Tony Fadell, the designer who spearheaded the Apple team that brought the iPod to market, will keynote SolidWorks World 2012, the company’s annual summit of engineers and designers. Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp.’s SolidWorks World event will take place Feb. 12-15, in San Diego, and focus on the theme of "united by design." Known as the "father of the iPod," Fadell made his mark via his former positions as Apple’s senior vice president of the iPod division and adviser to Steve Jobs. Today, Fadell is founder and CEO of Nest, a hot startup that’s introduced the world’s first learning thermostat. The Nest Learning Thermostat learns about you and your home to automatically turn itself down when you're away, guide you to energy-efficient temperatures when you’re home, and free you from programming hassles by creating a customized temperature schedule. "To create a game-changing product, function and design must go hand in hand," says Fadell. "We certainly put that principle to work...

FlyGrip (http://www.flygrip.com/), a one‐handed solution for your iPhone, will launch at Macworld | iWorld, which will take place Jan. 26-28, 2012, at the Moscone Center -- West Hall in San Francisco. It's an accessory designed to provide users with a better way to operate smartphones, says FlyGrip founder and CEO, Michael Karmatz. To use, you pop two fingers into the secure grip and you’re ready to use your phone with one hand. When not in use, FlyGrip snaps into place and takes up only a quarter-inch, so your device can still fit in your pocket or purse. The spring loaded top and versatile low profile design allows for a secure and comfortable grip which provides a full range of motion for the thumb to navigate the entire display, says Karmatz. As an additional feature, FlyGrip also doubles as a kickstand for both landscape and portrait views. It's made in the USA and retails forUS $29.95. FlyGrip will be available in five flavors: Mighty Magenta, Warrior White, Prosperous Purple...

.com Solutions has released FmPro Migrator Developer Edition 6.4.6 ( http://www.fmpromigrator.com/products/fmpro_migrator/index.html). The new version lets you build scalable Servoy 6 applications from legacy solutions. The Visual FoxPro Conversion Service built into in FmPro Migrator Developer Edition enables FileMaker Pro developers to automate the conversion of Windows-only FoxPro solutions into cross-platform compatible FileMaker Pro database files. Converted solutions can be run on MacOS X, Windows and iPhone/iPad mobile devices using FileMaker Go. This feature converts DBF file tables, data, relationships, forms, reports/labels, scripts, and static ComboBox/ListBox value lists into FileMaker Pro database files.
FmPro Migrator Platinum Edition is priced at US$600 per developer and includes a copy of FmPro Migrator Platinum Edition for both Mac OS X and Windows platforms. Existing FmPro Migrator Developer Edition customers may upgrade to FmPro Migrator Platinum Edition for $400.

Nomad Brush, a paintbrush stylus, will make its debut at Macworld/iWorld, which will be held Jan. 26-28, in San Francisco. Don Lee, Nomad Brush creator, will conduct what he says is the world’s first digital "SpeedSketch Portrait Siri-es." In this interactive Tech Talk session, three digital artists -- Jonathan Grauel, Fabric Lenny and Corliss Blakely -- will team with three audience members to create Siri-inspired "SpeedSketches" on their iPads. Teams will work collaboratively, and draw upon inspiration from audience members to create their interpretations of Siri. Throughout the process, artists will also share digital sketching tips and ideas to inspire the digital art creation process. ThisTech Talk will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Moscone Center. The Nomad Brush booth will feature digital art stations as well as product giveaways. Also during the Exhibit, the professional digital artists from the SpeedSketch Portrait Siri-es will be available in the Nomad Brush...

Intel (http://www.intel.com) has reported full-year revenue of US$54 billion, operating income of $17.5 billion, net income of $12.9 billion and EPS [earnings per share] of $2.39 -- all records. The company generated approximately $21 billion in cash from operations, paid dividends of $4.1 billion and used $14.1 billion to repurchase 642 million shares of stock. For the fourth quarter, Intel posted revenue of $13.9 billion, operating income of $4.6 billion, net income of $3.4 billion and EPS of 64 cents. The company generated approximately $6.6 billion in cash from operations, paid dividends of $1.1 billion and used $4.1 billion to repurchase 174 million shares of stock. "2011 was an exceptional year for Intel,” says Paul Otellini, Intel president and CEO. "With outstanding execution the company performed superbly, growing revenue by more than $10 billion and eclipsing all annual revenue and earnings records. With a tremendous product and technology pipeline for 2012, we’re excited...

