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CES 2013: Parrot ‘Flower Power’ Monitors Plant Health over Bluetooth [iOS Blog]

Parrot, the company behind the iPhone-controlled AR Drone quadricoptor, has debuted its new Flower Power project at CES 2013.

The system consists of a two-pronged Bluetooth monitoring device that sticks in the soil, and an iPad app. The Verge has a rundown on how it works:
Simply place the Flower Power device — which looks like a colorful leek — in the soil near any of your plants, pair the device with your iPhone or iPad, and you can track all of your plants' needs from anywhere. Once you've paired the device with your phone or tablet, you can choose your plant from a library of about 6000 plants, and if you're not certain of your plant's name, you can search by leaf type, color, and a number of other options.

The app is updated every 15 minutes, pulling information from the device about the sunlight the plant receives, the ambient temperature, and the moisture level and fertilizer content of the soil.

When plants need attention, the app will provide push notifications, and an included graph allows for the long term tracking of plant health. According to CNET, the tongs can be moved from plant to plant and the system also works with lawns.


There is no word on a release date or pricing, but Parrot hopes to bring Flower Power to the market sometime in 2013.

CES 2013: Withings Debuts New Smart Activity Tracker [iOS Blog]

Withings today announced its new Smart Activity Tracker, which is designed to measure heart rate, monitor sleep quality and food intake, and track movement.

Health monitoring devices have seen a surge in popularity of late, with offerings like the Jawbone Up, the Nike Fuelband, and the Fitbit One.

The Smart Activity Tracker, which is designed to clip to clothing or fit into a pocket much like the Fitbit One, is the first health monitor to also measure pulse rate. It has a touch-sensitive front allowing for navigation between functions and a heart rate sensor in the back that is activated when a finger is placed on it.



The tracker uses Bluetooth Smart (4.0) to sync to Withings' Health Mate app, and has an estimated two week battery life.

Withings has also introduced the next iteration of its smart scale. The Smart Body Analyzer WS–50 now tracks air quality and heart rate in addition to changes in weight and body fat.

Both products will be available at CES this week, which begins on Jan. 8 and ends on Jan. 11. The Smart Body Analyzer is expected to go on sale this quarter for $150, while the Smart Activity Tracker is due before the end of March. At this time, no pricing has been announced.

CES 2013: COOKOO Watch Brings ‘Bluetooth Smart’ Connectivity to iOS Devices

One of the technologies that we've been looking forward to becoming more prevalent in iOS accessories is the incorporation of low-power Bluetooth 4.0, now known as Bluetooth Smart. The technology allows for low-power long term connectivity between your iOS devices and your accessories. Kickstarter-backed e-paper Pebble watch was one example that generated an enormous amount of interest with over $10 million in pre-sales.

ConnecteDevice today announced the worldwide launch of their COOKOO watch which also begin life as life as a KickStarter project.


The company describes the watch as a designer watch that combines analog movement with a connected digital display. By using a freely available app, users can pick and choose which notifications that appear on their watch.

The watch can display notifications for:

- Incoming Calls
- Missed Calls
- Facebook Messages and Posts
- Calendar Reminders
- When a Smart Device (iPhone, iPad, etc..) is out of range
- When a Smart Device (iPhone, iPad, etc..) is low on Battery

It also has a customizable command button which can find your phone, snap a photo, check-in to Facebook or tag your location on a map.


The watch uses a standard button-cell battery that will last up to one year. It is scratch resistant and water resistant. COOKOO supports the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad mini, iPad (4th & 3rd generation), and iPod touch (5th generation). The watch is priced at $129 in 5 different colors.

ConnecteDevice says the watch is shipping now and they will be showing it at CES 2013. Based on comments by early Kickstarter backers, it seems there are some dropped-connectivity complaints with the first version of the software that the company says they are addressing in an upcoming update.

Easy-Doks: Charge All The Things! [CES]

Gotta charge ‘em all

For those of you who simply must have all your devices – and a few on loan from a friend too – by your bedside all night, every night, here’s a new thing you’ll see at CES this year: the Easy-Doks CR19.

What it lacks in catchy name it more than makes up for in multi-tasking charging oomph. The CR19 can charge three devices at once, comes with a Bluetooth keyboard, AUX connector, speakers, and an FM clock radio (how quaint).

The plain old CR19 with three charging ports will set you back about $85, available in stores from February. There’s a six-port option (equally nattily named the “CR34″) for about £100 too.

