PadGadget

John Stewart Pokes Fun of Senators during Tim Cook’s Hearing

2013-05-24T18:20:02Z

You know you’ve made it big when Jon Stewart makes fun of you. On Wednesday’s episode of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” America’s favorite news comedian took jabs at Apple’s Maps app and fishy tax evasion tactics. But, the real subjects of his humorous ranting were the members of the Senate tasked with grilling the iPad maker.

Stewart set up the segment by summarizing the point of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations hearing that took place on Tuesday. “Apple CEO Tim Cook was called in to face the wrath of senators wondering how Apple had avoided paying taxes in $44 billion dollars in income in the last four years,” he stated. “Go get ‘em Duke boys.”

The next set of clips was of various senators gushing with praise for Apple’s success.

Stewart goes on to question what Apple can do to “get us mad at them,” referring to the company’s many scandals in recent years, including Foxconn’s suicide prevention nets. “We could find out they are using kitten hearts to power iPhones and we’d be like, ‘Well, if it doubles battery life, I’ll take two,” joked Stewart.

The overall observation that Stewart infers is that the Subcommittee hearing was less of an attack on Apple and more of an invitation for Cook to lay out a new corporate tax code plan. “I give you the Tax Code Nano,” Stewart mimicked.

As Sen. Claire McCaskill so eloquently stated, “I love Apple… I love Apple!”

Sources Claim Next iPad OS Will Sport a Flat Look

2013-05-24T18:19:31Z

For years now, some techies have complained about Apple’s overabundance of skeuomorphic design. While it has been the company’s traditional look, rumors have been swirling that Apple’s Senior Vice President of Industrial Design has something to say about it. Since Jon Ivy is leading the charge to overhaul iOS, we may see some major design changes that will leave Apple’s next mobile operating system a bit flat.

According to 9to5Mac, unnamed sources that claim to have seen iOS 7 say that the new update deals more with the “look and feel” of the iOS software than a bunch of new features.

The sources describe iOS 7 as “black, white, and flat all over.” Calling the operating system “flat” means that heavy textures and shadows are being dropped in exchange for a less realistic, more modern look.

Ivy has openly stated his dislike of skeuomorphism interfaces. In a meeting 9to5Mac writes that one source quoted Ivy as saying, “software designs filled with physical metaphors do not stand the test of time.”

According to the source, Ivy also pointed out that iOS’ design is all mixed up and not cohesive. For example, the Notes app looks significantly different than the Maps app, which is also designed different than the Game Center app.

According to 9to5Mac, iOS 7 will feature a black interface for the time bar instead of the shiny, transparent one that currently exists. The square grid for unlocking your phone will be rounded out and have black buttons with white text and borders. Many of the linen and leather textures will be dumped in exchange for a flat white and black color.

iOS 7 Concept

Notification Center will see additional widgets, like localized news feeds. Apple is also testing a dedicated easily accessible panel for Wi-Fi, Airplane Mode, and Bluetooth.

Home screen icons will lose their shininess and shadows and will have a flatter design with fewer textures. Panoramic Home screen images will be available so that, when you swipe between app screens, your background image will move with it.

Navigation bars will lose gradient textures and some will include a minor “blurring” effect. The touch screen keyboard will be a lighter shade of gray and does not include shadowing.

The Notes app will exchange the yellow legal pad look for a flat, white look. Apps like Mail, Calendar, and Maps are more uniformed with a flat, white design. The App Store, Newsstand, Game Center, Safari, Camera, and Weather apps will all look significantly different.

The Weather app will feature animated images to notate current weather conditions. Apple’s iTunes related apps, like App Store and iBook Store will have a flatter, white look. The iPhone will regain a dedicated FaceTime app.

According to the sources that described the above design changes, Apple has re-architected iOS 7 several times. By the time the software is demonstrated at Worldwide Developer Conference, it may look dramatically different than what Apple has been testing in recent weeks.

In less than a month, Apple will host a keynote address where iOS 7 will likely be shown off. According to AllThingsD, The WWDC keynote address will take place at 10:00 a.m. PT on Monday, June 10.

Apple Drops Prices on Refurbished iPad 4th Generation and iPad Mini Models

2013-05-24T18:01:36Z

If you’re looking for a deal on a 4th Gen iPad or iPad mini, check out the recent price drops on Apple certified refurbished models. A buyer can save 15 percent on most models. This is the second time Apple has dropped prices on refurbished tablets. The first set of mark downs came in March 2013, as these tablet models arrived in Apple’s refurbished store for the first time. All of Apple’s refurbished products come with a 1-year warranty, so you can buy with confidence.