Apple has asked a bankruptcy court to block Kodak from obtaining loans using certain patents as collateral, arguing that it believes the disputed Kodak patents actually belong to Apple, reports "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com) According to a filing (PDF) submitted to the US Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York, Apple states that Kodak is seeking authority to "enter into a $950 million postpetition financing facility secured by security interests in and liens upon substantially all of Kodak’s assets, including certain patents that are subject to ongoing patent ownership and patent infringement disputes between Kodak and Apple." In the filing, Apple notes that the dispute involves "pioneering work on digital camera and imaging technology and related hardware, software, and user and communication interfaces" dating back to the early 1990s, when Apple partnered with Kodak "to explore how the two companies could work together on various projects including...

UZBL has developed a kit that allows you to accessorize the iPad 2 to make it more easily usable in any setting: the FLEX for iPad 2 (http://www.ipadflex.com/) It includes a snap-on handstrap to hold your Apple tablet, a shoulder strap to carry it,  and a snap-on rotating pivot with a 1/4" tripod thread that can be screwed onto any camera mount or accessory. The FLEX is compatible with a range of accessories and allows the iPad 2 user to stick, clamp, wrap, hang, or prop the iPad 2 almost anyplace. A styled silicone skin adds the finishing touch and protects the iPad 2 if dropped. The FLEX kit began as a protective cover with integrated ribs cells to provide shock absorbancy to protect the iPad in rugged settings such as schools. Feedback from parents and educators led UZBL to integrate additional features and attachments to prevent the drops and to allow the iPad to be comfortable to hold and maneuver. UZBL took this a step further, by adding a tripod thread to an included...

Apple may be opening its retail stores in India soon, following the Indian government's decision to open India's retail sector to 100% foreign direct investment, reports "iPhone Hacks" (http://macte.ch/66tRG). One possible problem: Indian policies require such investments to source at least 30% of the total value of their products from Indian small industries, "which obviously doesn't fit in well with Apple's strategy," the article adds. However, an unnamed member of the India Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion is quoting as saying: "Let Apple finalize its business plan and the investment it wants to make. If they tell us that the 30% sourcing is a problem, at that stage we will look into it."

Singapore operator M1 has made its non-camera iPhone official, reports "CNET Asia." The iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S devices will cost S$49 more than the original versions. According to the operator, the camera modules (front and back) are completely removed, not just covered, and "may not be reinstalled," notes "CNET Asia." The service has been certified by Singapore's Ministry of Defence (Mindef), which means they will be allowed in army installations in the island-state. Read more at http://asia.cnet.com/crave/non-camera-iphone-from-m1-is-now-official-622...

A German court has ruled that Apple has not infringed Samsung’s patents, "but has not said why," according to "ZDNet" (http://macte.ch/6L8NQ). Samsung hasn't said whether it will appeal the ruling, the article adds. “We are disappointed that the court did not share our views regarding the infringement by Apple of this specific patent in Germany,” Samsung said in a written statement.
 In related news, Apple filed another suit in Germany this week, seeking to ban sales of Samsung's smartphone models, including the Galaxy S Plus and the S II, according to "Bloomberg" (http://macte.ch/ckS5ml). The suit targeting 10 smartphones was filed in the Dusseldorf Regional Court and is based on Apple design rights Apple in Europe, court spokesman Peter Schuetz said via phone today. Apple also started a separate suit against five Samsung tablet computer models related to a September ruling banning the Galaxy 10.1, he said. 
Earlier this month, in Italy, Judge Marina Tavassi of the Tribunale di...

NIKE has announced the NIKE+ FuelBand, a wristband that tracks and measures everyday movement "to motivate and inspire people to be more active." Activities can now be measured through a new metric called NikeFuel: the more active you are, the more NikeFuel you earn. "The NIKE+ FuelBand is a way for Nike to further evolve the exciting possibilities of merging the physical and digital worlds," says NIKE President and CEO Mark Parker. "Nike has always been about inspiring athletes, and the NIKE+ FuelBand will help motivate them in a simple, fun and intuitive way." Designed to be worn throughout the day, the ergonomic NIKE+ FuelBand uses accelerometry to provide information about different activities through movement of the wrist via a LED dot matrix display. Four metrics are available: Time, Calories, Steps and NikeFuel. Unlike calorie counts, which vary based on someone’s gender and body type, NikeFuel is a normalized score that awards equal points for the same activity regardless of...

