Friday 30 September 2011

Deal of the Day ? 20% Off Microsoft 3KJ-00001 Touch Mouse

by Janet Cloninger on September 30, 20110 comments

in News

Today?s LogicBUY Deal is the Microsoft (model 3KJ-00001) Touch Mouse for $55.99.� Features:� comfortable, stylish design, BlueTrack Technology, wireless connection through the USB Nano transceiver, 10-foot range, more.

$69.99- 20% coupon code ($14) = $55.99 with free shipping.� This is the lowest price found by LogicBUY and is $5.00 less than previous mention of the deal.

This deal expires October 7, 2011 or sooner. Check the above link for more details on this deal, and check the LogicBUY home page for other deals.

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Is the Competition Ready for the iPhone on Multiple U.S. Carriers?

With the reports that Sprint will carry the iPhone 5, it?s almost certain that this coming new iPhone launch will destroy every iPhone launch before it (which have crushed every other phone launch ever). One has to wonder if Apple is up to the supply challenge, but also if their competition is ready to face an Apple that isn?t holding back.

iPhone 5 event Apple

Apple is hosting an iPhone event on October 4th.

Let?s face it, until recently Apple has been fighting the smartphone war with one hand tied behind its back. While BlackBerry and others from the old guard have been a mainstay on all the major U.S. carriers for years and Android established a presence on every carrier immediately, Apple has kept iPhone on a metered pace of carrier expansion.

Apple?s exclusivity to AT&T was a major factor in Android?s rise to power. Every other carrier was looking for their own iPhone and Android was their ticket to that. Android will still be critical to keep them from becoming overly reliant on iPhone, but now instead of needing their own iPhone, Verizon and Sprint will have the actual iPhone.

Sure, Verizon got the iPhone 4 earlier this year, but that was with a months-old model, not a new one, and it still topped their sales chart. Even a year after its release and months after it debuted on the network, the iPhone 4 still ranked as Verizon?s top selling smartphone. Presumably, the iPhone 5, the first to launch new on the network, will take its place. DROID and other Android phones will continue to be important to Verizon, but they are no longer their top stars.

Of course, the competition is in no danger of being buried by the iPhone entirely, but the grim reality for them is that they?ve already reached as many major U.S. carriers as possible. Neither Android nor BlackBerry have anywhere else to go in this regard. The iPhone does. Even after the iPhone 5 launches, there?s still T-Mobile. It may be tough to swallow, but as fast and as far as it?s gone in the smartphone race, the iPhone has been pacing itself the entire time and now it?s about to kick it up a gear.

Beyond the features, beyond the pricing, beyond the design, this is why the iPhone 5 is so hotly anticipated. Three years ago, when Apple opened the iPhone to developers, Warner and others said it was all over except the crying. I claimed there was more crying to be had as iPhone still had more punches to throw with the last blow being the end of AT&T exclusivity. Well, that time is upon us.

While neither they nor I anticipated Android?s rise, I did predict someone would step up. Turned out to be Google and Android, but it could have been Palm and webOS or Nokia and MeeGo or anyone else. It?s irrelevant. It was going to happen, as was the end of iPhone?s AT&T exclusivity in the U.S. The iPhone 5 launching on multiple U.S. carriers will be Apple?s strongest assault in the smartphone war yet, and if their competitors are shocked by what happens, well, they should have seen it coming. I did. Interesting days await.

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HP Talks About Notebook Designs, Windows 8, Touch, Ultrabooks

This article is cross-posted on Notebooks.com.

I had joined HP on a press tour earlier this week where the company was showing off its business-class EliteBook notebooks, which is an elegant aluminum-clad enterprise notebook that boasts rugged features that are tested using military specs. During the company?s presentation on design, notebooks design head Stacy Wolff had given us some insight on where HP?s design is going amidst changes in the PC industry with touch computing, tablets, Windows 8, and ultrabooks.

To date, the world?s leading PC-maker, which says it shapes 2 PCs every second, has yet to announce an ultrabook unlike competitors such as Asus, Lenovo, and Toshiba to name a few. The ultrabook category was created by Intel as a means to offer Windows PC-makers a way to compete with Apple?s MacBook Air in an era where netbooks are shunned and tablets are favored. Anticipated pricing is expected to hover around $1,000 and these ultrabooks will utilize Intel?s performance low voltage Core processors.

