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New Owners Survey Shows iPhone 4S More Popular than its Apple Predecessor
Turn Your iPad Into Apple I, Apple II (With Video)
BBC Worldwide Offers Festive Promotion On Global iPlayer App With A Free Piece Of Content Every Day From 1st - 25th December - Now In Canada, But Not In The U.S.
Touch, Read, Sing, and Sync with Two New Missing ManualsFor iPad And iPod
Free CNET App By CBS Interactive
Compass Eye App for iPhone Helps Sailors Safely Navigate Stormy Seas
Rapid Protect Adds Driver Safety Mobile Applications to Its Portfolio to Protect Drivers from Over Speeding or Texting While Driving
Bluegiga Enables the Development of Bluetooth 4.0 Accessories for iPhone 4S
New Owners Survey Shows iPhone 4S More Popular than its Apple Predecessor
A new survey of iPhone 4S owners by ChangeWave Research division of The 451 Group shows customer satisfaction ratings for the latest Apple smartphone are higher than for its predecessor, the iPhone 4.
The November 2-9 ChangeWave survey of 215 Apple iPhone 4S owners looked at their thoughts and opinions of the new device including overall satisfaction with it, key likes and dislikes, dropped calls, and the impact of the iPhone 4S battery life issue.
Customer Satisfaction
Overall iPhone 4S customer satisfaction ratings show a high degree of approval with 77% of owners saying they're Very Satisfied and 19% Somewhat Satisfied with their new iPhone. Only 2% of owners say they are Unsatisfied with it.
These iPhone 4S satisfaction ratings are higher than those found in a July 2010 survey of iPhone 4 new owners, as this chart points out.
Top iPhone 4S Likes - Siri Ranks as #1 Feature.
ChangeWave also asked iPhone 4S owners about the specific features they like best about their new smart phone, and by a wide margin the Siri Digital Assistant (49%) ranks number one. General Ease of Use (39%) is the second most liked feature, followed by the 8 Megapixel Camera with LED Flash (33%).
The researcher note that the iCloud Service (19%) another new Apple feature ranked 6th in terms of things owners liked best, after Faster Web Browsing (24%) and Screen Resolution (23%).
iPhone 4S Dislikes. When ChangeWave looked at what new owners disliked most about their iPhone 4S, two things dwarfed all others - Battery Life and the Lack of 4G.
A total of 38% of owners say the iPhone 4S's Battery Life is Too Short, while 30% say they dislike the Lack of 4G Capability. Only one other dislike reached into the double digits - Screen Size (11%).
The researchers also took a closer look at the battery life issue, noting that shortly after the iPhone 4S release, media reports began focusing on a perceived problem with it battery life. The coverage was in some ways reminiscent of the antenna issue that had plagued the iPhone 4 release back in the summer of 2010.
To gauge the actual impact of the battery life issue on new iPhone 4S owners, respondents were asked if they had experienced reduced battery life with their device. Two-in-five owners said they had experienced reduced battery life with their iPhone 4S (40%), but when asked how much of a problem this issue was for them, only 8% of all owners said it was a Very Big Problem while 20% said it was Somewhat of a Problem.
ChangeWave notes that shortly after the survey was completed, Apple released a software update to their iOS 5 operating system which, among other things, was aimed at improving the iPhone 4S' battery life.
Dropped Call Rates
Historically, ChangeWave surveys have focused on the issue of dropped calls among wireless service providers. The belief has been that differences in dropped call rates are largely the result of differences between wireless service provider networks. For example, here is a look at the dropped call rates for Verizon vs. AT&T over the last 3 years of ChangeWave Wireless Service Providers surveys.
Current Survey Results
The ChangeWave survey looked at the dropped call rating among iPhone 4S owners, and compared it with the dropped call rating of iPhone 4 owners from a July 2010 ChangeWave survey. The current survey found the overall dropped call rate reported by iPhone 4S owners (2.5%) to be half as much as the rate reported by iPhone 4 owners (5.2%) in the previous survey. Further analysis shows the primary reason for this is due to differences between Verizon iPhone 4S owners and AT&T iPhone 4S owners when it comes to reported dropped call rates.
