the smart phone market: ipad

Marketcircle's Daylite has been around for a number of years, pulling in Best of Show awards at Macworld/iWorld and kudos from happy users. The application, which comes in Mac, iPhone and iPad versions, is a full-featured system for keeping track of your business. Whether it's calendar, email, or contact management; project tracking or following up on business opportunities, Daylite is hands-down the best and most comprehensive tool for managing a business. Now the company has just introduced Daylite 5, the latest version of the multi-platform solution.

Priced at US$299.95 per user, Daylite 5 includes licenses for the Mac, iPhone and iPad apps, as well as for the Mail Assistant (used to link Daylite and Mail) and Daylite Server. Existing Daylite 4 users can update for $199.95, while Daylite 3 owners can make the jump for $249.95.

What does the new version provide? A lot of refinement to an already polished set of apps. The new Insight View is described as a "visual summary of your data" that "helps you discover patterns and answer questions about your business." By displaying a number of graphs on one screen, it's easy to see patterns appear and then make comparisons. Clicking on a bar chart drills into summaries, and dragging across a timeline allows even further focus on project details.

My personal new favorite feature is the timeline, which provides a quickly scrolling list of project information and associated emails to give a history of what went on during a period of time. Hovering on a small graphical timeline to the left of the timeline detail allows you to quickly jump to a specific date, while filters create a way to grab only certain pieces of information -- like emails associated with a project -- while getting the others out of the way.

One feature that Daylite users had been asking for is now present -- repeating tasks. Regularly scheduled tasks such as project status meetings can be set to repeat daily, weekly, monthly or for any other time period.

The iPad and iPhone apps have received an amazing makeover, with a flat, simple design that would make Jony Ive happy. Searching is available from the Daylite home screen, and synchronization with the Daylite server is done in background. Those of us with mature eyes love the way that Daylite now uses the text size that's chosen in the Settings app so that it's possible to read details without squinting or holding the iPhone screen two inches from our faces.

On the Mac app, the sidebar now has the ability to have folders and subfolders added to group items, and since those folders can be opened and closed, it's possible to hide those projects or groupings that are unimportant at a particular time. You can even hide the sidebar altogether to make more room on your workspace.

The Daylite Mail Assistant now has the capability of allowing you to update details in Daylite right from within Mail.app. If a contact's information (email, address, phone number, etc...) has changed, or if you need to change the status of a project, there's no need to jump into Daylite -- it can all be done in Mail.

Marketcircle has also provided more advanced filtering capabilities to allow you to dig into your data -- for example, you can search all contacts that have no opportunity associated with them to provide a list of customers you should cold call.

Finally, the Mac app has received a redesign that provides a visual look and feel that is closer to the iOS apps. Things are less cluttered and much easier to read in the revised app.

Marketcircle has obviously listened to Daylite customers in making the changes to Daylite 5, and all of the apps now have a much more streamlined and polished feel to them. For existing Daylite users, making the jump to Daylite 5 might cause some temporary heartburn as you get used to the new features and find your way around, but you'll quickly get back up to speed and be able to accomplish more in less time.

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iPhone 101: Troubleshooting iTunes error codes

Publié par teb

iOS iTunes

Have you ever encountered a weird error code when you connect your iPad or iPhone to your Mac? These may pop up when you are updating your iOS device software or backing up your iPad or iPhone to your Mac. Below you will find a list of these errors, an explanation of what they mean and some instructions to help you resolve them.

Before you start down a rabbit hole of power cycling modems and modifying security settings to resolve errors, you first should try these few simple steps and see if they fix your problem.

Download the latest version of iTunes Check your version of iTunes by going Help > Check for Updates on a Windows machine or iTunes > Check for Updates on a Mac. Download the latest version if you don't already have it installed.

Check for System Software Updates On a Mac, you can easily check for updates by going to the Mac App Store and clicking on the "Updates" icon in the menu bar. You also can open the Apple Menu and then select Choose Software Update. PC owners can visiting Microsoft's Update website.

