Currently viewing the tag: "iPad"
This looks pretty cool and comes from the brain and bankroll of a talented man – Paul Allen. I have been using it a bit and will let you know once I put it the rest of its paces, but so far – DLT!
FAYVE
Details from Geekwire:
A new iPad app called Fayve, making its debut on Thursday, will join a crowded field of digital tools that help people discover movies and television shows. But this one is different — having started out not as a product but as a way for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen to navigate his own giant collection of films and shows.
Yes, that’s right — when you’re a billionaire tech mogul, you’re not limited by off-the-shelf apps. Allen has a staff of people coming up with technologies and tools to help manage his stuff and address his challenges. And sometimes the things they come up with turn out to have broader appeal.
That’s the case with Fayve, which indexes content from Netflix, Hulu, iTunes, and other online video services. It recommends content based on ratings by the user, their social activity (such as Facebook likes), their wishlist items, Netflix queue, and also the preferences of the user’s Facebook friends, among other inputs.
“Paul has probably one of the world’s largest private digital collections of movies, music and TV shows. He wants to watch and listen to these things at his fingertips,” said Chris Purcell, the vice president of technology for Allen’s Vulcan Inc., via phone today. “We built Fayve to sit on top of his collection, to give him exactly that experience.”
Although the core of Fayve was originally developed for Allen’s personal use, his technology team went through extensive development and design work to get it ready for public use as an iPad app. The app is free, but this is a business venture, making money through revenue sharing from the different video services to which Fayve directs users.
Fayve uses a carousel approach that sorts movies and shows based on filters, such as genres, recommended items, actor or actress, new arrivals and other variables. Fayve can also be used to look up show times and buy movie tickets at theaters.
Apart from a reference to “favorites,” the name of the app is an homage to Allen’s mom, Faye, who passed away earlier this year.
It’s far from the first foray into Hollywood-oriented businesses for Allen, who also was an investor in DreamWorks and the backer of set-top box maker Digeo, among many other investments and ventures.
The iPad app is set to go live on Thursday in the App Store. Update: The app is now available for download here.
Allen’s team is also planning versions for Windows 8 and Android. Here’s an FAQ on the Fayve site, and more screenshots from the app. (Click any image for a gallery.)
Today only! Can’t beat this deal:
$50 iTunes card for only $40 at Best Buy!
Thanks 9to5Mac for the details:
As one of its daily deals, Best Buy offers the $50 Apple iTunes Gift Card for $40 with free shipping. The card contains an iTunes Store code redeemable for music, movies, TV shows, games, iOS/Mac apps, and more.
I love StartUps! They drive so much of our economy. And I am SO old, I remember when these companies were StartUps!:
- Microsoft
- Yahoo
- eBay
- Starbucks
- and many others!
This one looks interesting – check out Bluefire.
From GeekWire:
More consumers are turning to electronic reading devices. And Seattle’s Bluefire Productions, which emerged from founder Micah Bower’s 10-year-old design and development services company last year, is looking to help booksellers make the transition.
Bowers is at the Frankfurt Book Fair this week, showcasing the company’s iOS and Android applications for publishers and booksellers. The Bluefire service allows publishers to integrate technologies such as in-app purchases and account management.
We chatted with the 44-year-old entrepreneur to get an inside look at Bluefire, which is being used by Canada’s Archambault and others to distribute book titles via iOS and Android.
Explain what you do so our parents can understand it: “We develop software that gives eBook retailers and publishers a way to sell their books and other content to consumers through mobile apps on iPads, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Android tablets and smartphones.”
Inspiration hit us when: ”We realized that distributing digital documents to mobile devices in a secure, managed and branded way is going to be valuable to any business or institution — not just eBook retailers.”
VC, Angel or Bootstrap: “Bootstrap, because the eBook marketplace is evolving extremely rapidly, and we wanted maximum freedom and flexibility to be nimble and turn on a dime.”
Our ‘secret sauce’ is: Our fanatical focus on creating a ludic reading experience for long format content — where the device and the application ‘disappears’ and the reader is completely immersed in the content.”
The smartest move we’ve made so far: ”Focusing on creating a great platform that levels the playing field for book retailers and publishers on mobile devices rather than becoming a retailer ourselves.”
The biggest mistake we’ve made so far: ”Thinking that once we had built our iOS app that it would be easier and faster to build on Android. It was much harder.”
