Refurbished Apple iPhones - Manage Your Passwords - buyEtail

Apple includes iCloud Keychain to manage your passwords between the iPhone, iPad and Mac, but it only supports Safari. A better option is LastPass. This service is $12 a year and it works on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows PC and right on the web. Your passwords sync through all of the devices you use.

With LastPass you create one super-strong password and then it creates random and complex passwords for your apps and services. You only need to remember one of the passwords. If you are on the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus or iPad Air 2, you can log in with Touch ID.

In Safari you can tap the share icon and then scroll to More and toggle LastPass on to use this service to login to webpages you are browsing in Safari.

source: http://www.gottabemobile.com/2014/12/13/41-ios-8-tips-tricks/

by Josh Smith

http://www.buyetail.com

Refurbished Apple iPhones - iOS 8 Camera Tips & Tricks - buyEtail

Watch the iOS 8 camera tips and tricks above to figure out how to master the camera on any of your iPhone or iPads running iOS 8. Some of these are new features that you need iOS 8 for, but a few will be familiar from iOS 7. There are 10 iOS 8 camera tips and tricks

• HDR – take multiple photos that the camera merges together to deliver a photo that shows dark and light subjects and adds details to the shadows
• Lock Focus & Lock Exposure – You can tap and hold on a spot to lock the focus and lock the exposure this is handy if you need to get the focus or exposure set up and then change the position of the subject to get a better looking photo.
• Tap on the Subject – The single most important thing you can do to take better looking iPhone photos is to tap on the subject. This sets the focus on that person or object and auto sets the exposure. We’ll show you how to manually change exposure below, but many times tapping on the right spot delivers night and day differences.
• Panorama – The video also covers how you can take a panorama on the iPhone with iOS 8. This allows you to move the camera from one side to the other to capture a wide-angle view of landscapes and other subjects.
• Filters – You can use filters while setting up your photo by tapping on the filter option to the right of the shutter button. This lets you add an Instagram like filter while you set up the shot for an easier way to get the photo you want.

•  iOS 8 Burst Photo – With iOS 8 on the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPad Air 2 you can take a lot of photos really quick by holding the shutter button.
  
  
  source: http://www.gottabemobile.com/2014/12/13/41-ios-8-tips-tricks/
  by Josh Smith
  
  
  http://www.buyetail.com

Refurbished Apple iPhones - How To Turn On Hey Siri On Your iPhone with iOS 8 - buyEtail

Over the last few years, the way we feel comfortable interacting with our video game consoles, cars and smartphones has changed. Pushing buttons and touching screens is still the most reliable way to get at information on the go, but increasingly we all seem to be relying more on voice activation and actions to get through the day. That’s where Apple’s “Hey Siri” feature for iPhones running iOS 8 comes in.

With the feature activated and your iPhone plugged in, saying “Hey Siri” replaces the long press on the home button. This make it even easier for you to choose the next song to play in your car or do other things when touching the phone just isn’t an option. For example, getting sports scores has never been easier.

Before we begin, there are some things you’ll need first. Hey Siri is a new feature included in this year’s version of iOS, the operating system that runs on iPhones, iPads and the iPod Touch. It’s because of this that you must have the iOS 8 update before you can set up Hey Siri. If you haven’t already done so, take your iPhone and plug it into a power outlet. Check to make sure it’s connected to a Wi-Fi connection. Then, head into the settings to download the iOS 8 update. GottaBeMobile has a rundown of how to get iOS 8 on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch without deleting a single thing. The process could take an hour depending on your internet connection, which is why it is very important to be connected to a Wi-Fi network.

iOS 8 already comes pre-installed on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. As such, users who have those devices already have everything they need. Let’s begin.

Unlock your iPhone the way you normally would. If you normally use your finger, do so. If you normally unlock using a PIN code enter now. If you don’t use anything, than just slide your finger across the bottom of the screen.

Welcome to the home screen. Look for the Settings app on your home screen. Keep in mind that if you have rearranged your apps the Settings app could be buried in a folder.

Welcome to the Settings screen. Naturally, turning on Hey Siri is a feature that can be found inside of Siri’s settings. Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t break those out. Scroll down a bit. Look for and tap General.

Tap Siri

Look for the Allow “Hey Siri” field and flip the switch to the left side of it. While you’re here it may be a good idea to change any other settings for Siri that you’d like to alter. Toggles below the Hey Siri field allow you to change Siri’s voice and add in some essential info including your first and last name.

