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Cases That Protect Your Apple iPhone

The Apple iPhone is definitely one of the best looking phones around. the fact that it packs in features like 3G, wireless connectivity and other applications is an understatement. you would definitely not like to deface or lose the beauty of your iPhone. Since you will be using this beauty of a phone quite a lot, it is natural for it to go through wear and tear, plus not to mention your friends and foes grabbing it and fiddling around with it. here is how you can protect your iPhone from any damage:

Protecting your Apple iPhone internally:

Do not go to suspicious and untrustworthy sites like adult or pirated music sites. keep the Bluetooth functionality disabled specially when you are not using it or if you are at a public place. keep a good anti-virus program installed and regularly update it, so that it does not have any threat of virus or malware attack.

Protecting your Apple iPhone externally:

1. get a protective screen guard for your phone. This will be a perfect foil to the large touch screen display of your iPhone and prevent the display from getting messy. the Protective Screen Guard is actually tough plastic that protects the display screen from getting soiled or dirty. Make sure you clean the display with a lint-free cloth and then place the screen guard. Do not remove the screen guard once you apply it on the display screen because it may easily come off, if you remove it again.

2. iPhone Cases: there is nothing better than a quality case to protect your cell phone. Go for a quality plastic, silicon or leather cases that not only cover your phone but also cushion it well from falls. iPhone cases or iPhone covers absorbs all the shock in case your phone slips and falls to the ground. also, iPhone covers protect your instrument from scratches, dust and grime.

Credit Card Types

SAN MATEO, Calif., May 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — NetSuite inc. (NYSE:N), the industry’s leading provider of cloud-based financials / ERP software suites, today announced that Jim McGeever, NetSuite Chief Operating Officer, will host a breakout session at the Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference with executives of three fast-growing wholesale, distribution and manufacturing companies that are capitalizing on the power of cloud computing to increase efficiency, reduce costs and power rapid expansion. NetSuite is a Platinum Sponsor of the Gartner conference, being held May 21–23 in Palm Desert, Calif., and will have a strong presence in the Solutions Showcase at Booth #13, where executives will be available for face-to-face meetings.

At the session, titled “A Different Manufacturing Enterprise: Cloud Enabling Collaboration, Growth, Agility,” mr. McGeever will lead a panel discussion with three NetSuite customers: Stephen Baumer, Chief Technology Officer at GoPro, the world’s leading activity image capture company; Marin Tchakarov, Vice President of Finance at Jawbone, a manufacturer of mobile lifestyle solutions; and Rich Morgan, Director of Operations at Speck, a manufacturer of form-fit cases for portable electronic devices. The session will be held at 2:45 p.m. PDT on Monday, May 21 and will address:

How cloud computing has changed the way that manufacturing businesses run
Key considerations for moving from on-premise manufacturing systems to the cloud
Quantified and qualitative advantages of cloud-based manufacturing
How cloud-computing enables real-time visibility into inventory
Cloud extensibility for global growth and reaching new markets
How the cloud enables supply chain collaboration with suppliers, distributors and customers

GoPro, Jawbone and Speck are among a growing number of manufacturers leveraging the NetSuite Manufacturing Edition, the industry’s only complete cloud-based solution for manufacturers including inventory management, dynamic replenishment, demand and production planning, warehouse management, financial accounting and costing, customer and partner relationship management, and eCommerce. as a cloud solution, NetSuite enables manufacturers to reduce IT costs by eliminating costly and complex on-premise software and servers while providing real-time visibility into key business metrics. NetSuite includes specific modules for demand planning, production planning, production engineering, shop floor control, manufacturing control, cost control, project control, lot and serial control, and multi-division / multi-site solutions.

GoPro (gopro.com), based in Half Moon Bay, Calif., turned to NetSuite just as fast-growing sales of its cameras began exceeding the capabilities of its former, fragmented business software. NetSuite’s flexible capabilities gave GoPro the controls it needed to integrate the entire customer transaction cycle on a single platform, reduced order management response times more than sixteen-fold, and helped GoPro streamline the logistics involved with introducing its products into major retail chains.

Jawbone (jawbone.com), based in San Francisco and named by Fast Company magazine in March 2012 as one of the top 50 Most Innovative Companies, facilitated and supported its rapid growth by replacing their previous financial/ERP systems with NetSuite, including the NetSuite manufacturing module for MRP, inventory management, standard costing and more. “as a growing company with international manufacturing and distribution, NetSuite allows us to streamline our resources by building our business on a single system,” said Jawbone’s Tchakarov.

