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iPhone 4 Owners Reveal What They Really Think About Their Phones
Did The iPad Preemptively Kill The US Tablet Market Like The Kindle & Nook Killed Other Ebook Readers?
Five Things the Next Generation iPad Must Address
NPD Group Report: Motorola, HTC Drive Android to Smartphone OS Lead in the U.S.
Clearwire Introduces iSpot - Nation s First Dedicated 4G Support for Apple Mobile Devices
Have Tunes, Will Travel: Logitech Unveils Rechargeable Speaker Dock for the iPod or iPhone With Bold Sound, 8-Hour Battery Life
Software Fix Coming For iOS Vulnerabilities
EC Picks Apple's iPhone Over RIM's BlackBerry
Ordering Takeout and Delivery Food Just Got Easier - Free Apps for the iPhone and BlackBerry - Win Lunch for a Week
Tidal Pool Software releases Frugal 2.0 for iPhone/iPod touch - Now Free
Gardener's Buddy 1.0 for iPad - Map and Record Plantings Using 7 Layers
myPhoneDesktop 1.4.1 - Seamlessly Integrates iPhone With User's Desktop
USAA Redefines Car Buying with Launch of Auto Circle: Find, Finance, Insure on Mobile App - Also Launches Home CircleTM to Help Members Find a Home on Mobile App
Lippincott's Nursing Procedures and Skills Expert Clinical Content Now Optimized for Apple Web-Enabled Devices - Nurses Can Access Nearly 1,000 Procedures Anywhere Via Their iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad
SkinCam for iPhone Makes Taking Photos Fun And Easy
Apple Smartens Up Music File-sharing Via iDisk
iPhone 4 Owners Reveal What They Really Think About Their Phones
Results from ChangeWave Research's latest survey of Apple iPhone 4 owners
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 Apple 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 this link:
http://bit.ly/dfmoUK
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.
For a more in-depth look at the latest ChangeWave Apple iPhone 4 findings, follow this link;
http://bit.ly/dfmoUK
Did The iPad Preemptively Kill The US Tablet Market Like The Kindle & Nook Killed Other Ebook Readers?
CrunchGear's Matt Burns says:
Want an ebook reader in the states? You have two choices: the Kindle or the Nook. That's it about. Either other manufacturers are pulling out of the US market or they re avoiding it altogether....It's a different story in Euroland or Asia. There are many ebook readers available...
But did Apple just destroy the US tablet market in the same way? Are manufacturers really going to invest millions upon millions of dollars in R&D and marketing when consumers are buying the iPad by the millions? Is the US tablet market dead?
For the full commentary visit here:
http://bit.ly/cznKAJ
Five Things the Next Generation iPad Must Address
Commenting on TechCrunch's Matt Burns' "Did the iPad Preemptively Kill the US Tablet Market?" article (see item above), Seeking Alpha's Elliot Turner says he's loved Apple for quite some time as both an electronic innovator and a stock, and 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 release he bought bought a Western Digital My Book World 2 Terrabyte 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 he was immediately disappointed. The iPad didn't cut it for him as it likewise didn't for your humble editor, 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 did not share our disappointment, that doesn't change the fact that there are five things the next generation iPad must address in order to snag him as an eager buyer, to wit:
5. The Lack of Open Source software
4. No swappable battery
3. There is no scalability [upgrades and expansion] to the hardware
2. No USB ports
1. The inability of the iPad to function independently of a computer
What's the likelihood of Apple fulfilling those aspirations? Not very high, your editor suspects.
For Elliot Turner's full elucidation of his five points, see:
http://snurl.com/108urx
NPD Group Report: Motorola, HTC Drive Android to Smartphone OS Lead in the U.S.
Android is now installed in one of every three smartphones sold at retail. BlackBerry OS share drops 9 points to 28 percent NDP Group reports.
Riding the wave of new handset introductions and wide carrier distribution in the second quarter (Q2), the Android smartphone operating system (OS) continued its upward climb in the U.S. consumer mobile phone market, according to The NPD Group, a leading market research company. For the first time since the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2007, RIM fell to second position, as Android took the lead among operating systems in handsets sold to U.S. consumers. NPD s latest wireless market research reveals that Android accounted for 33 percent of all smartphones purchased in Q2, ahead of RIM (28 percent) and Apple (22 percent).
"For the second consecutive quarter, Android handsets have shown strong but slowing sell-through market share gains among U.S. consumers," said Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis for NPD. "While the Google-developed OS took market share from RIM, Apple's iOS saw a small gain this quarter on the strength of the iPhone 4 launch."
