Filmed In a Day: New Video Shows Power of iPhone as a Video Camera

Is the iPhone the world’s greatest video camera? Apple certainly seems to think so, and they’re not shy when it comes to sharing their views!

As part of their ongoing campaign highlighting the 30th anniversary of the original Macintosh computer, Apple has been releasing videos showcasing how far we’ve come in the past 30 years of innovation in the consumer and professional technology worlds. In their latest video they take footage all shot in a single day on iPhones from all over the world and show how Apple’s computers, tablets and smartphones are being put to work in the classroom, in offices, and even on the dance floor. Check it out:

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Netflix’s New Mitt Documentary Is a Fascinating Apple Commercial

When I heard Netflix was releasing an original documentary, Mitt, about Mitt Romney’s back-to-back failed campaigns for the presidency in 2008 and 2012, I was certainly intrigued. Now that I’ve seen it, I can say that I didn’t expect to find out that despite his caricatures in the media as a flip-flopper, a Mormon, and a wealthy white male out of touch with much of America, Mitt Romney is a man who, at his core, puts his family, his beliefs, and his spirituality first in a real way. As the credits roll, you can’t help but feel bad for this man whose dreams of the presidency were crushed, not once but twice.

I also didn’t expect the Mitt documentary to be an incredible Apple commercial, and yet it pretty much is.

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Think twice before you buy the iPhone 4s (or any other “free” phone)

With a new year upon us and with newer, faster smartphone models constantly coming out, it’s a good time to start thinking about that next big upgrade. At the same time, there’s something important to keep in mind—when you buy a phone on contract with any carrier, you’re looking at a serious commitment to a single device that you’ll probably be stuck with for a full two years, and if you buy today that means you’ll be stuck with this device until January 2016. That sounds like a long ways off, and in terms of how fast tech progresses it really is!

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First look at the LG G Flex, AT&T’s first smartphone with curved glass #CES2014

Sporting a huge, curved 6″ HD P-OLED screen, the upcoming LG G Flex phones promises to be one of the best smartphones to watch movies on. As smartphones gain larger and larger screens and increasingly creep into tablet territory, one way manufacturers are looking to set their devices apart is by offering the best possible displays, and as a companion to the curved TVs they’ve shown off at CES, which promise a more immersive movie-viewing experience, the curved screen G Flex looks to try and do the same thing in a more pocketable size.

One interesting claim that I can’t wait to test is that the curved screen promises to offer reduces glare from lights and sunlight. When you think about how bad many smartphones look outdoors, this could turn out to be a huge game changer if true.

Keep reading to see the key feature list from the press release.  Read More

#CES2014: Sony Introduces highest megapixel waterproof smartphone, the Xperia Z1S

Ahead of Sony CEO Kazuo “Kaz” Hirai’s 8:30am PST keynote tomorrow morning, Sony has chosen to pre-announce their first flagship smartphone for 2014, the Xperia Z1S. A follow-up to the waterproof Z we saw at CES last year, the Xperia Z1S promises to be the next big thing from Sony.

Keep reading and check the video!

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Shop for holiday gifts online without spoiling the secret

Office full of holiday presents. Photo by GovWin on Flickr.

When I was a kid, I figured out that Mom & Dad hid the holiday presents in their closet, so every December when I was home alone I’d do some sneaking around and figure out what was going to be under the tree. These days, kids or snooping spouses need to do even less to find out what gifts they’ll be getting because quick check through the shared computer’s browser history or your email and BAM—the secret is out of the bag.

Although we’re increasingly doing our shopping and purchasing online, there are some easy precautions you can take to make sure your holiday surprises stay a surprise. Here’s my top tips:

1. Set up a throwaway email address

You’re probably signed into your email on not just your computer at home, but at the office, on your smartphone and probably even a tablet. How vigilant can you be about making sure the kids or your spouse aren’t snooping on one of these devices when your back is turned?

To truly keep online gift purchases a secret you’re going to want to create a throwaway online email account that you only use to make and track your online purchases this holiday season. And every time you’re done you sign out of the address, and poof, it’s gone without a trace.

I’d recommend using a webmail service like Google’s Gmail or Yahoo! Mail because they make it a snap to set up a new email address. Read More

Check out these Halloween Apps and Games

Halloween is a great time for Apps to help you get in the spooky spirit. There are tons to check out, so start with the the App Store Editorial Feature which has a ridiculous number of Halloween Apps and Games (iPhoneiPad) to try. Here’s a couple of others I’d call “can’t miss:”

It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Not only is the eBook version of this children’s classic interactive, you can do all kinds of other cool stuff with it as well. I like the tool that helps you create your own Peanuts character as well as the ability to carve your own pumpkin. All of the illustrations have been digitally remastered as well, so the book pops in a way that the edition gathering dust on your bookshelf never did. Plus, it combines the voices, dialog and music from the original 1966 animated TV special to really bring the work to life! Read More

The new iPad Pricing scheme – including the iPad Air and the iPad mini with Retina display

Apple today annonced a range of new iPads. The top-of-the-line iPad 4 has been replaced by the newer iPad Air at the same price point, starting at $499.

The now 3 year old iPad 2 is sticking around at $399.

Also at $399, you can get the new iPad mini with Retina display.

And at the low end, getting a $30 price drop, is last year’s iPad mini at just $299.

Liveblog: Apple Special Event – New iPads and more!

Apple is widely expected to launch the new iPad 5 today, as well as the latest version of their desktop operating system, OS X Mavericks. A refresh of the Macbook Pro line as well as the Mac minis seems likely, and observers are hoping to see a new iPad mini with Retina display as well. But what else will Apple announce? A television? A watch? Something totally unexpected? The best way to find out is to stay tuned to this liveblog for all of the updates!

We’ll be bringing you everything you need to know about Apple’s latest devices live starting at 10am Pacific, 1pm Eastern today. Read More