Apple has decided that applications that are 'overtly sexual' no longer have a home in the App Store. Apple's new App Store content policy has resulted in over 5,000 companies' apps being purged. The companies whose apps were deemed 'overtly sexual' were notified last week that their applications were going to be removed due to their content. This doesn't come as a huge surprise, because of iTouch, the App Store needs to cater to children as well as adults; it would seem to be graphic content and wouldn't be good for business.
What's strange about the recent purges, isn't that they are removing sexual content, it's who they are not removing. Playboy has an application that has not been removed from the App Store yet. Companies whose apps were removed are scratching their heads, wondering what makes Playboy special. Did Apple feel like Playboy is as "American as 'Apple' Pie"? It would seem so, or maybe they struck a deal, who knows. I do know that Playboy's app is more graphic than any other apps I have seen, it appears that thousands of companies are being treated unfairly by Apple. Companies should have and ought to have the right to stay in business if Apple is going to allow Playboy's app inside the App Store.
The new App Store policy, it will not accept applications that in any way imply sexual content or include the following:
Images of women in bikinis
Images of men in bikinis
Images of skin
Silhouettes indicating that the app includes sexual images
Google announces a new product that integrates with Gmail inbox that will allow you to start conversations about things that you find interesting. Google Buzz is about location more than anything, sharing information about your day to day online is considered to be richer if there is a location tagged to the post. The idea is that your description will have more weight if the reader has an idea of your whereabouts. Buzz will let you share links, photos, and videos throughout your social network.
Google Buzz on your mobile phone (Information Provided by Google Mobile Blog):
Buzz.google.com: A web app that provides access to Buzz from your iPhone or Android phone's browser.
Buzz on Google Maps for mobile: The new Buzz layer allows you to see buzz near you or anywhere on the map. You can post public buzz directly from the layer, and even attach a photo from your phone. Also, try visiting a mobile Place Page to read recent comments or to post buzz about that place. You can access Place Pages from the web app as well, by tapping on the place name in any location-tagged post.
Buzz Shortcut from Google.com: You will see the buzz icon in the top right corner of the google.com homepage. Just tap on the icon to trigger the posting box.
Voice Shortcut: The voice shortcut, which is available in the quick search widget on Android and in Google Mobile App on iPhone, allows you to post buzz without typing anything. Just say 'post buzz,' followed by whatever you'd like to post.
Google Buzz at first glance seems kind of exciting and might be useful. Unfortunately, this is not some new social media idea, Brightkite.com has been implementing the same concept for a long time. Who knows, maybe Google's version will be superior? It seems like Google is focused on so many projects right now it's hard to believe they can manage providing a solid product. What are your thoughts, Brightkite or Buzz?
Below are screen shots of Google Buzz and Brightkite, look familiar?
Apple's iPad might have some competition in the coming months with the recent talk about a Google Tablet. Google just released the Nexus One which was their version of the iPhone in the US. It looks like Google now wants to curb the iPad (release date March 2010) sales with their own spin. Glen Murphy, Google's user interface designer, presented what the Google Tablet might look like and created a video of how one will use the device. If I had to guess, the Google Tablet will possess many things that the iPad lacks.
In 2009 Google announced that they would be releasing an Operating System, Chrome OS, which would work and be based around a web browser. This would be mainly for small netbooks, which would have fast boot up times and give the user ease of access to the sleuth of Google applications. Along with releasing a Chrome Netbook this year, Google is considering applying the same platform to a tablet, desktops, and flat screen T.V.s. It will be very interesting to see how we will apply Chromium to our lives.
"Chrome OS is still in development and we are constantly experimenting with various user interfaces to determine what designs would produce the best user experience". Now Apple and Google are in a feud! This is a good thing, because it will force them to one up each other which is great for the consumer. Without competition Apple could take its sweet time making the iPad the way that the users want it. Now Apple has to cater to the needs and demands of the consumer which is the way it should be. Apple will still be the powerhouse in this field of devices; they are ahead of the game in many ways. "It's easy to do hardware, it's really hard to create an ecosystem and Apple's got a head-start on everybody because they've been doing this for four to five years, based around iTunes", said Gartner analyst Robin Simpson.
Apple's latest creation will be in your hands in 60 days and may revolutionize the way you or I compute. Steve Jobs clarified just what we can expect from Apples iPad, a device that appears to be an iPod Touch on steroids. The iPad platform is very similar to the iPod Touch but its capabilities are far more advanced. "It's the best web experience you've ever had. Way better than a laptop, way better than a phone," Steve Jobs said.