Based on U.S. consumer purchases of mobile phones in Q2, the top 5 Android smartphones were as follows:
1. Motorola Droid
2. HTC Droid Incredible
3. HTC EVO 4G
4. HTC Hero
5. HTC Droid Eris
"Blackberry 6 will soon offer features that have been popular in recently launched Android handsets, such as support for capacitive touchscreens and a WebKit-based browser. However, the Blackberry Torch lacks the large screen allure that has characterized the best selling Android devices at its price point, including the Droid Incredible and EVO 4G," Rubin said.
Model selection and promotions continue to play a role in the race for carrier dominance. According to NPD s Mobile Phone Track, Verizon Wireless has maintained its lead among top carriers for the last three quarters comprising a third (33 percent) of the units sold in the U.S. mobile phone market in Q2, followed by AT&T (25 percent), Sprint (12 percent), and T-Mobile (11 percent). In Q2 Verizon Wireless continued their buy-one-get-one (BOGO) offers on all smartphones, including both RIM and Android models.
In spite of an overall decline in the number of mobile phones purchased year over year, the ongoing popularity of both messaging phones and smartphones, which are generally more costly than standard feature phones, resulted in slightly higher prices for all mobile phones in Q2. The average selling price for all mobile phones reached $90, which is a 3 percent increase since Q2 last year. Smartphone unit prices, by comparison, averaged $143 in Q2 2010, which is a 9 percent decrease over the previous year.
Data Note: The information above is from Mobile Phone Track - NPD's consumer tracking of U.S. consumers, aged 18 and older, who reported purchasing a mobile phone. NPD does not track corporate/enterprise mobile phone purchases.
For more information, visit:
http://www.npd.com/
and
http://www.npdgroupblog.com
Clearwire Introduces iSpot - Nation s First Dedicated 4G Support for Apple Mobile Devices
[Press Release]
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. 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 Wi-Fi-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(*)(*). 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 Wi-Fi 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 http://www.clear.com now and available in CLEAR retail stores and authorized dealers beginning August 10. The iSpot has an MSRP of $99.99, and users can enjoy unlimited 4G data usage for an initial low monthly service offering of $25 without a required term contract. In conjunction with today s launch, new CLEAR customers can take advantage of a one-day introductory sale offering significant savings on the iSpot (and other CLEAR Spot devices) when activating qualified CLEAR mobile service. Special one-day pricing is available through August 5, online only at http://www.clear.com
For more information about CLEAR, visit http://www.clear.com . You can also follow the CLEAR Blog at http://www.theclearblog.com or on twitter @Clear. Detailed company information about Clearwire is available at http://www.clearwire.com
More information on the iSpot:
http://www.clear.com/spot/ispot
(*)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://www.clear.com/legal/aup
(*)(*)(*)Plus taxes.
Have Tunes, Will Travel: Logitech Unveils Rechargeable Speaker Dock for the iPod or iPhone With Bold Sound, 8-Hour Battery Life
[Press Release]
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 U.S. and Europe in August for a suggested retail price of $149.99 (U.S.).
For more information, visit:
http://www.logitech.com
Software Fix Coming For iOS Vulnerabilities
Appleinsider's Josh Ong reports:
Apple confirmed Wednesday that it has developed a fix for the two security vulnerabilities that allow jailbreaking of their iOS software.
An Apple spokeswoman said in a statement, "We're aware of this reported issue, we have already developed a fix and it will be available to customers in an upcoming software update."....
For the full report visit here:
http://snurl.com/108w2s
EC Picks Apple's iPhone Over RIM's BlackBerry
Appleinsider's Daniel Eran Dilger reports:
The European Commission has added support for iPhones among its employees while declining to support RIM's BlackBerry in a move that will affect 2,500 employees.
For the full report visit here:
http://snurl.com/108w4z
Ordering Takeout and Delivery Food Just Got Easier - Free Apps for the iPhone and BlackBerry - Win Lunch for a Week
[Press Release]
SeamlessWeb, the nation s leading online food ordering service, has announced the launch of its free applications for the BlackBerry and iPhone, making it possible for customers to place orders for delivery and takeout meals from restaurants in the 27 cities SeamlessWeb serves. New and existing customers can now view restaurant menus and order food using their iPhone or BlackBerry GPS locator, a previously saved address or new address.
"Our customers have been clamoring for native apps and we are happy to provide the ability for them to quickly and easily order from anywhere in a cab, from the airport, walking home, from the park the possibilities are endless. We recognize people are hungry when they're not at their computers," says Jonathan Zabusky, President of SeamlessWeb. "Our customers have been clamoring for native apps and we are happy to provide the ability for them to quickly and easily order from anywhere in a cab, from the airport, walking home, from the park - the possibilities are endless."