How to Use Hey Siri

Now that you’ve gotten Hey Siri working, it’s time to get to the basics on using it. First and foremost, Hey Siri isn’t a universal replacement for interacting with your iPhone. What that means is that at some point you are still going to need to physically interact with your iPhone to get a lot things done.

To save battery life Apple has restricted the use of Hey Siri to just times when you’re plugged in. As such, if you want to use Hey Siri in your car, buy a spare lighting cable. That way you aren’t stuck carrying your charging cable with you wherever you go. To be clear, Hey Siri can be used anywhere that your iPhone is plugged in.

Whenever you say Hey Siri, your iPhone will be ready for a command. You can tell it to play a certain artist, album or song from your music collection by saying “Play” and the name of the song, artist or album. Of course, if you don’t have a car with a Bluetooth stereo than Siri will just play the music through the iPhone’s speakers.  You can also call your different contacts without having to jump through too many hoops. Simply by saying, “Call” and the person’s name. Conversational language like “Hey Siri, I want Chinese.” Siri will get search results for you and give you driving directions and more if they’re needed.

Because Hey Siri is a feature of iOS, it’s entirely possible that it may never come to your iPhone. As is customary, Apple dropped support for older iPhones with this update. The iPhone 4, which didn’t have support for Siri anyway, can’t get iOS 8. Neither can the first generation Apple iPad.

source: http://www.gottabemobile.com/2014/09/21/how-to-turn-on-hey-siri-on-your-iphone-with-ios-8/
by Travis Pope

http://www.buyetail.com

Great deal on Thomas Kinkade Painting Boulevard Lights - Through BuyEtail.com

buyEtail now has Thomas Kinkade's Paintings.

I'm a great believer in the importance of first impressions. That's one reason why Boulevard Lights, Paris is so dear to me; it's the first print in my new City Impressions collection.
The City of Lights has been a springboard to my imagination even before the first of my many visits there. You see, my mother had a print on her wall - an energetic, dazzlingly lit Paris as seen by a 19th-century street painter - that captivated me as a child. So it seemed natural to launch my first Impressionistic series by honoring the art of such giants as Beraud, Cortes, Galien-LaLoue, with a celebration of the city that has inspired master artists of every era.
I have enjoyed such a bustling vision of light and color in one one of my journeys to Paris - I just couldn't tell you exactly where or when. Because of this, Boulevard Lights, Paris exists for me in that ethereal world between experience and imagination that we call memory. And perhaps that is just as well. Because somewhere in the heart of everyone who daydreams is an imaginary memory of Paris.

-Thomas Kinkade

http://www.buyEtail.com

Refurbished iPad Mini and iPad Air - iPad Mini vs iPad Air Review - buyEtail

If you want an iPad but you're not sure what the difference is between the flagship models, you've come to the right place.

We put the devices head-to-head in the following categories:

Display

Battery Life

Hardware/Connectivity/RepairabilitySoftware/Apps

 Display

The Air is the largest iPad available at present, packing a 9.7in screen. The iPad mini 2 uses a smaller 7.9in screen. Both have the same 4:3 ratio.

The iPad mini 2 is the lighter device with the weight starting at 314g. The large iPad Air has a starting weight of 478g. Thickness is the same - with the devices packing a 7.5mm chassis.

Both devices use Apple’s Retina Display technology, so you won’t be able to see any pixels when holding them at arms length. The Air has a resolution of 2048 x 1536 and a pixel density of 224ppi. The iPad mini 2 has the same resolution spread across a smaller area - giving it a denser 324ppi.

The iPad Air (below) has the edge when it comes to brightness and contrast ratio. We measured a maximum brightness of 410cd/m2 and the contrast ratio at 1,000:1.

If you want an iPad but you're not sure what the difference is between the flagship models, you've come to the right place.

IT Pro put the devices head-to-head in the following categories:

Battery Life

iPads have always performed well in battery tests and the Air and mini 2 are no exception. The Air has an 8,837 mAh battery, whereas the mini 2 has  6471 mAh battery to power the smaller 7.9in display.

Apple's website claims a 10 hour battery life for Wi-Fi browsing or video playback. We ran both devices through out Iron Man video playback test, with the Wi-Fi turned off and the brightness set to 75 per cent and they managed to surpass these claims. 

With Wi-Fi turned on you'll be looking at battery life closer to the 10 hour mark. But this is still impressive.

