Apple

A new reliability report from Rescuecom shows Apple placing in second place, beaten by Samsung by a wide margin. The new report for the first quarter of 2013, which now takes into account tablets as well as computers, also puts Apple ahead of Lenovo, Asus, Toshiba, HP, Dell, and Acer, with both Sony and Panasonic dropping out of the rankings entirely....

Japanese electronics and entertainment conglomerate Sony could drop one of those divisions in the near future, as the company's board will soon discuss spinning off its entertainment division in order to help its electronics arm better compete against Apple and Samsung.

Las Vegas! is a popular dice game that Ravensburger put together last year. It's not exactly the most complicated board game on the block (you roll dice, and then can place them into certain numbered slots that represent stakes in money-making casinos), but it's fun for families especially, and provides a nice relatively casual mix of luck and skill. Perhaps because the game is so approachable, the German company Ravensburger has elected to bring an iOS version out to iPhone and iPad, and you can now pick it up on the App Store for $2.99. Just like the real world game, the iOS version is fun but simple -- you select your players (or you can play online via Game Center), you roll the dice, and then you try to lay them out in casinos wherever you think they'll earn you the most money. Play goes on like this for four rounds, at which point the player with the most money wins. There's also a more complicated variant where you get a number of neutral dice that you can use to block other players, and Ravensburger has smartly included that option here, which provides some extra replayability, especially for gamers seeking some more challenging strategy. The game's well-presented (I did have one small bug when starting a game, but a quick reset of the app fixed it anyway), with plenty of Vegas-style sounds and some nice casino architecture. There's also the ability to earn money from game-to-game, though I'm not sure what that's used for just yet -- maybe Ravensburger plans to put in more themes and casinos as time goes on. Currently, there are no in-app purchases at all, and I appreciate that. What you see for your $2.99 is what you get, and the game that's there is worth the price if you're interested.Daily iPhone App: Las Vegas! brings Ravensburger's dice game to the iPad originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 22 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Audio accessory maker Ultimate Ears has announced a new wireless Bluetooth portable speaker, the UE Boom. Available in six colors, the mini-speaker is intended to be portable and offers 360-degree sound from all sides of the easy-grip device. The device features an acoustic skin to be water and stain resistant, a long and rechargeable battery life (up to 15 hours) and is easily paired with other UE Boom units....

Everyone knows Aspyr Media for their numerous Mac ports of classic PC games like, for example, Bioware’s incredible Star Wars RPG, Knights Of The Old Republic. Now it looks like Aspyr could be bringing KOTOR to the iPad. There’s not a lot to go by, but Aspyr recently sent off an email to customers in which they accidentally included this line: The critically-acclaimed Star Wars RPG is now available on iPad. The most obvious candidate for a “critically-acclaimed” Star Wars RPG is Knights of the Old Republic, which spawned an excellent sequel and a huge Star Wars MMO. Also, Aspyr originally ported KOTOR to the Mac, so they’re familiar with the code. And it’s not as if Bioware RPGs are strange to the iPad: Baldur’s Gate is already available for iPad. Knights Of The Old Republic is still a heck of a game, and I’d love to replay it on my iPad. Fingers crossed. Source: IGN Related StoriesTwo Neat New Backlit iPad Mini Keyboard Cases From ZaggLogitech Now Makes Toughened Lightning Keyboards For iPad-Toting KidsApple Kicks Off Father’s Day Promotion With Online Store Design TweaksIntel Creates New Devices Division To Make Sure They Don’t Underestimate Apple’s Next Big ThingInteliscope Turns Your iPhone Into The World’s Most Useful Rifle Scope

