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ARTICLE: iPhone app: News junkies, get your fix with CNN

9/30/2009 9:55:00 PM

Before I start in on CNN’s new iPhone app, CNN Mobile, let me just say two things about it: No, it’s not free ($2), and yes, it’s worth paying for.

Now that this is out of the way, let me explain.

CNN’s foray into mobile phone apps — freshly launched this week — features live newscasts, video-on-demand, good design and an easy-to-use interface. There are even push notifications let you know when live newscasts are available, and you can watch breaking news over Wifi, 3G or EDGE. And it still offers text and photo content, so it’s not sacrificing features that users may still want.

There’s a headline section, where you can go through text stories and photos, and each story shows a short summary and pic. A short swipe down, and you’ve got the whole article. In landscape, news browsing becomes sweet, thanks to CoverFlow. And for those moments when you just can’t believe what you saw, you can send a news item to a friend via Twitter, Facebook, email, or text message.

There’s also a save-for-offline reading feature, customized weather info and keyword searching. For budding reporters, there’s also direct upload to CNN’s iReports for pics (iPhone 3G) and vids (3G S).

If I seem kind of enthusiastic about CNN Mobile — well, I am. Breaking stories. Live newscasts. These words make me giddy. Generally, mobile phone software labelled “TV” or “news” come up short for me, since they just usually deliver short snippets of old podcasts, vidcasts or text-driven articles. But live newscasts for breaking stories, not to mention on-demand vids for recent news — well, this is what I’ve been waiting for.

Now I’m not saying this is a perfect app. When you pay two dollars (which is a lot in the App Store), you don’t expect ads. But let’s face it: Selling this software isn’t really going to make or break CNN. Like any television network, it’s supported by advertising, so people accessing CNN on their handsets will be subject to them, just like their TV-watching, cable-paying counterparts. But the good news is that mobile phone users won’t be bombarded with them. There are no commercials interrupting the segments, just still ads that pop up while the video loads.

So, if you can put up with the occasional promo, then I think this app is a winner. So much so that I wonder why it took so long for CNN to put this out. NPR, Reuters, Time, Associated Press, New York Times and Financial Times have been all over the iPhone, and with free apps at that. Well, no matter. It is worth the wait and expense. CNN Mobile beats the pants off the competition. And isn’t that what the world of news reporting is about anyway?

To get CNN Mobile, click here to go to the App Store page. (U.S. only, for now).

[via Macworld]

ARTICLE: iPhones & Cars II: Zipcar app

9/29/2009 1:52:00 PM

The highly anticipated Zipcar app for the iPhone and iPod Touch has just launched. (If you’re an urban dweller sans automobile who doesn’t know about Zipcar… Well, you should. Nothing beats renting a car for just an hour when that’s all you need.)

It was already easy to find and book a Zipcar car online, but with this app the task becomes stupid simple. There’s a map view and location-based search for closest Zipcar locations; sort by time availability, type and model; and a big green click-to-reserve button. Users can also see upcoming reservations or cancel a booking using the app.

Most app developers would’ve stopped there, but this program also sports some other nifty features.

Lost the car in the garage? Launch the app to honk the horn. And once the vehicle’s been activated with the RFID Zipcard, the app can also lock and unlock it remotely. By far, the most useful function is the ability to extend a reservation right from the app. If no one’s booked a slot immediately after, users can add time to their trip while on the go.

There is one annoying thing with the app, though: When searching for a car, it’s not possible to change the desired time slot except at the beginning of the search. This is a pain in the neck, especially when “no availability” means going back and adjusting the time slot for better results. But, the developer is aware of this problem (and has even mentioned it on the App Store page under the “Coming Soon” section), so this hassle will probably get resolved in a future update.

Understandably, you need to be a Zipcar member to take its vehicles out for a spin. But the company has improved this process too. It used to require paperwork filled out and mailed, but now there's an online form that makes the application process faster and easier.

While the Zipcar service may not be free (there are tiered plans based on usage), the Zipcar app costs nothing. It just requires iPhone OS 3.0 and either an iPhone or iPod Touch with a network connection.

Interested? Click here to come and get it.

[via TUAW]

(Thanks, Swifty!)

ARTICLE: iPhones & Cars I: TomTom car kit

9/29/2009 12:52:00 PM

Pricing info is finally available for the TomTom Car Kit for the iPhone. Sold separately from the GPS/navigational iPhone app, the package will be available in October for $119.95 and be compatible with the iPhone 2G, iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS.

No details on precisely what is included, but TomTom’s promo video suggests that it will at least feature an adjustable, mounted cradle with charger, GPS, microphone (for hands-free calling), audio jack (for music over the car’s stereo) and speaker (for voice nav and phone calls).

For more info, check out the previous post on the TomTom app, the company’s website or check out the promo vid here.

[via Engadget]

ARTICLE: iPhone apps: Find a Starbucks, pay for lattes with your cell phone

9/28/2009 12:07:00 PM

National coffee peddler Starbucks has officially gotten in the mobile phone game now, with two free iPhone apps that let caffeine junkies do everything from finding the nearest location to making purchases with their cell phones.

myStarbucks app
myStarbucks offers a variety of fun and handy features for fans of the brand. They can save and share favorite Starbucks drinks with friends, look up recipes and, in an indecisive moment, use the flavor selector to narrow down choices by desired flavors, like earthy, balanced or nutty. Users can also look up nutritional info and calorie counts of their drinks of choice. I find that a little baffling, though, because they’re not exactly great for business. (Let’s face it: If you knew exactly what went into those grande caramel macchiatos, would you still order them?)

But the star of the show is the store locator. There’s nothing worse than needing a caffeine fix, and not knowing where to go. Better yet, specific amenities are searchable, which makes finding one with a drive-thru or changing station easy to find.

To get this app, click here to go to the App Store page.

Starbucks Card Mobile app
Starbucks Card Mobile is like a digital version of the plastic gift or pre-paid cards. Patrons can use their phones to look up card balances, add more money to their accounts and, best of all, actually pay for store transactions. Just flash the onscreen barcode, and the barrista scans it to debit the amount from the card account.

Sounds great, but there’s a downside: Although the app is available everywhere, the pre-paid card function only works in a few places for now. It’s on a limited test run in Seattle and the Silicon Valley (CA) area, including Cupertino, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and San Jose. (Hmmm. I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple rushed this through approval, just so its Cupertino-based office jockeys could get juiced in a hurry. But hey, that’s only conjecture…) Click here to grab the app.

Forget the wallet, take the cell phone
I’m not sure why these apps weren’t combined into one awesome program or, for that matter, why it took so long for the coffee purveyor to come out with a mobile phone app. Regardless, these two new entries offer some handy functionality for Starbucks fans. And, it’s just one more step on the road to cell phones replacing wallets.

