Tag Archive for iPad

Air Display app for iPad brings Retina-level resolution to Macs

April 3, 2012 admin Gadgets, Software, Tablet
Share post:
Email

Apple’s iPad has leapfrogged the Mac in high resolution display support, though an updated iPad screen sharing app brings the feature to Mac users.

Air Display running Mac OS X's HiDPI mode.

Air Display running Mac OS X's HiDPI mode. (Credit: Josh Lowensohn/CNET)

Avatron Software has just added a way for users see their Mac desktops at “retina-like” resolution – via the new iPad.

Avatron Software’s app Air Display allows users to “extend” their Mac desktops to an iPad, essentially turning the tablet into a second monitor. An update to the app now offers an option to enable HiDPI mode, a setting tucked away in Apple’s Mac OS that renders the user interface at four times normal resolution (twice the resolution in each dimension).

That’s well-suited for Apple’s new iPad, which as luck would have it features four times the number of pixels as the iPad 1 and 2, and a higher pixel density than any panel found on Apple’s desktop or notebook computers. At least for now, that is.

Speculation around HiDPI has swirled for months, in no small part to its growing presence in builds of OS X. As noted by Daring Fireball shortly after the release of Mac OS X 10.7.3, Apple included a handful of HiDPI graphic elements — for instance, the hand cursor in Safari and Mail. Other identified HiDPI elements, particularly in Apple’s upcoming Mountain Lion OS X update, suggest that a high-resolution, system-wide visual polish is just around the corner.

In the meantime, the $9.99 app offers a hack-free way to enable the feature and utilize it on the newest iPad’s display.

Avatron announced plans to enable support for the HiDPI mode last week. In a blog post the company said the feature worked well in testing with Apple’s iPad software simulator, but needed extensive testing after attempting to use it on Apple’s actual hardware, where it underperformed without additional tweaks.

To use the feature, Air Display users need to be running Lion, the latest publicly available version of Mac OS X. The software is also available on Google’s Android and Microsoft’s Windows platforms — the latter of which is getting support for high-density displays as part of its eighth major release.

 

Read more: Air Display app for iPad brings Retina-level resolution to Macs

 

No comments , , , , , , , ,

A quad-core Windows 8 laptop more ultra than an ultrabook?

April 1, 2012 admin Business, Computer, Hardware
Share post:
Email

Imagine a quad-core Windows 8 laptop as light as a tablet. Enticing — but first let’s see if commercial designs actually appear from top-tier device makers.

Can a quad-core Windows 8 laptop be as thin as an iPad? That’s the design Qualcomm is aiming for. But we’ve heard this story before.

The San Diego-based chip supplier anticipates superthin laptops running Windows 8 on top of its Snapdragon chips, according to a report in PC World.

It’s certainly an enticing idea: Laptops lighter and thinner than even Intel-based ultrabooks — an idea also put forward by Nvidia, which already supplies its well-received quad-core Tegra 3 processor to Asus for its Tranformer Prime tablet.

At a macro level, this is about ARM versus Intel on Windows 8, which will be compatible with both chip technologies. More specifically, it’s about the camp of chip suppliers, like Qualcomm and Nvidia, that use a power-efficient silicon design versus performance-centric Intel.

The argument goes something like this: ARM-based laptops can be thinner and lighter than an ultrabook because power-sipping ARM processors don’t require fans (Intel-based ultrabooks do).

Qualcomm made a similar argument a couple of years ago, in fact. At that time, it made a lot of noise about Linux-based “smartbooks.” And Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs even “announced” one from Lenovo – which never saw the light of day, by the way. Nor did any smartbook.

Though Windows 8 offers more hope than Linux, a competitive ARM-based laptop will be a bigger challenge than either Qualcomm or Nvidia anticipate, because Intel is a moving target, and a pretty fast one at that.

Intel’s highly integrated (and likely much faster) Haswell chip will be available in the timeframe in which Qualcomm announces its quad-core Snapdragon.

