The tech news this week has been dominated by the so-called Heartbleed security issue that could have serious consequences for many Internet users, exposing their data and passwords. In a nutshell, many companies use OpenSSL, an open-source technology, as the basis for the security of their websites. It turns out that a programmer made a simple error several years ago that left the code vulnerable to exploitation.

If, for example, you have a Yahoo account, you should change your password immediately. Yahoo uses OpenSSL and has now fixed the code. But it's possible that your password was accessed before they made the fix. Note, however, that you shouldn't simply go to every web service you patronize and change the password, because they need to make the fix first. Otherwise, the bad guys can simply swipe your new password. Websites such as Heartbleed test let you know if specific websites are still vulnerable or have been fixed or unaffected. According to the website Re/code, Apple said Thursday that they don't use OpenSSL and that Apple's devices and web services are unaffected.

On Wednesday MacRumors published a roadmap of Apple's forthcoming product releases—and what a lineup it is: New iWatch, iPhones, iPads, Apple TV, and MacBooks. The information comes from securities analyst Ming Chi Kuo, whose 2013 Apple roadmap was very nearly perfect in predicting last year's releases from Apple. On the iOS side, Kuo says that things will start happening in the third quarter (probably September), with the release of a new iPad Air and iPad mini. That will be followed by the rumored iWatch and a 4.7-inch iPhone 6. Then he says that early in the fourth quarter (probably October), we'll see a new version of the Apple TV. Then he sees a 5.5-inch iPhone coming late in the fourth quarter. Not only does Kuo offer a roadmap, but also gives detail on each of the products.

He says the iWatch will have a flexible AMOLED display in two sizes: 1.3 and 1.5 inches. The slim and light watch, which will be able to be charged wirelessly, will have biometric functions and use sapphire crystal in the lens. It will have multiple price points, including a high-end version that will cost several thousand dollars, according to a separate post on MacRumors. 

The iPhone 6, according to Kuo, will have a 1334 x 750 (326ppi) 4.7-inch display, an A8 processor, a narrower bezel, and optical image stabilization. It will be available in September. He says the 5.5-inch version will come later because of challenges manufacturing that size of a display with in-cell technology. It will have a sapphire crystal display with 1920 x 1080 (401 ppi) resolution. It will share features with the smaller model, such as A8 processor and narrower bezel. Interestingly, he says that 4.7-inch phone won't use sapphire crystal in the display.

The most notable changes to the iPad Air and iPad mini, Kuo says, will be an A8 processor and the addition of Touch ID. He expects these new models in September, which is earlier than last year. He says Apple will likely continue sell the current retina iPad mini at a  lower price. In addition, Kuo says that a 12.9-inch iPad continues to be a possibility but won't arrive in 2014.

Kuo says not to expect a television from Apple but that the Apple TV set-top box will get an upgrade. It will include a motion controller and an App Store.

This all sounds within reason, and I'd say it's a pretty good bet that this is accurate.

As new iOS apps flood the App Store every day — recently topping 1,000,000 — we know it’s tough to tell which ones are worth their salt. But thanks to our Weekly Scoop, you can have the best for free! Here you’ll find a weekly roundup of the coolest apps free or at a discount for a limited-time only. Each week features the best and brightest from websites like Free App Report, AppsGoneFree, appsfire, and more.

Hurry! Get 'em while they’re hot!

1.Timezone Clock ($0.99 from $1.99)

I always get confused when I’m trying to figure out time differences. There are occasions when I need to have a call with a client in a different part of the country, and I don’t want to call them at 3 a.m. by accident. That’s not how to make friends! So with an app like this, I can set an alert so that I am reminded to call at a time when it’s good for them—even if that means dragging myself out of bed at some ungodly hour!

2. Calories minute ($1.99 from $2.99)

Keep track of your calories in (what you eat) and calories out (the exercise you get) with this cool app that helps you balance what you’re eating with what you’re burning. This app does a lot of other cool things that other apps don’t. For example, you can measure your food in terms of typical kitchen measurements like cups and tablespoons rather than guessing ounces and grams. There’s also an insulin calculator to help keep diabetes under control!

3.PetTech PetSaver($1.99 from $3.99)

If you love your pet, you must have this app! It has all you need to be able to help your cat or dog in case of heat and cold injuries, choking, snake bites, shock, bleeding injuries, and more. It will walk you through CPR and help you assess, with full color pictures, the steps you need to take to save your pet’s life.

It's been a wild winter for many of us in the United States, to say the least! Now at long last the warm weather is here, and with the change of seasons (and summer vacation!), folks will be spending more time outdoors and on adventures with their tech toys in tow. Of course, it's a good idea to have a well-protected iPhone or iPad if you're bringing it along with you on you escapades, so I've rounded up some of the best rugged, heavy-duty cases to help you find the perfect protection for your valuable iDevice.

Criteria:

• The case must provide a significant amount of impact protection.
• Must be able to withstand a 6-foot drop with no damage to iDevice.
• Added protection, such as an IP-rating, a built-in screen protector and/or port covers are bonuses that are taken into consideration.

