iPad By Davis: “Apple launches the iPhone 5 in 22 more countries. Did you get one?” plus 12 more |
- Apple launches the iPhone 5 in 22 more countries. Did you get one?
- ABC news uses location services to track stolen iPad to the home of a TSA officer
- Regarding Passbook
- What do you think of iOS 6 Maps? [Poll]
- Sound To Go Plus portable audio system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac review
- How to set a song as your alarm tone in iOS 6
- Camera+ for iPhone updated for iOS 6 and iPhone 5, Camera+ for iPad now available
- Netflix updated for iPhone 5, iOS 6
- Dr. Seuss iPad Storybooks Add Record & Share Feature
- iPhoto for iPad Got a Massive Update Last Week
- My iPad Tips eBook Is Now Available in the iBookstore and Amazon Kindle Store
- Deal of the Day: 54% off Qmadix Xtreme Protective Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4
- How to grant or revoke app access to your contacts with iOS 6's new Privacy controls
| Apple launches the iPhone 5 in 22 more countries. Did you get one? Posted: 28 Sep 2012 01:15 AM PDT
Apple today launched the new iPhone 5 in 22 additional countries, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. That brings the total to 30 + Hong Kong, and represents one of Apple most aggressive launch schedules in history. If you picked up an iPhone 5 in one of those countries today, let us know about your experience -- about the pre-order process or standing in line, and most of all about how you like your new iPhone 5. Then check out these links to get up to speed as fast as possible: If you haven't gotten your knew iPhone 5 yet, but you're thinking about it, check out our: 
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| ABC news uses location services to track stolen iPad to the home of a TSA officer Posted: 28 Sep 2012 12:57 AM PDT ABC news set up a sting at various main stream airports by leaving behind a total of ten iPads to see what happens to them when they get into the hands of TSA officers. The sting was setup after reports of 100's of thefts by TSA officers from airports around the country. Thankfully nine of the iPads were returned to their owners as the TSA officers followed agency guidelines and immediately contacted the owners and returned them. Unfortunately one of the iPads was not returned and the TSA officer from Orlando airport decided to take it home. The iPad was last seen on video in the hands of TSA officer Andy Ramirez and then it went on a thirty mile journey which was tracked using the iPads location services. ABC news waited for two weeks before turning up at the home of Ramirez who denied having the iPad at first. ABC news activated the audible tone to assist in finding a lost iPhone and iPad using the Find my iPad app and then he produced the iPad in question and turned it over claiming that his wife had picked it up at the airport.
The TSA has since parted company with Ramirez claiming it has a zero-tolerance policy for theft from passengers. It has already terminated the employment of 381 officers over the last nine years and eleven so far this year too. Source: ABC News 
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| Posted: 28 Sep 2012 12:19 AM PDT
I joked today that Passbook was this year's Newsstand. I meant that on several levels. First, it's an app that people seem to be struggling to use. Second, it's an app that depends on being fed content that's out of Apple's control. Third, because of those two factors, it's an app that could have done with some better hand-holding and partnership placements at launch. Rewind. Passbook was introduced, along with the rest of iOS 6, at WWDC 2012 in June. Apple Senior Vice President of iOS, Scott Forstall explained it as "the simplest way to get all of our passes in one place" -- a single, easily accessible repository for all the gift cards, coupons, tickets, and other assorted passes that were previously scattered among a myriad, less easily accessible apps. He explained it as the solution to a well defined usability problem. In his subsequent demo, Forstall showed Passbook pre-populated with content from several well known brands, including Apple, Starbucks, Target, United, MLB, and the W Hotel. Forstall also showed gate updates, Lock screen notifications, and shredding passes when they were no longer needed. He did not, to the best of my recollection, show the process of acquiring a pass or actually using it.
