Crenk » Mobile App

Opera Releases Native Opera Mini 5 App For Windows Mobile Phones

Steven Finch — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:00:27 +0000

This morning Opera announced that it has released a native version of Opera Mini 5 beta for handsets running Windows Mobile 5 and 6.

Interestingly, the new WinMo version of Opera Mini does not require Java. That basically means any Windows Mobile phone can accommodate the app.

Despite not requiring Java, Opera Mini 5 beta for Windows Mobile includes the same feature set as the Java-based version. That means features like tabbed browsing, speed dial, bookmarks and the password manager are built right in (also see video below).

To download, simply point your current mobile browser to m.opera.com/next.

Blue Microphone Releases Mobile App

Luis Sandoval — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:05:55 +0000

I’m a huge fan of Blue Microphone. I’ve done reviews on their microphones in the past and tonight I want to introduce everyone to their mobile app. Unlike other microphones, Blue Microphone has released microphones with a lot of people in mind. Everyone from the desktop podcaster to the roving new media recorder, Blue Microphone has created products that are durable and versatile.

With the release of their new free app, Blue FiRe, Blue Microphone lays conquest on the standard microphone app that comes bundled with the purchase of your iPhone. Some will say that all they need is the ability to record and listen, and that probably works well for the vast majority of us. But what if you had an application that had all the control of a switchboard in order to get the right recording sound.

This feature rich application allows users to not just record but also to manipulate the audio recordings. The ability to set timing markers, bookmark certain areas of the audio, you can set low and high threshold auto-recordings based on what your surroundings are. Title your recordings, snap photos of your recording location to be attached with the audio, and rather than send SMS, you can simply set your browser to the set URL and download the audio format in three versions for you to either store, or edit in an audio editing program.

It really does make Apple’s Voice Memo app seem a bit out of date, and for the price, it seems like a nice upgrade too.

Send Location Maps to Friends with Assemble

Luis Sandoval — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:00:40 +0000

No one carries a map anymore, we’ve all got mobile devices. But how many of us still need to type in the location we’re trying to get to, even copy and paste can be a hassle if you need something in a hurry. Sending maps to friends would be a lot easier and thats what Assemble strives to do. Now when you want to meet in a central location, or find where your friend is, have them send you a message via Assemble and not only will you get a personalized message, but you also get a map of where they are.

This proves to be extremely useful in an era when speed and information go hand in hand. Rather than sending someone a typed out address of where I am at, only to have them map it on their end, Assemble does all the work and sends the map to them. Simply add contacts on your own or pair it with the Bump app to quickly get contacts on your phone and start sending. It’s extremely easy to use and will even provide driving directions all while using the internal map system on the iPhone.

Here’s a video on how easy it is use:

ASSEMBLE Instructional Video from Nick Johnson on Vimeo.

Grooveshark Gets Final Smackdown from Apple

Luis Sandoval — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:42:48 +0000

Ever gotten to the point where you’ve been pushed around, beaten down, kept from your goals, so much so that you just decided that enough was enough. If you have, then you know exactly where Grooveshark stands. It’s a known fact that app approval for the iTunes store is based on a mystical set of rules that like a chameleon can change in an instant depending on the weather, the planetary alignment, hell even what the person had for breakfast, and because of this randomness, many app designers have experienced a lot of frustration. Rejections come with vague reasons, forcing some designers to reconfigure and then resubmit hoping for a better outcome.

Grooveshark has submitted and has finally decided to toss in the towel and head for the darker side of things…the jailbroken iPhones. It’s a growing “black market” of sorts and Grooveshark is sure to find a thriving audience there.

According to TechCrunch, when the app was first tried back in 2009, not only did it work well, but it was also stated as possibly never making it through the app store qualifications, and they were right. The app will now find a home on Cydia, giving jailbroken users a chance to use the application. If you’re not attached to the Apple regime, there’s always Android, Blackberry, and Palm that you can find the app for, and it works just fine.

Skype Will Soon Support Mobile Calls over 3G on the iPhone

Steven Finch — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:01:15 +0000

Skype on the iPhone currently supports calls over WiFi, but very soon they will support calls over 3G.

