New Technology Reviews!.: Holiday

Halloween is coming: We have Apps, Android ICS pumpkins, and holiday game deals

Halloween is coming: We have Apps, Android ICS pumpkins, and holiday game deals

Halloween is just a few short days away (scary noises) and we have a few treats we thought we’d share before the weekend gets under way....

Review: Dell XPS 14z

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<img alt="Review: Dell XPS 14z" class="aligncenter" height="212" mce_src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/computing/mobile-computing/notebooks-and-tablet-pcs/Dell/xps14z/XPS%2014z%20front-470-75.jpg" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/computing/mobile-computing/notebooks-and-tablet-pcs/Dell/xps14z/XPS%2014z%20front-470-75.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="282" /></div>
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Overview</h3>
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We first checked out Dell's XPS 14z at IFA, a slightly dinkier version of its excellent XPS 15z <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">l</span>aptop. The XPS 14z hits stores today and we've already spent a few days snuggling up and getting to know it.</div>
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While a 14-inch version of a 15-inch laptop might seem a little pointless, we were impressed by how slim and light the XPS 14z turned out. With its 23mm build and 2kg weight, it more closely resembles a 13-inch portable. The XPS 15z wasn't exactly a chubster, but commuters will want to consider this laptop first.</div>
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The slender body may seem less impressive compared to the upcoming slew of ultrabooks, including the ridiculously skinny Asus Zenbook which is just 9mm thick. However, we had no problem slipping the XPS 14z into our backpack and carrying it around all weekend.</div>
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In terms of design, almost nothing except the size has been changed from the XPS 15z. You get the same beautiful brushed metal finish, which feels as solid as it looks – we pushed and prodded every inch and found no worrying weak spots. Even the paper-thin aluminium lid is firm enough to take a pounding, so you won't need to pad your bag with bubblewrap.</div>
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An isolation-style keyboard fills the centre of the XPS 14z's chassis, bordered at both sides by the built-in speakers. We love the curved design of the keys, which gives them a futuristic appearance. They're firmly set and comfortable to type on, while typos are a rarity thanks to the gaps between each key.</div>
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<img alt="Dell xps 14z" class="aligncenter" height="207" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/notebooks-and-tablet-pcs/Dell/xps14z/XPS%2014z%20lid-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/notebooks-and-tablet-pcs/Dell/xps14z/XPS%2014z%20lid-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div>
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The board is surprisingly well-sized too, despite not stretching the width of the laptop. The tiny arrow keys are the only casualty. As with the XPS 15z, the board is backlit for late-night sessions, and Dell also touts it as 'spill-resistant'. However, we didn't have the guts to assault it with a bottle of Evian.</div>
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We also liked the spacious touchpad, which thankfully avoids the irritating integrated mouse buttons you find on many compact laptops. Instead, the XPS 14z has two dedicated buttons underneath. The pad also supports multi-touch gesturing, as is the norm.</div>
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Our only issues with the design are the stiff lid hinges, which to be fair at least keeps the screen still when you're on rocky public transport. The screen only tilts 45 degrees back from vertical, so finding a comfortable viewing angle can be tricky when the XPS 14z is resting on your lap.</div>
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Specifications</h3>
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The Dell XPS 15z was a perfect way to enjoy HD movies on the go, thanks to its 1080p screen. The dinkier XPS 14z display isn't quite as sharp, featuring a standard 1366 x 768-pixel resolution, but video still looks pleasingly crisp.</div>
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Images are also colourfully reproduced, but we were disappointed by the brightness levels - even with the settings turned to maximum, the XPS 14z's screen isn't as bright as the 15z's. Viewing angles are also merely acceptable. However, the edge-to-edge glass gives the display a classy appearance which complements the slick design.</div>
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The built-in speakers are once again powerful enough to fill a small room. Sound is a little tinny on top volume, so audiophiles will want to hook up an external pair, but if all you need is a little background music you won't be disappointed.</div>
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Regular travelers will want a sizeable hard drive for carrying their entire media collection around, and the XPS 14z doesn't disappoint, packing in 500GB of storage. The drive spins at 7200rpm, faster than the standard 5400rpm, so software loads quickly and movies stream perfectly.</div>
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A 7-in-1 memory card slot can be used to boost storage space further, or access your holiday snaps on the move. The slender body also houses a slot-loading optical drive, so you can watch DVDs and install games from disc. Quite a few compact laptops skip on the DVD drive, so it's good to see Dell cram one into the XPS 14z.</div>
