iWorld Australia

May 2012
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Review: iWorld Ferrari For iPad/iPhone

By admin | May 16, 2012

Posted on Cyber Shack, 16 May 2012
By Mike Wheeler

Combining a mixture of both app and real world remote control car racing, the iWorld Ferrari car/app offers up a lot of fun, while bringing new functionality to this type of fun.

It is very easy to use and set up – probably the hardest part is getting the Ferrari out of the box. You go to the Apple store where the app is located. You download the application, which once started, automatically syncs to the car via Bluetooth, which has been turned on. And this is it. You are ready to go.

What I really liked about it most of all was the ability to use the iPad as your steering wheel. You hold the tablet in your hand like it is the wheel. Tilt it up and you go forward, tilt it down and you reverse. Turn left, the car does the same, and so on. This is very simple to use, and most of all a lot of fun.

Another thing to like about this, albeit minor, is that you don’t have to unscrew the battery compartment to fit the batteries. It uses 4 AA’s, and all you have to do is press back of the compartment, the plastic backing falls out, and you put the batteries in the slot.

The car itself is ok in that it ran into a couple of chairs and wall at a reasonably high speed, but didn’t’ cause any damage. Still, if there was one slight complaint, it would nice if it was a little bit more solid. It goes pretty fast, but what I really liked was the functionality. The changes of direction and speed with done in real time – ie, there was no delay – not even a millisecond.

Overall this is a lot of fun, while not putting too much of a dent in the bank balance.

Pros: Very easy to use, lots of fun, reasonable price
Cons: Would like the build to be slightly more solid

4.5 Shacks out of 5

RRP
$89.95

Topics: Appcessory, Silverlit | No Comments »

Piano Apprentice: An App-cessory to Foster Musical Interests

By admin | May 9, 2012

www.wired.com
Posted By Daniel Donahoo

Piano Apprentice is an app-cessory. It turns your iPad into a small electronic piano with the ability to play video tutorials and sells itself as a piano teaching tool.

My eight-year-old son hasn’t had lessons yet, but he has been testing himself using an old electronic keyboard that offers a range of sample songs, where the lights flash above the keys and you can learn to play “Greensleeves” and “Happy Birthday to You.” As someone who spent a few years learning piano I have always been slightly concerned about the fact this method of self-directed learning means that he is not developing the skills and knowledge around appropriate fingering. He hasn’t been learning any scales or triads.

This is where the Piano Apprentice filled in a gap in his learning. I was able to point to the videos and encourage him to follow the way the hand on the video plays the notes. He identified that this was the best thing about the app. The worst thing – “Dad, there aren’t enough keys.” While Piano Apprentice offers the ability to hit a button to skip up or down an octave, ultimately the experience of learning to play on this device feels crowded. The action on the keys is fine, the video tutorials that teach both left and right hand are a great use of what the iPad offers, but ultimately this is a much smaller and consequently more limited tool when it comes to experiencing the breadth of the 88 keys usually on offer when you sit at a piano.

All that said, that does not make app-cessories like Piano Apprentice not worthwhile. My eldest who had not shown any interest in music has taken to the device, and started to teach himself a few songs. As a consequence he joined his school choir and is asking about lessons. I think Piano Apprentice has a lot to offer in terms of fostering musical interest; it is a lot cheaper than a semester of piano lessons to find out if your child is inclined towards tickling the ivories. It is not, however, a replacement for piano teachers. And, I don’t think the creators assume that it is. It is a fun little addition, with some great instructional content that can get children and adults alike started on a musical journey. Or, make them realize that they can appreciate music without having to create it at all.

Note: The author received a preview copy of the device from ION Audio.

Topics: Appcessory, ION Audio | No Comments »

The Ball. Evolved….. SPHERO !

