SquareTrade, the #1 rated protection plan trusted by millions of happy customers, today announced that CEO Steve Abernethy has been named one of the top 5 Best CEOs by the San Francisco Business Times. Part of its Tech and Innovation Awards, the Business Times highlighted the companies and their leaders that are solving challenging problems, growing companies and creating jobs in the Bay Area. SquareTrade was singled out for its relentless focus on customer service.

Commenting on Abernethy’s leadership, Managing Director at Bain Capital Ventures Mike Krupka commented, “Bain was won over by Abernethy’s leadership. Steve is really structured, a good manager and an innovator. Plus, he’s a really good guy. It’s hard to find that combination.”

There were close to 300 submissions for San Francisco Business Times’ Tech & Innovation Awards and 25 winners were chosen across several categories. For Best CEO, Abernethy’s fellow honorees are Ask.com CEO Doug Leeds, Eventbrite CEO Kevin Hartz, Delphix CEO Jedidiah Yueh and Splunk CEO Godfrey Sullivan.

SquareTrade is a registered trademark of SquareTrade, Inc. All other company, brand and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

CoinMad introduces Find The Movie 1.0 for iOS. In the app, players try to find the name of a certain movie, based on a distinctive screenshot of the film. The app features a variety of movies, from blockbusters to lesser known European and Asian films and from classic drama films to spaghetti western and martial arts movies. With 2 different game types and 3 different difficulty modes, leading to 36 levels for the user to complete, the app has hours of guaranteed gameplay.

Back in the early 80′s, in Athens, Greece, there were only 3 channels on TV for someone to watch. One night, at the age of 7, Manos Koufakis, saw a black and white movie on his TV. The movie featured a guy trapped in a basement that kept getting smaller and smaller as time went by. The movie was one of the most exciting things Manos had seen at that very young age but due to lack of information at the time and as he didn’t see the movie from the start, he couldn’t find out what the title of the movie was.

As years went by, all he could remember was a scene where the main actor of the movie was chased by a giant cat. He started asking friends, relatives and even some guys into movie films, but no one seemed to know what that movie was.

After the internet explosion, Manos posted a small description of that scene in a movie forum and he received numerous answers related to what that movie might be….and after a few days someone came up with the answer! The movie was named: “The Incredible Shrinking Man”. And that ended a “life-long” search!

That was the original idea behind, “Find The Movie” App. To get people to find the name of a certain movie, based on a distinctive screenshot of the film. But to make it a bit more accessible to all sorts of film fans (from the die hard to the casual ones), it was decided to turn the App into a multiple choice type of movie game.

Another important decision, was to feature all kinds of films! From blockbusters to less known European and Asian films and from classic drama films to spaghetti western and martial arts movies. After 5+ months, more than 5000 different movies were selected for the App, making it at the moment, the world’s richest in content mobile game movie App in the world.

The App features 2 different game types (level game and genre game), 3 different difficulty modes (easy, medium, hard) – thoughts to include an extreme mode was dropped (for the moment) leading to 36 levels for the user to complete and hours of guaranteed gameplay!

Manos Koufakis and Kostas Organopoulos, the 2 persons responsible for the App, are die hard film fans and love to share with the whole world their love for films, so Find The Movie was created with the intention of both entertaining the player as well as educating and introducing them to less known films worth discovering.

Welcome to the Find The Movie world and hope you enjoy the trip!

Find The Movie 1.0 is only $0.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide through the App Store in the Games category. A free Lite version is also available.

Watch the Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAut75wB0z8

iGearUnlimited.com asked schools' technology directors to name the most needed features of an iPad case for students. The answers didn't surprise anyone:

1. A rugged case that can protect the iPad from daily use and abuse

2. Not too bulky – need to fit in the popular Bretford charging cart and kids' backpack

3. Built-in kick-stand that works in both vertical and horizontal orientations

4. Trackable – schools' asset ID need show as a trackable barcodes on each case

5. Customizable – schools love to show their logo on each iPad case

6. Low cost – get the maximum amount of protection and features for the lease amount of money

An overwhelming majority voted iGear's Slim Tough Case as their favorite because it's the only iPad case on the market that satisfies all these features.