The savings break down as follows:

iPad mini

- 16 GB Wi-Fi: $279, down from $299 previously and $329 brand-new
- 32 GB Wi-Fi: $359, down from $389 previously and $429 brand-new
- 64 GB Wi-Fi: $439, down from $489 previously and $529 brand-new

- 16 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $389, down from $429 previously and $459 brand-new
- 32 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $469, down from $519 previously and $559 brand-new
- 64 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $549, down from $619 previously and $659 brand-new

Fourth-generation iPad

- 16 GB Wi-Fi: $419, down from $449 previously and $499 brand-new
- 32 GB Wi-Fi: $499, down from $549 previously and $599 brand-new
- 64 GB Wi-Fi: $579, down from $649 previously and $699 brand-new

- 16 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $529, down from $579 previously and $629 brand-new
- 32 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $609, down from $679 previously and $729 brand-new
- 64 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $689, down from $779 previously and $829 brand-new

Want a 128 GB 4th gen iPad? Still plan on paying full-price for the large-capacity tablet because you won’t find this model in the refurbished store, at least not yet.

Are you tempted by these refurbished deals or are you holding out for the release of the iPad 5 and the second-generation iPad mini, whenever that may be.

[via MacRumors]

PadGadget’s Flashback Friday: Earthworm Jim

2013-05-24T06:55:25Z

Well, it’s Friday again. This time, we’ve got a nice long weekend to look forward to. Fridays are great for finishing up on the week’s business and getting ready for a relaxing bit of fun. Every Friday, we spotlight a classic arcade or console game that brings back our days of youth. Last week, we reminded you of afternoons listening to Bad Religion and driving through city streets, looking for fares with Crazy Taxi.

This week, we are only going back about half a decade with another console game that may have had you glued to your boob tube for hours of afterschool fun.

In the mid 1990s, a slimy little hero took the world by storm with his clever wit and oddball humor. With enemies like “Queen Slug-for-a-Butt” and “Evil the Cat,” Earthworm Jim was Sega’s answer to The Tick.

Players run, jump, and swing from their prehensile heads. This run-and-gun game is full of side-scrolling action. You’ll have to be fast on the draw to avoid obstacles and enemies as you run down precarious paths.

In addition to the side-scrolling mayhem, interval levels put you in the seat of a rocket ship as you race against the enemy through a slalom course of death.

You’ll be launching cows, blasting angry birds, and saving the day in all manner of ways.

The game features:

Run, gun, swing from hooks with your head, launch cows, bungee jump, rocket through speed levels and more.
- Face 12 types of enemies and 9 bosses.
- 4 different styles of gameplay: Side-scrolling run & gun, space racing, bungee jumping and underwater levels
- 10 original environments divided into 16 levels
- 4 levels of difficulty – including the challenging mode of the original game
- The re-mastered cult soundtrack
- iPod library access to play your favorite tracks while playing the game.

Earthworm Jim is available for $4.99. Download it in the App Store today.

PadGadget Daily App Deal – 14 iPad Apps on Sale

2013-05-24T06:51:09Z

For today’s Daily Deal we’ve found 14 great apps to add to your iPad collection this Memorial Day weekend. We have 4 productivity / entertainment apps and 10 game apps in today’s bundle.

We used our PadGadget Apps Tracker to find these great deals and we’ll continue to look for the best app deals as they pop-up. Some of these apps are up to 80% off, a couple are even free, so be sure to check them out because they are on sale for a limited time.

Game Apps

Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer () – This fun board game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99.
AVP: Evolution () – This very popular Aliens vs Predators action game has a 4 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $2.99. This app weighs in at 396 MB so please be sure that you have enough space on your iPad before downloading.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies () – This zombie game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $2.99 instead of $6.99. This app weighs in at 356 MB so please be sure that you have enough space on your iPad before downloading.
Call of Duty: Zombies HD – This Call of Duty action game is now on sale for $1.99 instead of $4.99.
Food Fight iOS () – This amusing game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $3.99.
Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery : Episode 1 () – This entertaining game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $2.99. This app weighs in at 388 MB so please be sure that you have enough space on your iPad before downloading.
Need for Speed Shift for iPad – This very popular racing game has a 4 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99.
Robot Bros () – This iPad puzzle game has a 4 star App Store rating and is now available for Free instead of $1.99.
W.E.L.D.E.R. () – This extremely popular word game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now available for Free instead of $2.99.
Word Smack () – This word game is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $2.99.

Productivity and Entertainment Apps

Photo Measures () – This measuring app has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99.
TomTom U.S. & Canada () – This nav app is now on sale for $44.99 instead of $59.99. This app is a whopper, it weighs in at 1.44 GB so be sure that you have enough space on your iPad and that you are on a speedy network before purchasing.
TomTom U.S.A. () – This very popular US navigation app is now on sale for $35.99 instead of $49.99. This app is a whopper, it weighs in at 1.34 GB so be sure that you have enough space on your iPad and that you are on a speedy network before purchasing.
TomTom Western Europe () – This European nav app is now on sale for $54.99 instead of $79.99. This app is a whopper, it weighs in at 1.65 GB so be sure that you have enough space on your iPad and that you are on a speedy network before purchasing.