Here are the Specs:
only 1.5 lbs
only .5 inches and a 9.7-inch LED display
powered by Apple's own silicon technology, a 1 GHz Apple A4 chip
available in memory configurations of 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB
Bluetooth 2.1
802.11N WiFi
speaker
microphone
accelerometer
compass
10 hours of battery life and over a month of standby time
on-screen keyboard
Apple has already released an SDK program so that after market developers can create amazing new applications that are befitting to a device like the iPad. Apple is launching a brand new service called iBooks (and the corresponding iBookstore). Apple has reached an agreement, similar to the deal struck with record labels, with all the major publishers to market their content on the new iBookstore. Reading on the iPad will be very similar to Kindles, giving the reader the least strain possible on their eyes. There will be an external keyboard available for when you're in the office, something that we begged Apple to provide with the iPhone. One of the most important features on the iPad is the fact that you will not need a contract with AT&T to access the 3G network; $30 a month will give you unlimited access.
I have saved the best for last, "The Price is Right"! Only $499 for 16GB model, $599 for 32GB, and 64GB for $699. Models with built-in 3G (like the iPhone) will cost more, adding about $130 dollars to the price of each unit. I could make a pretty long list of what the iPad is missing. However, there is no sense in getting worked up about the 1st generation iPad; naturally as the product evolves and is tested by consumers more advancements will find their way to the iPad. I would much rather marvel at the sheer potential this product has to revolutionize the work place as well the classroom than complain about what the device lacks - which seems to be the trend with all the critics. The iPad is scheduled for release in April 2010.
When Apple released the long awaited iPhone it completely changed the mobile technology forever. Gone were the days of flip phones, mobile computers that could make phone calls became the bar. Every technology company has tried to create a rival to Apple's iPhone technology and have failed miserably. What's strange about the apparent lack of competition is the fact that Apple created a product that was far superior to AT&T service capability which in turn has created a lot of very unhappy customers. Since the beginning it has been one thing right after the other with the iPhone features and AT&T's inability to make certain features work. I personally know several people who gave up on the iPhone altogether, in search of finding a better product that can facilitate their needs. Google is one of those companies who have taken on the challenge of trying to provide mobile Internet users what they need. Their success with the Android was little and didn't do much to weaken Apple's grip on the market; so what did Google do, they went out and tried to make a better product.
Now, Google readies launch of an iPhone rival, the Nexus One. Named after the 'replicants' in Ridley Scott's science-fiction film Blade Runner and the Taiwanese company HTC procured the contract to create the Nexus One. Google will have full control over the Nexus One and it will have the Google logo right on the phone. Retailers expect Google to sell the Nexus One direct to customers through its website. I am optimistic that Google with not make the same mistakes that Apple has made and I am hopeful that they will create a product that is not hindered by the network providers inability to serve its customers.
All I can say is that in the UK there are four network providers that can service the iPhone, but in the United States there can be only one. "Google has approached several mobile phone operators in the UK, including T-Mobile and Vodafone, to gauge their interest in supporting its rival to the iPhone ahead of its launch in Britain next year", reports the Guardian. How is it that an American company like Apple could throw their American customers under the bus?
I feel like I am part of a group that feels that Apple is not letting us use our iPhones to the fullest. The iPhone is amazing, its abilities surpass all others and that should be noted; however, the restrictions that Apple has can be bothering regarding bluetooth keyboard ability, tethering, and having to have AT&T. My iPhone is not cracked and I have no plans to jail break my phone, but I feel like Apple is not letting us use the iPhone the way its designers intended; in turn this causes people to want to jail break their phones - go figure. Fortunately, independent companies have been working on ways to harness bluetooth capabilities with the iPhone; it gives us with iPhones running OS a preview of what we could have if Apple would come to their senses.
Modder ZodTTD, creator of the iControlPad, uses a Wiimote to play a MAME game on the iPhone. Zod has not announced the availability of this mame4iphone version yet. The same principle could easily be applied to a bluetooth keyboard and make every iPhone user's life that much easier. Those are just my thoughts, I encourage you to watch the short video below:
This year I had the opportunity to attend BWE09, better known as Blog World and New Media Expo 2009. This event took place from October 15-17 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Unlike many of the 2500 attendees this was my first year participating. And unlike many attendees I did not spend my days there blogging, tweeting, or otherwise updating my friends and followers. I just tried to take in the process, that is I tried to listen and learn. And hopefully, I will be able to care for and serve some, if not all, of Webconsuls clients. I actually thought about writing this post as soon as I returned home or even while I waited in the Las Vegas Airport, but then it occurred to me that it would be better to really write about BWE09 looking in the rear view mirror. So here are some of my "bytes" on BWE09.
