Aviation : Delta’s New iPad App Shows Off The World Below Your Plane

Delta Air Lines has released Fly Delta for iPad, an iPad-specific app that, in addition to normal stuff like booking trips and checking flight status, includes a nifty feature they call “Glass Bottom Jet.”

Glass Bottom Jet allows users aboard Delta’s wifi equipped planes to watch the ground pass below as they speed through the sky. It’s not a live view, mind you, but rather a combination of maps and satellite imagery combined with your plane’s current position.

Making use of the iPad’s added display real estate, the iPad-specific app also features new destination guides and trip map features not previously found on the original iOS app. The original, which worked on all iOS devices, has been downloaded 5.5 million times, Delta says.

Delta simultaneously released an update to its iPhone app that integrates with Passbook, the iOS app that will store your boarding passes, movie tickets and store coupons.
“Our goal is to simplify the digital experience across the touch points where our customers already spend their time by making their interactions with Delta easy and intuitive,” said Glen Hauenstein, Delta’s executive vice president – Network Planning, Revenue Management and Marketing, in a statement. “The incredible functionality and innovation found in the new iPad app embodies all that we’re doing to further improve the digital experience customers have with Delta. All of this represents the largest investment to delta.com and digital technology in more than a decade.”

 

Credit : NY Aviation

Tech : Never lose your keys again with the Hone Bluetooth keychain for iPhone and iPad

The Hone us keychain accessory for iPhone and iPad, now on Kickstarter, that aims to eliminate the problem of losing car, house or any other type of keys. Everyone has experienced the panic -- you're running late, searching for your keys, can’t find them anywhere, time is ticking away... Well, instead of checking and re-checking the same places, over and over again, desperately hoping you somehow missed your keys the first ten times around, the Hone offers a better, more technological solution.
A small Bluetooth device for your keychain, the Hone connects to your iPhone 4S or new iPad via the latest Bluetooth 4.0 low energy protocols. When you lose your keys you just simply fire up the companion app and it will trigger an audible alarm and flashing lights. Even better, it has a built in proximity sensor so if you can’t see you keys, walking around and getting nearer to them will change the way the Hone alerts you too.
The Hone runs for up to six months on one replaceable battery and has a range of up to 150 feet. The makers of Hone will also make the device hackable in the future by releasing the devices UDID and Bluetooth profile. This means that you could hack it and use it for a different solution if you wanted a low energy Bluetooth device for something else.
If you want to get on board with this project, you can be an early adopter with a pledge of $40. The Hone still has 22 days left to run but has already reached its fundng target of $46,000.



Credit : iMore

Gadgets : Apple releases new Retina display iPad commercial, Do it All

Apple has just released a new commercial for the iPad called "Do it All". Like other recent iPad commercials, it focuses on what the iPad can do, highlighting apps. This time, it breaks down:

• Send a note. (Email.)
• Stay informed. (Newsstand and the New Yorker.)
• Catch a show. (Vimeo.)
• Make your point. (Numbers.)
• Make a memory. (iPhoto.)
• Make a masterpiece. (Paintbrush?)
• Read something. (iBooks.)
• Watch something. (Videos.)
• Learn something. (iBooks textbook?)

The closing line is:

Do it all more beautifully with the Retina display on iPad.

No "new iPad' branding, which is interesting, and they're melding the typical app focus with the Retina feature. It's not as powerful as the earlier, Peter Coyote voiced iPad 2 ads, but it's not a misstep either. More keeping pace than anything.

Credit : iMore

Tech : 7-inch iPad on track for October 2012 release, $200 to $250 price

Apple will be going forward with the 7-inch iPad, currently targeting an October 2012 release alongside the new iPhone, and -- here's the killer -- at a $200 to $250 price point. According to our sources, the reason for such aggressive pricing is to do to the tablet market what Apple did to the MP3 market in 2004 with the expansion of the iPod product line -- leave absolutely no space for competitors.
We haven't gotten a firm read on the exact screen dimensions, so we're using 7-inches generically here. Our sources have indicated, however, that the 7-inch iPad will be identical to the current 9.7-inch iPad, just scaled down. That seems to include a 2048x1536 resolution display, just like the new iPad. If accurate, that would put the pixel density at around 326 ppi, the same as the iPhone 4S (and higher than the 264 ppi new iPad) retina display.
It's hard to imagine a device with a panel that large and dense that having a price tag of just $200 to $250, especially when the baseline new iPad comes in at $500, but one way Apple will be keeping costs lower is by providing less storage capacity. $200 to $250 will get you 8GB. By way of comparison, the current entry-level iPod touch also starts at $200 for 8GB. (And no, Apple won't be replacing the iPod touch with the 7-inch iPad, both devices will remain in the product lineup -- though it'll be interesting to see what happens with iPod touch pricing and storage capacity.)
Recently AppAdvice reported on the logic of 7.85-inch iPad, which makes a lot of sense. And both iMore and Daring Fireball heard Apple had that device in the labs. Only the go to market decision remained.
While Apple's late co-founder, Steve Jobs, was famously dismissive of 7-inch tablets, calling them terrible and dead-on-arrival, he also said no one wanted to watch video on an iPod and that Apple wasn't interested in making a phone. One of Jobs' chief criticism of the 7-inch form factor was its impact on software -- that competitors stretched out smartphone apps instead of making iPad-class apps. Obviously, Apple's 7-inch iPad would run the same apps as the current 9.7 inch app, though scaled down. While that will affect design elements like touch targets, and may cause some developers to approach iPad apps in different ways, it's better than introducing a 3rd interface size to the mix (in addition to iPhone/iPod touch and 9.7-inch iPad).
Apple previously addressed the lower price point by keeping the 2011 iPad 2 around at $399 following the launch of the new iPad.
Rumors of a 7-inch iPad mini have been around since just after the launch of the original iPad in 2010, and picked up speed when competitors like Samsung, RIM, and Amazon began offering 7-inch tablets. Some, like the Kindle Fire, are already at the $200 price point, using cheap to compete with good. While Amazon won't talk sales numbers, and none of these devices can really be called successful at this point, to a certain segment of the market, cheap is what matters. Apple hasn't chosen to address that segment in desktop or laptop computers, or in phones, but they have in MP3 players and it sounds like they will again in tablets. And they'll do it in the same way -- by being cheap and good. For large scale markets like education, a 7-inch, $200 to $250 iPad would be compelling.
Steve Jobs' tag line for the original iPad was "...our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price".
Sound like Apple is getting ready to be even more unbelievable.

