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News & Opinion
Siri Is as Revolutionary as the Mac
The Harvard Business Review's James Allworth contends that Siri, the
new iPhone 4S' voice-control software, will have as big an impact as
that first iPhone did and is going to fundamentally change our
relationship with computers.
He notes that while very accurate speech recognition systems have
been around for some time, and so too has advanced artificial
intelligence. Until now, nobody had put speech and artificial
intelligence together in a compelling way, which meant that the voice
systems on computers and smartphones have been clunky to the point
where it was just easier to avoid them.
And that's what Apple has fixed with Siri. Allworth predicts that
while this doesn't mean the end of the keyboard, henceforth a
surprising amount of the time, keyboards simply won't be necessary, and
he thinks it won't be long before we view this technology in the same
light as we view the iPhone: we won't quite be able imagine life
without it.
Publisher's note: Way back when, the Echo+ was a relatively popular
speech synthesis card for the Apple II, and the Macintosh has had
built-in voices since the beginning. Apple introduced PlainTalk with the AV
Quadras in 1993 and it became part of the Mac OS with System 7.1.2 but
only supported AV Quadras and PowerPC Macs. PlainTalk is used to issue
commands to your Macintosh; it is not a dictation system. Command
recognition became part of Apple's Universal Access Technology in
Mac OS X 10.3. Siri
combines speech synthesis, command recognition, dictation, and
artificial intelligence in a single package.
"Computer! Computer? Hello, computer."
This is the kind of technology we've seen on TV since Star
Trek debuted in 1966. It was used to humorous effect in Star
Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), when Scotty tried to talk to a
Macintosh Plus, and then
attempted to talk into its mouse. When told he had to use the keyboard,
he replied, "Keyboard. How quaint." Twenty-five years after the movie
and 45 years after Star Trek debuted, it's finally becoming a
reality. And for those who don't have an iPhone 4, the free
Dragon Go! app provides similar technology. dk
Link: Apple's Siri Is as
Revolutionary as the Mac?
Siri Ported from iPhone 4S to iPhone 4
9 to 5 Mac's Mark Gurman reports that developer Steven
Troughton-Smith has been working with 9 to 5 Mac exclusively to port
the iPhone 4S Siri voice command system to the iPhone 4.
Gurman says Troughton-Smith was able to get the beginning steps of a
full port rolling after installing the iPhone 4S Siri and Springboard
files onto an iPhone 4, and has posted a video showing that Siri's
interface loads up with all the features from the iPhone 4S
implementation.
Link: Siri Voice
Command System Ported from iPhone 4S to iPhone 4 (Video)
C Spire Wireless to Become 4th US iPhone 4S
Carrier
C Spire Wireless (formerly Cellular South) has announced that it
will launch iPhone 4S in the US in the coming weeks.
C Spire voice (left) and data (right) coverage maps.
C Spire Wireless is a diversified wireless communications company
focused on helping customers by personalizing wireless services
designed just for them. The company is the first provider in the US
wireless industry to personalize customers' experience by offering apps
that fit who they are, services that anticipate their needs, and
rewards for using their phone in new ways.
Publisher's note: C Spire Wireless is a CDMA carrier (like Verizon
and Sprint), which means you can't talk and access the Internet via 3G
simultaneously, perhaps the biggest difference between CDMA and GSM,
which AT&T uses. C Spire Wireless has "infinite data" plans
starting as low as $50 per month with 500 minutes and unlimited minutes
for $70. Look for more information plans available to iPhone 4S users
on the company website. dk
Link: iPhone 4S
on C Spire Wireless
Windows Zealot Paul Thurrott: iOS 5 Is Mature and
Reliable, but Windows Phone Is Better
Window SuperSite's notes that Apple's iOS is mature, reliable, and
full-featured; is installed on hundreds of millions of devices; and
constitutes one of the single biggest competitors to Windows there is.
