Other Sites
Samsung and Apple Ring In New Year with Explosive Momentum
Apple Apparently Working On Siri Dictation For The iPad, iOS 5.1 beta Reveals
USB 3.0 To Reach Smartphones, Tablets By Year End
Taking the iPhone Deep Into Darkness: True NightVision Goes Extreme
Case-Mate Phantom Brings Stylish And Sophisticated Protection To The Tough Phone Case Market
Artists Add Style To Consumer Tech Accessories; Gallery Of Designs, Now Available To U.S. Retailers, Reflect Personality Of iPad, iPhone, Kindle Users
Corning to Showcase Gorilla Glass 2 at CES 2012
New RBC Mobile App Features for iPhone
Kodak Focuses on Simple Ways to Create, Share and Print in a Social and Mobile World
Samsung and Apple Ring In New Year with Explosive Momentum
ChangeWave Research, a service of 451 Research, says that back in September there was a major leap in consumer planned buying in their ChangeWave Smart Phone survey due to the Apple iPhone 4S launch. But with the holiday season over, which manufacturers will now have momentum in the 1st Quarter?
ChangeWave's latest survey of 4,073 consumers, conducted December 6-23, took a close-up look at consumer smartphone trends going forward and found explosive momentum for Apple and Samsung as we head into the new year, noting that the survey is primarily North American, with 87% of respondents from the U.S.
Report details include:
• Competition between Apple (AAPL), Motorola (MMI), Research In Motion (RIMM), Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Samsung and HTC, among others
• Growth Trends: Overall Smart Phone Market
• Planned Buying Trends by Operating System biggest winners and losers
• Customer Satisfaction Ratings by Manufacturer and Mobile OS
• Importance of 4G Capability on Purchase Decisions
• Money Spent on Mobile Apps Next 90 Days: Apple vs. Android
• Close-up look at In-Store Usage of Smart Phones
Consumer Interest in Mobile Payments
The complete, $499.00 Consumer Smart Phone Report is available here:
http://bit.ly/A1TzGp
For more information, visit:
http://bit.ly/yZY7rF
Apple Apparently Working On Siri Dictation For The iPad, iOS 5.1 beta Reveals
9To5Mac's Mark Gurman says that while the iOS 5.1 beta 3 is apparently lacking new features or exciting hints at the future of iOS devices, they have discovered something potentially major: Siri Dictation references. Tipster Sonny Dickson was looking through the iOS 5.1 beta 3 settings application on the iPad and discovered a new section in the keyboard menu called About Privacy and Dictation. When opened, as shown above, the iPad provides the user with the standard legal literature and feature information for Siri Dictation.
For the full report visit here:
http://bit.ly/wgWiBv
USB 3.0 To Reach Smartphones, Tablets By Year End
IDG News Service's Agam Shah reports that the USB standards setting organization said on Sunday that USB 3.0 ports will reach smartphones and tablets by the end of 2012 or by early next year.
Shah cites Rahman Ismail, chief technology officer of the USB Implementers Forum, saying smartphones and tablets will likely get a MicroUSB port based on USB 3.0 technology to fit the small size of the devices, and which will enable faster data transfers between mobile devices and host devices such as PCs, some of which already have USB 3.0 ports. The data transfer rates will likely be 100MBps, or roughly 800Mbps. Mobile devices (and Apple PCs) currently use the older USB 2.0 technology, which is slower. USB 3.0 on smartphones and tablets will be backward compatible with USB 2.0 on host devices.
Intel will be pushing its USB 3.0 rival Thunderbolt technology to mobile devices. However, many newer PCs have both Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 ports, signaling the coexistence of both technologies.
