By: Edward Jackson (Editor In Chief)

It’s been a while since we’ve given away some prizes here at MRT. Who could forget the epic prizes our former chief’s kind heart gave away over the years. To say her shoes are big to fill is an understatement, but I’m committed to bringing the same fun you’ve enjoyed from us over the years. That said, it’s exciting to announce this next tidbit.

Last month, Myrealitytech and TrendOy! parnered together to give away an iPad 2 and a Kindle Fire to two lucky subscribers. Well, we’re doing it again!

For those not aware, TrendOy! is newest MUST-HAVE geeky app that has the tech world buzzing. TrendOY! helps you save time by informing you of one cool new gadget each day and helping you be a more informed consumer! Who doesn’t want that? We know you don’t have the time to read through entire stories while you commute to work or have 10 minutes to catch up on news in your lunch break. We’ve made it easier to follow stories with a new editorial model that will have you stay in the loop on what’s happening in technology, gaming and entertainment categories without being overwhelmed. We’ve reviewed countless apps here at MRT, and we love TrendOy! so much, we’re willing to partner with them on yet another exciting giveaway.

Enough with the chatter. You probably want to know what the contest details are. Well, it’s gotta be the simplest we’ve ever seen as far as any contest is concerned. Click on the official contest link below and get a chance for the swanky new iPad!

http://myrealitytech.trendoy.com/ (contest will open in a new page)

We’re already very excited about TrendOy!’s useability and overall value in our busy lives. While we endure the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, might as well try and win a shiny new iPad right?

 SWEET BONUS:

Don’t forget to “LIKE” TrendOy & MRT’s official Facebook Pages! We will be selecting two lucky ”likers” on April 25, 2012 to win the newest Blackberry Smartphones! One will be selected from Trendoy’s FB page, and another from MRT’s FB page. Go on, LIKE us! You can just hit the FB icon on the right side of our pages to find us, but here’s the link to TrendOy’s FB page as well.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/TrendOY/155409274495828

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: Jenna Gonzalez (Editor In Chief)

Staff Note: We are giving away some amazing prizes in our spectacular summer giveawayextravaganza, that is coming soon. So make sure you and your friends “Like” us on Facebook and follow us onTwitter. Make sure to share with your friends, because the more Likes on FB and the more followers on Twitter the bigger the prizes. Remember that our contests are ONLY eligible to our fans and Facebook subscribers so don’t forget to LIKE us on FB! 

As many of you know I am quite a music enthusiast and a bit of a musician myself. I love playing the piano and often find myself teaching family members and friends how to play. I’ve tried and enjoyed many an iPad piano app to varying levels of success, but other than the entertainment factor of playing along, I haven’t really found anything that really teaches someone how to play. So when I saw the ION Audio Piano Apprentice for the Apple iPad 2 , I instantly thought it was a great product.

The ION Audio Piano Apprentice is a 25 note lighted keyboard with touch sensitive keys that works with the free Piano Apprentice app in iTunes store.  All you have to do attach the Piano Apprentice to your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch and follow the lighted keys with your fingers and before you know it, you’re learning to play the piano! On screen piano players can follow along to Emmy award-winning piano instructor, Scott Houston. While the keys on the Piano Apprentice light up, Scott’s hands are playing above on the screen, showing you the proper hand placement.

It is scheduled for release in early September for $99, this is one great product for any beginner, of any age.

Here is a brief introduction to Ion Audio’s Piano Apprentice and app.

Click here to view the embedded video.

As a music enthusiast who believes in the statistical facts linking academic achievement to the arts , I believe in the power of music as a teaching tool for children. If you happen to have an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch, this is something that would be a lot of fun to have. Let us know what you think about it. We just might give a few away!

For more information on the Ion Audio Piano Apprentice go to here

By: Tony Novoa (Contributing Editor)

Staff Note: YES, WE ARE GIVING AWAY 3 $129 JAWBONE ERA HEADSETS ON MARCH 31st. Details below. Don’t forget about our other ongoing contests and prize giveaways like the BlueAnt Q2 Bluetooth Headset and Wacom Bamboo Fun prize!  Remember that 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.