It should come as no surprise that the latest version of this software,
iOS 5, is a compelling, evolutionary update that all iPhone, iPad, and
iPod touch users are going to want.
However, Thurrott says what iOS 5 is not something truly new - not a
better of way of doing things like Windows Phone, but rather a
continuation of iOS versions that preceded it.
This means, he observes, that Apple isn't attempting to overcome
iOS' tired app-based functional model, in which users need to know
where to find what they need - in individual apps - and then pop in and
out, in and out, in and out, over and over again. Thurrott contends
that people who use these devices tend not to even consider
alternatives, so aren't even aware that there are in fact better ways
of getting things done, that some mobile OSes actually work the way
they do, and that they don't have to conform to a rigid model the OS
imposes on them.
Instead they get the maturity, reliability, and full-featured
functionality aforementioned. Ergo, iOS is the safe choice, the thing
you recommend to your mother or nontechnical people, to "normal" people
- a huge and growing audience.
"With iOS 5, Apple has suddenly leapfrogged the competition with
what I think is the nicest notification system on any mobile platform.
It works well and looks nice . . . Highly recommended."
This is an extremely thoroughgoing and thoughtful review.
Publisher's note: Just four years ago, the iPhone's interface was
something truly new, and over time, Apple has made it better. According
to Thurrott's reasoning, Windows Phone 8 will have to be truly new, not
an incremental improvement over version 7.5, and the same should be
applied to every version of Windows - not how backwards compatible is
it, but only looking at what is truly new. Good thing the real world
doesn't work that way, especially in light of the "truly new" features
Apple has thrown at longtime Mac users in creating OS X 10.7 Lion. Give
me incremental improvements to something that works; don't feel you
need to reinvent everything every time. dk
Link: Apple iOS
5
Paul Thurrott on the Superiority of Windows Phone
7.5 to iOS 5
Window SuperSite's Paul Thurrott has been using an iPhone 3GS with
iOS 5 as his primary handset and says that when his recently ordered
iPhone 4S arrives, he'll give that a similar vetting, but after 15
straight months of using Windows Phone, going back to the iPhone feels
like going back in time. He declares that Microsoft's smartphone OS is
better, more efficient, and more beautiful to look at.
He notes that while iOS 5 is mature, stable, and somewhat
attractive, on the old 3GS, it's also dog slow, while Windows Phone 7.5
runs wonderfully on his year-old Samsung Focus - but it's not really
the performance that bothers him with iOS 5, it's the usage model,
which he says thinks and works the way you do in Windows Phone 7.5, not
vice versa, making it superior in this context to that of the iPhone
and iOS, and is is prettier than iOS, so aside from the efficiencies of
its integrated experiences, it also provides a nicer look and feel.
Thurrott says that while iOS 5 is the safe choice, the one you
recommend to less experienced users, it's Windows Phone that occupies
the innovation seat that Apple once commanded, and if you're looking
for the best aesthetics, the best efficiency, and the best software
design, Windows Phone is where it's at - something he suspects Apple's
most ardent fans will have difficulty understanding.
Link: Windows
Phone 7.5 vs. iOS 5
ARM and TSMC Produce First 20nm Cortex A15
Hardmac's Lionel reports that things are moving fast on the ARM
chips market, with ARM and TSMC announcing the production of the first
20nm Cortex A15 chips
The Cortex A15 chip is the next generation of ARM design chips, on
which Apple will probably base its future A6 chip. The processors using
that design will have 2 or 4 cores and will be reaching 20nm.
Theoretically, the Cortex A15 will be twice as fast without
consuming more power than the current chips, thanks to its 20nm
manufacturing process.
Link: ARM and TSMC
Produce the First 20nm Cortex A15
Cellphones Teem with Bacteria
The Canadian Press reports that a new handwashing study released on
Global Handwashing Day has found that cellphones teem with bacteria,
some species of which should send you running for the nearest washbasin
and soap.
