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Customer Satisfaction With Smartphones Increases, Apple Ranks Highest For 9th Consecutive Time
Textkraft Text Processor Apps For iPad On Sale
Return of the Passcode Flaw in iOS 6.1.3
OEM Suppliers To Deliver Next-Generation iPhone Components In May - Digitimes
No Samsung Displays On Apple's Next Generation iOS Devices
Shows Tracker 1.1 for iOS: Track Every Episode of Your Favorite TV Shows
Customer Satisfaction With Smartphones Increases, Apple Ranks Highest For 9th Consecutive Time
J.D. Power and Associates reports that Apple Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Smartphone Manufacturers, While LG Ranks Highest Among Traditional Mobile Phone Manufacturers
Overall satisfaction among smartphone customers increases significantly as manufacturers continue to improve styling, feature sets, usability and software, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2013 U.S. Wireless Smartphone Satisfaction StudySM--Volume 1 and the J.D. Power and Associates 2013 U.S. Wireless Traditional Mobile Phone Satisfaction StudySM--Volume 1, both released March 21.
Key Findings
• Nearly two in 10 (17%) smartphone customers experience a software or device malfunction.
Smartphone customers spend an average of 115 minutes per week using social networking applications on their device.
• Smartphone customers spending more than 100 minutes per week on social apps are 14% more likely to recommend their smartphone model than those that spend 100 minutes or less on social apps.
• The studies measure satisfaction with traditional wireless handsets and smartphones among customers who have used their current mobile device for less than one year. Satisfaction is measured in several key factors. In order of importance, the key factors of overall satisfaction with traditional mobile phones are performance (29%); ease of operation (26%); physical design (24%); and features (21%). For smartphones, the key factors are performance (33%); physical design (23%); features (22%); and ease of operation (22%).
The Wireless Smartphone Satisfaction Study finds that satisfaction among smartphone customers is 796 (on a 1,000-point scale), an increase of 22 points from 2012. This improvement is likely due to a growing array of new features and services being offered that are providing a seamless product experience between the operating system functions and third-party apps. While satisfaction in all factors of the smartphone customer experience increases from 2012, satisfaction has increased the most in performance (26 points), as a few key attributes, such as operating system reliability, processing speed and video/camera picture quality, have improved significantly.
"As the capabilities of wireless phones and their applications continue to expand, and as customers grow more reliant on their device, handset manufacturers have an opportunity to further shape the customer experience and impact satisfaction with better integration of services and more communication options, such as video chat," says Kirk Parsons, senior director of telecommunications services at J.D. Power and Associates. "It is important, however, that manufacturers meet the expectations of those customers who take advantage of such offers by ensuring the features are intuitive and, ultimately, rewarding to them. Providing an easy-to-use, yet powerful operating system with the ability to customize applications to suit individual needs is essential to providing a high-quality and rewarding wireless experience."
Among traditional mobile phone customers, overall satisfaction has remained virtually unchanged during the past two years. However, among the 42 percent of traditional handset customers who indicate they are likely to purchase a new mobile phone in the next 12 months, 76 percent say they "definitely will" or "probably will" upgrade to a smartphone.
"Satisfaction remains relatively unchanged among traditional mobile phone customers, likely as a result of heightened awareness of advanced services available on smartphones and the lack on new device offerings with upgraded feature sets," saays Parsons.
For the ninth consecutive study, Apple ranks highest among manufacturers of smartphones in customer satisfaction. Apple achieves a score of 855 and performs particularly well in physical design and ease of operation.
For the third consecutive study, LG ranks highest among traditional mobile phones with a score of 719. LG performs particularly well in the physical design and features factors. Nokia (714) follows LG in traditional mobile phone rankings.
The 2013 U.S. Wireless Smartphone Satisfaction Study--Volume 1 and the 2013 U.S. Wireless Traditional Mobile Phone Satisfaction Study--Volume 1 are based on experiences evaluated by 9,767 smartphone customers and 6,759 traditional mobile phone customers. Both studies were fielded between July and December 2012.
Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company providing forecasting, performance improvement, social media and customer satisfaction insights and solutions. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, visit:
http://JDPower.com
Textkraft Text Processor Apps For iPad On Sale
Before Textkraft developer infovole starts a huge update marathon, all iPad users now have the opportunity to buy Testkraft at a bargain during the Easter holidays.
As of Sunday, March 24th (Palm Sunday) the Textkraft app family will go on sale for 0.99$ / Euro 0.69. Also all In-App Purchases of Easy Writer and Word-2-Text go on sale for only 0.99$ / Euro 0.69. iPad and iPhone users can save up to 84 percent off the usual price.
Everyone who downloads their favorite app now, will also get the big summer update for free.
Textkraft is a premium word processor for iPad - completely without in-app purchases Features include an extensive dictionary with synonyms and possible follow-ups.
Easy Writer is not language bound: Simple and comfortable writing on the iPad for purists.
The app Word-2-Text converts Word documents into plain text files which can be directly opened in apps which don't support the import of .doc and .docx files.
Infovole puts its main focus on the development of iPad apps, localization and creative app marketing solutions.
For more information, visit:
http://www.infovole.com
Return of the Passcode Flaw in iOS 6.1.3
Intego's Lysa Myers notes that just when you thought the passcode flaws in iOS 6.1 were fixed, another one rears its ugly head, saying she imagines that those folks who declined to update in order to keep their jailbreak are probably laughing smugly right now.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://goo.gl/ZhfnM
OEM Suppliers To Deliver Next-Generation iPhone Components In May - Digitimes
Digitimes' Aaron Lee and Ninelu Tu report that components for the next-generation iPhone will start shipping at the end of May, enabling potential release of Apple's new smartphone in the third quarter, according to unnamed sources from the upstream supply chain.
