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iPod Nano Watch Kits Nab Nearly $1M in Funding
Earlier we reported that the TikTok and LunaTik watchband kits for the iPod nano had broken a funding record on Kickstarter, a site where individuals can pledge relatively small amounts to back new projects. Well, fast forward to now, with the funding about to close, and the project has garnered more than $900,000 in funding.

With $906,233 pledged and still four hours to go as of this writing, the TikTok and LunaTik are officially the record-holders for most funding received through Kickstarter. The next closest project managed to get less than half that amount, with $345,992. Scott Wilson, the designer of the two iPod nano wristband cases, originally sought only $15,000 as his funding target. He’s now exceeded it by $873,550.

When contacted, Wilson noted that in an unusual reversal of the standard relationship, an accessory is actually driving purchases of an Apple product, rather than the other way around:

One thing that we are finding and is that a majority of our backers actually didn’t own a nano prior to purchasing our watches. It is pretty cool for us to know that our product is inspiring people to purchase [nanos].

It’s not actually that surprising, since the TikTok and LunaTik are remarkably easy on the eyes. Definitely a lot more appealing than the competition.

This is a stunning example of how a good idea combined with great design can catch fire and succeed even in the absence of traditional backing. It’s also great proof that not only does the Kickstarter model work, but it can actually far exceed traditional funding models if the product is good; it strikes a chord with consumers; and the timing is right.

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Which Tablet Is Best? iPad vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab
For the first time since its introduction, the iPad finally has a serious competitor in the market for that magical third device that’s more than a phone, but not quite a laptop or netbook. This self-declared Apple fanboy got some serious hands-on time with the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and while I probably won’t be selling my iPad anytime soon, I can seriously see myself buying a Tab of my very own, despite its drawbacks. Read on to find out why.

Operating System and Software

The obvious drawback of the Galaxy Tab is that it runs Google’s Android OS. While this article isn’t a comparison of Android versus iOS, the fact still remains there are many more applications available on Apple’s operating system.

My typical repertoire of basic apps were available for the Tab: Facebook, Twitter, Angry Birds, Documents to Go, QuickOffice and a few others. However, more specialized niche apps are severely lacking on Android. Take Jewish-related applications for example. While I’ve already written two roundups of these types of apps for the iPhone (and could probably write many more), I could find very few for Android. As Android grows more popular, gaps like that will probably be filled, but Google’s mobile OS just hasn’t caught up to iOS in the app arena yet.

Of course, the Galaxy Tab’s freedom from Apple’s ecosystem was also a huge asset. The device seamlessly connects with Gmail, making the need for MobileMe completely unnecessary, and you never have to connect it to a personal computer for the initial setup–it worked right out of the box. That might be a big draw for users who don’t want to have to check their device in with other machines on a regular basis.

Speaking of syncing, another problem with Android is its lack of a dedicated, native companion client on the Mac. While iTunes serves as a universal gateway for managing content and functions on the iPhone, the equivalent doesn’t exist for the Android platform. Workarounds, especially for the Mac, are clunky and inelegant in my opinion. If you love iTunes and use it often, you’ll hate managing your Galaxy Tab’s media. Although you can’t use iTunes to manage your tablet, moving multimedia content was very easy using the MicroSD card, but not as simple as syncing through iTunes would be.

Size and Hardware Design

Android is developed primarily for phones, and the apps don’t scale well. Take for example QuickOffice, one of my favorite productivity apps for the iPhone. Unlike the iPad version, the Android app simply doesn’t take advantage of having more real estate.

Physically, the device felt like a large phone rather than a true tablet. It’s in an ergonomic dead zone. Holding the Tab with just one hand didn’t feel right because I couldn’t fully grasp it, and was constantly afraid it would slip out of my hand, something not helped by the slick plastic backing on the device. The iPad’s aluminum shell feels grippy by comparison. Holding the Tab with two hands didn’t feel right either, because my hands were simply too close together and the smaller screen bezel meant my fingers were always getting in the way.

While I could comfortably type on my iPad, almost as if it were a full keyboard (especially in landscape mode), the Galaxy Tab felt much more like a phone due to the smaller size of the virtual keys and their rectangular design. After a few minutes, my hands were tired and cramped. Hands with daintier fingers might not run into such a problem.

However, the Galaxy Tab’s smaller size often turned out to be a great asset, as well as a liability. Although I consider my iPad a highly portable device, I carry it more like a hard cover book than a paperback novel. Many people who commented on the Tab pointed out that it could fit in their purse. While I don’t have a purse, I shared the intended thought — I could imagine carrying this device everywhere. I started slipping it into a three-ring binder, a coat pocket, and even a gym bag. The Galaxy ended up tagging along with me more places than the iPad. I wasn’t using it as a true portable computer, though, in the way I did my iPad, due to typing problems and a lack of software, mentioned above.

