FIFA 12 now available for iPad

By: Aseem Gaurav on September 30, 2011

Fifa 12, one of the biggest sports franchise in gaming, has landed on iOS platform. The game comes equipped with loads of interesting features to keep fans of FIFA franchise occupied and entertained for long intervals.The game costs $4.99.

One of the most exciting features of this year’s version is that if downloaded for the iPad, players can use their iPhone as a controller.

The app is sure to take the Fifa fever high with over 500 international clubs with the real players, 32 real stadiums, and some cool footwork controls.

The best part about this game is a more realistic feel, vibrant graphics and ultra realistic animations ranging from the collisions of players to the career mode to the impressive in-game commentary.

FIFA 12's gameplay refinements sound great and now comes with Impact Engine, which is a new physics engine designed to highlight power, momentum, pace, and weight, leading to a far more robust and realistic football simulation.

Other new additions in FIFA 12 include Tactical Defense, which is designed to make it more like the real game with player containment and proper positioning. For instance holding one button sees the defender close in on the attacker and similarly moving further away with the analogue stick. When mastered it makes the gaming immensely satisfying.

On the other hand, Precision Dribbling allows players to better hold up the ball by taking smaller, deft touches in tight situations. It makes possible for players to get out of tight situations and defend against an onslaught of eager attackers.

There have been little changes in terms of game modes with more focus on the online side of things. EA Sports Football Club, meanwhile, is another new feature, which adds a community element to online play.

Apart from sharper and smoother graphics, FIFA 12 is generally void of bugs and glitches.

I must say that with enough improvements, EA has been successful in creating a more satisfying football experience than ever before.

Download the app here.

LoveFilm app brings movie streaming to iPad

By: Aseem Gaurav on September 29, 2011

Lovefilm, the Amazon-owned film and TV rental service, is now available as an iPad app that allows customers to stream movies at their tablet.

The app makes use of existing supported platforms, meaning that the movie is streamed directly to your device just like it does on the Lovefilm PS3 and internet-connected television services. Thus you don’t need to worry posting back a DVD.

In addition, the users can rewind, pause and fast-forward movie streams over WiFi, besides watching new movie trailers and add titles to their preferred rental list.

The iPad users will also have exclusive streaming access to titles like The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and RED.

Lovefilm has also entered into a digital streaming content deal with StudioCanal, joining its existing agreements with Disney, MGM, Warner Bros, eOne, Icon, and Lionsgate.

Announcing the launch, Simon Calver, the chief executive of LoveFilm, said: "LoveFilm on iPad makes our services more portable and reiterates our commitment to expand the ways in which members can stream movies on a range of devices."

The app will not cost you anything but you need a Lovefilm deal of £5.99 per month or more to join in.

Worried about iPad’s security? You might want one of these

By: Aseem Gaurav on September 29, 2011

Are you worried about the security of your iPad 2 ever since you purchased it, then Griffin TechSafe case might be a good option for you.

The case comes with a polycarbonate shell — offering two foldout stands for both portrait and landscape viewing. A cable and a 4-digit combination lock help you lock the case with any desktop cable locking system. Griffin TechSafe not only protects your iPad 2 from bumps and scratches, but also locks securely around your iPad 2.

You can safely store the combo for the lock at griffintechnology.com if you’re prone to forgetting stuff.

The good part about the case is that you can access the tablet for normal everyday use while leaving your worry about someone stealing your tablet while you are away.

Create your own e-books with ‘Book Creator for iPad’

By: Aseem Gaurav on September 19, 2011

The idea of creating your own book may have popped in your mind but put on the backburner because of the hassles involved in the process.

A new app called ‘Book Creator for iPad’ offers an easy and simple way to create beautiful books that can be ideal for children and adults discovering electronic publishing for the first time.

Though this app, you basically create an e-book complete with full text/images for the iPad. The final versions can be saved as a ePub which means that it can be read by the iBooks app as well as many other eBook readers.

You can also send your creation to friends by email, or uploaded to a Dropbox account if you use that online storage service.

The app with its intuitive and easy to use interface is a prized tool for the budding authors who are eager to try their own hand at creating books.

