Braven 570 Bluetooth speaker / speakerphone / charger: Affordable style

Braven 570 Bluetooth speaker / speakerphone / charger: Affordable style

Braven manufactures a line of portable Bluetooth speakers that also serve triple duty as speakerphones and iPhone chargers. Now the company is shipping the Braven 570 (US$119.99), a new and more affordable model of their stylish and durable speakers.

Design

Many of the Braven line of products share a common design meme. The Six Series speakers are made out of beautifully machined aluminum anodized in a variety of colors. With the Braven 570, the company has really outdone itself with the colors by bringing a total of six to the party. The review device came in bright green, and there are also black and white models in addition to vibrant blue, purple, or red.

Gallery: Braven 570 Bluetooth Speaker

The casing of the 570 doesn’t appear to be aluminum; instead, it feels like a high-strength polycarbonate of some sort. This reduces the weight of the speaker, but doesn’t detract from the looks of the 570 one bit.

Like the other speakers in the line, the Braven 570 contains a set of speakers, a noise-canceling microphone and a battery that can either pump out tunes for a long period of time or charge up your smartphone. What’s different between the different models? It appears that battery capacity is the main difference. The 570 comes with a 1200 mAh battery, the 600 has 1400 mAh of capacity, and the top-of-the-line 650 includes a whopping 2000 mAh battery. The price is also a differentiating factor. While the 570 is available for $120, the 650 has a price tag of $190, which is quite high for portable Bluetooth speakers.

All of the Braven units use two custom HD audio drivers amplified by a pair of passive sub woofers. Output is at 6 Watts across the line. Like the speakers in the Braven Six Series, the 570 can be daisy-chained to other speakers to pump up the volume. A full charge is good for about ten hours of sound from the speaker, and it will take 2 to 3 hours to recharge the unit.

The controls for the speaker are conveniently located on the ends, along with ports for charging the device or using it as a charger for your iPhone. Braven includes a USB to micro-USB charging cable and an audio daisy-chaining cable.

Functionality

I reviewed the Braven 600 last year and was quite impressed with the build quality and sound of the unit. The Braven 570 is a worthy addition to the product line, and one that is priced low enough to be accessible to most people in the market.

The device emits a synthesized tone when powered up via a slide switch on one end. That’s usually also your first experience with the sound quality and volume of the speaker. Pairing is simple and fast; you just hold down the speakerphone button until the speaker emits a “sonar” sound, at which time the Braven 570 appears in the list of Bluetooth devices on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

To check available battery capacity, there’s a button on the opposite end of the 570 with a battery symbol on it. Pressing that button shows a white light if the current charge is between 50 and 100 percent of full, a blue light if it’s between 10 and 50 percent, and a red light for less than 10 percent charge remaining.

I like that the Braven speakers always give you audio and visual feedback that they’re turned on or off. Not only is there a startup tone when the 570 is powered up, but there’s also a power down tone to let you know that you’ve properly switched it off. While the device is powered up, a small white LED pulses about once every five seconds to let you know it’s turned on.

When playing music or watching movies on an iOS device and using the Braven 570 as your speaker, you’ll be pleased. The sound is bright, clear and full — it’s hard to believe this is a small, pocketable Bluetooth speaker and not a much larger or more powerful speaker.

Like the Braven 600 tested last year, the 570 is a little less impressive as a speakerphone. Then again, I haven’t been too overwhelmed with any Bluetooth speakerphone so it seems to just come with the technology. The Braven 570 is certainly usable as a speakerphone, it’s just not going to impress you as much as it does as a regular speaker.

Conclusion

Once again, Braven has released a great-sounding Bluetooth speaker that is also usable as a speakerphone and device charger. With the lower price point of the Braven 570, the company should attract even more Apple fans into the ranks of happy Braven owners.

Pros

• More affordable than the other Braven speakers
• Case colors are vivid and attractive
• Excellent build quality and design
• Music / movie sound quality is impressive
• Built-in battery pack can charge mobile devices
• Speakers can be daisy-chained for even more volume
• Easy Bluetooth pairing process; no pairing code required

Cons

• Less battery capacity than the higher-end Braven speakers
• Speakerphone sound is rather muffled

Who is it for?

• Anyone who wants the convenience of a battery pack and Bluetooth speaker in one well-designed package

Giveaway

We have a beautiful “Fiji Green” Braven 570 to give away to one fortunate TUAW reader. 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 February 27, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time.
• You may enter only once.
• One winner will be selected and will receive a Braven 570 speaker system valued at $119.99
• Click Here for complete Official Rules.

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Braven 570 Bluetooth speaker / speakerphone / charger: Affordable style originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source : blancer[dot]com

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Objective-C on the Mac L4 – @implementation

Continuing with our Rectangle class, how the methods actually function.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Source : ducktyper[dot]com

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Two Splash Screen display in iphone

In this application we will see how to applied two splash screen in the iPhone. So let see how it will work.

Step 1: Open the Xcode, Create a new project using Window Base application. Give the application “TwoSplashScreen”.

