The iPad is not just for watching Netflix movies, reading iBooks, or playing games. With the appropriate app installed, you can turn your iPad into an Office productivity machine.

There is a huge selection of office apps on the iPad that will provide word processing, spreadsheet, and even presentation slides for you to edit and review. Some of them, like the iWork Suite, will allow users to integrate the iPad version of Pages, Keynote, and Numbers with the iWork Suite on the Mac. However more people will probably want to get an app that works similar to MS Office.

Most people will probably want to get the best iPad office productivity app out there.  Among the many reviews out there, QuickOffice and Pages seem to be the top pick among reviewers.  Indeed,  Quickoffice, with its more user friendly interface and excellent MS Office powerpoint, word, and excel compatibility, what’s not to like?  Pages is a must have for those who are already familiar with its desktop version.  Its powerful features as a word processor simply cannot be underestimated.

Although typing on the iPad keyboard may still be a little awkward when trying to get real work done, for many of us, the iPad is already a daily part of our lives.  We carry it wherever we go.  Why take out that bulky laptop when you can just quickly place the sleek iPad on the tabletop.  Without waiting for the long start-up sequence that a laptop goes through, your iPad will very quickly launch your Office Productivity app.  Work gets started right away.

Mentioned iPad Apps

QuickOffice

Pages

Twitter, Brightkite, Foursquare, Gowalla, Facebook and Google Buzz are all the rage, allowing users to keep their adoring fans, or at least their mother informed of their latest position and activities.  A new site has popped up, highlighting the dangers of being so informative.  Please Rob Me is taking updates directly from foursquare and is doing this to highlight the dangers inherent in letting everyone and his dog know exactly where you are at any given time.

Here is the website’s why:

“Hey, do you have a Twitter account? Have you ever noticed those messages in which people tell you where they are? Pretty annoying, eh. Well, they’re actually also potentially pretty dangerous. We’re about to tell you why.

Don’t get us wrong, we love the whole location-aware thing. The information is very interesting and can be used to create some pretty awesome applications. However, the way in which people are stimulated to participate in sharing this information, is less awesome. Services like Foresquare allow you to fulfill some primeval urge to colonize the planet. A part of that is letting everyone know you own that specific spot. You get to tell where you are and if you’re there first, it’s yours. O, and of course there’s badges..

Foursquare

The danger is publicly telling people where you are. This is because it leaves one place you’re definitely not… home. So here we are; on one end we’re leaving lights on when we’re going on a holiday, and on the other we’re telling everybody on the internet we’re not home. It gets even worse if you have “friends” who want to colonize your house. That means they have to enter your address, to tell everyone where they are. Your address.. on the internet.. Now you know what to do when people reach for their phone as soon as they enter your home. That’s right, slap them across the face.

The goal of this website is to raise some awareness on this issue and have people think about how they use services like Foursquare, Brightkite, Google Buzz etc. Because all this site is, is a dressed up Twitter search page. Everybody can get this information.”

Suddenly it doesn’t seem like a great idea to be broadcasting the fact you have vacated your house.  At least one possible Twitter-enabled robbery has been reported on when a holidaying video podcaster’s house was burglarized last year in Mesa Arizona.  While many commenters don’t feel that the criminal element is smart enough to make this connection, the economic downturn is now creating desperate times and resulting in desperate measures for everyone.  An unoccupied home stashed with a treasure trove of pawn-worthy electronic goodies can present quite a temptation to someone who has not had a paycheque since Michael Jackson was busting out his moon walk.

Anyone with kids in the digital age has already thought through the potential dangers of having their family or home targetted for nefarious purposes.  Children, teens and adults really should scale back the specific nature of their tweets, posts and updates.  Best possible scenario is to report on holidays and away from home activities after you have returned.  Don’t be posting your macarena lessons in real time….wait til you have returned to your disco palace to wow your followers with your amazing moves!

This is an iPhone Home Safety article by The Apps Machine.

An analyst with Credit Suisse, Bill Shope, reportedly met with Apple execs this past weekend and was informed that, among other things, Apple intends to “remain nimble” on iPad pricing.

Wow.  Big surprise.  Isn’t this exactly what they have done with all their other wildly popular products?  Case in point: the iPhone.  The 8GB was brought out at $599US on June 29,2007 and the price dropped $200US on September 5, 2007 even though they were selling like hotcakes.  This was done in conjunction with the dropping of the 4GB handset and only seemed like the right thing to do.  Amid howls of unfair pricing from early adopters, Apple CEO Steve Jobs wrote in an open letter to iPhone customers that everyone who purchased an iPhone at the higher price “and who is not receiving a rebate or other consideration”, would receive a US$100 credit to be redeemed towards the purchase of any product sold in Apple’s retail or online stores.

It works like this:
iPad 64gb 3G……$829

AT&T unlimited data plan for the iPad…..$29.99 per month

—————————————————————————–

Being the first in your group to wow the pants off everyone with your iPad = PRICELESS

Yes, sorry to say, early adopters will pay the price to own their spanky new iPad but that is the whole point for the fanboys and girls (of which I am one, I must disclose at this point).  I cannot wait for my iPad.  I take it as a given that the price will drop.  The time from the moment I lay my hands on it until the price does drop is, in my mind, totally worth it.  Any many people I have talked to are on the same wavelength.  This device is putting fun back into computers and we are going to be jumping on the bandwagon early, no matter what the cost.  After all, it’s only money!

