As you may have already seen on various social networking websites, Facebook will be acquiring the popular social imaging sharing application, Instagram, for $1 billion.

Today, about two hours ago, Instagram CEO, Kevin Systrom published a blog post, stating that Instagram has agreed to be acquired by Facebook. Also in the blog post, Systrom says that Instagram “is not going away” and that the two companies will be working together to “evolve Instagram and build the network.”

According to the blog post, Instagram will still be the same application that users “know and love”, and everyone will retain their followers and such, as well.

In addition, Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg posted to his Facebook profile’s timeline, saying “I’m excited to share the news that we’ve agreed to acquire Instagram and that their talented team will be joining Facebook.”

Zuckerberg also said in his post that while Facebook and Instagram both compliment each other, “we need to be mindful about keeping and building on Instagram’s strengths and features rather than just trying to integrate everything into Facebook.” He then goes on to say “That’s why we’re committed to building and growing Instagram independently. Millions of people around the world love the Instagram app and the brand associated with it, and our goal is to help spread this app and brand to even more people.”

With Instagram for Android just released about a week ago, on March 27, 2012, I find this to be an interesting announcement. I think it’ll be interesting to see how Instagram can grow and develop now that they have the power and funds of Facebook behind them.

For more information regarding this announcement, you should check out this blog post from Instagram, Mark Zuckerberg’s timeline post, and this article from TechCrunch If you’re interested in what Instagram is all about and what you can do with the application, please feel free to check out this TechnicalCafe blog post that I wrote a while back.

http://Instagram.com/android

If you have an account on social networking websites, such as Twitter or Facebook, chances are that you have seen at least one image that has been uploaded and edited using the popular social photo-sharing application, called Instagram.

Instagram is an application that enables users to take photos, or choose existing photos from their iPhones, iPod Touches, or iPads, and then edit them by applying one of a variety of different filters to them. (Feel free to check out this, more in-depth, post about Instagram, here!)

Then, users can enter in some information about the photo, such as some text, describing it and whether or not they would like to geo-tag it, and upload it to the Instagram service. From there, other Instagram users can view, “like”, and comment on these pictures.

This popular application also features the ability for users to share their photos on both Facebook and Twitter, which may have helped other people discover Instagram.

However, Instagram is still only available on iOS enabled devices, such as Apple’s iPhone and other devices, mentioned earlier, leaving users of other smartphone operating systems, such as Android, wondering if Burbn, Inc., the application’s creator, would eventually release a version for the operating system that their phones run.

Now, however, Android users shouldn’t have to wait much longer for a version of Instagram compatible with their cell phones, as there is a relatively new page on the Instagram website, which displays an Android logo that has a camera set into it. Additionally, on the Instagram website’s homepage, there are two download links, one for the iOS version of the application, and one for the Android version, which says “Coming Soon”.

When clicked, this button will take users to the aforementioned page, which is displayed above, where they can enter their e-mail addresses, in order to be “first in line” for the Android version of the application.

Having been an Instagram user on the iPhone, I found the application to be fun to use, and also useful for adding some effects to photos, making them look better, perhaps setting the tone for the photo itself.

However, having recently switched to the AT&T Fusion, which runs Android, I was no longer able to use Instagram, and instead of having the option of posting the original photo to websites, such as Twitter or Facebook, I was now forced to do so, or to find an alternative application.

Though, now that Instagram is coming to the Android operating system, hopefully us Android users will be able to use Instagram again, or perhaps even begin using the application! As for when Instagram will be coming out for Android, the date is unknown, but hopefully it will be sometime in the near future!

If you have a device that runs iOS and would like to try using Instagram, you can download the application for free from this link (may open iTunes if you have it installed on your computer). Also, if you’d like to visit the official Instagram website, you can do so at Instagram.com.

For updates related to TechnicalCafe, please feel free to follow us on Twitter, at Twitter.com/TechnicalCafe! If you’re interested in what I’m up to on a daily basis, you can follow me on Twitter, as well! (@Jamiemcg)

As you have probably already heard, yesterday, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the company’s newest version of the iPad, with some new features, as well as some improvements on some current features, making it perhaps the best version of the iPad yet!

There are still two models of the iPad, one that is Wi-Fi only, and one that incorperates both Wi-Fi and, a new, 4G connection.

