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Apple launched last week its bid to make available to students electronic textbooks through a free application called iBooks 2.  To ensure success for this new project,  Apple established partnerships with publishers Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, McGraw-Hill and Pearson to produce digital high school textbooks.

Majority of high school textbooks in Apple’s iBookstore will cost $14.99 or less which is substantially cheaper than the current prices for print textbooks.  The company likewise unveiled a free tool called iBooks Author which allows Macintosh computer users to create their own iBooks textbooks and publish them to the iBookstore.

This is good news indeed for students and educators.  Migrating textbooks to the iPad not only makes it convenient for students used to bringing heavy books daily to school, but it also means more innovative and creative ways for children to learn.

Much as I love the feel of a new book in my hands while reading, I have to admit the possibilities that the iPad can offer is just as interesting.

The much awaited release of operating system iOS 5 for the iPad and iPhone is scheduled for today.  The new operating system claims the the new operating system comes with 200 new features, including the iCloud, which is touted to change the way users can interact with the online world.  The iCloud is the upgrade to the system last promised by the late Steve Jobs in his last public appearance in June 2011.

The iCloud is a system that offers Apple users to store data, such as music, messages, documents, and downloads, on Apple’s own cloud server in the worldwide web.  This new feature offers users more flexibility in the storage of their data commonly stored in their iPad, iPhone, or computer.  This provides more storage options for users to store data, making it more available to them wherever they are.

Another new feature is the iMessage which allows users to send text over Wi-Fi or 3G network instead of letting your mobile carriers do it for you for a fee.  This means bad news for mobile carriers who stand to make less money for data transmissions sent by users.  A new document reader for the Safari web browser with more space for your document is also part of the upgrade.

The new iOS 5 will be available to users as soon as they plug their iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to their computer and launch iTunes.  Despite the disappointment of iPhone enthusiasts when the more revamped iPhone was not as extensive as expected, the new iOS 5 is definitely a good last legacy for the legendary Steve Jobs to leave behind.

As scheduled, Apple finally released the new version of its popular smartphone with the iPhone 4S.  Despite rumors going on around for months regarding the design and new features, the new iPhone was not as spectacular as anticipated.  Much of the upgrade was done under the hood while it actually looked exactly like its predecessor, the iPhone 4.  Here are the new features of the new iPhone 4s:

1)  Processor – it has Apple’s A5 dual core 1ghz processor together with a dual core GPU which is claimed to be faster and provide a graphic performance that is 7x faster than the iPhone 4.  Apple claims that battery performance is also better despite the more powerful processor.

2) Siri –  the feature that Apple has been bragging most about in the iPhone 4S is the voice assistant called Siri.  The iPhone 4s still has the same voice control feature as the older model, but Siri was made to provide information to the user with voice commands.  You can check the weather, a contact address, set a reminder, ask directions, or ask any type of trivia.

3)  Connectivity – it is now a dual band phone that supports both GSM and CDMA.  It is a very important feature for those who are used to traveling in various parts of the world where network compatibility may be an issue.

4)  Camera –  it now has an 8 mega pixel camera.  Still not as good as those offered by other smartphones, but it’s a good improvement over the older models.

5)  Design –  it has the exact same dimensions as the iPhone 4 except that it is heavier by about 3g.  The most significant improvement in the design of the iPhone 4S is the fix on the antenna which Apple now claims has better reception and call quality.

The iPhone 4S will be available in black or white for pre-order on October 7 and on sale starting October 14 from US carriers AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint.  So, should you or shouldn’t you?  If it’s the first time you are planning to get an iPhone, it may be worth considering.  But if you already have an iPhone 4 or other models, there is always the promise of even better features in the next model — maybe a real iPhone 5 rumored to be around June next year.   Here we go again . . .

iPhone 5 Image Mock up Courtesy of MacRumors.com

Sources of MacRumors.com reported that the iPhone 5 is targeted for release within the first week of October 2011, possibly the 7th.  Unlike the iPad2, there are likewise speculation that pre-orders will be available either on September 29 or 30, 2011.  So far, no official reports have been issued regarding the new features of the new iPhone model.  There are speculations that a media event, possibly during the pre-order stage, will give us a glimpse of the iPhone 5 and its new functions.

