Author: Alan

Hipmunk Flight Search Engine Gets an iPad App

Hipmunk, a relatively new flight search engine that displays results via a special “agony” factor, has finally made an iPad-compatible version of its app (ie, it’s a universal app now). One extra feature of the iPad version is Hipmunk’s much-beloved slider, which can quickly change the filtering of results by time of day.

Other features of the app include the usual filtering of results by price and number of stops, re-running of recent searches, and emailing booked flights to friends using the app.

Hipmunk is a free download from the App Store.

After Blocking Web Access to iPad Users, the NYPost’s App Becomes Top Grossing

In the end, money talks, and that’s why a controversial move by the New York Post to block iPad users from accessing the newspaper’s website via the iPad’s browser may become a growing trend.

Starting this weekend, iPad users attempting to access NYPost.com via the iPad’s browser instead are greeted with a graphic prompting them to download the New York Post iPad app ($1.99). And despite numerous complaints, the app has quickly risen to the Top 10 Grossing iPad Apps list.

The blocking of a website to a specific device is a twist on what was originally supposed to be a useful feature: optimized versions of websites for mobile devices. Whenever a browser accesses a website, it can identify the operating system and device it’s running on to the site. Now, web publishers are using that information to delay or even block users, instead providing a landing page that prompts users to download an app. For example, movie-review site Rotten Tomatoes prompts iPad users to download the Movies by Flixster app before allowing users to pass on to the website.

And not everyone is happy about it. The Scripting News‘ Dave Winer describes it as “breaking the web” and suggests Apple change its software to no longer identify itself as an iPad to websites.

But with major newspapers struggling to stay profitable, the success of the Post’s iPad app may cause more newspapers to follow suit.

iPad users do have a way to fight back. They can simply download an alternate browser that doesn’t identify itself as running on an iPad. We highly recommend the free Terra browser app.

Average Smartphone Data Usage Increases to 435 MB Per Month

If you’re considering a data plan for a new iPhone, Nielsen’s latest study on average data usage for smartphones may help make a decision. Nielsen analyzed the cell phone bills of over 65,000 customers and found that the average data usage for smartphones is growing at rapid clip, increasing 89% year-over-year, from 230 MB per month in 2010 to 435 MB in 2011. Usage by the top 1% of data consumers grew to 4 GB a month from 1.8 GB in 2010, up 155%.

For data usage by OS type, Android phones used much more data per month, 582 MB, compared to the iPhone’s average of 492 MB.

Redesigned Mophie Juice Pack Air Snap Case for iPhone 4 Now Available

Mophie has introduced a redesigned version of their lightweight Juice Pack Air case battery for the iPhone 4, available for $79.95 from the Apple online store. This new version adds only a few minor tweaks from its predecessor, mainly an open top design for better accessibility to the iPhone’s headphone port, as well as a “bottom cap” snap design to allow for the iPhone 4 to be docked while still in the case.

The Juice Pack Air is one of the more popular iPhone 4 battery cases, mainly because it’s one of the smaller and lighter battery solutions for the iPhone. Mophie’s press release says the new Juice Pack Air maintains the 1500mAh rechargeable lithium polymer battery available in the previous iteration, which adds up to 6 hours of 3G talk time, 36 hours of audio playback, and 9 hours of video playback.

Other nice touches are 4 LED lights that indicate the battery’s status, a pass-through USB that lets you charge the Air’s battery and sync your iPhone at the same time, and a standby/charging switch so you only use the Air’s battery when you need it.

Currently, the Juick Pack Air is only available on Apple’s online store or directly from Mophie’s website for $79.95.

iPhone 5 Enters Final Testing Stage

The rumored iPhone 5 with slightly larger, edge-to-edge screen.

Website 9to5Mac is citing a “previously accurate Apple source” in stating that the iPhone 5 has entered the final testing stage before it’s approved for mass production and release in the fall of this year. In April 2011, Reuters cited sources in claiming the next iPhone would go into production in July, then go on sale in September. Reuters also claimed the iPhone 5 would come with a faster processor, likely Apple’s A5 chip that is in the iPad 2, which 9to5Mac confirms.