Also be sure to check out yesterday’s Daily Deal to find more great savings.

= Indicates app is Universal and will run on an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.

We use our PadGadget Apps Tracker to constantly monitor the App Store to find the biggest price changes on iPad apps. Our editorial team goes through the data, picks the best deals on the most interesting apps and then brings them to you on a regular basis. All app prices are checked at the time of posting but prices are subject to change without notice. When developers put their apps on sale it’s usually for a very limited time, often 24 hours or less, so be sure to check pricing on iTunes before making a purchase.

Chillingo Unleashes Zombies in two New iPad Games

2013-05-23T16:46:19Z

Chillingo wants you to be ready for World War Z and to get you in shape for the zombie apocalypse, the app maker is launching two undead themed games today. Run from brain eating reanimate corpses in Dead Ahead, or collect your very own aquarium of cannibals in Zombie Fish Tank.

According to Chillingo, Dead Ahead is a side scrolling adventure that puts you in the scooter seat of a pizza delivery guy’s daily life. Mow down undead sprinters before they get a chance to snack on your tasty brain. Unlike the Romero rule, these zombies can run fast, so don’t slow down on your way to the next stop.

Zombie Fish Tank turns the tables and lets you be the living dead. As a recently experimented on fish, you will gobble your share of the residents of a laboratory tank. The more you eat, the bigger you get. As you earn money from completing tasks, you can create your very own zombified fish tank, complete with rare underwater plants that come from otherworldly civilizations or are octopus hybrids.

Dead Ahead is free to download and available in the App Store today. Zombie Fish Tank costs $0.99 and can be purchased in the App Store today.

Senate Subcommittee Pushes Apple to Lobby Harder for Corporate Tax Code Overhaul

2013-05-23T16:44:47Z

On Tuesday, Apple Executives were asked to appear before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations to justify its corporate tax practices. The Senate accused Apple of using “tax gimmicks” to avoid paying as much as $6 billion in corporate taxes. The company’s CEO Tim Cook responded by saying that America’s tax code needs to be overhauled.

Today, Reuters is reporting that Apple will spend twice as much money on lobby groups this year than it did in 2012 in order to influence corporate tax reform.

According to Reuters, Cook’s statement at Tuesday’s Senate hearing was unusual. Apple tends to stay in the background when it comes to politics. “They are very, very tactical,” said a former Apple lobbyist. “They only join issues they really care about.”

One issue the company really cares about is lowering corporate taxes. They recently lobbied, unsuccessfully, for a change in legislation that would have allowed international companies to bring overseas profits back into the U.S. without having to pay the 35 percent income tax.

U.S. companies collectively have $1.5 trillion dollars overseas that they refuse to bring back into the country because of the 35 percent tax rates. Apple has gone so far as to borrow money in the U.S. at a lower interest rate then to bring home any of the $100 billion cash horde that it has overseas.

Apple spent $2 million on lobbying last year. This year, the company is on pace to double those figures. Even though the company is dumping money into lobby groups, it is still only a fraction of what other companies spend yearly to influence government decisions. Microsoft spent $8.1 million and Google spent $16.5 million in 2012.

Unnamed lobbyists not associated with Apple told Reuters that Tuesday’s senate hearing may have been prompted because of the iPad maker’s minimal presence in Washington. It was noted that Microsoft used to be in a similar position as Apple until antitrust investigators at the Department of Justice almost split the Windows maker up in the 1990s.

Apple has enlisted a slew of lobbyists, including former Republican trade official Catherine Novelli, former Democratic staffer Jon Bernstein, lobby firms Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock and the Glover Park Group, and a few more on top of that. The iPad maker isn’t taking sides in politics either, the company procured lobbyists from both the Democratic and Republican parties to help in the fight to reform the corporate tax code.

Email Client Mailbox Now Available on iPad

2013-05-23T16:10:58Z

The recently launched email client Mailbox has received much acclaim since it’s launch in February. At the time, it was an invite-only service and was not available for the iPad. After a soft launch, when the company filtered in more than 1 million new users with no server issues, Mailbox was made open to the public and skyrocketed in popularity. Today Orchestra has announced that Mailbox has been optimized for the iPad.

As of early this morning, Orchestra released version 1.3, which makes Mailbox available as a full screen app on the iPad. Users can now “snooze” emails, organize conversations, and clear out your inbox on the 9.7-inch screen.