Unplug any extra USB devices, keeping only your mouse, keyboard and iOS device plugged into your computer.

Restart your computer and soft reset your iOS device by holding both the "Home" button and the "Power" button until the screen displays the Apple logo. Restarting your devices often fixes small errors and is often the first thing I do to fix unusual glitches I encounter.

Quit virtualization software like Parallels or VMware that is running on your Mac.

Try Again. Unplug and plug in your iOS device to try again.

Communication Errors with iTunes Update server

Errors: 17, 1004, 1013, 1638, 3014, 3194, 3000, 3002, 3004, 3013, 3014, 3015, 3194, or 3200.

There errors usually indicate there is a communications error between iTunes and Apple's update server. Along with the code, the error also may say "There was a problem downloading the software," or "The device isn't eligible for the requested build."

You can quickly check to see if your connection is working by typing in "GS.APPLE.COM" into your web browser if you reach a placeholder page or a 404 page on Apple's website then your connection is working properly. If you can't access the internet, then you should check your internet connection to make sure if it active.

Check WiFi on your computer to make sure it is turned on, check your routers and modems to make sure they are plugged in and power cycle your modem. Apple has a list of tips to help with this process.

If entering "GS.APPLE.COM" redirects to another website, then you need to check the hosts file or TCP/IP filtering to ensure there are no communication issues between iTunes, ports, and servers.

Security software

Errors: 2, 4, 6, 9, 1000, 1611, 9006, 9807, or 9844.

Sometimes third-party security software interferes with the connection between iTunes and Apple's servers. While troubleshooting each security software package and individual proxy server settings are beyond the scope of this article, Apple has some handy tips on configuring your software with the proper port information and domain settings for Apple's servers. There's also information on connecting to the iTunes store without using an Internet proxy.

USB connections

Errors: 13, 14, 1600, 1601, 1602, 1603, 1604, 1611, 1643-1650, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2009, 4000, 4005, 4013, 4014, 4016, "invalid response," and being prompted to restore again after a restore completes.

Sometimes a loose cable or a faulty USB hub can cause your connection to iTunes to fail. The easiest solution to this problem is often to try a new USB cable and remove all hubs and docks by plugging your iOS device directly into your Mac. If those simple steps don't fix the issue, you can follow these detailed steps provided by Apple.

Hardware issues

Errors: 1, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40, 1000, 1002, 1004, 1011, 1012, 1014, 1667, or 1669.

Sometimes undiagnosed hardware errors can interfere with the connection between your Mac and your iOS device. Follow the steps above to eliminate any errors with the internet connection, security software, cables and USB hubs before you start considering issues with the internal hardware on your Mac or iOS device.

You also can determine whether you Mac or iOS device is causing issue by connecting different devices to different Mac. For example, you can connect your iOS device to a known working Mac. If you are able to sync with iTunes, then your iOS device is working properly. If it fails, then there likely is something wrong with the hardware or software on your iOS device. Likewise, you can connect another known working iOS device to your Mac to see if it sync. A successful sync rules out hardware problems with your Mac, while a failed sync may indicate of a problem.

If you've gone through extensive troubleshooting and still see an error, then you should contact Apple support for more comprehensive hardware troubleshooting options.

Enter recovery or DFU mode to restore your device

Errors: 1015, "The required resource can't be found."

If you are running a beta version of iOS, have jailbroken software on your device, or are trying to install an older version of iOS, you may have to enter recovery mode of DFU mode to restore your device before you can sync it successfully. This method erases your device, but you may be able to recover your data by restoring a saved backup after you have completed the recovery process. You can read more about the differences between DFU Mode and Recovery mode here. You can also glean some tips from our own Steve Sande whose iPhone 5 entered a continuous boot loop while running iOS 7 beta software.

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YouTube Find: Animals go insane over the iPad

Publié par teb

We all know how much cats love the iPad, but did you know that dogs, birds and lizards love it, too? Check out this entertaining compilation video below showcasing our furry and not-so-furry friends enjoying some quality time with everyone's favorite tablet.