Hardware, Connectivity & Repairability

The fifth-generation iPad and the second-generation iPad Mini are neck-and-neck. Both use a dual-core A7 1.3 GHz chip, which supports 64-bit apps and they are paired with 1GB of RAM. The entry-level models start with 16GB of internal storage and both models offer up to 128GB of internal storage.

The iPad Air and mini 2 have the same connectivity options. Both ship with minimal ports - they have a Lightning connector on the bottom of the device to transfer media and charge the device and a headphone jack at the top. There's no way to expand the physical storage, so you'll have to choose carefully at the time of purchase.

The iPad Air and Mini with Retina share the same 5-megapixel iSight rear camera and also pack a front-facing 1.2MP snapper for Face Time calling. 

Wireless connectivity is identical, with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4 and 4G support included. The iPads have the same sensors too  - a three-axis gyro, accelerometer and ambient light sensor.

iPads are notoriously difficult when it comes to user repair. Both the Air and the mini 2 received an abysmal repairability score of 2/10 from teardown site iFixit. So if you ever need to replace a damaged screen or ailing battery it's best to get it done professionally or risk damaging components and connectors.

Software and Apps

The iPad Air and mini 2 run iOS 7.1 - the most up-to-date OS to date. Software support for the Air and mini 2 is expected to be extended for a number of years to come, which Apple's 2011 iPad 2 receiving the latest iOS 7.1 update.

The iPads come with access to the Apple's App Store and iTunes ecosystem, which boast the largest collection of tablet-specific apps, music, TV shows and films. 

source: http://www.itpro.co.uk/mobile/21819/ipad-air-vs-ipad-mini-2-which-is-best/page/0/3

by Kyle Nazario

http://www.buyetail.com

Refurbished Xbox - Xbox One review - buyEtail.com

The Xbox One, Microsoft's one console to rule it all. Video games, TV, music and movies, everything you do in the living room short of sitting down.

It's a plan of great ambition, and possibly fractured focus. Is Microsoft taking on too much with one system?

That was the general reaction at E3 2013 when the Xbox One's cable TV integration and always on Kinect were revealed, all for a price tag that turned out to be $100 heavier than the PlayStation 4's. Sony went on to arguably win the show with some excellent counter-programming.

On November 22 the Xbox One pushed through the bad buzz with a launch lineup padded with installments from familiar franchises. Games like Call of Duty: Black Ops, Dead Rising 3, Assassins Creed: Black Flag IV and NBA 2K14 made sure the early adopters lined up at midnight would have something to play.

The real question is this: can the Xbox One overcome the mixed messaging, the now-canned 24-hour online dependence and the other potholes that had it stumbling out of the gate, and allowed Sony to win E3 2013 with some sharp counter-programming?

And can it live up to the legacy of the Xbox 360? For long stretches of the last console generation, the Xbox was king. While the Wii was everywhere, and millions of gamers and AV enthusiasts eventually picked up a PlayStation 3, for a while there the phrase "let's play some Xbox" was almost interchangeable with "let's play some video games."

It was the console that brought Xbox Live into maturity, setting the standard for the online experience on a gaming console. It taught couch gamers to tolerate the tech support look of a headset in exchange for voice communication, and that you get what you pay for: a year of Xbox Live Gold might have cost as much as a game, but the service was more robust than Sony's PSN.

We've recently seen Microsoft's master plan at E3 2014. More exclusives are trickling in like Sunset Overdrive, Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Forza Horizon 2, but we've yet to see a definitive reason to buy Microsoft over Sony in this console generation.

But updates are coming fast and furious. By this time next month users should have the ability to remotely start downloads on their Xbox Ones and real name sharing should be completely functional.

The Xbox One wants to be everything to everyone. Games, movies and music, its lofty ambition is to put all your entertainment in one box.

Does Xbox One truly make you master and commander of the living room, or is it all more trouble than it's worth? Allow us to break it down.

We liked

The Xbox One had the stronger launch lineup. We had a blast mulching hordes of zombies in Dead Rising 3. Ryse, on the other hand, was an excellent showcase for the system's graphical prowess. Forza Motorsport 5 is a visual feast with plenty of depth and pairs nicely with the Game DVR feature. In reality, both systems have a similar crop of third-party offerings, but the One's exclusive games feel more distinct and original.

Kinect is great for simple commands. Saving gameplay footage, quickly pausing a movie, answering a Skype call, all these features work smoothly and make for a convenient and fun interface. Kinect is also surprisingly good at hearing you over the TV.