The real news is what else Bill Shope was told, according to Silicon Alley Insider:

• Management declined to tip their hand about Verizon.
• Instead, they say they’re focused on international expansion. The iPhone is only in 86 countries, while rivals are in 160 countries.
• Apple is happy with enterprise adoption of the iPhone, and it thinks that’s a market that will expand.
• The movie industry’s legacy deals are screwing Apple from getting the content it wants. For example, HBO has locked out certain titles which Apple can not get. The contracts protecting those locks won’t expire for a few years.
• It’s hard to sell a TV show for $1.99 when Redbox is renting a whole movie for $1.00.
• On e-books, Apple cares less about the long-tail and more about the hits. It wants the ‘right titles quickly.’
• Apple believes the education market presents a massive opportunity for the iPad.
• Management doesn’t see the iPad eating at either iPhone sales or notebook sales.
• Despite the low price of the iPad, Apple “expects strong profit performance.”
• Apple will be nimble with the price of the iPad. If people aren’t buying iPads, Apple could cut the price.
• To the critics of the iPad, Apple says ‘bite us.” Okay, not really, but they say most critics haven’t played with one, and they’re focused on what the iPad doesn’t do, rather than what it does.
• Apple plans more retail stores around the world.

So there you have it people, Apple’s marketing strategies and conundrums in a nutshell.

Talk amongst yourselves….better yet, let me know if you are going to buy or wait?

This is an article by The Apps Machine.

Usually there may be 20 to 50 apps gone free per day. However, many are crappy apps that offer nothing of value.  We’ve tested them and filtered out crappy apps from our list so the apps we feature are quality apps that are actually worth your time to download. But get these apps quickly because most are just free for a limited time. Some apps are free for even less than a day!

So don’t be late in getting these premium apps and games for free. Follow us on Twitter or Subscribe by email to get instant daily free app notifications.

Free App of The Day:

iCatchall: 27+ Apps In One

iCatchall $1.99->FREE Offer expired. Follow us on Twitter or Subscribe to email notifications so you won’t miss it next time! (App Store)

If you are looking for an app that does everything, iCatchall is a close one.  iCatchall is 27 apps in one.  Commonly used tools such as unit converter, tip calculator, ruler, flashlight, and currency converter are all available in this app.  There are also 11 casual games to spend that extra spare time.  Several sound effect are also included, including the infamous fart sound.

Why is it Great?  Don’t waste precious icon space on your iPhone/iPod Touch.  iCatchall should give you many of the useful tools you’ll need in just 1 app.

Other Great Apps:

QuakeZones

Quake Zones $0.99->FREE (App Store)

Explore the world’s earthquakes. Quake Zones will give you earthquake data going back 30 years on Google Map.  Check the details on the recent Haiti, Eureka, and China Szechuan earthquakes.  Or you can look at all the earthquakes around your hometown in the past month.  The result will surprise you.

You can adjust the magnitude range you want to look at to narrow down the earthquake data.  The list view can also help you spot major earthquakes throughout this world arranged by date or magnitude.

Why is it Great?  A comprehensive earthquake data in your pocket.

Reversi Online Tournament

Reversi Online Tournament $1.99->Offer expired. Follow us on Twitter or Subscribe to email notifications so you won’t miss it next time! (App Store)

Othello is a fun game of black and white pieces battling each other for domination of the board.  Enclose the other color from both ends and change all of the enemy’s colors to yours.

Reversi Online Tournament brings Othello to online multiplayer on the iPhone and iPod Touch.  Challenge real players and get ranked in the global leader board.

Why is it Great?  Play the well known strategy game Reversi (Othello) with people all over the world on your iPhone or iPod Touch.

Please check the price of app before downloading. Prices can change at any time. Sometimes apps are even just free for a few hours before they get a new price.

A new personal assistant app is now available in the iTunes store in the US only, called Siri.  This app is being touted as a “do engine” instead of a search engine.  Reminders of Star Trek and 2001 A Space Odyssey abound as this app is able to use voice commands to search up information you are seeking and then, in some cases, perform actions with that information.  “Computer!  Earl Grey Tea, hot!”  No it is not quite there yet but it seems like a great start.  You can ask it to find a romantic Italian restaurant in your current location and it will generate a list of options using several sources such as Google Maps, restaurant reviews and the like.  You can then even ask Siri to make you a reservation at the restaurant of your choice at the time you request using Open Table. Pretty slick.

Reviews are coming in from users putting it to the test and it ranges from “scary good” to “buggy but I want to see the next version” so apparently it is working well for American iPhone 3Gs users.  Alot of partners are going to have to get on board to make this available worldwide, which will will hopefully happen soon, but don’t hold your breath.  According to an interview written up on Mashable CEO and co-founder of Siri, Dag Kittlaus:

Siri was born from SRI’s CALO Project. The CALO Project (or Cognitive Assistant that Learns and Organizes) is the largest Artificial Intelligence project in U.S. History. DARPA invested $150 million into CALO over the course of five years. What was learned from CALO has been implemented into Siri.

