JBL Introduces iPhone 5 Speaker Docks

Today JBL announced the first two iPhone 5 speaker docks with Lightning cables available in the U.S., the JBL OnBeat Micro and JBL Venue LT.
The two new speaker docks both feature the new Lightning port, and both fit the iPhone 5, new iPod touch, and new iPod nano. The larger JBL Venue LT also supports the iPad fourth generation and iPad mini.
The JBL OnBeat Micro is the smaller of the two docks, and costs $99. It can only support smaller iOS devices, but it also has a USB port so users can connect and charge any other device to the speaker dock. The iPhone 5 speaker dock can play music for up to 5 hours with its rechargeable batteries, though it will only charge connected devices when plugged into a wall outlet. The small sizes make the OnBeat Micro easily portable.

JBL’s larger speaker dock, the Venue LT costs $199 can support any of the new iOS devices with Lightning ports. Whereas the OnBeat Micro puts the devices above the speaker, the Venue LT puts the iOS devices in front of the speaker which is why it can support the larger devices.

The JBL Venue LT also uses HARMAN’s TrueStream Bluetooth for streaming music. That means virtually any device can easily stream music to the Venue LT even if they’re not Apple devices. The technology lets the speaker dock connect to up to eight devices at once, making it easy to switch between streaming devices.

The larger speaker dock comes with JBL’s free MusicFlow app which lets users create playlists, edit mixes, adjust volume, change EQ settings, and browse album artwork.
Both the OnBeat Micro and Venue LT are available now on JBL.com and through retailers.
JBL is the first company to bring Lightning speaker docks to the market, but others will likely follow suit as soon as they can get the devices ready.

Read More

Grow a Plant With Batteries, Software and Sunshine

Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixels. Other resolutions: 320 × 213 pixels | 640 × 427 pixels | 1,024 × 683 pixels | 1,280 × 853 pixels.

Full resolution ‎(3,504 × 2,336 pixels, file size: 205 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg); ZoomViewer: flash/no flash

Lacking a “green thumb?” Click and Grow is for the beginner gardener. You water it once and forget about it.
The Click and Grow flower pot and plant cartridge work like a printer and toner. The pot contains electronics, sensors, batteries, a pump and a water reservoir; the cartridge contains seeds, nutrients and software (in a microchip) for growing the plant. There are currently 13 varieties of flowers and plants, and the selection is continuously growing. Right now the available selection includes painted nettle, lamb’s ear, marigolds and more. You can also grow edible things such as basil, thyme, sage, tomatoes and chili peppers.
Founder Mattias Lepp tells Mashable all you have to do is add water and batteries (not in the same place) — everything else is done by the sensors and software. You’ll also have to find a sunny place for your plant to sit, or at least somewhere it can absorb the sun’s rays, sunshine or not.
The idea for Click and Grow began three years ago, Lepp says, while reading an article about a NASA mission in which plants were taken into space. He began fusing technology with gardening in his own backyard in Estonia to see if he could grow plants with little or no care in a harsh climate. He made several iterations of the planter and one very cold winter, he says, the device he created was able to grow tomatoes “very quickly.” The company grew from there and officially launched one year ago.
Lepp said Click and Grow should also cut down on the waste that comes from single plants being purchased in plastic containers that then get thrown away. The potting container is reusable; though the cartridges need to be replaced for each new plant.
“It’s just a cool device to have on your office table,” he added.
The plant container costs $59 and the cartridges (with plant seeds) cost $19.99. You can buy them on the company’s website or at Brookstone or Amazon.com.
There are a number of other desktop gardening pots, some that combine USB technology to make indoor gardening easier by remind you to water the plant. But Click and Grow seems to be the front-runner in terms of making gardening simple for those who forget, or don’t have time, to water plants.
Check out these photos of some of the plants that can sprout from Click and Grow and tell us, is this product on your wish list?

5 Free iPhone Gardening Apps for Your Green Thumb

our garden grows with some digital assistance. We have previously rounded up 10 great options to help you get more greenery, and now we’re topping up that selection for summer 2012 with five fabulous freebies.

Take a look through our selection of free iPhone apps in the slideshow above. Let us know in the comments below about any other apps that have helped you out in the gardening department.

Here at Mashable,
Thumbnail image courtesy of Faith Goble

 

Summary

Description	English: The front view of the plant pot produced by Click and Grow LLC
Date	12 October 2010
Source	Own work
Author	Priitpedastsaar

Licensing

I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license: This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license. You are free: to share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work to remix – to adapt the work Under the following conditions: attribution – You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).

The categories of this image should be checked. Check them now!