Jawbone Brings Us A New ERA

Hands Free

The Jawbone ERA In A Box

Ah… the joys of being hands free.  When speaking on your mobile handset that is.  We all know that as we’re zipping around from point A to point B in our favorite vehicle, we don’t want to be caught holding our beloved communication devices to our ears, lest we get slapped with a ticket by our protectors of the peace.  So, what to do if we want to have a conversation without holding our mobile phones?  Simple.  Don a stylish earset and chat to your heart’s content.  All while complying with the law and being safe drivers – or at least appearing so.  It seems that the simple act of talking on the phone while driving is enough to distract us and make us more prone to reckless driving.  So, you’ve been warned.

It’s A New Year

Last year, Jenna gave away a handful of her favorite 2010 Bluetooth accessory, the Jawbone ICON. But it’s a new year, and look what the folks at Jawbone just unveiled. We all know that despite the warnings, we want to be able to talk, when we want, where we want.  And how better to do that than with Jawbone’s latest Jawbone ERA Bluetooth earset.  Listing for $129.00, it may not be the cheapest headset on the market but it looks awesome and works quite well.  Jawbone is long known for it’s ever expanding line of Bluetooth headsets and the ERA is the latest in the series, following the popular ICON and Prime units.  Available in four styles, the ERA offers some stylish choices.  From the  Shadowbox (black metal), Smokescreen (brown copper), Midnight (black over a red background), and Silver Lining (silver over a white background).  We got to try to try the Silver Lining one… after all, every cloud has one and here at MRT, we celebrate optimism.

The Jawbone ERA Unboxed

So just how small is this bad boy.  Well, the ERA is small, albeit a bit taller than the ICON, measuring 2″ long, 0.6 inches wide and a tad under an inch thick. Similar to it’s ICON cousin, the ERA has a single multi-function button for answering, ending and switching between calls. By default, pressing and holding the button initiates voice dialing, but it can also trigger MyTalk apps.  To control the volume, simply press and hold the button during a call or other audio playback.  This will slowly cycle the volume up and down.  Release the button when the volume is right.  If you prefer, you can also adjust the volume directly from your phone. The only other hardware is an On/Off slider switch.  Overall, it’s a very stylish and smooth design.

A Whole Lot Of Shaking Going On

The ICON (predecessor) & ERA In The Palm Of Jenna's Hand

So what makes this different from the ICON? The ERA introduces an additional control mechanism thanks to a built-in accelerometer.  This enables using a gesture that Jawbone calls “TapTap”—a double-tap anywhere on the device’s exterior.  This mimics the basic functionality of the hardware button: you can answer, end and switch between calls with a quick tap-tap. You can also achieve the same results by shaking the headset, as long as the ERA isn’t in your ear. This is essentially a gesture Jawbone has christened “ShakeShake”, followed by a quick insertion of the Era into your ear.  This is equivalent to a TapTap or a button press.

What else can you do?  Use the accelerometer to enter Bluetooth-pairing mode by performing a quadruple shake (a double-ShakeShake).  Note  that the first time you turn on the ERA, it automatically enters pairing mode, so no shaking is necessary.

Both the Samsung Galaxy S 4G and the Verizon iPhone 4 easily paired with the ERA.  Other actions such as activating the spoken summary of your battery’s remaining talk time or redialing the most-recently called number can only be activated with a button press, instead of a shake or tap.

The Jawbone ERA... So Stylish In Jenna's Delicate Hands

While the accelerometer-based controls might seem gimmicky, they were actually easy to get used to.  Even so, the ICON’s button were easy to access or press but the flexibility was appreciated. In fact, the ERA’s tapping gesture offers several  unexpected benefits. First, if you happen to have longer hair, you’ll find that tapping is actually faster than moving your hair out of the way to find the ERA’s physical button. Second, by using a gentle tap instead of a button press, you don’t risk jostling the ERA out of your ear. Keep in mind that tapping too hard on a device that’s inserted in your ear can be loud.  The good news here is that gentle taps also work well.