Both of these are the same size, with the height measuring 9.50 inches, width being 7.31 inches, and their depth both being 0.37 of an inch. However, the Wi-Fi version is slightly lighter than the Wi-Fi + 4G version, with the Wi-Fi only iPad weighing 1.42 pounds, and the Wi-Fi + 4G version weighing slightly more at 1.46 pounds. Though, this probably isn’t enough to notice any significant difference.

Additionally, both models of the iPad have three options as far as memory goes, with there being 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models, which was what there were with the previous generation of the iPad.

One thing that people were speculating that the new iPad would have was a Retina screen, which they guessed right, as this version comes with a 9.7 inch LED-Backlit Retina multi-touch display, with a resolution of 2,048 by 1,536 pixels, at 256 pixels per inch (PPI).

The display also features a fingerprint resistant coating, as well, which should help to keep your screen clean, as far as fingerprints go, anyway. Also, the display is able to display multiple characters from multiple languages at the same time.

As for the processor, according to the Apple website, the new iPad comes with a “Dual-core Apple A5X custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip with quad-core graphics”, which is newer than the Apple A5 chip that is in the previous generation of the iPad.

The iPad has support for Wi-Fi  802.11 versions a, b, g, and n, as well as support for Bluetooth and a 4G connection with AT&T or Verizon being the carriers to choose from.

Additionally, the iPad’s camera has been upgraded to a 5 MegaPixel iSight camera, with features including: autofocus, tap-to-focus, face detection (in still images), 1080p HD video recording, as well as the ability to use Apple’s FaceTime service in VGA quality at 30 fps, with the iPad’s front-facing camera.

As for battery life, the Apple website says that the iPad a built-in 42.5 watt-hour Lithium-polymer battery, which can provide up to 10 hours of battery life for web surfing on Wi-Fi, watching videos, or listening to music. However, if one is using the 4G connection, the iPad’s battery can provide up to 9 hours of battery life, which is only a one hour difference than if one were to use the Wi-Fi connection.

The new iPad will be running Apple’s iOS operating system, which includes the ability for users to download applications, as well as use the ones that come pre-installed on the iPad, some of which include: Apple’s Safari browser, the Mail application, iBooks, Photos, FaceTime, NewsStand, Maps, Messages, Calendar, as well as some others!

One new feature that was not in previous versions of the iPad or iOS is the “Dictation” feature, which enables users to simply talk, and their iPad will type what they are saying. Dictation can be used with built-in applications, such as Notes, as well as third-party applications, which can be quite useful, especially if you have a lot to type, or simply do not feel like typing it in!

Additionally, while reading over some of a TechCrunch article by writer and CrunchFund partner, MG Siegler, he noted that this version of the iPad did not come with a new name, such as the “iPad 3”, which perhaps some people were expecting. Rather, it was simply called the “iPad”, and Siegler points out that this is also the case with the Mac and MacBook line of products, which is interesting.

For more information regarding the newest version of Apple’s iPad, you should check out the iPad section of Apple’s official website, where you can find information about the iPad’s specs, iOS, the built-in applications that the iPad comes with, as well as more information about the iPad’s features!

If you’d like to pre-order a new iPad or purchase any other Apple prodouct, you can do so by visiting the Apple Store website.

As you have probably noticed throughout the day yesterday, a variety of websites went “dark” or “blacked out” in order to protest the proposed SOPA and PIPA laws that are being considered by the United States’ Congress.

If you’re unfamiliar or are unsure of what SOPA (Sop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) are, they are acts or laws that are being considered by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the United States, respectively, which would allow the government to essentially “censor the Internet”, in order to prevent piracy and to protect copyrighted content that can be found online.

This means, for example, that if a social networking website had a lot of users and some of them were posting material or links that contained copywritten material, these websites could potentially be shut down or censored by the government.

However, many web companies and services decided that this should not be something that happens, and because of this, chose to protest the SOPA and PIPA bills by “blacking out”, or essentially “going offline” on January 18, 2012, for a day.

One company that decided to “black out” their website in protest of these two acts included Wikipedia, which displayed a large banner over the content of articles, preventing users from reading them, but letting them know what these acts are, why they can be considered bad for the Internet and its users, as well as what users can do to help protest and prevent these acts from becoming law, which included providing contact information for various state legislators.

Reddit.com, a popular news sharing website, also “blacked out” their website for a majority of the day, and like Wikipedia, informed users of what these proposed pieces of legislation are and what would happen if they were to come into effect in the United States. Additionally, Reddit also provided users with information about protesting and contacting law-makers.