Xbox One's gameplay video sharing is less locked down than the PS4's. Xbox One doesn't keep a running video archive like PS4, but it does grant you a lot more freedom with your footage. You can upload right to Skydrive, then download the an MP4 of the clip and do whatever you like with it. The PS4's sharing is limited to the PSN or Facebook, with no actual access to the file.

It's the best place to see TV alongside streaming media. Being able to perform a Bing search for a show and see when it will be on next as well as the places to rent or buy it is fantastic. While the Xbox One's media integration isn't perfect, there's no other system that brings this kind of service to your TV.

The interface is fast and customizable. The system comes out of standby in less than thirty seconds, and menus move as fast as you can manipulate them. We also loved the convenience of Pins, which let you keep almost anything just a click away.

source: http://www.techradar.com/us/reviews/gaming/games-consoles/xbox-one-1153153/review#articleContent

by Nick Pino

http://www.buyetail.com

Thomas Kinkade's Hometown Bridge - 1998 - buy through buyEtail.com

My Hometown Memories collection fondly revisits my idyllic childhood and I have often found that the heart and emotions of the boy seem to blend with the mind and sensitivities of the adult artist. As a maturing artist, I recognize deeper meaning within bridges, those ravine spanning passages we make in life; graduations, first love, marriage, the birth of a child.
— Thomas Kinkade

source: http://www.artbythomaskinkade.com/hometownBridgeView.html

http://www.buyetail.com

Refurbished Sony Playstation - PlayStation 4 is a fantastic next-gen console that's homing in on a must-have game - buyEtail

A lot has changed for the PS4 since its release back in November. We've recently updated this review to include information about the PS4's 1.7, 1.71 and 1.72 firmware updates. Original review by Alex Roth.

The battle for the living room isn't a cold war any longer. Sony's PlayStation 4 has gone thermonuclear, launching on store shelves9

Housing some of the most powerful hardware ever to sit before a television, Sony's new console is two sleek slabs of industrial design fused together for one purpose: living room dominance.

Since it was first announced at E3 2013, the PS4 has been in hot contention with Microsoft's Xbox One. When its rival stumbled with a now-reversed "always online" policy that had gamers fretting, Sony jumped at the chance to win hearts and minds and rack up pre-orders.

Manufacturer messaging aside, both systems have the same goal: to become your sole source for movies, music, TV and gaming. After a hefty day one patch, the PlayStation 4 will be begging for you to pack it to the gills with streaming media apps and any of its twenty-two launch titles, which range from mega-budget AAA titles to download-only indie darlings.

In an ideal world, every gamer would get to have both. The two consoles would share shelf space in living rooms worldwide, cats and dogs would frolic together, Apple and Android fans would laugh off their differences and everyone would have grown up with a pony.

The reality is that neither machine is cheap, and they're both vying for the same spot in your entertainment center, your heart and your hard-earned dollars. Even if you plan to eventually buy both, essential questions remain: what can the PS4 do that the new Xbox cannot, and vice versa? For the long and short of Sony's new system, read on, dear gamer, read on.

Design

One look at the PS4 and you know you're seeing Sony hardware. It's slim, sleek and jet black, roughly the size of a second generation PS3. The full measurements are 275 x 53 x 305 mm. It's a bit more compact than an Xbox One, which is longer and taller at 274 x 79 x 333 mm.

The PS4 is 6.1 lbs, about two MacBook Airs heavy. In a feat of engineering worth tipping your hat to, Sony has tucked the PS4's power supply inside the system, leaving no external power brick to trip over. Microsoft's system has held onto its power adapter, and weighs just a little bit more, tipping the scales at 7 lbs.

On its face is a slit of a mouth, a slot loading Blu-Ray disc drive free from the jutting and breakable disc tray of the Xbox 360. To its right are two powered USB 3.0 ports, which can charge your DualShock 4 controllers when the system is turned off, a feature the PS3 sorely lacked.

Sony claims that the PS4's overall performance is ten times that of the PS3. In an official FAQ, Sony also stated that the PS4's hard drive can be removed with a little tinkering, and can be replaced with a larger drive, or a solid-state drive for better performance. Sony says these do it yourself upgrades will not void the system's warranty.

With the PlayStation 4, Sony opened the door to the next generation of console gaming and put forth a serious challenge to Microsoft's Xbox One.

It's packed the system with future proof specs, improved the controller, lined up tons of great developer support and undercut the competition

We won't beat around the bush: it's a great machine. But is it worth diving into now, or should you wait for a that new Uncharted? Lets break it down.

