• The Apple Daily claims to have leaked images showing the new iPad 3. These images look very similar to the iPad 2, but they do show the device interior which, if the pictures are real will include an Apple A6 processor.
• Slash Gear reports that we can expect the same size screen with the new iPad, however it will have four times the amount of pixels (2048×1536).
• In last week’s blog we featured info from iMore which stated the possibility of 4G LTE in the new iPad. This week Slash Gear has taken the conversation in another direction saying that they do not expect the device to offer LTE connectivity. I guess we will have to wait and see on this one.
• Domo arigato Ms. Roboto! Huffington Post is insinuating that Siri may have let the cat out of the bag about a possible new language option by stating that she speaks “English, French, German and Japanese … so far.” This was an interesting statement considering that Japanese is not available in the app’s settings. Glitch? New feature? We shall see.

If you have a prediction or juicy Apple rumor to share, we’d love to hear it!

Want to be in the know on all things iPad 3 and be the first to get a Defender Series case for your new tech? Head on over to our website and sign up for email notification.

Cough Syrup by Young the Giant

You probably know this band better by their song My Body, but just slightly deeper into the album is this gem. The meaning can be up to your interpretation, but I find it to be about the process of finding the coping mechanisms that you need in your life. I don’t think they are telling you to literally abuse cough syrup to mask the pain or issues in your life (and I’m begging you not to either), but rather find the ways to make you feel happy, in the midst of your daily struggle. Regardless of the meaning, it is a great, catchy song that you will want to listen to all day!

Ships in the Night by Mat Kearney

This is one of the artists that I respect the most for his work. He started with heartfelt songs mixing acoustic singer/song-writer and hip-hop, then transitioned to a more “pure” songwriting, and I believe he has found a perfect balance of all these genres on his 4^th studio album Young Love. Ships in the Night is a relationship story, the struggle but the benefit of being with your significant other and pulling through the hardships together. The blend of beats, lyrics, rap, and message puts this song on my everyday playlist!

Hang by Matchbox Twenty

Ok, so this is an old song. Like, some of you probably weren’t born before it came out old. But it is an amazing song! I have been following the band’s tweets while recording their new album (which I also cannot wait for) and this song just keeps asking me to play it! Listen to song, really hear the lyrics, and feel the soul that is behind it. Lots of artists just don’t put their heart into songs like this anymore!

My Racing Thoughts by Jack’s Mannequin

On their 3^rd album, Jack’s Mannequin has produced a great mix of heartfelt songs and foot tapping melodies. On My Racing Thoughts, the lyrics tell the story of a girl who, against all odds still understands what you’re thinking, even when you can’t express them yourself. I believe that it’s a song about a great relationship, regardless of whether it is about love or friendship. She’s an inspiration, and a comforting companion. Enjoy!

Mean by Taylor Swift

I’m going to take some flack for this, but hear me out. First, she is my guilty pleasure artist of choice. But more than that, this song is about the critics who try to pull her down and tear her music apart. But then what happens? She wins TWO Grammys for it! “There’s really no feeling quite like writing a song about someone who’s really mean to you, and someone who completely hates you and makes your life miserable – and then winning a Grammy for it,” she said on stage. Add that to the fact that it’s just an all around catchy song, it makes the list.

Well that’s the list for now, but stay tuned next month for my next top 5 songs, and feel free to leave your comments, recommendations, or criticisms below. Happy listening!

With friends coming over and it being the Oscars I want to make a fun and fancy signature cocktail for the evening and I’m thinking champagne should be one of the ingredients. I’ve got a couple cocktail books at home, but thought I’d start out with a Google search for recipes. I had no idea there are so many champagne-inspired drinks to choose from.

This Mandarin Cocktail sounds really good.

And Champagne Punch sounds amazing.

The Kir Royales might be perfect.

But how can I pass up the Pear and Cranberry Bellini?

And you can never go wrong with a Sangria especially with champagne in it. But the Prosecco Sangria will have to wait until summertime so that I have the freshest fruits available.

This seems to be the standard list of champagne cocktails.

And, wow, the Drinks Mixer site has over 239 champagne cocktail recipes.

Now I’m off to shop for ingredients. I’ll most definitely make the punch and have around ingredients to experiment with a couple of the other recipes. Happy Oscar watching. Let’s hope Billy Crystal brings his usual magic to the show.

And don’t forget… always drink responsibly!

