Thorin Klosowski poses an interesting question over at Lifehacker: Are phones good productivity tools? Klosowski argues that, for almost every productivity task he needs to accomplish, there is a desktop or tablet app that will do it quicker and more efficiently than his phone. "None of this is to say that I don't appreciate a smartphone for what it is," he hastily reassures us. "I still take pictures all the time, I listen to podcasts, dink around on Twitter, and look up oddball questions in the browser. But none of those things are actually productive." I suppose that for me, it all comes...

* Note: Click here to read Mobile Magazines, Part I — Google Play Magazines, here for Mobile Magazines, Part II — iOS Newsstand and here for Mobile Magazines, Part III — Next Issue and here for Mobile Magazines, Part IV — Periodicals on E-Readers This story is more for you corporate types. imgZine isn't really a consumer-based venture, but it's an interesting story about using tablet technology to reach and engage people. Corporations have a lot of information they want to distribute, or that they expect their employees to read as a way of staying current in their industry. Most companies distribute...

LifeProof announced this past Tuesday that they're offering a Total Water Protection Program for the Apple iPhone and iPad to anyone who purchases a LifeProof case from their website. This optional program takes the protection of these devices to an entirely new level by offering a one-time repair or replacement of the device if it sustains accidental water damage while in one of their cases. LifeProof cases are advertised as being waterproof, submerged down to 6.6 feet deep, as well as being dirt proof, snow proof and shock proof. The Total Water Protection Program will offer consumers even greater peace of mind. Available as of Tuesday,...

It’s been awhile since we last heard a quasi-believable next-gen iPad story, but it shouldn’t be long now until we get something conclusive. That’s because several sources claim a new full-sized iPad is closing in on its release, with the official unveiling rumored to happen by the end of this month. But is that possible? We’d be inclined to say no, because, again, there have been far too few iPad 5 rumors lately and Apple is usually very skilled at building hype months before an actual release. Then again, with the third-gen iPad released in March 2012 and the fourth-generation back in...

When is the best time to purchase a new Apple device? Is there a best time? We’re fully aware of how sporadic and paltry the big Apple can be when it comes to offering customers discounts on their products. Usually feeling like you’ve earned a ‘deal’ from an Apple retail store or from their online store involves taking advantage of a promotion, which can result in spending extra money to receive reduced priced accessories or services (of which you may or may not actually need). But saving any amount on a fresh Macbook Pro or iPad straight from the source? Not likely. So...

Have you ever run across a solution looking for a problem? Unfortunately, that's my reaction to Perdrix TXT, a new e-reading app for iPhone and iPad. The developer contacted me over the weekend and gave me a promo code for a free review copy, and I gave it a look. Here's what they say about the app on their site: Getting closer to the real book experience… Focused on book immersion, this app features innovative design such as book side views, life-like bookmark and a separate Search screen. Read free e-books and plain text files. At a quick glance that sounds good. The app...

I wrote last year about a theory I had, namely that digitization was enabling a more minimalist lifestyle for people who wouldn't otherwise be minimalist. I could still have my books, music and movies, but they wouldn't take up space anymore. Well, I'm doing my annual March break spring cleaning this week, and I've found that a recent addition to my tech arsenal has enabled me to take it one step further. The tool? An iPhone 5 with a scanner-quality built-in camera, and the free Evernote app Evernote is my brilliant new discovery, and to my delight, I just found a 'doc scanner'...

By Jonathan Pena Apple has announced that iTunes U has topped one billion downloads, an impressive number for a service launched just few years ago. Apple debuted iTunes U in 2007, expanding its library beyond laptops and computers when the company created its own iTunes U iOS app for mobile devices. Apple's SVP of Internet Software and Services, Eddy Cue, released a brief statement stating that more than 2,400 schools across the nation are currently hosting new content on the service. “It’s inspiring to see what educators and students of all types are doing with iTunes U, and [the] incredible content offered on...

If you're like me, you keep a close eye on your app updates on your iDevice. This morning, as I was leaving the house for an early morning meeting, I noticed an app update available. Good thing I always check what's new before updating. This was the first time I've ever seen this message: Note: There is a known issue with this update. If you are an existing Kindle for iOS user, we recommend you do not install this update at this time. Reports around the Web talk about people losing their books on their device, especially samples, because the app forces...

Earlier this month, I wrote about the launch of Bookish. At the time, their e-reading apps were "coming soon." And now they are here. Are we impressed? Not really. It's a bare bones e-reading app with nothing to recommend it. The Android version isn't bad. You can override publisher defaults to get some font and formatting choices. There is a night version, if you like that, and you can personalize both background and text colors. The layout on the page is serviceable but unexciting. I'd still say you're better off downloading the book and using Aldiko, which does work with Adobe...

One of the things I love about my iPad is that it liberates me from the constraints of my desktop workstation and the lousy body English of using a laptop sitting on one’s lap. I can use the iPad in a wide range of venues in my house and yard—pretty much anywhere within range of my Wi-Fi router. However, one place I’ve never used the iPad is in the bathroom, and I really have no desire to do so. My philosophy about bathroom-going is that you do what’s on the agenda and move on, so to speak. But, whatever floats your...

Yesterday, we filled you in on the fact that the Berlin-based digital reading platform known as Readmill was very close to releasing an e-reading app for the iPhone, and as it happens ... the app was officially released today. (Quite a coincidence, no?) According to the company, the newly-released app (appropriately enough, it's called Readmill for iPhone) was designed to create what they're referring to as "a seamless mobile reading experience for users." Readmill, after all, is already available as an app for the iPad. And so Readmill built the new app partially to cater towards the growing number of people wanting to...