Immediately after the WWDC keynote, I spoke to other members of the media and their reaction, like mine, was optimistic and positive. The QR codes that would serve as the bridge between the passes and the retailers seemed antiquated, of course, but many of us simply assumed they were a placeholder or stepping stone towards what would eventually be a more elegant mobile transaction-based solution. As the iPhone 5 event approached, many people, myself included, began speculating about what else we might see. Apple typically has a couple of unique demoes at the iPhone events, which often coincide with iPhone TV commercials that follow. Passbook seemed like a good candidate. It seemed like something Apple could really show off. A couple of key partnership announcements, like a Starbucks or Target, and a demo of a pass being purchased and used seemed perfectly possible. Passbook, some of us thought, could even be a candidate for this year's Santa-themed iPhone ad, following up the FaceTime and Siri ads from previous years. Santa buying some last minute toys with Passbook powered gift certificates -- what could be better than that? Instead, at the iPhone 5 event, we got a re-demo of Passbook from WWDC. No partner announcements. No transactional demos. Admittedly, a lot of the apps that could potentially feed Passbook were and remain dismal -- little more than websites in thin app wrappers with inexcusable interfaces and frustrating transactional experiences. And scanning a code is positively, primitively, unsexy ( especially compared to what other platforms are doing with rapid, touch-and-go data exchange technologies like NFC). Not the stuff of great iPhone event demos. There was also nothing like FireMonkey and Real Racing 3, however, nothing where Apple brought some hip, marquee retailers to Cupertino -- those who did have great looking apps and existing pass systems -- and gave them some special attention, and helped them make something truly brilliant to show off at the event. Still, developers, including major retailers who already had apps in the app store, or had websites or even marketing mail that could deliver Passbook passes, had had from June until the iOS 6 release date of September 21 to work with the various betas and get something amazing ready. After all, while big ships turn slowly, they still turn, and 3 months is a fair amount of turning time to create a way to push resource files, a bit of JSON, and existing scan codes. And if three months really wasn't enough time to get app development done, scanners installed, and staff up to speed to support Passbook passes, Apple themselves just happen to be a hip, marquee retailer with an existing pass system (Apple Store Gift Cards), a great looking app, and the ability to scan codes. Forstall even showed an Apple Store gift card off during the Passbook demos. So I held to hope.
Then iOS 6 was released, and Passbook immediately got off to a rocky start. First, the Passbook app started users off with an empty shelf (or in this case, wallet) experience. Sure, Music.app starts off empty of music, but digital music is an old, established, understood paradigm and, since the Store button was integrated, an easy one to engage. iBooks on the other hand, which is a more recent addition, cleverly started off with a free Winnie the Pooh book. It created a comfortable path of entry for users. Immediately upon launching it iBooks, it gave users something recognizable, something they could play with, something they could use to learn about the iBooks experience. It de-stressed the process and brought users quickly up to speed on the feature set. "Hey, here's something you can play with and if you like, here's how to get much more!" is inherently a better usability, after all, than "hey, here's a big empty thing that you can go figure out how to get stuff for and then figure out how to us!" Passbook presented itself like Newsstand -- empty but for directions to the App Store. And worse, for some users, the App Store portion took hours if not days to start working following the release of iOS 6. Like it or not, first impressions matter, which is why Apple is usually so purposeful and so clever about nailing them. Users will try something new once, twice, maybe a few times, and if it doesn't work, or if it's confusing, they'll soon stop trying and give up on it. As much as people take issue with Apple's controlling nature, they complain even more when things don't work, and often the things that don't work are the things outside Apple's control. When the iPhone launched, and for many years thereafter, it was bad carrier service in the U.S. Last year it was old media empires that were ploddingly slow and technologically inept when it came to producing Newsstand content to begin with -- and that was after Apple and Fox held a special event to show off The Daily as a launch title. Passbook didn't even have that. No Winnie the Pooh. No pre-populated Apple Store pass. No comfortable path of entry.