Wow! What an exciting week for iPad rumors! We’ve got juicy details on a possible announcement, an additional device rumor and so much more. Here we go:

• Monday night, a reliable source told iMore’s Rene Ritchie that we will have the chance to see the elusive new iPad (or iPads) on Wednesday, March 7. This date is in clear alignment with Apple’s past media events and is right on cue with their historical March releases. Ritchie also states that, “Along with the 2048×1536 retina display, the new iPad will feature a quad-core Apple 6 system-on-a-chip and possibly 4G LTE networking.”
• Speaking of 4G, the Wall Street Journal has cited their “people familiar with the matter,” stating that the new iPad will be able to pick up LTE signals from Verizon or AT&T, the nation’s top two carriers.
• This is a big one. Are you ready? Again, the Wall Street Journal has a source reporting on the possibility of a new iPad Mini. According to this source, Apple is working with component suppliers in Asiato to test a new tablet with a much smaller screen, measuring at around 8 inches. This is compared to the 9.7 inch screen that comes with the iPad 2. One person said that the smaller screen will have a similar resolution as the iPad 2.

If you have a prediction or juicy Apple rumor to share, we’d love to hear it!

Want to be in the know on all things iPad 3 and be the first to get a Defender Series case for your new tech? Head on over to our website and sign up for email notification.

Through a partnership with RadioShack, OtterBox is excited to present a special edition Commuter Series case for the iPhone 4/4S. This exclusive case proudly supports LIVESTRONG, an organization that provides direct services for people fighting cancer and empowers them to take action. Every purchase of an OtterBox LIVESTRONG case provides funding toward RadioShack’s $6 million commitment to support the fight against cancer.

This special edition case was officially unveiled on January 9^th at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, NV. The honor and excitement of working so closely with LIVESTRONG and RadioShack was overwhelming and we could not wait to announce this amazing partnership!

Are you ready to join the fight? The LIVESTRONG Commuter Series for iPhone 4/4S is available at RadioShack now!

About LIVESTRONG:

Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong and based in Austin, Texas, LIVESTRONG fights for the 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. LIVESTRONG connects individuals to the support they need, leverages funding and resources to spur innovation and engages communities and leaders to drive social change. Known for the iconic yellow wristband, LIVESTRONG’s mission is to inspire and empower anyone affected by cancer. For more information visit LIVESTRONG.org.

Do you have a story of survival? Share your journey in the comments below.

With Valentine’s Day coming I’ve been searching for a great meal to make. The husband doesn’t get to eat seafood as much as he’d like because I’m not a fan of it. So I like to cook things for him that he doesn’t always get. A couple years ago, I cooked up a shrimp and cheesy grits meal from my Paula Deen cookbook that the husband said was, “Fantastic!”

Hoping to get such a great reaction again I was searching for some shrimp dishes last night. The first one I found that seems tempting is another Paula recipe, Shrimp Creole which is totally something the husband will love. But I think I’ll save it for a weekend meal.

The next recipe I found is going to be it. Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp with Chipotle Barbecue Sauce includes all of the husband’s favorites. There is no way he won’t love it.

Now what to cook for sides? And maybe I need to discover a new cocktail too… Back to searching.

Have any suggestions for Ingrid? Share them in the comments below!

This week’s news featured speculation on:

• Release Dates: International Business Times speculates that many of those quoting a March release date may find themselves wrong. A trademark lawsuit in China may delay release until April. (I am going to have to join MacPhilly here and just say it: I can. not. wait. until April!)
• Incremental Improvements: PC World featured an interview with Kyle Wiens of iFixit, who has been historically accurate about past Apple rumors… his predictions really speak to incremental improvements with similar form factor and improved resolution. Wiens’ speculates that we’ll be seeing an iPad 2 HD rather than an iPad 3.

I have to say, I find myself disappointed with this week’s rumors, I was hoping BGR’s predictions around a quad-core processor will prove themselves true and we would see some demonstrable improvements over the iPad 2 model. And, really, is it too much to hope that Siri would make an appearance in this device?! Instead, we have heard rumors that Siri may be coming to the iPhone 4 (in this post from phonedog).

If you have a prediction or juicy Apple rumor to share, we’d love to hear it!

Want to be in the know on all things iPad 3 and/or be the first to get a Defender Series case for your new tech? Head on over to our website and sign up for email notification.

(And yes, David Carnoy, we are totally mentioning you… and posting about your post on our post. What can we say? We got game [or at least a weird sense of humor].)

So the next iPad is coming out soon, but when, I dare say?? None too soon — according to my wife who is upset about holding a hot-to-the-touch, old laptop on the couch, while daydreaming of surfing with Safari sans the three layers of insulation needed between her lap and the old beast. Latest rumors to satisfy my eager, device-hungry family (two-year-old included) suggest a late February announcement and Mid-March release. Come dearest new iPad 3, come!

Waiting to see what specs our friends in Cupertino actually come up with, I’m sitting here dreaming about my future, ideally-upgraded new iPad. Here’s a short list of my own hopes and dreams, and MacPhilly’s best estimates on the odds I’ll get these dreams to come true:

First off, 4G (otherwise known as LTE) still feels like it did when 3G first came out. It sounded really cool, but most areas didn’t actually get it  LTE has been around now for a couple of years, but — you guessed it — it’s still not great in most areas. That being said, if you live in a big city, it’s probably already there in some form or another. Here at the OtterBox HQ city of Fort Collins, Colo., LTE exists. Lucky us! But read a few quick stats about 3G in general and it turns out we’re among the lucky few. (And the speed difference is also huge. With 3G, it’s about 1Mb down. 4G is 5-7Mb down. You get the picture. 4G would be impressive, but only if you’re in a lucky zone.)

