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News, Reviews, & Opinion
What iPhone 4 Owners Really Think About Their
iPhones
PR: The iPhone 4 launched in late June and was initially
heralded as one of the most successful product releases in Apple's
history. But within days the firestorm over reception and antenna
issues unleashed an exceptional degree of critical commentary.
Despite this controversy, one of the biggest unknowns has been what
actual iPhone 4 owners really think about their new smart phones. To
find out, a July ChangeWave survey has taken an in-depth look at the
reactions and opinions of 213 iPhone 4 owners.
Survey findings include:
- New owner satisfaction ratings
- Key likes and dislikes
- Impact of the iPhone 4 antenna issue and reaction to Apple's
solution
- Comparison of iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS dropped call rates
Below is a brief look at two key findings. For a more in-depth look
at the latest ChangeWave Apple iPhone 4 findings, follow the link at
the end of this news brief.
Customer Satisfaction: iPhone 4 vs. iPhone 3GS
The initial satisfaction ratings for the iPhone 4 show a high degree
of customer approval with 72% of owners saying they're Very Satisfied
and 21% Somewhat Satisfied with their new phone.
But despite these good scores, the initial iPhone 4 ratings aren't
quite as extraordinary as the early iPhone 3GS satisfaction numbers
seen in our August 2009 survey. Here's a comparison of the two iPhone
models in terms of customer satisfaction.
The Issue of Dropped Calls
Historically, our ChangeWave surveys have
focused on the issue of dropped calls exclusively among wireless
service providers. The belief has been that differences in dropped call
rates are largely the result of differences between wireless provider
networks.
But in the current survey, we've taken a close-up look at the
dropped call rating among iPhone 4 owners and compared it to the
dropped call rating for iPhone 3GS owners from a June 2010 ChangeWave
survey.
We believe a fair and accurate comparison is possible here because
both groups of owners primarily use AT&T as their service provider.
In other words, we're able to factor out differences between the two
groups that could be due to different provider networks.
Here are the results:
In a surprising finding, iPhone 4 owners reported a better dropped
call rating (5.2%) than their 3GS counterparts (6.3%).
In other words, despite the hoopla surrounding the antenna issue, in
actuality iPhone 4 owners report experiencing slightly fewer dropped
calls on the average than do iPhone 3GS owners.
Summary. Despite the waves of controversy that surrounded the iPhone
4 within days of its launch, the latest Apple release is outperforming
almost every other smart phone in the industry in terms of overall
customer satisfaction and meeting owners expectations.
Moreover in reality, iPhone 4 owners report experiencing fewer
dropped calls than do iPhone 3GS owners.
That said, while the iPhone 4 has been very well received, its owner
ratings aren't as high as the numbers we saw at a similar point in time
for the 3GS launch.
This is likely attributable to the fact that one-in-five iPhone 4
owners appear to have been at least somewhat negatively affected by the
phone's reception and antenna issues and the ensuing drumbeat of
controversy.
Link: iPhone 4: What
Users Really Think
iPod touch Becomes a Real Phone Using Yosion's
Apple Peel 520
Engadget's Richard Lai says:
"Oh sure, VoIP on the iPod touch is hardly breaking news these days,
but what if you could actually slap on a regular SIM card and make
calls on said device? That's what Yosion's appropriately named Apple
Peel 520 claims to do...."
Link: iPod touch
Becomes iPhone Using Yosion's Apple Peel 520?
ZTE Peel 3200 Transforms iPod touch into a Sprint
Phone
Gizmodo's Kyle VanHemert says:
"The FCC just posted documents for a curious Sprint-branded case
called the ZTE Peel 3200, packing its own battery and EV-DO
connectivity as well as mobile hotspot capabilities. It might be for
heroically transforming your iPod touch into a phone...."
Link: ZTE Peel 3G Case
for Transforming Your iPod touch into a Sprint Phone?
Repair Your iPhone Screen on the Cheap
LifeHacker's Jason Fitzpatrick says:
"Don't shell out a pile of cash to get your iPhone screen repaired.
Make's detailed guide will help you replace the screen on your iPhone
3G on the cheap and with little fuss.
"Earlier this year we shared how a 10 year old boy repaired his
dad's iPhone for $22. If you read over the instructions there and
wished for a more text-heavy and detailed guide on what screw goes
where and what cable attaches back to what, Make magazine has just the
guide you're looking for...."
Link: Repair
Your iPhone Screen on the Cheap
5 Features the Next iPad Must Have
Commenting on TechCrunch's Matt Burns' Did the iPad Preemptively Kill the US Tablet
Market?, Seeking Alpha's Elliot Turner says he's loved Apple for
quite some time as both an electronic innovator and a stock. He had
been eagerly anticipating the iPad's release, which happened to
coincide with the untimely death of his well-worn iBook, relating how
in anticipation of the iPad's release he bought bought a Western
Digital My Book World 2 TB wireless external hard drive to use as his
future data storage hub, noting that he had expected a device that
could function as a computer itself - that could do everything that his
erstwhile iBook could do. But when Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad in
January, Turner was immediately disappointed. The iPad didn't cut it
for him (as it likewise didn't for your humble editor - cm), and
presumably hordes of other folks who had been hoping for something more
than an upsized iPod touch.
Turner allows that while many consumers obviously do not share our
disappointment, that doesn't change the fact that there are five things
the next generation iPad must have in order to snag him as an eager
buyer:
- 5. Open Source software
- 4. A swappable battery
- 3. Scalable hardware (that is, upgrades and expansion)
- 2. USB ports
- 1. Ability to function independently of a computer
What's the likelihood of Apple fulfilling those aspirations? Not
very high, your editor suspects.