Whether that information can be extrapolated to use around the world is still unknown.  Siri has engaged the services or domains the likes of OpenTable, MovieTickets, StubHub, CitySearch and TaxiMagic.  This list is to be expanded and once it is, our lives may be made much easier without having to jump through the hoops the internet currently demands of us.  While some detractors are saying this app will essentially dumb down the population by allowing machines to do our work, I say there are many tasks machines can do for us to help us free up time for more important things like spending time with our families and working for volunteer agencies to improve our communities.  Making dinner reservations, ordering tickets, finding movie schedules all are on my pet peeve list.  This app has incredible potential and the more mundane tasks it can take on the better!

This is a cool app article by The Apps Machine.

Right from the get go we knew about the Flash fail.  15 minutes into the iPad debut, Steve sat down with his iPad and opened up the web and bingo, there was the familiar little blue lego block on the screen, projected as large as an elephant.  Some potential users recoiled in horror.  No Adobe Flash?  Since its introduction in 1996 Flash has become a popular method for adding animation and interactivity to web pages.  Yes, much like the iPhone and iPod Touch, Apple has confirmed that Flash will continue to be unwelcome on the main operating system for all three devices.  Howls of protest ensued.

Others of us rejoiced.  Adobe Flash is a proprietary software constantly requiring updates and fixes.  Half of all the updates Apple releases for it’s computers are “improved security and stability” for issues around Flash.  It is antiquated and buggy and if you have a slower machine or web connection your system resources will be overtaxed by Flash.  Many people have turned off Flash on their browsers, simply to improve the web experience.  So we are not in any way shape or form surprised or upset that the iPad, like it’s mobile cousins, will not allow Flash to run.

There is much speculation as to why Apple has such a hate on for Flash.  Crashing OSX on a regular basis is not a small part of it.  But bugs and fixes aside, there are a bunch of reasons for Apple to want to deep six Flash, ranging from Steve Jobs meting out revenge for Flash taking out Quicktime as the main video delivery system on the web.  Apple may just want to be ahead of the curve, leaving the outdated multimedia platform in it’s dust.  Apple also could be seen to be supporting more open source development since Flash is proprietary and the new kid on the block, HTML5 is open source, or at least closer to open source as it will still require some video codec licensing.  HTML5 which is an emerging web standard, is quickly being adopted by browser manufacturers and developers, offers native video playback and animation tools that don’t require Flash plug-ins.  Google even lent the new kid on the block some street cred by adding HTML5 support to YouTube in a Beta test.

Adobe has only made efforts to belittle Apple for their decision, suggesting that the company chooses to enforce restrictions to maintain their uniqueness and in doing so, only serve to limit and frustrate users.  This does not seem to imply that the multimedia company wishes to miss out on the almost certain success of this new Apple release. In fact, Adobe has already created a way around Apple’s wishes, making it possible for developers to use Flash in the creation of new iPhone and iPad applications. So those Flash lovers out there will be able to get their fix through their apps, don’t you worry.

To Flash or not to Flash, that is the question.  Apple has made up it’s mind and it is going Flash free and that is quite ok with us.

This is a No Flash on iPad article by the Apps Machine.

Now that the flurry of speculation is over, people, companies and organizations are really starting to get their collective minds around this cool new piece of technology and how it will work into their daily lives. Stephen Colbert gave us a good example as he performed the hosting duties at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards where the music industry congratulates itself.  Colbert, the wildly popular comedic host of the Colbert Report, expertly whipped out an iPad from inside his tux jacket to read the nominees for an award.  Jokes aside, the oversized iPod Touch looked awesome and performed well, the screen orienting itself as he waved it in the air.  Right then millions of people started thinking hmmm…that’s pretty slick! I could use one of those things and look cool doing it!  Even though Colbert’s own daughter didn’t seem to think so, every tween/teen I know would give their eye teeth for an iPad!

One of the places where technology is used hands on every day is in hospitals.  The Sacramento Bee is reporting that hospital administrations are eagerly eyeing up the iPad.  People like Dr. Javeed Siddiqui, associate medical director for the Center for Health and Technology at UC Davis Medical Center, told the Bee he’s excited by the potential the iPad offers for the medical industry.  “It’s portable and it’s lightweight,” he said. “It has touch screen, a Web browser — and all those features can be utilized as a way to integrate technology in patient care.”   The real potential for the iPad in the medical field will lie in the ability to write custom applications for the hardware.  In addition to a number of bundled applications the iPad will have access to Apple’s App Store, which now offers more than 140,000 different options.

Mobihealthnews is reporting 10 takes on the iPad, some glowing, others not so positive.  Some are bemoaning the lack of a stylus for writing, others say it is just too cumbersome in the small spaces devoted to doctors in operating rooms and care beds.  The fact that it is not splash proof may be a problem where cleanliness is of the utmost importance.  Obviously case makers will have a field day with the iPad, dreaming up ruggedized and waterproof fixes.  These issues aside, the fact that the iPad provides a new reasonably-sized platform for software (app) development is gaining traction with the medical community and generating hope that the iPad will prove to be a very useful tool going forward.  Technological advances in our medical infrastructure will be needed to keep up with the increasing needs of our aging population.  Not the least of which is an device that you don’t need a magnifying glass to use!

This is an iPad Sighting article by The App Machine.

