Adrenaline Shot: The Aston Martin DB9 Special

James Bond started it with the DB5. Let us take an inside look at the latest iteration of the DB series, the DB9.

Showing posts with label Apple. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Apple. Show all posts

Cool App: Connect

In today's crazy world where social networking sites are a dime a dozen, how does one keep track of all their connections? What if you wanted to know more about your connections, be it through Facebook or Linkedin and the ilk? How about WHERE your connections are? How about getting automatically notified when one of them happens to be in your town? Mindful of the fact that the location based feature has been around for a while through Google Maps or Foursquare, this is the first time the data is pulled from all your social networking contacts into a single unifying and visually appealing format. Enter Connect.

In their own words, "Today, through email, mobile phones and social media, we're interacting with many times more people than we were even a decade ago. And as increasingly mobile people ourselves, we just keep creating new relationships - every time we attend a conference, switch jobs, or join a friend's dinner party.

Whereas many companies are all about helping you find new people, our aim is to help you make the most of the relationships you already have."

Using Connect is as simple as it gets:
  1. Visit Connect's site or download the iOS app (for now, the Android version is in the works). 
  2. Sign up. 
  3. Connect to your social networks. 
  4. Connect will then display a visual map with all your contacts around the world. It will also notify you — unless you specify otherwise — when a friend travels to your city.
Currently available on the web and through the iTunes Store, the company is also working on an Android version of the app. Judging by what the company has achieved in such a short time span (they are less than 2 years old), we can't wait to see what else they have in store in the upcoming months!

Cool App: Trello

There are quite a few apps out there which tout themselves as the 'IT' solution when it comes to Agile project management. After having used several apps, we have definitely come across the one tool which is by far the easiest to set up and use. Not to mention the fact that you don't just have to use it for Agile project management. You can even use it to keep track of all your on going activities, their status, due dates and so on. Enter Trello.

Trello is a collaboration tool that organizes your projects into boards. In one glance, Trello tells you what's being worked on, who's working on what, and where something is in a process. A board is your product or project that needs to be tracked. The good thing is that a board can have a variety of uses and mean anything you want it to mean. You can have multiple boards, create lists, attach documents and so on. You can create each list to mean a step on a workflow and include cards - a new feature, a bug, a client, anything really. Members can add themselves to cards, start conversations, create checklists , vote etc. You can also assign color coded labels to your cards. Once again what they stand for is completely up to you.

There is absolutely no system setup required to use the tool, but you will need to perform some minor setup once you login to Trello before it becomes meaningful to you. It is so simple and intuitive that it will take you less than 10 minutes to get going. All you have to do is sign up at Trello's site and you are good to go. Best of all Trello also has mobile apps for Android and iOS. For free. The mobile interface is absolutely fantastic and is just as easy to use as the web based version. There were only a very few activities that we were not able to do on the mobile app compared to the web version. But it doesn't take away from the ease of use one bit. We're just wondering how come we didn't know about this tool any sooner!

Upgrading to OS X Mountain Lion will be a walk in the park

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference 2012 just got done. A number of announcements were made (don't worry, nothing about the next iPhone), new products were revealed (like the MacBook Pro) and the next version of Apple's operating system, OS X Mountain Lion was also introduced (iOS 6 for mobile devices was also introduced). The successor to Lion and Snow Leopard, Mountain Lion is slated for release in July 2012. Once it does become available, and you are interested in upgrading your existing system (assuming you already have a Mac and after paying for it of course), doing so is a walk in the park. 

Here is how you can upgrade your machine once Mountain Lion is out:
  1. Make sure your Mac can run Mountain Lion. Your Mac must be one of the following models: iMac (Mid 2007 or newer), MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer), MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer), MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer), Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer), Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer). If you are running Lion, you can find out if your current Mac qualifies by clicking the Apple icon at the top left of your screen, choosing About This Mac, then clicking More Info.
  2. Make sure you have Lion or the latest version of Snow Leopard. While you have the About This Mac window open, check what version of OS X your Mac is running. If you are running Lion (10.7.x), you’re ready to update to Mountain Lion. If you are running Snow Leopard (10.6.x), update to the latest version of OS X Snow Leopard before you purchase OS X Mountain Lion from the Mac App Store. Click the Apple icon and choose Software Update to install Snow Leopard v10.6.8, the latest version.
  3. Download OS X Mountain Lion from the Mac App Store when it’s available in July.
  4. Open the Mac App Store from your Dock to buy and download Mountain Lion. Then follow the onscreen instructions to install it.
  5. Enjoy OS X Mountain Lion :)
In the meanwhile, check out the features and technical specifications of OS X Mountain Lion.