Link: 5 Things the
Next Generation iPad Must Address
'The iPad Is No Laptop'
abc.net.au's Alan Kohler, publisher of the Business Spectator and
the Eureka Report, says he's tried to use an iPad as a laptop, giving
it two "long, frustrating months," but he's had enough, and he finally
broke down and bought a new MacBook Pro. "Oh the bliss on Sunday,"
Kohler rhapsodizes.
Kohler says he's now an expert on the iPad's limitations, which
include it only being able to open one application at a time, lack of
Flash support rendering many websites terra incognita, lack of a
good word processor, and is clunky and limited typing without a
keyboard dock. Kohler notes that the iPad is built for media
consumption, not media creation - basically a big iPhone without the
phone - great for watching videos, good for reading books, as long as
the light conditions are right, but the touchscreen means it's covered
in fingerprints all the time.
Link: The iPad Is
No Laptop
The iPad Rules: Apple Tablet Dos and Don'ts
T3 Magazine has posted some dos and don'ts to help you get the most
out of your iPad:
- Do wipe the screen
- Don't take it to bed
- Do invest in Bluetooth audio
- Don't put it on a dining table
- Do check your history
- Don't put it in a case
- Do read on it, not about it
- Don't overuse the accelerometer
- Do upgrade to iOS 4 (when launched)
- Don't pretend it's a massive phone
Link: The iPad Rules:
Apple Tablet Dos and Don'ts
BlackBerry News & Opinion
How BlackBerry Became Teens' Smartphone of
Choice
The Guardian's Megan Smith says that the BlackBerry has become the
number one smartphone with British teens thanks primarily to boosting
its youth appeal through its free messaging service and lower overall
costs, noting that a BlackBerry costs £25 a month with free
Internet and free texts, while iPhone users pay £30 a month plus
up to £300 for the handset. She also cites BlackBerry's messenger
service, which allows you to instantly send a free message to your
friends.
Link: How BlackBerry Has
Become Teenagers' Smartphone of Choice
BlackBerry Torch 9800 Features Touchscreen,
Keyboard, and New BlackBerry 6 OS
PR: Joining forces to offer the first smartphone to
feature the highly anticipated BlackBerry 6 operating system
exclusively on the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T
and Research In Motion (RIM) introduce the new BlackBerry Torch 9800
smartphone. Adept for socially connected consumers and packed with the
tools business customers love, the new handset is the first smartphone
to combine a BlackBerry keyboard with a full touch screen experience.
Whether users choose to type out messages on the capacitive touch
screen or easy-to-use BlackBerry keyboard, browse the Internet using
pinch to zoom, or fluidly navigate with the optical trackpad, the
BlackBerry Torch allows them to communicate any way they want.
"We were the first to launch the BlackBerry solution in 1999 and
have a rich history of innovation and collaboration with Research In
Motion," says Ralph de la Vega, president and chief executive officer,
AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "The two companies that brought
the first BlackBerry smartphones to market have teamed up again with
the new BlackBerry Torch, creating a true generational shift in
hardware and operating system for this enormously popular service."
"This is one of the most significant launches in RIM's history and
we are proud to introduce the new BlackBerry Torch and BlackBerry 6
together with AT&T," said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-CEO,
Research In Motion. "With a new user interface, new browser and new
handset design, the highly anticipated BlackBerry Torch and BlackBerry
6 deliver integrated and uncompromising capabilities for consumers and
business professionals that preserve the industry-leading strengths of
the BlackBerry platform while adding exciting new dimensions."
BlackBerry 6
The BlackBerry Torch is the first BlackBerry smartphone to launch
with BlackBerry 6, a new operating system that retains the familiar and
trusted features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering
a fresh, approachable and engaging experience that's powerful and easy
to use.
BlackBerry 6 features a redesigned interface that seamlessly
works with the touch screen and trackpad, includes expanded messaging
capabilities with intuitive features to simplify the management of
social networking and RSS feeds (Social Feeds), and provides integrated
access to the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), Facebook, Twitter, MySpace
and various instant messaging applications available on the BlackBerry
Torch smartphone. Its enhanced multimedia experience rivals the best in
the industry and includes a dedicated YouTube app and Podcasts app.
BlackBerry 6 also integrates a new and rich WebKit-based browser on
BlackBerry Torch that renders HTML web pages (as well as HTML email)
quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience. It features
tabs for accessing multiple sites simultaneously, pinch to zoom for
easy navigation and an auto-wrap text zoom feature that can
intelligently wrap text in a column while maintaining the placement of
a page's key elements (simply double-tap on the BlackBerry Torch).
Universal search, always accessible from the Home Screen, allows
users to search through email, messages, contacts, music, videos and
more on the smartphone, as well as extend search to the Internet or to
discover applications on BlackBerry App World™.
Advanced Messaging
Messaging has always been a core element of the BlackBerry
smartphone experience and the BlackBerry Torch smartphone expands on
RIM's popular messaging solutions with the support of AT&T's
advanced messaging features for SMS and MMS. RIM's new Text Messages
application is especially exciting for users who communicate most via
SMS and MMS, providing support for AT&T's next-generation messaging
experience, which includes group messaging with "reply all"
functionality for up to 10 contacts. And for the first time, AT&T's
platform includes a new Locations feature.
Locations lets users easily search for points of interest,
businesses, and even the user's own location, and insert this
information directly into a message, all without leaving the messaging
application. Using group messaging and locations together, users can
arrange to meet a group of friends easily by sending one message to all
of them, discussing together where to meet and then sending a map all
in one threaded conversation. AT&T designed the service based on
research that revealed customers want features that help facilitate
social planning, improved message organization and location
sharing.
Apps at Your Fingertips
After powering up the BlackBerry Torch smartphone for the first
time, users will notice a set of preloaded icons which allow them to
download and immediately begin using a variety of rich entertainment
and social networking applications to access Bloomberg, ESPN, The
Weather Channel and Slacker Radio content in addition to Facebook,
MySpace, Twitter and more. Also available is AT&T's Web Video
Search, a unique new app that searches video content from over 70 major
Internet video websites.
