iOS Car Integration

I currently have an after-market Sony car stereo system installed in my car and it gets the job done. The biggest reason why I went out and got an after-market stereo put in was to be able to have iPod integration. My car stereo didn't come with it and it doesn't have a USB port either. The Sony system works well and I connect my iPhone to it each time I'm in the car to either play songs in my iPod, Pandora or the SiriusXM Satellite Radio app.

My iPad 2 buying experience

Yes it's March 11, 2011! But before this iPad 2 launch day arrived we were all hit by the shocking news about the 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan which triggered Tsunamis and warnings in 20 different countries worldwide. A couple of the harbors here in California were affected from the wave of destruction that originated a whole Pacific Ocean across. It's been a day full of mixed emotions and the loss of life in Japan is a terrible thing. Unfortunately this day will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

The earthquake made the launch of the iPad 2 a little subdued for me but I was still excited to get mine.

iPad 2: A Competition Killer!

Apple has just finished unveiling the iPad 2 this morning at an event in San Francisco where, despite being on medical leave, Steve Jobs made a surprising appearance and introduced the device. It was good to see Steve looking good and healthy. I think he is absolutely crucial to sustaining Apple's wow factor.

iPad 2 is here. March 11, 2011 is the big day (photo from Apple.com)

Motorola Xoom: First Impressions

An initial BestBuy SKU listing for the Motorola Xoom shocked me because the new tablet was reportedly going to sell for $1099. Then there were reports suggesting that wasn't going to be the final price of the item and Motorola themselves came out and announced that the 3G version (upgradeable to 4G/LTE) of the tablet would be priced at $799. Now that price looks a lot better compared to four digits but is still a little steep. Especially with a whole bunch of other competing tablets on the way. 

2011: A Year for Tablets

As each December day passes by and we near the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2011 (January 6-9), one thing becomes clearer. 2011 is going to be a year for tablets. Apple set the benchmark earlier this year with the extremely successful iPad and competitors are often found trying to keep up with the technology. It's only a matter of time before we see tablets that truly compete with the versatility, ease-of-use and features that the iPad promises. And then there will be the iPad 2!

White iPhone 4 and the New iPad 2

The speculations keep flowing! 9to5mac now reports that Apple has not killed the possibility of a white iPhone 4 and in fact it is very much coming by 'late spring 2011'. I'm sure this is good news for all those who felt let down when Apple announced that the white iPhone was being pushed back indefinitely.

iOS 4.2 on the iPad and Netflix Streaming Subscription

It's finally here! Apple released the much awaited iOS 4.2 update on Monday, November 22nd, 2010 and I'm guessing everyone who owns an iPad must have scrambled to update their device. For those at work, the wait to get home and do the update must have been agonizing. But, was it worth all the "hype"? It was, and here's why.

BodyGuardz for the MacBook Air

I've never been a big fan of cases for my portable devices unless I'm traveling or on the go. For everyday use I like to be able to use the gadget in its bare existence. I know many people who keep telling me that using a case on my iPhone would protect it from falls. To that I usually say, "if you handle your phone with care then there's no reason for it to fall". But then again, accidents do happen and to account for those I have settled down to using protective films on most of my devices. If you get the right one and put it on the right way they are almost invisible. It's like holding the device in its bare existence but knowing it's protected from scratches and dings.

The Tablet War welcomes the Samsung Galaxy Tab

I don't own an Android phone or device. Not yet, anyways. For some reason I feel it would be like using an old-generation Symbian OS device. I used Nokia phones for many years before smart phones came into existence. Symbian phones had applications that hardly ever worked the way they were supposed to. Many were developed by third parties and the whole experience was very choppy and slow. That's a problem with many "open-source" applications. When stringent approval guidelines are not enforced you invariably end up with a bad user experience. I'm not saying that the Android experience would be bad; I just haven't used an Android device regularly so I wouldn't know. But it feels like something would be missing or it's not appealing enough. Maybe using iDevices for a while now is the reason. They are reliable and do what they're supposed to. No false claims. However, having used the new Samsung Galaxy Tab (SGT), I have begun to question my blind beliefs about the Android OS.

Case Logic XNTM4 e-Sling: A Bag for the 11.6-inch MacBook Air

I can't even think about traveling anywhere without my gadgets with me. One of the main reasons for buying the 11.6-inch MacBook Air few days ago was my trip to Asia next month. There have been reports that the TSA doesn't require this 11.6-inch wonder to be removed from the bag while going through security checks at the airport, unlike all other laptops/notebooks/netbooks (call it what you may). Having a good carry-on bag which will house all the stuff you'll need while aboard is very essential. It needs to be well padded, non-bulky and have enough room for every piece of tech you can't travel without. And if the bag can also serve as an every day bag, that's a huge plus. In order to find such a multi-functional bag, I went looking for one and I think I may have found it.

My new 11.6-inch MacBook Air!

This took a lot of deliberation. At least I had decided on which model I would get. It would be the 11.6-inch baseline model with 2GB RAM and a 64GB Solid State Drive. But I simply couldn't make up my mind on how useful it would be to me since I already have an iPad and a fully functional (new keyboard) 13-inch Sony Vaio. I think what pushed my decision-making across the line was the fact that I had $200 in BestBuy gift cards that I could use to purchase it and the trip to Asia next month. My new Apple MacBook Air! I finally went out and bought it.