Speck (speckproducts.com), based in Palo Alto, Calif., uses NetSuite to help meet its need for extreme speed to market, with the company delivering protective cases for devices such as the iPhone, iPad, Kindle and others rapidly after those products hit the market. NetSuite has helped to give Speck visibility and control over its global supplier relationships in a highly volatile marketplace while supporting rapid revenue growth and cost reductions.

Follow NetSuite’s Cloud blog, NetSuite’s Facebook page and @NetSuite Twitter handle for real-time updates.

For more information about NetSuite, please visit netsuite.com.

NOTE: NetSuite and the NetSuite logo are service marks of NetSuite inc.

(Logo: photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120423/MM91347LOGO)

SOURCE NetSuite inc.

Magna Intelligent Surface Technology: Like controlling your car with an iPhone

Take control of your car in a whole new way with Magna’s sci-fi-inspired Intelligent Surface Technology.

Imagine starting your car with a simple swipe of your finger. Sounds cool, doesn’t it? That’s because it is, and here’s the good news: the technology is headed to your car.

One of the more eye-catching aspects of futuristic and sci-fi-inspired technology has easily been the ability to activate a myriad of functions with a touch, a swipe, or flick of your fingertips. Now, parts supplier Magna is bringing the future back, so to speak, with the development of what it calls Intelligent Surface Technology. if you’ve heard of a little device called the iPhone then think of that and you’re on the right track.

Magna begins with “Touchskin,” a three-dimensional surface panel that replaces the standard buttons, knobs, and dials you might find inside a typical car cabin with capacitive controls that help provide a fluid and unprecedented level of intuitiveness to existing onboard systems.

Controlling Magna’s Touchskin can be likened to that of a computer mouse, but remains in a fixed position. Functions that would normally require the driver or passenger to undertake some sort of physical or analog input can now be achieved with a simple swipe or roll of a finger around the centrally placed tool. In addition to starting the car’s engine with a swipe of a finger, drivers could also unlock the doors with a similar motion, adjust the vehicles mirrors, or shift gears, all with a simple flick of their finger.

Wedded to that system is a Clearmelt panel which features a self-healing, glossy surface allowing nicks and scratches to self-heal over time. but while Magna is the primary name heading up the technology, the various components are actually being developed by nine different companies: Plastic Electronics, Engel Mould Technologies, Schöfer, Magna Exteriors and Interiors, Hueck, Niebling, Votteler, Hennecke Polyurethane, and formquadrat.

The whole system integrates via Magna’s exclusive Integrated Device Molding Procedure (IDMP) and tethers a smartphone to the vehicle wirelessly, and without the need of a Bluetooth or internet connection. instead the IDMP utilizes upcoming industry mandated cellular Qi standards, which Magna contends is safer and can’t be hacked. Additionally, this enables the transmitter coil in the phone to connect via a “near-field” connection and allows for wireless charging.

Magna can even shape the interface’s electrical innerds using formable copper foil found inside the console’s plastic cover, so limitations regarding shape are virtually non-existent.

And while the technology might sound complex, Magna attests that the opposite is true. In fact, the system actually reduces parts complexity, assembly time, and component costs, and even carries an increased safety component by centrally placing the control interface closer to the driver.

In an age where touch-screens and capacitive controls are as ubiquitous as the smart devices they’re attached to, it seems only fitting this type of technology would begin creeping further and further into our lives. Coincidentally, the automobile is a perfect place for such implementation, which is exactly why Magna is shopping around its Intelligent Surface Technology to various car manufacturers.

Magna expects various components of its IST system to being implementation into various automotive applications by 2014.

iPhone 4S Accessories on the Market: iPhone 4S Cases, Covers and Others

Buying an iPhone 4S is a large investment. either you purchase the handset for a large sum or you agree to a contracted monthly amount.

When paying such large amounts for a handset, we want to make sure that we get the most out of our phones. there is a huge number of iPhone 4s accessories on the market that could maximise how useful and enjoyable our phones are.

A great accessory to consider purchasing is a car iPhone holder. This offers a place to keep your phone whilst you are driving. This is going to be very useful if you use a satellite navigation system on your phone to assist journeys.

An iPhone 4s headset is another accessory to consider, especially if you make a lot of calls whilst you are on the move. This can prove to be useful to take calls whilst you are driving or if you just prefer the feel of a headset.

A great feature of an iPhone is iTunes. you can store all of your albums and listen to them on your phone, very much like an iPod. Buying some good quality headphones will ensure that you get the most out of the music saved on to your phone.