In addition to searching the Internet for video, the BlackBerry
Torch smartphone also features more multimedia apps that let users
download TV shows and watch live TV, as well as create video content
and upload it to YouTube. The new Podcasts application makes it easy
for users to find and manage audio and video podcasts.
Another application that puts a key function of a phone at your
fingertips is Visual Voicemail, which benefits customers by allowing
them to select the voicemails they want to hear first.
The BlackBerry Torch 9800 is also the first BlackBerry smartphone to
include BlackBerry App World preinstalled, supporting carrier billing
through AT&T, making it easier for customers to discover and
purchase applications.
BlackBerry Torch Smartphone Features
- Elegant styling, measuring approx. 4.4" (5.8" open) x 2.4" x .57"
and weighing 5.68 ounces
- 3.2" 360 x 480 capacitive touch screen display
- 35 key full QWERTY backlit slide-out keyboard, designed to feel
optimally balanced when opened for typing
- Optical trackpad that makes navigation fast and smooth
- Powerful 624 MHz processor with 512 MB Flash memory
- 4 GB built-in memory storage plus a microSD/SDHD memory card slot
that supports up to 32 GB cards; a 4 GB card is included giving users 8
GB of storage out-of-the-box
- 5 MP camera with flash, continuous auto focus, image stabilization,
scene modes, geo-tagging and zoom, as well as video recording at up to
640x480 resolution
- Built-in GPS for location-based applications and geo-tagging
- WiFi (802.11 b/g/n); qualifying smartphone customers can enjoy
seamless connectivity to over 20,000 AT&T WiFi hotspots at no
additional cost
- 3.5mm stereo headset jack
- Premium phone features, including voice activated dialing,
speakerphone and Bluetooth (2.1) with support for handsfree headsets,
stereo headsets, car kits (including systems that support the Bluetooth
Message Access Profile standard) and other Bluetooth accessories
- New BlackBerry Desktop Software 6 with integrated media sync for
easily syncing music, photos and videos.2 It also includes
WiFi Music Sync, a unique feature that allows users to view their
entire iTunes or Windows Media Player music libraries from their
BlackBerry smartphone, create and edit playlists as well as select
music for download. When in range of their home WiFi network (or via
USB), the changes are synced with iTunes or Windows Media Player and
the songs are automatically downloaded to the smartphone
- Tri-band HSDPA (3G) and quad-band EDGE support for the option of
voice service in more than 220 countries, data service in more than 195
countries and 3G connectivity in more than 125 countries, including
Japan and South Korea
- Removable, rechargeable 1300 mAh battery that provides
approximately 5.8 hours of talk time on 3G networks or 30 hours of
audio playback or 6 hours of video playback
The BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone will be available only for
AT&T customers on August 12 in AT&T company owned retail stores
and online at www.att.com/blackberrytorch , as well as Best Buy,
Wal-Mart and Radio Shack stores.
The BlackBerry Torch 9800 will be available for $199.99 with 2-year
service agreement on a qualifying rate plan and smartphone data plan
required. New smartphone customers may choose from two AT&T monthly
data plan options, $15 for 200 MB of wireless data or $25 for 2 GB.
Enterprise and small business customers should contact their account
representative for pricing details.
Link:
BlackBerry at AT&T
Link:
BlackBerry Torch 9800
RIM Planning Tablet for November to Take on
iPad
Bloomberg's Hugo Miller reports:
"Research In Motion Ltd., maker of the BlackBerry smartphone, plans
to introduce a tablet computer in November to compete with Apple Inc.'s
iPad, according to two people familiar with the company's plans.
"The device will have roughly the same dimensions as the iPad, which
has a 9.7-inch diagonal screen [and] will include WiFi and Bluetooth
wireless technology that will allow people to connect to the Internet
through their BlackBerry smartphones...."
Link:
RIM Said to Plan Tablet for November to Take on Apple's iPad
BlackPad: RIM's Answer to the iPad
The Register's Cade Metz reports:
"BlackBerry maker Research in Motion is preparing to launch an iPad
competitor in November, and it will be called the BlackPad, according
to a report citing two people familiar with the company's plans.
"Bloomberg reports that the RIM tablet will have roughly the same
dimensions as the iPad, offer WiFi and Bluetooth, and give you the
option of tapping the interwebs through the company's BlackBerry
handsets."
Link: RIM Answers
Apple iPad with . . . the BlackPad
RIM to Counter iPad with BlackPad in November
AppleInsider's Slash Lane reports:
"BlackBerry maker Research in Motion plans to enter the touchscreen
tablet market and compete with Apple's iPad this November, when it will
release the 'BlackPad.' . . . RIM already acquired the
blackpad.com domain name this month."
"The hardware is said to sport a 9.7-inch screen, identical to the
iPad's dimensions, will also be priced similarly to Apple's touchscreen
tablet...."
Link: RIM Plans to
Counter Apple's iPad with 'BlackPad' in November
RIM Rumored to Be Building Its Own iPad-like
Tablet
The Mac Observer's Jeff Gamet reports that "anonymous insider
sources" claim BlackBerry maker RIM is working on its own tablet device
designed to compete with the iPad. The new tablet computer, possibly
called the BlackPad, is rumored to be projected for November launch
with a 9.7" display, WiFi, Bluetooth, and a similar form factor to the
iPad. It will even fall in the same price range as the iPad, but with a
full slate of BlackBerry smartphone connectivity.