The SeamlessWeb apps have already been downloaded more than 35,000 times since their debut two weeks ago. The iPhone app represents the majority of total downloads and can be found in the What s Hot section of the iTunes App Store.
To celebrate the launch of the new apps and the freedom to order on-the-go, SeamlessWeb invites app users to participate in its Where did You Order From contest ( http://www.wheredidyouorderfrom.com ). Customers can just snap a picture that shows where they were when they placed their mobile order, submit their photo via email and be eligible to win free lunch for a week!
The iPhone and BlackBerry apps have many of the same features users currently enjoy online, including:
• The same login information (or the same easy process to set up an account)
• Saved favorite meals for ordering in just a few quick taps/clicks
• Restaurant ratings from fellow diners
• Discounts to hundreds of restaurants
• The ability to enter special item instructions or special delivery instructions
• No cash necessary - check out orders securely using a credit card (even for tip)
• The apps are ideal for customers in New York City, New York Metro (Brooklyn, Queens, Jersey City, Hoboken, Stamford, Greenwich), Washington, DC and DC Metro (Arlington, Bethesda, Chevy Chase). They are also available in select neighborhoods in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and any of the other areas SeamlessWeb.com services.
About SeamlessWeb
SeamlessWeb is the nation s leading food ordering service. Founded in 1999, the company powers a comprehensive e-commerce solution for thousands of restaurants and a vast community of diners via SeamlessWeb.com, SeamlessWeb.com mobile, native iPhone and BlackBerry applications, and restaurant-specific websites. Over one million individuals and many of the world s largest companies have made SeamlessWeb their preferred service for online food ordering by placing more than 50 million food orders through the company s websites. SeamlessWeb expects to process approximately $300mm in food orders in 2010. To learn more, visit the website and blog:
http://SeamlessWeb.com
Tidal Pool Software releases Frugal 2.0 for iPhone/iPod touch - Now Free
[Press Release]
Tidal Pool Software announces the release and immediate availability of Frugal 2.0 for iPhone and iPod touch (now available for free). Frugal compares grocery prices to help you find the best deal. It converts product quantities in both imperial (US and UK) and metric units to find out which actually has the best price. Sometimes buying in quantity is not always cheaper. Find out with Frugal and lower your grocery shopping bill!
Key Features:
(*) Intuitive item entry with large custom numeric keyboard
(*) Optimized user interface requires fewer taps to enter values
(*) Imperial (US and UK) and metric units for comparing items, weight, volume, length, and area
(*) Compare an unlimited number of items at a time
(*) Count field for handling bundling deals (e.g. 2 for 1)
(*) Instantly converts and shows quantities in both imperial and metric units
(*) History for checking or modifying your past price comparisons
(*) Set comparison and item names for future lookup
(*) Phone or calculator numeric keyboard styles
(*) Shake to start a new comparison
Supported units:
(*) Items - item, dozen
(*) Weight - ounce, pounds, milligram, gram, kilogram
(*) Volume - fluid ounce (US/UK), pint (US/UK), quart (US/UK), gallon (US/UK), millilitre, litre
(*) Length - inch, foot, yard, millimetre, centimetre, metre
(*) Area - square inch, square foot, square yard, square millimetre, square centimetre, square metre
Device Requirements:
(*) iPhone and iPod touch
(*) Requires iOS 4.0 or later
(*) 0.9 MB
Frugal 2.0 is now free and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Finance category.
Tidal Pool Software:
http://www.tidalpool.ca/
Frugal 2.0:
http://www.tidalpool.ca/frugal/
Purchase and Download:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/frugal-compare-grocery-prices/id306344619?mt=8
Screenshot:
http://www.tidalpool.ca/frugal/images/screenshots/comparison.png
Gardener's Buddy 1.0 for iPad - Map and Record Plantings Using 7 Layers
[Press Release]
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 nametag. 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 $0.99 (USD) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Lifestyle category. Review copies are available upon request.
