Samsung

Samsung has introduced its own tablet to rival the Apple’s iPad Mini, the Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet. It will only be available in a Wi-Fi version and sell for $400, reports the LA Times. Also, the model comes with 16 gigabytes of storage.

Looking at the details, it has a 5-megapixel rear camera and 1.3-megapixel front camera and comes with Samsung’s S Pen stylus.

According to eGadget.com, overseas, the device doubles as a phone. But, here in the US, it’s just a tablet that comes with an S Pen. The site says all isn’t new with this version. “Samsung’s borrowed elements from previous products, including the Note 10.1′s 1,280 x 800 TFT display (albeit with a higher pixel density of 189 ppi).” It also adds in elements Samsung phones, too, with chrome accents.

But the Galaxy Note 8.0 doesn’t get all rave reviews from eGadget. The site says of the design, “It’s inoffensive, unappealing and wholly forgettable — which might even be the point.” The camera gets so-so reviews. “The Note 8.0′s camera software falls short of the polish and comprehensiveness of, say, the Galaxy S 4, but it’s not entirely lacking, either,” reports eGadget. It does get higher marks for the flexibility of the software—and beyond. “All software aside, perhaps the greatest innovation ushered in with the Note 8.0 is the ability to tap the capacitive buttons with the S Pen,” writes the website.

Slashgear also expresses some reservations about the camera’s capabilities, but heaps on the praise for the S Pen, interesting at a time when everything digital is being done with a swipe.

To answer our headline question, Mashable says the Note’s got nothin’ on the iPad. But, if size is what matters, maybe you’d be interested in the Galaxy Mega? It’s going to be available in Europe in May. It has a 6.3-inch screen and will surely get you noticed.

Bottom line on the Galaxy Note 8.0, the $399 device could be a good investment. EGadget sums up: “All told, the US Note 8.0 is a solid product. In fact, it’s quite nearly the Swiss Army knife of Android tablets.”

Source: Shutterstock

Start counting your pennies Apple fans! Rumor has it that the new iPad 5 is coming in April. And not only will your pockets be lighter. The new version is said to be thinner and weigh less. The iPad Mini 2 could also make its debut in April. But a retina screen doesn’t appear to be in the immediate future, so we’ll see on that one.

And the iPhone 5S could be on its way in August.

“Sources familiar with the plans have told iMore that the iPhone 5S does indeed have the same basic design as the iPhone 5, with a more advanced processor and an improved camera,” reports iMore (h/t Business Insider). TechCrunch says the iPad needs a kid mode. Parents care to chime in on that one?

Just a couple of weeks ago, news broke that Apple was being sued in Brazil for having one too many launches in one year, rendering the devices purchased first “not-quite-the-newest.” It feels like some time has passed since we’ve had a good, old fashioned Apple launch, so maybe we’re due for one. But then there’s the question of demand.

VentureBeat explores the question of why iPad display shipments dropped by half in January. It’s either because something new is coming or people are buying the iPad Mini instead of the big’un.

One thing’s for sure: We pay a lot of attention to Apple.

AP Photo/Andy Wong, File

This week Apple failed at trying to steal Blackberry’s shine. The day before Blackberry was scheduled to unveil the new Blackberry 10, Apple confirmed the rumors of a new iPad that will be released February 5. However, all everyone was talking about the following day was Blackberry’s new phones and the appointment of Alicia Keys as global creative director.

So let me break down what’s new about the “new” iPad… Nothing! OK, maybe a couple of things. You’ll get a higher resolution screen and 128GB of space. But is that enough to make you trash your old one and spend $799 to $929 on a new one? Probably not. And if you don’t currently have one, this tablet will now be the most expensive one on the market, and might be out of your budget.

I am having a case of deja vu. I remember a company that released a really cool cell phone that was very successful and everyone went out and bought it. Then the same company turned around and released another version of the same phone with very minimal changes eleven months later that turned out to be a flop. Oh yeah… that was Apple with the release of the iPhone 4S and the subsequent release of the iPhone 5.