To begin with, you need to simply arrange pictures and words using your fingers as an initial layout, and tap to edit. You can use own pictures and iPad’s fonts and layout tools such as snap to grid to design great books.

The nice and fun part about this app is that you can create a personalised story for your child, or arrange family pictures and art into a beautiful eBook. The ability to control the look and feel of the information will be especially liked by students who want their imagination to run wild.

The app is available at a price tag of $6.99.

Cute and adorable Angry Birds costumes for Halloween

By: Aseem Gaurav on September 18, 2011

It's still September, but it's not too early to start thinking about Halloween costumes. Since Halloween is the only holiday that allows you to dress up in costume and pretend to be someone else for the night, so everyone wants to be at his/her best in order to make a statement with their outfit.

If you want your costume to be a sure-fire hit, you can choose the most popular game in the tech world – Angry Birds. Costumes ranging from Yellow bird, Red bird, King Pig, and Black Bird, are cute enough to impress your friends and peers at the Halloween ensemble.

It is surely a more fun and unique approach to celebrate Halloween which is the perfect time to be something that we never would experience in our day-to-day lives.

The costumes are available in the price range of $35-$48, with head pieces running for $32.

Game Changer turns your iPad into a real game board

By: Aseem Gaurav on September 18, 2011

Identity Games has just launched an accessory called Game changer, which turns your iPad into a real game board.

After downloading the companion app from the App Store, you then need to insert your iPad into the board’s dock and the board comes to life. This adds a twist of the gaming using the tablet. GameChanger is compatible with both the iPad, and the iPad 2.

Each game comes with a custom skin and players merely need to place it on top. And when you touch the game’s board the screen of your iPad responds with animations and sounds.

Given that the iPad and game board are connected all your moves are tracked as play the game. You can spin the wheel on the iPad and move the game piece around the board.

But you need to wait for the product as it will launch in November, just in time for the holiday shopping season. GameChanger will cost you $79.99.

Kensington offers products to keep your iPad and iPhone secure

By: Aseem Gaurav on September 16, 2011

It is no doubt that iPads are easy to carry anywhere but it also increases their chances of getting lost. After all, it is one of the most coveted devices in the tech world.

To ease some of your worries, Kensington Computer Products Group has launched a series of solutions to reduce the risk of theft for iPads and iPhones. The product for iPad 2 is named SecureBack Security Case which envelopes your tablet using a 3-piece construction design, making it hard to detach.

The proeduct’s built-in ClickSafe Security Anchor and Security Slot allow you to make use of ClickSafe Locks, thus protecting the tablet with from theft with a single click.

What’s more: the security bar that is integrated into the case will serve the purpose of slightly propping up your device for easy typing.

The company has also come out with BungeeAir, a sophisticated wireless tether and case system that broadcasts an audible alert when an iPhone is at risk of being left behind or taken. BungeeAir is easy to use product which bridges a wireless connection between an iPhone and a fob by triggering an alarm when a specified distance is crossed.

“A large number of people are becoming reliant on iPhones and iPads, meaning that physically protecting them from theft and loss is also rising. Our two new product lines, BungeeAir and SecureBack, build on our strengths in laptop security to provide simple and safe ways of securing these mobile devices,” said Stephen Hoare, European Marketing and Security Business Development Director at Kensington.

You can buy the SecureBack Security Case directly from the Kensington website in different configurations and options. Pricing starts at $49.99.

iPad app News.me goes free‎

By: Aseem Gaurav on September 15, 2011

News.me, the best way to read news, articles and tweets by friends, is now available for free. This is certainly good news for iPad owners, as the social news app is also the most rated site used by US citizens.

News.me, creation of betaworks in collaboration with the New York Times, aggregates news stories shared by Twitter users you follow in an easy to use format.

To use the app you need to have a Twitter account given that News.me focused on news from your Twitter stream. On connecting, you are presented with the news stream that News.me users are using. All you need to do is simply tap on their avatars to see what they are reading.

News.me offers an ad-free stream of articles and is suitable for commute, weekends at home, or catching up on news at the end of the day. The app provides full text, images, and videos in an elegant and streamlined layout which makes reading a good experience.

“News.me is making efforts to reinvent an industry — by making the discovery and usage of information greater,” the News.me group said in a blogpost.