When Apple introduced the iPad as their “magical and revolutionary” device on Wednesday, Steve Jobs quickly mentioned a few accessories to make the iPad a little more practical.  Keyboard, case and connection kits help make the iPad more accessible and useful for the “muggles” (non-magical) among us.  With not alot of time available he had to gloss over the details and most importantly, the prices.  There is also room for speculation about 3rd party accessories, considering the iPad comes with bluetooth which leaves the field wide open for speakers and such.  But this article will explore the Apple only offerings.

First up is the keyboard dock, seen above.  iLounge has said it is called the iPad Keyboard Dock and it costs $69.  It enables users who type a lot to dock their iPads in a reclined position, connect a wall adapter for charging (not included), and use a “real” keyboard.  This will be a welcome addition for people not keen on using the virtual keyboard, which, funnily enough, looks exactly like this keyboard, just on the display.  There may be some hoping for a landscape version of this dock so look for an after market version.  This dock also features an audio jack which lets you connect to a stereo or powered speakers.

Second is the iPad case which enhances the book look of the device and provides it protection in your briefcase. Opening up like a book,  the case can be folded backwards and props the iPad up on a slight angle, placing the virtual keyboard in a comfortable typing  and viewing position.  Priced at $39 I can see this being a very popular accessory even though initial reviews of the accessory found it to be too much PVC and not classy-looking enough for the iPad crowd.

Next up we have the connection kit to allow you to upload photos from an SD storage card to your iPad or to connect your camera directly to the iPad via a 30pin to USB connector.  This kit will retail for $29.  More than one USB ports would have been preferable, but when space is at a premium, you take what you can get!  Countless other uses will be made of these two little dongles by the after market crowd.

Last but not least we have a small version of the first accessory, a charging stand, but this one does not come with a keyboard.  This will be useful for propping your iPad up on your nightstand and using it as an alarm clock, or setting it in the kitchen as a calendar.  This stand will retail for $29.  It will stand the iPad up on its tall edge, providing an audio output and pass-through access to its Dock Connector port for synchronization and charging.

So that rounds up the main accessories that Apple is showing on it’s website for the iPad so far.  I am looking forward to the 3rd party accessories… here is a teaser photo:

This is a Griffin Silicon case, I personally am loving the purple!!

This is a cool accessories article by The App Machine.

Rumors we reported that Apple was ready to invite Verizon into the iPhone party during the iPad unveiling proved to be false.  Disgruntled AT&T customers have grumbled over the exclusive arrangement between Apple and AT&T.  Apple chose to take the high road and continue the monopoly. This could be simply because Steve Jobs did not want to distract from iPad’s thunder, it could be as silly as a personality conflict between him and Verizon’s head honchos.  There has to be more to this story…

Wired has written a thoughtful little piece on why Verizon has been frozen out.  Yes, AT&T’s network has been overworked by the iPhone which was not forseen, but to their credit they have been working to build out more coverage and taking the blame for the problems.  It is likely that AT&T has bent over backwards to keep Apple happy, and the fact that they provided a $30 unlimited plan for the iPad demonstrates just that.  And you can buy the iPad unlocked so it will run on any GSM network, with a few caveats.  You don’t have to sign a contract with AT&T, you can activate the iPad at home.  Unfortunately Verizon runs on CDMA not GSM and therefore only works in the US.  This could present difficulties for the iPad which definitely is aimed at stunning the world with it’s “magical and revolutionary” technology.

Ultimately however, Apple would naturally seem to want to increase the number of carriers they deal with in the US.  They deal with multiple carriers in other countries, Canada being a good example where Telus and Bell were added to the original carrier Rogers.  Telus and Bell added HSPA (a GSM technology) this year.  If Verizon actually gets it’s plan to leapfrog to LTE going, then there would seem to be no reason for Apple to keep the clubhouse door shut.  Unless Apple and AT&T really are monogamous.

This is an AT&T article by the Apps Machine.

iCall

In a bit of chest-thumping, the iPhone app developers of iCall issued a press release today announcing that Apple has lifted the restriction on using voice over internet protocol calls on the iPhone for 3G networks and iPod Touch for wi-fi only.  Apparently Apple has updated the iPhone developer kit to allow voIP over cellular networks.  Rumor has it that the 3G restriction wasn’t anything to do with the software itself, but instead a server-side block, coming from the carrier (AT&T etc.)  Perhaps this is some of the fallout from the clogged network issues AT&T customers have been enduring, but from our point of view this may only add to the amount of data, thus making it worse.

According to the iCall press release:

“With the latest revisions Apple has made to the iPhone developer agreement and Software Development Kit, iCall for the iPhone and iPod Touch now enabled unrestricted free local and long distance calling over 3G data networks.  iCall with support for VoIP over 3G networks is now available in the App Store for download.  iCall is the first and only VoIP application available for the iPhone platform that allows use over 3G networks.  iCall for the iPhone and iPod Touch may now be downloaded from the App Store here.

If you are to believe this press release it would now seem that you can make free and unlimited phone calls.  But hold on.  A visit to the iCall website shows the rate plans they have in place.  Granted their calling is cheaper than Skype, reviews are not too positive on the app store.  The application is buggy and offering no support even to those who invest in the unlimited calling plan for $9.95 a month.