Mailbox is an email client only available for Gmail users. It allows you to organize you mail into different groups, prioritize messages for later reading, and make you feel like you’ve accomplished something by having a cleaner inbox.

If you receive emails throughout the day that you’d like to take a look at, but don’t want to stop your workflow, hit the “snooze button” and the mail will be resent to you later, as if it is new. You can also scan an entire Gmail conversation, instead of only seeing the most recent message.

Mailbox is free to download and available in the App Store today.

Shazam Updates App, Adds TV Auto-tagging & Charts to iPad

2013-05-23T14:55:18Z

Shazam, the popular music identification app, just got a major update. Shazam is now a universal app, and it offers some cool new features for the iPad. The user can now auto-tag songs, view real-time top track charts, and check out top tags from TV shows, friends or by geographical locations including countries, cities, and neighborhoods.

The app’s new TV tagging feature lets users check out show-related tweets, cast photos, and celebrity news from top-tagged shows. Turning on the app’s auto tagging feature lets Shazam tag songs or music in TV shows, or even commercials as a matter of course, which puts a permanent end to the question, “hey, what was that song?” The app runs in the background, so you don’t have to pause what you’re doing to keep track of what you’re hearing.

The real-time tagging features offers the user a chance to see what other Shazam users are tagging right this very minute. As Shazam’s database of tagged music grows, it will be a lot of fun to check out what songs are popular in Japan or on your own college campus.

Shazam is free to download from the App Store. Users can access Shazam Encore’s premium features via in-app purchase for $4.99 per year or $6.99 for a lifetime subscription, or download Shazam Encore from directly from the App Store. Encore is ad-free and offers recommendations and Spotify integration.

Are you a Shazam user? Are you excited about the app’s new features? Is Shazam Encore worth the price? If you don’t use Shazam already, will the update encourage you to start? Let us know in the comments.

PadGadget Daily App Deal – 38 iPad Apps on Sale

2013-05-23T06:27:53Z

For today’s Daily Deal we’ve found 38 great apps to add to your iPad collection. We have 3 productivity / entertainment apps and 35 game apps in today’s bundle.

We used our PadGadget Apps Tracker to find these great deals and we’ll continue to look for the best app deals as they pop-up. Some of these apps are up to 90% off, several are even free, so be sure to check them out because they are on sale for a limited time.

Game Apps

Angry Birds Space HD – This insanely popular pig smashing game has a 4 star App Store rating and is now available for Free instead of $2.99.
Avengers Initiative () – This comic based action game has a 4 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $1.99 instead of $6.99. This app is a whopper, it weighs in at 1.54 GB so be sure that you have enough space on your iPad and that you are on a speedy network before purchasing.
BATTLEFIELD: BAD COMPANY 2 for iPad – This EA action game is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 90% off the apps’ normal price of $9.99. This app weighs in at 265 MB so please be sure that you have enough space on your iPad before downloading.
BATTLESHIP for iPad – This hit board game is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99.
Bejeweled HD – This insanely popular jewel matching game has a 5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $3.99.
Bop It! for iPad – This fun iPad game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $2.99.
Burnout CRASH! () – This iPad car game has a 4 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99.
COMMAND & CONQUER RED ALERT for iPad – This strategy game is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99.
Dead Space for iPad – This space game from EA has a 4 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 90% off the apps’ normal price of $9.99. This app weighs in at 437 MB so please be sure that you have enough space on your iPad before downloading.
Draw Jump HD – This adventure game has a 4 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $2.99.
DreamWorks Dragons: TapDragonDrop () – This movie inspired game has a 4 star App Store rating and is now available for Free instead of $1.99.
FIFA SOCCER 13 by EA SPORTS () – This top soccer game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99. This app is a whopper, it weighs in at 1.38 GB so be sure that you have enough space on your iPad and that you are on a speedy network before purchasing.
Flight Control HD – This awesome aircraft landing game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99.
MADDEN NFL 12 by EA SPORTS For iPad – This football game is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 86% off the apps’ normal price of $6.99. This app weighs in at 363 MB so please be sure that you have enough space on your iPad before downloading.
Max and the Magic Marker for iPad – This fun adventure game has a 4 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $2.99.
Mirror’s Edge for iPad – This EA game has a 4 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 90% off the apps’ normal price of $9.99.
MONOPOLY for iPad – This hot board game is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 90% off the apps’ normal price of $9.99.
MONOPOLY HERE & NOW: The World Edition for iPad – This Monopoly game with a twist has a 4 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 90% off the apps’ normal price of $9.99.
NBA JAM by EA SPORTS for iPad – This basketball game has a 4 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99. This app weighs in at 251 MB so please be sure that you have enough space on your iPad before downloading.
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit for iPad – This racing game has a 4 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99. This app weighs in at 432 MB so please be sure that you have enough space on your iPad before downloading.
Need for Speed Most Wanted () – More racing fun is to be had with this game. It has a 4 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99. This app weighs in at 607 MB so please be sure that you have enough space on your iPad before downloading.
Penumbear () – This great puzzle game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $1.99. This app weighs in at 253 MB so please be sure that you have enough space on your iPad before downloading.
Pictureka! for iPad – This EA game is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99.
Push Panic! () – This game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now available for Free instead of $1.99.
Real Racing 2 HD – This extremely popular racing game form Firemint has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 86% off the apps’ normal price of $6.99. This app weighs in at 444 MB so please be sure that you have enough space on your iPad before downloading.
Real Racing HD – This racing game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99.
Reckless Racing HD – This EA game has a 4 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99.
RISK: The Official Game for iPad – This board game is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 86% off the apps’ normal price of $6.99.
SimCity Deluxe for iPad – This city building game is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 86% off the apps’ normal price of $6.99.
TETRIS for iPad – This classic arcade game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $2.99.
THE GAME OF LIFE for iPad – This board game has a 4 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 86% off the apps’ normal price of $6.99.
The Sims Medieval For iPad – This fun sim game is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99.
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12 for iPad – This top golf game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99. This app weighs in at 274 MB so please be sure that you have enough space on your iPad before downloading.
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 for iPad – This fun martial arts action game is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99.
YAHTZEE HD – This very popular dice game is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99.

