I have officially settled on a manner for which to wear those all-too-familiar earbud headsets. After fitting a pair into my ears I take the cord and wrap it once or twice around the upper back of my ears. This helps with support and keeps the darn things from slipping out if jostled from rigorous bike rides or the bouncing that comes with jogging. In this fashion, I always appreciate a set that not only sounds good but also supports the said method for wearing the things. The V-Moda’s Vibrato headset springs to mind.

Creative Labs has something a bit similar. The HS-930i2 earbud headset is a comfortable mobile solution for phones call, music listening and features earpieces that swivel at the base. This makes it easy to wear them in-ear with the wires hanging, which is the most common method. Or you can turn the cap-ends so the headset can be worn comfortably while the cord easily slips up, over and behind your ears for that added support I mentioned.

The HS-930i2 uses 6mm Neodynium drivers for 20-20,00 frequency response. Impedance is 16 ohms and the entire set is as weightless as you would expect for earbuds at 13 grams. The package includes the earbuds on an all-black cord with silver end-caps where they swivel. You get two extra silicone ear tips for size comfort, and a soft black velvet carrying case for easy toting.  Nothing major to here. Although I would have appreciated a more tangle-free cord like that used on the A-Jays.

General use is a slightly mixed bag. The comfort is great. I really like that the swivel end-caps make it so the HS-930i2 can be worn in a couple different ways. They are lightweight and default silicone tips fit in my ears just fine. Plus you get two extra pair. I will not many other earbud solutions offer 4 and 5-sets of silicone ear tips to choose from. So Creative is falling behind on that end. With that said, buttons are responsive on the inline controls where you can adjust volume with the rocker style volume control. There is also a single button that is used to answer calls, skip tracks forward and back and a mute sound function. Calls are crystal clear with no distortion and the microphone picks up your voice without issue, where those on the receiving end can hear you sufficiently.

The HS-930i2 is an interesting little earbud set. For music, this one is not for everyone. The clarity in call quality comes from incredible mid and high ranges. Yet the bass is sorely lacking. These almost seem more suited for live performance recording or music created from primarily stringed instruments. Pop, hip-hop, Dancehall and any other bass-heavy audio suffer greatly when using the HS-930i2. The highs and mid ranges drown how the lows. But if music such as country, jazz, reggae, folks and other sounds that are less reliant on bass, are more your taste, then these earbuds are for you.

The Creative HS-930i2 are great for call and music that rich in high and midrange tones. The price is a about $40 and perfect for the level of performance. You can do much worse and if used properly the HS-930i2 are not bad at all.

Editor Rating:

3 out of 5 stars

Very Good

Bottom Line: The Creative HS-930i2 earbuds priced just right for their performance. If used for calls and the right suggested styles of music then more deep-pocketed users will be fine.

Pros

·  Great call quality

·  Great audio for mid and low ranges

·  Two ways to wear w/ swivel end-caps

·  Incredibly affordable

Cons

·  Lows are drowned out and bass is lacking

The Creative Labs HS-930i2 Earbuds are available at Amazon for $33.42.

Streaming music is a relatively recent phenomenon, as running wires from an amplifier to a pair of speakers, or multiple pairs, is simple enough for anyone to understand — or do. The advent of Bluetooth, combined with mobile devices carrying music libraries, has driven this idea of wirelessly sending music from the source to the speakers.

However, the middle-man — i.e., the amplifier — has to be taken into account. And while amplifiers now feature Bluetooth pretty much across the board, those with non-Bluetooth models can’t participate in this dance. The convenience may be great, but is it “great” enough to justify buying a new piece of equipment? Few think so (me being one of them). But if there was a universal-type Bluetooth receiver that was portable and simple enough to work with whatever audio system a person has — well, that would be a different story. To introduce that different story I’ll turn to New Potatoes Technologies Tunelink Home.

Good news first — it works with any iOS device.  The bad news is that this leaves Android systems out.

Two more pieces of good news — first, the Tunelink Home system has the means to remote control not just the audio system but any IR-equipped device within range of the receiver. Secondly, there are two methods for transferring the streaming stereo music from the receiver to the audio system: a 3.5mm mini-jack analog out for use with stereo RCA inputs, but also a Toslink optical audio out. Using an optical out provides for a better signal, providing that there’s technology in play to keep high-fidelity on the table. We’ll see if that’s the case shortly. New Potato Technologies also notes that the transmission distance between the source streaming the music and the Tunelink receiver is good for 100+ feet. That’s about 3X the normal range you’d expect from Bluetooth, but again the only way to verify this is to try it out — keeping in mind that signal strength can be negatively affected by the environment the Tunelink Home is being used in.

In my case, a third generation iPad provided the music, with the Tunelink app loaded in. The Tunelink Home connects to an amplifier through the optical cable and for USB power the AC adapter was used (there not being a USB socket on the amp).  That took about 2 minutes. Then another minute to pair the Bluetooth between the iPad and the Tunelink Home.

Using the app was fairly intuitive but instructions are provided for those who want it.  With the amp and receiver paired, I went and found the access code for the amplifier  (Company name/brand), and activated a “remote” so I could control functions while streaming the music. There’s no infra-red IR dongle because the commands were sent by Bluetooth to the receiver, which then “blasted” it out via its IR array. Also I could create other remotes as well, so there wasn’t a  need for making a “universal” remote to try and control every part of my home theater system. IR needs a direct line-of-sight, but the Tunelink app let me walk around without being concerned about that.

I selected Big Brother and the Holding Company from my iTunes library (through the app) and the room was filled with the (extremely loud) harsh tones of Janis Joplin  — muted down considerably once I lowered the volume control. But even when it was playing loud, Janis’ voice was clear and sharp and free of any hiss. I walked around the room and there was no cut-off of the audio playing. I even went to the other end of the apartment next to the front door (about 60 feet away) and again there wasn’t any music cut-off or loss of audio clarity. That’s about as far as I can get away from the receiver and it’s a reasonable test of the Tunelink’s range. Over the course of a few days use, I never lost the signal while playing.  Nor did the IR “blaster” on the receiver fail to receive and transmit my “remote control” commands.  I never was so far away that it didn’t function.

