Innovative Tech of the Week | The Kid's Tablet

Finally - a solution to feeling dumber than our kids when they teach us how to do something on our iPad. Starting October 1, Toys R Us will debut the Tabeo, a tablet just for kids running on Android OS. 

"The device is wrapped in a soft "bumper" to protect the hardware if it falls out of a child's slippery fingers. It also includes extra controls in the device's built-in browser. For example, parents can set different Internet safety controls for up to eight users, either by blocking certain categories of content or disallowing access to specific sites. The Tabeo can also be set to allow Internet access only on certain days or during certain hours." 

It will be interesting to see if parents prefer to get kids their own or keep letting them use the family tablet. While the Tabeo seems much more kid-proof, many of the child safety apps and cases available for regular tablets can render any tablet "safe for children." 

Learn more about the Tabeo kids tablet here 

Innovative Tech of the Week | The Programmable T-Shirt

At long last, the “wearable, shareable, programmable and 100% cotton tshirt” is here. CuteCircuit's tshirtOS prototype is a washable tshirt with built in display and camera that can be operated from an app on a smartphone to display images, videos, Tweets, and anything else people will come up with. 

"Audio playback via a headphone jack is supported, and the company claims that the camera used in tshirtOS is the smallest in the world. In fact, it measures 2.5 x 2.9 x 2.5 mm and comes from Omnivision, though only captures at 32 x 32 resolution; still, the chest display itself only runs at 32 x 32, consisting of 1,024 ultrathin RGB LEDs."

Well, we know what we're getting our President for Christmas this year. 

Click here to learn more about the programmable tshirtOS or check out the video below 

Technology of the Week | The NBC Olympics App

"The "NBC Olympics Live Extra" app will let users watch more than 3,500 hours of live events on tablets and smartphones. But only customers who have a cable or satellite subscription will get full access -- and the app is available only on Apple devices and a "select" list of Android phones and tablets."

Not much else to say here other than download the app and GO TEAM USA!

Click here to learn more about and download the NBC Olympics Mobile App

And click here to check out our Infographic of the Month: 2012 London Olympic Village Construction

Innovative Tech of the Week | on{X} Every Day Mobile App

Yet another app so simple you wonder why no one has tried to sell it to you before. Developed by Microsoft's Bing search engine, on{X}, now available in Beta, allows users to set recipes and rules for every day reminders and tasks. It can alert you by 7am if snow is forecasted for the day or launch the music app or GPS while walking or driving. While this daily rules concept is not new, it hasn't been integrated extensively with search until now. 

"It's clear that the fledgling service has a ways to go, though. Currently, much of the on{X} experience takes place in a Web browser: You can only add, modify, or code rules from the website. The mobile app allows you to delete or turn off rules, or view the activity log related to individual rules."

It is also only available on the Android mobile platform for now. So it's only a matter of time before Mac releases a competitor. But the idea of of not having to remember to set reminders sounds pretty good to us, no matter who's developing the application. 

Click here to learn more about this mobile app that automates daily tasks

New Technology of the Week | Yapp

To put it simply, Yapp will help anyone and everyone to develop a mobile app. It's not meant to overpopulate the iTunes App Store nor the Android Market but rather to allow mobile users to essentially create interactive mini mobile sites for events, interests, etc. to share wtih family and friends. 

"In the early going--Yapp is in private beta right now--it is focusing on apps built around events. So users can create new apps for things like weddings, conferences, birthday parties, and the like. And Yapp thinks that most people will be able to build their new tool in about ten minutes."

Click here to read more about Yapp, the Mobile App...App

18 handy tablet apps for AEC professionals | Building Design + Construction

The SmartBidNet Construction Bid iOS App, a product of JBKnowledge, made a recent Building Design + Construction list of helpful AEC industry tablet apps for everyday design, construction, BIM/IT and LEED processes. 

Click here to read the full list

SmartBidNet App Listed in ENR's Top Paid and Free Construction Apps

ENR asked Apple to query its developer community in a quest to help idenfity the most popular construction apps in the App Store. It was a tricky call...

Click to read more ...