A rugged case is a must for schools. According to an article published on Billings Gazette – "About 5 percent of the iPads purchased for school students and staffers in Powell Wyoming have had to be repaired or replaced since they were introduced last year. Eighty-one iPads worth $40,192 were damaged. Of those, seven belonged to teachers and administrators and 74 were assigned to students. The most common problem was broken screens.”

There had been other reports that iPads deployed in schools suffer damage rates of up to 10%-15%, with accidental dropping being the most common. Schools that purchased rugged iPad cases face another problem — the cases are so thick that they don’t fit in charging carts, such as the Bretford PowerSync line. iGearUnlimited designed a new product to address both problems – The iPad Slim Tough Case features a multi-layer construction that’s supremely shock absorbent, a polycarbonate hard shell inner jacket that offers impact protection, and a slim profile to fit in the most popular charging carts.

The Slim Tough Case offers multi-layer protection using a combination of (1) an outer soft rubber shell, (2) an inner polycarbonate hard case, and (3) a slim profile that’s designed to fit the Bretford charging carts. This case is supremely shock absorbent and since all buttons and ports are tightly sealed, the Slim Tough Case provides rain and splash protection, while giving the user full access at the same time. A built-in stand offers a convenient way to stand the iPad in both orientations, for screen sharing or moving watching. It’s designed to fit in virtually all popular charging carts, including Bretford, Anthro, Datamation, and others.

In a recent YouTube video, the company’s Slim Tough Case was put through a 20ft drop test from a second floor window to a driveway. The iPhone escaped without a scratch, while recording video the whole time. See drop test video here. Schools should contact the company directly for educational discounts. iGear also makes a custom photo case for the iPad, popular with schools’ sports teams and other activity groups.

Tharle Games is pleased to introduce iOS gamers to Candy Crack 1.0 a funny and cute running game, with amazing and challenging gameplay. Candy Crack is another running game with scenes of soft graphics and cartoonish background you’ll also encounter different kinds of obstacles and lots of lots of candies to grab and jump over it.

Candy Crack is available for iPad and iPhone both on App Store. The game posses an unlimited level, the more you are into the game the urge of scoring high will bound you with game for longer period.

Candy Crack HD brings you the joy of catching and running behind those who tries to bug you on you’re peace full sunny day. Aim of the game Candy Crack HD is to run and catch the gorilla as soon as possible. Ahh! but it’s not easy as it seems gorilla can run faster than you but no worries collect gifts and candies to boost you’re stamina and keep running to catch him. You are playing as a fat panda who loves to have candies and sweets but put on some weight so run slower.

Watch and play this awesome running and jumping game Candy Crack HD through the obstacles. The game play implies never ending level and challenge player to make high score. It’s not easy to catch that gorilla while running and keeping you’re stamina bar filled. You may find hurdles like balloons and candy shops where you need to avoid or jump over them or if you got yourself into them then you’ll be stopped and gorilla will get away.

Collect pastries, candy and candy sticks to keep fill the stamina bar they will also add up to score as bonus points. You’ll have two power ups Invisibility and magnet. if panda is invisible you can dash and breakdown the obstacles for a short period of time. Whereas Magnet will lure all the collectible items towards you.

Candy Crack 1.0 is free and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Games category. A free HD version is also available.

Defaced 1.0, the new iPhone app created by London based developers Apellio, combines creative tools with some of the most advanced features of the iPhone, such as facial recognition and augmented reality. This enables users to deface pictures of their friends and distort and enhance what they see through the lens of their camera.

The focus of the App is to allow users to be creative and have fun doing it.

“Rarely do you see an app which allows people to express themselves and be creative, whilst making use of the amazing technologies available on the iPhone,” said Apellio Creative Director Matt Varughese. “In Defaced we’ve created something really unique, fun and creative. People who’ve used it really love it.”

