KidFriday Show 150! Yes, we made it to show 150.
This episode includes talk about Google glasses, Spotify, Playstation 4,….
Author Archives: kidf
iPod Touch 5th Gen Only A Few Weeks Away
Just a few weeks after the release of Apples iPhone 5, word is spreading that the fifth generation of the iPod Touch is already on its way.The new iPod Touch release date is slated for late October, according to Slash Gear.When the iPod Touch announcement was made during Apples iPhone 5 launch, the only information given about the iPod was that it would be released in October. Slash Gear reported that Australian users are now seeing a ship date of three weeks on Apple‘s website. The new iPod Nano reportedly has the same release date as the iPod Touch.Pre-order is currently available through the U.S. online store, but the ship date is simply stated as “October.”The new iPods are in scant supply, CNET reported Friday, via a report from Japanese Apple blog Macotakara. Shipments of the new iPod Touch are due in Japan next Tuesday, and there are “considerably few numbers of the initial shipment.”On Friday, MacRumors reported that early pre-orders of the Touch had moved to “Preparing for Shipment.” One customer even reported that his credit card had been charged.In Australia the expected delivery date is Oct. 29, while in New Zealand the release date is slated for Nov. 2, according to MacRumors.
via New iPod Touch Release Date Slated For Late October: Report.
PlayStation Mobile Now Open For Business
PlayStation Mobile – Sony’s cross-platform mobile gaming service that allows players to experience PlayStation Mobile games across Sony’s devices and select Android-based smartphones and tablets – is now live.
PlayStation Mobile can be accessed through Sony’s PlayStation Store and purchases are tied to users’ PlayStation Network IDs. Users will only need to buy a PlayStation Mobile game once and it will be playable on any PlayStation Certified Device and PlayStation Vita.
The service launches today in Japan, the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Australia, with more countries to follow.
Is Bing Really Better Than Google?
Today Microsoft announced that its ‘Bing It On Challenge‘ has scooted past the 5 million visit mark. According to its blog post, that figure is in excess of its projections. I would certainly think so.The number of visits should be not be taken to indicate user discontent with Google however; the brazenness of the challenge led to a very large, and somewhat positive press cycle, which drove the traffic. As TNW reported previously:Microsoft is making a bold move today, launching a new blind test that pits Bing against Google in efforts to show how useful its search results are compared to the old standard. Microsoft explains on its blog that this is a “non-scientific test,” but claims upfront that research shows “people prefer Bing web search results over Google.”
Top 15 Toys for 2012 Holidays According to ToysRUs
The interactive new Furby and the Wii U made the list for the 2012 hottest toys according to ToysRUs.
To see all the picks, click on the link below.
2012 Holiday Hot Toy List, Toy Reservation, Fabulous 15 – Toys”R”Us.
Top Toys for the Holidays According to Wal-Mart
Are you ready Kid-Friday fans?
Tech is very much a part of the top picks from Wal-mart for 2012. It doesn’t matter if you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza….this list proves that kids and technology rule. Is this list the real deal?
We’ll talk about all of them on the next Kid Friday podcast, show 131.
Hmmmm.
YouTube Releases New App For iPod Touch and iPhone
For all you diehard YouTube fans out there who can’t get enough YouTube on your mobile, we’ve got some great news: starting today, you can download the official YouTube app for iPhone and iPod touch from the App Store, bringing you more of the videos you love and more ways to share them with the people you care about.
via YouTube Blog: Introducing a new YouTube app for your iPhone and iPod touch.
Secrets of Working at The Apple Store
Have you ever dreamed of working for Apple some day?
You can start your training right now.
Gizmodo got a hold of the Apple secret training handbook for employees.
Now we know why they have to be so nice!
Print out this article and bring it with you the next time you visit your local Apple Store.
See if the employees have the correct response!
via How To Be a Genius: This Is Apples Secret Employee Training Manual.
Mini iPad Coming In October
According to a new report from AllThingsD, sources close to the situation have confirmed that Apple will pull back the curtain on a new, smaller iPad during a special event in October. Meanwhile, all signs still point to an iPhone unveiling on September 12, so rabid members of the tech press and Apple’s fan club should have plenty of time to dig into one new product before another takes the stage.
Rumors of a smaller iPad have been making the rounds ever since Apple’s 10-inch tablet first hit the market, and those rumblings have only grown in intensity since companies like Amazon and Google entered the fray. At this point, there’s still hardly any concrete information about Apple’s smaller iPad (unless you’re the type to read too much into sketchy Chinese cases), but there’s little question that Apple’s tiny tablet would mean plenty of trouble for those two players in particular.
Amazon’s pint-sized Kindle Fire has been one of the only tablets to give the iPad line a run for its money in terms of sales, and the company is expected to unveil the Fire’s successor at a press event on September 6. Meanwhile, Google worked with Asus to produce the impressive Nexus 7, and recent speculation seems to indicate that Nexus 7 sales could easily outpace Google’s own expectations. Considering the iPad’s tremendous popularity though, we may soon see Amazon and Google’s momentum take a nosedive should Apple push out a product to compete in the same niche those companies’ devices currently occupy.
via Apple’s New Mini iPad Expected To Take The Stage At October Event | TechCrunch.
iPad Mini and iPhone 5 Set To Go On Sale September 21
According to iMore, Apple is planning to Debut the new iPhone at a special event on Wednesday, September 12, 2012, with the release date to follow 9 days later on Friday, September 21. This information comes from sources who have proven accurate in the past.
The iPad mini will be announced at the same September 12 event, as will the new iPod nano. We haven’t heard a release date for the iPad mini yet, but it could be the same as the iPhone 5. It seems likely the new iPod touch will make an appearance on September 12 as well, though we haven’t heard any specific information about that yet either.
Last year, the iPhone 4S was announced on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, and released 10 days later on October 14. The event included minor updates to the iPod line, notably a white iPod touch 4. This year, the iPad 3 was announced on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, and released 9 days later on March 16. The event included a 1080p Apple TV.
Will The iPhone 5 Include A Taller, Thinner Case?
With the launch of the iPhone 5 presumably coming in the next few months we’re seeing a lot of leaks showing us what the phone might look like. This time is a collection of cases that are already on sale.
CydiaBlog found the cases that are on sale at TVC-Mall.com. The cases are just basic silicon, and cost only $1.58 a piece. These aren’t the cases we’d see in retail stores after the official launch, they’re more of the cases that will sell on eBay or in mall kiosks for just a few dollars.
The cheap cases show the same design for theiPhone 5 that we’ve seen over the past few months. The phone that fits inside these is slimmer than the iPhone 4S, and a bit taller. It also has a smaller dock connector, larger speaker grilles, and a headphone jack on the bottom.
via iPhone 5 Cases Appear Online as Manufacturers Prep for Release.
Microsoft Surface To Offer Cover That Turns Into A Keyboard
Microsoft Surface is a planned series of tablet computers designed and marketed by Microsoft Corporation. The Surface will be available in two versions, “Surface” or “Surface Pro”. “Surface” will run the Windows RT operating system and use an ARM CPU. “Surface Pro” will run the Windows 8 Pro operating system and use an Intel CPU. The display is a 10.6″, 16:9 widescreen HD Display (Surface), or Full HD Display (Surface Pro), The product was announced by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at a Los Angeles event on June 18, 2012, at Milk Studios. No specific release date was announced at the product introduction.
The Microsoft Surface line features VaporMg, pronounced “VaporMag”, the molded magnesium casingthat houses Surface’s components paired with a PVD finish, which is a manufacturing process that produces a durable finish. VaporMg allows magnesium to be melted down and molded to the details needed for Surface and allows Surface to weigh 1.5 pounds. Also included in both Surface models is a USB port, a micro-SD slot, and a magnetic strip to attach accessories such as the ‘Touch Cover’ and ‘Type Cover’. There are also two cameras, front-facing and rear-facing. The rear-facing camera will be angled at 22 degrees to allow proper framing of another person while the “kickstand” is in use. The “kickstand” is a .77 mm thin built-in stand that spans the width of the device and allows Surface to be propped up at an angle in landscape orientation for a hands-free viewing experience. Surface Pro has perimeter venting which allows air to flow out the sides, and helps avoid airflow being impeded by hands holding the device.
For the CPUs, the Surface with Windows RT will use a Nvidia Tegra CPU. The Surface Pro, running Windows 8 Pro, will utilize an “Ivy Bridge” Core i5 quad core chip, which is comparable to chips in current Windows laptops,
The Surface device demoed in the Microsoft Surface Events had a new connection port with five pins. This was acknowledged as a magnetic charging connector during Microsoft’s presentation event by
Display
Surface and Surface Pro both have screens of 10.6″ with a 16:9 aspect ratio, with the Pro version having a resolution of 1920×1080 and the RT version having a resolution of 1366×768. Both tablets use Microsoft’s ClearType HD display technology and support an ultra-wide viewing angle and auto-adjusting screen intensity.Surface has an HD Display and Surface Pro has a Full HD Display. In announcement talk, Michael Angiulo said that when Surface Pro is held at 17″, the eyes will not be able to distinguish between individual pixels.
Touch Cover and Type Cover
Microsoft will offer two keyboard covers for Surface: Touch Cover and Type Cover. Both, when folded up, serve as protective covers that connect to the Surface via a magnetic strip. When opened, the covers are keyboards. The Touch Cover is 3 mm in thickness and has a touch-sensitive keyboard. The Type Cover is thicker and includes a tactile keyboard. The keyboards have gyroscope and accelerometer sensors to determine, based on position, whether or not to accept input. Both also include a multitouch touchpad.
Availability
No shipping/availability date has been announced
via Microsoft Surface (tablet) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Apple Employees Get Great Discounts. Got Any Openings?