Unless otherwise noted, prices listed will be for the most current versions of the iPhone or iPad.

Top 7 Rugged iPhone Cases:

Otterbox Preserver$89.95

The Preserver is my go-to rugged case. If you’re looking for a slim-profile, ultra-protective waterproof and rugged case, look no further. The Preserver has all of the qualities I'd look for in a waterproof and ruggedized case, all conveniently wrapped into one.

Lifeproof frē$79.99

The Lifeproof frē is a top-notch iPhone case that completely covers and protects your device from all elements and potential disasters. It's an excellent case that shows the intense attention to detail that went into its design. 

Lifeproof nüüd$89.99

The nüüd is almost identical to the Lifeproof frē, with the very notable exception that it has no built in screen protector. Instead, the nüüd is able to deliver unobstructed interaction with your iPhone’s screen thanks to a revolutionary, patented seal between the case and the iPhone’s touchscreen perimeter.

Griffin + Catalyst Survivor$69.99

This case is made of a transparent hard plastic shell and accented with a minimum of colored silicon rubber and plastic seals, making the G+C Survivor one of the more inconspicuous rugged cases available.

Griffin Survivor$49.99

Griffin’s Survivor is a full-traction, full-protection, heavy-duty case. It provides super shock and impact protection as well as excellent water-resistance and screen protection.

Case-Mate Tough Xtreme$25.00

The Case-Mate Tough Xtreme is an exceptionally well-designed rugged case, and perhaps one of the more fashion conscious options available. With a stylish design, accented with a hint of complementary color, and its textured, triple-layered shell, the Tough Xtreme is one cool customer. It also manages to be the most affordable, rugged protective case featured here, without sacrificing integrity. In terms of performance it remains competitive with some of the more expensive heavy-duty cases in this roundup.

LUNATIK TAKTIK EXTREME $124.95

If you’re the kind of person who likes to have their touchscreen protected, the TAKTIK EXTREME has got the sweetest screen protection of all the rugged cases. It sports a tough Gorilla Glass protector that sits against your iPhone's screen perfectly, and allows for a user experience almost identical to the iPhone by itself.

Top 7 Rugged iPad Cases:

Lifeproof frē$99.99 - $109.99

Leading the pack of rugged, heavy-duty iPad cases is Lifeproof’s frē for the iPad mini with Retina display and iPad Air. Like its smaller sibling for the iPhone, the frē for the iPad offers the best, most comprehensive and most dependable protection from environmental and incidental damage.

Lifeproof nüüd $119.99 - $129.99

As mentioned above, the main difference between the Lifeproof nüüd iPad cases (available for both the iPad mini with Retina display and iPad Air models) and the Lifeproof frē iPad cases is that the nüüd does not have a built in screen protector, relying on an internal compression seal to establish its waterproof integrity. While the screen protection of the frē provides a slightly higher degree of protection from accidental screen damage, the go-anywhere, do-anything Lifeproof nüüd is by no means a slouch when it comes to extreme-duty iPad protection.

Griffin Survivor$59.99 - $79.99

The Survivor line of iPad cases (available for every iPad version out there) is one of the most protective iPad cases on the market. Combining superior shock absorbency and protection from the elements with a tactile and grippy exterior, the Griffin Survivor is a case to be reckoned with. Another cool thing about the Survivor is that you can customize its appearance, with a huge selection of color combinations to choose from.

Pelican ProGear Vault$79.95 - $99.95

Pelican has been in the business of designing rugged gear for a wide range of devices for over 30 years now, and its experience shows in their line up of exceptional iPad cases. The Pelican ProGear Vault meets or exceeds military standards of protection and features a unique hinged protective cover that doubles as a viewing stand when open, and protects the iPad’s naked screen when closed.

Otterbox Defender$79.90 - $99.90

Otterbox’s Defender series is one of the pioneers in the arena of heavy-duty iDevice protection. With the Defender for the iPad (available for all iPad models) you can rest assured that your iPad will be protected from any abuse or hardship it might encounter when accompanying you on your outdoor adventures.

Trident Kraken A.M.S.$59.95 - $69.95

The Kraken A.M.S. iPad cases are heavy-duty cases that are ready for wherever you want to take them. Not only do these cases offer superior hardcore protection, they also work seamlessly with Trident’s patented Adaptive Modular System which allows you to mount your iPad virtually anywhere on almost anything.

Joy Factory aXtion Bold ($59.95)

The Joy Factory makes a number of rugged case solutions for the various iPad models. Its new aXtion Bold for the iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina offer secure and reliable protection from shock, dirt, splashes, and compression. The aXtion Bold is a slim, lightweight, and action-ready alternative for the protection of your precious iPad.

Important note: Get out there and enjoy! Unplug for awhile, if you have the opportunity. And if you'll be roughin' it a bit this summer, make sure you have good protection for your iDevice! Hopefully this roundup will inspire you and make any shopping choices a little easier. Have fun on your adventures and be safe...