Back in the July 2010 survey, AT&T had been the exclusive service provider for the iPhone. But in the current ChangeWave survey, nearly two-in-five iPhone 4S owners are using other wireless service providers (i.e., Verizon, Sprint) that have historically shown lower dropped call rates in our surveys than AT&T.
Importantly, in a direct comparison of the dropped call rates between Verizon and AT&T in this survey, Verizon iPhone 4S owners reported only a 1.3% dropped call rate while AT&T iPhone 4S owners reported a 4.1% dropped call rate.
In sum, the lower dropped call rate for the iPhone 4S in the current survey appears primarily attributable to owners now using multiple wireless service providers as opposed to only using AT&T back in the July 2010 survey.
The complete Apple iPhone 4S New Owners Report is available at:
http://www.changewaveresearch.com
Turn Your iPad Into Apple I, Apple II (With Video)
M.I.C. Gadget's Chris Chang asks:
Have you always wanted to own a fully assembled Apple I computer or an all-time classic Apple II? Did you miss the chance to buy a super rare Apple I computer at the recent Christie's auction? Fret not! You can now turn back the hands of time with the iStation and make your iPad look like an Apple I or Apple II!
You'll need to watch two videos first, an ad and a guide.
Chang adds that:
For retro Apple fans who worship the first Apple computer system Apple I or Apple II, heres your chance to see what they would look like when placed in your room or on your desk. The iStation looks kinda' like an Apple I in a wooden case, or an Apple II. What is it actually? Well, it is unique in that its a stand, solid-performing speaker and keyboard in one. Most interestingly, your iPad acts as a display for the iStation, so the whole thing appears as a good looking piece of all-in-one tablet computer.
Using It
The iStation is a massive, sleek-looking behemoth that comes with powered stereo speakers with a huge and detailed sound and a small subwoofer. It comes with a detachable Bluetooth keyboard and it has an adjustable stand (3 different angles) for your iPad/iPhone. It also has a USB port, microSD slot and 3.5mm stereo audio input jack.
You need to plug the power adapter into the iStation to use it with the iPad. The iStation does not feature a built-in battery.
You can place your iPad in portrait or landscape orientation onto the iStation. The built-in stand that holds the iPad has enough clearance for the first-gen iPad, and iPad 2 with thin cases that add up to 1/8 of an inch including the Apple case and the Smart cover.
The keyboard comes with all the standard feature buttons and special Apple keys that let you use keyboard shortcuts like Cmd-C for copy, Cmd-V for paste, Cmd-Z for undo, etc. The top row keys double up as buttons to adjust brightness, volume, control playback and starting the slideshow. Downside: keyboard is even smaller than the keyboards used in 10-inch netbooks.
The iStation has a stand that firmly holds iPad, iPod, and iPhone devices and lets you rotate your iPad to view the screen in portrait or landscape orientation for the best video display.
In stock for $85.90 at M.I.C. Store, while stock lasts.
You can check it out at:
http://bit.ly/rDN9JT
BBC Worldwide Offers Festive Promotion On Global iPlayer App With A Free Piece Of Content Every Day From 1st - 25th December - Now In Canada, But Not In The U.S.
BBC Worldwide, the BBCs commercial arm, has announced that the global BBC iPlayer App will be offering users a free piece of festive content every day from 1st 25th December, exclusively from the App store, as part of a special Christmas promotion.
From today the service will also be available in Canada the sixteenth territory to be added to the pilot launch.
The global BBC iPlayer App is a unique Video on Demand pilot subscription service available on iPad that offers viewers in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland the opportunity to delve into an extensive archive of award-winning classic and contemporary British TV programming both at home and on the move.
Jana Bennett, BBC Worldwide President of Worldwide Networks and Global iPlayer says: "We're proud to be building on the successful launch of this App by introducing it to Canada. It will open up the opportunity for a whole new audience to enjoy the best moments from seventy years of brilliant BBC programmes, wherever and whenever they want."
