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Tag: ipad

  • iPhone 4S, iPad 2 Absinthe Jailbreak Finally Released

    The long-awaited jailbreak for the iPhone 4S and iPad 2, dubbed Absinthe, has finally been released today. Jailbreak developer Joshua Hill posted the following on his Twitter profile less than an hour ago:

    @p0sixninja
    Joshua Hill    OSX version of A5 jailbreak posted on http://t.co/i9c8VjbD 57 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    The jailbreak is currently available only for Mac users, though Hill promised that the Windows version is coming very soon:

    @p0sixninja
    Joshua Hill    Windows version of Absinthe is coming as soon as nikias gets home and rolls up the build 51 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    Those who wish to download Absinthe can do so at Greenpois0n. The site’s servers are currently under an extremely heavy load, however, so it may take awhile to get through. A direct download link is available here, but since the jailbreak requires contacting Greenpois0n’s servers, would-be jailbreakers are still out of luck until the site comes back online. Absinthe is designed to jailbreak iOS 5.0.1, so if you plan to jailbreak and haven’t updated your iPhone or iPad recently, you might want to go ahead and do that while you wait for Greenpois0n to come back up.

  • Apple Never Stops Expanding: New Products, New Markets!

    Market capitalization is a term which speaks to the total value (dollar amount) of the tradable (number available) shares of a publicly traded company. Apple has experienced market caps as large as $400 billion. Right now that is bigger than the gross domestic products (market value of all finished goods and services produced within a country in a given period) of Austria, Greece, Argentina, and South America. Still Apple continues to grow.

    Currently Apple is considered the eighth most valuable brand in the World. With the recent passing of founder Steve Jobs, some wonder if the Apple Enterprise will continue to grow. A brief look at what’s is happening in current events suggests the fear of losing momentum has no basis.

    The recent publication of the Siri patent alone reveals some interesting opportunities for growth. A particular item listed on the patent, I’m sure, has many Apple enthusiast excited, is Apple Television. Who wouldn’t want a TV that asks you what you want to watch? I know I do and it would definitely be the first of its kind.

    Also, current research indicates that iPad, and tablets in general, are growing in consumer popularity (everyone wants one of these things). Not surprising, iPad 3 is on its way sometime this March.

    Beside product development and growth in current markets, Apple’s popularity has exploded into the Asian marketplace. So we can expect more growth for the company there.

    There is no reason to believe Apple won’t continue to expand and grow despite the loss of Steve Jobs. The technology that was developed under his leadership appears to have boundless directions for development and integration. This thing isn’t slowing down anytime soon!

  • iBooks 2 Hints At iPad 3 Retina Display

    Amidst the swirl of rumors surrounding the iPad 3, one has remained nearly constant: retina display. When the iPhone 4 debuted with the high-res retina display in the summer of 2010, most assumed that Apple would immediately deploy the same remarkable technology on the iPad 2, which came out the following March. The iPad 2, however, launched with only a slight improvement in resolution over its predecessor. Ever since, it has been widely assumed that whatever technical limitations prevented the retina display from coming to the iPad 2 would be overcome by the time the iPad 3 launched.

    Yesterday’s launch of iBooks 2 appears to have offered come confirmation of that rumor. Developers digging through the files for iBooks 2 found a series of images – book covers, bookmarks, and the like – that were much higher-resolution than the iPad 2 requires. Similar images had been found in older versions of iBooks, those were apparently placed in iBooks by accident by an Apple employee who had worked primarily with the high-res files required for the iPhone 4’s retina display. These images are new, however, and appear among the older high-res files. Unless another accident has occurred at Apple, the inclusion of these high-res images in iBooks 2 strongly suggests that the iPad 3 will have retina display. Sonny Dickson posted an example of the kind of high-res images that are new to iBooks 2 on his Twitter account last night. Check out the images and the tweet below.

    iBooks 2 Retina Display Images

    @SonnyDickson
    Sonny Dickson    iPad Retina images found in iBooks http://t.co/yvThLXz1 16 hours ago via Twitter for Mac · powered by @socialditto

  • AT&T Raises Data Caps, Rates For Smartphone And Tablet Customers

    AT&T Raises Data Caps, Rates For Smartphone And Tablet Customers

    AT&T has announced an adjustment to its data plans for smartphone and tablet customers. Under the current plans, mobile phone and tablet users can choose to pay $15 per month for 200MB of data and $25 for 2GB. Mobile phone users also have the option of paying $45 for 4GB with mobile hotspot and tethering functionality enabled. When the new plans go into effect on Sunday, each plan gets a $5 bump in price, along with an increase in data allowance. The new plans are $20 for 300MB, $30 for 3GB, or $50 for 5GB with mobile hotspot/tethering.

