Ipad

LAS VEGAS - Concert pianist Bob Taub watched his teenage daughter strive to learn the violin, and wondered: Could he design a digital tool to help her see and hear the exact notes where she was going astray? Last week, six years into an add-on career as an inventor, Taub was here at the massive International Consumer Electronics Show, moving his idea a bit closer to reality. His invention, MuseAmi, is already at the heart of an iPhone app that may prove to be the ultimate Karaoke tool.

Comcast Corp. says 750,000 people have downloaded its Xfinity TV app from the iTunes Store since it was launched in mid-November. The app, free to Comcast digital customers, enables cable subscribers to use their iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch to change the channel on their TV or browse Comcast channel listings. Later this year, Comcast will add a function so that subscribers can watch live TV on the iPad. Customers can use the iPad in their home or outside the home on a wireless service, such as those offered by Verizon or AT&T.

It seemed like random dinner-table chatter about cable TV: "There are so many pets on Animal Planet ," derided a wilderness-loving boy, "they ought to call it Pet Planet . " But when the scene moved to the living room of this Pennsburg, Montgomery County, home an hour later, it became evident the remark was no mere throwaway line from a youngster unimpressed by what TV offers. A dinner guest took a seat on the couch. "Bring your iPad," he had been asked, to break the ice with the family he was meeting.

Philadelphia Media Network Inc. released its 2012 Philly Pro Baseball app for the iPad, iPhone, Android phone, and Android tablet Monday. The publisher of The Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.com said the app, which was developed in-house, will provide Twitter updates, blogs, columns and articles from the newspapers' Phillies' sportswriters. It also incorporates a play-by-play feature that will enable Phillies' fans to follow the progress of a game. The price of the app is 99 cents for the iPhone version and $2.99 for the iPad on Apple's iTunes, free on the Google Play app store, and 99 cents for phone and $1.99 for tablet on Amazon's Appstore for Android.

Need a room? Orbitz's hotel app makes booking a breeze. Name: Orbitz-Hotels. Available for: iPad. What it does: Allows you to search the worldwide Orbitz hotel database based on your current location via GPS or by typing in an address, city, or zip code. Same-day bookings are available. Cost: Free. What's hot: Usability is extremely fast and efficient. The search results are displayed with the essential info on the left (hotel name, price, star rating, reviewer score, and location)

I'm always looking for a better USB car charger, one that won't get in my way or come loose from the car's power socket. Scosche's PowerPlug low-profile USB car charger for iPod, iPhone, and iPad solves both prob- lems, and brings some extra oomph for faster charging of power-hungry devices such as the iPad. The charger is designed to fit flush in the power socket, so nothing sticks out to get knocked loose or hog space. The 2.1-amp circuitry provides speedier charging than the typical one-amp car charger.

Glass markers with personality Wine markers are great for stemware, but we've been to one too many gatherings where we try to remember where we set down our stemless glass. Solve the problem with these colorful figures that stick with tiny suction cups. And have fun assigning markers to your party guests. Who is Sneaky? Macho? Curious? Vacu Vin Party People Glass Markers, $6.95 for 12 at Sur La Table stores, or www.surlatable.com . - Ellen Dunkel iPad slipcover   Many a cook has discovered the joy and convenience of cooking with an iPad, with literally millions of recipes and images at your fingertips.

Cindy White still marvels at how easily her daughter, Katie, blew through $174 two months ago while playing a Smurfs' Village game on White's iPad tablet computer. One day she was enjoying the popular iPad and iPhone application - a "free app," in smartphone and tablet lingo. The next day, the little girl was revealed as a big spender - and the free app as anything but free - courtesy of an iTunes receipt e-mailed to her mom. The 4-year-old's largest purchase? A Wagon of Smurfberries for $99.99.

A mobile trip itinerary planner popular with business travelers. Name: WorldMate Available for: Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, iPad, and Windows Phone. What it does: WorldMate helps you plan, book, and manage your trips. You'll be notified of delays and cancellations; you get a currency converter, a tip calculator, weather reports, and info on local restaurants, businesses, and more; and you can connect with your LinkedIn friends. Cost: Free / $9.99 (upgrade to Gold)

Here's a do-it-yourself travel-guide app and website that have promise. But will the operators hurry up and develop more cities and itineraries? Name: http://www.tripomatic.com Available for: iPhone, iPodtouch and iPad What it does: Helps you plan a day-by-day trip itinerary Cost: Free What's hot: I love the idea of making a day-by-day itinerary and then downloading it as a PDF when I'm done, as well...