Tech : Iris App for iPad : a fun way to browse Instagram on your iPad

Since Instagram still has no official iPad app of their own, Iris App is a fantastic alterative

Instagram may not have a native app available on the iPad, but Iris App is here to fill that void. You may not be able to upload photos to the popular photo sharing service, but Iris App does allow you to browse your feed, featured photos, “like” and comment photos, and more.
Along the left hand side, you’ll see a thin column that give access to your main feed, featured photos, your profile, search, and the photos you’ve liked.

Your home feed is displayed as a grid of polaroids. Each Polaroid shows who’s photo it is and the number of likes and comments. These images are nice and big and the design is very clean looking. If you want to “like” the photo, just double tap! You can also tap the heart and a sidebar on the right will slide out that lists all the users who have liked the photo, links to their profiles, and the option to “like” the photo. Tapping the speech bubble is very similar, except for comments. If available, you can also view the photo’s location on a map.

Tapping on a photo will slide a larger version of the polaroid up from the bottom of the screen that looks exactly the same with the addition of an excerpt of the caption. Which leads me to my biggest disappointment — if the caption is more than about 40 characters, the only way to view the caption is in the comment view. I think captions should be viewable from the polaroid/thumbnail view. I like to see caption as I casually scroll and browse through my feed.

If you tap on a user’s avatar, you’ll be taken to their profile. Along the top, you see their name, bio, number of followers and following, a button to follow/unfollow, a “thumbs-up” to recommend the user via email, and a button that lets you view all the user’s photos on a map.

The photos in profile mode are displayed much smaller than on your main feed — there is 4 photos per row vs. two photos per row. But there’s a trigger on the bottom of the sidebar that lets you switch to the larger, more detailed thumbnails if you prefer.
The featured photos and liked photos pages also feature these smaller thumbnails, but oddly, there is no option to view them larger.

The Good

• Pretty
• Browse main feed, featured photos, profiles, and favorites
• Like and comment on photos
• Search for users and tags

The Bad

• Can’t tap tags
• Can’t change thumbnail size for main feed, featured tab, or favorites tab (main feed is big, featured and favorites are small)

The Conclusion

I often use Instagram to browse through photos even when I’m not sharing my own photos and have always longed for an iPad version. Given the fact that Facebook now owns Instagram and that the Facebook iPad app took ages to release, I’m not expecting an official Instagram iPad app anytime soon. I’m just glad to have Iris App as a fantastic alternative.

$1.99 – Download Now

 

VIA : iMore

iPhone and iPad theft in New York up 44% since last year

Recent data from the New York Police Department shows that the theft of iPhones and iPads has increased by 44% since last year. From the beginning of the year to April 15, 1,196 iOS devices have been stolen, while 831 were swiped during the same period in 2011. These stats are surfacing shortly after a 26 year-old chef named Hwang Yang was shot and killed in the Bronx for his iPhone. His wallet was left alone, however. The NYPD advises against flashing your iPhone or iPad while on the subway, which is common sense for the vast majority of us, but a good thing to remember for those long trips when you’re bored.
U.S. carriers have recently announced that they’re working on forming a shared database of IMEI serial numbers of stolen mobile phones, which should allow them to remotely lock devices that have been blacklisted. While determined thieves are likely to find a work-around, the process will at least act as a deterrent to less-informed criminals.
I would be curious to see if this rise in iPhone and iPad theft is consistent across the U.S., and how it differs internationally. At the very least, let this be a reminder to have Find my iPhone installed and running – it has been known to save the day before.
Source: New York Daily News

DJ Tech : DJ Rig App for iPhone, iPad & iPod Touch

Since NAMM 2012, IK Multimedia (better know for its guitarist-focused products) has been promising a new range of iOS DJ software and hardware, in the form of the iRig Mix (a slimline, portable mixer for iOS devices) and companion app DJ Rig.
The iRig Mix is coming soon (watch out for our review), but we’ve already had a chance to test the app. With the competitive nature of the market for DJ apps on iPhones, how well does DJ Rig fit in – and has the company learned from the mistakes made in some other, similar apps?

