CBS Sports has released two

• March Madness On Demand ($9.99)
  Key Features:
  – LIVE VIDEO STREAMING of NCAA® March Madness® games from the first round to the NCAA® Championship between March 18th and April 5th.
  – Video highlights on demand from every game
  – LIVE STREAMING OF THE SELECTION SUNDAY SHOW ON MARCH 14
  – Westwood One Radio coverage starting on March 16
  – Real time graphical bracket with updates on game match-ups, regions, and scores
  – Exclusive CBSSports.com Edge Matchup game previews, including team-by-team analysis and matchup comparisons
  – Alerts for favorite teams, as well as upsets, buzzer beaters, overtimes, and more
  – Breaking tournament news coverage
  – Box scores, recaps, and team stats
  – Access to CBSSports.com tournament brackets (requires sign-in with CBSSports.com ID/password)
  – Log into your Facebook and Twitter accounts to comment on games and talk trash to your friends
• March Madness On Demand Lite (Free)
  Features:
  – Live scores, player stats, previews, and recaps
  – Comprehensive tournament news coverage
  – Real-time graphical tournament bracket
  – In-game video highlights
  – Access to CBSSports.com tournament brackets (requires sign-in with CBSSports.com     ID/password)
  – Log into your Facebook and Twitter accounts to comment on games and talk trash to your friends

View the ad on Apple’s YouTube Channel.

Click Here!

Apple announced this morning that iPad (WiFi) will be available on April 3. Pre-orders will begin on March 12. The iPad 3G will be available late April.

Apple’s press release:

CUPERTINO, California—March 5, 2010—Apple® today announced that its magical and revolutionary iPad will be available in the US on Saturday, April 3, for Wi-Fi models and in late April for Wi-Fi + 3G models. In addition, all models of iPad will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK in late April.

Beginning a week from today, on March 12, US customers can pre-order both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models from Apple’s online store (www.apple.com) or reserve a Wi-Fi model to pick up on Saturday, April 3, at an Apple retail store.

“iPad is something completely new,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’re excited for customers to get their hands on this magical and revolutionary product and connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”

Starting at just $499, iPad lets users browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds—thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook—and delivers battery life of up to 10 hours.*

iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch™ interface makes surfing the web an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on acomputer. You can read and send email on iPad’s large screen and almost full-size “soft” keyboard or import photos from a Mac®, PC or digital camera, see them organized as albums, and enjoy and share them using iPad’s elegant slideshows. iPad makes it easy to watch movies, TV shows and YouTube, all in HD, or flip through the pages of an ebook you downloaded from Apple’s new iBookstore while listening to your music collection.

The App Store on iPad lets you wirelessly browse, buy and download new apps from the world’s largest app store. iPad includes 12 new innovative apps designed especially for iPad and will run almost all of the more than 150,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone® or iPod touch®. Developers are already creating exciting new apps designed for iPad that take advantage of its Multi-Touch interface, large screen and high-quality graphics.

The new iBooks app for iPad includes Apple’s new iBookstore, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile product. The iBookstore will feature books from the New York Times Best Seller list from both major and independent publishers, including Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Group and Simon & Schuster.

The iTunes® Store gives iPad users access to the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 12 million songs, over 55,000 TV episodes and over 8,500 films including over 2,500 in stunning high definition. All the apps and content you download on iPad from the App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore will be automatically synced to your iTunes library the next time you connect with your computer.

Pricing & Availability
iPad will be available in Wi-Fi models on April 3 in the US for a suggested retail price of $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, $699 for 64GB. The Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available in late April for a suggested retail price of $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.

iPad will be available in both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models in late April in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. International pricing will be announced in April. iPad will ship in additional countries later this year.

The iBooks app for iPad including Apple’s iBookstore will be available as a free download from the App Store in the US on April 3, with additional countries added later this year.

*Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.

Fortune Magazine’s annual Most Admired Companies survey has, for the third straight year, found Apple to be the world’s most admired company!

Excerpts from Fortune describe what it means:

“Indeed, our annual comprehensive Most Admired Companies survey this year generated the highest response rate in its history.

“What exactly does it mean to be admired? Whether you call it a sterling reputation, integrity, or trust, this aspect of a company’s DNA can seem like an imprecise concept in the numbers-driven world of business. But for the companies on the list, trust and integrity are not just vague terms: They’re durable assets with a financial payoff. And in 2009 trust took center stage. As Ken Chenault, CEO of American Express (No. 29), puts it, “The competitive advantage of trust has never been more important or more valuable.”

“So which company does business admire most? Even among this select group there is a clear leader: For the third straight yearApple (AAPL, Fortune 500) takes the No. 1 spot — this time by the highest margin ever, according to Hay Group, the management consulting firm that collaborates with Fortune on the list. Indeed, in 2009, 51% of corporate leaders surveyed said they admired Apple, an unprecedented majority.

“What accounts for Apple’s exalted status? One explanation is that it is the company that has single-handedly changed the way we do everything from consume music and access information to design products and engage with the world around us.

“Because of its track record, consumers and businesses alike trust Apple’s inventions and its ability not only to churn out products that connect with customers but also to introduce a new way of doing things — to literally show us what’s next. Says Norbert Reithofer, CEO of BMW (No. 22): “Apple’s customers are more than customers — they’re fans. The whole world held its breath before the iPad was announced. That’s brand management at its very best.”

Apple to Kick Off  iPad Sales Friday, March 26. Report.

The San Francisco Examiner, reported today that:

• iPads will arrive at Apple retail stores on Wednesday, March 10th, to train employees on the new device.
• Televison advertising will begin on Monday, March 15
• Sales of the The iPad Wifi model kick off on Friday, March 26
• The 3G model will be available for purchase late in April or early May.

For confirmation, watch for those TV ads!

_________________________________________________________________________

Buy a Movie From iTunes and Store It In Apple’s Cloud, Not on Your iPhone or iPad.

CNET reported today that Apple plans to provide a new way to sell movies from the iTunes Store, to be named iTunes Replay. Under the plan, Apple would sell  movies that you would not download and store on your iPhone or iPad. Instead, when you purchase a movie, you would stream it to your device when you want to watch it.

By streaming movies, you would save a lot storage space on your iPhone or iPad drive (laptop and desktop too!). So, rather than loading up your drive with movies, Apple would store it for you on their servers. When you want to watch the movie you purchased, you would stream it to your iPhone, iPad, etc. Apple is reported negotiating with with movie studios to make this happen.