 

Read more: A quad-core Windows 8 laptop more ultra than an ultrabook?

 

No comments , , , , , ,

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 review: 7-plus inches of AMOLED goodness

March 29, 2012 admin Computer, Reviews, Tablet
Share post:
Email

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 from Verizon features an impressive AMOLED screen with an incredibly high contrast ratio. The tablet was released the same week as the new iPad with its Retina Display, so that’s probably why you haven’t heard much about it.

No, I don't actually read the New Yorker, but I do read Edge Magazine, which is like the video game equivalent. (Fun Fact Eric) (Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

 

Don’t overlook this screen. While it doesn’t offer the same pixel density as the new iPad‘s Retina Display, it’s still one of the most impressive I’ve encountered, offering deep blacks and an unmatched contrast ratio by tablet standards.

While games looked vibrant and well-saturated with color, there was an unfortunate side effect on background textures.

The full review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 has more on that admittedly cryptic statement as well as many other amusing anecdotes.

 

Read more: Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 review: 7-plus inches of AMOLED goodness

 

No comments , , , ,

iPad mini to be closer in size to Samsung’s Note?

March 29, 2012 admin Computer, Tablet
Share post:
Email

Apple is reportedly eyeing 5-inch panels for an upcoming device that would fit in somewhere between the iPhone and the iPad.

iPads

(Credit: Apple)

Apple could be taking a cue from frenemy Samsung with its next iOS device, offering a gadget that’s a bit larger than most cell phones, but about half the size of a tablet.

According to Japanese Apple news site Macotakara, Apple’s working with LCD suppliers to get a 5-inch panel with a pixel density high enough to be able to call it a Retina Display. That’s according to “a reliable Chinese source,” the site said.

That smaller device would arrive sometime next year, Macotakara suggested, and sport either a 1,600 by 960 pixel or 1,280 by 960 pixel resolution — either of which would be a first for an iOS device.

This is just the latest in a series of reports claiming Apple’s working on iOS device that falls somewhere between the iPhone and the iPad. Earlier this month, a report from the Korea Times cited an unnamed Samsung official saying Apple this year would be releasing an iPad with a 7.85-inch screen. That’s as opposed to the current iPad’s 9.7-inch display. Days before that, there was a report from VentureBeat saying Apple was eyeing a slightly-smaller 7.1-inch panel instead.

Muddying up both these claims is the idea that these panels could actually end up being for a next-generation smartphone instead. A report from Reuters last week suggested as much, claiming that Apple was vying to pick up a slightly smaller 4.6-inch display for a new crop of iPhones with screens larger than the 3.5-inch panel the iPhone’s shipped with since its introduction.

Apple is under considerably more scrutiny when it comes to the components it buys. The company has a very small variance in its product sizes, offering just a handful of configurations, and keeping sizes the same from generation to generation. This has been under particularly tight control with Apple’s iOS family, which just recently jumped to a fourth possible screen resolution with the third-generation iPad.

By comparison, most of Apple’s competitors — notably Samsung — have taken a different approach by building its notebooks, handsets and tablets at varying sizes. For instance, Samsung’s Galaxy Note device, which has a 5.3-inch display, pulls double duty as a phone and a tablet. Earlier today Samsung said it’s sold 5 million units of the Note globally since launching in February. Other such efforts include LG’s Optimus Vu, and the ill-fated line of Dell Streak devices.

 

Read more: iPad mini to be closer in size to Samsung’s Note?

 

No comments , , , , , , ,

iPhone passcode cracking is easier than you think

March 28, 2012 admin Mobile, Security, Tablet
Share post:
Email

A Swedish security firms shows that it can break into a passcode-protected mobile phone in a matter of minutes.

(Credit: Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNET)

A report came out last fall suggesting that repeating one number in the iPhone’s four-digit security PIN made for better protection than using all unique numbers. However, that little trick doesn’t seem to go very far with Micro Systemation, a Swedish security firm that helps police and military around the world crack digital security systems.

The company released a video last week that shows just how easy it is to break into a passcode-protected iPhone or Android device.