Editor’s Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Great

Bottom line: The advantage of streaming music in a home theater is that 1)you’re not confined to the audio speaker/headphones to use with the mobile device, and 2)superior audio quality can be listened to. Add the remote control capabilities of the Tunelink Home via Bluetooth that obviates the need for a physical IR transmitter and the $99 retail seems a pittance to pay.

Pros

• Audio from any app streams through
• Share Mode allows for multiple users
• IR extender socket for use with existing IR “Blasters”


Cons

• Model does not support Android OS
• Receiver can only stand vertically

When it comes to tablet computing, users have five realistic options nowadays: 1) the iPad, 2) an Android tablet specifically for media playback, 3) a Windows RT tablet for web browsing and media playback, 4) a Windows 8 tablet as a laptop replacement, or 5), the iPad mini. Most people don’t know about choices 3 or 4, and skip over 2 because most Android tablets are far uglier than Apple’s options. But for the prices, the iPad 2, iPad (4), and iPad mini are all very expensive considering their parts, even if the build and design is exceptional.

All that said, the iPad is the second best tablet model when it comes to productivity. Windows 8/RT edges past it thanks to the full Office Suite on RT and an entire desktop OS on 8, plus enough hardware peripherals including attachable keyboards and mice for an everyday computing experience. iOS offers exceptional battery life, and the iPad mini especially offers the thinnest, lightest tablet you can find. So naturally it needs a keyboard. And just like Logitech’s Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for the iPad 2/iPad, the Ultrathin mini is the answer to that need to type.

What’s important to know is that as soon as I took the Ultrathin mini in public, people asked what it was and where to purchase it. iPad mini owners came one by one saying that an attachable keyboard is the one thing they are missing; iPad 2/iPad owners don’t have that problem thanks to a plethora of Bluetooth options that are sized relatively close to the iPad itself. Plenty of companies, including Logitech, offer keyboard cases or covers, but the tiny frame of the iPad mini makes that a challenge. Logitech was up for the challenge and they did a pretty good job of packing an entire keyboard into a 7″ space.

Similarly-sized keyboards have been attempted in the past, mostly failures that looked as if the makers couldn’t decide whether users would type with their hands or thumbs. The Ultrathin mini is clearly built for an everyday typing experience. It is a full QWERTY keyboard that doubles up plenty of functions across some basic keys, like A and Caps Lock, Q and Tab, and several others. This was particularly jarring for me — I capitalize with the Caps Lock, not Shift — but the experience actually taught me to use the Shift key far more than any computer class or workshop ever did. The confined space looks promising at first, then extremely tight after some use. But after 5-10 minutes of practice, typists can get into a good flow easily.

I chatted with Lance Ulanoff (of Mashable) briefly, and we agreed that the Ultrathin mini is the best thing that could happen tot he iPad mini, considering all of the faults and limitations of the tablet. Unlike the original Ultrathin, the Ultrathin mini is better suited for the smaller tablet. It acts as a true cover; the magnet sticks on and doesn’t slide off, the iPad mini isn’t too heavy for it, and when the two are connected the combined weight and girth doesn’t offset Apple’s delicate balance of high-tech machined design and thin, light workmanship. In fact, the iPad mini always felt a little too thin, and the Ultrathin mini gives it some solid protection when in a bag, or enough thickness to be carried comfortably in the hand.

Button placement, in some places, is odd. Because so many keys are squeezed together, typing isn’t slower but it does take getting used to. The Apple “home” button is on the top left, but based on the keyboard’s design the “1″ key should be there. It’s too easy to forget. Every single number key on the top feels off by a single space, too far to the right. Most of the iPad specific functions are fine, but the Home key is especially tiresome.

I also found with my unit that, after carrying the iPad mini with me to work and back daily in my bag, which I admittedly toss around worse than a Chuck-E-Cheese kid, the Ultrathin mini started typing “U” without being pressed. This occurs regularly, and only started after two weeks of lugging it to and fro. The only way to fix it (since the low-profile keys cannot be safely removed) was to press the U key repeatedly until it stopped. Charging the keyboard also seemed to help, though with up to nine-months of charge time (according to Logitech), that should have no impact on key presses.

Finally, the auto-on feature which enables the keyboard when the iPad is activated stopped functioning after three weeks of use. It started again after I charged the keyboard, which begs the question of battery life. My guess is that the keyboard wasn’t fully charged when I received it and since charging it the problem has mitigated, though the lack of a low-power indicator is a missed feature. Users will become frustrated if they must turn the keyboard off and on constantly, or perhaps worse yet, recharge the keyboard regularly.

As an iPad mini keyboard and cover, the Ultrathin mini Keyboard Cover has no comparison and no competition. It is a well built, easy to use keyboard that is also excellent to type on. In the field it belittles competing tablets and their keyboard docks (though I prefer using a full-fledged keyboard like Logitech’s K811 or K810 plus tablet); the size and usability are second to none. However, it isn’t as sturdy as it appears, and from my topical use it showed no visible damage but seems to have taken some nonetheless. Battery life may also be a concern, and the functionality isn’t entirely there when it comes to showing available power and connecting. However, it is a very well built keyboard that I surely recommend to iPad mini owners who are serious about protecting their tablets and who are interested in a keyboard for it.

Editor’s Rating:

3.5 out of 5 stars

Very Good

Bottom Line: It’s the best (and only) iPad mini keyboard cover, with great type but some troubled stability

Pros:

• Surprisingly good type experience for such a small keyboard
• Spacious enough for everyday typing
• Excellent cover for the iPad mini

Cons:

• Key placement is difficult to adjust to in too many places
• No indicator for low-power, or else seriously flawed instant-on feature
• After a slight beating, ghost keypresses are fairly consistent

A few months ago I switched to a Nexus 4. One of the cooler features of the Android 4.2 OS, is Google Now.

Google Now is something akin to a virtual assistant.  On Android it can crawl your email, search history, and calendar and automatically tell you when a booked flight is on time, if you’ve got an event in the coming day, or if you should leave at a set time to beat traffic to your next meeting.  It also features Google search, as well as a variety of cards to display relevant news stories, sports scores, the weather, and a few other topical pieces of info.

