• The Blue and REDD Carbon iPhone app was launched last month in Abu Dhabi by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at the Eye on Earth Summit. Available in seven languages including English and Arabic, the app provides consumers with answers to many environmental questions. The UNEP app draws attention to the critical role played by ecosystems such as salt marshes, mangroves, tropical forests and sea grasses in tackling climate change. Users of the application can calculate their personal carbon footprint for journeys taken by air, train or road. They will then be shown the equivalent area of a particular ecosystem that can store this amount of carbon dioxide. The UNEP application also highlights the valuable natural services provided by ecosystems, such as the protection of shorelines from storms, support for fisheries and provision of materials such as timber and medicine. A variety of suggestions are offered by the app to show how individual actions can help limit the environmental degradation of coastal and terrestrial ecosystems.
 

• It’s important for children to be informed about what’s happening in the world, but graphic scenes from news programs created for adults can lead to serious mental distress in youngsters. GoGoNews (www.gogonews.com) was created to help children develop awareness of current events, all the while being vigilant concerning the impact such reports may have on young minds. The organization’s resident psychologist is consulted regarding any potentially unsettling story in order to present the facts of the event in an educational, nonthreatening way. This satisfies children’s curiosity, allowing them to understand our world and empathize with those hurt by sad events. It also provides parents with a platform to discuss the happenings of the day within a set of child appropriate parameters relevant to each story.
 

• Graphics software can be very expensive, leading many individuals in Saudi Arabia to use pirated software when enhancing photographs. But there isn’t a need to do that if you log on to Aviary (www.aviary.com). Aviary is a suite of free, powerful creative applications that work in your Web browser. This on-demand service includes an image editor, visual laboratory, audio editor, music creator — and lots of other tools. Aviary works with smartphones as well as traditional computers. There’s also Aviary Education (AviaryEducation.com) a free resource for teachers who want a safe, private environment for classroom collaboration on creative assignments.
 

• Measuring 15.9 mm thick and weighing less than 1.2 kg, the 13.3” Portégé Z830 is the world’s thinnest and lightest Ultrabook. It’s equipped with an Intel Core i5-2467M Processor, Intel HD 3000 graphics, 128GB SSD and 4GB DDR3 memory. The Portégé Z830 is clad in a durable magnesium alloy casing with a honeycomb structure designed for higher durability and reliability, optimal rigidity and resistance to flexing, drops and shocks. In addition, the stylish full-size LED backlit keyboard makes typing easy in a low-light environment and the keyboard is spill resistant, too. Stay connected effortlessly with the Ultrabook’s many options. It features full size ports with USB 3.0, HDMI, VGA, Gigabit LAN and SD slot. The Portégé Z830 also supports wireless options including Integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 + HS and Mobile Broadband 3G.
 

• LG Electronics (LG) is about to introduce the world’s largest 3D Ultra Definition (UD) TV. This 84-inch television is being promoted as a home theater star. It offers picture quality with eight million pixels and four times the resolution clarity (3840x2160) of existing Full HD TV panels. Combined with LG’s slim, narrow bezel design, the 3D UD TV provides the most convincing 3D viewing experience available outside of a movie theater. 3D Depth Control allows users to customize the viewing experience by controlling the 3D effect and 3D Sound Zooming provides users with 3D sound that rivals the output of all but the best home theater systems. Via the display panel, users can access LG’s Smart TV ecosystem, which comprises over 1,200 apps and gives users entrée to a growing range of premium content services. The embedded 2D to 3D conversion engine expands the availability of 3D content to limitless levels.