I've now used Passbook several times, and successfully so. I downloaded the Cineplex Mobile app and have used it to buy a few movie tickets. It is, as I feared, a website in a thin app wrapper with an inexcusable interface and frustrating transactional experience. Ugly and imprecisely, I've been able to purchase tickets using my Paypal account and get passes generated and loaded into Passbook. From then on, from the moment Passbook and Apple took over, the experience has been great. I've been alerted. I've been updated. I've been able to shred. Everything has worked fantastically well -- as well as Scott Forstall showed off at WWDC 2012 and again at the iPhone 5 event. But when I've had to have the Passbook passes scanned at the movie theater and get the actual tickets (because the passes aren't the actual tickets, they're the thing you use to get the ticket...(?!)), it's been unsexy, and its been a part of the process entirely outside of Apple's control.
With Newsstand, Apple didn't go the iTunes or iBooks route, didn't establish a specific format and present the content is a consistent manner. They outsourced to publishers, and the experience suffered. With Passbook, Apple didn't offer the iTunes transaction system, didn't establish a specific process in a consistent manner. They outsourced to retailers, and the experience suffered. When I joked that Passbook was this year's Newsstand, a bunch of people immediately replied that at least they could hide Passbook in a folder, unlike like Newsstand (which is a folder). That's not the sentiment you want to hear. A year later, I'm still waiting for Newsstand to get better. Or, preferably, for Apple to Ping it and replace it with "iNews". I'm not sure if I'm waiting for Passbook to be replaced with a more consistent, more controlled "iWallet". I expect it to eventually, though not immediately. Right now I'm waiting and hoping for Passbook to get better. Matt Brian of The Next Web has shown how Apple is promoting Passbook using iAd, which may help, and Matthew Panzarino, also of The Next Web has shown how Apple is pushing Passbook passes from OS X Safari to iOS. Those are good steps. Siri, which was announced as a beta, struggled with uptime and reliability at launch, but Apple has stuck with it, improved it, and extended it. That's not surprising, because natural language interface is a hugely important part of the future. Mobile transaction payments are just as important, so it won't be surprising if Apple sticks with Passbook, improves it, and extends it as well. Apple just needs to do it quickly and compellingly enough that iPhone users don't stick Passbook in a folder and forget about it. 
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| What do you think of iOS 6 Maps? [Poll] Posted: 27 Sep 2012 07:50 PM PDT
So iOS 6 has been out for over a week now, and that means everyone has had a chance to test out the new iOS 6 Maps apps for over a week. So what do you think of it? Is it the best Maps app ever? Is it okay with a few rough edges? Is it bad but you hope it gets better? Or is it a totally mapping disaster? Back before Apple even announced the new Maps app at WWDC 2012, Rene wrote a post on what to expect in terms of both potential features and problems. And I dare say it's turned out to be pretty accurate. Do you think people were expecting too much? Or do you think Apple failed to deliver too much? Should Apple have done a better job warning users that there might be growing pains? Apple can make beautiful map tiles and fancy flyover views all they want, but if the core map data isn't accurate, it's a big problem. If it's accurate in some places and terrible in others, that's still a big problem. Especially since Google doesn't seem likely to have a Google Maps app ready for the App Store any time soon, and the Google Maps mobile website is a stop-gap at best. I know you've got an opinion on this one, so vote up top and tell me how you really feel in the comments! 
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| Sound To Go Plus portable audio system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac review Posted: 27 Sep 2012 04:30 PM PDT If you're like me you absolutely hate -- hate! -- the weak speaker performance of your iPhone, iPad, or Macbook Air, Edifier has made the Sound To Go Plus, a quality built auxiliary audio system that's as portable as your Apple devices.
The Sound To Go Plus portable audio system has a built-in lithium ion rechargeable battery that connects to you iOS device or Mac via a USB streaming cable or AUX input. It's very simple to use -- just plug it in, adjust the volume, and listen.