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Daily App: Tipcognito is a tip calculator masquerading as email client

Publié par teb

Tipcognito

Let's face it, many people are horrible at calculating a tip. Not only is the math sometimes challenging, there also is the added pressure of trying to quickly calculate 18 percent of $17.23 while your dinner party stare you down because everyone but you is ready to pay the check.

Don't sweat it the next time you go out to dinner, come prepared with Tipcognito, a handy tip calculator that is disguised as an email app. Tipcognito has the visual appearance of an iPhone app but cleverly uses the search field, navigation buttons and fake email entries to display the tip and the total amount you should pay.

Tipcognito

To use Tipcognito, just enter in the bill amount in the search field and use the "+" and "-" buttons to adjust the tip percentage. The tip amount and your total payment (bill + tip) will replace the date and time stamp in a normal email.

Tipcognito is a wonderful app for those times when you want to calculate a tip quickly and discretely. It is available in the iOS App Store as a free app with advertisements or a paid app without ads (US$0.99). It is compatible with the iPhone and requires iOS 6 or later.

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A second look at the Dock-It Pro iPad keyboard case ... and a giveaway

Publié par teb Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Last month, one of my fellow bloggers took a quick look at Parle Innovation's Dock-It Pro, a US$159 (introductory price of $129 still available) iPad keyboard case that's quite different from any other case on the market. I met the CEO of Parle Innovation, Mary Shulenberger, at Macworld/iWorld 2014 and she asked if it would be possible for the case to get the full TUAW review treatment, complete with a star rating. Well, the answer was "Yes!" and here's the review -- complete with a giveaway at the end.

Specifications

Dimensions: 10-3/4 x 8-1/2 x 3/4 inches (27.3 x 21.59 x 1.91 cm)

Weight: 1.4 lbs (.64 kg)

Materials: Aluminum bezel, polycarbonate hard shell

Keyboard: Standard QWERTY with iOS-specific top row

Design Highlights

At the present time, the Dock-It Pro is available only for iPad 2 through 4, with an iPad Air version apparently in the works. The first thing you notice upon opening the Dock-It Pro box is that it is unlike any iPad keyboard case you've ever seen before. A piece of paper with a large red STOP sign on it is the first indication that you'd better pay attention. That warning is to keep you from breaking the Dock-It right off the bat by forcing it open like a laptop. Instead, tapping a button on the case releases the top portion that holds the iPad, and you then slide it down out of the way prior to lifting the iPad up into typing mode. You'll find a few reminder stickers on the Dock-It Pro as well, telling you to push down on the release button, slide the lid, and then lift it up.

Dock-It Pro Keyboard Case for iPad 2/3/4

Your iPad is held securely into place in the lid of the Dock-It Pro, and that's for a reason -- that lid rotates through a full 360 degrees, making it possible to you to use the tablet in a "laptop mode" with the keyboard, or have the screen facing out in a "strictly tablet" mode.

The keyboard is one of the larger ones I've seen on an iPad keyboard case. All of the keys are well-spaced and good-sized, and placed in their proper (i.e., similar to an Apple keyboard) locations. As noted in the specification list, there is a top row of keys that are used specifically for iPad functions such as locking the screen, launching Spotlight searches, pulling up a virtual keyboard even when you're using the "real" keyboard, cut/copy/paste, changing screen brightness or volume, and going back to the home screen from an app. The keyboard features a caps lock LED as well as a pairing LED.

The big feature of the Dock-It Pro is the rotating iPad holder, which makes it simple to use the iPad in "laptop mode" as well as in a more traditional "tablet mode", all without taking the iPad out of the case.

Functionality Highlights

Using the Dock-It Pro is actually quite simple as long as you follow those initial instructions and remember to press the release button to move the iPad from closed to keyboard mode or from tablet to keyboard mode. When the iPad is inserted into the holding tray, it locks in mechanically so there's no concern about it flopping out when you spin the iPad around from keyboard to tablet mode or vice-versa.