And now Google Now is coming to iOS.  Unfortunately, Apple iPhone and iPad users won’t get the background sync that has made the Android experience such a pleasant one, but they will garner 22 of the 29 cards that are available to Android fans, which includes the weather, sports scores, Google Calendar events (it won’t scan your iCal), along with Google search and background location.

Google Now is embedded in the company’s Google Search app for iOS and is available now.

Apple just issued an update for the iPhone, iOS 6.1.4.  Don’t get too excited though, or really excited at all.  The update is tiny.  11.5mb to be exact.

According to Apple iOS 6.1.4 adds some sort of speakerphone enhancement.  Unfortunately, I’m not an iPhone user so I can’t attest to the supposed improvement, but Gottabemobile says that after installing the “updated audio profile” for the speakerphone that they noticed less background noise in one call.

Unfortunately, and this is to Gottabemobile’s point, this update doesn’t seem to address the iPhone 5 battery issues experienced in the update, though they’re testing now.  That said, this update is not available for the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch models and the iPad 2, iPad 3, and iPad 4.

Another Angry Birds game for your mobile to get addicted to? Yup, and this new version is called Angry Birds Friends that is very similar to its Facebook counterpart. Think of it as the traditional Angry Birds game but with social aspects built in. But it’s still the same type of gameplay, as you fling various types of birds at different structures that protect pics, with the ultimate goal killing the pigs. In this version your score is tracked and actually put up against your Facebook friends, so all people on all platforms like iOS, Android and Facebook, can easily compete against each other. And the best part about Angry Birds Friends is that it’s free (but supported by annoying ads). Get it now on both iTunes and the Google Play store.

Turn your iPad or iPhone into a portable digital guitar with JamStik!

You get to press real strings to real frets and use real picking techniques to play since the device uses light to scan your fingers then sends that info to the device in real time. You can easily learn to play without getting frustrated or having to spend loads of cash on instruments. It also is compatible with a lot of iOS CoreMIDI apps that are already available in the iTunes App Store, such as Moog’s Animoog, Apple’s GarageBand and more. There’s also a JamTutor app that comes with the JamStik to provide users with the basics of guitar and works as a virtual teacher. And there’s also the JamMix hybrid guitar/DJ app that lets you make music, regardless of your skills. It’s currently a campaign at indiegogo and can be yours if you pledge $219 or more.

 Adversity makes for a good teacher. In my case, a recent fire in my apt building has forced me into temporary housing where my Mac Pro is my only solid companion. But today I learned that the restoration company wants to take away my wired keyboard and mouse in order to clean it — turning my Mac Pro into the equivalent of a very heavy aluminum block.  Or I can use the Cyclops instead.

The Cyclops has a silver/white appearance and has a solid heft to it — being made from both aluminum and plastic. The circular shape splits up the standard QWERTY keyboard into left and right “half’s”, with a touch-pad “center” to use for pointer movement. The Cyclops’ layout also places a “mouse” key near the bottom middle at each “half” of the keyboard (left/right presses), with Space and Shift keys next to them on each side. Function keys also run horizontally to the left and right below the Space and Shift keys (i.e., function, control, option and command on both sides). Additionally, there are specialized keys running up both sides: the left side has Tab, Caps Lock and Enter/Return, while the right side has Delete and Enter/Return. Running horizontally along the top are the Function keys (i.e., F1 through F12) which double as use for commands such as brightness, audio control, video and audio playback.

The topmost left has Escape, while the topmost right has a disc eject button — pointing to how this keyboard can travel between mobile and laptop use without compromising on keyboard use. The very center of Cyclops is its “eye” — a circular space that provides  a resting place for the thumbs, with the main power button directly above (pressed and held for about 4 seconds will shut it off). But that “eye” is also a trackpad.

At the left and right bottom can be found two direction pads: the pad on the right has Page Up/Down, Delete, Home and End tabs, while the right pad has directional arrows and an Enter/Return tab.

The Cyclops is best suited for mobile iOS devices because it has a round shape where the keys are arranged for “thumb” typing. This is to say that those who text a lot are already familiar with the physical key setup and, no joke here, those with larger fingers will finally have their day. That’s due to the larger size of the keys, compared to that on a mobile device’s virtual keyboard. And while it’s more than possible to type on the Cyclops with it lying flat (as I am doing right now), letting you use your fingers in a very slow touch-typing manner, the physical design and lightweight nature makes its use for mobile devices preferable (being held up and at an angle). Of course using it with a phone/tablet means that the device works best if it’s propped up on a stand, but it can be used with the device lying flat if you want — that’s no impediment to the Cyclops.

Of course nothing comes for free, and in Cyclops’ case, the $59 retail price tag is the main, but not only expense. Three “AAA” batteries must be inserted into a back battery compartment in order for the Bluetooth powered device to function. On the plus side, “AAA” batteries are pretty cheap, and even standard models will provide power for a couple of months easily (a 5 minute auto-shutoff helps with this).

Pairing the Cyclops is the same as that of any Bluetooth device (like a pair of wireless headphones) and follows the normal conventions of the operating system it is to be used with. In the case of the Mac Pro, it was similar to setting up a wireless keyboard, and it’s even faster for an iOS device since you don’t have to enter a password.

Comparing the Cyclops between use with a laptop/desktop and mobile — obviously it’s best suited for iOS devices.  However, it provides wireless control for a laptop or desktop where you don’t want to be right on top of the keyboard; for example, running a video player or cycling through music playlists.

I also found that the response of the keyboard is only slowed down by that of the one doing the typing: handing the Cyclops to my friend’s teenage son to use with his iPhone showed me that speed comes not just from being able to hit the keys quickly, but also from having texting “hard-wired” into your brain. I mean the kid was texting at speeds that I couldn’t come close to, although there were plenty of spelling errors. I also noted that regardless of whether you are a touch-typist or “texter,” you will still spend a significant amount of time looking down at the keyboard as you enter text.

Editor’s Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Great

Bottom line: The Cyclops Wireless Keyboard is sturdy and well constructed. Every key that can be found on an Apple keyboard is present, but placement keeps unneeded ones from getting in the way of those most used. It’s big enough to hold a large number of keys without any being too tiny to access, and provides a reasonable and workable alternative to using the onscreen keyboard of an Apple device.