While I have been participating in blogging for about two years and I am on Facebook and have a Twitter account, I would not rate myself as someone that knows everyone in the blogging and new media world; therefore, attending this event was not about hooking up with old friends, but meeting new people and learning from the "experts."
The exhibitors were varied and engaging. I enjoyed talking to people from all over the world, like the Zemanta team from Slovania (and, yes, I intend to learn more about their product). The ArmyStrongStories.com team was engaging and they had a great display. And then of course, I enjoyed speaking to Robby Berthyme who was representing wheretogetengaged.com (timely, insofar as Aaron and Alli became engaged on October 15, 2009!).
Brian Solis moderated a good keynote discussion about the "New Celebrity" with Anthony Edwards, Jermaine Dupri and Robin Antin. All of these participants made it very clear that if you are using Twitter, Facebook, etc...you need to be yourself, engage with people, and manage your own accounts (don't hire a staff to do this). Write about yourself or your cause, don't just keep re-tweeting!
One "outtake" from this keynote discussion is that I found it incredible how rude 70% of the audience appeared to be behaving. This was an hour long presentation and it was beyond me why people could not just sit and "listen", as opposed to working on their laptops, running their fingers over their iPhones or thumbing it on their Blackberry. This behavior was annoying and to top it off, even though they were really not paying attention, they would join in the intermittent applause like robots or dummies.
Dave Peck of LSF Interactive was interesting and provocative in his conference "How to Socialize Your Content". I just discovered that he posted many of his "rules" here for the small business owner. His advice I intend to try to incorporate into Webconsuls and to share with our clients.
I really enjoyed the conference "How Twits Lay Golden Eggs - The Art of Social Engagement for Business"...Chris Brogan and Laura Fitten had a lot to offer and they did not make the audience feel inept, but offered real guidance.
Dan Helfand attended this conference for Webconsuls also. It was interesting to watch Dan, who had not been to Las Vegas since he was 13! It was great to attend the conferences and then share what we had learned.
Las Vegas is an aging city and I don't think it is aging gracefully. As we rode the marvelous monorail I noticed that many of the buildings look dated and dirty on the outside, almost as if the original architectural plan did not allow for majestic aging. Many strange and vacant lots can be seen as you ride "behind" the strip.
I don't think I am the only BWE09 participant that questioned the parties that BWE09 sponsored. As one person said on Twitter: "bwe09 parties are a lot like Twitter - noisy, loud, dark, and ineffective at organizing communication". I couldn't agree more! Imagine being at the Mirages' Jet Night Club with many of the same people who could not put down their laptops and iPhones during the keynotes, only it was too dark to read their nametags and the music was too loud for introductions. Another person echoed these sentiments: "The parties at #bwe09 remind me of college. How old are we? Where are the real parties?"
Flying Southwest Airlines will be a subject for another post.
Finally, I would like to thank the three ladies that shared a Hilton Limo with Dan and me. We were attempting to get a taxi to go to the airport and we found ourselves sharing a limo with Kim Rowley and Joanne Dinslage of Key Internet Marketing and Maarika Neudorf of Enterprise Estonia. We had a fun ride and got to meet three more BWE09 attendees.
Ok, that is it for today. I am going to get busy learning how to apply all that I learned - stay tuned. In the meantime enjoy the photo of Dan with the BWE09 "Change Girl" as he wins the iPod Shuffle.
With each passing moment the iPhone gets a little bit better, and I'm beginning to think that there is nothing that the iPhone is not capable of doing. Sirius XM will be releasing a dock connector accessory receiver for the iPhone and iPod touch at a media event next Wednesday, allowing full Sirius XM service via their devices. This is a pretty big deal for those out there who have already been using and love satellite radio as well as those who are interested in trying it out. The XM SkyDock is a docking station for your iPod Touch or iPhone that turns it into a satellite XM Radio receiver. The dock will consist of an XM antenna, power cord (also featuring the new transmitter technology), and docking station that turns your iPod/iPhone into an XM Satellite Radio receiver using the Sirius XM app.
The Sirius XM Premium Online iPhone application was released in June, and it will act as the interface for the satellite service. The dock should be priced at just under a hundred dollars which seems pretty reasonable. I am looking forward to the release of the dock as I am sure it will be pretty sweet. Below is a diagram of the dock design.
Manny Ramirez On Deck at Dodger Stadium - Taken with my iPhone.
