Inkling Brings Textbooks to the iPad!

It’s always fascinating to see when technology makes it into the classroom and changes how we learn. The iPad - and other tablets that followed in its wake - are some of the newest products on the market to have relevance in the education sector. It seems that the textbook industry has really embraced it now. Publishing companies Pearson and McGraw Hill (you probably recognize these names from a few of your own books) have struck a deal with Inkling to start creating e-textbooks. They plan to have 100 by next year. This signifies a strong commitment by leaders in the textbook business to make their publications available in electronic format, which will facilitate the use of iPads in the classroom.

The e-textbooks offered by Inkling will provide a deeper experience than typical textbooks, with multimedia and social integration, which adds a very interesting spin on a classic learning tool! The days of dragging around giant heavy textbooks may soon be behind us! If you have an iPad and want to try it out, follow the link.

Check out our previous post — Debate: Are iPads Fit for the Classroom?

Cheers,

Alex B and the OnTheHub team.

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Win an iPad 2: Thanks for participating!

WOW! So far, we’ve had over 200 entries for the Tweet it to Win it Contest! Thanks so much to everyone who has participated. OnTheHub wouldn’t be this awesome without you guys!

If you haven’t already, make sure you enter now to win an iPad 2! The contest runs until April 4th! Check out the Tweet it to Win it Contest Page for details.

Check out some of our awesome participants:

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Win an iPad 2 from OnTheHub!

Enter now to win an iPad 2 from OnTheHub! Using your twitter account, just tweet the required message by April 4th and you’re automatically entered to win! Not on twitter? Just fill out the contest entry form! Click here for details!

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Win Your Parallels Purchase Back!

Purchase any Parallels product from OnTheHub, from now until March 31st, you will be automatically entered in a draw to win your purchase back!

Three winners will be drawn on Monday, April 4th. Someone is going to have a great start their week!

The Windows 7 Upgrade Tool is just $29.99 USD. Or, get Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac for just $39.99 USD. If you are wondering what Parallels software title is right for you, check them all out here!

Terms & Conditions

* You must be a student
* Contest open to U.S. and Canadian citizens only
* One entry per person
* Must be 18 years or older
* Prize is limited to one Parallels product only

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Microsoft Office Web Apps

If you’re a student, you have probably faced the issue of sending assignment or project files from your computer at home to someplace else electronically — to print off, share or work on further. There are a number of methods that you can use, like USB drives, or littering your inbox with emails to and from yourself. However, they are often troublesome, especially when you don't know what kind of computer you are going to be accessing the files with next. They also make collaboration very challenging.

Luckily, Microsoft has introduced Office Web Apps and Windows Live SkyDrive, so you can access and edit files from anywhere you want ! This is has proved to be one of the most useful applications of the cloud. You can save your documents to your SkyDrive, by selecting Save and Send and then Save to Web. Now you can access them from any computer. Your files are safe and accessible. You can also share your files with others, even if they don't have Office installed on their computer yet! They can use Office Web Apps to edit your project and communicate with you others about it.

Try it here ! All you need is a Windows Live ID and you`re good to go!

Need discounts on Office and other Microsoft titles? Search for your school at OnTheHub!

Cheers,

Alex B. and the OnTheHub Team

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Keeping a Blog for School? WordPress for Windows Phone 7

A common project for many students (myself included) is to maintain a blog throughout an entire semester. Teachers want to see you looking at the world around you, thinking objectively and applying your thoughts and opinions to the subject at hand. Blogs promote class discussions and encourage students to get their readings done before class.

To all of you who have been (or will be) assigned a student blog, the WordPress app for Windows 7 Phone will let you get your homework done on the go! Everyone knows that inspiration can strike at any time – now you can write and edit your posts anytime, anywhere. You can upload photos, check stats and even moderate your blog comments!