Source: Apple.com

Analyzed: The new iPad

It is April 27th. And that means the new iPad is out in the Indian market. We got a first look at Apple's newest creation. It is easy to confuse the new iPad with its predecessor, the iPad 2. It looks just the same. But once you turn the new iPad on, you will know you are looking at something different. All the hype about the updated retina display on the new iPad is not without merit. It looks fantastic. We put the new iPad beside our iPad 2 and it made the older version look very dated. Mind you the display on the iPad 2 is also very good at a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels but that new display at 2048 x 1536 pixels resolution just blows it out of the water. It makes everything look so crisp and you won't notice the pixelation that occurs in the iPad 2. The sad part is there aren't too many apps that take advantage of this updated resolution right now, but we are sure that will change over time. We wouldn't be surprised if this resolution becomes a standard. Watching videos, playing games, video chatting or just scrolling through pictures is just a beautiful experience. 

Apple has also updated the camera to a 5MP version which is leaps and bounds better than the almost worthless <1MP version in the iPad 2. The pictures you take on the new camera are very crisp and the colors very vivid. All this is just accentuated by the retina display on the new iPad. Coupled with the quad-core A5X processor using the new iPad is just so smooth and seamless. Not once did we notice any lag while scrolling, pinching or swiping. This has definitely become an Apple trademark. The battery life has also been updated (so they say) to last for about 10 hours of continuous use.

We didn't really see a crowd at any of the stores selling Apple products in India like we usually do in the US on launch day (or before), but that doesn't mean it isn't selling well. Initial reports suggest certain stores have sold out all the versions they had in stock. The sales figures are only expected to go up. The new iPad is currently on sale from Rs. 30,500 (~$610) to Rs. 50,900 (~$1020) depending on the model you choose.

Google Redesigned

Are you one of those people that constantly look for skins or themes? We definitely are. When we began thinking about this topic, we looked at a few of the themes that we currently use and came up with the one that completely changes the look and feel of an application and is one of our favorites as well. We have been using it since 2009 and have not been disappointed. The theme is called Google Redesigned. Actually it is more of an add-on to Firefox (and unfortunately only for Firefox and Google Chrome at this time) more than anything else. In marketing terms, Google Redesigned is a Mozilla Firefox extension that fully redesigns the look and feel of popular Google services using Cascading StyleSheet (CSS) files which are loaded on the browser. And by popular Google services, it changes the look of Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Reader. In addition to getting a very streamline interface, you still keep the settings you choose within the Google services even once the add-on has been enabled.

The Google Redesigned add-on is available at the Mozilla add-ons site. The developers have included a wealth of information on their site as well. Once you download Google Redesigned for Firefox it should be enabled automatically. If it doesn't you can manually enable it through the Add-ons Manager in Firefox.

Are there any cool themes that you use? Do share them with us!

New iPad India launch date confirmed

Looks like the wait is finally coming to an end for the eager beavers in India. Apple has announced that the new iPad will hit the Indian market (along with other countries) on April 27th, 2012. As per the announcement from Apple, the new iPad, the third generation of its category defining mobile device, will arrive in South Korea and 11 additional countries on Friday, April 20. The new iPad features a stunning new Retina display, Apple’s new A5X chip with quad-core graphics and a 5 megapixel iSight camera with advanced optics for capturing amazing photos and 1080p HD video. The new iPad still delivers the same all-day 10 hour battery life while remaining amazingly thin and light. They go on to state that in addition to South Korea, the new iPad also will be available beginning on Friday, April 20 in Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malaysia, Panama, St Maarten, Uruguay and Venezuela. Beginning on Friday, April 27, the new iPad will be available in Colombia, Estonia, India, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, South Africa and Thailand.

The pricing of the new iPad will be as follows:

Wi-Fi only
16GB: Rs. 30,500 (~$610)
32GB: Rs. 36,500 (~$730)
64GB: Rs. 42,500 (~$850)

Wi-Fi + 4G
16GB: Rs. 38,900 (~$780)
32GB: Rs. 44,900 (~$900)
64GB: Rs. 50,900 (~$1020)

Owing to the launch of the new iPad, Apple has dropped the prices of the iPad 2 in India with the 16GB Wi-Fi version available for Rs. 24,500 (~$490) and Rs. 32,900 (~$660) for the 16GB Wi-Fi + 3G model.


So while you wait, check out some of our previous articles on the iPad. See how the new iPad is manufactured in China. You can also read our review on the iPad 2 (we'll have a review of the new iPad as well). And check out a quick compare between the new iPad and the iPad2.