9to5Mac also discovered hidden references for two new models of iPhone in the recently released iOS 5 SDK. The two new models were labeled “N94” and “N93.” Apple previously labeled the original iPhone 4 “N90” and the Verizon CDMA version “N92.” The use of two models instead of one is a bit of mystery in itself, as Apple had been rumored to be combining the separate GSM (AT&T) and CDMA (Verizon) iPhones into one using a new universal chipset. Could the second model be the smaller, cheaper iPhone that the Wall Street Journal reported back in February?

Digging around some more inside the SDK, 9to5Mac also discovered that the next iPhone will keep the same 5-megapixel camera sensor as the current iPhone. Previous rumors had the iPhone 5 receiving an upgraded 8 megapixel camera.

The 25 Best iPad Apps for Kids

1. Goosed Up Rhymes

Goosed Up Rhymes ($3.99) features 8 classic kids stories made fully animated and interactive in a silly, fun way. In addition to the interactive stories, the app features 4 interactive games and a “collect the acorns” goal where kids must find the acorns hidden in the stories.

The included classic stories are:

  • Humpty Dumpty
  • Little Miss Muffet
  • Old Mother Hubbard
  • The Crooked Man
  • Jack and Jill
  • Hey Diddle Diddle
  • The Three Blind Mice
  • Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

The app features over 70 animated interactions and lots of humor. Parents will like it as much as the kids. There’s a free lite version to try it out.

2. The Three Little Pigs – Nosy Crow

The Three Little Pigs – Nosy Crow ($5.99) is a brilliantly animated interactive book that tells the classic tale of the wolf and the three little pigs. Two reading modes allow you to follow along with a narrator or read the book on your own. The book is filled with hundreds of interactive surprises. Touch the various characters to get extra dialogue and animations. Each character gets their own special musical soundtrack as well.

Other cool interactive features include a game to help the pigs build their houses, blowing on the screen to help blow the pigs’ houses down, and tilting the iPad to create movement and a subtle shift in perspective.

The app was chosen as one of the 10 Best Children’s Books by the New York Times.

3. The Monster at the End of This Book

The Monster at the End of This Book ($3.99) is the classic children’s book from Sesame Street updated and animated for the iPad. The book stars Grover, who is trying to keep readers from turning the pages and finding the monster at the end of the book. Each page is filled with fun interactive animations that respond to a child’s touch.

The book features voice narration from Grover himself. Words are highlighted as they are read to help build early reading skills. It’s a funny, classic story that kids will laugh at and read over and over.

4. Dr. Seuss the Cat in the Hat

Dr. Seuss the Cat in the Hat ($3.99) is the classic Seuss book in a new interactive form. It uses the original artwork and adds professional narration, background sound effects, and numerous touch-activated interactive features. The app is a universal app, so buy once and use on both the iPad and iPhone.

The book features three reading modes: Read to Me to hear the story from a professional narrator with the words highlighted as they are read, Read It Myself to read in traditional form, and Auto Play to have pages automatically turned for you.

The app’s interactive features help kids learn word association by touching words and objects, hearing the objects and words named, and seeing them zoom forward.

5. Interactive Alphabet – ABC Flash Cards

Interactive Alphabet – ABC Flash Cards ($2.99) turns each letter of the alphabet into an interactive toy. Kids are shown the entire alphabet, and when they tap any letter, a corresponding toy or interactive picture is shown. Kids can then tap the screen to interact in a fun way.

The app has a kid-friendly interface, including a baby mode that keeps the screen moving every 15 seconds. It features fun background music, with an original rendition of the alphabet song. Both uppercase and lowercase letters are shown. The app is universal, so buy once to play it on both iPad and iPhone.

6. Monkey Preschool Lunchbox

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox ($0.99) is a collection of 7 simple games for young kids (ages 2 to 5) to play. An animated monkey guides kids through each of their tasks using voice narration. The 7 included game types include color selection, matching, counting, letters, puzzle, spot the difference, and shapes.

Kids are rewarded with animated stickers when they give the correct answer. Designed for unlimited play, as each game flows right into the next one.

7. The Going to Bed Book for iPad

The Going to Bed Book for iPad ($2.99) is a soothing interactive book that will teach children about getting ready to go bed, including tasks like brushing your teeth and turning off the lights. Each page has simple interactive elements for children to explore, like touching the faucet to turn the water on and off, and drawing on the screen to remove steam.

