Showing posts with label Mobile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mobile. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
In 2009, one in every 6.4 Americans — from New York to Honolulu — lived in the top 50 major incorporated cities, according to U.S. census data. And if you're among them, chances are you know all too well what it's like to shoehorn yourself into a tight parallel-parking spot, squeeze between dumpsters and delivery trucks, or witness your bumpers accrue a patchwork of dimples.
It's no wonder that State Farm Insurance reports that a driver living in central Illinois would pay 30 percent lower premiums than if the driver lived in downtown Chicago. Compare upstate New York and Manhattan, and the premium difference climbs to 70 percent.
Some cars ease the urban burden better than others. Our editors set out to find just those few. We surveyed vehicle lengths, turning circles, driving visibility and parking aids. We considered our own driving impressions, looked at EPA city mileage ratings and called out cars that don't have folding side mirrors. From an initial list of 58 models — all 2011s — here are our top 10:
1 - 2011 Mini Cooper
The Mini Cooper refuses to release its grip on the title of Ultimate Urban Car. Yes, it's short — just over 12 feet long — and it turns a fairly tight circle and offers rear parking sensors. But being the ultimate urban car isn't just about parking. The Cooper's wee size and nimble handling make it good for scooting around delivery vehicles or slowpokes, especially if you opt for the turbocharged S trim level. All Coopers have excellent brakes, too, so you're well-protected against the indiscretions of others, such as cellphone-obsessed pedestrians who don't know street from sidewalk. Consider the convertible if you live in a warm climate, but if you're in a wintry city, think twice about the S trim level, which rides too firmly for pothole-ridden streets.
Length: 146.8 inches
Turning circle: 35.1 feet
Seats: 4
City MPG: 28-29 (premium gas)
2 - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
It's not flashy — OK, it's really not flashy — but the Cruze satisfies the basic transportation needs of any driver extremely well. Chevy also delivers one of its highest-quality interiors along with good fuel economy and, most importantly in the city, a suspension that eats up potholes. Unlike many other small cars, the Cruze also has a sizable backseat for taking friends out to dinner, and the trunk is as big as those you find in some midsize sedans. Plus, if it gets a ding, you're really not going to be too heartbroken.
Length: 181.0 inches
Turning circle: 35.8-36.4 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 22-28
3 - 2011 Ford Fiesta
Ford's cosmopolitan-looking Fiesta is all the rage in city-flocked Europe, and it should suit urban America equally well. The manual transmission's light clutch and smooth throws suit the city better than the optional automatic, whose twin-clutch setup has the Fiesta lurching around a bit at low speeds. Either way, the car's near-30 mpg city mileage should minimize trips to the pump. The suspension ticks off manhole covers and alley ruts without lingering aftershocks, and the car's nimble steering will have you maneuvering around stopped taxicabs without breaking a sweat. Ford's available Sync system should appeal to tech enthusiasts, with app integration for a number of smartphones.
Length: 160.1 inches
Turning circle: 34.4 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 28-29
4 - 2011 Honda Fit
Like an efficiency apartment, the Honda Fit is a packaging marvel, and it can hold a lot more stuff than its small exterior size would suggest. A tall roofline and low load floor help the hatchback achieve a cavernous 57.3 cubic feet of cargo room with the backseat down. The backseat also flips up, giving it versatility not normally seen in its class. When you take into account gas mileage as high as 28/35 mpg city/highway with an automatic transmission and the Fit's light-on-its-feet nature, this is one hatchback that's made for tackling — and moving things in — cities.
Length: 161.6 inches
Turning circle: 34.4 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 27-28
5 - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
We've been impressed with the new cars coming from Hyundai lately, like the Sonata family sedan, and the redesigned Elantra compact car impresses, too. The 2011 model's all-new design brings a heavy dose of style to the small-car segment, but Hyundai delivered on the practical front, too, as all versions of the Elantra get an EPA-estimated 29/40 mpg. The emphasis on design carries over to the cabin, which is distinctive and functional. All in all, the Elantra drives, looks and feels like a more expensive car than it actually is, and it's hard to put a price on that.
Length: 178.3 inches
Turning circle: 34.8 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 29
6 - 2011 Kia Forte
Kia's Forte debuted as a compact sedan, with a coupe and four-door hatchback following in quick succession. While the two-door is fun and the four-door is sensible, the hatchback may be the best option for city dwellers. You get the same well-designed interior and a capable engine, along with the numerous standard features and the low price of the sedan. And don't forget the extra cargo room. It may not drive as sportingly as the Mazda3 or even the Toyota Matrix, but the Forte costs significantly less and delivers better gas mileage. Those are two convincing reasons to go with the Kia.