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Other features are limited to a 1.3MP webcam for chatting with friends and family. We were surprised by the lack of ports, with only two USB connections available (one of them USB 3.0). Thankfully you get HDMI and Mini DisplayPort connections for hooking up a television, monitor or projector, but that's your lot.</div>
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Networking is standard, with 802.11n and Gigabit Ethernet available for getting online. You also have Bluetooth 3.0 support for transferring files with mobile phones and hooking up headsets.</div>
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Performance</h3>
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<img alt="Dell xps 14z" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/notebooks-and-tablet-pcs/Dell/xps14z/XPS%2014z%20left%20back-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/notebooks-and-tablet-pcs/Dell/xps14z/XPS%2014z%20left%20back-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div>
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The Dell XPS 14z comes in two Intel Sandy Bridge flavours: Core i5 and Core i7. We tested the Core i5 2430M version which performed typically well in our benchmarking tests. This powerful CPU is backed up by 6GB of memory, and even with bucketloads of programs running at once, we saw no slowdown.</div>
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Our model also packed an Nvidia GeForce GT 525M graphics card for gaming and running multimedia applications. This card is getting on a bit and we were disappointed by the stilted performance during testing. Recent games will stutter, unless you turn detail levels down to low or medium - you're better off sticking with older titles.</div>
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If you want to play the latest games, we'd recommend boosting your budget and looking at a gaming machine such as the MSI GT680 or Alienware M11x instead. The Alienware M11x is a similar weight although a lot chunkier, but more than makes up for it with fantastic all-round performance.</div>
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Although you can't smash up terrorists in high detail, you can easily run video-editing software and other multimedia applications. HD movies play perfectly too. And despite featuring some powerful components stuffed into a slender chassis, the XPS 14z remains cool and quiet at almost all times. Only when we inserted a DVD did it make any real noise.</div>
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We were also impressed by the excellent battery life, something the XPS 14z has in common with its elder brother. Usually Sandy Bridge laptops are defeated by the ruthless Battery Eater test in under three hours, but this portable played HD video on a loop for 200 minutes before finally submitting. This is almost as good as the XPS 15z's four hour longevity, and beats most other multimedia laptops we've seen lately.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">TechRadar Labs</span></div>
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Cinebench 10: 9769<br style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" />3D Mark '06: 5345<br style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" />Battery Eater '05: 200 mins</div>
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Verdict</h3>
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When we first heard that a 14-inch version of the XPS 15z was in the workings, we were intrigued and excited, but also curious at how much difference an inch would make.</div>
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As it turned out, that inch makes a considerable difference. The XPS 14z is surprisingly slender compared to its elder sibling, and a good chunk lighter too at just 2kg. The same slick brushed metal design is in place, and is just as drool-worthy, while the edge-to-edge glass of the display is a classy touch.</div>
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Build quality is also just as strong. There's nary a weak spot, from the solid chassis to the ridiculously thin aluminium lid, while the isolation-style keyboard is a pleasure to type on.</div>
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Movie and music fans also have plenty to enjoy. The XPS 14z's 500GB hard drive gives you plenty of space for a large media collection, and spins fast to keep things streaming smoothly. The 14-inch screen is colourful and crisp, while the speakers are better than most we hear.</div>
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Performance is good enough to run the latest multimedia software, and the Intel Core i5 Sandy Bridge processor won't be out of date any time soon. Yet despite these powerful components, we still managed well over three hours of intensive use before the battery died.</div>
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Unfortunately, some sacrifices have been made in slimming down the mighty XPS 15z. The screen only tilts back 45 degrees on its stiff hinges, and the Full HD 1080p resolution has been lost. We were also disappointed by how dim it was, even on the highest settings.</div>
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There's obviously less space for ports, especially as Dell has crammed in a slot-loading optical drive, but the two USB ports seem a little stingy. Peripherals fans will want to invest in a USB hub.</div>
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The XPS 14z is also less graphically capable than its bigger brother, and we found the latest games were stuttery affairs unless we turned detail settings right down. Gamers should look elsewhere for their fix.</div>
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The XPS 14z is a more compact ultraportable version of one of the best laptops of 2011. While it isn't quite as technically impressive, it's still an excellent machine that can keep you entertained and productive on the move.</div>
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Review: Dell XPS 14z

Overview We first checked out Dell's XPS 14z at IFA, a slightly dinkier version of its excellent XPS 15z l aptop. The XPS 14z h...