A soothing narrator guides children through the book, and words are highlighted as they are read to teach word association. The app was selected by Apple as an iPad App of the Week.

8. Itsy Bitsy Spider HD – by Duck Duck

Itsy Bitsy Spider HD – by Duck Duck ($1.99) is a series of interactive environments for kids to explore and adventure through. The scenes are based on the classic Itsy Bitsy Spider song. Kids can touch the various elements on-screen to be rewarded with animations, sounds, and mini-games and navigate back and forth through the environments.

Touching just about anything initiates a response in the game. A friendly narrator guides children through the world. The game’s simple, kid-friendly interface means frustration-free play for young children.

9. Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails

Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails ($4.99) is an interactive storybook featuring everyone’s favorite train. After a race against Spencer lands Thomas in the bushes, he discovers an abandoned train engine named Hiro who needs some fixing. Thomas must figure out a way to fix Hiro, complete his tasks, and keep out of the way of Spencer.

In addition to the book, the app contains games, puzzles, and a coloring book. The story features professional voice narration, or parents and kids can choose an option to read the book themselves. Children can touch the graphics to reveal special interactive surprises.

10. Where’s Waldo? HD – In Hollywood

Where’s Waldo? HD – In Hollywood ($0.99) is the popular search and find franchise on the iPad. Search for Waldo and other objects in 10 detailed scenes. Zoom in and out to explore the tiny details of the images. Subtle animations and encouraging audio narrations give the game a highly polished feel.

Each scene is from a Hollywood-themed movies set, including Robin Hood, The Three Musketeers, The Wild West, and more. Each scene can be revisited with multiple ways to play and different objects to find upon replay, which means the app supplies tons of play time.

11. First Words: At Home

First Words: At Home ($1.99) is simple app designed for toddlers that features 50 familiar items from around the house with accompanying sound effects and original artwork. Kids can touch letters and objects, drag letters around to form words, hear them spoken aloud, and be rewarded with fun animations.

A simple, trial-and-error, kid-proof interface makes it perfect for the young children. First Words: At Home is a universal app, so buy once and use on both the iPhone and iPad.

12. Pop Out! The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Pop Out! The Tale of Peter Rabbit ($3.99) may be one of the most beautiful apps for children available. The interactive storybook lets you relive Beatrix Potter’s classic tale of a mischievous rabbit’s journey through a farmer’s field update with fun interactive features like pull-tabs, spin-wheels, and spring-mounted elements. In addition to the beautiful graphics, professional voice narration, background piano music, sound effects make it pleasure to listen to as well.

The book features over 50 pages of illustrations and two reading modes: Read to Me and Free Read. The app highlights words as they are read to help early readers learn word association. You can also tap any word on the page to hear it read aloud. Pop Out! The Tale of Peter Rabbit is one of the iPad’s more highly rated kids apps by critics. From the same series, check out Pop Out! The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, also from Beatrix Potter.

13. Jack and the Beanstalk Children’s Interactive Storybook

Jack and the Beanstalk Children’s Interactive Storybook ($3.99) tells the classic tale of Jack and his magic beans. The book features 32 pages of story, each filled with interactive surprises. Tilt the iPad to see the sun go down. Touch the magic beans to begin a matching game. Finger paint the entire black-and-white page to get an animated surprise. Tap a shy Jack multiple times to get him to sing.

The book features beautifully illustrated artwork that is perfect for kids. It’s a universal app, so buy once and use it on both your iPad and iPhone.

14. Dora’s Ballet Aventures HD

Dora’s Ballet Adventure HD ($3.99) is an interactive book with a fun story that girls will love. Dora’s ballet class is getting ready for a recital, but things go awry when the Delivery Duck delivers scuba flippers to Dora instead of ballet slippers. Dora and Boots must find the slippers before the recital.

The book features both a Read to Me mode (featuring Dora’s voice) and a Read It Yourself mode. In addition to the story, the app includes several interactive activities and mini-games designed for preschoolers. The book supports reading and listening comprehension and Spanish vocabulary.