The video, “Recovering the Passcode from an iPhone,” tapes a demonstration where a company spokesman uses an application called XRY and accesses the contents of the mobile phone in less than two minutes. User information, such as GPS location, call history, contacts, and messages, can all be read.

The way the XRY software works is a lot like jailbreaking into the phone, according to Forbes, which talked to the company about the application. Rather than looking for vulnerabilities made by the manufacturer, the software searches for security flaws by guessing every combination of numbers to find the correct code.

“Every week a new phone comes out with a different operating system and we have to reverse engineer them,” Micro Systemation marketing director Mike Dickinson told Forbes. “We’re constantly chasing the market.”

According to mobile security provider Lookout, both iOS and Android could beef up their security. Both are potentially threatened by rogue apps and both are susceptible to Web-based malware, just like any Internet-connected device.

Dickinson said that the longer users’ passcodes are the better and the more difficult the devices become to crack — even using XRY. “The more complex the password, the longer and harder it’s going to be to access the phone,” he said.

 

Read more: iPhone passcode cracking is easier than you think

 

No comments , , , , , ,

Apple willing to issue refunds to iPad buyers in Australia

March 28, 2012 admin Business, Computer, Tablet
Share post:
Email

Offer comes after consumer commission finds Apple misled buyers by labeling the device as 4G-capable when it actually operates at a different frequency.

Apple is reportedly willing to offer refunds to iPad buyers in Australia who feel they were misled to believe the new tablet is capable of connecting to the 4G/LTE network Down Under.

Apple senior counsel Paul Anastassiou told the Federal Court in Melbourne today that the company was prepared to offer refunds even though it had — he said — never claimed the new tablet would work fully on the 4G network in Australia operated by Telstra, according to various published reports. Apple also proposed publishing a clarification regarding incompatibility issues on its Web site and at its stores.

The revelation comes a day after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found Apple in violation of the Australian Consumer Law by misleadingly labeling its new iPad as 4G-capable and said it would try to get a court to impose fines and an injunction against sales.

“Consumers who have purchased or are considering purchasing an ‘iPad with WiFi + 4G’ should ensure that they have a proper understanding of the mobile data networks which this iPad can directly access by a SIM card,” the ACCC said.

The third-generation iPad comes in two varieties: one with only Wi-Fi networking and one with wireless network service provided through mobile phone networks. In the United States and some other areas, the wireless network can work with the higher speeds of the LTE standard for 4G networking. In areas where 4G is unavailable, the device works at the slower 3G speeds.

In Australia, though, the 4G service uses an 1800MHz frequency band, while the new iPad’s 4G requires 700MHz or 2100MHz for 4G. The Apple store in Australia uses the standard product naming for the 4G-capable model, but the fine print makes mention of using 4G networks only overseas.

“The iPad with Wi-Fi + 4G model can roam worldwide on fast GSM/UMTS networks, including HSPA, HSPA+, and DC-HSDPA. When you travel internationally, you can use a micro-SIM card from a local carrier. You can also connect to the 4G LTE networks of AT&T in the U.S. and Bell, Rogers, and Telus in Canada,” the Apple store iPad product page says.

Apple representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

Read more: Apple willing to issue refunds to iPad buyers in Australia

 

No comments , , , , ,

Get a Kingston 16GB Wi-Drive for $45 shipped

March 26, 2012 admin Accessories, Computer, Gadgets, Hardware, Tablet
Share post:
Email

Need more storage for your Kindle Fire or iDevice? Tough luck. Or not, if you pair it with this handy portable wireless flash drive.

The Kingston Wi-Drive offers 16GB of extra storage for your smartphone or tablet.

The Kingston Wi-Drive offers 16GB of extra storage for your smartphone or tablet. (Credit: Adorama)

Is your 16GB iPad feeling the storage pinch? Are you wishing Amazon had squeezed more than 8GB into the Kindle Fire? Here’s the rub: Kindle Fires and iDevices lack expansion capabilities, so you’re pretty much stuck with what you’ve got.

