The big story this past week has been Apple clearing sexually
offensive content from the App Store. Libertarians are decrying Apple
for censorship, and some programmers are frustrated over lost income,
but Apple has a much wider audience to please than porn fans.
According to Ad Mob (PDF),
the iPhone and iPod touch have a higher percentage of female users than
Android or Palm's WebOS, not a constituency Apple needs to offend. On
top of that, a remarkable 65% of iPod touch users are ages 17 and
younger - minors and students. With education a key iPad audience, this
should help keep porn out of the classroom.
Kudos to Apple for attacking this issue before the release of the
iPad. dk
So we can post our three news roundups (Mac News Review, The 'Book
Review, and iNews Review) earlier, we first do a quick proofread and
link check, leaving out images. We add images later when time
permits.
Mac notebook and other portable computing is covered
in The 'Book Review, and general Mac
news is in Mac News Review.
All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
Apple vs. Porn
News, Reviews, & Opinion
Apps & Services
Accessories
iPod Deals
These price trackers are updated every month.
Apple vs. Porn
New App Store Rules: No Swimsuits, No Skin, No
Innuendo
TechCrunch's Jason Kincaid reports:
"Over the last few days we've been tracking Apple's recent decision
to remove all sexual content from the App Store. It's an alarming move
on Apple's part, if only because it shows that the company is willing
to throw developers (and their livelihoods) under the bus without any
notice at all. Now developers are left wondering: just what exactly is
allowed on the App Store? As it turns out, the new policy may be even
more restrictive than it first appeared."
Link: The New App
Store Rules: No Swimsuits, No Skin, and No Innuendo
Apple's War on Porn Is Just Getting Started
Business Insider's Nick Saint says that Apple means business this
time - apps that sell sex are being tossed out of the App Store en
masse. Apple has a history of making sudden changes to its policies and
removing apps, but a developer Saint spoke to said that the scale of
the current purge is unprecedented.
"Apple has so far refused to confirm or deny a policy shift. The
only statement from the company thus far states: 'Whenever we receive
customer complaints about objectionable content we review them. If we
find these apps contain inappropriate material we remove them and
request the developer make any necessary changes in order to be
distributed by Apple.'"
Link:
Apple's War on Porn Is Just Getting Started
Why Apple's Porn Purge Is a Smart Move
PC World's Jeff Bertolucci says:
"It appears Apple is embarking on a new anti-smut crusade to rid its
iPhone App Store of 'overtly sexual content.'"
"At first glance, Apple's move appears either prudish or
hypocritical or both. Sexually-explicit content was already verboten in
the App Store, and some of the newly banned apps were about as racy as
the Sport Illustrated swimsuit issue.
"Apple's true motivation, it seems, is to protect its booming iPod
touch and fledgling iPad operations . . . Apple realizes its
device is a gateway drug to the iPhone....
"Apple can't afford to allow its customers - even a vocal minority -
to gripe about so-called smut in the App Store, even if the complaints
are overblown. The impression that Apple condones adult-themed material
finding its way into kids' hands would no doubt hurt iPod touch sales,
and ultimately impact its iPhone and App Store business too."
Link:
Why Apple's Porn Purge Is a Smart Move
The App Store, Porn, and Censorship
The Technology Liberation Front's Adam Thierer says:
"Oh my, here we go again with bogus accusations of censorship flying
about a private company's efforts to self-regulate its own media
platform. Yesterday over at Silicon Alley Insider, Nick Saint penned a
piece on how 'Apples War On Porn Is Just Getting Started.' And then
over at TechCrunch, Jason Kincaid wrote about 'Why Apple's New Ban
Against Sexy Apps Is Scary.' That yielded a flurry of similarly-titled
rants about Apple's supposedly totalitarian ways for taking away our
new-found inalienable human right to unfettered porn and adult
entertainment applications via our iPhones. To Mr. Saint, Mr. Kincaid,
and the many others who apparently believe Apple is the reincarnation
of Big Brother for self-regulating their own Apps Store, all I can say
is: Grow up!"
Editor's note: Good for Apple for taking a principled stand on this
matter. Those who contend that porn is harmless titillation for
consenting adults might find it educational to ponder the next two news
briefs. cm
Link:
Apple's App Store, Porn & 'Censorship'
Exposure to Online Porn Adversely Affects
Children's Sexual Behavior
"Morality in Media (MIM) has published a 10-page paper reporting
evidence that exposure to hardcore adult pornography on the Internet
can adversely affect children's sexual behavior and attitudes about
sex. The evidence includes published observations of clinical
psychologists, police and prosecutors, educators, rape crisis
professionals, social workers and others, as well as social science
research."
Link: Online
Exposure to Adult Porn Adversely Affects Children's Sexual Behavior:
Report
Pornography Harms
Pornography Harms, a site created by Patrick Trueman, the former
chief of the US Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity
Section, is dedicated to providing the most accurate peer-reviewed
research on the harm from pornography, along with relevant news and
opinion.
Link: Pornography
Harms
News, Reviews, & Opinion
Apple Raises iPhone Download Cap to 20 MB
MacNN reports:
"Apple has lifted a limit on cellular downloads on the iPhone,
testing shows. All files previously had to be under 10 MB in order to
be transferred over an EDGE or 3G connection. The measure is believed
to have been a way of avoiding customer complaints about interrupted
downloads, as well as appeasing phone carriers tasked with supporting
the necessary bandwidth.