This all being said, Apple and the carriers have opened the door, and other apps will soon follow, hopefully better quality apps.  For now Skype and Truphone are still the go to alternatives.  The phone calling landscape is about to change.

This is a post by The Apps Machine.

Steve Jobs and Apple finally let the cat out of the bag today and confirmed the introduction of their new tablet computer dubbed the “iPad”.  Unfortunate choice of name aside, Steve announced that this device is “our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price.”  The device is basically a big iPhone or iPod Touch, with a 9.7″ in-plane switching screen (which looks gorgeous),  half an inch thin, and weighs a pound and a half.

Steve claims this is the category in between the MacBook and iPhone where a netbook should be.  However he said the netbook did not do anything better than the former two.  The iPad is Apple’s version of the third category, and they think they have done a much better job of it.  “We’ve always tried to be at the intersection of technology and liberal arts — we want to make the best tech, but have them be intuitive. It’s the combination of these two things that have let us make the iPad,” concludes Jobs.

Demonstrations during the unveiling revealed  that the iPad will run all iPhone/touch apps unmodified out of the box, adding pixel double to let apps run in full screen.  This will be wonderful for games, however text-heavy apps may appear sparse on such a large screen.  With a full capacitive multi-touch screen on which gestures will work, 75 million iPhone/touch users already know how to use this device.  Battery life apparently will be 10 hours, with a month of standby.  There is a speaker and a microphone, and perhaps an sd card slot on the side.  It runs the iPhone operating system, powered by Apple’s new in-house 1Ghz A4 chip, with 16gb, 32gb or 64gb of storage.  There will be a wi-fi only version, and a wi-fi plus 3G version.

A new iBook store is being launched to compete with Amazon’s Kindle and other ebook readers.  At least five major publishers have signed on to provide titles for this new Apple store.  Steve said the iPad will provide the most intimate web experience ever, especially since you can cradle the device in your lap just like a folded book or newspaper with no keyboard interference.  The book experience certainly looks realistic.  The virtual on-screen keyboard looks just like a wireless Apple keyboard.  iWork is being updated to work in sync with the iPad’s capabilities with new apps and features.

As for the pricing, Apple starts the iPad off at $499 for the 16gb wi-fi model, and goes up to $829 for the full meal deal.  Data plans will be $14.95 per month for a rather measly 250mb, and $29.99 for an unlimited data rate which is much more attractive, all through of course, AT&T.  No other mobile partners were announced which should disappoint disgruntled AT&T iPhone customers.  Apple threw these people a bone by offering free use of AT&T wi-fi hotspots.  Cheers did erupt when Steve mentioned no contract, and you can cancel anytime.  The device will be available in the US on March 27, and not until June or July internationally.

So all in all, is this the Jesus tablet everyone hoped for?  Yes and no.  Yes it is pretty and fast.  But magical and revolutionary?  Only time (and a bunch of money) will tell.  Leo Laporte reported the hands on experience to be quite something.  It is disappointing that there is no two way camera to allow for video Skyping.  There is no multi-tasking.  But you can’t have everything I suppose.  I for one will be in the line up to get mine along with all the other fanboys.

The is an article by the Apps Machine.

Apple reported it’s earnings on Monday, and it is music to the ears of it’s shareholders.  CNN is reporting the Cupertino, Calif., company said net income for the quarter ended Dec. 31 surged 50% from a year earlier to a record $3.4 billion, or $3.67 per share, beating analysts expectations by $1.59 a share.  Apple announced an incredible 100% year-over-year rise in iPhone sales and a 33% increase in Mac sales helped drive Apple’s results. The company said it sold a record 8.7 million iPhones in the quarter. That’s up 17.6% from the 7.4 million it sold in the previous quarter and double what it sold during the same quarter a year ago. Sales were partially boosted by Apple’s introduction of the iPhone in China last quarter.  Here in Canada I witnessed a surge in the number of iPhones in my friends’ families, with many teens and tweens receiving an iPhone for Christmas, now that Telus and Bell have been added as carriers, along with the original carrier Rogers.

In the three-month holiday quarter, iPod touch sales saw a 55 percent year-over-year increase which also represented alot of Christmas presents.  Last month, one study found that use of the iPod touch was greater than the iPhone in average use. It is believed the iPod touch could transition youth to the iPhone when they grow older, which exactly predicts what I witnessed this Christmas.  The study estimated that just over 40 percent of 58 million iPhone OS devices sold worldwide through September 2009 were the iPod touch.

The only product not showing spectacular results was the iPod, which slumped 8% to a still rather respectable 21 million units last quarter.  This is really not surprising considering the iPhone is an iPod, so once people get their hot little hands on an iPhone, an iPod becomes superfluous.  Until they use up their storage capablilities in their phone, they will rely on their iPhones as their daily driver music source.  The iPod then becomes the backup storage device.

“If you annualize our quarterly revenue, it’s surprising that Apple is now a $50+ billion company,” said Apple CEO Steve Jobs in a statement. “The new products we are planning to release this year are very strong, starting this week with a major new product that we’re really excited about.”  No Steve, it is not surprising.  And yes, we’re really excited about it too!  One more sleep!!

This is an article by the App Machine.