About six weeks ago I broke down and got an iPhone - a 3GS no less. I moved up, way up, from a razor cellphone.
I think the iPhone is about the coolest thing. When I was on vacation I was connected to news, weather, sports, and email without TV or computer. After I made a wrong turn I typed in the name of the restaurant I was seeking and the abbreviation for the state and got directions from my current location. I have an app that tells me about LA traffic and another about speed traps. It keeps my contacts and calendar in sync with my gmail account. I took a picture at the Dodgers and emailed it to friends and relatives.
With apps the iPhone can get constantly more powerful, easier to use, and more fun. I just bought an app that gives grill recipes, shopping lists, and video tips. So my iPhone should get better and better.
However it is not perfect. Here are some areas for improvement.
1. Better phone coverage. The iPhone locks you in to AT and T. I don't get service at my home in California, nor does my daughter in Pennsylvania. One complaint that I hear pretty regularly is that the worst thing about the iPhone is the phone.
2. Having birthdays in my contacts appear on my calendar. Evidently you can do this with a mac but I am in XP land. I know I can buy an app that lists birthdays or something but I want them to show on my calendar. I have found a free birthday app that seems to work fine but it does not put the birthdays on the calendar.
3. A way to test apps. There may be a zillion apps. There also seem to be about a million sites that rate apps. And the ratings and comments can be all over the map.
While apps are generally inexpensive how will I know if my experience will be "Love this app" or "Complete waste of time." Why now allow a free download for a week and then disable the app if not purchased?
4. A better battery. Maybe this as good as it gets with batteries. I know I can buy something to extend the life. Hopefully future iPhone will have better batteries.
5. Linkage between the calendar and maps. If I pull up a name using the contact app and touch the address then I see the address on the map app and can get directions. However if I go to the calendar app, find a meeting, and touch the address I get nothing. I would think it would be easy to get the location of the meeting on the map app.
To keep track of the ever changing list of applications for the iPhone and the iPod Touch AppShopper is a great resource.
As you look across the top of the page you may choose to search on All, Paid, or Free apps. There is also a button for Updates, New Apps and Price Changes.
One of the more convenient ways of keeping track of new applications you may be interested in is to use RSS feeds which will alert you of new changes.
The RSS Feeds come in a variety of choices as well. You may choose to be alerted to all changes in the app store, only new apps, only paid and updates as well as price changes have their own feed.
USAA Bank allows you to deposit checks using the iPhone. USAA Bank already has an App on the iPhone as do most Banks but USAA Bank is the the first to allow their customers to simply take a picture and send in the deposit. This feature will only be available in San Antonio, TX initially and then grow depending on the results from the first dispatch.
Customers take a picture of the front and back of the check with the iPhone's camera and send it directly to the clearing system. The paper check can then be thrown away or filed for your records.
Check at the App Store this week for updates to see if you are able to deposit your check as well.
I was always a bit thrown by the term "augmented reality." A brief glimpse at the definition in Wikipedia clears the terminology up.
"Augmented reality (AR) is a field of computer research which deals with the combination of real-world and computer-generated data (virtual reality), where computer graphics objects are blended into real footage in real time."
In our video a new application, TwittARound, still in beta and may soon be available in the iPhone app store which encorporates "augmented reality" and Twitter.
GPS, compass and camera show where Tweets are coming from. You can literay see those Tweets coming at you!
Navigon just released their GPS for the iPhone. Temporarily priced at $69.99 till August 15th then the price will jump to $99.99.
It's a great price if you don't want to carry an additional piece of hardware around when you have the iPhone already available to you. The only flaw is you cannot use your phone while Navigon is running.
Navigon on the iPhone works even if you do not have the data plan. It takes over 1GB of storage space. It downloads the maps directly to your phone (just as other handheld navigation systems). Although Navigon released their iPhone App before TomTom and Garmin did, TomTom has already announced that they will release their application with an iPhone car kit enabling you to charge the phone and use it as a hands free device.
Push notifications will not work on your unlocked iphone. There is a problem with push which appeared few weeks ago when Apple released the iPhone OS 3.0 which included support for Push notifications. Weather the application is free or a paid version it will not work.
Keep in mind if you did not go through the process of unlocking your iPhone, which means you are still using AT&T as your carrier, you will not encounter this problem. I personally have not tested the push notifications personally yet but majority of the people using it on an unlocked phone said it either did not work or was not working correctly.
Will there be a solution? Probably not. Apple decided to sell the iPhone to AT&T and no other carrier. Therefore, this is not a problem Apple plans on resolving. Perhaps in the future if the iPhone is available on other carriers such as T-Mobile, then there might a possibility.