"The filesize limit is now doubled to 20 MB, though why Apple would
change it is unclear...."
Link:
Apple Raises iPhone Cellular Download Cap to 20 MB
Lenovo Says Businesses Don't Want Slate
Devices
Cnet's Brooke Crothers reports that Lenovo refreshed its
tablet-capable business laptop on Tuesday and made a very conscious
decision not to bring out an iPad-esque slate device, saying customers
don't want it. Mika Majapuro, senior worldwide product marketing
manager at Lenovo says the company will stick with the tried-and-true
laptop-based convertible tablet designs and not bring out a slate
device due to negative feedback from customers - an indication that
Apple's iPad may face resistance in the enterprise sector - and that
response from high school kids surveyed largely rejected the virtual
keyboard concept and insisted that they want a physical (built-in)
keyboard.
Link: Lenovo Says
Businesses Don't Want Slate Devices
Mini Countryman to Use iPhone for Internet Radio,
Data
Electronista reports:
"BMW's sub-label Mini today revealed that the 2011 Mini Countryman
will be one of the first cars to have tight app-level integration with
the iPhone. The semi-rugged compact will have an optional central
computing system known as Mini Connected that will tie into Apple's
handset through two native apps. At its simplest, a 'web radio' app
will use the iPhone's 3G connection to reach any one of a set list of
Internet radio stations; the car's center column display will give
control over radio stations using the Countryman's own interface."
Editor's note: The original Austin Mini Countryman
was available in the UK from 1961 to 1969. dk
Link:
Mini Countryman to Use iPhone for Internet Radio, Data
BMW's Mini Countryman to Include iPhone
Interface
PR: The wide range of customisation options on both the
exterior and interior again so typical of Mini are supplemented by new,
model-specific features exclusive to the Mini Countryman. New
combinations in the range of interior colours, trim strips and
upholstery enable even the most discerning customer to create his or
her very special car with truly unique character. The wide range of
standard features boasted by the Mini Countryman includes highlights
such as air conditioning, the Mini Center Rail, and an audio system
complete with a CD player. The equally wide range of options and
special equipment tailored to each model comes with features such as
high-end audio and navigation systems as well as mobile telephone
interfaces including the option to completely integrate an Apple iPhone
and other Smartphones in the car. Further options are the extra-large
Panorama roof, Adaptive Headlights in combination with xenon headlight
units, a heated windscreen, a towbar, light-alloy wheels ranging in
size from 16 to 19 inches, sports suspension lowering the entire car by
10 millimetres or almost 0.4 3, as well as the wide range of John
Cooper Works Performance Components.
Limit Your Exposure to Cell Phone Radiation
The Environmental Working Group says:
"Cell phone companies, aware of heightened consumer concerns about
radiation exposure, have created new cell phones for 2010 to minimize
emissions.
"Do you have one of the new phones? Is it low radiation? You won't
be able to find out from their ad campaign or even the labels.
"Use our guide to
look up your phone and read our tips about how to use your phone
safely....
"New cell phones in 2010 are loaded with new features. For some
models, like Motorola's Droid, Blackberry Bold 9700, LG Chocolate Touch
and HTC Nexus One by Google, consumers pay a hidden price: exposure to
the highest legal levels of cell phone radiation. You can see for
yourself by looking the radiation levels for new 2010 cell phones.
"Other new phones emit significantly less radiation."
Link: Limit Your Exposures to Cell
Phone Radiation
iPhone Emissions 'in the Middle of the Pack'
ZDNet's David Morgenstern reports:
"The Environmental Working Group this week released its latest
radiation ratings for cell phones and smart phones. Apple's iPhone
models can be found in the middle of the pack, unlike a number of its
competitors."
Link: Apple iPhone Emissions Land in
the Middle of the Pack
Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust Plan Full-Featured
Online Mobile Banking iPhone Apps
Online-Bank.ca reports:
"While so far CIBC remains to be the only Canadian bank to offer a
full featured online mobile banking app for the iPhone and iPod touch,
at least two other banks from Canada seem to be on the verge of getting
their own full-featured online banking apps.
"In a recent press release Scotiabank stated that it's working
together with USA based M-Com in order to bring its own full featured
mobile banking app to its clients, while TD Canada Trust Senior VP Paal
Kaperda recently revealed to The Financial Post that TD is 'definitely
looking' into getting a full featured mobile / online banking app of
its own."
Link:
Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust Plan Full-Featured Online Mobile Banking
iPhone Apps
Apps & Services
Photoshop 1.0 on the iPhone
InformationWeek's Thomas Claburn reports:
"To celebrate Photoshop's 20th Anniversary, Photoshop co-creator
Russell Brown asked Ansca Mobile to re-create Photoshop 1.0 for the
iPhone.
"It would have been a natural job for Adobe Flash, were Flash
available on the iPhone."
Also see The Origin of
Photoshop, published earlier this week on Low End Mac.
Link:
Photoshop 1.0 Arrives on the iPhone
Facebook Fun for iPhone: The Name Says It All
PR: Onederr Inc., the developers of Facebook Fun, has
released their latest update. The application's name is perfect, as the
app provides tools for vastly increasing visibility and fun on
Facebook. Through Facebook Fun, users have access to a myriad of
emoticons, are able to draw with neon colors, can post a picture update
and they are optionally able to share their geo coordinates on a Google
Map.