Another day, another lawsuit. Apple is being sued by a Toronto lawyer over a MacBook Pro and accessories that was purchased at the Apple Store in the Yorkdale Mall and stolen shortly after, reports "The Toronto Star" (http://macte.ch/Hw68p). Attorney Michael Deverett bought the Apple laptop, an iPod touch and other peripherals on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009. When he stopped at a convenience store, someone broke into his car and stole all the Apple goodies. Deverett has sued Apple, claiming that theft rings in the U.S. had been targeting Apple store customers in the same way and Apple had a duty of care to warn store customers of the danger. Apple also serviced Deverett’s stolen computer for someone else even after Deverett called to tell them it was stolen, adds the "Toronto Star."

Increased adoption of cloud computing among various enterprises will lead to the development of servers suitable for cloud computing, according to new data from Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com). This indirectly increases usage of microprocessors that will help the cloud computing to deal with issues such as security, says the research group. The rising demand for cloud computing services among enterprises and customers has its impact on the microprocessor market through the technology people use to access these services. This has led to the designing and development of microprocessors to power efficient servers for cloud computing, according to Research and Markets. Cloud computing will make it easier for startups to launch and smaller firms to benefit from huge data centers shared by various enterprises in the cloud. This increases the adoption of cloud computing among various firms which indirectly increases the customers of microprocessors.

OtterBox has introduced a special edition Commuter Series case for the iPhone 4/4S that supports LiveStrong, sold exclusively at RadioShack and OtterBox.com. A portion of the proceeds from every purchase of an OtterBox Commuter Series LiveStrong case will benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation, created in 1997 by the cancer survivor and champion cyclist to serve people affected by cancer and empower them to take action against the world’s leading cause of death. The foundation is now known publicly by its powerful brand, LiveStrong. The double-layer design of the Commuter Series combines an inner silicone skin with an outer polycarbonate shell. The protective case has plugs covering all ports to protect from dust and dirt and a self-adhesive screen protector to defend from scratches and scuffs. For more info go to http://www.otterbox.com/LiveStrong .

Line 6 is showing its Mobile Keys premium keyboard controller for the Mac, PC, iPad and iPhone at the ongoing Winter NAMM 2012. Mobile Keys 25 and Mobile Keys 49 are a pair of new, lightweight, aportable keyboards designed to control iOS music apps and do double duty as USB MIDI controllers for Mac and Windows computers. Both models have full-size keys, which are velocity sensitive, allowing them to interpret the nuances and subtleties of a keyboardist’s playing. Both Mobile Keys models are compatible with any iOS app that supports the CoreMIDI standard for input, including GarageBand and numerous drum machines, synthesizers and virtual instruments. The keyboards require no additional hardware to function; they plug right into an iOS device’s dock connector. They’re bus powered, so they need no external power supply or batteries. The two keyboards are equipped with pitch bend and modulation wheels for additional sonic control, and they also have a pair of quarter-inch TRS jacks for...

Akai Pro has debuted the MPC Fly (http://www.akaiprompc.com/mpcfly.php#) made specifically for use with an iPad 2. It's a music production controller -- hence, MPC.   MPC Fly has a multifunctional, double-hinged design gives you the flexibility to produce tracks anywhere. It also acts as a protective case between sessions and give you total access to your iPad 2 for normal uses. Contact Akai for pricing.

iDJ Pro from Numark (http://www.numark.com/index.php/product/idjpro) is a new professional DJ controller that expands your iPad’s touch interface, integrating with Algoriddim's djay for iPad app. iDJ Pro features a sleek, brushed aluminum casing and is equipped with a variety of professional controls. It puts a 30-pin dock for iPad at the center of its traditional dual-platter setup, giving you access to your Apple tablet’s touchscreen alongside an expanded layout of physical controls: touch-sensitive platters, large die-cast aluminum volume knobs, a dedicated music-library scroll knob, plus hot cues, looping, pitch and effect controls. Once your iPad is docked, a latching door provides integration. What's more, iDJ Pro empowers you with access to the cloud, allowing you to download tracks and quickly have them pumping. It's fully integrated with Algoriddim’s r djay for iPad app and can work with other Core MIDI-enabled apps. It's also AirPlay compatible, giving you the flexibility to...