However, according to Wolff, ultrabooks provided too many compromises for the end user and HP wants a premium experience that will give users strong performance, high reliability and durability, and good battery life. And in my experience examining ultrabooks at Intel?s IDF 2011 conference recently, I would have to side with HP?s Wolff as many of those machines?with a few exceptions?look unpolished with a few too many corners crossed?some of the models had keys with too shallow of travel distance leading to an uncomfortable typing experience and others had keyboards that flexed too much leaving me unsatisfied.

HP does want to head into the thin and light category, however, and the company is saying that it is experimenting with new materials and construction to make that happen so that the final experience won?t be compromised. For example, in the near future, HP will be looking at ceramics for use in its notebooks, which not only offers strength, but also a new way for heat to be dissipated.

In addition to ceramics, carbon fiber and metal film may also be used in future models to provide structural integrity to make machines stronger while reducing weight.

The company is also aware of the consumerization of IT or technology. With executives and many employees across many different companies now bringing their own laptops and PCs into the workplace, a lot of consumer features are now making its way into enterprise system. That means that consumers can now buy an enterprise system and enterprise users won?t be left with a stale designed notebook.

Additionally, with Windows 8 and the post-PC evolution, HP is considering how users interact with their systems. For example, the company found that for their all-in-ones (AIOs), touch was not optimized as it required the user to have to reach their arm across the table to touch the display, leading to arm fatigue if this usage paradigm was used for a long period of time. As a result, the company made the AIO systems with a kneeling hinge so that it could stand upright as a normal display, or lowered and angled more dramatically like an angled tablet on a table top for touchscreen use.

In addition to touch, HP is looking at the post-PC era with some foresight by examining technologies like displays and batteries. The company sees that users will be using their PCs more in different environments, like in bright sunlight, and that this will potentially affect battery life and charging so HP is looking at brighter outdoors-visible displays and longer life battery on future machines.

As news is swirling around HP?s change of direction with the personal systems group, it is refreshing to hear that HP is still sticking to its core values, that the company is listening to customer feedback as it designs notebooks and computers with optimal experiences.

Be sure to tune into Notebooks.com where I will cover the HP press tour in greater depth and talk about how HP tests its notebooks and computers before releasing them to the market!

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HTC Amaze 4G Specs And Price

HTC Amaze 4GHTC Amaze 4G Specs And Price ? Now that HTC will continue to deliver a wide range of new series and one of them like this HTC 4G Amaze Android phone which is using a dual core 1.5GHz processor and a 4.3-inch screen on the HTC Amaze 4G, HTC Amaze 4G devices seen by the site Cell Phone Signal has a T-Mobile brand.

HTC Amaze 4G will also carry the HTC Sense UI with a more conventional small chance T-Mobile also customize the software itself.

HTC Amaze 4G Specification:

* Network support 42Mbps HSPA + data
* 4G
* Dual-core 1.5GHz processor Snapdragon
* Rear facing camera 8 MP
* Front camera 2MP
* 4.3-inch screen
* Resolution 540�960px

For pricing information HTC Amaze 4G is still not available.

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Thursday 29 September 2011

PURE Contour is one fine iPod/iPhone dock

by Mark R - on September 29th, 2011

After years of seeing PURE products at CES and electronics shows, I finally got one to try out with the Contour. The PURE Contour is an iPod/iPhone dock, but it is quite extraordinary.

I?m not certain if its rounded shape has anything to do with its high quality sound, but it has full range 3.5 inch speakers and dual bass ports for 36W RMS of sound that really shook the floor. It has an iPod dock that is retractable, as well as an FM radio.

The Contour can also connect via Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection so you can hook up to Internet radio stations and podcasts. It also allows for streaming music directly from a PC or Mac. Also included are composite, component and S-Video out for connection to the television.

The remote for the Contour allows the user full control over this iPhone/iPod dock, but there are also touch-sensitive controls on the unit itself. Other features include some alarms and timers, 40 FM presets, unlimited internet favorites, and a Stereo headphone socket. Another feature is that it is powered by the Lounge service to register your radio, organize your favorites, and even listen online.

All of this does cost, but I would have to say that the Pure Contour is one of the finest iPod/iPhone docks that I have listened to. I am not certain when it will be available, and the lowest price that I can find for it was on Amazon for about $310.00. You can find out more information on the official site.