Everyone has heard the frequency noise on their speakers when a phone call comes in. The same noise you hear when you receive a text message or when any other connection being made to a cell tower from your GSM phone.
The iPhone apparently makes this frequency noise continuously for some people. I happen to be one of those people and cannot figure out why. It is possible the EMI frequency noise is from one of my apps causing it but I have not confirmed it yet.
Is there a solution? Yes! After researching online, I found one home-made solution and another store bought which I have not tried yet.
1) If you take a piece of aluminum foil paper and place it underneath the phone while sitting at your desk, your computer speakers will not make this frequency noise as much. For me, it reduced it nearly 90%. It will still make the noise when you get a phone call or text message but at least it won't be continuous.
2) Use Ferrite beads on the wire connecting to your speakers. This will reduce the EMI (electro-magnetic interference). Radio Shack has some here.
Do you have any tips on how to reduce the EMI frequency interference?
The iPhone web browser speed test knocks the competition out of the water. The statistics of the tests were rather astonishing. Medialets ran the SunSpider test suite with Safari 4.0.1 on a 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo White MacBook (the baseline for comparisons), Mobile Safari on the iPhone 3G with iPhone OS v2.2.1, Mobile Safari on the iPhone 3G with iPhone OS v3.0, Mobile Safari on the iPhone 3GS with iPhone OS v3.0, the "Browser" app on the T-Mobile G1 with Android OS v1.5 (Cupcake) and the "Web" app on the Palm Pre with Web OS v1.0.2.
iPhone OS 3.0 on the same iPhone 3G yields nearly 3X the JavaScript performance in Mobile Safari vs. using iPhone OS 2.2.1. Which should make everyone who has not bought a 3GS very happy. The iPhone 3GS steps up another factor of 3, bringing JavaScript performance on the iPhone 3GS to 12X that of a desktop machine that has well over four times the raw processing power.
The T-Mobile G1 running the "Cupcake" version of the Android OS finished the test suite in about 91 seconds. It is about a third faster than the iPhone 3G running Apple's OS (2.2.1). The Palm Pre had speeds that closely rival the iPhone 3G running Apple's OS 3.0.
Why would anyone want to risk breaking an iPhone worth few hundred dollars to use on another carrier? They say unlocking any phone allows you to use it on other carriers. Jailbreaking an iPhone allows you to install applications that have not been approved by the App Store (which also have the possibility of causing harm to your phone).
Now, why would someone want to risk buying an expensive phone for that? A better approach to using an iPhone is just signing up with AT&T. The best part of having an iPhone with AT&T is support. Since they are the only carriers for that phone, they are the only ones who can provide network support.
What are your thoughts on the risk involved with unlocking/jailbreaking your iPhone?
All week long I have been playing around with Smule's Leaf Trombone on my iPhone, a fully interactive trombone! It's a lot of fun learning how to play classic songs like Stand by Me and Hallelujah; and after one masters a particular song they can perform it on the World Stage and be judged by their peers. With Smule's Leaf Trombone World Stage you can be an artist and a judge; having that ability is what makes Leaf Trombone so amazing.
If the Ocarina was fun let me just tell you from experience that Smule Did it Again with Leaf Trombone. Smule's applications make the world just a little bit smaller and a little bit better. The kicker for me was the fact that you can write your own songs and (or) convert your favorite songs to be played on the Leaf Trombone.
Playing Leaf Trombone is easy: blow into your iPhone's microphone (or, in Touch mode, simply touch the screen) and press down on the leaf to play a note. Slide your finger towards you - you'll hear the pitch get higher, just like a real trombone.
The iPhone 3Gs' new features are forces to be reckoned with! I have had an iPhone now for just under a year, in that time I have come to love and cherish it. The iPhone, in my opinion, had the most potential to revolutionize mobile technology as we knew it! Overnight, it quickly became the most useful piece of technology that I have ever owned.
After the initial infatuation period ended, I began to realize that there were things that disappointed me about the iPhone. I learned very quickly that with all modern marvels there will be glitches and hiccups along the way. Beta, Beta, Beta! The iPhone is a painting that has yet to be finished, always changing and always evolving; adapting to the needs of the people. Everything that disappointed me with with the iPhone 3G the 3Gs has made up for!