Length: 170.9 inches
Turning circle: 33.8 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 22-25
7 - 2011 Kia Soul
The Soul's boxy lines liken a sort of Mini-Me version of the delivery trucks crawling any city street. Get one in brown, and the UPS driver might give you a friendly honk. (Not that you'd be able to distinguish it from the other honks.) The Soul's four-cylinder engine — most trims have a 2.0-liter — gets the job done, if unremarkably, and the highly assisted steering comes in handy at urban speeds. The trendy interior will appeal to a certain type of city dweller, with available features that include speakers that illuminate in sync with your music. Not surprisingly, they tend to work better with Lady Gaga than Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Length: 161.6 inches
Turning circle: 34.4 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 24-26
8 - 2011 Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf is perfect for the city, and vice versa. With a range as high as 100 miles, the battery-electric Leaf is great for the average commute. It's more efficient at moderate speeds than on the highway, so trips around downtown areas are where it's most capable. Unlike gas-powered cars, which waste fuel in traffic jams, the Leaf's battery isn't depleted as it crawls along, barring excessive use of the heat or air conditioner. City centers are where public charging is proliferating, which should diminish range anxiety. An optional backup camera is a coup for parking purposes.
Length: 175.0 inches
Turning circle: 34.2 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 106 MPGe
9 - 2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI
With the diesel-powered Golf TDI, fuel economy and driving fun happily coexist. The Golf TDI is rated at 30/42 mpg in all its forms, and the diesel four-cylinder's robust torque — combined with a nimble chassis — will have you slicing through urban traffic in no time. This is an entertaining driver's car. Inside, the Golf TDI features a level of quality that not many competitors can match, and whether you get the two- or four-door hatchback model, the cabin is versatile, capable of swallowing loads of cargo for that crosstown move. It's a car that will turn diesel skeptics into believers.
Length: 165.4 inches
Turning circle: 35.8 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 30 (diesel)
10 - 2011 Toyota Yaris
Not many cars can turn a full circle in under 35 feet. The fact that the Yaris does it in under 31 feet is extraordinary — and handy in tight corners and parallel parking. The car's basic exterior leaves no fog lights or chrome trim at risk for curb encounters, and in hatchback form, its stubby dimensions should make it easy to wedge into tight spaces. Inside, the cabin's three glove compartments allows space to stash valuables away from prying eyes, and the car's four-cylinder is peppier than its 106 horsepower might suggest. The car also starts under $13,000 — which gives at least one cheap aspect to city living.
Length: 150.6 inches
Turning circle: 30.8 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 29
- Reference/Source: yahoo.com by Kelsey Mays of Cars.com [Tue, May 31, 2011]
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Electronic gadgets market is giant market with countless gadgets that gained recognition and praised worldwide. Technology is advancing so rapidly, that with every passing day, we get to listen about new electronic gadgets and their upgraded versions being launched in the market by electronic giant.
Many people are still waiting till Christmas, in order to get some of 2010’s best gadgets in technology. Indeed 2010 was a great year with tablet and 3D revolution, and we can hope that the next year will be more interesting and beat these gadgets! So below cutting-edge selections not only represent many of the best new gadgets that are available to business owners and working professionals in 2010, but will also appear in 2011.
1) Google Nexus
Google’s Nexus is a speedy smart phone. It’s a intuitive handset having five customizable home screens with animated backgrounds. It also provides slick speech recognition capabilities. Nexus is now integrated with most of the software services provided by Google. Nexus One represent itself as a search giant’s first expansion in the world of e- commerce and hardware. Although that some well-publicized customer service issues come up with the device, still it remains among those ionic customer electronics which are at top of the list throughout the year.
2) RIM BlackBerry Presenter
As many of you have already noticed that micro and mini projectors will be available soon. Manufactures like 3M, Microvision and other. Thank God this handy 3.4-inch x 2.4-inch boxlike accessory is designed, so that it can be used with BlackBerry smart phones. It is very simple in use. What you have to do is that, simply connect it with a projector or monitor and you can use Blutetooth connectivity in order to display Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 and 2007 slides directly from your handset. You can pause images, set slides to automatically swap at prearranged intervals and in this way you can enjoy the benefit of accurate reproductions with most visual and animated effects.