Odds: 90%

Second, I hope the ‘Retina Display’ rocks. If you have ever looked at pictures on a 3GS and compared the same picture to a 4 or 4S, you can’t deny the unbelievable improvement Apple has made. It’s essentially twice the number of pixels, like moving from 720p to 1080p on your big-screen TV.  Which is incredible! This would make the iPad the most amazing tablet display, yet again.

Odds: 95%

Third, I’m dreaming of multi-user support functionality. This would be sweet and would allow you to possibly log in and out, facilitating parental control on some accounts and not on others. Case-in-point: I work with a guy whose daughter racked up $2,000 in iTunes charges in just ONE weekend. OUCH! This feature would certainly help prevent that situation from ever happening again. And I might even get the privilege of taking the two-year-old’s Strawberry Shortcake app off my home screen. Ahh, to restore a sliver of manhood to my family-shared device experience… I can dream, can’t I?

Odds: 10%

Lastly, I’d LOVE a tiny little feature built in — a microSD card slot. Oh, yeah baby. Video sucks up a ton of space, and it would be really nice to just bring it with you on a card, right? Currently, you can purchase a kit that would enable importing video or pics from an SD card, but that’s about it. As a movie buff I’d love to micro-size my beloved inventory and bring it along on extended stays (which for my toddler is anything longer than a 20-minute car ride sans Strawberry Shortcake). Whatever your video needs are — wouldn’t a microSD card slot be cool?

Odds: 5%

So Apple, if you’re listening, this is my Top 4. There are probably going to be people out there who would dream about a better camera and flash (nice, but I’d probably not actually use it much) or a built-in phone (sounds good, but would be rarely used with my ever-present, OtterBox-protected iPhone) but MacPhilly’s dreaming practical here. Realistic 4G coverage, a mind-blowing Retina Display, multi-user login ability and a microSD card slot. There. I put it out there. And new specs or not: Come dear iPad 3 … come!

Want the latest iPad 3 rumors from OtterBox? Sign up for our email notification to stay in the loop about the iPad 3. We have lots of cool stuff coming!

At the crack of dawn on the last Wednesday of January, six Otters, two rented SUVs and a variety of smartphone cases left for a little place called Aspen for a little event known as Winter X Games.

This being the 2^nd year OtterBox has participated as an X Fest sponsor, made this trip even more exciting knowing what this event had in store for us. With a bigger footprint, more staff and prizes galore, there was no shortage of fun. Attendees had the opportunity to get their picture taken on our snowboard photo booth, enter to win awesome OtterBox prizes and even win a custom snowboard and a BlackBerry Bold. It was entertaining to watch people of all ages take advantage of what we had to offer and it was a pleasure meeting attendees from different walks of life.

As the sun went down the fun continued; we witnessed the first ever snowmobile front flip in Sunday’s Snowmobile Best Trick competition and the first perfect 100 from Shaun White’s final run during the Men’s Super-Pipe Finals. The tribute to Sarah Burke, the freestyle skier who passed away due to injuries from a crash a week prior, was also so impactful to watch and it made the entire week a way to celebrate her life and influence on the sport.

Now as we return to reality and defrost our toes, we promptly look forward to the next adventure (in warmer climates). You can see photos and learn more about our trip to Winter X Games by visiting our Down+Dirty page.

But as a single guy or gal, the occasion can be a bit frustrating. While your friends are out celebrating with their significant other, you’re stuck trying to find something to do to take your mind off of it. While there’s no way to completely avoid Valentine’s Day (unless you can sleep more than 24 straight hours), the following simple suggestions just might make your day a little brighter:

1. It’s a Hallmark holiday – remember, Valentine’s Day is more or less a day for restaurants to be overbooked, flower and card sales to skyrocket and jewelers to break up the slower sales period between Christmas and…Christmas. Splurge a little and get yourself a gift you’ve been saving for.
2. Throw a singles party – believe it or not, you’re not the only unattached person out there. And what better way to find a potential new match than with a party full of other singles?
3. Celebrate the relationships you have – friends, parents, siblings, it doesn’t matter. Remember the people who are there for you through it all and get together for a fun evening out on the town sans relationship drama.
4. Sign up for a new class at the gym – getting in shape gives you a better self-image, improves your health and can even be a catalyst for new relationships.
5. Volunteer – while you may not be sharing love with a specific individual, spending time giving back to others takes the focus off of you and places it on improving peoples’ lives. Everyone wins.

If all of the above fail and you choose to be cynical this Valentine’s Day, remember this: Guys, you’re saving money being single and frugality isn’t a bad thing. And ladies, guys are jerks. After all, it’s not you, it’s me.