Latest Video: Bleeding Edge TV 357: Sonos Controller for iPad at GDGT Seattle event
Check out our preview of the Sonos Controller for iPad app from the Seattle GDGT event!Play Video
Ballmer unhappy with iPad sales figures, says Windows slates are job one
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Handhelds, Microsoft
Microsoft is frustrated by the success of Apple’s iPad. Well, who wouldn’t be if you were once the greatest thing to ever happen to computer technology? Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer let the world know that he is quite jealous of the iPad’s success in the market, quoted as saying that the iPad sold “certainly more [units] than I’d like them to have sold.”
This open admission of envy doesn’t come without a back up plan however, as Ballmer unseals his lips just enough to mention a future Microsoft tablet in the works. The only other tidbit of info he let slip was that “the operating system is called Windows.” That’s a no brainer.
Whether or not Microsoft’s Windows 7 tablet will be able to capitalize on the iPad’s success and beat it at it’s own game is unclear at this point, but Ballmer has high hopes. “It is job one urgency. No one is sleeping at the switch,” states Ballmer in reference to the Microsoft tablet. Expect this Windows 7 based tablet to hit the market in time for the holiday sales rush.
Read More 
| Cnet via The Next Web
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Redbox begins Blu-ray rentals for $1.50 per night
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: HDTV, Home Entertainment
It seems Redbox is finally catching up with the times, as they are now offering Blu-ray rentals in 13,300 kiosks. They plan on having Blu-ray availability in all 26,000 Redbox locations by the fall, but for now it seems those on the West Coast are in luck. We’ve seen a bunch of California and Seattle-area zip code kiosks stocked and ready to serve up that high definition 1080p rental goodness. Among the launch titles available are The Book of Eli, Green Zone, and Bounty Hunter. If you want to check and see if any Redbox kiosks near you are offering Blu-ray titles, they’ve got a way for you to check for that, but it won’t tell you which specific titles are available.
Newegg Deal: $50 off iPod touch
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Hot Deals, Music
Newegg‘s got a great deal on the 8GB iPod touch going on right now. If you buy an iPod touch in conjunction with the Newegg promo code “APPLE727B” they will knock $50 off of the total cost, bringing the total down from $199 to $149. That’s a nice bargain for entry level access to the world of the App Store. Go ahead and check out the Newegg iPod touch sale yourself. The deal ends on August 8.
As always, you can find all sorts of Newegg promo code and deals on our forums.
Read More | Newegg iPod touch promo code
OmniFocus for iPad finally released, worth the wait
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Productivity, iPad Apps, New Apps, Above $10
The good folks over at The Omni Group make what many consider to be the definitive GTD and task management app out there in OmniFocus. We use it with great regularity on the Mac desktop, and snapped it up immediately as soon as OmniFocus for iPhone was released. When the iPad launched, the one app that we knew we wanted was a native OmniFocus client. The Omni Group said they’d release it when it was done, opting to go feature complete rather than releasing a bare bones version and updating it incrementally with new features. Well, today OmniFocus for iPad launched, and we’ve gotta say, it’s impressive.
Like OmniFocus on iPhone, the app is location-aware, meaning that you can have it tell you what tasks on your list can be completed nearby, wherever you are. New to the app are a new streamlined task review mode, a Map feature, task forcasting, and more. Here’s the main feature list:
- Quick Entry for fast, easy task capture
- Task inbox where items can be stored for future processing
- Detailed task options like start and due dates, repeating schedules, and audio note and photo attachments
- Organize tasks into projects and folders, with as much hierarchy as is needed
- Categorize and view tasks by contexts, or work modes (ie, “Phone” for all phone call-related to-dos)
- Subtasks, for breaking large tasks into manageable steps
- Built-in search for locating any task in your database
- Cloud sync: synchronize with OmniFocus for Mac and OmniFocus for iPhone
- Location-based contexts: the Map makes it easy to generate and view tasks based on current or assigned locations
- Forecasts: see a weekly or daily view of all due tasks
- Built-in reviewing that helps you stay current on all your projects
The app sells for $39.99, so it definitely isn’t an impulse buy. However, if you are looking for an app that will keep you on top of everything in your work and home life, and sync between iPad, iPhone, and Mac desktop, we can’t recommend OmniFocus enough. It’s available now in the App Store.
Read More | OmniFocus for iPad
Bleeding Edge TV 357: Sonos Controller for iPad at GDGT Seattle event
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Gizmatic, Accessories, Apple, Features, Handhelds, Podcasts, Software, Videocasts, Videos
The crew from GDGT rolled into town a couple of days ago, and our pals from Sonos were there to show off their upcoming Sonos Controller for iPad remote control app. We talk with Sonos rep Thomas Meyer about what makes their iPad app special and unique, and show the differences between it and the smaller Sonos Controller for iPhone. We definitely can’t wait to see this one hit the App Store, which they say will happen before the end of the year.
To use the Sonos Controller for iPad, you’ll need at least one Sonos zone. We love the product, and if you wanna get started enjoying the world of Sonos, might we recommend the Sonos S5?
