I currently have an AM/FM radio that I listen to while taking a shower. I stumbled across the new iShower which might fit my needs perfectly. This is a waterproof (I would hope so) Bluetooth enabled shower speaker that has 200-foot wireless range and can stream from any Bluetooth device. I wonder if Apple has anything to do with this. (probably not) Apple gets a little upset when businesses use the “i” before anything.

The iShower can also be used outside and by the pool while you leave your bluetooth enabled device far enough away to not get wet. The device has pause, play, forward, and rewind functions along with volume controls. The three AA batteries are good for 15 hours of streaming.

The iShower also has a clock on it and needs no tools to install. The device is easy to remove so you can take it out of the shower when needed. It can also be fitted with an anti-fog shower mirror. The device sells for $99.99 and is available now.

AirPlay is an audio streaming protocol and is expected to be the backbone of Apple’s entertaining applications. This will let you to stream video, audio, photos and metadata. In short, it will help to establish connection between Apple devices and exchange the data. You can easily stream music from your iPhone and play it on the speakers. Similarly, you can drag the photos from your iPad and view it on the digital photo frame. The type of files transferred between the devices will be tightly controlled by Apple’s architectural mechanism. Any manufacturer can support the functionalities of AirPlay but will have to pay a license fee to Apple.

How Does It Work?

Apple is a pioneer in the field of innovation. The ultimate objective is to allow the devices within the same network to share files and exchange data among them. This very idea took its shape 10 years ago in the form on Bonjour in the Mac OS X systems. It is important for all the systems to use the same protocol and crypting techniques. Apple has got a tie-up with the company called BridgeCo to provide the right kind of hardware components which can be used to integrate the devices with AirPlay.

Is It An Attempt To Create A Closed Network?

Live streaming of data and sharing of files can happen within the network supporting the Apple’s architecture. It does not support the connection to external music systems and files. Experts argue that it is yet another attempt made by Apple to sell a closed version of their products. Executives from BridgeCo argue that firmware updates will be made available to the end users that will allow them to stream data from other mediums. If the firmware updates can be provided successfully, it is possible to extend the functionalities and features of the previous systems successfully. A screen sharing mechanism is already available on the hardware components developed by BridgeCo. This functionality can be an add-on facility for the Apple devices.

Will Apple Accept Other Streaming Protocols And Devices?

Under most circumstances, Apple will be reluctant to ink the deal with other vendors as it does not want to lose its supremacy. It controls the behavior of its customers in a closed environment. Any Apple customer has to come back to Apple Store to request for extra service and pay the amount. Experts argue that Apple cannot sustain this business model for a long time and it’s time to reinvent the wheels failing which it might lose its supremacy to the Android applications and gadgets.

Future of AirPlay:

As far as innovation is concerned, Apple loyalties will be more than happy to use AirPlay. It will let you to share the data within Apple devices as long as you stay connected in the Wi-Fi network. It is highly recommended to enforce the crypted pass codes to these devices before they can share the data. Safety features and hacking concerns will play a bigger role when the Wi-Fi network is exposed.

Author:
Rajkumar Jonnala likes to write about topics on IT, Science and Technology related to server rack and rack cabinets. Technology runs the world and he believes that a good understanding of such things will help us to make the best use of these modern day devices.

Samsung has made its stand in the market of Smartphones. In fact, Samsung is the only strong competitor standing high in front of Apple iPhone. One of the new additions in the series of Smartphones introduced by Samsung is the Samsung Galaxy S II. The Samsung Galaxy S II is one of the hottest Android Smartphones ever.

The Samsung Galaxy S II has a sleek and straight design which makes it one of the coveted cell phones in the world. Samsung Galaxy S II price is around $700 to $800. The operating system used in Samsung Galaxy S II is Android OS, v2.3 Gingerbread, and the processor used is the 1GHz dual core processor.

The display in Samsung Galaxy S II is the super AMOLED capacitive touch screen with 16m colors, 720 by 1280 pixel resolution and its size is 4.65 inches. The memory storage capacity is 16 or 32 GB internal memory and then there’s the 32GB external memory slot too.

The Samsung Galaxy S II has the video recording capacity in HD at 1080p, it has a 8MP camera which again has an auto focus and LED flash. It also has a 2MP secondary camera at the front. The internet is done through HSDPA and has the capacity of 21 Mbps, HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps and it also has a WiFi connection, the Bluetooth, v2.2, and micro USB v2. The battery life in case of Samsung Galaxy S II is 1600mAh.

In fact, the physical design of the phone is completely pleasing to the eye. It has a smooth plastic all around with squared edges. The Super AMOLED HD Plus screen in Samsung Galaxy S II is one of the upgraded version of the AMOLED first generation display.

It has the Gorilla glass display that prevents the screen from absorbing the scratches, thereby providing the option to help avoid the screen getting spoiled. Though Samsung Galaxy S II does not have the Ice Cream Sandwich version of OS, Samsung has announced that it is soon going to upgrade the Gingerbread to Ice Cream Sandwich version.

The ad points out that the iPhone doesn’t have 4g capability and the new Samsung Galaxy S II does. Pokes fun at Apple fanboys.

Microsoft Office is coming to the iPad and will be available on Apple’s Lion operating system next year. Office is integrated into the Windows Phone already and I am sure that they would like a piece of real estate on the iPad. The iPad isn’t really suited for creating content so I wouldn’t think about producing the next War and Peace on it, but it would be good for simple thoughts in Word or Excel. I would think that you should also be able to sync into Office 365 so you can pickup those thoughts on a laptop or desktop when you get to the office. I would also think that the office apps would be very scaled down versions of the full apps.