16% of hands and mobile phones examined for the study that was
conducted by University of London researchers in 12 UK cities were even
found to carry E. coli, which originates in fecal matter and can
cause diarrhea and vomiting or much worse, such as kidney failure or
even death in certain instances.
An analysis found 92% of phones and 82% of hands had traces of some
type of bacteria on them, and in some cases were "extraordinarily
contaminated" with thousands of bacteria that could potentially pose a
health risk to the user, such as Staphylococcus aureus that was
detected on between 25% and 30% of hands and phones surveyed. At the
time of the report's posting, testing was ongoing to determine whether
the difficult-to-treat "superbug," methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus, is among the bacteria found on
phones.
Link: Here's the Poop:
Study Finds It on Cellphones (cached, as original page has been
deleted)
Absorbed Cell Phone Radiation Underestimated,
Especially in Children
A new study by the Environmental Health Trust has found that
children absorb twice as much microwave radiation from phones as do
adults.
The report's abstract notes that the existing cell phone
certification process uses a plastic model of the head called the
Specific Anthropomorphic Mannequin (SAM), representing the top 10% of
US military recruits in 1989 and greatly underestimates the Specific
Absorption Rate (SAR) for typical mobile phone users, especially
children.
A superior computer simulation certification process has been
approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) but is not
employed to certify cell phones. In the United States, the FCC
determines maximum allowed exposures. Many countries, especially
European Union members, use the guidelines of International Commission
on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), a non governmental
agency. Radio frequency (RF) exposure to a head smaller than SAM will
absorb a relatively higher SAR. Also, SAM uses a fluid having the
average electrical properties of the head that cannot indicate
differential absorption of specific brain tissue, nor absorption in
children or smaller adults.
The SAR for a 10-year old is up to 153% higher than the SAR for the
SAM model. When electrical properties are considered, a child's head's
absorption can be over two times greater, and absorption of the skull's
bone marrow can be ten times greater than adults. Therefore, a new
certification process is needed that incorporates different modes of
use, head sizes, and tissue properties. Anatomically based models
should be employed in revising safety standards for these ubiquitous
modern devices and standards should be set by accountable, independent
groups.
Link: Exposure
Limits: Underestimation of Absorbed Cell Phone Radiation, Especially in
Children
Apple Relies on Samsung Chips Despite Patent
War
The Korea Times' Kim Yoo-chul reports that despite their escalating
patent war, Samsung Electronics and Apple maintain and are expected to
maintain their relationship as chip supplier and buyer, with unnamed
industry sources saying Apple will continue to use Samsung-made CPU
chips and technology for its next smartphone.
Yoo-chul cites an anonymous executive from a Korean based Apple
parts supplier saying that Samsung has been increasing the output of
the Apple-designed A6 chips in its manufacturing plant in Austin, Texas
- one of the company's main fabrication facilities for NAND flash
production and also used for manufacturing system IC circuits and
foundry-related businesses.
Yoo-chul notes that there had been speculation that Apple would
shift its chip sourcing channel to Samsung rival Taiwan Semiconductor
Manufacturing (TSMC), but says TSMC will only provide customized chips
with designs from Apple for now and the volume will be very small,
according to his source, who also confirmed that Samsung's chief
operating officer Lee Jae-yong, son of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee
Kun-hee and heir apparent to the group's leadership, flew to the United
States on invitation from new Apple CEO Tim Cook, to participate in a
private memorial service for the late Steve Jobs and to also have a
separate meeting with Cook over several pending issues.
The article mentions that Apple will become Samsung's biggest
overseas client by the end of this year, per industry analysts.
Link: Apple Relies
on Samsung Chips Despite Patent War
Reviews
iPhone 4S Benchmarks Faster, but Not As Much As
Apple Claims
Bare Feats' rob-ART Morgan notes that Apple says the iPhone 4S' A5
dual-core CPU is "up to two times faster" than the iPhone 4, with its
GPU claimed to be "up to seven times faster."