    Of course, those with older plans are not required to switch. AT&T allows older plans to be renewed indefinitely as long as customers don’t make changes to their data plans. Case in point, I’m still carrying around a vintage 2008 unlimited data plan on my iPhone 4S, even though the plan was discontinued in 2010. So, if you’re happy with your current data plan and want to keep it you can, provided you never need to upgrade.

    The new plans go into effect on Sunday, January 22nd.

  • iPad 3: Chinese Manufacturers Begin Producing Cases

    Chinee, a Chinese company specializing in cases and covers for gadgets of all kinds, has begun production of a case for the iPad 3. The Hypercover case, which Chinee touts as being compatible with the “iPad 2S”, is apparently designed to accommodate a slightly thicker iPad. Numerous recent reports have projected that the next iPad will be around a millimeter thicker than its predecessor, the iPad 2.

    Images and a product description for Chinee’s iPad 2S Hypercover can be found here. Though case manufacturers have jumped the gun and produced cases for Apple products without knowing the final design specs before, this certainly looks legitimate. Apple is in the habit of providing specs to case manufacturers shortly before the launch of a new device in order to give them time to get cases ready for market. Usually, though, those cases are not unveiled until the actual device launch (though designs sometimes leak out).

    iPad 2S Hypercover

    Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this case is the name. Several recent reports have suggested that the next generation iPad was virtually identical to the iPad 2, in terms of its external design. That in turn has led to speculation that Apple would name the device something other than “iPad 3.” Chinee’s choice of name suggests that that might actually be the case. Assuming, of course, that they have access to the actual specifications of the device, and are not basing the design on rumor.

  • General Electric and Apple

    General Electric is a company that has been around for 120 years and has a reputation synonomous with houshold appliances and lightbulbs. Executives at the company report that one of their largest challenges is convincing their workforce that they are modern and hip to new technology.

    Testing the support of Apple products in the office, GE began a program last year to replace some of their 330,000 PC’s with Macs; though only about 1000 Macs have been put into place. About two years earlier, a year after the iPhone was introduced, GE gave employees the option to replace their Blackberry with an iPhone. While the popularity of the iPhone is still growing, only about 10,000 out of 60,000 have taken the option.

    A recent IDG survey reported that Apple products popularity in the work place is on the rise overall. In fact, 83% of businesses won’t consider buying anything but Apple brand at all. The same study reports that over 90% of the iPads being used, are used for business.

    [Source: Cult of Mac.Com]

  • Chegg Announces Web-Based eTextbook Reader

    Chegg, a website specializing in the sale and rental of textbooks, has announced a new way to study. Their new eTextbook Reader is a web-based e-reader allowing users to access their textbooks from any HTML5-compatible web browser. Chegg’s eTextbook Reader lets studends to a lot more than just read, though. It includes highlighting, search, definition, and note taking options, as well as the chance to consult with a network of students and experts with questions.

    Because it is browser-based, Chegg’s eTextbook Reader is completely platform agnostic: it will work on an iPad, Mac, PC, or Android tablet. Chegg also allows users the option of using the eTextbook version of a book while they wait for their physical copy to arrive. Purchasing a hard copy grants customers seven days of access to the eTextbook version.

    The timing of this announcement is interesting, to say the least. As we have reported previously, Apple is holding an event tomorrow in New York where they plan to make an education related announcement that will probably relate to ebooks and the textbook industry in some way.

    Chegg has included a video on their website showing their eTextbook Reader in action. Check it out below and let us know what you think in the comments.

