Have you ever wanted to create an App for your business or nightclub?  Do you have the know-how to create that App?  If you answered Yes to the first and No to the second then I have the answer for you.  Appy Pie is a great up and coming company has developed a cloud based program to do all the technical writing for you to create your very own App.  They first made news when they announced they were coming out of Beta and going live.  Since the news was first reported on TheNextWeb a lot has been upgraded.  TheNextWeb had this to say about the future of Appy Pie and where they can go with the platform.

Appy Pie has ambitious goals for its app creation tools. Rather than keeping them rudimentary, the company is looking to integrate with APIs in order to add utility. Since some restaurants have express interest in using the platform to build custom apps for their venues, Appy Pie has integrated with OpenTable and GrubHub. The app also supports SoundCloud and will soon work with dictionary and Wikipedia APIs.

From a small business point of view, the first two questions they often ask is “how much will creating a mobile app cost and what do I really need to know to build one myself?”  Appy Pie allows users to create fully functional and customized apps in a wide variety of unique categories that range from mobile games and navigational tools, to e-book readers and business utilities on today’s most popular mobile operating systems.

Through Appy Pie’s App Builder Platform, users can access various app building tools, and begin the process of bringing their application to life through an easy, step-by-step set of instructions that guides consumers with interactive directions right on the screen. Once completed, users are able to upload their mobile creation onto Android, iTunes, and very soon, to Blackberry and Windows operating systems, allowing for additional exposure, sharing, and even monetization upon approval.

I recently was able to talk with the CEO of Appy Pie, Abhinav Girdhar, for my interview sessions for my podcast you can find that video here.  In that video we talk more about what Appy Pie can do for you as well as what the future holds for the company. Appy Pie is the fastest growing cloud based Mobile Apps Builder Software (App Maker) that allows users with no programming skills, to create Android & iPhone applications for mobiles and smartphones; and publish to Google Play & iTunes. Appy Pie’s Closed Beta was released on Jan 14th, 2013 in Noida, India. Appy Pie shot to popularity immediately after its Out of Beta release.

Finding widespread acknowledgment from worldwide press and the blogosphere, Appy Pie’s Marketplace scored over 850 Mobile Apps within a month. Small and medium businesses are finding Appy Pie particularly useful to reach out to new customers as well as engage with the existing ones. With Appy Pie, there is no need to install or download anything, you can just drag & drop app pages to create your mobile app online. Once the App is published, you will receive an HTML5 based hybrid app that works with Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone and Blackberry.

So you just might be asking yourself “just how easy can this be?”  To be brutally honest with you, it is ridiculously easy to create your very own App. If you watch my Interview Session with Appy Pie you can watch as I  do a live demonstration of just how easy Appy Pie can be.  Simply answer a few questions and in a few short minutes you could have your very own App available for download in the Android Market as well as the iTunes App Store.  You have a few options to choose from when it comes to hosting your App.  They have the free option and with that you are able to create your App but you are unable to publish it to the App Marketplaces.

So if you are looking to take your business to the next level and want to do it in the quickest possible way with very little HTML5 knowledge than this is the place to go.  Appy Pie will help you take that next step and broaden your horizons and your bottom line.  Plus when you watch the Interview Sessions with Appy Pie you will get a great clue of where Appy Pie is heading in regards to broadening their App platform.

Article first published as Appy Pie Makes Making an App as Easy as Pie on Technorati.

ARCHOS Unveils the ChefPad, a Tablet for the Cooking Enthusiast
 

A fully Google certified tablet, the ChefPad features a unique Chef Apps Zone, HD 1080p video playback, front and back cameras,

Android 4.1, and a fast dual-core 1.6 GHz CPU

Denver, CO – May 13th, 2013 - ARCHOS, a pioneer in AndroidTM devices, is pleased to announce the ChefPad, a tablet designed for cooking enthusiasts.  This specially designed cooking assistant made for both the kitchen and personal entertainment,  is loaded with features like a powerful dual-core 1.6 GHz processor, quad-core Graphics processor, front and back cameras for sharing your latest culinary creations, 1080p video playback and a direct access to thousands of apps, videos, and music to cook by through Google Play. The 9.7”ChefPad powered by Android 4.1 “Jelly Bean” will be available starting in June for $209.99 MSRP at www.ARCHOS.com.
Exclusive to the ChefPad is the Chef Apps Selection, where aspiring Chefs can discover a selection of the best cooking apps ranging from recipes, cooking tips and cooking TV to cooking assistant apps. This exclusive app program curates the best of all apps from Google Play in any specified category making it easier for the end user to find the right content.

“The ChefPad is the first ARCHOS tablet to use this filtering technology,” says Loïc Poirier, CEO of ARCHOS. “This is just the beginning for ARCHOS tablets using this technology; we will continue to launch new and exciting themed tablets that curate apps in such categories as kids apps, games, educational apps, business/productivity apps and more.”