Morgan used four benchmark apps to measure CPU and GPU power on both
iPhones and both iPads, and he shares what he observed, noting that the
iPhone 4S is definitely faster than the iPhone 4, but Geekbench's
overall scores are 63% to 68% faster rather than "twice as fast" in
processor speed. In the graphics column, it's 4.7 to 6.2 times faster
than an iPhone 4 running GLBenchmark's "Egypt High," also not shabby,
but not seven times faster.
Morgan also measured improved performance for JavaScript and OpenGL
based apps, concluding that while it would have been nice to have LTE
4G support, overall he's very pleased with the new iPhone 4S.
Link: Shootout: iPhone 4 versus iPhone
4S
iFixit iPhone 4S Teardown
iFixit has posted its customary detailed and exhaustively
illustrated teardown of the new iPhone 4S, and say it "sure is looking
mighty fine!"
First up, the SIM slot is back. The iPhone 4S is a world phone; it
will support both GSM and CDMA networks.
On the downside,
there's those reviled pentalobe
screws again, but with a couple quick turns with a 5-point pentalobe
screwdriver, out they came. iFixit notes that their all-new pro driver
was just released, comes in a great blue/black color, and is guaranteed
to be the best Pentalobe driver on the market.
They note that Apple boasts 73% more light with "next-generation
backside illumination" for better low-light performance with the iPhone
4S' new 8 megapixel camera roughly 33% faster and able to snap multiple
photos less than a second apart as well as record HD video at 1080p and
30 fps.
They
report that the iPhone 4S logic board bears a close resemblance to its
stateside CDMA iPhone 4 counterpart.
The iPhone 4S' Apple A5 chip is a 1 GHz dual-core A5 processor with
512 MB of Samsung DDR2 RAM or Elpida DDR2 RAM, and there's Toshiba
THGVX1G7D2GLA08 16 GB 24nm MLC NAND flash memory as well as the same
960 x 640 pixel Retina Display that debuted in the iPhone 4 last
year.
iFixit gives the iPhone 4S a Repairability Score of 6 out of 10
(10 is easiest to repair), with very little changed from the iPhone 4
in terms of repairability, noting that the iPhone 4S is still held
together primarily with screws and limited adhesive, and with the rear
panel and battery both easy to remove and replace (provided you have
the right kit and/or correct screwdriver), but the LCD and glass - a
carryover from the previous generation - fused together, making cracked
glass repair more costly, and lots of smaller components are soldered
to one ribbon cable, increasing the cost of repairing just one
component.
Link: iPhone 4S
Teardown
ABI Research iPhone 4S Teardown
The iPhone 4S is built with many of the same components found in
prior iPhone designs, but the similarities have caused many companies
to incorrectly report cost and component market share. A slight change
to the Qualcomm-supplied modem has resulted in a new front-end
configuration. All of the power amplifiers (PAs) are multimode, thus
counting components does not reveal much. The Avago PA, for instance,
covers six bands (four GSM/EDGE bands and two WCDMA bands) and the
TriQuint PA covers both CDMA and WCDMA for US PCS band.
The application processor is one item that most get right - Apple
A5. But it is not the 1 GHz part found in the popular tablet. The
iPhone 4S version runs at 800 MHz, just like the A4 found in the iPhone
4. Apple is running the same processor in the tablets and handsets, but
downshifting the handsets by 20%. The slower processor does not mean
lower performance, however. The smaller screen combined with faster
memory gives the iPhone 4S a slight advantage in a number of
performance tests, all while drawing less than two-thirds the power
needed for the iPad 2.
Key iPhone 4S facts include:
- Slight modification to the popular Qualcomm MDM6600 modem platform
(MDM6610)
- New RF front-end configuration utilizing all multimode PAs
- An A5 application processor running 20% slower than the A5 in the
iPad 2, but similar overall performance with much less power
- A Murata Bluetooth module supporting BT 4.0.
- Other components, such as housing and display, are very similar to
the iPhone 4
- A new OS (iOS 5) with a personable application Siri
ABI Research's Apple iPhone 4S Teardown provides detailed photos,
process evaluation, and part descriptions for all of the major
components such as power amplifier, power management, baseband
processor, RF, Bluetooth, GPS, WiLAN, and many discretes. Tying all
this information together are unique circuit board photos, performance
measurements, processor benchmarks, cost information, and board area
data.
It is one of hundreds of devices and components phones, baseband
processors, power management, RF modules, connectivity components,
application processors, sensors, and RF and power management discretes
that are torn down and analyzed in the firm's Mobile Device Teardown
Service.
ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting
of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From
offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, ABI Research's worldwide
team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 40+
research and advisory services. Est. 1990.
Link: Apple iPhone 4S
Teardown
DirectFix iPhone 4S Teardown Video
DirectFix, a specialist in "Do It Yourself iPhone Repairs",
announced that within hours of the iPhone 4S being available to the
public they have the replacement screens available for those that
happen to drop and crack their screen the first day it is available.
The iPhone 4S teardown & video repair directions showing how to
install and replace the iPhone 4S screen are available for free on
their YouTube channel.
The directions show step by step how to repair a broken iPhone 4S
screen, battery and other parts. Just like in the past DirectFix was
the first to carry parts for the iPhone 4S as soon as it was available.
The iPhone 4S Replacement Screen are available in both black and white
for $99 at introduction. There is a limited supply of these available
at this time. DirectFix is also offering a screen repair service for
the iPhone 4S starting today for just $120 which includes all parts and
labor.
"We hope that people that purchased the new iPhone 4S enjoy it and
take good care of it but accidents happen and when they do you can save
money and fix the iPhone 4S screen yourself," says Robert Stanley,
founder of DirectFix.com. "Just like in the past the manufactures
charge an outrageous amount of money for a simple repair. By following
our video direction you can save money with just a few minutes of
work," explains Mr. Stanley.
Link: iPhone 4S Teardown &
Screen Repair Directions
Rumor Roundup
Apple Likely to Launch Less Costly Tablet PC
Before iPad 3
DigiTimes' Ninelu Tu and Steve Shen say that recent market
speculation indicates that Apple is likely to launch a lower-cost iPad
model with prices ranging from US$250-299 in early 2012 to smooth the
transition between iPad 2 and iPad 3 and to take on Amazon's
Kindle Fire, although others believe Apple is still on-track to release
the iPad 3 in the first half of 2012 as scheduled and that there
won't a low-priced transitional model.
Publisher's note: The Kindle Fire has a 7" 1024 x 600 pixel display
(vs. 9.7" 1024 x 768 on the iPad) and includes 8 GB of storage, half as
much as the low-end iPad 2. dk
Link: Apple Likely to
Launch Transitional Tablet PC Between iPad 2 and iPad 3 - DigiTimes
Sources (subscription required)
Apple May Launch iPad mini in Early 2012 to
Counter Kindle Fire
BGR's Zach Epstein reports that Apple may be working on a new
entry-level tablet scheduled to launch early next year according to a
note to investors last Wednesday by Ticonderoga Securities analyst
Brian White based on numerous meetings with technology supply chain
companies at a trade show in China last week.
White reportedly notes that the mini name refers to the tablet's
lower price and not necessarily a smaller screen size, and projects
that the lower-priced iPad could sell the mid-to-high-$200 range, to be
joined by a much more powerful, feature rich standard-priced iPad 3 in
2Q12.
Link: Apple May
Launch 'iPad mini' in Early 2012 to Counter Kindle Fire
Apple Orders 7.85" Display Samples from LG Display
and AU Optronics
Unwired View's Staska says Apple's rumored iPad mini may be more
real then you think, noting that according to the Taiwanese Economic
Daily News, two potential suppliers - Korean LG Display and Taiwanese
AU Optronics - have recently sent samples of their iPad mini displays
to Apple, EDN sources telling them that Apple has already set the
specifications for the smaller tablet, which is scheduled to ship early
next year.
iPad mini display panel size is 7.85" and it has the same resolution
as the iPad 2.