Many technologists think this is inevitable, and I tend to agree. In my own life, slowly but surely, I’m relying on the phone more and the wallet less. For example, the CardStar app has replaced most of my loyalty cards. It displays UPC barcodes that work with scanners about 80% of the time (at least for me). Not perfect, but not bad. Starbucks and other apps are using 2D barcodes, which some think offers better accuracy.

Airlines have also started looking into mobile phone–displayed barcodes. They’re experimenting with them for use as boarding passes.

Pay-by-phone may be the wave of the future at home here, but it’s already a reality in Japan. Instead of bar codes, though, the predominate technology is near-field transmitters, which send signals to terminals 4 inches away. You just wave your phone at a receiver to pay for things.

That may be my dream scenario. Imagine future versions of Starbucks and other apps allowing pre-orders, combined with a wave-and-go payment process. Long lines would become a thing of the past.

[via NYT’s Gadgetwise blog]

CORRECTION: The BlackBerry app was mentioned in error. While there are Starbucks-themed wallpapers, and even a third-party Android app, there is no BlackBerry app that I know of that offers the same functionality as the iPhone app above. The post above has been edited to reflect that.

Sorry if I got your hopes up. But you know, Starbucks ought to take note in the interest and launch one. Apparently, from comments at Crackberry.com and other places, BB users seem to be quite the Starbucks fans.

ARTICLE: iPhone MMS: AT&T outtage problems upset everyone, shocks no one

9/27/2009 2:01:00 PM

So AT&T finally pulled the MMS trigger on Friday. And only the most optimistic among us could’ve possibly thought things would go smoothly.

Less than a day after the feature’s activation, reports already started flowing in about outtages and thwarted MMS messages. The carrier’s customer service reps admit MMS latency issues nationwide, with no known estimated date of repair yet.

Okay, I may have my cynical pants on, but really, who didn’t know this was coming? We’re talking about a carrier whose network wasn’t quite up to snuff for all the communication capabilities the iPhone delivers. In trying to beef up their systems, AT&T had to delay gratification in providing one of the most requested (and let’s face it — most mundane) of features. And for what? After all that, it still doesn’t work.

Is AT&T’s network about as advanced as a series of sticks and rubberbands held together by Elmer’s glue? I’m really starting to think so.

The only question left is not whether this is a #FAIL (obviously), but rather, how big a fail is it? For myself, I know I can’t send a single pic. What about you? Are there any blessed few for whom this service actually works?

[via BoyGenius Report]

ARTICLE: iPhone Accessory: iTwinge QWERTY keyboard

9/17/2009 2:33:00 PM

I admit it — Before iPhone 3.0, I used to curse my iPhone every time I had a long-ish email to send on the go. My fingernails always got in the way. My thick-thumbed husband fared no better. Sure, the new software update made living la vida landscape possible, which really helped, but I still found myself admiring the hardware keyboard on my friends’ BlackBerries.

Well the iTwinge QWERTY slide-on keyboard presumably fills the gap. But, I have to ask, at what price? I mean, look at the thing. That is some powerful ugly.

Like putting orthopedic shoes on a runway model, I’d hesitate to saddle my sleek, minimalist phone with this baggage. But my longing for a real keyboard could win out. It all depends on whether this lives up to the promise of easier and more accurate data entry.

From the looks of it, the iTwinge cover seems to match the virtual keys below, which are triggered when the user taps on the corresponding physical buttons. Interesting concept, but this implementation covers nearly half the phone’s screen. To get it out of the way of other functions and apps, Mobile Mechatronics (the maker of iTwinge) made it simple and quick to slip on and off. There’s no battery to charge or bog the accessory down, so it weighs just 1 ounce.

It does draw a little of the iPhone’s precious (and limited) power, but the company promises it’s not much. There’s also no software required to run it, and, the maker claims, the iTwinge can help average users type faster by 30 to 40 percent, and minimize errors by 70 to 80 percent.

Mobile Mechatronics is positioning this as a training tool for people crossing over from physical keyboard–equipped phones to the iPhone. It even developed an iPhone app — which is waiting for approval — to help "users build muscle memory & improve typing skills."

Interesting. But I can’t help but wish they had saved the effort of developing an iPhone app and put it into the hardware design instead.

Maybe in the next version. As for this one, the iTwinge, which is compatible with the 3G and the 3G S, has opened for pre-orders. Shipping starts November 17, and the price is $29.99.

[ChipChick via Engadget]

ARTICLE: iPods, iTunes event, pt 2: Apple, you got some ’splaining to do…

9/10/2009 6:39:00 PM

Maybe we’ve been spoiled. There have been so many groundbreaking Apple products. Were our expectations too high? I don’t know, but the press event on Wednesday was definitely a letdown. (For the summary of announcements, click here.) Instead of a revolutionary whirlwind of change, we got a whimper, as well as some lingering questions to baffle over.

Why did the Nano get a camcorder and not a still camera? And why didn’t the iPod Touch get any kind of cam at all?

The Krav himself, our own Noah Kravitz, posited two guesses about the iPod Touch: Either the device went without a camera “to not cannibalize iPhone sales. Or, it was delayed due to technical difficulties, and it’s coming soon.” It might be the former, at least according to comments made by Steve Jobs to The New York Times’ David Pogue:

“Originally, we weren’t exactly sure how to market the Touch. Was it an iPhone without the phone? Was it a pocket computer?… what customers told us was, they started to see it as a game machine [with free games in the App Store, and multi-touch interface and the accelerometer].

We started to market it that way, and it just took off. And now what we really see is, it’s the lowest-cost way to the App Store, and that’s the big draw. So what we were focused on is just reducing the price to $199. We don’t need to add new stuff — we need to get the price down where everyone can afford it.”

If you envision an imaginary stand-off between the Krav and Jobsy, Noah’s actual counter-argument would score some points in that debate: “Someone willing to pay $400 for a 64 GB iPod Touch will gladly pay an extra $49 for a 3.2 MP camera with vid capture.” Well, I can’t argue with that. Neither can other experts. Silicon Alley Insider seems to think if Apple released another version with a cam in time for the holiday season, the company could even save face in light of this colossal fail.

But that’s kind of unlikely… or is it?

When asked whether his sick leave hindered the development/production schedule at Apple, Jobs replied: “There are some things that I’m focusing a lot of attention on right now—to polish. No, I don’t think we’re going to miss a beat. We have some really good stuff coming up.”

As for the iPod Nano — well, it’s less of a mystery why it got a camcorder and not a still camera. According to the Apple CEO, the sensors needed for recording vids are very thin and fit right inside the gadget’s slim 0.2-inch profile. Not so with the ones for still cameras, at least those that allow for decent resolution and autofocus tend to be bulkier.

So there you have it. Personally, I’m not sure if I buy these explanations. Knowing that a camera for the iPod Touch was the one feature most fans were clamoring for, and then choosing not to deliver it, means one of two things: Either Apple fell down on the job, or maybe it has something bigger up its sleeve. And since Apple’s no longer participating in Macworld, we may not have to wait until January to find out.

