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Facebook Messenger App for iPhone with Video Conferencing

Published by on August 9th, 2011 | No Comments »

Facebook is one of the world’s leading Social Media sites, if not the world’s largest.  One thing that stood out with Facebook from the early stages was their IMing service or simply put, their chat.  Facebook has just released the Facebook Messenger application which is an extension to Facebook’s Messages service which will allow you to send a text message to your phone’s contacts.  Not only that, it’s able to send messages to Facebook contacts, that’s a given!  The cool thing is that Facebook is also allowing you to send pictures.  Consider that a little bonus!

As the iPhone stands out to many with this application, it’s also available for the Android phones out there.  Don’t worry, Facebook hasn’t forgotten about you like they forgotten about BlackBerry users.  What a shame!

The big thing that was released with this application was the hidden video conferencing.  They didn’t say too much about this feature but after using this application, the video conferencing was found!  With the video conferencing, I couldn’t see of a way to get the video to actually work like the iPad did after a few tweeks.  It seems to be that Facebook is trying to keep it “private” but we all know it’s impossible for them!

What do you think about this application?  Will you be downloading this application for your iPhone or Android?  Leave your thoughts in the comment section.

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Alaska to open first Apple Store

Published by on August 9th, 2011 | No Comments »

This Saturday, Apple will be opening its first Apple Store in the great state of Alaska.  The Alaska Apple Store will be located on 320 West 5th Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska and doors open at 10am.  After this store opens, you would think that every state in the US would have an Apple Store but you’re wrong.  There are still seven states that are Apple Storeless.  Those states are:  Arkansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Verginia, and Wyoming.  I really feel bad for those states that don’t have an Apple Store.

My main question is, why would Apple put a store in a state that isn’t very populated?  I’m sure West Virginia and Vermont could use it more than Alaska.  Let us think this one through; Alaska has a population of close to 700,000 people while New Jersey has a population of close to 9,000,000.  That’s a huge number jump so I understand why New Jersey has a few Apple Stores.  I’m sure every other state still has more than Alaska.  Hopefully Apple will release some more stores in the coming weeks while they try and reach their goal of 30 new stores by September 30th.

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Skype for Mac Gets HD Calling & OS X Lion Support

Published by on August 8th, 2011 | No Comments »

After a few weeks, Skype has finally added HD Calling and OS X Lion Support.  This was long overdue since OS X was updated.

Apple users can finally enjoy the HD Calling that Windows users have been enjoy for a long time now.  Skype is calling this update 5.3 since it was next in line.

A representitive from Skype reports:

Skype 5.3 for Mac OS X is built to work with Apple’s newest desktop operating system, Lion, in addition to being compatible with past versions of OS X going all the way back to Leopard.

With Skype 5.3 for Mac OS X, you’ll also be able to send and receive HD quality video when talking to your friends and family. You’ll need to use the Mac’s built-in webcam or choose from a variety of webcams from our Skype Shop, such as the Logitech C910, to make video calls in crystal clear HD quality. To receive clear HD video calls on your Mac, we recommend an upload/download speed of 1.5Mbps.

Just last month, Skype 5.2 for Mac added group screen sharing for customers with premium subscriptions, as well as a revamped call control bar with support for video calls. Skype has also been hard at work on its offerings for Apple’s mobile platform, finally releasing Skype for iPad one week ago.

If you are using OS X Lion or an Apple computer, are you happy for these updates?  I know many users on Mac have been waiting for some time for this HD calling.  Are you excited to try it out?  Leave your thoughts in the comment section.

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250GB Android Tablet coming soon?

Published by on August 8th, 2011 | No Comments »

Here’s something you can’t get with an iPad: 250GB of internal storage. Archos’ upcoming Android ”Honeycomb” 3.2 tablet will pack a 250GB hard disk drive that’s been tweaked to perform more like a flash drive.

Archos G9 combines a 250GB hard disk drive with a 4GB flash drive.Archos G9 combines a 250GB hard disk drive with a 4GB flash drive.

(Credit: Archos)

The Archos G9 will sport a 250GB Seagate Momentus Thin 2.5-inch hard drive–a mere 7 millimeters thick. Though not as compact as a 1.8-inch HDD (like Apple once used in its MacBook Air and iPod), it’s not as expensive either.