Link: Apple Orders
7.85" iPad Mini Display Samples from LG Display and AU
Optronics
iPad mini Coming
United Daily News correspondents Long Yi Yun and Xiaojun Hui report
that according to sources at the OEMs, iPad mini panel specifications
will be 7.85" screen size with resolution the same as iPad 2, with the
smaller iPad scheduled to ship early next year.
The article notes that currently AUO and LG Display have sent
samples to Apple, and that yield issues have been resolved.
Yun and Hui note that Amazon's Kindle Fire has lit the fuse on a
low-cost tablet war, and Apple will launch the iPad mini in response,
but suggest that more importantly, the iPad mini will help lock in
emerging markets, especially China, which has very enthusiastic
consumers of Apple products but find Apple products very expensive on
the mainland. They predict that with iPad mini, Apple is expected to
take the mainland as the last piece of the world fortress to be
conquered.
Link: iPad mini Coming
(Chinese-to-English
translation by Google Translate)
Apps & Services
iPad and iPhone Users Get 50 GB of Free Cloud
Storage from Box.net
PR: Box.net's Social Media Manager Mark Saldana blogs that
evidenced by the overwhelming crowds during past iPhone and iPad
launches, it's clear that our lives revolve around mobile.
In recognition of that, Box.net has announced that they're giving
away 50 GB of free storage to anyone who uses a Box Personal account on
an iOS device. That's right, it's 50 GB in the cloud completely free,
forever. And your 50 GB of storage isn't limited to only your mobile
device - you can access it anywhere you use your Box account, such as
on your laptop at home or your desktop at the office.
This promotion runs for only 50 days. You can get your free space in
the Cloud by following these steps:
- Visit the app store and download the Box app for your iPhone, iPad,
or iPod touch
- Log in to your account or register for a new one directly from the
app
- Start sharing and collaborating in the Cloud
(optional but recommended)
- Tell the world how you'll use your 50 GB with the hashtag
#Box50GB
Keep in mind you'll need to download or update to the newest Box for
iPhone and iPad app, version 2.4.3, then log into Box in order to get
50 GB. Something else cool: Your account will have an increased file
size upload limit of 100 MB instead of the usual 25 MB.
Seldana notes that Box has also updated their app with a few
features that'll make your free 50 GB even more powerful.
Using AirPlay, you can now wirelessly stream Box content to an Apple
TV for projection of photos, videos, presentations, and more.
Seldana observes that the future of mobile is about being free of
storage restrictions and closed systems, and with this offer, all iOS
users will see the benefit of having all of their critical information
available at their fingertips, from anywhere. And if you're already
using Box, I'm sure you won't mind getting some extra room in the
Cloud.
Link: iPad and iPhone
Users Get 50 GB Free. Get Your #Box50GB Now!
Link:
Box.net iPhone app,
Box.net iPad app
iFixit on Your iPhone
PR: iFixit's Matt says that the days of lugging around
clunky service manuals are coming to a close. We need our documentation
to be as mobile as we are. We need to be able to get into tight spots
without having to flip pages. And we need to be able to travel without
having to bring a library of documentation with us.
Matt
says iFixit heartily believes that our manuals should keep pace with
our mobility; and they've worked round the clock to make this belief a
reality. You tasted the first fruits of their labor a while back: the
iFixit App for the iPad, as well as one for the HP Touchpad.
Now
iFixit announces that the iFixit app is now available for the iPhone
and iPod Touch as well. Access all of iFixit's guides in native view
wherever you go. You can search by device to find all related guides
quickly and easily But it gets better.