Would you rather have Gates, Jobs, Zuckerberg or Bezos in your corner: “Zuckerberg. Integration with social network API’s are an important part of our roadmap.
Our world domination strategy starts when: “Large enterprises and institutions realize the value of distributing digital content to their employees, customers, and investors on mobile devices in a managed and branded way.”
Rivals should fear us because: “We have the lead, and it will get bigger.”
We are truly unique because: “We are a team with extremely strong technical chops in digital content technologies, a deep understanding of the eBook marketplace, and a fanatical focus on long format reading user experience. We’re also not affiliated with any particular major player in the space and thus can help anyone who wants to play.”
The biggest hurdle we’ve overcome is: ”Going from an unknown brand to a globally recognized brand in the eBook technology space.”
What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to other entrepreneurs just starting out: “Focus on solving small parts of big problems quickly and get it out into the market and then listen and learn as you iterate.”
I like seeing the who what and when of iPad usage – cool infographic from Mashable:
If you are one of the 53.2 million people currently with an iPad, there’s a good chance you’ve already developed habits related to how you best like to use your device.
The team at Infographic Labs has put together an infographic that details how users have embraced the iPadover the years, from using it while watching TV to cozying up to it in bed or even using it in the bathroom.
There’s no denying that the iPad’s popularity has grown significantly over the years — only 11.5 million people owned an iPad in 2010, but that number grew to 28 million users in 2011. Now, the Apple device makes up 65% of all owned tablets on the market.
Not surprisingly, the third-generation iPad brought in the most sales, with one million sold the first day and three million sold in the first three days. Even though the device has experienced massive growth among different demographics and age groups, it remains most popular among male users (66%), with those ages 25 to 36 leading the pack.
Web browsing is also the top activity done on the iPad, followed by checking email (54%), reading the news (54%) and visiting social networking sites. Not surprisingly, about 70% of iPad users enjoy playing with their device while watching TV. About 57% use it while lying in bed, 25% use it while in the bathroom and 21% access it while shopping and running errands.
Check out the infographic below and let us know in the comments below how you are using your iPad. What’s your favorite place to use it?
A while back I posted about a cool free iPhone app called LodgeNet Mobile (see here: LodgeNet Mobile App Makes Your Smartphone a Hotel TV Remote Control). Well they have recently updated it and you can now check-out of your hotel room using it – very cool!
LodgeNet Mobile has announced the addition of mCheckout capabilities for the app.
With the new feature available across 2,600 hotels in North America, guests now have a convenient option to check out of their hotel room from any location via their mobile device. Receipts can also be automatically sent to guests, via email, upon completing the mobile checkout process.
If you are interested in learning more about the new feature and the impact that it has on travelers, check out their website: LodgeNet Mobile App.
This is really clever and simple! Perfect MacGyver solution! Details from Lifehacker:
If you want to watch videos on your iPad or other tablet from afar, without headphones, its speaker is pretty worthless. This trick can boost the sound significantly with almost no work at all.
We’ve shared a bunch of ways to do this in the past—from sticky notes to blocks of wood to drilling holes in the tablet itself—but this is one of the best methods we’ve seen yet. All you need is a plastic cup and some scissors. Cut a hole in the end big enough for your tablet to fit in, and press play. You should find that the sound is significantly louder, so you can hear it from far away. Obviously, this won’t boost the soundquality in any way—so music listening still won’t be great—but for listening to podcasts or watching TV, it’s a very clever solution.
iPad Amp | Reddit
Some awesome and free iPad apps. Most should be installed on yours – from Mashable:
Getting A New iPad? Here Are the Top 25 Free iPad Apps To Get You Started [PICS]
Whether you’re waiting to snag a new iPad or purchasing a discounted iPad 2, you’ll need some apps to really make it useful. Alongside its 25 billionth app download announcement this past weekend Apple also announced what apps were instrumental in helping it reach that number.
Curious what made the list? Here’s a look back at the 25 most popular free iPad apps of all time:
1. Angry Birds HD Free
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Angry Birds took top honors when it comes to iPad apps. Angry Birds Free HD came in #1 and offers 15 levels of high-flying action with 5 mini episodes of pig-crushing fun. The version in the top position is an ad-supported version of Angry Birds HD which is also available for the iPad in the App Store.
