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Archive for the 'mobile apps' Tag

Review: Don’t go to Disneyland without this iPhone app

March 21st, 2010, 7:28 am by

This story was originally written for our Disney blog, and I’m reposting because I bet some Gadgetress readers are interested in such  mobile apps. Reporter Ian Hamilton reviews a game app for Disneyland and videographer Mark Eades shows how it works.

Whether you frequent Disneyland or just plan the occasional vacation, it’s time to outfit yourself with an iPhone for your next visit.

If you don’t own one, then borrow one for the day or make sure someone in your group has one so you can use the Wishing Stars iPhone app.

Yes, this app is that much fun.

Wishing Stars – Disneyland (link opens in iTunes) is an absolute perfect companion for any Disneyland journey and a must-have app if you’re visiting the park any time soon. I’m not a huge Disney fanatic, like many people I know, but I’d be willing to go to Disneyland if I played this as part of the experience. (Disclosure: my wife works at Disneyland and is a bit of a fanatic.)

In a nutshell, Wishing Stars consists of a series of quests you can embark on to find particular stuff within the Disneyland park.

The quests vary by difficulty and can entertain a kid, an adult or an adult who thinks like a kid. The app uses your physical GPS location to identify whether you’ve found the answer to a clue. In other words, it’s a treasure hunt within Disneyland.

One note, though, you have to have an iPhone 3G or an iPhone 3GS to use this app. The original iPhone doesn’t have the necessary GPS accuracy to pull off what Wishing Stars requires.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Cell phones • • • • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

Google phone apps are looking good

August 29th, 2008, 10:17 am by

Google’s contest to reward developers who are building software for the upcoming Google phone have been winnowed down to 10 finalists (from 1,788 applications submitted earlier this year). Winners get $275,000 each.

There’s a shopping comparison app, several location-based apps, plus one to edit photos, another to share music and another that offers a challenging workout. Check out the finalists at Google’s Android Developer Gallery.

This continues to add to the ongoing excitement of the up-and-coming Google phone, which is rumored to launch this fall first from T-Mobile. Yesterday, as mentioned in my post, “Psst: T-Mobile’s 3G half the price of AT&T’s iPhone plan,” Google announced Android would get its own store, just like the Apple Apps store.

Related:

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Why wait for Android when iPhone is already here?

August 20th, 2008, 5:06 pm by

I’m paying close attention to all the talk about the Google Android-friendly phone coming from T-Mobile possibly November 10. Why? Because I am back in the market for a new cell phone.

Google has been working on a mobile-phone operating system of its own and the first phone is expected on T-Mobile October or November, depending on whose report you read. Very exciting.

Unlike iGirl, I don’t own an iPhone nor was I willing to wait in line earlier this month at an Apple store to buy one.  I am currently a T-Mobile subscriber and considered staying with the company just because of its new home-phone service. But T-Mobile doesn’t offer 3G Internet service in OC and I’m getting tired of waiting.

Google Android’s Global Time appHowever, T-Mobile tells me that 3G service is on the way for Orange County. It’s already available in New York, Las Vegas, San Antonio and Austin. For the rest of us, T-Mobile is “launching additional 3G markets throughout the year and will end the year with 3G coverage in 20 to 25 core markets,” said David Henderson, with T-Mobile.

[UPDATE 8/28/08: Psst: T-Mobile’s 3G one-third less than AT&T’s iPhone plan ]

As for the rumored Android-friendly HTC Dream phone, Henderson responded with this: “T-Mobile is on track to bring an Android based phone to market in Q4.”

Waiting for Android means I won’t have to switch cell-phone companies. And I won’t have to deal with Apple’s MobileMe mishaps. But it will be the first Google phone and sure to have bugs. Then again, it will be the first Google phone!

There are at least 1,788 Android applications in development (here are the 50 finalists in Google’s contest), which rivals Apple’s Apps store (currently around 2,121 apps as of today). On Monday, Google released its complete beta developers kit. (If there are any OC developers out there, let me know. I’m working on a story about all of this.)

So, are there some more good reasons to wait for Android?

Buy an iPhone now or wait for Google's Android?
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Posted in: Cell phones • iPhone • news • • • • • • • | 4 Comments »

Avoid overdraft fees with free mobile-phone service

August 20th, 2008, 11:20 am by

Intuit’s Quicken Beam money-checking toolFinally, something free from Intuit, the Mountain View software company that takes my money every tax season.

Intuit launched Quicken Beam, a text-messaging service to help people keep track of how much money is left in the bank. The company is pitching this to people who tend to get overdrawn. With overdraft fees upwards of $20, this free little tool could really help avoid overspending (though text-messaging fees apply).

It works on any cell phone or mobile device (iPhones too) because it relies on text messaging. After you register various bank and credit card accounts (yup, you do have to hand over this private information), you dial 636363 to get your checking-account balance and then type in “BAL” or other abbreviation. That’s it! No data entry, no log-in screen, no web browser needed. More details on how to use the service HERE.

You can also set up alerts in case the balance drops below a certain point or credit-card spending gets out of whack.

Of course, this is not totally new. Bank of America offers a mobile service to check balances,  but you’ll need a phone with a web browser.  Wells Fargo has a text service. AT&T offers a banking service free to its customers. I’m sure there are others. The Quicken Beam service is just one option that is free, text-based and not limited to one financial institution.

While researching the service, I also discovered Intuit Labs, which is the company’s test ground for new products and services. It’s a personable site with links to actual people. Quicken Beam was developed by Kristen Berman, who apparently can’t get enough of her cell phone. But other apps available include View My Paycheck, QuickBooks for the iPhone and QuickBooks Jingle Generator. Now, how about a service that will help me pay less taxes?

 Recent mobile headlines:

Posted in: Cell phones • news • • • • • • • • • • | 1 Comment »

Anaheim one of the nation’s top for mobile banking?

June 12th, 2008, 4:21 pm by

Bank of America offers mobile bankingAccording to Bank of America, Anaheim comes in at No. 10 for residents who bank with their cell phone. Huh?

Here’s the list:

1. Los Angeles, CA
2. Atlanta, GA
3. Washington, DC
4. Dallas, TX
5. New York, NY
6. Houston, TX
7. Phoenix, AZ
8. Boston, MA
9. Miami, FL
10. Anaheim, CA

The reporter in me scratched my head and wondered outloud to the Bank of America media person, “What about Irvine, or Huntington Beach?”

She got back to me and just as I suspected, Anaheim includes these cities and, well, all of Orange County. I’m not sure why Anaheim was chosen to represent Orange County.

The bank wouldn’t give me the number of users per “city,” but did say that 1 million people are now using Bank of America’s mobile banking service to check balances, pay bills, transfer funds, view transactions and find ATMs and banks. Comparably, 25 million million of its customers bank online on their home computer.

So what are customers actually doing and who are they?

  • 80 percent review transactions
  • 40 percent transfer funds or pay bills.
  • 67 percent are under 35 years old
  • 80 percent are under 45 years old.

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