Mobile: Braille Case for the iPad Allow Blind Mobile Warriors To Experience Mobile

This is one of those things that I wish Apple had developed but it doesn't matter since someone else is now working on it:  a case for the iPad that adds a Braille so that blind users can use the tablet as well.

It's still in the concept stage but if I had money, I would provide funds to help with its development.  

Known as the Omnifer case, gas pockets would raise braille points depending on what's displayed on the screen of the iPad.  An special app would read what pixels are being lit on the screen.  At least that the gist I'm getting.  I wonder though, if there is an easier way.  Simply (perhaps, not so), an app would "read" what's being displayed and the braille would layout the points accordingly.

Regardless of how this is implemented, I do wish that Apple would put some effort into this.  I know that the next iOS should have better voice control.  Maybe even the ability to read out what is being displayed.  Personally, I would love that feature myself.  

Source:  TUAW, Yanko Design.

Glut of Tablet Inventory Suggests Hardware Makers Are Clueless About What Tablets Are For

What is causing the glut of tablet inventories as Channel Register reported.  And these are not iPads sitting on the shelves but Android tablets and the recently lower-priced Touchpad?

And it’s hard to discuss this issue without bring up the iPad but let’s try.

More at Clouding Around.

LTE iPhone Being Tested - But When?

Boy Genius Report is saying that Apple is now testing a version of the iPhone with LTE network support.  BGR apparently obtained a special iOS build from a carrier.  

That's fantastic and all but what does this mean about release dates?

Personally, I am gamed for an LTE version of the iPhone on Verizon's network.  But I'm not hopeful that we'll see it happen this year.  If Apple becomes more flexible about iPhone release schedules instead of the annual releases it's been adhered to, then we might see the LTE version early in 2012 rather than late 2012.  

I know that many of you are hoping against reality:  that Apple will not have a LTE iPhone in a matter of weeks.  I like to say that I hope to be wrong but that simply will not be the case.  LTE chips are still power hungry and Apple doesn't want to release a product that is crippled by the battery life.  

The Thunderbolt from HTC, the first LTE device on Verizon's 4G network, simply could not handle the power requirement and battery issues as a constant problem for mobile warriors.  

It's good to know that Apple is expanding testing on more than one carrier.  But let's not get too excited about this just yet.  We're still a long way off, me thinks.  It conceivable flooding the market with the next iPhone after a few months, Apple will unleash a similar iPhone but this time with LTE support to act as a one-two punch against competitors.

Mario, Zelda, Pikachu On the iPhone - Keep Walking, People. It'll Happen But Not For A While Longer

Sega has transitioned to the mobile devices nicely.  And it has been years since Sega has been on the console or handheld business.  And while Sega has brought a few games over to the iPhone and Android, one major studios and hardware maker has not, Nintendo.

Yesterday, the blogs were excited by news that Nintendo investors were not happy with the performance of the latest 3DS sales, the surprised price from $250 down to $170, and Wii 2 still at least a year away.  Also part of the news was that some investors want to see Mario and company on the iOS.  

Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo, a legend in his own right, has pledge to make first-title games for Nintendo hardware so long as he's in charge.  Having said that, in a gaming era where games can be had for $1 to $16 on iOS while Nintendo still charges $40 a pop, it doesn't seem like Nintendo is "with it" as the gaming market has moved beyond its comprehension of what the consumers, particularly mobile warriors, want.

So, will we see Nintendo titles on iOS soon?  Probably not.  It'll happen someday but you have to ask yourself that when it happens, it is going to matter anymore?  By then, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch gamers will have other titles to focus on.  Sonic could be the Mario for iOS by then and kids will be asking "Who's Mario?  Pika-what??".  

The thing is that Nintendo, known for being out there, really went out there with the 3D in the 3DS.  But it was gimmicky and not revolutionary in the way the Gameboy or Wii controllers were.  Things came crashing down to earth once fanboys (myself included) bought the 3DS at $250.  I have bought games but the $3-5 games from the eShop, not the $40 a pop games at the retail stores.  I'm waiting for BF when I hope to pick up 3DS games at half the price.

And that is what we are used to now that Apple's app store has trained us to expect quality even for 99 cents games.

It's possible that before we see Nintendo titles on the iOS, we'll see NIntendo possibly give the smartphone market a go first the way Sony did with the Xperia Play running on Android.  And after that fails, then we might see Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon on iOS devices.

Source: Bloomberg.

Babysitting Apps

We are in the 21th Century. So I can ask this without strange stares. Are there apps for babysitters?

Now, I am not talking about apps to entertain children directly. I've got those. Alphabet apps and games. I also have Netflix should the need arise.

What I am talking about are babysitting or parenting apps that provide useful tips or instructions.

For instance, how to put a twenty-month old to sleep. What to do when there are two of them and they each want to do different things or run odd in different directions.

I haven't checked the app stores yet. I thought of this because I am watching my nephews. Love the little guys but I can't help wonder if I do a better job.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Mobile: Prepaid Plans For The iPhone As Explained By Dave The Mobile Sage

Sometimes, we bloggers get expected and we talk about things in terms only we understand.  And sometimes, it can get pretty complicated.  So, when Dave the Mobile Sage sent me this post from The Unofficial Apple Weblog about how to set up a relatively cheap prepaid plan for the iPhone, I got really excited.

But it was not all that easy to understand under the first read or the second read.  So I inquired the mobile sage about it and he put it into terms even I can understand.

In simpler terms:

1. Get a prepaid sim from att
2. Set up an online account for the sim (you might need to a att prepaid phone to this)
3. Buy a $100 prepaid card to fund the account
4. Update the account to use a per-minute talk plan ($0.10 / minute, $0.20 / text)
5. Call 611 to add a data package, the fees will be deducted from your $100 balance ($25 for 500 MB / $15 for 100 MB / $5 for 10 MB)
6. When the balance run out, just add more money

Unused data can roll over, you just need to top up with at least $5 each month.

The points above were lifted from his e-mail to me with his blessing.  I reckon this could also work with any GSM smartphones.  Android, Blackberry, or Windows Phone devices.  If you try this, please let us know how you like it.

RIM's Tablet Aspiration In Danger Of xEnding Prematurely; Is There Anything RIM Can Do?

As far as we know, the Playbook is still on sale for $500.  

Earlier, I reported that Sprint is not going forward with a WiMax version of RIM's Playbook.  Well, that's a bummer.  But for the moment, a LTE version running on Verizon's LTE network is still in the works.  And earlier this morning, we brought you exciting news that 7" Honeycomb based tablets will go on sale this weekend for as low as $330.

Then there's also the fact that the 10" Touchpad is now $100 cheaper than when it went on sale about a year ago.  

I don't have to do the math for you to know where I am going with this.

More at Clouding Around.