Month: April 2013

Can you hear me now: 60,000 disgruntled users urge Verizon to drop contracts

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 24, 2018

T-Mobile's 'Un-carrier' decision to separate device subsidies from the wireless service and its introduction of no-contract plans predictably agitated spirits in this lucrative industry. But Verizon Wireless, the top U.S. carrier, wouldn't budge. In fact, the big red carrier responded rather autistically to T-Mobile by delaying phone upgrades from 20 to 24 months.

At the same time, Verizon is attempting to appease to users by offering smartphone financing program beginning April 21. That Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam refuses to clarify his company's stance on monthly installments isn't helping either.

Deciding enough is enough, one Verizon fanboy started a petition recently, urging the carrier to ditch wireless contracts. And guess what? Already 60,000+ disgruntled customers put their signature on it. Verizon, can you hear me now?

Apple vs Android: debate continues as iOS proves more lucrative

Ed Sutherland ∙ April 17, 2013

The shift to mobility has certainly hurt the ability to pick clear winners and losers. In the era of beige-box PCs, bean-counters could glance at market share data. But growth of smartphones and apps shattered such easy measurements The battle between Apple's iOS and Google's Android is more of an optical illusion where the "winner" can triumph in terms of market share, but lose when it comes to revenue.

Still, people want clear winners and losers and Time magazine is just the latest to answer the call. According to the magazine's website, the winner is - well, that really depends...

Apple choice of 58% enterprises, Android choice of 97% malware

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

A pair of reports issued yesterday really put the growth of mobile in perspective. Currently, the mobile landscape is dominated by two players - Apple's iOS and Google's Android.

While Apple is increasingly favored by companies big and small, Android has become the go-to vector for mobile malware, it seems.

Attacks involving mobile devices has risen dramatically in the space of just one year, skyrocketing to more than 36,000 instances in 2012, up from only 792 cases, according to a security research firm.

Meanwhile, large companies are adopting Apple devices at a faster clip than Android, according to another report...

Celebrating first anniversary, Pocket adds Send to Friend social feature

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Pocket, a read-later service, in celebration of its first anniversary today pushed a new build of its iOS and Android containing a new social feature aptly named Send to Friend, in addition to push notifications and other nice-to-haves.

Formerly know as Read It Later, Pocket was App Store’s Best of 2012 app and iPad App of the Week. Send to Friend is interesting as it saves content other people share with you right in your inbox.

You can then re-visit those articles later, but also read comments along with any highlighted quotes they chose to share with you...

Rolomotion turns your iDevice into Wii-like console

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 24, 2016

Pune, India-based Rolocule creates games for a living and earlier today the team teased an interesting solution aimed at bringing Nintendo Wii-style gaming to your big screen TV via Apple TV and some clever iPhone and iPod touch software. Rolomotion is the name of the game (pun intended).

It's basically a dedicated app that wirelessly beams specially-designed games to your telly through the Apple TV while using your iPhone or iPod touch as a Wii-style controller.

The game running on the device reads data from the iPhone's gyroscope, magnetometer and accelerometer sensors to make possible motion-based action via Apple's set-top box. I've included a nice demo clip right past the fold...

The best apps for guitar players

Lory Gil ∙ Updated June 4, 2018

If you are a musician, you may not think of the iPhone or iPad as an accessory for your instrument. It may seem difficult to imagine, but your iOS device has the potential to be a better companion to your creative endeavors than your band mates.

I’ve been playing music for almost two decades now and for years I’ve have actively sought out iOS apps to help me practice my licks, record my band, and make my guitar sing like a Siren.

We’ve got a list of our favorite apps for the guitar. Whether you are a beginner looking for a cheap music tutor, or an old pro trying out new guitar sounds, this list has something for musicians of all capabilities.

Apple vs Samsung price war in India

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

In another era, Apple and Samsung would be competing gasoline retailers, locked in a war to entice more automobiles to the pump. Update the picture to the 21st century, replace gas with smartphones and you have the modern-day equivalent of a price war playing out in India, according to a Wednesday report.

Android-based Samsung smartphones initially had the majority of the India market to itself. However, now Apple is shaking things up by offering discounts on its iPhone 4 - a move fueling the company's challenge of rival Samsung.

The South Korean company has responded with discounts on its Galaxy family of products - on top of the current payment plan. Both companies are jockeying to control a market full of potential smartphone buyers...

Tip: turn your coinage into iTunes credits with Coinstar vending machines

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

The popular coin-counting service, Coinstar, is great for people who just want to get rid of their spare change in return for a cash back minus a small fee.

The company operates vending machines at supermarkets such as Walmart where people frequent for shopping.

What you may not have known, although Coinstar has been doing this for several years now, is that its machines can take your loose coins and spill out a receipt with an iTunes redemption code that you can use to refill your iTunes balance...

Apple patent outlines proximity iPhone-to-Mac file transfers

Ed Sutherland ∙ April 17, 2013

If you have some media content on your iPhone that needs to get to a Mac, the transfer can be cumbersome. Apple appears to be tapping wireless technologies to smooth out such operations, simply by having your mobile device near your desktop or portable Mac computer.

A patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office outlines a way for Macs to sense when a mobile device is nearby. Your iPhone can then transmit that great vacation photo to the Mac, which then inserts the image into an email, or even photo manipulation application...

Apple may have delayed next-gen iPads over fire at LG Display’s subcontractor plant

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 17, 2013

An analyst report last Tuesday disappointed folks who were holding their breath for new iPads before this summer. As iDB told you, KGI Securities' rather accurate analyst Ming-Chi Kuo cited a number of "technical challenges" that Apple is currently facing in manufacturing the second-generation iPad mini and fifth-generation full-size iPad, leading him to believe that both products won't hit the market until Fall.

I've come across an accurate report which might explain that a fire which last week broke out in one of LG Display's subcontractor plants has forced Apple to frantically seek for alternative suppliers who could supply backlight units for iPads and MacBooks. All options are on table, including the display-making unit of Apple's frenemy Samsung...

Apple granted patent for iOS app folders, ‘jiggle’ interface

Ed Sutherland ∙ April 17, 2013

Apple Tuesday was granted a patent for how it manages folders on the company's iOS devices, including the familiar "jiggle" user interface. The patent, awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, describes a "device, method, and graphical user interface for managing folders." In the 2010 application, Apple said the interface relieves the "significant cognitive burden" and wasted energy traditionally required for moving files and icons on a computer desktop...

You can now watch Funny or Die’s ‘iSteve’ online

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 17, 2013

Comedy web site Funny or Die originally said its satirical movie about Apple's co-founder Steve Jobs, dubbed iSteve, would arrive on April 15, but they pushed it back a bit in the wake of Boston bombing.

The movie is now available online, as a free stream via the Funny or Die web site.

Directed by Ryan Perez, iSteve stars Justin Long of Dodgeball and Jeepers Creepers fame, who gets to portray Steve Jobs. The general public remembers the actor thanks to his amusing depiction of the Mac character in Apple's Mac vs. PC campaign. Other roles include Lost's Jorge Garcia as Steve Wozniak, James Urbaniak as Bill Gates and Michaela Watkins playing Melinda Gates...