ARTICLE: iPods, iTunes event, pt 1: The Breakdown

9/10/2009 6:00:00 PM

If you saw Noah’s video coverage, Apple’s recent music-oriented announcements may not come as news. (If you haven’t, the links are included at the bottom of the page.) As a companion guide, here’s the written round-up, summed up here for your reading pleasure (or pain).

First and foremost: The iPod Touch did not get a camera. Instead, it got a performance improvement. Adding insult to injury, its little brother, the Nano, got a revamp with a built-in camcorder instead. Other news includes the debut of the iPhone 3.1 software update, which is required for use with the new iTunes. Version 9 of the music management software sports a few tweaks, including improved syncing.

Frankly, I don’t find a whole lot of earth-shaking stuff here, but check out the list and judge for yourself.

iPhone-relevant matters first
App management gets a little better. Users equipped with the newly unveiled iTunes 9 (see below) and iPhone 3.1 will be able to organize their apps directly in iTunes. Once synced, they’ll appear with the same layout on the device. Syncing music, pics, and movies/shows got a little easier to handle too. It’s now possible to sync songs by artist and genre and photos by Events and Faces.

There’s also a new Genius feature for the App Store, which recommends apps based on previous purchases. For ringtone junkies, there’s now access to more than 20,000 pre-cut ringtones priced at $1.29.

Now that that’s out of the way, here’s the rest of the scoop:

iTunes 9
Features iTunes LP, iTunes Extras, Home Sharing, & Genius Mixes

•ITUNES LP: Remember buying CDs (or for really old people like me, tapes or even albums)? iTunes LP is trying to deliver the much-missed extras, like lyrics, artwork, liner notes, interviews, photos, album credits, and even live performance vids. Select albums are available with this feature, including Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited," Norah Jones' "Come Away With Me," The Grateful Dead's "American Beauty" and Dave Matthews Band's "Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King: iTunes Pass."

•ITUNES EXTRAS: Similar to DVD extras, this delivers additional content for movies, like documentaries, deleted scenes, interviews and interactive galleries. iTunes Extras is available for select movies, including "Twilight," "Batman Begins," "WALL-E," "Iron Man" and "The Da Vinci Code."

•HOME SHARING: The idea here is to make it easier for users to transfer songs, vids and shows between up to five computers in a home network. The feature also bypasses items already on a given library, to avoid multiple copies, as well as auto-add new content from a networked computer.

•GENIUS MIXES: The Genius feature in iTunes has gotten more refined. Using analysis results from 27 million music libraries and over 54 billion songs, the new Genius Mixes actually succeeds in picking songs that go well together. It auto-generates fairly cohesive playlists from your library, which is way more preferable than the musical dartboard that was iTunes DJ.

iPod Touch
No camera, but better hardware and price cuts

Snap-happy iPod Touch users got no joy from Apple’s announcements. Instead, the company focused on boosting performance/capacity. Using the same ARM Cortex-A8 processor that’s in the iPhone 3G S, the 32GB and 64GB versions offer up to 50% faster performance and support for enhanced graphics with Open GL ES 2.0. Game freaks should also note the support for peer-to-peer connections via Wifi.

If that’s way more muscle than you need, the 8GB base model is going for $199, while the 32GB and 64GB versions cost $299 and $399.

The new iPod Touch comes with the latest iPhone 3.1 software and supports Genius Mixes. Current iPod Touch owners who already have the 3.0 software can get the 3.1 software update for free. Otherwise, it costs $4.95 (US).

New iPod Nano
Comes with video recorder and available in 9 different colors

The new version of the Nano now sports a built-in video camera, plus a larger color screen (for viewing those captures), without any added bulk or heft to its sleek physique. Here are a few more deets on the junior ’Pod:

Video camera (shoots in portrait and landscape, and with real-time effects like Thermal, Film Grain, Kaleido and X-Ray)
Mic
Speaker
Voice recorder
2.2-inch color screen
FM radio with live pause and iTunes Tagging (to tag songs for later purchase)
Pedometer (can track steps taken and calories burned)
Polished aluminum and glass enclosure
Available in 8GB model ($149) or 16GB model ($179), in a choice of nine polished aluminum colors, including silver, black, purple, blue, green, orange, and pink. (Yellow and red available direct through Apple.)

Users can shoot vids and view it on their Nanos, but sharing them requires a desktop connection for uploading to YouTube or elsewhere.

iPod Shuffle and Classic
IPOD SHUFFLE: Polished stainless steel iPod Shuffle for $99, and holiday lineup will include iPod shuffle for $59 (2GB) and $79 (4GB) in silver, black, pink, blue and green.
IPOD CLASSIC: 160GB for $249

If you’re left feeling disappointed with this — well, join the club. Actually, why don’t you hit the link below and join the conversation?

iPods, iTunes and a yawn-filled event, pt 2: Apple, you got some ’splaining to do…

If you haven’t already checked out the vids of this stuff in action, click the links below. Noah's got awesome coverage, including live event video and hands-on reviews.

iTunes LP Demo - Live from Apple Event Sept 09

iPod nano with video capture - Hands-On

iPod Touch 64 GB - Hands-On

Apple iPhone OS 3.1 App Management - iTunes 9

For a look at the official video of the keynote, click here to go directly to the Apple site.

ARTICLE: iPhone app: ICEBeacon can save your bacon

9/10/2009 4:04:00 PM

Well, it seems like today is tragic scenario day. After writing up a post about a bloody, graphic video from Wales featuring the dangers of texting and driving, I get a lead on a new iPhone app for emergency situations.

If I had kids who wanted iPhones or iPod Touches, ICEBeacon would be the app that could convince me to get them. It’s an “in case of emergency” program that makes it simple to contact loved ones and provide vital information to first responders.

There’s a one-touch feature that sends four automated texts to predetermined contacts, and a profile page with name, picture ID, age, gender, blood type, allergy information, medical conditions and medications. Click-to-call links also include phone numbers for primary doctor, family contact and insurance provider.

Clearwave Mobile, the makers of ICEBeacon, have also submitted a GPS update for approval. This new feature will pinpoint the user’s location when the app gets activated and insert a link to the location in the four automated texts.

While there may be plenty of emergency applications in the App Store, this one’s tough to beat for ease-of-use. And let’s face it — if you’re in a car accident or other dire circumstance, “simple” is exactly what you want. But even if you never use it, you can feel good knowing that a portion of your purchase price will go to a worthwhile cause. Twenty-five cents of every $2.99 download is donated to the American Red Cross.

For users without iPhones, there’s also a BlackBerry version (for 8900, Storm and Bold), and a Palm version is currently in development. The service works in BlackBerry markets covering 60 countries, and iPhone markets spanning 81 countries. Premium service works on any phone on any network. For more information, hit up this link or click here to go to the iPhone App Store.