Link:
RIM Rumored to Be Building Its Own iPad-like 'BlackPad' Tablet
Apps & Services
Clearwire Introduces iSpot, Nation's First
Dedicated 4G Support for iOS Devices
PR: Clearwire Corporation, operator of what it claims to be
the largest 4G network in the country, has announced the introduction
of the Clear iSpot, a personal hotspot with dedicated support for
Apple's line of mobile devices, including the iPad, iPod touch, and
iPhone.1 The iSpot brings the speed and mobility of true
mobile broadband to a user base primed for the rich online experience
of 4G.
"With the iSpot, Apple customers don't have to sort through
confusing service plans with overage fees, nor do they have to worry
about how much data they're using," says Thomas Enraght-Moony, senior
vice president of marketing at Clearwire. "Instead, with Clear,
customers can run all of their Apple mobile devices at true broadband
speeds for a single, simple monthly fee."
The iSpot is Clear's first 4G personal mobile hotspot made
exclusively for Apple mobile products, including iPad, iPhone, and iPod
touch devices. iSpot users can share 4G speed with up to eight
WiFi-enabled Apple mobile devices simultaneously. The Clear iSpot's
ergonomic design and white casing were specifically designed to
complement the iconic image of Apple products.
Using Clear super fast mobile Internet service, Apple's iPad, iPod
touch, or iPhone can access a rich mobile broadband experience with
average mobile download speeds of 3 to 6 Mbps with bursts over 10
Mbps.2 For example, using the Clear iSpot an iPad
user can stream unlimited movies or television shows via the Netflix
app from home, work or on the go, while an iPod user can stream Pandora
music or live sports play-by-play on the commute home.
The iSpot expands the Clear line of personal mobile hotspots, which
includes the Clear Spot 4G and Clear Spot 4G+. With personal mobile
hotspots, Clear provides thousands of WiFi enabled devices, from
laptops to netbooks to personal gaming devices the ability to access
super fast mobile Internet service anywhere in Clear coverage.
The iSpot is available nationwide from clear.com now and available
in Clear retail stores and authorized dealers beginning August 10. The
iSpot has an MSRP of $99.99,3 and users can enjoy unlimited
4G data usage for an initial low monthly service offering of
$253 without a required term contract.
You can also follow The Clear
Blog.
- Apple does not endorse Clearwire products or services and is not
affiliated with Clearwire.
- Clear performance claim is based on average download user speeds
achieved during tests performed by Clear on the Clear commercial
network, vs. other national wireless carriers recently published,
download speed information. Actual Clear network performance may vary
and is not guaranteed. Unlimited plans subject to Clear's Acceptable
Use Policy, posted at http://clear.com/legal/aup
- Plus taxes.
Editor's note: Clear has just introduced coverage in Grand Rapids,
Michigan, and its coverage map includes LEM headquarters. As tired as
we are of wrestling with Comcast's broadband and as disappointed as we
are that AT&T U-verse doesn't quite reach us, we're seriously
contemplating switching to Clear's Home
Internet plan ($40 per month plus an $85 WiMAX modem, 6 Mbps
downloads, 1 Mbps uploads, and unlimited data usage).
dk
Link: Clear
iSpot
Don't Get Your Oil Changed Until You Get This
App
PR: Do you own a car and an iPhone and looking for the best
place to service your car? Oil Change the iPhone app is now available
on the iTunes store, it locates fast lube shops, dealer service
departments an independent auto repair shops by location and price and
allows shops to post deals, offers and incentives in real time. This
could be the most exciting thing to happen to the fast lube industry in
decades.
myBeepBeep Media has released Oil Change for the iPhone, iPod
and iPad. Oil Change is the world's first mobile oil change and car
care services marketplace. Oil Change the iPhone app is available for
immediate download as a free app on the Apple iTunes store now.
The app lists national and regional fast lube chains, dealership
service departments to the independent repair shops, Oil Change the
iPhone app will locate the user automatically then sort shops by
distance, price, deals offered and help consumers find the type of shop
that fits their vehicle maintenance needs. The app allows access to
real time deals exclusively found on the app. Shops can list other
services like car washes, brakes, tires and radiator flushes offered
right from the iPhone app. Shops can sign up by going to mybeepbeep.com
and start posting deals for free for a limited time.
myBeepBeep Media has been inundated with calls from shop owners and
Marketing Managers around the US and Canada asking to sign up to be
included on the app. Currently in negotiations with most of the
national and regional chains as well as hundreds of Dealerships and
independents, "there is so much excitement, It feels like my band is
getting signed" says Founder and CEO Scott McHugh, "one manager said
that this is the most exciting thing to happen to the Fast lube
industry in decades". "With my background in the Automotive industry,
everyone asks me where to go to get their car fixed so, I created a
tool to help the good shops connect with customers and customers easily
find good shops. The goal has always been to create a partnership with
the industry and serve the customer".
Currently on the app, top rated shops list great deals including an
oil change at Phil Smart Mercedes-Benz in Seattle for 60% off. Vallejo,
CA, Avery Greene Honda posted a deal for $10 off and in Dallas, TX,
City-Garage had a deal offered for $29 originally $39. There can be
thousands of offers from shops going on simultaneously and this
actually makes finding an oil change fun. The consumer can find great
deals all over the country from Fast lube stores to Dealers service
departments to mom and pop shops. The old days of a lube tech standing
by the street in front of a shop waving a sign that reads "$5 off right
now" may be over thanks to the Oil Change app.
Oil Change app features:
- Free: Oil Change is an iPhone that is free to download!
- Find Top Notch Shops: Map you area shops and locate them
automatically
- Save Money: List shops by Price and Distance; services and
qualifications, see instant coupons, deals and incentives from your
favorite shop on your phone in real time!
