By: Edward Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Highly Anticipated App Brings Image-editing Power of Photoshop to Apple iPad 2

At Mobile World Congress, Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced that Adobe Photoshop Touch is now available for iPad 2, via the iTunes App Store. Adobe Photoshop Touch offers core Photoshop features, as well as new capabilities for creating and sharing in an app custom-built for tablets. The app is a central component of Adobe Touch Apps, a family of six intuitive touch screen applications, inspired by Adobe Creative Suite software. iPad versions of the other Adobe Touch Apps are expected later this year.

Photoshop Touch gives users the ability to combine multiple photos into layered images, make essential edits and apply professional effects to create beautiful artwork, touch up photos, paint, lay out ideas and much more. The Scribble Selection Tool allows users to easily extract objects in an image by simply scribbling on what to keep, and then what to remove. With Refine Edge technology from Photoshop, even hard-to-select areas with soft edges are easily captured when making selections. Photoshop Touch helps users quickly find images and share creations through integration with Facebook and Google Image Search.

“People will be amazed with what they can create on the iPad using Photoshop Touch,” said David Wadhwani, senior vice president and general manager, Digital Media Business Unit, Adobe. “Photoshop Touch combines the magic of Photoshop and its core features with the convenience of a tablet, bringing image-editing power to the fingertips of millions of people.”

“Adobe Photoshop Touch offers a huge convenience factor and boasts cool Photoshop features tailored for the iPad,” said Brian Yap, creative director, Boxing Clever. “Nearly all of the features I imagined being in Photoshop Touch are there, including the depth in layers, the extraction tools, and fade tool.”

“I love the organic process of working on the tablet. With Adobe Photoshop Touch, I have a new form of image creation with familiar tools but in a more relaxed work space, allowing me to rediscover image making through play rather than production,” Dan Marcolina, owner, Marcolina Design & Marcolina Slate. 

“My team and I put Photoshop Touch through the paces and it shines as a tool for on-the-go photo shoots,” said Tyler Stableford, photographer and director, Tyler Stableford Photography + Film. “Time is always critical when taking pictures during the golden hours of light. With a wireless connection, the art director and I can place photos, immediately as we take them, into a layer with the client’s artwork. This is really helpful when shooting catalog covers.” 

In addition to Photoshop Touch, Adobe expects to release the following touch apps for the iPad in the coming months: Adobe Collage for moodboards, Adobe Debut for presenting and reviewing creative work, Adobe Ideas for sketching, Adobe Kuler for exploring color themes, and Adobe Proto for website and mobile app prototyping.

Helpful Links:

• Artist Project Deconstruction: Bryan Yap

• Artist Project Deconstruction: Dan Marcolina

• Artist Project Deconstruction: Chris Georgenes

• Artist Project Deconstruction: Kyle Lambert

• Introducing Adobe Photoshop Touch on iPad 2 and Android

• Basic Retouching with Photoshop Touch

• Photoshop Touch Sky Replacement Tutorial

• Photoshop Touch Scribble Select Tool

• Photoshop Touch Paint Effect

• Photoshop Touch Add Effects

• Photoshop Touch Camera Fill

• Photoshop Touch Google Search

• Photoshop Touch Blend Modes

Pricing and Availability:

Adobe Photoshop Touch is available today in the iTunes App Store for US$9.99. Photoshop Touch is available in most geographies with English language support. The app will run on iPad 2 running on iOS5. For more information on Photoshop Touch, visit adobe products. Customers may submit feedback on the community powered feedback site, feedback photoshop. Users may also connect with the Photoshop Touch Team directly on Facebook, via Twitter or on the Photoshop blog. For Photoshop Touch how-to videos, visit adobe TV.

By: Edward Jackson (Editor In Chief)

 Avid’s award-winning technology is built into Avid Studio iPad app, making it quick and easy to create, edit and share professional quality movies on the go.

Avid, today announced the release of its first video editing application for the iPad—Avid Studio, available immediately at the Apple App Store. Leveraging decades of experience working closely with the world’s leading movie and television studios, Avid has made the Avid Studio app for the iPad easy enough for first-timers, yet sophisticated enough for more advanced editors. As the first iPad app for video editing to offer frame-by-frame editing accuracy and access to all kinds of media, Avid Studio for iPad allows users to quickly and easily create and share exciting, highly professional multimedia experiences, wherever they want to. As a special launch promotion, the rich capabilities of Avid Studio for iPad are available for the introductory price of only $4.99.

Avid Studio for iPad allows users to begin editing with ease by offering access to any videos, photos and audio already in their iPad library, or media that can be imported from iTunes, cameras and more. Users can then arrange clips in the Storyboard, make precision edits using the Timeline, and enhance their movie creations with high-quality transitions, effects and a soundtrack. They can then share movies directly to YouTube, Facebook and more—or export projects to Avid Studio software, where they can continue editing with even more advanced tools on their PC. In addition, editing enthusiasts can get started fast with an easy-to-understand how-to guide, included with the app.