Productivity and Entertainment Apps

Craigslist () – This Craigslist app is now available for Free instead of $0.99.
MiniatureCam – TiltShift Generator HD – This fun photo effects app has a 4 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $1.99.
My Sketch & Cartoon HD-Pencil Avatar Photo Effect For TapaTalk,Kakao,Hi&Keek Pro () – This sketching app has a 4 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $1.99.

Also be sure to check out yesterday’s Daily Deal to find more great savings.

= Indicates app is Universal and will run on an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.

PadGadget’s Sound Stage: Logitech’s Music Brand, Ultimate Ears Announces Social Music Experiment

2013-05-23T13:30:02Z

It is time again for our weekly music column. At PadGadget’s Sound Stage, we bring you news and information about apps and accessories relating to music. Last week, we showed you an incredible synthesizer app that lets you connect and combine multiple virtual instruments. Tabletop lets you connect samplers to mixers to keyboards to recorders.

This week, we are telling you about the launch of Ultimate Ears’ newest product. The UE Boom promises to bring surround sound to the biggest of rooms from the smallest of speakers.

In addition to the 360 degree wireless speaker, UE has launched a marketing campaign in conjunction with Reggie Watts on JASH’s comedy website. The campaign, called “The Social Music Experiment” takes a comedic look at the effects music has on individuals.

The UE Boom looks like a rounded out version of the Jambox, only these speakers go around the entire thing. It is tubular in shape and is small enough to carry in one hand, sort of like a “tall can.”

The speaker is wrapped in a specially designed acoustic skin that is water and stain resistant. Thanks to some clever engineering, multiple BOOMs can be connected together for serious stereo surround sound.

“The digital age has changed how we listen to our favorite songs and interact with music,” said Rory Dooley, general manager of Ultimate Ears. “While online music services have made it easier to access your music, it’s remained a challenge to have an anytime, anywhere listening experience that can be shared with others. UE BOOM solves that problem. Ultimate Ears strives to amplify the social experience of listening to music, bringing people together around the music they love. UE BOOM is designed to bring music out into the world, and that’s why we’re also supporting this introduction with a campaign to inspire young music fans to make music social.”

The Social Music Experiment is a PG-13 themed funny take on what music means in a social environment. In Experiment #1 Watt and his cohort Asif (the team of “bad-a** socio-musicologists”) go across the country to try to win a date using the power of music. Hilarity ensues. Each week through June 2013, a new episode, starring UE’s BOOM will appear. You can watch the Webisodes on JASH right now, or on Collegehumor.com or the Ultimate Ears website.

The Ultimate Ears BOOM will be available for sale in six different colors, including black, blue, green, pink, red, and white, sometime this month for $199. Pre-order yours today from the company’s website.

Logitech Unveils Wired iPad Keyboard Specially Designed for Classrooms

2013-05-22T19:12:47Z

It is well known that Apple is pushing hard to be a staple in every classroom in America. Educators can order iPads in bulk for a reduced rate. Digital textbooks are flooding the iBook Store on a daily basis. Even iTunes University is a hot commodity for iOS users. Logitech is one of those companies with an ear to the ground and they know how prevalent the iPad is becoming in the education arena. Today, the company is announcing the upcoming launch of the first iPad keyboard designed specifically for the classroom setting.