- Convenience :Make a list of your favorite top rated Oil
change shops and quickly shop without calling or driving around
- Contact Your Favorite Shop Easily: Call them with one simple
TAP, no more looking for their phone number or guessing if they can fit
you in
Download it yourself at the Apple iTunes Store or mybeepbeep.com
Link: Oil Change
(download
link)
Packing Pro Featured in Travel + Leisure's Top
Travel Apps for 2010
PR: Packing Pro has been chosen as one of the Top Travel Apps
for 2010, as determined by American Express' influential Travel +
Leisure magazine. This is, in fact, the second year in a row that
Packing Pro has been chosen by Travel Leisure, and the latest in a
string of recognitions and glowing reviews for this top-ranking,
feature-rich personal packing assistant.
Packing Pro has been a top-ranking travel app in the U.S. iTunes App
Store for more than a year, peaking at #6 in the Travel section (and #2
in Australia and #4 in Canada). Packing Pro has also been spotlight
demoed in Apple's summer 2009 Travel Guide and recognized by National
Geographic & American Express as one of the best travel apps for
the iPhone, as well as earning glowing reviews on 148Apps, iLounge
& TUAW.
Packing Pro is
more than just a digital packing list. It's more like a personal
packing assistant that is always by your side. It features an
extensive, customizable catalog, several handy sample lists that can be
used as templates, and unlimited, 100% customizable packing lists. A
host of special functions include:
- Multi-item selection for speedy list building
- Collapsible categories with running item tallies
- Numerous packing list sorting & display options
- Weight and value totals
- Send to email
- Import / export to other Packing apps and devices
- Recovery of deleted lists and categories
- Extensive in-app instructions and feedback options
Besides the core functions listed above (which are also present in
the basic Packing app), Packing Pro also gives its users complete
control over the look and feel of the app (themes, layout, font,
colors), twice as many sample lists, a double-sized Master Catalog, and
an Expert packing list that can "automajically" help you create a
customized list. Recently added features include a 60% larger master
catalog (now with over 800 items), a powerful Smart Search tool, and
full landscape orientation and keyboard support. These three features
help improve the ease and efficiency of packing list creation and
management by reducing the need and the difficulty of typing on such a
small device.
This wealth of features and functionality has earned Packing Pro a
placement in Travel + Leisure's top travel apps for two years running.
Come and check it out for yourself, while there's still a bit of summer
left.
Device Requirements:
- iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
- Requires iPhone OS 2.1 or later
- 4.1
Packing Pro 4.1 is available for purchase worldwide on the iPhone
App Store at a 25% reduced price of only $2.99 , or the equivalent in
local currency. The basic version (Packing) sells for 99¢, 50% off
its full price. App Store promo codes are also available upon request
for press (U.S. App Store accounts only).
Video Demo: http://www.quinnscape.com/PackingPro-videodemo.asp
Link: Packing Pro (download
link)
Gardener's Buddy for iPad: Map and Record
Plantings Using 7 Layers
PR: Oakville Stamping & Bending, Ltd. introduces
Gardener's Buddy 1.0, their plant mapping and recording app for iPad.
Starting with a user created sketch or map which is uploaded into the
iPad, the app allows the gardener to create graphical overlays
indicating plant types, locations and complete annotated details. The
app generates and saves 25 maps, and the gardener uses one per month to
record new plantings. There are seven layers with icons denoting:
trees, bushes, bulbs, perennials, annuals, herbs, and vegetables.
When first starting to use Gardener's Buddy, the user must create a
sketch or map of their garden, save it as a JPEG, and then use the File
Sharing function in iTunes to upload it into the app. With the base
layer in place, 25 monthly maps are generated and saved, each with
seven planting layers for use on top of the base. New plantings may be
added as many times per month as desired, and all records can be
emailed or synced with a computer database at any time. The app is
always up to date, automatically creating a new map each month and
deleting the oldest record. If a map sketch is not available, uploading
a blank JPEG will result in a book type garden diary.
Gardener's
Buddy launches in portrait mode to display a scrolling list of months,
starting with the coming month and going back an additional 24. An icon
view of the base layer accompanies each listing, along with month and
year, and whether any garden data has been recorded. The app can
accommodate multiple users by tapping a green Change User button on the
top right. Tapping on any month brings up the base layer of the garden
map, plus any of seven different colored icon layers indicating the
kinds of plants added that month (trees, bushes, bulbs, perennials,
annuals, herbs, and vegetables) and their location.
Feature Highlights:
- Gardener's Buddy - the map-based iPad iDiary for the gardening
enthusiast
- Upload your own garden jpeg for base map
- Toggle function to select Planting Marker type for trees, bushes,
bulbs, perennials, annuals, herbs, and vegetables
- Plant a Marker by tapping on the screen map in the desired location
and filling out window that pops up with name and description
- Make a complete record of every planting
- Accommodates multiple users
- Easy export of planting using email or file syncing
- Identify, document, and maintain every plant using monthly
maps
The Review button on the lower right of the map view allows the user
to highlight each icon sequentially, revealing its name tag. Tapping on
a Planting Marker already entered activates a pop up text window and
keyboard. In addition to the Name, the text window has a Description
field that allows the user to enter as much detailed information
regarding the plant as desired. This annotating feature can be used to
record and save relevant information that was included with the plant
when purchased, plus notes, etc. In this way the gardener can easily
visualize their garden as a whole, by plant type, or by date of
planting. Gardener's Buddy is a convenient, portable application which
enables the user to plan, plant, document, and maintain their own
garden.
"Gardener's Buddy is designed to remove all the memory frustration
from gardening," commented designer and garden enthusiast Chris McLeod.
"Identifying and maintaining every plant in your garden is simplified
using this well designed app for iPad."
Device Requirements:
- iPad compatible
- iOS 3.2 or later
- 1.0 MB
Gardener's Buddy 1.0 is 99¢ and available worldwide exclusively
through the App Store in the Lifestyle category. Review copies are
available upon request.