3) PlayStation Phone by Sony
Sony, the leader of innovative technologies is ready to launch playstation phone code named “Zeus” in early 2011. Zeus would have Andriod 3.0 Gingerbread operating system. It also contains SD slot card having 8GB of memory with 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 processor. It comes up with 3.8 display and graphics processing unit of Adreno 205. This superb phone also contains 1GB ROM and 512 MB RAM. 3.8″ touch screen and its touch pad is just like gaming console of PSP. Through PlayStation Phone you can also download different games. So for those who love games, it is going to be a best product.
4) 3D Vaio by Sony
In order to be synchronize with BRAVIA glasses 3D laptop computer by Sony will boast of IR blaster. Lodged in F series chassis, the laptop contains display of 16”, so it can also be used for PS3. For games and videos, this laptop comes up with 1080p 240fps display. You can upgrade it from 2D to 3D with Blu-ray drives. In order to retain crystal clear picture quality, 3D VAIO uses the same technology in BRAVIA TV, with Black Frame Insertion. 3D VAIO used sequential technology for HD display while utilizing shutter glass. With just one touch button you can change between 2D to 3D. So, 3D VAIO would be a 0utstanding electronic gadget of 2011.
5) Apple iPhone 5
Apple iPhone 5 is based on face recognition mechanism with a sleek design. It contains 64GB memory with OLED screen. With GPS navigation feature you are able to synchronize with iTunes and customize SMS alerts and tones with HD audio quality. With Apple iPhone5 you can do video chat on 3G. For more durability, the screen is made scratch protected. For improved resolution it contains the most advanced graphic chips in it with chips dual core processors. On iPhone 5 you are also able to watch local channels. It also includes Pico projector which is used for presentation on a wall or flat surface.
6) PlayBook by BlackBerry
With simplified and advanced operating system BlackBerry is going to launch PlayBook. It would be highly compatible with current web requirements such like HTML5. This BlackBerry Tablet Operating System also called as QNX, supports open GL and PSIX. It will also be compatible with Adobe AIR and Flash 10.1. It comes up with 1GHZ processor, 1GB of Ram, 3MP camera with 5MP lens and 1024X600, 7″ display. Playbook offer video conferencing and features micro USB jack, 1080p resolution, Wi-Fi, HDMI port and Blue Tooth. Playbook is hardly just 0.4” thick and approximately weighs just 450 grams. It is possible to extract the data out of BlackBerry on PlayBook with the help of BlueTooth tethering application.
7) 3DS by Nintendo
The Nintendo 3D comes up with 2 outward lenses and 1 inward lense for taking pictures and it is compatible with 3D graphics sans glasses. With outward lens you can take picture of any person and at the same instant the user’s picture can be taken with the inward lens. It is possible to combine two images and produce a single one. Users cartoon avatars automatically created by 3DS. It also enables users of 2DS for communication. With the help of tag mode, you are able to get the details of another user of 3DS, like you can come to know about the games he or she played last.
8) Samsung LED 9000 Series
Samsung’s LED 9000 series of television sets is pencil-thin. Yes it’s just 0.3 inches wide and it can support and having the great ability to display 3D images and can convert 2D content into third dimension. You must be impressed by knowing that it can offer great support for downloadable apps, just like you’d find on the iPhone or Nexus One. Its application served via open development platform which means that any entrepreneur is able to insert content in it and can add up huge functionality, from the world of social networking clients to the downloadable games.
9) Palm Pre Plus
With minor changes in hardware the newer version of palm pre comes up with patch up keyboard and some little changes in user interface. It contains 3.1 inch multi touch screen with 320×480 resolution with HVGA display. In order to capture amateur video capture, it contains 3MP camera with LED flash. Palm Pre Plus will be coming up with Verizon. It runs on WebOS in its smartphone platform, which gives applications like Hotspot Tethering. You can get Palm Pre Plus for just 150 $ with two years Verizon contacts with their data plans.
10) Lenovo IdeaPad U1
Lenovo IdeaPad U1 is a 1.6 inch Linux based PC. It can also become a fully functional 3.7lb notebook having multi-touch capabilities that boasts an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. This device really functions well while offering solid five hours of battery life. E-mail and other web surfing facilities are also available. It attracts to those mobile professionals who are looking for great diversity in computing solution. So you can call it as two for one deal.