Apple COO Tim Cook reaffirmed their allegiance to AT&T on Monday during a quarterly earnings conference call.  Apple Insider is reporting he went so far as to downplay multiple carriers.  “First of all, AT&T is a great partner,” Cook said. “We’ve been working with them since well before we announced the first iPhone. It’s important to note they have more mobile broadband usage than any carrier in the world.”
“We think iPhone customers are having a great experience from the research we’ve done,” Cook added.
“AT&T has acknowledged they’re having a few issues in a few cities and they’re making plans to address these.  We’ve reviewed these plans and we’re confident they’ll make significant progress towards fixing them.”  Legions of disgruntled iPhone customers would probably protest these remarks vociferously.  To the point that AT&T has taken a hit on their image.

However a new rumour has surfaced via Hot Hardware that the exclusivity will indeed be broken on Wednesday, January 27.  Apparently the contract was up January 1, 2010.  Interestingly it is not so much Apple, as it is AT&T wanting to let in another provider so as to preserve their image as a reliable carrier.  The iPhone is triggering network overloads for AT&T now.  Just imagine what kind of overload the New Creation will generate once it hits the ground in March.  AT&T could use this offloading as time for damage control within their own network.  Indeed, there are rumblings that Verizon has been called to arms and will announce a partnership with Apple at a webcast for Verizon dealers which will run simultaneously with Apple’s big announcement tomorrow.  Maybe even an exclusive agreement which will see only Verizon handle the Latest Creation.  Tomorrow is shaping up to be a big big day for mobile tech fans everywhere!

This is an article by The Apps Machine.

I really tried to love Rate My Puppy, but for the life of me I could not.  Ok I admit it, I’m a cat lover.  So I was eagerly awaiting Pistol Shrimp to release this app Rate My Kitten (App Store Link).  Now I can while away the hours swiping through hordes of cute furry kittens!  So I admit it, I am biased.  Therefore, in the name of journalistic integrity I got my 12 year old daughter to write the review:

“This app will have cat lovers purring. Rate My Kitten is a neat new app, much like Rate My Puppy, that enables you to rate other cat owners’ cats pictures. I found the layout very simple and effective, even non-tech savvy cat lovers could use it with ease.

If you’re looking for a way to brighten up your day, just open this app and it will have you smiling and aww-ing in seconds. There are contests that the app creators have produced.  If your cat picture gets a high rating you will receive a prize! I think that by providing some incentive the creators will get a higher amount of buyers.

But the fun doesn’t stop there, anyone can add their own cute-as-a-button kitty pictures, too. I, personally, love cats and I think this app will be a good way for cat lovers, owners and everyone in between to showcase their cats. Basically, it’s a cat show for people who can’t or don’t want to go to one!”

Ooops, I forgot to mention she is a cat lover too, actually our whole family is, so there is no way this review can be unbiased!

One irritation should be noted with this app.  When my daughter downloaded it she got an ad-free version.  My app includes banner ads which really detracts from the whole cuteness thing.  Even an ad for Rate My Kitten…really?  Pretty hard to concentrate on cute when you are being bombarded with stupid ads.  I would gladly pay $1.99 for this app to forgo the ads.  Are you listening Pistol Shrimp?  K thx lolz.

App Review Score:  4/5

Rate My Kitten is now available for free download in the App Store.

This is an app review by The Apps Machine.

Are Wintek workers dying to make this?

As reported here two days ago, workers at a Wintek factory in Souzhou, China were clashing with their employers, venting their frustration over working conditions, pay and bonuses (or lack thereof).  Apple Insider is reporting that the “strike” was “settled” a day or two after it began because the promised Chinese New Year bonus was reinstated.  But as we reported in our previous article, the strike was not just about pay.  There were also serious concerns with worker safety while working with chemicals in the factory.  There is no word about any changes that might have been made to improve those conditions.  Hopefully these other issues were not swept under the carpet once the bonuses went out.   Wintek was careful to give the impression that production had not been affected.  Not even a hiccup in the huge production chain?  Seems too good to be true.

This Wintek factory is making displays for Apple iPhones, touches and the tablet.  There were four recent deaths at Wintek.  Is this due to the improper safety precautions in the use of hexane to clean the screens?  Hopefully Apple is keeping tabs on the situation. Last year, an audit of factories Apple contracts with in China showed that a substantial number were not paying valid overtime rates for those that qualified. Premium overtime is paid at twice the normal rate, however many companies are paying 1.5 times for overtime, Wintek included.

In a country where a 60 hour work week is the norm, overtime is a very sensitive issue.   In addition, 23 of the 83 surveyed factories weren’t even paying their workers China’s minimum wage.  Back in 2006 Apple conducted an audit of its Foxconn facilities in Taiwan and found them lacking.  They enlisted the services of Verité, an internationally recognized leader in workplace standards, to ensure that its manufacturing partners around the world are in compliance with its Code of Conduct.  Is Apple paying attention?  Is Verite being contracted on an ongoing basis?  Apple has a big stake in the new iTablet.  It would be a shame to lose corporate good will at such a delicate time as the launch of a new product.

As a commenter stated in the Apple Insider comment section, it is high time Apple put it’s money where it’s mouth is.  Do something really amazing, incredible and cool Steve, bring your company’s manufacturing back to the United States!  The jobs would be greatly appreciated!  Not to mention the huge amount of corporate good will this would generate for Apple.  Apple has to make sure there is nothing rotten anywhere in their enterprise.
This is an article by The Apps Machine.

