Velocity Android Tablet

 If last year was the ‘Year of the eReader’, then this year is the ‘Year of the Tablet’.  All the biggest new devices will be some sort of tablet or tablet/eReader hybrid.  Honestly, it makes sense as the next device evolution.  You have an eReader that just lets you read books, magazines, etc.  We don’t have much use for a device that just does one thing.  As a society, we are all about convergence, just look at all things our latest smartphones can do:  phone, camera, music & video player, e-mail, web surfacing, games, etc.  Let’s take a look at the latest announcements:

Velocity Micro announces a series of tablet/eReaders known as the Cruz.  The Cruz is designed to focus on the multimedia experience running on the Android OS.  The prices range from $149 to $299.  That’s cheaper than a netbook.  There are 3 members of the Cruz family:  kid-friendly Cruz StoryPad, Cruz Reader, and Cruz Tablet.  The Cruz StoryPad is the base model with the tablet coming in at $299. 

Cruz StoryPad features:

Cruz Reader additional features:

Cruz Tablet additional features:

The Cruz StoryPad and Reader will be available in August, and the Tablet will be available starting Sept. 1.  For me, this sounds like a great item for travel.  When I’m traveling for pleasure, I just want to be able to check my e-mail, and do a bit of web serving.  I would love to give this tablet a try.   With the Incredible, I have already been exploring the Android world.  The main issue I see is how many apps will be available in the Cruz marketplace.  Apps make or break a device. 

Via BGR

Looks like Apple is going to try and get out ahead of this run-away train, which is what their iPhone4 reception controversy has become. It’s all over the news, now that they have announced Friday, July 16th at 10AM PDT as the time of their event. They are tight-lipped as to what this about, however, other than saying the topic is iPhone. Let’s see if they have answers or are going to pour gasoline on an already hot topic.

Stay tuned. More News at Eleven…..well, 10 actually.

SplashData, which already offers a fairly robust suite of apps for the iPad, as well as pretty much every other platform you could imagine, just announced two new apps for its growing iPad library.  Today, SplashShopper and SplashMoney both joined SplashID in the iTunes App Store for iPad.  Want to know what these fantastic apps have to offer?  Read on for the full press release.

SplashShopper helps iPad users manage their lists of groceries, gifts, to do’s, wines, music, movies, and anything else they need want to list. For shoppers, SplashShopper helps them to track prices and locations – making comparison shopping much easier.

SplashShopper enables iPad users to:

• Create an unlimited number of shopping lists each with different categories, custom fields and icons
• Quickly enter items using QuickLists and a fast-entry grocery database
• Assign Items to multiple stores and track per-store prices
• Customize the column display and sort order for each list
• Email needed item lists to other SplashShopper users or as plain email
• Sync with the SplashShopper desktop over Wi-Fi
• Find the nearest store using location-based mapping

SplashMoney helps iPad users manage their money on-the-go with the ability to wirelessly sync with their bank accounts and desktop computer and download transactions directly into SplashMoney. With SplashMoney, iPad users can create budgets and then track and analyzetheir spending with customizable reports and charts.

Key features of SplashMoney include:

·  Wireless synchronization with almost any online bank account

·  Support for most account types: checking, savings, credit card, cash, asset, liability, money market and line of credit

·   Secure password protection using Blowfish encryption

·   Auto-fill and memorized transactions, which help speed-up and simplify data entry

·   Account statement reconciliation

·   Multiple currency support with live Currency updates

Like with SplashShopper, optional desktop software for Mac or Windows is available for SplashMoney.

The website for more information on SplashShopper and SplashMoney for iPad iswww.splashdata.com/ipad. The iPad versions of SplashShopper and SplashMoney are available in the App Store for US$4.99 each, while the Mac or Windows companion desktop software for SplashShopper is available at SplashData.com for US$9.95 and SplashMoney for US$19.95. Both desktop apps offer a free 30-day trial period

 

I have been using PhatNote jut about forever.  I initially started using it on my old Dell Axim (running Windows Mobile 2003), and I have had one version or another of PhatWare’s flagship app on just about every device I have used.  It is a fantastic note taking solution which allows you to incorporate typing, handwriting, photos, and pretty much anything else in your reminders.  Want to know what is new in version 2?  Read on for the press release.

PhatWare Corporation, a leading provider of software products and professional services for mobile and desktop computers, announced today the immediate availability of PhatNotes for iPhone 2.0. PhatNotes is the first iPhone and iPod touch notes organizer to offer WritePad handwriting recognition technology for text input in addition to keyboard entry as well as full synchronization with PhatNotes Desktop software.

5 Top New Features in PhatNotes 2.0:

• Optimized for the iPhone OS 4.0, and uses new OS features to improve usability, performance, and appearance of the application
• Features the latest version of WritePad handwriting recognition technology, including inline gestures, improved spell checker, custom menu commands, and more
• The new User Reminders (alarms) feature no longer requires an Internet connection to create and receive alarms
• The new Styles feature allows users to change the note editor appearance by manipulating text, page and ink colors, and fonts
• Updated graphics, including the new application icon, provides improved appearance on devices with high-resolution screens

"We are continuously improving our product line to deliver the most comprehensive and easy to use software for our customers." said Serena Perley, Director of Marketing of PhatWare Corp. "With the release of PhatNotes for iPhone 2.0 we are pleased to further improve one of PhatWare’s oldest products, delivering full compatibility with iPhone OS 4.0 and integration with the latest version of WritePad handwriting recognition technology."

PhatNotes 2.0 for iPhone is sold exclusively in the iTunes App Store and is priced at $9.99 (USD). To purchase a copy of PhatNotes or to download a free upgrade, visit the iTunes App Store.

PhatWare: http://www.phatware.com/
PhatNotes 2.0: http://www.phatware.com/index.php?q=product/details/phatnotes/iphone
Purchase and Download: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=337126571&mt=8

There is a new EVERNOTE update coming today for Windows and MAC (iPad later this week) and with it a whole slew of interactive functions and applications. Once you access the update, read THIS article and learn how to work with the available capabilities. Pretty exciting.