Cooliris will forever be known for its funky imaging product which turns a whole bunch of photos into an interactive 3D wall. Its great success has been that it works on a variety of platforms and devices. Now the company is coming out with a product which it thinks will be revolutionary in a different field – Text.

The new app from Cooliris is called Discover and is scheduled to hit the App Store next week. Discover takes users through a very different way of experiencing Wikipedia. The app turns Wikipedia pages into very user friendly and visually pleasing pages that look more like the pages of a book. The conversion doesn’t just take the content from Wikipedia and slap a background on to it to make it look like a book. Instead, it actually takes the content, rearranges it to look better visually, expands the text to a readable size and then slaps a background to it.

Users can flip through the pages, scale up photos, etc. Changing orientation also affects how the information is shown. Once again orientation changes don’t simply mean showing the same thing in another way. Extra content is either loaded or removed depending on which orientation you are on. The app looks to be a winner with these excellent features and is sure to be a hit because it is free. Cooliris expects to make money serving up advertisements as Apple has finally agreed to let this method of revenue earning into the iOS world.

If you have an Internet connection at home, you are most likely aware of how to protect your identity, information as well as your computer from viruses, and scammers on the web. It’s a rule of thumb to update your antivirus software on a regular basis, and never input personal or sensitive information (such as credit card numbers and CVVs) online, and to know when you are being tricked into downloading a virus or suspicious program on to your system.

Your antivirus software won’t tell you everything and this is why at the end of the day, despite covering all the basics, you still cannot be sure about surfing the Web and not getting into trouble. Here is a tip to avoid common internet attacks that even the experts don’t mention. These may be a tad inconvenient, but a little paranoia goes a long way, the good way, in protecting you from bad Internet invaders.Never ever allow scripting, especially on websites that you feel aren’t secure.

The best way to really avoid this is to stay away from JavaScript, a program which allows your web browser to be more user-friendly, but it also makes your browser more susceptible to tricks. One of the latest scams include fake Facebook pages that pretend to give away gift cards if you post a code into your address bar. Doing so will then subject you to unwanted spam, phishing page lead-ins or even surveys which pre-dispose your PC to viruses.

It had to happen at some point. After all, Apple can never go for long without some controversy. The latest issue is the big security hole in the iPad 3G that was exploited a few days ago.

The flaw in the iPad, nicknamed ‘iLeak’, was exploited by a web security group that exploited weaknesses in the AT&T network. The group was able to access over 100,000 iPads which were on AT&T’s 3G network. The information that was extracted was the user’s email address and the ICC-ID which authenticates the user and grants access to the network. Doesn’t sound like a big deal? Think spam, think lots of spam. Now think about the early birds who jumped at the thought of getting an iPad 3G and not an iPad Wi-Fi. People like Diane Sawyer of ABC News, Janet Robinson – CEO of New York Times and Rahm Emanuel, and yes, the guy who just happens to be the White House Chief of Staff.

The incident is embarrassing to both AT&T as well as Apple. Both have a lot to lose from it and in that aspect, AT&T has quickly plugged up their side of the hole. So far there has been no comment from Apple and no news on whether they are releasing an update to the OS.

The iPad 3G was released on the overwhelming success of the iPad Wi-Fi. This issue could definitely impact the sales of any future iPad3Gs. It also doesn’t do much for the reputation of AT&T which is already berated for its poor connectivity issues.

Intel announced their latest revamp to the Classmate PC. In essence it is a tablet PC which looks like a Netbook, but it is quite formidable if you look closer. It features an Atom N450 processor, a 160 GB hard drive, Wi-Fi, GPS and allows OEM’s to include 3G or WiMax connectivity. It is also EnergyStar 5.0 compliant and is touted as having an eight and a half hour battery life. But the real kicker is the 1366×768 touch screen.

The screen responds to touch and to a stylus. It can also be rotated so that it lies flat on the keyboard, essentially turning it into a tablet PC. Orientation of the screen is automatically handled by an accelerometer. Intel has also made a smart decision by putting the webcam and microphone on a pivot mount, which allows users to capture themselves or the background.

The PC is quite rugged in design and is made of thick plastic so that young users need not be extra careful when using it. The rubberized surface provides users with an excellent grip. The cooling vents have been placed thoughtfully and the stylus has a neat recess that it can go to as well as having a place to be tethered to. The screen also features some buttons around it, which enables certain quick tasks when it is used in the tablet PC mode.

All in all, Intel seems to have done a good job in thinking things through and providing features that appeal to the target market. Look for it to hit the market soon!

Losing a phone is traumatic enough for most people, but if you happen to work for Apple and the phone you lost was a prototype iPhone 4G, then you probably will have a heart attack. Gray Powell recently went to German beer garden to celebrate his 27th birthday and promptly lost his iPhone 4G. The person who found it apparently tried to locate the owner and upon failing to do so sold it to the gadget blog known as Gizmodo.

According to Briam Lam, the editorial director, the iPhone 4G was soon remotely shut down by Apple. This led to the interesting question of what type of control Apple has in store for us with the 4G or even now with the devices we have. After the news broke, Apple sent a letter to Gizmodo asking them to return the device. The website complied after making a few observations.

The prototype has a camera with a bigger lens at the back and includes a flash as well. A front facing camera was also present which hinted at video conferencing capabilities. An extra microphone was also spotted at the top of the device and this will probably be used for noise cancelling purposes.
Although the device looked more “boxy” than the 3GS, it is widely acknowledged that this may not be the final design. There are also several conspiracy theories going on about the find, including one that suggests that this was a plant by Apple to generate interest in the upcoming product.