HUMOR Me...
Technology Has Taken Over Your Life
1. Your stationery is more cluttered than Warren Beatty's address book. The letterhead lists a fax number, e-mail addresses for two on-line services, and your Internet address, which spreads across the breadth of the letterhead and continues to the back. In essence, you have conceded that the first page of any letter you write *is* letterhead.
2. You have never sat through an entire movie without having at least one device on your body beep or buzz.
3. You need to fill out a form that must be typewritten, but you can't because there isn't one typewriter in your house -- only computers with laser printers.
4. You think of the gadgets in your office as "friends," but you forget to send your father a birthday card.
5. You disdain people who use low baud rates.
6. When you go into a computer store, you eavesdrop on a salesperson talking with customers -- and you butt in to correct him and spend the next twenty minutes answering the customers' questions, while the salesperson stands by silently, nodding his head.
7. You use the phrase "digital compression" in a conversation without thinking how strange your mouth feels when you say it.
8. You constantly find yourself in groups of people to whom you say the phrase "digital compression." Everyone understands what you mean, and you are not surprised or disappointed that you don't have to explain it.
9. You know Bill Gates' e-mail address, but you have to look up your own social security number.
10. You stop saying "phone number" and replace it with "voice number," since we all know the majority of phone lines in any house are plugged into contraptions that talk to other contraptions.
11. You sign Christmas cards by putting :-) next to your signature.
12. Off the top of your head, you can think of nineteen keystroke symbols that are far more clever than :-)
13. You back up your data every day.
14. Your wife asks you to pick up some minipads for her at the store and you return with a rest for your mouse.
15. You think jokes about being unable to program a VCR are stupid.
16. On vacation, you are reading a computer manual and turning the pages faster than everyone else who is reading John Grisham novels.
17. The thought that a CD could refer to finance or music rarely enters your mind.
18. You are able to argue persuasively the Ross Perot's phrase "electronic town hall" makes more sense than the term "information superhighway," but you don't because, after all, the man still uses hand-drawn pie charts.
19. You go to computer trade shows and map out your path of the exhibit hall in advance. But you cannot give someone directions to your house without looking up the street names.
20. You would rather get more dots per inch than miles per gallon.
21. You become upset when a person calls you on the phone to sell you something, but you think it's okay for a computer to call and demand that you start pushing buttons on your telephone to receive more information about the product it is selling.
22. You know without a doubt that disks come in five-and-a- quarter-and three-and-a-half-inch sizes.
23. Al Gore strikes you as an "intriguing" fellow.
24. You own a set of itty-bitty screw-drivers and you actually know where they are.
25. While contemporaries swap stories about their recent hernia surgeries, you compare mouse-induced index-finger strain with a nine year-old.
26. You are so knowledgeable about technology that you feel secure enough to say "I don't know" when someone asks you a technology question instead of feeling compelled to make something up.
27. You rotate your screen savers more frequently than your automobile tires.
28. You have a functioning home copier machine, but every toaster you own turns bread into charcoal.
29. You have ended friendships because of irreconcilably different opinions about which is better -- the track ball or the track *pad*.
30. You understand all the jokes in this message. If so, my friend, technology has taken over your life. We suggest, for your own good, that you go lie under a tree and write a haiku. And don't use a laptop.
- Reference/Source: smashinghub.com by kiranfatimaa(December 16th, 2010)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
With the economy getting fairly rough and the games industry getting hit with a multitude of closures and layoffs, it’s no surprise that game companies have reverted to “make a quick buck mode” these days. This has caused more than a few annoying trends to pop up within the industry whether it be on the publisher side or the developer side. Without further ado, here is a list of the top ten recent annoying trends in the games industry.
Relying on post release support far too much
Post-release support is a great thing for gamers and developers alike. In most situations any sort of bugs get ironed out of the game fairly quickly if the developers missed something, and even downloadable content keeps people playing the game long after they are finished with the main areas. The problem is that in this new digital age, most tech companies assume that everyone has access to the internet and other commonplace services that many take for granted. In this situation there is a new trend popping up where companies print and release unfinished games to meet a deadline, and then force everyone to immediately update the game when they get home. The problem being that not everyone can do this, so two versions of any said game could exist: the fixed playable one, and the terrible buggy one.