From today those who download the App for free from the App store can access an episode every day until Christmas Day for no charge and without having to sign up to the monthly or annual subscription. The free content includes a festive themed variety of the best of BBC and the best of British creativity including Christmas specials from iconic shows Only Fools and Horses and Absolutely Fabulous, plus 12 Days of Gavin and Stacey, Jamie Oliver's The Naked Chef - The Christmas Party, and Blackadders Christmas Carol dependent on availability per country.
Matthew Littleford, General Manager for Global iPlayer said: For those not familiar with the great BBC content available on the App, the festive offering is the perfect way to trial the service and get a good flavour of the quality and breadth of programmes it provides.
Those who wish to subscribe to the service can do so for a cost of 6.99 a month (or 64.99 for an annual subscription) in Europe, $8.99 a month (or $84.99 for an annual subscription) in Canada and $9.49 a month (or $89.99 for an annual subscription) in Australia. Viewers will be able to sample carefully selected content for free before subscribing.
A subscription to the global BBC iPlayer offers access to iconic British comedies such as Fawlty Towers, Absolutely Fabulous and Only Fools & Horses as well as contemporary sitcoms and sketch shows including Gavin and Stacey and Little Britain. Viewers can also enjoy thrilling new drama series Whitechapel and Spooks, classic period dramas such as the much loved and quintessentially British Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth, recent episodes of the UKs famous soap EastEnders, global motoring phenomenon Top Gear, the Doctor Who archive, natural history programmes Blue Planet and Horizon, and the childrens show Charlie & Lola.
On 1st December the app will debut EastEnders: E20 in some territories a brand new online spin-off version of EastEnders comprised of 3 16-minute episodes, perfect for watching on the smaller screen or on the go.
In addition to featuring the best in classic and current British shows, the app offers specially curated collections of programmes that will give audiences an opportunity to explore thousands of hours of fascinating content. Subscribers can embark on a journey of discovery of great British talent and writers, as well as learning the story of Doctor Whos famous Daleks in Daleks Forever which is just one of the curated collections available in the extensive archive.
Subscribers will also have the the opportunity to access the BBCs music archive including captivating live shows by Oasis and Robbie Williams at the BBC Electric Proms from 2007 2009, Blur Live at Hyde Park and Dire Straits Arena.
A weekly-updated BBC News Programme collection is also available to subscribers offering highly respected topical news shows broadcast on the BBC News channels. Key titles include the BBCs flagship news and current affairs programme, Newsnight, noted for its in-depth analysis and robust cross-examination of senior politicians (available within a week of the UK broadcast), as well as HARDTalk, Click (a popular technology magazine show covering news and developments in consumer technology), Fast Track and Talking Movies (a guide to the best in film, from the most recent Hollywood blockbusters to ground-breaking world cinema).
Designed to be intuitive and easy-to-use, a key feature of the app allows subscribers both to stream and download shows for offline viewing for when Wi-Fi or 3G connectivity is unavailable. Users will also be able to use the Airplay feature to wirelessly stream videos and music to Apple TV (2nd generation) and also stream music to AirPlay speakers or receivers, including AirPort Express.
All content listed within the release is subject to availability per territory.
The global BBC iPlayer App is now available to download for free from the App Store on iPhone at:
http://www.bbc.com/iplayer/tv
YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/BBCiplayerglobal
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/BBCiPlayerGlobal
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/BBCiPlayerGLBL
Touch, Read, Sing, and Sync with Two New Missing ManualsFor iPad And iPod
"Apple may not have made huge changes in its hardware for the iPad and iPod line this year, but they really did a lot with the new iOS 5 software," says J.D. Biersdorfer, New York Times tech columnist and veteran Missing Manuals author. "These new Missing Manuals cover all the exciting things that iOS 5 brings to the table, including new apps like Reminders, iMessage, and Newsstand, and new features like the ability to edit photos and post Twitter updates right from the Camera app."
iPod: The Missing Manual, Tenth Edition and iPad 2: The Missing Manual, Third Edition are newly avaioable from O'Reilly.
iPad 2: The Missing Manual, Third Edition
- Build your media library. Fill your iPad with music, movies, TV shows, eBooks, eMagazines, photos, and more.
- Go wireless. Sync content between your computer and iPadno wires needed.