By admin | May 1, 2012

1.5.2012 PRESS RELEASE – Sphero and iWorld Australia ink exclusive distribution agreement for ANZ.

Sphero is like nothing you’ve seen before. It’s the first robotic ball gaming device that you control with a tilt, touch, or swing from your smartphone or tablet. You can even use Sphero as a controller for on-screen gameplay.

Teaching Old Balls New Tricks
How much tech can you pack in a 3 inch sphere? Start with a sensor network – multi-axis rate gyro and accelerometer – fused together with the same kind of math that took Apollo to the Moon. Power it with lithium polymer batteries that are inductively recharged through the shell and add a Bluetooth-based command and control data link. Finally, mix in over-the-air firmware updates and internally sandboxed language extensions and you have a true robot that is an intelligent component of a smartphone app-based gaming, learning, and human-machine interaction system. Driving Sphero from the central app is just the start. An open API for iOS and Android invites developers around the world to dive right in…Oh, and Sphero is just fun.

Sphero Details
Construction:
Inside: Orbotix Smart Robot
Outside: Opaque high-impact polycarbonate shell

Dimensions:
Size: 74mm diameter
Weight: 168 grams

For The Geeks
•   Bluetooth controlled robotic ball – 50 foot plus range
•   Multi-colored LED capable of producing thousands of colors
•   Reach speeds of up to 3 feet per second with precise control
•   Internal guidance system including gyro, accelerometer and compass
Induction charging

“ I had the opportunity to really play with Sphero at CES 2012. What a fantastic product and so intelligent. The guys at Sphero have so many apps available and many more in the pipeline. Over the last 6 months we have had so many customers asking us for this product. A guaranteed winner !” States Chad DeClase, Director at iWorld Australia.

Sphero Chromo
Match the color. Beat the clock.
Get ready to challenge your coordination and your memory with the first app that lets you use Sphero as a controller. Move Sphero to match the colors on your screen for an entirely new way to challenge yourself. You can choose from six different game modes. Chromo is initially available for iOS only.

Sphero MacroLab
Unleash Sphero’s Inner Robot.
Create easy, repeatable programs and macros for Sphero. Arrange simple commands and settings in any combination you choose to let Sphero drive autonomously, follow unique patterns, and more. Play your commands, save favorites, and even share them with friends. Multiball capability only available on Android.

Sphero Golf
A totally new swing on golf.
Sphero is the ball and your phone is the club. Pick a “hole” then swing your phone or flick a finger to hit. Challenge friends to a round of office golf, create your own course at home, or venture out and make your own course practically anywhere.

Topics: Appcessory | No Comments »

iHealth Blood Pressure Monitor Review

By admin | April 26, 2012

Posted on : Laptopmag.com
by : Stewart Wolpin on April 25, 2012

Pros: Readings as accurate as doctor’s; Tracks and graphs readings; Includes informative health FAQs
Cons: USB charging only;
The Verdict: For those who need to check their blood pressure often, the iHealth Blood Pressure Monitor delivers.

The Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure recommends “screening….yearly or more frequently for adults with a history of high blood pressure or prehypertension.” But who says you have to visit the doctor’s office to get an accurate reading? The iHealth Blood Pressure Monitor (BPM) can help the more than one-third of Americans who have high blood pressure keep better tabs on their health.

Design and Setup
The iHealth BPM is comprised of a small white hemispherical iOS dock that measures 4.5 x 4.5 x 2.6 inches. To it, you connect a familiar inflatable blood pressure arm cuff via a plug-in rubber tube.

After you download the free iHealth BPM app from the App Store and perch your iOS device onto the dock, push the big yellow “Start” button, and the cuff inflates automatically. In 25 seconds, you’ll get your systolic (the big number) over diastolic (the small number) readings, plus your pulse rate.

Performance
iHealth Labs says the monitor has received certification from the influential Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) [http://www.aami.org/] and the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) [http://www.cen.eu/cen/pages/default.aspx]. We knew our readings from our last checkup, and iHealth’s reading were right on the mark. Several readings taken over a series of days – far more frequently than necessary – confirmed these readings.