Many other companies and websites also participated in the “black out” day, including Google, WordPress.org and Quora. Though, not all of these companies decided to shut down completely, and especially in the case of Google, would probably not have proved logical, as it is such as large company with many people depending on its services.

However, Google did “black out” their logo, covering most of it with a black box and linking to this page, which provided information about the proposed anti-piracy acts and how to go about protesting and preventing them.

For images of what some websites looked like when they “blacked out”, you should check out this thread on the Helifreak.com forums, which I found while searching for SOPA images on Google Images.

Quora.com, like many other websites, chose to display a banner at the top of their website, which said “Stop SOPA” and linked to a question on the website about what the company’s stance on SOPA and PIPA is.

The AmericanCensorship.org website has created a great infographic, which describes what SOPA is, what the effects of this bill can have on the Internet, as well as what you can do to help prevent this bill from becoming law.

Additionally, FightfortheFuture.org has created a video, explaining what PIPA is and what effects the bill will have on the Internet and its users, should it end up coming into law.

As you can see, SOPA and PIPA are bills which much of the Internet community is strongly against and is protesting. For more more information about these proposed acts, as well as how you can contact a legislator in your state, you should visit the above websites, which provide great information regarding this topic.

If you’ve been using computers for a while or have seen the Matrix movies, you have probably seen, or at least heard of something called “binary”, which consists of a variety of 0s and 1s, arranged in seemingly random patterns.

However, did you ever stop to think what those 0s and 1s mean and how they are arranged?

In order to understand what the binary number system is all about, it is a good idea to have an understanding of the number system that we use all the time in everyday life – the decimal, or base 10, number system.

In the decimal number system, we can represent things, such as the number of people in a room, the time, how many apps you have on your phone, as well as a whole array of other things. All of the quantities that were just mentioned are probably written using the numbers 0-9. Including 0, there are 10 numbers in the decimal number system, which is why it is called “base 10”.

These numbers can be arranged in any order to form other, larger or smaller numbers, depending on which “place”, or position, a particular number is in. For example, if you have the number 123, there are three places, the one’s place, ten’s place, and hundred’s place.

If we wanted to, we could represent 123 by raising 10 to the power of the position a particular number is in, starting at 0 and going from right to left and then multiplying that figure by whatever number is in the position.

For our “123” example, we can represent 123 as:

3*10⁰ + 2*10¹ + 1*10²

When these numbers are added and then combined, we will arrive at the original number of 123.

(3*1) + (2*10) + (1*100)

= 3 + 20 + 100

= 123

The same is true of the binary, or base 2, number system. However, unlike the decimal number system, there are only 2 numbers which are used in the binary number system, which, as you probably guessed, are 0 and 1.

In binary, rather than having each “place” or position raise in value by powers of 10, they raise in value by powers of 2.

If we have, for example, the number 1010, in binary, which, in order to prevent readers, as well as people converting from one base to another, from getting confused, we can represent by putting the value in parenthesis and adding a “2” subscript, simply to represent the fact that the number is in base 2 and not base 10 or decimal, or even some other base, we can figure out what it is equal to in decimal notation, by performing the same process as we did earlier.

(1010)₂ = (x)₁₀

(1010)₂ = 0 * 2⁰ + 1 * 2¹ + 0 * 2² + 1 * 2³

= (0*1) + (1*2) + (0 * 4) + (1 * 8 )

= 0 + 2 + 0 + 8

= (10) ₁₀

So, 1010 in binary is equal to 10 in decimal, or base 10, notation. Because of the fact that this conversion happens to only involve the numbers 0 and 1, the parenthesis help to prevent confusion between which base is which, as 10 in decimal can be converted to 2 in binary.

Now that we’ve learned a bit about the binary number system, what does this have to do with computers or technology?

Well, at the most basic level, computers do not understand letters, numbers, symbols, or even pictures as the symbols or colors that users see when typing or viewing them. Computers see these things as strings of 0s and 1s, which, to the processor or CPU, means “on” or “off”.

Also at the basic level, programming languages, such as C, C++, or Java, which are intended to make things easier for programmers, rather than having to input large strings of 0s and 1s, are complied into a language which the computer can understand, which is sometimes referred to as “machine code”.

Eventually, this code is read by the computer’s processor, or CPU, as a binary file, and the computer then follows the instructions in a language that it, rather than users or programmers, can understand.