Words cannot begin to convey how tragic the earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday January 12 has been for the people of Haiti and many foreigners who were there trying to help an already struggling country.  Our hearts are heavy with horrific news day after day and survival stories are few and far between in the aftermath.  However, an amazing story with a technological angle is being recounted by Dan Woolley, a film producer from Colorado Springs who was in Haiti to film relief efforts for mothers and babies.

Dan used his DSLR camera and his iPhone fitted with a Mophie battery extender pack to help him survive being trapped under the rubble of the collapsed Hotel Montana, which was one of the best hotels in Port Au Prince.  He was obviously well prepared for his visit to Haiti, however he probably least expected a massive earthquake.  He had the presence of mind to put these tools to good use in the tiny space in which he was trapped while praying for rescue.   In response to a Mashable article that got some of the details mixed up Dan has responded in his own words, which I will quote directly here as I could not possibly begin to describe it:

“My iPhone did not save me, God and the prayers of tens of thousands of His people did.

But I did use the Pocket First Aid & CPR app to help diagnose my injuries and make sure I was treating them well, which helped them not be more of a threat to my life as I waited for rescue. The Mophie battery extender helped the battery last, but it still lasted probably 5 hours more than I expected (God again). With no service, I switched to Airplane Mode and turned the brightness down to preserve battery.

It was a separate digital SLR I had around my neck that enabled me to take pictures around and identify the safe elevator in which I stayed for 65 hours.

Other apps I found useful: I set alarms for short periods of time to keep from falling asleep (I had survived an earthquake – I was NOT going to die in my sleep of shock or concussion). I listened to music one night for an hour to fight discouragement and help me worship God. I left audio goodbye notes to my wife and two little boys. And I used the light to view my writing on a page every few lines (in the dark) so I could start writing the next lines without writing over what I already wrote.

When the 20% warning came on, I turned it off permanently, saving the last power for possible use in an unforeseen need or if the cell networks came back up (had my text messages cued up).

@Christopher Woods: You are right, having such technology available to me put me in an incredible advantage over any Haitian impacted by the earthquake. That was the exact reason I was in Haiti – to shine a light on the poverty of Haiti’s children and how easy it is to break the cycle of poverty through organizations like Compassion International. I hope you, ALL of you, are finding ways to reach out to the beautiful people of Haiti in the midst of this tragedy.”

In a strange twist of fate a group of American missionaries were also trapped in the hotel near Dan.  Listening to the Reverend Jim Gulley will let you hear a first hand account of the horrific event.

So for those of you with iPhones and iPod touches,  download a couple safety/first aid apps (do it now!) so you are prepared like Dan was.  You never know when you may need them.

The Army First Aid Manual ($1.99, App Store) and Army Survival Guide ($1.99, App Store) are excellent first aid manuals during an emergency. For clinical information the free WebMD Mobile (App Store) may help you diagnose a condition when no doctor is available.   CPR Hero (App Store) is also a handy app to have on your iPhone when no CPR trained professional is available to perform CPR.

Our thoughts are with these survivors and many others as well as the thousands of others who lost their lives.  Please donate to Haiti through the charity of your choice.

This is a news article by The Apps Machine.

BarMax CA

We have a newly announced contender for the most expensive  (and possibly the most disappointing)  Apple app!  BarMax CA (just California, however other states are being readied) has just been released at a cost of $999 in the iTunes store.  This bar exam study app promises aspiring lawyers a wonderful learning experience, packing “50 pounds of books” into the palm of your hand, whether it be your iPhone or iTouch.  They proudly announce:

“We offer all of this for one fourth of the price of current packages on the market.  We are using the revolutionary technology behind the iPhone to enable bar prep at a much better price, and to teach students in a much better way.”

Horrible grammar aside, how this company thinks an app can take the place of a full blown bar exam study course is beyond me.  Studying for the bar exam not only involves going over material, it also entails learning the tricks of the exam itself, and the strategies one will require to pass the exam.  That kind of information would be tricky to convey in an app.   Commenters have remarked that this would be self-directed study and as such would require incredible self motivation.

Traditional class based courses get your bum in the seat and actually doing the work on a scheduled basis.  Plus I think I would go blind reading 50 pounds of books on my iPhone!  I can barely read my Facebook updates in one sitting!  That said, perhaps reading study guides on an app machine will change once the Apple Tablet has arrived.

The white elephant in the room that BarMax seems to conveniently ignore is that the bottom has fallen out of the job market for lawyers, new and old.  The New York Times article from last week entitled “No Longer Their Golden Ticket” claims that the profession is lurching through its worst slump in decades, with jobs and bonuses cut and internal pressures to perform rising.

A law blog called the Adjunct Law Professor adds “student loan debt is up and job expectations are down according to a year-end, informal snapshot of several sources”.  These articles both portray a bleak and indeed scary landscape for newly minted lawyers.

So I guess the only thing this app has going for it is that it is relatively cheap.  If a law student has indeed made it all the way through law school and is worried about failing the pass or fail bar exam, adding a c note to their debt load for this app would be a mere drop in the bucket at this point.