If you are a jogger or a regular at the gym; an iPhone armband is a great way to enjoy listening to music whilst you work out. Something to consider for the more active people out there

Another great accessory is an iPhone 4s radio transmitter. This lets you listen to all major and local radio stations so you can stay up-to-date with the latest news and music.

If you want to add an element of visual fun to your iPhone handset, then buying an iPhone 4s skin is a great accessory. These come in a wide and varied range of colours, patterns and designs, to ensure your iPhone stands out from the crowd.

For all the cyclists out there; buying an iPhone bike holder is a must. you will no longer have to worry about your handset falling out of your pocket and breaking, since it will be attached to your cycle and easy to use.

If you are worried about breaking your iPhone, then an iPhone 4s case is a great product. This will protect your screen from scratches and will help to keep it in great condition.

Lastly, if you are out and about a lot, then buying an iPhone charger is an important accessory. you do not want to be caught out with no battery on your phone

There is a huge amount of accessories for the iPhone available on the market. Do a little research and find some new ways to use your phone that will be useful but most of all; a lot of fun

Perfectly Prune Your Notifications to Stop Your Phone from Constantly Bugging You

If you’re anything like me, your phone buzzes all day long, alerting you to completely useless things like app updates, Facebook likes, and chain emails from your grandma. Here’s how to keep your phone from bugging you all day without turning your notifications off entirely—but still staying on top of what matters.

We’ve all experienced phantom vibrations before—that feeling that your phone is ringing when it really isn’t. Psychology professor Larry Rosen says this could be a symptom of tech anxiety, and it’s probably true—we’ve gotten to the point where every time our phone buzzes, we feel like we need to pull it out to see what just happened, even if we’re so often disappointed by email newsletters, Facebook likes, and other notifications that aren’t “need to know”. This is annoying, but there’s no need to turn off notifications altogether—all it takes is a little pruning.

The process is a little different depending on whether you have an iPhone or Android device, but there’s a lot you can do on both platforms to keep annoyances to a minimum while staying on top of what’s really important. it takes a bit of setup, but you’ll be much happier for it in the end. Here’s what you need to do.

Step One: Split Up Apps By Importance

Before we get into the settings, you should take a look at the apps on your device and decide which ones you really want to stay on top of. Generally, I split notifications up into three categories:

Important: These are the apps I always want to buzz me when something happens. Vibrations, sounds, badges on the home screen, the whole nine yards. SMS usually falls into this category, though it can also include personal or work email, calendar alerts, and to-do apps (like the iPhone’s Reminders app).
Unimportant: These are notifications that I like to have, but I don’t want bugging me during the day. If I go to check my phone during a free moment, I like to see them, but I don’t want them to vibrate or make noise. This often includes things like Facebook, Twitter, and IMs.
Useless: These are apps for whom I want to just turn off notifications entirely. If I want to see what they have to tell me, I’ll open them up. I don’t want them wasting space in my notification center, let alone vibrating in my pocket. That means you, podcast managers, games, and other random apps.

You may find that you have other categories or sub-categories, but this is a good skeleton on which to base your system. next, it’s time to delve into the settings.

Step two: Tweak your Notification Settings for each App

With those categories in mind, we’ll now come up with a system for which notification settings we’ll apply to each category of apps. Here’s how to do it on both the iPhone and Android.

On the iPhone

Head into Settings > Notifications and go into each app one by one. here are the settings you’ll probably want to use for each category:

Important: I turn everything on for important notifications. the Notification Center, badge app icons, sounds, and the lock screen. I usually stick with banners instead of alerts, but you can tweak this based on your own preferences.
Unimportant: Unimportant notifications should probably use the same settings as important notifications, minus sounds. That means these notifications will show banners when you’re using your phone, they’ll show up in the notification center and on the lock screen, and they’ll show badges, they just won’t bug you with sounds or vibrations when you get notifications.
Useless: for these, you can go ahead and just turn everything off and set the Alert Style to “none”. That should keep the app from ever bugging you or taking up notification space.

Note that the “Sounds” slider in the notification center means sounds and vibrations—there’s no way to separate your preferences for each in iOS. If you have sound notifications, you’ll get vibrations as long as you have vibrations turned on in Settings > Sounds.

On Android

Android apps manage their notification settings separately from one another. so, to tweak the notification settings for a certain app, open it up, press the menu button, and go to Settings. Search around for the notification settings and tweak them from there (some of them are hard to find, too—Gmail’s is hidden in each individual account’s settings under “Labels to Notify”, for example). here are some guidelines for what you’ll want to set:

Important: I turn everything on for important notifications. I want them to show up in my status bar, make a sound, and vibrate. These are important notifications and I want to know about them as they happen.
Unimportant: for these apps, I’ll often turn notifications on, but turn vibrations off. I’ll leave sounds on, usually, unless I get a ton of notifications from the app (like Twitter), in which case I’ll turn sounds off as well.
Useless: for these, you can go ahead and just turn notifications off entirely.