- Get online. Connect through WiFi or Wi-Fi + 3G, and surf the Web using the iPad's new tabbed browser.
- Consolidate email. Read and send messages from any of your email accounts.
- Get social. Use built-in apps like iMessage, Twitter, and Ping to stay in touch.
- Store stuff in iCloud. Stash your content online for free, and sync up all your devices automatically.
- Interact with your iPad. Learn new finger moves and undocumented tips, tricks, and shortcuts.
Ebook (Formats:ePub, Mobi, PDF): $19.99
Print & Ebook: $27.49
Print: $24.99
For more information, visit:
http://bit.ly/upnIZK
iPod: The Missing Manual, Tenth Edition
- Fill 'er up. Load your Nano, Touch, Classic, or Shuffle with music, movies, and photos, and learn how to play it all back.
- Tour the Touch. Surf the Web, use web-based email, collect iPhone apps, play games, and more.
- Share music and movies. Copy music between computers with Home Sharing, beam playlists around the house, and whisk your Nano's videos to YouTube.
- iTunes, tuned up. Pick-and-choose which music, movies, and photos to sync; create instant playlists with Genius Mix; and auto-rename "Untitled" tracks.
- iPod power. Create Genius playlists on your iPod, shoot movies on your Nano, use the Nano's FM radio and pedometer, and add voice memos to your Touch.
- Shop the iTunes Store. Find what you're looking for in a snap, whether it's music, movies, apps, lyrics, or liner notes.
Ebook (Formats:ePub, Mobi, PDF): $17.99
Print & Ebook: $24.19
Pre-Order Print: $21.99
For more information, visit:
http://bit.ly/vDOq2R
CNET's In Your iPad
CNET's Lindsey Turrentine blogs that now CNET's iPad app has arrived, and you'll be too busy digging into its tech riches, reviews, and gadget advice to get much else done on your iPad. Or, you know, eat.
She says she's walk you though a big tour of the CNET app, but there's no need. It's easy to navigate all of CNET's content from the app's navigation bar.
Once you install the CNET iPad app from Apple's App Store, bring up the app and you'll see a hand-curated roundup of the very best CNET has to offer in tech reviews and news.
You can check it out at:
http://cnet.co/uauMLr
Free CNET App By CBS Interactive
If you are a tech-lover, and you have an iPad, an iPod Touch, or an iPhone, you need CNET's free app. It'll keep you living in the future with award-winning tech news, reviews, and trend coverage. Find opinions and help from your favorite, trusted CNET editors all in a fast, beautiful, and easy-to-use package. Download it now from the iTunes App Store. It's free.
Key features:
• All the latest and most entertaining consumer technology news, reviews, photo galleries, and videos directly to you in real time
• Your favorite CNET blogs, including Crave, Green Tech, and the Cutting Edge
• Tweets from CNET editors Brian Tong, Molly Wood, and many more
• On-demand and live video
• Photo galleries
• Share your favorite CNET content via e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter
New in Version 2.0
(*) NEW - Now available for the iPad
(*) iOS 5 compatible
System requirements:
• iPad
• Requires iOS 4.0 or later.
For more information, visit:
http://bit.ly/brxJ54
Compass Eye App for iPhone Helps Sailors Safely Navigate Stormy Seas
Sailors can now use their iPhones as a multi-functional bearing compass that replaces the need for compass binoculars and professional bearing compasses for explorations and excursions. UK based Electric Pocket Ltd. has announced Compass Eye 1.21, their new nautical augmented reality app for for iPhone and iPad. Compass Eye uses the iPhone or iPad camera to take compass bearings and let sailors view their course and overlays a compass display on it. Sailors can now use their iPhones as a multi-functional bearing compass that replaces the need for compass binoculars and professional bearing compasses for explorations and excursions.
Compass Eye delivers on the promise of a compass that doesn't change its reading when the boat rocks and enables sailors to take compass bearings with their iPhone or iPad. Compass Eye replaces the need of Compass Binoculars and Professional Bearing Compasses for explorations and excursions on land, sea and even in the air (it's fully gimballed)!