Pros

• Well spaced out keys

Cons

• No back-light
• Touch-pad space too small for desktop/laptop movement across full screen

One of the complaints against Apple’s iPhones/iPads has been the lack of user-expandable memory. The i-Flash HD is an external storage device that deletes this problem and doesn’t rely on any WiFi or networking in order to function. And it works with all iPads and iPhones from the 3GS up.

The design provides all that is needed to know as to how to use it: one side is a USB plug that goes into a USB socket on a computer or laptop with the other end being a dock connector to mate with that on an iPhone or iPad. Connecting the i-FlashDrive HD to the iOS device will launch the free app if it hasn’t already been taken care of through iTunes or through a direct download.

So I insert the i-FlashDrive HD into one of my Mac Pro’s USB sockets and wait as its icon appears as a flash drive on the desktop. A double-click opens its window to find some sample files (text, video, audio) and so slightly less than the stated 16 GB’s of flash memory storage (there’s also 32 and 64GB models). I remove the unneeded files now populate the window with a number of files that include photos, music and videos, and Pages and Word documents. I unmount by dragging the icon to the trash and then remove it from the Mac Pro.

Taking my iPad/3rd gen, I “wake’ it up and then insert the i-FlashDrive HD’s dock connector plug in. I click on the app and am presented with a series of choices — best noted one at a time.

Mp3 Playback
The Music interface looks similar to that provided by Apple, but adds some useful functionality in that you can create Playlists automatically.  Additionally, moving file from one folder to another will generate a new Playlist. The actual playback coming from the “External storage” (i.e., the iFlashDrive HD) is indistinguishable from that of local storage and all output choices (such as Bluetooth or AirPlay) continue to be selectable.

Photo Share
Photos can be copied (in varying sizes) from the iOS device’s Camera Roll to the i-FlashDrive HD. They can also be viewed and AirPlay applies to them as well.

Video
Video playback, for example a 720p of Expendables 2 I had ripped from my Blu-ray disc looks the same as if it had been played from “local memory”(i.e., on the iPad). Also, the “AirPlay function is active.

File Manager
This provides options that the device’s iOS doesn’t allow — for example, creating folder and renaming of files. Files can also be copied, deleted, emailed as attachments and moved into new folders. Just remember to first get to that “Edit” button and then be precise in what you are doing.

File Encryption
As a safety measure, being able to create a “locked” file can be useful — just don’t forget the password. Also, the file ends up with an icon that visually notes that it has been locked. This is good should the iFlashDrive HD fall into the wrong hands.

Contact Backup
Many won’t bother with this option if they’re using iTunes regularly, but for those who don’t this is a successful way to save info. The process is quickly done, as is the reverse for restoration. Additionally, a choice can be made between the saving being done in a “private” format or the open vCard format.

Also built into the app (appearing in pop-up menus) is an iOS-compatible Document Reader and a Voice Recorder. Additionally you can write text files and copy/paste text using the clipboard function. As a part of this, email attachments can also be copied and pasted (as can images from the Camera Roll). An internal LED glows as data is active so you know when NOT to pull it out from the iOS device.

A lightning adapter is included that fits right over the dock connector to make the iFlashDrive HD compatible with an iPad/4th gen or iPad mini. My wife has a mini so I tried it out and functionally speaking it worked no differently than with my dock-connected iPad 3. But if it’s on and the drive is being carried around, use the plastic cover-tab because the lightning connector is a bit fragile I think.

Editor’s Rating:

3.5 out of 5 stars

Very Good

Bottom line: $149 retail gets you 16GB of memory storage inside the very capable i-FlashDrive HD. But it’s what you can do with what is on the storage that counts. The procedure for using i-FlashDrive HD is straightforward and consistent with the workings of the IOS so as to not cause any problems. Just make sure the model picked has enough storage capacity for your needs.

Pros

• Works with PC and Linux computers
• DropBox integration
• Share with other iOS devices via Bluetooth

Cons

• Significantly sticks out from the dock connector
• No password lock on accessing the iFlashDrive HD’s contents

Reduced sized scanners have come a long way of late and for this I am thankful. I love scanning and converting scanned in images of copy into an editable document via OCR. We took a look at a the LG’s competent mouse scanner a while back. It proved effective in most situations and was even capable of scanning larger A5 blueprint sheets. But when it came to book page scanning, the device fell a bit flat. Where the page meets the binding was often un-scannable or just to difficult to reach without ripping the binding.

Today we take a look at the IRIScan Book Executive 3 WiFi scanner. It functions with or without a computer and can send scanned images in PDF, Excel or Word documents. It’s a versatile device that has learned to play nice with Windows PCs, Mac, Android and iOS devices. Those latter two work via apps obtained from their respective marketplaces. It’s a cool trick where you can scan a document, store the image on the BE3′s included 1gb microSD card for later use. When ready you can wireless beam the image to your paired WiFi phone, tablet or Wifi-enabled PC/laptop. It’s actually pretty slick, but not without its own hurdles.

The unit is also packaged with a USB cable for tethered transfer of scanned documents. Also included in the package is a set of 4 AAA batteries (alkaline are ceommended for longer use), software install CD, the microSD card and SD card adapter, plenty of literature about IRIS’s other products, coupon for 20% off your next IRIS purchase, voucher for a free year of Evernote, registration card and two card for free IRISCompressor for Mac or PC. It’s a meaty package of mostly with only a mild waste of paper.

Yet for all the card stock and paper stock used, there is no sign of a physical user guide or instruction manual. It took me quite a few minutes just to divine how to open the battery compartment. Luckily there is a very detailed instruction guide on software installation CD. It’s a definitely needed as the device proper only features 3 physical buttons and a single slider with 3 modes. Most users will be at a loss with the guide.