Firstly, it’s not iPad native…
From the marketing videos on YouTube and the welcome screen, you see the DJ Rig app running rather boldly on two iPads either side of the iRig Mix. But when you look at the App Store page it becomes apparent that the app has been developed specifically with the smaller iPod screen size in mind. This is not, then, a “universal app”.
(If you’re not familiar with that term, it means that if you want to run it on an iPad you need to hit the “x2” button to fill the screen. Although the functionality is all still the same, once the graphics have been stretched to the fit a larger screen they become slightly blocked and not as smooth as you might have hoped for. Perhaps in the future IK Multimedia will release a “Universal” update – or perhaps an iPad-only version.)

Twin-deck view.

The main screen shows either two decks (in landscape mode) or a single deck (in portrait).
The dual-deck view shows a familiar layout of deck A and deck B side by side with crossfader centred underneath.
The central section shows the volume levels with rotary volume controls underneath. Again, my personal dislike of rotary dials in iOS is gently prodded here, not only with the volume controls but also on the EQ popup as well.
Register to unlock your EQ…
The subject of EQ brings us quickly onto the next question; should I really have to register my email address with IK Multimedia to unlock the EQ functionality (which is included in the initial price of the app)? If your answer to this question is “no”, unfortunately you’re going to be disappointed since you cannot use the EQ without registering and activating an IK Multimedia account (via email) first.
It’s an unusual move and is likely to prove unpopular, however IK Multimedia wants to provide better support for its products (including apps) and would no doubt argue that enforcing registration in this way is its method of doing so.

Should I really have to register my email address with IK Multimedia to unlock the EQ functionality?

The other controls on the main screen are fairly intuitive, although to load a new track you need to press the “+” icon at the top left of the deck, whereas the button which looks like an eject icon near the bottom is to decide which function you want the button next to the crossfader to control.
The app also offers “In-App Recording” so you can capture your mix on the device immediately. My recommendation on this is to ensure you have plenty of space before indulging in a two-hour set! On completion of recording you have the option to export the file in a number of different ways.

Instead of EQ, you could have the button set up to display a number of other options:

• Info – shows basic information about the track loaded
• Pads – displays 9 “MPC style” pads to fire one-hit samples
• FX – displays an X-Y “Kaoss Pad” style FX interface
• Loop – on-the-fly looping which can be snapped to the beatgrid
• Cue – up to 4 visual cue points can be stored per track (one as standard)
• BPM – pitch control of the deck and deck nudge control
• Wave – displays the waveform

I can understand why the development team has tried to keep the interface as uncluttered as possible, but with the button next to the crossfader providing access to only one function at a time it was difficult to perform a number of different actions quickly on the same deck.
For example, during a mix I would want to have access to the deck nudge control – especially when tweaking the EQ, looping and applying effects. If I had the EQ controls on the screen and suddenly needed to nudge the deck speed slightly it would take two button presses to get to that functionality.

The app starts to make more sense when running in single deck view, when you have more screen space. The waveform is displayed at the top with the six function buttons all displayed and the pitch control positioned to the side. You can quickly switch between decks by pressing the “A” or “B” button at the top. Personally, I preferred using the app in the single deck mode; it was much easier to navigate around and work with.
Along the top of the screen are a number of different icons. The “?” icon loads the help screen where you can have a quick tutorial on how the app works. This is done using 14 annotated overlays to the interface and provides all the information you need to get started with the app.
The user icon requires an internet connection to register the app (and yourself) with IK Multimedia in order to unlock the aforementioned EQ functionality. The next icon takes you to the extensive configuration screen where you can set all the usual detail (crossfader curve, output mode, crossfader filter, pitch adjustment range, auto gain) but also additional settings focused around use of the app with the iRig Mix hardware.
The unique feature with DJ Rig is the way it uses the in-built mic to sync the BPM of the deck to an incoming audio source. This is only functional when used with the iRig Mix hardware and setup in the Configuration page.

Music library access
Access to your music library is via the standard library screen. I’ve mentioned my distaste for this method before, so I won’t repeat it here.

The search process was incredibly slow…

I would like to at least see the BPM displayed (and sortable) in the library, which is pretty much essentail for easy DJing. Ideally I would see the comment field as well, so harmonic mixing would be possible with information stored in that field.
I’ve got almost 6,000 tracks on both my iPad and iPod Touch; as such the search process was incredibly slow. It’s likely that most customers will not have as many tracks on their device; however, I’ve found performance for track searching on similar apps is much better.
Cue, FX and looping
A single cue point is available with the app, but this can be extended with an in-app purchase costing US$4.99. The six FX available as standard are high pass, band pass, low pass, delay, stutter and phazer. The in-app purchase unlocks flanger, crush, compressor, wah, fuzz and reverb.
The FX are beat-aligned and can be latched (or locked) on, allowing you to do something else within the app at the same time. They have X-Y control which we really liked.
The loop functionality feels basic when compared with other “small-screen” DJ apps. However, you do get the ability to loop sections of the track on the fly during playback, and these loops can be snapped automatically to the beat grid which gets calculated when the track is first loaded and analyzed.

Conclusion

DJ Rig had a rapid release of v1.0.1 shortly after its initial version. This was aimed at stabilizing the app and fixing a few minor bugs. (I did experience a few crashes with the app on both the iPad and iPod Touch with v1.0).