Very few Facebook postings stand out. Most look the same as everyone
else's, just a block of text. While people may look forward to reading
what's going on with their friends, it certainly isn't an eye-catching,
fun experience most of the time. If it weren't for the little profile
picture, they would all look exactly alike. That's where Facebook Fun
comes in.
With this application, users can amp up the fun factor by adding
features that bring life to their Facebook postings. In order to stand
out, users can choose from one hundred and ten different emoticons,
express themselves by creating some neon art, post a current picture
status update or share their location via GPS coordinates on a Google
Map.
The Facebook Fun interface is clean and easy to use. Naturally, the
controls are all touchscreen, so selecting a menu option or performing
an action is a quick and easy experience. The live feed keeps users
current with their friend's postings and allows them to post responses
from their device.
Individuals will find that once they start using the application,
their Facebook friends will recognize that a post came from them, just
by glimpsing the custom appearance. In this way, Facebook enthusiasts
can gain instant recognition, if not a bit of notoriety.
Features:
- Choice of 110 emoticons
- Draw on iPhone screen with awesome neon colors and post the
creation to Facebook
- Post Picture Status messages; photos saved in a special album in a
user's Facebook account
- Use Quick Status for Facebook to quickly share current location
with friends
- Attach current location to Status, Pic Status or Emoti Status using
iPhone GPS technology
- Use Facebook Connect
- Stand apart from the boring and mundane
Facebook Fun is a great little amusing app that anyone with an
account is likely going to want to grab a copy of. It offers users a
lot of tools and puts the fun back in posting, which is the whole
point, isn't it?
Device Requirements
- iPhone and iPod touch
- Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later
- 4.6 MB
Facebook Fun 1.3 is 99¢ and available worldwide exclusively
through the App Store in the Social Networking category. Promo codes
are available for qualified reviewers. Please specify the website or
blog you represent when making your request.
Link: Facebook
Fun (download
link)
Free CoLinkers App Adds Interactive Posting Wall,
Networking List to Facebook Application
PR: The CoLinkers app now allows Facebook users to update
their job status on a customized wall, and to access their entire
CoLinkers list at a glance.
CoLinkers, a new, groundbreaking Facebook application that allows
people to enhance the way they network with friends, has added new key
features to the functionality of their application. The new Posting
Wall and List features are designed to not only simplify the navigation
and accessibility of the application itself, but also to facilitate and
encourage professional, job-related interactions between fellow
CoLinkers. The new features are set to debut, and will have an
immediate impact on all current CoLinkers users.
The CoLinkers Wall: Connect Professionally on a Daily Basis
With the ability to update moods and statuses becoming increasingly
popular on Facebook, the CoLinkers application now allows users to
update their job status, job-hunting progress, or any work-related
news, all on a daily basis. Let's face it: a person's professional life
is as dynamic and ever changing as their personal life. With the
CoLinkers Wall, users can now share funny or amazing work-related
stories, let friends know how the job hunt is going, or ask fellow
CoLinkers for job recommendations. Because the Wall's navigation and
options are both easy to use and versatile, CoLinkers can customize
their job-related posts weekly or even daily.
"The US is currently reeling from near-10% unemployment. Some say
that the actual unemployment rate is more like 17.5% nationwide," says
CoLinkers' Michael Nace. "Because lots of people are 1) out of work 2)
looking for work and 3) getting frustrated because they can't find
work, we think that CoLinkers could be a big help to people like this.
see tons and tons of tweets about how frustrated unemployed people are
right now, to the point where they are ready to give up on finding a
job. As they get more and more frustrated, they are spending more and
more time on social networks like Twitter and Facebook.
"CoLinkers has many different features, but its two primary features
are the job status update wall, which quickly and easily allows users
to post up on their wall a customized employment status, and the
CoLinkers List, which gives users at-a-glance access to their network
of friends. The reason why this can be really useful to someone who is
unemployed is that it allows their Facebook friends to see their work
status and help out in finding them a job.
"There are over 7,000 Facebook apps available right now, but none of
them bring personal and professional networks together on Facebook like
CoLinkers does. We think it is a very new and innovative application
that combines the professional networking power of a site like LinkedIn
with the personal networking familiarity of Facebook. \"
- According to the Mass. Labor & Workforce Development Office,
approximately 60% of all people find jobs through their friends.
(Reference: http://tinyurl.com/yaw4j9m )
- More and more jobs are being posted on Facebook & Twitter by
employment agencies, but very few outlets or apps allow users to
leverage their network of friends in order to find a job. (Reference:
http://tinyurl.com/pksxcr
)
- CoLinkers is the first Facebook app that allows users to engage
their friends in finding a job.
- The job status feature allows users to easily create and update a
customized message about their job-hunting status, employment,
etc.
- Through CoLinkers, friends can make personalized job-related
recommendations to each other.
- The CoLinkers app is totally free.
The CoLinkers List: Access Your Professional Network Like Never
Before
This second new feature puts CoLinkers users in touch with their
online professional network like never before. The interactive
CoLinkers List appears as soon as the CoLinkers application is launched
and provides users access to the employer name and position of the
people in their network, allowing them to get a quick, at-a-glance
perspective on their professional details. The new list is an
improvement over the original list feature, since it gives users
at-a-glance access to their entire list, allowing them to contact
fellow CoLinkers quickly and easily.