ARTICLE: iPhone: MMS to arrive Sept 25 (finally)

9/4/2009 2:11:00 PM

Multimedia messaging. Seems like a simple concept and lots of phones offer it these days. Well, the innovative, "industry-leading" iPhone is finally among them. September 25 is the launch date for this highly anticipated feature on the Apple handset. (So much for a summer release. But better late than never, I suppose.)

If you're wondering why it took so long, join the club. Sadly, there's not exactly a clear-cut reason, other than the one cranked out by AT&T's PR machine: The carrier wanted "to give our customers a positive experience from day one," so extra time was needed "to make sure our network is ready to handle what we expect will be a record volume of MMS traffic."

Users can expect MMS functionality to arrive via software update. (Sorry, but if you're carting around an earlier model, there's no joy to be had from this. It's for iPhone 3G and 3G S only.)

If you're waiting for tethering, well that's another story. The carrier says it's coming "in the future," but there's no date for that yet. And AT&T cops a similar excuse to its MMS rationale: "This function [tethering] could exponentially increase traffic on the network, and we need to ensure that some of our current upgrades are in place before we can deliver the expanded functionality with the excellent performance that customers expect."

Great. I'll hold my breath.

If you're wondering what the official announcement said, here it is for your reading pleasure:

An Update on iPhone MMS for our Mobility Customers
We know many of our iPhone customers are eager for an update on our rollout schedule for Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). We've been working for the past several months to prepare our systems and network to ensure the best possible experience with MMS when it launches – and that launch date is: September 25 for iPhone 3G and 3GS customers. MMS will be enabled through a software update on that day.

We know that iPhone users will embrace MMS. The unique capabilities and high usage of the iPhone's multimedia capabilities required us to work on our network MMS architecture to carry the expected record volumes of MMS traffic and ensure an excellent experience from Day One. We appreciate your patience as we work toward that end.

We're riding the leading edge of smartphone growth that's resulted in an explosion of traffic over the AT&T network. Wireless use on our network has grown an average of 350 percent year-over-year for the past two years, and is projected to continue at a rapid pace in 2009 and beyond. The volume of smartphone data traffic the AT&T network is handling is unmatched in the wireless industry. We want you to know that we're working relentlessly to innovate and invest in our network to anticipate this growth in usage and to stay ahead of the anticipated growth in data demand, new devices and applications for years to come.

We thank you for your business and look forward to keeping you updated on our initiatives.

[via Engadget, Gizmodo]

ARTICLE: App Review: RunKeeper Free/Pro for iPhone

9/1/2009 3:45:00 PM

UPDATED: See a few additional comments from RunKeeper's Jason Jacobs at the end of the review

So I started running a month or so ago. Mainly because I stopped working near my gym and needed to find another gym and wasn't sure which gym to join and all the while kept eating and drinking and eating some more and, well, looking for a gym and blogging about mobile tech doesn't really keep one fit, now does it? So one day I just put on my shoes and ran to an arbitrary spot and back and six or seven weeks later I'm somehow still at it.

Much of why I'm still at it is, I think, thanks to smartphone GPS fitness apps like RunKeeper. As I blogged about a few weeks ago, these sorts of apps are a godsend to folks who like to walk, run, or bike while listening to music and also tracking the time and distance of their activities - and, of course, while keeping their phone with them just in case it's needed.

While Apple and Nike's "Nike + iPod" system is probably the best known fitness tracker solution, several companies have tapped into the built-in GPS systems of modern smartphones to create fitness tracker apps that don't require additional hardware. FitnessKeeper Inc.'s RunKeeper is one such app for Apple's iPhone. I've been using both RunKeeper Free (Free) and RunKeeper Pro ($9.99) to track my runs for the past month, and while it has its flaws it's a nice option for iPhone owners who don't want to mess around with the additional hardware necessary to run Nike's system.

RunKeeper also offers a few nifty tricks that Nike + can't match, including the ability to track "non-stepping" activities like cycling and boating, and location data tracking, which powers RK's Google Maps integration. The latter is perhaps my favorite thing about the app, as it lets me track my route back on the computer, including speed and elevation plotted out over time. In other words, I can see just how slowly I climbed one hill or another on my run.

RunKeeper is pretty easy to use. Download and install it, fire it up, create a free account, wait for GPS to acquire a signal, and then tap the big "Start" button. Then you walk, run, bike, or otherwise move around, and when you're done you press "End." RK tracks your elapsed time and distance, shows you stats during and at the end of your activity, and also uploads your workout data to its servers. When you're not busy sweatin' it out, you can view your workout history - with maps - on your iPhone and on any flash-compatible Web browser.

There's more to it than that, of course. You can share your activities with the RK community via Facebook and twitter. You can use the Pro version to post geotagged photos and status updates along your routes (say, if you're on a bike tour) and share those photo-enhanced maps with your peeps. You can also use the pro version to speak audio stats to you as you workout and even program audio-guided interval workouts for specific training needs.

So great, lots of features. But does it work? Yeah, it does. Pretty well most of the time, in fact.

I started out with RK Free, which is basically RK Pro minus the audio voiceovers, custom workouts, photos/status updates, and playlist integration. And plus advertising. RK Free is a pretty good option for most folks, I'd think, unless you really want the Pro versions's softly encouraging female voice speaking splits to you every five minutes. Of course, now that I've got the Pro version I've come to really like those voiceovers, but that's how it goes, right? While RK Pro offers iPod playlist integration, which lets you launch a playlist when you hit RK's "Start Activity" button, you can also just use your RK Free with your iPod the old-fashioned way: by running the iPod in the background while RK Free runs on top of it.

So long as you've got decent GPS and network coverage where you're working out, both versions of Run Keeper do a nice job of tracking what they're supposed to track. My first couple of weeks running with RK resulted in alarmingly quick battery drains, and an email to the RK folks suggested that I might be in an area with weak 3G coverage and that I should disable 3G while using the app. I did, and it helped with battery life. More recently, AT&T upgraded cell tower coverage in my neck of the woods, and so I turned 3G back on while running. Wouldn't you know it, no more battery drain problems!

My runs have ranged from one to four and a half miles thus far. So far as I can tell, RK has tracked them accurately, though I did have one partially-mistracked run and another false start that - for whatever reasons - didn't get tracked at all. For a couple of days in a row, RK Pro would crash whenever I tried to enter its Preferences menu to integrate an iPod playlist, but my iPhone 3GS was having other issues around that time, as well. A clean system restore fixed all of the phone's problems, including the RK Pro issue.

My install of RK Pro is set to provide audio data every five minutes: Elapsed time, elapsed distance, and current pace. Current pace is useless - the RK folks tell me they're working on an improved algorithm for calculating pace, but for now it's pretty dicey at best. Sometimes my current pace is a sub-five minute mile, and others it's 13 minutes or more. My real pace is always somewhere in between, and I'll leave it at that. But the other data is nice - hearing my elapsed distance is a nice motivator, and just knowing that I've been out there for, say, 25 minutes lets me know when it's time to start heading for home - or if I should push myself to do another five or ten minutes on the road.