Here's how to get the show:|Download| - iPod-formatted H.264
|Download| - Apple TV High Resolution
|Download| - MPEG-4
Nintendo DS R4 Cards Now Illegal In UK
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Hardware, Mods/Hacks, Nintendo, Nintendo DS, Portable/Mobile
In an attempt to thwart rampant piracy of their Nintendo DS line of video games, Nintendo has been combating the use of the R4 card and other methods of pirating for years. Finally, Nintendo has seen a tremendous victory come about in the form of the banning of R4 cards in the United Kingdom.
Previously, the R4 card was used (or supposed to used at least) to install homebrew games that indie developers would cook up for the DS. However, the R4 could also be loaded with easily accessible retail versions of Nintendo DS titles from major developers posted online. This posed a big problem to not only Nintendo, but to the developers who saw a decline in their sales. With digital downloads of their games available online, and easily transferable to one of these R4 cards, it seemed that their games didn’t stand a chance at retail. Why purchase something when you can get it for free?
In light of this misuse of R4 cards, a UK court has ruled in favor of Nintendo, making the R4 card illegal in the UK. While this comes as a huge victory to Nintendo, we must shed a tear for the indie homebrew developers who actually used the R4 cards for its intended purpose.
Nintendo had this to say:
“In the UK alone, there have been over 100,000 game copying devices seized since 2009. Nintendo initiates these actions not only on its own behalf, but also on behalf of over 1,400 video game development companies that depend on legitimate sales of games for their survival.”
Read More | MCV UK
Gamestop Buys Kongregate
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Culture, Downloadable Content, Editorial, Internet, PC
Kongregate, a community with a firm back bone made up of thousands upon thousands of free games, is about to get even more backing thanks to its recent fusion with gaming giant Gamestop. But will this unlikely pairing hurt the Kongregate gaming community more than it will help? And what exactly does this mean for your beloved local Gamestop?
Kongregate (or Kong for short) averages over 10 million active users with more than 23 million hours of logged game time a month, and puts forward games provided by eager young developers. Indie developers are supported by Kong not only in having a platform to present their wares to such a large community, but also by given a share in ad and transaction revenue. The owners Jim and Emily Greer wholeheartedly support this community, and do their best to give developers and gamers the best possible community for them. They also believe that Gamestop wholeheartedly support the Kong community as well.
Click to continue reading Gamestop Buys Kongregate
Read More | Kongregate via Gamasutra
Apple Magic Trackpad unboxing
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, PC, Peripherals
A few days ago, Apple introduced their Magic Trackpad to the world. It’s a multi-touch wireless trackpad device that mimics the trackpads found on MacBook and MacBook Pro computers, but optimized for the Mac mini, iMac, and Mac Pro. We snatched one up as soon as they went on sale, and are currently in the process of reviewing it. In the meantime, though, we took a bunch of Magic Trackpad photos and put them up in our Magic Trackpad unboxing gallery. Go ahead and take a look, this thing is sexy.
You can pick up a Magic Trackpad for $69.
Gallery: Apple Magic Trackpad unboxing
Mobiscope: Your iPhone Surveillance Camera
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Photography, Utilities, $9.99
Ever feel the prying urge to know what’s going on inside your home when you leave your teenage son all alone for the weekend? Or just to check up on that sketchy baby sitter that you suspect is engaged in the larceny of your video game collection? How about just to watch public accessible surveillance cameras around the world for your own kicks? Whatever your fancy, Mobiscope wants to give it you. In real time. On your smartphone.
While the home surveillance technology is not new by any means, Mobiscope gives wannabe spies on a budget a great way to start. All that you need to begin your snoop-tastic adventure is a simple web camera, and the Mobiscope app installed on your smartphone.
If one camera isn’t enough, you can access up to four well placed camera feeds at one time! The mobile app allows you to check up in real time what is going on in your home, or someone else’s (hey, no judgement here!). Spying can be hard, and Mobiscope knows this. That’s why the app lends you the ability to send an alert to your smart device when motion is detected so you don’t miss a beat! What’s more, the video feed can be recorded and viewed in real time with sound on the desktop edition, and on BlackBerry.
This app will run iPhone users just $9.99, while Windows, Palm, Android, and BlackBerry users will have to fork over $19.95. If spying is the name of your game, then you will definitely want to equip yourself with this little stealthy on-the-go gem.
Read More | Mobiscope App
Amazon introduces a thinner, lighter Wi-Fi Kindle for $139
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Hot Deals, Wireless / WiFi
This evening, Amazon introduced us to their new Wi-Fi Kindle ebook reader, and we’ve gotta say, we think they’ve done it again. Hot on the heels of the release of the newly redesigned Kindle DX, the new Kindle is 21% smaller and 15% lighter than the Kindle 2. You don’t lose out on screen real estate though, since the Kindle keeps its 6-inch display size, although the e-ink screen now sports 50% better contrast and 20% faster page refreshes. It now packs 4GB of storage space, which can hold up to 3,500 books. Even better, though, is that Amazon is pricing this at just $139. That’s a significant price drop from the Kindle 2. If you want the new Wi-Fi model, but also want the free 3G connectivity, Amazon will be selling a 3G model for $189, which is still a huge savings from what the Kindle 2 sells for. Here are the links for those who want to pre-order:
The new Kindle will be released on August 27th, and if you pre-order, you’ll receive it that same day. It’s available in both white and graphite.
Read More | Amazon Kindle
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