For the full report visit here:
http://bit.ly/zdemBj
Taking the iPhone Deep Into Darkness: True NightVision Goes Extreme
Everyone loves night vision goggles, but they're expensive and inconvenient to carry around. How cool would it be if the same tech was built into your iPhone? Of course it isn't, but a single dollar will get you surprisingly close!
iOS photography and video specialists Interealtime are once again pushing the limits of the iPhone camera with new technology. True NightVision is an app that combines 2 different kinds of light boosting tech to light up the night way beyond what you thought was possible. This time True NightVision gets an extra dose of magic: Version 2.0 has just been released, introducing powerful new light capture modes that take it to a whole new level and way beyond anything else available on iPhone.
True NightVision is a fun realtime light-enhancing camera app designed for low light and night-time use. It uses the iPhone's camera and advanced light amplification techniques to deliver images even when the iPhone's native camera app sees nothing but black. The screenshots are real examples of the app's capabilities: the same photo was taken with the iPhone's built-in camera app and with True NightVision under identical conditions.
Version 2.0 takes this concept to the next level by combining powerful image enhancement techniques with the huge light gathering capacity of long exposure photography. When used with the high quality camera in the iPhone 4S the results can be quite astonishing.
New to the app are 4 enhancement modes:
(*) Speed: combines powerful image enhancement with fast 30fps video for action use
(*) High: balances speed and quality for a brighter image
(*) Still: good for stationary use, uses longer exposure times to seriously increase image intensity in low light
(*) Max: combines long exposure with enhancement - it needs a steady hand or solid surface, but delivers amazing night-time images
The app processes images in realtime for an interactive live view, and does this in HD (except on 3GS) for an exceptionally crisp view. It includes a zoom feature (up to 8x on 4/4S, 4x on 3GS), adjustable image enhancement levels, and a range of fun filters and effects such as thermal image, monochrome and false color. There is of course a 'binoculars' mode for authenticity!
Device Requirements:
(*) Compatible with iPhone 3GS, 4 and 4S, and iPod touch 4G (iPod touch with camera)
(*) Requires iOS 5.0 or later
(*) 500KB download
True NightVision 2.0 is $0.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Photo & Video category.
Interealtime:
http://www.interealtime.com/
True NightVision 2.0:
http://bit.ly/A3WdI8
Purchase and Download:
http://bit.ly/f9Slgb
Case-Mate Phantom Brings Stylish And Sophisticated Protection To The Tough Phone Case Market
Case-Mate has announced their latest design advance, a triple-ply protective case with an innovative front snap-on screen. Phantom joins the elite tough case category and brings fashion and style along with it. Created specifically for active lifestyle users who want protection without sacrificing appearance, Phantom keeps you and your smartphone looking good wherever you go.
As a result of careful and thoughtful development, users finally have a sleek and sexy iPhone case that withstands the most adventurous lifestyles.
"We precisely engineered every line, curve and angle to achieve an architecturally sound design that guards the phone without adding excess bulk," says Shashi Reddy, Chief Executive Officer at Case-Mate. "As a result of careful and thoughtful development, users finally have a sleek and sexy iPhone case that withstands the most adventurous lifestyles."
The two-piece case sports clean, aesthetic lines and fresh colors inspired by the runway. Using advanced tri-ply technology, Phantom is intricately layered to protect and defend the iPhone 4/4S. The first-to-market, snap-on front screen protector utilizes silicone pads to cushion the front of the phone while it wraps around the sides to stabilize and secure the device. The back shell boasts a tri-ply design with a hard polymer base encased by silicone on the exterior while padded lines trace the interior. The resulting product features extreme protection without compromising style.
Phantom is available for $50 at:
http://www.case-mate.com.
Color options include black/white, raspberry/lime, navy/aqua and cool grey/turquoise. You can also find cases for a wide variety of BlackBerry and other smartphones and tablet devices on the Case-Mate Website.