The track BPM can be synced with any audio source, such as a drum machine or sequencer…

As with all DJ apps, the general advice is to close all apps running in the background and ensure the device is in Airplane mode.
Even with these measures in place the app seemed shaky. IK Multimedia is currently looking to address stability issues on older devices and those with larger music libraries. Overall, then, DJ Rig certainly shows promise; however, as a new app, there is scope for improvement.
When the iRig Mix hardware is used, the fact that the track BPM can be synced with any audio source, such as a drum machine or sequencer or anything else, could prove to be the winning unique feature the app needs to stand out in the crowd. So watch out for our review of the iRig Mix, which will help us to make our mind up about the app.

DJ Tech : Future DJ For iPhone & iPod Touch

Future DJ has parallel waveforms which will be familiar to anyone who's used DJ software on PC or Mac.

DJing on your iDevice as we’re finding out isn’t all about Algoriddim’s djay, great though it is – there are many other programs vying for your attention.
The Future DJ app has been in the app store for almost a year now and curiously seems to get little notice; so today I’m setting out to find out if it’s a hidden gem.

The development team (Xylio) are behind the Future Decks audio / video mixing software which is available for both PC and Mac. FutureDecks is pretty fully featured, so with this prior experience in the DJ software market my expectations for an iOS app from the same company start off quite high.

The user interface

The interface is fairly straightforward, and all of your time will be spent on the main screen (since there really is only one screen!).

The app is displayed horizontally with the tracks stacked (Left deck “A” at the top, Right deck “B” at the bottom) and the waveforms scrolling from right to left.

The Future DJ main screen. Here's where you'll spend practically all of your time in the program.

The deck controls are colour coded with the left deck in red and the right deck in blue. The colour-coded pitch sliders are on the edges of the screen and show a rough volume level underneath in the same colour.
The in-app help feature (via the “?” button on the left) is quite handy on first use and the configuration page can be accessed with the wrench/spanner button on the other side.

Configuration

There are quite a few key configuration settings to note, some more useful than others:

• Analyze on load – Set this to ON otherwise there is no beatgrid or BPM displayed and therefore the sync button will not make any sense! The caveat here is that once the BPM has been detected there’s no way of correcting it. I’m sure it’s not even looking at the BPM data which I’d stored against the track in iTunes. Most of my drum & bass tracks were coming back with a bpm around 115!
• Play on load – This is a strange setting to auto play the track once it’s been loaded. I’ve got this set to “Off”. I can’t think of a circumstance where I’d want a track to play straight away without cueing it first
• Audio split mode – A useful setting if you’re using any form of audio splitting to cue up the next track. There’s no PFL level setting and it does the cueing automatically based on where the cross-fader currently is
• Waveform scratch mode – While I certainly wouldn’t use such an app for scratching, I’ve got it set to “On” which allows me to manually scroll through the waveform (with audio) when setting a cue point
• Auto mix duration – The time taken for the auto-movement of the crossfader from one side to the other. This might be useful if you want to move onto the next track while playing with effects or something else
• Beatmatching when auto-mixing – Very much dependent on how well you’ve aligned the two tracks and if their BPMs are correct
• Use cue as cue-play – A common setting on several apps and down to personal preference
• Enable MotionPlaying – This is the odd one. I really cannot think of a use for this feature apart from a very brief moment of amusement. If you have this set, you can place your iPhone/iPod Touch on a physical turntable and scratch the track loaded by moving the turntable!

Music access

Access to your music library is via the “eject” button for each deck on the left.
Ease of use and quick access to tracks in your music library should be paramount for developers of any DJ app, however with Future DJ we are using the generic music library plugin which shows you the tracks as if you were using the standard “Music” app on your device.

When you’re in a live environment and need to get to a track fast this approach is slow and feels clumsy.

For me, the generic view of the library is fine when I’m at home browsing through tracks without time as a constraint. However, when you’re in a live environment and need to get to a track fast this approach is slow and feels clumsy. Sadly this is the quickest, easiest way for a developer to say they’ve given you access to the music library which means it’s the most used approach throughout iOS DJ apps (with a few rare, but welcome exceptions).
Unfortunately with Future DJ there’s no alphanumeric index so if you want to load up two tracks by Zero 7 then you have to either use Search (which is slow with a lot of tracks) or scroll down the entire artist list (again, time consuming). At the very least, the developers should be looking to add a keyed index on the right hand side to quickly take you to “Z” or at least thereabouts.
The other problem with the generic library screen is that it does not include BPM or comments data, so you have no idea what speed the tracks are and what key they’re in. Other similar apps have got this covered nicely and some even allow sorting on this data.

Track detail and control

Once a track has been loaded you get the waveform with beatgrid shown as well as the basic track information (artist, title, BPM and duration left). I’m not sure what the heart icon represents though.
The title bar of the track also acts like a track search bar, so you can press any point along the thin bar and the track will go immediately to that point.

It would be good to see a “double-tap” feature on the pitch to snap it back to zero, and pitch bend functionality as well.

The pitch controls are OK (just). Any fine tuning is out of the question on a small screen and you don’t get any indication of how much you have altered the pitch (eg +/- 10%) – unless you’re very good at quick maths and deduce it from the changes in BPM. It would be good to see a “double-tap” feature on the pitch to snap it back to zero, and pitch bend functionality as well.
The crossfader again is OK, you can punch in (and quickly out) a track by tapping anywhere along the crossfader. The “Mix” buttons either side are for the ‘Auto-Mix’ function which smoothly moves the crossfader from one side to the other. It would be good to see an adjustable fader curve (as on other apps).
You only get one cue point per track (which is stored and recalled next time the track is loaded).