Earlier this month The Huffington Post reported that Apple cut its order of iPhone 5 components due to lower-than-expected demand and that Apple’s first quarter orders were about half of what the company expected.

So once again we have another Apple product being released with very few changes, but this time only months after the last version, the iPad Mini. According to CBS News, analysts are beginning to question if Apple still possesses the “cool” factor and the capacity to create new innovative products as opposed to just making slight changes to its existing line of gadgets.

iPhone appears to be losing its edge. Naysayers have always questioned how strong the company would be outside of the leadership of Steve Jobs. However, I still had so much confidence in the company that I recently decided to joined #teamiphone. But lately, Apple has left myself and many others underwhelmed. And the release of another rendition of the same old iPad does not seem reminiscent of the Jobs era.

PatrickMcMullan.com via AP Images

Oprah was betrayed by technology last night after she posted a tweet crowing about her favorite tablet — the Surface — but posted it using an iPad.

You probably don’t even think about it when you’re typing away, but, as CNBC notes, “When you view Twitter using some third-party programs, you can see where someone sent a tweet from.” Dang. Oprah included the iPad on her list of favorite things back in 2010, so maybe she was using her old iPad rather than her new Surface tablet to tweet last night? TechCrunch points out that “Twitter hasn’t released an official Twitter client in the Windows Store yet, but it remains one of the most popular apps on other platforms.” So that may have been the cause for the snafu.

via TechCrunch

She also tweeted at one point yesterday that she bought 12 Surface tablets to give as gifts this year. So maybe the dollar is a mightier endorsement than the tweet.

Oprah announced all of her Favorite Things and gave them away to military spouses during a special that aired the other day on OWN, just like she used to on her daytime talk show. Also on the list were Coach puffer jackets ($458 apiece) , a TUSK checkbook clutch ($117 each when you use a special OPRAH code), and P.Jamas pjs ($160 per). Oh, and also trips to Fiji. Which all of the military wives also got. And completely went crazy over when they found out. Video below.

If you’ve ever considered possibly buying electronics, or anything for that matter from from someone selling products for half the price, and it’s not an IN-STORE sale, you might want to take notes from Jalonta Freeman’s disappointing mishap.

According to an NBC affiliate in Texas, the Arlington woman says she drove up to her local gas station with a few members of her family, including her mom and sister, and they were approached by a man looking to sell iPads, computers and other electronics out of his car for the low-low. She was impressed most by the idea of an $800 iPad being marked down to $200. What a deal, right? By the coaxing of those riding with her, Freeman thought it was a deal too good to pass up. It looked like an iPad, and for that price, it was a steal! So she gave him the $200, he passed her the “iPad,” and drove away like the police were trailing him. But to Freeman’s horror, when she opened the gadget, instead of setting her eyes on an actual iPad from Apple, she realized that what she was looking at was her own reflection. She had unknowingly purchased a mirror the same size of an iPad. Fail much? As she told NBC News:

“If you turn it on the back, it actually looks like an Apple iPad,” Freeman said. “And when you turn it to the front, it has the prices and stuff…”I just started cussing,” she said. “I was upset. Anybody would be upset if you found out you just got scammed, you know what I’m saying? You just lost $200.”

The thing even had a fake Apple sticker on it and price tags, but a mirror is a mirror, and you can get that from the Dollar Store, not the Apple Store. According to NBC News, Freeman was confused in the first place to think that the iPads available right now would even cost $800. The current iPads on the market are around $399 and new iPads with retina display dropping later this month range from the $499 to the high $800s. In North Texas, just last year these type of scams around the holidays were prevalent, and with Thanksgiving around the corner and Christmas down the block, this type of scam might become the norm everywhere. And with not a single real detail about the hustler who sold her the fake iPad, let alone a license plate number, Freeman’s scammer is probably going to rake in the money this holiday season. But hey, Freeman has a tip for you so that you don’t lose good money on an iMirror instead of an iPad like she did. “Don’t buy nothing on the streets from nobody.” Seriously though, you can barely trust retailers selling ish online, so a back-alley hustler selling “iPads” at a gas station? Now you know that you know better…

View more videos at: http://nbcdfw.com.