Note that every app has different notification settings—some will have more than described above, and some will have less. You just have to make do with what you have. for example, if you don’t have the option to keep sounds on and vibration off, you’re probably better off turning them both off for unimportant notifications.

Step Three: give each App Its Own Notification Sound

If you really want to make your life easy, you can give each app its own notification tone. That way, when you get a notification, you know exactly what kind of alert it is without even looking at your device. Here’s how to do it.

On iPhone

You can tweak the built-in apps’ sounds right from Settings > Sounds. This includes new SMS messages, new voicemails, new emails, tweets, calendar alerts, and reminder alerts. Just tap on a category and choose from one of iOS’ many tones. You can also create your own tones using iTunes and sync them to your device—as long as they’re shorter than 15 seconds, you can assign them to any of these categories as well.

Unfortunately, you need to do a little more work to assign custom tones to non-Apple apps. We’ve discussed how to do this before, so we won’t go into it here—just know that it’s a little more work, and since a lot of apps come with their own separate tones anyway, it isn’t always worth the trouble. for third party apps that just use Apple’s default tri-tone sound, the only way to customize them is to jailbreak your phone and use an app like previously mentioned PushTone, which is a great way to customize your sounds all from one place.

On Android

To assign a notification tone, go back to the notification settings of each app. within the notification settings, you can tap “Ringtone” (or something similar) to assign a tone from Android’s vast library. Don’t forget you can also add custom tones to Android by copying short MP3 files to the /media/audio/notifications folder on your SD card (if it isn’t there, you can create it). after copying them there, they should show up in the list of possible tones in each app’s notification settings.

Other Tweaks to Further Customize your Notifications

If you really want to go the extra mile, there are a few extra tweaks you can make to make your notifications as unobtrusive to your life as possible. here are some cool tricks for iOS and Android.

On the iPhone

The iPhone has a cool feature that lets you use custom vibration patterns for each of your contacts, so that when they call, you can tell who it is without even taking your phone out of your pocket. To set them up, just go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Custom Vibrations. Turn it on, and then go into the Contacts app. By editing a contact, you can give them a vibration pattern of your choosing (or even create a new one). Sadly, this only works for calls—not SMS or other notifications—but it’s still handy if you get a lot of phone calls from friends and colleagues.

If you’re jailbroken, we also like this handy little tweak called Reveal, which makes your notifications scrollable on the lock screen. That way, you can see an entire notification—whether it be a text message, email summary, or something else—without having to unlock your phone. It’s simple, but can often save you from having to open up your phone, wait for your inbox to load, and read the message if there’s something else you’d rather have your attention on.

On Android

If you want to really get the most out of notifications on Android, you have to check out previously mentioned WhoIsIt, which lets you assign custom ringtones and vibration patterns to all of your contacts. Essentially, you can give each contact a different ringtone and vibration pattern for calls, Gmail, SMS, and MMS, which means you’ll always know exactly what that notification is for without taking your phone out of your pocket. It’ll definitely take awhile to set up, but once you get all of your contacts customized, you’ll be completely on top of every buzz your phone makes.

Update: A lot of you are noting in the comments that WhoIsIt no longer works on many phones, in which case we recommend checking out previously mentioned ViBe. it doesn’t do quite as much, but will still let you customize vibration patterns for calls and text messages.

We also like previously mentioned Notifier Pro for Android. it gives you iOS-like banner notifications across the top of your screen that are much easier to read than Android’s defaults, which mean it’s easier to see whether a specific notification is something you need to open up right now. You can also set it to re-send you unread notifications after a few minutes, which is great if you’re the type of person that doesn’t always feel your phone vibrating in your pocket (say, if you keep it in your backpack or purse).

This is just the beginning of everything you can do—we could do a whole feature on customizing just your email notifications if we wanted to—but you should find that your phone is much less annoying after putting some of these ideas in place. got any other cool apps or tweaks for controlling your notifications? let us know about them in the comments.

The Ultimate iPad Case Review Roundup and Giveaway

As much as I love reviewing iPad cases, it sometimes becomes a bit overwhelming to handle all of the review requests we get from manufacturers. In the interest of getting a pile of overdue case reviews done and get these cool cases into the hands of our readers, I’m going to review and give away a dozen of these cases in one big post. anyone looking for an iPad case can find something here to make them happy.