Annoyingly, the Sound To Go Plus speaker system is NOT bluetooth enabled which means you'll always have to have either the line input or USB input available to use it. In order to use it on you laptop, you need to go into your Mac System preference or your Windows Control Panel to enable the USB as the default output. The advantage of the USB cable is that it will charge the Sound To Go Plus as well. Charging takes 3 to 5 hours so if you're planning to use the Sound To Go Plus with the AUX input instead of USB, you'll need to plan in advance. Also, it would have been nice to have some of indicator light or light color for when charging is complete.
The Sound To Go Plus' look and finish matches the aluminum finishes Apple products are known for, which is an excellent touch. However, the Sound To Go Plus isn't exactly light, so there's quite a bit to lug around with you. They do provide a carrying bag, however, and the quality and look certainly make it worth lugging. As to the sound, it's also good but as is typical with these small speaker systems, distortion is heard at high volume.
The good
The bad
The conclusionThe Sound To Go Plus speaker system from Edifier is an inexpensive way to impress you're sexy lady Gangnam style. Give them a look. $49.95 - Buy now
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| How to set a song as your alarm tone in iOS 6 Posted: 27 Sep 2012 03:45 PM PDT
One of iOS 6's hidden gems is the ability to use a song from your music library as an alarm to wake you up. Before iOS 6 was released, you could only use ringtones or one of the default alarm tones as your wakeup call, which was less than thrilling, but now you can set anything in the Music app to jolt you up out of bed. Progress!
That's it, you're are all set! When your alarm goes off in the morning it will no longer play that awful tone but now it will play your selected song instead. So the question is, now that you can set a song as an alarm, which song will you use? 
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| Camera+ for iPhone updated for iOS 6 and iPhone 5, Camera+ for iPad now available Posted: 27 Sep 2012 01:45 PM PDT
Camera+, the very popular photography app by tap tap tap, has been updated to support iOS 6 and the iPhone 5's larger display. You can now see more photos in your lightbox and have a larger editing preview area when working with your photos. In addition to the changes made to Camera+ for iPhone, tap tap tap has also released an iPad version of Camera+ into the App Store and with iCloud sync, you can keep your lightbox photos synced between all your devices -- as you take photos with your iPhone, they will automatically pop up on your iPad.
In addition to all the great features that come with Camera+ on the iPhone, the iPad version also includes the ability to brush on effects, layer two or more effects to your photos, straighten your photos while cropping, and other advanced adjustments including white balance, exposure, brightness, contrast, saturation sharpness, and red eye removal.
Now, I'm not one to take photos with my iPad, so I admit that I wasn't exactly excited to hear that Camera+ was available on the iPad because I didn't think I'd get much use out of it. However, with the ability to keep my lightboxes in sync between the iPhone and iPad and all the new capabilities included with the iPad version, I understand the hype. On the other hand, I can't help but ask why the ability to layer and brush on effects and all the other iPad-exclusive features were never, and still aren't, available on the iPhone version of Camera+. Regardless, editing photos is always a much more pleasant experience on the iPad than on the iPhone, and for just a buck, Camera+ for iPad is a great choice -- especially if you're already a Camera+ for iPhone user. $0.99 for iPhone - Download Now$0.99 for iPad - Download Now
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| Netflix updated for iPhone 5, iOS 6 Posted: 27 Sep 2012 12:59 PM PDT
Netflix has updated with iPhone 5 and iOS 6 support, so now you can enjoy your 16:9 content on a fully 16:9 screen as nature and Hollywood intended. There's also a new interface that lets browse titles, tap for information, and double tap to play. It's a good use of the taller/wider screen space, and a good improvement to the Netflix app in general.
