Moleskine case hides your iPhone, prison-style

Moleskine case hides your iPhone, prison-style: "

I really do love the look of moleskine books. When you've got a well-worn leather moleskine book, bursting with notes and bookmarks, you sort of feel like you're holding onto the long lost notes of Dr. Henry Jones Sr. on the whereabouts of the Holy Grail. No? Just me?



If you're completely nuts about all things moleskine, there's a new iPhone case that should be right up your alley. As seen pictured, the case looks like a hollowed-out moleskine book that fits your iPhone, complete with traditional elastic band. In essence, the iPhone replaces what would be oh-so-passe paper. Finally, a classy way to hide your cell in your cell during prison guard shakedowns.



[via The Daily What]

TUAWMoleskine case hides your iPhone, prison-style originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Inkling Says the iPad is the Textbook of the Future

Inkling Says the iPad is the Textbook of the Future: "

University students may all carry smartphones and netbooks now, but for the most part, their textbooks continue to be stubbornly old-fashioned: huge, expensive, hard-cover books printed on dead trees. Inkling, a startup founded by former Apple staffer Matt MacInnis that launched last week, wants to change all that. The company believes the iPad — for now, at least — is the future of the textbook. Inkling’s software turns textbooks into interactive content, with video, hyperlinks between text and images, notes that can be shared between students and teachers, and even 3-D molecules that can be viewed from any angle.

MacInnis – who worked at Apple for eight years, including a stint in the company’s educational division — says that the iPad is the perfect device for the kind of interactivity that Inkling provides because it has the ability to produce high-end graphics, such as the 3-D spinning molecule that is a feature of the company’s biology textbook. The company had been working on its software even before the iPad was announced, hoping it would become a reality, and when it finally arrived, it was obvious that it was the future, he says.

“I knew it was going to be a game-changer,” MacInnis said in an interview. “It just has so much flexibility and so much power.” Designing an interactive textbook is a little like designing a video game, the Inkling CEO says, in that it requires a device with enough graphic horsepower to display video and full-color moving images. The iPad is currently the only device that has what it takes, he says. “We’re excited about working with Google on a variety of Android devices, and we’re looking forward to working with Microsoft as well,” he said. “But they have a long way to go before they can even come close to offering what we can do with the iPad right now.”

Inkling, which has been working on its software for a little over a year, officially launched its textbook platform on Friday with the release of its iPad app, and announced partnerships with several major textbook publishers, including John Wiley & Sons, McGraw-Hill, Cengage Learning and Wolters Kluwer. The company’s interactive textbooks can be downloaded by the chapter for an introductory price of $2.99 each, or the entire book can be downloaded and installed at a price of $69.99 (those prices will later rise to $3.99 per chapter, or $84.99 for the entire book).

The company also announced that it has received an undisclosed amount of funding from Sequoia Capital, as well as Kapor Capital, Sherpalo Ventures and Felicis Ventures. The company has added a couple of heavy hitters to its board of directors: Sequoia partner Bryan Schreier and Peter Currie, the former chief financial officer of web-browsing pioneer Netscape Communications. Prior to the Series A closing, Inkling was funded by a group of angel investors including Google investor Ram Shriram and Lotus founder Mitch Kapor.

MacInnis said that while there are other digital textbook solutions, including Amazon’s Kindle DX and CourseSmart, none offer the kind of depth of interactivity that Inkling does. CourseSmart offers 14,000 textbooks, but the Inkling CEO says these are just “pictures of text” rather than fully interactive content, and the new note-sharing feature CourseSmart launched amounts to “sticking a Post-It note on the screen.” Inkling isn’t the only new entrant in the market, however; there’s also a startup called Kno – founded by Osman Rashid, who also founded textbook-rental company Chegg — that’s launching a two-screen tablet device into the educational market and also has trial arrangements with textbook publishers. According to some estimates, the market for digital textbooks will be worth more than $1 billion within the next five years.

Although it’s still early in the digital textbook game, Inkling’s iPad app looks like a pretty compelling alternative to the flat, dry textbooks that most students are used to. Many iPad users say the ability to touch and interact with content changes the nature of reading dramatically, and being able to download individual chapters as needed is also a big plus for cash-starved students and parents alike. To some extent, Inkling will be competing with Chegg and other textbook-rental services (as well as new entrants like Kno), but MacInnis says he believes users will opt for the true interactivity of a digital textbook over the old-fashioned version. “Chegg has a great business,” he says, “but they aren’t doing anything new or exciting with the content. They are just prolonging a dying approach to learning.”