And like I said, the best part is checking the runkeeper.com website after a workout. The site shows weekly and monthly activity overviews as well as detailed data and maps for each workout. A much-needed feature currently in Beta is the ability to edit activity maps to correct erroneous GPS data. Right now you can change data points along a route to correct or extend a path, but you can't add data points or otherwise alter the elapsed time of an activity. So I can change a one-mile run to a four-mile run if the GPS tracking failed, but I can't also change the elapsed time of that run to reflect the corrected distance.

The guys behind Run Keeper are working hard on bug fixes and updates, and do a nice job of keeping their blog updated. So far they've had success in the Apple App Store Health and Fitness rankings, and it's deserved: RunKeeper is a nice app that combines useful fitness tracking and clever GPS data features with a homegrown feel (and I mean that in the best of ways). I can't vouch for RK's accuracy on the elite athlete level, but for the casual runner or enthusiast who owns an iPhone and wants a way to log his or her activity miles, both RunKeeper Free and RunKeeper Pro offer compelling solutions. Definitely recommended.

App Store Links: RunKeeper Free and RunKeeper Pro.

Update: Jason Jacobs, the man behind RunKeeper, dropped me a line just after this review was posted. A few comments of interest from him:

First, with current pace, we agree it can be choppy, especially at lower speeds. This should not affect the averages/totals at the end of your activity. We will soon be adding average pace during your activity, so you can see (and hear in RK Pro) what kind of pace you are keeping as you go. Second, the crashing you experienced had to do with a bug in RK Pro around iPod playlist integration. A delete/reinstall would resolve (as you noticed) and this has been fixed completely in the current build of RK Pro (1.6.0.12).

ARTICLE: iPhone app: TomTom gets going

8/18/2009 10:49:00 AM

TomTom has just joined the ranks of GPS apps in the App Store. The popular navigation brand has just unveiled its own iPhone application for the U.S.

I'm not sure what took so long for this to arrive — TomTom first announced it last June at WWDC — but now that it's here, the app looks pretty good. At least the reviewer at iPhonewzealand digs it. (Apparently, the Kiwis got theirs first.)

Like full-fledged GPS units, TomTom for iPhone has turn-by-turn directions, voice-guided navigation, route options (for fastest or most direct), points-of-interest (POI) feature and night colors. But unlike its hardware cousins, it also takes advantage of iPhone functionality, including addressbook integration, fast calling to POI, pinch/zoom interface and accelerometer-driven display for landscape and portrait modes.

The reviewer mentioned a few glitches (like the app pinpointing his location in a nearby field once, or going a little buggy when he deviated from the directions), but aside from the occasional hiccup, the app worked well overall.

TomTom also plans to launch a pretty great-looking bundle (see vid). The package will include the app, plus a car cradle kit with charging port and hands-free calling. No other details on the bundle yet, but updates are available via online sign-up here.

[via TUAW]

EDIT: According to user reviews at the App Store, it's not quite as fleshed-out as the regular GPS units, which has some people waiting for updates that will hopefully improve or add features, such as speaking street names out loud, etc. And the price for the TomTom app is $99.99, which isn't cheap. But it's still less expensive than the cheapest new hardware product at TomTom.com ($119.95). So users are paying less, but might have to wait for enhancements as a result. Even so, if you prefer having an all-in-one device instead of multiple gadgets, this might be worth a look. I'll contact TomTom directly and see if they'll send me a review code for the software. If so, I'll report back on what I find.

EDIT2: Also, it appears that voice-guided navigation doesn't come in various accents, as was first reported, so that bit was removed.

ARTICLE: iPhone App: Google Latitude debuts for iPhone 3.0

7/27/2009 8:50:00 PM

I love crime dramas, but one thing that always drove me a little nuts was how cell phone triangulation — at least on TV — rendered pinpoint accuracy of a perp's whereabouts. Viewers could always see the primary dot as it traveled down the street, stopped in for coffee, got a newspaper, ditched the murder weapon, etc...

Well, the new Google Latitude for iPhone isn't quite the same as the technology delivered on Law & Order: SVU — but it's kind of close.

Google Latitude is a web app that makes tracking the movement of fellow iPhone users (with their consent and complicity, of course) a little easier. You can see your contacts' locations on a map and let others know your whereabouts, as well as use location search and directions.

If you're an iPhone 3.0 user in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, you can just launch Safari on your phone and go to Google.com/latitude to get started.

The company first created Google Latitudes as an onboard app for the iPhone, but at Apple's request, re-tooled it as a web app to avoid confusion with its built-in Maps application. (Now that Safari can access location services, this was no problem.)

But be warned: Because the iPhone can't multitask, the web app can't update your location in the background. (Latitude users on Android, Blackberry, Symbian and WinMo apparently don't have this problem.) So if you forget to launch Safari to refresh Google Latitude, your Mom (or your spouse) might wonder why you've been at that hot friend's house for so long. To play it safe, you can keep your location continuously updated by making sure the app is running in the foreground — at least until you get to your local church. Then, if you want, you're clear to go ahead and shut it off.

[via iClarified]

ARTICLE: Google Search For My Location (iPhone 3.0)

7/20/2009 3:50:00 PM

Got iPhone 3.0? Then check out Google's search function using its new My Location feature. It's available via Safari, which zeros in on a user's area to deliver relevant local results, like nearby bars, restaurants or weather data.

Though it works practically anywhere, the searches seem to offer more value if you're in a major metropolitan area. Small towns without a lot of business presence online may not yield a lot of website results — just contact listings. (That's certainly not Google's fault. It just takes awhile for some regional mom-and-pop shops to step into the 21st century.) Even so, when all you need is an address and phone number, it's still a handy tool to have in your pocket.

To give it a go, launch Safari and go to Google. Once there, you can turn on My Location, which will send up screen nags asking you if the app can use your location. Click "Allow", and you're good to go. When you need to change your location, just hit the "Update" link on the main Google page.

Not interested in My Location? That's cool. Shutting it off is pretty easy. On Google.com, hit the "Preferences" link and click on the "No" radio button under "Allow use of device location?" (If you'd rather spare your battery and don't need location-aware services on your phone at all, you can set your location prefs to "OFF" under "Settings," then "General.")

For now, Google Search with My Location for iPhone 3.0 is available only in the US and the UK.

[Google Mobile Blog via UnwiredView.com]

ARTICLE: iPhone accessory: Exovault’s heavy metal case

7/15/2009 3:05:00 PM

Not exactly steampunk, but the Exovault iPhone case does take a cue from it. Its industrial styling and metallic fabrication — machined from aluminum, brass or aerospace-grade titanium into two solid pieces — will certainly tempt gearheads and metal freaks. Gizmodo calls this product style "postapocalyptipunk." Nice. I like made-up words, and that one's pretty spot-on.