Compass Eye was designed by a skipper for use by sailors. Inspiration struck Steve Bennett, CEO of Electric Pocket, during a particularly treacherous sea crossing with a RYA Yacht Master Instructor when keeping a fixed bearing on a distant vessel proved invaluable. He realized that the iPhone could serve as a simple multi-functional bearing compass that could provide several essential functions, such as collision avoidance and safe passage limits.
"The tide was ebbing across our path at 4-5 Kts and a very large Dredger, the City of Cardiff, lay at anchor approximately six miles from our destination, Penarth. With a maximum boat speed of only 4 Kts in the rough wind over tide conditions, it was vital that we passed as close downstream of the dredger as possible so that we could still make our destination without being swept out to sea and having to wait for the next flood. Keeping a constant bearing with the dredger and then the back of the dredger as we got closer was a simple but extremely effective and safe way of navigating."
Compass Eye uses the iPhone or iPad camera to let sailors view their course and overlays a compass display on it. This clever implementation of Augmented Reality, including up-to 8x zoom, lets sailors set a variety of bearings for avoiding collisions with other boats or for keeping a safe passage into harbor with one easy tap.
All bearings are color-coded in line with IALA standards. Sailors can then watch the horizon and take time-stamped, GPS located photos with their bearings marked on them. With Compass Eye, users can look back on the photos for easy logging reference, or the photos can be tweeted using the Twitter integration to let people chart their sailing adventure and enjoy the view.
Unlike the majority of compass apps which can be difficult to use as they need to be held steady, level and close to horizontal, Compass Eye works correctly in all orientations and angles. When the iOS device is laid flat it will show the whole compass rose and heading and current position overlayed on a real-time Google Earth Map (N.B. the live map view requires an internet connection). During its beta stage the app was put to the test at sea on voyages across the Bristol Channel, one of the most hazardous areas of water to navigate in the world.
Compass Eye Main Features:
(*) Real time, accuracy in all orientations
(*) Compass overlaid on live camera view
(*) 8x Digital zoom
(*) Back, transit, or collision bearing marker
(*) Draggable red and green bearing lines
(*) Triangulation bearings
(*) Optional time, date and GPS location information
(*) Magnetic or True North setting with variation based on location
(*) Live map view in horizontal mode. The map can be changed to show normal, satellite and hybrid views or turned off
(*) Photo and position sharing via email and Twitter
Technical Details:
Based on an iPhone 4 camera the image specification at full zoom compares favorably with a 7x50 pair of binoculars:
(*) Field of Vision at 1000m at 8x: 122m
(*) Angle of view at 8x: approx 7 degrees
(*) Low ISO 80 or better.
Device Requirements:
(*) iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S
(*) iPad 2 Wi-Fi, and iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G
(*) Device with back facing Camera
(*) Magnetometer and Accelerometer (GPS is optional)
(*) Requires iOS 4.1 or later
(*) 2.4 MB
Compass Eye 1.21 is $4.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Navigation category.
Electric Pocket:
http://electricpocket.com
Compass Eye 1.21:
http://compasseye.net/
Purchase and Download:
http://itunes.apple.com/app/compass-eye/id472314819
Rapid Protect Adds Driver Safety Mobile Applications to Its Portfolio to Protect Drivers from Over Speeding or Texting While Driving
The use of a cell phone can be a major distraction while driving. Research has shown that countless accidents could have been avoided if the driver was not distracted while driving. There is way to enforce the rules now. Rapid Protect, a developer of a mobile safety application suite has added two new mobile applications to its portfolio. These applications are called SpeedApp and SpeedControl. The applications are currently available in the Blackberry market place. The availability of Android, iPhone and J2ME versions of the same will be announced soon.
The applications are aimed to promote driver safety by reducing accidents caused by distracted driving on the road. SpeedApp currently available on GPS enabled Blackberry devices is designed for those who want to support the life safety of a driver. The driver may be your friend, family member or a subordinate. SpeedApp locks the phone if a user exceeds a specified lower speed limit. SpeedApp will send a SMS to the parent or supervisor's phone number configured in application setting if a user exceeds the specified upper speed limit for a specified duration. SpeedControl enhances the functionality of SpeedApp. It will auto-reply to incoming text messages when a user is driving.