Cue, FX & loop

These are all grouped together and when displayed they cover the current track’s waveform display.
The EQ is limited to low and high, with a gain control alongside. There are four self-explanatory effects buttons: brake (this slows the track to a stop, like hitting the stop button on a turntable); flanger; skip (this skips to the next beatgrid); and echo.

Using Loops, EQ and FX in Future DJ.

Unfortunately, there’s no way of tweaking these effects so you’re left with static settings. I found hitting brake and echo at the same time brought a nice flourish to stopping a track and when used while fading between two tracks it was quite effective.
The loop functionality is basic but can be effective if your BPM is correct and the beatgrid is aligned perfectly. It’s as simple as pressing “Loop In” to start the loop, and the same button to mark the end loop point.
When you first press the “Loop In” button the Cue/FX/Loop section becomes slightly transparent so you can see the waveform. This all felt OK, but sadly lacking in terms of quality and quantity when you look at what other competing apps are offering in all these three areas. There’s no way of storing loop points or looping based on a set of bar lengths, so it is very much “on-the-fly”.

Conclusion

For a company that has developed DJ software before, the app does fall short of what you would expect. However, the app has been developed with a small interface in mind and there are plans for an iPad version – there are no details of how this will differ though and how it will stand out against established competition on a larger device.
The app just about delivers what is promised, however it is unlikely that many people would choose to use it in a live environment when other more feature-rich apps are available.

Tech : Check Out The iLuv iSM524 ArtStation Pro, 'world's first' Galaxy Tab compatible audio dock

If you've been in the market for a Galaxy Tab friendly audio dock, your wait could be over. iLuv has debuted it's iSM524 for your Samsung Android slate, calling it "the world's first and only audio docking station" for the Galaxy tablet fam. Equipped with the company's jAura Sound technology, the dock's arm rotates for portrait or landscape viewing modes and tilts so you can get the best possible angle for catching up on that Boardwalk Empire season finale. You'll also find an IR remote and a 3.5mm auxiliary input to boot. iLuv promises that this ArtStation will play nicely with the entire Galaxy Tab family, but you can find out for yourself later this month if you're willing to drop $149.

Press Release

Transform Your Samsung GALAXY Tablet into a Home Entertainment Center with the iLuv ArtStation™ Pro Audio Dock

Port Washington, NY (PRWEB) December 12, 2011

iLuv Creative Technology, the premier provider of the most comprehensive line of accessories for the mobile lifestyle, introduces the world's first and only audio docking station for Samsung GALAXY Tablets, the iSM524, ArtStation™ Pro. The iSM524 combines superior aesthetic design with cinematic sound quality to heighten your Samsung GALAXY Tab experience.

iLuv is the only mobile accessories innovator to deliver an audio docking system that unleashes the full potential of the Samsung GALAXY Tab and transforms the tablet into a home entertainment center that enables users to easily and comfortably enjoy music, movies, TV shows and more. The ArtStation™ Pro is the result of the Designed for Samsung Mobile strategic partnership between iLuv and Samsung, which brings to the market highly differentiated accessories solutions with unquestionable value for Samsung GALAXY mobile devices.

"At iLuv, we continually strive to anticipate and deliver the most comprehensive range of feature-rich solutions for every facet of the mobile lifestyle," said Pia Chon, marketing director at iLuv. "We are proud of our partnership with Samsung, and of the fact that we are the first and only company to offer an audio dock for the GALAXY Tab series.The ArtStation Pro for GALAXY Tab is truly a testament to iLuv's design and engineering prowess and enhances the Samsung GALAXY Tab beautifully."

The ArtStation Pro (iSM524)complements the Samsung GALAXY Tablet line with a sleek design that can fit in with any décor-from a minimalist modern loft to a jewel-toned media room. Just place your tablet in the ArtStation™ Pro and luxuriate in the rich, bold jAura® acoustics that every demanding consumer craves.

The articulating arm rotates for portrait or landscape viewing options and allows tilt adjustment for maximum viewing comfort for GALAXY Tab 10.1/8.9. Additionally, the remote control allows users to skip through audio and video tracks and adjust the volume with ease. For added convenience, the compact remote stores magnetically against the back of the system.

Pricing and Availability
The ArtStation Pro (iSM524) will be available at select iLuv retailers in December and will have a street price (SRP) of $149.99.

Compatibility
iSM524 is compatible with Samsung GALAXY Tab 7" (version 2), 7.7", 8.9" and 10.1". For more information go to: www.i-luv.com.

Tech : Smart Cover can unlock password-protected iPads running iOS 5

 

Psst. Hey, do you carry a spare Smart Cover around with you? Well, if you're an unscrupulous sort, you can actually use it to bypass the lock screen of any iPad running iOS 5. This multi-step security hole will let you browse whatever's running behind the passcode screen, whether that's email, apps or the homescreen. To take advantage of the flaw, hold down the power button on the locked device until the power off slider appears, then whip the Smart Cover on, open and tap cancel. Fortunately for iPad owners, the rest of the tablet remains locked-down, but the main problem here is any sensitive information left on-screen. If you unlock the tablet to the main screen, you won't be able to open new apps, although anyone feeling particularly nefarious can apparently delete apps from that meticulously arranged home screen. 