Avid Studio for iPad comes with innovative features to help any movie enthusiast elevate their moviemaking, including:

• Precision Editing Tools: Avid Studio for iPad is the only app to offer a unique combination of Storyboard and Timeline features, allowing users to arrange clips in the Storyboard, then edit like a pro with the precision of the Timeline, which offers frame-by-frame trimming capability. Avid Studio for iPad also takes full advantage of touch capabilities to offer a fun, easy yet professional level editing experience. For example, with a touch or swipe, users can easily resize and rotate a title directly from the preview window, among other functions.

• Full Media Access: There are more creative options for editors, with access to all kinds of media—video, audio or photos—in their iPad library as well as access to media from devices via an iPad Camera Connection Kit (sold separately) or from iTunes or other sources. Users can also capture video and photos within the app for use in their projects. The app also automatically recognizes imported media that has been previously organized by albums, events, faces and more—providing fast, easy access.

• Easy Video and Audio Track Compositing: Users can unleash their creativity by dropping one clip on top of the other in the Storyboard to create a picture-in-picture effect or take advantage of the professionally-designed animated montage themes to layer their photos and videos, all included. Multiple audio tracks also allow for easy layering of music, audio and sound effects to create movie soundtracks.

• Export to Avid Studio for the PC: Avid Studio for iPad also offers a bridge to the power of the desktop by offering a direct link to Avid Studio software (for PC). Customers who use Avid Studio PC desktop software can continue editing their projects with additional powerful features including sophisticated photo and video correction tools, unlimited timeline tracks, an impressive collection of included content and more.

“More and more users are relying on mobile devices for media content creation, viewing and sharing, and we’re proud to deliver a feature-rich new app that takes powerful Avid technology and adapts it specifically for the iPad. Now video editors have a great, powerful and fun way to create movies and tell their stories,” said Tanguy Leborgne, vice president, creative enthusiasts products and solutions at Avid. “Editing enthusiasts can now use a mobile application that has our industry-leading video editing technology built into it—with the interactive capabilities of iOS—to help them make incredible movies at home or on the go.”

What Users are Saying:

“As a content producer, I can tell you that a video editing app like Avid Studio for the iPad is a breakthrough. Avid is the industry leader in the field of editing. Being creative and having trust in your tools is essential. Whether you’re new to video editing and animating a series of family photos, or a seasoned professional working on a music video for the “next big thing,” having a robust editing tool in the mobile environment is a must. The technology is here and the time has come with Avid Studio for the iPad,” said Michael Dixon, Founder of Stormnet Media, a leading production company creating innovative content with credits for Olivaylle Australian Olive Oil, Oprah Winfrey Network and America’s Got Talent.

Pricing and Availability:

The Avid Studio app for the iPad is available worldwide today from the App Store for a limited-time introductory price of $4.99. All prices listed are USD. For more information, please visit http://www.avid.com/avidstudioapp

By: Edward Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Free app enables users to check into TV shows and get real rewards such as gift cards, movie tickets, music and much more; innovative brands and networks onboard for launch

Viggle a Function(x) company, today announced that its first free app is now available in the iTunes App Store. Viggle works with iOS devices such as iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and rewards people with gift cards, movie tickets, music and more for checking into TV shows using its proprietary show matching feature. The company, founded by media and entertainment entrepreneur Robert F.X. Sillerman, also announced a number of strategic launch partners including Verizon, Pepsi, Gatorade, Burger King Corporation and Capital One.

“We’re excited that Viggle is now in the hands of passionate TV viewers,” said Chris Stephenson, president of Function(x). “And, we’re lucky to be working with networks and brands who really understand the connection people have with the shows they love. Everyone wins here—consumers get rewarded for their loyalty and networks and brand partners are able to connect with Viggle users in relevant and meaningful ways.”

“At USA, we are committed to expanding the ways our fans engage with great content beyond their TV viewing experience,” said Jesse Redniss, senior vice president, digital, USA Network. “By connecting to Viggle, we are able to offer access to more compelling engagement, participation and affinity rewards that extend our viewers’ access across multiple touch points.”

A number of innovative brand partners have signed on to take advantage of the rich opportunities Viggle creates for them to engage with consumers. Viggle provides these companies with easy ways to target different audiences and present their brands in a variety of contextually relevant ways including games, quizzes, polls, downloads and videos that are related to the consumer and what they’re watching. “Pepsi is and always has been an entertainment brand,” said Massimo d’Amore, president of PepsiCo’s Global Beverages Group. “Being partnered with the best in music, sports and TV is very natural for us and partnering with Viggle helps us keep close to the consumer on an exciting new platform.”

“The way people consume TV has completely transformed since everyone started watching their favorite shows with a mobile phone or tablet at their side. It is no longer a passive form of entertainment,” said Marc Mentry, senior vice president, advertising and sponsorships, Capital One. “We want to meet consumers where they are and unexpected rewards are a great way to drive engagement with the Capital One brand.”

Core to Viggle’s promise are the rewards consumers get for checking into the TV shows they love. Viggle users will be able to redeem points for rewards from a growing slate of more than 20 brands that span entertainment, retail, restaurants and travel, including Best Buy, Sephora, Hulu Plus, and many more. New rewards are being added to the catalogue every week and Viggle is working with rewards partners to create special reward opportunities such as daily deals and one-of-a-kind experiences for TV’s biggest fans.