Link: Gardener's Buddy (download
link)
myPhoneDesktop: Seamlessly Integrates iPhone with
User's Desktop
PR: Announcing that jProductivity LLC, the developer of
myPhoneDesktop, has just released the latest update for iPhone, iPod
touch, and iPad users. myPhoneDesktop 1.4.1 puts an end to all of the
fumbling with tiny iDevice touchpads and lets users return to the
comfort of their computer keyboards to type the way nature intended. By
using Push Notifications, myPhoneDesktop 1.4.1 sends any amount of
text, long URLs, images, and more from the users Mac, Windows, or Linux
based computer in mere seconds.
Here are some of the features that make this the most powerful app
of its kind:
- Now supports iOS 4
- Works over 3G or WiFi
- Uses Push Notifications to simplify workflow
- Call any telephone number from any application or Web browser
- Import Contacts form Apple's Address Book or Microsoft Outlook
- Autocomplete and Quick Dial for Phone Numbers
- Open complicated URL with Map location or route on your iPhone in
seconds
- Open supported document URLs in Mobile Stanza
- Send data by e-mail
- Send your notes or any amount of text to your device in
seconds
- Save Images or Photos to your iPhone from any application or Web
browser
- Use the free Desktop client (Mac OS X, Windows, Linux) or Web
Client
- Handy global keyboard shortcuts and automatic content type
recognition
- Plugins for popular applications like LaunchBar or Apple Address
Book
- Bookmarklet to send any content from any Webpage to your
iPhone
- New "Clear Data" button in each View
Users can now compose SMS or emails on their computer, and use the
free desktop or web client to push the text directly to their iPhone
without ever touching the device's cumbersome touchpad. They can also
copy notes, text from Word documents, even entire web pages, and send
them to their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch instead of tediously inputting
one character at a time.
myPhoneDesktop 1.4.1 also give users the option of pushing this
information to their device to be viewed, or sending it straight to the
clipboard to be pasted elsewhere. Images can also be sent to be viewed
in the device's photo app, or saved directly to the photo roll. Instead
of typing long url's for maps and driving directions into their device,
users can type or copy them on their desktop. When they push the url to
their iDevice, it automatically opens the map so they can be on their
way to their destination within seconds.
Device Requirements:
- iPhone, iPod touch and iPad
- Requires iPhone iOS 3.0 or later (iOS 4.0 Tested)
- 0.9 MB
myPhoneDesktop 1.4.1 is $4.99 and available worldwide exclusively
through the App Store in the Productivity, Utility category. Promo
codes are available for qualified reviewers. Please specify the website
or blog you represent when making your request. To learn more about
myPhoneDesktop 1.4.1, or other apps by jProductivity LLC, just visit
their website.
Link: myPhoneDesktop (download
link)
USAA Redefines Car Buying with Auto Circle, Also
Launches Home Circle to Help Members Find a Home
PR: Buying a car? USAA has an app for that.
Or, you can use Auto Circle on your iPhone to get the USAA price on
a new car or compare insurance costs for different makes and models so
you can make a fully informed purchasing decision. That's the power of
Auto Circle.
From the
industry leader that created Deposit@Mobile, USAA is making its members
lives even easier by providing the first comprehensive mobile service
that offers the ability to find, finance and insure a new vehicle via
an iPhone. The program Auto Circle from USAA gives members everything
they need to purchase a vehicle through one source via their iPhone, as
well as online at autocircle.com.
In addition, USAA is launching Home Circle, a program that gives
members the tools and services needed to find, purchase, rent and
insure a home through one website homecircle.com. Some features of the
service also are available via USAA's top-rated iPhone app, providing a
robust home-search functionality along with personalization tools to
make the search and buying processes easier.
USAA, a fully integrated financial services provider that focuses on
serving the military and their families, launched both programs today
on behalf of its 7.7 million members and more than 60 million consumers
eligible for USAA membership.
Given the
unique challenges faced by the active military community, such as the
need to purchase a vehicle while a spouse is deployed and moving more
often than the U.S. population, USAA created Auto Circle and Home
Circle to help members with these major purchases, while making the
experiences more convenient and less stressful.
Auto Circle and Home Circle help us facilitate the financial
security of our members by giving them a one-stop resource for their
cars and homes, which are two of the largest financial decisions they
make, said Wayne Peacock, executive vice president of member experience
for USAA. Since our membership is highly mobile, we made these services
mobile too, so members are empowered even while at the dealership or
searching for a new place to live.
What Is Auto Circle?
Auto Circle from USAA is a program that puts USAA members in the
driver's seat by making every step of the purchase process transparent
through upfront access to information on vehicle pricing, financing and
insurance costs. Members save an average of $4,508 off MSRP2
for new cars through its car-buying service, in addition to exclusive
USAA member discounts on select GM and Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
"Auto Circle gives you the ability to walk into a dealership with
confidence, whether you're there for a test drive or to pick up the
keys to your new car," said Stuart Parker, president of the property
and casualty group at USAA. Or, you can use Auto Circle on your iPhone
to get the USAA price on a new car or compare insurance costs for
different makes and models so you can make a fully informed purchasing
decision. That's the power of Auto Circle.
The Auto Circle Experience:
- Find a new or used vehicle via consolidated research from
recognized resources at autocircle.com. These include
newcartestdrive.com, Kelley Blue Book and TrueCarSM.com, which provides
comprehensive pricing reports showing what others are paying in your
area and how the USAA no-haggle price compares. New cars also can be
found via the iPhone app. At autocircle.com, members also can access
social tools that provide member ratings and reviews that allow them to
obtain feedback on their planned purchase from friends via
Facebook.
- Save with the Lowest Price Guarantee on new vehicles at the more
than 3,000 USAA certified dealerships via the iPhone app and
autocircle.com. Members also have a Buy with Confidence guarantee that
they will pay below Kelley Blue Book value on eligible used
vehicles.