The Apple iPad is doing well in sales; selling over 300,000 on the first day seems to be a good indication of its popularity. Another good indication is how much the hackers are interested in it. The device was jailbroken in less than a day giving Apple a bittersweet experience. The positive side is that the tech community and hackers want the device and the negative side is that Apple is starting to become a bit like Microsoft, having to release fixes on a fairly regular basis.

The software used to hack the iPad seems to be a variant of “Spirit”, an application that is used to crack iPhones. Apple has not reacted to the reports of the jailbreak and it is not known if users of jailbroken iPads will be treated like some users who have jailbroken Apple products. In the past Apple has rendered devices useless and even banned some users from the Apple App Store.

While all this drama ensues, HP decided to seize the moment and release a tiny sneak peek at the new Slate Tablet. The device in the video appears to be about the same size as the Apple product but in features it differs significantly. It has two cameras, one in front and one behind, and it also has USB and SD card support. None of these features are found on the iPad. The Slate runs Windows 7 as the OS and features touch controls and supports Adobe Flash and Air. The latter software is also not supported on the iPad.

With over 300,000 units being sold on the very first day, the iPad is very hot at the moment. Whether Apple will hit it big with this product is still a big mystery. The initial boom in sales can be mainly attributed to the “techies and gadget freaks” factor that have to have the newest technology available. However, the future of the iPad solely rests on how relevant it can be to users and how word of mouth spreads, especially from the initial tier of buyers.

The problem with the iPad, as perceived by many, is that it looks and functions like an iPod Touch. So the hesitation to go out and get an oversized iPod Touch is only natural. Add to this that there is still no multi-tasking support, no flash support and no camera and the appeal for Apple’s new über gadget begins to drop.

Users need to give the product a chance. The iPad is a new approach at the Netbook and eBook reader market. What Apple is trying to do is give users a lightweight device with a large display which is uncluttered and familiar to use. The lack of certain features is, in Apple’s case, only to be expected; think about how long it took for them to include cut, copy and paste in the iPhone! While the debate runs strongly over the virtues and failures of the iPad, it is only prudent to wait and see what Apple offers us in the next iteration.

After weeks of rumors and non-committal statements from the manufacturer, LG has finally ‘spilt the beans’. This week LG announced that the LX9500, which it plans to release in May, will be the first HDTV in the world to feature 3D as well as an LED backlit LCD screen.

The upcoming model will be available in two varieties, a 47-inch and a 55-inch version. Both models will be packed to the brim with features like 3D, HDMI, USB 2.0 and integrated Skype software. It also features TruMotion 400 Hz (480 Hz) and a dynamic contrast ratio of 10,000,000:1. The 3D glasses used to watch TV employ the shutter glass technique, which means each lens is blocked out alternatively in relation to the refresh rate of the TV. This also enables it to add more depth to the image. The good news about the glasses are that they are USB powered, so all you have to do is leave it plugged into the TV or PC and the batteries will be charged. Once fully charged, the batteries are expected to run for 40 hours allowing for uninterrupted viewing.

The TV also supports the new Multi Picture Format, which means that users can plug in their 3D cameras directly into the TV and view what they’ve shot without having to go to a computer to convert them. The LG TVs are expected to hit the Korean market first in the coming months, so as to get the jump on their main competitor, Samsung. European and U.S. consumers will have to wait till May for LG’s launch. So far, the unofficial word is that the TVs will be priced along the $4,000 mark.

The new generation of laptop screens offers you the choice of switching to an LED screen. Initially this can sound confusing and exciting until you see the price tag. So what’s all the fuss about LED?

The term LED actually refers to Light Emitting Diode and is a reference to the backlighting that is used in new laptops. The prevalent method of backlighting is Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps or CCFL. Both methods use LCDs in front but the benefits of LED are far superior.

In terms of power consumption, LED are great because they use up to 30 % less power than the CCFL screens. In terms of a laptop, this is a huge saving as the battery will last longer. Since you will charge the laptop less frequently, this also means that you save on your energy bill.

LED backed screens also give brighter and richer colors. Color accuracy and contrast is also improved. However, since LEDs adjust brightness levels automatically based on ambient lighting levels, these features may be less evident at times.

If you plan to use your laptop for a few years then LEDs are a good bet too. Over time CCFL screens start dimming and the output does not look as it once did. LED screens last longer and do not diminish over time. They also are lighter so the overall laptop weight goes down too.

As you can see, LED technology is actually the right way to go. The only thing stopping it from taking over the market is the current high cost of manufacturing. But if you consider the long term benefits that this technology offers, then the extra $100 or so you spend getting it, is truly justified.

If you hanker after quality in everything you do, then investing in a Blu-Ray drive is worth it. Although somewhat expensive, the quality that Blu-Ray offers is so far ahead of DVD that the price is justified. When it comes to choosing a Blu-Ray drive for your PC, it is the features you should look out for rather than the brand. There are also two technologies that you should know about as well.

The first of these is High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP). HDCP is a content protection method which is verified all the way through up to the point of display. This means that the Blu-Ray drive, your graphics card AND your monitor have got to be HDCP compliant. If not, you will see a less defined image or in most cases, nothing at all.

The other thing you should know about is High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). HDMI is a new type of connector that facilitates high quality video and audio transfer. This cable connects your graphics card and to your monitor. The current HDMI standard is 1.3 which supports deep color, DVD Audio, lip-sync, extended gamut, Super audio CD, Dolby TrueHD bitstream and DTD-HD Master Audio bitstream.

As you have obviously gathered by now, these are the main criteria you have to consider when buying a Blu-Ray. So when you do go out to get one make sure that:

it supports HDMI 1.3
it has the highest possible write speed
it can write all other CD/DVD formats
it has upgradeable firmware

Once you have ensured that all these options available, it is down to your personal preference in picking a brand.