So, the next time you see a movie or come across something that involves binary, hopefully now, you’ll be able to understand a little more about how things are converted to binary, as well as what binary notation is actually used for, in terms of computers and technology.

If you’d like to learn more about compilers and what they do and are used for, as well as other topics, you should check out CodeHelp.co.uk, which is where I got some of the information regarding compilers and what they do, included in this post.

Also, if you have a computer related question that you are curious about, or perhaps just a tech support question, please feel free to send me an e-mail, using the “Contact” page! You can also follow TechnicalCafe on Twitter (@TechnicalCafe), as well as me (@Jamiemcg), if you’re interested in what I’m up on on a day-to-day basis.

Since today is Black Friday and many companies and retailers, both online and off, are offering discounts on lots of products that can be found in-store and online, I figured I would compile a list of some technology related deals and product discounts that I found on various websites, such as Amazon.com and the websites for individual retailers, such as Best Buy, etc.

Amazon.com Technology Deals

Kindle DX – $259.00

The Kindle DX is one of the “older” members of Amazon’s Kindle family of e-book readers, in that it was first announced in May of 2009. However, this does not mean that the Kindle DX is behind the other versions of the popular e-book reader. The Kindle DX received an update in July of 2010, which was known as the Kindle DX “Graphite”, and was the third-generation of the Kindle DX.

Some of the features of the Kindle DX include a 9.7 inch (diagonal) e-ink screen, which works well when reading in sunlight, as it reduces glare, as well as having a thickness of only 1/3 of an inch, which, according to the Amazon website, is as thin as most magazines are. In addition, the Kindle DX features a free 3G wireless connection, a 1 week battery life (with wireless enabled) or a 2 – 3 week battery life, provided you have disabled the wireless connection.

Also, the Amazon Kindle DX has a memory that can hold 3,500 books, magazines, documents, etc., as well as a built in PDF reader, among other features, which you can find on the Amazon Kindle DX webpage.

Original Price: $379.00

Deal Price: $259.00

Savings: $120.00

Cannon PowerShot SX230HS 12 MP Digital Camera – $199.99

The Cannon PowerShot SX230HS digital camera is another great deal that is being offered on Amazon.com.

If you’re looking for a new camera or are looking for a gift to give to someone who loves to take photos and videos, perhaps you should consider this product.

Some features of the Cannon PowerShot SX230HS camera include Cannon’s HD System, with a 12.1 megapixel resolution, the ability to record 1080p HD videos with stereo audio, a GPS tracker and logger, so you can remember where you took your photos, a 14x optical zoom with an optical image stabilizer, as well as a 4x digital zoom, and a 28mm wide-angle lens.

This camera also features a “Smart AUTO” mode, which can be used to have the camera automatically select the proper settings for your camera to use, based on a library of 32 predefined shooting situations.

For more information on the Cannon PowerShot SX230HS digital camera, as well as for user reviews, etc., you can check out the product’s information page on Amazon.com.

Original Price: $349.00

Deal Price: $199.99

Savings: $149.01

Walmart.com Technology Deals

Samsung 32 Inch LCD HDTV – $278.00

The Samsung LN32D403 HD television is one of the deals that is being offered on the Walmart.com website as a part of their Black Friday specials, in addition to a variety of other products, including more TVs, etc.

Some features of the Samsung LN32D403 HDTV include a 32 inch class size screen (or a 31.5 inch screen, when measured diagonally from corner to corner). This Samsung TV has a 16:9 aspect ratio LCD display, which has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.

Also, this television features a built-in digital tuner, so you can watch your favorite TV shows and such, without having to purchase an external analog-to-digital converter box. The Samsung LN32D403 HDTV also has a 20,000 : 1 contrast ratio, as well as a “wide color enhancer”, which, according to Walmart’s website “provides natural and realistic color”.

In addition, this TV features “ConnectShare JPEG”, which enables users to plug a USB flash drive, MP3 player, or other USB device into their TV and view pictures, videos, as well as listen to music, right on the TV without the need to install any additional hardware or software.

There are two HDMI inputs on this television, as well, so users can input things, such as video games, DVD  or BluRay players, etc., and view the content in high definition.

For more information on the Samsung LN32D403 32 inch HDTV, including additional hardware specifications and such, you should check out the product’s page on the Walmart website.

