You rely on your smartphone for many things. One area that is lacking is integration with your TV watching. At best, the smartphone was used as a simple remote control to change channels. New apps make use of your phone as a search tool and scheduler. Finally, the phone and TV might really work together.

DirecTV Taps Into Your Phone

This summer, DirecTV will release into beta its latest app, DirecTV Voice. They have been working with Nuance, creators of Dragon Naturally Speaking, to create a voice controlled app to search DirecTV channels for your favorite shows. Their goal is to finally get rid of scrolling through the program grid displayed on the TV screen to find programs.

By using voice recognition, they are trying to also get away from pushing buttons or sliding through nested menus. Nuance is the county’s premier voice recognition specialists so they plan this release to have a high rate of success with this voice-driven application. Think of it as Siri with infinite knowledge of TV shows and movies.

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There is no doubt that iOS is in desperate need of upgrading. It has been around too long in it’s current state. Android and more specifically Windows Phone have a much more intuitive and modern look. Apple even borrowed some of Androids notification goodness in iOS 5. Now it seems that Apple may borrow some of Microsoft’s Metro UI flava for it’s own in the upcoming release of iOS 7. 9to5Mac is stating that multiple sources are claiming the new interface and general design will be “very, very flat”. While other sources are stating that the new design "loses all signs of gloss, shine and skeumorphism"

Jony Ive, who is now in charge of the iOS design team is said to favor the Metro minimalistic style and bring elements of that UI into Apple’s new UI that should be previewed at the WWDC 2013. Macrumors has a pretty cool mockup of the new UI and I can already tell you I am not a fan. What makes the “flat” style work on Windows Phones is that it is now tunable to your own desire by being able to make the truly live tiles bigger or smaller and move them around at will.

If these formerly called icons could be more like Android widgets and have the scalability of Windows Phone I think it would be more of a hit. It is also being stated that the "new panels [that] swipe from the left and right side of an iOS device’s display."

So it could very well possibly be that iOS 7 falls flat in a good way, but Apple better have something more up it’s sleeve than the mocked up image or it could find it’s not so shiny new UI falling flat in a bad way.

The popular Android personal assistant has not come to the iPad and iPhone but I don’t look for it to replace Siri anytime soon. Even though I have a love hate relationship with Siri there is a deeper integration that with Google Search which is where Google Now is buried. First thing is to fire up your iOS device and head to iTunes and either download or update Google Search. Once downloaded and you fire it up, the Google Search screen is pretty boring. At the bottom of the screen there are some notifications that you can lift up (swipe) and will display multiple cards. The cards will appear based off your location results and selections for example with sports and teams. When you are done with a card you can swipe it the heck out of there. Which is kind of neat. I’m still working with Google Now for iPad but so far I am pretty underwhelmed and the Android experience with Google Now is much better.

Logitech follows Microsoft’s lead with their new FabrickSkin keyboard Folio line. This should be considered a compliment to Microsoft and their Surface design teams, as I consider Logitech to be the best peripheral manufacture around. Featuring some water repellant coating, a magnet “snap” stance and a great key layout, this is sure to be a treat for iPad owners.

However, although the best keyboard option I’ve seen for the iPad so far, I can’t help but point out the lack of trackpad. I know, it has nothing to do with Logitec and more so Apple, but yea, the use of a cursor in conjunction with the keyboard makes the Surface’s keyboards top of their class.

Logitech worked with world-class designers to identify chic fabrics and a bold color palette and combined them with a clean design. As a result, both the Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio and Logitech Folio are offered in a range of colors from Electric Blue and Sunflower Yellow to Mars Red Orange, and in an array of on-trend fabrics from matte leather to finely woven cotton.

“By developing color and material options that evoke our senses and speak to our individuality, Logitech has made owning an iPad unique again,” said Beatrice Santiccioli, world-renowned color expert and designer. “I brought my knowledge in color and design to Logitech to help inspire the selection of materials and develop a color palette that builds a strong emotional connection to people’s lifestyles.”

The Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio features the first Bluetooth® keyboard with its keys seamlessly fused into an interior fabric. Its full-size keys give you the tactile feedback you’re used to in a traditional keyboard, but in a sleek new look. The keyboard folio’s high-end fabrics are treated with a coating that is liquid repellent to help keep your folio looking new for longer. Hidden magnets hold your iPad in two convenient positions, snapping your tablet securely into typing mode and ensuring the folio stays shut when you’re moving around.

Designed for the iPad or iPad mini, the Logitech Folio features the same sophisticated style and premium materials on the inside and outside to safeguard your tablet while you’re on the go. Magnetic closures minimize the risk of damage to your tablet and its screen while in transit. For an extra measure of convenience, its four-way flip stand allows you to view your tablet from the stand without having to hold it.

Pricing and Availability

The Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio for iPad is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe in May 2013, for a suggested retail price of $149.99 in the U.S. The Logitech Folio for iPad and iPad mini are expected to be available in the U.S. in May 2013, for a suggested retail price of $69.99 and $59.99. For more information, please visitwww.logitech.com or our blog.