Of course, with small footprints come some compromises.  For example, the ERA’s control system, such as the power switch, can be difficult to access when the device is already in your ear so you may be forced to remove the ERA in order to turn it on and off. Another item of note is that the iPhone seems to need an extra two seconds to enter Voice Control mode when triggered from the ERA.

Like the the other product lines, the ERA comes with an assortment of eartips and an earloop.  The variety allows for mixing and matching that eventually should lead to a snug, comfortable fit.  The plastic earloop is helpful for keeping the ERA extra secure in the ear.

How Much Time?

So, how long can you actually use the ERA without recharging?  Jawbone claims a battery life of 5.5 hours of talk time or up to 10 days of standby time.  This seems to be consistent with our findings as well.  Note that when you first open the box, you’ll need 30 minutes to charge the ERA 80% of the way, and another 30 minutes to top it off. The ERA charges via a micro-USB port; you can use the included AC charger or any powered USB port. There is also a very short USB-to-micro-USB cable included in the package.

Can You Hear The Quality?

Surprisingly enough, while the accelerometer is innovative and cool, the ERA’s single biggest improvement over its predecessors is its noticeably superior audio quality. The ERA actually features a true wideband speaker that’s 25 percent larger than the Icon’s without impacting the ergonomics of the earpiece.  The earnest also uses Jawbone’s NoiseAssassin® technology for both inbound and outbound audio.  This automatically adjusts volume and equalizer settings, catering them to your current audio environment.  Don’t believe it?  Welcome to NoiseAssassin… listen for yourself:

The result is that calls, music and YouTube audio all sound impressively clear with the ERA. It seems that the results are just as
good on the other end of phone calls, where people reported that they could hear well also. In fact, many callers indicated that I sounded better with the ERA than when switched to the phone’s built-in microphone.

Just like the ICON, the ERA can connect with Jawbone’s MyTalk service, which lets you add Audio Apps and DialApps. (AudioApps customize the spoken voice that announces battery-status updates and the like; DialApps replace the “hold down the main button” voice-dialing functionality with 411 services, transcribed texts and status updates, and more). New for the ERA is a Caller ID app that speaks the full names of your callers, instead of just their phone numbers. The app uses high-quality recordings of your contacts’ names whenever possible for better audio.

The ERA also successfully paired with a MacBook Pro and iPad, essentially working like a one-ear Bluetooth headphone.  You can listen to iTunes, Skype and other audio without difficulty.

The Specs

List Price: $129.99

Reality Grade: A

More information on the Jawbone ERA

We’re Giving Away 3 Jawbone ERAs!

Finally… At MyRealityTech, we like to share the goods and you like to get the goods.  So, in the spirit of generosity, we are giving away 3 Jawbone ERAs to 3 lucky subscribers!

The Rules:

We’ll keep it simple.  Tell us why the the Jawbone ERA would enjoy a spot in your ear.  You have 3 options to enter:

1) Post a comment below.

2) Comment and Like us on Facebook.

3) Follow us and Tweet about this on Twitter.

As you can see, we are giving you many chances to win.  The winners will be chosen randomly at the end of March… that’s March 31st, 2011.  Enjoy the contest and giveaway!  As always, be sure to follow @MyRealityTech on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more exclusive opportunities to win great prizes!

By: Foster Scott (Contributing Editor)

With the start of 2011 upon us, I thought one of the ways I could help MRT Subscribers to start off the New Year, is to start a Weekly Geek Guide.  One that would help you to find the Apps, Tech & Programs that are worth your time and/or money (but really focusing more on saving you money).  Sure, you like, I mean love (Jenna works so hard, so it had better be love, hint, hint) the giveaways, but for this guide I wanted to give you something everyone could use or tell to their family and friends for them to use (not just our lucky winners).  I may even let my Daughter write about her favorites Apps from time to time and those her friends like, or “can’t live without”.  You never know when you need advice on an app or tech for the teenager in your life.  Plus, a great thing is all of you can comment below and email me with your free or cheap Apps and Tech that you too can’t live without so I can pass them on to everyone else in future installments.

