The crowd-funding site, which invites users to invest in various projects with small sum “pledges” that only have to be paid if a project reaches its funding goal, is a breath of fresh air for a jaded iDevice accessory shopper like myself. And Kickstarter projects associated with Apple hardware seem to have a knack for doing well, both on the site and after achieving funding. Dan Provost, co-designer of the Glif and the Cosmonaut (both listed below), shared with me his opinion of why Kickstarter has prompted so many interesting Apple-related projects:

To a smaller degree, the influx of Apple accessories on Kickstarter has mirrored the deluge of apps into the App Store back in 2008. Apple has created an amazing tool in the iPhone, and people are excited to build things for it. Apple enabled individuals to publish software on the iPhone in 2008 with the opening of the App Store, and it seems Kickstarter has created that same enthusiasm for hardware.

Considering how many Apple accessories currently populate Kickstarter (a lot), and the frequency with which they appear (very often), I’d agree. Here’s a look at some of the best iPhone, iPod and iPad-related projects Kickstarter has brought us so far.

1. TikTok + LunaTik

Apple’s iPod line has been overshadowed by the iPhone and iPad for quite some time now, but that didn’t stop the bite-sized music player it unveiled last fall from sparking the imaginations of many an accessory maker. Designer Scott Wilson was one of those who saw great potential in the 2010 iPod nano, and he came up with something that fits seamlessly with Apple’s own minimalist sensibilities.

Wilson created the TikTok and LunaTik, two watchband accessories for the iPod nano, based on the idea that users would be willing to pay more for a quality product, instead of just spending only a little bit of money on the nano straps rushed out the door by the usual suspects. The TikTok and LunaTike proved he was right, raising nearly million on Kickstarter, before eventually finding a place on Apple Store retail shelves. The TikTok retails for .95, and the LunaTik is .95

2. Glif

iPhone photography is not a new phenomenon, but it seems to be taking off as the quality of the device’s camera improves. But for all their enthusiasm, mobile photo buffs still run into the limitations inherent in using a smartphone camera. Stability and shooting in low-light situations definitely number among those weaknesses. The Glif, designed by Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt, aimed to fix some of the problems with iPhone photography in a simple way.

The Glif is a single piece of hard rubber with a metal threaded tripod mount that snugly grips your iPhone 4. It works wonderfully, as I discovered, letting you use your iPhone with any standard tripod, and other useful photo accessories like the Joby GorillaPod. The Glif might have been possible without Kickstarter, Glif designer Provost says, but the site “does so much more than just money raising.” According to Provost, it also “creates and fosters an enthusiastic community around your product, which is invaluable.” The Glif retails for .00.

3. GoPano micro

Another project related to iPhone photography (they aren’t exactly a rarity), the GoPano micro also achieved Kickstarter success. It’s a case/attachment combo that allows the iPhone 4 to record 360-degree videos, which you can then upload and share to the GoPano website.

This relatively small and inexpensive add-on for the iPhone is a classic Kickstart project: a product that appeals to such a relatively small niche of customers that it probably wouldn’t otherwise get made. But for realtors, nature lovers and others who might benefit from the tech, it’s an amazing device at a great price, and judging by the GoPano micro’s nearly 0,000 in funding, many agree. The GoPano micro will retail for around when it becomes available.

4. PadPivot

Holding the iPad for longer periods of time can be a bit of a challenge. Designer Bernie Graham recognized that, and created the PadPivot, which features a ball-and-socket design, combined with a contoured base to make it easier to perch your iPad on your thigh at an easy angle for viewing. In my review, I couldn’t really find anything bad to say about the finished product.

Graham says that while he likely could’ve made the PadPivot a reality without Kickstarter, the site streamlines things and really allows entrepreneurs to focus on the process. And having watched along as the PadPivot made its way through funding, to production, to being retail-ready, you really see the advantage of Kickstarter from a small manufacturer’s perspective, as well as the challenges that ramping up to full-scale production present. The PadPivot will retail for around when it becomes available.