But with it, setup is pretty simple. Insert the MicroSD card. Then press the scan button for 2-seconds to power on the IRIScan BE3. The display will light up. You can use the top Color/Mono button to select if you want JPG or PDF in black or white. Use the bottom resolution button to select from 3 resolutions – low = 300dpi, Mi = 600dpi and Hi = 900dpi. You have to look very carefully. The font size is near-microscopic on the display and barely legible. But once the unit is prepped and set, tap the Scan/power button to place it in Scan mode. Then slowly slide the BE3 down your document. Press the scan button again when you reach the bottom to complete your scan. The image is now stored on your the microSD card and ready for transfer to your computer or mobile device via the USB cable or over WiFi.

The IRIScan Book Executive 3 is not bad at all. I did have a some minor issues getting the Android IRIScanBook app to function properly.  You have to move the slider to the middle position. WiFi will light up with a blue illumination. Then you can navigate to your tablet or phone’s available WiFi devices to to select the IRIScan Book unit. Of course this kills your access to the internet. The HTC One found the device no problem but I had to back out of the app a couple times and restart before it registered to show me the saved scans on the scanner. But from there you simply select which ones you would like to download. The process takes mere seconds and you’re ready to edit, crop and or save them as needed. The app could use some sprucing up with a series of 1st time dialog bubbles telling you what each button does. The interface is rather bland as well. But once the scanner is paired it works well enough.

Despite some hard to read display text and a wonky app, the IRIScan Book Executive 3 is a winner. It should be noted a steady hand is necessary for straight even scans. But you probably guessed that. I suggest lining your document up against a straight surface and use that to prevent slippage and uneven scans. Also noteworthy, batteries are not needed on Windows PC. It can sup power via the USB cable. Yet that can further hamper your steady scan if you’re not careful.

Bottom Line: The IRIScan Book Executive 3 is a nice little product. With some of the minor issues in tow, I think a sub-$100 price tag would seal the deal for most. Without that it’s a bit expensive. But it’s a great option to have for quickly scanning book pages, documents and more to be later downloaded to your device of choice.

Update time! Google has lived up to their promise and as just released an new update for iOS that now comes with new features that will make life easier when using Chrome with your iPhone, iPod or iPad. The best thing is that it can now bypass Apple’s Siri and will use its own voice-controlled search. Users just have to talk at their screens using Chrome’s omnibox and then just wait as inquires are then displayed in real time and pretty fast. And that’s not all! The voice-controlled search will also talk back to you in a very polite manner when you ask it specific questions. Other updates include faster loading cached pages and the ability to open links form other iOS apps, which can now be opened in the search engine powered by Google. The app is free in the App store and can be found here!

The app also lets you sign in to Chrome to synch your open tabs, bookmarks, passwords and omnibox data from your device so you can easily pick up right where you left off on the previous device. You can also send pages from Chrome on your computer  to your iOS device with one click and then read them on the go eve you’re offline.

Audio docks have become fairly common and the features they provide tend to be similar from one model to the next. Where these devices differ is in the quality of the sound they put out — a direct result of the engineering of the chassis combined with the type of speakers and amplification used. Panasonic is known for their engineering skills, so an audio dock with their name on it better perform a whole lot better than one of the “no-name” brands. After having spent time listening to their SC-NP10 Wireless Speaker System, I can affirm this to be true.

The SC-NP10 is a universal model in that there is no specialized connection dock at the top. The weight of the unit is barely 4 pounds which makes carrying it from one room to the next a non-issue (part of the weight being the result of having the power supply built inside as opposed to an external “brick”). I placed the SC-NP10 on my desk  so that there was room to access the two USB sockets in the back, which can be used  for charging devices. NFC can be used to stream music, but as I’ve iOS devices I used Bluetooth. All this took was to turn the SC-NP10 on, press the pairing button and select it from my iPad’s Bluetooth setting.

I pulled a top-loaded tab to create a back-stand for a tablet or smartphone, which goes into a horizontal groove (the 21 watt subwoofer is directly beneath). I decided to take advantage of the SC-NP10’s “glitz” factor and pressed the button to illuminate the blue circle of light that now surrounded the iPad. It could make for a cool nightlight if the SC-NP10 is placed on a night table, and provided just enough light to see the buttons at the front right lip which control volume.

I sat down in front of the wireless speaker’s two front mounted 7 watt speakers and began listening to music. The SC-NP10  presented a solid bass while playing Men At Work’s “Overkill” but did not thwart the vocals coming from the front speakers (mid-range came through clearly as did the higher registers, for example the clarinet). But I would have liked a bit less bass during this song and had to make all the changes from the iTunes app since the SC-NP10 can’t make any adjustments itself.

After playing “Always Look at the Bright Side of Life” from Spamalot, where the horns got a good play even with the volume raised and at my distance of less than 5 feet, I put on The Cars’ “All Mixed Up” to see how good the stereo separation was. I moved in and away and found out that once you exceed about 8 feet, stereo separation was fairly nil. However, if you stayed close in and pretty much dead on (the “sweet spot”), stereo separation was quite good.

Next I pressed the D.Surround button whose function is to create a “surround” effect when playing movies.

I streamed two movies, one of which was heavy in dialogue (Identity Thief) and the other, Side Effects, being more inclined to music and sound effects mixed in with the voices. The first thing I noticed was that the overall volume seemed to “increase” — actually I guess the impression was that the sound field had been widened so that the audio was coming less from the front and more from the sides. The overall effect didn’t inhibit the dialogue, which remained clear and understandable, but did tend to cause the bass to be somewhat overwhelming when music was playing. This didn’t happen in every case, and was less noticeable when seated closer than 5 feet away. I’d say to use this effect sparingly and be aware that there will be some films that just won’t like it being turned on.

I picked the iPad up and walked away to see if there would be any interruption in the audio, but there wasn’t. I should mention that the SC-NP10 can get pretty loud — I had set it to about 2/3rds volume and managed the level from my iPad throughout the tests. There wasn’t any hiss or distortion when driving up the volume either, although when I played lower resolution MP3 files, I couldn’t drive the volume up all the way because they started to sound “brittle.”