So now that you may have your new iPod, iPhone or iPad fresh from the holidays (Angry Birds, Mega Jump and Words With Friends will be covered next week) I wanted to bring you an App I use almost daily and is not a game.

The Logitech TouchMouse App

This free App from Logitech is just as it sounds.  It turns your touch device (iPad, touch or phone) into a WiFi-linked wireless TrackPad (Mouse) and Keyboard.  Use this mouse all over your house!  Connecting over Wi-Fi and not Bluetooth for example, lets you be anywhere in your house or connect to any Mac or PC in any room as long as it is on your Wi-Fi Network.  Perfect for those out there who have a PC connected to a TV or for my case, a larger monitor plugged into my laptop for viewing Netflix streaming to my front room.  I will get more into that in a minute.

The App does need one bit of software installed on the device you want to connect to, but that is also free.  It is needed to enable the App to find the PC or Mac and communicate with it.  It was simple to set up and worked on the first try for me so I would expect it to be similar for you.

The Touchpad - Vertical View

The Touchpad - Horizontal View

So you installed the free software and downloaded the App from the Apple Store, now what?  Well, now you can sit back on your couch and control your next Netflix movie.  Then, say you are sitting away from your computer and wanted to type a quick entry for Twitter/FaceBook or search YouTube for a musician who just popped into your head.  Launch the App and Pick the server you set up for that computer or enter the IP address.  That simple! Now you have control over your mouse to move it to the space you want to type.  Tap it to select the space and then tap the Keyboard icon so now you can type right from your hands.  You also get to see a few seconds of what you just typed so you don’t have to keep looking up or need supervision to see the monitor across the room as you type.

The Touchpad with Keypad

Touchpad with Keypad Text

Here are a couple of Pros and Cons that might help you decide if you will get as much use out of this app as I do.

Pros: Starting and Pausing Netflix, YouTube and some general web surfing and typing on a laptop or computer that is sitting on a desk or connected to a large TV that is away from you, and doing so while you are on the couch can be fun and easy.  Similar to using the remote controls for your TV.  Even easier if you have used a touch pad on a laptop already.

Cons: I have noticed when dragging my finger across to move the mouse, there are times at the end of the swipe when I lift my finger as in to swipe again, what results is the same as the act of clicking the mouse button.  Wherever the mouse is at the time when I lift my finger is sometimes selected or clicked.  Not a big issue but can be a little frustrating at times if you try to use it as a mouse for long periods of time.

My Reality Verdict: If you are sitting in front of your computer, this will not replace your mouse or touchpad if, say your laptop already has one.  What I call a minor glitch is still enough to keep you from using it for long periods of time.  Still, if you watch a lot of Netflix or want to do some light YouTube surfing from your couch then you should get this App.  If you have a computer attached to your TV or a large Monitor and want a small keyboard and mouse to control it then get this App.  If you only use your computer when seated next to it or only use your laptop while it is actually on your lap then you may not have a need for this.  For free, you may still want to get it just to play with it or mess with your friends by controlling the mouse while they are on the computer and you are in another room.

Most important is for you to comment and let me know if you want to see more posts like this and give us any you think are worth sharing.  There might even be a few surprise giveaways for those that comment with the best helpful or fun item for me to share… who knows!  And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and comment on Facebook as well!  Those entries count!

For more information: Logitech

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!

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.

MyRealityTech & NEC Representing At CES

At MyRealityTech, we are looking forward to CES and having our very own Foster Scott & Brittney Wilson represent us and press some flesh while they learn about all the latest and greatest in consumer technology.

There is so much to see at CES that 3 days probably won’t do it justice.  One of the vendors we will be making sure to check out this year will be NEC.  Evidently, they are entering the Android tablet market with a dual screen tablet computer which they will be featuring at the January International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Word has it that the new tablet will be based on the LifeTouch model that NEC recently showed off in Tokyo last month. While that device had a single 7-inch touch screen with its focus as an access device for cloud-based services, the new tablet will feature 2 7 inch screens.  This will enable users to view different information on each screen and will also have the ability to connect via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G cellular.