Apple today rolled out some updates to its online store, not only posting new features advertising Father's Day gift purchases but also introducing a new, cleaner look for the store. While the main page of the online store had previously consisted of a main center column with product promotions flanked by sidebars with additional links, the new look brings an all-feature design focusing more on product images. Previously, the left sidebar had offered quick access to accessory categories for Apple's various product lines, as well as links to the company's refurbished and clearance stores. Shoppers looking for accessories must now drill down through the product categories along the top "shop" navigation bar to reach the various accessories, while links to the refurbished and clearance stores are listed at the bottom of the page. A similar situation exists for the former right sidebar, which offered links to Apple's other stores such as for education and business, as well as store services including gift cards, financing, and returns. All of these links are now only directly accessible through the store site map links at the bottom of the page. The change removes some redundancy on Apple's main store page, as many links had appeared both in the main body of the page and lower down in the site map section, and by removing the sidebar links Apple has been able to bring much greater prominence to product images. Apple has made additional image-centric changes further down in the site, with the main pages for each of the company's product lines now allowing for larger images and less text, while accessory pages have seen even more dramatic changes away from simple lists and toward more featured images. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Apple Named World's Most Valuable Brand for Third Year in a Row • 'Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic' Might Come to the iPad • Vudu Player for iOS Gets Updated With Ability to Download Movies • Apple to Open New Adelaide Retail Store in Australia on May 25 • Burj Al Arab in Dubai Introduces Gold-Plated iPads for Guest Use • Tumblr Acquired by Yahoo, iOS App Gets Redesigned User Interface • Turkish Prime Minister Visits Apple Ahead of Major Tablet Purchase • Gameloft's 'N.O.V.A. 3' and 'Gangstar Rio: City of Saints' Are Free for the Weekend

One of Intel’s biggest mistakes in the last decade was being blind-sided by the rise of mobile devices. Intel should have seen it coming: Apple asked Intel to make chips for the original iPhone, only to be turned down. Simultaneously, Cupertino was pressuring Intel to get the power-management of their chips under control. It’s not too far-fetched to say that if Intel had been paying attention to all the signals, then today they could be as dominant in mobile chips as they are in PCs and servers. But Intel under former CEO Paul Otellini turned a blind-eye to mobile until it was too late. It’s a mistake new Intel CEO Brian Krzanich is determined not to repeat, which is why he has created a brand new “New Devices” division within Intel to focus on emerging trends, including “ultra-mobile devices.” What’s an ultra-mobile device? Think wearable computing, like Google Glass or the iWatch. Heading up Intel’s New Devices division is Mike Bell, an executive who has been heading up Intel’s (still struggling) mobile chip business, and spearheaded initiatives like getting Android running on x86. The whole idea of New Devices is a sort of a seismograph to make sure that the next big threat to Intel’s business — a radically shifting tech landscape that comes seemingly out of nowhere — is detected in its earliest stages, and Intel pivots to not just counter, but ride the wave. “The group will be tasked with turning cool technology and business model innovations into products that shape and lead markets,” Intel said in a statement to AllThingsD. In the short term, just based on Intel’s statements, it seems obvious that the chipmaker is going to focus on wearable computing, hence their determined focus on “ultra-mobile devices.” If that term confuses you, just think of it this way: what’s more mobile than a smartphone in your pocket? How about a computer you never take off: the iWatch. Source: All Things D Related StoriesFinn Wallet Holds Cards, Cash And Your iPhone 5, Stays ThinTwo Neat New Backlit iPad Mini Keyboard Cases From ZaggLogitech Now Makes Toughened Lightning Keyboards For iPad-Toting KidsApple Kicks Off Father’s Day Promotion With Online Store Design TweaksInteliscope Turns Your iPhone Into The World’s Most Useful Rifle Scope