We liked

Gaming on the PS4 is fantastic. The graphics are a big step up from last-gen consoles. It's not only the visuals, though, the performance of this machine is off the charts. There's hardly thirty seconds of loading time between the dozen launch titles we tested, and multiplayer sessions can get massive, like the 64 player showdowns on Battlefield 4.

The interface is fast too. Everything is speedy and responsive right from minute one, and the interface is full of clever design choices that speed things up. Games begin to install the second you pop in the disc, firmware updates download while the system is on standby and game patches do too if you have PS Plus.

The DualShock 4 controller is a significant upgrade. The most bothersome aspects of the DualShock 3 have been addressed, resulting in a comfortable controller that's more functional for games of all genres. The touchpad, while currently underused, is well built and nicely placed, the light bar makes player identification simple and the system can finally charge a controller while it's off or in standby.

PS Vita Remote Play works well over WiFi. Using it on a different network or 3G is a no-go, but being able to play Knack in bed or Killzone when someone else is using the TV was reliable and lag free over our home WiFi, plus a lot of fun.

The system looks great and has no power brick. On a purely aesthetic level, the PS4 is very cool. The asymmetrical design is striking, even if it makes it difficult to get at the rear ports, and it's also a restrained size. It makes you wonder how the Xbox One could be so massive and still have a power brick.

source: http://www.techradar.com/us/reviews/gaming/games-consoles/sony-ps4-1131803/review#articleContent

by Nick Pino

http://www.buyetail.com

Best Prices on Refurbished Samsung Galaxy S5 - Top 5 tips and tricks for using Samsung S Voice - buyEtail.com

Samsung went to the trouble to make its own voice-recognition app — here's how to use it

S Voice is the bundled voice command application that comes with the Galaxy S5 and other Samsung devices which allows you to take all sorts of actions without having to fiddle with your phone . These five tips will get you up and running with S Voice in no time.

Before diving in, let's just make sure S Voice is working properly for you. S Voice should be ready to go right out of the box. Just press the home button twice at the bottom of the device in the center and a screen should pop up with a little microphone at the bottom. If not, you may need to enable the shortcut.

Swipe down from the top of the home screen, and tap the gear in the top-right to go into settings.

Scroll to the bottom and tap S Voice.

Tap "Open via the home key" if the box is not already checked.

Setting up a custom voice command can wake up S Voice without even needing to touch your device . All you have to do is say the wake-up command while S Voice is open. By default, the command to do this is "Hi Galaxy," but you can change it to something a little more your style. It's worth noting that this does not work like "OK Google" does from every screen.

Start S Voice by pressing the home button twice. The home button is at the bottom of the device, in the center.

Tap the three dots in the top-right to bring up the menu, and tap Settings.

Tap Voice wake-up, then tap Set wake-up command. If you can't tap Set wake-up command, you may need to tap the switch in the top-right first.

The next screen will prompt you to say your wake-up command four times after tapping the microphone button. Make sure you're in a relatively quiet area before trying to do this, or else it won't recognize what you're saying.

Know the S-Voice commands

S Voice can be a little stiff when recognizing commands, so be sure you know which commands you're likely to use most often and how to say them so S Voice can be its most useful. Some of these you might not have even realized were options. Here is a list of S Voice commands and examples of how to use them.

Voice dial - "Call Charlie mobile"

Message - "Text Katie message Are you free tonight for dinner?"

Seach contacts - "Look up James"

Memo - "Memo Send mom a card"

Schedule - "New event  Lunch with James July 21st at 1 PM"

Task - "Create task Concert review due May 18th"

Music - "Play artist The Beatles"

Social update - "Twitter update Why do humans live so far north?"

Search - "Google Population of Portugal"

Open app - "Open Calculator"

Record voice - "Record voice"

Set alarm - "Set alarm for 6:00 AM"

Set timer - "Set timer for 2 minutes"

Control simple settings - "Turn Wi-Fi off"

Navigate - "Navigate to Cambridge, MA"

Hear news - "Read the news"

Weather - "What is the weather for today?"

Get an answer - "What is the highest mountain?"

If you're behind the wheel, S Voice can read out your incoming messages and accept hands-free commands at the same time. This is called Car Mode, and can be activated easily. S Voice and Car Mode are separate features though, so you won't have full access to every S Voice command when activated. Ironically enough, you can't turn on Car Mode from S Voice. Here's how to get started  with Car Mode.

Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the three tiles icon in the top-right to view more settings toggles.

Find and tap Car Mode.