Step 2: Xcode automatically creates the directory structure and adds essential frameworks to it. You can explore the directory structure to check out the content of the directory.

Step 3: We need to add three UIViewController in the class in the project. So select the project -> New File -> Cocoa Touch ->ViewController class and give the class name “SplashScreen”,”FirstView” and “SecondView”.

Step 4: We need to add two image in the Resource folder.

Step 5: Open the TwoSplashScreenAppDelegate.h file and make the following changes in the file.

#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>
@class SplashScreen;

@interface TwoSplashScreenAppDelegate : NSObject <UIApplicationDelegate> {
   
     SplashScreen *splashScreen;

}

@property (nonatomic, retain) IBOutlet UIWindow *window;
 @property (nonatomic, retain) IBOutlet SplashScreen *splashScreen;

@end

Step 6: Double click the MainWindow.xib file open it to the Interface Builder. First drag the “Image View” from the library and place it to the window. Select the window and bring up attribute inspector and select the “logo.png”. Now save it, close it and go back to the Xcode.

Step 7: In the TwoSplashScreenAppDelegate.m file make the following changes:

#import "TwoSplashScreenAppDelegate.h"
#import "SplashScreen.h"

@implementation TwoSplashScreenAppDelegate

@synthesize window=_window,splashScreen;

- (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:(NSDictionary *)launchOptions
{
       
    splashScreen = [[SplashScreen alloc]
                    initWithNibName:@"SplashScreen"
                    bundle:nil];
    [_window addSubview:splashScreen.view];
   
    [splashScreen displayScreen];

   
    [self.window makeKeyAndVisible];
    return YES;
}

- (void)applicationWillResignActive:(UIApplication *)application
{
   
}

- (void)applicationDidEnterBackground:(UIApplication *)application
{
   
}

- (void)applicationWillEnterForeground:(UIApplication *)application
{
   
}

- (void)applicationDidBecomeActive:(UIApplication *)application
{
   
}

- (void)applicationWillTerminate:(UIApplication *)application
{
   
}

- (void)dealloc
{
    [_window release];
    [super dealloc];
}

@end

Step 8: Open the SplashScreen.h file and make the following changes in the file:

#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>

@interface SplashScreen : UIViewController {
   
    IBOutlet UIImageView *displaySplash;
    UITabBarController *tabBarControlller;

}

 @property (nonatomic, retain) IBOutlet UITabBarController *tabBarControlller;

 @property (nonatomic, retain) IBOutlet IBOutlet UIImageView *displaySplash;

-(void)displayScreen;
-(void)removeScreen;

@end

Step 9: Double click the SplashScreen.xib file and open it to the Interface Builder. First drag the “Image View” from the library and place it to the window. Select the window and bring up attribute inspector and select the “screen.png”.Connect File’s Owner icon to the Image View and select displaySplash. Drag the TabBarController from the library in the interface builder. First select the first tab from the TabBarController and bring up Identity Inspector and select “FirstView” class. Do the same thing for the Second Tab and select “SecondView”.Now save it, close it and go back to the Xcode.

Step 10: In the SplashScreen.m file make the following changes:

#import "SplashScreen.h"

@implementation SplashScreen
@synthesize displaySplash,tabBarControlller;

- (id)initWithNibName:(NSString *)nibNameOrNil bundle:(NSBundle *)nibBundleOrNil
{
    self = [super initWithNibName:nibNameOrNil bundle:nibBundleOrNil];
    if (self) {
        // Custom initialization
    }
    return self;
}

- (void)dealloc
{
    [super dealloc];
}

-(void)displayScreen
{
   
    [NSThread sleepForTimeInterval:0.02];
    [self performSelector:@selector(removeScreen) withObject:nil afterDelay:16.0];
   
}

-(void)removeScreen
{
       
    [self.view addSubview:tabBarControlller.view];
   
}

- (void)didReceiveMemoryWarning
{
    // Releases the view if it doesn’t have a superview.
    [super didReceiveMemoryWarning];
   
    // Release any cached data, images, etc that aren’t in use.
}

#pragma mark – View lifecycle

- (void)viewDidLoad
{
    [super viewDidLoad];
    // Do any additional setup after loading the view from its nib.
}

- (void)viewDidUnload
{
    [super viewDidUnload];
    // Release any retained subviews of the main view.
    // e.g. self.myOutlet = nil;
}

- (BOOL)shouldAutorotateToInterfaceOrientation:(UIInterfaceOrientation)interfaceOrientation
{
    // Return YES for supported orientations
    return (interfaceOrientation == UIInterfaceOrientationPortrait);
}

@end

Step 11: Now double click the FirstView.xib file and open it to the Interface Builder. Select the View and bring up Attribute Inspector and change the background color. Now save the it , close it and go back to the Xcode.

Step 12: Double click the SecondView.xib file and open it to the Interface Builder. Select the View and bring up Attribute Inspector and change the background color. Now save the it , close it and go back to the Xcode.

