Apple and ReSound’s New Hearing Aid

Apple together with Danish hearing aid company, GN ReSound has announced a new hearing aid which would be compatible with the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Named LiNX, the device can sync wirelessly with Apple’s latest mobile devices taking advantage of the accessibility options of iOS 7 for hearing impaired. The LiNX functions like a hybrid of hearing aids with stereo Bluetooth headphones. It also has the capabilities of streaming phone calls, Face Time chats, movies, music, turn by turn navigation or any other audio directly to a small earpiece and when the hearing aids are not pulling in audio from any tablet or Smartphone, the same works like normal, picking up conversation and the surrounding sounds. Being an Apple products, it is packed with plenty of bells and whistles and a feature called Live Listen turns an iOS device into a microphone.

Streaming Directly from Smartphone’s Mic to the Ears 

When a person is in an environment which would be loud, or a busy meeting or a noisy car and would like to focus on single voice cutting down on the background noise, they can get a stream directly from the Smartphone’s microphone in to their ears. Apple and the device maker are hoping that it will encourage people with hearing problem in getting help with their hearing aids. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorder, more than 36 million people in the US have some sort of hearing loss though few of them who really need a hearing aid actually have them.

Control Device Setting Directly from the Phone 

With the help of GPS, one can save custom settings for any location, a movie etc and get pop up notification on the mobile device asking whether the user would like to switch every time they return to that spot. Most of the advanced current hearing aids tend to draw unwanted attention when people reach out to change the settings and for most of the hearing impaired people, the best advantage of Apple’s hearing aids will help to control the device settings directly from the phone. Wearers can now make adjustments as they can check email or even watch a video with Apple integration. Basic setting such as volume and battery life, are directly built into the operating system of the iOS 7. Apple’s hearing aids are specialized medical devices and one will not find them on the shelves of local Apple store since customers should get their hearing tested and fitted for the devices by an audiologist.

Hearing Aids with System’s Accessibility Features 

With Apple’s added support for the new technology when the iOS7 was released, this seems to be the first hearing aids to really work with many system’s accessibility features. Due to the specialized technology, no third party hearing aid maker can come and create devices which work with iOS 7 without partnering with Apple. Executive of ReSound has not disclosed anything regarding developing hearing aids for Android devices or any other platforms. ReSound has worked for a long time on this new technology and the entry of the hearing aids would be welcomed by many hearing impaired people. Do come back to Macmyth for latest Apple news and information.

Content Management Systems: The Pros and the Cons

What is a CMS?

A content management system (CMS) is a user platformwhich allows one to easily edit and maintain the content on their website including pictures, videos, text, and blog posts. Some popular examples of CMS platforms are WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. Web designers and developers work together to create themes and integrate them into the system to make updates an effortless process for you. These are generally customized to cater to your individual needs.
The benefits of a CMS
There are numerous advantages to a content management system including SEO, ease of use, and many more.
A Back-End
A content management system produces a powerful back-end for your business to manage. Without one, you’d be stuck editing documents you don’t understand with some word editing program you have. A back-end eliminates the confusion, code, and uploading process and lets you focuson the things you need: the content.
Search Engine Optimization
How you rank in the popular search engines is very important to your website’s traffic and sales. Generally speaking, a website powered by a content management system is known to rank higher. Additionally, there are optional plug-ins (or add-ons) that can be installed that increases your SEO by giving you the ability type in details such as keywords and website descriptions. Another option to consider is addingplug-ins that can closely advise you on your SEO efforts and provide additional support in this area.
Easy to Use
Generally, content management systems are simple to learn and continuously use. All it takes is a few lessons of training and you will become an expert on the basics. Once you have, you can fluently and effortlessly manage everything on your website.
May cost less over time
Having control over the content on your site means that you do not have to engage your web designer to update the site for you. If you require regular updates on content or products, then a CMS may prove to be the most cost effective option for you.
The disadvantages of a CMS
Like every great thing, content management systems do have some down-sides. These disadvantages should be taken into great consideration when it comes to your website management.
It’s costly
Compared to a static website, a CMS driven website will generally set you back more. If you are limited by a budget, you might need to weigh up the difference in cost in building a static or a CMS driven site.
Updates
Content management systems require maintenance and updates to ensure the security and integrity of the website. However although these are recommended annually, they are not compulsory.
Time-Consuming
A CMS will require additional build time. So if you have a business or product launch date, this may affect the type of website you can build in time.
So, The Verdict?
The answer really lies within your individual business needs. Are you building an ecommerce site where you will regularly update products. Or do you have a cake business which requires regular image updates of your latest design?
If you still need help on this topic, we at JTBStudios would be glad to assist you further in your website needs. We offer affordable yet effective solutions to innovate your online business identity.