It’s been a few weeks and so it seems the dust has settled–if only a tad–on the great Android takeover of 2013. The business of regime change is a sobering one for Cupertino’s Apple. Yet Andorid is just a tough nut to crack, and getting tougher with every update. We’re back up with another comparison. This time the digital catfight will place Samsung’s Galaxy S4 in the squared circle against Apple’s tried and true iPhone 5. Each was surreptitiously bested by the HTC One, as both the GS4 and the iPhone 5 were myopically competing against each other–more or less. Apple only had its previous versions to compete against and Samsung was so busy watching Apple, that neither saw the 80lbs gorilla in the room.

Forcing Apple and Samsung to go lick their wounds is no easy task. But here we are. So while the HTC One goes off to enjoy its dual consecutive victories, the defeated will do the man-dance for 2nd place. It’s the Samsung Galaxy S4 Vs. the Apple iPhone 5. FIGHT!

Size

The iPhone 5 introduces a new size variant–taller than previous iPhone iterations and enough to incorporate an additional row of apps. The width now rests at 2.37in. It’s still one of the slimmest high end smartphones on the market. It makes it exceedingly easy to hold in a single hand–most notable for smaller handed folks. It’s definitely slimmer than the Galaxy S4 with its 2.74in waistline. But herein lies the rub… The GS4, while thicker in the hips, is impressively light and thin. It’s not quite as light as the iPhone 5′s 112 grams. But at 130 grams its still pretty lightweight. But at the end of the day the iPhone is the smaller easier to handle winer.

Winner: iPhone 5

Appearance

This is clearly a subjective matter. I still like the styling of the iPhone 5 in either white or black. The display reaches virtually edge-to-edge, while it plays host to essentially the same amount of physical buttons as the GS4 (iPhone 5 has an additional mute toggle). The use of metals, when creatively implemented, always trumps plastics. Moreover white plastic is a known “no-no” in the tech industry. The white does lend itself to a more spartan look on the GS4. We are working with the Sprint model, which only ships in the White Frost color option. But there is a much more stylish Black variant seen in the wild. It looks far more attractive. However iPhone’s good looks don’t discriminate.

Winner: iPhone 5

Display

The display size for the iPhone 5 reaches 4-inches tall and it’s max resolution is a meager 1135 x 640 and puts forth 326 ppi. Samsung spits much further with 4.7 inch Super AMOLED display that does 1080p like a marvel. Static images, video web browsing and the UI appears more attractive on the GS4. Additionally, iOS app developers are still a bit a slow on the uptake for redesigning apps around the new taller screen size. It’s hard to reach the top of that display one-handed.

Winner: Galaxy S4

Operating Software

As I mentioned in HTC One Vs. iPhone 5 Comparison, you’re either a loyalist for one OS or the other. Apple still has more apps available than Android, still has the closed development environment so security is, well, more secure and brings peace of mind to the less tech savvy. The Galaxy S4 is now up to Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 with their custom skin blanketing the OS. For a more detailed synopsis of the re-skin check out our initial GS4 impressions and the comparison piece against the HTC One. Each company has kept their play close to the vest and familiar. The iPhone definitely has the cleaner UI and a more gradual learning curve. Since iPhone 5 kickoff, Google Maps has returned, and thank the Wood Nymphs for that! Apple did spit out small nugget of gold in its Passbook. It’s a solid idea that still hasn’t taken full flight yet. But I’m hopeful. iPhone 5 also has the Siri virtual companion. But the GS4 uses Google Now (available on Android and iOS) for virtually the same effect and it’s getting more powerful with each version revision. It introduces a myriad of new ways voice can be incorporated with custom speech-created reminders (TV Shows, Video games, Music, public transit, books more). You can send voice emails or request spoken updates on your Google content.  For innovation Apple seems to rely heavily and intelligently on their vast well of apps. Yet right out the gate, the Galaxy S4 swings more hard-hitting new than a MLG MVP and takes more risks than the iPhone 5. The UI holds deeper customizing for more individual flare, which also suits a wider variety usage styles and scenarios, than iOS.

While the iPhone 5′s features are more widely known, the GS4 attacks with new kung fu like Air View. Though still too gimmicky to be functionally reliable, it’s smart tech. But in the end, it requires you hold your finger too close to the display for it to be practical. It remains faster to check the app contents as you usually would. Air View does work better for my tastes, when used on web pages to magnify and highlight a given section. Conversely, the multi-window app tray is fantastic. Plus it can be customized or left to be autonomous as it begins to learn your most frequented apps.  Other cool custom Samsung OS/UI trimmings of note are Air Gesture where you can cycle through gallery photos and various document by swiping your flat hand above the face of the device. It actually works well and helps keep the display smudge-free.

Winner: Galaxy S4

Processor

I should note, this version of Android is also very responsive and peppy. A fact of which is helped quite efficiently by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor. It’s the same processor used in the HTC One, albeit clocked higher to 1.9Ghz. While Apple is still pushing its homegrown A6 (Swift) processor designed after the ARM Cortex A9. I again tip my hat to Apple for the ground it’s laid with its own tech. But it still can’t keep pace with the Galaxy S4, which is just a few eyelashes short of the finish line when pitted against the HTC One.

Winner: Galaxy S4

Storage

The Samsung Galaxy S4 comes in all the same size variants as the iPhone 5 16gb, 32gb and 64gb. However the iPhone 5 yet again, does not support MicroSD slots. The Galaxy S4 does. This is an area that Samsung easily wins against both the iPhone 5 and the HTC One.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S4

Wireless Connectivity

There is not much contest here either. The iPhone 5 falls flat in much the same manner it did against the HTC One. There is more going on in the GS4–more radios and cutting edge features for remote use. The iPhone does not do the following that the GS4 does with its one-eye closed: NFC, Qi wireless charging and more UTMS frequencies. Both however do Bluetooth 4.0, 4G LTE and media streaming.

Winner: Galaxy S4

Camera

The iPhone 5 still wields one of the most impressive cameras on a smartphone. It uses a 8mp rear facing camera similar to the previous iPhone 4s although with enhanced HDR. The photos are great, but beyond that GS4 has Cupertino beat again. Apple is even late to the game with panoramic photos, something Android has been doing quite well for some time now. iPhone 5 is not a strong enough departure from past iterations to offer much fight.