Finance with USAA Bank auto loans. Members can apply for new car
financing and receive the convenience of dealer electronic funds
transfer all from their iPhone. Members also can secure a competitive
loan for a used car at autocircle.com.
- Insure with USAA. Members who switch to USAA save $461 a year on
average.* At launch, existing USAA auto policyholders can obtain
insurance quotes and update insurance coverage via the iPhone.
In addition, USAA created the patent-pending USAA Preferred™
program, a new vehicle rating system that gives consumers a better way
to determine value as they shop for vehicles. USAA designates certain
vehicles based on safety, reliability, Manufacturer's Suggested Retail
Price, fuel economy, insurance costs and depreciation to help consumers
make informed purchase decisions. On autocircle.com, USAA Preferred
vehicles will receive a seal to indicate that they have been deemed as
a good value by USAA.
USAA commissioned a survey to gain more insight into how consumers
feel about the car-buying process.
Auto Circle™ Survey Findings:
- Most consumers find car buying exciting (73%), time consuming (72%)
and rewarding (70%), but one-third also find it frustrating (37%),
confusing (30%) and intimidating (29%).
- Nearly one-third (29%) of consumers are exhausted after buying a
car.
- More than half (52%) of consumers feel they paid too much for a
car.
- Most (75%) consumers think negotiating the final price/payment is
stressful, and few (3%) enjoy negotiating.
- More than one in 10 (14%) consumers prefer to have someone
negotiate for them.
- Two in five (19%) military spouses say the hardest part of
buying/leasing a car without a spouse present is negotiating a good
price.
What Is Home Circle?
Home Circle
from USAA is a program designed to meet the needs of USAA members, many
of whom are military families who transfer frequently to unfamiliar
cities. Through homecircle.com, members can conveniently search for
homes for sale or rent and get connected to a knowledgeable local real
estate agent. When they find their next home, Home Circle helps members
apply for a mortgage and get insurance from one source.
The Home Circle Experience:
Search nationwide MLS listings of homes for sale, plus a robust
listing of rental properties, including apartments. The service also
enables the user to search by city, ZIP code, military base or
neighborhood and obtain information on area schools, crime rates and
nearby amenities such as shops and restaurants.
Personalize the home-buying or renting process by saving favorite
listings, searches and neighborhoods. In addition, map out the
proximity, along with driving directions, of homes to work, school and
other areas of interest. Members also can use their iPhone to take
photos, add personal captions and upload them to their saved listings
all to help members remember the exact details of the homes they
visited.
Save with MoversAdvantage, a unique real estate program that
provides members with a local USAA MoversAdvantage Preferred Real
Estate Agent, a USAA Real Estate Coordinator and, in most states, a
cash bonus of up to $3,100 for buying and selling a home within the
program.
Think of Home Circle as an all-access pass for our members. Through
this program they can now tap into the same comprehensive listing
information available to real estate agents, said David Bohne,
president of banking services at USAA Bank. By combining that with the
in-depth search functionality, mobile capabilities and the ability to
finance and insure with one provider, we're helping members have a
better home-buying or renting experience.
Members can access these services at autocircle.com, homecircle.com,
or by downloading the free USAA Mobile App by visiting the Apple App
Store.
Link: USAA
Accessories
FridgePad, the iPad Fridge Mount
PR:
Features
- Fast and easy iPad clip in and removal
- iPad securely and snuggly held
- Allows hands free use of the iPad
- Full access to all ports and buttons
- Magnetically attaches without any tools
- Large powerful magnet to eliminate any movement
- Works in both portrait and landscape mode
- Can be easily removed and repositioned
- Does not mark or damage your fridge or iPad
- Designed to enhance your kitchen and home
- Future proof design
- Patent Pending design
- Cast & machined from high quality aluminium
- Finished in luxurious anodised silver
But why would I want one...
- Provides a great location in the centre of your home for everyone
to use the iPad.
- No more hunting around to find where you last put your iPad.
- Great convenient location for reading cookery books, watching live
TV or videos.
- Check the news, travel and weather whilst you have breakfast.
- Perfect location for quick and simple email checking and Internet
browsing.
- Puts the iPad in a perfect position for listening to music whilst
cooking or eating.
- Gets your iPad away from kitchen mess and grime.
- Provides a quick and simple storage location and keeps your iPad
out of harms way (pets, children).
Colours & Finish
- FridgePad is finished in high quality anodised silver to match your
Apple iPad.
- Custom powder coated painted finishes will be coming soon in Cream,
White and Black, to match the most popular designer fridges.
FridgePad will be available through Amazon.com. Sales and shipping
should start Autumn 2010.
The FridgePad is manufactured from high quality aluminum and
plastics and will be finished in numerous colours to match your iPad or
your designer fridge. The FridgePad is designed to enhance the look and
feel of your kitchen and home and not to look out of place.
The FridgePad will mount to any fridge door that is made of steel.
The fridge door also requires a flat section that is at least 21cm x
16cm in size. The majority of fridges can easily accommodate these
requirements but a very small number of fridges have a continuously
curved door, so please check before purchase.
The FridgePad has been designed to be future proof with replaceable
corner clips. If and when Apple change the design of the iPad then you
will be able to purchase new corner clips to accommodate new iPad
shape.
The magnet will not damage your iPad electronics or battery. Your
iPad is held securely in plastic retention clips which ensure that it
does not come in contact with metal parts and does not get damaged or
scratched. The magnet will not delete or wipe data off the iPad's solid
state memory. Solid state memory is not affected by magnets, unlike
hard drive units and floppy disks. Nor does the magnet have an affect
on the wireless/WiFi or 3G signal. The only effect that you will see on
your iPad is that the inbuilt compass will not be very accurate and
will report an error. This is simply because the earth's magnetic field
it is trying to detect is being disrupted by the FridgePad's magnet.