Paying for “add-ons” that are just part of the game blocked off
Another trend is for these guys to release DLC immediately after the release of the game, making folks suspect that it honestly could have been on the disk, but the consumer is getting gouged for that extra little bit of cash. I noticed this most recently while playing WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2011 on the PS3 I just got. Granted, the game came out a while before I got it, but some of the early DLC seemed sort of suspect, as if it was originally in the game but blocked off in some way. The same game has another ace up its sleeve in that game companies are trying to curtail game rentals and used games sales by forcing people to pay for the online services of a game if you didn’t buy a brand new copy. The aforementioned game in question charges ten dollars for those that want to play online, which isn’t too bad, but would make me pretty angry if I bought the game used, especially when most used stores only make the game five or ten dollars cheaper around release time.
“Cinematic experiences”
I’m all for video games to make the leap from a kid’s toy to a mature art form, but I feel that a few game directors are using the media as a backdoor into the films industry, completely forgetting that the term is video games not video movies. I’m not going to call any games out here, as that would start a flame war, but any game that has multiple 30 minute cut scenes with little or no interaction held within is on a slippery slope.
Announcing an announcement
A few companies have started a practice where, to drum up anticipation, they hype up an “announcement”. This gets spread around all of the popular game-centric websites until it hits a fever pitch. Comments like: “What could this game be?” or “I bet it’s a new game in X franchise” are commonplace and only help intensify the resentment and disappointment once the “announcement” is finally revealed. Turns out in many cases, the “announcement” is simply letting people know that the company in question is about to announce a game. What!? Are these guys seriously announcing an announcement?
Announcing games eons before they are released
I’m not a huge fan of Nintendo’s new plan of only announcing games six months before they release to stop stagnating expectations of said game, but other companies also seem to do the exact opposite. There honestly has to be a middle ground, because in situations like Gran Turismo 5, we knew about the game seemingly as it was first conceived by Sony. After years and years of fan speculation, missed released windows, and mis-information I honestly think it would have been better to not announce it so early. Most fans of the series had their expectations built so high for so many years, there was no way that the game, or any game for that matter could meet the expectations. Here’s hoping Duke Nukem Forever doesn’t end up being critically panned for the same reasons.
Wii rail shooters
As a fan of arcade-styled rail shooters I initially loved the huge wave of these guys popping up on the Wii. Games like Ghost Squad, Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles and even the VERY dated Mad Dog McCree took me back to the days when arcades were still around, and folks actually used them. This sadly started a trend where all companies thought that rail shooters were a golden ticket to Rich-ville or something, completely over-saturating the market. Almost all of these games have done poorly and lost money for their respective companies. This leads us to the next point:
Blaming gamers for company mishaps
It’s a story we have seen way too often: a big game company wants to support a game system they don’t really understand, so they make a game atypical for it. In this case we could either talk about Wii “hardcore” games or Japanese games on the 360 as both are good examples of this. They hype the game up to get attention, and then the bitter realization sets in: nobody wants this game on this system. Rather than keeping the failure internal, or make a classy little “my bad” press release, some of these guys have started to talk poorly on the system and its fan base at trade shows and other media. Suddenly the heads of multi-million dollar companies are saying things like “The Wii audience is nothing more than children” (nobody did, just a possible example). This does nothing more than anger the core audience of that system, and cause boycotts.
DRM mismanagement
Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a good way for game companies to protect their multi-million dollar investments, and make sure that the coders, artists, developers, and even actors get paid what they deserve. What most of these systems entail is activation by way of some sort of a code, and limitations on the games installation on other devices. Valve basically pioneered the practice with the release of Half-Life 2 way back in the middle of the last decade. Steam was met with harsh criticism at first, but has become a benchmark for what DRM should be. Sadly much more intrusive DRM schemes have popped up that undermine the consumer’s ownership of the game, and others have even hurt the consumer’s computer such as the case of Sony’s music DRM from a few years ago.