15. Elmo Loves ABCS for iPad

Elmo Loves ABCS for iPad ($4.99) helps kids learns their letters through fun and interactive elements like finger tracing, sounds, and games. The app is chock full of Sesame Street material, including 80 classic Sesame Street clips, 75 Sesame Street coloring book pages, and 4 different hide and seek games.

The app features 4 different versions of the classic alphabet song that will have kids learning their letters in no time. Letter tracing features both uppercase and lowercase letters.

16. Zoo Train

Zoo Train ($1.99) is a fun and educational collection of games for toddlers and preschoolers. The app includes 5 games that teach letters and the alphabet, word construction, musical notes, and image matching. A sticker reward system will keep kids motivated along the way.

The app features colorful, bold graphics that are perfect for kids. It also features fun music, sound effects, and friendly narration with positive reinforcement. Zoo Train is a universal app that will work on both the iPad and iPhone.

17. How To Train Your Dragon- Kids Book HD

How To Train Your Dragon- Kids Book HD ($2.99) is a book based on the popular movie designed for kids 2-years and up. The book features narration and character audio from the movie. Auto page turning and navigation make it simple to use. Text is highlighted to help kids learn word associations.

Pages can be turned automatically or manually depending on the age and preference of the user. How to Train Your Dragon is a universal app that will work on both the iPad and iPhone.

18. Talking Lila the Fairy for iPad

Talking Lila the Fairy for iPad ($2.99) is a simple interactive character that you can talk to, and then have your words repeated back to you by Lila in an animated manner. You can also interact with Lila by tapping, poking, and swiping, and she will cast spells, sing songs, and perform other silly and entertaining actions.

The app has a simply interface and enough surprises to keep kids entertained indefinitely.

19. Bartleby’s Book of Buttons Vol. 1: The Far Away Island

Bartleby’s Book of Buttons (free) is an interactive book that presents a series of puzzles designed for young kids (ages 4-10) to solve. Flip switches, press buttons, and slide sliders to solve the puzzles and move the adventure along.

The book is a completely original story written for the iPad. It’s filled with professional sound effects, beautiful animations, and many surprises.

20. My First Puzzles HD

My First Puzzles HD ($1.99) is a collection of 14 super simple jigsaw puzzles perfect for young children to solve. The app features nice, kid-friendly sound effects and beautiful graphics. Dragging the pieces around and solving the puzzles will help kids learn motor skills.

To start over and replay the puzzle, simply give the iPad a shake.

21. Sound Touch

Sound Touch ($2.99) is a simple app for young children that features 360 tappable images and accompanying sound effects of household items, animals, vehicles, and musical instruments.

Tap any of the 12 illustrated items on each page to open up a real photograph of that item as well as an accompanying sound effect. Tap the photo, and it disappears and goes back to the previous screen. A simple interface perfect for kids.

Sound Touch is a universal app, so buy once and use it on both the iPhone and iPad.

22. Finding Nemo: My Puzzle Book

Finding Nemo: My Puzzle Book ($0.99) is an interactive storybook filled with mini games and rewards and starring everyone’s favorite cartoon clownfish. Little Nemo finds himself on a big journey for his first day at school, and when things go awry, Marlin sets out to discover where Nemo has gone.

The book features beautiful Disney illustrations, professional narration, sound effects, and background music based on the movie’s soundtracks.

The app gives you the option to record your own voice reading the story, which kids can listen back to later. Also features 4 jigsaw puzzles and a scavenger mini game.

23. Toy Story Read Along

Toy Story Read Along (free) is a full interactive kids book for free. The book’s story revolves around Woody trying to get rid of Buzz Lightyear but having his plans backfire when he ends up lost outside Andy’s room. Woody learns a lesson about friendship as he tries to get home.

The app includes 3 reading modes: Read to Me will have a narrator read the book to you, a read at your own pace mode, and a third (and my favorite) mode allows you to record your own voice reading the book for each page.

The book has interactive features like sparkling hidden graphics that must be tapped to reveal a special sound effect. The app also includes real movie clips from the Toy Story movie, a paint-by-finger coloring book, and musical singalongs. Quite a bargain (they’re to get you hooked to buy the Toy Story 2 Read Along and Toy Story 3 Read-Along apps).

24. Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed ($2.99) is the classic kids storybook now on the iPad. After saying goodnight to Mama, five little monkeys begin jumping on the bed. Things get too rowdy and some of the monkeys fall off and hurt themselves. Mama calls the doctor, who tells them, “No more monkeys jumping on the bed!” A cute and funny story kids will love.

The app features professional narration, high-res artwork, and background audio. Words are highlighted as they are read to teach kids word association.

The app features 3 reading modes: Read to Me, Read It Myself, and Auto-Play. It’s a universal app that will work on both the iPhone and iPad.

25. Winnie the Pooh Puzzle Book

The Winnie the Pooh Puzzle Book ($0.99) is an interactive book is filled surprises on every page and easy puzzles suitable for children. Kids can join Winnie the Pooh on a quest to find his favorite food: honey! The book comes with three reading modes; Read to Me, Auto-Turn Pages, and a Use My Recording mode where you can record your own voice for each page.

The book features professional narration, goofy sound effects that will delight kids, and beautiful background music. Includes mini games suitable for kids like jigsaw puzzles and a matching game. It’s a universal app, so buy once and it’ll work on both the iPad and iPhone.

Review: Wahoo Fitness Run Pack for iPhone (Garmin Heart Rate Monitor & Fisica Sensor Key)

I’ve been running with my iPhone for the past few years, almost solely using the Runkeeper app (free). The app records a lot of useful data (distance, pace, location), but until recently it didn’t record heart rate. That’s why I was glad to see Runkeeper had partnered with Wahoo Fitness to offer the Wahoo Fitness Run Pack ($129), which is really just a repackaged Garmin Heart Rate Monitor Belt and Fisica Sensor Key. The combo is currently the only iPhone-compatible heart-rate monitor solution for athletes available. I’ve been testing the kit out the past two months during training for the Chicago Marathon and below are my thoughts on the product.

Continue reading…

A List of iOS 5 Features

Apple today at its Worldwide Developers Conference detailed features for its upcoming iOS5 software update and a new iCloud service that delivers wireless synching of data for Apple devices. iOS5 and iCloud will be available this fall.

A detailed list of announced features is below:

  • Improved iOS notifications. Notifications (alerts) will appear now briefly in a box at the top of the screen before disappearing.
  • Notification Center. Notifications no longer permanently disappear. Users can access a list of their alerts in the Notifications Center by swiping down on the screen.
  • Newstand app. Newstand is a new app where you can access all your subscription content like newspapers and magazines. New issues are automatically downloaded in the background when they become available. Content can then be read offline.
  • Twitter integration systemwide. You no longer have to use separate apps to sign in to Twitter. Instead, you can enter your Twitter info in the iPhone’s settings, then create tweets from apps like Camera, Photos, articles from Safari, etc. You can also add Twitter handles to contacts.
  • Tabs added to Safari browser.
  • New Reader view in Safari. Reader view will strip away ads and extraneous formatting for an easy-to-read view of content.
  • New Reading List feature saves articles from the web to read later.
  • iPhone now quicker to take a photo. Camera app launches faster, and it’s much quicker to take a photo.
  • Button on iPhone’s lock screen can be tapped to quickly launch the Camera app. No need to unlock the iPhone first.
  • Volume button now can be used to take a photo (as a shutter button).
  • You can now set and lock exposure settings and focus for taking photos.
  • Edit photos on the iPhone. Crop, rotate, fix red-eye, and one-tap enhancement of photos.
  • Camera now has pinch to digitally zoom-in. Replaces the tedious process of tapping the screen and using a zoom slider.
  • New features for Mail app. Drag email addresses to different fields. Rich text formatting. Flag email messages. S/MIME security.
  • New “thumbs friendly” iPad keyboard feature.. Keyboard separates into two sections on the side of the screen, makes it easier to type with your thumbs.
  • Systemwide dictionary. Select word, tap Define, and you’ll get a great looking definition pop-up.
  • Computer no longer required to activate and use an iPhone. Through new features like over-the-air updating, Apple is allowing you to cut the cord and use the iPhone without owning a computer. No prompt to plug in the iPhone to iTunes out of the box. Instead it simply says welcome.
  • Over-the-air software updates. iOS software updates will be “Delta Updates,” meaning they will be smaller updates for only what’s changed, instead of one huge replacement of the current operating system.
  • Create & delete calendars right from iOS. Previously you couldn’t.
  • GameCenter gets new features. See game scores of your friends’ friends. Friend recommendations. Game recommendations. Download games from within GameCenter app.
  • New messaging service and app called iMessages. A new text messaging service for all iOS customers. Send messages between iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices. The phone carriers won’t be happy about this one.