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req’d): Analyzing the Social E-book

"

I’d Live In It. Bufalino Camper Combines Car, Bedroom, Office

這是個不錯的流動居所

Caring for your blogger is easy. In goes coffee and MSG, out comes posts. When your blogger is worn out, just place him in a soft area and he will sleep until he is ready to work again. But what if he needs to get to a press conference? Silly! You get him a Bufalino, so he can blog, sleep, and drive all in the same place!

It’s just a concept right now, but this thing is cool enough that I could see it in production… in a sort of friendlier version of the Road Warrior future. I don’t think it’d fly these days. Of course, there’s no water or bathroom, so you’d have to hitch up somewhere with accessible facilities. Campsite? Sure, as long as there’s wi-fi.

Lots more pictures at DesignBoom. I actually think it’s a really cool idea.

[via The Daily What]

"

A new generation of power: Hi-tech rechargeable batteries developed for military

A new generation of power: Hi-tech rechargeable batteries developed for military

High-performance batteries could soon be woven into fabrics such as military uniforms to provide rechargeable clothing. Credit: Craig DeBourbon

BOSTON, Aug. 23, 2010 — Scientists reported progress today in using a common virus to develop improved materials for high-performance, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that could be woven into clothing to power portable electronic devices. They discussed development of the new materials for the battery's cathode, or positive electrode, at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), being held here this week.

These new power sources could in the future be woven into fabrics such as uniforms or ballistic vests, and poured or sprayed into containers of any size and shape, said Mark Allen, Ph.D., who presented the report. He is a postdoc in Angela Belcher's group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). These conformable batteries could power smart phones, GPS units, and other portable electronic devices.

"We're talking about fabrics that also are batteries," Allen said. "The batteries, once woven into clothing, could provide power for a range of high-tech devices, including handheld radios, GPS devices and personal digital assistants. They could also be used in everyday cell phones and smart phones."

Batteries produce electricity by converting chemical energy into electrical energy using two electrodes — an anode and cathode — separated by an electrolyte. At the ACS meeting, Allen described development of new cathodes made from an iron-fluoride material that could soon produce lightweight and flexible batteries with minimal loss of power, performance, or chargeability compared to today's rechargeable power sources.

Allen has extended ground-breaking work done last year by MIT scientist Angela Belcher and her colleagues, who were the first to engineer a virus as a biotemplate for preparing lithium ion battery anodes and cathodes. The virus, called M13 bacteriophage, consists of an outer coat of protein surrounding an inner core of genes. It infects bacteria and is harmless to people.

"Using M13 bacteriophage as a template is an example of green chemistry, an environmentally friendly method of producing the battery," Allen said. "It enables the processing of all materials at room temperature and in water." And these materials, he said, should be less dangerous than those used in current lithium-ion batteries because they produce less heat, which reduces flammability risks.

The Belcher Biomaterials group is in the beginning stages of testing and scaling up the virus-enabled battery materials, which includes powering unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance operations. Making light-weight and long-lasting batteries that could result in rechargeable clothing would have several advantages for both military personnel and civilians, Allen added.

"Typical soldiers have to carry several pounds of batteries. But if you could turn their clothing into a battery pack, they could drop a lot of weight. The same could be true for frequent business travellers ― the road warriors ― who lug around batteries and separate rechargers for laptop computers, cell phones, and other devices. They could shed some weight."

###

The American Chemical Society is a non-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 161,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

Review: AmpKit and AmpKit LiNK

Review: AmpKit and AmpKit LiNK: "

In the course of any guitarist’s life, there will be some point where they come into contact with a product manufactured by Peavey. And if that 80s retro logo, complete with pointy-angled letters, bestows itself upon your amp on stage it will either be a source of embarrassment or a badge of honor, depending on your design tastes and sound needs. While I took the logo off it long ago, I have owned a Peavey 1516 bass cabinet for 20 years and maintain a love/hate relationship with it. I hate it becase it weighs well over 100 lbs. and is a major hassle to move around. I love it because, despite all my attempts to destroy it—so a valid reason exists to buy a new, lighter cabinet—I simply have not been able to destroy the thing. In the 20 years I’ve owned it, it has been dropped down stairs, flooded, barfed on, spilled on, surged…you name it. But the thing simply will not go down. This cabinet is the “Rocky” of bass cabinets. A testament, in my opinion, to at least one era of quality and durability in their manufacturing culture.