If launching for the first time, you'll need to agree to the terms of service and pair up with your car's Bluetooth audio system, if it has one.

Once launched, Car Mode will listen for Hi Galaxy, just like S Voice and allow you to launch phone calls, dictate messages, start navigation, and control media playback. You can also reject calls with a voice command and set an automated SMS reply.

For those times when you know you won't be able to access your phone for a while, you may already by using a Bluetooth headset. S Voice can be set as the default voice dialing application associated with Bluetooth. How you start voice dialing will vary by Bluetooth device, but generally you just need to hold down the primary button for a moment. After pairing your headset and activating voice dialing, your Samsung Galaxy S5 will pop up with a prompt asking for which apple to use by default. If something else opens, here's how you clear the default app to make way for S Voice.

Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the gear icon in the top-right to go into settings.

Tap the magnifying glass icon and type in "default". A settings search result for Default Applications should appear below. Tap it.

Find S Voice on the list and tap the Clear button.

Once finished, try launching voice dialling again from the device, and you should get the option to select S Voice.

That's S Voice!

That's S Voice on the Samsung Galaxy S5 in a nutshell. It should help beginners get started, as well as provide a foundation for those that had never given it an earnest try. We're always happy to help out, so be sure to leave a comment here if you're having any issues with S Voice.

source: http://www.androidcentral.com/top-5-tips-and-tricks-using-samsung-s-voice?pg=5#content

by Simon Sage

http://www.buyetail.com

Great by Thomas Kinkade's Seaside Hideway - 2003 - buy through buyEtail.com

Seaside Hideaway - 2003

"Seaside Hideaway" evokes the mood of rapture Nanette and I feel when we are alone together. The cottage hideaway is enveloped in flowers and graced by climbing roses-the lavish palette of sunset paints the cottage as well. Warm lights gleam through the myriad windows; we can imagine the cozy, congenial scene within.

-- Thomas Kinkade

source: http://www.thomaskinkadegallery.com/store/index.php/images-gallery/lighthouses-and-seascapes/seaside-hideaway-2003.html

http://www.buyetail.com

Refurbished iPad and iPhones - Essential Apps to Install on Your New iPad - buyEtail.com

Josh Valcarcel/Wired

THIS YEAR THE Festivus fairy dropped off a new iPad Air 2. Lucky you. On top of being an excellent piece of hardware, the iPad also offers the most robust selection of tablet-dedicated apps. But navigating all those apps and figuring out which to populate your home screen with isn’t always easy. Let us help.

While we’ve listed some old favorites here, we’ve left out many of the more obvious options (Yes, of course you’ll want to download things like Facebook, Twitter, and Netflix, if you use those services). These are the apps that exemplify the iPad experience and take advantage of new tools offered in iOS 8. Most of these apps are free downloads, but if you grab each item on this list, it will cost you a grand total of $18. With a couple of initial in-app purchases and subscriptions to make the experience sweeter (and support the talented developers who make these fine apps), your grand total goes up to $27.

So here are WIRED’s 15 essential apps to install on your new iPad. If we’ve left out any of your own must-haves, feel free to share them in the comments.

News

These apps help you stay on top of what’s shared, what’s trending, and what’s news with gorgeous Retina-optimized UIs.

Click to Open Overlay Gallery

Screenshot: WIRED

Flipboard
Flipboard [Free] was the first iPad-first magazine, fusing shares from your favorite social media outlets with interesting news and articles curated by the app’s team. Flipboard continues to be a visually stunning way to absorb popular and trending articles. Most recently, the app added a magazine creation feature so you can curate your own collections of topical content, and the ability to follow niche topics of interest, from “zoology” to “cyclocross racing” (there are 30,000 to choose from).

Digg
We really like Digg [Free] for staying up to date on world events. The app surfaces popular articles based on their social media impact as well as items that are hand-selected by Digg’s editors. You can also follow your favorite publications and writers in Digg Reader, a streamlined RSS-style feed. If you don’t have time to read now, you can read them later in the app, or on Instapaper, Readability, or Pocket.

Productivity and Creativity

There are some great options for those looking to use their tablet as a laptop replacement, or create their next masterpiece.

iA Writer
Yes, there’s finally Microsoft Word for the iPad now, and Apple’s iWork suite provides a feature-laden platform for all your word processing, spreadsheet editing, and presentation-making needs. But sometimes, simple is better, and that’s why iA Writer [$5] shines. It’s a straightforward text editor that lets you focus on writing, not formatting or fancy, distracting features. It syncs with iCloud and Dropbox for cross-platform file and folder sharing, and it includes a keyboard extension for easier navigation and punctuation key access. You can only save .txt or .md files (no .doc or .docx) though, but that’s fine, because you can always paste text into another app later if it needs to be prettified.