Or not, thanks to the Kingston Wi-Drive. It offers wireless, portable storage for select phones and tablets.

The big downside has always been the price, but Adorama now has the 16GB Kingston Wi-Drive for $44.95 shipped. That’s a heckuva lot more reasonable than the original $129.99 list price.

The gizmo measures 4.78 x 2.43 x 0.4 inches — about the size of an iPod Touch – so it’s easy to carry along in a pocket or purse. You can fill it with content (music, movies, etc.) from your PC, then stream that content to up to three devices.

So, for example, if you’re taking a long trip and want to stock up on movies, you can squeeze plenty of extras onto the Wi-Drive. The unit connects via its own Wi-Fi access point, but also provides a kind of Wi-Fi pass-through so your device(s) can continue to connect to the Internet.

There’s a Wi-Drive app for iOS devices and also one for the Kindle Fire. If you’re an Android user, you can check out the beta Wi-Drive app – but in most cases you’re better off just popping in a high-capacity microSD card.

CNET reviewed the Wi-Drive last July, rating it 3.5 stars and calling it “a convenient companion for frequent travelers who have one or a few tablets and a moderate library of digital content.” (That was before the apps had expanded to include more devices.) One big knock was the price, but that’s much less of an issue now.

Indeed, if you own a compatible device and you’re constantly running out of storage, the Wi-Drive offers an affordable solution. It’s not as convenient as an expansion slot, but at least it’s an option.

Standard disclaimer: I’m not sure how long Adorama will be offering the Wi-Drive at this price, nor how much inventory is available. (Amazon had it for a buck less earlier today, but it quickly sold out.)

 

Read more: Get a Kingston 16GB Wi-Drive for $45 shipped

 

No comments , , , , , ,

Angry Birds Space review: A fresh new fling

March 23, 2012 admin Computer, Games, Software, Tablet
Share post:
Email

Have you grown bored with the Birds? Me, too. But Angry Birds Space is outta this world, both literally and figuratively.

Angry Birds Space looks gorgeous and delivers on its promise of compelling new gameplay.

Angry Birds Space looks gorgeous and delivers on its promise of compelling new gameplay. (Credit: Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET)

 

I’ll be honest: I haven’t flung a bird at a pig in months.

When Angry Birds first flew on the scene (way back in 2009!), I couldn’t get enough. But as with most things, the novelty soon wore off. Even Angry Birds Seasons and Angry Birds Rio were just variations on the same theme, and I eventually stopped paying attention–even when Rovio pushed out new levels.

So when the developer announced Angry Birds Space last month, I had to wonder: would pigs in space rekindle my love affair with slingshots and ornithology?

Today I found out. Angry Birds Space is now available for Android, iOS, PC, and Mac. Is it any good?

Oh, yes.

Angry Birds Space feels at once familiar and fresh. Unlike the previous sequels, which were pretty much the same game in different settings, ABS puts a new spin on things with gravity-oriented physics.

Thus, a flung bird might curve around a moon in one direction and then curve the other way once it passes into the next moon’s orbit. Or it might get caught in a gravity well and whip around the moon several times before hitting anything. Sometimes you’ll need to fling a bird below a target instead of above it, or even fling it left instead of right. (Both actions feel really weird at first.) And sometimes the goal is not simply to smash into a pig, but to knock it out of a high orbit so it crashes to the surface.

You learn all this as you play through the game’s 60 levels, and it’s that discovery that makes ABS such fun. What’s more, Rovio throws in a few surprises along the way. [Mild spoiler alert] For example, if you bust a camouflaged “golden eggsteroid” midlevel, you’ll be instantly transported (via wormhole, of course) to a separate mini-game. The first of these is an unapologetic and amusing nod to Space Invaders, where instead of shooting at aliens, you’re flinging birds at them.

Once that mini-game ends, you’re wormholed back to where you left off in the original level.