For more information, visit:
http://bit.ly/ApWLIz
Artists Add Style To Consumer Tech Accessories; Gallery Of Designs, Now Available To U.S. Retailers, Reflect Personality Of iPad, iPhone, Kindle Users
TrendSource Distribution have announced an exclusive deal with Spain-based Bodino to make its gallery of consumer tech accessories available to U.S. retailers. The Art of Friends line, which features the work of 350 independent artists from around the world, brings personality and individual style to Apple iPad, iPhone and Kindle cases as well as laptop bags, mouse pads, USB drives and other personal computing accessories. The colorful, expressive Bodino line is now available for wholesale to U.S. retailers for the first time following successful launches with leading IT and CE retail chains across Europe. The TrendSource Team is available to meet with retailers regarding Bodino and other innovative consumer electronic accessory brands at CES 2012.
"When retailers bring in this line, they will be addressing strong demand for unique ways in which people can display and care for their favorite tech accessories - ones that will reflect individual personality and lifestyle," says TrendSource President, Charmaine Klohe. "We are thrilled to make this fun, funky line available to U.S. retailers that not only supports unknown artists, but allows an increasingly diverse base of consumer tech users to express themselves."
TrendSource Distribution will serve as the exclusive U.S. sales/distribution channel for the Bodino Art of Friends line. The company, which specializes in creating customized distribution services for its retail partners across the U.S. and Canada, distributes product lines in the DVD, videogame, and CE accessory markets. For the initial U.S. rollout in exclusive partnership with TrendSource, Bodino will make 15 major products available to retailers in April 2012. The company will release new designs every four to six months to keep the line fresh and introduce new artists, who are profiled on the back of every product package. The Bodino line will also keep up with the introduction of new consumer electronics so that U.S. retailers can cater to both early adopters as well as mainstream consumers.
"We have seen in the marketplace how people love to make their lives more simple and efficient through the use of consumer technology, while at the same time, take great pride in injecting their own personal flare into how they use, display and care for their CE devices and accessories. They are the inspiration behind Art of Friends," says Oliver Goerlich, CEO of Bodino Ltd.
The Bodino line, which brings personality and style to everyday consumer tech accessories, features work from 350 independent artists. The company uses only premium materials to guarantee the quality of its high-end line of mix & match designs. All products are produced with regard to ecological and ethical considerations, and with selected partners. The Bodino international team is always on the look out for exciting new artists and releases new product designs throughout each year. The colorful, expressive Art of Friends line of CE accessories includes:
• iPad 2 & iPhone 4 Hardcover Cases
• Kindle & eReader Protectors and Sleeves
• iPhone Pockets
• Mobile Phone Bags
• Notebook Sleeves
• Mouse Pads
• USB Drives
• Wired Mouse
• RF Mouse
• M2 Mouse
"Bodino offers a gallery of choices that reflect the diversity of interests and styles of consumer tech owners. We look forward to making the line available to U.S. retailers via TrendSource, which compliments our strategy by offering retailers creative, custom solutions to ensure maximum impact, ease of implementation," says Goerlich.
Bodinos Art of Friends line, which will be available to retailers in April 2012, spans the entire consumer tech accessory market. The products are high-quality, built to last and priced to sell. The company offers high profit margins and competitive MSRPs from $9.95 to $49.95. The line is available to retailers in sleek packaging, and with minimum order requirements, free displays (made of aluminum and acrylic).
In partnership with TrendSource, Bodino has created exclusive consumer marketing opportunities for U.S. retailers, who can order the product line assorted. For example, if a retailer wants to carry only notebook cases or Kindle bags, their customers can choose from a minimum of 10 designs in that product line.
"Given the variety and uniqueness of designs, even if a U.S. retailer wants to solely order iPhone cases, each style is almost a limited edition in the sense that there will be only one to two pieces with the same design on the shelf," adds Klohe.
For more information, visit:
http://www.trendsourcedistribution.com
Corning to Showcase Gorilla Glass 2 at CES 2012
Corning Incorporated has announced its plans for the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week. The Corning booth, #12642 Central Hall, will showcase the critical role of highly engineered specialty glass in addressing emerging trends highlighted at CES 2012, including: increased functionality from smaller form factors; touch technology; connected devices in new application spaces; and sleek, durable large-format design aesthetics.