Unlike many soft cases or other keyboard cases, the Dock-It Pro actually uses a mechanical release mechanism as well. Just slide a button, and the iPad is unlocked and can be easily removed. That's a far cry from some cases with plastic trays that require a great deal of muscle to remove an iPad from.

All of the versatility of the Dock-It Pro comes at a price -- not the $129 price tag, but in terms of thickness and weight. With an iPad 3 installed in it, the Dock-It Pro weighs just over 3 pounds -- that's heavier than the 13-inch MacBook Air, which is a fully-functional laptop computer. Likewise, in the tablet mode the Dock-It Pro is over three-quarters of an inch thick, which could be uncomfortable over the long run. On the plus side, at least you can pop the iPad out in a second when you need to use it as a tablet.

It is obvious that the engineers at Parle Innovation paid attention to details, though. There is a pass-through grille for the single speaker of the iPad, a gap for plugging in the 30-pin connector for charging, and a pass-through port for the headphone jack. There's even a small pop-out stand about an inch high that puts the keyboard at a comfortable slight angle for typing.

I have to admit to agreeing to some of the comments made by Erica in her review -- while the Dock-It Pro is well designed and nicely built, I feels like it is a solution in search of a problem. For those who want to easily switch between tablet and keyboard modes on the iPad, there are much lighter solutions that are available today. The Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad is available for pretty much every iPad ever made with the exception of the original, it's extremely light, has a very good keyboard, and it can be popped off in a second when the user wants to just have a tablet in hand.

Sure, the Dock-It Pro provides much more protection than a number of lightweight keyboard case solutions. But there are a lot of very protective keyboard cases that do offer as much or more protection without the thickness and weight. As a professional engineer, I also know that the more complicated a solution is, the more chances there are for something to break. That's why the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle is something that every designer should keep in mind. A keyboard case shouldn't require a five-page white paper to explain its design, and a properly designed case wouldn't need a bunch of warning stickers and fliers to keep users from breaking it.

That being said, what is the target audience for the Dock-It Pro? I think that anyone who needs to use an iPad primarily for typing would be very pleased with the keyboard and the protection provided by the case. I like the little pop-out stand, which gives the Dock-It Pro a slight tilt for comfortable typing, and the choice of iPad function buttons on the unit is top-notch.

Conclusion

For typing on an iPad, there's probably no better keyboard available at this time than the one built into the Dock-It Pro. At the $129 introductory price point, it's quite reasonably priced for a high-quality iPad keyboard case. However, the weight, thickness and mechanical complexity of the case may turn off some potential buyers.

Rating: 2-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible

Giveaway

Have an iPad 2, 3 or 4? Would you like a versatile keyboard case with a really good keyboard? Then enter our giveaway of a Dock-It Pro courtesy of Parle Innovation and TUAW. Here are the rules for the giveaway:

Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.

To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button.

The entry must be made before April 26, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time.

You may enter only once.

One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Parle Innovation Dock-It Pro valued at US$129.

Click Here for complete Official Rules.

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Blue Sky for iOS lets you visualize clearer air

Publié par teb

Blue Sky is a free iOS app coming out of China, where skies are often gray and air pollution is often out of control. Of course, China isn't alone with that problem. Blue Sky is sponsored by the World Wildlife Federation and an advertising agency, Ogilvy and Mather, based in New York and Shanghai.

Since it's Earth Day, I thought it might be appropriate to point out this little app. It's simple in concept and execution -- you take a photo or select one from your camera roll. With your finger, paint in a bluer sky on the photo you've loaded. It's easier if you have a pretty flat horizon. The app doesn't let you magnify your photo to work in tight places, and there is one and only one brush size.

Blue Sky for iOS

The app simply serves as an environmental reminder to let you visualize cleaner and clearer skies. The app also lets you add your signature to a petition to state your preference about 'bringing back the blue'. Although the app was designed for a Chinese audience, it works just fine everywhere else. Doug Schiff, Executive Creative Director of OgilvyOne China, said, "Many in China feel only the government can improve the worsening air conditions, but WWF wanted to encourage individuals to think up and support individual initiatives, and this app is a step in that direction."