Take Ubisoft for example: under their DRM scheme used in such games as Assassin’s Creed II, the game has to constantly authenticate itself on an online sever, thus rendering the game unplayable if you do not have a steady internet connection, pay by bandwidth usage, or use a mobile device such as a laptop. The word finally got around that folks hated it enough, and it was removed. In an interview with Kotaku, Valve’s Doug Lombardi chimed in with the following:
“The key to making a good authentication system, Lombardi says, is to not stand in the way of customers enjoying what they bought. A bad system is like telling a customer "Wait, before you go on this roller coaster you need to change your shoes,"
Competitive multiplayer for the sake of it
Some games are simply not made for multiplayer, and forcing all games to have an online mode of some sort is really stupid. To further the point, most games DO NOT need any sort of competitive multiplayer if some sort of multiplayer is indeed needed. Keep it cooperative guys! For me there no greater offender in this regard than some of the earlier Nintendo DS games; games that added multiplayer simply to test out the systems Wi-Fi connectivity. After playing around two rounds of competitive New Super Mario Bros. one is pretty much done with the mode forever. Luckily they fixed it with the game’s younger brother for the Wii, where a cooperative multiplayer shows how it’s done.
There you have it! What are some annoying trends popping up that you don’t like?Games that are far too short
With the advances of graphical technology and the overall timeframe needed to make modern games is making certain games way too short. This is especially prevalent in many first person shooters, as the campaign, or main story of the game, has been getting shorter and shorter in recent years. I know that the main draw for these games is the multiplayer, a mode that is executed fairly well in most cases, but most folks want a competent single player experience as well. Terminator Salvation almost immediately comes to mind when speaking of this trend, a game that was barely longer than the movie that it was a tie-in for. I blame yearly releases or “Madden-itis” for this problem as many companies are forced to crank out a new game every year with minimal technological upgrades, a problem way worse for developers making shooter than yearly sports games.
- Reference/Source: gamrfeed.vgchartz.com by Stephen Kelley[13 January 2011]
1- Angry Birds: [Pricing: $0.99]: Developed by Chillingo, the company who sold 1 million copies of their latest app, “Cut the Rope for iPad” Angry Birds has been rated the #1 Game for the iPhone this year! The Angry Bird for iPhone is an exciting, fun packed game where the Angry Birds have to fight the green pigs who stole your eggs. The Angry Birds is a Must Have iPhone game! Now you can get the latest update where the birds have special abilities and new levels!
2- Fruit Ninja [Pricing: $0.99] Fruit Ninja has been designed for both the iPhone and the iPad. This fun and addictive gaming app has be developed by the Halfbrick Studios. Fruit Ninja has sold over Two Million copies after the release The latest update [Nov 03] comes with multi-player. It has been rated as the #1 Paid App in Norway, Russia, Czech Republic and Germany! And comes after the Angrybirds in USA! Recommended!
3- Cut the Rope [Pricing: $0.99] Designed and developed by Chillingo, Cut the Rope is available on both the iPhone and the iPad. It’s really fun playing this game, and has been a very successful app this year! In the story, you receive a mysterious box with an unknown creature inside, he loves eating candies, so start feeding because he never stops! :)
4- Dragon Dictation [Pricing: Free] Dragon Dictation for the iPhone is one of the best apps that you can give your iPhone 4! It’s a simple yet powerful voice recognition app for your iPhone developed by the Dragon. How to use Dragon? Easy! All you have to do is to tap the app and start speaking, tap when ended and watch your narrations in email or text, it’s that simple! You cannot miss this one!
5- Kindle for iPhone [Pricing: Free] App developed by the Amazon for both the iPad and the iPhone. This creates an amazing experience for the book readers. The text looks clear and crisp on the beautiful screen of the iPhone. Once you install it on your iPhone, you will be able to access 725,000+ books via the Kindle Store. You will also be able to get your hands on the best sellers and the new releases!
6- Twitterrific for Twitter [Pricing: Free | Upgrade to Premium $4.99] Available on both the iPhone and the iPad. This universal platform Twitter application has been specially designed for Tweeple! It has a very clear and smooth user interface, you can start tweeting with Twitterrific for Twitter with a few taps. Latest features include, instapaper, filter tweets and themes!
7- The Karate Kid [Pricing: Free] The movie was a Hit and the app designed by the Sony Pictures for both the iPhone and iPad is amazing. Keeping the same stunts and karate style, the developers have done a great job with this amazing iPhone App! You’ll love it!
8- Siri Assistant [Pricing: Free] Designed and developed by Siri, it’s one of the best free Productivity Apps for your iPhone. This beautiful and intelligent iPhone app is very cool, all you have to do is to speak clear and plain English, let’s say, “How to make Khiladi Sizzler”. And within moments, Siri Assistant will start gathering information and you’ll get the reciepe, Cool na! :)
9- Public Radio Player [Pricing: Free} The Public Radio is an amazing iPhone app which turns your iPhone into a Radio! The latest release also includes the background audio support. Features like the timeline, pause/rewind, show-schedule and an alarm clock make it even more killer!