We now have the ability to: copy and paste, take video, send picture and video text-messages, and the list goes on and on. The 3Gs is faster and smarter, we have the capability to make our own applications and now that there is a digital compass we will never get lost! The possibilities are absolutely endless, and I'm pretty sure that the sky is no longer the limit. Here are the details on just a few of the new features:
"Now you can shoot video, edit it, and share it — all on your iPhone 3GS. Shoot high-quality VGA video in portrait or landscape. Trim your footage by adjusting start and end points. Then share your video in an email, post it to your MobileMe gallery, publish it on YouTube, or sync it back to your Mac or PC using iTunes."
"Voice Control recognizes the names in your Contacts and knows the music on your iPod. So if you want to place a call or play a song, all you have to do is ask."
"Surf the web from practically anywhere. Now you can share the 3G connection on your iPhone with your Mac notebook or PC laptop."
This will be a quick post today, coming to you from Dan Helfand, via Judy Helfand in Tucson. Dan is visiting in Maine and wrote up his weekly Sunday post, but did not save it in blogger. This morning he is in Montville, walking up Hogback Mountain to see his friends. No internet connectivety in this little section. So here is an up close and personal view from Hogback Mountain. More later in the week.
You've heard of the Android Market for Google's G1. You've heard of the App Store for Apple's iPhone. Now we have the Ovi Store for Nokia phones.
Nokia launched the Ovi Store on 5/26/09 allowing developers to add their programs to an online catalog for Nokia users to download. The store has over 50 Nokia handsets that are compatible at the moment.
Nokie use to be one of the greatest phone manufacturers (and some believe they still are). Does it still have a chance in the industry where giant competitors such as Apple and Google already have a large market share?
Sprint announced they will release the Pre on June 6th, 2009. New users will get it for $199.99 after $100 MIR. Right now, the Palm Pre will only be released to the US market. Sad to say, it's not one of those phones you can unlock since it's running on CDMA (Unlike T-Mobile and ATT running on GSM).
Sprint plans on having their $199 8GB Palm Pre compete with the new 16GB iPhone which is supposidly going to be released for the same price but after the Pre. Click here to see details of the Pre
The Palm Pre running on WebOS runs applications on basic html, js, and css. Making an application easier for developers to design applications using desktop language.
How do you feel it will compete in the market with the iPhone and G1?
I have had my iPhone now for almost a year and have had the opportunity to experience several great applications in the way of utilities and games. The utilities have all been useful in one way or another, but the games have been disappointments! Just recently I was turned on to a new game that is worth taking interest in.
Upon downloading this game I was skeptical, I thought that this game might be better than the other games I have installed on my iPhone; but I was not optimistic about this game being worth the dollar I was about to spend. I could not have been more wrong about Glyder, for Glyder is the future of iPhone gaming!
Fly through and engage in hard tests while piloting a futurist hang-glider. This is a game where a steady hand is of the up most importance, free flight is not something that is easy - one's depth perception, I found out quickly, is key to survival.
"Eryn has been sucked into a dimensional rift and is left in a world that is not her own. Take control of her glider and help her explore the magical surroundings.
Soar over the majestic and peaceful Rift Valley. Take a death-defying flight through the Dark Pinnacle. Unearth the Lost Kingdom. Explore the wonders of Ambrosia. Discover the secret that lies above The Mushrooms, and delve into the Hidden Depths. Perform fun gliding maneuvers like power dives and dolphining and fly into thermals to soar high into the sky. Collect crystals, take trips, earn achievements, and help Eryn unlock a portal home."
Download and install Glyder on your iPhone, I promise you will not be disappointed! iPhone gaming can only go uphill from here on out, the application companies have made a enough terrible apps that I think it's time for a change.
Tubey, a new application for the iPhone, creates and posts movies to YouTube and Facebook.
Take your pictures. Assemble and order your shots. Choose your transitions. Choose your music from a wide selection of copyright free music. Add captions. Create your video. Post your video to YouTube or Facebook.
All from your iPhone. All from a single application.
I was eleven years old when the American icon Jerry Garcia left this planet for good. At that time in my life the Grateful Dead were just a band with a cool name that I knew very little, if anything, about. Jerry's death was much less significant to my generation than Kurt Cobain, who had died just a year before. Kurt's death impacted my generation greatly and Jerry's death impacted multiple generations.
As I grew older, people shared "The Dead's" music with me; like many others it grew on me quickly. However, I always accepted that I would never have the opportunity to see one of the all time greatest bands. Let's be real, Jerry was gone and as far as I knew was not coming back anytime soon.
What's left of the Grateful Dead is some very serious musicians that are approaching 70 years old. Drug and alcohol use was a staple of the band for 30 years; which equals out to health problems, such as liver transplants. But the music after 44 years is still alive in the band and the fans, both old and young alike.