5. The Cosmonaut

Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt had so much fun creating the Glif on Kickstarter that they went back for seconds. The Cosmonaut, another project to break 0,000 in funding, is an iPad stylus designed based on how users actually draw on their iPads. The project was unusual in that it started out with a risky “pay what you wish” option, where every backer who pledged at least would receive a pre-order of the finished product.

Luckily, the gambit seems to have worked out in Provost and Gerhardt’s favor, as you can tell by the success of the initial funding. It also reflects well on the Kickstarter community that it rewards smart design, even when given leeway to take advantage. The Cosmonaut will retail for when it becomes available.

6. The Oona

Looking for a flexible iPhone mount that can stick to a variety of surfaces? The Oona can do that, and more. It works as an in-car windshield mount, a desk stand, a tripod attachment and even an under-the-cupboard clip for browsing recipes. Like the other projects listed here, it’s also stylish, showing off considerable design talent from the team of Brad Leong, Danny Fukuba and Sam Gordon.

The Oona managed to exceed its funding goal by more than 0,000, and is now accepting pre-orders with a four- to eight-week lead time. The Oona retails for .00 now in pre-orders, and .95 once it becomes widely available.

7. MySaver

The last project on this list, Thomas Lehman’s MySaver, has yet to be fully funded. But the problem it addresses is so widespread that I have faith it’ll exceed its goal. The MySaver addresses the tendency of iPhone, iPod and iPad cables to wear out near the points where they connect to the USB or dock connector ends. This has eventually happened to nearly all of my iPhone USB cables.

The MySaver comes in two flavors: a DIY version for upgrading your own cables at home, and a Pro version that comes pre-assembled with a high-quality OEM dock connector to USB cable of its own. The project is a smart idea, solves a common failing, and something we haven’t yet seen from the usual crowd of established accessory makers. The MySaver can be pre-ordered with a Kickstarter pledge for the DIY version, or a pledge for the Pro version.

That’s just a sampling of some of the best and brightest Kickstarter has to offer. Got any other suggestions we missed? Share them in the comments.

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• Millennials in the enterprise, part 1: strategies for supporting the new digital workforce
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Thinking what exactly she was doing, she asked herself how she can possibly afford that portrait as she stood there while the clerk took it from the window.She thought of her children who needed books, clothes and school supplies soon for their classes.So she rehearsed in her mind what she was going to tell the saleslady, that even if she found the picture so pretty, she could not take if for she just can’t afford it.The woman suddenly shrieked that she wanted the painting badly no matter what and so the clerk did not return the portrait in place anymore.If you need more details on dog artist visit there.

A problem awaited her as she walked out of the antique shop still in disbelief that she had bought that expensive thing just like that, how was she possibly going to explain to her husband about her compulsiveness as she bought the portrait so mindlessly?This masterpiece was in oil and was created between the late 1800′s or early 1900′s, showcasing a Borzoi, a Russian wolfhound.Someone who has been trained well when it comes to the Borzoi, he will certainly wonder why this picture, even with its immense beauty is odd since the painter only showed the dog’s shoulders and head, and done in almost straight on pose.It is obvious, too, that the chest is not proportioned to the shoulders.

Even as the woman’s eyes were extremely familiar with such a breed and knew exactly how it must look like, she still got it despite thinking that she should not.The wife was surprised about how her husband felt so drawn to the painting of the Borzoi the way she was too when she first saw it when she first thought that her husband would get so mad about her overspending instead of spending it for the kids’ school needs.

There has been quite so many photographers, both experts and newbies taking photos of this painting but there was never an instance that two similar shots of it came out.Some moments, a spectral face would appear on the right portion of the painting, in some the dog appears to be almost three dimensional, in others flat, but in almost all of the pictures, whether they were in black and white or color, there have been strange lights appearing.You’ll get further resources on dog oil paintings by visiting there.

I don’t agree that some sort of entity came with this portrait, perhaps we just imagine so many things and our eyes make us see stuff from sorts of light reflections, shared the husband when he and his wife discussed the possibility of a supernatural force behind the portrait of the Russian wolfhound.A huge ceramic dish from the wall fell with a crash but surprisingly, it was not broken, neither were there any cracks on its delicate surface.