CoLinkers: New Features That Evolve With The Current Job
Market
While the basic concept of the CoLinkers application remains the
same, the CoLinkers team continues to refine and improve the key
features of the application in order to meet the demands of an
ever-changing job market and work environment. As economic climates
continue to deteriorate and job seekers become increasingly desperate
to find work, CoLinkers is committed to developing new features and
functionality that encourage users to share knowledge and
recommendations for finding new job opportunities.
CoLinkers is a completely new idea in online social networking.
Utilizing the groundbreaking networking community of Facebook,
CoLinkers allows Facebook users to add yet another dimension to the
relationships they forge with their Facebook friends, bringing together
business and personal social spheres. Now you can exchange professional
business information, provide and access valuable knowledge and skills,
and potentially create new business and employment opportunities by
getting to know the professional side of your friends.
CoLinkers is committed to driving technology forward to further
advance your ability to make valuable, long-lasting interpersonal
connection via Facebook. Features such as advanced searches,
industry-specific networking, personalized recommendations, private
messaging, and a comprehensive personal profile page, give you the
power and functionality to grow your business and employment
opportunities in unique and productive ways.
Link: CoLinkers
(Facebook app)
XLS and DOC Editing on the iPhone Available for
Free with Office2 Plus
PR: Byte2 announces Office2 Plus 3.0.1,
its free try before you buy office app for iPhone and iPod touch.
Office2 Plus provides .DOC compatible document editing and
.XLS compatible spreadsheet editing and lets the user in-app purchase
the ability to save files. Access documents stored in Google Docs,
iDisk, and any WebDAV server, including open, edit, save, delete and
rename. Office2 Plus is compatible with Microsoft Word,
NeoOffice and any other .doc compatible word processor.
Viewing and Organising Documents Including Cloud-Based Services:
- View many different file formats including DOCX, XLSX, PPT, PPTX,
iWork, PDF, HTM, Images etc.
- Access documents stored in Google Docs, iDisk and any WebDAV
server, including open, edit, save, delete and rename.
- Create or delete folders.
- Move or copy documents between folders locally.
- Move or copy documents between Google Docs or iDisk accounts and
the local folders.
- Move or copy documents within folders in Google Docs or iDisk
accounts.
- Email documents as attachments.
- Transfer files to and from the device by mounting
Office2 Plus as a drive from Finder or Windows
Explorer.
Word Processor Features:
- View, create, and edit documents in Word 97-2003 (.doc) format.
Compatible with Microsoft Word, NeoOffice and any other .doc compatible
word processor. Saving may be optionally enabled through an in-app
purchase.
- Character formatting, including text and fill color, bold, italic,
underline, font face and size.
- Paragraph formatting including alignment, indenting, bullets and
numbering.
- Support for tables, including table creation.
- Support for images, including inserting of images from the camera
roll or pasting from other programs.
- Searching of text within documents.
- Undo and redo, up to 100 undo levels.
- Copy and paste within the app in addition to copy and paste of text
and images from other applications, including Safari.
- Auto-correction and auto-completion are supported.
Spreadsheet Features:
- View, create, and edit documents in Excel 97-2003 (.xls) format.
Compatible with Microsoft Excel, NeoOffice and any other .xls
compatible spreadsheet editor. Saving may be optionally enabled through
an in-app purchase.
- Support for multiple worksheets.
- Multiple cell types, including Numeric, Date, Time, Date/Time,
Currency, Percentage and Text.
- Cell formatting options, including bold, italic, text and
background color, cell sizes and alignments.
- Merged cells, text wrapping and freeze panes.
- Copy/cut/paste operations.
- A range of functions, including date/time, math, statistical,
string and trigonometric functions.
Byte2 CEO Simon Bates said: "Too often companies release
a cut-down version of their paid app, which they give away for free in
order to entice users to their paid app, however this fails for two
reasons: firstly, the user does not have a complete picture of the paid
app functionality and secondly, if the user wishes to upgrade, they
must download another app, thereby losing all the data they built up in
the free app. We believe that in-app purchasing within a free app is
the best way to tackle the 'try before you buy' concept and we are
pleased to announce the first office-based app for the iPhone that
allows users to do exactly that."
Device Requirements:
- iPhone and iPod touch
- Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later
- 2.7 MB
Office2 Plus 3.0.1 is free and available now exclusively
through the App Store in the Business category.
Screenshot: http://www.bytesquared.com/images/Office/iPhone/iPhoneFull.gif
Link: Office2
Plus (download
link)
EcoDriverEd Is Your Answer to Driving Green
PR: AppKnack, LLC announces that its newly updated green
driving application, EcoDriverEd, for the iPhone and iPod touch, is now
available on Apple's App Store. This unique iPhone app is one of the
first such applications to allow a user to learn how to drive more
economically without resorting to dangerous driving tactics.
ecodrivered.jpg
Part of a recent trend in driving is to make slight adjustments to
driving behavior that result in fuel conservation and dramatic cost
savings. Not everyone can go out and buy a hybrid vehicle immediately,
but they can do their part by learning to drive green with their
existing car. EcoDriverEd helps you learn techniques of acceleration,
deceleration, smoothness, and speed with audible feedback.