In late January, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced to employees that a new major Mac and iPad discount program for employees would kickoff at some point in late June of this year. Keeping that promise, Apple, today, has started the new employee Mac and iPad discount program. Apple employees are able to purchase Macs with a $500 discount (excluding the Mac mini) and iPads with a $250 through Apple’s internal employee portal. These discounts come on top of the already-existing 25% discounts. (By the way, bad news for employees: Retina Display MacBook Pros apparently aren’t on the purchase list at this time)
As we reported in January, employees are able to take advantage of this offer every three years, and employees must be with the company for at least three months. Separately, as we previously reported, Apple has moved up scheduled retail raises from September to late June. Some store employees have already been rewarded their raises and we are hearing of raises up to 30% of current salaries. The general average seems to be between $2 and $4. This average changes depending on store performance and the performance of individuals within each stores.
via Apple starts $500 off Macs, $250 off iPads employee discount program | 9to5Mac | Apple Intelligence.
ALERT: Leaked Documents Show What Could Be The Next Xbox
While it’s clear Microsoft isn’t planning to introduce its next-generation Xbox console this year, all signs indicate that a 2013 launch is in the cards. A newly leaked 56-page document sheds some light on the company’s plans, for what it calls the “Xbox 720.” The presentation appears to be from August 2010.
Microsoft outlines a competitive differentiation for its next-generation Xbox, including support for Blu-ray, native 3D output and glasses, concurrent apps, and additional sensor and peripheral support. Alongside a promised 6x performance increase, there’s also mention of true 1080p output with full 3D support and an “always on” state for the console. A slide on core hardware indicates that the next Xbox will be designed to be scalable in the number of CPU cores and their frequencies. Microsoft appears to have been debating whether to use six or eight ARM or x86 cores clocked at 2GHz each with 4GB of DDR4 memory alongside three PPC cores clocked at 3.2GHz each for backwards compatibility with existing Xbox 360 titles.
Microsoft positions its Xbox 720 as the only box needed for living room entertainment in the document, providing background recording functionality for TV content and a unified Windows 8 foundation to make it easier for application developers to build apps that target Xbox, PC, and Windows Phone. Illustrations of the Xbox 720 throughout the presentation make it comparable in looks to an old set-top box, but appear to be just a concept design used in 2010. Microsoft rounds off the document with a promised price point of $299 with its Kinect 2 hardware and a prediction of a 10-year lifecycle with more than 100 million units sold.
E3 Highlights The Future Of Gaming
If the demonstrations on the E3 show floor this week were any indication, the next 12 months will be a great time to be a gamer.
The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) placed a spotlight on games, not hardware, as developers took the opportunity to strut their stuff. If you asked 15 people at the convention what game they enjoyed the most, you’d probably get 15 different answers. There were so many to choose from.
The Next Wii Officially Announced
It was just yesterday that Nintendo unveiled the Wii U Gamepad, but today is the big announcement. Everybody welcome the Wii U.
The new console, coupled with the Gamepad, will change gaming entirely, according to Nintendo: “at its core, Wii U changes gaming, how you interact with your gaming friends, and it changes the way you enjoy your TV.”
That means Netflix and Hulu and Amazon Video and YouTube, along with the brand new form of gaming brought about by the marriage of the Wii U and the Gamepad.
The Gamepad sports a pressure-sensitive touchscreen along with traditional buttons and directional pad. Nintendo also packed an NFC reader/writer and a gyroscope/accelerometer.
The Wii U will support two different Gamepads.
The new controller will allow for viewing multiple screens (one on the TV of course, and one on your Wii U Gamepad), which the company showed off at their keynote this morning at E3. For example, in PikMin3, the Gamepad will display a three-dimensional map, allowing for a little added perspective.
Facebook Introduces Their Own App Store
Facebook is rolling out its own app store in the coming weeks to give developers and users another way to promote and discover apps from multiple mobile platforms.
acebook is rolling out its own app store in the coming weeks to give developers and users another way to promote and discover apps from multiple mobile platforms.
The Facebook App Center, will let users search for Facebook apps, regardless of where they run — on the Web, iOS, or Android. The only stipulation is that the app has to have some tie to Facebook (details here).
Users will be able to browse the selection of apps by category and ratings, and just like with Apple’s AppStore, the App Center will recommend certain apps and spotlight the most popular apps.
The real innovation of the App Center though is its social component. Rather than just have a single list of top or recommended apps seen by all users, Facebook will recommend apps to each user based on what their friends use.
Developers will also be able to charge for apps — in-app purchases were previously available, but developers didn’t have a way to charge for downloading an app through Facebook. Now they do.
The App Center is currently available in beta and will be rolled out to all users in the coming weeks.
via Facebook Is Launching Its Own App Store – Business Insider.
More Info On Google Glasses!
Google is teasing us about the future of its “Project Glass“, the glasses that will help you navigate the world, or just take really awesome pictures.
Google Glasses
The team is asking you to suggest the type of photos that you’d take with Project Glass, so head on over:
We announced Project Glass in part to let our team start testing prototypes outside the office. +Sebastian Thrun, one of our project leaders, tried one out last weekend and we just had to share the result.
We’d love to hear about the types of moments you’d capture if you didn’t have to wait to pull out a camera or your phone. Please share your thoughts in the comments!
Smaller Apple iPad Could Be Coming To A Store Near You!
There’s a constantly spinning mill of rumors about Apple products, most of which turn out to be untrue. What’s unusual this week is that talk has revived of a smaller iPad model, an idea company founder Steve Jobs derided publicly a year before he died.
Apple and its suppliers aren’t commenting. Rumors of a smaller iPad, or “iPad mini” have percolated ever since the first iPad was launched two years ago. This time around, they’re fed by media reports from South Korea, China and Taiwan, saying Apple has ordered Samsung screens that are 7.86 inches measured on the diagonal. That would make the screen about two-thirds the size of the current iPad, which has a diagonal measurement of 9.7 inches.
WHY IT’S A GOOD IDEA:
A smaller tablet would help Apple further its lead in the tablet market.
“From a competitive standpoint, we believe an iPad mini with a lower price point would be the competition’s worst nightmare, says Shaw Wu, an analyst at Sterne Agee. “Most (competitors) already have a tough enough time competing against the iPad 2, as well as the new iPad.”
Apple has successfully fended off competitors who have tried to sell tablets in iPad’s size range. But last year, Amazon.com Inc. figured out how to crack Apple’s stranglehold on tablets by making a half-size, no-frills tablet. The result was the Kindle Fire, which sells for $199 –basically, the cost of production. Amazon has sold millions of them.
Apple sells the iPod Touch for $199, but its screen is about a quarter of the size of the Kindle Fire — a big disadvantage for people who want to enjoy books, movies and games. It also sells the older iPad model for $399. It has nothing in between.
Price isn’t the only reason customers might prefer a smaller tablet. A 7-inch model would fit in many handbags, unlike the current iPad.
via Rumors swirl of smaller iPad, which Jobs detested | Fox News.
With Microsoft’s Zune Gone , Here Comes Woodstock!
Microsoft will offer a sneak peek at its Zune replacement during E3 2012, according to sources familiar with the company’s plans. The new music service, codenamed Woodstock, will continue Microsoft’s shift away from the Zune brand towards the well known Xbox one. Insiders have revealed to us that Woodstock will be a cross-platform play, available to Windows 8, Android, iOS, and Xbox users — playable from a browser.
Previously described as “Spotify-like”, the service won’t require any browser plugins and is said to integrate deeply with Facebook, allowing friends to build group playlists and share tracks. An additional “scan and match” function, similar to iTunes Match, is also being tested as part of Woodstock to allow users to identify their existing music collection in the service. Although Microsoft will preview the service at E3 — barring any last-minute changes in its plans, of course — it is not expected to launch until later this year alongside Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 devices.
via Exclusive: Microsoft to preview ‘Woodstock’ Xbox music service at E3 | The Verge.
Who’s Got The Hottest Ticket: Apple’s Developer Conference or One Direction?
Apple’s annual World Wide Developer Conference was announced earlier this morning, at 5:30am PDT, with a ticket price of $1600… and it sold out in less than 2 hours.
It took Apple 10 hours to sell out last year, so this is five times faster. Though it’s an apples-to-oranges comparison, it took only 28 minutes to sell out Google IO 2012.
For paid developers, a ticket gives entry to the keynote, the non-disclosure covered lectures, and most importantly, the labs where Apple engineers can help with problems and get and give feedback on issues.
That’s pretty impressive and a very expensive ticket for all the Apple app developers.
But…
Stories like the one below show that demand for the new kings of boy-bands isn’t too bad either! Similar stories about the One Direction tour are happening all around the world. This is by far, the hottest music event ticket. If you want to go, good luck!
(from News.com/AU)
The band’s second tour from September 11 to 29 next year, including concerts in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne Adelaide and Perth, was announced at the end of their last tour on the eve of their departure from Australia on April 18.
Ticketek announced on Twitter yesterday that One Direction would now do two extra shows on the tour, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne, and tickets would be available from 5.30pm AEST.
Fans took to the site and to Twitter, with some saying they’d had success, others saying the site froze and others appealing to people not buying tickets to get off the site.
Not that it’s stopping the One Direction fans.
They’re now calling for extra shows to be scheduled in Brisbane.
via WWDC 2012 sells out in 2 hours. At $1600 a ticket. At 5:30am Pacific time. | iMore.
Parents Suing Apple Over In-Game Purchasing
A group of concerned parents has now been given permission to sue Apple for “manipulating” their kids into spending large amounts of real-world cash on virtual in-app objects (mostly Smurfberries) in various iOS games. Led by attorney Garen Meguerian, the group is alleging that the “addictive” nature of some iOS games drives their kids to buy in-game items without really knowing what’s going on.