If you've had your iPhone for awhile you're probably starting to accumulate a large number of apps and things may be starting to get a bit unwieldy and disorganized. Fortunately it's easy to move your apps around and organize them in a way that makes your apps easy to find and leaves your home screen uncluttered.

To move an app, simply tap and hold on any app until all the icons on your screen start jiggling.

Now you can drag any app to another location, into or out of the dock, onto another page, or onto another app.

Dragging on app onto another will create a folder. Tap on the name above the new folder to change it. This is a great way to group related apps.

You can even create a folder of app folders.

Once you're finished rearranging everything to your liking, press the home button and all your apps will stop jiggling and stay where you put them.

T-Mobile wants your tablet business. Already they offer the best deal on data: 200MB per month for free, forever. Now, starting this weekend, they'll sell you an LTE iPad for the same price as a WiFi-only iPad, saving you $130. Plus, if you're a T-Mobile voice customer, you can add their 1GB monthly plan for your iPad for FREE through the rest of 2014.

That means you could get 1.2GB of data for free each month in addition to saving money on the iPad itself. After 2014, their data plan will cost an additional $10/month with your voice service. If you already have a WiFi iPad, T-Mobile will let you trade it in on an LTE model. And if you want to switch your voice service from another carrier, they'll pay your early termination fee. I guess it's clear that T-Mobile wants your iPad business. You can read more detail about T-Mobile's "Operation Tablet Freedom" on MacDailyNews. 

The wireless speaker market is completely saturated, so its hard to know where to start when looking for a quality, yet affordable option that is rises above the sea of cheap Bluetooth speakers. I have listened to a metric ton of them, and the gold standard for streaming and quality to me is Sonos, but their products are not cheap, and do not include a simpler Bluetooth option. Nyne has a uniquely shaped line of Bluetooth 4.0 speakerphone devices that give the solid sound quality that approaches the Sonos level, but without the price (and WiFi fuss.)

Nyne has several affordable wireless speakers to choose from but they sent me the white and grey BASS which is a cinder-block-sized, teardrop-shaped speaker. Actually, it's a bit smaller than a cinder block, and certainly much lighter at around seven pounds. The specs are nothing to sneer at with a 4400 mAh rechargeable battery, and the ability to pump out 35 watts RMS through two active drivers and a subwoofer. The portable BASS is fine for the patio or the entertainment room.

The contents in the box include a bizarre charging power supply (with several international adapters); a really nice 3.5mm male-male audio cable; and a product booklet as thick as a mafia capo's pocket roll. It took me longer to get the strange interlocking charger pieces together than to get the unit to play audio, but once I had the BASS blasting out tunes I did not need the guide. Basically, turn it on, pair it to your Bluetooth-enabled device, and start up your favorite audio application. Don't have a Bluetooth device, or want to use the BASS as an add-on speaker for your TV or Blu-Ray player? The kit comes with a fancy 3.5mm cable to connect non-Bluetooth devices through the aux port on the back.

The BASS has a creamy texture that is not unpleasing to the touch. The design is very sturdy. Overlarge buttons along the top provide standard player and speakerphone controls. The back has a small inset with power, aux-in port and an on-off slider switch. Another press control on the top button row makes it easy to get the unit started. An inset handle above the port panel lets you easily grab and carry the BASS from room to room. A USB port gives a charge to your phone as well.

The ample lithium-ion battery purportedly provides 10-hours of play time. Though I did not confirm that, I certainly confirmed several hours of reliable usage. The BASS could benefit from a battery indicator on the front so one might keep tabs on the charge, however. It also doesn't seem to auto-power down in the absence of a connection, which is puzzling for a rechargeable wireless device to not include. NFC communication is a great feature the BASS does include, but it's not currently useful for iPhone users. Android fans can use it to auto-pair a Bluetooth device with the BASS (which may be why it doesn't have auto shutdown). I had to manually re-connect to it at least once.

Once the speaker was paired with my iPad, I tried streaming Slacker, which worked flawlessly. The overall sound quality is clear and rich. I was impressed with the mid and high range performance the most, which is ironic, considering the name. The BASS has decent bass response, but it did not really blow me away. It was heavy at times, but because of the higher range bias, it seemed to wash out somewhat under the barrage or mids and highs. It sounded wonderful supplementing my TV's stereo output using the aux-in jack on the back (as good as any speaker I have). I then paired it to my iPhone, and tried the speakerphone. My end sounded fine, but the person I called said I sounded like I was in a tunnel. Still nothing major to complain about, considering the overall feature set for this 35 watt powerhouse comes in at under 150 dollars.

The Verdict
The BASS is not quite the blaster of low tones I expected given the name, but it doesn't disappoint either. I give this portable wireless speaker a hearty thumbs up for a cool concept shape, quality performance with lot's of features! There are a few rough edges, but the price is worth them.

Pros

• Attractive, and great overall sound
• Affordable Price

Cons

• Tiny charge indicator (on back), and no auto-power down

This is the season of the Watch, and I've had the opportunity to review at least five SmartWatches lately, from Pebble, Martian, Phosphor, i'mWatch and now Cogito ($129.95). Each brings something different to the table, in terms of apps, screen, battery life, style, and functionality. Cogito's Pop may have just enough "smart" to go with plenty of style and battery life to be your primary watch.

