UPFRONT: Mash Up

As Published In July/August 2011

Mash Up

News • Views • Trends • Tools

Weather Apps

Weather Alert USA
This app gives you weather reports and forecasts by location, but its best feature is push notification of National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration watches, warnings, and advisories for the U.S. US$3.99 (iPhone, iPad, iTouch).

Weather Channel
Bookmark your favorite locations or use the GPS feature to get a local forecast (hourly, 36-hour, or 10-day). Free (iPhone, Android); Ad-free “Max” version US$3.99 (iPhone); or by subscription (BlackBerry, Treo, Windows Mobile, Motorola Q).

Fahrenheit
You’ll always know the temperature, because this app puts it on your home screen in real time. Also provides forecasts and radar maps for cities worldwide. Despite its name, it also speaks Celsius. US$0.99 (iPhone, iPad).

WeatherPro
Great worldwide coverage with global satellite images and animated radar maps. Available in 12 languages. Cost varies by platform and subscription (iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7).

Seeing Double

Want the interactivity of a tablet with the functionality of a notebook? Check out Acer’s Iconia-6120 Dual-Screen Touchbook, a dual 14-inch LCD touchscreen notebook. At 6.18 pounds, the Windows 7–based twin tablet is loaded with an Intel Core i5 processor, 4 GB of RAM, a 640 GB hard drive, a 1.3-megapixel HD webcam, Wi-Fi, and USB 3.0, HDMI, VGA, and USB ports. It sports AppCards, a set of Iconia touch-based applications including a touch-based browser, a clipping tool, a social network aggregator, and tools for quick access to multimedia files. With the Touchbook you can use your finger for control, type on a virtual keyboard, or use a combination of both. You can also customize what is shown on each screen—watch a video on the top screen, browse your multimedia library on the bottom one, or view a single Web page across the two displays. US$1,199.99. 

Mini Mic

If you record podcasts, video blogs, conference sessions, or business meetings—or talk via Skype—enhance your sound quality with the i-Microphone from GoBiz. This compact microphone is perfect for travel and works with the iPad, MacBook, iPhone, and other smartphones. The i-Microphone features an omnidirectional condenser microphone that can record up to 12 dB louder than the microphones built into most mobile devices. Weighing less than 0.25 ounces, it offers RF shielding that reduces interference and feedback, a windscreen, and a weatherproof brass body. US$25.99.

Humility Is In

Employees who perceive themselves as honest and humble receive significantly higher job performance ratings from their supervisors.

Source: Baylor University

Seek and Ye Shall (Eventually) Find

In a survey of 450 IT professionals and business managers, participants were asked how much time they spend each day filing and maintaining information and searching internal documents and systems for information they need.

Source: OpenText and AIIM, Capitalizing on Content: A Compelling ROI for Change.