The app saves all your readings in History, and can be viewed in a chart or even posted on Facebook, Twitter or sent via email.

iHealth’s dock charges via USB in about 90 minutes, although it would be nice if the manual included any charging instructions or how many readings you can make from a single battery charge. But the app does provide a battery level when your iDevice is connected to the dock.

Perhaps the best part of the iHealth BPM isn’t the device but the included FAQ, which includes basic information about the nature of blood pressure, interpreting different readings, causes and health problems associated with high blood pressure and advice for dealing with elevated levels. And you can get all this without even buying the iHealth dock, since the app is free.

Verdict
Even if you’re not a hypochondriac, the iHealth Blood Pressure Monitor is kind of a comfort – you can check your blood pressure anytime you want. The iHealth dock accommodates all iOS devices, including the new iPad, and is remarkably easy to use for a medical device. For those who need to keep track of their vitals, it can’t be beat.

Topics: Appcessory, iHealth | No Comments »

JaJa and Apptag Laser Blaster… Coming Soon

By admin | April 23, 2012

18.4.2012 PRESS RELEASE – Hex3 and iWorld Australia ink exclusive distribution agreement for ANZ.

JaJa Pressure Sensitive Stylus
JaJa is the worlds first pressure sensitive stylus for iPads and other tablets. JaJa is the first stylus that can communicate the pressure required for artistic brush strokes and the flourishes of a signature. With 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity the JaJa is a significant advancement of stylus technology, high-end creative designers will love the features that the JaJa enables and ordinary consumers will love the simple “it just works” principals and the drawing capability that it brings to their favorite Apps and Games.

Until now there has been no way for a stylus to communicate with the iPad without using a wire or a proprietary protocol – protocols that are battery intensive or not supported by the iPad in Airplane mode (WiFi or Bluetooth). HEX3 has developed a patent pending system for the JaJa Stylus that will work for more than 90 continuous hours, with all smartphones, and nearly all tablet devices. Without wires, Bluetooth or WiFi, its radio free circuitry is able to be used in Airplane mode, in hospitals, education and the mining industry or whilst sketching on a plane!

In Artistic Apps. complex forms or data entry the two buttons can quickly and effectively communicate “mouse” clicks to open menus, whilst also allowing the simple change of brushes, colors, fonts or tools, all without needing to move far from the drawing or data entry space.

“ I have been using JaJa for some time now. It is my go to stylus. We have been working with both Jon and Jeff from Hex 3 for many months and now we are ready to move on JaJa and the App Laser Blaster. Two revolutionary Appcessory based products that will no doubt make a massive impact in ANZ” States Chad DeClase, Director of iWorld Australia.

Key Features:
•   1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity for naturally precise pen strokes required by creative professionals.
•   Two customisable buttons can allow for swift function selection such as erase, color change, tool selection, brush or menu selection.
•   The JaJa uses high frequency sound to communicate with any tablet device with a microphone. The sounds are above human hearing and the volume is too low for pets to hear. (Patent Pending)
•   Capture digital data while sketching directly onto the screen just like a Wacom™ digitizing tablet.
•   Sign or annotate naturally and directly onto forms, plans or correspondence. Create astonishing artwork. Enhance and speed data entry. The JaJa allows you to create precisely and naturally.
•   The innovative JaJa Tip gives precise pressure control and is transparent so your work is visible.
•   The stylus will work out of the box in Rapid mode with any app on any device. JaJa mode is being integrated with the worlds premium Art, Design and Healthcare Apps to give full pressure and button feedback.

AppTag Laser Blaster

AppTag Laser Blaster brings first person shooter console gameplay to smartphones in the real world.

As with any blaster toy, the object is to shoot your friends, but AppTag adds a whole new dimension! The free AppTag Apps keep score via WiFi and players can pick up Augmented Reality weapons, ammo packs, health kits and body armour in a similar way to a console games like Halo, but this is in real life, inside or outdoors!