The Cogito Pop doesn't try to be too technical. At first glance, it's a traditional and stylish analog watch, almost like a more rugged Swatch. With two buttons on the side and a crown to adjust the watch hands, there aren't any clues that this watch has a brain. But when paired with the free Connected Watch app, four different icon LEDs can be lit up when email, text messages, phones calls, or even social messages come in. There's no indication of who sent the message, or what it's about, so it's not as if the watch replaces your phone. But if you just want a convenient way to know a text came in, it's great, especially if your phone is in a purse or pocket.

The app can also help you to find your iPhone (it also works with Android devices.) In the future, I'd like to see a more powerful app that lets the user customize when an alert is shown, for example only if I get an email or text from my wife, or other family members. I would also like to turn off the audible beep that plays (only once) as that isn't always welcome.

The best part is, because the Cogito Pop isn't trying to be a super smart watch, the battery lasts a year and the price is under $130. Many color combinations are available, and unlike several smart watches, you can use regular watch bands if desired.

Creative, a company well known for their Sound Blaster PC audio cards, is making a bigger splash these days in the wireless speaker market. I favorably reviewed their Sound Blaster Axx 200 a few months ago, and Creative has also released a speaker with an emphasis on the discerning mobile audiophile. Read on to learn how the Sound Blaster ROAR SR20 compares in the very crowded market of Bluetooth stereo wireless speakers.

With the number of wireless speaker choices on the market, manufacturers like Creative need to differentiate themselves with the features contained in their products. Creative has certainly accomplished this objective with the ROAR SR20. It is packed with dozens of features, many of which are unique to the Sound Blaster wireless speaker line.

Just like the Axx 200, the ROAR SR20 features NFC device pairing, speakerphone teleconferencing, and voice recording functionality. It also has a rechargeable battery, but doesn’t use the odd docking port like the Axx 200. Instead, it uses the more acceptable MicroUSB port for power and battery charging. There’s also a siren option to gain the attention of a crowd, along with an MP3 playback feature which, like the Axx 200, is hard to use without a display to show what songs you are navigating to. The ROAR SR20 can also connect to a PC or Mac and serve as the computer’s sound card and audio speaker. And the rechargeable battery can also serve as a battery backup and recharge station for iPhones, iPads, and other mobile devices. The ROAR SR20 can also be connected to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, providing effortless audio signal and broadcast sharing.

However, unlike the Axx 200, there’s no karaoke or voice changer support (that novelty on the Axx 200 was a big hit at festive gatherings). Instead, the ROAR SR20 has a bedtime mode that gradually reduces the volume to facilitate falling asleep. There’s also the questionably odd addition of a "Life-Saver Mode" that plays random tones at random intervals, perhaps in an attempt to keep a driver awake at night. Personally, I would have rather swapped this for the more entertaining voice changer feature, but that’s just the way it is.

Perhaps the most notable feature is the Roar’s loud, high-fidelity sound. As its namesake implies, pressing the ROAR button on top of the speaker produces some seriously big sound from the little black box. In addition to five distinct drivers, this audio boost magic is accomplished via two amplifiers, one dedicated to lows and mid-ranges, the dedicated exclusively to high frequencies. The collective power of these assembled components easily fills out sound even within a crowded, chatty room.

While not as loud as IK Multimedia’s iLoud and not as social as Creative’s Sound Blaster Axx 200, the Sound Blaster ROAR SR20 is an elegant, awesome sounding Bluetooth wireless speaker at a fair price. Its sleek black box can be carried in an equally attractive sling (sold separately), which makes it a perfect complement for a sound-filled gathering, or for a person on the go who prefers to relax to their favorite tunes without plastic and metal anchored ino their ear canals.

Product: Sound Blaster ROAR SR20

Manufacturer: Creative

Price: $199

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

So we seem to be entering the phase of the rumor cycle in which we start to get leaked photos. In this case, the photos aren't of the iPhone 6 itself but of the mold that's said to be used to create the back casing.

According to AppleInsider, the mold suggests that the iPhone 6 will indeed have a 4.7-inch display. The image accompanying this post shows an iPhone 4s superimposed on the photo of the mold to give you a sense the relative size. An earlier post on AppleInsider also showed leaked images of alleged schematic drawings of the device that originated from Foxconn, which manufactures Apple's iPhones. The schematic shows an extremely thin, tapered device with the same chamfered edges used in Apple's most recent products. 

All the rumors continue to suggest that we'll see a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 in September and a 5.5-inch "phablet" later in the year.

When I wrote about Apple's new CarPlay earlier, the post generated a number of comments from car owners wishing their late-model vehicle could be retrofitted with CarPlay. Today's good news, via Nikkei Asian Review, is that Alpine Electronics will release a CarPlay console this fall in the US and Europe in a price range of $500–700. You won't have to buy a new Ferrari, Mercedes, or Volvo to take advantage of Apple's new offering. CarPlay lets you use various iPhone functions in your car while minimizing distraction—you control CarPlay just by speaking. You can make calls, receive calls, listen to voicemail, use the Maps app, listen to music, and send and receive text messages. Siri even reads your incoming messages to you and lets you dictate responses.