A key feature of Cornings CES exposure will be the introduction of Corning Gorilla Glass 2, the next generation of the popular, damage-resistant cover glass for consumer electronic devices, and used in the iPad and iPhone.
"Corning Gorilla Glass has been a tremendous success for Corning, enjoying excellent market acceptance across mobile device industries. Handset and tablet device manufacturers are clearly driving toward higher functionality from thinner designs. Cornings latest innovation in Gorilla Glass technology is very well positioned to meet these challenges and enable broader touch technology penetration," says James R. Steiner, senior vice president and general manager, Corning Specialty Materials.
"CES attendees can engage with Corning experts and technologies featuring the latest applications and benefits of Corning Gorilla Glass innovations. As we did last year, well provide consumers and customers visiting the Corning booth the opportunity to test first-hand the outstanding damage resistance and flexibility of this industry-leading, ultra-thin, and tough specialty glass," Steiner added.
Corning Gorilla Glass, the technology that made Corning one of the most talked-about companies at CES 2011, is currently featured on more than 30 major brands and designed into more than 575 product models, spanning more than 500 million units worldwide.
The Corning booth will also explore the benefits of Corning Gorilla Glass in larger format, touch displays for education, entertainment, auto, and home appliance applications featuring new design possibilities. These include:
• An 82-inch advanced multi-touch LCD display prototype featuring Corning Gorilla Glass as a durable, touch-sensitive, and elegant cover glass.
• Touch-enabled automobile interior and home appliance center simulators demonstrating the enhanced user interface experience that thin, durable glass can enable in new design applications.
• A centerpiece, Gorilla Glass-covered video wall, flanked by Gorilla Glass fabricated sound speakers, projecting the latest in Corning specialty glass technology news.
Additionally, Dr. Peter Bocko, Corning's chief technology officer for Corning Glass Technologies and one of the foremost glass experts in the display industry, will be a panelist in the Beyond the Flat Screen session on Thursday, Jan. 12, 1:30 p.m. PST. He will discuss the latest advances in screen resolution, viewing angle, sunlight performance, and power consumption in an effort to isolate new products and opportunities.
For more information, visit:
http://www.corning.com
New RBC Mobile App Features for iPhone
Canada's RBC Group have announced that an updated version of the RBC Mobile Banking app for iPhone is now available for download.
In addition to the existing great features of the app, the new version will allow you to View and Delete, in real time, Upcoming Payments (post-dated payments and transfers) scheduled for the following 30 days, anywhere and at anytime (as long as its before midnight on the day prior to the scheduled transaction).
With a few simple clicks you can download and install the updated version so you can:
• View and Delete Upcoming Payments before retiring for the night
• Pay bills on the go
• Transfer funds over lunch
• Check account balances while standing in a grocery line
• Use Interac e-Transfers to send money to friends and family(2)
• Plus locate branches and ATMs on the go, and more.
RBC Mobile Banking makes accessing your account information and your accounts fast, easy and convenient. And your transactions are protected by the peace of mind you get from the RBC Online Banking Security Guarantee.
To download the RBC Mobile Banking app for iPhone, go to Apple's App Store or Text RBC to 722 722. Youll receive a text back with a link to download the app.
Kodak Focuses on Simple Ways to Create, Share and Print in a Social and Mobile World
At the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show, Kodak (#31400, South Hall) is showcasing a host of connected products and solutions that make it easy to create, share and print brilliant images wherever, whenever and however you like.
Kodak's new Wi-Fi enabled camera the Kodak Easyshare Wireless Camera M750 lets you share pictures instantly. Use the Kodak Easyshare Camera App with your Android, Apple or Blackberry device1 to send pictures wirelessly to FACEBOOK, KODAK Gallery, and email even email pictures to your KODAK All-in-One Printer. The camera also works with your home Wi-Fi network.