Why Siri should (and probably will) come to iPad 2

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Android Community Weekly: October 1, 2011

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We now have even more photos of the HTC Holiday. This beast of a smartphone will be one of a few awesome choices this “Holiday” season h...

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While Google’s purchase of the Motorola group may mean many things for Google, especially along the lines of patents, Motorola will, if ...

Four New LG Android Phones Revealed, Prada K2 Looks Nice

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<img class="aligncenter" height="378" mce_src="http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/7535/lgpradak2andvictor499x5.png" src="http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/7535/lgpradak2andvictor499x5.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="LG-Prada-K2 and Victor" width="349" /></div>
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We all expected more phones coming out of LG this year as they’ve only just started their venture into Android. We have what appears to be possibly the remaining phones for the 2011 line-up. These are all renders from what I’m hearing and a few look pretty nice. The first name that caught my eye was the LG Prada K2. Does anyone remember the original LG Prada? Here’s our review from 2007 on SlashGear. (Blast from the past)</div>
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Does it look familiar? Prada (left) and the new LG Victor (right) are both pretty high end devices with the Prada K2 taking charge. The Prada looks similar to the original I linked to above but don’t worry it will be running Android 2.3 Gingerbread and be dual-core. Its said to be sporting a 4.3″ HD NOVA Display, have a 8MP shooter on the rear and 1.3 MP on the front. Being a Prada it will be a fancy and fashionable design and have a Prada-inspired back cover. We can expect to see it around or during the holiday season.</div>
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Next is the LG Victor and it may not be as powerful as the Prada K2 but it’s no slouch either. It comes powered by a modest 1 Ghz processor with a 3.8″ display. It is what I’d call a higher end mid-range phone since you need a dual-core to play with the big boys now it’s 2011. It should also come rocking Android 2.3 Gingerbread, a 5MP rear camera as well as VGA front.</div>
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<img class="size-medium wp-image-43526 aligncenter" height="378" mce_src="http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/9355/lggelatonfcsm294x540.jpg" src="http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/9355/lggelatonfcsm294x540.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="LG-Gelato-NFC-sm" width="206" /></div>
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Next we have the NFC-capable LG Gelato (above) and it looks just like the Optimus Net but will be packing an NFC chip inside. NFC is rather new to the scene but higher end phones like the Galaxy S II or the Nexus S 4G had it on board, not a lower end phone like the Gelato. I know Gelato is similar to Froyo but this phone will indeed come with Android 2.3 Gingerbread as well as a 3.2″ display, 3MP camera and a measly 800 Mhz CPU.</div>
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There was a brief mention of an LG Univa that might end up being the LG Optimus Two but we’ll reserve that judgement for you. This leak also showed a Windows Phone 7 device or two but those don’t really concern us. I personally like the idea and look of the Prada K2 as long as they get the bottom bezel a little smaller. More details are at the source link below.</div>
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Four New LG Android Phones Revealed, Prada K2 Looks Nice

We all expected more phones coming out of LG this year as they’ve only just started their venture into Android. We have what appears t...

PopCap games (Mac and PC) all on sale for 50% off

<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="PopCap Mac sale" border="1" height="71" hspace="8" src="http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/1205/popcapsale4235426.jpg" vspace="8" width="400" /></div><br />
PopCap is having a <a href="http://www.popcap.com/allgames.php?p=mac">blowout sale </a>on its Mac (and PC) games this holiday weekend. The 50% off sale is going on now and extends until January 2, 2011. All games except for the recently released Bejeweled 3 and game bundles are included in this sale.<br />
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You can grab such titles as <a href="http://www.popcap.com/games/peggle?mid=peggle_mac_en_full">Peggle</a>, <a href="http://www.popcap.com/games/bookworm?mid=bookworm_mac_en_full">Bookworm</a> and <a href="http://www.popcap.com/games/pvz?mid=pvz_mac_en_full">Plants vs Zombies</a> for US$9.95 or less. This promotion only includes downloadable desktop games, not mobile titles for iOS, and may be one of the last big game sales before the Mac App Store opens in early January. So what are you waiting for? Hit the source link <a href="http://www.popcap.com/allgames.php?p=mac">here</a> and grab some of the hottest arcade-style games available for the Mac.<br />
<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/30/popcap-games-mac-and-pc-all-on-sale-for-50-off/"></a> <br />
<h6></h6><a href="http://www.popcap.com/allgames.php?p=mac">Source</a>

PopCap games (Mac and PC) all on sale for 50% off

PopCap is having a blowout sale on its Mac (and PC) games this holiday weekend. The 50% off sale is going on now and extends until January ...