Defaced uses a unique two-step process. The first step is to draw and add images to a photograph of someone’s face. Users can choose from a range of images including haircuts, facial features, glasses and other accessories. The user can also draw using a selection of colours and brush styles and even has the option of zooming in to draw in detail. The second step is to combine the users artistic creations with the camera, super imposing them onto people’s faces in real time. Interestingly the app can recognise multiple faces through the camera superimposing the creation on all of them at the same time while tracking their movements.

On the surface its fun, light hearted and simple to use, but underneath it makes use of some very advanced technology. Defaced uses a real-time facial recognition algorithm to recognise faces through the iPhone camera. It then uses augmented reality techniques to distort reality and enhance what users see through the lens of the camera. With smart phones advancing at an alarming rate Apellio Creative Director Matt Varughese believes these technologies are well showcased in Defaced.

“Despite these technologies being used in many serious and important ways it is often not until the general public sees them in a fun and accessible way that they really connect with and understand them.”

Defaced – Picture the Fun 1.0 is $1.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Photo & Video category.

From ex-Firemint graphic designer Mark White comes Tasty Tadpoles, a casual stealth/puzzle game that puts you in charge of guiding a series of little tadpoles to safety across 3 puzzling ponds and 75 deliciously challenging levels. Tasty Tadpoles is a deliciously addictive trial of survival, available for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Dip your finger in to twist, turn and tap your tenacious tadpole through three puzzling ponds of peril!

You’ll need fast fingers to flash past the fleet green tadpoles, a keen sense of cunning and craftiness to overcome the territorial yellow tadpoles along with tremendous timing and precision poking to swim under those tedious turtles. If push comes to shove you can always eliminate these eclectic enemies with the zap of an electric eel. The game is played with a simple one touch mechanic. The goal is to guide your little tadpole to safety, collecting stars along the way to unlock more levels.

Highlights:
* Delectably elegant controls crafted for touch devices
* Prod frogs, poke turtles, nudge water beetles, hide in bubbles, swing open gateways, zap electric eels, spin into whirlpool portals with a feast of other features
* 3 puzzling ponds – garden, murky and amazon
* 75 deliciously challenging levels, plus a mind-chewingly challenging ‘puzzle mode’
* 4 scrumptious characters to unlock and 14 yummy challenges to tackle

Tasty Tadpoles 1.02 is only $0.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Entertainment category.

Watch the Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mklzK3ll0Q

iCarMode announces a 50% price reduction on iCarMode 2.7, for a limited time, starting May 1, 2013. The app enables users to use their iPhone safely while driving. iCarMode contains the major features needed to ease and improve the iPhone-Car experience.

Feature Highlights:
* Big buttoned music player – iCarMode includes Big buttoned music player to safely and comfortably access your music collection
* Quick dialup to your contacts – iCarMode also includes quick dialup to your favorite contacts, so you don’t have to browse them again & again in the address book
* Easy access to your favorite GPS app – Easy access to your favorite GPS app, including: TomTom, Navigon, Waze, iGo and many more
* Well designed phone keypad – Well designed phone keypad with access to your iPhone’s full addresbook
* Parked car finder – Forgot where you left your car? iCarMode will help you find your parked car
* Parking meter reminder – iCarMode will also remind you when your parking meter timer is about to finish
* Places nearby helper – Your car is parked. what did you have in mind? coffee? the nearest ATM? this feature, powered by Google places, will help you out
* Shortcut to your favorite app – iCarMode has also room for your favorite app shortcut, now supports: Pandora, Shazam, TuneIn Radio and more

For more details, visit our website. Drive Safely.

iCarMode 2.7, normally $1.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies), will be available at 50% off for a limited time starting May 18th, 2013, and is available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Productivity category.

Watch the Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8fOUrwq1DQ

IK Multimedia, the leader in mobile music-creation apps and accessories, is shipping the new range of its smart iPad holders for stage, studio, office or home. The new iKlip™ 2 for iPad, and for iPad mini, are enhanced versions of the most popular iPad microphone stand holders for musicians and presenters, while iKlip Studio for iPad mini completes the range of IK’s practical tabletop stands for 7” tablets.