Best of all, this app is free! Check it out:

WordPress for Windows Phone 7 is an Open Source app. To learn more visit: windowsphone.wordpress.org/development.

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One-Minute World News

It goes without saying that the life of a student can be very time consuming. With a barrage of readings, papers, assignments and exams facing you — along with balancing a social life and other external pressures — it can get to the point where we're so wrapped up in our personal issues that we forget that there is an entire world out there.

The news, while readily available, can be hard to follow if you feel that you're always catching up, which can be a barrier for some. Another issue is the staggering amount of information on the internet and it may be hard to pick what is important from what is not.

Luckily, the BBC has a one minute news program that will provide you with a brief over view of what is happening in the world. While this is certainly not sufficient as a primary news source, it provides a good overview of today's events.

Check it out here! BBC News - One-minute World News

Another fun option is to download the free BBC Desktop Ticker, so you have information running across your screen similar to the news tickers seen on News programs. This brings the news that much closer to you, so you know about the issues as they happen.

These are two inexpensive and quick ways to remain informed about the world around you. This is a big world, and you’re part of it, so you should know what's happening!

Cheers,

Alex B. and the OnTheHub Team

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Access Windows on your iPhone or iPad!

With the use of Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac and a copy of Windows 7 you can access Windows on your iPhone or iPad! This allows you to take advantage of all the benefits of a full blown PC with the portability and lightness of a tablet or phone.

You can see it in action here:

This is made possible through the use of the Parallels Mobile app, which is free on Apple App Store. Using the app, you can sync your iPhone or iPad to your Mac running Windows and Parallels!

Alex B. and the OnTheHub Team

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What’s New With the iPad 2?

The internet is buzzing with news of the iPad 2! The main question for many is: what did Apple add to the new model of their famed device? Well, here is the answer!

The external changes to the iPad 2 are the most noticeable off the bat. Firstly, the iPad comes in white and black variations. It is 33% thinner - at 8.8 mm to be exact. It is also lighter, at about 600 grams. Apple has smoothed the back of the iPad to transition into the screen-side more evenly, which they claim is going to make it a more comfortable product to hold.

Another major feature of the new iPad 2 is the addition of not one but two cameras. There is a front facing camera for FaceTime and an HD camera on the back for pictures and video.

However, not all modifications of the new tablet are superficial: the new iPad has received some new love under the hood as well. It now comes with a dual core A5 chip, which will make it a very fast device! The graphics performance has been improved with up to 9 times the performance. Apps are going to look and run better with performance upgrades like these!

Apple has also introduced Smart Covers, which serve as protection for the screen and as a stand for the device, for your viewing pleasure.

Looks like 2011 is going to be an exciting year for tablets! Will you be using an iPad in the classroom?

Alex B. and the OnTheHub Team

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Buy Quark 8 and get 9 for FREE!

Quark Announces QuarkXPress 9!
The newest version of QuarkXPress will allow designers to publish directly to digital devices and increase their productivity with new features for design automation. As the graphic design and page-layout software that puts designers at the center of the creative process, QuarkXPress already helps creative students and professionals create design-rich layouts that can be published to print, Web, and interactive Flash® (SWF) media.

QuarkXPress 9 will give you the power to design for and publish to digital devices in a variety of formats, while also offering even more control over the execution of your creative visions.

Buy Quark 8 today and upgrade to Quark 9 free of charge! Get it now at OnTheHub!
You can continue using your current version of QuarkXPress until version 9 is released. Keep watching the OnTheHub Blog for the official release date!

Details about the grace period:
1. Promotion applies to download licenses of QuarkXPress 8 purchased from OnTheHub between January 1, 2011 and April 30, 2011.

2. You will need to register your purchased copy of QuarkXPress 8 and complete the online redemption form on http://www.quark.com/buy8get9.

3. Provided that the whole redemption process is done correctly, Quark will email you the download information within 20 working days, together with the serial number and validation code for your free license. See Terms & Conditions.

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