AppKnack founder Dan Axtman, commented "We're very excited to
introduce this updated version of EcoDriverEd to the worldwide driving
community. EcoDriverEd allows you to quickly learn how your driving
habits are impacting your use of gasoline. EcoDriverEd gives you
immediate report cards at the end of each drive so you can track your
progress. Even moderate EcoDriving can reduce fuel consumption by 15%,
saving a typical driver $200 per year and reducing CO2
emissions by 1,200 pounds. The EcoDriverEd app pays for itself within a
few trips to the store!"
iPhone and iPod touch users now have a simple yet powerful driving
tool at their disposal to help learn new driving habits. Within a few
days any driver can learn new and safe driving techniques that will
have both a personal and environmental impact.
EcoDriverEd features include:
- No installation or expensive additional equipment required
- Animated color bar graph gives audible feedback when thresholds are
exceeded
- Works while iPod is playing music
- Report cards provide letter grades for each category (Acceleration,
Deceleration, Smoothness, and Speed). Save multiple report cards to
view your overall progress
- Adjust background look, theme sounds, volume, and trainer
thresholds for your particular needs
- Connects to your car stereo
learn2.jpeg
Device Requirements:
- iPhone and iPod touch (2nd generation)
- Requires iPhone OS 2.0 or later
- 2.9 MB
EcoDriverEd 1.2 is $1.99 and available worldwide exclusively through
the App Store in the Productivity category. For more information about
EcoDriverEd, please visit the iTunes App Store and our product web
site.
Screenshot: http://tinyurl.com/y8w6brx
Link: EcoDriverEd (download
link)
Driving Sports TV Launches iPhone Video Magazine
App for Automotive Enthusiasts
drivingsports.jpg
PR: Driving Sports TV, in partnership with Wizzard Media,
announces the immediate availability of the official Driving Sports
mobile application for iPhone and iPod touch. This new App brings
together news and entertainment from Driving Sports TV, as well as
exclusive bonus features from the Driving Sports editorial team, to
create a continuously updated and engaging digital magazine that will
appeal to any car enthusiast.
"Automotive magazines have done their job for the past century but
the days of ink are numbered. Our new App allows Driving Sports to
deliver more depth and entertainment by combining and connecting video,
audio and pages to create an optimized mobile experience. It's simply
better."
The technology used in the Driving Sports TV App allows users to
stream selected videos, saving precious storage space on the device, or
download complete clips over a wireless connection. Many updates also
include bonus content in the form of PDF layouts, wallpaper graphics,
audio or video tracks.
"Think of this as a form of digital magazine for a new generation of
car enthusiast," stated Driving Sports founder and producer, Ryan
Douthit. "Automotive magazines have done their job for the past century
but the days of ink are numbered. Our new App allows Driving Sports to
deliver more depth and entertainment by combining and connecting video,
audio and pages to create an optimized mobile experience. It's simply
better."
"The Driving Sports TV App allows car fans to view and share our
content everywhere, on the device that's already in their pocket,
making convenience a big part of the application's design," Douthit
explained. "Web pages are great, but we're still a ways off from
Internet everywhere. With our App, folks can easily download the most
recent videos for later viewing on an airplane, a boat, or any other
place their lives may take them."
Video is only one feature of the Driving Sports TV App. Some topics
require greater depth or description than can be included in video
alone. To meet this need, many of the episodes include related
documents, graphs, articles or audio files to enhance the experience.
Special features vary from episode to episode, but may include original
interview recordings, photo pages, spec sheets or even topic-inspired
wallpaper for your iPhone or iPod touch.
Designed exclusively for Apple's iPhone OS, The Driving Sports TV
App takes advantage of the platform's advanced technology. "The
simplicity of the App is what makes it so powerful," says Dave Mansueto
from Wizzard Media (NYSE Amex: WZE). "Almost any operation is a swipe
or a touch away. This really allows Driving Sports' unique content to
take center stage."
The Driving Sports TV App is now available in the iTunes App Store
for an introductory price of $2.99, with no subscription required.
Link: Driving
Sports (download
link)
Don't Know Much About History? There's an App for
That!
PR: Here's an Apple App that everyone should have - in fact,
it should be mandatory reading for every American!
The brand new American Dreams by MultiEducator, Inc. is a unique
application for Apple iPhone/iPod that contains nearly 500 of the most
important documents in US history.
This $2.99 download provides instant access to an astounding array
of the most important documents, speeches and inaugural addresses from
American Presidents political leaders from the beginnings of our
country all the way to the present.
iphonehist.gif
You can read 480 speeches and documents (including all the
Presidential Inaugural addresses and dozens of the most important laws
of the land), 90 Supreme Court Decisions, and 18 audio recordings all
organized on a finger tip friendly phone app.
This little download is an incredible compilation of primary source
documents in American History. Each document entry includes an
explanation of the significance of the court decision, law, or key
points of a speech.
Documents can be accessed chronologically, or often by groups. You
can search for a document and save recent or favorites. All of the
documents can be e-mailed and thus shared.
American Dreams can be downloaded at the Apple iTunes Store.
American Dreams Program Highlights:
American Dreams features 18 audio recording of some of the most
famous speeches in American history, including the complete
inauguration of President Kennedy. Also included are President Reagan's
words "Mr. Gorbachev- Tear Down the Wall", as well as excerpts from
President Franklin Roosevelt's first inaugural and President Teddy
Roosevelt's campaign speech.
The text of over 90 key Supreme Court decisions, starting with
Chisholm v. Georgia in 1793 and ending with the case of the Citizens
vs. Federal Electoral Committee in 2010 are presented. Each case has a
one-paragraph summary outlining key points and Constitutional issues
dealt with the in that case.