According to the article, Alpine's console will likely have a 7-inch screen and will work via a wired connection to an iPhone 5 or later. The expected price is actually cheaper than some other high-end in-car navigation systems, which can cost up to $1,000.

CarPlay's functionality actually goes beyond that of your iPhone. It can anticipate your needs and predict where you want to go based on recent trips and by using addresses from your email, text messages, contacts, and calendar.

In addition to using CarPlay for listening to your music, podcasts, audiobooks, and iTunes Radio, you’ll also be able to use specific third-party audio apps such as Spotify, Beats Radio, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio. Apple says that more apps will be coming soon.

If you're in the market for a new car, you'll have a lot of CarPlay options this year. Over a dozen auto manufacturers are planning to offer CarPlay this year in addition to the three who have already rolled it out (Ferari, Volvo, and Mercedes): BMW Group, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai Motor Company, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia Motors, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan Motor Company, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Subaru, Suzuki, and Toyota Motor Corp.

You can find a detailed review of CarPlay on the website Stuff.

The hot new thing on Kickstarter is a line of fashion-conscious, innovative, handcrafted, European-style messenger bags and sleeves made of high quality French leather and wool felt by Craftwerk. You might remember this company from their first successfully funded Kickstarter campaign to get the Aluminum Case for iPhone 5 into production. This new project is inspired by the long-standing European tradition of combining fine leather with soft textured fabrics to create a product that is as stylish as it is functional. 

The Espelette collection (named after a beautiful city in France) is a collection of swanky everyday messenger bags and tablet sleeves that are designed to fit the Macbook Pro and 13" Macbook Air as well as all iPads. It’s crafted of fine leather combined with soft wool—a combination that is not only sophisticated and stylish, but also ideal for keeping technology clean and dry while providing a luxurious experience for the carrier.

The messenger bag (MSRP $249.99) has several pockets to hold your tablet or laptop but also your phone, a wallet, charger, notebook and even a few pens. Zipper pockets keep everything secure. The tablet sleeve (MSRP $119.99) has the same design features as the messenger bag, but also has a removable strap.

Both bags in the The Espelette Collection are available to backers for a substantial discount. By supporting their Kickstarter campaign, you can be among the first to receive one of these cool bags and be a part of making this project a reality for Craftwerk. If the project is successfully funded, production will be begin this May, shipping to early backers in September.

I’m totally on board this train! I’m a pushover for anything that keeps my precious technology safe!

antb/Shutterstock

Tapping your iPhone's screen to take pictures can be awkward and cause you to take shaky photos if you tap too enthusiastically. That's why it's so handy to take photos by pushing your iPhone's volume button. But what if you want to focus the photo before snapping the picture?

To focus a picture without tapping your iPhone screen, all you have to do is briefly hold the volume button before releasing to take the picture.

Just be careful not to press and hold too long, because then you will activate Burst mode and will have to delete 50 pictures of the same thing later.

Also, if you want to change the area of focus in your image you will still have to tap on the area on which you want the camera to focus.

Obviously I won't be quiting my day job to become a professional photographer.

We all love to take pictures. Fueled by social media and the era of the smartphone camera, it seems like we've all become semi-professional photographers. While the iPhone is certainly an invaluable photographic tool, there are times when it just can't do the moment justice, no matter how many photo enhancement apps you have on board. Enter the Pelican S130 Sports Elite backpack ($178.18 at B&H Photo), with an optimal solution for carrying your higher quality digital-SLR on your adventures this summer.

They say the best camera is the one you have with you. Using this logic, it could be argued that our iPhones are our best cameras, since we almost always have them with us. But I think we can also agree that while the iPhone is awesome for spontaneously catching pics on the go and quickly sending them to friends and family or posting them to social networks, the iPhone camera is limited in quality and performance. If, as they say, your best camera is the one you have with you, then what good is your fancy Nikon or Canon, and all those pricey lenses, filters, and light reflectors, if you don't have them handy?

To the rescue is Pelican’s S130 rugged camera backpack, ($304.95 at Pelican's website) the go-anywhere, adventure-proof camera bag that will inspire you to get out with your serious camera gear more often. The S130 is designed from the ground up to allow you to venture into the wild with your valuable camera equipment (and laptop too!) without having to worry about the safety of your gear. The S130 is made to take a beating; in fact it's one of the toughest, extreme-duty camera/laptop backpacks you'll find!

Details:

The S130 is a feature-rich backpack that is rated crush proof, watertight, dust proof, and able to handle extreme temperatures. It is TSA-compliant and the laptop case not only has a convenient pressure equalization valve (preventing “vacuum lock”) for when your treks take you to high altitudes, but it is is actually watertight to one meter for 30 minutes! That's pretty impressive!