 

Tech : iRoom iDock imounts your iPad to your iwall

One sure fire way to make sure you never lose your iPad? Stick the thing in your wall. Now available in North America from Bracketron, the iRoom iDock is a motorized dock for your Apple tablet that can be flush-mounted into your wall. Once connected to your power supply, the system's proximity sensor will open up when you're around to accept the your tablet into its docky clutches, for some serious wall-charging action -- and if there's a power outage, the thing will open up automatically, so you can grab your slate back. The dock is available in landscape or portrait orientation and comes in black, aluminum or white -- or you can get a custom color to match your home's walls, because why not go all out with your wall-mounted iPad dock thing?

 

Press Release

Bracketron Releases the iRoom iDock – World's First Powered, Motorized In-Wall iPad Mounting Solution

Minneapolis, MN – September 21, 2011 – Bracketron, the leader in mounting solutions and accessories for mobile consumer electronics, announces the North American availability of the iRoom iDock, the first powered and motorized in-wall mounting solution for iPad on the market today. Available in portrait and landscape models, the iDock can be flush-mounted to seamlessly and stylishly integrate the iPad into any room. A patented motorized docking system opens and closes the iDock to securely store the iPad, and the dock also includes both power and composite audio internal connections. The mount's faceplate comes in three sleek colors including brushed aluminum, piano black and opal white, or can be color customized so that the bezel perfectly matches your unique interior design. Compatible with both iPad and iPad 2, iDock Landscape and iDock Portrait are available now through Bracketron, the official and exclusive distributor for iRoom iDock in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

"The iRoom iDock is an elegant solution that fully integrates the iPad into a room's design concept," said Mark Mandel, Executive Vice President of Bracketron. "The iDock is ideal for both residential and commercial settings, and will turn any room into a truly sophisticated and connected space."

The iDock features a unique opening mechanism with an invisible proximity sensor. When activated, the sensor recognizes when you are nearby and switches the iDock to the open position allowing you to insert your iPad. After ten seconds the iPad intake closes again automatically. The proximity sensor can also be disabled to lock the iPad permanently in place. When the iPad is inserted into the dock, you have total control of audio and video equipment or smart home applications on the device. The iDock also automatically charges the iPad battery when mounted. If you experience a power outage, the iDock simply opens automatically and releases the iPad for removal.

The iRoom iDock is integrated flush with the wall using a special flush-mounted socket. The iDock is then connected to the power supply and inserted into the flush-mounted socket. For added security, the iDock's proximity sensor and automatic opening and closing functions can be disabled if desired. Additionally, the integrated audio output can be connected to existing wired sound systems, making it possible for the iPad to be used as an audio source. You can then select and play songs from the docked iPad like a modern day jukebox. The iDock landscape model is particularly suited for viewing movies, presentations and photos on the iPad. The iDock is also external contact-friendly, which makes interesting new functions possible such as connecting the dock to a keypad or fingerprint entry system.

The continuous development of iPad applications creates new ways and opportunities to integrate iPad every day. The iRoom iDock is an elegant solution for in-wall docking in:

Private homes
Yachts
Retail
Hotels
Restaurants
Medical practices
Hospitals
Boardrooms
Corporate entrances


The iDock features brilliant design, engineering and high quality materials, and is manufactured to the most stringent European standards. All iRoom products come with a two-year warranty. The iDock is compatible with the original iPad and iPad 2. Two conversion sets – iPad 1-kit and iPad 2-kit – contain easy-to-install rails and adapters that allow users to mount any version of the iPad in the dock.

Features

Motorized docking and release (Watch video here)
Available in Portait or Landscape models, to suit the primary in-wall usage
Docking status notification (iDock Landscape only)
Automatic opening in the event of power failure or overload
Quality design made in Austria
Dimensions (width/height/depth)- 220 x 310 x 66.8 mm
Comes in Piano Black, Opal White or Brushed Aluminum; custom colors also available
Professional installation recommended

Tech : Verizon's FiOS on Demand app brings Flex View streaming to iPad, iPhone

It's been in the works for more than a year, but Verizon's FiOS on Demand app has finally arrived to the iPad and iPhone. Available as a free download on the iTunes Store, this tool provides FiOS subscribers with instant access to all movies or TV shows available under the provider's Flex View service, which now boasts some 4,400 titles for purchase or rent, along with 32GB of cloud storage for each customer.

Tech - Crimes : Smugglers use zip line and slingshot to sneak iPads into Hong Kong

Chinese smugglers turned to a rather low-tech method for getting a pile of decidedly high-tech iPads and iPhones across the border to Hong Kong, in a scheme to make money off of regional tax differences. The unsanctioned exporters fired a slingshot from a high-rise in Shenzhen, dragging a zip line down to a small house just across the Sha Tau Kok river. They then sent canvas bags loaded with the gadgets flying through the night sky along the projectile-placed cable -- at least until authorities spotted the gear hurtling through the air, that is. Police recovered about $46,000 worth of Apple products (and four culprits) when they discovered the end of the 300-meter line. Check out the video below for a little Chinese-language news coverage of the story and a glimpse an the simple, but ingenious, smuggling rig. 