Key ChefPad Features:

• Chef Apps - Filters through thousands of apps to provide the best cooking content in a range of categories including recipes, drinks, shopping, cooking TV and more. Whether you are looking for dinner ideas, a good wine match, a balanced meal plan, a smoothie recipe or just for music to listen to while cooking, Chef Apps gets it done.
• Let’s Get Cooking - Designed for the kitchen, the ChefPad features a silicone case that will keep it safe from water or food splashes and is easy to clean. In addition, it includes an adjustable stand for the best viewing angle while cooking.
• Android™ 4.1 Jelly Bean - Powered by an unskinned version of Android™ 4.1 ‘Jelly Bean’, the ChefPad delivers an optimized and super-smooth Android™ experience.
• Google Certified - Whether among the pre-installed apps or among the thousands of downloadable apps on Google Play, the ChefPad features all the applications that matter: HD video player, email, web browsing, news, games, eBooks, weather forecast and more.
• Powerful Hardware - Equipped with a dual-core CPU @ 1.6 GHz combined with a quad-core GPU & 1GB of RAM, the ChefPad delivers on both function and performance.
• Other Key Specs:
  • 9.7” 1024×768 capacitive screen
  • 8GB Capacity with expandable MicroSD slot
  • 2 Megapixel Front and Back Cameras
  • WiFi
  • 1080p HD Video Playback
  • Mini HDMI

Whether one is an aspiring Chef or just learning to cook, the ChefPad provides the ultimate cooking assistant while being a tablet you can use for all your personal entertainment needs.  For more information about the ChefPad and other ARCHOS products visitwww.ARCHOS.com.

ABOUT ARCHOS
ARCHOS, a pioneer in the portable audio and video player market, and now specializing in Android Tablets, has repeatedly revolutionized the market for consumer electronics since 1988. Today, ARCHOS offers Android Tablets, Tablet PCs and MP3/MP4 players. In 2000, ARCHOS launched the Jukebox 6000, the first MP3 player combined with a hard disk. Then in 2003 ARCHOS introduced the first portable multimedia players with TV recording. In 2006 Wi-Fi is implemented and then touch screens in 2007. In 2008, ARCHOS launched the first generation Internet Tablets, and then the first ever Android powered tablets in 2009. ARCHOS has offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. ARCHOS is quoted on Compartment C of Eurolist, Euronext Paris, ISIN CodeFR0000182479. Website: www.archos.com.
Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ARCHOS.EntertainmentYourWay
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ARCHOS_US
Android, Google Play, Google Now and other marks are trademarks of Google Inc.

Study shows gamification of education increases student engagement.

From SMART Boards to tablets, technology has significantly transformed the way students around the world learn. One of the latest trends, gamification, is the use of game design and mechanics to enhance learning. Research has shown that children are more likely to become engaged when gaming elements are incorporated into lessons.

According to research from Deakin University, incorporating games into curriculum dramatically alters students’ attitudes toward math. By turning math lessons into games, students apply more energy and motivation and, as a result, are more successful. By adding technology into the mix, motivation increases. As the founder of TechMamas.com found out, the creativity and ease of gaming programs on mobile devices makes homework assignments more enjoyable for students.

Gamification options are diverse and increasing. Some classrooms assign digital badges in an online learning application to give students a sense of accomplishment. Others find that swapping out formal letter grades for a point system allows students to view class as an exciting challenge. Resources like SimCityEDU teach STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) in a virtual environment, challenging students to think critically. And, Minecraft lets users build structures with blocks, providing a creative model for physics lessons. The MapMaster app tests a student’s knowledge of geography while competing with friends.

Equipping classrooms and students with the right technology is the starting point for this kind of engagement. Innovative mobile technology such as Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, combined with tablets and a wide array of apps enable educational gaming in an easy-to-transport fashion, so engagement continues outside of the classroom.

Griffin’s Crayola Light Marker is Now Available - Color and Create with Light on Your iPad

Turn out the lights and bring your iPad to life with Light Marker – Color in the air

Nashville, Tenn. — April 18, 2013 — Griffin Technology, one of the world’s foremost creators of innovations for everyday life, and Crayola, whose products have inspired creative expression in children for more than 100 years, announce the availability of Crayola Light Marker, a new way for young artists to create digital masterpieces using innovative mobile technology.

“iPads are wonderful for young artists, giving children an interactive landscape to engage and create,” said Erica Tober, Youth Product Line Manager at Griffin. “Using the front facing camera, Crayola Light Marker allows children to play and produce digital works of art without touching the screen. It’s a magical new way to create!”