Apple’s iOS 7.1 Cures Motion Sickness

Every problem comes with a solution and Apple has been doing well when faced with situations which may be a cause for complaint to the users. The problems faced by many iPhone users with the release of the iOS 7 was that some of the new animations on the platform ended in making them feel motion sick. While movement sickness normally is a type of sickness which could be reserved for long car or truck journeys or boat trips, users of iOS 7, introduced on Apple iPhone and iPad, complained of dizziness and actual physical health problems on searching at their screens. Latest updates now reveal that with the release of the iOS 7 there is more to set this issue right and for the best. This has been done by revamping in reducing the motion control option in the form of iOS 7.1 which has done more to fix this issue than any other latest updates so far. It is stated that 7.1 has refined this feature to the point where it could put an end to all instances of motion sickness of iPhone users.

Cause of Complaint, Zooming Effect and Heavy Screen motion Animation 
 
These symptoms have probably been caused by Apple’s heavy use of the screen motion animations as well as zooming effect in the operating system’s interface usage where the main cause of complaint lies in the parallax. This effect was used in order to create a perception of depth on the home screen of the iPhone where icons, `wallpaper and alerts could shift slightly as the phone was moved’, according to Apple’s website. Though there is a `reduce motion’, button available to switch parallax off, users complained losing the zooming effect which was replaced with a cross fade whenever the option was enabled. To disable parallax individually without losing the zooming effect, users could click on the preview of the current wallpaper and choose new wallpaper seeing the `perspective zoom to off mode, tech which is similar to a pill for motion sickness.

Improved Features in iOS 7.1
 
According to The Guardian’s Craig Grannell, he states that `with iOS 7.1 Apple would be thrashing out further the details and with reduce motion active, the app switcher which previously had retained a lurching zoom and slide when opened and closed, is now tamed with the same cross fade effect folder use, with the weather’s parallax background eliminated. In messages, the whole scrolling area moves as one instead of each message playfully sliding around as if on ice and has the potential to trigger motion vertigo and sickness. Besides eliminating motion sickness, the new feature in iOS 7.1 also features a new slide to power off button which will slowly dim the display of the Smartphone as one moves it from left to right changing to the phone interface with an easier way to improve in calendar navigation, add new contacts, improve accessibility to passcode settings, new contrast options to enable the user in reducing transparency, darken colors or reduce white point as well as new setting in managing Car display feature which is in the pipeline. Do come back for more updates at Macmyth for refreshing Apple information.

Apple Expansion to Educational Content

Learning made more Interesting and Impressive

Recent report states that Apple has announced iBooks Textbooks and iTunes U Course Manager which will now be expanding into new markets across Europe, Latin America, Asia and other countries across the world. These iBooks Textbooks would bring Multi Touch textbooks which would be current, interactive and dynamic content to teachers and students as well, in around 51 countries including Japan, Brazil and Italy. The iTunes U Course Manager which is available in 70 countries including Russia, Thailand, India and Malaysia enables tutors in creating and distributing courses for their classrooms or even share them publicly through the iTunes U app. This amazing tools and contents made available for iPad will be providing the teachers with an improved method to customize learning which will now help teachers to create their new lesson plans with interactive textbooks together with apps accompanied with rich digital content which would make learning more enjoyable.

iBooks TextBooks – Full Screen Textbook

The idea of the iBooks Textbooks is to offer iPad users with a full screen textbook which is gorgeous, with interactive animations, with rotating 3D diagrams, flick through photo galleries and tap to play videos. Besides, the iBooks Textbooks can be updated according to events, does not weigh down a backpack or need to be returned. iBooks Textbooks now covers 100 percent high school core curriculum and the General Certificate of Secondary Education- GCSE core curriculum in the UK with around 25,000 educational titles which were created by teachers, independent publishers, leading education services companies also include new educational content from Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press together with Hodder Education.