Hopefully, the improvements will not make us wait for a few more years for a better cam or sms function.  When the speculation that the home button will be part of the touch screen seemed unlikely, it was quite a disappointment considering it’s one of the achilles heels of both the iPhone and the iPod Touch.  A couple more years maybe . . .  probably in the iPhone 6 or the iPhone 8.

Image courtesy of Thisismynext.com

The gadget world is once again abuzz with excitement with rumors of the new Apple iPhone 5 release expected this year.  This time around, there are no engineers losing their prototype iPhone in a bar to give us a a premature glimpse of the new release.  What can only be ascertained is that it will have upgraded features and hopefully no reception problems like its predecessor.  It is likely not enough to stifle everyone’s excitement and impatience, but here are a list of the new rumors about the iPhone 5. Read the rest of this entry »

For decades, scientists have been trying to harness the power of the sun as an alternative energy source. Harvesting solar power was not the problem though. It was creating solar cells that could be less bulky than a bus that was complicated. Much of their success in producing portable solar cells during the early years involved gadgets that required minimal power to operate such as calculators or digital wristwatches.

At the turn of the 21st century, the geeks in the lab gowns that make those cool gadgets finally made more ground with solar energy. Of course, they haven’t gone so far as to create a solar-powered IPhone or PSP. They did come pretty close though. In an age where some of what we have in our bags or backpacks need recharging regularly, they have finally made one of the most useful innovations of the decade — solar-powered bags that can charge your cellphones, PSPs, IPods, or even laptops. Cool huh? Now, there is no need to panic when your cellphone starts making that beeping noise before it finally takes its last breath. Just plug it into your bag and you’re safe till you get to another power outlet. I love geeks!

Recent IPhone news over at MacRumors  reported the new features of the latest IPhone OS 3.0 beta.  Most of these are related to music and the podcast.   Here are some of the important ones:

• Variable scrubbing speed during iPod playback th.at will allow fine tuning of navigation within a track.
• Variable playback speed for podcasts.
• Tap a single icon to rewind podcast playback by 30 seconds.
• Additional data for podcasts saved on iPhone that display run time, time left, and publication date.

Other features include the ability to close all open Safari windows, battery percentage indicators, push notifications preferences, and expanded data detectors.

Ashton Kutcher finally grabs the crown as of King of Twitter after edging out CNN as he became the first to pass the million mark in followers Friday morning. He previously trailed behind CNN but made a rally the past days with friends campaigning for him.

However, Oprah is expected to challenge his throne as the big neophyte. She gained more than 130,000 followers in less than one day. Twitter is currently the newest technological sensation with visitors and members increasing exponentially over time. In the past four months, searches increased more than 5,559 percent over the same period last year. Keep on tweeting!

In the past years, the Nintendo Wii undoubtedly won the console wars over competitors Sony PS3 and the Microsoft XBox 360. Many believe the triumph was largely attributed to games that caters to the entire family while its competitors have hard-core gamers as their target audience.

Nevertheless, after 16 months, the Wii may be slipping as the PS3 overtook sales for the first time in March 2009. With the hardware problems of the XBox 360, it may appear that the competition now has come down only between 2 video consoles. The Wii’s slip may be due to the quality of games available for the console. Developers have continuously encountered problems with the Wii’s configuration. This leaves the PS3 at the type of the industry with its wide variety of quality games.

I have always believed the PS3 to be the stronger console with its blue ray playing abilities and astounding game collection. In the end, is Sony still the King of the Consoles? The ball is in Nintendo’s court. We’ll have to wait and see how they deliver against this challenge.

We live in the age of technology where electronic gadgets now rule our world. How many times have you felt crippled after leaving your mobile phone at home? Did you ever feel the urge to just cry when you realized your laptop is broken? We are indeed slaves of the electronic world and would be totally helpless without these gadgets. Among all these inventions, the mobile phone is probably the most useful. This led to the emergence of numerous cellular phone brands with almost limitless capabilities. The features of mobile phones at the moment is so advanced, we wouldn’t be surprised one day if it starts delivering food straight into our hands.