Image via iStockphoto

“A Dollar and A Dream” spotlights low- and no-cost ways to build a better business. The economy may be lagging, but new resources are empowering small business owners like never before. Follow the series to learn how to take your dreams to the next level without breaking the bank.

Your success in business is directly linked to how you produce your product. Maximizing productivity can be difficult for small businesses where manpower is in short supply. Luckily, improving productivity isn’t always about working harder; you may just need to work smarter.

New apps are hitting the marketplace everyday, designed to streamline business systems and help owners and employees get the most out of their time and efforts. The tools below allow for greater efficiency in managing billing, information, tasks and time. This selection only scratches the surface of what is available. Check out “Go Digital: Web Tools for Every Business” for even more recommendations.

When searching for a reliable app, first take a look at how you do business. What tasks or areas are you slowing down? Once you pinpoint the areas where you need to save time and money, the answer is just an Internet search away. It’s hard for a good app to stay a secret for long. Reviews from users and business publications will give you a good idea if a tool has the right features for you.

Here are a few common issues apps solve:

“I’m always late.”

Solution: OnTime

Platform: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch

Price: $1.99

Benefit: Analyzes your schedule to provide timely reminders to keep you on schedule.

How It Works: OnTime syncs with your existing calendar and takes into account your current location, the location of your next appointment, and traffic patterns to provide accurate alerts to keep you on time. It will even alert your next appointment if you are running late. Perfect for busy individuals who complain about time getting away from them.

“My team works remotely and has trouble staying on the same page.”

Solution: Flow

Platform: Web, Desktop (Mac), and iPhone

Price: Free app ($9 monthly service fee / $99 yearly)

Benefit: A central location to create and delegate project tasks and keep project updates from being overlooked in e-mail.

How It Works: Flow is an online collaboration platform. Invite contacts to join a task or project list whether they have an account or not and you can tackle projects as a team regardless of location. The app allows you to delegate tasks, keep track of each team members’ progress, as well as discuss and collaborate issues in real-time. Payment options are available on a yearly basis or month-to-month for special projects.

“My team wastes time tracking me or a client down to sign off on documents.”

Solution: DocuSign Ink

Platform: Android, iPhone, iPad

Price: Free (paid version $14.99 and up)

Benefit: Send, sign and save documents anywhere, on any device.

How It Works: DocuSign is the most widely used eSignature software and provides extra document encryption, authentication of signers’ identities, and tracking of who signed, when, and where. The paid version offers additional features including sending documents to multiple parties and creating reminders.

“We have so much paperwork to keep track of, our filing system takes up too much time.”

Solution: TurboScan

Platform: iPhone

Price: $1.99

Benefit: Turns your iPhone into a multipage scanner.

How It Works: Don’t waste time looking for paperwork. Take a picture of documents, receipts, notes, whiteboards, or other text and TurboScan will generate a high quality PDF or JPEG file that be stored and shared easily. All processing happens on your iPhone, so there’s no need to worry about your confidentiality being compromised.

“I have too many small tasks to keep track of; I feel like I’m always forgetting something.”

Solution: Wunderlist

Platform: Web, Desktop (Windows and Mac), Android, iPhone, and iPad

Price: Free

Benefit: The classic to-do list, updated with the functionality and portability of modern technology.

How It Works: Wunderlist manages whatever needs to be done, from shopping list, to projects, to to-dos. Unlike a conventional to-do list, you don’t have to keep track of a piece of paper. Wunderlist syncs your lists across platforms, allows you to set reminders or notifications, and lets you share your list via email, Facebook, or Twitter. It’s one of the more elegantly designed to-do list apps on the market.

“I haven’t perfected setting hourly rates for my clients; I think I’m under-billing.”