The Innocents play producer director approached the couple who were very happy to loan the portrait to him after he explained that this would be great on his set, as the story he was doing is about the supernatural.They insisted that something went with that picture, moving into their home on the day they bought it, and they believe that lending it for his stage play, the Innocents, might be able to shed some light on this mystery.This what they are at least hoping for.

Top 10 Travel Gadgets & Accessories – Your Trusty Sidekicks for a Hassle-Free Journey

As we have all experienced, travelling around the world can have its advantages and disadvantages. Be it on business or holiday, one of the most common stumbling blocks for a traveller is too many gadgets and accessories stuffed in your luggage whilst travelling. Therefore, prior to you heading off on your much-anticipated vacation getaway or important business meeting, here are 10 handy travel gadgets and accessories that will make sure you have a smooth transit experience.

10) An Electronic Boarding & Reservations Pass: a gadget doing the rounds in the corporate market for quite some time, this can definitely come in handy when you travel from one airport to another. The frustrating wait in a line can easily be forgone, since all you really need is a finger on the computerized machine.

9) A Digital Camera: be it any brand or in any pixel quality, a camera is something a traveller must have. This is what you use to capture the highlights of your trip and preserve memories that last. . Here’s a hint – make sure you take your charger and some extra batteries, just in case.

 A Map: a must-have for any traveller looking to reach a certain destination or for essential information about the layout and transport options of each city.

7) A Universal Plug: pick out the most suited plug for your power appliances. You do not want to have an essential electronic gadget and no compatible power outlet to plug it into.

6) Clothes: Don’t pack too many or too few. Many sure the clothes you pack are suited to the weather conditions of your intended destination and that you pack enough so you can mix and match as you please.

5) A Combination Lock: to keep thieves out of your luggage and valuables.

4) A Mobile Phone with International Roaming: a must-have if you are a traveller on business. However, leisure travellers are also advised to carry one, as you never know what can happen while away and it’s also a great way to keep in touch with a few friends and family back home.

3) Sunscreen: one of the foremost important body lotions that prevents sunburns and protects your skin from harmful UV rays.

2) A good Book: something a traveller cannot do without, an engaging read can provide handy, relaxing recreation while on the plane, the beach or while in your hotel room.

1) A Notebook / Laptop with Wi-Fi connectivity: for business and leisure travellers, a laptop is a travel companion most are reluctant to leave behind. So make sure you pack up all the needful accessories into your carry-on before you set off on your journey.

Looking for luxury 5 star hotels that provide the best accommodations that cater to your travel and holiday needs? With a number of luxury hotels collection situated around the world, such as Australia, New Zealand, United States, Hong Kong, Bangkok and London, Langham Hotels offers you your pick of luxurious comfort. Make your reservation with this leading hotel chain and enjoy the optimal travel experience.

Maybe you’ve been using the technology for quite some time now and you know that you are. But when we talk about VoIP, you really don’t know what is it, right? What is VoIP anyway? It stands for Voice over the Internet protocol. It is also known as Internet Telephony or IP Telephony which is just another way of making your call either cheaper or mostly even for free! Using a phone seems not necessary anymore with VoIP because with VoIP, you can communicate only through your computer sans any of the traditional telephone systems.

VoIP has plenty of advantages over the old phone system. The first advantage of using VoIP is that it’s cheaper than any forms of telephone systems. Many say VoIP is cheap, but almost everybody is actually using it for free. It’s easy. If you have a computer, speaker or headset with microphone and an internet connection, then youc an start communicating without paying anything. If you’re a gadget junkie, you can even make use of high-tech headsets such as the plantronics voyager 510s bluetooth headset which can also be used on your mobile phone.

Using the IP Protocol over the Internet, VoIP transmits the sounds you create over a standard connection. This is how VoIP method lets you communicate without paying beyond your monthly bill. It’s a great news, isn’t it? Prices are soaring high but this service is practically costless and which you can use 24/7. The only thing that you need to pay is your Internet connection. That’s how this technology has radically changed the landscape of the entire communication system.

You only pay for using this technology when you totally replace your PSTN. But you don’t have to worry because the price of this technology is virutally cheaper compared to standard phone calls. This becomes even more practical when you start making international calls regularly. Some people even claim that their international calls cost was cut down by 90% due to VoIP.