The new Kodak Playfull Dual Camera combines a 1080p/60 fps HD video camera with a 12 MP BSI CMOS digital camera for one powerful device. It has an external microphone jack, built-in Xenon flash, and Share Button for easy upload to Facebook, Youtube, Kodak Gallery, email and more.
"Kodak has been synonymous with imaging for more than 120 years. And for todays social and mobile consumers, we continue to innovate to deliver intelligent and intuitive products that produce brilliant Kodak-quality images, says Vince Ferraro, Kodak's new global Vice President of Corporate Marketing and Consumer Digital Imaging Group. People trust Kodak with their memories, and we want to help them do more with those memories. Whether at home, on the go, or at retail, Kodak has a smart and simple solution to capture, create, share and print.
At Home
Ready to free your Facebook photos? Kodak has two new printing apps that let you bring your Facebook pictures to life.
• The My Kodak Moments App allows you to effortlessly create a premium photo book from your and your friends Facebook albums and have it delivered to your doorstep.
• The Kodak Photo Collage Print App, the first photo collage home printing app on Facebook, lets you easily create a photo collage you can conveniently print at home.
• Easily upload your Facebook photos to your Kodak Gallery account to create a variety of photo products including prints, photo books and wall dcor.
• Captured a great moment on video and want to commemorate it with a picture? Upload the video to your computer and use your KODAK All-in-One Printer to make a print2.
On the Go
• With Kodak products, its easy to share and print brilliant photos and documents, wherever you are.
• Use your Easyshare Wireless Camera with your smartphone to email pictures to any Kodak All-in-One Printer3 and Kodak Pulse Digital Frame, or send to your favorite social networking site.
• Print photos and documents from your smartphone, laptop or tablet, from anywhere in the world, with Kodaks new Hero All-in-One Printers that are Google Cloud Print Ready and Kodak Email Print Ready4. Only Kodak offers the ultimate combination of smart features, high quality output and affordable ink.
• With the Kodak Pic Flick App, wirelessly send photos to your printer or Pulse Frame from an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android or Blackberry device.
• Send documents from your Android device directly to your Kodak All-in-One Printer using Google Cloud Print with the Kodak Document Print App6.
Start a Group Album on your iPhone with the KODAK Gallery Mobile App and invite your friends to add pictures to create a brilliant-quality photo book.
At Retail / Premium Output
• With Facebook Connect on Kodak Picture Kiosks, you can access your Facebook photos to create and print brilliant keepsakes including photo books and personal greeting cards. Over one million customers have printed their Facebook photos from a Kodak Picture Kiosk.
For the first time at CES, Kodak is showcasing one of its leading printing solutions for photo specialty printers, professional photo labs and commercial printers. The Kodak Nexpress Photo 3300 Digital Production Color Press produces best-in-class images for brilliant-quality photo books, calendars, and posters, even with effects like in-line dimensional print, which is unique in the industry. Photo books created at Kodak Gallery are printed on a Kodak Nexpress Press.
CES Innovations 2012 Design and Engineering Awards
Three Kodak products earned CES Innovations 2012 Design and Engineering Awards the KODAK HERO 9.1 All-in-One Printer, KODAK PLAYFULL Waterproof Video Camera and KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera Zx5. Kodak has received a total of 27 CES Innovations Awards to date.
To learn more, visit http://www.kodak.com and follow blogs and more at:
http://www.kodak.com/go/followus
More than 75 million people worldwide manage, share and create photo gifts online at Kodak Gallery - join at:
http://www.kodakgallery.com
Choose from the widest selection of Kodak Digital Cameras, All-in-One Inkjet Printers, Pocket Video Cameras and more at:
http://store.kodak.com
Tags: News ď Tech-Industry ď iPhone ď iPhone News ď
