PandaBar 1.2.1 for Mac. Play Pandora music from the menu bar.

Play Pandora from your Mac menu bar! PandaBar is a native Mac app that lets you play and control your Pandora radio stations from the comfort of your Mac OS menu bar. PandaBar brings global keyboard shortcuts, Apple media keys, Apple remote controls, Growl notifications and more to your Pandora listening experience.

The Pandora streaming-music service is incredibly popular, with over 100 million users, and for good reason: You tell Pandora about an artist you like, and the service creates a station filled with music by that artist and, based on relationships established by the Music Genome Project, music similar to that artist’s music. It’s like radio but with a few major advantages: You avoid the constant commercials; chances are you’ll like the station much better than anything on the radio, because it’s based on music you know you like; and Pandora’s algorithm is so good that you end up discovering lots of new music by artists you may not have even heard of.

There are currently dozens of media players and home-media components with Pandora built-in, as well as Pandora apps available for most computing platforms, including iOS, making it possible to listen to Pandora almost anywhere. But to listen to Pandora on your Mac, you need to either keep a browser window open to the Pandora site (which, for now, uses Flash) or install the Pandora One Desktop App, which requires that you first install Adobe AIR. Pick your poison.

• Control song playback (play/pause/next song)

• Give your songs thumbs up/down ratings


• All the radio stations you've created on Pandora.com can be played directly from PandaBar

• Global keyboard hotkeys for everything! (see http://www.pandabarapp.com/help for details)


• Use the media keys on your Apple keyboard for play/pause/next

• PandaBar stays in your menu bar


• Doesn't clutter your dock while it's running

WHAT'S NEW

Version 1.2.1:

• Fix breakage due to Pandora changing their API.

• Option to sort stations alphabetically.

• Refresh station list if you've added stations at pandora.com.

REQUIREMENTS:

Intel, Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later

PRESS REVIEWS:

"PandaBar may be the best way to listen to Pandora on a Mac" -- TheNextWeb

"PandaBar is convenient and doesn't suck up a lot of resources." -- lifehacker

"PandaBar is one of those remarkably sweet Mac apps that doesn’t cost much, doesn’t take up much space, and does just what you want." -- Mac360

PandaBar is a great little app for listening to your Pandora stations. It’s simple to use, it doesn’t use much memory or CPU resources, and it gets out of your way

Apple Suppliers Starting to Ship 4" Screens for Next iPhone?

The iPhone 4S is less than six-weeks old, but rumors have already begun concerning the next-generation iPhone. The latest rumor, courtesy of Macotakara, suggests Apple suppliers are already shipping 4-inch LCD screens for next year’s “iPhone 5.”

"According to Asian source, Hitachi Displays, Ltd. and Sony Mobile Display Corporation started to ship 4-inch LCD for new iOS device and LCD for iPad 3. These 2 companies will be merged their business with Toshiba Mobile Display Co., Ltd., as "Japan Display" in 2012 spring."

Unless this suggests an “iPad mini,” this new device is almost certainly the next iPhone. Since it arrived on the scene in 2007, the iPhone has always had a 3.5-inch screen, even though many of Apple’s competitors have increased the screen size of their handsets to 4-inches and beyond.

Of course, we’ve heard these type of rumors before.

Throughout much of 2011, numerous stories suggested the next iPhone would include a larger display and a body radically different than the iPhone 4. Of course, these rumors were proved false when Apple unveiled the iPhone 4S on October 4, an iDevice that looks just like its predecessor.

Assuming Apple suppliers are indeed already producing 4-inch screens, the iPhone unveiled in 2012 looks to be the one many expected last month.

So far, Apple has only used a 3.5" display across its iPhone line, and there have been arguments that 3.5" may be the ideal size for one-handed use.

Stay tuned!

Belkin LiveAction Camera Grip and LiveAction Camera Remote for iPhone and iPod touch

Belkin, a California based company and innovator in computer and consumer electronics proves for one more time that the simplest ideas are the always best. The iPhone 4s’ camera, while still not a one for one replacement to a stand alone point and shoot, is most certainly on par and suffices to say the least.  After all, we are talking 8-megapixels of resolution and the ability to capture full HD video.  Not too shabby for a smartphone, but quickly becoming the standard. Belkin wants to make it easier than ever to capture family portraits this holiday.

Belkin announced its LiveAction Camera line of accessories for iPhone and iPod touch to offer users a better way to snap photos and record video. Two products will be released, the LiveAction Camera Grip that transforms iPhone/iPod touch into a traditional digital camera, and the LiveAction Camera Remote that control camera shutter of iPhone/iPod touch wirelessly.

Belkin LiveAction Camera Grip

The LiveAction Camera Grip (F8Z888) attaches to the dock connector and fits easily over most cases. It has a contoured, soft-touch design for comfortable use. With an external shutter button, the Grip lets you take pictures quickly and easily. There is also integrated tripod mount and a dedicated button for video. The price is $ 49.99.

Belkin LiveAction Camera Remote

Belkin has also introduced the LiveAction Camera Remote. The LiveAction Camera Remote (F8Z896), on the other hand, can activate an iPhone/iPod touch camera shutter wirelessly from up to 30 feet away using Bluetooth technology. It has two buttons for photo and video and a detachable camera stand. You can get one for $ 49.99.