Viggle works today with live, recorded and online TV content from more than 150 channels—with more being added daily. Using the integrated microphone on the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch device, Viggle automatically identifies what the viewer is watching on television. Once checked in, users can see a summary of all Twitter conversation related to the show and are able to share comments from within the app directly to Twitter or Facebook. Users can learn more about their favorite shows by clicking on direct links to online show pages, unique content, downloads and special merchandise that are integrated directly on the show pages.

“Viggle is a powerful new way for brands to engage with consumers using cutting-edge technology,” said Bob Jeffrey, CEO and Worldwide Chairman, JWT. “Our business today is driven by innovation and the road to success sits at the intersection of Hollywood, Silicon Valley and Madison Avenue. Clients and consumers alike will love Viggle.”

By: Edward Jackson (Editor in Chief)

Mellanox 10GbE Products Primed for Upcoming Intel Romley/Sandy Bridge with PCI Express 3.0 Launch

Mellanox Technologies, Ltd., a leading supplier of high-performance, end-to-end connectivity solutions for data center servers and storage systems, today announced a new pricing structure and expanded channel for its high-performance line of end-to-end 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) solutions. Analysts are predicting significant movement towards 10GbE in 2012, particularly with the upcoming launch of the Intel Romley and Sandy Bridge with PCI Express 3.0 platform. Mellanox’s solutions provide end users with better application performance, lower power consumption and lower cost vs. offerings currently available from other Ethernet vendors.

With the launch today of the new pricing structure, Mellanox’s 10GbE price/port for switches and adapters are significantly below current industry averages:

Description & Recommended End User Price

• Mellanox SX1016
  1u, 64 port 10GbE switch
  $188 per port
• Mellanox SX1036
  1u, 64 port 10GbE, 36 40GbE switch
  $257 per port
• Mellanox ConnectX-3 EN
  2 port 10GbE host adapter
  $390 per card

According to Crehan Research, currently there are almost 170 million data center and server-class ports installed for 1GbE worldwide and about 25 million ports for 10GbE, 10GbE currently accounts for just 13 percent of all those installed Ethernet ports. In 2012, Crehan Research expects 10GbE to increase to 37 percent of the total annual market shipments.

“In 2012, we expect to see a significant increase in the number of 10GbE deployments, with it becoming the dominant and de facto data center network connection by 2014,” said Seamus Crehan, president, Crehan Research. “Price declines, such as the ones announced today from Mellanox, will help drive volume adoption.”

Mellanox has also expanded its Ethernet offering via its worldwide network of channel and distribution partners including Altima, Avnet, Colfax Direct, DScon, Hammer PLC, SAMboo Systems, Servants, SysOne, Tech Data, and others. A complete listing of Mellanox Authorized Distributors is available at mellanox.com. “The launch of the Intel Romley and Sandy Bridge platform in the coming months is going to give the industry a strong push towards faster interconnect speeds,” said Eyal Waldman, chairman, president and CEO of Mellanox Technologies. “For data center managers, 10GbE is the minimum data rate they should be considering for all deployments this year. Mellanox products and solutions are delivering 10GbE and higher data rates today – providing better application performance, lower power consumption and improved ROI.”

10GbE Webinar: January 30, 2012

Mellanox also today announced a new educational webinar taking place January 30 from 8:00am-9:00am PST. The webinar will include detailed 10GbE market data presented by Crehan Research, including adoption trends, forecasted market growth and an overview of Mellanox end-to-end 10GbE solutions. The webinar will also be held in Chinese on Thursday, February 9 from 10:00am-11:00am China Standard Time. For more information and to register, please visit mellanox.com.

By: Edward Jackson (Editor in Chief)

IDT’s FlatNoise Technology Provides a Virtually Flat Noise Figure as Gain is Reduced, Improving QoS and Easing Data Converter SNR Requirements to Reduce System Cost

Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (IDT), the Analog and Digital Company delivering essential mixed-signal semiconductor solutions, today announced the industry’s first FlatNoise dual intermediate frequency (IF) variable gain amplifier (VGA) for multi-mode 2G/3G/4G wireless base station transceivers. IDT’s devices offer the industry’s best noise figure (4 dB) for maximum gain and virtually no degradation when gain is reduced, improving quality-of-service (QoS) and easing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) requirements of the downstream data converter to reduce system cost.

The IDT F1240 and F1241 are dual-channel digitally-controlled IF VGAs featuring IDT’s FlatNoise technology. This new technology virtually eliminates noise figure degradation for the critical top 13 dB section of a wide 31 dB gain control range – a stark contrast to other IF VGAs which typically exhibit a dB for dB degradation in noise figure as gain is reduced. FlatNoise eases the SNR requirements of the system’s data converter, enabling customers to improve signal quality and use a more cost-effective, lower-resolution data converter. For many applications, this allows the customer to downgrade from a 14-bit data converter to a 12-bit data converter with comparable system SNR.

“Our new FlatNoise RF products bring tremendous value to the application and complement IDT’s leading timing and RapidIO solutions for base station designs,” said Tom Sparkman, vice president and general manager of the Communications Division at IDT. “The F1240 and F1241 feature the industry’s best noise figure and lowest power consumption, and join our previously announced F1200 as the industry’s first products to offer FlatNoise technology. By improving the signal quality at the VGA, we essentially make it easier for downstream devices to operate. This gives system designers flexibility to use a more cost-effective data converter; for example, using a 12-bit device instead of a 14-bit device.”