And Archos has tweaked the Seagate drive a bit to allow it to perform more like the flash drives found in practically all tablets today. 4GB of flash storage sits on top of the HDD, according to Craig TerBlanche, director of marketing for Archos in North America. Often-used data is stored in the flash component, allowing faster access than a standard 2.5-inch HDD, TerBlanche said.

All of this results in bigger bang for the buck. “You get 250GB for the same cost as a 32GB flash drive,” he said.

Another marquee feature is the 1.5GHz Texas Instruments OMAP 4460 dual-core processor. This is the same processor that Google has approved for upcoming Android Ice Cream Sandwich devices. That means consumers can expect to see a new wave of tablets and smartphones built around the TI 4460. But Archos will likely be one of the first, as those devices aren’t expected until late in the year.

The 8-inch 250GB Archos G9 will be $369.99 and the 10-inch 250GB model, $469.99. Both are due in September

[via cnet]

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$999 iMac for Educational Institutions

Published by on August 8th, 2011 | 1 Comment »

The iMac has been dominating some of the world’s desktop computers.  With such a high price point, schools and institutions have been in a struggle to purchase these power house’s.    With Apple being the smart company they are, they have quietly launched a lower cost $999 iMac for educational institutions.  The down fall about this system is that it’s “low-end” and it’s not available for purchase from the normal consumer.  It’s for education only and not for individual use.

The specs of the system have been reduced for the educational purchase of searching the internet and the basic web searching and such.  The specs published on their site or those below:

  • 3.1GHz Intel Core i3 Dual-Core
  • 21.5-inch LCD
  • AMD Radeon HD 6750 with 256MB
  • 2GB RAM
  • 250GB Hard Drive
  • SuperDrive
  • OS X Lion

Interestingly, this new iMac does not come with the new Thunderbolt but it does come with a mini Display Port.  The model right above this is for $1149 and offers a 2.5 GHz Quad-Cord i5 with 4GB of RAM and 500GB Hard Drive.

Do you approve of what Apple is doing to try and help out the education of students to make their systems a bit more affordable to school systems?  If you are a student, would you be happy if your school had the “student” iMac?  Leave your thoughts in the comment section.

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RIM Launches BlackBerry Messenger 6

Published by on July 28th, 2011 | No Comments »


RIM’s famous BlackBerry Messenger will soon be up against the Apple’s iMessage with the launch of iOS 5 this fall, so in a bid to maintain interest in its popular messaging service, RIM has just launched BBM 6. Available to users running BlackBerry OS 4.5 and above, BBM 6 introduces in-app chat for supported third-party applications, and more sharing options.

The update is available today, and initially, a select few apps will support the service including Foursquare, Poynt and Wikitude. In addition to in-app messaging, version 6 will also allow you to share your location, links, calendar appointments and even podcasts with your friends. You can also use the app send SMS messages to friends who aren’t subscribed to BBM — incorporating all of your messaging needs into one app.

One of the most exciting things about BBM 6 is its potential integration with BlackBerry games, and TechRadar claims we can expect more then just messaging:

You can also expect to see BBM chat in some games, with achievements and trophies added to your BBM profile so your friends can see what games you’re playing (and how terrible you are at them).

Along with proof of your gaming prowess, you’ll be able to add a status update to your profile.

TechRadar also speculates that BBM 6 could be the “shiny new social thing” that RIM teased earlier this week, however, with a BlackBerry media event scheduled for next week, rumor has it this will be related to hardware.

There’s still no cross-platform messaging in BBM 6, I’m afraid, which may never be introduced to the service. However, it seems it should be if RIM wants to keep BBM alive while third-party messaging services — such as WhatsApp — continue to take off.

Have you downloaded BBM 6 yet? Which apps do you want to see with support for in-app messaging first?

[via TechnoBuffalo]

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Central Florida Students get FREE iPad

Published by on July 28th, 2011 | No Comments »


What has this world come to? When I was in school, having any type of technology was banned from being in the class room. Now, it seems to be that students in Central Florida will be receiving a FREE iPad for “homework” at nights.

