As a formerly certified weather geek, I like to check out new weather apps. I'm usually drawn to ones with more advanced features, but occasionally I find a simple and elegant weather program I have to mention. YoWindow ($0.99) is one such app. It is not a fancy weather app, which can become cluttered with maps and trend graphs. Instead, it gives you a view of upcoming weather in a serene 2D scene you can animate (e.g. forecast conditions) as you swipe. The app also serves to relax you with realistic outside sights and sounds that match the conditions, and even indicate the season.
iPad
New apps offering a different approach to email is an exciting trend in iOS. And the apps are free! I've recently reviewed the revolutionary Mailbox (for iPhone) and Cloze (iPhone and iPad app), and now comes Incredimail, an email app for the iPad that takes a stunning new approach to visual presentation.
The annual Macworld/iWorld trade show is underway in San Francisco, and Macworld magazine already has named its Best of Show winners. They include some gotta-see gadgets for the iPad and iPhone, such as an iPad robot, an iPad case that doubles as a speaker, and a 1TB external hard drive for the iPhone and iPad.
7 must-have free apps for your new iPhone or iPad
By Jim Karpen
I've seen a number of lists of apps recommended for those lucky individuals who got a new iPhone or iPad from Santa, but CNET's listing strikes me as being the most useful. They include a number of free apps that are my favorites and that I use every day. Let's take a look at some of their recommended apps.
Flipboard — This is likely the most popular aggregator of news and content ever developed for iOS devices. Its interface is gorgeous and intuitive, and very easy to customize to your interests. Many people find it to be their favorite window onto Facebook or news or entertainment or sports, or whatever your interest is.
Google Maps — When Apple dumped Google Maps in favor of its own maps solution, many were disappointed that Apple's effort was missing some of their favorite features, such as transit directions and Google Street View. Fortunately, Google eventually came out with a full-featured version of their app for iOS devices that has almost all the functionality of their highly popular maps app for Android devices.
Halloween is upon us, and so is the start of the holiday buying season. So what better time to look at the top games in one of my favorite, and most popular scary genres: Zombie Horror!!!
Wannabat for iOS: 1vs1 Multiplayer Baseball at it's best
By Peter Magers
Wannabat, a newly launched game from Vitusoft, has its bases covered. This one-on-one 3D baseball game practically oozes personality, and it won’t take a sports buff to find themselves hooked on hitting homeruns.
After months of anticipation and rumored development, Lifeproof, (arguably one of the best protective case manufacturers for iDevices) has produced, and now released, their version of the award-winning Lifeproof case, for the iPad 2 and 3rd generation models.
Called the “nüüd”, this new, completely submersible iPad case is a revolution of design and functionality. This cleverly designed case provides a high level of defense for our precious iPads, unlike anything else on the market.
Watching videos taken to the max: Roundup of MKV to MP4/M4V video converters
By Werner Ruotsalainen
UPDATE (08/20/2012): as far as the latest OS X version (10.8 Mountain Lion; ML for short) is concerned, I have some bad news.
TinyLightbulbs.com is a ingenious young company that specializes in bringing independently funded and crowd funded projects to greater public awareness. Recently they turned me on to a product called The Flex Kit. Here is a case solution that stands out from a very crowded field of iPad cases. Uzibull has created a versatile and unique product, a protective and functional line of accessories for the iPad that is The Flex Kit.
AnyTune Pro HQ Review
By Mike Riley
The new iPad (3) for 2K(+) video playback? Definitely!
By Werner Ruotsalainen
You might have heard of 2K video. It delivers (horizontally – but not vertically, at least not in the widescreen mode!) a little bit more resolution (2048) than Full HD (1920).
Playing back high definition video from outside the iTunes store on (also) the new iPad - UPDATE: RushPlayer + demo videos
By Werner Ruotsalainen
So far, I've preferred using my high-end 17” Macbook Pro for watching full HD (1920*1080) videos as the screen is able to natively, without downsizing the picture, play back the content. With the new, high-resolution, Retina iPad, playing back even Full HD video has become much more desirable than even on a high-end Macbook Pro: far better screen quality (vastly superior IPS technology vs. TN film, even if the latter is of pretty good quality), no fan noise, no need to connect it to the wall plug (playing back even the most demanding 1080p H.264 videos at max brightness only decreases battery charge by about 18% an hour and doesn't really heat up the iPad 3), mobility, no annoying overheating etc.
Making the stock Videos application play every MP4 file possible
By Werner Ruotsalainen
I've dedicated several articles (latest one HERE) to converting videos into MP4 (M4V / MOV) files so that they can be played back by the H.264 decoder of even older-generation iDevices. In the current one, I elaborate on how how you can play the output files with the built-in, stock Videos application. This article also belong to my Multimedia article series, in which I plan to publish a “Streaming multimedia over your local Wi-Fi” in the next few days and, then, finally, the real Multimedia bible.
The All-in-one Photo Viewer Roundup (+70% price drop on the best image viewer!)
By Werner Ruotsalainen
In the last few days, I've participated in several discussion threads in the Phone Cameras / Tablets & Apps forum of DPReview. (See for example THIS, THIS and THIS). In order not to have to repeat the same facts again and again in future discussions, I've decided to dedicate a complete article to the question of using the iPad as a photo frame.
10 best free apps for using AirPlay with an Apple TV
By Jim Karpen
I have a second-generation Apple TV set-top box, and really enjoy using AirPlay to stream movies from my iPad to my 42-inch HDTV. It's fun how simple it is. If you have an iOS device and Apple TV on the same WiFi network, you simply start playing a video and tap a button that gives you the option of playing the movie on your TV instead of your iPad. If you need to go out and want to continue watching the movie, you simply toggle back to the iPad and continue watching.
More rumors: 7.85-inch iPad, Apple TV set
By Jim Karpen
Apple develops prototypes when it's exploring a new product. A prototype doesn't necessarily guarantee that they'll eventually bring the device to market. But it does show that Apple is seriously considering it. And the most recent rumors of a 7.85-inch iPad prototype show that Apple does indeed seem to be considering such a device.
MWC Report I: Now Apple has some serious competition: the new Nokia phone and the Samsung Note 10.1
By Werner Ruotsalainen
I've just returned to my hotel room from the first day of MWC so that I can get ready for the MobileFocus event in the evening. I couldn't wait with sharing my experiences with you on the spot. Having little free time, however, let's start with the most two important pieces of news: the Nokia PureView 808 (a phone with a freaking good camera) and the Samsung Note 10.1 (a really decent tablet). I had some quality hands-on time with both models. Let's start with the former.
Nokia PureView 808
TumbleOn to the best of Tumblr photo blogs!
By Nate Adcock
If you are a Tumblr fan, and looking for an app that makes it easy to follow your favorite photo blogs (or find new ones), TumbleOn might be just what you have been looking for. In similar fashion to reader apps like Pulse, TumblOn leverages the smooth side-scrolling features of the iPad touch screen to make it easy to browse your favorite feeds. The app also provides handy quick-pick services that help you drill down on the best blog content, and even reblog it on your own tumblelog site.
Catch your tablet by the tail with Octa #CES #MacWorld
By Todd Bernhard
Wen you first see their product, you will think they made a typo with their company name and instead of Octa, they should be called Orca. But it's no mistake. Octa's TabletTail is a vacuum-based suction mount that sticks to your flat backed tablet, ideally an iPad 2, and can give it a tail. The tail makes it easy to both grip the tablet and can be used as a stand to prop the device up.