This isn’t the first time parents have voiced concerns over in-app purchases made by their kids. After 8 year-old Madison Kay managed to run up a bill of $1400 in record time on Smurfs’ Village last year, the Federal Trade Commission ruled that games like Smurfs’ Village must warn parents and children that those $99 Smurfberries do cost actual, real, non-Smurf cash.
However, Apple’s in-app purchase protocol has changed since then. When Madison went a little crazy for the Smurfberries, she was able to do so because all that stood between her and the berries was her mother’s iTunes password. These days, kids like Madison have an extra few steps to jump through before being able to make an autonomous purchase, including an extra, app-only password. Additionally, Apple says that iOS games featuring in-app purchases now come with an option that allows parents to switch in-game buying off altogether.
via The Escapist : News : Parents Suing Apple Over In-Game Purchasing.
PlayStation Vita Now Has Three New Free Apps
Sony has presented three new applications for its recently launched PlayStation Vita console that will be released for free in the near future and provide some interesting activities for owners of the device.
The PlayStation Vita came out back in February and, since then, Sony’s been launching many new games for the portable console, while continuing to hype up future releases.
Now, in between presenting some new games for the Vita, the Japanese company has revealed three apps that will be released onto the device for free.
The first, and the one that’s already available via the PlayStation Store, is called Paint Park. This app allows owners of the Vita to turn it into a virtual sketch pad and draw whatever they want by interacting with the touchscreen.
Going To Yellowstone? Get This App!
CHASING CRITTERS: New smartphone apps enable people to pinpoint where they’ve recently seen wildlife in Yellowstone National Park. People who drive to those locations can — at least in theory — improve their odds of seeing wildlife.
CONCERNS: As it is, the crowds that stop to gawk at roadside wildlife in Yellowstone can grow to hundreds of people.
TECHNICAL CHALLENGE: The vast majority of Yellowstone doesn’t have cellphone coverage.
New Video Gives Glimpse Into How iPad Is Made
Marketplace Shanghai Bureau Chief Rob Schmitz is only the second reporter ever to gain access to visit the factory floor at Apples Chinese producer Foxconn. In this exclusive video, see highlights from his tour of the assembly line and the Foxconn campus and facilities to see what living and working conditions are like for the hundreds of thousands of workers there.
Who Wants Google Glasses? We Do!
Google has taken the wraps off its long-rumored augmented reality glasses project, officially dubbed “Project Glass.”
A concept video, titled “One day…,” shows how Google’s glasses might work. In the video, the user performs tasks commonly handled by smartphones, such as scheduling meetings, taking pictures, checking the weather, getting directions, and placing a video call. The information simply hovers in the user’s field of view, and the interface is controlled by voice or other inputs.
Google says it is gathering feedback from users on Project Glass, according to a post on Google+ by Babak Parviz, Steve Lee and Sebastian Thrun. The post contains a few “design photos” of people wearing augmented reality glasses. These glasses have a small second screen–presumably for the video output–above one of the lenses, with an extra thick arm that extends back to the ear.
“We’re sharing this information now because we want to start a conversation and learn from your valuable input,” they wrote. “So we took a few design photos to show what this technology could look like and created a video to demonstrate what it might enable you to do.”
This is the first time Google has publicly acknowledged its augmented reality glasses project. In February, the New York Times reported that Google was planning to release the glasses later this year, in a price range of $250 to $500. The glasses reportedly emerged from “Google X,” a secret lab where the company experiments with futuristic projects. In the Google+ post, the lab is referred to as “Google[x].”
via Google’s ‘Project Glass’ Teases Augmented Reality Glasses | PCWorld.
Google Autocomplete Search – Not Always Nice!
The Tokyo District Court approved a petition demanding that Google Inc. suspend its autocomplete search feature for Internet browsers after a man alleged that it breached his privacy and got him fired, his lawyer said Sunday.
Google is refusing to suspend the feature, saying that its headquarters in the United States will not be regulated by Japanese law and that the case does not warrant deleting the autocomplete suggestions related to the petition under its in-house privacy policy, lawyer Hiroyuki Tomita said.
The case, which was adjudicated on March 19, is believed to be the first to order the suspension of the Web search feature, which attempts to instantly anticipate and list the words or phrases a person will type into a browser’s search box, Tomita said.
The man, whose name was withheld, decided to seek a court injunction after learning the autocomplete feature likely played a role when he suddenly lost his job several years ago and caused several companies to subsequently reject him when he applied for new jobs, Tomita said.
The man discovered that when people type his name into Google’s search engine, words suggesting criminal acts, which he is unfamiliar with, appear. If the computer-suggested words are selected, more than 10,000 items defaming or disparaging him show up in a list, Tomita said.
via Google ordered to suspend autocomplete function over cyber-harassment | The Japan Times Online.
Why Spotify Sells Music
If you’re a Kid Friday listener, you know that I (Dave) like to listen to music on vinyl. You know those “records”, 33 1/3, black laquer….O.K., perhaps you’ve never listened to a record, but you should give it a try. Kid Friday co-host Hannah bought her very first vinyl record a year ago, when she was 12. It was Owl City. Now she owns the new Adele album, 21.
We bought a premium membership to Spotify last December because Hannah has a Sonos system that demands the membership to listen on the device. Whatever.
About the same time, I started listening to music in my office. I’ve had a turntable sitting in there for a couple of years, but just wasn’t into using it.
After I started using Spotify, it inspired me to listen to more music. So much so that I ended up bringing in my “better” hi-fi set-up. A McIntosh amp, tube pre-amplifier with 1962 RCA clear-tops, B&W speakers and a Thorens TD 160 turntable.
Gone were my Sansui receiver, Acoustic Research speakers and Dual turntable. They just weren’t cutting it.
I fell in love with music all over again.
I now listen to records every day in my office. This is a good thing for many reasons, the best being that it gets me out of my chair to flip the disc every 15 minutes or so. I get a little stretch in while I’m at it. Previously, I’ve been known for working non-stop for up-to 9 hours stuck in my chair. Not recommended.
Because of Spotify, I’ve spent more money on music in the past month than I have in the last 10-years. We live in a digital “singles” world. You get to know a band or artist because of 1 song. You may buy it as a digital download. You might even buy the next single that is released. Great! You like 2 songs from the same band.
Because I like to listen to vinyl, I want to know if there are several good songs on an album, not just the single. As I’m out at record stores looking for music, I always pull out my iPhone 4S, open the Spotify app, and listen to a good portion of all the songs on an album I’m interested in purchasing. If I like, I buy. It’s that simple.
Unfortunately there have been several albums that I’ve wanted to listen to that are not available on Spotify. I usually skip buying those because I really want to hear a good sampling of the songs. Most of the time, it’s more than the small previews that are available on iTunes.
What kind of music do I like? Have you ever heard of “Hard-Bop”? Here’s the link to Wikipedia. Look at some of the great jazz artists and check a few of them out for yourself. I have a wide taste in music, including alternative and punk-rock from the late 70’s and early 80’s. 180 gram vinyl? Let’s say I’ve got some great stuff on 200 gram. They are like a thicker cut of french fries. A lot of people think these heavier weight records sound better.
So now I’m buying albums to add to the 1,000 plus I already own but haven’t listened to in at least a decade.
What have I bought recently? Mostly old albums that have been re-issued (many Blue Note) with a few used ones thrown in.
Big Star “#1 Record”
Sonny Clark “Sonny’s Crip”, “Sonny’s Crib” and “Dial S For Sonny”
Joe Jackson “Look Sharp” and “I’m the Man”
The Hold Steady “Stay Positive” and “Heaven is Wherever” 180g
The Black Keys “The Black Keys” 180g
Lee Morgan “The Sidewinder” 180g
Syd Straw “Surprise”
Pete Townshend “Scoop 2” and “Scoop 3” 200g
The Real Kids “The Real Kids”
Horace Silver “Song For My Father” 180g
Art Blakey “Moanin'” 180g
Nirvana “Nevermind” 180g
My spending money on music is 100% attributed to Spotify. I know it’s a small, unusual example. But as the saying goes, “You’ve got to give credit where credit is due”.
Let’s hope Spotify survives. I’ll save that mess for a future post, but music royalties is the killer of models like this.
After it’s all shuffled out, I see the music industry combining resources and starting their own service.
Just like the airlines did with Orbitz.
6 New Apps You Need To Know About
This week brought with it a ton of new apps. The most notable of this week’s app additions is Rovio’s newest installment of Angry Birds, which takes our favorite birds into space where they once again battle their mortal enemies: the pigs.
Also among our favorites from the week is an app that helps you find cool events and sights to see based on where you are right now using real-time information and photos from Foursquare, Instagram, and Facebook.
Once you find out where all the fun is, another app that launched this week will let you invite all your friends to join you and see what they’re up to, and another will help you share photos of the event with your friends via email, text, or social networks complete — with added text.
If you’re not up for going out, a new app allows you to watch high-definition video of full concerts from popular artists on your smartphone or tablet. If you decide to stay in and watch a concert tonight rather than hit your friend’s birthday party, another app will let you send a real box of chocolates, bottle of wine, or even a cab ride home to your friend via SMS, email, or Facebook without needing to know his or her address.
Walmart Loves The New “Angry Birds Space”!
Angry Birds Space, Rovio’s next big game in the phenomenal mobile game series, launches on Thursday with some major promotions from Walmart.Angry Birds Space will debut in a variety of app stores, but this event marks Walmart’s first in-store promotion with a mobile app. Game clues will be hidden in select limited-edition Angry Birds Space merchandise — including apparel, mobile phones, plush toys, snacks, and more — in more than 3,000 Walmart stores starting March 25.
via Walmart steps up with Angry Birds Space promotion | VentureBeat.