Price: $278.00

Sony Speaker Dock for iPhone and iPod Touch  – $49.00

Another deal being offered on Walmart.com is for a Sony Speaker Dock for the iPod Touch and iPhone.

Some of the features of this product include a dual-alarm, as well as an easy to set “A-B alarm”, as well as the option to set alarms for 2, 5, or 7 days. Also, this Sony Speaker Dock enables users to set the brightness of the LCD display.

Additionally, this Sony Speaker Dock has “Mega Bass” and “Mega Xpand” sound features and comes with a remote control, an AC cord and adapter, an audio-in cable, an AM loop antenna, so users can listen to music and content, in addition to what they have on their iPod Touch or iPhone, as well as a universal dock adapter for the iPhone and a universal dock adapter for the iPhone 3G.

If you’d like more information about the Sony Speaker Dock for the iPhone and iPod Touch, you should check out the product description page on the Walmart website.

Original Price: $99.99

Deal Price: $49.00

Savings: $50.99

Sandisk 4GB and 8GB Flashdrives – $5.00 and $9.00

While this isn’t a “big” product in terms of expenses or savings, as well as physical size, I thought it was worth mentioning that Walmart.com also has a deal on these two Sandisk flashdrives, which may come in handy if you’re someone who happens to be looking for a deal on them or are some who simply likes to have a couple of extra storage devices hanging around.

The 4GB Sandisk flashdrive is being offered for $5.00 and the 8GB Sandisk flashdrive is available for $9.00, which I thought was a pretty good deal!

However, I’m not sure what the color choices are for these flashdrives, as the pages that linked to for these two products offer the 4GB version in navy blue and the 8GB version in red. (I don’t know if they have other colors available on the website or not, but it may be worth a look if you have a preference.)

Other Deals

As you can imagine, there are also a variety of other deals being offered online, through many different retailers and websites, including deals from Apple, BestBuy Staples, OverStock.com, as well as other online retailers and websites.

Also, many of the discounted items that are available online may also be available in-store, depending on which retailer you are looking at. If you’d rather pick up an item in-store, in order to avoid the costs and wait associated with shipping an item that you purchased online, it may be a good idea to call the store you plan on going to beforehand and ask if they have the item you are looking for in stock, so as to avoid making a trip for nothing.

Have you found any Black Friday deals online that you thought were good or would like to share? If so, please feel free to post a comment below!

As you have probably heard by now, Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, Inc. passed away today, Wednesday, October 5, 2011, at the age of 56.

Apple’s Board of Directors has issued a statement, which you can read below.

We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today.

Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.

His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.

In addition, Steve Jobs’ family also issued a statement:

Steve died peacefully today surrounded by his family.

In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve’s illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to offer tributes and memories.

We are grateful for the support and kindness of those who share our feelings for Steve. We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief.

Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO since Steve Jobs resigned from the position in August, sent an e-mail to Apple employees, which you can read below.

Team,

I have some very sad news to share with all of you. Steve passed away earlier today.

Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing
human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

We are planning a celebration of Steve’s extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can simply email rememberingsteve@apple.com.

No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.

Tim

As many of us know, Steve Jobs has battled pancreatic cancer in the past, even having surgery related to this illness. In addition, Steve Jobs has taken leaves of absence from his role of Apple’s CEO a few times in the last few years. However, it was not until this past August, when Steve Jobs officially stepped down from his position of CEO of Apple, Inc., recommending that Tim Cook be named Apple’s new CEO. Jobs was also appointed as the Chairmen of Apple’s Board of Directors after he resigned from his duties as CEO.

Below is the e-mail that Jobs sent to Apple’s Board of Directors when he announced his resignation from his position of Apple’s CEO.

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

Also, yesterday was Apple’s first Keynote presentation, launching the newest version of the iPhone, the iPhone 4S, led by Tim Cook, where Steve Jobs was not Apple’s CEO.

If you visit the Apple website, you’ll notice that the website is featuring an image of Steve Jobs, which is the image that is included in this blog post, which, when clicked, will bring users to a page dedicated to Jobs.

Steve Jobs was one of the greatest innovators of our time, creating revolutionary products that many people use each and every single day, as well as bringing Apple, Inc. to be one of the most influential technology companies in the world.

It’s a privilege to be able to use the products that Steve Jobs created, such as the iPhone, iPod Touch, iTunes, and the Mac computer and I would like to thank Steve for all of the hard work and dedication that he put into creating these products and services that changed the world.