10- Backbreaker Football [Pricing: $0.99] The Backbreaker Football has very cool and amazing graphics and gives the user a more Realistic backbreaking football experience! The game environment and the transitions are very smooth. Already downloaded 3 Million times!Okay, that’s it! This was the List of The Top Ten iPhone Apps for 2010. I hope you guys will love all these!
- Reference/Source: freetechjournal.com by Saurabh Star[November 11, 2010]
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Analysis
These are the top 10 trends we can expect to see in the mobile realm for 2011:
1. Android vs. iPhone showdown – This summer, the Android surpassed the iPhone in terms of market share, with Droids taking 27% of the market and iPhones taking 23%. In 2011, there are substantiated rumors saying that Verizon will be getting the iPhone, which may help to increase Apple’s market share. Additionally, the Droid will continue to see improvements and a growing number of apps in their marketplace (one of the main arguments of iPhone proponents). 2011 looks to be the key year that will determine which operating system reigns supreme.Conclusion: Mobile is gaining market share by the day, and eventually the majority of our browsing will likely happen via smartphone. Savvy business professionals and marketers need to get ahead of the game when it comes to mobile, and start learning more about these trends for 2011, as well as taking advantage of mobile-based opportunities.
2. Mobile advertising spike – As more and more consumers begin to access the web through their smartphones, versus home or work computers, we’re going to see more opportunities for advertising in these mediums. Due to the size and constraints of mobile, this advertising has to be simpler and more concise, so marketers need to change their strategies compared to standard digital placements. 2011 is looking like a landmark year for mobile advertising.
3. Mobile SEO – The importance of having a mobile site is becoming more substantial, as growing numbers of consumers with different levels of web-enabled phones begin accessing sites. Business owners need to be aware that mobile browsers have different algorithms than traditional browsers, so SEO efforts need to be adjusted accordingly. 2011 is a year that will demonstrate the difference between those who adopt mobile SEO practices and those who fail to meet the new challenge.
4. Touchscreen website development – Touchscreens offer a different user experience than regular computers that utilize mouses, and their popularity is skyrocketing. For website developers, this means it’s time to consider how sites can best be developed to meet the needs of consumers who are navigating with their fingertips. In 2011, look for an increased focus on the schematics and usability of a website to be geared towards a touchscreen functionality.
5. Location-based apps –Increasing numbers of applications and sites are relying on location-based functionalities to aid consumers. From Yelp’s check-ins, to Facebook’s places, there are growing numbers of opportunities for location-based communication and promotion of local businesses. Expect to see more websites & smartphone applications that take advantage of location–based technology.
6. Free wi-fi – Many communities are enacting free wi-fi programs. Miami Beach and Times Square in NYC have put these into effect. As wi-fi access grows nationally, more and more consumers are likely to use their devices and computers on the go, and in public places. Also, this means more consumers are likely to get online, since the cost will be significantly lower.
7. Location-based social networks – With the rise of sites like Foursquare and now Scvngr, location-based social is continuing to rise in popularity at a rapid rate. Foursquare recently reached 3 million users, and SCVNGR just passed the 500,000 user mark. These networks designed around location are going to see a bigger push in 2011, and we’re likely to see additional social sites hit the market.
8. Increase in mobile video viewing – By the end of this year, the number of mobile video viewers is expected to hit 23.9 million, and those numbers are set to double by 2013, according to eMarketer. Addressing video as a function of mobile, versus traditional desktops, is something marketers have to consider, especially when looking at new advertising opportunities. As this number spikes in 2011, there will be many additional ways to capitalize on this growing market.
9. Consolidation of technology – As smartphones and tablet computers are able to do more and more, expect to see a decline in the use of more specific technology – GPS units, mp3 players, cameras, etc. Many smartphones serve to fill all these needs, so consumers no longer need to purchase additional devices. The same applies to tablet computers, which can serve as e-readers, making Kindles and Nooks less necessary.
10. Mobile to mobile technology – With the iPhone 4’s introduction of Face Time video calling, a new era was born in terms of communicating via mobile devices. Smartphone video calling is expected to reach 29 million users by 2015. The Skype app allows video calling on all Android smartphones, and this market is likely to see substantial growth in 2011 thanks to these new technologies.
- Reference/Source: www.focus.com by
Hannah Sentenac
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