Blue Sky isn't a sophisticated photo editor by any means. But it packs a little message, and you can certainly do some simple editing to improve your images of cloudy or polluted skies.

The app is not universal, and requires iOS 6.1 or later. It is optimized for the iPhone 5.

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Ask TUAW Live is on the air at 5 PM ET today!

Publié par teb

Ask TUAW logo

"Ask TUAW Live" happens today, Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at 5:00:00 PM EDT. You can check here for showtimes in your area. We're taking your questions now via the Ask Tuaw feedback form, Twitter, Facebook or Google+.

To watch the live feed and participate in the chat, jump over to the TUAW page on Google+. There you will find links to this Google Hangout. Bring your questions, ideas, tips and tricks, or recipes for craft cocktails to share with the rest of the TUAW community.

NOTE: Due to the way Google handles Hangouts for Pages, you will need to add the TUAW page on Google+ to your circles so we can circle back. Is that what they call it these days?

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Hitman GO is really killing it

Publié par teb

hitman go

If you've ever played a Hitman game, your eyebrow probably immediately raised at the prospect of a new Hitman game for iOS. The stealth action titles for PC and consoles focus on picking off guards and taking out assassination targets, and in that way Hitman GO stays true to the franchise. Everything else about the game, however, is completely different.

Hitman GO is a board game of sorts, with turn-based puzzles taking the place of actual sneaking and hiding. You control your character piece, the titular assassin Agent 47, on a board where your movements are restricted to pre-determined grids. Each level has its own layout, with guards who either stand still or patrol, and either an assassination target or an exit slot you must travel to in order to proceed to the next level.

You can trick guards with noise generating items like cans and rocks, and either make your way around them or take them out in order to clear your path. The puzzles range from very simply early on to mind-bendingly challenging, forcing you to memorize guard patterns and use the rare pieces of cover to your advantage.

hitman go

Besting a level is very satisfying, especially when you take out your primary assassination target -- who are always dressed in red -- with Ave Maria playing in the background, and GO manages to feel like a real Hitman title despite a complete change in format.

The most striking thing about the presentation of GO is how gorgeous the faux board game looks on a Retina display. You feel like you're actually moving pieces around the board, and the ability to tweak your viewing angle adds to this greatly.

Hitman GO is available for US$4.99, and the only in-app purchases on offer are in the form of hint packs, walkthroughs, and early level unlocks, but each board is so much fun to play and beat that you'll have little reason to consider it.

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Logitech announces thinner Ultrathin Keyboard Cover, 3 new iPad cases

Publié par teb

Not content to rest on its laurels as one of the top iPad accessory manufacturers in the world, Logitech today announced an array of new products and a new version of its best-selling Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad Air and iPad mini. The new products include the Logitech Hinge (US$59.99 for iPad Air, $49.99 for iPad mini), the rugged Logitech Big Bang (US$99.99 for iPad Air, $79.99 for iPad mini), and the Logitech Turnaround (US$59.99 for iPad Air, $49.99 for iPad mini). Two lucky TUAW readers will get a chance to win the brand new Hinge or Turnaround at the end of this post, so read on.

Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover

The Ultrathin is the world's best-selling keyboard cover for iPad, and beginning next month iPad owners in the US and Europe can get their hands on the new version of the device. Believe it or not, Logitech was able to make the new Ultrathin even thinner and lighter that the existing model; it's now only 6.4 mm thick and weighs in at about two-thirds of the weight of the iPad. The cover attaches with a magnetic clip and features aluminum construction to match the exterior of the iPad.

Another new feature of the revised Ultrathin is the ability to adjust the iPad to a number of different viewing angles instead of just one. The result should give iPad Air and iPad mini owners the flexibility to use the keyboard/iPad combo in a lot more situations.