60TB Drive Allows You To Save Even More Unneeded Files!
Seagate has demonstrated the first terabit-per-square-inch hard drive, almost doubling the areal density found in modern hard drives. Initially this will result in 6TB 3.5-inch desktop drives and 2TB 2.5-inch laptop drives, but eventually Seagate is promising up to 60TB and 20TB respectively.
To achieve such a huge leap in density, Seagate had to use a technology called heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). Basically, the main issue that governs hard drive density is the size of each magnetic “bit.” These can only be made so small until the magnetism of nearby bits affects them. With HAMR, “high density” magnetic compounds that can withstand further miniaturization are used.
via Seagate hits 1 terabit per square inch, 60TB hard drives on their way | ExtremeTech.
Angry Birds Saves Life Of Stranded Man…Kinda
A man stranded for three days on a snowy mountain road in Montana in the US attributed his survival to God, a rationed supply of beef jerky and the video game Angry Birds that he played on his mobile to keep his wits.
David Weatherly said that his 4WD vehicle became stuck in the snow on Sunday afternoon on a back road in the Lewis and Clark National Forest, where he had gone to take photographs of the scenery and wildlife.
After discovering he had no phone reception and concluding that nobody else would brave the remote road in the blustery weather, the 42-year-old postal employee took stock: He had a pouch of beef jerky, some water and a little coffee.
New iPad Cost More To Make
Apple appears to be making less of a profit from each new iPad than it did when it launched the previous model a year ago, according to a research firm’s analysis.
IHS iSuppli took apart a new iPad on Friday, the day the device went on sale in the U.S. and nine other countries, and found that the components are more expensive than those of the iPad 2.
New iPad Out Today
We could tell you Kid Friday followers all about the long lines at the Apple Store and that Apple had sold out of on-line inventory, but you probably already knew that.
So instead, how about a few facts about the new iPad:
Apple’s 3rd generation iPad was announced on March 7, 2012. While the new iPad looks like last year’s iPad 2, it has a better screen, processor, optics, and networking that combine to make it an impressive upgrade.
Key features: 2048×1536 264dpi Retina display, Apple A5X processor, 5 megapixel/1080p video iSight camera, HSPA+ 42mbps/LTE 72mbps networking.
Pricing: Wi-Fi $499/16GB, $599/32GB, $699/64GB; Wi-Fi + 3G/LTE $629/16GB, $729/32GB, $829/64GB
Availability: Today in USA, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Switzerland, UK and the US Virgin Islands.
China Loves Angry Birds!
There just seems no stopping those Angry Birds from taking over China — The next move in Rovio’s China take-over plan is to open up shops in Beijing and Shanghai, and the company aims to hit $100 million in retail sales in China in the first year of store operations.
According to comments made to local media by Huang Zesen, sales manager of the authorized reseller of Rovio in China, Rovio plans on opening Angry Birds stores in Beijing and Shanghai, and the company is choosing locations at the moment. The company is well on the way to opening the stores between July and August. The retail space of the Angry Birds store in China will be designed at around 200-300 square meters, similar to Rovio’s first store in Helsinki, Finland.
China is Rovio’s largest and fastest growing market
via Rovio Opening Angry Birds Store in Beijing and Shanghai » M.I.C. Gadget.
Angry Birds Space Launches March 22nd
Rovio Entertainment has confirmed the details of its new Angry Birds Space game, which will launch on 22 March on iPhone,iPad, Android, PC and Mac.
The company has been working with NASA on the launch to spectacular effect, getting flight engineer Don Pettit to introduce the game from the International Space Station, in a video posted online.
The game will launch with 60 levels, six new characters and superpowers, and gameplay features based on its zero-gravity setting. Rovio says new levels will be added as free updates, as in previous Angry Birds games, but also as in-app purchases.
National Geographic Books will publish an official companion book for Angry Birds Space, while there will also be animation and retail elements to the launch. Rovio says information on other gaming platforms beyond those listed above will be available “later”.
RU Ready??
Nintendo 3DS Sales Strong In The U.S.
Nintendo Co. has sold 4.5 million units of its latest hand-held device, the 3DS, in the U.S., setting what the company said was a strong pace and potential momentum for its next big product, the Wii U console.
The 3DS’s sales — $1.2 billion including software — mark an important milestone for the company and its dual-screen portable 3D-game system, which had a bumpy start in the first half of its initial year of sales.
via Nintendo Sells 4.5 Million 3DS Units in U.S. – Ian Sherr – News – AllThingsD.
Zynga.com Open For Playing Top Games
Zynga.com’s games platform is now live in beta mode — and you can find it here.
The platform is launching with just five Zynga games: CityVille, CastleVille, Hidden Chronicles, Words With Friends and Zynga Poker. When entering any of these games from the platform, the user is prompted to connect with Facebook. A quick tutorial walks new players through platform features regardless of which game a new user enters.
We took a quick test drive of CastleVille and found our kingdom exactly as we left it on Facebook. We observe that the game loaded approximately in the same amount of time it takes to launch CastleVille on Facebook (from the point of clicking “Play” to the point where we’re actually playing the game). Also of note, the right-hand chat and live feed bar that distinguishes gameplay between the two platforms is also apparently not viewable in full screen mode on Zynga.com.
25 Billion Apps Downloaded in Apple’s App Store
Go to Apple’s website right now and you’ll be greeted by a colorful graphic that says, “A billion thanks. 25 times over.” Yes, another important milestone in the history of the App Store has been reached: the 25 billionth app has finally been downloaded.
Just a couple of weeks ago Apple announced that it was fast approaching this milestone by launching a contest that would award the person who would be so lucky as to be the downloader of the 25 billionth app delivered through the App Store. And just moments ago that lucky person, whose name is as yet undisclosed, has won the offered prize of an App Store gift card worth $10,000.
It’s interesting to note that this event comes just eight months after the 15-billion app mark was reached by the hugely successful iOS app distribution system and just over a year after the 10 billionth app was downloaded. More noteworthy is the fact that the App Store is not even four years old yet, resulting in an amazing average of 18,768,768 apps downloaded per day since the App Store opened on July 10, 2008.
Latest iPad 3 Predictions
As Apple has scheduled an event on March 7, sources from its upstream supply chain pointed out that the company is expected to launch two iPad 3 models – a 16GB version and 32GB version.
In addition to iPad 3, Apple is also expected to unveil an 8GB iPad 2, allowing the tablet PC series to cover different segments and to defend against Windows 8-based tablet PCs, the sources noted.
Since Apple has put high hopes on its new iPad 3 and has been aggressively placing orders, iPad 3 shipments in the first quarter of 2012 are expected to double from original estimates.
The iPad 3 is expected to have a 9.7-inch Full HD QXGA panel with a resolution of 2048 by 1536 (264dpi) and its backlight module will adopt two LED light bars.
via Apple expected to unveil 16GB and 32GB iPad 3 as well as 8GB iPad 2 on March 7.
Playstation Vita Selling Like….Well It’s Selling A Lot
Sony said today that its PlayStation Vita gaming handheld has sold more than 1.2 million units worldwide. The Vita went on sale last week in the U.S. and Europe, and it has been on sale since December in Japan.
The Vita crossed that sales number on Feb. 22, the day it went on sale in the U.S. and Europe. The company has also sold more than 2 million software units. The Vita is Sony’s bid to remain relevant in portable games in an age of smartphones and tablets.
Andrew House, president of Sony Computer Entertainment, said in a statement, “PS Vita was designed to deliver the ultimate portable entertainment experience, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the reaction we’re seeing from consumers and the pace at which PS Vita is selling.”
via Sony’s PlayStation Vita sells more than 1.2M units worldwide | VentureBeat.
What Do You Get When You Combine A Kinect With A Shopping Cart?
This.
The quest for a high-tech “shopping cart of the future” is nothing new, but Whole Foods is planning to test a new spin on the concept, using Microsoft’s Kinect sensor for Windows. The motorized cart identifies a shopper with a loyalty card, follows the shopper around the store, scans items as they’re placed inside, marks them off the shopping list, and even checks the shopper out in the end.
Microsoft showed the very early prototype, being developed for Whole Foods by a third-party developer, Austin-based Chaotic Moon, during an event on the Redmond campus today, hosted by Craig Mundie, the company’s chief research and strategy officer.
The company says the project is literally weeks old, and that was apparent in the demo, which included a couple of false starts where the sensor didn’t precisely the shopper. The technology will need to be ironed out before it’s deployed, lest our shopping trips turn into destruction derbies.
But it’s an interesting application that shows what outside developers can do now that a Kinect software development kit has been released for Windows, expanding the sensor beyond the Xbox 360 game console.
via Whole Foods prototype puts Kinect on shopping cart, follows people around store – GeekWire.
Student Ends Up In Jail For Facebook Hack
The next time you get caught hijacking your friend’s Facebook, remember it could be worse. On Friday, British Student Glenn Mangham was sentenced to eight months in not-so-social jail, for hacking deep into Facebook’s servers. Apparently no user details were taken, with Mangham heading straight for “invaluable” intellectual property instead. Facebook alerted the authorities after it discovered the breach last May, the FBI then followed the digital thread back to the Briton’s UK address. It’s believed Mangham gained access to the inner sanctum after hacking into a Facebook employee’s account, though it’s not known if the comedy status update and embarrassing profile picture were also part of the attack.
via Student hacks into Facebook, gets eight months in prison, twelve likes — Engadget.
Like Google? Like TV? Then You’re In Luck!