Ergonis Software (http://www.ergonis.com) has released Typinator 5.0, the latest version of its tool for auto-typing text and auto-correcting typos system-wide across all Mac OS X applications. The major new feature is scripting support, which opens up a range of opportunities to create more generic and versatile text snippets than ever. With a simple inclusion mechanism, text expansions can execute external scripts and include their results in the expansion. Typinator supports scripts written in in many different languages like AppleScript, Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby, and arbitrary shell scripting languages. Typinator requires Mac OS X 10.5 or later. Mac OS X 10.6 or higher is recommended. Typinator can be purchased on the Ergonis Software web site for approximatelyl US$19.99 for a single user license. A family pack for installation on up to five computers is $29.99. The upgrade to Typinator 5.0 is free for anyone who purchased Typinator after June 1, 2011.

A video of Apple's education event in which the company introduced iBooks 2, iBooks Author and more is now available. You can download it at the Apple Keynotes section of iTunes Preview (http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/1201oihbafvpihboijhpihbasdouhbasv/...). Or you can stream it from http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/1201oihbafvpihboijhpihbasdouhbasv/... if you have Mac OS X 10.6 or higher and QuickTime 7 or better.

Apple has released iTunes 10.5.3, which offers support for syncing Apple's iBooks 2 interactive textbooks. It lets you download those books from the iTunes Store on a Mac or directly from the iBookstore on an iPad. iTunes 10.5.3 is available via the Software Updates component of Mac OS X's Systems Preferences app.

Apple has announced an all-new iTunes U app, giving educators and students tools for their iPad, iPhone and iPod touch to teach and take entire courses. The all-new iTunes U app lets teachers create and manage courses including components such as lectures, assignments, books, quizzes and syllabuses and offer them to millions of iOS users around the world. The iTunes U app gives iOS users access to the world’s largest catalog of free educational content from universities including Cambridge, Duke, Harvard, Oxford and Stanford. Starting today any K-12 school district can offer full courses through the iTunes U app. iTunes U has already become a popular learning tool for students with over 700 million downloads, according to Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. "The all-new iTunes U app enables students anywhere to tap into entire courses from the world's most prestigious universities," he says. "Never before have educators been able to offer their...

AOC (http://us.aoc.com/) has released the e2352Phz, a slim, high-definition 23-inch monitor that offers "flicker-free 3D" on a computer. The monitor uses FPR 3D technology to display bright, crisp and vivid 3D images, while eliminating eye fatigue and dizziness caused by conventional 3D displays, according to AOC Marketing Manager Robert Velez.. The e2352Phz offers simple setup with plug-and-play connection to any computer, and its HDMI 1.4a input is ready to play 3D video and sound from the latest consumer electronics devices, from 3D Blu-ray players to gaming consoles like PS3 and Xbox 360, he adds. The AOC 3D Monitor (e2352Phz) is now available for US$299 at TigerDirect.com and BestBuy.com, among other retailers. It comes with two pairs of lightweight, passive polarized glasses that can also be used with any other FPR 3D television or display.

Vogel's (http://www.tabletonthewall.com/) has introduced the US$69.99 Flex Mount, the the latest addition to the RingO, its patented universal tablet mounting system. It's a wall mounting solution for iPads and other tablets Its adjustable arm incorporates full swivel and tilt, allowing you to move your tablet to a position and angle for optimal viewing. In addition, the Flex Mount features a space-saving design, folding back discretely less than one inch from the wall. 

"In an instant, your iPad can mount on the living room wall as a weather station, in the bedroom as an entertainment system, or in the kitchen as a virtual cookbook," says said Ruud Schaay, vice president of Sales at Vogel’s.

Bubbling Math (http://bubblingmath.com/), a learning game for children in grades 1-4, is being offered for free until Friday, Jan. 20. Here's how the game is described: "Bubbling Math helps kids practice elementary math operations. It is a real game, complete with levels, music, sounds, and awards. It also contains a module that allows parents to choose which types of tasks they want their children to practice, and to review wrong answers afterward. iPad version is available as well. " As of Friday, the app will revert to its normal price of $3.99. Bubbling Math is also available for iPad on the Apple App Store for $1.99.