Tech : Crayola ColorStudio HD app for iPad

The iPad is not childproof. It's fragile and expensive and we can't imagine why you'd want to hand it over willy nilly to your kids. That said, if you've got money to burn and don't mind letting small hands tool around with high-end consumer products, then this should tickle your parental fancy. Announced as a collaboration between Griffin Technology and Crayola, the Crayola ColorStudio HD app for iPad matches a marker-shaped digital stylus -- the inventively titled iMarker -- with your child's LCD-colored imagination. The chunky, kid-friendly stylus mocks the tip of a pen, crayon, marker or paintbrush as your doe-eyed youngin' swipes along 30 plus animated pages -- all while sitting too close to the screen. If free is the key to your heart, go ahead and grab this now on the App Store -- it's the marker clone that'll set you back 30 bills. That said, it's a small price to pay for your child's happiness.

 Press Release

Griffin and Crayola Announce Availability of Crayola ColorStudio HD for iPad

Crayola ColorStudio HD App now available on the App Store; iMarker digital stylus now available at Apple Stores nationwide

Nashville, TN / Easton, PA – July 6, 2011 – Griffin Technology, one of the world's foremost creators of innovations for everyday life, and Crayola, whose products have inspired artistic creativity in children for more than 100 years, announce the availability of Crayola ColorStudio HD for iPad, an accessory and app combo that blends coloring with cutting-edge mobile technology.

Crayola ColorStudio HD is an entirely new digital play experience, coupling a multi-activity drawing app for iPad with a marker-shaped digital stylus, iMarker. With the functionality of a marker, crayon, pen and paintbrush in one, iMarker allows young artists to interact with animated coloring book pages that move and react while being colored. The iMarker brings the ColorStudio HD App to life on iPad, generating custom-produced pictures, animations, sound effects, music and other special effects with each touch on the Multi-Touch display.

"We love creating technology for kids, and our partnership with Crayola allows us to elevate their signature blend of kid-friendly creativity into the digital world," said Mark Rowan, President of Griffin Technology. "ColorStudio HD is the first of many offerings to come from this exciting partnership."

"We're thrilled to collaborate with Griffin Technology to bring a timeless children's activity to life in an amazing new way," said Warren Schorr, Head of Crayola Licensing. "Crayola ColorStudio HD ushers coloring into the 21st century by turning the iPad into an interactive coloring book that morphs and transforms as kids digitally color."


The Crayola ColorStudio HD App is able to differentiate automatically between a child's finger input (taps, swipes, etc.) and the input from iMarker. For the first time, users are able to manipulate both the creative space and color without having to toggle between app modes. The ColorStudio HD App provides hundreds of hours of playtime, with more than 30 animated coloring pages, pictures, sound effects and music. Young artists also have the option to design an unlimited number of their own coloring pages using ColorStudio HD's extensive built-in library of backgrounds, music, sound effects and other elements. Artwork can be e-mailed, uploaded to Facebook or even printed directly from iPad to any AirPrint-enabled printer.

Crayola ColorStudio HD is available for $29.99 from Apple Retail Stores, www.apple.com/retail, Best Buy stores, or from www.griffintechnology.com.

The Crayola ColorStudio HD App is available for free from the App Store on iPad or at www.itunes.com/appstore.

Tech : Skype for iPad leaked in promo video

If you've lost sleep over the lack of a dedicated Skype app for your iPad, you can rest easy tonight knowing somewhere out there it does exist -- or at least a promo video does. Earlier today, someone over at Skype unintentionally (we assume) posted what looks like an ad for a real-deal app for the iOS slab. Of course, the evidence has since been pulled, but you can check out a ripped version (sans audio) after the break. It looks like the days of blowing up ye ole iPhone Skype are numbered.

Aviation - iPad gets approval from FAA to replace paper flight charts and maps

The Federal Aviation Administration is moving with the times, it would seem, as it has just granted the first approval for the use of iPads instead of paper charts for informing airline pilots while on duty. There are already a number of EFB (electronic flight bag) devices in use, however the iPad is by far the cheapest and most portable one that's been validated yet. Executive Jet Management, a charter flight operator, went through three months of testing with the iPad, wherein it was used by 55 pilots on 250 flights, in order to obtain its FAA license to rely exclusively on the Apple tablet for its in-flight mapping data. Other airlines will have to go through the same process in order to dump their big stacks of paper charts for a slinky slate, but the important thing is that the precedent has been set. As to redundancies in case of failure or a software crash, the likeliest scenario is that pilots will carry a spare iPad with them, though there wasn't even a single (software) crash during the trial period -- which also included rapid decompression and electronic interference testing. So there you have it, the iPad's found itself a grown-up job just in time to retire from its throne as consumer sales leader.

Tech : Apple Will Unveil iPad 2 On March 2

  All Things D just reported that Apple will be holding their iPad 2 unveiling on March 2. No official invites have gone out yet, so think of this one as a strong rumor. Here's an outline of what we think the next iPad is going to have. And even if you don't believe ATD's "confirmed" rumor, a bunch of signs are pointing at an event or announcement very soon.

DJ Tech : Midi-to: New iPad app for Serato

Got an iPad and trying to figure out how to complement your DJ set rather than use it to DJ? There have been a lot of articles written (including one on this site) about using your iPad for digital DJing. While some of the apps that exist out there are pretty impressive (Mixr and djay are my favorite so far) most of them assume that you are going to use your iPad to control your whole set. While the portability and ease of use of this type of setup likely can’t be topped, if you already have a killer setup you probably want to use additional hardware to enhance your existing setup instead of replace it.

MIDI-TO ($4.99 – iTunes App Store)

The Good: iPad app that extends all the major features of Serato Scratch Live (promised support for Traktor in the future). Plus since it is portable you can pick it up and work the crowd while tweaking a filter.