• Remove redundant categories and try to put this image in the most specific category/categories
• Remove this template by clicking here (or on the first line)

---

Afrikaans | Alemannisch | Boarisch | беларуская (тарашкевіца)‎ | български | català | česky | dansk | Deutsch | Deutsch (Sie-Form)‎ | Ελληνικά | English | español | eesti | euskara | فارسی | suomi | français | galego | עברית | hrvatski | magyar | Հայերեն | italiano | 日本語 | 한국어 | македонски | മലയാളം | Malti | Plattdüütsch | Nederlands | norsk (bokmål)‎ | polski | português | português do Brasil | română | русский | slovenčina | slovenščina | svenska | ไทย | Türkçe | vèneto | Tiếng Việt | 中文 | 中文（简体）‎ | 中文（繁體）‎ | +/−

File usage on other wikis

• en:Click_&_Grow

Related galleries

• Plants
• Agriculture

File history

Click on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time.

	Date/Time	Thumbnail	Dimensions	User	Comment
current	15:12, 12 October 2010		3,504 × 2,336 (205 KB)	Priitpedastsaar (talk | contribs)	{{Information |Description={{en|1=The front view of the plant pot produced by Click and Grow LLC}} |Source={{own}} |Author=Priitpedastsaar |Date=2010-10-12 |Permission= |other_versions= }}

• You cannot overwrite this file.
• Edit this file using an external application (See the setup instructions for more information)

File usage on Commons

There are no pages that link to this file.

Categories:

• Skills
• Ornamental plants
• Outdoor recreation

Hidden categories:

• CC-BY-3.0
• Self-published work
• Media needing category review in use at en.wikipedia
• Media needing category review as of 13 October 2010
• Media needing category review with 4 suggested categories

keep up with the newest technologies and contemplate about how these will be used in the future. On this blog I'll share my thoughts about the future of technology, based on the
high Tech RoadShow Blog inventions of today. Enhanced by Zemanta

Read More

Microsoft Makes Surface Pricing Official Pre-orders Go Live Today

Microsoft may have flipped the switch too early this morning on Surface pricing, but it looks like things are now official. The pricing is no different now that the press release is out. (See below). What is news is that there will be limited pre-orders available today beginning at 12 noon EDT, presumably at this link.
Here’s the pricing structure as we stated this morning: A 32GB Surface RT Tablet will set you back $499. That is without a keyboard. That same capacity RT Tablet with the Touch keyboard will cost $599. If you order the Touch Cover separately you'll spend $119. The Type cover (with moveable keys as opposed to non-raised hardware keys) will set you back $129. There is (was) a 64GB model listed for $699.

Here’s the press release that also contains more details and specs:

Microsoft Announces New Surface Details
Ahead of Oct. 26 launch, Microsoft outlines pricing, market availability and special limited quantity pre-order.
REDMOND, Wash. – Oct. 16, 2012 – Microsoft Corp. today released new details about its highly anticipated Microsoft Surface, a tablet PC designed to be the ultimate stage for Windows. In addition to pricing and market availability, the company announced a special limited-quantity pre-order for Surface with Windows RT available 9 a.m. PDT. Those who want to learn more or pre-order can visit http://www.Surface.com.
Surface delivers the power of amazing software and the feel of premium hardware in one exciting experience. Originally unveiled in June, Surface with Windows RT will initially be available in three SKUs: a 32GB version priced at US$499, a 32GB version bundled with a black Touch Cover priced at US$599, and a 64GB version bundled with a black Touch Cover priced at US$699.
A variety of accessories will also be available, including Touch Covers in five vibrant colors – black, white, magenta, cyan and red – priced at US$119.99 so customers can express their personal style. Customers will also have the option to purchase a Type Cover in black for US$129.99, which adds moving keys for a more traditional typing feel.
Surface will be available for purchase beginning Oct. 26, 2012, at all Microsoft Store locations in the United States and Canada, including in all 34 new holiday stores. In addition, Surface will be available for sale online in eight markets across the world: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the United States. See Surface.com for more details.
Additional Product Information – Surface With Windows RT
Software
• Surface with Windows RT comes with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT Preview (which includes Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote)
Exterior
• 10.81 x 6.77 x 0.37 inches, 1.5 pounds, VaporMg casing, dark titanium color, volume and power buttons
Storage
• 32 GB; 64 GB
CPU
• NVIDIA T30, 2 GB of RAM
Wireless
• Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0 technology
Cameras
• Two 720p HD cameras, front- and rear-facing
Audio
• Two microphones, stereo speakers
Ports
• Full-size USB 2.0, microSDXC card slot, headset jack, HD video out port, cover port
Sensors
• Ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass
Power Supply
• 24W power supply
Warranty
• One-year limited hardware warranty
Apps (included)
• Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT Preview2 (Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote), Windows Mail and Windows Messaging, SkyDrive, Windows Internet Explorer 10, Bing, Xbox Music, Xbox Video, and Xbox Games
Those interested in learning more or pre-ordering can visit http://www.Surface.com or follow Surface on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Surface and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/surface.