Rumors have been flying about some big changes for Google TV, and now it looks like we’re going to be hearing something official tomorrow — Google posted cryptically on the Google TV Facebook page this weekend, saying only, “Get ready for Monday, we have some big announcements!” We won’t know for sure until tomorrow what Google has to unveil — we’ve heard rumblings of a Google-branded home entertainment device, though it could also be the yearly update Google promised back in January. Of course, we’ve also heard that LG is going to be the hardware manufacturer in a halo device partnership for Google TV — could we be seeing the first Nexus TV tomorrow? We’ll be on the lookout for whatever Google has to show, but regardless it certainly looks like Google’s making good on its promise to keep working on Google TV.
via Google TV ‘big announcements’ coming on Monday | The Verge.
FarmVille Gets Real With Hasbro
Zynga has partnered with Hasbro to develop a wide range of toy and gaming experiences based on Zynga’s most popular Facebook games and characters.
In other words, we could see a board game of FarmVille, Words With Friends or CityVille in the not too distant future. In addition, we could potentially see action figures based on some of its game characters.
Merchandising around videogames is not new, and has recently spread like wildfire to mobile and social gaming with rising stars like Rovio’s Angry Birds or ZeptoLab’s Cut the Rope.
In a press release, Zynga says Hasbro has obtained the license to develop and distribute a wide range of product lines based on Zynga’s game brands, but does not get into too many details.
It also says the deal covers opportunities for co-branded merchandise featuring a combination of both Hasbro and Zynga brands, it said. Could we see a co-branded Words With Friends Scrabble game?
Hasbro already has a long-standing relationship with Electronic Arts, which publishes such titles as Scrabble and Monopoly across many platforms.
Google Wants To Play Music In Your Home
Google Inc. is developing a home-entertainment system that streams music wirelessly throughout the home and would be marketed under the company’s own brand, according to people briefed on the company’s plans.
The effort marks a sharp shift in strategy for Google, which for the first would time would design and market consumer electronic devices under its name. The company has mainly focused on developing the Android operating system that powers devices such as smartphones, tablets and televisions. It has also allowed other companies to build and brand the hardware that uses it.
Warning: Fake Apps in Apple’s App Store May Take Your Money
Temple Jump, Tiny Birds, Numbers With Friends. These are not the apps you love. They’re fakes designed to scam you out of $1.99 when you go to buy Temple Run, Tiny Wings, or Words With Friends. Today Apple took a stand against plagiarism, kicking these rip-offs out of the US App Store. Good riddance, but how can platform owners stop these developers before they rob users of thousands or even millions of dollars?
via Apple Kicks Chart Topping Fakes Out Of App Store | TechCrunch.
Nintendo Allows 3DS Fans A Chance To Demo Games
Nintendo has announced that game demos will be made available via the Nintendo 3DS eShop from tomorrow, with Capcom’s Resident Evil Revelations kicking off proceedings.
The 3DS eShop launched in June last year, allowing Nintendo 3DS gamers to download original 3DS digital titles and DSi titles, along with a number of special apps for use with the handheld.
Demos of Resident Evil Revelations — the full game due for release next month — and Cooking Mama 4 will be made available for free download tomorrow, while demos for other titles such as Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games and Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure are due to appear “periodically,” says Nintendo.
via Gamasutra – News – Nintendo 3DS eShop game demos launch with Resident Evil Revelations.
Tool-Box That Brings Tech Into Your Garage
Gone are the days when a rolling toolchest only held tools. At CES Craftsman (which really should be updated to Craftsperson) unveiled its new Contour Powered Series Tool Storage that adds a charging station and a Bluetooth connected sound system.
A set of 220W speakers lets mechanics pipe their music from an iPod or Bluetooth enabled audio device, but also answer and place hands-free calls when they’re otherwise unable to handle their phone. Because the speakers on the toolchest are powered, it does have to be plugged in, limiting its mobility around your shop. But as a consolation prize Craftsman has included a charging station for tools, batteries, and other devices.
via Craftsman’s Bluetooth Toolchest Lets Grease Monkeys Keep In Touch.
IPad 3 Now Slated For March With HD Screen
Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s next iPad, expected to go on sale in March, will sport a high-definition screen, run a faster processor and work with next-generation wireless networks, according to three people familiar with the product.
The company’s manufacturing partners in Asia started ramping up production of the iPad 3 this month and plan to reach full volumes by February, said one of the people, who asked not to be named because the details aren’t public. The tablet will use a quad-core chip, an enhancement that lets users jump more quickly between applications, two of the people said.
Don’t Feel So Bad For Microsoft – The Xbox Ruled In 2011
Microsoft dominated the videogame industry last year, with the Xbox capturing nearly half of all consumer spending from physical sales in 2011.
According to NPD data released today, about $6.7 billion, or 40 percent of consumer retail spending, was spent on the Xbox, breaking down into two categories: $2.1 billion on consoles and $4.6 billion on games.
The figures take into account U.S. retail sales of new physical videogame content, including portable and console hardware, games and accessories.
In all, those sectors generated revenue of $17.02 billion in 2011, an 8 percent decline over the $18.6 billion generated last year. (Yes, I repeat, Microsoft got 40 percent of that in 2011.)
via Xbox Accounted for 40 Percent of All Videogame Sales in 2011 – Tricia Duryee – Commerce – AllThingsD.
China iPhone 4S Release Not So Smooth
Apple has announced that it will halt the sale of the newly launched iPhone 4S in China after reports of pandemonium at some locations due to high demand, reports Reuters.
An Apple spokesperson said that they were “unable to open our store at Sanlitun due to the large crowd,” adding, “to ensure the safety of our customers and our employees, iPhones will not be available in our retails stores in Beijing and Shanghai for the time being.”
The halt is likely due to problems faced when chaos erupted at the Sanitlun store in Beijing. Large crowds, including huge numbers of scalpers, had gathered at the store previous to the device’s release. When it was announced that the store would be closed, shoppers pelted the location with eggs.
One More Music Choice For Your IOS Device
Apple users probably have more than enough media on their iDevices to keep them entertained on the go, but Sony Network Entertainment President Tim Schaaff thinks there’s room for another media service on iOS. According to VentureBeat, the company’s Music Unlimited streaming service will land on iOS some time in Q1 2012.
via TechCrunch.
Dell Gets Into The Tablet Business
Dell Inc intends to launch its first consumer tablet computer in late 2012, marking its entry into a hotly contested and increasingly crowded arena that has already claimed arch-foe Hewlett Packard.
via Exclusive: Dell plots late-2012 consumer tablet launch | Reuters.
Apple Announces January 19th Special Event – Printing Presses Fear The Worst
Everyone is looking for the iPad 3 announcement. This could very well happen. However Apple announced that the January 19th event will be about education. Could the two finally get along? An iPad that is optomized for school use, where the student can have all their books stored on an iPad?
We think this could be a big announcement involving publishing houses that control most of the textbooks currently being used in schools. Is Apple going to announce that a large number of textbooks will be available for download on the iPad (3)?
Some school districts have already issued students an iPad for use in the classroom. However, they are not able to use the iPad to it’s fullest potential due to the fact that most textbooks are still not available for the iPad.
Both KidFriday Kids, (13-year old Hannah and 10-year old Zoe) have had up to 40 pounds of books to carry to school on any given day. That’s a lot of weight for almost anyone. It sure makes for one heavy backpack to a 65 pound kid.
The future is now. That’s what we’re betting on.
2012 Brings USB 3.0 To Speed Up Syncing and Charging
By the end of 2012 smartphones and tablet devices will sport a USB 3.0-based microUSB connector, which will allow speedier data transfer than the current USB 2.0 standard.
USB 3.0 theoretically allows for data transfer rates of around 625 MB/s, which is 10 times faster than USB 2.0, whose maximum data transfer speed is 60 MB/s. The USB 3.0 transfer speed on mobile devices won’t be that fast, but it will be much faster than now.
“What takes 15 minutes will roughly take 1 minute and 10 seconds,” said Rahman Ismail, CTO of the USB Implementers Forum at the CES trade show in Las Vegas.
Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets will also recharge more quickly through USB 3.0.
Holiday Sales Of The Kindle Were On Fire!
Apple may have sold as many as two million fewer iPads than expected this holiday season, and Amazon’s new Kindle Fire tablet may be to blame.
Morgan Keegan analyst Tavis McCourt pruned his forecast for Apple’s fiscal first quarter today, saying that while iPad sales for the period did exceed those of the previous quarter, he believes they fell well short of his estimates.
McCourt had been looking for iPad shipments of 16 million. Now he thinks that they’ll top out at 13 million, and that a portion of that shortfall is due to the Fire. “Based on data from Amazon, we believe the Amazon Fire likely sold 4-5 million units this holiday season, which probably means maybe 1-2 million cannibalized iPad sales at most,” McCourt wrote in a note to clients.
Strange New App Appears In App Store
As noted by German sites Flos Weblog [Google translation] and iFun.de [Google translation], a curious new iOS application that seems to be from Apple has appeared in the App Store. The new app, known as GameStore [App Store], debuted on December 31st and seems to be a test app of some sort, offering several racing-themed in-app purchases but without any actual functionality.
via Mac Rumors: Apple Mac iOS Rumors and News You Care About.
Watch KidFriday Live on New Years Eve!
KidFriday will be broadcasting live on Ustream Saturday 12/31 starting at 4 pm central time in the U.S. We will give you an inside peak while we record the KidFriday Podcast. Join us on Ustream with the free app or at Ustream.tv Our channel name is: kidfriday. Yaaaaa!!!
Use A Real Game Controller With Your iPod, iPhone, Or iPad
There’s been quite a few attempts at creating a physical game controller for the iPhone. The most successful of which has probably been the ThinkGeek iCade.