A school in Lake Minneloa is outfitting all of their students with over a half a million dollars worth of iPads. All the students will be able to use their iPad during class and be able to bring them home for “homework” purposes.

According to the school board, this is their way of trying to save money on text books and bring a new type of learning experience to students. As awesome is this sounds, does it seem fit? Are they actually saving money?

I really wish my school gave their students iPads when I went to school. The final cost was $700,000 which brought the school a total of 1,750 iPads. In theory, this is giving them a healthy discount at $400 each!

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iPhone 5 Schematic Revealed

Published by on July 26th, 2011 | No Comments »

Not another post about the rumored iPhone 5! Sorry, but it has to be talked about because the time is drawing near. The iPhone 5 is rumored to be released in the upcoming months but no one knows EXACTLY what the new phone will feature.

With some pictures from MobileFun, we see some images of an iPhone 5 case schematic. If this schematic is 100% real, we can get a basic overview of what the new device will feature.

You will notice a larger, edge-to-edge display for more viewing and better resolution. Do you think this is plausible? It may feel like a good idea to have the most screen space possible but putting it so close to the edge sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. I can see so many of these screens being cracked with the slightest fall. If this screen rumor is true, hopefully Apple will take this to heart and make a very durable screen.

The two other things you may notice from a quick glace is that the home button is made larger and the back of the device is slight curved, like the iPad 2. Although the curved back seems like a great idea and will make it feel right for holding, why make the home button larger? I thought the reason behind the iPhone was to eliminate most of the button use so why make the button larger? I truly believe they should keep it the same or completely eliminate it with the new gestures iOS 5 has.

What are your thoughts? What would you like to see in the next generation iPhone? Leave your comments in the comment section.

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Apple Lining Up iPad 3 Suppliers

Published by on July 26th, 2011 | No Comments »


It feels like the world of Technology has just completely died in the past day. With things coming to a halt, there is always room for more rumors coming about. Let us truly think about this being a rumor or fact. Will the iPad 3 be coming sooner then we expected?

Reports have shown that Taiwan-based companies have been picked to supply parts for the upcoming iPad 3. Here is a quote from Digtimes:

Taiwan-based IC design houses Novatek Microelectronics, Richtek Technology, Capella Microsystems (Taiwan) and Integrated Memory Logic (iML) have reportedly entered the supply chain for iPad 3, according to industry sources.

According to Digtimes, Apple seems to be more willing to use integrated circuits from Taiwan-based manufacturers “as it is adjusting the cost structure for the iPad Tablets…”

We aren’t 100% sure as of what will be in the iPad or when it will be released. Lower cost parts may mean less expensive iPads, so it brings us to ask, what will the price be of the new iPad 3? It is still unclear as to when the iPad 3 will be released and what the iPad 3 will be in terms of the price point.

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Logitech M705 Review (With Bloopers)

Published by on July 26th, 2011 | No Comments »


After months of owning this mouse, I finally get around to creating a product review of the Logitech M705 Wireless Mouse. It’s a great mouse once you get use to the product. At first, it feels small and takes sometime to get use to because the laser sensor is on the side of the mouse. After using the mouse, you get use to it and navigation is simple and seamless.

This mouse is also great for travel purposes with the build in USB Receiver “holder.” You are able to bring this mouse anywhere with out the bother of getting cords tangle for picking up the wireless signal. It’s also cross-platform with Windows and Mac.

I give this mouse an overall rating of 8/10. Looks great, feels great, works great but has that huge flaw with the laser sensor. If you’re a gamer, I would NOT recommend this mouse. If you are an everyday user, this mouse will do you great. I’m sitting in the middle with this mouse with all my video editing and web design.

If you have any great recommendations for a mouse, please let me know. Have you used this mouse? What do you like about it and what do you dislike about it? Leave your comments in the comment section.

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Apple Recalling Some iMac Hard Drives (1TB)

Published by on July 25th, 2011 | No Comments »

Apple has become a huge company and has been advancing really quickly. Thought Apple seems to be perfect, nothing in this world is perfect, including Apple. If you recently purchased a new iMac, you may want to bring it back to the Apple Store to have it looked at.