The new app now lets you browse iFixit repair guides even if you're
offline. Just favorite or bookmark a guide and it will be downloaded to
your iDevice for offline use. So the next time you need to change the
spark plugs on your hog out in the Mojave and you don't have Internet
access, you needn't fear. You have a library of repair in your pocket,
but without all the heft.
iFixit offers thousands of step-by-step guides that make it easy to
repair your stuff. Fix your own things with step-by-step repair
guides.
Repair manuals show you how to fix:
MacBook- MacBook Pro
- PowerBook & iBook
- iPad
- iPhone
- iPod
- Xbox
- PlayStation
- Dozens of digital cameras
- Hundreds of cell phones
- More manuals added every week
iFixit funds these free manuals by selling parts and tools, so
request that if you use one of their manuals to fix something, you
consider supporting their work by buying the parts from them. They
offer thousands of MacBook, iMac, iPod, iPhone, and game console
parts.
The iFixit app is open source. You can improve or fork it at
https://github.com/iFixit
New in Version 1.1
- Favorites and offline browsing
- Compatible with iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch
System requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
Requires iOS 4.0 or later.
Link:
iFixit Repair Manual
Line2 App Turns Your iPod Touch or iPad into a
Fully Functional Phone
PR: Line2 is a great gift for
business people, travelers, or anyone wanting to add functionality to
their device and save money on their phone bill.
The latest release from Line2, Line2 HD adds a phone line to your
iPad, acts as a hub for all your communications, and organizes your
interactions around people rather than the type of communication (SMS,
email, calls, etc.).
Line2 makes a perfect gift for people that:
- Want to separate their business and personal lives (Line2 gives you
a second line on your mobile phone with a separate number)
Travel internationally (Line2
allows you to make UNLIMITED calls back to the US or Canada over WiFi
or 3G/4G no matter where you are)- Want to turn their iPad into a complete communications hub or their
iPod touch into a mobile phone
- Have poor cell service at home/work (With Line2 you can place and
receive calls over WiFi)
- Just want to save some money on their phone bill (make the majority
of your calls over VoIP and completely cancel your SMS plan)
Line2 offers a free 7 day trial with an account created at the Line2
website. After the trial, service costs $9.95/month for the basic plan
with unlimited US/Canada calling and texting, or $99.50 for a one year
prepaid plan.
Link:
Line2 HD
5Star Urgent Response App Empowers iPhone Users to
be Prepared for Any Situation
PR: GreatCall, Inc., a
specialist in wireless services that enable its customers to stay
connected, safe and healthy, today announced the immediate availability
of GreatCall's 5Star Urgent Response application for iPhone users on
iTunes. This is GreatCalls second app for the iPhone as the company
continues to make its portfolio of award-winning health and safety
applications available to smartphone users.
The benefits of the 5Star Urgent Response service are exciting. No
matter the situation, from a woman leaving work late at night who
suddenly realizes she's being followed, a teenager who feels threatened
or vulnerable at school, or someone with health issues and finds
themselves in a potential emergency, all can feel empowered knowing
that 5Star Urgent Response is standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a
week, ready to respond.
How the 5Star Urgent Response App Works:
- Simply press the large, 5Star call button, as it appears on the
screen of the iPhone, to connect to a 5Star Agent who is certified by
the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch (NAED) and trained in CPR
and other emergency protocols.
5Star
Agents will identify and locate you, assess your situation and then
send appropriate help - which may include assistance in dispatching 911
emergency services - while staying on the line with you until your
situation is resolved. Agents can also conference in a registered
nurse, family and friends.- The 5Star Agent has access to the caller's Personal Profile, which
contains important details like emergency contacts and medication
information, which allows the Agent to better assist users in an urgent
situation.
"Our research has shown that people may hesitate to call 9-1-1 when
in a vulnerable situation," says Bill Yates, Vice President of
Marketing and Sales at GreatCall. "Now with the 5Star Urgent Response
app right on your iPhone, you have immediate access to help anywhere
you are, no matter how serious the situation."
