Cognitive Machines

Artificial Intelligence, Robots and New Technologies

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The Soulo App for IPad Karaoke

April 5th, 2012 by ALLAN Sprankle
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If you own an iPhone or iPad, you probably already have a few awesome apps that you enjoy regularly. Some of them are revolutionary games that allow you to pass the time like never before. An app like Angry Birds has changed the landscape of popular culture and become much more than a simple app where you knock down buildings with cute little birds. There are other handy apps that serve real-life purposes and make work a lot easier. And if you’re a fan of karaoke, now there is an app that effectively turns your iPad into the player of your dreams. It’s called Soulo and it’s designed to work in conjunction with a specially designed microphone from the same company.

soulo

While there are other apps that feature singing, most of them are not as comprehensive. Some of them can be quite expensive, but they don’t give you a real singing experience at all. The Soulo app stands out from the rest because it’s designed perfectly for singers of all types. It has a user-friendly interface and a good selection of songs to get you started. You can also download more songs at a minimal price or use ones you already have via iTunes. With the touch of a button you can build your overall collection overnight, and it will undoubtedly keep growing over time.

When you buy the specially designed microphone that is meant for use with this app, you get a comprehensive karaoke machine for iPad that works just as well as any regular system. You can adjust the pitch to improve the performance of your voice while recording videos. All you have to do is flip the camera on your iPad and you’ll be able to watch yourself sing. This is a great feature if you’re the type of person who wants to record themselves and put videos up on YouTube to share your karaoke songs. You can also use regular audio recording to make your own CDs and compile a list of songs you successfully tackled. It’s a great way to hear your own voice in an objective way while being able to critique yourself.

You can connect your iPad to your entertainment system just like any other karaoke machine. If you have a big screen TV, you can watch the lyrics scroll from far away as they simultaneously display on your iPad. And like any other system, if you can connect your iPad to a quality set of speakers then you’ll be able to create a rocking atmosphere for any type of party. With an overall purchase price of $100, there’s a lot of value here that can’t be beat. If you’re looking for another way to get use out of your favorite Apple product, the Soulo karaoke app and microphone are exactly what you’re looking for. 

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Wireless Technology For Sports Headphones

February 26th, 2012 by ALLAN Sprankle
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Wireless technology has been increasing more and more each year.  With the invent of Bluetooth sports headphones have allowed people to take their workouts to entirely new level by pairing into their portable MP3 players or smart phones.

Many headphone manufacturers have capitalized on the popularity, one in particular: Jaybird.

They’ve created two very different sports headphones perfect for workouts, whether you’re a gym rat, runner, or have other training endeavors.

Jaybird Sportsband

The sports band was their first wireless sports headphones and added a fashion statement to the fitness market.  It brought back the old vertical style headphone with an updated sports band look.  One feature a lot of people love are the various different colors they come in.  In addition they also have large button like features for volume and song control on each earphone.

Jaybird Freedom

Their most recent set of wireless headphones are the Jaybird Freedom.  Taking their headphones an entirely different direction these headphones are actually a set of ear buds that are connected with a small cord that drapes over you neck.  Many people that workout love these headphones because of how lightweight they are.

Regardless of which pair you go with Jaybird is definitely making a large dent in this market by offering multiple styles of wireless headphones for your workout needs.

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The Best iPad Cases

January 31st, 2012 by CHRISTIAN Nanez
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There is now a surprisingly huge range of iPad cases available on the market to suit just about every budget, style and need.

When you’ve splashed out a considerable amount on your iPad, the last thing you want is for the casing to become scratched or to risk dropping the gadget and damaging it. Choosing the right case will give your iPad the protection it needs along with other added functionality for your convenience.

Do you mainly use your iPad at home for surfing the net, playing games or listening to music? A simple skin case may be most appropriate for you, and you can find them in a huge variety of colors and patterns. 

ipad cases

Do you mainly use your iPad on the move? A more robust case, probably with a stand, may be more to your preference. You can buy sleeves from $5 right up to over $100 for premium leather or moleskine cases – protection and style all in one!

Do you watch a lot of movies or TV on your device? In that case, a stand will be your best option so that you can support your iPad at a comfortable viewing angle.

How about business use? If you do a lot of typing on the iPad, you’ll be familiar with the cramping sensations that using the on screen keyboard for a long time can cause. There are cases available with built-in keyboards and mousepads – this could be an excellent choice for you.

With such a wide range of iPad cases now available online and on the high street, you are sure to find something that meets your needs. 

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All Hail The Google Android Tablet

January 30th, 2012 by JULIO Burkhard
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The iPad from Apple is undoubtedly the current king of the tablets. It has over a 60% market share of the whole tablet PC marketplace, with over 40 million units sold in 2011. However, the Android sales are catching up, with sales of around 11 million units in 2011 and forecast double that in 2012.