Apple has issued a recall for some 1TB Seagate hard drives as they are potentially defective. The main chunk of hard drives were in iMacs sold in May and June of this year, 2011.

These particular hard drives were in both the 21.5 inch and 27 inch iMacs and “may fail under certain conditions.” If you believe that your hard drive is defective, please do yourself a favor and head to the Apple Store.

Apple will be providing replacements for the defective hard drives free of charge until July 23, 2012 with extension made to the program “as needed.” If you ask me, that’s a long time.

If you use the computer on a regular basis and have important data stored, you may want to consider backing up your data to an external drive or a cloud service. You never know when a hard drive will fail and in the event of a failure, you will be happy you backed up your data. Trust me on this!

What are you thoughts on this? Leave your comments in the comment section.

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Facebook’s Native iPad App Leaked!

Published by on July 25th, 2011 | No Comments »

Facebook is the world’s leading social networking website. Ever since the iPad was released, they have been stuck with using the iPhones Native Application. If you own an iPad, you know from firsthand experience that this is frustrating! It finally looks like the long anticipated Facebook App for the iPad will be coming soon.

TechCrunch has posted a huge gallery of screenshots from the Native App for the iPad. Click here to see all the pictures.

Though we don’t’ know of an exact date that the Facebook App for the iPad will be released, we know it will be in the near future. The demand for this application has been made clear as 3rd party Facebook Apps such as MyPad have been ranking in the top for quite some time now.

When do you think this application will be released to the public? If you own an iPad and you are a Facebook user, are you excited for this to be released? What will this do to current 3rd party applications for Facebook? Leave your thoughts in the comment section!

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Spotify Hits 70,000 Paid U.S. Users After 1 Week

Published by on July 22nd, 2011 | No Comments »


Spotify appears to be in great standings in the US. With the service just releasing a week ago in the US, reports are showing over 70,000 new paid subscribers. That’s a huge amount in just a weeks time!

Before hitting the US, Spotify had 10 million registered users with 1.6 million paying for the premium service. For a music streaming service, these numbers are amazing. If you take into consideration that this company hasn’t been around for very long.

Many companies have reached out to Spotify, including myself and this is the response to the Billboard:

The launch of Spotify in the US has exceeded our expectations in both the response to invitations for the free service as well as subscriptions. We aren’t going to discuss numbers at this stage but we are excited to be here and confident that Americans will love Spotify as much as they already do in Europe.

If you haven’t got into Spotify, please do your best in trying to get an invite. Spotify is simply amazing. It’s definitely the best system out there for streaming music, hands down!

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New Mac Mini shows significant performance gains

Published by on July 21st, 2011 | No Comments »

As you may be aware, Apple finally updated their line of Mac Mini’s which has been due for quite sometime. Sometimes, the Mac Mini feels like the forgotten child and because of that, not many people purchase them. If you truly look at the specs, the Mac Mini is a great computer for the price point and the size.

The chart below shows the huge gain in performance. You will notice that it surpasses every other model of the Mac Mini.

If you aren’t a power house user and you really want to purchase a Mac at an affordable price, you may want to think about the Mac Mini. They are amazing machines and they are actually very powerful for a respectable price.

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One Million Copies of OS X Lion Bought!

Published by on July 21st, 2011 | No Comments »

Just under 48 hours ago, Apple released their new Operating System called OS X Lion.  With in that 48 hour time period, Apple announced that they sold more than 1 million copies of the amazing new Operating System.  This is crazy because they were all sold and downloaded with the Mac App Store.  What will happen when they release it to stores for the public because some users don’t have the Mac App Store!

A little quote from Apple’s Marketing Chief Phil Schiller:

Lion is off to a great start, user reviews and industry reaction have been fantastic. Lion is a huge step forward, it’s not only packed with innovative features but it’s incredibly easy for users to update their Macs to the best OS we’ve ever made.

 

At 3.7GB per download, you would be crazy not to purchase OS X Lion.  The download size is fast, not to mention the great price point!  If you haven’t downloaded OS X Lion yet, help Apple out and do so!

Great job Apple!  Keep up the great work!

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