Although Voip is a relatively new technology that has been widely accepted and used by most people as an alternative to the Plain Old Telephone System or POTS, its ever increasing use around the world is has spurred new considerations regarding regulations and security.

Present-day VoIP growth can be compared to the Internet during the early 90′s. The masses are getting more conscious of the advantages from VoIP at home or in business. That’s because it does not only allow people to save on long distance call costs but it also generates a huge amount of income to those who have explored it as a business venture.

You can find a whole range of high technology gadgets to boost your VoIP experience such as the Avaya headsets, and a long line of Avaya accessories as well as other brands. Indeed, telephony has come so far and we even have all the fabulous gadgets to enjoy the developments even more.

You can find a whole range of high technology gadgets to boost your VoIP experience such as the Avaya headsets and others that provide clarity amplified cordless phone or just the plain clarity cordless amplified phone, and a long line of Avaya accessories as well as other brands. Indeed, telephony has come so far and we even have all the fabulous gadgets to enjoy the developments even more.

In fact, I had a Battle Zone in my living room for quite some time, it was great fun. Having a video game in your rec room has become more and more feasible in the recent history, but still expensive. It’s even possible to buy your own Bowl-o-Rama, for the low low price of $3495.00 from Brookstone.

[via Red Ferret]

Rhapsody, the digital music service, has released an updated App for the iPad, iPod touch, and iPhone. It’s free to download but requires a subscription to use. The big deal here is that not only can you listen to your Rhapsody playlist while connected to the Internet, but you can also download individual songs to local storage. Yes, that means you’ll be able to listen to your favorite song—Rhapsody has a catalog of more than 9 million songs—while in areas without Internet access, such as the subways of New York. It marks the first time that Apple has allowed a third-party music subscription App to be able to download songs in the U.S. Yes, it’s a reasonably big deal.

Rhapsody has been around for a little while, but this is the biggest development I can think of in quite some time. The biggest knock against music subscription services on the iPhone is that, what happens when there’s no Wi-Fi, or you’re in a 3G dead zone? It doesn’t matter how large a music catalog is if you can access it whenever you want. That’s always been the iTunes Store’s saving grace—no, you can’t access every single song ever (within reason, of course), but you can always play U2 whenever you want.

As mentioned, this is the first time Apple has allowed such functionality in an App in the U.S. Europeans, of course, can access Spotify in an offline mode, but that’s not available in the U.S.

I suppose this is the next move for online music stores, offering an all-you-can-eat cloud-based service, while at the same time allowing you to download and take songs with you on your mobile device. Microsoft’s Zune MarketPlace does a similar thing, but you have to pay for each song you download. That is, downloading songs isn’t part of the standard subcription fee.

Rhapsody has two tiers of service of which to choose from, called Rhapsody Premier and Rhapsody Premier Plus (gotta love those names). The former costs $10 per month and includes access on one mobile device, while the latter costs $14.99 per month and allows access on three mobile devices (in addition to the standard desktop client, of course).

And this has nothing to do with anything here, per se, but word on the street is that Sirius XM will have an Android App sometime in May. Exciting times for music fans, to be sure.

Hey, cutting edgers! How does it feel to be the first kid on your block not to be able to play a brand new movie because of some wonky firmware issue. I have a Samsung BD-UP5000, the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray combo device that came out just as the last shots in the format war were being fired, and Avatar will not play on it. Others have had the same issue and it’s a firmware problem. Considering the firmware hasn’t been update since 2008 and they’re slow as molasses over there to react, I suspect I’ll be watching Avatar on a BR laptop before I watch it on this thing.

From the AVS Forum:

I have chatted with Sammy support and been told that this issue and a few other issues will be addressed. Sounds like since there has been no major issues with this player, they have not issued a new firmware. I will believe it when I see it and it works and also fixes some other minor irritations that player has. If an update is not released within 30 days I will be returning the movie to Amazon as a defective/incompatible disc. In the meantime I guess I will have to ********** the 1080p/DTS rip of this in order to enjoy in HD. I’ve already had the DVD for quite some time.