It’s not clear whether either model comes with built-in Lightning connectors for the latest iOS devices – if not, that carefully arranged mountain of chargables might end up looking a little bit more like a muddled heap of cables and adaptors. But hey, all of us have desks/rooms/houses like that already. Don’t we?

Source: Press release

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Why Apple Should Stop Making iOS Apps

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When you open a new iPhone and boot it up for the first time, you’ll notice that Apple has already installed a bunch of apps for you.

It’s a great idea, because it lets you use apps right out of the box. Even the newest, most confused user can tap on an app icon and start trying various things.

Here’s the problem: Most users don’t replace the default apps with third-party alternatives. They mostly use the apps that came with the phone.

And this is why Apple should stop making apps: The default Apple-made apps are giving iPhone users a second-rate experience. 

Nearly every app made by Apple for the iPhone, whether installed by default or not, should be replaced by superior alternatives.

Instead of investing vast resources in the creation of apps, Apple should instead have an annual competition, then choose the very best app to be installed by default in each fundamental category.

When the iPhone first shipped, Apple included a few Google apps, including YouTube and Maps.

In 2007, these apps were good. Today, they’re both absolutely fantastic. But they don’t come automatically on the phone. Instead, Apple has stopped offering YouTube by default without replacing it with an alternative. And they’ve replaced the world’s best map app and service with its own shoddy version.

As a result, the Android majority who stick with default apps are having a far better experience with their phones’ video and maps than the iPhone majority is. In other words, when Android users are using video and maps, they’re using a superior phone.

And while the world has gotten much better at designing and creating iOS apps, Apple has gotten worse.

Apple’s two most recent new apps were disasters. I’m speaking about the aforementioned Maps app, and also Podcasts.

Podcasts is one of the worst pieces of …. software, Apple has ever produced. It’s got impossibly small controls, especially the one-pixel wide red line for swiping forward and back in a podcast. Sometimes podcasts simply don’t download. The app loads info on podcast subscriptions from the beginning of time. Most of the interface in one view is taken up by that dumb cartoon of the reel-to-reel tape player. It’s ugly, inconsistent and unstable.

When people use Podcasts, they’re using a crappy, cheesy-looking phone.

Meanwhile, Google, of all companies, has evolved into a vastly better iOS app designer than Apple. And I’m not talking about features and functions. While Apple has been producing clunky user interfaces from the 90s and upholstering them with Corinthian leather, Google has been iterating breathtakingly elegant, minimalist designs.

Have you seen the new Gmail for iOS? Google+? YouTube? Google Maps? Chrome? They’re visually consistent, functional, beautiful and appealing. They are to software what the iPhone is to hardware.

The trouble for Apple may be that these apps are front ends to Google services. I personally don’t have a problem with that, but if Apple wants to favor partners like Facebook and Twitter over Google+ (which it does not with an app, but with default sharing options), or favor its own services for data harvesting or ad selling (such as for Maps and Chrome) over Google alternatives, then there may be a business case for giving users inferior default apps.

But other apps provided by Apple don’t even front for important services, or any services at all.

Here’s an example: Apple gives iPhone users its Notes app, which is a cheesy, skeuomorphic yellow notepad-looking place to just type words and keep them on the phone.

But Apple could and should replace Notes with Squarespace’s “Note” app. It’s elegant, minimalist and perfectly consistent with the high-brow look and feel of iPhone hardware.

Apple’s fugly Weather app, which fronts for Yahoo’s weather service, could be replace by Hollr’s Solar app. It’s a for-pay app, and Apple should make a deal with Hollr to offer it free to iPhone users.

I could go on and on showing how every single Apple app without exception has superior alternatives available.

Here’s the most powerful reason why Apple should offer the best third-party apps it can find rather than building its own: Because when you’re using the best apps, you’re using the best phone.

By essentially holding an annual contest and handing the winner in each app category massive numbers of users, Apple would strongly incentivize app makers to work even harder and invest even more in the development of iOS apps.

And if each new version of the iPhone came with a few new apps by default — rewarding quality upstarts by replacing the old-and-busted with the new hotness — the iPhone would feel fresher and less stale, as it does now.

Apple could devote fewer resources to building its expensive-but-mediocre apps, and instead put all their best people on perfecting the operating system.

I believe that for many users, the iPhone is the best phone. And I also believe that the very best apps tend to be on the iOS platform.

However, Apple is stubbornly failing to capitalize on these two facts, allowing the industry to believe that the iPhone is both staler than and inferior to Android phones.

All they have to do is showcase the very best third-party apps on every new phone instead of their own boring and mediocre apps, and that would transform the experience of using the iPhone for the vast majority of users who never replace the apps that come by default on iPhones.