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Life with the Eco Pod, Rugged All Terrain Speaker Case

by Mark R - on September 28th, 2011

We have reported on the Eco Pod before, and I got a chance to try out the Rugged All Terrain Speaker Case for myself.

For those who aren?t familiar with this product, I?m not certain whether ?Rugged All Terrain? is an adequate adjective for it. I mean, you can use your mobile device in any terrain where you can get a signal, really. The Eco Pod is designed for those who want to take their iPod, iPhone, or other smartphone in the rugged outdoor conditions of the real world.

It is IPX7 certified to stay within 3 feet of water for 30 minutes without any leaks. The Eco Pod includes some IPX7 ear buds so you can listen to your music in watery conditions.

The Eco Pod is a polycarbonate case with two reinforced clamps. It has a two inch detachable carbiner clip for travel, as well as a slot to keep it in your belt if you like.

Now here is the bad news. When your smartphone or iPod or whatever device is in the unit, you cannot access the touchscreen. In other words, once you hook it up in the case with the 3.5 mm jack, close the cover, you had better have it set to a big playlist or a radio if you want to hear some music.

This is the price you pay for protecting your mobile device in harsh conditions. The price that you will pay for the Eco Pod is about $49.95 on the Grace Digital web site.

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Joby launches trio of new portable tripods

by Edwin - on September 29th, 2011

Joby made a name for itself with the release of the GorillaPod which by the way, does not resemble a gorilla in any way apart from the fact that it can ?hang? from just about any place as long as the pole or branch is able to support its weight alongside the camera it is attached to. Well, certainly they cannot rely on just a single device along to roll in the dough, right? Enter three more portable tripods to ensure they remain the best at what they do.

All three new releases are the GorillaPod Micro 250, GorillaPod Micro 800 and GorillaPod Hybrid, where they were specially developed and designed to meet the needs of today?s digital camera consumer, regardless of whether you are an enthusiast who shoots on-the-go with a point-and-shoot camera, or have moved up a notch to the prosumer category with the most recent compact system camera in tow.

Even better news would be the price points ? these three devices won?t break the bank, retailing anywhere from $19.95 to just $39.95. Certainly Joby has come a long way with its GorillaPod Original that was launched over five years ago, and it is heartening to see them continue their mission with a passion. The GorillaPod Micro can be said to be the indispensable companion for your point-and-shoot by virtue of being the first always-on tripod which delivers stability, range of movement and versatility of full-size supports. The GorillaPod Micro series will comprise of the GorillaPod Micro 250 and GorillaPod Micro 800 which supports cameras weighing up to 250g (8.8 oz.) and 800g (1.75 lbs.), respectively.

Up next is the GorillaPod Hybrid that can support cameras weighing up to 1kg (2.2 lbs.), boasting flexible, wrappable legs that deliver rock-solid stabilization on any surface and integrated aluminum ball head (90 degrees tilt, 360 degrees pan) so that you can enjoy precise positioning to capture professional-quality images.

Which would you gun for?

Press Release

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Bracketron Back-iT for the iPad 2

by Mark R - on September 28th, 2011

By now, I am certain that you are all aware of the iPad 2, and how the user can purchase the flexible, fold-able Smart Cover to protect the front. However, what about the back of the precious iPad 2?

This is probably the mentality that led Bracketron to develop the Back-iT. It is a ?low-profile, precision-cut polycarbonate back that securely holds and protects your iPad 2 from scratches and scuffs?. It comes in the same colors of the previously mentioned Smart Covers, which are all pastel and include a ?soft-touch design for superior grip for interacting and carrying your iPad 2?.

Yes, I used a lot of quotes here, but let me give you one of my own: ?If you use the Back-iT with a Smart Cover on your iPad 2, it will be a beautiful bright color on either side. It is truly up to you if you want to make them match.?

You should be able to purchase the Back-iT from the official Bracketron site here for an MSRP of $29.99 in pastel colors of gray, blue, pink, green, and orange. While you are there, you might want to check out Bracketron?s Style-iT, a stylus and pen that also come in the same pastel colors. I highly suggest a color that matches.