Step 13: Now compile and run the application in the Simulator.

You can Download Source Code from here TwoSplashScreen

Source : edumobile[dot]org

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HDR for iOS is a competent free app for photography

HDR for iOS is a competent free app for photography

If you’ve wanted to play with High Dynamic Range Photography but want to step beyond Apple’s included HDR feature, HDR from Lucky Clan Software is worth a look.

HDR is free for a limited time. The app takes two pictures, one light and one dark. It then aligns and blends them into one image with wider dynamic range. Unique to this app is a feature that shows you 4 options for the final image, labelled Auto, Optimized, Vivid, and Contrast. The app also allows you to bring in two images for processing that are already on your camera roll. Native resolution of your photos is maintained, which is a positive feature.

In my tests I found the app to be very fast at rendering the new image. The blending options make it more flexible than the Apple provided HDR feature. What the app lacks is the extended dynamic range of some of its competitors. That’s easily tested by shooting from an interior room toward an open window. The HDR app loses a lot of detail in the shadows, while some of the other HDR apps don’t. You can see some examples of this in the gallery attached to this article. I compared HDR to the Apple HDR feature, Pro HDR, which sells for US$1.99, and the $1.99 HDR3.

All the apps had strengths and weaknesses. ProHDR and HDR3 could see more detail in the shadows. ProHDR also did better on keeping hot spots from appearing in the sky. The Apple HDR feature also rendered the skies more smoothly. Apple does better at this because it doesn’t push the HDR rendering as far as some of the other apps. Of course that can also be a negative. I didn’t change the saturation on any of the images, and used the auto mode on the HDR app.

Gallery: HDR

HDR is a good app that will take you beyond the feature set that Apple offers. On the other hand, it doesn’t measure up to some of the paid apps that have better dynamic range and some more editing features.

HDR requires iOS 5.0 or later, and is optimized for the iPhone 5. It is a universal app.

HDR for iOS is a competent free app for photography originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 24 Feb 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source : blancer[dot]com

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Twitter Login with Text Fields and Close Keyboard Button

Twitter Login with Text Fields and Close Keyboard Button

Image by compscigrad
So here’s a screen shot of something I’ve been working on all week. The client wanted us to add twitter integration into their app. So here’s a screen shot of (what i hope is) the final product.. I had to modify the UIAlertView to have 2 text fields for username and password, and then I needed a close button on the keyboard so that if a system based alert comes in (sms, push notification), you can close the keyboard and access the notification..

I didn’t have a close button on before, and it just so happened that I got a text message during QA. So it was a relatively easy thing to integrate.

I’ve been somewhat fun doing this stuff..

Source : ducktyper[dot]com

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Objective C Tutorials 63 Calculator Program Problem and Solution Example

Description: Objective-C video tutorials — In these programming video series I’ll go through the basics of objective-c object oriented programming language. Objective-c is the programming language of Apple Mac OSX Operating system and the language of iOS. So if you want to develop applications for Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch then you have to master objective-c programming language. It’s one of the best programming language and it’s easy to learn. It is derived from the C language but it’s Object-oriented which makes it better. These video tutorials are for beginners and gradually we’ll discuss the advanced part of objective-c as time goes on. If you have any questions drop a comment. And don’t forget to rate and like all the videos to allow others to benefit from these objective-c video tutorials.

Source : iphonedevx[dot]com

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Thanking the Academy: Five Apps for the 2013 Oscars

Thanking the Academy: Five Apps for the 2013 Oscars

If you’re eagerly awaiting the 85th Academy Awards airing this Sunday on ABC, you may find one of these five apps useful before and during the show — and all of them are free. Good luck to the nominees!

Oscars

The official app for the event. It’s pretty much a US-only affair, and isn’t perfect, but it’s a handy way to learn more about the nominated performers, creators and films. You can also fill out a virtual Oscar ballot and share it on Facebook. I found it was a somewhat better experience than the mobile version of oscar.go.com (which pushes you to download the app anyway).

Of course, the app really kicks into gear on Sunday night; it will provide Backstage Pass live streams from the red carpet, control room and backstage to deliver a “second screen” experience as you watch the big show. Fair warning: the streams are all sponsored by Samsung, so you may be subjected to a certain amount of iPhone-needling.

Stitcher

The streaming radio service has been amping up the original content lately, and it is now promising exclusive red carpet coverage on Sunday. If you haven’t tried Stitcher and you want a different take on the show, this Sunday is a good time to give it a try.

Live From the Red Carpet

Speaking of red carpet coverage, E! has been at it for a long time. While I haven’t used this one, the app has a perfect rating on the store. If you are a red carpet junkie, this is probably going to make you happy until the show starts.

Awards Hero: Oscars Edition

IMDb

As the world’s foremost online repository of movie information, this one seems pretty obvious. Settle disputes, look up actor histories and lots more with the original “Internet Movie Database.” Awards Guide is prettier, however.

Thanking the Academy: Five Apps for the 2013 Oscars originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 23 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source : blancer[dot]com

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