IDT’s new IF VGAs feature extremely low distortion (OIP3 = +49 dBm), allowing for higher front-end gain, improving the receiver’s sensitivity and resulting in additional QoS enhancement. The devices operate over a 10 MHz to 500 MHz frequency range with a typical maximum gain of 20 dB and offer the industry’s lowest power consumption (80 mA per channel). In addition, the IF VGAs are extremely accurate, with a gain step error of only 0.04 dB, improving the system SNR performance even further. A parallel or serial communication interface provides control of a 6-bit (0.5dB: F1240) or 5-bit (1.0 dB: F1241) resolution, giving designers maximum flexibility.

By: Edward Jackson (Editor In Chief)

The Anthro mobile device family consists of two product lines. Choose between compact mobile Carts or stationary Cabinets to charge and store tablets and other mobile devices. Charging Carts hold and transport 40 devices. The stationary Cabinet is offered for tablets (20 iPad mobile devices or tablets) or for mini-touch devices (40 iPods pocket computers and similar devices).*drool*

The Tablet Charging Cart measures just 23.75”w x 24.5”d and is the smallest storage cart available on the market. Anthro’s Charging Cart is the ideal vertical storage solution in education and healthcare where space is at a premium. Individually-numbered bays easily hold 40 iPads including their cases. Cable management clips position the power inlet at the front of each bay for quick connection. Keyed door locks and a two-point locking system keep tablets secure. Each door features mounting points for padlocks for added security. A separate locking IT area is located in the back of the Charging Carts to protect adapters, cords and cables.

Accessories such as an optional Storage Drawer and a Sync Kit are also available. The optional Storage Drawer mounts under either Cart and is the perfect size (10.75”w x 14.5”d x 4”h) for keeping peripherals handy. Anthro’s Sync Kit is a 10-port USB hub which provides a wired connection to your iPads, iPods, and other devices so you can sync 10 at once.

Readily convertible to a mobile teaching station with its comfortable height of 46”, the Tablet Charging Cart includes a recessed top work surface which keeps a laptop from sliding off. The Tablet Cart features a lockable storage area for a laptop. Three external receptacles are conveniently located on the Tablet Cart for projectors and scanners. The 4” inch casters make it easy to transport the Tablet Charging Cart from room to room.

Charging Cabinets come in two mounting options. One option is to mount the Charging Cabinet on a wall. Or the Charging Cabinet can also be attached to the top of a counter or table. Whether wall-mounted or attached to a shelf or counter, the Cabinets organize the clutter of mobile devices and save valuable floor space. The Tablet Cabinet holds 20 devices and the Mini-touch Cabinet holds 40.

All of Anthro’s mobile device Carts and Cabinets feature a power indicator light and an on/off switch which protects the contents from a power surge when plugging in the cart and devices. The Anthro mobile device Carts and Cabinets ship assembled. Constructed of steel with a baked-on powder coat finish, the Charging Carts and Charging Cabinets have a Lifetime Warranty. A two year warranty covers electrical components. The cord and plug are not under warranty. Anthro Corp was founded in 1984. Anthro provides height-adjustable workstations for the healthcare, education, lab, business, engineering, and government markets.

By Foster Scott (Contributing  Editor)

To listen to a podcast of this article, click Foster’s epsilon Podcast

When friends and family learn you are into tech, questions of security and spam are right up there with what brand to buy and which piece of tech is better than the next.  So when I am asked the same question over and over again I know it is time to put a spotlight on a current situation.  Over the last month, questions about epsilon and who they are have been asked by many a family member, friend and coworker.  Who is epsilon and how did they get my name and email? How were they even in the position to have it fall into the wrong hands, since I don’t even remember doing business with them.

Let me start with companies you should know by now or more importantly, may have given your name and email to.  This would have happened when signing up for things like company newsletters, contests or as part of registering a product.  Companies like:

• Target
• BestBuy
• Verizon
• MoneyGram
• Capital One
• Tivo
• Kroger
• US Bank
• JPMorgan Chase
• CITI
• and many more

See, I thought you would know a few.  Part of the condition of giving some companies your name and email (for entering contests or signing up for things like online discounts) you agree to let them send you future emails. These are legit companies with legit reasons for contacting you.   Now for the epsilon part.  Many companies then use a company like epsilon to handle said email communications.  It just so happens that epsilon is the world’s largest permission based email marketing provider.  They send over 40 BILLION emails annually and counts over 2,500 businesses as its client.  That includes 7 of the Fortune 10 companies, each choosing to use epsilon to build and host their customer databases.  Early this April we found out some of the names and email addresses from that database is now in the wrong hands.  The affected clients represent about 2% of epsilon’s total client base.