    [Source: Chegg]

  • Apple- Only One Free Lunch

    Apple- Only One Free Lunch

    When we think of Apple what usually comes to mind is cutting-edge products like the iPod, the iPad, the iPhone, Macbooks, and a slew of other well known artifacts. With the recent passing of Steve Jobs, we’ve also heard quite a bit about him, but what we don’t hear about is operations at Apple itself. Why is that?

    In an effort to uncover what the environment that maintains all this secrecy is like, Fortune Magazine’s senior editor, Adam Lashinsky interviewed several past and present Apple employees. What he found was a family oriented environment, hell-bent on letting newbies find their own way, with a cult-like value for secrecy.

    To begin with, new hires are seldom told about the projects they’ll be working on for Apple. Sometimes a “dummy project” is discussed as a way to screen applicants before they are hired. Once you arrive at your new position, you are issued a computer however; the surprise is, in many cases you will be the one hooking it up. Also, you will be expected to get connected to this network on your own, both technically speaking and socially. Apparently, the idea here is that you would have to be tech savvy to be hired at Apple to begin with.

    It is common for new hires to be assigned an “iBuddy”, someone outside your work group who can answer questions and get you up to speed on the norms and values of the organization. Next comes the privacy and security briefing. In this meeting new hires are explained the trust the company has placed on them to maintain secrecy about all new products, services, and proprietary information at Apple. Leaking details about critical items, they are told, will result in immediate termination.

    Employees will not need to be informed of new projects however, as they will see the workspaces around them being transformed. Construction crews work diligently erecting new walls, installing privacy glass, and closing off areas inside the facility. Yes, it seems secrecy is a foundation of Apples value system.

    As institutional as all this may seem, the physical workspace conveys a much different picture. Inside the network of office spaces and work areas lies a bright, sunny courtyard filled with green grass and trees. It surrounds special food stations selling everything from sushi and salads to meat and desserts. But these lunches are not free. As one employee recounts, “There is only one free lunch at Apple, and it’s on your first day”. Though food is fresh and reasonably priced.

    Apple may be one of the world’s most revered companies, but we know very little about what goes on there or how operations are run on a day to day basis. Steve Jobs was once quoted, saying of the organization, ” I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t say it’s the most fulfilling experience in their lives, People love it…”.

    [Source: Fortune Magazine]

  • Apple To Sell 48 Million iPads In 2012, Maybe More

    There’s no doubt that 2012 is going to be a big year for the tablet. As people from both inside and outside the professional world begin to rely on tablet computing more and more, we will see the wars heat up between players like Android, Amazon and Apple.

    But according to one analyst, the year isn’t just going to be good for Apple – it’s going to be spectacular.

    Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu told All Things D that we should prepare for massive iPad shipments this year:

    We believe this significant refresh will likely help drive higher iPad sales and help further differentiate from arguably the only real competitor in the market, Amazon’s Kindle Fire, and not to mention the myriad of Android offerings out there. We are currently modeling 48 million iPad shipments for calendar 2012.

    He went on to say that 48 million was actually a conservative estimate.

    Of course the “significant refresh” that Wu refers to is the release of the much-anticipated iPad 3, which is expected to happen sometime in the early part of this year.

    The latest rumors have suggested a possible March release for the device. That rumor was corroborated by different rumors of an official announcement from Apple set for late February.

    Other rumors detailing specs of the iPad 3 have emerged as of late. Last week, we heard that the tablet could have graphics that are 20 times more powerful than the iPad 2. The iPad 3 is also expected to have a faster processor and run on next-gen (LTE) wireless networks. It could also be receiving a major camera upgrade.

    Considering the success of the iPad 2, one can only imagine how well an iPad 3 with these kinds of specs would perform.

  • New iPad Scam Leaves Customers Without an Apple

    Some Canadian citizens are getting a surprise after purchasing their new iPads. Reports from a few consumers around the Vancouver area say that they have been scammed! Excited about their purchases, they tear into the neatly sealed packaging only to reveal a similarly sized hunk of clay where their new Apple product should be.

    Best Buy, Future Shop, Walmart, and London Drug have all reported similar returns from customers. Clearly the Merchants (and consumers) have been victimized in a scam to return fake merchandise in for a profit. As many as 25 of these fraudulent devices have been sold in the Vancouver area and more victims have come forward since the break of this story on Monday.