Aranez Notebook K-Leather Case

the most exotic case of the bunch has to be the Aranez Notebook K-Leather iPad Case (US$119.95). In case you’re wondering what K-Leather is, it’s leather made from kangaroos! this beautiful black folio-style case comes with leather conditioner and a fiber cloth to keep your K-Leather case looking good.

when the case is opened, the left side reveals a small wallet — there’s room for a driver’s license, some credit cards, and even a pouch for folding money. on the other side is a polycarbonate clip-in for your iPad 2 or third-generation iPad. Officially it’s designed for the iPad 2 only, but my third-gen device fit into the case with no issues. the case has openings in the bottom for the Dock Connector and speaker, a cut-out on the side for the volume toggle and orientation/mute lock, and the top is wide open.

the folio is held closed with a magnetic clasp, and the entire thing looks like something that would be entirely at home in an executive suite. With no offense to the many other manufacturers of folio cases, the Aranez Notebook K-Leather Case is probably the classiest case I’ve seen so far.

Pad & Quill Contega, Octavo, Octavo Luxury, and Graduate Edition Cases for Third-Generation iPad

I’ve raved about Pad & Quill’s iPad and iPhone cases before, but this time I think they’ve outdone themselves. With each iteration of their products comes refinement, and the products just keep getting better.

first, let’s talk about the Octavo Luxury Case ($119.99). Rather than the bonded leather used in Pad & Quill’s other cases, the Luxury Case features real soft-stitched leather in either black or mahogany brown. like the other cases, the iPad is held into the case securely in a beautifully-machined lacquered Baltic birch frame. There are a variety of interior bookbinding cloth colors to choose from.

Pad & Quill used to use those little sticky-backed pads in the corners a lá DODOcase, but now they use small rubber inserts that are more permanent, durable and attractive. They call this the Sure-Lock system; this makes sense, since the last name of the owners of Pad & Quill is Holmes (Get it? Sure-Lock Holmes? Wa-hahahaha!)

other features of the Octavo Luxury Case include an elastic band to hold the cover closed in transit, magnets in the cover to turn your iPad on and off, and a folder in the inside cover for important papers. if you like the combination of laminated wood, real leather, and traditional bookbinding techniques, you’re going to love the Octavo Luxury Case.

next, the Octavo comes in a less-expensive ($69.99) version using bonded leather on the outside, but with the same Sure-Lock bumper system and magnetic on/off system. For wood and leather folio cases, the Octavo is probably the best bargain on the market.

For our next case from Pad & Quill, we’ll go to something that is a bit more like the DODOcase — the Graduate Edition Case for iPad ($59.99). Rather than using leather, the exterior of the Graduate Edition is beautifully finished in traditional book bindery cloth. the one I received for this review was covered in a delicious forest green cloth with a “espresso” interior; there are also for deep blue and burgundy exteriors. I’d like to point out to anyone considering a DODOcase that they’ll be missing out on the new Sure-Lock bumper system and will have to pay an extra five bucks just to get a camera hole that the Pad & Quill cases already have.

Finally, the Contega case / iPad stand ($99.99) has been fully redesigned to add the Sure-Lock system and an improved magnetic switch system. the fold-out design of the Contega makes it an easy way to stand an iPad up in landscape orientation. Pad & Quill continues to be the innovative leader in leather-bound iPad folio cases. All of the cases are handcrafted in the exotic city of Minneapolis, MN.

Booq Folio Fibre Collection for iPad 2 and 3rd-generation iPad

Literally minutes before I was set to publish this iPad case roundup, my doorbell rang. not only was there another case from Pad & Quill, but also another box containing two Booq Folios for iPad 2 and the third-generation iPad ($49.95). that was fortunate since I’m able to include these beautiful and functional cases in the review.

What makes these cases so nice? They have a natural fibre exterior that not only has a good feel to it (good for holding onto your iPad), but also just plain looks nice. TUAW received both the black and sand colored cases, and they both stand out from the crowd.

the cases include a folding front cover so that you can prop your iPad up in a variety of positions, and they also include the magnetic on/off capability that is common with most recent iPad cases.