News.me competes against other social news apps like Flipboard and Pulse in the App Store.

G-Form’s Extreme Edge: A tough case to keep your iPad 2 safer

By: Aseem Gaurav on September 8, 2011

You love your sleek and ultra-lightweight, iPad 2, and every single day takes every possible care to protect the tablet from any possible fall. But despite such extreme care it is nothing but natural that the tablet may fall off your hands. In such a case you may wonder what extra protection in available for the tablet.

G-Form has an answer for you with their Extreme Edge case, designed to provide unparalleled protection against drops and falls –even straight onto the display! G-Form, which already produces the Extreme Sleeve for iPad, utilized the company’s Reactive Protection Technology (RPT) to offer unmatched device protection for the tablet. The RPT absorbs over 90 per cent of the energy of an impact and at the same time momentarily stiffens to act like armor to offer solid protection.

The case does not weight more than 6 ounce, fits snugly on iPad, even others tablets of 10” in size, and is water resistant. It is made up using a military grade ballistic fabric which gives it considerable cool looks. The company says the case provides the best protection for the tablet and as it can withstand the impact in case if you use it as a Frisbee.

“We saw a need in the marketplace for a lower-profile but still incredibly protective and durable case for the tablet user who is constantly using the tablet but doesn’t need the full RPT screen cover provided by the Extreme Portfolio,” notes Thom Cafaro, VP of Innovations at G-Form.

Despite being lightweight the case is bulky which may go well with everyone. The choice of colors available are black, yellow and can be easily cleaned.

The case extends the usefulness of tablets to activities and applications where they might not otherwise be safe. The case is supposed to find value in construction sites, warehouses, or in the hands of your kids.

The Extreme Edge will cost you $44.95 and those looking for full protection including a screen cover across the front of your device the company offers Extreme Portfolio for $89.95.

Angry Birds Seasons updated with 30 new Moon Festival levels

By: Aseem Gaurav on September 2, 2011

Rovio has released the latest Angry Birds Seasons update, by launching a new 'Mooncake Festival' episode. The theme is based on the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival (also known as the Moon Festival) and adds 30 new Chinese Moon Festival levels.

This time the green swine is dressed in straw hats and the backgrounds will include pagodas, rabbits, red laterns, and similar themed items.

Gamers also get the chance to grab eight hidden pieces of mooncake. Those players who find them will gain access to an exclusive Mooncake bonus stage.

The game is available on both iPhone and iPad.

3 reasons why iPad’s dominance is not going to end

By: Aseem Gaurav on September 2, 2011


Growing sales figure tells who’s who on popularity charts


Apple has been credited with creating the current momentum in the computer tablet space. As per an estimate Apple is expected to ship 20 million iPads this quarter and the demand is expected to remain robust throughout 2013. The iPad 2 craze, which has heightened consumers’ and hardware makers’ interest to a new level, has not witnessed any major competition till date. It could also be due to the fact that the competition doesn’t seem to have the right combination of hardware, marketing, apps and content to post any major threat to the device. El Segundo, Calif.-based iSuppli has raised its overall tablet sales from 58.9 million to 60 million units, implying the iPad will account for nearly three-fourths of all tablets sold in 2011.

Possible launch of iPad 3

It will certainly be the next big thing for Apple. If the company keeps to its schedule and launches the updated version of its most popular computer tablet in the first quarter of 2013 then it will further enhance the momentum in iPad popularity and in turn maintain its lead in the computer tablet space. The iPad 3 is expected to be powered by quad-core A6 chip, and is reportedly in trial production. It may also feature a high-resolution display, possibly dubbed Retina display, which would boast double the resolution of the current iPad display. So when there is hardly anything that competitors can brag about, the launch of the device would keep the iPad sales at good pace.

Expanding App Store

App Store has over three times more apps than its nearest competitor. Apple’s App Store offers over 425,000 apps and is seen by users as the "ultimate source for mobile apps." The store is growing rapidly and one million apps in the not-too-distant future is quite possible. Given that a lot of retailers, banks, and news organizations, are getting into this field by building apps, users can expect much more advance technology and variety of apps coming to the App Store.