All the new iKlips are made in Italy from durable-but-light thermoplastic, and sport a sleek industrial design. Although the new ergonomically designed iKlip models were created with musicians in mind, they are also perfect for business presentations and speeches; educational, video and camera applications; health or kiosk-type information systems and everyday use in the office, at home or on the road.

Here are the new models:

iKlip 2 is designed to securely hold an iPad 2 (and later) or an iPad mini on a microphone stand or other vertical or horizontal “pole” up to 2.1”/30mm in diameter. It secures to the pole in seconds with a sure-grip tightening system, leaving the threaded end of the stand open for other uses. iKlip 2 features a new ball-joint design that gives it amazing flexibility for infinite multi-angle adjustment and positioning with a simple touch. It can be adjusted both vertically and horizontally to find just the right viewing angle, and can be quickly rotated between portrait and landscape mode. The new iKlip 2 is available in two models: for the regular iPad and for the new iPad mini.

The new iKlip 2 adapters offer the ultimate in safe, secure holding of iPad and iPad mini at the optimum required viewing angle, and they are perfect for hands-free viewing and use with any type of apps and accessories, leaving all the iPad buttons and ports free from obstructions.

iKlip 2 applications are countless, and range from holding iPads for musicians on stage to teleprompter-style presentations on boardroom podiums; from securing the iPad anywhere for video and camera applications to mounting it as a multimedia display; from keeping the iPad on hand for order taking or form entry to using it in health care environments, as well as a multitude of other uses.

iKlip Studio for iPad mini is a new tabletop stand that follows in the footsteps of the iKlip Studio for iPad, a tabletop multi-angle holder for iPad and other 10” tablets. It offers the same great features and design, including an easily adjustable viewing angle, support for portrait or landscape mode, and the ability to fold up flat for total mobility. iKlip Studio for iPad mini can also hold other 7" tablets such as the Kindle Fire, Galaxy Tab, and Nook, plus it can host a device with or without a case or protective cover.

iKlip Studio for iPad mini offers 8 viewing angle options in 10° increments: from a near vertical orientation to near horizontal, making it the perfect companion for any flat-surface application. It provides quick and easy set-up in seconds, and features non-slip feet that prevent unwanted movement of the device — securely holding it in place even when used with the most rigorous tap-intensive apps such as those used in music making or gaming.

iKlip Studio for iPad mini folds flat and fits easily in briefcases, carrying bags, backpacks and gig bags. With the line of IK microphones and apps like iRig MIC, iRig MIC Cast and iRig Recorder, any tablet can become an audio-capture-and-editing suite for podcasts, classroom lectures, boardroom meetings and presentations. When used with a wireless Bluetooth keyboard, the iKlip Studio for iPad mini is the perfect mobile workstation for tight spaces like airplane seats, crowded cafes, restaurants, lecture halls and library kiosks.

Pricing and Availability
The iKlip 2 for iPad and iKlip 2 for iPad mini are available now at electronic and music retailers around the world, and are both priced at $39.99 / €29.99 MSRP (excluding taxes). The iKlip Studio for iPad mini is priced at $29.99 / €24.99 MSRP (excluding taxes).

For more information, go to:

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/iklip

Therapy Box today announces the release of their popular educational app, Sort This Out Pack 1.2, in Danish. The multi award winning company is the leading European app development house specializing in apps for special education, speech therapy and alternative access for people with disabilities.

Sort This Out Pack is a fun educational game designed to work on skills required for categorization. Have fun sorting items into 2 categories to load your train so it can leave the station. Using animation and fun sounds, this app is designed for pre-school and early primary school students to use it in the classroom and at home. With the ability to tailor the categories and items to suit your child, you can target relevant vocabulary or concepts in a fun and motivating app.

Sort This Out Pack has been carefully translated and localized for Danish students, with Therapy Box working closely with their partner, Kommunikationscentret in Hillerod, to ensure that the content is relevant for Danish children. This app follows the previous successful release of the top selling Predictable Dansk, an iPad app designed for people with little or no spoken communication. It is currently being used by many Danish people with communication disabilities following stroke, cerebral palsy or motor neuron disease.