Inside Foxconn and the new iPad assembly line

It is not every day one gets to visit the factories where the new iPads are made. Apple CEO Tim Cook's trip to the factory was well documented especially considering the issues related to worker treatment and pay and factory conditions that were raised in media time and time again. Marketplace.org's Rob Schmitz got an exclusive look inside the factory and the surroundings. This is part of a series on the factory conditions at Foxconn's Longhua plant. Take a look at the link after the video for more on the series.


What's next for the Angry Birds?

If you own a smartphone, doesn't matter what kind, you have heard of Angry Birds. The game is available across all market places, the makers have collaborated with movie producers, they were named the #1 developer of 2012, they got their logo on the helmet of a Formula 1 driver and Angry Birds is the most downloaded/famous app right now. So what's next for this crack team from Finland? An animated series of course! You heard that right. Angry Birds is to be turned into an animated series, game designers Rovio have confirmed. The successful smartphone app will be made into 52 short episodes that will be released on "all possible platforms". The company first revealed it was working on a series of short videos last October. The animated series is expected to be released this Fall. A film version of the game also in the works, first announced in 2011, will not be released until at least 2015.

Rovio, the maker of the Angry Birds franchise, which is based in Finland, bought an animation studio based in Helsinki last year to work on projects outside gaming. Angry Birds has now been downloaded more than 700 million times across all platforms and its latest game, Angry Birds Space, is number one in nearly 100 app stores across the world.

Which version are you currently playing?

Get better deals on the not-so-new gadgets

While buying the latest tablet, MP3 player or Notebook, it may be more prudent to wait for a few months and get it with better software for a lesser price.

While it's difficult to prevent a technophile from buying a gadget soon after its launch, those who want to put their money to better use might find it beneficial to wait. Forget the hype and hoopla because more often than not, doing so helps you bag a much better deal. This is true not just in terms of money but also the goodies that come with the device. Here's a look at how patience can pay.


Is the new iPad a good buy compared to the iPad 2?

The world waited with bated breath until last week to hear Apple's announcement on the successor of the industry leading iPad 2. Now that the cat is out of the bag, how does the new iPad stack up against the iPad 2. That's a question a lot of people would be looking to answer. This is our take on it.

Mac Keyboard Shortcuts

If you recall, we did a write up on Windows Keyboard Shortcuts some time ago. We figured the Mac OS also warranted its own write up. We have a combination of machines and gadgets at Hapless Geek ranging from an Acer Aspire One NetBook to the MacBookPro and like most power users, we prefer using the keyboard almost entirely while working. Note: For graphical work we still prefer a mouse or a pen tablet.


A brief history of the Apple Logo

It is one of the most iconic logos of all time. Apple seems like a strange name for a computer company and certainly an original one. The origin of its logo or brand are among the most discussed and speculated.

Analyzed: Apple iPad 2

Looks like Christmas came early this year. The much awaited sequel from Apple is finally here. It is different. A lot different than the first one. It is slimmer, lighter, quicker and looks better. It is the new iPad. And it has already sold out. Such is the power the Apple moniker wields over the world market today. With soaring demand and share prices, Apples has some big shoes to fill (its own).

Under the hood a lot has changed. the iPad 2 has a new processor, front (VGA) and rear cameras (5MP HD), HDMI out and a couple of new sensors that will help with some of the new applications Apple is introducing along with the new iPad. Though lighter than its predecessor, it is still heavier than the comparable Samsung Galaxy Tab. The display resolution remains at 1024x768 but the processor is different which makes for a slightly better viewing experience. Multitasking is a breeze with the 1GB RAM and A5 chip (built in-house by Apple) that comes with the iPad. As for storage, the usual 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants have not changed. 

You still get all the wonderful support from the App Store, but at a price. Aside from the Motorola Xoom (which has better hardware albeit at a steep price), the iPad cost will definitely be a factor. Ranging from $499 to $699 for the WiFi only models depending on the storage size, it is definitely not cheap. The price goes up from $629 to an astounding $829 for the WiFi + 4G versions! Those are laptop and desktop replacement prices. But in the end that won't matter. Despite their prices, all Apple products seem to be flying off the shelves. And we are sure the iPad 2 will be no exception.

Analyzed: 13" MacBook Pro

We got our hands on the 13.3" model of the Apple MacBook Pro and it does not disappoint. It is a big upgrade from the previous version and comes loaded with a lot of goodies. Upgrades include a larger battery, better display and a faster processor. We'll take a closer look at Apple's newest creation.