The GS4, however uses an amazing 13mp camera on the rear and a 2mp front-facing camera. It does some impressive things not many phones can. The Dual-Camera can snap two photos  simultaneously by the front and rear lenses, then place the smaller rear camera image within the larger front-camera shot. You can edit and add special effect. There is also a feature called Drama Shot which captures a collection of consecutive shots to play with. Eraser Shot is great for removing whole bodies from a shot and there is a poor-man’s version of  HTC Zoe-like feature, but the resulting photo mash-ups look more like cool and fun greeting cards than professional short films.

Winner: Galaxy S4

Battery Life

Stamina! We all want more of it in one capacity or another. For each phone’s batt-life we have the GS4 using a massive 2600 mAh removable battery. The iPhone 5 is packing a paltry 1432 mAh battery. Yet the numbers are surprising. Each phone is highly competent across 4G LTE, moderate to long phone calls and Wifi usage. GPS still seems to drain the batt-life with vampiric results and in spite of its lengthy inert abilities for standby time. The newbie from Samsung does 17hour talk time, 350hr 3G standby time, 300hr 4G standby and 11hrs of video playback. iPhone does 8hr talk time and 290 standby.

Winner: Galaxy S4

Carrier

Samsung has won this one with two bars of service tied behind its back. You can get the GS4 from Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Cricket and C Spire. The iPhone is available from Sprint, Verizon, AT&T–and more recently from T-Mobile and Boost Mobile.

Winner: Galaxy S4

Price

Everyone carries is still asking top dollar for the coveted and highly sought after Samsung Galaxy S4. That’s $150 for the 16gb at the lowest. AT&T is the highest offering the GS4 at $200 for 16gb and $250 for the 32gb. The iPhone, while offered at fewer carriers, can be had for less coin. I’ve seen pre-owned for as low as $49 and new at 16gb for $99.

Winner: iPhone 5

Overall Winner

Apple today unveiled iOS 7, the company’s all new mobile operating system.  Make no mistake, this is not an iterative update, but a complete refresh, and one that takes aim directly at Android.

Following this post I’ll bring you a list of iOS 7′s top features, but for simplicity sake I’m just gonna cover the big, overall update.  That being said, Apple’s philosophy is try bring order to complexity, and they feel as though iOS 7 does just that.  In addition to a bolder and brighter color palette, many of the stock features of iOS have been updated to offer a more intuitive feel, and one that is arguably analogous, if not derived from Android.  But that’s hardly new news.

Case in point the new swipe to multitask function that allows forgoes the ‘drawer’ system, and is replaced by large tiles that can be closed by swiping from right to left.   Apple has also updated Siri to include male and female voices, as well as well as her functionality, now allowing her to update iPhone settings, such as turning on Bluetooth, simply by asking her to do so.  And while the iOS stock weather app will likely continue to bring you inaccurate weather reports (not Apple’s fault), it will offer an experience that is something akin to looking out a window; hail bounces off text, fog passes in front of it, and lightning will flash.  Last, and most certainly not least, iOS notification center has been overhauled, allowing you to swipe up from any screen and control your music, phone settings (Bluetooth, Wifi, etc), turn on your camera’s light (flashlight), change the screen’s brightness and more.

Apple hasn’t said when iOS 7 will arrive, but you can expect it sometime this fall.  That said, it’s not clear what handsets it will be compatible with, but I’d expect it to be limited to the iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, and whatever Apple announces around launch time.

In November of last year I got a hands on with Chevy’s integration of Siri in the car.  The experience was far from remarkable, but nevertheless was a step in the right direction, at least in terms of iOS in a vehicle.  And today, Apple made it official that iOS – not just Siri – will be coming to a variety of cars in 2014.  The included brands are Honda, Mercedes, Ferrari, Nissan, Chevy, Infinity, Kia, Hyundai, Acura, Volvo, Opel, and Jaguar.

And when iOS in the car does launch, you can expect a UI that roughly mimics that of your iOS device.  With the feature active you’ll be able to pull up directions, view or be read your iMessages, make phone calls, and play music.   You’ll of course also be able to use Siri to initiate a number of function, which should be available via the car’s stock steering wheel controls and speakerphone system.

Apple hasn’t said which manufacturer will be the first to launch iOS in the car, but if I had to guess I’d say Chevy, since they were the first car maker to integrate the voice recog system in their line of vehicles.

We’ve all got things we’d like to keep an eye on when we’re not around. Puppies, children, sandwiches in the break room that you know you didn’t eat and that somebody keeps stealing…hey, we’ve all got something we’re concerned about. And now, with the GooGo, you can keep an eye on it remotely for relatively cheap.

The GooGo is far from the first remote camera you can access with your smartphone, but it’s one of the few that’s effectively cross-platform: Both iPhone and Android users can get in on the fun, although Android users report the app can be a bit variable. The GooGo has both WiFi and app access, so in theory, even across the country you can check out what’s happening at the work fridge. Just boot it up, enter your password, and you’re seeing what the camera sees. In a nice touch, you can access it directly with WiFi, no router necessary.

The camera itself is fairly standard, and in fact is a little bit low end; at three megapixels, and a maximum video resolution of 640 by 480, you aren’t going to be capturing the rich glory of human experience. Also, the GooGo has a fairly obvious weakness; it’s got a fairly standard lithium battery that has to be recharged via USB, so you’re not going to be able to plant it somewhere and leave it for a few days. One assumes that the more functions you use, the faster the battery drains, so if you’re planning on getting a lot of video of Herman from accounting eating your Twinkies, you might want two of them.

On the other hand, it’s probably a good thing that a small, portable, non-obvious camera that costs $70 or even less from various Internet outlets needs to be recharged constantly. Otherwise, we suspect we’d be seeing these things turn up in locker rooms and Victoria’s Secrets across the nation.

ore isn’t always better, even if AT&T thinks it is. That may be why I had a tepid response when Logitech asked if I’d like to try out the FabricSkin Keyboard Folio, the company’s latest iPad keyboard folio. By all accounts it looks like a real winner, but one minor detail makes all the difference. In this case, for the worse.