The construction of this pack is superb. The fabric the pack is constructed of is extremely durable, with hexagonal rip-stop stitch weave. It sports a rigid front plate for impact protection, load compression straps, a chest clip and removable hip belt, and floating shoulder straps and lumbar pad with specially designed, ventilated padding. The bottom of the pack has expandable sling storage for a sleeping mat or a rolled up jacket. The S130 has two side water bottle pockets and one large external top front pocket for miscelaneous items. The interior has a removable padded divider set, and above the divider set there is ample (25 liters) storage space where you can pack away other provisions and gear.

As an avid outdoor explorer and amateur photographer, I was very impressed with this backpack. I found it quite comfortable to wear for long stretches, though I have to say, the padding between the back panel and your back and spine could have been a little more generous. Other photographers I know who have used this pack have also expressed to me that they would have appreciated some extra back padding for comfort’s sake.

Pros:

• Even though the Pelican S130 sells for $304.95 at the Pelican website, it can be purchased for as low as $178.18 from B&H Photo, making what might have been considered a pricey backpack an excellent deal.

• Crush proof laptop case that holds up to a 15-inch computer.

• Convenient access to all compartments, TSA-friendly.

• Overall an extremely rugged, outdoor-ready backpack, one that should last for many years of hard use.

Cons:

• At just over seven pounds it's a little on the heavy side.

• The back of the pack could use more padding. As you can see from the above image, the center of the back has a large area where there is no padding and your back is exposed to the hard shell of the laptop case. It makes bending forward uncomfortable and could potentially be a problem for anyone with back issues.

Verdict:

If you are looking for the perfect heavy-duty laptop/camera bag for your adventurous summer travels, especially if you'll be heading into extreme environments, then the Pelican S130 may be just the pack for you.

All photos courtesy of Gabriella Wallace

Hot on the heels of my colleague Jim Karpen's post on the molds for the iPhone 6 comes an actual photo of the alleged iPhone 6 front panel, courtesy of a Sina weibo user (via iPhon.fr) There are no "big" surprises, besides the panel being bigger, perhaps 4.7 inches. The folks at iPhone.fr broke out the old Pythagorean theorem to deduce that this could indeed be a 4.7 inch screen. There are rumors of another screen size in the future, up to 5.5 inches even!

The choice of a larger screen size has been Android's "sizeable" advantage. Steve Jobs felt the iPhone screen needed the be small enough that it could be operated with one hand, and even though Apple introduced a larger screen with the iPhone 5, they kept the phone dialing interface scaled down to work with one hand.

Still, a larger screen will help in many areas. Gaming could benefit from the larger real estate. Web pages will be easier to read. As more users perform office-related tasks like word processing, the big screen (and bigger virtual keyboard, especially in landscape mode) will be a plus.

Of course, these photos could be fake, but they are in line with expectations. The timing is right if samples are to be available for an announcement at Apple's WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) starting June 2. Apple will need to educate their developers on how to accommodate a larger screen size, likely in between the iPhone 5 and iPad mini. In the meantime, check with your carrier to make sure you're ready to upgrade!

Have you ever been browsing Safari on your iPad or iPhone and found something you would like to have a print copy of? Or maybe you're doing work on your iDevice using Pages or Numbers and need to print the document. Using a wireless network, you can print from your iDevice.

There are three ways to do this.

1. AirPrint

AirPrint, developed by Apple, is available on iPads or iPhones 3GS or later. In order to use AirPrint, you must have an AirPrint-enabled printer (available from most of the major printer manufacturers.) Your printer must be connected to WiFi. You can print things from Safari, Notes, Mail, or Photos. Tap on the share up arrow icon in the top left corner of your iPad or bottom screen of your iPhone and select Print. Tap Select Printer and you should see your printer's name. Tap Select again. Choose the number of copies you want and then tap Print.

2. Printer Manufacturer Apps

Some printer manufacturers offer their own apps to connect to your iPad or iPhone. Epson iPrint, HP ePrint and Xerox Print Portal are a few that work similarly to AirPrint.

3. Third-Party Apps

Besides printer manufacturer apps, there are many third-party apps that let you connect a non-AirPrint printer to your iPad or iPhone. After you download the app you will have to install their software on your computer to connect the printer to your iPad or iPhone and print wirelessly. Some examples of apps you can download are Printer Pro ($2.99), Print n Share ($7.99), and PrintCentral ($6.99).

To complement our current issue on travel, I’m going to be sharing my thoughts on tools and technologies I’m using during an extended stay in the United Kingdom. Starting this Sunday I’ll be in Norwich, UK, and then in London.

This first post will focus on the apps and other tools I used to plan the trip.

IHG (Free)

3 Stars out of 5

IHG is the app for the International Hotels Group, which includes InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, and other properties. The app tracks rewards points as well as upcoming stays. It also supports searching for hotels and booking reservations. Although you may find the same property with less expensive rooms in apps like Kayak or Hotels.com, what these sites don’t publicize is that their cut rate rooms usually don’t include loyalty points. By using a branded app like IHG you can get the “best” rates, including discounts for programs like AAA. And because you are booking directly, you get all the perks associated with their loyalty program.

