ll need to purchase the $79.99 Sketchbook Pro. The software works admirably with tablet software, allowing more traditional artists—or digital artists who are looking for a more hand-drawn look—to get what they want, and not be tied to the mouse. The ability to choose between different styles of tips—from pencils to brushes, and even hybrids of the two—allows for a range of textures and effects that do a fair job of simulating work on real paper. Just be aware that Sketchbook Express does not do wet paint effects. 
The only issue with this software that this reviewer cold find is the lack of ability to import text. In other words you won't be designing your flyers, brochures, bulletins and similar documents in Sketchbook Express. But since the flattened files come up well in iWork and Office for Mac, it is a minor concession to make in a program that focuses on drawing, anyway. Tools cannot be designed with every possible user in mind, and those who want text capabilities would likely want layers, too, meaning they would need more advanced software anyway. Sketchbook Express is a great option if you want to make pretty and simple images without wasting time or memory space on more advanced features. If you want those features, take a look at Sketchbook Pro. Full Story » | Written by Katie Gatto for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Section: iPhone / iPod touch / iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, iDevice Apps, Features, Appidemic After suffering with the low-grade camera in my old phone, I’ve fallen in love with the iPhone 4’s high quality lens and, strangely enough, the variety of apps that take advantage of it. 360 Panorama not only uses the iPhone’s camera, but also integrates the gyroscope, allowing it to take a wraparound image. What is it 360 Panorama is a camera app for iOS that lets you stitch images together in real time. Once you’ve got your image complete (or as complete as you’d like it to be), you can export it as a flat image, or upload it to a website where people can view it as a 3D effect.
How does it work? 360 Panorama gives you a wireframe that wraps around you, virtually. You start the capture process, then rotate yourself along the wireframe, capturing more and more of the image. This is all done live, on screen. Once you have your panorama complete, you can save it as a flat image to your photo roll, email it, or upload it to twitter. If you do either of the last two, you have the option of uploading the picture to the developer’s website where it can be viewed as a 3D image (rather than as a distorted, fish-eyed flat image). If the recipient looks at that link on an iOS device, the website will detect that, and they can rotate the image by turning, as if they were looking at the panorama in person. Is it contagious? 360 Panorama is a fun app, if a little finicky. Getting the edges of the smaller shots to line up perfectly is virtually impossible, though if you move slowly and “paint” in new parts rather than trying to do two full “shots,” it’ll work better. Sharing options from inside the app are limited to Twitter, though of course you can save it to the photo roll and upload it to whatever service you like from there. Strangely, there doesn’t seem to be an option to just upload it to the Occipital website on it’s own. You have to Tweet it or email it to get that ability. But that’s a minor problem. For taking panorama photos, 360 Panorama’s amazing real-time stitching effect simplifies the process and lets you share them in some really amazing ways. Category: Photography
Developer: Occipital
Cost: $1.99
Buy: 360 Panorama Full Story » | Written by Bill Stiteler for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »
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