Hackety Hack: A gift to aspiring Ruby programmers

<img align="right" alt="" border="0" hspace="8" src="http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2889/hacketyhacklogo.png" vspace="8" />As a perpetual programmer wannabe, I'm always on the lookout for new tools that make the mysteries of coding a little more accessible. Much to my dismay, most programming tutorials that I've come across assume some prior knowledge or that you're transitioning from some other language. So, I was delighted to discover <a href="http://hackety-hack.com/">Hackety Hack</a> just now (thanks to <a href="http://www.chrisamico.com/">Chris Amico</a> for the tip). It's a fun new Mac app that aims to teach Ruby programming basics to complete beginners. <br />
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<a href="http://thechangelog.com/post/2458293763/hackety-hack-1-0-learn-programming-with-ruby"> Hackety Hack 1.0 just launched</a>, and in the true spirit of of the holidays, it's open source. From what I can see so far (after playing with it a bit), users can browse through some beginner level lessons, including basic Ruby and basic Shoes, or explore some of the sample programs listed. After making some progress, users who register on the Hackety Hack site can upload code to the website as well. There's a handy "Ask a question" feature on the site, too. <br />
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Given how hard it can be for beginners to get their feet wet, I really appreciate efforts like this to make learning more accessible. For anyone looking for more beginner Ruby resources, there's also Chris Pine's online book <a href="http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram/"><i>Learn to Program</i></a> (via <a href="http://takaaki.me/">Takaaki Kato</a>) <br />
<h6></h6><a href="http://thechangelog.com/post/2458293763/hackety-hack-1-0-learn-programming-with-ruby">Source</a>

Hackety Hack: A gift to aspiring Ruby programmers

As a perpetual programmer wannabe, I'm always on the lookout for new tools that make the mysteries of coding a little more accessible. M...

Froyo on Your Desktop PC

<a href="http://cdn.androidcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/froyo-on-win7-540x405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-21346" height="405" src="http://cdn.androidcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/froyo-on-win7-540x405.jpg" title="froyo-on-win7" width="540" /></a><br />
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So you’re a regular, everyday user of your PC computer and your Froyo-based Android phone and you’d like to… you know… combine the two in a wacky way. How would you like to roll with Froyo on your desktop? XDA forum member <a href="http://forum.xda-developers.com/member.php?u=668326" target="other">tomlogan1</a> has just the thing you need, a slick download that’ll bust out a window on your Windows 7 machine.<br />
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Take a peek at this free download over at <a href="http://www.android-x86.org/documents/installhowto">Androidx86</a> and let us know how it works out for you below or on the Android Community forums. Remember also that this isn’t really meant to be a complete replacement for your desktop OS, but is a fun little deal that you can wack out with over the holiday weekend.<br />
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[<a href="http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=872186" target="other">Via</a> XDA Developers Forum]

Froyo on Your Desktop PC

So you’re a regular, everyday user of your PC computer and your Froyo-based Android phone and you’d like to… you know…...

EA Android Games on Sale, most for $.99

EA Android Games on Sale, most for $.99

So you’ve got a new Android device as a result of the holiday season, or you’re just a bit bored with some time off work or school. What be...

