Archive for the ‘iPhone’ Category

Posted on January 7, 2011 - by Wayne Sutton

The Verizon iPhone announcement better happen on 1.11.11 or all heck is going to break lose.

As I’ve been in the technology space for over 12 years one thing I’m tired of is all of the technology rumors. One of the most hyped rumors of all time is when or if Verizon will start selling the iPhone. Just do a Google Blog Search for “verizon iphone” and I’m sure between all the tech blogs and the AT&T users who want to switch to Verizon or the Verizon users who want the iPhone everyone is saying finally or will they?

Come Tuesday, January 11, 11:00 A.M., also known as 1.11.11. Verizon is to make an announcement in New York. Verizon has sent out the following non transferable announcement to selected technology bloggers and media outlets.

Also note during the Verizon wireless CES keynote there were no mentions of Verizon starting to sell the iPhone.

Now that the stars have aligned with the reports/rumors of the $50.00 AT&T iPhone 3Gs pricing, Apple blocking employees vacation days and the mandatory Verizon face-to face training Jan 25 to Feb 4, the Verizon iPhone is about to become a reality. So it seems.

The rumors are pointing to the Verizon iPhone media event on January 11 with the iPhone going on sell at Verizon starting February 3, 2011. Will it happen? Only time well tell. If not, expect the sky to fall, riots at Verizon stores, stocks to crumble and all heck to break lose on the blogosphere…. maybe.

For an added bonus, BGR is also guessing a big super bowl Verizon iPhone commercial push being the iPhone release date (February 3) is the same week.

Are you going to buy an iPhone on Verizon?

Posted on December 5, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

infographic – Apple’s iPhone history and specifications

As some of you know I’m a big fan of the iPhone. I have purchased ever version of the iPhone from the first generation to the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 is by far the best smartphone in the world (IMHO) because of the battery life, usability, the camera, the shape and access to the app store.

The infographic below by Website Monitoring Blog gives you a history along with facts and figures about Apple’s much beloved iPhone.

via: iPhone Facts and Figures (history & specs) | Website Monitoring Blog.

Posted on November 29, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

Will Instagram become the next big mobile social network or just one awesome photo sharing app?

Instagram features:
If you own an iPhone, like to take photos and share them with your friends or send to multiple social networks then Instagram may become your favorite iPhone application. If you want to share photos with 50 of your closest friends, then Path may be the iPhone photo sharing application of choice, or you may want to try Burstn or picplz. I’ll blog more about Path, Burstn and picplz later but back to Instagram. I would describe Instagram as a mix of flickr, Twitter, ping.fm, Facebook and Foursquare all rolled into one with the context of content based around photos. The core features of Instagram are; upload or take a photo, name the photo or not, share your location of the photo using Foursquare or not, share your Instagram photo on Twitter, upload to Flickr, share on Facebook, or share on Tumblr. Prior to sharing your photo you have the option to pick between 11 unique filters to enhance your photos. The 11 Instagram filters are, X-Pro II, Lomo-fi, Earlybird, Lily, Poprocket, Inkwell, Apollo, Nashville, Gotham, 1977 and Lord Kelvin.

A simple photo mobile social networking application The social networking aspects of Instagram are simple and familiar if you’re a Twitter user. While looking at users profile you can see an Instagram username, their first name, how many photos they have uploaded, how many followers they have and how many people they are following. As an Instagram user you have four options to interact with other users. You can follow them, like a photo, leave a comment on a photo or flag a photo for review. Instagram embraced their inner Twitter by not only how user profiles are shown with the following and followers but if you leave a comment with @username on any photo you will receive push notification as well. Other Instagram push notifications are sent to your phone when someone likes your photo or follows you. Another social feature of the app is the “Popular” photos section which you could almost compared to the suggested users list or trending topics on Twitter. No, I’m not saying Instagram is a photo version of Twitter and please do not call it that, but the similarities are there. Two other social parts that I believe is a key to Instagram’s early success is the “Find More Friends” options where you can easily find other Instagram users via your contact list, Facebook friends or Twitter friends. There is even a news stream to keep you update on your Instagram likes, and new followers.

Instagram is not complex to use even with all of the features mentioned above. The founder of Instagram, Stanford University graduate, Kevin Systrom, a former intern at Odeo that later become Twitter and a former Google employee along with Mike Krieger who is a former Microsoft intern and Meebo employee before joining the Instagram team doing design & development built the app to allow users share photos and interact with others in seconds. The simplicity and usability of Instagram is smart and you can tell they followed the K.I.S.S. (Google it) rules. Along with the thought of enhancing your photos, the Instagram team has built a fun app with a growing interactive community with “likes” and comments.