Pricing for the revamped Ultrathin will be $99.99 for the iPad Air model and $89.99 for the iPad mini version. Be sure to keep an eye on TUAW for a full review of the new version soon.

Logitech Big Bang

The Big Bang is designed to keep your iPad Air or iPad mini protected from "drops, screen impacts, bumps, scratches and spills." The Big Bang has a shock-absorbent shell and case cover made of materials that are liquid-repellant and wipeable, and the built-in stand provides a range of display angles for comfortable viewing.

Logitech says that the Big Bang actually exceeds the US Military Drop Standard, so that should provide some peace of mind when the kids are playing with your iPad Air. For the iPad Air, the Big Bang weighs 14.53 ounces (412 grams) and has outside dimensions of 9.74 x 7.09 x .62 inches (247.3 x 180 x 15.86 mm). The iPad mini version weighs just 9.74 ounces (276 grams) and dimensions of 8.19 x 5.69 x .62 inches (208.01 x 144.61 x 15.62 mm).

The Big Bang will be shipping next month in two colors, Super Fluo and Graphite

Logitech Turnaround

The Turnaround is the versatile member of the Logitech iPad case family. A rotating frame makes it possible to prop your iPad up in portrait or landscape mode. The exterior is made of a water repellant plastic material that has the appearance of black brushed aluminum, and there's a magnetic closure to keep the case closed while in transit.

Dimensions of the iPad Air version are 9.65 x 6.97 x .75 inches (245 x 177 x 19 mm), and it weighs just 12.2 ounces (346 grams). The smaller iPad mini version measures just 7.99 x 5.55 x .75 inches (203 x 141 x 19 mm) and weighs 8.1 ounces (230 grams).

Logitech Turnaround Case

So, how does the Turnaround work in real life? The iPad pops into a thin but strong plastic shell that has cutouts in all the right places for the camera, speakers, switches and ports. The swivel of the Turnaround works very smoothly, and placing the iPad into either portrait or landscape orientation is swift and easy. There's enough friction between the inside of the Turnaround and the side of the plastic shell to hold the iPad in place in a variety of angles.

The pricing for the Turnaround is very reasonable considering the quality of the product and the warranty that comes with it. Logitech offers a 1-year limited hardware warranty in the US and Asia, 2 years in EMEA.

Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible

Logitech HInge

The new Hinge is more of a traditional folio-style iPad case than the Turnaround, which begs the question of why it is priced the same. Part of the pricing could involve the materials used on the Hinge, which (on the review case) included a nice fabric exterior and purple microfiber interior.

Dimensions of the iPad Air version are 9.64 x 6.91 x .57 inches (244.8 x 175.6 x 14.5 mm), and it weighs just 11.8 ounces (335 grams). The smaller iPad mini version measures just 8.07 x 5.55 x .57 inches (205 x 141 x 19 mm) and weighs 8.0 ounces (227 grams).

The iPad fits into a slender plastic tray that holds it into place, once again with cutouts at the appropriate places. The cover is equipped with a magnet to turn the iPad on or off when opened or closed, and the friction between the plastic tray and the microfiber interior is perfect for keeping the iPad stationary at a variety of viewing angles.

Logitech Hinge Case

While the Hinge isn't as versatile as the Turnaround, it has quite a warm "high touch" feel to it. If you don't need to view your iPad in portrait mode, the Hinge is perfectly suited to keeping you amused while your device is in landscape orientation. My only gripe is that the pricing is a bit high for the Hinge and should be lowered by $10 to $15 to reflect the pricing of competitive folio covers.

Rating: 3 stars out of 4 stars possible

Giveaway

It's not often that TUAW is able to announce a giveaway for a new product the same day it's announced, but that's the situation here! We have both a Logitech Turnaround Case and a Hinge Case available, and all you need to do is enter to have a chance of winning one of the two. Here are the rules for the giveaway:

Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.

To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button.

The entry must be made before April 25, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time.

You may enter only once.