    Most of the victims have already been issued refunds however, some consumers report being persecuted at the time of return. Obviously there is always a chance that one of the perpetrators is posing as a legitimate customer. I like to think most sellers would give paying customers the benefit of the doubt even at the cost of a overlooking a few bad apples (no pun intended)

    It sounds like it is safe to say, retailers will be inspecting these products more closely at the point of purchase in order to protect themselves and consumers. Still it leaves some asking; why hasn’t this been the policy all along? iPads are not inexpensive devices. Sellers should be checking for damage and also that everything is in order with the packaging from the factory.

    Apple has agreed to cooperate in the investigation in any way possible but has not made any specific comments about the incidents. Consumers beware; scams like these are becoming more common in the fast-paced world we live in.

    [Source: CTV News]

  • iPad 3 Announcement Coming In Late February?

    Apple may be planning the iPad 3 announcement for late February in advance of an early March release, according to Japanese tech site MacOkatara. The Chinese New Year was earlier than usual this year, allowing for an earlier start to the iPad’s production. This in turn allows for an earlier release of the device.

    An early March release for the iPad 3 would be the earliest iPad launch yet. The original iPad was announced in late January 2010 and released in early April, while the iPad 2 was announced in early March and released later in the same month. A late-February announcement/early-March release continues the trend of a narrowing window between announcement and launch (which we’ve also see with the iPhone), and is not so early as to be unbelievable (unlike some other rumors that have popped up in recent months).

    At any rate, the iPad 3 will certainly be coming out sometime in the next couple of months. Look for more concrete information to surface the closer we get to the actual launch.

    [Source: MacOkatara]

  • Apple Ordering 7 Million iPad 3 Displays, Will Keep Making iPad 2

    Apple has ordered between 6 and 7 million display panels for the first quarter launch of the iPad 3, according to a DigiTimes report this morning. The orders of the iPad 3 panels will increase to 10 million by the third quarter. At the same time, Apple will reduce the number of orders for the display panels in the iPad 2. The older iPad will continue to be produced, however, throughout 2012, according to DigiTimes’s sources.

    There have been rumors for some time that Apple would keep the iPad 2 around at a reduced price to appeal to a broader spectrum of would-be tablet users. The traditional price point of the iPad makes it cost-prohibitive to many, who opt instead for less expensive Android-based competitors. Reducing the iPad 2’s cost upon launch of the iPad 3 would be a way to target those consumers directly.

    If the report about the first quarter order of iPad 3 displays is correct, then Apple is apparently anticipating higher demand for the iPad 3 than we saw with the iPad 2. The initial production run for the iPad 2 was 5 million units. Demand for the iPad 2 was high enough that the tablet was scarce for the first few weeks after launch. The iPad 3 is likely to see a similar level of demand, if not greater. An extra 1-2 million units in the initial production run of the tablet will hopefully avoid some of the supply issues that plagued many who wanted to buy the iPad 2 last year.

    [Source: DigiTimes]

  • iPhone 4S Jailbreak Almost Ready For Prime Time

    iPhone 4S Jailbreak Almost Ready For Prime Time

    We have previously reported that a jailbreak solution for Apple’s iPhone 4S and iPad 2 was on its way soon. Noted jailbreak developer pod2g posted last week that an untethered jailbreak of iOS devices running on Apple’s A5 processor (the iPhone 4S and iPad 2) would be ready in “a matter of days.”

    Though it seems that those days aren’t quite up yet, there shouldn’t be many of them left. A video posted on pod2g’s blog this morning shows an iPhone 4S running an untethered jailbreak. Along with the video pod2g promises “only a few to wait now.”

    An untethered jailbreak – i.e., one that does not require the phone to be re-jailbroken every time the phone reboots – has proven elusive on A5 devices. Owners of these devices who have been anxiously awaiting a jailbreak should really have no more than a couple of days to wait now. Check out the video below, and let us know what you think in the comments.

    [Image Credit: Jason Wong]

  • iPad Popular Among IT And Business Professionals

    The iPad is loved by consumers, but it’s loved even more by business professionals.

    IDG Connect recently conducted a survey that said that 91% of business professionals use an iPad more for business communication than personal communication.

    IDG says that their own survey of U.S. consumers found that 60 percent of iPads never leave the home, and 70 percent of usage occurs in the living room.

    worldipad1

    On the contrary, 51 percent of IT professionals were found to always use their iPad at work. A further 40 percent said that they sometimes use it at work. 79 percent said that they always used their iPads on the move.

    Only 54 percent of IT professionals use their iPad at home. Even then only 31 percent said they only use their iPad for entertainment, and only 42 percent said they use it for personal communication.

    The iPad hasn’t caused many people to abandon their other devices though. Only 12 percent of IT and business professionals said that the iPad has completely replaced their laptop. Only six percent said that it replaced their PC.

    That doesn’t mean that it’s affecting usage of these devices though. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said that they carry their laptop around less. Over half said that the iPad has partly replaced their laptop. IT professionals in the Middle East and Asia are more likely to use their iPad more than other regions.

    worldipad2

    The iPad is disrupting traditional mediums with users moving to digital meida. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed have said that they hardly buy newspapers anymore. Half say that they are less likely to buy films on DVD.

    worldipad3

    IT and business professionals use the iPad in interesting ways with 79 percent using it for web browsing. Seventy-six percent use it for reading and 73 percent use it for news consumption. Fifty-four percent use it for work communication while only 42 percent use it for personal communication.

    Loyalty to Apple is also high as only 17 percent of those surveyed would consider buyiny a different tablet next time.

    As to ownership, three-quarters of respondents purchases their iPads privately. Only one-quarter were supplied with an iPad by an employer.

    The survey then breaks down the usage by country for more detailed specifics. For those interested, the full report is here.

  • ROAR Brings Affordable Mobile Apps to Churches And Nonprofits

    Ever since Apple launched their App Store alongside the iPhone 3G in 2008, mobile apps have been an increasingly important platform for brands of all kinds. With the addition of similar app marketplaces for Android, Nokia, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone, it has become increasingly important for certain kinds of companies and organizations to have their own mobile apps. Unfortunately, though, smaller companies, nonprofit organizations, and churches have had difficulty getting into the mobile app space, due to the expense of developing their own apps.

    One developer is seeking to change that. ROAR has announced their new mobile development platform, designed to allow organizations of various kinds to create and host their own applications for a modest fee. The program allows customers to bring their online presence – on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. – into one place, and display it on a customized interface.

    Churches and nonprofits can get a customized app iOS app from ROAR for $250, or iOS and Android apps for $500, with a hosting fee of $30 for one app or $50 for both.

    Is this the kind of thing you might use for your organization? Let us know what you think in the comments.

    [Source: ROAR]

  • Apple Joins Fair Labor Association Amidst Criticism

    The Fair Labor Association has announced that Apple has become the first tech company to join as a Participating Company. The agreement means that Apple will allow the FLA to independently examine the facilities of its supply chain members, and will agree to uphold FLA’s Workplace Code of Conduct, as well as their Principles of Fair Labor and Responsible Sourcing. This agreement is a follow-up to the FLA’s cooperation with Apple last year to examine the training programs Apple offers employees of its supply chain companies.

    This announcement follows the release of Apple’s Supplier Responsibility Progress Report (PDF). The report examines the practices of the companies in Apple’s supply chain for their practices regarding labor and human rights, worker health and safety, and environmental impact. It also examines how well suppliers adhere to Apple’s own code of conduct. As part of this year’s report, Apple released a list of its suppliers. The list, which consists of 150 companies, is an unprecedented relaxing of Apple’s normally fierce secrecy. In an email to the company, CEO Tim Cook said that the goal of both the progress report and the company’s decision to join the FLA is to “make sure that working conditions are safe and just,” and said that “if a manufacturer won’t live up to our standards, we stop working with them.”

    All this comes amid criticism about the labor practices in the facilities of some of Apple’s suppliers. This American Life recently conducted a study of conditions at Foxconn, the main manufacturer of Apple’s iPhones and iPads, and found conditions there were troubling. The report, a transcript of which can be found here, claimed that Foxconn was in the habit of employing underage workers. Outside inspections tend not to find these workers because Foxconn knows when the inspections are about to happen, and replaces its underage workforce with older workers.

    Though the claim that “Your iPhone was built by 13 year-olds” is certainly an overstatement, the report from This American Life is disconcerting. However, it looks like Apple is making – or trying to make – positive steps towards improving the conditions for the workers who make its products.

    [Source: Fair Labor Association]

  • iPad 3 Rumors: Hi-Def Screen, Faster Processor, LTE Support

    The iPad rumors are running rampant, as the (rumored) March launch gets closer.

    This week, we heard that the iPad 3 might have graphics that are as much as 20 times more powerful than its predecessor, and that its LCD displays will be provided by Samsung and LG.

    Now, Bloomberg is reporting, citing “people familiar with the product” that the next iPad will have a high-definition screen, run a faster processor and work with next-generation (LTE) wireless networks. Bloomberg reports:

    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.

    Apple of course will not be commenting on rumors.

    For our full range of iPad 3 rumor coverage, see this link.

  • New Facebook Scam Offers Free iPads

    New Facebook Scam Offers Free iPads

    Facebook and Apple giving away free iPads? It must be too good to be true! Spoiler: It is.

    CNET is reporting that there’s a new spam scam hitting Facebook today. The message is innocuous enough: Mark Zuckerberg has just sent an e-mail informing the lucky winner that they have won a free iPad.

    Now the link to claim the free iPad doesn’t take people to Facebook, but rather a promotional Web site that claims to need your e-mail address, phone number and other account information.

    If the “lucky winner” tries to claim their prize, they will be taken to a Web site that explains they are a potential winner. So we’re now going from winner to potential winner. To really win, you have to answer a simple question. It’s like if the lottery required winners to answer a random trivia question to claim their money.

    The scammers aren’t all terrible people though, so they warn everybody that claiming the free iPad will add a small weekly fee onto your phone bill. At least they were nice enough to warn people in the smallest print possible.

    Like always, the real reason for this is that the spammer gets an affiliate commission every time somebody is foolish enough to sign up for the contest.

    As CNET points out, the best part is that Mark Zuckerberg apparently sent the e-mail via a hotmail account. Who still uses that anyway?

    As with all these scams, use common sense. It’s highly unlikely that Apple and Facebook would give away free iPads. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

    [Lead image courtesy of Technologizer]

  • Words With Friends Saves A Man’s Life

    Words With Friends Saves A Man’s Life

    Everybody loves Words With Friends. Whether playing against Facebook friends or challenging random strangers, Zynga’s not-quite-Scrabble game is the go-to time waster for millions of people. Now it looks like the game might be useful for more than just teaching our friends to hate words like “qi” and “za.”

    Using the game’s ability to pair players with random people, Beth Legler of Blue Springs, Missouri started a game with Georgie Fletcher, who lives in Australia. Through the game’s chat feature, the two became friends. When Georgie mentioned that her husband Simon was feeling ill, Beth relayed his symptons to her husband Larry, a doctor. Larry advised that Simon go to the hospital immediately, where doctors discovered 99% arterial blockage. Had Simon not received medical attention when he did, he would almost certainly have died that day.

    Words With Friends is available on a variety of platforms. It’s 2009 iPhone debut was followed by Android and iPad versions, then Zynga (makers of Farmville, Cityville, and more) brought the app to Facebook. The Facebook version is free, and the iOS and Android versions come in paid and ad-supported varieties. If you’ve never played it, give it a try. The life you save might be your own.

    [Source: Ozarks First]

  • CES 2012: Smartphone Integration Reaches Hilarious New Heights

    CES 2012: Smartphone Integration Reaches Hilarious New Heights

    For the business worker who needs a phone in their phone, Nvoxia has you covered.

    File this one under silly and unnecessary, the Invoxia NVX 610 being shown off at CES combines a desktop phone with an iPod, iPhone or iPad to make and receive calls.

    The NVX 610 is a desktop phone with a port to fit your favorite iDevice in to replace the office phone. The calls are made from the iDevice and can be made to either office or phone contacts. The same is true for incoming calls as the device allows for integration of both contact lists. It uses Skype or SIP to make calls.