This means phishers (people who use techniques to trick others into giving out personal information through email solicitation) can target attacks more efficiently and thus have a better chance to take your identity plus your hard earned money.  How you say? Normally a phisher would have to send out many random emails to a person and hope one gets clicked.  If you have never been to or never started an account at Bed Bath & Beyond then a email you get from them can safely be considered spam.  Same with a credit unions you have never visited or even heard of.  Now my example: I have Tivo, and an ongoing email account with them for years.  Now a phisher knows a company I use, along with  my name and email.  I’m sure I can expect a future email to look like it is from Tivo, calling me by name, and sent to a email account I regularly use for contact from Tivo.  Perhaps it will ask me to verify my account through a link.  My spam filter may not catch it since Tivo is on my allowed email list.  Now you can see how big a problem this could be.

Phishers love to hang out in shadows of legit companies.  One of the easiest ways to trick consumers out of their information is look legit, act in a way a company you trust would act and then hope you click the page or the link to enter your information (or more importantly, make you believe it is just re-entering account info).  They even make the page you are directed to “look and act” like the real site.  For this to work, they are counting on one simple factor.  That you are too lazy to call or go directly to the website they are posing as.  That you will just click the little blue link and trust rather than the extra 10 seconds it would take to type the address into your browser of choice.  So what can you do?

For once, the answer is simple.  It only takes a little effort on your part and it is not rocket science.  Do not follow links from unsolicited emails!  Really, that is it.  I have never heard of a legit company asking for account info or telling me my password may not be working and to please type it in again through a email.  Never a SSN or birthday either.  Most will just say, Company A is trying to reach you, please log in to your account for more info.  Then you go into your account through their site, not a link included into a email.

Even epsilon can be quoted saying, “Do not follow links from unsolicited e-mails, even when they appear to come from a person or organization you are familiar with. If you are unsure of the authenticity of an e-mail communication, call the organization in question directly or access their page by typing the URL into your browser.”

Some more info given on epsilon’s website are good guidelines and info you can use…

“To avoid getting hooked:

Don’t reply to email messages that ask for personal or financial information. Delete any emails that ask you to confirm or divulge your financial information. Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information via email. If you are concerned about your account, contact the organization mentioned in the email using a telephone number you know to be genuine, or open a new internet browser session and type in the company’s correct Web address yourself.

Don’t email personal or financial information. Email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information. If you initiate a transaction and want to provide your personal or financial information through an organization’s website, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL for a website that begins “https:” (the “s” stands for “secure”). Unfortunately, no indicator is foolproof; some phishers have forged security icons.

Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive — regardless of who sent them.

Don’t cut and paste a link from the message into your Web browser — phishers can make links look like they go one place, but that actually send you to a different site.

Check the “from” field. Phishers can easily spoof authentic email addresses, making it appear that an email is coming from an authentic, trusted sender, but checking the “from” field can at least help you identify unsophisticated phishers. If the “from” email contains excessive characters, has spelling mistakes, or does not share the same domain as the company (e.g. “@companycustomershelp.com” (illegitimate) vs. “@company.com” (legitimate)) you might have found a phish.

Look for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. A lot of phishing activity originates from outside the U.S. where English is not the first language so when they craft these emails they often make grammatical errors or spelling mistakes – errors your real bank would never make in a professional customer email.

Some scammers send an email that appears to be from a legitimate business and ask you to call a phone number to update your account or access a “refund.” Because they use Voice over Internet Protocol technology, the area code you call does not reflect where the scammers really are. If you need to reach an organization you do business with, call the number on your financial statements or on the back of your credit card.

Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software, as well as a firewall, and update them all regularly. Some phishing emails contain software that can harm your computer or track your activities on the internet without your knowledge. Anti-virus software and a firewall can protect you from inadvertently accepting such unwanted files. Anti-virus software scans incoming communications for troublesome files. A firewall helps make you invisible on the internet and blocks all communications from unauthorized sources.

Forward phishing emails to spam@uce.gov – and to the legitimate company that is being misrepresented in the phishing email. You also may report phishing email to reportphishing@antiphishing.org. The Anti-Phishing Working Group, a consortium of ISPs, security vendors, financial institutions and law enforcement agencies, uses these reports to fight phishing.

If you’ve been scammed, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft website at ftc.gov/idtheft and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/complaint.”

For more on epsilon’s press release you can read it here.

Okay, so what if you really want to use the link?  Maybe you want to check it first so you can reopen that email later and reuse the link instead of always typing it into a web browser.  I would say to learn how to open a new .txt file on your desktop.  Name it whatever you like as you will not be saving info on it.  What you will be doing is right clicking the link to copy it to your clipboard.  Open the .txt file and then paste the link into it.  You now can look for spelling errors, extra words or names like mymyspace.com. You will be able to see the link before clicking it.  Then close the .txt file without saving it (unless you want to keep track of the links you click). Some browsers like Chrome will show you the link you will be directed to.  To see it, hover your pointer over the link but do not click it. Look at the lower left corner of the browser and you should see the true address the link is pointing to.  Although if the link is a long one, you may not see all of it so I stick with the cut and paste into a text (.txt) file.

For an up-to-date list of confirmed companies affected by the attack, check out SecurityWeek’s list here.

Want MRT to check into something that confuses you?  Is there something you would like MRT to find out more about.  The only bad question is the one unasked so please ask away in the comments.