Despite a few other promising starts, it seems the main hurdle has been Apple allowing unfettered access between said game controllers and the iOS devices themselves. As a result, most game controllers have relied on emulating a Bluetooth keyboard to interface with the iPhone or iPad. While it works well enough for digital controls such as the iCade, full analog stick control has remained elusive.
A company called 60beat is now offering their solution which does offer dual analog sticks as well as a number of other standard directional controls and buttons. The 60beat GamePad connects through the headphone jack of your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to accomplish this task:
If It Snows, This App Wakes You Up Earlier So You Can Shovel Your Way Out
This is smart: a new alarm clock application for the iPhone and Android wakes you earlier if it snowed last night. Called simply, “Winter Wake-Up,” the app lets you configure its settings to wake you up earlier than your scheduled alarm depending on weather conditions, with separate settings for both “Frost” and “Snow.”
Credit where credit is due, I stumbled across the app not out of necessity (it’s 70 ° F here in Florida), but on the blog at Springwise, which likes to collect interesting things. Although I’ll never have need for the app, I do recall what’s it’s like to have snow and ice and the time it takes to dig the car out from underneath it all. This woud be a handy app to have on hand for those who live in chillier climates.
via Genius: New App Wakes You Up Earlier If It Snowed Last Night | TechCrunch.
Top Android Apps of 2011
Android apps come in all shapes and sizes – literally.
Unlike iOS applications, which are basically created for two form factors, Android apps need to be developed with dozens (if not hundreds) of device-types in mind. This is on top of the inconsistent operating system releases still mucking things up. While all of this fragmentation is a headache for developers, ignoring a platform with 50 percent market share would ultimately lead to their peril.
The best Android apps are thus the ones that can both push the technological envelope while also remaining accessible to the vast majority of users. This is no easy feat.
Did You Score An iPad 2 For Christmas? Check Out These Accessories
So, Santa dropped an iPad 2 down your chimney? Lucky you. One of the great things about buying into the Apple craze is the rich and diverse range of accessories available for all iProducts.
The iPad is no exception. You can choose from a bewildering array of cases, stands, speakers, dock, and other peripherals available for the Apple tablet. If you’re looking to accessorize your shiny new iPad 2, we’re here to help. We’ve hand-picked a selection of 10 companion products we think stand out from the crowd.
Play Angry Birds On A Watch!
Fitness watches are one thing, but how about a fitness watch that lets you play a few levels of Angry Birds in between wind sprints? Motorola’s MotoACTV debuted alongside the Droid RAZR not too long ago, and one developer has finally taken it upon itself to unleash its full potential.
The hack comes courtesy of developer Chris Wade, whose past endeavors include the Dingleberry PlayBook root method and the (ill-fated) iEmu project. While he’s best known for his software projects, he’s quite the hardware buff too — before working getting to work on a root process, he felt the need to tear the thing apart first.
via Rooted MotoACTV Brings Web Browsing And Angry Birds To Your Wrist | TechCrunch.
App Alert: Rescue Smurfs FREE!
Just Released Today. Brand New! (Sorry, Smurf dog not included)
Naught Gargamels is coming out to capture smurfs for their blue blood. In order to stop them and rescue smurfs, you have to give their head a knock, simple and rude!
In each level, you shall not miss certain quantity of Gargamels. If you miss that number, you cannot level up. And be careful! Smurfs can not be hitted, otherwise your score will be decreased.
There are 8 levels in all. The wooden hole will get more and the speed will be faster. You have to pass the level one by one.
Quick of eye and deft of hand, hit Gargamels and rescue smurfs. Well made images and relax background music are chosen for each level. You’ll love this game!
Get your hands on the FREE app HERE
Forget The Most Watched Video On YouTube For 2011. It’s Number 2 We Love!
There were many popular videos on YouTube during this year we call 2011. More than 1 Trillion Playbacks on the site. That’s a pretty impressive number.
Rebecca Black was the most watched. Pretty much over her. But how about number 2? We love this talking dog, as his owner teases him about all the good stuff in the refrigerator. Now this is one to share with your friends and watch over and over. Poor Doggie.
If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s really worth the look. If you have, it’s still just as good.
Running time: 1:21 Get ready to smile! Check it out HERE 🙂
More Music And Apps With A $50 iTunes Gift Card For $40!
Last minute holiday shopping? Yeah, we get it, and we get that at this point it’s not a good idea to pretend you’re going to find the most perfect, personal, and heartfelt present ever. What you can do is order a gift card. Luckily, Walmart’s online store is selling a $50 iTunes gift card for $40. It’s an electronic card, so unless your email provider suddenly starts charging per-email you won’t have to spring for delivery costs either. If you’re tossing other things in your cart, the purchase will also count towards free shipping.
We’ve seen gift cards at a discount before, but usually not this steep. Walmart says supplies are limited, so while you may have put off your shopping before, you really shouldn’t do the same now.
Wish We Worked For Google This Time Of Year
It appears that Google employees are going to enjoy the latest and greatest Android smartphone that the search giant and Samsung have to offer after it emerged the company is giving its staff customised handsets as a Christmas thank you.
The handset itself isn’t an ordinary Galaxy Nexus either; the device has been outfitted with a customised back cover, one that sports various Google+ and Android icons (which are one and the same) — a nice touch considering they are being specifically given to Google employees.
via Google Gives Employees Free Galaxy Nexus Phones for Xmas.
Exclusive: The Best Free App To Keep Track Of Gift Cards This Christmas
There is an app that you should get now. This way you’ll be prepared to track all those gift cards you are about to receive. We’re trying to think positive here, so we at least hope you get one.
Gift cards are extremely popular, probably because it has become the gift of lazy people. They’re available everywhere and you don’t have to schlep down endless aisles searching for the perfect gift that will probably end up in the return pile. Plus, it takes less than 2 minutes to get.
So let’s assume you’re going to get a few gift cards yourself this holiday season. You should keep track of them. A Consumer Reports poll said 25 percent of people still have at least one unused gift card hanging around since last Christmas.
There are lots of apps available to help you keep track of gift cards. The truth is, most stink. To save time, we’ll skip telling you all the bad stuff and instead tell you about one that we recommend.
Track My Coupons – Coupon Organizer and Reminder
The title of this app is a little misleading. Yes, you can use it for coupons, but it works great with gift cards. The app is free and allows you to input up to 5 gift cards. If you somehow hit the jackpot and get more than 5, you can upgrade to unlimited for $1.99. Some of our favorite features include the ability to select from over 5,000 retailers to quickly get your card information into the app, and the ability to set an alert if one of your cards is about to expire.
Let us know what you think about gift cards on the KidFriday Facebook page.
KidFriday also recommends that you check your STATE LAWS regarding gift card expiration dates.
App Alert: SimpleS Tests Your Memory For FREE
Just released! SimpleS is a simple & fun memory game for all ages.
All you have to do is follow the ever growing sequence of four colors.
Game features 6 different sound banks & 3 different speeds to suit all skill levels.
Yes, it’s simple…or is it? Simon lives.
Try it for yourself.
For the iPod Touch, iPad, and iPhone
Grab it HERE
Gadget Alert: Add A Real Joystick To Your iPod Touch
Bring your iPod Touch or iPhone gaming to the next level with the JOYSTICK-IT Arcade Stick. The JOYSTICK-IT gives you a real physical joystick for increased precision with touchscreen based games. Simply press down to attach the JOYSTICK-IT to your iPhone’s screen for improved gaming. No wires or batteries needed.
The JOYSTICK-IT works with thousands of different game apps. Any game that has an on-screen control pad of some kind is perfect for the JOYSTICK-IT. Simply run your game of choice, place the JOYSTICK-IT over the on-screen control pad and push down. The JOYSTICK-IT sticks to the glass of your display and is ready for action. The lightweight solid milled-aluminum construction of the JOYSTICK-IT adds more precise movement and faster response time for enhanced playability. When you’re done, simply pull-up on the JOYSTICK-IT to remove from the screen.
Price: $8.99-17.99
You can find it at ThinkGeek.com or Amazon.com
Buy One Google Doodle Or The Whole Kit And Caboodle!
Google puts a lot of work into the ever-changing logos it puts on its homepages around the world to commemorate historical events, holidays and the birthdays of people like Jim Henson, Cezanne or Thomas Edison. Indeed, there is a whole team at Google that focuses on nothing else but creating these so-called doodles and – at an increasing rate – interactive experiences for the Google homepage as well. For a while now, Google has offered a gallery of these logos, but today, the company is launching a revamped version of its Doodle site that makes searching for a specific logo significantly easier. The site features a total of over 1,000 static and animated doodles.
via Google Launches New Gallery for its Doodles, Opens a Zazzle Store to Sell Them — SiliconFilter.
iPhone 5 and iPad 3 Among The Most Searched Terms In Google For 2011
For the eleventh year in a row, Google publishes its annual overview of the fastest-growing search terms of the past year, providing a pretty accurate overview of search trends on the Google.com search engine. Called Zeitgeist, it “sorts billions of Google searches to capture the year’s ten fastest-rising global queries and the rest of the spirit of 2011″, says the official Zeitgeist site. We find the initiative pretty interesting. Not only does it offer a valuable insight into what searches revealed about the interests of users, it also reveals the issues that have troubled the world throughout the year.