Android’s greatest strength is that its open source, and therefore not tied to any particular manufacturer. However, this can also be a drawback as it means some manufacturers have implemented older versions of the OS on budget tablets, leading to customer dissatisfaction. 

Another point in Apple’s favour is the extensive range of apps available through the App Store. While the Android Market is slowly growing its number of available apps, there is a definite shortfall compared to the App store, further influencing buyer decision. 

Google android tablet

That said, most developers of new apps are now making Android-compatible versions as well, and Apple’s decision a few months ago to change the terms of their affiliate agreement for app developers seems likely to push more software companies into the arms of Android.

So the big question is, are we going to see a branded Google android tablet? Rumor says yes, and this year. It’s likely to be a 7-inch tablet rather than a full size one, and will run the new Android OS 4.0. But the most interesting factor is the price, rumored to be around the $200 mark. It seems that Google have decided they can’t compete with the iPad on style or app availability, so they will try to enter the lower-budget end of the market with a high-performing but affordable tablet PC. Designs have not yet been leaked and it’s unknown what name or brand the tablet may come out under – smart money is on Nexus – but one thing is for sure: the Google Android tablet will shake up the market in a good way!

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What’s the Best Wireless Mouse on the Market?

December 29th, 2011 by NELSON Depaz
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You know, when I go out to buy a new computer all I have floating through my head are specs.   RAM, GHz, monitor size, hard drive, blah blah blah (blah).   I spend weeks poring over reviews, visiting stores several times to try out the hardware before investing my hard earned cash.  After weeks of agonizing I finally make my choice, buy the damned thing and go home to play with my new toy. 

You know what I do when I go out to buy a new mouse?  Pretty much nothin’.  I head to the nearest store (or Amazon), pick out something cheap and throw down as little cash as possible.  

Why is that?  Why do I pay so little attention to the device I’ll use to communicate with my computer?  Why am I so indifferent about a thing that, on an average day, I’ll be using for 8 or 10 hours?  Surely my mouse deserves just as much comparison, review checking and agonizing as the computer itself, if not more.  After all, once the specs hit a bare minimum acceptable level every computer is pretty much the same, but there are so many varieties of mice, both great and terrible, that a poor purchase here could be a disaster. 

Best Wireless Mouse

For the last few weeks I’ve been trying to get out of my bad habits.  I’m in the market, and I’m looking for the best wireless mouse money can buy.  For the last year or so I’ve been working out of apartments and hotels around Asia, so I often find myself working out of a bed or rickety table, so I definitely don’t want to be messing around with cables.  Wireless is definitely the way to go. 

After a looooot of review checking I think I may have finally found the top contender: the Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball.  This bad boy has a chunky trackball attached to the left of the mouse, allowing you to scroll up and down the page without having to move the mouse at all.  What’s more, there are a few programmable function buttons on top of the mouse that allow for quick navigation.  

I got to test out the Logitech in a store in Beijing last week, and I fell in love instantly.  I didn’t have time to buy it (every purchase in Beijing involves 20 minutes of tiresome haggling), but my girlfriend and I are headed back there next Thursday.  I’m hoping that the Logitech isn’t just a nice novelty, but goes on to become my favorite wireless mouse ever.  Fingers crossed!

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A second look at the iPhone 4 S

December 18th, 2011 by CHRISTIAN Nanez
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Now that the phone has been on the market for a little while, it is worth looking at it again in the light of comments made by users who have lived with the phone for a few weeks or months. Has it really lived up to the expectations caused by the delay in the launch? The answer to this question is important because Apple only launches one product every year. I decided that as soon as I had finished the getresponse review on which I was working, I would contribute to this second look.

Some of the more straightforward comments that I have to make are about the hardware and the software. The upgraded processor and the operating system make the phone work much faster and with a higher degree of responsiveness. For camera fans and users, the faster shutter speeds and the camera improvements alone make it worth upgrading to the latest iPhone.

What has been a remarkable experience however is Siri which is the personal assistant on the phone. Other phones have been equipped with voice controls will before the introduction of this phone and Apple certainly does not claim to be the first. What stands out, however, is the quantity of the experience. Siri has a distinct personality and the ability to quickly develop a rapport with the phone user.

Many users have reported that their experience with Siri has been transformed from a novelty experience into an indispensable day to day necessity. This is only the beginning and, no doubt, further development and value-added services will make the experience even more rewarding. Even now, users are reporting that they are constantly discovering new ways to use the feature and to make the use of the phone that much simpler and easier. To add to its already considerable edge over the competition, Apple has fairly and squarely put the onus on the other smart phone manufacturers to respond.