By: Tony Novoa (Contributing Editor) 

Personally crystallized & autographed 64 GB Apple iPad, Google Nexus S + 1 week all expense paid vacation to NYC for two to hang out with our former beauty queen & the rest of the MRT staff? Read to the end for the ultimate MRT giveaway yet! 

What can you say about about a self-made fashionista, world traveling diva, total tech geek babe, Editor-In-Chief, singer, musician, gamer, wanna-be chef, global movie fan and uber awesome woman that she hasn’t already said herself? That is the dilemma we face as Jenna Gonzalez’s 30th birthday arrives. Did I say 30th birthday? Oops… I guess the cat’s out of the bag then – although Jenna is one of the few women we know that is actually proud of her age… and how good she looks despite it . How better to celebrate such a momentous birthday than to give away the greatest gift of all… Jenna! 

An Idea, A Dream 

Ah yes… MyRealityTech’s very own Editor-In-Chief, who in a little more than 1 year has turned an idea and a dream into an honest-to-goodness online technology publication with over 180,000 subscribers. Her labor of love, supplemented by her crack team of writers who have a passion for technology and sometimes writing about it, is the reason we are where we are today. Speaking of crack… did you hear that? Let it be known that Jenna rules with an iron fist… that holds an intimidating whip around her exquisitely manicured hand… demanding a certain amount of weekly production from her team and regularly cracking that whip to make sure that we deliver. Wonder why there haven’t been so many articles lately? Well… we were actually ordered to focus our time during the holiday season on our families and to write no more than 1 weekly article! Who are we to argue? Come January, each of us will return to our eloquent and productive pace of 2 whopping posts a week! I know…what a slavedriver. 

So… who is Jenna? 

Who is Jenna? Nobody knows for sure but here are some garnered tidbits. This is a woman who won’t settle for being a MENSA member (If you don’t know what MENSA is, that’s why you’re not a member) or having 1 Master’s Degree – I believe she is working on her 3rd, from an Ivy League institution no less! She’ll readily tell you that since she hardly sleeps (is she human?), sometimes she gets bored – and there’s nothing like working on another degree to shake off the cob webs and keep the mind sharp. After all, following an intense 5 mile morning run, a full-time day job, making breakfast, lunch and dinner and running MyRealityTech (some may argue – almost single-handedly), you need something like the challenge of higher learning to keep intellectually stimulated. Don’t get me wrong… we have nothing against constantly learning, but there’s always a good book, Wikipedia or Angry Birds to keep things interesting, no? 

Stars & Sais forever...

Jewels, Weapons & Music 

Interesting indeed. We haven’t even touched on some of Jenna’s diverse interests. Do you know that she is an expert on every kind of gem known to humanity? Mention an exotic jewel and she can tell you not only about it’s etymological origin & mythological meaning, but also when it can be best worn and how to match it with the right outfit, shoes, purse, color scheme and appropriate technology (crystallized, of course). She may even be able to recall the last time she wore one, the occasion and whether or not she still has it… she might have “misplaced it” among the massive amount of bling she enjoys having around her… or it may have found itself “borrowed” for some special occasion. 

Need a weapon with that? Jenna can readily suggest the right Asian Sai, Katana or Hira shuriken (ninja stars) – custom-made, of course – as well as show you the proper way to use them. It should be known that she is a multiple black belt in Kendo and teaches the occassional free class in NYC’s Central Park to hone her skills and help others sharpen theirs (Contact us for upcoming class schedules, availability & registration). New York City can be a dangerous place for a celebrity of Jenna’s caliber and she can’t always count on her body guard. Want nunchucks with that? She can probably show you how to properly use them too – custom made and with bling, of course. So, if you’re planning to venture down a dark alley any time soon, there is nobody better to have by your side than Jenna herself – unless your favorite superhero happens to be available. 

Fashion, Bling & Tech... Nirvana!

How about a song?  According to Jenna, her life is a song; she has one for every mood and can sing in key, and better than any American Idol contestant (at least that’s what we tell her ). I’d disclose what her favorite number is, but she has a new favorite every day – sometimes more than one. Did you mention Glee is coming on? Get out of the way, because she never misses an episode. Need musical accompaniment? Well, if a Karaoke machine or YouTube isn’t handy, she can always play a tune on the piano, guitar or violin – if you have one handy. Even if you don’t, she may fashion one out of whatever materials happen to be handy… she’s determined that way. LOL! 

Grace & Generosity 

With all that knowledge and talent, Jenna also brings an incredible amount of grace and generosity to the table. All you have to do is look around MyRealityTech to see all the awesome technology that we regularly give away and realize that most of it is funded very generously by our very own Editor-In-Chief. Because, as a non-profit site, we don’t do very much advertising and, trust me, Google Ads just can’t begin to cover much more than a ZAGGshield ($19.99)… and you KNOW we give away much more than that. 

Passion About Life 

But she is also generous in so many other ways and is passionate about everything in her life. Just ask her co-workers… more than 1 smartphone has met it’s demise by being flung like a projectile in one of her passionate displays (Nokia N8 anyone?). Her passion for the people in her life is equally remarkable, evidenced by the time she takes to learn about them and find ways to add value to their lives – even if they don’t always appreciate it. But it doesn’t stop there… Jenna has never met a food kitchen or “Meals On Wheels” she didn’t like – and whenever she can, she’ll contribute her time to helping feed the homeless or needy… albeit in her own fashionable way. She may be in jeans and a tee shirt, but rest assured, it is fashion diva acceptable designer wear and coordinated just right for the occasion, along with the requisite blinged out smartphone. 