Distracted driving and use of mobile phones by drivers has caught the attention of lawmakers. Governments around the world are putting restrictions on the use of cellular phones while driving. They are trying to spread general awareness regarding hands free technologies promoting safe driving. Several countries around the world have made it illegal to use a cellular phone while driving. Research has shown that taking off hands from the wheels leads to accidents. RapidProtect apps are meant to enforce compliance. The company plans to white label these apps for transport companies and government agencies.
RapidProtect provides tools to protect your family and enable other location based services. Besides driver safety applications, the company offers, RapidProtect, mobile application for family members to track each other's locations and pass necessary safety messages to one another. In addition, the company will be adding a number of patent pending unique services to its applications soon. The application aims to facilitate parents in keeping track of their children's location and ensure their safety. It lets parents in the US check the location of sex offenders in their neighborhood. These tools are geared for a family to remain connected with one another in the case of emergency.
The application was developed by mobile application development team of Rapidsoft Systems, a leading developer of mobile and web applications. Commenting on the development, Mr. Gurbinder Mavi, VP of Sales and Marketing for Rapidsoft Systems says, "Research has shown that taking off hands from the wheels leads to accidents. A cell phone is a big distraction both for new and experienced drivers. I am confident that parents and companies both will find it a very useful application to protect their drivers from possible accidents."
SpeedUp is available at:
http://bit.ly/uSwu87
SpeedControl can be downloaded from:
http://bit.ly/tIHUnF
RapidProtect ( http://www.rapidprotect.net ) is a developer and publisher of mobile applications for family safety. It operates out of offices in the NJ and CA in the USA.
For more information, visit:
http://www.rapidsoftsystems.com
and
http://www.mobisofttechnologies.com
Bluegiga Enables the Development of Bluetooth 4.0 Accessories for iPhone 4S
Bluegiga Technologies has introduced a new reference implementation of its BLE112 Bluetooth 4.0 single mode platform allowing companies to quickly create Bluetooth 4.0 accessories compatible with Apple's iPhone 4S.
The iPhone 4S is the first smart phone that supports the new Bluetooth 4.0 standard. This opens the door for designers to create a new bread of low power wireless sensing devices that can communicate with a mobile device while still providing connectivity to traditional Bluetooth headset and HID devices.
"The release of iPhone 4S is a great milestone for the entire Bluetooth community and a beginning of a new era in Bluetooth accessory development. I am certain that Android and Windows mobile devices will quickly follow." says Mikko Savolainen, VP Product Management.
Bluegiga Technologies has developed a reference platform for OEMs to quickly develop and deploy Bluetooth 4.0 applications. The reference platform consists of our BLE112 Bluetooth 4.0 single mode development kit, Bluetooth 4.0 software development kit, and a reference application for iOS5. Bluegiga also provides example applications for accessories such as proximity tags, heart rate sensors, and thermometers. This will simplify the development process for designers, reducing the time to market.
BLE112 development kit consists of Bluegiga's BLE112 Bluetooth 4.0 single mode development board with integrated accelerometer, display, temperature, potentiometer, and battery sensor. The development kit will allow OEMs to quickly prototype Bluetooth 4.0 hardware and gives software developers a platform to rapidly develop applications.
Bluegiga's Bluetooth 4.0 software development kit includes tools for creating Bluetooth 4.0 profiles with simple XML schema and standalone Bluetooth 4.0 applications utilizing the processing power of the BLE112 Bluetooth 4.0 single mode module.
The final element that pulls everything together is Bluegiga's heart rate reference application for Apple's iOS5. This example shows developers how to connect Bluetooth 4.0 devices with iOS5 exchanging data back and forth over the Bluetooth link.
Bluegiga Technologies Inc. provides Bluetooth-based wireless module and access device solutions. Its secure, cost-effective and easy-to-integrate devices are used by industry leaders in the areas of health and medical, automotive, audio, industrial, and consumer applications. Bluegiga has a presence in more than 65 countries worldwide through its distribution network.
The Bluetooth word, mark, and logo are registered trademarks and are owned by The Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
About Made for iPhone (MFi) program:
http://developer.apple.com/programs/mfi/
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