Two winners will be selected in a random drawing. One will receive a Logitech Hinge Case for iPad Air valued at $59.99 while the other will receive a Logitech Turnaround Case for iPad Air also valued at $59.99.

Click Here for complete Official Rules.

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I guess you can bend an iPad in half after all

Publié par teb Monday, April 21, 2014

People always talk about the inevitable future of bendable digital screens, but did you know that you can bend the iPad Air? Apparently you can. You'll destroy your tablet in the process, but according to the photographic evidence above, it's definitely possible.

I originally spotted this image on one of those horrible "Retweet to win an iPad!" spam bots on Twitter, and a reverse image search didn't provide any background info. The highest resolution version appears on UK-based hardware leasing company Hardsoft. I'm not sure how this was accomplished, other than brute force, but the results are pretty dramatic.

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Ahead of earnings, analysts anticipate uptick in Mac sales and slight downturn in iPad sales

Publié par teb

Apple Unveils New Versions Of Popular iPad

Come Wednesday after the bell, all eyes will be on Apple's earnings report for the March quarter. While the key metric investors will be looking at the ever-critical iPhone sales numbers, it's just as important to keep close tabs on the health of the company's Mac and iPad sales. While the iPhone still accounts for the vast majority of Apple's quarterly revenue, Mac and iPad sales together accounted for 31.3% of Apple's revenue during the most recent December quarter.

With that in mind, Philip Elmer-DeWitt over at Fortune put together a few handy charts which map out what analysts on Wall Street think Apple will deliver in terms of Mac and iPad sales.

With respect to the Mac, analysts are anticipating sales to fall anywhere between 3.65 million and 4.84 million units. Averaging all of the estimates out, the consensus for Mac sales is 4.06 million units, a figure which would represent an ever-so-slight sales increase of 2.8% from the same quarter a year ago.

With respect to the iPad, estimates range from 15 million units on the low-end to 21.81 million units at the high-end. The consensus lands at 19.33 million units, which would represent a slight sales drop of 0.7% year over year.

TUAW will liveblog the Q2 2014 earnings call starting just before 5 PM ET on Wednesday, April 23. Be sure to join our team for this always fascinating, sometimes entertaining event.

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Daily App: Union is a powerful image blending tool for iOS

Publié par teb

Union (U.S. $1.99) is a very well thought out tool that brings Photoshop-type power to your iPad or iPhone. It's the most impressive image blending app I've used, and it works wonders to help you create unique and compelling images.

When using the app, you first load in a background image, for example a landscape photo. Then, you add a foreground image that you want to transplant on top of the background. In the next step, you enter the mask layer by choosing the Magic Wand tool, which allows you to easily remove everything but the person.

The tool removes parts of the image based on similarity in backgrounds and luminance, so it is a lot easier if the background behind the person is more solid in color rather than patterned. If the Magic Wand tool doesn't do the trick, you can manually draw out the parts that don't automatically go away.

Union allows you to let your imagination run wild as you are not limited to only superimposing images. You can make the layers transparent, create double exposures, and more. The app also has extensive undo-redo commands, so you can just step backwards if you don't like what you've created.

Union for iOS

The app contains tutorial videos, which are much nicer than static help pages. Photos can be exported to your camera roll, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or via email.

While excellent, the app suffers from a problem that is common among this type of app -- when removing the background, your finger covers the drawing tool, making it tricky to accurately remove an element. Some apps offset the tool from where your finger meets the screen, making the job a lot easier.

Despite this limitation, I was able to manage with the removal tool and created some great shots with little effort. Union is a universal app. It requires iOS 7 or later, and it is optimized for the iPhone 5. Give it a try if you want to create some unique and eye-catching compositions.

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A roundup of last week's app reviews on TUAW

Publié par teb Sunday, April 20, 2014

Last week was a busy one for app news and announcements, giving your favorite TUAW writers a chance to post some great reviews of the apps that grace their home screens. Here's a quick roundup of our recent reviews -- and a few app roundups -- you may have missed: