BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 now ready for download

After touring the exhibition circuit for what seems like an eternity, PlayBook OS 2.0 is finally ready to settle down and make itself available for download. Check for updates via Settings on your tablet and you should see it sitting there, wearing last season's fashions but nevertheless looking every inch the major OTA update that it is. Expect improvements like native email, calendar and contacts, integration with Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, some newfangled Bridge functions, and access to the first crop of Android apps in BB App World. You'll find more details in the PR after the break and how-to demos at the More Coverage link. Enjoy! 

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A USB Typewriter for Tablets

If you love your iPad but want something a little more steampunk, never fear: you can surround your iPad in vintage charm--and touch-typing, too. Meet the USBTypewriter, suitable for giving all your modern technology a bit of a retro feel.

This impressive gadget by Jack Zylkin is an actual old-timey typerwriter, modified to work like a typical USB keyboard for your computer or, even better, a few tablet models. In addition to the typical letters and number keys, it has control, escape, and F1 through F12 keys, plus old-school carriage return. Yes, it still works with paper, too (sorry, printer!).

By the looks of things, you simply plug the typewriter into your computer and start typing to set it up, or slide your tablet into a DIY slot at the back before connecting.

As Jack suggests, the USBTypewriter comes it pretty handy if you want to save a hard copy of any important documents or emails you write. However, the biggest pitfall is the price tag--you can buy yours on the Etsy store for a hefty   33600 .

If you can't afford USBTypewriter, but happen to have an old typewriter stored in the basement, you can buy the conversion kit, which is a faction of the price at  3750. Personally, that option sems cooler as you can really bring an old relic or heirloom closer to modern day standards, rather than leaving it to gather dust.

Despite the price tag, this is quite a beautiful accessory for a tablet device, especially if you prefer to have your iPad, ThinkPad, or even rooted Nook Color stationary. Check out the typewriter's infomercial below to see it in action:

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Microsoft confirms SkyDrive app for Windows 8

Integration to include Metro-style app and the ability to fetch files from across the Web, Microsoft reveals.

SkyDrive, Microsoft's cloud storage product, will be getting a Metro-style app with Windows 8, the company announced today.

Also coming for SkyDrive will be a desktop app for Internet Explorer and the ability to fetch remote files from the Web, the software giant revealed on its Building Window 8 blog.

Microsoft intends for SkyDrive to "evolve with Windows 8 from a website today into a true device cloud for Windows customers," Mike Torres and Omar Shahine, group program managers for SkyDrive, wrote in the post. "With Windows 8, we wanted to make sure that your files would be instantly available and up-to-date as you move between PCs--without configuring add-ons or using a USB drive."

"This will bring a file cloud to every Metro style app, allowing you to open files in your SkyDrive and save them right back to your SkyDrive just like you would on your local hard drive," the pair writes.

The desktop app will allow "easy drag-and-drop upload and download support for SkyDrive, anywhere access to your data, offline access, and the power of Windows Explorer to manage your files and folders."

SkyDrive will also sport a "Fetch" feature that Microsoft says is much more than just synching cloud files with a PC. SkyDrive will "turn your entire PC into your own private cloud, and use its terabytes of local storage to easily access, browse, and stream your files from anywhere by simply fetching them from SkyDrive.com."

The announcement comes on the heels of a preview Apple gave of Mountain Lion that revealed that the next iteration of the operating system will include deep integration with iCloud, Apple's personal cloud storage product.

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Nokia Lumia 800 Entertainment Bundle

Nokia has been given a new lease of life in their partnership with Microsoft, bringing the Windows Phone operating system to the forefront with their Lumia 710 and Lumia 800 smart phones, while relegating Symbian to the back seat. The former will continue to grow in stature, while the latter is set to be more and more obscure. Well, Microsoft and Nokia have come together to announce a spanking new bundle of Nokia devices that will be available on an exclusive basis at Microsoft Store locations around the US.

The Nokia Lumia 800 Entertainment Bundle is set to be officially displayed from February 26 onwards, but store representatives of Microsoft are able to offer an early edition to folks whose patience is not their strongest virtue. We shall take a closer look at what Nokia’s Entertainment Bundle will deliver right after the jump.

Just what does the Nokia Lumia 800 Entertainment Bundle offer right out of the box? Well, you will get the best Nokia Lumia smartphone to date with the acclaimed Lumia 800 smartphone, and your ears will definitely enjoy the audio cues pumped out by the Nokia Purity HD Stereo Headset by Monster. Want to go hands-free whenever you drive or are occupied in the kitchen? The Nokia Luna Bluetooth Headset will step in to fulfil the need here, and if you want to share your favorite tunes with your friends as well as strangers around, the Nokia Play 360° speaker would come in handy.

It is interesting to note that the special-edition bundle will arrive unlocked, sans a contract for $899, and you are able to choose from two color-coordinated collections – one that will feature just sleek black, while the other includes a white Play 360° speaker, whereas the remaining devices come in a vibrant magenta.

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The Swimmer's Talking Heart Rate Monitor

Heart rate monitors are dime a dozen, but how many of them actually talk to you so you need not waste time by taking a glance at it? Well, things are about to change here, with the    8870.00 Swimmer’s Talking Heart Rate Monitor. Of course, looking at your heart rate monitor on the wrist while swimming is going to do nothing but slow you down due to missing a stroke cycle, but with the Swimmer’s Talking Heart Rate Monitor, all of that changes. You can concentrate on slicing through the pool and racking up those laps, while letting this diminutive device that makes you look like a spawn of the Borg speak to you.

You do not even need to wear a telemetry strap or wrist watch, as this 100% waterproof monitor’s clip will attach to an ear lobe that enables it to detect pulse using infrared technology. The bone conduction principle is used to transmit audio to the wearer through the cheek bones into one’s inner ear – similar in nature to Aliph’s Jawbone Bluetooth headset that we have seen in the past. You can choose to have it announce your heart rate in intervals of 5-, 10-, 20-, 30-, or 45-seconds to 1-, 2-, and 5-minutes.

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Continuance Batteries – Give AND Take via USB

We have all been there, completely immersed in a long involved phone call and you hear the dreaded battery-beep. “Are you getting another call?” asks the person on the other end. “No, my battery is going dead.” and then you look around frantically, hoping that by some stretch of luck an electrical outlet will magically appear… and more often than not, it never does. You inform the other party that you are going to lose them, defeated, and ashamed.

Well here is a concept that I really hope comes to pass, The Continuance Battery — designed by Haimo Bao, Hailong Piao, Yuancheng Liu and Xiameng Hu, this rather ordinary looking AA battery isn’t so ordinary after all. Not only is it an earth friendly rechargeable battery that can traditionally power any AA hungry device, but it is charged via USB AND has the ability to add some emergency power to any device that can be charged via USB as well!

“Can you hear me now?” Anyway, it’s only a concept at the moment, but it seems like one of those ideas that could change lots of things, and it would certainly be easy to rotate out a spare Continuance battery in my glove compartment or purse and always have an extra bit of juice when I need it. I don’t know how many times I’ve been searching for a free outlet in a restaurant or movie theater. I don’t often venture into the wilderness, but I guess it would be handy there too!

There has been some discussion about higher discharge rates and lower capacity due to the extra circutry, Blah blah blah, I’m not sure I understand most of it, my electronics knowledge barely extends past a rousing game of “Operation” but I sure hope these guys can figure it out, because I need a few dozen.

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BrailleTouch lets the blind text

Modern smart phones come with touchscreen displays – which is not a bad thing at all, really. Just take a look at the kind of apps and games that have been written for the platform to date and tell me that it isn’t revolutionary in any way. However, while the hard of hearing can always enjoy the use of a smartphone or featurephone because they can see, how about the visually impaired? Georgia Tech believes otherwise, and has come up with BrailleTouch – a Braille-like texting app.

This prototype app for touchscreen mobile devices intends to be the complete solution to all our modern day texting problems, without having to even look at the device’s display at all – which would also bode well for the visually impaired, of course. Mario Romero, Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Interactive Computing (IC) and the project’s principal investigator says, “Research has shown that chorded, or gesture-based, texting is a viable solution for eyes-free written communication in the future, making obsolete the need for users to look at their devices while inputting text on them.”

You can check out just how BrailleTouch works in the video that you see below, and it might also help normal folk to bridge the gap with the visually impaired, since this free open-source app incorporates the Braille writing system. Initial studies that surround BrailleTouch alongside visually impaired participants who are proficient in Braille typing have shown that they are able to input at least half a dozen times the number of words in each minute when compared to other research prototypes that also have the same end game objective in mind – that is, eyes-free texting on a touchscreen display. These users were extremely proficient, being able to reach up to 32 words per minute with an accuracy level of 92%, now how about that? Imagine what kind of speed and accuracy can be achieved when the prototype app is finally polished.

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Robocat's Simple Thermometer

Robocat's Simple Thermometer App, Thermo, Just Got Updated

I reviewed a beautiful thermometer app from Robocat a while back, simply called Thermo. It has just received a pretty good update.

The biggest change is that the app is now universal, so it will run on your iPhone and your iPad. That’s right – the gorgeous thermometer app now has a place on your iPad’s large screen.