Screenshot: WIRED

Yahoo Weather
Yahoo Weather [Free] is a beautiful way to get the day’s forecast whether you’re swiping to peep its handy Notification Center widget, or checking the app itself. It opens to a subtly animated fullscreen image representing the day’s weather (Today: Fog blowing across an image of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco) with the current temperature, high and low for the day, and highs and lows for different parts of the day onscreen. Swiping upwards reveals a plethora of additional information like the 10 day forecast, wind and humidity stats, the UV index, and a satellite map of your area. The only problem with this app: occasional intrusive ads within the expanded day view.

PCalc
The iPad, for reasons unknown, does not come with a built-in calculator app. I know. It baffles us too. But that’s OK, because PCalc [$7] is an amazing download for your number crunching needs. It’s not just a calculator, it’s a tool for anything that has to do with numbers: unit conversions, binary or hexadecimal code, as well as more complex engineering and scientific notations. The interface is completely customizable too, from the colors and themes to the button shapes and fonts. It also has a handy Notification Center widget. If you balk at the price, just think of how much you’re saving over buying a real, physical calculator.

Paper by Fifty Three
Paper [Free, in-app purchases] is a polished, elegant app for touchscreen sketching. You can use your finger to use the app’s array of virtual pens, pencils, and paintbrushes, but for even more control, you can use a stylus. Creations are stored in notebooks, but should you want it to transcend the digital experience, you can also have your work printed and mailed. We recommend grabbing the $4 Essentials in-app purchase to expand your drawing options beyond the minimal offerings of the basic version of the app.

Games

It’d be a shame not to use that 2048 x 1536 display and A8X processor (A7 for the iPad mini) to render gorgeous, entertaining games.

Monument Valley
Winner of Apple’s 2014 Design Award, Monument Valley[$4] is an exceedingly creative, exceedingly beautiful game based around guiding the main character, princess Ida, through impossible architecture: optical illusions, deep chasms, and lava pits. The only complaint about Monument Valley seems to be that the game ends too soon, which, luckily, is a problem that’s fixable: When you beat the game, you can grab additional levels for $2.

Screenshot: WIRED

Asphalt 8: Airborne
Asphalt 8: Airborne [Free, in-app purchases] is a car racing game that uses Apple’s new Metal engine for killer graphics. You’ll take control of one of 56 different cars—including the Bugatti Veyron and Pagoni Zonda R—on a wild ride off road and over ramps to perform tricks like 360-degree jumps and barrel rolls. You can race up to eight opponents at a time in locales ranging from Venice to Death Valley. And if you get serious about the game, you will eventually have to make some in-app purchases to beat them.

Audio

Whether sitting beside you at your desk or hooked up to a Bluetooth speaker, you’ll want a handful of apps for listening (or creating) music and podcasts.

Spotify
While I personally still love Rdio, Spotify [Free download, $1 special for 3 months of Premium] has a lot of features that make it a compelling, complete choice for streaming music on your iPad. With a music library of more than 20 million songs, you can easily add songs and albums from your favorite bands, or explore new music based on your mood, activity (are you working out? at a party?), or a musical artist through the app’s extensive playlists. The app’s dark backgrounded color scheme is also nice, because if you are playing the iPad DJ at a party, a glaring white tablet screen is kind of a buzzkill. You’ll want to upgrade to premium to eliminate annoying ads in between songs, and up the audio quality.

source: http://www.wired.com/2014/12/15-essential-ipad-apps/

by Christina Bonnington

http://www.buyetail.com

Refurbished All-in-One PC's - Reasons to Buy an All-in-One PC - buyEtail.com

The computer is a gadget that most people can’t live without today. Computers used to be large, bulky machines that took up a whole room, and were manipulated using punch cards. In fact, the very first "computing machine" was Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine and it could only solve simple mathematical problems. The computer as we know it now is much different. Almost every home has a computer, and these computers are faster, sleeker, and more powerful than before. One such type of personal computer that’s gaining ground is the all-in-one PC.