This is an article by The App Machine.

Apple’s status as a responsible corporate citizen may be rotten to the core.  News is coming out of China that employees of Wintek, a Taiwanese based company that supplies Apple iPhone displays as well as the much bally-hooed and not yet announced Tablet screens, are in an uproar over unsafe and unfair working conditions.  Apple is going to have to address these issues soon if they hope to maintain their brand’s integrity and impression as one of the world’s best companies.

Over 2,000 workers at a Wintek factory in the east Jiangsu Province of China went on strike last week after four employees died recently.  According to China Daily, the workers assert their deaths were due to prolonged exposure to hexane, a chemical used to wash the screens.  Hexane is a dangerous chemical and requires strict safety equipment and venting in the US, however it is doubtful these standards are being followed in the Wintek factory.

China’s employment standards are notoriously lacking, and employees also do not have any meaningful unions or legal recourse to sue employers.  Wintek is also reportedly not paying appropriate overtime rates (overtime is de rigeur in China, with a 60 hour work week being the norm) nor are they keeping their promise of paying a bonus to the employees prior to Chinese New Year. They are also cutting back on food quality for the workers.  This is leading to increasing frustration which has boiled over at the factory which has seen employees damaging equipment and nearby cars.  This is not the first case of employee outrage.  In April of last year Apple was faced with a list of issues from the employees.  Apple responded by saying:

Apple is committed to ensuring the highest standards of social responsibility wherever our products are [made], and we require corrective actions when we find violations.

Were the violations corrected?  It would not appear to be the case.  Their code of Supplier Responsibility can be found here. It specifically states standards for use of chemicals, and the payment of wages and overtime at premium rates.  Is this being followed?   Are they turning a blind eye to these issues so as to not scare off potential tablet customers?

I for one am very disappointed by this turn of events and am letting Apple know how I feel.    Of course these employees are smart, knowing that the release of the Apple tablet will be subject to intense media scrutiny so any time their protests hit the news their effect is magnified by all the Apple newshounds and fanboys.  So I am playing right into their hands, but if the reports are accurate, I believe they make a good case, and Apple needs to step up and make things right.  Outsourcing production of products is one thing, but violating basic working standards is quite another.

This is an article by The Apps Machine.

Apple invite

If this does not look like an invitation to witness the unveiling of a touch screen computer, I do not know what does!  Apple sent these invitations out by email to the press on Monday, asking them to arrive early to see a “creation” on January 27th at 10am Pacific Time.  Speculation has generally gone overboard, so that anything less than the iTablet at this point would be a huge disappointment.

In a piece of incredible investigative journalism by FoxNews.com, an anonymous source is being quoted as saying that along with the unveiling of the iTablet, Apple will release the next operating system upgrade for the iPhone (4.0) and updates to iLife (2010).  The Guardian UK news is reporting that the New York Times will be featured on stage as a major player in the new content delivery system.  The Times has reportedly been working towards monetization of their content for some time now.  Other app developers were also invited to work up “full-scale” iterations of their products, fueling predictions that Apple’s tablet will be a big iPhone.

Ah if we know Steve Jobs, this is not just going to be a big iPhone.  It’s going to have some panache and pizazz.  From the paint splatters, as compared to previous invites, this will be the go to device for creative, tactile, techies everywhere!

This is an article by The Apps Machine.

Verizon lobbed the first volley in this round of lowering rates for unlimited voice and text plans.  AT&T followed suit.  When the dust settled, Verizon were neck and neck with AT&T, with T-Mobile and Sprint edging them out for low rate honors.  Customers will not have to pay to switch over to the new plans, which will be music to some ears!

Verizon’s Unlimited Talk plan is now $69.99 per month, $29 cheaper. Its Unlimited Talk and Text now costs $89.99.  AT&T matched Verizon’s  unlimited plans.  The iPhone has its Unlimited Talk and Data at $99.99 with $20 extra for unlimited SMS.   AT&T’s previous pricing for iPhone users included $99.99 for unlimited voice and $30 for unlimited data.  AT&T customers will be able to switch over to the new plans on Monday via AT&T website.

Although the price drop for unlimited plans are welcome, Verizon and AT&T’s new offerings are still more expensive than Sprint and T-Mobile’s Unlimited Plans though.  Both Sprint’s Simply Everything Plan and T-Mobile’s Even More offering include unlimited talk, data, and text for $99.99 per month.

Judging by the comments, everyone is happy about this state of affairs.  Strangely enough, for every person saying AT&T is evil and treats it’s customers poorly, there are just as many claiming Verizon is just as bad.  It seems to be based on the area you are living and your usage.  The closer to a metro area, the overloading of the network is a problem.  The further away from civilization, the worse your coverage becomes.  So you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

The cell companies are well aware that their brand cachet is under fire at the moment for high fees and poor service.  What with all of the new handsets released at CES, and tablets poised to enter the market basically as big iPhones, damage control is underway.  Luring customers to their brand is paramount, prior to the release of tablets which will presumably become huge money makers with all the apps and data they will be requiring.

Hopefully these reductions are the start of a new trend.  With the US and Canada and then Spain being the most expensive countries to run a cell phone, we would greatly appreciate a well-deserved break on our plan charges!

This is an US wireless carrier price comparison article by The Apps Machine.