In addition, there is also a new History view on the iPad. History is available as an in-app purchase of   50 that allows you to view a graph of what the temperature has been for you over the past week, month, quarter, or year. It’s a great way to keep track of your hometown’s weather over a period of time.

What I loved about Thermo was that it was simple and is one of the most beautiful thermometer apps. It gives you the temperature, and you can quickly see how it compared with the day before.

If you are looking for a great thermometer app to just tell you the temperature, then Thermo is definitely one to check out. It’s available as a free download, and is supported by ads. If you prefer to remove the ads, it is a   50  in-app purchase, along with the History unlock.

What’s New in Version 1.4

✔ Thermo is now Universal! Get your favorite Thermometer on your iPad.

✔ If you thought History was cool on the iPhone, wait till you see it on your iPad!

✔ Minor tweaks and beautifications to History on the iPhone version.

✔ Various bug fixes & winter love from Copenhagen.

More about this app> 

• Category: Weather
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• Updated: Feb 15, 2012
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• Version: 1.4
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• Size: 15.3 MB
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• Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 4.0 or later.
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• Languages: English, Arabic, Bokmål, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Lithuanian, Norwegian Nynorsk, Polish, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish

Download from it from iSTORE

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Real Football 2012

Real Football 2012 is full of little details that soccer fans will enjoy much, as "did you know...?" sentences and quotes at loadings, five difficulty settings from junior to legend, intro movies and trivia questions to earn more coins exchangeable for fields, leagues and improvements for players' prowess. Players earn experience and give you coins for doing what they do best.


Casual gamers will appreciate tip by tip tutorial gaming that allows to learn from scratch, though it's a pity there isn't a tutorial to initiate those players who don't know the basics of soccer (this is a flaw that nearly every sport game shares). It doesn't matter how you look at it: graphics, sound and gameplay are great. It can be a little bit laggy when running on a not top notch device, but it's bearable.


If you check the pros below, you'll see that game's free, with no ads. In fact, there are ads: real companies are announced at the billboards, just like they'd be in a real soccer game. Nearly all licenses are official, except fields. If you run short of in-game currency, you can exchange real money for coins through an in-app purchase. Anyway, you can play for a long while and enjoy it much without needing to spend a cent on it unless you want to play more than three matches in a row: a stamina meter will induce you to spent in-game money on energy drinks.


We could be talking about weather conditions and every single feature that put this game on a level with any portable soccer simulator, even the most well known ones. It's true that some sides have been made easier or have been simplified than in a console game, but it's rather obvious that it's been done for mobile gameplay sake. Daily notifications on your status bar aren't the best deal either, but anyway here we have a great soccer game you won't need to pay for. Five out of five. Now, If I may, it's kickoff time.


Download this game from Android Market

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Free MP3 Downloader

This Free MP3 downloader may be the most simple downloader ever, but that's a virtue these times. This app looks not only for the mp3 but also for the lyrics. Besides this, it works as any other PSE downloader: it fetches songs from "it'd better you don't know where", often misspelled or faked and so on. It's true that if look for free mp3 music, here you'll find a lot. Perhaps it is not as fast as you expected, but free otherwise. If you haven't ever had or have not at this precise moment a mp3 downloader, this is as good as any other. It's free and it's up to you.

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Camera ZOOM FX

Most Android phones sport a high-resolution camera capable of capturing high-resolution photos.  While photos produced from Android phones are good enough, some of you might be fond of doing post-processing to these photos. Hence, you need a good photo-editing apps. The good news is that Android has a couple of good photo-editing, camera-related apps. One of them is Android Slide’s Camera ZOOM FX. Camera ZOOM FX is a feature-rich camera app that not only enhances the performance of the Android phone’s default camera app but also allows you to add special effects and other enhancements to captured photos. The app lets you set several photo effects before or after taking a picture. You choose from Normal Camera, ColorFX, MirrorFX, DistortFX, and FrameFX. Each of these general photo effects feature various options. For instance in FrameFX, you can add vignette, spotlight, polaroid and more to your photos.
The camera app works fast and automatically fires up your phone’s LED Flash when taking photos in a not-so-lit environment. After taking a photo, you can either save it to your phone’s photo album, share it with your friends through your phone’s various communication app (Twitter, Bluetooth, email, Facebook and more), or upload the photo to a cloud storage service.

I’ve tried several photo-editing and camera-related apps in various platforms and I would have to say that Camera ZOOM FX for Android is one of the best. For Android, it’s probably the best camera app that you can find from the Android Market.  It supports Android 1.5 to  2.3 and will cost you 240 only.

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