    The phone’s main selling point is that it features excellent sound quality. The stand on which both phones sit is a speaker that can be used in hands-free mode for conference calls. It also allows the user to listen to all music and sound related apps on the iDevice.

    The device can be remotely updated by the company so any and all future iDevices will be supported.

    It features two USB ports on the back, one of which is taken by the corded handset. It also has two ethernet ports with one of them being a Power over Ethernet port to power the phone. Also features Bluetooth technology for wireless communication with your iPhone or iPod. It can also pair the phone with a wireless headset, thereby invalidating the need for the handset.

    NVX

    This may be the most needless device I have seen at CES this week. Every device has a market and I’m sure the NVX 610 will find a market. I just don’t see why we need to integrate a smartphone into everything. The NVX 610 represents the pinnacle of needless smartphone integration because it integrates the smartphone with a phone.

    Is the NVX 610 a needless product? Are you tired of seeing smartphone integration with every other device? Does it seem useful to you? Let us know in the comments.

  • Jane-Ome, Marijuana iPad App Looks To Educate Users On Scientific Benefits

    Everything is better with marijuana; this is the argument many users make and has been featured in a certain stoner comedy (hilariously played by Jon Stewart). However, many people are unaware of the true benefits marijuana has in the medical community, and how it can truly make life a bit better for people with various health problems.

    Medical Genomics looks to inform the masses, with a major step being the release of an iPad app which will inform users of their research. What are they researching? They’ve been sequencing entire cannabis genomes and mapping them for research. Their app will feature a wide array of functions, which you can read about below. If you decide to download the app, it will set you back $1.99.

    MARBLEHEAD, Mass. – January 12, 2012 – Medicinal Genomics, a pioneer in the genomics of medicinal plants, today announced the availability of Jane-Ome, an application designed for Apple’s iPad tablet, which offers a science-based dissection of medical marijuana.

    Jane-Ome provides a gateway to the Cannabis genome project led by Medicinal Genomics, which in August 2011 sequenced the entire genome of Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica, assembling the largest known gene collection of this therapeutic plant.

    “Medicinal Genomics is excited to roll out Jane-Ome to help make sense of the extensive datasets created by the Cannabis genome project,” said Kevin McKernan, founder and head of scientific operations of Medicinal Genomics. “The company’s hope is that Jane-Ome will help make that data more relevant to the public and serve as a conduit for future Cannabis genomes.”

    Jane-Ome provides users with continuously updated, exclusive genomic information on various Cannabis genomes. In addition, the app provides users with access to several scientific news feeds that explore the science of medicinal Cannabis, making Jane-Ome the nerve center to explore the plant’s therapeutic potential.

    In addition to its encyclopedic information about the bleeding-edge science of Cannabis, Jane-Ome users can compete in Cannabis related trivia to earn the right to guide future sequencing efforts. Users can also explore never before released blueprints for the equipment used to crack the human genome project, as well as access videos which explain the impact DNA sequencing and genomics have had on the world. Furthermore, Jane-Ome provides users with access to never before seen videos documenting the history of the human genome project, as well as commentary from members of that scientific consortium explaining how research has led them to aim their sights on unlocking the genome of Cannabis.

    One of the more interesting reads from their press release is the medical benefits they list from cannabis use – “Ongoing scientific research suggests that the Cannabis plant harbors beneficial compounds as it pertains to cancer apoptosis, antiemesis for HIV and chemotherapy patients, reduction of muscle spasms for multiple sclerosis patients, as well as the treatment of glaucoma, inflammatory diseases, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among other health conditions.

    Of the 85 identified Cannabinoids in the plant, only one is independently psychoactive. The other 84 appear to be non-psychoactive and are still powerful therapeutics. Many Cannabinoids have been bred to low expression levels over the years but are excellent small molecule therapeutic drug candidates for cancer and inflammatory diseases. The genome sequence can be utilized to design breeding strategies to resurrect these nearly extinct pathways. In addition, Cannabinoids have also been shown to have a very favorable therapeutic index making them a unique class of anti-cancer compounds because the lethal dose is much higher than the effective dose. Furthermore, Cannabinoids are less addictive analgesics than opiates, and target different pain pathways in the body.“