GeekwithEnvy

iOS

iPad Could Cause Serious Problems with Defibrillators

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Apparently the magnets in the iPad 2, which are used for the Smart Cover, can completely shut down implanted defibrillators if left on the chest while sleeping. This is clearly a big deal if you rely on an internal defibrillator to keep you up and running.

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Implanted Defibrillator

Fourteen-year-old Gianna Chien discovered this problem during a science fair project and soon she will be sharing her discovery with the Heart Rhythm Society.

Many defibrillators shut off in the presence of a magnet due to a magnetic switch which is used as a safety feature. Some devices turn on after the magnet is moved away but some require you to have them turned on manually.

This is clearly a major problem as millions of people own the iPad 2 and the situation in which the issue occurs is very common. Fortunately, this young girl’s discovery can bring awareness to this issue and possibly save lives.

 

3DMark Wants to Benchmark Everything

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3dmark logo3DMark, the go-to benchmarking software, is not only improving it’s Windows based tests but it’s also moving onto other types of hardware besides the PC. Apple iOS, Android, and Windows RT are all fair game when it comes to being benchmarked by 3DMark.

I must admit that I never really thought about benchmarking my smartphone, it’s kind of interesting idea. We read the specs on our tablets and smartphones and we know how much memory we have  and what our screen resolution is but do we really know just how much power we have to work with ?

When it comes to performance in multitasking, surfing the web, or gaming we really don’t think of measuring it all, at least not as often as we should. For the most part we download our apps and they run, but can they run better? How far can we push the hardware, what are the limitations, and how does it stand up against the competition?  These are all great questions that can be answered by a trusted benchmark tool that provides a standard to go by.

The new benchmarks are visually, much improved and a leap ahead from previous iterations. There are three benchmarks, FireStrike for Windows gaming PC’s, CloudGate for Windows Notebooks and home PC’s, and Ice Storm for Android, iOS and Windows mobile. This is great for enthusiasts who really want to get a clearer picture of what’s going on under the hood of their favorite non-PC devices.

To make things even better, the basic version is free and can be found at 3DMark along with complete details on the benchmarking software.

Plants vs. Zombies 2 is on It’s Way (Video)

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 plantsvszombies2Lgo

Yes, it’s actually going be be here. Thanks to this funny video poking fun at how long it has taken for PopCap to create the sequel to the original, we now have a time frame for the release date.

It looks like Plants vs Zombies 2 will be available sometime in July and the official title will be, Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time.  The video doesn’t provide us with much else besides a bit of humor, we will just need to hang in there a bit longer for some gameplay footage or screenshots.

Featured App: CocoPPa

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CocoPPa

CocoPPa is an app which enables you to make your favorite image as the “one-touch icon” and place the icon on the home screen. Create your very own cute and customized home screens using images submitted by creators and users. Unlimited free cute icons, wallpapers, stamps.

I think being able to customize things on your phone the way you want to is pretty cool. They have users who make themes, so you can make your phone icons and wallpaper match, or you can choose individual icons or wallpapers.

For more information go check out www.CocoPPa.com and you can download this at the App Store

 

 

Hack Makes Chat Heads Persistent Throughout iOS

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Chat Heads was recently brought to iOS but it wasn’t quite the same as the Android version which allowed for the ‘Chat Heads’ to be visible even when the Facebook app isn’t open. Facebook mentioned that they couldn’t do the same for iOS due to it being too locked down.

It didn’t take long though for someone to Jailbreak hack this thing apart and make it happen, well sort of. It’s a bit buggy at the moment but appears that having ‘Chat Heads’ be persistent throughout iOS is possible if you have a Jailbroken phone and the people at the Verge show us how.