The earliest text in the program is Columbus' description of his
voyage. The newest document is President Obama's State of the Union
address, delivered on January 27, 2009. The program also includes all
of the Fireside Chat addresses given by President Roosevelt, including
an audio recording of his most famous Fireside Chat: On Banking.
American Dreams allows you to be immersed in the early America
history, from the time of the first Explorers to the settling of the
Plymouth Rock. You can read firsthand accounts of the Building of the
Erie Canal or the invention of the Cotton Mill. Read the many war
messages sent to Congress over the history of the United States, as
well as the peace agreements signed that ended many of those same
conflicts.
American Dreams puts a superb documentary history of the United
States in your pocket.
Just for fun: "Don't know much about history" is part of the lyrics
from the song, "What a Wonderful
World It Would Be" by Herman's Hermits.
A more complete (still partial) listing of the documents contained
in American Dream can be found online.
Link: American
Dreams (download
link)
iGovernment Now Available on the App Store
PR: Esse Quam Videri Music Group announces the release of
iGovernment 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch devices. iGovernment brings
over 50 feeds of news, photos, blogs, and videos from departments and
offices across all three branches of the Federal Government into an
easy-to-use, fast, and beautiful package.
Featuring feeds from the White House, House of Representatives,
Senate, Supreme Court, NASA, and the Departments of State, Homeland
Security, Justice, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Energy, and
Labor. Now it is easier to keep up with the latest government news than
ever before.
"iGovernment really brings the government into the palm of your
hand, its like carrying Washington around in your pocket." said Ian
Meyer, Vice President at Esse Quam Videri Music Group.
iGovernment quickly established itself in the Top 50 Paid News apps,
and continues to receive rave reviews. Here's some examples of what
people are saying about iGovernment: "I'm very impressed with ease of
use. The edit page lets you configure your favorites, like the White
House or Treasury, to the menu at the bottom." and "This app is great!
It gives me up-to-date information all in one place!"
Device Requirements:
- iPhone and iPod touch
- Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later
- 1.4 MB
iGovernment 1.0 is $1.99 and available worldwide exclusively through
the App Store in the News category. Review kits and promo codes are
available for bloggers and journalists upon request. Promo codes
subject to availability.
Screenshot: http://essequ.am/igovernment/screenshot.jpg
Link: iGovernment (download
link)
PricePad Released for the Price Savvy, Bargain
Shopper
PR: Blue Ring Mobile announces the release of PricePad 2.0,
an easy-to-use deal-finding app with barcode scanning technology for
the iPhone and the iPod touch.
PricePad.gif
Quickly and accurately scan product barcodes
PricePad users find the best deals while shopping around retail
locations by quickly and accurately scanning product barcodes using the
built-in (iPhone 3GS) camera, and comparing their prices against online
stores (with Google Product Search or PricePad Search). Users save
money by having information from the web at their fingertips and
waiting until they find the right deals for him or her. They save even
more from stores with price guarantees that match the best prices
online. At the introductory price of $1.99, PricePad users should see a
return on their investment many times over.
Shoppers use PricePad, which has been downloaded over 100,000 times,
to build and organize shopping lists for any product they want to save
money on.
PricePad works just as well for items without a barcode. Shoppers
can quickly type and add the product name to their shopping list with
the option to also store a product photo. The user interface is simple
and lets user capture the important details with a few flicks. For each
item, the shopping list editor lets user remember the on-sale prices
from different merchants and track them over time. Shoppers can
conveniently share great deal finds on for instance, clothing
accessories or shoes, by emailing sales info and item photo to friends
in their iPhone contact list.
PricePad is great for keeping track of groceries, books, videos and
the latest gadgets on user's wish list. The handy grocery folder sorts
the grocery list by last purchase date to quickly see what items are
bought every week. And thumbnails now download automatically for books
and media items when barcode is scanned.
screen0.png
PricePad 2.0 enhances the shopping experience by bringing the best
online deals to the mobile phone.
PricePad 2.0 is $1.99 and available in the US exclusively through
the App Store in the Lifestyle category.
Link: PricePad (download
link)
WritePad Professional Edition for iPhone
PR: PhatWare Corporation, a leading provider of software
products and professional services for mobile and desktop computers
announce the release of WritePad Professional Edition 3.0, an advanced
organizer for notes, events, tasks, and voice notes.
WritePad Professional Edition is based on WritePad 3.0 handwriting
recognition technology for iPhone devices, and allows users to organize
tasks, events, notes, and voice notes in multiple folders within a
single iPhone application. The new version also allows users to search
for text in different folders and fields. The search result is
presented in a single view for easy navigation. WritePad Professional
Edition organizes data in four types of folders:
- Affairs (tasks) folders assist users with organizing daily tasks,
jobs, and contracts. Users can create, edit, and view items in
landscape or portrait mode; sort items by due date, subject, priority,
color, category, and status; and filter by text.
- Events folders enable users to create, edit, and view events in
landscape and portrait mode; sort events by date, subject, priority,
color, and category; and filter events by text.
- Notes folders allow creating, editing, and viewing notes on an
iPhone. Notes can be edited in ether landscape or portrait mode and
sorted by subject, color, and category and filter notes by text.
- Voice Notes folders can be used to record and play back voice notes
and memos. Each voice note can have name, color and importance
properties, and can be organized by name, color, priority, creation,
and modification dates.