2. The Weather Channel for iPad
If you’re headed on vacation, or just want to know what the weather is going to be like for the rest of the day The Weather Channel for iPad offers a weather background for your local conditions and interactive spinning globe with the world’s weather to keep you covered. Amongst other features, the app can also give you push alerts when severe weather is headed your way, plus storm footage and breaking news video.
3. Netflix
Neflix’s app allows you to instantly stream TV Shows and movies from your Netflix queue on your iPad, and pick up right where you left off viewing a particular video on your computer, phone, or television.
4. Skype for iPad
Skype for iPad helps you keep in touch with friends or colleagues using the service. The app can place video calls as well as make traditional voice calls and send instant messages.
5. Kindle
The Kindle app gives you access to Amazon’s library of over a milion books on your iPad, as well as access to a number of other magazines and newspapers. The app takes advantage of Amazon’s Whispersync technology, allowing you to pick up where you left off reading on your iPad on other devices such as your phone, computer, or an actual Kindle.
6. ABC Player
The ABC iPad app allows you watch full-length episodes of popular programs from the network including Modern Family, Grey’s Anatomy, Castle, and Desperate Housewives.
7. Pandora Radio
Pandora radio lets you create your own radio stations based on a song, genre of music, or band that you know you already enjoy.
8. Angry Birds Rio HD Free
The Angry Birds make another appearance in the Top 25 Free iPad list with Angry Birds Rio HD Free. In this ad-supported version of the game, the birds are kidnapped and taken to Rio de Janeiro. Once they escape the birds set out to save their friends Blu and Jewel, two macaws.
9. CNN App for iPad
CNN’s iPad helps you stay up to date on the latest news, and allows you to watch live CNN TV as well as video coverage of live events. Stories within the app can also be saved for viewing offline.
10. Words With Friends HD Free
This ad-supported version of the popular game has you battle your friends in the Scrabble-like game on the big screen.
11. Google Earth
With the iPad version of Google Earth you can view the same global satellite and aerial imagery available in the desktop version, as well as view geo-located Wikipedia articles on the areas you’re looking at.
12. Calculator Pro for iPad Free
Named one of the best utility apps in 2001, Calculator Pro for iPad works as traditional calculator in portrait mode, and a scientific calculator in landscape mode.
13. Fruit Ninja HD Lite
This free version of the popular game gives you a taste of the fruit-flying action you’ll find in the full version.
14. Calculator for iPad Free
Calculator for iPad combines a normal and scientific calculator into one for doing math on the big screen.
15. NYTimes App for iPad
The NYTimes for iPad app gives you access to the publication’s Top New section for free. The app requires a paid Times Digital Subscription in order to access the full version of the paper and additional content.
16. USA Today for iPad
The USA Today app gives you access to the paper’s News, Money, Sports, Life, Tech and Travel sections. Stories can be downloaded to be read offline, and shared on Facebook and Twitter from directly within the app.
17. Facebook for iPad
It took a long time to get here, but once Facebook relased an app for iPad it quickly worked its way onto the top of the charts.
18. MyPad for Facebook and Twitter
MyPad for Facebook and Twitter is a popular interface for interacting with Facebook and Twitter on your iPad. The app supports multiple Facebook accounts simulatentously and offers much of the same functionality you get from the traditional Twitter and Facebook apps, plus a few additional features.
19. Flipboard
Flipboard takes traditional websites and turns them into virtual magazines. The app allows you to create a personlized magazine out of your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or RSS feed. You can also subscribe to individual channels based around topics such as Tech and Fashion.
20. eBay for iPad
eBay for iPad offers a streamlined interface for both buying and selling your items.
21. Angry Birds Seasons HD Free
Angry Birds Seasons HD Free is the seasonal version of the popular game, featuring the birds decked out for each season. This app-supported version of the game is updated with new seasonally-themed content throughout the year.
22. Dictionary.com
Dictionary.com gives you access to a dictionary and thesaurus on your iPad, as well as audio pronunciation for words and voice-to text search. The app also includes the site’s Word of the Day and Hot Word blog.
23. Twitter
Twitter’s iPad app gives you access to your Twitter stream and allows you to post new tweets, as well as check out your @ messages and DMs on the service.
24. Solitare
Solitare brings the popular game to your iPad. In addition to playing solo, the game also has a competition mode where the same cards are dealt to multiple people.
25. Friendly for Facebook
Friendly for Facebook is a third-party app that allows you to do things like chat with friends, update your status, and upload photos to your Facebook account.