Weight Watchers Can Make Your Holiday Recipes Healthier With an iPad App

<br /><P><br /><DIV class=separator style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyWwi3UydEYrmvUw8Aia6NZF6oxBRdTCB3JQ85kYy6UeYW3Qjwb0Fwye4ovLPVrV5uhv-zfVRG3BlcxfK0n4TaxB4PhHxemUqcXWlFZxSyllM3iaEvNlNmFe9GG6z4ebvK6FkJtD5kfQ/s1600/ipadapp_wwthumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyWwi3UydEYrmvUw8Aia6NZF6oxBRdTCB3JQ85kYy6UeYW3Qjwb0Fwye4ovLPVrV5uhv-zfVRG3BlcxfK0n4TaxB4PhHxemUqcXWlFZxSyllM3iaEvNlNmFe9GG6z4ebvK6FkJtD5kfQ/s1600/ipadapp_wwthumb.jpg"></A></DIV></A>Sorry to bring this up right before the annual holiday eating binge, but Weight Watchers has a new iPad application. <br /><P></P><br /><P>Weight Watchers Kitchen Companion is an attractively designed app that helps you cook lower-calorie recipes every step of the way, interactively timing your recipes, helping you follow along with checklists and showing you videos of cooking techniques while you’re actually preparing the recipe.</P><br /><P>The free version of this Weight Watchers Kitchen Companion iPad app is limited, giving you 10 featured recipes and letting you save up to 10 of your favorites. However, if you subscribe to Weight Watchers Online ($17.95 + $29.95 sign-up fee) or use eTools (included with Weight Watchers meetings), this application integrates with thousands of Weight Watchers recipes.</P><br /><P>In the unique Recipe Building feature, users can add their own recipes and have the app show how to reduce its caloric content with a PointsPlus system.</P><br /><P>Research has shown that when you specifically record the amount you eat into a journal, you can more successfully lose weight. Keeping that in mind, you might want to consider this iPad app to help you with that inevitable New Year’s resolution you’ll be making in January.</P><br /><DIV class=separator style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CXCwp5_0v4DixOsx_Jmv5RCdRAioGhRuUI-Dda1NXd5f5H9rWv9aeLVKa30w5erDHw6MsXtBXYr_VdnXNFINGu8IU59l8ARcp9m64d0LMpAz2lg4GkkJePZcXoi301K94SqRFFHEfj4/s1600/ipadapp_ww.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CXCwp5_0v4DixOsx_Jmv5RCdRAioGhRuUI-Dda1NXd5f5H9rWv9aeLVKa30w5erDHw6MsXtBXYr_VdnXNFINGu8IU59l8ARcp9m64d0LMpAz2lg4GkkJePZcXoi301K94SqRFFHEfj4/s1600/ipadapp_ww.jpg"></A></DIV>

Weight Watchers Can Make Your Holiday Recipes Healthier With an iPad App

Sorry to bring this up right before the annual holiday eating binge, but Weight Watchers has a new iPad application. Weight Watchers Kitche...

Gift Guide: iPhone GPS apps

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAO6lXxIlRVWf9rhIMgHjsPxWf8Z6dnQYHlIYP_80WqL1vs8FyS1H8R0CMZxoTSvJKeB__TQmDo3rrILoaa9-1aQYKtarOQDmnPwa5kVUx1glOnNr6nLP-3EkZZCzLYTCqkKfVj0WIh0/s1600/cinqlogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAO6lXxIlRVWf9rhIMgHjsPxWf8Z6dnQYHlIYP_80WqL1vs8FyS1H8R0CMZxoTSvJKeB__TQmDo3rrILoaa9-1aQYKtarOQDmnPwa5kVUx1glOnNr6nLP-3EkZZCzLYTCqkKfVj0WIh0/s1600/cinqlogo.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=latesttecompu-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002X2F2N8&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Download Squad tipped us off that the Ubuntu One Music app has been updated to  support Apple's new AirPlay streaming system. As such, it can now play music  from your iOS device via any Apple TV or Airport Express unit on your network. <br />
Ubuntu One is a cloud storage service from the vendor of the popular Linux  distribution of the same name. Much like MobileMe and Dropbox, it allows the  user to upload files to cloud servers and to synchronize personal information  such as calendars, contact lists, and bookmarks -- with support for Linux,  Windows, and mobile devices.<br />
Unlike the other services, however, Ubuntu One has a strong emphasis on music  streaming. It has an integrated music store and allows users to supplant music  purchases with uploads of their own music to their cloud space. Store-bought and  uploaded files are both available for streaming back out.<br />
The iOS app that was updated today is a client for receiving that streaming  audio on your iOS devices, over WiFi or 3G connections. This differs from  stream-music-from-home services like Simplify Media because it doesn't rely on  you having a computer at home powered up to stream the music from -- the files  come from the cloud.<br />
There is a cost associated with using Ubuntu's system. The service offers 2GB  of basic storage for free, but mobile support is $4 a month / $40 per year (the  app itself is free) and extra storage, in blocks of 20GB, is $3 per month / $30  per year. As such, Ubuntu One is probably only really interesting to people with  lots of Ubuntu computers in their life.<br />
Ubuntu One music streaming app updated with AirPlay support originally  appeared on TUAW on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use  of feeds.

Gift Guide: iPhone GPS apps

Download Squad tipped us off that the Ubuntu One Music app has been updated to support Apple's new AirPlay streaming system. As such, ...