All-in-One PC Defined

Desktop computers need several components to function. The computer tower houses all the internal parts, such as the chipsets, processor, hard drive, video and sound cards, etc. A monitor, keyboard, speakers, and a mouse are hooked up to the tower to complete the package, plus any additional peripherals, such as a printer or scanner. An all-in-one PC is an entire computer system wherein the internal components of the tower are built into one main component, usually behind the LCD screen or on a base where the monitor is mounted. This setup was made popular by the Apple iMac line of computers, and today, many manufacturers like Asus, HP, Gateway, and Acer are creating their own line of all-in-one desktops. For those who aren’t sure if an all-in-one PC is for them, this guide will list the reasons to buy an all-in-one PC.

Reason 1: No Need to Purchase a Monitor

One of the top reasons to purchase an all-in-one PC is because everything is included, and there’s no need to purchase a separate monitor (or other peripherals.) With LCD screens becoming thinner and more advanced, it is possible to integrate the internal parts of the computer into the screen itself. All-in-one PCs have all their components in the retail box. That means it’s possible to take the box home and just plug and play. There’s no need to buy any additional parts, except for extras like printers and scanners; the computer is ready to perform basic functions like surf the web and create documents. Some say that all-in-one PCs are more expensive than desktop PCs, because flat panel monitors cost more than a typical PC monitor. However, with cost constantly dropping and size increasing, it’s safe to say that this issue is no longer a problem.

Reason 2: An All-in-One PC Saves Space

Monitors for older computers used cathode ray technology, and these monitors were so bulky they often took up about half the space on a desk. Then there’s the tower itself, which was so big that it took up the remaining desk space, or it had to be placed under the desk. Trying to hook up peripherals meant getting down on one’s knees and crawling under a dusty desk. One of the advantages of all-in-one PCs is that they take up very little space. In some cases, it’s even possible to mount the monitor on the wall, freeing up desk real estate. For those who live in small apartments or offices with a small space, this particular feature is quite important.

Reason 3: Reduced Power Consumption and Heat Generation

One way manufacturers save on space when designing all-in-one PCs is by using laptop components or similar technology, allowing these types of PCs to take advantage of the benefits of laptops, without sacrificing computing power. Also, the components inside generate less heat. Both of these translate to savings, in terms of cost for powering the PC and keeping workspaces cool, and it’s good for the environment as well.

Reason 4: Ease of Use

Buying a computer at the store means one thing; installing it at home on your own. The right cables have to be paired with the right components to ensure the computer will run smoothly. Having the wrong cable or a missing component means a trip back to the store. However, with an all-in-one computer, it’s as simple as plugging it into the wall and turning it on. Also, all-in-one PCs are designed in such a way that the ports are located in convenient places, usually below or on the side of the monitor, so that it’s easy to connect peripherals and accessories. Aside from easy setup, the all-in-one PC is designed to be as user-friendly as possible. There’s no need to fuss with cables or controls, and some even have simple interfaces to help less-than technical users.

Reason 5: Eliminate Cable Clutter

Installing a desktop PC at home or at the workplace requires many cables. First, there’s the power cable. Then, there’s the monitor cable, speaker cables, keyboard cable, mouse cable, and any other peripherals. When left untamed, cables look unattractive, and can also be dangerous. People can trip on them and injure themselves, as well as damage the computer. There are many ways to manage cables, but the user must take the time to formulate a solution. All-in-one PCs are made to reduce cable clutter. In most cases, the only cables are the power cable and the mouse and keyboard cables. It’s even possible to do away with these by using a wireless keyboard and a wireless mouse. Some even come with webcams built right into the monitor. Pair that with a wireless scanner and printer and it’s possible to have a completely wireless home or office.

Reason 6: Attractiveness

Some of the best-looking desktops on the market today are all-in-one PCs. When people spend their hard-earned money on a computer, they want something that works, and looks great on a desk. Just because the computer is a functional machine doesn’t mean it has to be ugly. The Sony Vaio L series and the Lenovo ThinkCentre All-in-One are just two examples of beautiful all-in-one PCs that pack a lot of power. Many manufacturers are putting form factor and looks at the top of their priority list when designing these computers.

Reason 7: Other Features Lacking in Desktops

When manufacturers started building all-in-one desktops, they realized they could add features that would have been difficult on traditional PCs. One such feature that is fast becoming the norm for all-in-one PCs is the touchscreen. Touchscreen all-in-one PCs allow users to interact with the computer right on the screen with their fingers or a stylus. Some even feature multi-touch screens, allowing users to manipulate the screen with pinch, rotate, and scroll two-finger commands similar to tablets. For those who want a full media center, some all-in-one PCs feature HD tuners, remote controls, and even motion controllers to play video games.

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