“Schools are increasingly purchasing iPads for use in the classroom,” said Mike Culver, vice president and general manager of mobility at Logitech. “While tablets are enabling new ways of teaching and testing, there’s a challenge when a teacher needs to simultaneously pair multiple iPads with multiple wireless Bluetooth keyboards. We developed the Logitech Wired Keyboard for iPad to specifically solve this problem, so students can now simply plug it in and start typing.”

The keyboard is made from a spill-resistant material with keys that were tested to withstand more than five million strokes. It also features some of the familiar iPad shortcuts, like Siri connection and app switching, plus an integrated Home button for quickly returning to the Home screen.

The Logitech Wired Keyboard for iPad with Lightning connector will be available in August of 2013 for a retail price of only $59.99. By October of 2013, the model with 30-pin connector will be available for the same price. You can pre-order from the company’s website today.

Apple to Begin Mac Manufacturing in the USA – Will the iPad Follow?

2013-05-22T19:11:32Z

Speck Case for iPad Via Zazzle.com

Although Apple CEO Tim Cook told the nation that the company had plans to manufacture one of its existing Mac lines in the U.S. last December, there has not been any official information regarding which line or where. During Tuesday’s Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Cook shed some light on that issue.

According to AllThingsD, Cook told the Senate Subcommittee that Apple will be making Macs in Texas. “We’re investing $100 million to build a Mac product line here in the U.S.,” Cook said. “The product will be assembled in Texas, include components made in Illinois and Florida, and rely on equipment produced in Kentucky and Michigan.”

This is great news for Texans specifically and the U.S. in general. We need more companies to work their way back into the U.S. for manufacturing as part of the effort to improve the economy.

Will Apple ever make iPads in the U.S.?

In my opinion, no.

In December of 2012, around the same time that Cook revealed the move to the U.S. for Mac manufacturing, he also told NBC that the problem with making products in the U.S. is not about money, but skills. He pointed out that the U.S. was never in the electronics manufacturing business so there is not a workforce capable of handling production of such devices. “It is not an issue of bringing it back to the country,” he said. “But getting it started.”

Foxconn, one of Apple’s major suppliers, does operate some plants in Texas, which has been handling much of the company’s hardware production and assembly. If Foxconn could hire and train workers to deal with the delicacies and intricacies of putting together mobile devices in the U.S., it is possible for iPads to receive the “Made in America” stamp. However, that would be a costly and timely endeavor.

It is more likely that making Macs in the U.S. is nothing more than a PR move on Apples part. They want to look good for consumers, so they will throw us a bone every once in a while to show good faith. That’s fine. Hundreds of people with have jobs thanks to Apple’s desire to keep us happy.

ZooGue Takes Wraps off New Super Thin iPad Mini Case for Only $1.99

2013-05-23T13:29:10Z

ZooGue is known for having some pretty awesome promotions. Just before the iPhone 5 launched, I was able to grab a free case from the accessory maker. Today, ZooGue announced the launch of their newest iPad mini back cover and to celebrate, you can get it for only two bucks.

The company has just released the new Social Case for iPad mini. It is a “sleek, modern case that provides thin, yet durable protection.” It is made from thermoplastic polyurethane for comfortable, flexible protection. It features a ridged grip to help you keep hold of your tablet. All controls are accessible.

I was very happy with my iPhone 5 “Social Pro” case. It fits perfectly, offers a protective covering without adding weight or mass. The material is smooth and comfortable. The Social for iPad mini is from the same series of cases.

The Social for iPad mini comes in black, navy blue, and red. You can order up to four cases for $1.99 plus shipping and handling from the company’s website while supplies last. After the sale is over, they will go back to the regular price of $16.49.

PadGadget’s DIY iPad Project Spotlight: Modified Solar Powered iPad Charger

2013-05-22T13:51:03Z

It is time again to spotlight another awesome DIY iPad project. Every week, we try to find interesting and innovative projects that are made by people like you and me. Some projects are simple and take only a few minutes and some scraps of things from around the house. Others are more complex and require a bit of know-how.

Last week, we spotlighted an adorable felt iPad cover. This week, we are going with something a little more complicated. Grab your soldering iron and an Ohm resistor because this project is battery powered.

Phillip Stearns at Voltaic has figured out a way to turn a low-voltage solar lamp into a USB compatible high-powered charger. Incidentally, Voltaic is the company that makes the solar powered rechargeable iPad backpack. This DIY modification is fairly complicated and Stearns points out that without proper knowledge of what you are working with, you risk damaging the lamp, batteries, or even the iPad. You’ve been warned.