Both of them are compatible with iPhone 4 and iPod touch and works with the free LiveAction app.

Gmail app for iOS returns to the App Store, promises to stay this time. Download now!

The official native Gmail App has returned to the App Store promising to resolve the issues that had plagued the first version.

"Two weeks ago, we introduced our Gmail app for iOS. Unfortunately it contained a bug which broke notifications and displayed an error message, so we removed it from the App Store. We’ve fixed the bug and notifications are now working, and the app is back in the App Store." Matthew Izatt, a Google product manager, wrote in a blog post.

After a very public screw-up, Google has re-released the Gmail app for iOS devices into Apple’s App Store. The app is currently available for download. Google has just announced that the app has returned to Apple's App Store, and it promises that the problematic bugs that plagued the original release have been fixed. The company also says that it has "received a lot of helpful feedback and feature requests" during the app's two-week absence, and further notes that it's "just getting started" with the iOS app and plans to rapidly add a number of new features including support for multiple accounts and improved notifications.

Users who managed to snag the earlier version of the app, which contained a number of bugs that rendered it inoperable, will have to either log out, or completely uninstall the app, before installing the updated version.

After appearing in the App Store approximately two weeks ago, and for only moments, the first native Gmail App was pulled due to obvious glitches. For one, the app showed an error message immediately after opening. Although you could override the message, your push notifications did not work, rendering the app useless. Many were surprised that the app passed Apple’s verifications tests, while some conspiracy theorist believed that Apple noticed the errors, but passed it through anyway.

The new release has apparently fixed the notification problem. Although the app is limited and will only allow you to link to one account at a time, it may prove useful if you are a frequent user of the labels and search features. As an added bonus, your chats are also viewable through your app, if you choose to save them, anyway.

Case-Mate Introduces the Tank Case for iPhone 4 and 4S

Case-Mate®, known for its innovative accessories that protect, style and enhance mobile technology, today announced the addition of an ultra- protective tough case to their product portfolio. TANK™ offers consumers who have a rough and rugged lifestyle or those who simply want extra protection a strong defense against extreme conditions.

The Case-Mate is suitable for the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4. The Tank for iPhone 4S case brings an extreme approach to defending the iPhone with a rugged case that completely protects the iPhone 4/ 4S from screen to back. Here is more info:

Modeled after motorcycle helmet engineering, Tank is designed with a hard, impact resistant exterior and a shock absorbing interior. A shatter resistant, polycarbonate hard shell combines with the thick, silicone cushioned interior. The retractable screen shields from impacts, cracking and condensation, fully protecting the iPhone screen. The Tank exterior is made of a premium, soft grip texture that slides easily in and out of your pockets. The Tank tests number one in impact resistance against the leading brand, and meets or exceeds US military standards.

Features:
-Military grade, protective iPhone case
-Polycarbonate hard shell with silicone cushioned interior
-Retractable screen shields from impacts, cracking and condensation
-Soft touch exterior that easily slides in and out of pockets
-Tested #1 in impact resistance against the leading brand
-Holster belt clip included
-Experience the Tank

Case-Mate Tank case comes in four colors and sells for $60 each. It is available here.

Swivl: Make Your Camera Follow Your Action. Available for Pre-Order Now.

Even if you’re filming yourself, you can still capture all the action as you move around the room. Or, at least, you’ll be able to soon. The Swivl is an iPhone dock that uses motion tracking to swivel the phone - and thus the front-facing camera - to follow your every move, both horizontally and vertically. It also comes with a wireless remote to control the camera and start-and-stop recording, useful for video-bloggers.

Basically: Snap your iPhone (or other, similarly sized camera) in, slap the marker somewhere on your person (or hold it), hit record, and the Swivl will twist and turn to keep you in the shot. Need a video of you skateboarding, but have no camera man? Need to have a “hands free” Facetime session for one reason or another (hey, I’m not asking questions)? That’s where the Swivl comes in.

The Swivl, a self-propelled camera mount will launch in early 2012.

Swivl is a compact mount that works with the iPhone, iPod Touch, Flip, GoPro, and any Android phone. The person being filmed holds a small sensor, letting the mount track his or her movements. The Swivl can be used for video blogging, demonstrations, or outside activities.

When used with an iPhone 4 or 4S, or a fourth generation iPod Touch, the user can control video functions with the remote sensor, as well. All Apple devices will charge through the Swivl.

The Swivl got its startup financing through a page on IndieGoGo. People who believed in the concept pledged from $5 to $750 to help its creation. The developers raised $24,680 this way.

Buyers can pre-order the Swivl for $159.99 right here. The developers promise to show off a working pre-release model at the upcoming CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, Nevada, in January.

“Our vision has always been to deliver a compelling experience through Swivl’s unique user interface, amazing (and smart) design, and by listening to our most important influencers, the users. We heard all of your wants and concerns when it comes to mobile video in your lives, and we listened,” said Brian Lamb, co-founder of Swivl’s parent company Satarii, in a recent blog post.