Big and clunky? Yeah, totally. (And the brass version probably weighs a ton.) But who cares? If I were a cigar-smoking, babe-watching, bastion of manliness without concern about tearing delicate pants pockets or suits, I'd probably dig this case. But I'm a girl, and while I (really) like the aesthetic, I worry about ripping my purse apart cramming that chunk of metal into my bag.

There are some other practical worries with the Exovault, like whether or not there's interior padding. If not, scratches on the phone are nearly guaranteed. There's a grill-like detail on the back, but is that enough to ventilate heat? (If you play Aurora Feint for more than 15 minutes, you know what I'm talking about. The phone can get pretty darn hot.) Probably not. According to the company's site, the slots are actually there for the integrity of the antennae, since metal can block reception.

Then there's the weird feeling of putting solid metal against your ear. Maybe you wouldn't mind now, but wait till winter, when that feels like holding a block of ice to your head.

Despite these concerns, I'm still a fan of this case. It's great whenever manufacturers are willing to take some chances and do something different. Sure, you probably either really love or hate this thing, but that's the whole point — creative design tends to evoke strong reactions. At least it's not yet another ubiquitious iPhone sock, rubberized sleeve or transparent case.

As for the issues mentioned above, well I don't really know if any of those pan out. I'm looking at the photo, just like you are, and those are the potential negatives that popped into mind. But I asked Exovault for a sample to review, so if they agree to send me one, I'll let you know if the cases are actually worth the (not cheap) price tags.

Exovault iPhone case
Available for 2G, 3G and 3G S
Aluminum/Brass cases: $95
Titanium: $300

[via Gizmodo, BoingBoing Gadgets]

ARTICLE: iPhone 3.0: Do you have it? Does it work? Does it freeze?

7/6/2009 4:45:00 PM

Apple iPhone users, have you gotten yourself the much ballyhooed iPhone OS 3.0 update yet? I'm sure you have - who wouldn't want landscape QWERTY in Mail and Messaging, among other new features. iPhone 3GS buyers, the new OS came pre-installed on your shiny new devices, so if you weren't sure you can tick off the "Yes" box on your mental questionnaire and continue reading.

I bought a 3GS for review purposes and also upgraded my 3G review model - and my wife's 3G - to OS 3.0 the day it came out. While the new OS' features are great, the operating system's performance is not. Not even close.

Both my wife's 3G and the new 3GS I've been reviewing are plagued by near-constant freezes and touchscreen lag under OS 3.0. I usually get the full freeze, which may actually be more of an input freeze than an OS freeze: I'll be doing whatever and the phone will suddenly stop responding to my taps and swipes. Locking and unlocking the phone snaps it back into action, but I've literally experienced the problem at least a half-dozen times per hour of use over the past two weeks, so that little dance is getting old. Her phone, for whatever reason, seems to get stuck on email and text composition screens more than anywhere else.

And that's the thing: A quick look around the Web shows myriad OS 3.0 complaints with not much in the way of rhyme or reason when it comes to which phones are afflicted by which symptoms. Some folks are suffering a quiet but horrible high-pitched whine. Some folks are suffering corrupted home screen icons that bug out in a most confusing manner. And a few poor iPhone 3GS owners are reporting overheated, discolored phones and oleophobic screen coatings that are wearing thin from too much virtual fishing. I've also read sad tales of reduced battery life and poor audio quality during calls and video recording/playback.

I can't speak to many of those alleged complaints, having not experienced them myself, and some folks aren't reporting any problems at all. A few days ago I tweeted about my 3.0 problems and the replies I got back were more or less split evenly between angry complaints and proclamations of successfully upgraded bliss when it came to iPhone OS 3.0.

Alas, the iPhone OS 3.0 bug report is probably just a very high-profile example of a trend that has become the norm in today's consumer electronics marketplace: Get your product out the door as fast as possible, knowing full-well it's shipping with bugs that you hope to stomp via firmware update soon after it hits the stores. Apple, like all other manufacturers, deserves negative press in the face of bugs. Here's hoping they get them resolved and push a fix-filled 3.1 update out to all iPhone users in very short time.

In the meantime, let us know in the comments: If you've got an iPhone running 3.0, how's it working for you? If you've got a 3GS, has it overheated, turned a funny color, or exhibited signs of that fancy display coating wearing off under your fingers?

ARTICLE: iPhone App: Fotochat blows (really)

7/2/2009 7:05:00 PM

Seriously, I thought someone was pulling my leg when I saw this. The most featured new function on the recently released Fotochat iPhone app is something called, "Blow your Love."

Yikes. Okay, well that got my attention. Here's the scoop: Turns out the app plugs into the Fotochat dating community, allowing users to blow into the microphone end of their iPhones to find nearby Fotochatters — based on age, city and profile — who also just blew into his or her device. Photos of matches are then displayed, which lets the user literally chat up the newfound connection right on the handset.

This wacky "app du amour" comes from a French-based company called UTEL, who of course also created the Fotochat dating network. It claims that there are already 1.4 million users in the community, though it's unclear how many of them are in France or here in the States (or whether the stat is even true. I have some doubts).

I don't know what to make of this. I'm glad to see creative implementations of unique features, but this one's kind of out there. I went to the site to see if the app or the company was for real, and saw several large company logos — like Virgin, McDonald's, etc — under the "Partners" section. Looks good, but that doesn't prove anything, so I looked around and also saw this when I clicked on "Historic":

Talk about your really, really poor translations. I can't figure out what it's trying to say. But wait. It gets even better. The full press release had me in stitches. I'm putting it here for your reading pleasure. (Now, I do not endorse this app, nor have I even tried it. In truth, I'm actually a little afraid of this one. This is here purely for your entertainment.)

BLOW ON YOUR IPHONE AND MEET NEW PEOPLE

Paris, 18 June 2009 /PRNewswire/ — Following the successful release of Fotochat for mobile (with 1.4 million girls and boys already registered), the newest version of Fotochat is now available on iPhone.

It has kept the look & feel and super simple navigation that made this mobile service so successful, while adding a truly fun and romantic functionality which will soon be part of your life!

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:
http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/utel/38816/

« Blow your Love » ©
Blow on your iPhone and it will find someone who is ONLINE near you and matches your profile (age, city, preferences)

Your iPhone sends thousands of little hearts to the screen and searches for a person of the same age group and city as you, who also just blew on her iPhone... Her high-definition picture appears on your screen.

You can then begin to send real time messages. It's magic!

Fotochat is one of the best Casual Dating service. It allows you to meet new people, in a very simple way, wherever you are.
Fotochat equals after work fun, every day at any time, in 2 clicks and one puff of breath. It means lots of love for the entire summer!
Fotochat will be available at AppStore as of June 21, 2009. Registering takes exactly one minute, and the free LITE version will let you discover the service. This service remains free for girls 24/7.

It's summertime, time to blow!