Jenna's edible spread

Devotion Is King 

But that’s not all… when it comes to her family, devotion is king. You can find Jenna cooking and preparing meals for many of them every weekend; in many cases, the count has exceeded 50 – as evidenced by her tweets and pictures of the spread to be shortly devoured thereafter. Not sure if the food kitchen has any influence on that, but I can certainly see the connection here. Some would even say she may harbor a bit of a Cinderalla complex. You see, she likes things to be done just right, so she may not readily accept any assistance. After all, she needs to keep active to maintain that incredible figure – so relax and enjoy yourselves while she slaves away over her designer appliances and top of the line cookware – impeccably dressed, of course. 

How To Win A Jenna 

On such a grand occasion as the big 3-0, what better giveaway can we present than the person who gives so much of herself already! Jenna! I don’t think there is anything that would top a giveaway like that! Do you? How can you qualify for such an amazing contest? Rest assured, it won’t be easy. Then again, what is easy that is truly worth having – or winning? 

Start by telling us what you would do with such an incredible giveaway and why you would be deserving… be creative, write a poem or a song, etc. You will have until Jan 20th, The winner will get a personally crystallized & autographed 64 GB Apple iPad from Jenna herself, A brand new Google Nexus S phone as well as a chance to fly to NYC (one week all expense paid trip for 2) and come to the MRT headquarters to meet some of the staff! How would you keep such an amazing woman engaged and interested? After all, you know that Jenna spreads herself very thin and she’s on a very tight schedule. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and comment on Facebook as well! Those entries count! 

Remember I mentioned she likes to crack the whip? Let me tell you – the MyRealityTech team hears it regularly and we’d better get back to work! Because, we know how lucky we are to have Jenna in our lives. 

Happy Birthday Jenna! 

We love you!

By: Tony Novoa (Contributing Editor)

Staff Note: Don’t forget about our ongoing contests and prize giveaways such as Jenna’s Holiday Extravaganza, upcoming Apple MacBook Air and exciting passes to exclusive events! Our contests are ONLY eligible to our fans & subscribers so don’t forget to sign up. We send you a copy of each new post and giveaway announcement via email. No more, no less, zero spam! That’s a promise! We’re always doing contest giveaways every month so it pays to be on the list.

Meet the world's most expensive headphones

The Conundrum

Such a conundrum. What makes the ultimate birthday present for the technology diva who practically has everything… many times more than one? Well, the MyRealityTech Team loves their fearless leader and we would like nothing more than to deliver a gift that Jenna can enjoy day after day. So what are we to do? Well, we went ahead and asked around. Her answer may surprise you. Of all the expensive things she’s used to, a cool set of Pioneer HDJ-2000 Reference Professional DJ Headphones makes her eyes light up with delight and anticipation. After all, anyone who knows Jenna also understands how passionate she is about music and song. For those times when others may not want to be sharing in her passion, a good set of headphones are a necessity to keep everyone happy.

Considering all the different high quality headphones in the market provided by such manufacturers as Sony, Panasonic, Sennheiser, Bose, Grado and Koss, it can be easy to forget that Pioneer has long been known for being among the best DJ headphone creators. So why not settle for the very best?

These days we can find wired as well as wireless variations (radio, Bluetooth, infrared) but any true audiophile knows that to get the best quality sound, wired is still the way to go. So what about the HDJ-2000 Headphones? Well, if you ask Pioneer, this baby has the high sound quality demanded by the consummate professional DJ. Featuring a driver unit made with a diaphragm of the best material and optimal thickness, a voice coil for good balance from bass to treble and a large, 2″ diameter high flux magnet, the HDJ-2000 Pro headphones catch dance music beats needed for DJ performances. That would certainly include catching bass drum lows and treble highs. Regarding comfort, Pioneer has that covered as well. These headphones sport superior sound insulation provided by carefully selected materials and ear pads that deliver a tight seal. So, if you want to enjoy clear reproduction of mid to high sound ranges with subtle nuances, you’ll be able to – whether you’re a demanding audiophile or a professional doing studio work.

But that’s not all. Besides a snug fit, the headphones are comfortable even for long periods of wear:

• Made with a soft touch. The HDJ-2000’s flexible protein leather has a soft, natural feel is used for ear pad/head pad surfaces that touch the skin.
• Snug fit. Low-rebound urethane foam is used inside the ear pads and head pad. Designed to fit over the shape of the head, maintaining comfort even in long sessions.
• Minimized stress on the head, ensuring comfortable DJ play with magnesium alloy components are used for the main body for both light weight and durability.

How about durability you ask? These are built to last a long time. With an improved design of the DJ headphone plug and and connecting parts joining the main body and the cable, the construction is robust enough to withstand professional use. The removable Mini XLR connector also makes it easy to replace the cable if it breaks. These headphones also sport a new I-type hinge structure for functionality and design which accomplishes a natural, comfortable fit in the hands. How about looks? As we all know, Jenna loves her technology to be both superior and beautiful. Well, the headphone’s ear pads have a spun finish aluminum ring that matches the design of Pioneer CDJ player play/cue buttons, for a simple and stylish design.