For this project you will need an IKEA Sunnan Lamp, a soldering iron and accessories, pliers, wire cutters and strippers, a utility knife, a Phillips screwdriver, a rotary tool, cutting wheel, routing bit, epoxy putty, a power drill and 5/16” bit, a MintyBoostKit, two Schottky Barrier Diods, a 39K Ohm resistor, a piece of circuit prototyping or perf-board, a USB output wire and a 2Watt solar pane. The last two can be purchased from Voltaic Systems.

The first thing you will need to do is upgrade the batteries from the current ones in the lamp. After you remove the included AA NiMH batteries, replace them with higher capacity cells like the Tenergy 2700mAh cells.

Next, you will need to increase the solar panel landscape. The how-to guide explains the details of removing the current regulator, solar panel, and fuse. It goes on to offer step-by-step instructions for adding the USB output wire and the additional 2Watt solar panel.

Then, you will attach the MintyBoost by replacing the R4 that comes in the kit with the 39K Ohm resistor, which reconfigures the pin voltages.

After a series of complex electronic steps that, frankly are beyond my abilities, you’ll be able to piggieback the desklamp to a bigger, more powerful solar panel that you can take outdoors for a full charge. Then, when the lamp is fully charged, its battery modifications will allow you to charge your iPad when you are sitting at your desk.

Thanks to Phillip Stearns over at Voltaic for this interesting, if not challenging, DIY project.

PadGadget Daily App Deal – 10 iPad Apps on Sale

2013-05-22T06:06:36Z

For today’s Daily Deal we’ve found 10 great apps to add to your iPad collection. We have 5 productivity / entertainment apps and 5 game apps in today’s bundle.

We used our PadGadget Apps Tracker to find these great deals and we’ll continue to look for the best app deals as they pop-up. Some of these apps are up to 80% off, several are even free, so be sure to check them out because they are on sale for a limited time.

Game Apps

Battle of the Bulge – This popular WWII board game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $6.99 instead of $9.99. This app weighs in at 250 MB so please be sure that you have enough space on your iPad before downloading.
DreamWorks Dash n Drop () – This very popular game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now available for Free instead of $1.99.
PipeRoll 2 Ages HD – This cool strategy game has a 4 star App Store rating and is now available for Free instead of $1.99.
PipeRoll HD – This is the original of the PipeRoll game series and it’s now available for Free instead of $1.99.
Tortilla Soup Surfer () – This fun action game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now available for Free instead of $0.99.

Productivity and Entertainment Apps

Color Blast! HD – Photo Color Effects for Faceboo – This handy photography app has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $1.99.
ComicBook! () – This comic book app has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now available for Free instead of $1.99.
Flickr Studio – This Flickr app has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now available for Free instead of $4.99.
FlickStackr for Flickr () – This very popular flickr photo app has a 4 star App Store rating and is now available for Free instead of $1.99.
TiltShift Video – Miniature effect for movies and photos () – This cool video effects app has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now available for $0.99. That’s a savings of 80% off the apps’ normal price of $4.99.

Also be sure to check out yesterday’s Daily Deal to find more great savings.

= Indicates app is Universal and will run on an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.

Luxury Hotel in Dubai Offers 24-Carat Gold iPads to its Guests

2013-05-22T14:58:09Z

People love to gold plate things. Whether it is a tooth, a car, or a suit, gold is the epitome of luxury. Yes, we even like to gold plate iPads. In Dubai, UAE, the “world’s only 7-Star hotel” knows how to show off its riches in style. Every guest that stays at the Burj Al Arab gets his or her own 24-carat gold plated iPad.

According to the Huffington Post, the iPad serves as a sort of, “virtual consierge” that will offer personalized information to guests about what the hotel offers.

Burj Al Arab’s general manager, Heinrich Morio, was quoted as saying, “Our exclusive Burj Al Arab 24-carat gold iPads epitomize Jumeirah’s philosophy of ‘stay different’ and further enhance our guests’ experience during their stay.”

Daily rates for Dubai’s finest luxury hotel start at nearly $1,500 with the Royal Suite costing $18,700 per night.

Gold & Co. in London made the gold plated iPad. The company’s CEO, Amjad Ali, described this product as the “ultimate in luxury accessories.” There is no information as to how much the special iPad costs, but hotel guests can purchase one in the gift shop when they leave. Amosu recently designed a gold-plated iPad that Wired reported sells for approximately $4,300.

If that is too rich for your blood, why not just stay at the hotel instead. You’ll be able to play Angry Birds, post on Facebook, and check the weather all without having to buy an iPad.

iO7 Rumored to Integrate Vimeo and Flickr Features

2013-05-22T13:51:37Z

If you hadn’t already heard, Flickr just updated their website and completely changed their account offerings. Now, the website looks like Facebook and Instagram had a baby. Unfortunately, Flickr doesn’t have an iPad optimized app, so you either have to visit the website from your mobile browser, or double-zoom the iPhone app. 9to5Mac recently reported that the upcoming iOS update will include Flickr integration similarly to the way Facebook and Twitter is now deeply integrated with mobile Apple devices.