WritePad data can be imported or exported via CSV files compatible
with Microsoft Outlook format. Files can be exchanged between iPhone
and Desktop PC via WiFi. WritePad items can also be copied to other
folders, or other iPhone applications, such as PhatNotes, using the
clipboard. The synchronization software for Microsoft Outlook tasks,
journal events, and notes is currently in development and will be
available in Q2, 2010. For more information about WritePad Professional
Edition, please visit the PhatWare online.
Device Requirements:
- iPhone and iPod touch
- Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later
- 5.1 MB
WritePad Professional Edition 3.0 is $9.99 and available now
exclusively through the App Store in the Productivity category.
Screenshot: http://www.phatware.com/images/writepadpro1.jpg
Link:
WritePad Professional (download
link)
GoodReader PDF Viewer for iPhone and iPod
touch
PR: The one and only Good Reader app for iPhone and iPod
touch! If you need to read huge PDF, or TXT files, you've come to the
right place. Faithful users of GoodReader have reported flawless
performance with files over 1 gig in size; but that's only one of the
many features that makes GoodReader the best app of its kind.
Within moments of downloading GoodReader, you'll be transferring
files directly from your computer over a WiFi connection, from the
Internet or from email attachments. It also easily integrates with
MobileMe iDisk, box.net, MyDisk.se and other popular WebDAV servers,
and also with non-WebDAV services like Google Docs and Dropbox.
goodreader.jpeg
With the PDF Reflow feature, reading your documents is a pleasure
because it extracts pure text from PDF files and automatically wraps
words. This amazing feature fits all of the text to your screen
perfectly. That means you never have to scroll left and right to read
the text. For a better idea of how on-the-fly reflow works, sneak a
peek at the Reflow screenshot at the top of the page.
With no bars or buttons blocking the text, you have true full screen
reading. The PDF hyperlink feature allows you to quickly jump back and
forth within the document. Tapping a link will whisk you across a huge
PDF book in an instant, and the "Go Back" button takes you back to the
page you came from. If you already know what you're looking for, the
Text Search feature helps you find your way to the exact info you want
in any PDF or TXT file. You can even use the 50x zoom, which gives you
a better view, without distorting the image. That makes it perfect for
viewing PDF maps or drawings.
GoodReader supports massive PDF and TXT files, but it can also
handle all of the most popular file types. MS Office - .doc, .ppt, .xls
and more, iWork'08/'09, HTML and Safari webarchives, high resolution
images. It even does audio and video.
With GoodReader on your iPhone or iPod touch, you can read virtually
anything, anywhere. Books, movies, maps, pictures; GoodReader puts it
all in a single app, right in your pocket. From the very first time you
use it, GoodReader is sure to be the most used app you will ever
buy.
ATTENTION: USB File Transfer was removed due to Apple's
demand, to avoid a violation of Apple's rules. New users will not be
able to use this feature.
We introduce a concept of "paid add-ons" for the full version of
GoodReader - extra features, not critical for app's main functionality,
which could be purchased in app, for an extra charge. We believe that
this approach is very fair to those who don't need extra features, and
therefore don't have to pay for things they don't need.
The important thing about add-ons is that you don't need to buy them
if you don't want to. The app works very well without them.
All our paid add-ons (and the app itself, by the way) can be tried
for free using our free GoodReader Lite app.
Currently available paid add-ons and their prices in US App Store
(prices will vary in different countries):
Accessing E-mail servers via IMAP or POP3 protocol - 99¢
Server-style access to Google Docs - 99¢
Accessing FTP servers - 99¢
Known Limitations
GoodReader heavily relies on iPhone OS capabilities. Information
about known iPhone OS limitations that affect viewing files can be
found here.
New in version 2.6
- Text Edit - edit small and medium TXT files
- Page Slider for PDF files - whisk across big files with a single
gesture
- importing/exporting pictures from device Photo Album
- added Encoding option to FTP servers, now FTP servers with
non-ASCII file names can be accessed
- support for .ai files saved with PDF Compatible option
- fixed the issue with incorrect downloading of spreadsheets from
Google Docs and MobileMe iDisk
- various bug fixes for e-mail attachments downloading
System Requirements: OS version: 2.0 or newer (iPhone OS 3.0 fully
compatible)
Price: 99¢ (in US App Store, will vary in different
countries)
Link: GoodReader (download
link)
Fidelity Introduces Mobile Brokerage Trading App
for iPhone and iPod touch
PR: Fidelity
Investments has announced it has developed an app that enables
customers using an iPhone or iPod touch to place stock, option, ETF or
mutual fund trades via a simplified and intuitive trade ticket enabled
by Apple's innovative multitouch user interface. Fidelity's new mobile
app is available via a free download from the App Store.
The new app takes full advantage of the revolutionary technologies
of iPhone and iPod touch to allow us to deliver powerful trading and
account management services in a very user friendly format.
"At Fidelity, we recognize the growing popularity of the iPhone and
iPod touch, and in fact, nearly half of the customers using our current
mobile trading application, Fidelity MobileSM, log in from
an iPhone," said James C. Burton, president of Fidelity's retail
brokerage business. "Our new app takes full advantage of the
revolutionary technologies of iPhone and iPod touch to allow us to
deliver powerful trading and account management services in a very user
friendly format."
With the new app, customers can also access their Fidelity account
information and watch lists; stay updated on domestic and world markets
via up-to-the-minute news; receive real-time quotes; and compare the
performance of multiple stocks all on one screen with interactive
charting capabilities.