Other Considerations

The Galaxy Tablet may not have the apps or the greatest keyboard, but it does has many functions that the iPad is lacking. The front- and rear-facing cameras were handy, though in reality, it’s a very awkward device when used as a camera. I was able to use its mobile connection to create a wireless hotspot, which isn’t possible with the iPad, and of course Flash worked just fine. Battery life was similar to the iPad, though using it as a wireless hotspot drained the battery after just a few hours.

As for multimedia, on the Tab the sound was tinny and the screen simply not as vibrant as the iPad, but still clearly a step above the average smartphone. Purchasing commercial video content on the Tab often depends on the carrier, and requires more steps than on an iPad. It isn’t nearly as simple as just opening up the iTunes app and browsing for content.

As an e-reader, the Galaxy was outstanding. The Android Amazon Kindle and Google Books apps rivaled the experience of using a physical Kindle or paperbook book. Of all the devices I’ve used, I preferred the Galaxy tablet when I wanted to get reading done. The iPad is too big and the iPhone too small; the Galaxy was just right.

Conclusion

As a portable computing device and laptop replacement, the Galaxy Tab simply doesn’t cut it when it comes to size and apps, and in particular, apps designed for the tablet form factor. The Galaxy Tab is simply a larger Android-based mobile phone, without the ability to direct dial. The next version of Android, 3.0, is supposed to have more features designed specifically for tablets, and will likely greatly enhance the Galaxy Tab, however, in its current state, the Galaxy Tab OS shows its phone-based limitations too frequently.

The Galaxy’s real competitors are other smartphones, and in particular, Android-based devices. The Galaxy Tab provides a mobile computing experience on a much larger screen than the average smartphone while retaining nearly all the same portability and functionality. The iPad, by contrast, offers a considerably different experience than does the iPhone, and feels much more like a true laptop replacement. They genuinely feel like they occupy two distinct device categories, which is why I mentioned earlier that I’d consider owning both. If you have to pick one, though, the iPad gets my vote.

Check out the gallery below for some shots of the two devices, and a video comparison published earlier on GigaOM.

Disclosure: The Galaxy tab was provided for review by Verizon of Kansas and Missouri and was returned upon completion of this article. Actual carrying of the Galaxy Tab in a purse was not tested by the author.
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Galaxy Tab Stacked on iPad

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EA's App Store Tactics: Dirty Trick or Just Business?
Electronic Arts (EA) has a lot of games in the App Store, and a huge chunk of them are now available for only $0.99 (via Touch Arcade) as part of a massive holiday sale the publisher started today. But EA isn’t just getting into the giving spirit; this is a calculated move by an App Store bully designed to anticipate the holiday app rush.

Many of EA’s games manage to ride high in the charts even when priced above the $0.99 mark that seems to bring so many titles such a high degree of success. Offering 54 iPhone games and 15 iPad titles at $0.99 (as of this writing) is obviously an effort to flood those charts with EA titles in advance of the App Store freeze that begins on Dec. 22 and continues until Dec. 26, which also covers the period during which iOS apps enjoy the heaviest sales volume.

Why start now, a full six days prior to that freeze date? First, to build momentum. You don’t climb the charts within a couple of minutes. Apps like Angry Birds reach their lofty perches by doing a brisk business consistently. Starting now gives the EA titles a chance to gather steam.

More importantly, today is the release day for a ton of great new quality titles. Games like Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, World of Goo for iPad, and NOVA 2 are among the fresh crop of potential blockbusters. Other great titles, like Eternal Legacy, Dungeon Hunter 2, and Infinity Blade have only just recently arrived. Those games stand a pretty good chance of climbing and staying at the top of the charts, but they have one weakness: price.

As Endloop Studio’s Garry Seto pointed out to me on Twitter, big price drops are a common way for studios to steal attention from the major releases of competitors. EA seems to have taken this to the extreme with this scattershot approach to gaining chart traction.

All this jockeying for position is exciting to watch, and it results in cheaper prices for consumers, but also reveals the App Store’s limitations when it comes to promoting and selling software. Developers and publishers live or die by the App Store charts, and big studios with extensive libraries can pull this sort of stunt, while smaller fish have to struggle to get noticed. That discrepancy will become even more pronounced as time goes by, and the Mac App Store will likely bring the same kind of thing to OS X development, too.