You may assume that there’s little use for a fragile smartphone on the battlefield, but you’d be completely wrong. The Inteliscope is a new iPhone accessory unlike anything you’ve ever seen before that turns your device into an intelligent scope for your rifle. No, not a toy rifle. A real rifle. The Inteliscope is “the premier tactical rifle adapter,” according to its makers. It combines a tactical rail mount that sits on top of your rifle with an iOS app that delivers “critical ballistics and environmental insight to the shooter in real time.” It’s compatible with any firearm that uses a Picatinny (Mil-STD-1913) or Weaver tactical rail, and some of its features include a ruggedized tactile rubber finish, adjustable mount position, support for both portrait and landscape orientations, and a protective case for portability. But it’s in the app where the Inteliscope really shines. It lets you pick custom crosshairs, offers 5x digital zoom, records video from the shooter’s perspective, and provides ballistics and firearm data. It also utilizes the iPhone’s built-in compass, GPS, and LED to provide a flashlight. The Inteliscope, along with your iPhone, really is the ultimate rifle scope. I mean, I’m no expert on rifle scopes, but I’m guessing there aren’t many that record video and provide all the information the InteliScope does while you’re on the battlefield. The Inteliscope is priced at $69.99, and it comes in three models — one for the iPod touch, another for the iPhone 5, and one for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. It’s scheduled to launch next month, and you can pre-order yours now from Inteliscopes.com. Source: InteliScopes Via: iDownloadBlog Related StoriesFinn Wallet Holds Cards, Cash And Your iPhone 5, Stays ThinTwo Neat New Backlit iPad Mini Keyboard Cases From ZaggLogitech Now Makes Toughened Lightning Keyboards For iPad-Toting KidsApple Kicks Off Father’s Day Promotion With Online Store Design TweaksIntel Creates New Devices Division To Make Sure They Don’t Underestimate Apple’s Next Big Thing

I’m a long time Risk player, with a penchant for grabbing up Australia or South America first, then blockading the heck out of them while I focus my expansion to the rest of the map from these well-fortified positions. While there is a fantastic Risk game for the iPhone, there’s not one for the Mac, let alone one that plays on both platforms. Checking out Conquist 2, then, a Risk-style conquer the world game, seems like a no brainer, since you can purchase it for Mac and/or iOS, making it the perfect cross platform multiplayer game for fans of Risk. Check it out. Grab a copy of Conquist 2 for the Mac on the Mac App Store and launch it on your Mac. You’ll see the similarity to Risk in the style of gameplay, especially when you use The World for your map. There are several other variations, too, like the USA, Europe 1938, Meso-America, the Roman Empire, and others. The World Domination mode will make the most sense to Risk fans, as it plays similarly–conquer all the territories on the map to win. The Secret Mission mode gives you a special assignment that will win the game for you when you complete it, Colonization tasks you with controlling just the capitals on the map, and Castle mode has you taking opponent castles to win the game. To play from your Mac to your friend’s iPhone or iPad, be sure they’ve downloaded the app from the App Store and have it loaded on their iOS device, and that they’ve connected with Game Center. Now all you need to do is click on the Online Multiplayer button on the main screen, then click on the green Invite Friends button in the bottom right. You’ll get the fugly Game Center window, and you’ll be able to invite up to three of your Game Center friends to play along with you. The game will auto match the other slots open, if you don’t have three friends who can play right now. Now you’re playing from your Mac to the iPhone or iPad, courtesy of Game Center. Slick! Source: Mac App Store Via: IGN Related StoriesCryptozoic’s HEX: Shards Of Fate Is Now Almost A Million Dollars Funded On KickstarterDogfight From Your Mac To iPhone With Sky Gamblers: Air Supremacy [OS X Tips]Google Chrome’s App Launcher Is Coming To The MacUse iBooks 3.1 To Study Better – Highlight, Search, And Make Notes In The Text [iOS Tips]Microsoft Unveils New Xbox One Console

Audio accessory maker Ultimate Ears has announced a new wireless Bluetooth portable speaker, the UE Boom. Available in six colors, the mini-speaker is intended to be portable and offers 360-degree sound from all sides of the easy-grip device. The device features an acoustic skin to be water and stain resistant, a long and rechargeable battery life (up to 15 hours) and is easily paired with other UE Boom units....