A couple interesting highlights, per Google’s blog post:
• Rebecca Black was the #1 fastest rising query globally and Google’s own Google+ social thing is ranked second
• Adele made the fastest rising lists in over 15 countries
• Apple’s late co-founder Steve Jobs made the list (mark 1:50 in the above clip), as did reality star Ryan Dunn and defendant Casey Anthony
• iPad 3 and iPhone 5 were among the often-searched terms (no surprises here)
• Devotees turned to Google following the April 4 passing of Sai Baba, an Indian guru, spiritual figure, mystic, philanthropist, and educator
• cupcakes made top food lists in over a dozen countries
• Hurricane Irene in the U.S. and earthquakes in Christchurch and Japan also topped the charts as thousands of people affected by those natural disasters turned to Google.com to seek information about their loved ones
Source: 9to5google.com
Who Needs An iPad When You Could Have The Connect 4 Spongebob Edition Game
O.K., forget what the title of this article says. We would really rather have a new iPad. However, not everyone in the family has big bucks, and you can’t ask for just the expensive stuff. Perhaps this would make a great gift idea when your Aunt asks what you want? She’s not loaded and the Connect 4 Spongebob Edition could end up being a much nicer gift. Certainly better than the sweater she was thinking of getting you. Just like millions of kids, we think Spongebob Rocks! Price: $19.99
Connect 4 Spongebob Squarepants Edition
Early Buyer Of Nintendo 3DS Will Get Free Games On Friday
Previous 3DS owners feeling burned by the dramatic price drop in August were already able to download 10 free NES games as a goodwill gesture, and now Nintendo’s revealed final details of the second half of the deal via a SpotPass notification. Come Friday, participants in the “Ambassador Program” will be able to download 10 Game Boy Advance games from the eShop at no cost.
The titles on offer are:
F-Zero Maximum Velocity
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Metroid Fusion
Wario Land 4
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames
via 3DS early adopters will receive free Game Boy Advance games on Friday | The Verge.
Over 100 iPod Touch Apps To Help You Count Down To Christmas
If your calendar just isn’t enough, or you have trouble keeping track of dates, you might want to try downloading a Christmas countdown app. Those are great excuses, but the best reason to get a Christmas countdown app? They’re fun! There are literally over 100 to choose from for your iPod Touch, iPad, or iPhone available in the App Store. So how about a few recommendations? For starters; don’t pay for one. There are plenty of free apps available that are just as good, or even better. You can start by trying a few that we like:
License App Booted From Apple App Store
Sorry kids, you can no longer make your own driver’s license with an app from the Apple App Store. This is probably a good thing.
The “License” application by DriversEd.com for Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad allowed users to electronically insert any digital photo and the biographic information of their choosing into a template for a driver’s license of a state of their choosing. The “License” application contained templates for driver’s licenses for all 50 states, many of which were of designs that would be valid for the next several years. The user was then able to send the high quality digital image of the completed template to an email account. From the email attachment, the image could then be printed and laminated, creating a high quality counterfeit driver’s license difficult to discern from one that’s genuine.
This was a free app that had been available for over two years.
When It Comes To Tablets, Wi-Fi Rules
Tablet owners overwhelming prefer Wi-Fi-only devices over those with cellular connections, according to a new study by Connected Intelligence, a service from market research firm The NPD Group.
Slate users are relying more and more on Wi-Fi for a number of reasons. According to Connected Intelligence vice president Eddie Hold, consumers are concerned about the high price of cellular data plans, and they’re willing to rely on Wi-Fi instead.
via Study: Tablet Buyers Use Wi-Fi, Not Cellular Data | PCWorld.
Apple Certified Refurbished iPad Models From $419.00
This is a pretty good deal if you’re in the market for an iPad2. $419.00 for a 16g wifi. These units are refurbished through Apple, and come with a 1-year warranty. This is an on-line deal only in the official Apple Store. Available in both black and white. Similar savings on other models including 3G.
Apple is also offering free shipping until December 22nd.
Refurbished iPad 2 with Wi-Fi 16GB – (current generation)
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology
FaceTime with 2 cameras
HD video recording
Dual-core A5 chip
10-hour battery life
Smart covers, instant on
9.7-inch widescreen display
Multi-Touch screen
1.33 pounds and 0.34 inch
Here’s the link if you want to check it out.
Sources Say iPad 3 Set To Arrive In February
The next iPad will be introduced in February according to a research note issued by Citi analyst Richard Gardner, obtained by Business Insider.
According to “several sources” the next iPad will launch in February, and it will sport a screen with double the resolution of the current model.
Gardner says, “there do not appear to be any significant technical hurdles remaining” to prevent a launch of a high-resolution iPad, despite rumors to the contrary.
Gardner’s note echoes prior reports of a mid-Winter launch for the iPad 3.
via Retina Display-Equipped iPad 3 to Launch in February? – Mac Rumors.
Apple’s iTunes Top Picks for 2011
Apple released its iTunes Rewind 2011 and App Store Rewind 2011 today, the company’s annual lists detailing of the top selling apps, music, TV shows, movies and podcasts for the year. This year, the biggest winner on the apps front was Angry Birds, which ran away with the number one spot on the iPhone and iPad in all categories except top free iPhone app, which was awarded to Facebook.
Apple also selects its own favorite applications, and one of our preferred apps, Instagram, won the honor of being Apple’s “iPhone App of the Year.”
Angry Birds, which is available on iOS as both a paid and free application, not only dominated the year-end lists as the number one download in several cases, it also occupied additional slots on multiple lists for its spinoffs, Angry Birds Seasons and Angry Birds Rio.
via Apple Picks Instagram As The “iPhone App Of The Year” | TechCrunch.
Have You Ever Thought About Joining Twitter? Now Might Be A Good Time
Twitter started its launch of a brand-new interface.
The changes are fairly drastic, but they have a surprising and delighting effect (as opposed to a shocking and awing one). It might remind you a bit of the design of Facebook’s Timeline or the sadly underrated Yahoo Meme.
If you have an iPhone or Android device, you can check out the “New-New Twitter,” as we’re calling it today, simply by downloading the new app from the App Store or Android Market, then logging into the web interface.
via Here’s a first look at the “New-New Twitter” | VentureBeat.
An Apple Television Set With Included Siri? Yes, We’ll Take One!
Apple’s full-fledged television set will arrive at the end of 2012 in three screen sizes, maxing out at 55 inches, a new rumor claims.
Citing sources in Japan, Australia’s SmartHouse reported this week that the new Apple television will also come in an entry-level size of 32 inches. It did not indicate exactly what screen size the third model would feature, falling somewhere between the low end with 32 inches and maximum size of 55 inches.
The report said it’s a “major Japanese company” that’s involved in manufacturing Apple’s rumored television set. Echoing previous claims, the report said that the Apple television will feature Siri integration, allowing users to control the TV set with their voice.
via AppleInsider | Apple television rumored to come in 3 sizes, including 32″ and 55″.
Thinking Of Getting A Kindle Fire? You Might Want To Think Again
Amazon.com’s new Kindle Fire offers a disappointingly poor user experience. Using the web with the Silk browser is clunky and error-prone. Reading downloaded magazines is not much better. Still, user testing with the Fire did help us understand what the new generation of 7-inch tablets is good for: Are they more like 10-inch tablets (e.g., the iPad) or more like 3.5-inch mobile phones? To give away the conclusion, the answer is: “a bit of both.”
via Kindle Fire Usability Findings (Jakob Nielsen’s Alertbox).
Sony Vita Might Get Flash
Despite the cancellation of development and discontinuation of support for Flash on mobile devices, Sony Division 2 software-development head Muneki Shimada has said that his company is continuing its negotiations with Adobe, and that the end of Flash for mobile may not necessarily mean the end of Flash for Vita. We’re not really sure how someone could negotiate a company back into supporting a dead platform, but if anyone knows anything about dead platforms, it’s Sony.
via Sony still holding out hope for Flash support on Vita | Joystiq.
Bacon Frosting is YUMMY!
Bacon Frosting
Bacon Frosting is just what you’d expect. It’s frosting that tastes like bacon. It’s a pretty red color, and squeezes right out of the tube and onto your cake, cupcake, tongue, etc. The perfect finisher for any pastry decoration, Bacon Frosting will never let you down.
Each tube is full of red bacon-flavored frosting.
Perfect for any pastry, confection, snack, kinky bacon game, etc.
The Bacon Frosting is available from ThinkGeek for $4.99.
LEGO Christmas Holiday Ornaments
LEGO Holiday Ornaments
Deck your holiday tree the LEGO builders way
Measures over 3” (7cm) wide
Makes a great gift for LEGO fans of all ages
Order Lego Christmas ornaments for $7.99 each in your choice of Red, Gold, or Green from LEGO Shop.
KidFriday’s Holiday Wish List: Sonos, iPad2, And Cell Phones
The KidFriday Kids may have a small list this year, but the stuff they want isn’t cheap. 13-year-old Hannah would love to get a Sonos Play:3 ($299). It’s a wireless speaker system that sounds solid, and doesn’t take up much room. Here’s how it works; She actually needs to get a Bridge ($49) for starters. You have to hook the bridge up to your wireless router . Ours is located in the family room. Done. Then it’s placing the speaker anywhere you want, anywhere in the house. Hannah would like a Sonos in her bedroom. The Sonos Play:3 is small and can fit in tight spaces, allowing many placement options. If you have the room, you can opt for the larger Play:5 ($399). With the Bridge hooked up and the Play:3 plugged into an ac outlet, you can now stream music from a computer, iPod, phone, or anything else that shares your wifi. What makes this even more interesting is that you can add more speakers, anywhere you want in the house and stream music wirelessly to them too, as long as the wifi connects. Oh, and Hannah wouldn’t mind someone throwing in the latest iPhone.