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| Dr. Seuss iPad Storybooks Add Record & Share Feature Posted: 27 Sep 2012 11:08 AM PDT
The Dr. Seuss iPad storybooks published by Oceanhouse Media have been among my favorite family book titles on the iPad for a long while. This week Oceanhouse have announced that they've added a new 'Record & Share' feature to a handful of their Dr. Seuss storybook titles (or omBooks as they call them) for iPad. This new feature allows you to record your own voice – or let your child record theirs – and then share the recording with family and friends via email. You can use your own recordings to enjoy the books in Read to Me mode. The first three of these omBook iPad titles to get the new Record & Share feature are The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and Dr. Seuss's ABC. Green Eggs and Ham has always been a particular favorite in our household – but as mentioned above I've been a big fan of all these Oceanhouse titles since the early days of the original iPad. I included them in our selection of the Best iPad Apps of 2011 (and the year before's roundup too). Many other storybook apps have had this sort of recording feature for a long time, so the feature itself would not generally be newsworthy. I think it is in this case because of the massive popularity of Dr. Seuss books and the superb way in which Oceanhouse has brought these titles to the iPad – with original artwork and a faithful and charming rendering of the work. Here are App Store links for the three titles with the new feature: Hope we have some Dr. Seuss fans here who will enjoy these lovely iPad editions. © patrickj for iPad Insight, 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
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| iPhoto for iPad Got a Massive Update Last Week Posted: 27 Sep 2012 09:52 AM PDT
iPhoto for iPad, Apple's own photo editing and effects app for iPad and iOS, was updated last week – to Version 1.1. This is a huge update for iPhoto, with a broad range of new features, new effects, and support for larger images on the new (3rd-gen) iPad and iPhone 5. Here's the full (and boy is it full) change list for this update:
I haven't spent a great deal of time with iPhoto since updating it, but I did notice that the app now feels a little easier to use and navigate around – and that's a very welcome change. Here's an App Store link for iPhoto; it's priced at $4.99 and is a universal app designed for both iPad and iPhone. © patrickj for iPad Insight, 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
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| My iPad Tips eBook Is Now Available in the iBookstore and Amazon Kindle Store Posted: 27 Sep 2012 08:29 AM PDT
Hurrah. This morning my book of iPad tips was released on the iBookstore and on the Amazon Kindle store. The book is called iPad Insight's Tips – it's available now for $3.99 on both stores and should be released soon on the Barnes and Noble Nook store and a few other eBook outlets. Many readers have suggested over the last couple of years that I should write a book on iPad tips, so this summer I set out to do that. It's partly a collection of the most popular and most useful tips and how-to's shared on the site, but also contains a lot of new content – including a set of iPad app and accessory recommendations. Here's the elevator pitch for the book in the Amazon Kindle store:
(...) © patrickj for iPad Insight, 2012. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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| Deal of the Day: 54% off Qmadix Xtreme Protective Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:50 AM PDT |
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How to grant or revoke app access to your contacts with iOS 6's new Privacy controls
Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:47 AM PDT
iOS 6 brings a lot of new features with it, including granular Privacy controls in Settings. Given previous controversies surrounding apps accessing your contacts, it's important to make sure that only apps you specifically allow have access to your contacts, and only for as long as you allow it. With Privacy, you can grant and revoke permission to access your contacts at any time.
How to grant an app access to your contacts
If an app is requesting to access your contacts, it'll normally present you with a pop-up. Some apps legitimately require access to your contacts to function properly. For example, Skype needs to access your contacts to place calls to the people on your contact list. If you deny access, you may find a time later on that you need to grant it. Y
- Launch the Settings app from the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on Privacy.
- Tap Contacts.
- Find the app that you'd like to be able to have access to your Contacts app. Tap the slider next to the app name to the On position.
How to restrict an app's access to your contacts
If you accidentally granted an app access to your contacts or decide later on that you don't want that app to have access, you can easily disable it as well.
- Launch the Settings app from the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad.
- Find the Privacy section and tap into it.
- Tap into Contacts.
- Find the app that you'd like to revoke access to your Contacts app from. Tap the slider next to the app name to the Off position.
That's all there is to it. You now have very good, very granular control over your contacts and the private information contained therein.
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