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Wednesday 28 September 2011

Little Deviants Hands On: PS Vita?s Special Features Showcase

Little Deviants is supposedly the game that convinced Sony execs that the PS Vita?s rear touch screen is a good idea. After standing in line for two hours to play the thing, however, we?re not sure what game they were shown, because it surely couldn?t have been the same sparse collection of mini-game tech demos masquerading as an attempted retail product, and we?re not just saying that because we spent about 20% of a perfectly good Saturday queuing to play the thing.

The titular characters are innocuous and generic enough, all of them imbued with all the personality of a carpet, and not a particularly likeable one at that. They only serve as a pretext, however, for a slight breakdown in gameplay form of every major PS Vita feature. We were shown several mini-games which used the rear camera, gyroscope, front and rear touch screens. The first one was the AR game, which attempted to recreate the glory days of early camera phone games circa 2005. In that goal it succeeded admirably, as no game design advancements from the intervening period were in evidence apart from being able to use the main touchscreen to wipe off goo left over from destroyed enemies. However, the games we had the highest hopes for were the ones using the rear touchscreen. We mean, they had to be something truly spectacular to persuade Sony to bolt a seemingly gimmicky and expensive extra attachment to a console that needed every last extra dollar shaved off its sticker. It turns out Sony is very easily impressed.

Sure, the first time you tap the rear touchscreen to raise a bump in the ground that guides your deviant you can sort of see the appeal. Unfortunately, the game fails to turn that mechanic into compelling gameplay. The second mini-game to make use of the rear touchscreen makes a better case. Pushing deviants with their backs turned out the window with a well placed finger to the rear touchscreen finally showed a sliver of potential. Unfortunately, Little Deviants only seemed interested in scratching the surface of it.

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Android Gains, But Faces Tough Battle Against iOS 5 and iPhone 5

Smartphone buyers over the last three months chose Android 56% of the time, double the 28% choice of iOS devices like the iPhone.

The new data from�Nielsen shows that more consumers are picking Android than iPhone, but it looks like the big losers over this time are BlackBerry and ?Other?, which is likely Windows Phone 7.

Android vs iOS

Android gained while iOS was flat last quarter.

The growth of Android adoption has been helped by the launch of many major phones in the last 3 months, like the Droid 3, Droid X2, HTC Evo 3D and others. This trend may continue with flagship devices like the Droid Bionic and the affordable Pantech Breakout, but Android will face stiff competition in October.

Android Has Had an Easy Quarter

Android has had a relatively easy go of the past few months, Apple did not release a new iPhone this summer and iOS 5 has not yet been released. This has left many shoppers who are up for an upgrade with two options. While a number of them are choosing to wait for the iPhone 5, many are purchasing Android phones.

t-mobile-android-smartphone

Android winning at T-Mobile

By purchasing Android phones, we are seeing a continued validation of the platform by the average consumer. It doesn?t hurt that companies like T-Mobile and Verizon are focusing heavily on Android. This week, T-Mobile announced that 75% of the phones they sell are smartphones, and 90% of those run Android.

Android does need to stay vigilant, and Google needs to get the latest Ice Cream Sandwich on many phones when it launches this year because a recent survey by UBS showed that 31% of Android owners would consider an iPhone for their next phone, a large amount compared to the iPhone, which only has 11% thinking of leaving.

Apple Launching Offensive

As I mentioned, Android has had a relatively easy go of the past 3 months, but that all changes when Apple announces the iPhone 5 on October 4th.

(Read:�iPhone 5 Rumor Roundup: Latest on Hardware, Release Date, Carriers)

This large number of Android owners considering an iPhone will now have a brand new iPhone. For those looking for a budget iPhone, Apple may release an iPhone 4S for $99 or it could count on an iPhone 4 running iOS 5 to satisfy budget smartphone buyers ? who have traditionally picked Android.

iOS 5 addresses many of the complaints of iOS ? giving better notifications, better browsing, a better camera, iMessage and much more.

The�video�above�shows off some of�the�iOS 5 features that help Apple catch up to Android in important areas.

Android?s Secret Weapon ? 4G LTE

Android?s big chance at success may lie in support for 4G LTE phones. While we don?t expect a 4G iPhone this year, Android manufacturers are quickly producing 4G LTE devices on Verizon, T-Mobile and soon on AT&T. These phones have a good chance, because 4G LTE is not their only selling point.