Numerous sources have also reported that Apple plans to use the same streaming system for music sold from the iTunes Store. Apple’s billion dollar server farm, under construction in North Carolina, is likely being built to stream music and video to consumers’ iPhones, iPads, and computers.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

NetFlix is  Considering Bringing Streaming Movies to  iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

Movie rental titan, NetFlix, is conducting a survey of it’s customers to determine if there is interest in streaming movies to iPhones and the soon to be released iPad, via WiFi.

The survey states  “Whenever you want to instantly watch content on your iPhone, your iPhone must be connected to a Wi-Fi network (such as one you might have at home or at work, or in public places like coffee shops, book stores, hotels, airports, etc.)”

NetFlix has previosly said they are not interested in streaming movies and TV shows to mobile devises. But, this may change with the popularity of the iPhone and the soon to be released iPad.  Clearly, the iPad is an ideal mobile device for viewing video of all types. Stay tuned. We believe that NetFlix will introduce mobile service in six to nine months. This is an indication of Apple’s strength in the mobile device marketplace.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Apple Sues HTC for Infringement of 20 Patented iPhone Inventions. Phones Cited in the Suit are Google’s Nexus One, and myTouch.

Apple has filed suit against HTC, the company that manufactures the Google Nexus One and myTouch phones. The suit alleges that HTC has infringed on 2o Apple iPhone patents.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs and executive Tim Cook have stated in the past that they would not allow Apple’s inventions and intellectual property to be usurped by other companies.

An Apple press release included a strong statement from Steve Jobs:  “We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We’ve decided to do something about it. We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours.”

The press release also stated: “Apple® today filed a lawsuit against HTC for infringing on 20 Apple patents related to the iPhone’s user interface, underlying architecture and hardware. The lawsuit was filed concurrently with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and in U.S. District Court in Delaware.”

Now, for $1.99, fans can stay up to date on their team with new apps released on February 4: Red Sox News and Rumors 2010 and Yankees News and Rumors 2010.

Developer, 2010 Sports Media Interactive, describes these sports apps as “your complete source for information on the New York Yankees  and Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB) as gathered from MULTIPLE local and national news sources. The ONLY apps that strive to bring you ALL news regarding your team.”

“In this initial release we wanted to start with a quick news list that gives access to the latest news on the team in a quick and easy interface:

• Quick News
• Offline Schedule
• Roster
• Standings

Here is a look at screens from both Yankee and Red Sox apps:

Batter up! Go Sox! Yeah, I’m a die hard Boston fan! Sox all the way in 2010!! Lets hear from the Bronx faithful! Leave your comments below.

Vive la différence!   >iPhone > iPad > iBoard > iMat

I subscribe to Mobile Me, which has a service called Find My iPhone that provides four functions. It will play a sound  for three minutes and display a message on the phone, find its location, remotely lock it, and remotely wipe all data.

Several hours after my iPhone disappeared, I played a sound and sent a message which said “If you found this phone, please call 212–628-xxxx”. After two hours and no response, I sent another message … “$100 Reward for return of this phone”. Please call .…” .

Later, I used the Find MY iPhone locator service which returned a message that said the phone was offline. Someone had powered it off!  I tried again several times that night and got the same result.

Friday morning I tried the locator again. Bingo!  Find My iPhone showed that my iPhone was in an apartment building a few miles away. I called the police.Officer Sullivan arrived and took a report. I showed her the locator service and where the phone had been a few hours earlier. She was surprised and really impressed that I could track the phone. She promised to investigate and get back to me.

On SuperBowl Sunday, I checked Find My iPhone and saw that it was at another address. The thief was probably watching the game with a friend and using my phone. Then I decided to lock the phone and send another message. My message to the thief was: “Turn this phone into the nearest AT&T Store and tell them you found it. The police are investigating and will find you!”  I watched the game and rooted for the Saints.

Monday, Find My iPhone showed my phone was at another location, but no news from the police. Discouraged, I contacted AT&T. They said I could get a new 3GS 16GB for $399 with an “early upgrade” and a new two year commitment, or $599 with no additional commitment. Not good news!   I decided to buy a $40 used Blackberry as a cheap fill in. It’s no iPhone! It’s primitive by comparison. But that’s another story.

On Thursday, Officer Sullivan made a surprise visit and told me that my iPhone had been turned into the building security office by an employee who she had just interviewed.  The thief told her that he decided to turn it in when he received my last message and could no longer use the phone because it was locked. Officer Sullivan told me that I would not have gotten my phone back without Find My iPhone.  I agreed!

AT&T does not offer insurance, and I have found no insurance companies that will cover loss or theft. That’s a dilemma! It is also the reason why I believe iPhone owners should consider subscribing to Mobile Me. It’s the best insurance available, in my opinion. It doesn’t guarantee that you will recover your iPhone, but it gives you a chance. In addition to Find My iPhone, Mobile Me provides 20GB iDisk cloud storage, email service (your name@me.com), web hosting with your personal domain, push email, push contacts, push calendar, and photos, all synced wirelessly with your iPhone . Apple offers a free two month trial. The annual subscription fee is $99. You can check it out at  http://www.apple.com/mobileme/

I hope you never lose your iPhone, but if you do, you may be happy that you have Mobile Me!

A recent online survey of 9to5Mac readers, with 13,196 responses, provided some insight into current preferences.

• 32% said they will buy 3G
• 37% said they will buy WiFi
• 31% said they don’t plan to buy

I am surprised that the 3G wasn’t a more popular choice. The price difference is $130, not a huge sum. For that you get the flexibility of using WiFi or 3G. I’m not sure if i will use my iPad primarily at home, where WiFi is available, or more while I’m out and about where I’d need 3G for internet access. So, I see the $130 3G price premium as insurance. If I need it, I’ll have it.

The AT&T month to month service, with no contract required, is appealing, and is a key factor in my choice of 3G. Turn on service this month, turn it off next month. I like the idea of having 3G service available if I need it, but not having to pay for it when I don’t need it.

On the other hand, I can save $130 and buy the iPad Wifi model. But, if in six months or a year I decide I want 3G internet access, I’ll have to lay out $629 — $829 for an iPad 3G.  That’s no savings.

Tell me what you think!  Is WiFi or 3G your choice, and why? I’d like to hear your opinion.

I’ve been thinking about getting an iPad since  its introduction by Steve Jobs  on January 27.  But, I use my iPhone for so many things, do I really need an iPad too?

My iPhone is an extension of my right arm. I use it throughout the day for many tasks, much more than I envisioned when I bought it. Take a look:

New York Times (NYTimes app): 3–4 times day.	Timer (Clock app): daily	Radio (Wunder Radio app): 1–2 hours daily
Tech Blogs: 6–8 times daily	Manage stock portfolio (Ameritrade iStockManager app): daily	Exercise: (WalkMeter app): frequently
RSS news feeds: 6–8 times daily	Notes app: daily	Health records (My Medical App): ocassionally
>Email: six accounts — frequently	TProject To-Do app: daily	Camera: occasionally
Text: occasionally	Football app (NFL): occasionally during season	Calculator app: daily
Calendar: daily	MLB.com At Bat, baseball app: Daily during season	Entertainment apps: ocassionally
Calendar push notifications: daily	PGA golf app: frequently during season	Search (Google): frequently
Alarm (Clock): daily	iPod: 2–3 hours daily	Safari: daily

So, I’ve been thinking about how I would use an iPad:

Writing news and reviews for AppStoreWeek.	iWork (Pages, Numbers and Keynote)	Music
Reading news, Tech blogs and books.	Calendar	A little video/movie
Email and text.	Todo app	Some of the apps that I use on my iPhone

It looks like I use my iPhone much more than I would an iPad. But, as with my iPhone, I may use an iPad much more than I expect before buying one. It’s difficult to say. My gut feeling is that I would use an iPad for things that I don’t anticipate, like the thousands of apps that will be developed  for it.

I’ve thought about the many things that I do on my desktop and laptop, and  I think it is likely that quite a few of those activities I would do on an  iPad, if I buy one. Why? I think because it will be very convenient to do them on the iPad.

What’s the verdict?  All the things I could do on an iPad, I can do on my iPhone, desktop and laptop. So, it’s clear, I don’t need and iPad.

Oh, one more thing. I didn’t need an iPhone either.

Does anyone know how I can pre-order a iPad 3G, just in case?

Figure Skating is an application developed by DeepPowderSofware a developer of many sports applications for the iPhone. The app consists of a glossary of terms in alphabetical order and connections for sharing, commenting, and accessing tutorials available at DeepPowderSoftware’s website.

Description
Figure Skating is an “app dictionary” of figure skating terms.  Terms include those for 1) individual ( singles ) spins, jumps, and connecting moves, 2) pairs spins, jumps ( throw and side by side ), and a limited number of pair lifts and spins, 3) judging and official terms, 4) types of competition ( junior, senior ), 5) ice dancing terms (turns, lifts, footwork),  and some synchronized skating terms are included. The descriptions of terms are not meant to instruct but rather give a definition to a term used when watching a figure skating event.

How to Use Figure Skating
The first page takes you to a list of terms in alphabetical order.  By scrolling down the page you can access more figure skating terms and their definitions.At the bottom of the page you have two choices : 1) select keyword to enter a term of interest for a fast search, and 2) select “more” that allows one to connect to the DeepPowderSoftware website or e-mail the site with a question.

The view to the left shows the keyword search page where terms can be entered manually using the iPhone keyboard.

The contact page allows one to either access the site ( contact or tutorial will take you to the developers website ) or contact the developers via direct e-mail.

Test  Results — How does Figure Skating Perform?
As a figure skating dictionary with brief descriptions of figure skating terms for identification while watching the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, for example, Figure Skating could be useful, especially  for the novice.

My Opinion
I think the application could be useful while watching figure skating on television and hearing a term Dick Button or Peggy Fleming references or be useful for someone curious about the many figure skating terms that exist. The site gives a brief snapshot as to the identification of figure skating terms.

Pros
Very simple to use; quick reference.

Cons
No place for intricate detail or visual description. An extremely quick reference tool only.

Our Rating
♦♦♦

Customer Rating
Currently no reviews given.

App Name
NBC Olympics on AT&T

Requires
iphone OS 3.0 or later

Price
Free

Description
In the United States, the Vancouver olympics will be televised by NBC and Universal Sports networks. NBC Olympics on AT&T looks to have all the key features needed to keep track of what is happening at the 2010 winter olympics in real time and much more. The app contains articles, medal count, videos, pictures, bios, and a link to twitter and facebook that is well integrated with the site.

How to Use NBC Olympics on AT&T
Because the olympics have not officially begun yet, the site begins with a real time countdown in days, hours, minutes and seconds that I think is really cool. All is happening in real time. Up front are are listed “top stories ” and right below are pictures of featured articles. Clicking on text or picture will take you to the article desired. At the bottom of the screen are icons that indicate ( from left to right ) what is “happening now” making the news symbolized with the olympic rings,

2) an icon that symbolizes “sports” that gives a description of each sports venue, 3) favorites that allows you to select and track your favorite sports and events, 4) social icon that takes you to a page where you can tweet ( to people who may or may not have the app ) or post items to facebook, and 5) an event schedule gives you real time information and television schedules. You can set alerts for yourself as well so that you do not miss any events of interest. The social networking feature allows you to share content with friends in public or private forums.
One of the coolest features of the site occurs when you click on the lower red band labeled “Truth in Motion.” Clicking on the band takes the screen lying flat and turns it on a perpendicular that flips to the back side of the screen to take you to photos, trailers, overview, synopsis, and bios of all the athletes. Visually, the feature is very appealing.

My Opinion

With NBC Olympics on AT&T you have at your fingertips all the Olympic Games content you want.

Pros
Easy and fast to use. Videos are excellent. Social integration is top notch.

Cons
I could not find any. If you are a fan of the Olympics, you will love this site.

Our Rating

5 star

Customer Rating
4.75 star

iTunes Link
NBC Olympics on AT&T

Apple is expected to introduce its long anticipated tablet device, reportedly named the iSlate. A copy of the invitation appears below.

See copy of the invitation in full post.

“You can create a new album or make changes to your gallery at me.com from virtually anywhere. Easily upload new photos, rearrange them, edit titles, and more. Your changes are instantly reflected in your gallery for friends to see. Have a Mac? You can upload photos directly from iPhoto ’09 or Aperture 2 with just a few clicks. And if you snap a picture on the road or capture video using your iPhone 3GS, you can post it directly to your gallery with a few taps,” according to Apple’s description in the App Store.

This is a small step into social networking for the Mac and iPhone maker. We expect to see Apple growing more aggressive in this arena later this year. Apple’s reported billion dollar server farm in North Carolina may be a platform for the company’s rumored shift of iTunes to a web based application, offering streaming music and video, and may we add, social networking. It looks like a smart move, given the iTunes Store’s enormous traffic , which we estimate at 12 million visitors a day.

Looking for interesting and useful apps for your iPhone or iPod Touch? Receive our app reviews once a week by email. Sign up here for a free subscription. Cancel at any time.

Two unique new music apps featuring news and information from  U2 and 311.

@U2 — Version U21.0 - Released January 12 2009
U2 news and information from atu2.com, since 1995 the oldest independent source for news about the Irish rock band U2. @U2 has a staff of two dozen fans around the world who write and report original stories, commentaries, essays, reviews, and much more. Our iPhone app offers the latest U2 news from our main web site, our blog, our Twitter account, and several more @U2 sources.

311 - Version 1.0 — Released January 7 2009
311’s Official application keeps you connected to the band and other 311 fans wherever you are! When your iPhone or iPod Touch are connected to a network, the latest 311 info will stream into your device including:  Live Twitter feeds from Nick Hexum & 311; News and Tour Dates; Media Gallery with Music, Videos & Pictures; 311 Merchandise Store;   Fan Wall. The Fan Wall allows you to chat with other 311 fans and post pictures right from your iPhone. Enjoy!

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App Name
Free Books –Version 1.2.1 — by Spreadsong Inc.

Requirements
Compatible with iPhone & iPod Touch. Requires iPhone OS 2.2.1 or later

Price
$1.99

Search by author or title

Description
The developer’s description says “Free Books unlocks a world of public domain content, allowing you to acquire the great books of human history. Letters of leaders, the collected works of geniuses, the finest Victorian novels, the plays of Shakespeare, the philosophy of Seneca and Marcus Aurelius, the autobiographies of Benjamin Franklin and Andrew Carnegie. It’s all here, along with tens of thousands of other books. And all, might we belabor the point, absolutely free.” Well they aren’t completely free. The cost is about 9/100,000 of a cent each.

Books are downloaded one at a time to an iPhone or iPod Touch. Then they may be read without an internet connection. Another option is to email your selected title and read it on your computer or Kindle.

Many of theses books are great classics, written long ago. Others were written more recently. There is a large selection of genres, 56 in all:

Adventure African-American ArtBanned Books Biography Classics Computers Cooking Correspondence Criticism Drama Espionage	Essays Etiquette Fantasy Fiction Games Ghost Stories Government Publications Gothic Harvard Classics Health History	Horror Humor Instructional Language Music Mystery/Detective Myth Nature Nautical Non-Fiction Periodical	Philosophy Pirate Tales Poetry Politics Post-1930 Psychology Pulp Reference Religion Romance Satire	Science Science Fiction Sexuality Short Stories Thriller Travel War Western Women’s Studies Young Reade

The top twenty five most frequently downloaded titles at the time of this review:

Art of War The Bible Kama Sutra of Vatsayayana 100,000 Dreams Interpreteted Dracula	The War of the Worlds The Count of Monte Cristo Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Gettysburg Address Socrates	Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Adventures of Tom Sawyer The Art of Money Getting Alice in Wonderland The Age of Reason	The 2007 CIA World Factbook Julius Caesar The Life of Buddha and Its Lessons Inaugural Address of Barack Obama Guliver’s Travels	The Communist Manifesto Fanny Hill Mark Twain, A Biography Divine Comedy: Paradise The Analects of Confucius

Evaluation — How Does Free Books Perform?
If you are expecting a review of 23,469 titles, I’m sorry to disappoint you. But I will tell you how Free Books measured up for e-reading in my test.

Choose to download to iPhone or email to computer

I downloaded two books, A Brief History of the Internet and The Call of the Wild. On the first I used the 3G connection on my iPhone, which took about 20 seconds. For the second I used Edge, which downloaded in 45 seconds. I also emailed Emerson’s Essays to test on my Mac computer.

The emailed book arrived immediately in a PDF file, which I saved to my Mac. All was good with the 91 page e-book of Emerson’s essays, however fonts and page color cannot be changed, and there was one minor glitch.  “Small Legal Print” appeared at the top of every page in the book, much as a book or chapter title would be printed. This apparently carried forward from a section near the beginning of the book that contains legal info and disclaimers. I’ll notify the developer about this minor problem.

The email PDF version is a nice feature for reading on a laptop or desktop, and may be compatible with some tablet computers that are being released this year. Many if not all of the new tablet devices will be optimized for reading books, magazines and newspapers. Free Books’ says that the email version can currently be used on Amazon’s Kindle e-reader.

Of course, I tested the app on my iPhone. After learning how to navigate, Free Books was very easy to use. I started by adjusting the  settings which allows readers to change the font size and color, and the page color. I choose size 20 font in slate gray and a white page.

I learned to navigate quickly. Tap the right side of the screen to turn to the next page, tap the left side to go to the previous page. Tap the center of the page for more navigation options, including a slide bar to navigate quickly by page number.  When I navigated away from the book, or closed the app, Free Books bookmarked the

Most recently downloaded books — tap title to read

last page I viewed. When I return to the book it automatically opened to the bookmarked page. Navigation by chapter is not available and is on my wish list for future updates. Some users say they would like to scroll from page to page, which I’ll also add to my wish list.

I like reading on my iPhone because I can do it anywhere.  I can read while having lunch,  waiting in line at the supermarket,  traveling by train, plane or bus, while walking (careful!),  and just about anyplace else. I find reading on my phone easy and convenient, and a way to read more than I could otherwise.

On a final note, I tested to find how long I can read with a fully charged battery on my iPhone 3GS.  After an hour, I had used about 3% of the battery’s capacity. So I expect that one battery charge will support 30+ hours of reading if other applications are not in use. To conserve  power, I set the screen brightness to 25% (go to iPhone settings), which I found more than sufficient for reading.

My Opinion
Technically, I am quite satisfied with Free Books. It is simple and easy to use, with no serious drawbacks. The e-mail PDF option adds additional functionality and value. I like reading on my iPhone and this app provides a large variety of books.

The library of 23,469 titles is a wonderful resource. Many of the great classics and other interesting and compelling works are yours with Free Books. for $1.99. Consider that most of these books are available for purchase in hard or soft cover editions at places like Amazon.com.  If you purchase just one of the books, the cost will exceed the price of this app. It is a great value, great reading and a great educational resource.

Font and page settings; slide bar page navigation

I want to note, since all the titles in Free Books are in the public domain, most if not all can be found on the internet at no cost. I find the compelling value in Free Books is the ease of access and the convenience of reading on an iPhone or iPod Touch, a Kindle, and probably in March on Apple’s much rumored and anticipated iSlate tablet.

Invest $1.99 in a life’s worth of reading and a wonderful education in history, literature, humanity and more.

Pros
A huge library of great books; ease of use; convenience; excellent value

Cons
Additional features would be helpful, including  navigation by chapter, and scrolling; doesn’t include the New York Times best sellers

My Rating (one to five)
♦♦♦♦½ (4.5)

Customer Rating
♦♦♦ (3)

iTunes Link — Free Books

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“With the Snapfish app, you can easily share and upload photos directly from your iPhone.

• Upload photos straight from your iPhone to your Snapfish account
• Share photos to email or mobile contacts saved in your iPhone address book
• View and share all of the albums and photos in your account
• Enjoy full-screen views of your Snapfish photos

“Use any of the photos uploaded from your iPhone to make prints, photo books, calendars, cards, and more creative photo gifts on our easy-to-use website.

“If you’re new to Snapfish, you can create a free account through the iPhone app. You’ll even get free prints when you upload photos for the first time. Snapfish is now in 22 countries, and the app will be available in 12 languages.

“If you have a moment, please write a review to let us know what you think of our iPhone app so that we can continue to make it even better.

“With Snapfish on your iPhone, you can make the most of your photos wherever you go.”

*Version 1.0 supports iPhone only.

The economy today has most of us watching our inflow and outflow of cash from our households with increasing scrutiny.  Most of us do not have time for complex, often excel driven accounting packages such as Peachtree Accounting or simpler programs such as Quicken. HomeBudget with Sync was updated  December 30, 2009 and with significant and consistent tweeking has developed a sophisticated yet simple  4.5+ star app for tracking household finances.  And with recently launched HomeBudget Lite ( w/Sync ),  you can try

App Name
HomeBudget Lite with Sync - Version 2.0.1  - by Anishu Inc

Requirements
iPhone OS 2.0 or later; compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch

Price
Free

Description
HomeBudget with Sync is  “an expense tracker designed to help you budget, track and  control your monthly expenses at home.”  There is support build into the app to track both your expenses and income, and includes methods for building budgets, accounts, adding payees, and overall bill tracking.  HomeBudget cleverly uses icons at the bottom of each screen and an entry in one icon is linked to all others. With the click of an icon, data entry is made using the same type of drill-down format found in the iPhone itself.  The app has the ability to synchronize expenses and data from separate devices within a family to one common budget if desired. This is the most versatile app for home budgeting I have tested.

How to Use HomeBudget with Sync and Test Results
Probably one of the best ways to start using HomeBudget is to begin by entering data such as expenses and income.

Each entry can be in a different category as in this view we see food and grocery , date of purchase, store where item was purchased and price.  If you wish to split the expense over a period of time, such as months, that option is available.  If you have a recurring expense, that option can also be made from this window.  One feature that stands out is, once you click on amount to enter, a number selection pad appears that is as large or perhaps larger than the keypad used to enter telephone numbers on your iPhone.  Very appealing..no eye strain.

Once all entries have been made through the expense icon , you can see a summary of the expenses entered shown below:

If looking at numbers in a list is not your fancy for viewing expenses, they can be viewed as pie or bar charts for easier viewing.  In the view below, the top right icon allows you to move to bar chart viewing if desired.

Once all entries have been made a click to the budget icon will allow you to see where you stand financially for each entry. In this view a fixed budget was set for each expenditure and the small red or green numbers indicate if under or over budget for that category was achieved.  The set budget feature is another key advantage to this App.

I found that one of the most useful and , again, versatile features is the ability to show trends in spending over a period of months.  From the report icon,  one can view the trends graphically as shown below:

Bill tracking is also easily accomplished.  Using the expense icon, payees can be added.  Once added, bill tracking is easily accomplished.

I have given you some simple examples of how this powerful app can be used to do basic yet versatile and sophisticated home budget accounting.  Added features include 1) the ability to group family member data for synchronization of expenditures and income ( I will refer you to the HomeBudget with Sync Support Website due to length of this review ) , 2) ability to incorporate pictures of receipts, 3) develop your own category icons, 4) association of expense and income entries with accounts to view transactions and balances… to name only a few.

In all the tests performed, I found I could easily follow the icon drill-down approach to use and enter more information than I expected.  And it was done easily.

My Opinion
HomeBudget with Sync is the best App for home budget tracking I have seen. I am impressed by the sophistication and ease of this mobile application.  If you want an accurate and easy to use mobile method for budgeting,  HomeBudget with Sync is the ticket.

The HomeBudget website is an excellent resource complimenting the app by providing detailed downloads of all step by step procedures.

Pros
Fast, easy to use..similar to iPhone navigation.  A convenient mobile accounting tool.

Cons
The temptation to do everything at once and be overwhelmed.  HomeBudget offers many options ( all useful) but I would recommend the beginner to stick to simple income and expense entries and getting the report as a foundation to build further detail.

Our Rating ( one to five )
♦♦♦♦♦ (5)

Customer Rating
♦♦♦♦1/2 (4.5)

iTunes Link — HomeBudget Lite with Sync

Yes, Nexus One has landed after much rumor and conjecture. The Google super smartphone is now available online without service for $529, and  $179 with a T Mobile two year service contract at $80 a month.

We will write a comprehensive review of Nexus One and will publish our report, including a comparison to the iPhone, the week of January 31.

Here are the Nexus One specifications:

Apple’s press release includes a statement by CEO Steve Jobs:

“Three billion applications downloaded in less than 18 months—this is like nothing we’ve ever seen before,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “The revolutionary App Store offers iPhone and iPod touch users an experience unlike anything else available on other mobile devices, and we see no signs of the competition catching up anytime soon.”

As we at App Store Week work to grow our website, we believe that we’ve chosen an amazing field. We look forward to covering the exciting events, new devices and apps in the days and months ahead in 2010!

Quattro Wireless Inc, a player in the fast growing mobile ad placement business, confirmed today that the company has been acquired by Apple Inc. Quattro CEO Andy Miller will be appointed Apple’s Vice President of Mobile Advertising.

The acquisition gives Apple a foothold in the mobile ad space that is dominated by Google. Apple is believed to have been a suitor for AdMob, a company specializing in mobile ads. In November, Google purchased AdMob for $750 million, but is facing scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission which is concerned over Google’s possible monopoly in the mobile sector.

A Quattro press release states in part:

“We are thrilled to let you know that Apple has acquired Quattro. We want to share with you our excitement about this news and what it means for our customers. We have built our business by enabling advertisers to reach the right consumers across the mobile web and in applications. We remain focused on delivering more engaging, relevant and useful ads to mobile devices, and improving the measurement and execution of digital campaigns. Together with Apple, we look forward to developing exciting new opportunities in the future that will benefit our customers.”

Apple’s iPhone has been a driver for the growth of mobile ads. The acquisition provides new opportunities for Apple, as it prepares to introduce its newest mobile device, a tablet computer believed to be named iSlate.

The Journal report states that the tablet will be a “multimedia device that will let people watch movies and television shows, play games, surf the internet and read electronic books and newspapers”.

Further, the Journal indicates that sources believe that the tablet “could redefine the way consumers interact with a

Artist’s concept of tablet — credit Huffington Post

variety of content. Textbooks and newspapers for example, could be presented differently through color screens, a touch interface, and the integration of live up-to-the-minute information from a variety of sources.”

There is widespread speculation on the price of the tablet. Estimates range from $600 — $800 and higher. Pundits also suggest that the device will be sold with and without wireless internet service, and have speculated that Verizon may be a wireless service provider.

Appleinsider reported today that Apple may host an event on January 27th, which may be the stage used to introduce the Apple tablet.

Access your personal medical information in a matter of seconds on your iPhone or iPod Touch. Information like your doctors’ contact information, emergency contacts, medications, immunizations, test results,  appointment history, medical history, health insurance and more can be immediately available when you need them. We have tested a new app named My Medical and we’ll tell you our findings in this App Store Week review.

App Name
My Medical - Version 1.0 — Developed by Steven Chaitoff — Release date 12-30-2009

Requirements
iPhone OS 3.1 or later — Compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch

Price
.99¢

Description
My Medical is a straightforward, easy to use application that keeps track of your personal medical information in one convenient place, you iPhone (or iPod Touch).  Your information is stored on your iPhone, not on an internet server, and it offers password security to protect your privacy. You may  also store information for others too, like children and spouse. You can even include their pictures.

The benefit of having this information readily available are many, such as a visit to a new doctor who will need your medical information, filling out forms at a hospital or doctor’s office, have your information available in a medical emergency, to name just a few. A handy  email feature  also lets you to send  info to your doctor, directly from the My Medical app.

My Medical easily organizes  important medical information for you and your loved ones. It also helps you manage your health care.   Here are pictures of some screens:

Please take note of the following information provided by the developer of My Medical: “My Medical information is as accurate as the data entered by the user. The developer of this app cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information, treatments, outcome of health care or transfer of medical information to health care providers.”

Test Results — How Did My Medical Perform
I downloaded My Medical to my iPhone  and entered my information. Entering emergency contacts and physicians was easy, as I used a feature that imports it right from the iPhone contact list. I included my dentist and pharmacy too.

Entering my  medications and medical history took more time but was very simple. It took me 45 minutes to enter all my information. Some of the information, like  medications, I entered from memory. Some of the other items I looked up in my records. I found the navigation and organization of information  intuitive and simple to use.

Before deciding to review My Medical, I looked at similar apps including My Health, My Life Record Personal Health Record Express, My Health Records Health n Family and My Med ID.

I downloaded My Health and found it to be complicated, difficult to understand and navigate, and generally  disappointing.  It has features for importing or taking photos of medical documents and  images, two levels of access including one that was baffling and didn’t seem to work, and a lengthly list of fourteen categories of information to be entered, some with tabs for four layers of information. There also seemed to be unnecessary redundancy. Surprisingly there is no way to import information from an iPhone’s contact list, so you’re left to type it all. The developer has some good ideas and has undoubtedly worked hard to create the app, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. Still, I think it  has potential and I encourage them to work to improve it.

My Opinion
I like the simplicity of My Medical. Although it doesn’t have every medical detail, it seems to have the essential information that most people would want. If you have a different opinion, I encourage you to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

I think medical record apps are a great idea. I feel a little more secure knowing that I have my essential health information in my pocket. It’s a no brainer. Perhaps the next step would be a desktop app that could snyc with the phone version.

This is an excellent example of using an iPhone, or other smartphone, to organize the details of life. After using my iPhone for half a year I am better organized and more efficient than I could have imagined a year ago. Apps and smartphones are changing our lives in may positive ways.

Pros
Simplicity of design, ease of use, fills an important need

Cons
Doesn’t have as many details as some other apps

My Rating (one — five)
♦♦♦♦

iTunes Link
My Medical

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Walkmeter GPS turns your iPhone into a powerful GPS tool that gives you feedback and motivation to walk, run, bike, hike, ski,  or skate farther, be healthier and live longer, according to the developer,  Abvio LLC. The principles behind Abvio, Steve Kusmer and Kevin Wallace, are avid runners and have notable resumes in technology including tenures at Hewlett-Packard and Macromedia.  As of January 2, 73% of customers who rated  this app gave it  5 stars.

App Name
Walkmeter GPS for Fitness & Weight Loss Version 2.0.1 Abvio LLC

Requirements
iPhone OS 3.0 or later

Price
$4.99

Description
Walkmeter GPS is powered entirely by your iPhone.  No website logins, no uploads, no ads. Walkmeter continually records your time, location, distance, elevation and speed while you walk, run, bike, ski, skate, etc.

While you are walking,  you may view your progress on your iPhone screen, or listen to voice announcements through your earphones that tell your time, distance, speed and many other options. One option gives your time, speed and distance compared to your previous best. This helps you stay motivated and on pace, just as if you had a coach right next to you.

If you listen to your iPod or streaming radio while walking, Walkmeter’s voice announcement can pause the music for the announcement, and then resume.

When you’ve finished your walk, you can see your results on maps, graphs and calendars, organized by routes and activities (walk, run, bike, etc). Walkmeter saves all your  data which you can conveniently access through the calendar. Here are pictures of some Walkmeter screens. For more information visit www.abvio.com

How to Use Walkmeter GPS
Before going for your first walk  or other activity, take fifteen minutes to get familiar with this app. Doing this first will assure that you take full advantage of the features that are available.

• First check out the Help page which you will find under “More” on the main screen menu. You will find a lot of good info there.
• Next, enter your personal settings such as height, weight, etc. This and all settings and options are found in the “More” menu.
• Activate the remote control if you want to use voice announcements
• Now, select the announcement settings (frequency of announcements, volume, etc)
• If you want to share your results on Twitter, activate that option.
• If you plan to frequently follow certain routes, you may create names for them. For this, go to the main screen (“Stopwatch”) and tap on “Route”.  Then on the next screen tap the + sign at the upper right hand corner and  enter a route name and save it.

OK, now you’re ready to go.

• On the main screen named “Stopwatch”, select your activity (walk, run, bike, etc).
• If you created routes when setting up  your Walkmeter, you may tap on “Routes” and select the route you are taking. You may also create a route at this time.
• Tap the “start” button and begin your walk and tap the “stop” and “done” buttons when you’ve finished.

Helpful tips.

• If you stop for any  reason, you may tap the “Stop” button or use the remote control on your earphones (squeeze once). When you resume your walk, just tap the start button or squeeze the remote. Walkmeter won’t record the time when you were stopped.
• If you receive a phone call or text message, when finished check to see that WalkMeter is running by tapping on the Walkmeter icon. It must be the running application in order to record your data. It should continue to run during a phone call, but may not when the text application is in use.

Test Results — How Does Walkmeter GPS Perform?
I tested Walkmeter GPS on New Year’s Day, walking two routes for a total of 2.4 miles. It was a good way to begin the new year and got me started on my goal to loose 19 pounds and improve my cardiovascular fitness. I’ll say at the outset that I really like this app.

The first route covered 1.6 miles, including some flat terrain in my neighborhood and a steep climb up a nearby hill.  Walkmeter showed that I walked for 24 minutes 22 seconds, traveled 1.44 miles, climbed 105 feet up the hill, at an average speed of 16.5 minutes per mile (3.6 miles per hour), and burned 142 calories. I checked the map as I walked, and it accurately showed where I started, at the corner of Rose Garden Ct and Sparrowbush Rd, and displayed my path as I traveled along my route. On this walk I used the Walkmeter screen on my iPhone  to check my progress and stats.

My second route, following Cambridge Dr and Rose Garden Ct, was shorter.  Walkmeter  indicated that I walked .4 miles in exactly 7 minutes, climbed 31 feet, all at a speed of  17.5 minutes per mile (3.4 miles per hour), burning 31 calories. I walked this route a second time and the results were very close to the first. During both laps I used the voice announcement feature to monitor my time, distance and speed. I also listened to music on my phone’s iPod. Everything worked as claimed by the app developer.

To verify Walkmeter’s accuracy, I used a stop watch to check my times, and I drove the routes, using my car’s trip odometer to record the mileage. Both were very close to the numbers recorded by Walkmeter.

Unfortunately my preparation fell short with Twitter. I had intended to automatically tweet my results, but forgot to enter my Twitter settings to enable that feature. I’ll try it on a future walk. You can check our Tweeter page, AppStoreWeek, to see how it works. However, I did use the email feature to send my results to App Store week and to my personal email account.

After my walks I looked over the recorded info, including the stats, map, graph and calendar. All are easy to access and read,  and are helpful in assessing your workout. However, I found one area that could use improvement. When accessing my January 1 records through the calendar, I found it difficult to scroll through the three records to select the one I wanted to view. If you have one record for the day this wouldn’t present a problem.

From my test I learned that Walkmeter is easy to use,  works as advertised, and has many useful features.

My Opinion
For those of you who are serious about your exercise regimen, be it walking, running, biking, hiking, skating or skiing, this is a wonderful app. I like it and will continue to use it for my daily walks.

Value? With all the free apps available, how does Walkmeter measure up on the value scale? For comparison I did a  test of a free GPS app named GPS Buddy. It tracks time, distance, average speed, and remaining distance to your destination point. It also has some interesting features not found on Walkmeter, such was recording time when you’re not moving, and distance remaining to the end of your route. It also maps your trip and gives your latitude and longitude coordinates.  However, it does not have some of the compelling features found in Walkmeter, such as records of all your walks and voice announcements, to mention two.

To me, the $4.99 price of Walkmeter is reasonable and I’m willing to pay it without complaint. I see it as a  tiny investment that will pay large dividends by helping me improve and maintain my fitness and health. It’s well worth the price in my opinion.

Pros
Ease of use; statistical and graphic records; catolog of routes; voice announcements; motivational value

Cons
The cadence of the voice announcements could use improvement; it is difficult to  access records from calendar when more than one record exists for a day

Our Rating (one — five)
♦♦♦♦♦ (5)

Customer Rating (on 1-2-2010)
♦♦♦♦♦ (4.5)

iTunes Link
Walkmeter GPS for Fitness and Weight Loss

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If you have ever used TurboTax or any of the tax calculating programs, TaxCaster Mobile is the quickest, easiest way to get a solid approximation of your refund or tax due.   Just released on 12/18/2009, TaxCaster Mobile is rapidly being downloaded and has already achieved 5 star ratings from 36 customers.

App Name TaxCaster Mobile Version 1.0 Intuit Inc

Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later

Price Free

Description
TaxCaster Mobile is the simplest program calculator I have seen to determine your tax liability for 2009. It is a shortened version of what TurboTax provides on the TurboTax website called TurboTax Free Edition. The app, or mobile form of the online version is designed for those who want a very convenient and quick estimate of their refund or tax due for the calendar year 2009. A snapshot of your refund /tax due scale is visible through every step of the entry process. Anyone filing a 1040A, 1040EZ, or 1040 form can use this application.

How To Use TaxCaster Mobile
TaxCaster takes you through the most fundamental steps of tax information entry using convenient and easy to use quick page format. The first page is shown below.

TaxCaster Page 1 Initial Entries

It provides all the necessary quick questions including :

• your filing status
• your age

The app then gets down to the nitty gritty of determining your income and deductions. The premise for all tax determinations is the amount of money have you earned, what deductions are to be claimed, how much was withheld, all leading to the answer: do you owe or will you receive a refund? To further break down your income and deductions, TaxCaster guides you through questions that are answered using a scrolling ball. For example, when you click on your pay and withholding (below), the screen to the right appears allowing you to move the ball to the correct dollar amount.

Click to enter pay and witholding

Enter amounts using scrolling ball

As you stop the ball at the number desired, each movement is linked to the top page sundial with an arrow indicating where you are in terms of refund or how much is due to the tax (lots of fun!). All entries are linked to the sundial showing your progress after each entry.

Sundial tax indicator

The final outcome is a straightforward outline of all your entries with the final outcome at the top indicator. The final page of TaxCaster is shown below. The summary page allows you to see your final tax estimate in a clear and concise format.

TaxCaster Summary

Test Results — How Does TaxCaster Perform?
I tested a standard 1040 form using my 2009 income, witholding and deductions. As an example (not my actual earnings) I entered income of $60,000 and approximately 15% tax withholding. I noticed that the numbers enter in $1,000 increments. Next I entered the interest I earned and capital gains, approximately $14,000. Finally, I entered my deductions, $11,400. I then looked to TaxCaster to calculate my tax. It took about 10 seconds for the final reading to appear at the top of the page. It looks like I will owe the tax man an additional $1,000, a good estimate to use when I file my request for extension. The TaxCaster estimate appears to be right on the money.

I liked the format, ease of use, ability to move back and forth and make changes, all the while watching the sundial and the effect on my final tax result. If you are looking for every nook and cranny to find all allowable deductions, tax software such as Turbotax Is It Deductible? would be appropriate.

My Opinion
For estimating your tax due or refund for 2009, I found TaxCaster fits the bill.

Remember that TaxCaster provides an estimate only. To actually prepare your tax return, Turbotax and other companies sell software for use on a PC or Mac. As always consult a tax advisor or the IRS if you have questions regarding any aspect of your taxes.

Pros
Fast and easy to use; convenient for estimating your refund or tax due for 2009

Cons
TaxCaster provides an estimate, it does not provide numbers for preparing your tax return

Our Rating ( one to five )
♦♦♦♦♦

Customer rating
♦♦♦♦

iTunes Link
TaxCaster Mobile

Disclaimer
This review is not an endorsement and is not an affirmation of the accuracy of the TaxCaster tax estimates. Contact the IRS or a tax professional for questions and guidance on your Federal income taxes.

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Palm Pre

Sprint’s support website has posted information indicating that Palm Pre owners will receive a notification for  the WebOS 1.3.5 update. In what is expected to be a popular improvement, techtree.com reports that the update will remove the app storage limit on the Pre. This may be an indication that more apps will be coming to  Palm’s Mobile Applications Store in 2010.

The number of apps available from Palm has lagged behind iPhone App Store and Google’s Android Market. Apple has cited its huge library of apps as a driver for iPhone sales.  Google is adding apps at a rapid pace which will support the expected launch of the search giant’s Nexus One super smartphone.

Although Palm apps have lagged behind in number, they are generally perceived as useful and well designed. A boost in the number of quality apps at the Palm store should help the company grow its user base.

The Sprint support site reports the following enhancements will be included in the WebOS 1.3.5 update:

- Improvement in battery life optimization when in marginal coverage areas.
– QCELP capability fix to allow play and audio of video sent via MMS.
– Launch Google Maps or Sprint Nav when tapping an address from contacts.
– Minimized package of MR size through binary difference. Customers can now download over 2G connections if necessary.

End of post.

App name: The New York Times Mobile Reader Version 1.0 k5Software

Requires:  iPhone OS 3.0 or later

Price: .99¢

Print Menu

Description
The New York Times Mobile Reader is a paid app from k5Software. It shouldn’t be confused with the NYTimes app from The New York Times Company which is the number one news app and 2009 Mobie Award winner for best news application.

The New York Times Mobile Reader features a print reader with some of the  news from the New York Times, including US, World, Technology, Business, Europe, Africa and Asia. It does not provide all the news sections found in the NYTimes app.

A unique feature of  the Mobile Reader are the New York Times podcasts which include Front Page, Today’s Business, Weekend Business, Backstory, NYT Tech Talk, Book Review, Ethicist, Music, Only in New York, Political Points, Science Times, Your Money and Times Talk.

How Does It Perform
The print section of the Mobile Reader functions like most readers. Articles are selected from a menu by tapping on the headline. The stories appear to be identical to those found in the NYTimes app but do not include the news photos. Ads that appear on the NYTImes reader  are not displayed on the Mobile Reader pages.

The podcasts are accessed from a menu labeled “Listen”.  Tap on your selection and the podcast loads and begins playing. During my test, the load time was just a few seconds, but may be slower when ATT network traffic is heavy. The sound is clear and crisp using either the external iPhone speaker or earphones.

I listened to podcasts while driving, using an FM transmitter to play them on my car radio. I also listened while taking a walk and when I was waiting in a long line at a supermarket checkout. The podcasts were a convenient way to get some news when reading wasn’t an option or inconvenient.

Podcast Menu

Our Opinion
The Times’ podcasts are the only reason I would choose Mobile Reader. Although they are available free through iTunes, it is quicker and easier to access the podcasts through the Mobile Reader. I find the convenience worth the .99¢ cost of the app. I like the podcasts, so this app works for me.

The print news in The New York Times Mobile Reader is alright, as far as it goes. The NYTimes app provides more news and has good navigation tools. If I wanted print news only, I’d choose NYTimes. But I like the podcasts, so I’ll keep both apps on my iPhone and use the best features of both.

Pros
Podcasts, no ads.

Cons
Less print news than NYTimes app.

Our Rating (one to five)
♦♦♦♦

Customer Rating
♦♦♦♦♦

iTunes Link
The New York Times Mobile Reader Version 1.0

According to the New York Times, Laura Northrup of the Consumerist was told during an online chat with an AT&T representative named Daphne that “the phone is not offered to you because New York is not ready for the iPhone. You don’t have enough towers to handle the phone”.

However, when contacted by the New York Times, the unavailability of the iPhone was attributed to fraudulent activity online. The Times reported that iPhones are available at the Apple Store on 5th Avenue.

This looks like yet another black eye for ATT, which has been criticized  for providing insufficient capacity for the heavy data traffic from iPhone owners.

AT&T: iPhone “Sorry this Package not available in your area”

Here’s an interesting new app called HiDef Radio. The App Store description claims it streams over 30,00 radio stations around the world.

Features include:

• Use other apps while listening to radio
• Listen to stations on your computer
• Add your own stations
• Save your favorite stations for quick access
• Browse the web while you listen
• Share stations with friends via email

Requires OS 3.0 or later

Released 12/22/2009

Price $1.99

Customer rating as of 12/26/2009 is 5-Stars.

If this app performs as claimed, it is a good value. Wunder Radio, a similar and very popular app sells for $6.99. Although Wunder Radio offers more features such as podcasts, at less than 1/3 the price HiDef Radio is a good value.

_________________

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You can start you own band with ThumbJam, which provides you with 30 music instruments to play.

App Store description:

“You get 30 high quality real instruments multi-sampled exclusively for this app. Hundreds of included scales allow you to effortlessly play in any style from rock to classical, whether you are a musical novice or a seasoned professional”

“Want to jam with friends? ThumbJam lets you broadcast tempo, key and scale to other nearby devices via Bluetooth so you can play together live.”

Requires OS 3.0 or later

Released 12/15/2009

Price $5.99

Customer rating as of 12/26/2009 is 5-Stars

User comments:

• “This is by far the most interesting music app I’ve ween in the App Store.”
• “well worth the $$$…”
• “Within just a few minutes of using this app it became my favorite music app, and I’m a music app junkie.”
• 
  

ThumbJam Screenshots

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