Zoe. iPad2. She wants one just like you. That is if you don’t already own one. White, 16g. Yes, there are other tablets out there, but none as nice as the iPad. If you’re going to ask for something, you might as well ask for the best. Then again, maybe not every time. Like Hannah, Zoe also wants a phone. Not necessarily an iPhone, but any phone. Her first phone. She’s playing this one smart. You see, Zoe is 10, and dreams of the day when she can walk out the front door with a cell phone she can call her very own. She’s not really interested in all the features, except for the one that shows her exclusive cell number. Her new identity. No more using mom’s phone ever again. But be careful. Once you get your first cell phone, there’s no turning back. When that day finally arrives, it will probably go something like this; First she’ll say to mom “I’ll call you later”. Then she’ll forget to call.
Hope you get something on your wish list. Good luck!
App Alert: Forget Waldo…”Look And Find Santa” Rules!
Look through piles of stuff and try to find items. Yes, it’s been done before, but this festive take is a sure winner. Find 15 items each in 6 different scenes. Is it Fun? Let’s just put it this way….. You won’t be able to stop playing “Look and Find Santa“. O.K., technically you could stop the game, but you won’t want to. We had the urge to find every single item in every single scene, and were determined not to stop until we did. Yes, it’s that much fun. Great seasonal music, fun sound effects, and a whole lot of searching makes this holiday filled app one not to miss.
For the iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad
$1.99 in the App Store
App Alert: “Santa’s Big Helper” is HUGE On Fun!
Think there’s no Santa? Well think again! Perhaps this app might interest parents, but we say it’s the KIDS that will have all the fun. That’s right, we’re talking about YOU. 9 in 1 app includes a Santa Tracker, Naughty/Nice List, Christmas Countdown, and Magic Compass. But our favorite 9 in 1 Santa’s Big Helper app should be the first thing you try; The Elf Cam. Night-vision proof that Santa is not only hard at work, but in your home. Super-fun and KidFriday recommended
For iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad
Grab it for FREE, but only until December 1st. After that, we say the $.99 cents is still well worth it.
Nintendo Sales Up. Go Mario!!
Super Mario 3D Land and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword helped Nintendo to a successful kickoff of the holiday sales season.
The new Nintendo 3DS game, Super Mario 3D Land, which landed in stores Nov. 11, has become the fastest-selling portable Mario game in company history, selling more than 500,000 units since launch, says Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime.
Meanwhile, the Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, released for the Nintendo Wii on Sunday, Nov. 20, has sold 535,000 copies since its U.S. launch, making it the fastest-selling Zelda game ever, he says.
KidFriday App Pick: Ready to Sing with Andy Z: Scarecrow for iPad
When we look at apps to recommend, we look for quality and fun. It also doesn’t hurt if you learn a little. “Ready to Sing with Andy Z: Scarecrow for iPad” has it all. Geared towards the younger crowd, this app for kids 4+ includes beautiful illustrations, fantastic music from kids songster Andy Z, and can read the story to you. You can also read the story yourself. Plus the added “sound effects” are icing on the cake. Price: $1.99. Highly recommended.
The 10 best game apps
Gaming is an area where Apple’s iOS dominates. Though other platforms are beginning to catch up, many of the top games companies are still focussing on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.
Cool Lego Christmas Tree
The special Christmas structure is made up from 1,000 carefully crafted baubles dangling from 172 branches.
Expert builders took two painstaking months to build the tree, unveiled to the public for the first time this morning at London’s Kings Cross St Pancras rail station.
Just the ticket to get commuters feeling festive.
Time Publishes Best Apps for 2011
Lots of great apps came out in 2011. Did your favorite make it on the list? See for yourself! Time magazine’s list is out for the iPhone, although a lot are iPod Touch compatible.
Domino’s Pizza iPad App Let’s You Build A Pizza, And Order It!
This is an app where you have a great time building the pizza of your dreams. Don’t like it? Just start a new one instead! But the bonus fun is where you can actually order the real pizza you created from Domino’s right from your Apple iPad or iPad2 (you must be connected to wifi or 3g). Hungry? Go get the FREE app and start kneading the dough, spreading the sauce, sprinkling the cheese…..
Disney Movies Now Renting On YouTube
Ya, forget Redbox or Blockbuster (if there’s any left near you), because today a whole bunch of Disney (including Pixar, and Drreamworks) movies are now available at YouTube.com/movies. Literally hundreds of Disney movies are now available to rent including Cars, Alice in Wonderland, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. It’s going to be a nice long holiday weekend, so it might be a great opportunity to check out a favorite.
Apple Game Subscription for iPad $6.99 a Month
Apple has allowed a video-game company to offer its titles by subscription on the iPad.
Big Fish Games, has become the first to offer users access to dozens of titles for $6.99 a month. They make some of the most popular games available. You are probably already playing at least one of them.
UPDATE: 10/24/11 Apple has just removed this from the Apple App Store. Big Fish Games has no idea why, and Apple declines to comment.
Netflix “Just for Kids” Section now on Wii
Netflix today announced that its “Just for Kids” section is now available to Netflix members in the U.S. on the Nintendo Wii™ game console.
Now go outside and play.
New FREE Pinball Game for iPod Touch and iPad
We like the word FREE. Like most free apps in the iTunes store these days this is the “lite” version. We’re fine with that. Check out “Bagatelle Pinball“
Apple Announces Black Friday Sale
Apple is having a sale? Yes, but this is probably the only day for the next 365 days you’re going to see it. This Friday, Apple will be holding a worldwide shopping event to celebrate the U.S tradition of “Black Friday”. Apple’s Black Friday Sale is the one time you can actually walk into an Apple Store and get a deal on an iPod, Macbook, and more. Oh, and at the Apple website too. You snooze, you lose.
KID IN 6TH GRADE IS ONE YOUNG APP DEVELOPER
Some elementary school kids play video games or ride bikes with their friends. Sixth-grader Thomas Suarez builds iOS apps — and has started a club at his school to encourage others to do the same. Doing his best Steve Jobs at a recent TEDx event in Manhattan Beach, he recounted his experience building and selling Earth Fortune and the Bustin Jieber whac-a-mole game, but pointed out that there wasn’t a clear path for other young would-be developers to do the same. “A lot of kids these days like to play games,” Suarez said, “but now they want to make them.” Hence his club, which any student can join to learn the basics of programming and app creation.
Suarez’s school also participates in one of Apple’s iPad pilot programs, which put the tablet into the hands of students and teachers for educational purposes. With feedback from teachers, Suarez’s club hopes to build apps to accommodate specific classroom needs. As for Suarez himself, he’s planning on building more games — and would like to tackle Android development next.
via Sixth-grade iOS developer starts school app club, wows in TEDx video | The Verge.
Apple Store’s Self-Checkout – Kid Friday
Apple’s new EasyPay self-checkout feature lets you pay for your own items at the Apple store, but it doesn’t yet have all the kinks worked out–at least in my experience.
The EasyPay feature requires you to download the latest 2.0 version of the Apple Store app. To buy an item, you’re supposed to scan its barcode with your iPhone’s camera, at which point it’s added to your shopping cart. You then pay for your goods using the credit card associated with your Apple ID and iTunes account.
Beyond letting you pay for your own items, the app allows you to order a product online and then pick it up at your nearby store.
via Apple Store’s new self-checkout: Nice, but not flawless | Apple – CNET News.
Snoopy’s Street Fair App FREE – Kid Friday
Help Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the entire PEANUTS gang build and organize a street fair!
In this taptastic adventure you’ll decorate Charlie Brown’s neighborhood and fill it with a wealth of wonderful stalls and attractions. Recruit your favorite PEANUTS characters including Sally, Linus and Lucy, just to name a few.
While the rest of the gang is busy with the fair, Snoopy brings his own brand of mischief to the game. Depending on Snoopy’s costume he’ll pounce on piles of leaves, help redesign stalls dressed as Artist Snoopy or, in the case of his Beagle Scout costume, collect marshmallows with his beagle scout troop in tow. Each costume will also unlock a themed minigame including a lemonade making game, a color mixing game and a marshmallow roasting game.
Kids Sure Do Want Apple Stuff This Holiday Season – Kid Friday
Nielsen’s latest report on consumers took a look at what kids were asking for as holiday gifts this year, and once again Apple’s iPad was king of the hill. In fact, Apple took the top three slots of most desired products, with the iPod touch and iPhone claiming numbers 2 and 3.
Though the iPad was most desired last year as well, demand for Apple’s tablet shot up to 44 percent of kids surveyed from the 31 percent who wanted one this time last year. The iPod touch and iPhone were on 30 percent and 27 percent of kids’ lists this year, while “non-iPad” tablets were on 25 percent of Santa letters.
Twenty-one percent claimed to want a smartphone other than the iPhone, but no single Android model had any mindshare among kids under the age of 13. Of those older than 13, 24 percent had the iPad at the top of their lists, while 17 percent wanted a non-Apple tablet.
A word of advice to parents doing holiday shopping this season? Skip over that bargain-bin, no-name Android tablet, even if that means kids won’t get a tablet at all this year. A kid that is sad for a week is better than one that hates you for a year for buying the wrong tablet.
via Apple iPad, iPod touch, iPhone top kids’ holiday wishlists this year.
Kid Friday – 30 Best iPad Games
Wondering which games to buy for your iPad? Well, we’ve taken our best shot at putting together a list of top titles that we feel meet the criteria for a good iPad game.
And just what does make a good iPad game? We debated it for a while and narrowed it down to these five factors:
It’s gotta be fun (obviously).
Ergonomics (are the gameplay and control scheme well-suited to the iPad?)
Uniqueness (though many iPad games play well as upconverted, higher-resolution versions of their iPhone predecessors, we respect new, iPad-exclusive games).
Value (some of the best iPad games currently carry high price tags, but we also tried to include titles we thought were simply a good value).
Show-off quotient (extra points if the game flat-out looks good).