Apple

May 23, 2010

What Nobody Told You About IPad

Design-wise, there really isn’t much to comment on iPad. There’s just the 9.7 in., 1024 x 768 multi-touch LED backlit display that takes much of the bulk of the iPad’s surface. But quite frankly, that is what most people love about Apple’s products. Minimalist, graceful, yet terribly functional. But we’ll go to that later on. Let’s first take a look at the iPad, from its exterior.

It’s a beauty to behold, doubtlessly. Although un-boxing the device is the least marvelous thing about the beast, few people can say that much thought was not given to how the device is packaged. Since it is an Apple product, you cannot doubt the proven fact that countless hours were spent over how the device would look when packed. And people are not disappointed for Apple’s thoughtfulness.

The packaging is superb. It matches the general appeal of the gadget. For starters, the box of the iPad has a touch of MacBook Air in it. If you loved MacBook Air or other MacBook products, you may certainly fall for the box of the iPad. It’s so nice, you can hang it on a frame and display it in your living room.

Moving on, within the box is the iPad itself, a thin info packet, which you would doubtless not use at all because even 2-year-old children can understand the simpleness of the gizmo a wall power charger, and the famous USB 30-pin dock connector. If you have opened any Apple devices before, you are at home with these things.

The closest comparison you can get is Amazon’s Kindle DX. Not identical, but nearly there. iPad measures 9.56 inches in height, 7.47 inches in width and .05 in. thick. It weighs 1.5 pounds for the WiFi model, 1.6 for the WiFi and 3G model. In comparison, Kindle DX stands at 10.4 inches, is 7.2 inches wide, .38 inch thick, and weighs at 1.2 pounds.

For a device that does more than the Kindle DX does - if it alone is the point of comparison, the thickness of the iPad is excusable, satisfactory in truth. If the size and function of the iPad were to be used as parameters for judging whether iPad is better than Kindle DX, it isn’t a stretch to assert that it’s a killer. With its considerate e-book reading applications and the various selection of eBooks available to be used with iPad, many say Kindle will soon be replaced with iPad.

Despite its revolutionary thickness, many people still seem to complain about the .5 inch thickness of iPad. Sure, it may feel awkward and may prove more difficult to handle in one hand for a few hours than Kindle DX, but considering how and what the device does, this is nothing less than nitpicking.

Well, it’s obvious. There’s no other device in the market which has what iPad has. That does what iPad does. The glossy glass face alone is a winner. And we haven’t even talked about the functions of the device.

Filed under Computer Hardware & Accessories by artnet

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March 10, 2010

Portable Music with iPods 6 Cool Musical Apps

iPods provide the best in music mobile fun. While there are many players available on the market, the iPod is a preferred brand. There are several models of iPods available for an array of needs for individuals. Consumer reviews and ratings prove the iPod is consistently favored over other players year after year. Prices of iPods are competitive in comparison to other mp3 players, and while there are budget models of players available you can get discounted and cheaper iPods online, learn more at at this super cheap iPods website.

The features of iPod are plentiful, including, touch screens or turn wheels, tons of storage space for video and music, pocket size design and comfortable earbud headphones. They are capable of storing a vast amount of music, movies and videos, storage depending on the model chosen. Another great thing about then is that you can download and transfer all your CD music to the iPod so that you have all that music at your fingertips and huge libraries become manageable in a hand held device.

The Touch model is compatible with Apple Apps, like the iPhone, which allows the user more benefits and personalization. There is virtually an app for every type of use or subject that you can imagine. Many apps are free and some cost a few dollars.

6 Music Lover Apps

1. Band – Music composing at your fingertips with the Band App. Just use the array of instruments from the iPod and compose, play and record your own music.

2. MixMeisterScratch – Become a DJ, with an array of scratch and mixing options over existing songs.

3. Shazam – A very cool app that will name your tunes by simply placing your iPod up to the speaker while any song is playing.

4. Pandora – This one allows you to hear more of the music you like, just choose a favorite tune and Pandora will find more like it.

5. Drumkit – Play the drums from your iPod, either with your own compositions or with your favorite songs.

6. Bloom – Bloom is very cool, as it creates a musical melody based on your mood selection from a list and also makes a color design appear on your screen.