Lee and Tu say their sources tell them the new iPhone won't receive a major upgrade and may just be a slightly enhanced version of iPhone 5 (iPhone 5S) - expected to feature a higher-end processor as well as higher-megapixel camera modules.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20130320PD214.html
No Samsung Displays On Apple's Next Generation iOS Devices
AppAdvice's Bryan M. Wolfe reports that the end of the road has arrived for Apple and Samsung, citing a Korea Economic Daily report (http://goo.gl/cUsNw) that the next round of iOS devices will not come with screens manufactured by the South Korean company. Instead, Apple will use screens from LG Display, Sharp, Japan Display, and AU Optronics.
For the full report visit here:
http://goo.gl/wsHZr
Shows Tracker 1.1 for iOS: Track Every Episode of Your Favorite TV Shows
PLEK Studios has announced Shows Tracker 1.1 for iOS, an update to its entertainment app that displays all the details of the user's favorite TV shows, past & present, foreign & domestic, including: Seasons, Episodes, Broadcast Dates, Plot Summaries, Production Stills, Show Logos, Total Seasons, Current Airdates & Times, Networks, and more. Featuring translucent black animated windows and buttons, the app also has a Favorite Show Calendar, an RSS Feed of the latest TV-related news and photos, iCloud Sync capability, and integrated email, Facebook, and Twitter connectivity.
A significant accomplishment in both content and design, Shows Tracker is visually dazzling, useful, and informative. It does not offer viewing of shows, but this is a minor consideration in comparison to all that it does offer. The universal app is Retina-display ready, and operates in either portrait or landscape orientation. Its Home page allows easy access to all its functions via a bottom tab bar and three horizontally scrolling groups of windows. The side-to-side scrolling windows include: 1) a continuously revolving display of the landscape-format logo & art from each show the user is following; 2) large, touch-sensitive windows of the portrait-format logo & art from each show the user is following; and 3) touch-sensitive windows holding captioned photos of the latest news stories about TV. There are no instructions, as navigation and use are completely intuitive.
Feature Highlights:
(*) See all the relevant information about TV Shows
(*) Don't miss any episode with Shows Tracker Calendar
(*) Keep track of episodes already viewed
(*) Read TV Shows related news in the built-in RSS Reader
(*) Share content via email, Facebook, or Twitter
(*) Retina-display support
(*) iCloud synchronization
Setting up Shows Tracker to follow the user's favorite shows is an effortless, one-time task. Selecting the Shows button from the tab bar displays all the shows currently being followed, six per page. Touching the Search button allows the user to type in the title of any TV show. The smart search does not return any results until the return key is touched, and then it produces a scrolling display of show logos that match the search. For example, typing in "American" produces 65 results; searching "American Idol" produces 1 result.
The app's online database is both broad and deep, cataloging TV shows and individual episodes from 1950 to the present. Represented are programs produced in English as well as Danish, French, Spanish, Italian, etc. TV aficionados will find the app's encyclopedic knowledge extends to major hits as well as shows that never made it to the end of their first season. Broadcast, cable, and premium-cable shows, episodics and specials, are all carefully indexed and at the fingertips of curious browsers.
Returning to the Shows page, the scrolling listings of currently followed shows can be ordered alphabetically or by cumulative user ratings. Touching any title activates a card flip transition to a full-page devoted to the show. The graphical background is a large promotion still from the show, covered by a full page translucent black layer. Layered above that are translucent black windows for each episode, scrolling horizontally, holding a photo and title. Each window can be opened to fill a large viewing window with scrollable contents. Translucent buttons let users select Season 1, 2, 3, etc., becoming more opaque when touched.
The Favorite Show Calendar view displays the name of every show being followed on each day it airs. This calendar view includes the present month, plus three months back and three months ahead. Touching any text title in any day opens a large window displaying the Season and Episode number, plus Summary, and the original airdate if it is a rerun. All Episode windows contain a grayed-out check mark, which turns green to indicate that the user has already seen it. The app tracks the total Episodes in the series and how many have been viewed.
Touching the News button on the tab bar opens a full-screen display of photos with headlines, each of which opens into a full-page story that can be read from within the app. Every scrolling page of up-to-the-minute news features a different photo layout design, and the integrated RSS News Reader offers an exceptional variety of photo-filled stories from TV Guide, The Hollywood Reporter, One Seven One, and other sources of news about TV.
"Producers of film and television know that high-priced actors don't guarantee success. Content and production values must also be top quality," commented Edin Kozo of PLEK Studios. "I think you'll agree with me that Shows Tracker has the best content and production values of any similar app on the App Store."
Device Requirements:
(*) iPhone 3GS/4/4S/5, iPod touch (3rd/4th/5th generation), and iPad
(*) Requires iOS 5.0 or later
(*) Universal app optimized for display on all iOS devices
(*) Internet connection required for some functions
(*) 5.0 MB
Shows Tracker 1.1 is $0.99 (USD) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Entertainment category. Review copies are available on request.
Shows Tracker 1.1:
http://showstracker.plekstudios.com
Purchase and Download:
http://itunes.apple.com/app/shows-tracker/id587099200
Facebook Profile:
http://www.facebook.com/showstracker
Twitter Profile:
http://twitter.com/ShowsTracker
Trackback URL:
http://goo.gl/xF83g
Tags: News ď Tech-Industry ď iPhone ď iPhone News ď