One speech and language pathologist said, “So this is a spiffy language therapy app that packs a powerful punch for intervention. At first glance this is simply a nice vocabulary sorting app, with 22 categories you can sort into two train cars as you make your way around a little island. Then you hit Settings and realize you can put anything into categories for sorting. You can use your own photos and sort family/friends, favorite places, curriculum targets and your own picture symbols from your device. Wonderful, adaptable app!” – Vicki K. Clarke, Speech Language Pathologist

Feature Highlights:
* Customize the journey for each child. Personalize the app by adding your own names to the stations
* Choose from over 22 everyday categories each with 12 possible items. Create your own categories for targeting curriculum related vocabulary
* Amazing animation and fun sound effects means that this app is motivating and fun
* Choose errorless learning mode to help beginners by ensuring success. Increase difficulty and remove errorless learning as the child progresses
* A fun certificate of results at the end of a journey can be emailed and shared
* Engaging and clear Widgit symbols. Add photos or images to personalize the app to suit your child

Details:
* Suitable for pre-school and primary school students, with a fun game designed to be engaging and motivating
* 264 clear colorful Widgit symbols to sort into categories
* Choice of 22 categories covering a range of everyday items and concepts
* Customizable set up of the game, to allow for targeting specific vocabulary or concepts
* Option for adding your own images
* Record labels for each of the items for added auditory feedback
* Option to turn on errorless learning. Errorless learning promotes early success, by not allowing the child to move an item into an incorrect carriage, it will “bump” out the item and encourage the child to allocate the item to the correct carriage. Turn of errorless learning to increase the level of difficulty and promote problem solving skill development
* Choose to display the symbol (or image) only, the symbol and the word or just the word. By having this choice you can focus on different skills relevant to the child’s literacy levels. Auditory feedback for each of the items
* Ability to turn off the music loop or audio support to reduce distractions if needed
* Ability to pause the app to encourage discussion or to pace the app to suit the student’s needs
* Colorful results table can be emailed out of the app for the student or to share with parents
* In app “How To Play” guide with simple steps

Sort This Out Pack 1.2 is $13.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Education category.

Noyo, a Boston-based educational software company, is pleased to announce Hebrew as its next foreign language series, following the very successful Spanish release. The first Hebrew language app, Noyo Hebrew, affirms the company's mission to bridge the gap in foreign language education and innovative 21st century learning tools.

The Noyo Hebrew Language iPad app promises to be one of the most attractive tools for individual students, teachers, tutors, and parents who are trying to learn or teach Hebrew.

"We are excited to respond to many requests to create a vocabulary building app for students learning Hebrew," adds Mike Sullivan, founder of Noyo. "Noyo's user friendly platform makes learning new vocabulary intuitive, easy and fun."

Noyo language apps are a powerful tool for novice learners to use to quickly acquire a solid vocabulary foundation.

Noyo Hebrew is a handy, reliable, and affordable alternative to crowded classrooms or overpriced computer software. Noyo apps are great way to quickly build a rock solid foundation of vocabulary to help students down the path to functional fluency.

Noyo Hebrew is now available for download on iTunes for $3.99.

APP FEATURES

-Over 1800 words and phrases, each reinforced by supporting audio, visual representation, and written translation

-177 custom-illustrated scenes, packed with friendly characters and amusing scenarios

-Audio by a professional voice artist who is a native Israeli Hebrew speaker

-Built-in assessment questions at the end of each unit

-Users can check their stats—including how many words they've learned, the time spent learning, and assessment scores—and email them to a teacher.

-10 targeted units, featuring vocabulary related to: Food, Ordering at a restaurant, Transportation, Cities, Vacation activities, Home and family, Sports, Animals, School, Seasons

Noyo is a Boston-based educational software company dedicated to providing engaging and cost effective language learning tablet apps. Noyo now offers language learning apps for Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, Hebrew and Mandarin Chinese. All apps are created by a passionate team of educators, technologists, linguists, and designers. More information can be found at http://www.noyo.com.