Surprisingly quickly after the release of Facebook’s latest master piece, Facebook Home, the iOS (iPhone and iPad) receives an update featuring the super popular Chat Heads. Chat Head’s are pretty much floating icons off to the side of your screen waiting for your Facebook Chat goodness. Most with early access to Facebook Home have actually opted out of the experience, but kept the Chat Heads. They are a none intrusive way to keep your notifications up front and center.

In iOS world, no luck on the same freedom. Because of iOS sandbox nature, Chat Heads can only exist when you’re in the Facebook App itself, needless to say, it really defeats the purpose of the really nice thought out implementation. Thus, making it useless! So while you may have thought you had a celebration on its way, the Android army enjoys this candy on its own. Check out The Verge’s early video coverage of the app.

If you’re a fan of SkyDrive but unsatisfied with your iOS version of the app hopefully this will make you happy. Version 3.0 has passed certification and is available in the App Store. This update includes:

• Support for iPhone 5 and iPad Mini
• Updated app icons and user experience
• Works better with your photos:
  • Download full resolution photos to your iPhone or iPad
  • Control the size of photos you upload and download
  • Photo metadata is retained when you upload to SkyDrive
• Opening and saving files to SkyDrive works better with other apps on your iOS devices
• Many other small changes, bug fixes and performance improvements

You can get the app or find the locate via iTunes HERE

If you love your iPad to death, why not spend a little money on some protection, all the while complimenting your taste for fine design? This Bowden case from Fine Grain will run you a premium $190, but might be well worth it. Its available in four color and wood combinations, black and walnut, brown and walnut, black and cherry and brown and cherry.

The Bowden is crafted by hand in the Rocky Mountains and offers beautiful protection for your iPad. It is milled from aircraft-grade aluminum and anodized for a long-lasting, durable finish. The aluminum is combined with hand finished, cherry or walnut natural hardwood and genuine leather. This combination highlights the strengths and beauty of each individual material. The inside of the case is lined with ultra-soft felt flocking to protect your iPad from the bumps and bruises of everyday life. Each hand-crafted case has small variations that makes every one completely unique, with its own character and personality.

Your Bowden will be delivered with one of our premium microfiber cleaning cloths, which have been designed with locally curated artwork.

The Bowden fits the iPad 2, 3, and 4.

source lifestyles defined

Apple has jut released iOS version 6.1.3 that you. An now download that contains various bug fixes and a maps update for Japan and other Asian locations. Turn by turn directions and 3D landmarks. There are also some security holes plugged up so if you are one if the many who have taken advantage if the evasi0n jailbreak then you better hold off for a while until it is verified to work. There was rumors that this version of iOS deals with the vulnerability that was exploited to allow the jailbreak. If you are an owner of a jail broken iPhone 5 with iOS 6 better hold off a while.

A buddy of mine told me he was going to get his kids an iPad. They’re young and he figured it was probably enough for them and he didn’t want to spend a lot of money like a PC but they would use it for school. Then I pulled up the Staples ad and showed him what he was missing. The Atom based tablet PCs share a lot – prices of $600 or less (the Lynx at $550 and the HP Envy X2 at $600 but with a keyboard); 11.6” displays; a tablet with keyboard option; 7+ hours of battery life; 64GB storage; touchscreens and of course they can also function as full PCs. A 64GB iPad is $700 by comparison. It took him all of 5 seconds to decide to buy the Envy X2. Why didn’t he make that decision without me? He had no idea the product existed. The idea of a tablet that docks and is a full PC in this price range wasn’t on his radar. And these Staples print ads are fine and all but that’s not really telling a story.

Bottom line is that Microsoft should be showing these things off on tv and telling the story of what people can be getting for their dollar. They may not think that the iPad is competing with Windows 8 tablets but if they don’t understand that then they also don’t understand why Apple owns the tablet market. Windows 8 tablets aren’t even in most tablet conversations and that’s the problem…there’s still an information gap and the current commercials don’t cut it. They need to get on the tv and go at them and show consumers what they could get for the same price.

A friend posted on Facebook this morning that she & her husband had been awoken at 3:30am by their dog barking. After yelling for her to shut it, they went back to sleep.

When morning came, they had to apologize to the dog: the friend’s purse, sitting by the door, had been stolen. (Luckily, the barking seems to have been enough – the Macbook Pro 4 feet away was untouched).

Enter Find My iPhone to save the day! With the police right there, they pinged the phone and realized it was only a few short blocks away. They got near, set the audible alarm and presto! The police found the purse, iPhone and all, under a doghouse, waiting to be picked up by the thief.

So is Find My iPhone worth it? She might say “Yes” now. And I hope that the dog is getting a nice, juicy steak tonight!

Me, I’m moving my purse’s resting area away from the door immediately.