So where am I going with all this? My point is that, despite my flakey dislike of their logo and my shallow disapproval of their industrial designs, most of my functional experiences with Peavey gear have been good ones. Most recently, this includes their new audio interface called AmpKit LiNK and also the accompanying iPhone amp modeling app, created by Agile Partners, called AmpKit. It’s available for download starting today.

AmpKit and AmpKit LiNK work together to add another fine option for people out there looking to play guitar or bass through their iOS device (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch).

I am going to note a few of the key features, pros and cons here but feel free to watch my inordinately long video review below, to hear how AmpKit sounds. The video will also give you a chance to appreciate the sweet wood paneling that envelopes the walls of the music cave to which I am relegated for these reviews. Enjoy.

KEY FEATURES

Re-amp is a feature of AmpKit that lets you simultaneously record your guitar/bass tracks with effects on and also with effects off. It actually stores a second “clean” version of the track so that after you finish recording, you can change the effects coloring the guitar tone as often as you like. This way, you don’t have to worry about trying to click any virtual pedals on the iPhone during the act of recording. You can instead take care of that afterward. A great idea indeed!

Another key feature is its high volume simulation. The circuitry of the AmpKit LiNK is powered by two AAA batteries and, according to their documents, this is what allows the device to simulate their high volume amps, accurately, without headphone feedback. I was still able to get the thing to feedback once or twice, while I was goofing around with the noise gates! YOWEEE!!

PROs

Sounds – AmpKit’s guitar tones are great! From crushing distortion to kooky tremolo, there are many tones to choose from and it is easy to navigate through the options with speed and efficiency.

Component choice – There are also many different virtual component configurations you can set up with the software. I didn’t count them myself but according to their spec sheet, they will have 49 components available at launch: 12 amps, 16 pedals, 13 cabinets, and 8 mics.

Practical UI – This app definitely passes the “master-it-in-about-5-minutes-without-reading-the-manual” test. What it lacks in super detailed graphic design, it makes up for with intuitive usability.

Handy import/export – This feature lets you easily transfer your own backing tracks into the software, so you can play along. It just as easily lets you transfer recordings off your iPhone and onto your computer.

Robust Help section – The Help section is complete and useful. This is often an overlooked or under-delivered feature of many iPhone apps. Cheers for this attention to detail.

Tuner and metronome – A must for any personal amp app.

Multiple price points – The basic version of AmpKit will be free, with a limited number of components available. There will also be a premium version called AmpKit+ that comes stocked with more virtual equipment. The beauty of their built-in component store though is its “a la carte” system for purchasing new virtual gear—one component at a time. It mimics the app store concept for micro purchases and therefore lets you ease into more virtual equipment while easing the strain on your wallet. A nice touch.

CONS

Needs Batteries – While they serve a good purpose in the feedback canceling scheme, you still have to have them on hand to use the combo. Also not a big of a deal, but something to note.

PRICING

AmpKit LiNK is available from Peavey retailers worldwide for $39.99. An order form should also be available at Peavey.com soon.

AmpKit is free.

AmpKit+ is $19.99 (the included gear in this version equates to a more than 50% discount over the same components purchased individually).

BOTTOM LINE

AmpKit sounds good, is easy to use and is full of options. Paired with AmpKit LiNK, it is a fine, portable studio for guitarists with a couple of options for bassists too. Pricing seems consistent with competition.

More info at Peavey.com and Agile Partners’ site.

Available in the iTunes app store.

"

Samsung Galaxy Tab P1000 gets wild with Android 2.2

Samsung Galaxy Tab P1000 gets wild with Android 2.2: "

Recognize those bits and bobs? By now you should. It's Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Tab and it's on the loose right now in China with ifanr to thank for this round of pics. Better yet, in addition to images that would seem to confirm Android 2.2 and a GT-P1000 model number, the site has also passed along the tipster's own impressions. First off, and this should be no surprise to anyone who's ever owned a Samsung product (eh hem, Galaxy S), the Galaxy Tab is very plasticky and much lighter than the iPad. Ifanr's tipster also confirms a 1,024 x 600 pixel resolution packed into that 7-inch display on a device that's much thicker than the Dell Streak. Other 'confirmed' specs are a 3.2 megapixel camera, 3G network, and built-in 'ebook' app that's supposedly one of the best the tipster's ever used on an Android device. Of course, while this aligns with specs we heard about earlier, this device looks to be very much a prototype (where's the silver ring around the bezel) so don't take this as the final word on the matter, ok? One more image after the break.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab P1000 gets wild with Android 2.2