Enriching the Language Learning Experience

According to Peter Marshall, Managing Director, ELT Division at Oxford University Press states that Oxford University Press would be using iBooks Author for Headway, Oxford’s all time best selling English language series in order to create iBooks Textbooks for iPad. He further states that in releasing thirteen new iBooks Textbooks inclusive of Headway Pre Intermediate, the best selling levels in the series would be enriching the language learning experience for students across the globe. According to Miguel Dominguez, Marketing Director of Imaxina Nova Tecnoloxias, in Spain, who is an independent educational content developer as well as publisher of iBooks Textbooks inclusive of `The Senses’, which would incorporate interactive elements like video and animated images of human ear and eye to display how the body works and believes that iBooks Textbooks would represent monumental shift in learning since they engage multiple potential of each individual student.

Share Easily Knowledge and Resources with Class and Global Audience

With iTunes U Course Manager teachers will have the opportunity to share easily their knowledge and resources directly with their class or a global audience on iTunes U. Moreover the free iOS app will also give millions of learners, the opportunity to access the world’s largest online catalog of free education content from renowned schools prominent institutions and leading universities. Besides this, iTunes U Course Manager would also enable the teachers with the ability to integrate their own documents for their course curriculum together with content from the internet with wide selections of books on the iBook Store and over 75,000 materials from prevailing iTunes U collections. More updates on technologies waits at Macmyth.
Check it out for more insight and knowledge related to Apple News.

Tips to install the iOS 7 Control Center on Android

Apple’s latest next generation software, the new iOS Control Center will enable users with quick access to several key settings and apps. Apple for the first time has brought about this feature for quick access to frequently used device settings and after the iOS 7 is launched; users would be able to swipe up from the bottom of the screen to activate Control Centre to toggle Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and screen rotation together with much more features and settings with shortcuts to applications on the device. Android has many systems of accessing device setting from any screen, with developer like Hi Tools Studio’s decision to take iOS 7 Control Centre and bring it to Android.

Hi Tools Studio has released a free Android app, the Control Center for Android and once installed, users can swipe from the bottom of their displays on the screen and pull up the new Control Center feature. The new iOS Control Center provides users with quick access to key setting and apps by swiping up though iPhone, iPod and iPad touch users would be unable to access this new feature unless iOS 7 is launched to the consumers, but due to the Hi Tools’ decision, Android users can avail iOs7’s new Control Center features right away.

Menu inside Hotkeys - To get the iOS 7 Control Center on Android phone is quite simple and easier than applying other iOS 7 and the app is available at no cost from Google Play app store. The Control Center menu found inside the hotkeys can be viewed by sliding the finger from the top to the bottom of the screen like the Android notification bar which can give access for airplane mode, music and all the frequently used options and there are two interesting app on Google Play which is similar to the Control Center namely the Espier Control Center and the QuickToggle – iOS Control Center

Espier Control Center 7 - The Espier Control Center 7 is similar to the spitting image of the Control Center on iOS 7 wherein by swiping from the bottom to the top will present the menu through which the user can control the system functions like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, wireless network, flashlight frequently used app. Moreover, this application is easy to use and available free of cost.

The iOS Control Center, QuickToggle app The iOS Control Center, QuickTools app has similarity to Control Center in iOS 7 and is totally free with all its function accessible without the in-app purchases. Users can arrive at the menu either by swiping the finger from the bottom to the top or pressing the home button twice. Moreover the Control Center can also be customized with a lock screen and a launcher. The app is a neat tool to enhance the productivity of any device and nothing created by Apple has been designed to look just beautiful but remarkable and awesome, providing the users with opportunities to experience simpler and useful options which can be enjoyable while operating their devices. Apple’s latest iOS 7 has new structure where the interface is unobtrusive with needless bars and buttons removed and conspicuous ornamentations stripped away.