Last night I had the privilege to see The Dead with Warren Haynes from The Allman Brothers play three sets of classic Grateful Dead songs. It was an experience I never thought I would have, and most likely will never have again. I was born in the wrong generation when it comes to the Dead, but fortunately people like Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, and Mickey Hart still have a few gallons of gas in them to continue jamming hard. The Dead with Warren Haynes will be an experience I will never forget.
Last week the Apple App Store reached a new milestone with the sale of their billionth application. It took only 9 months for the feat to occur! It's pretty amazing how applications have become a staple in most of our lives. There are very few things that I cannot figure out with my iPhone: translation, exchange, communicate, or level a table.
I believe this to be a sign of the future of mobile computing and cellular communication in our world. With more than 35,000 apps available and there are more than 37 million devices that run Apple's mobile OS, more than 21 million of which are iPhones; it is easy to see which way the trend is moving - Up!
The thirteen year-old kid that purchased the one billionth app will be rewarded with a bunch of Apple products, including $10,000 in iTunes credit, a 17-inch MacBook Pro, a 32-GB iPod Touch and an Apple Time Capsule. Lucky Kid!
Behind the catch phrases of social media and that never ending list of strange sounding websites there is a human need to connect. These technologies are enabling us to create a shared narrative. To create our identity out there on the internet with words and pictures. This identity is becoming just as valid and possibly more engaging than the "brick and mortar" existence of our everyday lives.
Constant connection through smartphones and other mobile technologies creates what Gleeson dubs, "the rise of the culture of availability" and with this an obligation for us to be available. How we choose to prioritize the demands of our "ever-connected" culture remains to be negotiated as our attention is pulled in various directions at any given time.
The opportunity to create and share is there. Create and share great things. And please do not text and drive.
Awesome Ball is a great time-killing app. Use the accelerometer to bounce a ball around with realistic physics and graphics. Double-tap the screen to select a different ball to bounce.
As the ace pilot of the airforce in WWII, your mission is to destroy the secret weapon prototypes of the Nazis. Fasten your seat belt and get ready for some non-stop action!
Welcome to the Official iPhone app for the Masters Golf Tournament. For the first time in history,
V2.0 of the International smash hit is now the world's ultimate full skeleton X-Ray machine
The lite version limits to english words and 8 hidden words. Please checkout the full version with lots more features: - Up to 16 hidden words!
Still waiting for that Google Voice Beta Invite? Are you an iPhone user? Why Wait?
Announcing the new AT&T Virtual Receptionist. It's AT&T's new multi tiered business phone system that comes free with 60 toll-free minutes per month. So download the app and get your own toll free number right now!
And if you ever need more minutes, and who doesn't? You can add more time to your account. There is even an all you can eat package for $25 bux a month.
With AT&T's new Virtual Receptionist you wont be Lampooned, there are no long-term contracts and no hidden fees or surcharges of any kind! And according to AT&T the new Virtual Receptionist App does not change your current AT&T wireless or data plans or rates one dime.
Time to update your signature line with that shiny new toll free number!
Darin R. McClure
Director of Social Media
& Technical Services
MCSE MCP MCP+I
http://webconsuls.com
darin@webconsuls.com
darin.r.mcclure@gmail.com (Google Talk)
(949) 370-3069 (My iPhone)
(888) 470-4596 (Toll Free)
Do You Follow Me?
http://twitter.com/DarinRMcClure
Midomi is the ultimate music search tool because it is powered by your voice. Sing, hum, or whistle to instantly find your favorite music and connect with a community that shares your musical interests.
At midomi you can create your own profile, sing your favorite songs and share them with your friends and get discovered by other midomi users. You can listen to and rate others' musical performances, see their pictures, send them messages, buy original music, and more.
Back in 2002, Shazam launched a unique technology, enabling music lovers to identify tunes anywhere - using just their mobile phone. Now six years on, Shazam has been used by more than 20 million people in over 60 countries deployed by leading industry handset manufacturers and more than 75 carriers. Earlier this year it passed a key milestone of over 100 million iDs and continues to go from strength to strength.
Both Shazam and Midomi offer features like tagging music with artist name and song title, linking to music videos on YouTube, and sharing your tagged music with a friend via email. However, this is where similarities end and Midomi takes it to the next level. With the additional methods of tagging (Say, Sing, and Type) and a database of music samples, Midomi is more feature-rich. If you own a iPhone, I strongly suggest downloading both of these applications. Shazam or Midomi, Your Choice!