Powis iCase

the Powis iCase ($79.95) is the case that unashamedly asks the question “what’s your favorite position?” that’s because it has a innovative design that offers “9+” viewing positions. the best feature, in my opinion, is that you can emblazon the exterior of the case with your very own photography. In the giveaway portion of this post, you’ll get a chance to win a Powis iCase with one of my twilight photographs of Venice, Italy on the cover.

your iPad is held into the right side of the case in a plastic frame that securely holds your iPad in place. There’s a large elastic band that serves to hold the case closed, and it’s wide enough to also let you hold the case with the strap wrapped around your hand. As with the other iPad 2/3 cases, the Powis iCase has magnets embedded in the cover to automatically turn the device on and off.

As I noted before, the best feature has to be the ability to create a totally customized case with your own art or photography. that means that you can have a completely unique case. the printing process is flawless; I honestly have no idea how Powis makes money selling a custom case for only $79.95.

mophie workbook

Yes, you read that correctly. this is a protective smart case made by mophie, the same company that makes those sweet battery packs. the mophie workbook ($49.95) comes in five different exterior colors (black, white, gray, brown, and purple) with four contrasting elastic bands that can be changed out depending on your taste or whims. the black case that we received for review came with straps in the standard printer’s colors of cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK).

While most of the other cases discussed in this post are made of real or bonded leather, the workbook is made of synthetic animal-friendly materials. As opposed to the other cases, the workbook doesn’t use a rigid frame to hold the iPad in place. Instead, there’s a “pleather” bezel that goes around the entire perimeter of the iPad to hold it steady.

that method of securing the iPad makes it easy to install or remove the iPad from the case, but I did notice that the magnetic closures were rather inconsistent. sometimes when I expected the iPad to shut off, I could see that it was still turned on when the cover was closed. I had to adjust the cover a bit to get the iPad to shut off.

a unique feature of the workbook is its ability to adjust to just about any viewing angle. that can be very useful when you’re using your iPad in your lap and want to change the angle depending on whether you’re reading a book or watching a video.

iFrogz Summit

Last in this review in terms of full cases, but certainly not least in terms of capabilities, is the iFrogz Summit Case ($59.95). this case features a solid polycarbonate frame to hold an iPad 2 or third-generation iPad in place, and has a faux-leather exterior that should stand up to a lot of use.

the Summit quickly adjusts to one of three positions in landscape orientation. You’ll need to use a little muscle to get the Summit out of its usual folio position, though — there’s a big hunk of Velcro on the back of the polycarbonate frame that requires a good tug to overcome.

For those of you who like to use styluses with your iPads, you’ll be happy to know that the Summit comes with a stylus holder — the only case of those reviewed today that has that feature. As with the other cases, the cover turns an iPad 2 or third-generation iPad on and off. There’s a business card slot in the front cover, handy for those situations where you want to carry some cards with you but don’t want them taking up wallet space.

happy Owl Studios Leather Shell for iPad 2

this item isn’t a complete case; rather, it’s a snap-on shell made to protect the back of your iPad 2. Unfortunately, it won’t fit on a third-generation iPad — I tried. the Leather Shell for iPad 2 ($39.99) snaps on easily and provides a luxurious thin leather feel to cover the cold aluminum back of the iPad.

like all of happy Owl’s other products, the Leather Shell is well-designed and constructed. this is the perfect product for the iPad 2 owner who is happy with Apple’s Smart Cover but would like protection for the rest of the iPad as well.

X-Doria Widge

your kids can’t keep their hands off of your iPad, so what do you do? Protect it with an X-Doria Widge ($39.99). As the name sorta implies, the Widge is a wedge made of reddish-pinkish squishy foam. You push an iPad into it, and the kids have something fun to hold while they’re playing Angry Birds on your device. Should they drop it, the foam padding will protect your precious from damage unless they manage to score a direct hit on your display.

For parents, the Widge is a godsend, but it’s not just for kids. a friend of mine liked the Widge that her kids were using so much that she gave one to a friend with bad arthritis in his hands. he loves being able to use his iPad while holding something soft in his aching hands.

Giveaway

Now, it’s time to make room in my office for the next wave of iPad cases. twelve TUAW readers will get one of the cases described in this review, courtesy of the manufacturers and TUAW. All you need to do to fill out the giveaway form below. Only one entry is allowed per reader. Personal information will not be used for any purpose other than contacting the winners, who will be selected in a random drawing of eligible entrants.

Here are the rules for the giveaway:

Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
to enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button.
the entry must be made before May 23, 2012 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time.
You may enter only once.
twelve winners will be selected and will receive one of the following prizes: Aranez Notebook K-Leather Case ($119.95 value), Pad & Quill Contega iPad case/stand ($99.99 value), Pad & Quill Octavo Luxury Case ($119.99 value), Pad & Quill Octavo Case ($69.99 value), Pad & Quill Graduate Edition Case ($59.99), Powis iCase with Steve Sande personalized photo ($79.95 value), mophie workbook ($49.95 value), iFrogz Summit Case ($59.95 value), happy Owl Studios Leather Shell for iPad 2 ($39.99 value), X-Doria Widge ($39.99 value), Booq Folio Fibre Collection iPad 2/3 Case ($49.99 value).
Click Here for complete Official Rules.