Anyone pre-ordering today? Let us know.
UPDATE: I pre-ordered a Surface RT with both keyboard options. Reports to come once I have my hands on the device, which according to the verification email will arrive on 10/26. Get your questions ready.

 post by Warner Crocker .

keep up with the newest technologies and contemplate about how these will be used in the future. On this blog I'll share my thoughts about the future of technology, based on the high Tech Road Show Blog inventions of today. Enhanced by Zemanta

Related articles

• Microsoft Announces New Surface Details
• Windows Surface available for Pre-Order, Shipping October 26th
• Microsoft Surface RT priced at $499 for 32GB without Touch Cover
• Microsoft Surface RT Pre-Orders Are Now Live in 8 Countries; Here's How Surface Was Made [Video]
• Microsoft Surface preorders start today at noon, 32GB model priced to take on iPad at $499
• Microsoft Surface pricing announced, starts at £399 in UK

Read More

Samsung outs Ativ Smart PC, Smart PC Pro Windows 8 tablets with Intel processors

1 Samsung has unveiled the new Ativ Smart PC and Ativ Smart PC Pro Windows 8 tablets, the global versions of its Series 5 and Series 7 tablets also recently announced. In fact, the two new tablets are identical to the Series 5 and Series 7, and feature Intel processors, have 11.6-inch displays, and are available with a keyboard dock.

The major difference between the two tablets lies in the processors inside: the Smart PC runs an Intel Atom chip, while the Smart PC Pro uses the more powerful Intel Core i5 processor. The Pro also has more storage (256GB SSD vs. 128GB flash memory), more RAM (4GB vs. 2GB), and a USB 3.0 port in place of the Smart PC's lone USB 2.0 port. The Smart PC is slightly thinner than the Pro — 9.9mm vs. 11.9mm — and it gets 13.5 hours of battery life compared to the Pro's eight hours. While both tablets have 11.6-inch displays, the Smart PC has a 1366 x 768 pixel panel, while the Smart PC Pro upgrades to a Full HD 1980 x 1020 pixel LCD. Both tablets come with microHDMI ports and miniSD card slots, and the keyboard docks include two extra USB 2.0 ports. Ironically, the Smart PC has an 8-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front camera, but the Smart PC Pro features a 5 megapixel rear camera and the same 2-megapixel unit on the front.

The Ativ Smart PC and Smart PC Pro run Windows 8 and support Samsung's S Pen input device with 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity. They come preloaded with Samsung's S Note app that works with the S Pen and support 10-finger multitouch on their HD displays.
Samsung hasn't yet said when these tablets will hit the market, or how much they will cost, but we hope to learn those details in the near future.
keep up with the newest technologies and contemplate about how these will be used in the future. On this blog I'll share my thoughts about the future of technology, based on the high Tech Road Show Blog inventions of today.

Read More

Apple to Replace the iPhone’s Dock Connector?

Apple may be planning to replace the dock connector that’s been synonymous with iPhones, iPods and iPads for almost a decade with something new.

That’s the latest rumor from a smartphone enthusiast site, which says Apple is on the verge of ditching the familiar 30-pin jack for a smaller “micro dock.”

The site, iMore, claims Apple is looking to ditch the connector in its upcoming iPhone 5. The reason: to make room for more stuff on the inside.

Although the report is highly speculative — the site doesn’t say anything about its source — it is also based on an undeniable truth. Apple is considering a lot of extra tech in future mobile devices; they will require more space within the casing, and Apple needs to make room however it can.

The current dock connector isn’t unusually large, but it’s definitely bigger than the micro USB jack common on competing phones. While having a proprietary connector has been a key part of Apple’s product strategy — allowing it a large measure of control over any accessories made for iOS devices — a smaller proprietary connector would let it keep that control while getting back some space within those devices.

In other words, Apple users would simply have to pony up for a new dongle — and not for the first time. (Mini DisplayPort, anyone?)

As the report notes, technologies like 4G LTE, near-field communication (NFC) and better camera components are competing for limited space within phones and tablets — space that’s getting even more limited due to shrinking form factors. All these technologies eat up battery life, so you’re going to need more room for bigger and better batteries, too.

Most phones have adopted the micro USB standard over the past year or so. Apple’s dock connector — which first arrived in 2003 with the third-generation iPod — is looking downright archaic.

Could that mean the upcoming iPad 3 will be the first iProduct to sport the pretty new connector? It’s possible, but the iPad — as the largest iOS devices — has the least to gain from a smaller connector. More likely, Apple could be planning the so-called micro dock for the iPhone 5 later this year.

Since the most recent iPhone, the iPhone 4S, kept the same hardware as the previous iPhone 4, Apple is probably saving a more radical hardware revamp for this year’s new iPhone — a perfect chance to swap out the dock connector. That goes double if the iPhone 5 has some of those space-demanding techs like LTE or NFC.

Do you think Apple will ditch the dock connector? And is that a good thing or bad thing? Have your say in the comments.

---

BONUS: Gorgeous iPhone 5 Concept

iPhone 5 Concept by Ciccarese Design

keep up with the newest technologies and contemplate about how these will be used in the future. On this blog I'll share my thoughts about the future of technology, based on the high Tech Road Show Blog inventions of today.

Read More