Today is Saturday, April 4, 2009. This is one of those historical days that stays in your mind. You wake up and think to yourself what is special about this date. And then you remember, April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King was assassinated.
In 1968 we didn't have cell phones, iPhones, the Internet, personal computers. We depended on learning about the news by radio and for the most part black and white television sets, and the newspaper. Your social networks were not virtual like Facebook, MySpace, YouTube; on the contrary your social networks were your friends, college classmates, co-workers, family members.
In 1968 I was a freshman at the University of San Francisco. Spring break was about to begin and I was not going home to San Diego. Here is a clip of the CBS Evening News, April 4, 1968.
As the years have passed, I remember April 4th for many reasons. "There are eight million stories in the Naked City. This has been one of them."
Most Universities use Blackboard to allow students to access their course information from any computer. It allows students to check their grades, message students and professors, download material for the class, view your grades, and stay involved with online forums for a particular class.
Blackboard announced this morning the release of a free application, Blackboard Learn, for the iPhone and iPod touch which allows students to access their accounts on the go. Students can now receive updates and alerts on grades, assignments, tests and other information when they are not at their desk.
I remember using Blackboard at Cal-State Long Beach before I graduated and found it very useful. It was actually mandatory in most of my classes that we use it in order to receive classroom material such as the syllabus or assignments. I look back and can only imagine how much this iPhone application would have helped me. With the growing community of iPhone users, this FREE application will help student's achieve academic success.
If you are a student, download this app from the app store and tell us what you think of it.
Last Tuesday Apple released the SDK (software developer kit) for the soon to be released iPhone 3.0 OS. Developers (like us here at Webconsuls) were able to also install the 3.0 beta so that we can test our apps.
Advance preview of 100 new features.
For iPhone owners, it just keeps getting better. When iPhone OS 3.0 arrives this summer, it will introduce over 100 new features, including the ability to:
Search your iPhone
Cut, copy, and paste
Send photos, contacts, audio files, and location via MMS*
Read and compose email and text messages in landscape
While everyone has been clamoring for cut and paste since the release of the iPhone I am much more impressed with the search function added. The beta OS is still buggy, and seems to drain battery life faster than 2.2.1 did.
Ever wish you could wake up in the morning and not get out of bed? The ability to work from anywhere in your house has arrived. With a large enough monitor, one could literally work from bed if they so desired. Now, obviously, one would not work from their bed, but the ability to do so gives me great comfort. iPhone Airmouse in the Bedroom could very well be the wave of the future.
Mobile Air Mouse instantly transforms your iPhone or iPod touch into an in air, wireless remote for your computer! Sit back and surf the web, browse your photo library or control your music player from the comfort of your couch. Mobile Air Mouse uses the built in accelerometer to translate your hand motions into mouse movements on your screen. It can also operate as a trackpad, allowing you to control your computer with a single finger.
Mobile Air Mouse is an essential part of any home theater PC and a presenter's best friend. Mobile Air Mouse uses an innovative application notification system to let the iPhone know what program you are running at any time and show the appropriate keys for that program. This allows Mobile Air Mouse to provide a single screen for controlling ALL your media and web applications.
I think that Photosynthing is one of the best new ways yet to explore a "space and time" via the internet, and now you can get there via your iPhone or your iPod touch with the new free iTunes app iSynth
This from the maker of the app,
If you've never experienced Photosynth, you're missing out! Photosynth is a revolutionary new technology that creates seamless three-dimensional worlds from nothing but photographs. Visit Photosynth.com to upload your own photos and create virtual tours of your house, office or anywhere you can bring a camera! And if you don't feel like snapping away yourself, there are already thousands upon thousands of "synths", covering all of the world's most beautiful and interesting places, freely available for your browsing pleasure. iSynth puts them all right in your pocket.
Visit Stonehenge, the Taj Mahal, or take a trip to Disney World. Study Michelangelo's "David" or the Jefferson Memorial in breathtaking 3D you could only beat by being there. Relive the inauguration of Barack Obama through CNN's 600 photo mega-synth, "The Moment", which captures the historic event from every angle. With iSynth, you can do all of these things while you wait for the bus!
Apple released a new iTunes Update and the iTunes DJ. The iTunes Remote turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a dedicated, wireless remote control for any iTunes library on your local network, whether you're running iTunes on Windows or OS X. Take control of your music via iPhone! iTunes DJ allows your friends and family to have a say in whats being listened to. Setting up Remote is simple and safe. A unique passcode pairs your iPod touch or iPhone with your computer and Apple TV.
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