Archive for the ‘Apple Laptops’ Category

Interactive E-Book for Kids on the iPad

qbook on ipadMany people are enjoying the fact that they can utilize their iPad as an e-book reader. It can be really convenient and sometimes easier to tote around than a book. Now, Kiwa Media has created their QBook interactive series of e-books that is specifically designed for kids. This series gives kids more than just something to read. It makes the whole experience more engaging for even small children since each story now becomes an interactive adventure.

You can purchase stories by QBook at Apple’s App Store. The latest release for Kiwa Media’s new series is a story called That’s not JUNK. It is a story that is all about recycling, and it teaches kids the value of recycling. As mentioned before, the stories are interactive. That’s not JUNK features Swipe-to-Read, this allows kids to read at their own pace; Touch-to-Hear, which lets kids touch than hear the words on the “pages;” and Touch-to-Spell, that helps kids improve their early language skills. Kids can decide whether or not they want to use Auto Play or My Narration when they read with QBook. Auto Play reads the story to your child, while My Narration allows your child to record themselves reading the story out loud.

With QBooks, children can see each page of the story in full color, or they can choose to use Paint mode which allows kids to color the pages of the story themselves with a variety of different colors and brush widths. Each page of the story also includes animation and different games that children can play. Basically, one single story has plenty of features to keep your child entertained for hours.

There are several different QBooks that are available from the Apps Store. They are available for iPad or iPhone. That’s not JUNK is available now for $4.99. There is also a demo version of Sally Sloth Saves the Day that has just recently been released. Now the demo version only includes 5 pages, so if you get this demo for your kids, they may want to know what happens next in the story.

If you’re looking for something to keep your kids occupied, QBooks from Kiwa Media are a great idea. They are fun, interactive, and even educational. For about $4.99 a story, you can keep your kids entertained for plenty of time. It’s a great solution to keep the kids occupied on the go.

Do You Really Need an Apple Tablet?

Do You Really Need an Apple TabletIf you visit any tech websites regularly, you probably know Apple is getting ready to unveil its new iTablet computer. Rumors and speculation about the computer’s details have been going on for weeks, especially lately. Most people are anxiously awaiting to get their hands on the device. After all, it is Apple and everything that comes from the company is darn near perfect, right? Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but you know how Apple fans are.

Turns out not everyone is excited about tablet. ABC reporter David Francois has come up with a list of reasons as to why you shouldn’t rush right out and get one when the time comes. For starters, the iTablet will have a short battery life. If you have an iPhone or a current slim MacBook, you know exactly what to expect when it comes to the battery. This means keeping the device that is supposed to be ultra-portable plugged in more often than not.

If you can get past the battery life, you may not be able to get past the lack of comfort. You can’t hold it in your hand like an iPhone and you can’t rest it in your lap like a laptop. You can’t adjust the screen – it IS the screen – and it doesn’t have a rubberized back. Also, tablets have surprisingly been around for about 20 years but as you might have noticed, they haven’t exactly caught on. Sure, the technology is better this year than it was in say, 1995, but you dont hear people talking about how much they want to run out and get a tablet.

So, you don’t care about comfort, battery life, or popularity? Fine, but why do you even need the device? You’ve already got your laptop, netbook, and cell phone. The tablet won’t do anything those things don’t already do. Maybe it will end up with some tablet-specific apps but in the long-run, unless you’re just a gadget-freak, what purpose will it serve to have one? Make that a gadget-freak with a big budget. Rumor has it the tablet is going to have a 3G data connection that’s definitely going to cost you.

Personally, I’d say wait until the device comes out before you decide whether or not to buy one. Apple didn’t get where they are by making brainless moves and who knows what they have in store, but so far, the tablet isn’t winning me over.

Apple looking to Unveil New Tablet

In an effort to dApple to Unveil New Tablet ominate yet another aspect of technology, Apple has revealed that it will be producing a new tablet later this year. The new tablet, said to be competitive with netbooks and e-readers, will likely retail for anywhere from $600 – $1,000. While the hand-held device won’t be revealed until later this month, people are already anticipating it and making all kinds of speculation, all over the internet. Rumor has it, the tablet will be on the market, sometime in March.

As devices that can both surf the web and play movies and music become more popular, the tablet may be coming at a very good time. According to BusinessWeek.com, the tablet would be a competition for both e-readers such as Amazon’s Kindle and netbooks from companies such as Acer and Hewlett Packard.

According to Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray & Co, Apple could see 1.4 million of the devices by the end of 2010, increasing company sales by two percent or more, depending on the finalized price of the product. “Apple’s tablet would compete well in the netbook category, even though it would not be a netbook,” said Munster, who expects software to be one of the keys to making the Apple tablet stand out against the competition.

Another bit of speculation is that the new tablet will be app-friendly, meaning it will work with the over 100,000 apps available for iPhone. Kathryn Huberty, an analyst with Morgan Stanley, says she expects the tablet to be ten inches with touchscreen and built-in Wi-fi. She also expects the product to take e-books and magazines a step further by making them an interactive experience that will provide users with links to videos such as author interviews, photos, audio, websites and advertising.

Maynard Um of UBS AG suspects the new tablet could be like an oversized iPod touch…or like a scaled-down notebook computer. It has been said that Apple expects to ship 10 million tablets within the first year of release. Former Google executive Lee Kai-fu says he’s spoken with someone familiar with the product and that it will look like an oversized iPhone with its 10.1 inch multitouch screen with three-dimensional graphics.

But the truth of the matter is, no one knows for sure. A spokesperson for Apple says the company will not comment on speculation and rumors. Luckily we won’t have to wait too much longer to find out just what Apple has in store for the world of handheld devices. Steve Jobs is set to reveal the tablet later this month.

Unibody MacBook Gets Educational Price Drop

Apple Unibody MacBookWhen the polycarbonate, unibody MacBook was first released by Apple, many people were quickly turned off. It wasn’t that the laptop itself was horrible, despite a few shortcomings. The main issue with many people wan’t he actual device itself, but rather the large $999 price tag. Well good news, for some of you out there, has just been seen on Apple’s website. The unibody MacBook has just seen a price drop to $728. But there is a catch. The $728 price currently only available to students and those in education and for a limited period of time.
The MacBook is a good laptop all around. It comes with a 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2GB of DDR3 memory and a 250GB hard drive. Along with that you get 8x double-layer SuperDrive, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics card and a built-in battery with an expected 7hr life.
Students and educators should take advantage of this deal as soon as possible because there is no word on when the sale will end and if you are looking at getting a MacBook you have no time to waste. Looking at Apple’s website it appears you also get free shipping as well, another great deal to take advantage of as long as it lasts.
Apple Unibody MacBookWhen the polycarbonate, unibody MacBook was first released by Apple, many people were quickly turned off. It wasn’t that the laptop itself was horrible, despite a few shortcomings. The main issue with many people wan’t he actual device itself, but rather the large $999 price tag. Well good news, for some of you out there, has just been seen on Apple’s website. The unibody MacBook has just seen a price drop to $728. But there is a catch. The $728 price currently only available to students and those in education and for a limited period of time.
The MacBook is a good laptop all around. It comes with a 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2GB of DDR3 memory and a 250GB hard drive. Along with that you get 8x double-layer SuperDrive, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics card and a built-in battery with an expected 7hr life.
Students and educators should take advantage of this deal as soon as possible because there is no word on when the sale will end and if you are looking at getting a MacBook you have no time to waste. Looking at Apple’s website it appears you also get free shipping as well, another great deal to take advantage of as long as it lasts.