I don’t want to spoil any of the other goodies. Suffice it to say, you’ll have a hard time putting ABS down, and I suspect most players will burn through all 60 levels in a day or two. Thankfully, Rovio says it has “more in the pipeline.” If history is any indication, we’ll see new levels on a regular basis.

By the way, I played the HD version on my new iPad, and it looks spectacular–well worth the $2.99 price of admission. The non-HD version costs 99 cents, also a no-brainer. Same goes for the Android versions, though you can also get ad-supported editions for free.

Once you’ve had a chance to try the game yourself, hit the comments and let me know what you think.

 

Read more: Angry Birds Space review: A fresh new fling

 

No comments , , , , , ,

Apple nabs 1M iPhoto for iOS users in 10 days

March 22, 2012 admin Business, Gadgets, Mobile, Photography, Software, Tablet
Share post:
Email

Just how popular is Apple’s newest iOS app for iPhone and iPad? According to Apple, over 1 million users have downloaded the app, good for $5 million in sales in just 10 days.

iPhoto for iOS provides a powerful photo editor and manager for your iPad or iPhone. (Credit: Apple)

 

iPhoto for iPhone and iPad has eclipsed the 1-million-user mark just a little over a week after Apple released the app alongside the new iPad, longtime Apple writer Jim Dalrymple (The Loop) reports.

What’s impressive is that the number is for unique users, not total downloads. That means Apple has received $4.99 more than a million times from consumers eager to get their hands on what is now one of the most powerful photo-editing apps for iOS.

iPhoto for iOS provides a number of features previously available only on third-party apps, including a variety of editing effects and sharing options. You can pick up iPhoto for iOS on Apple’s App Store for $4.99.

If you want to get to know iPhoto for iOS a little better first, check out Jason Cipriani’s “Getting started with iPhoto for iOS” on CNET.

Are you a fan of iPhoto for iOS? Do you prefer another photo editor app? Let me know in the comments!

 

Read more: Apple nabs 1M iPhoto for iOS users in 10 days

No comments , , , , ,

LED backlight a likely culprit in iPad heat issue, says expert

March 21, 2012 admin Computer, Gadgets, Tablet, Technology
Share post:
Email

The new iPad has twice as many LEDs as the iPad 2, which means more heat from those LEDs and from the battery, a display expert tells CNET.

(Credit: Apple)

Reported heat issues with new iPad are most likely due to a combination of more backlights and more power needed to drive the backlights, an expert told CNET. This follows a CNET report attributing extra heat to the new iPad’s A5X chip, also.

Apple has doubled the number of LEDs in the new iPad to achieve the same brightness as the iPad 2, driving up power requirements and therefore heat, Raymond Soneira, president of DisplayMate Technologies, said in a phone interview today.

“The LED power at maximum brightness is 2.5 times that of the iPad 2,” Soneira said. “They had to jack up the number of LEDs so the peak brightness is the same as on the iPad 2. That absolutely makes it warmer,” he said, adding that the new iPad didn’t get uncomfortably warm in his testing, though.

Soneira offered four reasons the new iPad runs warmer:

  1. Twice the LEDs: That means more heat coming from more LEDs. This is especially a problem at full brightness.
  2. 2.5X the power needed: The brightness efficiency is lower because the new iPad has more pixels (which means more transistors) compared to the iPad 2. More pixels and transistors take up more space, meaning less opportunity for light to pass. “So they basically have to blast light through the LCD to make it come out.” Soneira adds: “I measured the LED power at maximum brightness–it’s two and a half times greater than on the iPad 2.”
  3. Battery generates more juice: The battery has to push out more power. This makes the battery warmer.
  4. Traditional LCD technology: Sharp’s power-efficient IGZO technology was not ready for the new iPad. That forced Apple to use traditional–and less power efficient–amorphous silicon tech.

And heat isn’t the only issue. The new iPad’s battery will run down faster at full brightness, Soneira said.

 

Read more: LED backlight a likely culprit in iPad heat issue, says expert

 

No comments , , , ,
« Older Entries