Key Features of the 5Star Urgent Response App:
- Reliable Nationwide Coverage - Provides immediate access to help
anytime, anywhere there's wireless coverage.
- Immediate connection to Certified 5Star Agents - 100% US Based
Agents who are certified by the National Academies of Emergency
Dispatch and trained in CPR and other emergency protocols anytime, day
or night.
- Enhanced location tracking with GPS - Agents utilize GPS technology
and advanced location training to locate the user. The Agent will not
locate the user until they hit the button to ask for help.
- 5Star and 9-1-1 work together - Agents will assess your situation
and then send the appropriate help. They are able to assist in
conferencing in 9-1-1 emergency services and will stay on the line with
you until your situation is resolved.
- Personal Profile - Your easy to set up and manage Personal Profile
contains comprehensive, personal details such as emergency contacts and
medical conditions, which allow the Agent to assist you better in an
urgent situation. PIN protected and encrypted, your profile is also
secured by an SAS 70 Type II certified data center, HIPAA compliant,
and is only shared with first responders in the event of an
emergency.
- Live, from within App, Customer Service get 24/7 support from a
live person from within the app itself or by email if you prefer.
- Shake for Help the App features GreatCalls Shake for Help which is
a handy tool to always get an answer when you need one. Just shake your
smartphone at any time and information will appear via a help bubble on
screen specific to the topic being read.
- LiveNurse - included for FREE is GreatCalls award-winning LiveNurse
service, which connects callers with a live registered nurse, 24/7 in
both English and Spanish.
- Multilingual - 5Star Agents can provide translation support for
assistance in over 100 languages.
The app is available for $14.99 per month with no contracts or
cancellation fees. Download the 5Star Urgent Response app at Apple's
iTunes Store.
Link:
5Star Urgent Response
LibreOffice Plans iOS Port
The Register's
Iain Thomson reports that The Document Foundation, developers of your
editor's current pick of the Open Source office productivity suites
LibreOffice, has demonstrated the software working entirely in a
browser for cloud applications, and has announced that it will also
port LibreOffice to Android and iOS.
The LibreOffice
Online cloud software is built around HTML5 Canvas and the GTK+
framework with JavaScript shims, and was developed by SUSE's Michael
Meeks and RedHat's Alex Laarson, and The Document Foundation also said
that Finnish SUSE developer Tor Lillqvist, who has already ported GIMP
to Windows, is working on making LibreOffice available to iOS and
Android users. Neither of the new versions will likely be released
before 2012 or possibly 2013.
Meanwhile Thompson also reports that France's government has thrown
its support behind the LibreOffice project, specifying the software for
all its future Windows systems, and transitioning 500,000 existing
Windows users from OpenOffice.
Link: LibreOffice
Plans Ports to iOS, Android, Cloud
Accessories
EXO7 Belt Buckle and Holster iPhone 4 & 4S
Brass Case
PR: Who needs a pocket when you can wear your
brand new iPhone 4S as a cool belt buckle? This belt buckle comes with
attachments to make it into a belt (with a metal piece you actually
loop your belt through on which it hangs), or pocket holster. Your
phone sits securely inside the brass or aluminum sheath and when you
want to use your phone - simply flip the case top and remove your
iPhone for use. The sides are inlaid with beautiful Pau Ferro wood. The
top moves easily on stainless steel hinges and is held firmly shut with
a strong rare earth magnet.
This case comes in a nice wooden gift box with all the
attachments you need to wear it any way you want.
Available in solid brass and rosewood or aluminum and
rosewood (aluminum is available in silver or black). Use your own belt.
Any belt designed to be used with a detachable belt buckle will
work.
This case will work with the new iPhone 4S or the iPhone 4.
Ships from United States.
- United States $12
- Everywhere Else $22
Link: EXO7 Belt Buckle
and Holster iPhone 4 & 4S Brass Case
