360 DEGREES Weblog

As we suspected,  Skype has added video call capabilities to the iPhone. What we didn’t expect was for it to happen so quickly. They even managed to throw in a pretty big surprise.

If you’ve got an iPhone 4 or a 4th-gen iPod Touch, then you’ll be able to place video calls to any of your friends via Skype. However, if you’re using an iPhone 3GS, 3rd-gen iPod Touch or iPad, you’ll still be able to receive video chats. So what’s the big surprise? You don’t have to be on WiFi to place or receive such calls. Pretty strange that FaceTime won’t work over 3G, and yet Skype will. The update is free, and can be downloaded from the App Store now.

Martell known for producing high end Cognacs have released in collaboration with Cuban Habanos cigars a Cohiba Cognac. The blend of the cognac is made from ‘Grande Champagne’, one of the finest eau-de-vie in France and has been aged between forty to fifty years in unique oak casks to obtain some of the wood’s exquisite notes and specific amber hue during that time. The cognac comes in an elegant bottle with a distinct silk-screen print and a wooden box of a typical Cuban tobacco field landscape where the entire design of the artwork can be viewed.

Train like the greatest of all time with the Everlast Muhammad Ali Collection ($8-$110). This new signature range — literally, every product features a facsimile of Ali’s autograph — includes everything from cotton handwraps to full-size heavy bags, all manufactured to standards worthy of their namesake, and most including a hidden “Aliism” somewhere on the inside.

Photogene has long been one of the better photo editing apps for the iPad, but a new update – version 2.0 – turns it into arguably the best around. First I’ll run through the main features, and then tell you about the new stuff, which includes non-destructive editing, something only usually found in desktop software costing hundreds of dollars.

Like most iPad photo apps, you can apply a whole lot of tweaks familiar from desktop applications like Photoshop. Photogene lets you tweak the contrast, curves and levels, change saturation, white-balance, add sharpness, reduce noise and the like. It also has a effects section (called “Enhance”) which contains various frames, blurs and vignettes, along with a whole pocketful of strange filters, speech bubbles and crops.

But what sets it apart is the UI. It doesn’t have a revolutionary layout, but it is dead easy – and fast – to use. The buttons are big enough to hit with fingers, transitions are slick and quick and you can do a lot of what you’d do in, say, Lightroom on a Mac or PC. A great example of the user friendliness is the curves tool, which puts the contrast-curve over the top of the picture so you can drag and add points right over the photo as you see it. It made me smile when I first saw it.

It’s almost unbelievable that it packs so much in, weighs just 2MB and costs only $4.

Thanks WIRED

The earlier announced collaboration between Converse and Bedwin & The Heartbreakers on the Jack Purcell sneaker is about to be released. The low top sneaker comes in a premium black leather version with special Bedwin metal applications and logo tag on the tongue. Look out for a release of the sneaker early January 2011.

Perps, you might wanna think twice before you accost your next elderly victim, especially with the ZAP Cane on the market.  Not only does it have a built-in LED flash light, support a weight up to 250lbs and is adjustable between 32-inches to 36-inch, but it sports a 1-million volt stun gun at the tip.  Just remember to charge it on the daily otherwise your perceived super powers might be rendered useless.

You can pick one up for $89.99 from Budk.

Yup, you heard that right. Twice. The two German icon have come together to give you the ultimate in stylish hatchback you could ever think of owning. In a twist of events,Volkswagen has teamed up with the legendary trendsetter to give its ordinary-looking hatchbacks a fashionable twist. Volkswagen Polo, Golf and Golf Plus are the lucky models for the overhaul.

Whether you’re toting an iPad, 11-, or 13-inch MacBook Air, the Autum Straight Jacket ($133) can keep it protected. Limited to a first run of only 50 sleeves in each size, these simple, handmade sleeves are built from domestically tanned leather, and feature semi-rigid, padded construction, a suede interior to guard against scratches, and an open top for easy access. Great on their own, or as a sleek and minimalistic compliment to any bag or briefcase.

Okay, I finally have it. The coolest thing to happen to your iPad since, well, the iPad. I have been enjoying all the cases and apps and keyboards entering the market, but I haven’t fallen in love… until now.

Enter the Clamcase, lightweight and completely portable, it changes your iPad into one serious machine. Send e-mails, manage data, make notes or surf the net all with the convenience of a netbook. But don’t stop there, the Clamcase can also be used as an iPad stand, perfect for movies or presentations, the keyboard folds in on itself allowing your iPad to stand alone.

Clamcase uses a patented hinge that allows your iPad to be used as a netbook, an entertainment unit, a presentation venue, an e-reader and wait for it, a plain old iPad, because the special hinge even allows the keyboard to be folded flat against the back of your device, leaving you with a simple iPad in a case.

So to recap, the Clamcase is protection, a full qwerty keyboard and a stand all in one, and it looks good too. How great is that?

Made of durable high grade PC-ABS plastic, with shock absorption pads for safety and a quick attach and release mechanism for your iPad, the Clamcase is one awesome little accessory.

You can order one now for $119.00, shipping January 2011 from  www.clamcase.com