  • Introducing iCloud. An online service that stores your content in the cloud and wirelessly pushes it to all your devices. Automatically uploads content, stores it, and pushes it to all your devices. Changes to your calendars, mail, and contacts pushed to all devices. App Store purchases pushed to all your devices. Pushes iBook content and page position to all devices. Documents and changes to documents can be pushed to all devices.
  • iCloud is free.
  • 5 GB of storage for mail, documents, Camera Roll, account information, settings, and other app data. Purchased music, apps, books, and Photo Stream photos do not count against your free storage.
  • Daily device backups to iCloud over WiFi for your purchased music, apps, books, photos, videos, device settings, and app data.
  • New Photo Stream feature pushes new photos to all your devices. Photo Stream will be built into iOS apps, Mac apps, and the Apple TV. Compatible with the Photos folder on a Windows PC. A new Photo Stream album inside the Photos app is a rolling collection of your last 1000 photos. iCloud stores new photos for 30 days so you’ll have time to connect to Wi-Fi and sync your most recent photos.
  • iTunes in the cloud lets you download music purchases to all devices at no extra cost. From now on, new song purchases can be automatically pushed to all devices for free.
  • New iTunes Match service will let you stream non-iTunes-purchased music from iCloud to your devices for $24.99 a year. iTunes will scan your music collection, and if it can match the songs with the 18 millions songs in the iTunes Store, it will allow you to stream it. The music will play back at 256-Kbps quality, even if the original copy was of lower quality. Regardless of how many songs you have, iTunes Match will cost the same ($24.99).

Apple Releases iPhone-Compatible Pages, Keynote, and Numbers iWork Apps

Apple today released new versions of its iWork suite of iOS apps, Numbers, Pages, and Keynote, which made them universal apps compatible with the iPhone and iPod touch in addition to the iPad. Each app costs $9.99.

The new apps will work on the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod touch (3rd and 4th generation), iPad, and iPad 2. Sorry, iPhone 3G users, you’re out of luck.

The apps can import and export documents from Microsoft Office and iWork for Mac. Coupled with Apple’s wireless keyboard, the new apps should help improve the iPhone’s usefulness for basic office document-editing tasks.

Steve Jobs to Introduce Next Gen iPhone Software and iCloud Service at WWDC


Apple today announced they will be revealing iOS 5, the next generation of software for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, along with iCloud, Apple’s upcoming cloud service, The new software will be announced on Monday, June 6, at 10:00 am PT during the keynote of its Worldwide Developers Conference. CEO Steve Jobs will deliver the keynote and will be joined onstage by a team of Apple executives. Apple will also introduce Lion, the next version of its OSX software for Macs.

Apple’s press release serves as the first official confirmation of iCloud, a service that is rumored to let users stream their iTunes music library from a server without having to upload each song. Instead, Apple will scan user’s iTunes library to confirm ownership of music, then allow for high-quality streaming of that music. The lack of the need to upload gigabytes of music to online “lockers” is what will differentiate iCloud from similar announced services, Amazon’s Cloud Player and Google’s Music Beta.

One rumored feature of Apple’s iOS 5 is a new deeply integrated voice command interface that stems from Apple’s acquisition last year of Siri, a voice-commanded personal assistant service (and awesome iPhone app). The new interface could allow users to launch and close apps and input text inside of apps without the need for use of the touchscreen.

Other rumored features for iOS 5 include a redesigned notifications system and widgets, according to sources speaking to Techcrunch.

The announcement of iOS 5 at this time of year seems to confirm that the next iPhone will arrive in the fall. Apple has previously announced the next-generation of iPhone software several months before the release of new iPhone hardware in order to give developers time to plan for and get acquainted with the new OS. For example, iOS4 was announced in April 2010, with the iPhone 4 arriving a few months later on June 24, 2010.