Cats and Early Adopters
Speaking of community, the type of photos Instagram users are posting ranges from food, models, babies, sporting events, music concerts, holiday scenery, nature, pretty faces and animals. When it comes to animals, you may see a few dogs but as of right now cats rule Instagram. Along with cats you may find some of your favorite web “tech” personalities such as Chris Messina, Robert Scoble, Jenn Van Grove, Chris Rauschnot, Kevin Rose, Tristan Walker, Angela Benton, Dave Delaney, Tessa and John Gruber sharing their photos. A few of my North Carolina friends such as Abbyladybug, TyDowning, Jay Dolan, Mollybuckly, John Lane and GirlonCamera have started to use Instagram too making my experience even better by sharing photos from families places. Regardless of who is using Instagram make one thing clear, as of right now it is not another look at me app or see how many followers you have but Instagram is about sharing your experience via awesome photos. Still if the app continues to grow I’m sure the how to get more followers question will become an issue and a problem for early adopters who right now just love to post photos.

One Million users?
Last week it was rumored that Instagram has already passed the one million user mark which is truly impressive for the nine month old startup. If you are new to Instagram or never heard of it and asking yourself how do they have over one million users, it looks like Instagram is popular overseas. Having one million users is a marvellous achievement for any startup but to gain one million users in nine months, with 500k in funding, little press, an iPhone only app and no social networking website is amazing. Yesterday one Instagram user posted a screenshot saying the National Geographic has joined Instagram which cold be the beginning of leading social brands starting to use the service.

What’s Next for Instagram?
As for what’s next for Instagram, maybe an updated website, longer profile history, an Android version, search options, more notifications options to know if your photo is on the popular page, follow photos, like notifications tracking,leaderboards, profile badges and no startup would be complete without stickers and widgets. Regardless as Gina Bianchini stated in The Seven Principles You Need to Know to Build a Great Social Product TechCrunch post, “Create a party, not a museum.” As of today, Instagram is a party for sure.

Do you use Instagram? If not what mobile photo sharing application do you use?

Instagram

Posted on August 30, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

11 iPhone QR Code Reader Applications to get you ready for the QR marketing madness

Update

Looking for a fast QR Code Reader / Scanner? Try my new iPhone app: CLICK HERE

It seems that major brands are jumping on the QR Code bandwagon. Earlier this year it was Calvin Klein, now FOX Network has announced that viewers can gain instant access to content for FOX shows via FOX CODES (custom QR codes for Fox). Just last week I saw Gap use QR code in stores for user generated apparel recommendations. Both Best Buy and AT&T have released mobile apps with QR code readers too. Soon you’ll see QR Codes at Best Buy locations like the one above as well.  The question I have about the FOX Network QR code/ Fox Code what if you don’t have a DVR then you’re going to have to be quick with your favorite QR reader or just keep watching FOX for the next QR code to flash on screen if you want to scan it. That’s probably what FOX is going for but note, QR codes stand for Quick Response not quick rush to show a code. For example look for the QR code at the end of the video below. It shows for 1 second.

Video via @gavins

Regardless here are 10 iPhone QR Code Reader Applications to get you ready for the QR marketing madness

1. SocialWayne QR Code Reader [ itunes link]
2. NeoReader [ itunes link]
3. Optiscan [ itunes link]
4. StickyBits [ itunes link]
5. Barcode [ itunes link]
6. QuickMark [ itunes link]
7. TagReader [ itunes link]
8. Redlaser [ itunes link]
9. ScanLife [ itunes link]
10. Mirascape [ itunes link]
11. Best Buy [ itunes link]

Also note that we’re building in a QR Code reader with the next version of TriOut iPhone app to enable quick check-ins. We believe QR Codes and location-based services are a perfect tech mashup.

Update 2:
TriOut v2 for the iPhone with built-in QR Code reader is now available. Here’s the iTunes App store [iTunes link]

What QR Code reader do you use?

Posted on August 21, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

Three FaceTime calls in one day due to more friends with the iPhone 4

Despite antennagate and no white iPhone 4, more of my friends are purchasing the new iPhone and that means more FaceTime calls. You see, I have this thing for being the first person people make FaceTime to. It’s the geek in me. So far I’m around 15 FaceTime first calls with various friends across the USA and today I had three FaceTime first calls with @TheRab, @DavidbThomas and @Corvida. Take a look:

Here’s sldeshow of 11 of my FaceTime calls.

If you have an iPhone 4 how often do you use FaceTime?