Top 5 iPhone Applications of 2011

Save yourself from submerging in the ocean of apps. We bring out the best iPhone apps, 2011, for you to fill up your iPhone with, this new year. you know, it’s a madhouse out there. the Apple Store is glutting with 600,000 apps, and the count is increasing. but then, we, after a careful review of the newest wrinkles in the fraternity of iPhone technology, bring to you the coolest iPhone apps (2011) that might soon become your identity. Browse through the following list of iPhone applications, and pick up your favorites. You’re going to love them, my word.

Best iPhone Apps, 2011

I think, the best iPhone apps for this year shall focus less on social-networking, and more on productivity. I mean, come on Apps such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and Google are present in every other smartphone. if you’re looking forward to make your apps your identity, you’d have to move beyond those mundane apps Hence, we present some applications for your darling handset that not only offer you productivity, but take your iPhone experience to an all new level. Don’t believe me? Download the following, and you’ll soon realize. Check ’em out.

There’s a reason I mentioned this one. this killer iPhone application soared high all throughout the previous year. However, there are still many iPhone users who’ve not yet availed the benefits this app has. to them, there’s only one necessary advice – download Pandora Radio ASAP, people if you’re an avid music fan, this could suffice all your requirements. Offering you music you want to listen to, artists you want to enjoy, this app isn’t one of those boring radio stations that play music of their choice. instead, it creates personalized music stations with your favorite music.

Challenge? We say, you cannot put your phone down once you’ve started on with this game. Lets see how many of you actually win this game is dangerously addictive. Caution: you might end up squandering hours and hours playing this award-winning game. this one, ranks way up high on the list of the top 10 must have iPhone apps for this year

Bookworm? love reading? got lots of time? Kindle is your app for the year. Presenting before you as many as 750,000 books, journals, magazines, and newspapers to read, this offering certainly is one of the most essential iPhone apps (2011) for readers. Download this amazing application, no matter which installment of iPhone you own. know what? it allows you to save pages, bookmark, and highlight too

If you’re bad at remembering stuff such as information, recipes, numbers, barcode scans, etc. SpringPad makes it all easy for you. if you’ve used EverNote in the previous year, you’ll know that SpringPad works the same way, but this time, it’s way better. so, if you want to remember something, put the information with the help of this app in your device, and categorize it. All the information will show up on your dashboard, so that you can have easy access. Now, you won’t forget your wife’s birthday too (phew)

We all have heard of a song in a supermarket or on the radio, which we’re still hunting for. this was ranked as one of the coolest iPhone apps 2010, and is a must have for this year too. this app allows you to recognize any, and every song, you hear. Suppose, you’re listening to a song, but don’t know the name of the artist and the album. Just activate Shazam on your iPhone, and within 15 seconds, before the song gets over, Shazam will tell you the song title, artist’s name, and the album’s name. Now this is what I call one of the top 10 must have iPhone apps for this musical year

For more top iPhone apps 2011, browse through the following list of iPhone apps that contains some of the most useful iPhone apps that you can boast upon. Take a look.

Find My iPhone
iMovie
Shozu
UrbanSpoon
Weather Channel
Around Me
Amazon
PhotoShop Express
ESPN ScoreCenter
IMDB
Kayak
Yelp
Wikipedia

WLBT.com – Jackson, MSJackson pre-teen creates iPhone app

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) –

A Jackson 7th grader is breaking new ground when it comes to computer programming. He recently created an app for the Apple Store, that can now be downloaded for use.

Charley Hutchison's app became available this spring. He says it took him over six months to create, and he had it completed just before his 12th birthday.

“I've always been pretty interested in computers and how they work and when I was eight, I started doing some basic computer programming,” said Hutchison.

More recently, Charley Hutchison has been working on Objective C computer code, the stuff used to create apps for iPhones. In fact, he created one called FriendsForFlickr, which has been approved by Apple and is available for downloading.

“It's a Flickr app that lets you download your friends photos, you can see where they were taken on a map and you can also view some recent Flickr photos,” said Hutchison.

Charley was mostly self-taught when it comes to the code writing. And because he's just 12, he's now in an elite group of young app creators.