This is the 1st BD that I have not been able to play at all. Minor issues here and there, but never a disc that simply refused to play. I’ve been concerned about the changing BD key for some time, but learnt that there is backward compatible code that allows the antiquated players to play the new discs (the reason for warnings that there may be delays etc. while playing the disc which I really have not experienced).

Here’s a nice exchange with Samsung tech support. It’s basically a big STFU:

Patrick S: Avatar is the latest movie which has some compatibility issues with the Blu-ray player. Our research team is working on the issue.

Visitor: Ok. So there is going to be a firmware update to address this issue, correct?

Patrick S: Yes.

Visitor: Any idea of when?

Patrick S: Once the latest firmware is available, this issue will be resolved.

Patrick S: We don’t have exact time frame when it is going to be released.

Patrick S: We are from Samsung technical support, we do not have information about the research and development issues.

Visitor: OK. So I guess I’ll sit tight for a couple of weeks. Thanks.

Anyone else seeing problems with BR player firmware?

This MacBook-spying story could be the creepiest story in quite some time. We already know the allegations: that the school district provided MacBooks to its students, but then took photos of the students without their knowledge or consent. Now we’re getting numbers. One student claims he was photographed more than 400 times, and now it has emerged that, over a period of two years, school district officials took some 56,000 photos in total, with many of those including students in the frame. FIFTY-SIX THOUSAND! You know, you send your kids to school expecting them to learn a little bit of math, maybe about evolution and the Big Bang, but you do not expect them to have their privacy violated as if we’re living in East Germany.

Now, let’s be clear: this isn’t 56,000 photos of Little Timmy sleeping, taken without his knowledge. Many times, the school district activated the MacBook’s camera in order to locate it—kids would come in and say, “Um, I lost my laptop, sorry.” So the school tuns the camera on, takes a few photos and asks the kid, “OK, well, does this area look familiar to you?” Then the kid would say, “Oh, that’s the inside of my closet, thanks!”

If the system were perfect, the district would have turned the camera off then and there, but that didn’t always happen, with the camera sometimes being left on for as long as a week before anyone realized, “Um, this thing is still on, and it’s still snapping photos.” That’s when you get situations where the laptops were still on, taking photos all willy nilly.

It seems like one or two extra security measures should have been put in place, but I’m not the one charged with figuring out how to protect many thousands of dollars worth of computer equipment spread across an entire school district.

Where do we go from here? The school district’s attorney says that none of the photos contained “”salacious or inappropriate” images, but I seriously doubt that will allay the fears of freaked-out parents.

Wild.

This MacBook-spying story could be the creepiest story in quite some time. We already know the allegations: that the school district provided MacBooks to its students, but then took photos of the students without their knowledge or consent. Now we’re getting numbers. One student claims he was photographed more than 400 times, and now it has emerged that, over a period of two years, school district officials took some 56,000 photos in total, with many of those including students in the frame. FIFTY-SIX THOUSAND! You know, you send your kids to school expecting them to learn a little bit of math, maybe about evolution and the Big Bang, but you do not expect them to have their privacy violated as if we’re living in East Germany.

Now, let’s be clear: this isn’t 56,000 photos of Little Timmy sleeping, taken without his knowledge. Many times, the school district activated the MacBook’s camera in order to locate it—kids would come in and say, “Um, I lost my laptop, sorry.” So the school tuns the camera on, takes a few photos and asks the kid, “OK, well, does this area look familiar to you?” Then the kid would say, “Oh, that’s the inside of my closet, thanks!”

If the system were perfect, the district would have turned the camera off then and there, but that didn’t always happen, with the camera sometimes being left on for as long as a week before anyone realized, “Um, this thing is still on, and it’s still snapping photos.” That’s when you get situations where the laptops were still on, taking photos all willy nilly.

It seems like one or two extra security measures should have been put in place, but I’m not the one charged with figuring out how to protect many thousands of dollars worth of computer equipment spread across an entire school district.

Where do we go from here? The school district’s attorney says that none of the photos contained “”salacious or inappropriate” images, but I seriously doubt that will allay the fears of freaked-out parents.

Wild.