Tag: CES 2012 »

ON Voicefeed from Orange Vallee has a pretty compelling pitch. "You wouldn't greet your partner the same way that you greet your boss - so why treat everybody the same when it comes to your voicemail?" But thanks to the newest update, released to coincide with CES 2012, voicemail customization is just the start of what this app can do.

The biggest new feature is the inclusion of the new On Chat app. Now, in addition to organizing voicemails, the app integrates with Facebook and Twitter's messaging services. All voicemails and messages can be viewed and shared in a single conversation screen and text can be copied from one source and pasted into another. Using the new menu tab users can handle notifications easier and added map functionality allows users to locate their contacts' location. All of this is presented through new interface changes like the conversation screen's bubble design.

The free version of ON Voicefeed limits users to three personal greetings and one generic greeting. For $9.99, users can lift that restriction. The update is available now.

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At this point it pretty much goes without saying that TomTom is one the most widely used GPS services on the market.  As part of this expansion, they brought their prowess in the navigation world to iOS.  As one might assume, this was a lucrative decision for the company that has paid off for consumers tenfold.

One thing that TomTom has been great about doing is updating their software with different and unique pieces of functionality, features lacking in the competition.  At CES they previewed their upcoming 1.10 update, and the name of the game is social networking.  The core software will now link up with Twitter and Facebook to share destinations and arrival times, all without ever having to leave the application.  Heck, they even made this data available for transfer via text message and email as well!

While this is not exactly in the realm of transportation directions, it certainly makes interesting uses of features already on iOS devices.  We will have more information on the update when it nears release sometime this quarter.  Until then, keep both hands on the wheel.

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If there was one thing that the iPad had working against it, it was the lack of cell service.  Sure, it has iMessage and some have 3G, but sometimes a two minute phone call can communicate the same amount of information as twenty texts.  This is why the new app Line2 HD is so groundbreaking, because it successfully turns an iPad into a phone.

Accessible via both wifi and 3G, the application keeps users in constant connection with their own personal phone line through the Line2 service.  Complete with caller ID, the ability to call out, receive text messages, and even voice mail, the monthly cost for the service is a mere $9.95 a month or $99.50 for the entire year.  Though this may sound costly, just remember what we all shell out on a monthly basis just to pay cell phone bills.  In the long run it could actually be quite the money saver.

This functionality is just the tip of the iceberg, so check out the video below and give the free app a download.  After all, with a free seven day trail, what do you have to lose?

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These days it is getting very hard to find something good on television.  Between quality content getting cut and Kardashians become even more prevalent, it seems like the deck is stacked against the casual viewer.  But what if there were a tool that tracked your preferences and actually could recommend content that you might enjoy?  This is exactly what the newest revision to the Peel app can do, along with making that TV Guide all but obsolete.

The new 2.0 update to the application is now leveraging the power of social networks to connect users with even more customized content.  All that needs to be done is log in with someone's Facebook account and the suggestions will start rolling in from other users and friends. This is a great way to see how your tastes compare to friends and maybe discover a hidden gem or two that might have otherwise never been given a chance.  Take the free app for a spin and let us know what you think!

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4iiii Innovation has introduced a new set of glasses for athletes, called the Sportiiiis. The Sportiiiis' strength, especially for iPhone users, will come when the glasses are paired with ANT+ devices. ANT+ is a hardware specification for wireless sensor devices, such as heart rate monitors, that can interact with devices like the Sportiiiis. The app can be used to configure the way ANT+ devices interact with the lights on the Sportiiiis; for example, certain lights can come on at certain heart rates on a heart rate monitor. Or, an ANT+-based pedometer could be used to track distance using the LED lights. Up to 8 sensors can be paired with the Sportiiiis, with the ability to switch between them with a double tap of the unit. These functions can all be programmed in from 4iiii's upcoming app. The Sportiiis will be available soon from 4iiii's website, and are on sale at their CES 2012 booth in the North Hall's ANT+ Pavilion.

Just as the death of arcades hasn't stopped Ion Audio from putting out cool, new iCade accessories, they aren't letting the decline of games like Guitar Hero keep them from getting into the plastic instrument race. However, like their previous Piano Apprentice iPhone accessory, the upcoming Guitar Apprentice isn't a game. Instead, it's a musical teaching tool.

The device is a full-sized guitar shell that the iPad docks into. The onscreen frets light up to show players where they need to place their fingers and whether or not they are strumming the right chords. From there, players can learn and record songs with compatible apps like GarageBand and Ion Audio's own upcoming Guitar Apprentice app.

The Guitar Apprentice accessory will soon hit retail for $99 in America before arriving in the rest of the world. If this works, imagine what other instruments Ion Audio could plug an iPad into. The second image shows that a drum accessory is in the works. What else could be coming? Saxophone Apprentice anyone?

It is that magic time of the year where electronics manufacturers trot out their prize show ponies at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show.  Aside from being the first big trade show of the year, it is also used as an opportunity for companies to debut their new products.  After the standout success of ION Audio's iCade, at last year's show, it only seemed like a matter of time before we were treated to their next innovative takes on the peripheral.

Today they were proud to announce that they have not one, but THREE new additions to the iCade line, two of which are aimed at making better use of your more portable iOS devices.  Here is the full rundown of what you can expect to see in 2012:

iCade Jr

If it wasn't obvious from simply eyeballing it, this is a miniaturized version of the original iCade cabinet that started it all.  Featuring a fully articulated joystick, the device also has four front facing buttons as well as four that are around the back of the cabinet's assembly.  Why exactly are there four buttons around back?  Who knows, but you can bet that the first person to figure it out could stand to make quite a bit of money from the App Store.  Meant to nestle a iPod Touch or iPhone inside, this is perfect for the arcade junkie on the go.

iCade Mobile

Just in case you couldn't tell from the image above, this next re-envisioning of the iCade brand retrofits an iPhone or iPod Touch into something that more resembles the form factor of Sony's early iterations on the PlayStation Portable.  What it lacks in joystick it makes up for in a D-pad, which could be either a really good or really bad thing, depending upon the quality of the materials used to construct the device.  Based purely upon the image above there also appears to be some sort of ergonomic hand grips behind the molding of the chassis, which should hopefully ease the wrist strain that has previously been associated with gaming on the smaller iOS hardware.

iCade Core

Remember everything that you liked about the iCade?  Well what if we told you that you could have the same functionality, without having to haul around that gigantic cabinet everywhere?  The iCade Core will attempt to do this by removing the exterior case assembly and focus on keeping the form factor to a minimum.  Simply put, all of the core mechanical pieces of the previous monolith have been shrunk down to fit into a glorified joysick arcade pad.  In the back of the station is a grove and docking station where gamers can securely dock their iPad and get back adventuring down retro gaming memory lane.

These all look like great additions to the already outstanding iCade family.  What could be coming next an even smaller model for your iPod Nano?  We sure hope not, but only time will tell...