The FabricSkin is a high-quality iPad case with a cloth-based keyboard. It’s well built and designed in nearly every respect; thick yet sturdy, feels great in the hand, slick in the bag and on a desk…by and large a great case. It’s equipped with a clever magnetic strip that not only holds the iPad in place so users can type, it also activates the keyboard, conserving battery life and taking away another step from users (you never have to turn the keyboard on or off). This singular design element is the most brilliant I’ve seen in any keyboard case for any tablet.

As with most iPad cases, opening the lid activates the iPad. The keyboard’s battery is still going strong after a month’s charge, which Logitech claims lasts up to three months. Charging is easy through an included MicroUSB charging cable.

Nearly everything has been designed perfectly. The FabricSkin is one of the smartest, sleekest, and most well thought-out iPad cases I have ever tested. But, there is one fatal flaw, what may be the worst blind spot in history:a shoddy, difficult to press spacebar.

When you think about keyboards, most people don’t realize that the spacebar is the most critical key there is. Most of us can get away with missing a letter…English is flexible enough to do that (assuming it isn’t a vowel). For a few days until we can get the keyboard fixed, one broken key doesn’t necessarily ruin it. Unless that key is the spacebar. Because hey, every word has to end sometime, amirite? On the FabricSkin, the spacebar is way too difficult to press. It requires a Herculean push to activate, compared to the touch-type feel of the rest of the keys, which is too stark a contrast for productive typing.

That’s not to say users can’t type on the FabricSkin; I have done it myself for over a month. But I don’t like it. Keyboards aren’t fun, per se, but they need to be functional and balanced. The force required for the spacebar is so far beyond what every other keystroke needs that it makes what feels like a decent typing experience feel plain awful. 

The pain of typing on the FabricSkin isn’t abysmal, but it’s there. I forget it every time I use the case as a case, and remember it every time I finish my first word, and then think twice about using it. For quick emails or messages the FabricSkin works just fine; anything more and it becomes a self-inflicted Sisyphus-ian challenge.

Such a serious problem from the  keyboard begs the question: if Logitech has two FabricSkin cases — the case and the Keyboard Folio — why not just stick with the case? That’s what I recommend users do, because the case itself (which remains untested; claim based on Keyboard Folio) seems like a far better, thinner choice. As a case the FabricSkin Keyboard Folio is the best I have ever used…and yet after completing my testing I went back to a much thinner case because I don’t need the keyboard’s added thickness. But with just the case, I’d use it regularly. All because of a darned spacebar.

If you’re interested in a good keyboard case, check out Logitech’s Solar Keyboard Folio, which isn’t as classy but has a much better keyboard.

Bottom line: One of the best cases tested, but with one fatal flaw.

Update: List of free apps below.

Apple’s App Store is celebrating its 5th anniversary and that translates to free apps and games for you! A lot of popular apps for the iPhone and iPad have gone free today and you don’t want to miss out because some of them have never been free before. You’ll be able to snatch up games like Infinity Blade II, Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP, Where’s My Water?, Badland and Tiny Wings. Apps that are currently being offered for free include: the photo-annotating app Over, Traktor DJ, Day One, How to Cook Everything and Barefoot World Atlas. Many of these free options had some high price tags before like Traktor DJ for iPad normally goes for $19.99!

CEO Max Whitby of Touch Press who makes Barefoot World Atlas, told ABC News that the app will remain free all week to help “celebrate five years of the App Store”. He also indicated that the companies who are making their apps free for this were not being compensated by Apple. According to him, “The loss of one week’s paid sales is far outweighed by the wider gain in awareness.” If you haven’t already, make your way to the App Store and get loads of free games and apps for this week only!

Here is a list compiled by Techtola:

At this point, most tablets come with keyboard covers, mostly thanks to everybody wanting to be in those Surface ads, but not wanting to actually buy a Surface. But imagine pressing a switch and seeing your iPad flip open to reveal a two-octave keyboard. The C.24 is working to make that dream a reality.

Needless to say, it’s not a full piano attached to your iPad; that’s a bit too silly even for Kickstarter. No, instead it’s a MIDI keyboard, designed to communicate with your iPad via Bluetooth and CoreMIDI. Fortunately, the standard is an open one, so hackers can mess around with it to their heart’s content.

The design of the keyboard itself is pretty clever as well. First of all, it doesn’t use springs; springs tend to wear out, and they’re not really well suited to the kind of abuse an iPad cover will take over time. Instead, it’s built using anti-polarity magnets. Key presses are tracked via infrared emitters, tracking overall key position.

Along the top is a capacitive ribbon control. The eight “buttons” on the left control the octave you’re on, at least as a factory standard; you can go in and change that any time you feel like. The ones on the right are configured for effects such as pitch bend.

Finally, the C.24 comes with the KEY app, which collects your MIDI data and ships it off to any MIDI-compatible iOS app. One assumes direct compatibility with some apps is coming as the C.24 catches on.

This is of course where you the customer come in: The C.24 is currently on Kickstarter, and the price is actually fairly low as of now: $99 will get you one of the first batch and $149 will get you one of the second. Better hurry, though; these are going quick.

With our busy lives, the smaller the better is key! And that goes for everything because who wants to be on the go lugging around large and heavy items? The iMpulse is the perfect wireless controller for all your mobile devices, especially if your’e always on the move since it’s so small that it fits on your keychain. With the iMpulse around, you can easily  find your keys since it is always aware of your device and is a light sleeper. All you have to do is get the free app and press “locate,” and if your keys are within its 100-feet range, you’ll hear a chirping noise. But that’s not all it does…! It can also control all your media so you get movies and music anywhere from up to 100 feet away. Your entire catalog, volume controls and more are all at your fingertips. It supports all media apps, including Spotify, Pandora and more.

If you’re a gamer, then you’ll love iMpulse because games are being made iMpulse-compatible everyday. Apps downloaded from the AppStore and Google Play work instantly so there is no need for configuration. And if you have a jailbroken device, you actually have access to thousands of games! Originally a Kickstarter campaign, you can choose from a variety of color options like black, silver and white. Other features include Bluetooth that quickly and easily connects to your device, precise control and real buttons that make using it easy. It’s also ambidextrous so it doesn’t matter if you’re a lefty or a right. They start at $25 and go up depending on the color you choose.