“I'm one of the youngest, not the youngest, but one of the youngest, there are not very many,” said Hutchison.

Charley had to transfer his app creation account to his dad after Apple officials found out he was well below the minimum age of 18.

When he's not creating apps, Charley's either hanging out with his boy scout troop, playing tennis or reading. And if he's got a book in his hands, there's a good chance it has something to do with computers.

“I definitely want to do more apps because I really liked making the apps. I've done a lot of different programming for different devices. Find writing for the iPhones, iPad, and iPad touch is one of the funnest. I really like the language,” said Hutchison.

He says he didn't get paid for his apps, but will make sure Apple charges for his next one so he will make money off it.

FreedomPop iPhone case offers free 4G data, mobile hotspot, extra battery life

As data costs with major wireless providers like AT&T and Verizon continue to rise, an upstart company named FreedomPop is looking to disrupt the space with free 4G service.

Announcing the launch of the preorder process earlier today, Los Angeles-based FreedomPop is ramping up production on an iPhone case that may cause some consumers to cancel their wireless data plans. The Freedom Sleeve 4G offers 500MB free data each month through Clearwire’s WiMAX network, among other sources. while the case is limited to a selection of major markets, iPhone 4 or 4S owners could hypothetically cancel their 3G data plans and utilize the Freedom Sleeve for 4G speeds. the case will sell for $99 and users can potentially earn more data, up to 1GB per month, through referrals and other programs. any data that a user consumes beyond their allotted amount will cost 1 cent per megabyte. That equals $10 per gigabyte of data, identical to the cost of extra data on major wireless providers.

However, users that utilize less than 500MB per month could potentially break even on the cost of the case after a few months. according to FreedomPop VP of Product Mauricio Sastre, he stated “the timing couldn’t be better for our product. Carriers are throttling data and increasing prices and users are desperate for affordable alternatives. As the mobile industry flexes its joint oligopolistic power, we want to ensure that we are keeping them honest.”

Beyond the speed increase over 3G, the case also acts as a mobile hotspot and allows the user to wirelessly connect up to eight devices to the case. In addition, the iPhone’s battery life is extended up to six hours with the Freedom Sleeve. When plugged into the case, the iPhone connects to the 4G service as a Wi-Fi connection and it’s compatible with Apple’s Facetime.

Anyone that wants to check the availability of the Freedom Sleeve 4G in their market can visit the preorder page and enter in their address. while preorders may receive the case prior to the launch, the Freedom Sleeve 4G is expected to be released sometime between July 1 and September 30. the company will also be launching a beta test of the product soon according to Gigaom.

Samsung Galaxy S3 news round-up: everything you need to know

The new Galaxy S3 is finally here, putting a satisfying end to all the speculation and leaked photos that have been circulating for months on end. We were very excited to finally lay our eyes on the new phone and have tried to cover its launch as extensively as possible. To help you find out what you need to know, let me give you a brief roundup.

Naturally, the first thing you’re going to want to know about is the phone itself. For that, you should head over to our hands on preview by my excellent colleague Luke Westaway. He’ll take you through the S3’s 4.8-inch 720p screen, which promises to be be bold and bright, and of course the phone’s monstrous quad-core processor.

To get a proper look at the S3’s sleek curved design then check out our photo gallery. We’ve gone hands on with both the white and blue versions so you can mull over which colour you prefer before it goes on sale. you should also watch our hands-on video in which CNET UK Godfather Jason Jenkins demonstrates some of the key features of the new blower.

Of course, one of the key questions is, when are you going to be able to get it into your own hands? I’ve been speaking to all the major UK networks who’ve all confirmed that they’ll be offering the phone from 30 May, although none have been able to tell me how much they’re going to charge for it. Phones 4 U will have the phone in stock too, so you can pop over to one of its stores for a quick play.

Let’s keep in mind that despite all the excitement surrounding the S3, it isn’t the only phone in the world. I’ve pit the newbie against the veteran iPhone 4S and the goliath HTC One X to debate which phone might be most suited for you. I also take a look at what things we didn’t get on the S3 that we’d hoped for — are there any omissions that really put you off?

It’s not just about the phone though — it’ll also be available with a whole host of extras including a stylus, speaker docks, desktop chargers, various styles of covers, a car dock and a wireless charging mat. Samsung has also borrowed from the S3’s distinctive design for a new iPod Nano-style Mp3 player which can connect directly to the S3 to transfer music.

How’s that for a bumper crop of info? We’ll be updating the hands-on preview with more information when we get the phone in for a full review, as well as keeping you up-to-date with the latest prices, so make sure to keep it CNET UK.