Pros: The app does what it says it does. It helps you select a hotel, monitor reservations, and track rewards points.

Cons: Works only in portrait mode.

Final Verdict: If you are staying at an IHG property, the app is a must for staying organized and keeping those all-important confirmation numbers handy. Ditch the paper and the emails in favor of IHG.

FastConnect(Free)

Fast Connect is a good app to enable before you leave for London. Use this app to get ready for traveling in a place where WiFi isn’t as readily available as you might like and roaming data rates are ridiculous. FastConnect helps find free WiFi hot spots. Sign up free from the US before you go. the app requires an address, but it doesn't have to be yours. I used the hotel's address. I don’t know about the pros and cons yet, but I’ll report back as I put it to use.

DK London City Guide($6.99)

5 stars out of 5

This final app is not an app at all, but an iBook with multi-touch, which makes it more app than book. Just browse and enjoy the detailed images and introductory information for all of London's major sites.

Pros: I have found it to be an indispensable planning book, because it organizes the content by area with very useful maps that show the boundaries of the area being explored. It includes everything you need to know, from how to get there to what to see to once you arrive.

Cons: Some of the images don’t allow for zoom, so you can’t get the same level of detail as in the print versions.

Final Verdict: A must have when traveling to London alone or with family.

I also downloaded the Rick Steve’s book, London 2104 on the Kindle app (Free). Rick is a Northwest travel celeb who writes personable books with great insider information. Unfortunately, the Kindle version doesn’t share the multi-touch capabilities of an iBook, so the interaction with maps isn’t just difficult, it is sometimes impossible. Clicking on a map brings up an image that just keeps rotating sideways ahead of you as you spin the iPad to chase it. Worth the advice, even if the maps don’t work. In addition, I acquired his television program on London and his podcasts via his website. Rather than spending money on a tour guide, use Rick's narration of a few popular walking journeys. Once downloaded, no Internet connect is required to listen to his walks at Whitehall and the British Library, among others. In the planning stage these can give you a good sense of what you might want to explore once you land.

Of course, years ago, going on a trip meant a trip to the library for a book on the destination city. Today is no different, just the form has changed. I logged into my library through Overdrive (Free) and downloaded  Frommer’s Best Day Trips from London and Lonely Planet Pocket London to the Kindle app.

I'll be reporting my tech experiences from the UK, including notes about power, adapters, WiFi, etc. I'll even include a few pictures.

I'm a big fan of using over-ear headphones for the personal enjoyment of my iDevice media. When it comes to authentic sound reproduction, whether it's games or music, it’s hard to beat the noise-isolating comfort of a good pair of “circumaural” cans. Even more than over-ear headphones though, I am a fan of environmentally friendly products. So when a product manages to be a high quality hybrid of both over-ear hi-fi headphones and ecologically conscientious business practices you can guess that I would want to share the news with all of our readers. Without further adieu, I introduce you to the Troubadour from LSTN ($150.00).

When it comes to acoustics, there's just something about wood. To my ear there is a silky smooth, buttery elegance to a pair of wood-crafted headphones that it's just hard for plastic or metal to top. As the folks at LSTN put it, “Why are guitars, violins, drums, pianos, etc. made out of wood, but headphones aren't? Our unique wooden chambers are a huge contributor to the warm and natural sound of LSTN headphones.” And this is something I completely agree with. The resonant “warmth” of these headphones really has to be heard to be appreciated. Not only do these headphones deliver exceptional sound, LSTN also stands behind the quality and integrity of their product. If you aren't satisfied with their headphones, you can return them. Likewise, if they break within the first year, you can exchange them for a new pair. It’s a win-win situation when you purchase the Troubadours.

Sound

The Troubadours don't sound good; they sound incredible. For the price, they are a bargain considering their sound quality. With such crystal clear and well-balanced acoustics I could easily see a pair of cans with such amazing performance retailing for $50 to $100 more. The bass is impressive and powerful without being overbearing.

If you are looking for a pair of headphones that really pack a punch at the bass end, without sacrificing the clarity of the mid and high frequencies, the Troubadours will be sure to impress. They offer an expansive acoustic spectrum with great depth of field. Credit the wood for such audio precision. The crisp response and distortion free presentation these headphones provide a listener with is worthy of a discerning audiophile, so no doubt the casual listener will have much to swoon over when it comes to the Troubadours.

Comfort

I found the Troubadours to be surprisingly comfortable. Even though the ear cups look small for a pair of over-ears, don't let their compact size fool you. They fit comfortably and snugly over the ear and they have a padded membrane that rests between your ear lobes and the speaker drivers for a plush and luxurious feel. The Troubadours are a pair of headphones I can wear for many hours on end, without them becoming uncomfortable or continually needing to readjust them, which is saying something, with my big ol’ ears. They are extremely lightweight, which also lends to their comfort factor and they feature a Spartan design, making them excellent travel companions.

Giving Back. Amplified!