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Ending Soon! The iOS App Design Course Bundle [Deals]

Picking up a new skill is a very popular new year’s resolution. And this Cult of Mac Deals offer will go a long way in helping you pick up a skill that can bring both pleasure and profit – designing iOS apps.

The iOS App Design Course bundle is just $79 for a limited time, and if you have beginner level knowledge of Photoshop and a desire to learn iOS app design, this course trio will help you quickly learn how to design both iPhone and iPad apps and icons.

Here’s what you’ll get in this jam-packed bundle:

  1. iPhone App Design Course: This course is for anyone with beginner-level knowledge of Photoshop. From this class you will learn the comprehensive process of iPhone app design, including prototyping, user experience design, interaction design and visual design where you will learn to make your app pretty in 7 days.
  2. iPad App Design Course: If you’re looking to get a jumpstart on your iPad app design then this mini-course includes a full set of iPad design templates (retina and non-retina) and video lessons on the quickest way to get started on your app design
  3. iOS Icon Design Course: The icon is the first thing your people see before buying an app, so the icon is the first chance you have to either scare off or attract new customers. In this course you will learn how to create an icon that will make them tap through for more.

You can discover more about each of the courses by clicking here.

This tremendous tutorial assembled by DesignBoost will keep you from letting a genius app idea lose its luster because of a poor design. These comprehensive courses include everything needed to give your app a snazzy design that will make it stick out amongst the competition for only $79…but not for long.

So set your sights on The iOS App Design Course Bundle and pick it up at the Cult of Mac Deals page before this offer has run its course — which will be very, very soon!

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Want More Freebies And Deals On Mac Software And Apple Gear? Sign Up Below!

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Fun Game: The Grimm Version of Cinderella

Every week Mac Games and More (http://www.macgamesandmore.com/) features a fun, casual game to try out for free that you can play over the weekend. This week a very familiar tale verges off into dark and strange territories. Will it have a happy ending? It’s up to you. Download it now

Detective Quest – The Crystal Slipper, Collector’s Edition (adventure/hidden objects) – How’d you like to ride a griffon and a unicorn? This version of Cinderella will not only give you the opportunity to do those things but you’ll also get to see the magical world of twisted fairy tales!

Download it now

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Get Ready For A World Of New iPhone 5 Camera Accessories [CES 2013 Preview]

Holga iPhone Lens Kit For iPhone 5 (via Photojojo.net)

The entire camera world is in a state of flux at the moment; point-and-shoot cameras are being replaced by smarter phones with good-enough cameras, and accessory manufacturers know that us photo-crazy iPhone 5 owners are lacking the plethora of lenses, apps, and cases we once had available to us on the iPhone 4 and 4S.

That’s why, at this year’s CES, I expect to be hit with a title wave of lenses, gadgets, gizmos, cases, and apps that all promise to do the same thing: make your iPhone’s camera even better.

Here’s the thing: accessory manufacturers know how much we like to Instagram this and Facebook that, and with a new iPhone with Lightning connector on the market, they’d be fools not give us the i5-friendly accouterments we all demand. That’s why this year’s CES will be an ocean of camera gear, mini lenses, apps, cases, and other (probably weird) devices, all designed for the iPhone 5, all sporting brand new connectors so they can play nice with Apple’s Lighting port.

Hell, even Will.i.am will be trying to sell you an iPhone accessory.

But aside from new iOS camera tech, I actually think the most exciting photo gear will be in the mirrorless market. Little feather-weight cams that take great low-light photos, have higher-quality pixels than your iPhone, and excel at video in all lighting conditions are the norm now, and in an effort to win your dollars, Nikon, Canon, Olympus, and Fuji will all be battling to make their camera the one you whip out when you don’t want to just take a measly iPhone photo.

Rumor has it Nikon will most likely come to bat with a new 14-megapixel Nikon 1 J3 mid-tier mirrorless camera, and will round out their offering with a new entry-level model they’ll call the the S1 (probably 10 megapixels). Neither camera will be particularly ground-breaking, but rather updates to the already-popular Nikon 1 family of mirrorless bodies.

There’s also already buzz around mirrorless cams running Android.

Polaroid has all but admitted we should expect a new mirrorless Android-powered camera from them at this year’s show. (why yes, they do still sell cameras!) But unlike other models currently on the market, theirs will sport interchangeable lenses.

Photorumors has reported the new Polaroid camera will feature a 3.5-inch touchscreen, 18-megapixel sensor, and run Android 4. I just hope it’s better than the less-than-awesome Android phone Nikon released in August, the Nikon Coolpix S800c, which excelled at neither photo-taking nor running Android apps.