Filed under Technology and Gadgets by ckahuna

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January 4, 2010

Does a Macintosh Make a Good Gaming Computer?

Video games for the Mac are becoming more common in the marketplace. Whether you’re looking for action, adventure, role-playing, sports, kid’s games or any other type of video game, Macintosh now offers a rich and very diverse gaming experience. The newest Macintosh models also feature an application which is easy to install and lets users play Windows games on their Mac. Earlier Macs weren’t as friendly to gaming, but today’s Macs make it easier to port many video games. Whether your games are running on the Mac OS or through using a system that runs Windows, Macintosh provides performance which is about equal to a Windows PC with similar equipment.

Ideally, Macintosh video games are developed simultaneously with the Windows version. That would allow the original programmers to be on hand for any questions or troubleshooting that might be needed while developing the game. It would also allow simultaneous rollouts of both the Windows and Mac versions to the marketplace. This might be ideal, but in real life it rarely happens. There are only a few companies that simultaneously create games for Mac and Windows systems.

Typically, the high-end games that come to the Macintosh actually were originally developed for Microsoft Windows. Some time later, they are ported to the Mac by one of a few porting house companies. Two early video games, Microsoft Flight Simulator and SimCity, were converted to Mac in 1986 and 1988. One famous exception was 1993’s Myst, which actually was developed on the Mac and ported over to Windows a year later.

Because most Mac games are not developed at the same time as the version for Windows, the Macintosh rollout tends to lag behind the Windows version of the game, typically by several months. This is the way it usually happens with high-end games that need a lot of time to play and have intense graphics. But there are many companies out there today that now develop original Mac games that are more casual. These games feature simple graphics and are easy to play in short bursts of time. Downloadable games are examples. Many are available in various genres, including puzzle games, hidden object games for mac, jigsaw games, arcade games and other types.

The fact that there is not enough shelf space for most brick and mortar stores to carry a full line of Mac video games is one thing to think about when you are looking for games for the Macintosh. The Mac has a small share of the computer market, so it doesn’t make sense for these stores to stock up on Mac games. It is easy, though, to search on Google for websites related to Mac Games.

Another thing Mac gamers can do is play PC games using the Windows operating system on their Macs. There are several different ways to do this. After Intel processors began to be used on Mac computers, users have been able to run the Mac operating system at the same time as Windows without even needing to reboot their system. Several free applications that allow users to do this are available online.

Whether you are playing a video game through the Windows operating system or you are playing a game that’s exclusive to the Mac on the OS, the Macintosh experience is every bit as rich and compelling as on any PC.

Filed under Computer Games & Software by artnet

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January 3, 2010

Pocket Sized Music with the iPod 6 Apps for the Music Lover

Mobile entertainment is made better with the iPod. Most users agree that the iPod is a preferred brand over other players. The iPod comes in four different models so there is something for everyone. Year after year, sales of iPods continue to prove its popularity with consumers. Prices of iPods are competitive in comparison to other mp3 players, and while there are budget models of players available you can get discounted and cheaper iPods online, learn more at at this super cheap iPods website.

iPods come with lots of handy and easy to use features. They are capable of storing a vast amount of music, movies and videos, storage depending on the model chosen. Another great thing about then is that you can download all your commercial CD music to iPods so that you have all that music at your fingertips and huge libraries become manageable in a hand held device.

The iPod Touch model also offers Apple Apps compatibility, which makes the iPod that much more useful, with thousands of options in Apps. Apps come in all kinds of interests, subjects and uses. There are hundreds of free apps, and some can cost a few bucks.

Best Musical iPod Apps

1. Band – If you dream of composing music here is your chance. With different instruments you can create, record and play your creations.

2. MixMeisterScratch – Become a DJ, with an array of scratch and mixing options over existing songs.

3. Shazam – This app is truly incredible as it will identify any song by simply placing your iPod up to the speaker while it’s playing.

4. Pandora – This one allows you to hear more of the music you like, just choose a favorite tune and Pandora will find more like it.

5. Drumkit – A drum kit on your ipod, for solos, or to play along with your favorite tunes.

6. Bloom – This app creates a melody based on your selection of mood, as well as a colorful display of designs on the screen to go with it.

Filed under Technology and Gadgets by ckahuna

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