Crayola Light Marker, combined with a free downloadable multi-activity app, delivers hours of colorful fun. Play games, solve puzzles and create with glow-in-the-dark color. Light Marker sends an invisible beam of light to the iPad’s front-facing camera and the movement is detected and interpreted into drawings that magically appear on the screen. The app has a digital Crayola Crayon Box with digital markers, crayons, paintbrushes, stamps and more. The Crayola Light Marker app includes multiple activities such as:

• Dot to Dot: Connect the dots and see what appears
• Splatter Paint: Pop the balloons for colorful splattery fun
• Coloring Pages: Paint in the air to color coloring pages.
• Hide ‘n Seek: Find hidden objects in dark rooms with the Light Marker flashlight.
• Puzzles: Move the pieces into place with your Light Marker
• Free Draw: Draw with neon crayons, markers and effects.

Artwork can be e-mailed, uploaded to Facebook and printed directly from iPad to any AirPrint-enabled printer. Crayola Light Marker comes with a stand for the iPad and is available now for $29.99 at select retailers and http://www.griffintechnology.com/crayola/lightmarker.

To see the Crayola Light Marker in action, visit http://youtu.be/O70X7JY4re0.

For more information about Griffin Technology, visit www.griffintechnology.com.

About Griffin Technology
Founded on Paul Griffin’s kitchen table in 1992, Griffin Technology Inc., is today one of the world’s foremost creators of accessories for home, mobile, and personal technology. Unique products such as iTrip®, PowerMate®, iFM®, iMic® and Evolve® Wireless Speaker System have broken new ground in consumer electronics and created loyal fans the world over. Today, Griffin products are conceived, designed and developed in-house and continue to push the envelope of the industry they helped create. Learn more about Griffin’s entire range of ingenious designs at www.griffintechnology.com, www.facebook.com/griffintech and on Twitter, @griffintech.

About Crayola
Crayola has inspired artistic creativity in children since the first box of Crayola crayons rolled off the assembly line in 1903. Whether it’s providing tools to put a purple octopus on the moon, or enabling teachers to bring arts-infused learning into the classroom, Crayola is passionate about helping parents and educators raise creative and inspired children. For more than 120 years, the company carried the name of its founders, Binney & Smith, until 2007 when the company changed its name to Crayola. A Hallmark subsidiary, Crayola has called Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, its home since the turn of the century. Crayola helps unleash the creative originality that exists in every child with colorful, innovative tools that transform the wonder of the imagination into visible form.

Dockem’s Koala Mount Sticks iPad, Tablets to Any Vertical Surface

Conveniently use and view your tablet while keeping it safe from spills, damage

Whether you are using your iPad or tablet to follow a new dinner recipe, Skype with family or to watch the morning news while you are getting ready in the bathroom, you can now enjoy hands-free viewing without getting a crick in your neck. The Koala Mount from Dockem securely holds your iPad or other compatible tablet device in place on any wall or hard, vertical surface.

Designed to fit all versions of the iPad and several Android tablets including the popular Samsung Galaxy tablet line, the Koala Mount can be installed in just seconds using 3M Command Strips. Simply attach the strips to the back of the mount and affix it to a wall above an outlet for safe charging, next to the bed, your bathroom mirror, at eye level at your desk for video calls or anywhere else you need to be able to use and view and your tablet without having to slouch or bend over to see the screen.

The Koala Mount features a hidden cord clip to keep your charger easily at-hand at all times. To use the Koala Mount, simply slide your iPad or tablet into the side brackets for a snug and secure fit. When you are ready to take your device on the go again, just slide it out of the brackets with one hand. Furthermore, the Command strips can be removed without damaging your wall, so if you ever want to move your Koala Mount from one wall or room to another, you never have to worry about repairing screw holes or repainting. New 3M Command Strips can be purchased at a variety of retailers to hang your mount over and over again.

The Koala Mount uses two independent brackets allowing you to space them at the correct distance apart for your tablet. You also have the flexibility to use the Koala Mount to hold your tablet with a landscape or portrait view. The Koala Mount can be used along with many protective cases including the Apple Smart Cover, and you can charge any tablet while it is resting in the mount.

The Koala Mount retails for $19.99 and includes 2 Koala brackets, 2 Standard 3M Command strips, a surface prep pad and full instructions. For more information about the Koala Mount visit www.dockem.com/Koala-iPad-Wall-Mount-p/20006.htm.

About Dockem

The original Dockem prototype was a duct tape pouch created by company co-founder Chris Moyer when he needed a way to store his cell phone next to his bed in college. Lacking a bedside table, Moyer created a pouch out of the tape and stuck it to the side of his dresser. But, it left a mess to clean up when removed. Knowing there had to be a better way to safely store his phone within easy reach, Moyer developed the idea for the Dockem and the Koala Mount. Dockem is headquartered in East Stroudsburg, PA and is run by co-founders and brothers, Chris and Colby Moyer. For more information visit www.dockem.com.