I love the idea of cameras-as-computers, running open operating systems that let us share pixels just like our phones do, but if Droid-cams are going to take over the galaxy, they’re going to need to be a heckuva a lot better than the phones we already carry to be at all compelling. I’ll be keeping my eyes out for them this year.

Those looking for new DSLR news should keep their fingers crossed for surprises. Nikon released two flagship bodies in 2012, the pro-level D4 and the budget full-frame D600, and Canon released their highly-anticipated 5D Mark III and EOS-1D X mid-year. Since flagship DSLRs aren’t updated that often, expect nothing new here at this year’s show, though, there a is hope.

It is possible that we will see a new crop-sensor DSLR, the D5200, from Nikon released at the their Jan. 8th press event. However, the more likely story here is we’ll just see some prosumer lenses and some new updated (read, megapixel bumps) mirrorless bodies and matching glass.

If the camera gods are truly pleased with us, we’ll see the rumored Canon 7D Mark II make its debut at this year’s show, which will cause me to emit a very audible and probably high-pitched squee. Specs for the mythical camera are said to include a 24.2 megapixel APS-C sensor, dual DIGIC V processors, dual memory card slots, new ergonomic design, and a 10.2 frame per second burst mode. Seeing this camera announced at CES is a longshot, but hey, it’s more probable than an Xbox 720.

The good news is, there’s a distinct chance at CES to see some new prosumer-level lenses from Nikon hit the floor, and if Canonrumors is right, we’ll see two new pro-level lenses from Canon—a 35mm 1.4L Mark II and 14-24 f/2.8L—that will again cause me to loudly squeak.

We’ll of course keep you updated on any hot new photo gear from the show floors at the Las Vegas Convention Center. I expect to be hit with a massive wave of new iPhone accessories shortly after leaving the airport concord, but I’ll be prepared this year—I’m bringing my snorkel.

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Fusion Drive Now Available as Option for Low End 21.5" iMac

As noted by MacGeneration and in our MacRumors Forums, Apple is now allowing the entry level 21.5" iMac to be configured with a 1TB Fusion Drive.


The Fusion Drive is a built-to-order option for the iMac and Mac mini that combines SSD and traditional hard drives into a single logical volume.
With Fusion Drive in your iMac, disk-intensive tasks — from booting up to launching apps to importing photos — are faster and more efficient. That’s because frequently used items are kept at the ready on speedy flash storage, while infrequently accessed items go to the hard drive. The file transfers take place in the background, so you won’t even notice.
The 1TB Fusion Drive add-on is a $250 option and was previously only offered on the high end 21.5" iMac, high end Mac mini and 27" iMacs.

Meriwether, a Lewis And Clark RPG, Funded On Kickstarter, Looking For Stretch Goal Donations

It’s not often that you get to say something like “Lewis and Clark RPG,” right? Not Lois and Clark, but LEWIS and Clark, the famous explorers from American history, who did a whole lot of exploring, have a trail named after them, and will always be associated with Sacagawea, the Shoshone woman who traveled with them to serve as guide and translator.

The Meriwether Kickstarter project has 50 hours to go to get as far past the initial funding goal (which it hit today) as it can to help fund even more historical awesomeness, like special outfits for Lewis that raise his stats, the addition of a Girardoni Air Rifle, an endless arcade mode, and a bizarre nightmare dreamscape extra bonus level with giant sloths and wooly mammoths.

While they had me at historical RPG that I will be able to play on my Mac, the wooly mammoths sound pretty awesome and should be worth a donation or two, don’t you think? The bonus dream level will sum up how many Americans thought of the unexplored territories that Lewis and Clark explored. Also? Who knew that Lewis’ first name was Meriwether? Not me!

At the time, Americans thought of those lands the same way we might imagine a science-fiction world: filled with lush, bizarre plants, merciless superpredators, and people whose customs, appearance, and language were so different from their own, they seemed almost alien. To help embody that thinking, we want Lewis to have a dream before he actually heads out where all of America’s unconscious fears are portrayed. You’ll hunt wooly mammoths and giant ground sloths, council with Welsh-speaking Indians, and climb a mountain made entirely of salt, among other phantasmagorical challenges. History meets fantasy in this level where Lewis must master his trepidation and find the courage to voyage into the unknown!

To donate, or just read more about this fascinating use of gaming technology to explore history, check out the Merriweather Kickstarter page and be sure to watch the pitch video at the very top.

Source: Kickstarter

Thanks, Corvus!

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