You can play single, multi or team games and AppTag can be used with other guns that have an accessory rail, such as Nerf™, BuzzBee™ etc.

For targeting, AppTag uses a focused infrared beam and sensor for the ‘laser’ so it’s totally safe. Each unit has an IR sender and receiver, and the AppTag unit works together with any attached smart device with a camera.

Both Apple and Android Apps will be available before launch.

The AppTag unit communicates with iPods, iPhones or Android devices using high frequency sound – so it “just works” with no Bluetooth or WiFi setup required. The high frequency sounds are well out of human hearing and don’t disturb animals since the volume is quite low. Importantly – the headphone jack is not used, so the microphone and the speaker can be utilised for sound effects and in game “walky talky” communication.

In addition to HEX3’s free Apps available when the blaster ships, a number of high profile developers have begun integrating their games to work with this awesome toy!

AppTag clamp works with any device and almost any case, so no need to remove the case! Even large battery pack cases will fit.

The included pistol grip works out of the box, or clamp the AppTag on to most Nerf™, Buzzbee™ blasters – in fact any toy gun with an accessory rail. We include a sturdy rubberised trigger with wire and several adhesive clips. The AppTag trigger switch grips the trigger and can attach to any existing gun.

“iPhones aren’t cool. You know what’s cool? Shooting your friends with your iPhone, mounted into a laser blaster.”

“We expect AppTag to the most sought after toy of 2012, it really is that cool!”

HEX3 is a new consumer electronics company built around peripheral devices for smart mobile devices. At the core of HEX3 is iOS and Android software development. HEX3 principal, Jon Atherton has been in software development for almost 20 years, and most recently has designed and developed Apps that topped the charts worldwide. With its software development roots, HEX3 is very focused on ensuring the gaming and App experience for both AppTag and JaJa is second to none! HEX3 is based in Hong Kong with offices in Los Angeles and Brisbane.

… Photos follow for AppTag

Topics: Appcessory, Hex3 | No Comments »

Best Bluetooth Keyboard for Your iPad: Adonit Writer

By admin | April 23, 2012

Posted on : Inc.com , Joshua Condon, June 6 2011

The quality of Bluetooth keyboards for the iPad has been steadily increasing since the launch of Apple’s ground-breaking tablet, but the brand-new-to-market Adonit Writer is a clear standout in both form and function. The elegant keyboard-cum-foilio-case weighs a mere 17.5 ounces and features an embedded magnetic strip that lets you slide the keyboard/iPad combination into almost any viewing/typing angle. Other smart details such as scissor keys, an LED battery indicator and dedicated “sleep” button give your Apple tablet netbook-like feel and functionality; add killer battery life and a quick-eject feature to easily switch between work and play modes and you’ve got the iPad keyboard to which all others aspire.

Topics: Adonit | No Comments »

iCade – Tons of Great Games available on the App store

By admin | April 23, 2012

iCade is compatible with 100 Atari classics including Asteroids, Centipede, and Battlezone. All are available as in-app purchases when you download the free Atari Greatest Hits app. Plus, new and existing apps can be easily updated to work with iCade.

Click below to view games…

Topics: Appcessory | No Comments »

Keep fit, healthy and ‘appy

By admin | April 4, 2012

News.com.au
By: Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

THE rise and rise of health apps and tracking gadgets bodes well for wellbeing, writes Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

It’s the latest trend in hi-tech healthcare and it doesn’t involve consulting Dr Google.

“DIY health” has been named as the second biggest trend of 2012 by Trendwatching.com, thanks to a surge in fitness apps, record spending in the category and an incoming wave of health gadgets that track your every move and vital sign.

These smart devices can now record more than just the number of steps you take and the calories you burn. They can also judge the quality of your sleep, record your blood pressure and test your blood sugar, uploading every detail to an app for mobile monitoring.