When it comes to sustainable, conscientious, and ethical business practices LSTN really stands out from the crowd. For starters, no tress were cut down to manufacture these headphones. LSTN incorporates 100% reclaimed wood which they source from furniture and flooring companies, utilizing the small, otherwise discarded scraps so that wood that might have been wasted gets put to a very good use.

You can choose from a beautiful selection of four woods: Ebony, Cherry, Beech, and Zebra, and as you might imagine, each of these woods have their own ever-so-slightly, different acoustic responses. The denser, harder woods like Ebony and Zebra give an edgier, sharper and more precise sound, while the softer and lighter woods like Cherry and Beech deliver a slightly warmer sound that really brings out the mid-range tones and blends the sound together into a smooth and creamy mix. All of the woods are highly polished and the overall look of the Troubadours is one of classic, old world elegance, reminiscent of the vintage aviator headphones, with their egg-shaped ear cups and naked steel head bands.

Listen To This!

LSTN doesn't just make eco-friendly audiophile headphones though. This company is in the business of uplifting the world in their own unique way. You see, for every pair of headphones sold, LSTN makes a direct contribution to the Starkey Hearing Foundation and their mission to provide hearing aids to the hearing impaired. According to the Starkey Foundation, over 360 million people on this planet are hearing impaired. Of these millions, they say that 95 percent of children in deaf schools worldwide could benefit greatly from a hearing aid. To that end, Starkey donates 100,000 hearing aids a year to people in need, and they are committed to delivering over one million hearing aids to people in need this decade.

As LSTN has stated: “We believe that what’s good for business should be good for the world. When we started LSTN, our mission was to create a company that could create global change by providing high quality products that help fund hearing restoration and spread awareness for the global problem of hearing loss and hearing impairment. Our Giving Back. Amplified. program wasn’t an afterthought or marketing gimmick, it was the reason we started LSTN. We didn’t just want to create another headphone company. We wanted to create something that could change the world.”

Pros:

• Lightweight, low-profile design.

• Very comfortable ear cups and ear cushions, with a padded material over the speaker driver for maximum comfort.

• Excellent business practices: eco-friendly and environmentally and socially conscious.

• Fabric wrapped cables enhance durability and style.

• Swiveling hinges attaching ear cups to the headband allow for the perfect fit every time.

• The headphones have detachable audio cables, one for the left channel and one for the right, and they can connect to either ear cup, making these symmetrical headphones truly ambidextrous.

• Cable has an in-line microphone.

Cons:

• While comfortable, I would have liked the ear cups to be just a fraction of an inch bigger, to accommodate users with bigger ears.

• It would've been nice if along with the in-line microphone for phone calls, there was also an in-built control mechanism for song selection and volume control.

Verdict:

These headphones rock! From their simple yet elegant design, to their amazing quality of sound and luxurious comfort, I can definitely highly recommend the LSTN Troubadours. I give them 4.5 out of 5 Stars.

It's inevitable that you will ocassionally find yourself with duplicate entries for the same contact. Fortunately merging the information into a single entry is relatively simple.

In either the Phone or Contacts app, open the duplicate contact and tap Edit in the upper right corner.

Scroll down and select Link Contacts.

Open the duplicate entry and tap Link in the upper right corner.

If you have more duplicate entries, select Link Contacts and repeat. 

Tap Done once you have linked all duplicate contacts.

To unlink contacts, simply tap the red minus sign next to the contact you wish to unlink.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said we'd be seeing new categories of products this year, and it looks like CarPlay is one of them. Initially it seemed as if it would only be available in new cars. But then a rumor emerged that Apine Electronics would come out with an after-market CarPlay console this fall. And now Pioneer, a leader in sound systems, has announced they'll be offering CarPlay in their dashboard receivers beginning early this summer. CarPlay will be available as a firmware update to Pioneer's five 2014 NEX in-dash multimedia receivers. The price of these receivers, which have have large, in-dash LCD displays, ranges from $700 to $1,400. They can be installed in most existing vehicles.

CarPlay works with the iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5s, offering Siri voice control to make and receive calls, compose and respond to text messages, use Apple Maps for navigation, and listen to music, podcasts, and iTunes Radio. You simply connect your phone to the Pioneer receiver via your Lightning-to-USB cable, and CarPlay will automatically launch.

Siri uses the Pioneer receiver's external microphone and your car's speakers. You can also control CarPlay with the system's fast and responsive touch panel LCD screen. In addition, you can customize the sound system, which has a built-in equalizer, subwoofer controls, and more.

“Pioneer’s years of expertise integrating smartphone connectivity into the automotive environment has provided us the opportunity to be among the first to offer CarPlay to drivers,” said Ted Cardenas, vice president of marketing in a press release. “By providing an aftermarket option, Pioneer’s 2014 in-dash multimedia systems give many iPhone owners the ability to add CarPlay to their current vehicles.”

According to the press release, in addition to a host of on-board navigation and embedded entertainment options, Pioneer’s 2014 in-dash multimedia systems boast a more advanced and responsive user interface than previous Pioneer in-dash receivers, as well as many sound quality, convenience, and safety enhancements.