The Fidelity app for iPhone and iPod touch is the latest enhancement
available to Fidelity's brokerage customers, and is one more way to
take advantage of the new, low $7.95 online US equity commissions
announced earlier this month. As well, customers using the new app can
trade with free commissions 25 broad domestic equity, international and
fixed income iShares ETFs.
As mobile computing has evolved in the last decade, so too have
Fidelity's mobile trading solutions. More than 10 years ago, Fidelity
introduced mobile trading on a RIM pager. Today, Fidelity Mobile
(formerly named Fidelity Anywhere) enables customers to access and
execute many comprehensive investment services seamlessly on a variety
of handheld devices. Over the past several years, Fidelity's mobile
offering has experienced significant year-over-year growth in the
number of wireless trades, users and log-ins on its mobile
platforms.
Fidelity Investments is one of the world's largest providers of
financial services, with assets under administration of over $3.2
trillion, including managed assets of over $1.5 trillion as of Dec. 31,
2009. Fidelity offers investment management, retirement planning,
brokerage, and human resources and benefits outsourcing services to
over 20 million individuals and institutions as well as through 5,000
financial intermediary firms. The firm is the largest mutual fund
company in the United States, the No. 1 provider of workplace
retirement savings plans, the largest mutual fund supermarket, a
leading online brokerage firm and one of the largest providers of
custody and clearing services to financial professionals.
Link: Fidelity
App for iPhone (download
link)
Accessories
NewerTech Charge & Sync+ Portable Power and
Sync Solution
PR: Newer Technology, Inc. (NewerTech) has, announced that
the NewerTech NuPower Charge & Sync+ portable charger, battery
pack, and sync solution for iPods, iPhones, cellphones, digital
cameras, portable gaming systems, and other USB chargeable digital
devices was awarded an Editors' Choice Award from The Mac Observer at
the annual Macworld Conference & Expo which concluded last week in
San Francisco, CA.
The Mac Observer (TMO), a trusted source of news, reviews, and
forums in the Mac community since 1997 with more than two million page
views and 500,000 unique visitors per month, selected the NewerTech
NuPower Charge & Sync+ among a variety of Macintosh, iPod, and
iPhone compatible products exhibited by more than 250 companies at the
expo.
The Editors' Choice award was presented to NewerTech representatives
in Other World Computing's booth during the expo by TMO President Dave
Hamilton, TMO Executive Vice President Bryan Chaffin, and TMO Managing
Editor Jeff Gamet. "We were hugely impressed with the design and
functionality of the Charge & Sync+ at its price point," said
Hamilton.
"We're dedicated to providing innovative, consumer friendly
solutions that enhance the functionality and performance of mobile
devices," said NewerTech Brand Manager Grant Dahlke. "Having our
efforts acknowledged in the form of an Editors' Choice award from a
highly respected portal like The Mac Observer is extremely
gratifying."
The Complete, Pocket-Sized Power & Connectivity Solution
Measuring a pocket-sized 2-7/8" L x 2-1/4" W x 5/8" H and weighing
3.12 ounces, the NewerTech NuPower Charge & Sync+ is a complete,
self-contained portable charger and connection solution. It can be used
in a variety of ways to power, recharge, and sync iPods, iPhones, and
other USB chargeable and powered devices:
- Power any mobile device or recharge its battery up to 100% via the
built-in, rechargeable Li-Ion battery.
- Recharge the built-in battery and/or the internal battery of a
connected device via a standard AC outlet.
- Power any mobile device via computer bus power with the three
included Dock Connector, mini-USB, and micro-USB cables. In addition to
providing power connectivity, the cables can also be used for data
transfers and music downloads.
The NewerTech NuPower Charge & Sync+ is compatible with the
Apple iPhone 1G, 3G, and 3GS models; iPods with Dock Connector; and any
mobile device that has a Dock Connector, mini-USB, or micro-USB
port.
Link: NewerTech Charge
& Sync+
Breathe Sleeve for iPad and 10" Netbook
Computers
The 10" Breathe sleeve is for the hottest laptop segment, netbooks
and the coming Apple iPad. Slip your netbook or iPad into this sleeve
and carry it as is or pop it into your work bag or purse. Typical
sleeves trap heat, but the ventilated design of the BBP Breathe
Technology (patent pending) releases heat. It's literally cooler? Why
is this important? Heat is the #1 enemy that reduces/degrades laptop
battery performance. BBP's design cools up to 33% faster than Incase's
neoprene sleeve.
breathesleeveipad.jpg
Stuff in your accessories into the front pocket or slip your USB
drive or flash memory cards into the mini-pocket on the backside. And
of course slip in your valuable laptop and get a custom fit from the
high quality padded neoprene. This is the complete sleeve. No cutting
corners.
breathesleeveipadside.jpg
Features
- High quality shock-absorbing and custom fitting 4-way stretch
neoprene
- Front accessories pouch and rear magazine slot
- BBP Breathe Technology (patent pending)
- USB drive and flash SD card mini-pockets
- Hand carry strap
- BBP Limited Lifetime Warranty
Exterior Dimensions and Weight: 10.5"W x 8"H x 1" D - 0.5 lb.
Laptop Capacity
Most all 10" netbooks and Apple iPad
$24.95
Link: Breathe Sleeve for iPad and 10"
Netbook Computers