There are far too many cockamamie apps to try and cover them all, but this one had me laughing from Hello. If you're tempted to try this out, you're a braver person than I am. Here's what you need to know, in a nutshell:

•You have to register to the app work
•There are 3 versions: Fotochat Lite (free to search), Fotochat Silver ($11.99, to send unlimited priority messages to Fotochatters for a month) and Fotochat Gold ($30.99, to send unlimited priority messages to Fotochatters for 3 months)
•Some negative reviews on iTunes accuse this of being a fake service, with bots or paid people chatting with users. Can't say whether that's true or not, but proceed at your own caution.

ARTICLE: DIY: Make your own cheap iPhone tripod mount

7/1/2009 12:20:00 PM

Man, I love DIY stuff. This one's no exception.

Given the fact that new 3G S owners have proven — in large numbers — to be vid-crazy, the following YouTube clip will be really handy for someone out there who's trying to figure out how to mount their iPhones for shake-proof captures.

Obviously, this isn't intended to be a permanent case for the device (how would you stick this in your pocket??). But as a camera accessory, as opposed to a phone accessory, this works nicely. The only beef I have with it is that the hardware isn't retractable. That would've made this a near perfect solution for would-be iPhone photogs or videographers. Even so, it's still pretty sweet.

If you've got an engineering brain that just can't help but tinker with accessories or hardware, please share them by emailing info@phonedog.com, attn: AL. Creativity fused with practicality is just an awesome thing, and we'd love to give you a little spotlight on your projects.

And now, here's the vid.

VIDEO: Dogfight! iPhone 3GS vs iPhone 3G: Speed Test

6/23/2009 9:45:00 PM

S is for Speed. Or is it? iPhone 3G vs iPhone 3GS in a speed test. Seven tests - you pick the winner.

ARTICLE: Love it, Hate it: Apple iPhone

6/22/2009 5:45:00 PM

I was reading Game Informer magazine the other day, and the Letter from the Editor was basically a shout-out to everyone who's ever accused him of favoring one platform over another over the years. He did this by running through a list of what he likes and dislikes about every major gaming platform currently on the market.

Dealing with accusations of bias is a sad, annoying truth when you make a living reviewing *anything* for a living. While I'd be the first to tell you that I have my personal preferences when it comes to mobile devices and applications, I also do my very best to remain as objective as possible - and to view products from multiple perspectives - when reviewing a phone, accessory, or service.

That said, I'm stealing that gaming editor's idea here by offering a run-down of what I love and hate about the major smartphone platforms we've been spending so much time covering this Summer at PhoneDog. Take it for what you will, but I'm tellin' ya, there are things I love and hate about every device out there, and I really mean it when I say that just because I like a particular phone doesn't mean you will, or should, as well.

Now if only I could get YouTube commenters to stop yelling at each other (and me) for a minute and come read my blog ...

Love it, Hate it: Apple iPhone (iPhone OS, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3S)

I love iPhone's form factor, multi-touch display, and easy to use user interface.
I hate iPhone's one form factor/no keyboard fits all design and Apple's general arrogance when it comes to rolling out certain features that smartphone users are used to.

I love how Apple provides a best-in-the-business customer experience, from marketing to retail to packaging to hardware/software integration to the iTunes & App Store ecosystem.
I hate how buying an iPhone means that you're locked in to Apple's ecosystem - and general way of life - unless you're willing to jailbreak/hack your device.

I love Apple's fool-proof approach to "multitasking": You can listen to your iPod while doing other stuff, but that's it - why would you need more? Safari remembers what Web page you were last browsing, and users don't have to fuss with memory management and performance hits caused by multiple open and forgotten apps running in the background.
I hate Apple's "we're smarter than you are" approach to multitasking. iPhone 3G S is a beast - it's a mobile computer! - so open it up. At least offer a "Pro" mode that allows me to run as many apps as I want in exchange for remembering to quit when I'm done using them. I've been using OS X and Windows XP for years now; I'll be okay with a Big Boy mobile OS, too.

I love Apple's iTunes ecosystem. It's super easy to use, very well marketed, and makes it easy for consumers to purchase music and video content, access free podcasts, and extend the functionality of their devices via downloadable apps. The success of the App Store has also spawned new opportunities for developers large and small, which is terrific.
I hate the image surrounding App Store and iTunes Store. Apple would have you believe that nobody had ever thought of buying music or installing software on a cell phone before they "invented" it and starting spamming my life with their stupid ads and oh-so-hip indie music. "There's an app for that?" No kidding - Symbian and WinMo users have known that for years! And all of those "Made for iPhone" accessories? Apple must be making a killing on all that work third party companies are doing.

I love iPhone OS 3.0. Landscape keyboard for all apps makes me not miss a physical keyboard as much, and push notifications combined with all of those apps is awesome. Plus, I can't wait to see what crazy "smart accessories" come out later this year now that peripheral makers have access to the core OS.
I hate iPhone OS 3.0. Finally MMS and video record, but no MMS on AT&T until "later" and no video recording unless I buy the new model? Are you kidding? And push notifications iPhone-style just means more excuses for that ancient-looking dialogue box to interrupt me in the middle of writing an Email or watching some YouTube. Hey, Apple - go buy a Palm Pre or Google G1 and get yourself a quick lesson on how to do notifications the right way. Unobtrusive, not-interrupting, and they allow me to deal with the new information, ignore it, or save it for later - that's the way to do push notifications, Apple.

Wow, felt good to get that off my chest. And I'm sure I missed some stuff. How about you? What do you love and hate about iPhone OS?

You fill up the comments and in the meantime, I think I'll pick another platform and do this all over again ...

ARTICLE: Got your new iPhone 3G S? Now's the time to trade in that old one

6/19/2009 4:35:00 PM

Given today's great turnout for the iPhone 3G S, there will be no doubt be plenty of users saddled with their last-gen handsets stashed in an old-tech closet.

Instead of letting that old iPhone 3G (or even older model) collect dust, why not trade in the relic for some cash? The following sites are buying up iPhones at decent prices right now.

This is not a comprehensive list, so if you have others to share, go ahead and chime in at the bottom. (All trade-in cash amounts were real at the time of this writing, but can fluctuate daily. Values were based on a device in good condition or with normal wear and tear, and with all accessories, including the box.)