Rest in Peace, Steve. You will be missed.

This past Monday, Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, announced and gave a preview of iOS 5, the latest version of Apple’s operating system from the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. The latest version of iOS includes a variety of new features, including built-in iCloud and Twitter integration.

Notification Center

One new feature included in iOS 5 is the “Notification Center”, which is a one-stop place to go for all of your notifications, including those for new e-mails, text messages, friend requests, calendar appointments, reminders, as well as other things, which can be customized by users.

In addition, when a user receives a new notification, it will appear at the top of the screen and will quickly disappear, and will not interrupt what a user was doing at the time of the notification’s appearance.

The “Notification Center” can also display weather and stock information, and the “Notification Center” can be revealed simply by swiping down with a finger. The lock screen also displays notifications, allowing users to see what is happening, even if they’re not currently using their device.

iMessage

Another new feature included in iOS 5 is “iMessage”, which is a new messaging service, designed specifically for iOS users. With “iMessage”, users can send an unlimited amount of text messages from their iOS enabled device, such as their iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, over Wi-Fi or 3G to other people who are using an iOS enabled device.

Since “iMessage” is built into the “Messages” application, users can send text messages, photos, videos, contacts, and even locations to other users, provided they are using an iOS enabled device. Users can also track their messages, using delivery and read receipts, and can even see when another “iMessages” user is typing, as an ellipsis will be displayed.

Another feature of “iMessages” is that users can begin a conversation on one iOS device and pick up where they left off on another iOS enabled device.

Newsstand

“Newsstand” is another new feature included in iOS 5, which organizes all of a user’s magazine and newspaper subscriptions into one folder, where they can be accessed quickly and easily.

In addition, there is a new feature on the App Store, where users can purchase and configure their newspaper and magazine subscriptions, with new purchases going straight to the “Newsstand” folder.

Reminders

“Reminders” is another new feature included in iOS 5, which enables users to create and manage to-do lists, which even allow users to set due-dates and locations.

Since reminders are location based, a user can create a reminder to pick up some milk at the grocery store and when they arrive at the store, they will be alerted, as the iOS device will “know” the user’s location. In addition, “Reminders” can be used with Apple’s iCal, iCloud, as well as Microsoft Outlook, so all changes are synced between the appropriate devices and programs.

Twitter Integration

Perhaps one of the more interesting features of iOS 5 is built-in Twitter integration, allowing users to sign into their Twitter accounts in iOS’s settings. After doing this, users can easily tweet from right from Safari, Photos, Camera, YouTube, and even the “Maps” application.

Also, a location can be appended to a tweet, regardless of which application is being used to send the tweet.

PC Free Setup

Previously, when a user purchased an iOS enabled device, such as a iPhone, iPod Touch, or an iPad, they had to connect it to a computer to configure it.

However, this is a thing of the past, as new iOS device owners can simply configure their new device wirelessly, without having to connect it to a computer. Also, users can download any new iOS updates straight to their device and can also backup their device using Apple’s new iCloud service.

More Great Features

In addition to these great new features, Apple’s iOS 5 includes a variety of different updates to preexisting applications, such as Safari, which now includes a new “Safari Reader” mode, which eliminates clutter from webpages, as well as updates other apps, such as the Camera and Photos applications.

For more information about Apple’s latest version of their mobile operating system, iOS 5, you should check out the official Apple website’s iOS 5 features page.

What do you think about the new features included in Apple’s iOS 5? Please feel free to post your questions, comments, or opinions below!

ToonPAINT, the popular application for the iPhone and iPod Touch, which allows users to turn a picture into an image that looks like a cartoon, has recently been updated to version 2.0.

Back in February, I posted about the pervious version of ToonPAINT, explaining some of the features of the application, as well as where to find them and how to use them. While most of the features in version 2.0 have remained the same, or are similar, some features have been updated and some new features have been added.

When you first launch ToonPAINT 2.0, you will notice that the “Load” screen is different than in the previous version of the application, with the options, such as “Camera”, “Gallery”, “Sessions”, and “View Hall of Fame”. The previous version of the application had a more condensed menu, with less options to choose from.

The “Sessions” button is also a new addition, and when clicked, shows users a list of any previous sessions or images that they may have been working on. Users can then either open their previous sessions from the list or  simply delete them if they no longer want them.