Samsung Galaxy Tab P1000 gets wild with Android 2.2 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 04:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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大人物專欄：就連臉書跟YouTube，也有成為過往雲煙的一天？！

大人物專欄：就連臉書跟YouTube，也有成為過往雲煙的一天？！: "

身為一位稱職的癮科科，每天起床第一件事絕對不是撇條、不是刷牙，而是開電腦上臉書、噗浪、PTT，這樣開啟你的一天整個人才會有元氣啊！而像是Facebook、Twitter、YouTube跟Skype這些社群網站與軟體，更是我們每天必備的精神糧食啊～



但過了十年、二十年後，當我們的子孫回頭看這些社群網站，會怎樣看待它們呢？嗯，好問題！大人物這裡有幾張臉書、推特、YouTube跟Skype的復古海報，感覺還挺貼切的，也許到了那時候，他們就是覺得這些是老掉牙的玩意兒呢！

%u7E7C%u7E8C%u95B1%u8B80%u5168%u6587 大人物專欄：就連臉書跟YouTube，也有成為過往雲煙的一天？！

"

Galaxy S 小弟弟，3.7吋的 Galaxy U 終在韓國推出

Galaxy S 小弟弟，3.7吋的 Galaxy U 終在韓國推出: "

前文提過的 Galaxy S 兄弟機 Galaxy U 日前正式在韓國推出，Galaxy U 規格與預計的分別不大，屏幕是 3.7吋 AMOLED WVGA，支援 藍芽 3.0、802.11n WIFI、720p 影片、T-DMB 流動電視功能 並備有 黑色及白色。



規格雖然差一點點，但 3.7吋 AMOLED WVGA 屏幕可以令手機尺寸小一點，更適合女性市場，而且備有白色，實在不錯。如果港台地區也推出，並把價格控制在 HKD$4,300 - 4,500 左右，將是一部很吸引的 Android 手機。
"

The iPad Project documents deploying iPads at school

The iPad Project documents deploying iPads at school: "

We've been following the folks at D7 Consulting as they roll out a set of iPads that were awarded to them by Box.net (and keep an eye out later this week for an update on that), but that's not the only group of people attempting to use iPads in a collective space. Frasier Speirs (Mac developer at Connected Flow) is implementing iPads at a school that he works at, and he's documenting the whole process on his blog as The iPad Project.



It's an interesting read. Even if you're not trying to follow in his footsteps and implement a large number of iPads across a system, it's intriguing to see how he and his co-workers are trying to squeeze a very consumer-targeted product into a more professional space. Concerns range from setting up profiles and activations on each device to more practical issues like labeling them with names and finding a way to charge them all together.



Part of the iPad's charm has been how many different places and ways that people have found to use it. At its heart, it's a reasonably powerful touchscreen computer, and that's a device that's got a lot of potential in a lot of fields. We'll look forward to seeing other implementations in various fields and locations.



[via Cult of Mac]

TUAWThe iPad Project documents deploying iPads at school originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Calendars 1.2 Updated with iPad Compatibility

Calendars 1.2 Updated with iPad Compatibility: "

Readdle has announced the release and immediate availability of Calendars 1.2, the latest version of its Google Calendar client, which is now a Universal iPhone/iPad application. The application is deeply integrated with Google Calendar online service, enabling users to keep track of their schedule and manage events stored on Google Calendar. Calendars has been carefully redesigned for the iPad’s large multi-touch screen.

With the updated version iPad owners now can use drag-and-drop to move events, which comes in handy for rescheduling appointments or just shifting them to another day. Extending Calendars capabilities, the update adds a range of new features based on user suggestions. Among notable improvements are the ability to select calendar default view (list/day/week/month), create custom repeating events, set Monday or Sunday as the first day of the week.

Related iPad News:

• 'Giana Sisters HD' Coming Soon for iPad
• Jailbroken iPads Get an Application Switcher, Circuitous
• Control your Mac with TouchPad for iPad
• iPad OS Reveals Support for Video Calling, File Downloads

"

New Stacked Cards Interface for Gmail on iPad

New Stacked Cards Interface for Gmail on iPad: "

Google has announced a new “stacked card” interface for selecting and managing multiple conversations on Gmail for iPad.

In the past, performing actions on selected conversations was awkward. There were two similar toolbars on the screen: one on the bottom left and the other on the top right. The former affected the selected conversations, while the latter affected the currently open conversation. Since the toolbars’ buttons looked similar, it was easy to mistakenly use the wrong toolbar. Sound confusing? It was. In the new interface, selected conversations are displayed stacked on the right panel for easy organizing, archiving or deleting. The second toolbar is gone so it’s always clear which conversations you’re working with.

You can try the new interface by visiting gmail.com in MobileSafari.

Related iPad News:

• Control your Mac with TouchPad for iPad
• SGN Launches EXO-Planet App for iPad
• 60 leaked shots of iPad apps coming this week
• iWork for Ipad

"

Canon's EOS 7D 'Studio Version' features parental controls, barcode mode

Canon's EOS 7D 'Studio Version' features parental controls, barcode mode: "

Loaning out your precious DSLR to a friend who doesn't know shutter from aperture? Got a classroom full of trainee photographers whose lesson requires they be set to a particular mode? Canon's hoping you'll drop an extra $129 on a version of the critically-acclaimed EOS 7D that lets you control how your lackeys fire off shots. The $1,829 EOS 7D Studio Version adds four tiers of password-protected locking controls, plus an optional barcode and data transfer kit (to organize and commit large photo sessions to databases) using a custom version of the company's WFT-E5A wireless transmitter for just $770 more. We can't say we know anyone who'd use these features, but hey -- if enough corporations spring for the advanced model, perhaps the original will drop in price. PR after the break.

Continue reading Canon's EOS 7D 'Studio Version' features parental controls, barcode mode

Canon's EOS 7D 'Studio Version' features parental controls, barcode mode originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next gen PSP to have touch controls -- on the wrong side?

Next gen PSP to have touch controls -- on the wrong side?: "

Touchscreen controls are nice for some applications but, until someone invents transparent fingers, they're a real bother for gaming. Many, including Apple, have toyed with the idea of putting the touch sensitive sections on the back of the device, and we have strong rumors coming out of Gamescom this week that this is the path Sony is taking for its next-generation PSP. Now, we've been hearing various rumors about this thing for just about as long as we've known about the first-gen PSP, but Sony is said to be quietly showing off a prototype unit about the size of a PSP-3000. While everyone agrees about the touch-sensitive portion 'round the back, it's unknown what (if any) physical controls will go along with it. A release date for the thing is also unclear, with some saying next year and others saying it'll be later than that. Whenever it ships we hope it'll do the right thing and finally put the UMD format out of its misery.

Next gen PSP to have touch controls -- on the wrong side? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David Kassan uses THQ's uDraw to express his Wii ennui (video)

David Kassan uses THQ's uDraw to express his Wii ennui (video): "

David Kassan made something of a name for himself as the guy who is really good at fingerpainting with the iPad Brushes app. Now he's been tapped by THQ to work with something other than his fingers: the uDraw GameTablet for Nintendo's Wii. Announced earlier this week, the $70 tablet pledges to let anyone with an artistic bent get all creative on the little console that rules them all (at least in terms of sales), but can it actually create meaningful art? See for yourself in the video after the break.

Continue reading David Kassan uses THQ's uDraw to express his Wii ennui (video)

David Kassan uses THQ's uDraw to express his Wii ennui (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pico projector camera concept is, as usual, better than the real thing

Pico projector camera concept is, as usual, better than the real thing: "

Oh, don't get us wrong, we rather enjoyed our time with Nikon's S1100pj projector camera, but this here Pico concept design is on a whole other level. We're talking both in terms of cuteness and inventiveness. You might have recognized by now that one of the Pico's 'eyes' is the camera lens while the other is the projector, but what of the 'smile?' Why, that's your microphone's sound intake port. And its little feet -- acting as a stabilizing stand when in projector mode -- also double up as covers for the external connection jacks. Masterful. Look for it to appear in your dreams some time very soon.

Pico projector camera concept is, as usual, better than the real thing originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Yanko Design | Email this | Comments"

Nancy Drew And The Mystery Of the White iPhone

Nancy Drew And The Mystery Of the White iPhone: "

A vendor in Hong Kong is selling what appears to be a white 16GB iPhone. But is it real? Funnily enough, nobody knows.



Essentially, this thing shouldn’t exist outside of Apple. However, a prototype could have leaked out and, knowing Apple’s current track record, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was actually the white iPhone, stolen from the Snow Fortress of the Evil Foxconn CEO. Sadly, whoever stole this probably no longer has their hands or nose.

via MicGadget

"