Healthcare and technology experts say the popularity of the category is set to grow exponentially this year, although they warn these apps are no substitute for professional medical advice.

Furthermore, Research2 Guidance predicts 247 million smartphone users will download a mobile health app this year – almost double last year’s audience of 124 million.

The popularity of these apps, the firm says, has been heightened by sensors attached to smartphones, many of which began to emerge late last year.

These gadgets include wearable devices that track users movements, like the Jawbone Up, FitBit Ultra, and Nike’s FuelBand (reviewed right), as well as more serious medical devices.

University of Technology Sydney senior lecturer Dr Peter Leijdekkers, who founded the MyFitnessCompanion website and Google Android app, says the trend now encompasses serious medical instruments too, with smartphone connectivity added for convenience and easy monitoring.

“In the past these gadgets were standalone devices,” Leijdekkers says.

“If you had a blood glucose monitor, you had to write down your results in a book or type them into a spreadsheet. Nowadays a lot of these new devices have wireless communication – Bluetooth, ANT or wireless connections – and their results can be added to a mobile phone.”

Leijdekkers says this is particularly important for people whose health conditions require constant monitoring, but the devices can increasingly be found in the hands of healthy people who simply want to improve their fitness.

It’s a trend that has seen more than 5500 people download his MyFitnessCompanion app, for example, that compiles data from other devices.

“The line between medical and fitness gadgets is getting blurry,” he says. “It depends on how you want to use them.”

iWorld Australia director Aldrin DeClase says a series of health devices unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show this January will arrive in local stores this year, further blurring the definition.

The iHealth Smart GlucoMeter, for example, plugs into the base of an iPhone, iPad or iPod and can be used to measure blood sugar.

“You just prick your finger, swab it and insert the swab into this device and it uploads the information to an app,” DeClase says. “You can monitor your blood sugar levels and it can also give you alerts.”

The device is due in Australia in September, as it is awaiting approval by health organisations.

Other health devices now on the market include blood pressure monitors that connect to smartphones, weight scales that wirelessly upload your statistics to an online database, and sleep monitors that provide details of deep sleep, rapid-eye movement and sleep disturbances.

The good news, Leijdekkers says, is that all this monitoring can provide plenty of motivation for those who want to improve their health and fitness.

“You can compare it to watching your weight,” he says. “If you are aware of your weight and you want to do something to change it then this sort of technology works.”

*** HEALTH-MONITORING GADGETS ***

iHEALTH SMART GLUCOMETER

Due September will attach to the base of an iPhone or iPad to measure blood sugar.

WITHINGS BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR [$179] measures systolic and diastolic pressure and connects to an iPhone.

FITBIT ULTRA [$US99] is a clip that monitors steps, incline, sleep and calories burnt.

JAWBONE UP [$US99] is a wristband that measures movement and sleep.

ZEO SLEEP MANAGER [$US99] is a headband to track sleep patterns.

Topics: Appcessory | No Comments »

iHealth Smart GlucoMeter.

By admin | March 23, 2012

20.3.2012 PRESS RELEASE – iHealth Lab Inc., the pioneering designer and manufacturer of mobile personal healthcare products for iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad, unveiled three new additions to its suite of devices: iHealth Smart GlucoMeter, iHealth Wireless Body Fat Scale, and iHealth Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show.

The new Smart GlucoMeter is a breakthrough product giving users who need to regularly monitor blood glucose levels a more portable and effortless system for keeping their blood sugar in check. While the Wireless Body Fat Scale and Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor significantly advances iHealth’s successful first generation Blood Pressure Dock and Digital Scale. Each of these new products further emphasize iHealth’s commitment to delivering easy-to-use devices and apps that make it simple for you to test, track and graph your health.

As with existing iHealth devices, users of these products and their companion mobile apps will be able to take full advantage of the iHealth Cloud Service to instantly back-up and store their results in the cloud.