Solution: MyPrice

Platform: iPhone

Price: Free

Benefit: Especially helpful for new freelancers and contractors who aren’t sure where to begin when setting prices.

How It Works: The app helps you calculate rates for a project based on the tools, help, and supplies you will need. Just plug in what you’ll need to get the job done. The app will calculate how much you should charge to turn a profit. MyPrice is also beneficial in helping business owners think critically about the resources and expenses at their disposal for a given project.

Do you have any apps that your business swears by? Help out your fellow entrepreneurs and share them in the comment section.

C. Cleveland is a freelance writer and content strategist in New York City, perfecting living the fierce life at The Red Read. She is at your service on Twitter @CleveInTheCity.

by Lauren DeLisa Coleman

Okay Apple users, rejoice!  The new Apple OS is on the horizon.  And there are a few new goodies, if you haven’t yet heard.  First of all, the operating system is called Mountain Lion (gotta love the continued homage to  fierce, powerful animals, no?)    You say it seems like yesterday that there was a previous OS introduced?  Well, you’re right.  Apple is now releasing a new one just about every year, just like it does with iPhones and iPads now, so we digital divas have to stay up to date.

Now, with this new OS it seems as though deeper seamless integration was the mantra of the developers.  For example, all you have to do is sign in with your Apple ID and all your contacts, email, calendar and more sync right to your make.  Here’s the hot part:  whenever you make a change on your Mac, it will also appear on your iPhone, iPad, etc. too – even your iWork documents  making a multi-device life a bit simpler. This is all thanks in large part to iCloud,

Want more integration?  Well, now Mountain Lion comes with Messages, a chat aapp that enables users to not only include iMesssages but also import them from iPhone or iPad.

Further, for girls who love to make lists (and who of us doesn’t),  Mountain Lion comes with the new app that came with iOS 5 called Reminders.  All your reminders will also sync across your iDevices.

In addition, Twitter is deeply integrated in Mountain Lion.  This means that you will be able to now Tweet directly from within several applications.  This is central to something Apple calls “Tweet Sheet.”  And given the fact that African-Americans already far out-index across Twitter than any other demographic in our country, the synergy of all this together for us is incredibly thought-provoking.

Finally, there are other compelling elements centered around gaming and notifications, but what I think is a game-changer is AirPlay.  Via this capability, users can display what is on their computer screen onto a big screen TV hooked up to an Apple TV.   Fellow technies are saying that it will be great for presentations, but I think the general consumer will use this to ramp up even further on watching digital video.  (look out cable TV providers).

So, there you have it. Looks like there will now be just one more reason for all those consistent on-lookers at every Apple store you pass.

E-readers are all the rage now from the iPad to the Kindle and everything in between.  In fact, Harris Interactive did a recent survey that found that 1 in 6 Americans now owns an e-reader. It’s not surprising since you can now download the newest novel delivered to you without leaving your couch. The downside is that if you are a voracious reader, like I am, purchasing all those e-books can get quite expensive. When I purchased my first e-reader, I racked up over $200 in e-books in less than 6 months. However, once I did my research, I realized that ebooks are often cheaper than physical books. Here are some tips to get your read on without breaking your pockets.

Read the rest of this entry »

Kandi might soon be making her own “I’m Rich B****” t-shirts with all the ventures she’s dipping into. In addition to being a singer, songwriter, reality TV star, and sex toy entrepreneur, she’s launched a spades app to reflect the trash-talking game style used by most black players.

The Kandi Koated Spades app is available for the iPhone and iPad and allows multiple players to play online while using features like Reneg, Deuces Wild, and Jokers. Kandi, who calls herself a “Spades Pro,” said she and her family are huge card players so she jumped at the chance to create an app for her fans.

The app is available in the iTunes store for 99 cents, will you purchase?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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There is so much we can learn from the legendary Steve Jobs. He’s not only changed the way we communicate and receive information, he has also shifted the minds of many. Here are a few life lessons we can learn from Mr. Jobs – Read here..

Who knows maybe we can change the world too…