NextWorth: BlackBerries are also accepted as well as other gadgets, like digital cameras, laptops, game consoles and GPS units.
•Payment: checks, PayPal or gift card (Amazon or Target)
•Shipping: NextWorth pays for shipping
•(As of this writing) iPhone 3G 16GB: $191.25/Payment in approximately 2 to 3 weeks

Gazelle: The site takes 60+ brands of cell phones, plus practically anything electronics you can think of, including computers, PDAs, GPS devices, game consoles, camcorders, satellite radios, video games, movies, calculators, LCD monitors, Blu-Ray players and even camera lenses. (Personal note: I was shocked to discover that Gazelle would buy my ancient Palm Lifedrive for $51. Beats sending it to the scrap heap, where it was about to go.)
•Payment: checks, PayPal or charitable donation
•Shipping: Gazelle pays for shipping
•iPhone 3G 16GB: $190/Pays in approximately 2 to 3 weeks

BuyMyTronics: There are 48 brands of eligible cell phones listed, in addition to iPods, Zunes, game consoles, digital cameras, computers and camcorders.
•Payment: checks, PayPal
•Shipping: Sellers pay for shipping
•$232.78/Payments initiated in 48 hours of item's receipt

CashforiPhones: A website name can't get any clearer than that. The site gives cash for iPhones, iPods, BlackBerries, and 12 other brands of smartphones, as well as laptops.
•Payment: checks
•Shipping: CashforiPhones pays for shipping
•iPhone 3G 16GB: $215/Payments initiated in 24 hours of item's receipt

Flipswap: The company claims to take any cell phone in any condition. If they don't offer a cash value for something that's, say, too old or broken, it offers to recycle it for free.
•Payment: checks, Amazon gift card, charitable donations
•Shipping: Flipswap pays for shipping
•iPhone 3G 16GB: $240.11/The company will contact sellers when payments are processed.

In general, cash values vary depending on the condition of the phone and demand for the unit. Right now, demand seems to be pretty good. In nearly every instance, these sites were even buying dead iPhones (except for Gazelle, which offers to recycle it for free). The cash amounts range from $36 to $89 dollars, so even if it's just a sleek paperweight, you might still be able to get a few ducats.

Last but not least, don't ever sell a smartphone, PDA, laptop or anything else that has sensitive info on it without wiping it first. Most companies may offer to do it for you, but even at a predominately honest company, all it takes is one crooked staffer to steal your identity. But if you take the safety precautions, and describe your device accurately on the site, you could be in for a simple and even pleasant trade-in experience.

Could you get more selling it on eBay or Craigslist? Probably. There are plenty of people looking for unlocked or secondhand iPhones. But for minimal risk and a no-hassle transaction, trade-in sites don't seem like a bad way to go. I haven't tried any of these myself, but based on what I found out here, I'm pretty tempted. (If you've ever dealt with any of these companies, let us know how it was.)

[via TUAW]

ARTICLE: One mom agrees: Capacitive touch displays are where it's at

6/17/2009 2:50:00 PM

My folks were in town recently and while they were visiting my Mom asked me about getting a new cell phone. "Is the Curve a good phone?" she asked. Uh-oh, I thought. My Mom is no techie, so where'd she hear about the Curve? Is she running with some no-good retirees who've put crazy ideas about BlackBerries in her head?

Turns out she was at a party when some bit of trivia was being discussed that nobody could quite remember the details of. One of the partygoers pulled out his BlackBerry Curve and looked the info up online. My Mom was transfixed. So she didn't really want a BlackBerry so much as a phone that could get her onto the Web quickly, easily, and wherever she goes.

Being the PhoneDog that I am, I quickly arranged some real-world testing for her benefit. I ran to the home office, came back downstairs, and set the dining room table with five phones that I thought might be to her liking: Apple iPhone 3G, T-Mobile G1 with Google, Samsung Impression, T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009, and of course, BlackBerry Curve 8900. I chose the devices based on a combination of three factors: Web browser, overall ease of use, and style. Hey, my Mom's got style, and so should her phone! The Palm Pre hadn't yet been launched or else I would have included it in the mix.

I made sure the phones were all charged up and turned on and gave my Mom a simple task: "Think of something to look up online and try to do it on each phone. Start out trying to do it on your own, and I'll help you if you can't figure out how to get onto the Web or otherwise work the darn things."

What followed was the kind of thing that market research phones videotape and sell to handset makers and cellular carriers for big bucks. I watched as a non-geek, would-be smartphone buyer tried to figure out how the heck to use one of these devices and which, if any, would be worth two years of her time and hard earned cash.

Mom started out with the Impression and liked it okay - the keyboard and overall design were nice, but the touchscreen was a bit wonky to respond to her commands. She dismissed the Sidekick almost immediately (which makes sense given that the SK is designed for and marketed to the exact opposite of my Mom's demographic), and didn't pay the Curve much mind since she'd already seen it at that party.

Then she picked up the G1. She needed my help figuring out how to wake the thing up. But then she touched the screen, launched the browser, and swiped her away around a few Web pages. Her eyes lit up.

"Oh, I like this one," she said with a smile. "It's a lot easier to use than the others."

Capacitive touch, FTW. If you're reading this Mom, "FTW" means "For the Win," which translates to, "You like this one because it has newer, better screen technology than the others."

She played with the G1 awhile and then moved on to the iPhone. At first she preferred G1's physical keyboard, but iPhone's icons and slimmer, curvier form factor kept drawing her back. Then I showed her the landscape QWERTY board available on iPhone's Web browser and it was all over. She'd sipped from Apple's vat of Kool Aid.

The takeaway here, though, was that capacitive touch displays are just plain easier to use than resistive screens - unless you're a user with really long nails, mittens, or a really strong attachment to your stylus. Simple taps, let alone modern gestures like flicks, swipes, and pinches are just plain easier to execute on capacitive screens than on resistive screens. And while hardcore phonegeeks are often willing and able to deal with pressure-based input schemes in order to delve into a device's other attributes, smartphones have gone mainstream and mainstream consumers couldn't care less if a phone is resistive or capacitive. They just want the thing to work, and work easily, and - ideally - be fun to use.

Hardware's only half the story, as evidenced by my Mom's preferring the iPhone to the G1. Android is awesome in lots of ways, but it's not as easy for the mainstream/novice user to just pick up and run with as iPhone OS is - or at least that's the conclusion my Mom drew. But the capacitive screen/intuitive user interface combo is clearly where the cell phone industry is headed right now. Smartphones mean more money for hardware companies and carriers alike, and so the goal has to be getting more of these data-driven devices into the hands of more novice users - like Dear Old Mom. And as Mom will tell you, capacitive touch is the way down that money-lined road.

VIDEO: Dogfight! Pre v iPhone: Web Browsers and The Verdict!

6/14/2009 1:00:00 PM

Dogfight! Noah from PhoneDog! Palm Pre vs Apple iPhone 3G. Fourth and Final Round: Web Browsers and The Verdict!

VIDEO: Dogfight! Pre v iPhone: Multimedia and Amazon & iTunes Stores

6/13/2009 1:15:00 PM

Dogfight! Noah from PhoneDog! Palm Pre vs Apple iPhone 3G. Round Three: Multimedia - Music and Video Players, YouTube Apps, and Amazon MP3 vs iTunes stores.

VIDEO: Dogfight! Pre v iPhone: WebOS 1.0.2 & iPhone OS 3.0

6/12/2009 9:50:00 PM

Dogfight! Noah from PhoneDog! Palm Pre vs Apple iPhone 3G. Part Two: Battle of the operating systems.