What do you think? Should Apple implement some kind of controls around the holidays to prevent heavy hitters like EA from throwing their weight around, or is this just the unavoidable nature of the beast?

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Screens Makes Remote Desktop on iPhone and iPad Easy
Looking for a remote desktop solution for your iPhone or iPad? Screens, a new app by developer Echovia, could fit the bill quite nicely. Screens is a universal app, so it lets you access your Mac from either your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, using an interface optimized for each device.

Screens is better than other remote desktop apps I’ve used for iOS in the pass. For one, it’s cheaper. At $14.99, it’s half the price of LogMeIn Ignition, the other leading remote Mac and PC control application currently available in the App Store, though this is a limited time sale (the regular price is $24.99). There are other, even less expensive alternatives, but in terms of features, design, and reliability, these two are the class leaders.

Setting up screens is incredibly simple, and doesn’t require a companion app if you’re using it with a Mac. It does require that you turn on Screen Sharing, which the included Getting Started Guide will tell you how to do using, simple, step-by-step instructions. If you’re using a Windows machine, you’ll need to use virtual network computing (VNC) software. Screens includes clear instructions for using TightVNC, a free VNC server.

Remote access (when you’re away from your home network) can be tricky with remote desktop clients. Screens gets around this by providing a free OS X utility called Screens Connect that will manage all your settings for you. It’s a little bit trickier than just setting up Screens for local access, but again, the app provides step-by-step instructions, and I found it much easier than trying to do the same thing with other remote access iOS apps.

In terms of design, Screens is gorgeous. Usually with remote desktop apps, the look and feel of the UI seems like an afterthought, probably because most of your time spent in the app will involve interacting with your home computer, not with the app itself. Screens shows how much of a difference a little spit and polish makes when it comes to graphics and UI elements. The app stores your remote machines (called “Screens”) on a woodgrain background as framed captures from your last session. You swipe through these captures with as smooth a transition animation as can be found anywhere in Apple’s native software.

Besides your saved screens, the home view has only four other buttons, including a new screen button, an edit icon, a settings button and a trash icon. It’s a spare interface, but it provides you with everything you could possibly need. Settings might be better named “Help” however, since it actually stores the app’s Getting Started Guide and an About section.

Once you’ve actually connected to a computer remotely, the interface remains minimal, with a bar at the bottom and one at the top. There’s a button to activate your device’s keyboard (including an attached Bluetooth one), one for commonly used functions (copy/paste, undo, log out, quit, etc.) and a slider to end your remote session. At the bottom, you’ll find commonly used keyboard commands (escape, tab, shift, command, arrow keys, and a few others).

Most importantly, the actual connection between Screens and your remote machine is solid. I tested the app with both my Mac mini and my iMac, on my local network and remotely using Wi-Fi and 3G, and on both the iPhone 4 and the iPad, and it was always snappy and responsive. Extras like full support for multi-touch gestures, and a special Pull-to-Dock feature that lets you call up your Mac’s Dock anytime are icing on the cake. Screens even works correctly with the three-display setup I’m using with my Mac mini, even though one of those monitors is plugged in using USB and DisplayLink drivers. If you’ve been waiting for a remote desktop app that feels perfectly at home on the iPad and iPhone, this is it.

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Mac App Store Opening Jan. 6

Apple announced Thursday that the Mac App Store will officially launch on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011. The Mac App Store, like its iOS equivalent, will be used to sell and distribute applications, only for OS X instead of for Apple’s portables. The newly-announced date falls well within Steve Jobs’ stated release timeframe of 90 days, which he announced at Apple’s Back to the Mac event in October.

In the press release, Jobs notes that he hopes the Mac App Store will do for OS X software what the App Store did for mobile apps:

The App Store revolutionized mobile apps. We hope to do the same for PC apps with the Mac App Store by making finding and buying PC apps easy and fun. We can't wait to get started on January 6.

The official announcement goes on to briefly describe how the Mac App Store will work. New and noteworthy apps, staff favorites, category searching and customer reviews and ratings will all make the jump from the iOS version of the software marketplace. Apps can also be downloaded and installed in one click, and once you’ve bought an app, you can download and install it on any other Mac associated with your iTunes store account. Updates for software purchased through the Mac App Store are delivered directly through it, too.

Some things the Mac App Store will be missing from its iOS counterpart include in-app purchases and trial versions of software with limited content or gameplay. It’s unclear whether or not Apple plans to implement any of these things down the road.

When it does arrive, users won’t even have to go to Apple’s site to grab the download, since it’s being pushed out to all Snow Leopard users via Software Update as a free download. Apple clearly doesn’t want to risk anyone missing this boat.

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