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Human Relationships In The Web 2.0 Revolution

December 15th, 2011 by CHRISTIAN Nanez
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The power of the World Wide Web to connect people, to bring families and friends closer together, to transcend boundaries set by time and geography, and its appeal to all backgrounds and classes makes it a powerful force indeed. As we have seen, and are still seeing, in the Arab uprisings of this year, the Internet can be a major catalyst for change and provide a voice for seemingly forgotten or neglected sectors of modern society.

Online dating and compatibility services, once viewed as a quirky alternative, are now an accepted part of the single person’s quest for a mate. Skype and other video calling services have provided a way for people far from each other to talk and see each other constantly. Facebook, Twitter and blogs now host the experiences, feelings, and opinions of millions of Net users. The choices have not only diversified the experience, but made the offerings more wide-ranging and accessible to more people. Online counselling services, Web-based medical assistance, online banking, and even the best guitar lessons online have all become very easy to use and relatively affordable for the masses.

And yet, studies have shown that despite all these modern amenities that make our world smaller, that enable quick communication, and that provide convenience and effective functions, feelings of loneliness and depression are on the rise particularly among young adults. Is it possible that one side of the global community that is the World Wide Web increases or highlights the lack of true companionship among many of its users, instead of serving as a way to fill this need?

We have to be careful not to be so enamored by the digital experience that is the Internet that we forget the value of personal contact with our families, our friends, our fellow human beings. No amount of Web-enabled communication, images, and discussions can replace the unique warmth of the human touch, of having a hand to hold, of having someone beside you to share life’s experiences together. The Internet should be a tool for human relationships, not the tool to replace relationships.

 

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TouchFire Keyboard For iPad

December 7th, 2011 by ALLAN Sprankle
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A really cool idea is about to launch and will probably go viral with iPad owners. That idea is the TouchFire keyboard for iPad and is a flexible silicone keyboard that lays over the iPad screen keyboard and offers the sensory feel that was missing.

Touchfire.com is the website of the two inventors who are bringing this keyboard to market and it was funded as a Kickstarter project. Kickstarter is a site to bring projects and investors together and offers small businesses and individual inventors a means to raise capital for their projects. The principals bring their project to Kickstarter and then see if their presentation is compelling enough to get individuals to lay out their money and back the project. 

TouchFire looks like they have a winner on their hands as they were seeking backing of $10,000 from Kickstarter and with 6 days to go in their funding period they have raised $140,086 from over 2200 backers. This makes their idea look like a “cant-miss, sure fire” winner.

If this idea is as popular as it looks like it will be, keyboards for the Android based tablets can’t be far behind. With this flexible keyboard supplementing the native touch keyboard these devices will narrow the usability gap between notebooks and small tablets even more. 

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So many Apps To Choose From

November 24th, 2011 by DARRYL Strube
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A few years ago if you said the word app then people would not have known what you were talking about, now, it seems there is an app for everything. It starts when you first get your new phone, or ipod, you get free ones, then before you know it there are other that you can get, and these cost you money.

My son has an ipod, and he is always downloading them, they tell him about the solar system, there games apps that keep him amused, then you can get recipes, actually anything you want. To get them you simply go to an app store, such as itunes, and there you can browse for those that you want. They are sorted by category and genre, much the same as books are.

These are not so easy to buy as a Christmas gift though, so buying a gift card to let someone buy what they want might be an option. This might be an idea because these days there is no shortage of what you can do with many of these devices. Take pictures for example, you will not go out and buy a Fujifilm Finepix L55,  instead you will just use one that is built into what ever you are using. Then you can use one of the various apps available to make your picture perfect. You can get rid of red eye, and even morph your picture into some thing else, even create a sound bite to go with it too, then send it to how ever you want.

 

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Use Your Technological Knowledge to Find Work at Home Jobs

November 20th, 2011 by JULIO Burkhard
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With the rise of video sites like Youtube, more and more people these days are posting videos online in order to share various things with the world. Many do it for fun while others do it to make money. If you know how to edit videos or create great presentations with video editing software, you could make some money using those skills. Finding legit work at home jobs isn’t easy for the average person but if you have a marketable skill, it should be that hard.

You will want to check on various sites that connect employers and contractors such as Elance.com and Odesk.com. These sites have all sorts of jobs from people all over the world. Look under the video section and you will find many people who are in need of someone creating a video for them. Video editing takes a lot time and there can be a steep learning curve so folks are willing to outsource all of that. With your knowledge, you can work on those projects and make money from the comfort of your home. How much you get paid will depend on the skill and time involved in producing the videos. Once you do a few projects and get great reviews, it should be easier and easier finding work in video editing.

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