Oakville Stamping & Bending:
http://www.osb.ca
Gardener's Buddy 1.0:
http://www.gardenersbuddy.com/
Purchase and Download:
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/gardeners-buddy/id383694102?mt=8
Screenshot 1:
http://snurl.com/108wi9
Screenshot 2:
http://snurl.com/108wj4
myPhoneDesktop 1.4.1 - Seamlessly Integrates iPhone With User's Desktop
[Press Release]
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 url's, 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
(*) Auto-Complete 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
(*) Plug-ins 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 (USD) 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.
myPhoneDesktop 1.4.1:
http://www.myphonedesktop.com/
Purchase and Download:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id352226779?mt=8
YouTube Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6yNEMJmYSg
USAA Redefines Car Buying with Launch of Auto Circle: Find, Finance, Insure on Mobile App - Also Launches Home CircleTM to Help Members Find a Home on Mobile App
[Press Release]
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 MSRP(*)(*) 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 PreferredTM 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 StoreTM.
For more information about USAA, or to learn more about membership, visit:
http://USAA.com
(*)(*)(*) Average annual savings based on countrywide survey of new customers from 10/1/08 to 09/30/09, who reported their prior insurers' premiums when they switched to USAA. Savings do not apply in MA.
Lippincott's Nursing Procedures and Skills Expert Clinical Content Now Optimized for Apple Web-Enabled Devices - Nurses Can Access Nearly 1,000 Procedures Anywhere Via Their iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad
[Press Release]
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins announced today that Lippincott's Nursing Procedures and Skills is now optimized for Apple web-enabled devices, offering nurses convenient and efficient access to nearly 1,000 essential nursing procedures. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals, and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, and pharmacy.
Lippincott s Nursing Procedures and Skills gives nurses accurate, step-by-step guidance for almost 1,000 procedures. The subscription-based, online service provides skills checklists and competency tests for each procedure to help facilities verify their staff s competence. Each procedure undergoes a thorough annual review process to ensure the most up-to-date clinical information is provided. Facilities can customize the program and procedures to meet their needs.
An increasing number of healthcare professionals are using Web-enabled devices to improve patient care.
"Lippincott Williams & Wilkins is committed to meeting nurses growing technology needs by delivering trusted clinical information at the point of care," says Judy McCann, MSN, RN, and Chief Nursing Officer at Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. "This latest enhancement will give nurses immediate access to critical procedures, quick lists and skills checklists, including videos and images from anywhere in the hospital."
To access Lippincott's Nursing Procedures and Skills, customers simply go to http://procedures.lww.com via their iPhone, iPod Touch or iPadTM and enter a username/password to access their institutional account. There is no additional charge for current subscribers.
For more information or to request a free trial of Lippincott s Nursing Procedures and Skills, contact Lippincott Williams & Wilkins at 1-800-326-1685 or visit:
http://www.lwwnursingsolutions.com
SkinCam for iPhone Makes Taking Photos Fun And Easy
[Press Release]
No Tie Software announces the release and immediate availability of SkinCam 1.0 for iPhone devices. The built-in camera app is okay, but hardly entertaining. It's time someone did something about it, and No Tie Software has stepped up to the plate.
SkinCam is a fun way to take photos using an iPhone. Instead of a plain "preview", users are treated to an assortment of "skins" such as a Digital Camera, Coin-Op machine, 3D glasses, hands "framing the shot", peepholes, nightvision, rifle scope, telescope, binoculars, and many more! SkinCam is more than just an entertaining app. Unlike the built-in camera app, users can touch anywhere in the Preview area to take the picture, making it easier to take shots, especially self portraits.
More "Skins" are being added all the time, and users are encouraged to submit requests to No Tie Software. There are NO In-App purchases. As skins are added, they will be included at no extra charge. And don't worry. The photos taken by SkinCam are unretouched and do not have the "Skins" applied to them. SkinCam is just a fun way to take quality pictures, for kids and adults alike. SkinCam works great on the iPhone 4, and all iPhones for that matter. Naturally, a camera is required, so the iPad and iPod touch will have to wait.
Device Requirements:
(*) iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
(*) Requires iPhone OS 3.1 or later (iOS 4.0 Tested)
(*) 3.0 MB
SkinCam 1.0 is $0.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Entertainment category.
SkinCam 1.0:
http://www.NoTieSoftware.com/skincam.php
Purchase and Download:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/a-skincam/id384489199?mt=8
Screenshot (animation):
http://www.NoTieSoftware.com/img/skincam.gif
Apple Smartens Up Music File-sharing Via iDisk
The Register's Andrew Orlowski reports:
Apple has stealthily added "cloud" music streaming without telling anyone - even its own customers, according to MP3Tunes' Michael Robertson.
The feature, which is part of iDisk, allows password-free music sharing and playback.
On closer inspection - this isn't exactly true....
For the full report visit here:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/08/04/apple_music_streaming/
Tags: iPhone ď iPhone News ď