This will not damage the iPad's compass.
The FridgePad will not damage your fridge. It is held onto your
fridge with a very large rubber magnet, and this also ensures that no
metal comes in contact with your fridge.
Accessories coming soon...
- Power block charger
- Table top stand
- Kitchen cupboard door mount
Projected MSRP - $76
Link: FridgePad
Logitech's Rechargeable Speaker Dock for the
iPod/iPhone Has Bold Sound, 8-Hour Battery
PR: Logitech has unveiled the Logitech Rechargeable Speaker
S715i, a portable speaker dock for iPod and iPhone that delivers bold
sound you can carry around. Featuring eight custom-designed speaker
drivers and an eight-hour rechargeable battery, the newest Logitech
speaker looks like a beauty and sounds like a beast.
"With this system, we set out to deliver our next
generation in sound quality for a speaker dock for the iPod," says Mark
Schneider, vice president and general manager of Logitech's audio
business unit. "The new Rechargeable Speaker S715i offers eight drivers
- twice that of our previous speaker docks - and includes a
rechargeable battery so you can take your tunes with you. So go ahead,
lose yourself in your music - and never worry about disposable
batteries again."
To bring your music to life, the Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S715i
delivers crisp audio thanks to two three-inch laser-tuned neodymium
drivers for a rich mid range, two half-inch neodymium tweeters for
crisp high notes and four two-inch passive radiators for deep bass. The
result is rich, balanced audio in a compact design for iPod and
iPhone.
The Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S715i comes with a wireless remote
control to give you command over functions such as power, volume, play,
pause, shuffle, skip and repeat from up to 30 feet (10 meters) away.
For your convenience, you can take the dock with you in the included
travel case that also has space for the power adapter and remote.
You know that the Logitech S715i will work with your iPod or iPhone
since the speaker is certified through the Made for iPod and iPhone
programs. In addition, the speaker's innovative dock design works with
any iPhone or iPod with a Universal Dock Connector no trays
necessary.
The Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S715i is expected to be available
in the US and Europe in August for a suggested retail price of
$149.99.
Link:
Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S715i (purchase
link)
Protection
Caze Zero 5, World's Thinnest Case for iPhone
4
PR: Caze announces the Zero 5 case for iPhone 4. The Zero 5
(0.5mm) iPhone 4 case is sleek, slim, and form-fitting; you will not
even know that it is on. It features a 0.5mm thinness and is made of
lightweight, ultra strong, and durable Grilamid® TR-90 material. It
protects the sides of the iPhone by protruding slightly above the front
screen and can address the antenna concern. The back of the case has a
precise cutout for the iPhone's camera and flash. To ensure your iPhone
receives 360° protection, front and back films are provided.
Searching for a case that would protect your iPhone 4 and would
retain its slim form and sleek appearance? That's what Caze Zero 5
(0.5mm) iPhone 4 Case does. As the name implies, Zero 5 (0.5mm) is very
slim and only has 0.5mm wall thickness. As it's so thin, you would
barely notice its presence. It is made of Grilamid TR-90 which is a
plastic polymer commonly used in the creation of sport and other
impact-resistant eyewear frames. TR-90-made products are lightweight,
remarkably tough, highly flexible, shatterproof and highly resistant to
UV damage. Besides its super slim body that measures only 0.5mm in
thickness, Zero 5 is durable and offers comprehensive protection to
your iPhone. It has complete access to all the main ports and buttons
of your device. Charging has also never been easy since you do not have
to remove the case.
Zero 5 (0.5mm) is a bit raised to protect your screen from further
scratches when laid on a flat surface. To ensure all-around protection,
the package comes with a free screen protection kit (front & back
films) for added shield.
If you want to preserve the original look of your iPhone 4, you can
order now at their official website. Colors obtainable for now are
clear and grey. Aside from the almost unnoticeable case, you will get a
clear protector at the front and back, a microfiber cloth, and a wallet
size iPhone stand.
Link: Caze Zero 5
case for iPhone 4
Hard Candy Cases' iPhone 4 Photo Flash Contest:
Prizes Include iTunes Gift Cards and Hard Candy Products
PR: While some early to market iPhone 4 case
manufacturers pushed out products with design flaws - overly small
Flash Camera cut-outs that resulted in washed-out photos - Hard Candy
Cases engineered shells were made to work with the iPhone 4's newest
feature. To celebrate the great designs and new iPhone 4 camera
function, the Apple-centric case company announced today a photo
contest which will be open to iPhone 4 users in the US.
"We wanted to celebrate the new Flash Camera function on the
iPhone 4 by showcasing great photos taken with it, and thought what
better way to reward great photos than with iTunes bucks and a shiny,
new case," says Tim Hickman, CEO of Hard Candy Cases.
"And, as an avid iPhone user myself, I have been taking clear photos
to upload to my Facebook and blog, with my Hard Candy Cases Bubble
Slider firmly protecting my new gadget."
The contest, which calls for initial photo entries on Monday, July
26, will be open to amateurs and professionals who use their new iPhone
4 for photo taking. The grand prize winner will be awarded an Apple
iTunes gift card for $250 and five Hard Candy Case iPhone 4 products of
their choice. Additionally, five first place entrants will win one Hard
Candy Cases iPhone 4 shell of their choice from each designer line
(total of five cases).
The judging panel will be comprised of Hard Candy Cases
executives and creative professionals, with the winning photographs to
be announced on the website in September. Photos must be submitted
through hardcandycases.com (link below), with a deadline date of August
31.
Photos must be taken with the new iPhone 4 and fit within the
following themes:
- Candy photos
- Fashion photos
- Flash photos (utilizing the iPhone 4's latest feature)
Link: iPhone 4 Photo Flash
Contest