We are seeing Android devices with 4G and great cameras like the HTC Amaze 4G, and we are seeing�success�from the Samsung Galaxy S II which recently landed on T-Mobile with HSPA+42.

Competition is Good

This competition is great news from consumers who will be the ultimate winner. We talk a lot about which operating system had which feature first, but at the end of the day, Android pushes iOS to improve�and iOS pushes Android to improve. If patents don?t muck the whole thing up I expect to see many more�amazing�devices in the next year.

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Scosche myTREK Wireless Pulse Monitor

Exercising, working out, getting fit, whatever you want to call it, is a chore that a lot of us don?t enjoy doing. Finding ways to make physical activity actually beneficial can increase the enjoyment. Because, let?s face it, if your workouts aren?t helping you lose weight or get fit, what?s the point in doing them? Scosche wants to help your workouts count. The myTREK Wireless Pulse Monitor for your iPhone or iPod Touch keeps a close eye on your heart rate so that it knows when you?re slacking and need a little kick in the pants to burn off that morning donut.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

Package Contents

myTREK monitor
3 arm straps
USB charger dock
Quick start guide
You might be wondering how a heart rate monitor can help make sure your workouts count. Did you know that getting your heart rate super high doesn?t mean that you?ll necessarily lose weight? Based on your health information, there are specific target zones (heart beats per minute) that you need to be in in order to lose weight or for cardio fitness. This monitor helps you stay in those zones.

The monitor itself is a black plastic module with an elastic arm band. There are 2 LEDs and 3 buttons on the face of the monitor. The LEDs indicate charging, pairing and power. The buttons control music playback while you?re working out. There are volume buttons and a multi-function center button that pauses/resumes playback and can also skip song tracks.

Attached to the monitor on one end is the sensor that has to touch your skin in order to detect your pulse. You?ll also notice two contacts on the back of the monitor. These mate with the USB charger to charge the internal lithium ion battery.

While the myTREK is charging, one of the status LEDs will blink Red.

When charging is completed (this takes about 2hrs), the opposite LED will glow Green. You should get 5hrs of workout time in between charges.

The monitor is worn on your forearm. It?s a lot more comfortable than typical� heart rate monitors that use chest straps. The bands are stretchy and easy to adjust for a good fit. I didn?t have any problem with the band slipping down my arm while walking briskly. Another benefit to an arm strap is that it won?t get all icky from sweat as easily or quickly as a chest strap.

To use the myTREK, you first charge it via USB, then pair it with your iPhone or iPod via Bluetooth. Once paired, the device will prompt you to download the free myTREK app via the app store.

The application has an easy to use interface that will let you create workouts that can be based on various activities such as walking, running, biking, etc.

You can then choose which zone you want to use be in for the workout.

You can also decide if your workout is going to be based on time, calories burned or distance traveled. If you opt to use the distance traveled feature, you?ll need an iPhone as it requires GPS to determine distance. This feature won?t work well indoors either?

Once you have your workout created, you just press the play button to start the workout and you?ll see a large real-time readout of your heart rate. I compared the pulse rate from the myTREK to the pulse rate via my treadmill?s hand grip monitor and found that for the most part, the rates were within 5-6 beats up or down of each other.

Below the heart rate display is a colored bar that shows you which zone you?re in. As you work out, a voice will periodically tell you to speed up or slow down. This voice can be set to either male or female. One problem I ran into was that the voice is very faint. Even with the voice volume set to max in the app settings, it?s almost impossible to hear if you?re also listening to music while working out. Hopefully this will be fixed with an app update. Luckily the visual cues allow you to easily see if you need to speed up or slow down to remain in the desired zone.

After your workout is over, you can take a look at the stats that provide info on your average pulse rate, calories burned etc. These workouts are saved on your phone so that you can reference them whenever you like.

The Scosche myTREK Wireless Pulse Monitor is an easy to use device / app that might help motivate you to workout more and make those workouts really count by keeping you in the right heart rate zone for the type of workout you?re doing. Also, the price does not seem out of range of other feature rich wireless heart rate monitors currently on the market.

Product Information

Price: $129.99
Manufacturer: Scosche
Requirements:
  • iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch (3rd, 4th gen)
Pros:
  • Easy to use
  • Ability to set different fitness thresholds
  • Ability to set different workouts
  • Wireless
Cons:
  • Can't hear voice prompts over music
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