Saturday, June 30, 2012

Apps for the summer travel season

The summer travel season is here and that means it's time to load up your car, your credit card and your mobile phone or tablet. 

Both Apple’s Apps Store and Google Play are loaded with programs that can make travel safer, smoother, and more enjoyable, whether you're heading across country or across an ocean.

You may already have some of the well-known travel apps like Kayak for checking air fares or TripAdvisor for hotel and restaurant reviews. I've tested a few others that are worth a look even though they are, shall we say, off the beaten path. Check them out in my column at MyWell-Being.com.




Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Book review: My New iPad

All I wanted was a simple task: drag and drop some digital photos from my Windows PC to my iPad. I had done it with videos and iTunes, but I got stalled trying to do the same with still pictures. I decided to consult the iPad manual but then I remembered - Apple didn't give me one.

Instead, I got the bad news from a handy independent guide: My New iPad, the 3rd edition of Wallace Wang's user guide published by No Starch Press ($13.61 at amazon.com). The book has a quick and cogent explanation of how to use iTunes to sync photos from designated directories on your desktop computer. There's no explanation of the drag-and-drop process because it can't be done; Apple doesn't allow it.

The book covers the things that iPads can do with just enough detail to get you feeling comfortable. The chapters are packed with color screen shots and each segments starts by showing you the icons for the apps or functions that you'll be using. Along with the basics, Wang explains more esoteric features like the four-finger gesture and how to customize Spotlight, a search option that I didn't know existed.

Wang doesn't go beyond the iPad basics. You won't learn how to link the Contacts app to Google's contacts or how to use add-on devices like Apple camera connection plug. But My new iPad is a solid resource for new arrivals or anyone who wants to learn more about their device.

Get more details about the book or download a free chapter in PDF format at the No Starch Press website.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Sharp's super-sized AQUOS

Just how wide it that wall where you want to hang your next big-screen TV? Sharp's latest and biggest set clocks in with a 90-inch diagonal picture. The AQUOS LC-90LE745U LED TV is nearly 4 feet tall with a width of 6 feet 8 inches. It weighs 141 pounds, not bad for a TV that size.

The TV incorporates Sharp's SmartCentral technology, which offer access to popular apps and video on demand services like Netflix, YouTube, CinemaNow, Hulu Plus and VUDU. It also has web browsing and Skype capability and built-in Wi-Fi.

The big guy was introduced this week in New York. Sharp said the TV is available now at "select retailers" where you'll need a big checkbook for a big TV. The suggested retail price is $10,999.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Plug, pay and drive in Paris

Small fleets of pay-as-you-drive electric cars have found a spot on the crowded streets of Paris. We saw these Autiolib' vehicles around the corner from our hotel on Rue de Rivoli.

The rental service started with more than 1,200 cars and parking spots where they rest for recharge.

A subscription cost €10 a day or €15 a week. A recent newspaper story said soaring insurance and parking costs have already persuaded 25% of French citizens to cut back or give up on using their cars.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Au revoir mon ami

We are planning a trip to Paris and London this summer, so I have my iPad loaded with Speakeasy French ($1.99 in the Apps Store). I think I'll be able to say Plus le vin s'il vous plaît. Unfortunately, I haven't found an app that will teach us to speak Brit. 

Some of the other apps we are counting on:

Lonely Planet guides (free)  has condensed versions of the full guidebooks for London, Paris, Rome, New York City and Las Vegas.

oMaps ($1.99) lets you download a store full street maps for major cities or regions. Like Google maps, the oMaps show hotels, restaurants and attractions and they let you all a pinpoint for locations that you choose. Having the map offline means you can use them when you're out or range of the Internet or when you want to avoid roaming charges.

Lately we don't go anywhere without TripAdvisor. Like the website, the free mobile versions deliver profiles and reviews of hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions and so far, they've never steered us wrong.
  
  


 

New Galaxy phone will talk and beam

Samsung's new Gallaxy S III Android phone, which goes on sale in about two weeks, will get a lot of attention for S Voice, a speech recognition feature similar to Siri to the iPhone.

I was more interested in another feature called S Beam, which lets users quickly transfer photos, videos and documents from one phone to another. Samsung says a 1GB movie file can be moved in about three minutes.

I remember when Palm PDAs could do that same trick using RF beams. You could also pick up documents, like meeting agenda, from a central transmitter in a kiosk.

Samsung's feature sounds promising, but one early review says it will only work with other Galaxy phone. That would be a big disappointment.

Verizon and AT&T are both accepting pre-orders on their websites. Prices start at $199 with a contract.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

New game gear coming from the Big 3

The Big Three in the gaming game all had hardware news to share at this week's E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. Sony introduced the Wonderbook, Microsoft revealed a technology called Smartglass and Nintendo delivered more details about the Wii U.


Sony Wonderbook

The new book-like peripheral for the PlayStation 3 uses a TV and the PlayStation Move system to enhance stories and games. The first titles to use the system will be a The Book of Spells from the Harry Potter franchise. Written in part by J.K. Rowling, the book will let users conjure up virtual spells by using the Playstation Move controller as a wand.

Sony also announced a racing wheel controller for Move driving games and a deal to bring PlayStation games to Android tablets and HTC mobile phone handsets.



Xbox SmartGlass

Microsoft's SmartGlass will allow users to control an Xbox 360 using a smartphone, tablet or PC. The technology connects the Xbox console to computers running Windows 8 and to Apple iPads, Android, and Windows phone devices.

While watching a movie or TV show delivered through the Xbox to your main screen, a connected device will serve as "second screen" displaying a cast list, production notes or interactive features. Some of Microsoft's partners that will deliver the extra content include Nickelodeon, Univision, Paramount and ESPN.



Nintendo Wii U

Nintendo revealed some more details about the Wii U, the handheld console that is scheduled to be available late this year. The U will be able to stream Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube and Amazon Video on Demand. The company also announced several new games that will take advantage of the U. Nintendoland will have games features characters from the Donkey Kong and Zelda lines, among others. There will be special versions of Assassin’s Creed 3, Mass Effect 3 and Batman Arkham City along with Zombi-U, a game that takes a picture of your face and turns you into the star of a horror movie.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

The Swiss Army Knife of grilling gadgets

The quest for the best grilling tools can be as daunting as the search for the best rib rub. Too often, my grill becomes a resting place for a whole stack of forks, flippers and other utensils.

But somebody at Grill Daddy had the bright idea of combining several cooking tools into one all-purpose utensil. If you're looking for a great Father's Day gift, this could be the one.

The centerpiece is a hefty, well-balanced stainless steel fork that keeps the cook's knuckles safely protected behind a rotating metal guard. No matter how you hold the fork, the shield is also turned toward the fire.

The fork has extra long tines, which will help when you have to move a big slab of meat. The shaft can telescope for a shorter or longer reach and there's a meat thermometer stored in the end of the handle.

When you need a different tool, to manage hamburgers, for instance, you can easily remove the fork end and replace it with one of Grill Daddy's other attachments. There's a standard spatula, a long flipper that can hold three burger patties, a wide flipper for fish and a basting brush.

The shaft and fork attachment costs $24.96 at amazon.com. Additional attachments cost $10-$12 each.

Want fries with those burgers? Check out my review of the T-Fal Actifry for tasty fries without the grease.

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