Additionally, there is an “Additional Features” button, which, when clicked, allows users to view information about some additional features, such as “Auto Color” and “Alpha Brush”, which can be purchased for $0.99 each.

The new “Auto Color’” feature which automatically colors a user’s picture for them, so that they do not have to do so manually. This will make coloring a toon a lot faster than if a user had to do so using the color pallet and having to change brush size, as well as other settings.

The “Alpha Brush” feature, which is also new, allows users to paint their toon directly from the source photograph. However, this feature is not the same thing as the photo color picker, which allows users to go back to their photo and use a “paint dropper” to select a color that was in the original photo that was uploaded.

In addition to the above new features, there are some interface and functionality changes, such as a new “Inklines” page, which users will see after uploading their source photo. The “Inklines” section allows users to pan and zoom, using the “Pan/Zoom” button, as well as new shading and size sections.

Previously, users could use a “pinch” gesture to zoom in and out of a toon, but the new pan and zoom button enables them to do so right from a single source.

Another new feature is the “Paint” screen, which users can access after the “Inklines” screen, by clicking on an arrow at the top right side of the application. Like the previous version of the application, users can choose a brush size, as well as a color from the “Brushes” and “Palette” menus. Similar to the “Inklines” section, there is also a “Pan/Zoom” button on the “Paint” screen.

There are also some differences in the “Palette”, as it now appears on the right side of the screen and above the color choices, are the options to use the new “Auto Color” and “Alpha Brush” tools. Also, there is a newly added “VOLBEAT” button, which changes the color of the image and background.

Another difference is that users can now select paint colors without having to double tap on a particular color within the palette, which brought up the color chooser. Instead, there is a dedicated color chooser button, which users can use to select a color of their choice. However, by doing this, any color that is selected will be temporarily replaced by newly chosen color.

The latest version of the ToonPAINT Application for the iPhone and iPod Touch can be purchased from the iTunes App Store for $1.99.

Note: Since this post was written, Toon-Paint was again updated to version 2.1, which includes more new features, such as a smoothing system, photo and paint color pickers, as well as bug fixes related to paint alignment on image output and app crashes.

Since today is Easter, I figured I would write a blog post about the Easter Sneezies application, by Chillingo, Ltd., for the iPhone and iPod Touch, which is quite fun to play, and perhaps even addicting.

When you first download and launch the Easter Sneezies application, you should see a loading screen, displaying the game’s title and the Chillingo logo.

Once the game has loaded, you will be taken to the game’s main menu, where there are two buttons, “Classic”, and “Challenge”, both of which will begin a game in the respective mode. In addition, there are also “Settings” and “Scores” buttons. Also, there is a “More Games” button, which will bring you to the iTunes App Store, where you can view and purchase other applications by Chillingo, Ltd.

There is also an information button, which explains how to play the game, as well as a “Be a Fan” button, which opens a page, where you can sign up for the “Retro Dreamer” newsletter, as well as become a fan on FaceBook or try their latest application for free.

As I mentioned earlier, Easter Sneezies has two gameplay modes, “Classic” and “Challenge”. In both modes of gameplay, there are little Easter bunnies floating around in bubbles, and the goal of the game is to try to get a certain number of bunnies to sneeze, popping the bubbles that they are in.

In order to do this, all you have to do is tap on the screen, which will cause you to drop “sneezing powder”, which will cause any bunnies that the powder touches to sneeze. Once a bunny sneezes, any bunnies that are close enough to the sneezing bunny will also begin to sneeze, causing a chain reaction.

There are also bonuses that users can earn by doing things, such as causing 75 percent or more of the bunnies to sneeze, causing all of the bunnies to sneeze, eliminating all the bunnies of a certain color, as well as other bonuses.

Easter Sneezies has two different modes of gameplay, “Classic” and “Challenge” mode.  In the classic mode, users have to get a certain number of bunnies to sneeze through a chain reaction, which increases as the levels progress. However, users only have one “turn” of sneezing powder to create the chain reaction. However, in the “Challenge” mode, users can have multiple “turns” of sneezing powder, but after every “turn”, more bunnies are added, so it’s not as difficult as it may sound.

Overall, I think Easter Sneezies is a fun game, with great graphics, and isn’t doesn’t require a lot of work to learn how to play. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great puzzle style game or for anyone who likes a fun and easy game, but one which can be challenging at times, as well.

If you would like to try playing Easter Sneezies, you can download it for free from Apple’s iTunes App Store.