Here’s a video of the single screen model to give you an idea of it’s functionality:

Oh, The Possibilities

NEC will plan to offer the new tablet to consumers by way of service providers that will bundle their online service with the device.  As for where you can expect to see the device… think healthcare, logistics, e-books… the possibilities are really very vast.  Just think about how a single screen device like the iPad has been widely adopted.  Well, imagine being able to view a full screen movie or TV show while you’re surfing the web.  Ahhh… the joys of multi-tasking!

But lest you think that’s all NEC is up to, how about an Android netbook with a physical keyboard? NEC will also be launching that at the show.  Sounds like good stuff.  We’re sure that Foster and Brittney will bring back lots of pictures and cool videos so stay tuned!

The International Consumer Electronics Show will take place from January 6 to 9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Learn more about NEC

Tell us what you think about NEC’s new Android-based dual screen tablet device.  Do you think it has a chance in this competitive tablet market?  You know that we always love to hear from you.

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!

By: Edward Jackson (Senior Editor)

2011 International CES

Staff Note: If you missed our very own Jenna Gonzalez on the [Mobile Sense Show] as she talked about Nokia mobile tech, you still have a chance to hear her and the boys on the [Ustream Replay]!  Plus don’t forget about our ongoing contests and prize giveaways such as the 12 Nokia N8s, weekly iPhone 4, Apple Magic Mouse, 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.

ZAGG Inc., a leading producer, designer, and distributor of electronics accessories for protecting and enhancing the mobile experience, including the popular invisibleSHIELD, ZAGGskins, ZAGGbuds, and ZAGGsparq brands, has been named an International CES Innovations 2011 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree for one of their upcoming products, ZAGGmate. This is the third year in a row that ZAGG products have been recognized with this prestigious industry award.

ZAGGmate is a protective and functional companion to the Apple iPad that accentuates both the appearance and utility of Apple’s innovative device. Made from aircraft-grade aluminum with a high quality finish, the patent-pending ZAGGmate matches the design, look and feel of the Apple iPad. It features a simple and innovative hinge stand for viewing and typing in both portrait and landscape mode. In addition, a built-in wireless Bluetooth keyboard allows for fast, responsive typing and interaction with the iPad’s features. For more information about the ZAGGmate, please visit [ZAGG.com/ZAGGmate].

“People are going to love the sleek and streamlined look of the ZAGGmate which perfectly complements the iPad,” said Robert G. Pedersen II, President and CEO of ZAGG. “We set out to create the ultimate must-have accessory for the hottest selling device this Holiday Season. With a full Bluetooth keyboard, flexible stand, scratch and shock protection all in one thin, portable solution, consumers will enjoy interacting with their iPad even more.”

The prestigious Innovations Design and Engineering Awards have been recognizing achievements in product design and engineering since 1976. It is sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the producer of the [International CES], the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow.

ZAGGmate is slated for release on November 26^th at select retailers and will be displayed at the 2011 International CES, which runs January 6-9, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Innovations 2011 Design and Engineering honoree products are also featured on [CESweb.org/Innovations]. The ZAGGmate with Keyboard will be priced at $99.99, and a version without the keyboard will be priced at $69.99.

For more information about ZAGG or any of their products, please visit [ZAGG.com].

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So, what do you think?  Are you excited about these upcoming devices?  Are you already an iPad fan?  Do you have another preference?  Do you think this would make a sweet giveaway?  Sound off and let us know.  You know that at MyRealityTech we always love to hear what’s on your mind and our very own Jenna Gonzalez is always eager to give away more cool stuff!

And don’t forget, we will be announcing details for the MacBook Air giveaway very soon. In order to avoid any conflict with our current giveaways such as the Sony Xperia X10 and the Nokia N8, we are planning to award the MacBook Airs right around Black Friday toward 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 pays to follow us!