Additional Features:

• Folding headphone: It folds into a compact configuration for easy carrying.
• Carry pouch: It comes with a pouch for carrying.
• Swivel mechanism: The housing turns 90 degrees for more convenient single-ear, on-shoulder and various other monitoring styles. It automatically goes back to the original position after it is swiveled.
• Click mechanism: It clicks into place to prevent inadvertent rotation or folding of the headphones during use.
• MONO/STEREO switch: Ensures monitoring even with single-ear monitoring.

MSRP: $349.00

Swarovski Edition: $2,400

For more information: Pioneer

Now for the runners-up:

Dr Dre Beats by CrystalRoc

Audio Technica Crystal PRO700 By CrystalRoc

So, what do you think? Obviously we’d love to get the diva her bling, but we’re not as fortunate to have deep pockets like she does. So do these headphones make the perfect birthday gift for our gorgeous Editor-In-Chief? Could this mean that Jenna may have aspirations to add “Professional DJ” to her illustrious list of ventures? Should we go with Jenna’s recommendation or is there a better option? What would you recommend? Sound off with your input. We always love hearing from you. Why… who knows? You may end up convincing us of a diferent way to go! But don’t wait too long… January 3 is right around the corner and Jenna wants to hear her music!

And don’t forget, we will be announcing details on the MacBook Air giveaway very soon. In order to avoid any conflict with our current giveaways such as the Dyson Ball and the Jenna’s Holiday Extravaganza (10 great gadgets in 1 giveaway!), we are planning to award the MacBook Airs toward the end of the Holiday Season. Details will soon be announced. For now, you may want to get a head start and follow @MyRealityTech on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook if you have not already done so. As with all our other contests, a substantial number of prizes will be awarded via these two avenues, so it always pays to follow us!

Yes, it is Brittney’s birthday today, so since we’re forever giving away prizes, we thought we would make this special day to remember. Yes friends and foes, MRT is holding another ridiculously extravagant giveaway in honor of Ms. Wilson! But first, we honor the extra crispy country-fried comrade.

So yeah. Who the hell is Brittney anyway?And why do we even care to post a birthday special on her? Hey, don’t ask me. I’m just the nameless, faceless ”admin” dude trying to put something together because the rest of the staffers are too busy buying Christmas gifts for people they don’t even like. Well, Brittney’s this Southern chick who apparently works as a full time nurse and likes to dabble with technology. At least that’s what we were told a few months ago. She likes to go by the handle “thenerdynurse” which is cool I guess, until you realize that her definition of “technology” is an iPhone. Wow…we really need to do more background checks on people.  

In case you haven’t noticed from her posts, she recently got an iPad as well, which is all she ever talks about now. So since we’ve had Brittney on the team, it’s been quite an experience. Don’t ask me how, I’m just keeping an eye on my word count. So far, the team seems to be getting along with her just fine. Well, except for the 3-ways and conference calls where nobody ever says anything. We’ve even discussed turning our conference calls into podcasts, but that was pretty much deaded after we played one back and all we heard was Brittney jabbering about her son Ty. Yes, thanks to Brittney, we now know more about Ty than we ever wanted to. Well…and Apple related products of course.

In all honesty though, Brittney has been a great addition to our team. After all, how else would we know the worldly impact of the iPad? Or Brittney’s shady stalking past with Steve Jobs (Court records have been sealed since). Better yet, how we could possibly learn that Ty loves to sneak into boxes and hibernate while her husband Mark vacuums the house in a suspicious late-night infomercial-like way? Aside from being an unstoppable chatterbox, we’ve recently discovered her apparent flair for fashionable tech. Ah yes, Brittney has become our resident fashionista on a budget. Something a lot of people must be able to relate to right? I mean, Jenna’s all about fashion. But who seriously spends $1,500 crystallizing an iPad that cost $700 and buying a $400 “I am Rich” app for the hell of it??? That’s freakin ridiculous and disgusting. Perhaps this is why we appreciate Brittney. She’s kinda like an aneurism that happens while you’re watching a bad zombie movie. One minute, you’re wondering how long you’ll have to endure this crap. Next minute, you’re in heaven. In fact, if you happen to sit through one of her informative and uberly chatty youtube videos, you’ll know why we like to refer to her as Paula Deen on crack. It’s really that much fun! Can’t wait to see what she does in Vegas for CES, what with all the alcohol and strip joints around… 

So thank you Brittney! For coming into MRT and sprinking some of your Georgia spice on it. And thanks for having your birthday on the 23rd of December. Really, I can’t think of anything better to do two days before Christmas than to celebrate your birth into this planet.

So about that giveaway. Who wants a Brittney? You heard it right here folks! You can totally win your very own Brittney. All you gotta do write a comment and say a prayer (winner must provide suitable food, water, clothing, shelter, allowance, wi-fi for her iPad & iPhone…as well as several hours each day listening to her multidimensional theories on how Apple controls the world. Winner is also responsible for shipping & taxes. Ty absolutely included for free)

Happy Birthday Brittney We love you!