One of the brands that has made leaps and bounds in the mobile phone industry is Samsung. Samsung has come out with models just as technologically-advanced as the older brands. The Samsung Behold is one of the newer models with touch screen features acclaimed as one of the most responsive in the industry. There are also Samsung Behold Accessories to provide support to this unique gadget.

Another model with a touch-screen interface is the Samsung Eternity. It’s almost similar to the Behold and Samsung Eternity Accessories are likewise available to enhance the unit. But if you want something with more connectivity, go with the Samsung Epix. It has the same touch-screen interface but now includes Wi-Fi and a separate QWERTY keyboard for those who feel uncomfortable using the screen keyboard. Just like the rest, there are a number of Samsung Epix Accessories that can help protect and improve your mobile phone experience.

If touchscreen is now the interface of the future, Samsung is definitely capitalizing on this to emerge as one of the best in the industry.

Seems like every new mobile phone coming out in the market is either mediocre at best or trying to be an IPhone. Now, we have the Palm Pre, another multimedia smartphone with a multi-touch screen and a user interface that is almost identical to the IPhone.

Let’s not sell it short though. Palm integrated some innovations on the Pre like the webOS which is a Linux-based operating system developed by the company. Unlike the IPhone, it is a slider which provides a separate QWERTY keyboard underneath the screen which allows for easier input. But what will make the Pre stand out is its wireless charging — the first ever on a smartphone. It will be called the “Touchstone” which utilizes electromagnetic induction through the use of a wireless charging dock. For this to work, a special Palm Pre wireless charging back cover is also necessary.

Palm expects launch around June 2009 but has not released any indicative price tag on this new toy.

The war on game consoles may just go a notch higher with Palo Alto’s entry into the market. Palo Alto’s new system, OnLive, is poised to enter the market as the new console to contend with because of cheaper cost and easier access for gamers.

Unlike popular game consoles such as the Wii, PS3, and XBox 360, OnLive streams top-end games to your television or computer. It is a small set-up box that can be plugged to your TV/PC and a broadband connection. It will provide players the same top-end games with no install time, no download wait, and the ability for continuous upgrade. With upgrading mainly software-based, you may never be stuck with obsolete hardware again. It even offers a replay feature which you can record and send to your friends.
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My kids were given a Brain Age game for their Nintendo DS a few years ago and I was thrilled. Finally, a game that can make them smarter. However, researchers at the University of Rennes, Brittany claim that the game not only failed to improve the abilities of 10 year olds, but even worsened their memory. Really?

According to Alain Lieury, research lead and professor of cognitive psychology, the Nintendo DS is a technological jewel but it is charlatanism to claim that it is a scientific test. Their tests and studies proved that those who were placed under the Brain Age group performed 17% worse in memorization while those in the pencil and paper group had a 33% improvement. He claims that Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, the game’s developer, is one of a long list of dream merchants.

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Activision announced in the recent CES convention that sales of their popular Guitar Hero III have surpassed US$1 billion, the first ever video game to reach that mark. As a matter of fact, the company announced a year ago that their Guitar Hero franchise as a whole have already surpassed the US$1-billion mark. These include all versions of the game released since 2005.

However, Guitar Hero III sales are more astounding considering that it was able to accomplish the feat all its own in under years. Activision publishing CEO Mike Griffith warns other media sectors that video games are poised to eclipse other segments of the entertainment industry.

Nevertheless, recording artists whose music was featured in the video games have also enjoyed a substantial increase in download sales. Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Game was a big success for the rock band. Moreover, the games success have also driven the sales of actual guitars.

I guess the Mario Brothers will have to learn to play the guitar real soon.

Here’s good news for techies and IPhone junkies. Apple just released its 2.2 Firmware update and other goodies for the IPhone.  Also available is Google Street View and over the air Podcast downloads from iTunes.  Google Street View shows public transit and walking directions plus the ability to share your location via email.

Aside from bug fixes and Safari enhancements, the ability to toggle auto-text correction was added as an additional feature.  Another big update are podcast downloads.  Here are more shots courtesy of Engadget.