According to 9to5Mac, an unnamed source familiar with the features of iOS 7 said that “Apple plans to include an increased presence of third-party social networks, including Flickr and Vimeo.”

With the launch of iOS 7, users will be able to log into their Flickr and Vimeo accounts through their device’s Settings app. Customers will log in once and be able to share photos and videos directly through the device, or through supported apps that ask for log in information. For example, some photo apps that ask you to enter you log in information in order to share images to Flickr will no longer require you to manually enter your user name and password.

The move to integrate Vimeo is interesting since Apple booted Google’s YouTube app from the device’s native apps. There is no official information as to whether Vimeo would be a full replacement for YouTube’s video uploading feature or if it would just be integrated into iOS the way Facebook and Twitter are.

If Apple does integrate these social networking sites into iOS 7 it would be a real boost for both companies. Flickr has been drifting at sea ever since websites like Instagram have popped up. Vimeo has always been in the shadow of YouTube. It would greatly increase their usability if posting pictures and videos were just a click away.

Apple CEO Tim Cook Questioned in Senate Hearing on Company’s Tax Strategy

2013-05-21T18:38:38Z

Apple, Inc. has come under fire recently as a U.S. Senate investigation recently revealed that the company is taking advantage of international tax loopholes, which make it possible to avoid paying taxes. Today, CEO Tim Cook went before the Senate in a hearing to explain why the tech giant has paid little or now corporate income tax on billions of dollars in overseas income.

According to Reuters [Via: Yahoo News], Apple Operations International, Apple Sales International, and Apple Operations Europe are all incorporated in Ireland, but not considered tax resident there. This “Irish Loophole” makes it possible for Apple to skip out on corporate income tax on overseas monies.

According to a live blog from MarketWatch, Cook stated that Apple follows the letter of the law and pays all of the taxes owed, having paid $6 billion in U.S. corporate tax last year. Cook also mentioned that bringing international cash back into the U.S. would be cost prohibitive. “Unfortunately, the tax code has not kept up with the digital age,” he said.

Senator Rand Paul, who is known for being a hands-off kind of government official, accused the subcommittee of unfairly treating Apple as a scapegoat and called the hearing a “witch hunt” in a tweet from the Senate floor.

“If anyone should be on trial here it should be Congress … for creating a bizarre and byzantine tax code,” said Paul. “If you want to assign blame, this committee needs to look in the mirror and see who created that mess.”

Apple’s overseas tax strategies are legal, but the subcommittee claims that Apple is using “gimmicks” to avoid paying taxes.

As of writing this article, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Hearing is still in session. To find out what is being said, follow MarketWatch’s live blog. You can also watch the hearing streaming live on C-Span.

ZAGG Takes Wraps off Two New Super Thin iPad Mini Keyboards

2013-05-22T13:51:57Z

There may be a lot of keyboard cases for the iPad out on the market, but there are not very many cases for its smaller counterpart, the iPad mini. The main problem is fitting all of those keys into such a compact area. Today, ZAGG announced the launch of two new keyboard cases for the iPad mini that promise to be the most versatile on the market.

At this year’s CTIA convention, ZAGG unveiled the ZAGGkeys Cover and ZAGGkeys Foilo for iPad mini. Both are Bluetooth-enabled keyboard cases for the 7.9-inch tablet. Unlike most keyboard cases for tablets, these feature a hinge system that allows for a full range of viewing angles up to 135 degrees.

“We are very excited about the new ZAGGkeys Cover and ZAGGkeys Folio. They are lighter, more convenient and easier to use than any other tablet keyboard accessory on the market,” said Kent Wuthrich, executive vice president of marketing for ZAGG. “We conducted extensive customer research to aid in our concept and design, and customers are going to love these new creative product solutions.”

The ZAGGkeys Cover features a hinge system that lets users adjust the screen to almost any angle. You can also flip the tablet over for flat viewing. The keyboard is backlit with seven different color options and three brightness options. The rechargeable battery lasts up to three months with normal use.

The ZAGGkeys Folio is “the thinnest and most diverse Bluetooth keyboard/case combo available.” It features the same hinge system as the ZAGGkeys Cover. This case provides full body protection to keep the iPad mini from getting scratches or dings. The keyboard also offers seven different colors of backlighting with three brightness levels. The rechargeable battery lasts up to three months with normal use.

The Zaggkeys Cover will be available later this year in silver and black. The ZAGGkeys Folio will also be available later this year in black and white, with additional colors being added this fall. Both cases will retail for $99.99. Visit the company’s website for more information.