The Bad: Some minor latency due to the fact that it transmits over wireless. Only supported on Mac OS X Snow Leopard.

The Bottom Line: Great app if you own an iPad and want quick access to all of Serato’s features without having to spend the whole time with your finger on the mousepad.

Available in the app store

http://www.midi-to.com/

Created by a bunch of guys from Barcelona, this iPad app currently only supports Serato Scratch Live (although they are promising to support Traktor in a future release) and works over a private wireless connection which means no additional software or cables are needed. MiDi-to gives you control of practically every feature in SSL across three panels accessed from the top of the screen within the application. The Main panel accesses the 5 cue points of each deck, loop parameters, playback modes, the Ultraknob effects and 6 sample banks. The effects panel gives you access to all three DJ-FX presets per deck but you can’t get into the individual parameters to tweak the presets. The last panel gives very basic control of your library to allow you to tab through crates, select songs and load them onto a deck.

1. SETUP

Setup is pretty straight-forward although it does not equate to turning it on and rockin it out. Accessing the information panel gives you step by step instructions on connecting the iPad to SSL. The MIDI-to website also gives a friendly step-by-step video. I found myself watching this the first time I set it up because you have to set up an Audio MIDI Network on your Mac and a private network in your AirPort settings which are things the average user has probably not done before. The private network is handy though because it means you don’t have to have wireless access at the club for this to work. But this also becomes the app’s only drawback. There is a small but noticeable latency when triggering a button. This isn’t an issue for the effects or library panels but for the main panel where you need to trigger samples or cue points very quickly then you will start to notice the delay. I found I got used to it after a few sessions but do you really want to train yourself to work around a small flaw?

2. LAYOUT

The size of the iPad screen allows the buttons on the interface to be the perfect size and bright colors let you know when a feature is turned on. The only ones I found to be a bit small were the sample buttons across the bottom. If you find yourself doing fast mixes and want to trigger some samples in-between you might find yourself accidentally hitting a cue or loop button instead or just hitting the black bezel around the iPad screen (which is a much better outcome – believe me).

The effects panel is where I find myself spending most time during a set. I had never really played much with the DJ-FX panel in SSL because I didn’t have a controller to match and I try to avoid looking at my laptop as much as possible (more on this later). But with the easy-to-use sliders and a pull-down menu for each effects bank plus one-touch on/off buttons I’m now addicted. And since the iPad is so portable I can pick it up and go crazy with the effects while working the crowd at the same time. I could literally walk out in the crowd and start controlling anything in SSL. Not that I would ever do this, but just knowing that I could stroll back to the bar to get a drink and trigger a horn-flanger at the same time is pretty cool. Plus it is a lot easier to turn on an effect in the middle of a mix and push the effect slider up (say on a high-pass filter) all while keeping one hand on the fader. I find this hard to do on a standard mixer with built-in effects due to the closeness of my hands and even harder if I have one hand on my laptop mouse controlling the effect in the SSL software directly. I like being a little more spread out and having some space as well as having a large visual of what effect is turned on and the relative mix of the effect.

CONCLUSION: SOMEWHERE ELSE TO PUT YOUR HANDS

That is really where this app excels. I’m a visual guy. In a dark club I need constant visual feedback, with a very quick glance of what is turned on or off, be it a loop, sample or effect. I’m also prone to becoming stone-faced and glued to my laptop screen if I am not careful. This does nothing for the crowd. Anything that moves my focus away from the laptop and onto another surface causes me to remember there is an audience listening and a little interaction with them does me some good. And it never hurts for the crowd to actually see what you are doing, especially in clubs where DJ booths are elevated. Holding the iPad up and cranking an effect makes the crowd feel a little more involved and connected (as silly as that may sound to some).

CRITICAL DATA

• Reviewed: MiDi-to version 1.0.1
• Price: US street price ($4.99 – iTunes App Store)
• Communication (hardware) / Operating System (software): iPad and OSX for Mac only
• Available: Now

About the Author: Jeremy has been DJing for over 10 years as Kid Kardia in all different kinds of venues across the country and currently resides in Denver, CO.

TRAKTOR ALTERNATIVE:

A similar app that is a more general controller for Traktor is the midi-pad. There is a great article on the software at CDM.

Crime : $1 Million of Forged Credit Card Money Bought iPads and Macs for Prisoners

Prisoners at New York's Rikers Island jail have been caught buying up iPads and Macs in an elaborate cyber-crime arrangement that saw them forging credit cards—your credit cards, people!—to buy $1m of Apple products.

This hip young thing with a taste for Apple kit? 28-year-old Shaheed Bilal, who tasked his three younger brothers, girlfriend and 22 other friends and family-members in the outside world with purchasing the gadgets, to sell on at discounted rates.

They bought stolen credit card details online—which we know is cheap and easy to do—and then encoded them into magnetic strips of other cards. As the cards had the crims' names and not the victims, they outfoxed the police for three years.

All crimes must be dealt with, and lo, nine people in the ring have already appeared in court.

Tech : Lose All Dignity With This Front-Worn iPad Cradle

I don't care if this frontpack makes an iPad easier to use while standing on train or not. I'm not going to look like this big of an asshole for the sake of convenience.

Adding financial insult to emotional injury, the Assero Defender apparently costs $130. Really?