“These products further exemplify our desire and passion for truly helping people manage personal health while improving their well-being and we greatly look forward to bringing them to market in 2012,” said Adam Lin, GM of iHealth Lab. “iHealth is excited to expand its robust product offering by assisting users to manage chronic and often life-altering health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.”

“Since we started with iHealth 2011 the products have been so well received. But a questions was always asked about a glucose meter to work with the iPod, iPhone and iPad. Now we have the answer and this will be a very popular product for many users. It shows iHealth’s commitment in bring great health related products to the consumer market and an affordable price with great technology and cloud based back end.” States Chad DeClase, Director of iWorld Australia.

The iHealth Smart GlucoMeter lets users test blood glucose levels and test, graph and share blood glucose results. The system utilizes industry standard test strips and a specially designed iHealth test strip reader that attaches to an iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad.

Using the companion iHealth App, users can chart their historical blood glucose readings showing 7-day, 14-day, or 30-day test result averages with colorful, easy-to-read graphics. The App helps automate the management of multiple measurement points in the daily life of a diabetic. They can easily manage their measurement records, create customized measurement plans, and even create medication reminders. Users can also instantaneously share the results with their doctor or loved ones. Finally, the App features a reference FAQ with helpful information about diabetes mellitus.

The iHealth Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor lets users, for the very first time test, track and share their blood pressure – wirelessly. Using their iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, they can connect their iOS device via Bluetooth technology to a comfortable, soft blood pressure cuff.

The companion iHealth App includes an easy-to-use interface with data and graphics that allows users to view their blood pressure numbers, track them over time, and run reports. They can easily access historical data sets, view patterns by date and time of day and create custom graphs and charts as well as instantaneously share the results with their doctor, or loved ones. Additionally, the App contains reference FAQs for helpful information about diabetes mellitus.

The iHealth Wireless Body Fat Scale reads and records vital body composition components such as weight, body fat, and muscle mass directly on an iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad. A unique design based on human body engineering automates user identification so that multiple users on multiple mobile devices can share a single scale.

With the companion iHealth App, users can track progress and organize records with simple, personalized graph tools. Using the My Plan feature, they can set target goals for weight management. They can also easily share one-time readings or long-term trends with healthcare providers, fitness buddies or friends and family.

Pending FDA approval, these products will be available for purchase in the 2nd half of 2012 at www.ihealth99.com, and national retailers. Pricing has not yet been determined. The companion iHealth apps will be a free download in the iTunes App Store. The companion iHealth App will be available for free from the App Store on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, or at www.iTunes.com/AppStore.

About iHealth Lab Inc.
iHealth Lab designs and manufactures consumer-friendly, mobile personal healthcare products. The company focuses on delivering easy-to-use products that make it simple for you to test, track, graph, and share your health information regularly. iHealth has developed a suite of personal healthcare devices designed for the iOS mobile platform. Visit www.ihealth99.com for more information.

Topics: iHealth | No Comments »

Endless options…

By admin | March 22, 2012

22.3.2012 PRESS RELEASE – iWorld Australia is proud to announce the new Quadlock.

The Quad Lock Mounting System can be used in a variety of applications. Here are just some of the things we have mounted the Quad Lock to:
•   Bicycle (Road Bike and MTB)
•   Motor Bike
•   Car
•   Golf Cart
•   Light Aircraft
•   Around the Home and Office
•   Shopping Trolley
•   Pram
•   Boat
•   During Air Travel (back of head rest/tray table)
•   Fishing Rod
•   Microphone stand for displaying music/guitar tab
And here are some of the things we use the iPhone for while it’s mounted:
•   Hands free navigation (GPS and turn by turn)
•   Cycle Computer
•   Watching Movies
•   Viewing recipes
•   Shopping list
•   POV camera (great when mounted to a bicycle)
•   Golf Score Card
•   Fishing location tracker

Quadlock……Never forget anything when out shopping.