In a blog post this morning, however, Skype’s Peter Parkes confirmed that a 3G-capable version of the application is on its way, which will make Skype for iPhone “totally mobile.”

Here’s what Skype had to say about the pending application:

“Last Thursday, Apple introduced the iPad, which we’re very excited about here at Skype. David Ponsford … and his team are reviewing the device and its specs, and you can expect to hear more from us about Skype for iPad in due course.

What does this have to do with calling over 3G? The SDK (Software Development Kit) that Apple provides to developers like Skype has been upgraded for the iPad. The new version, 3.2, removes the restrictions on calling over 3G, which is great news.

You may have seen other apps offering calls over 3G, but we’re holding ours back for a little bit longer. Why? So that we can give you the very best audio quality we can. When our 3G-capable Skype for iPhone app is released, it’ll let you make calls in wideband audio, giving you greater clarity and fidelity – because that’s what you expect from Skype.”

You can also watch the video below for more information:

Annoyances Nixed with Evernote 3.5

Luis Sandoval — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:55:54 +0000

Evernote 3.5 Windows in beta.

When Evernote first came out there was a lot of hype surrounding this all purpose information collector and sorter. Unlike anything that we had really seen before, Evernote allowed users to capture content either in video, internet, or photo, save it and store to the Evernote account and have all devices sync with your account. It was a great way to share information you would need later, or capture something as simple was scribbles on a napkin without actually having to carry the napkin with you. For web surfers specifically the ability to save an entire page along with the URL or just highlighted content allowed us a new way to capture just what we needed without bookmarking an entire site. Evernote really changed the way we capture data on our mobiles and now it gets an upgrade.

Evernote 3.5 for Windows was recently released in beta and it’s nothing significant, but does address a lot of previous annoyances. Evernote has always existed in many formats; an app, a browser button, and a desktop application rounds out how you can find Evernote. The desktop version for windows was nothing fancy, in fact it could be described as clunky, glitchy, with a UI that was not as intuitive as it could be. With it’s Apple counterpart running smooth and clean, it was a wonder why the Windows version could not mimic that same look and feel.

Some updates you will see are as follows:

three views offered for looking at notes: List, Mixed, and Thumbnails
geo-location tags activate a map that slides into place to show its location
interface feels a lot more Windows 7 than its older counterparts
search database has been improved, and you can save and edit your search filters
multi-language spell check

So with these minor improvements we’ve seen a nicer desktop app under the hood. The application is still free, with a paid pro account alternative offering more functionality for the power users.

Reach Rockstar Status with Tap Tap Revenge 3

Luis Sandoval — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 05:19:39 +0000

Guitar Hero, done it. Rock Band, yep, did that too! I’ve not been a big fan of the mobile versions for some of these, even on the Nintendo DS the Guitar Hero just didn’t port well without cramping up and wishing your had double joints on your double joints. Still there’s no denying that these games are a lot of fun, whether you’re playing on your own or playing with a group. Mastering the moves, hearing the songs, and remembering the days when you wanted to be a real rockstar, are all part of the experience.

Recently Tap Tap Revenge 3 had been released for the iPhone and iTouch. I’ve completely overlooked parts 1 and 2, but 3 caught my eye with all the buzz it was getting, so naturally it was hard to pass up. I’ve since been addicted to the game, using it to fill the idle time in my day now. The game integrates rhythm play, color recognition, and increasing levels of difficulty that keep the game interesting. What is an even bigger draw is the mix of in game tunes and popular mainstream music that is played in the game.

Tap Tap Revenge 3 allows users to create an avatar that you buy in game items for to dress them up and increase your rockstar cred. You get the points to buy gear and new tracks from the in game coins you collect for mastering songs. The better you do the more coin you earn, simple enough. Thinking myself better than most I quickly went to hard and saw that I was way out of league. The game definitely takes some getting used to, but you lose track of the frustration as you listen to some of your favorite songs.

The visuals are nothing to laugh at either. Color backgrounds and user interface keeps you hooked to the game as you try to match speed with the music. I recommend this game for anyone used to the Guitar Hero and Rockband series. It’s not as stressful to your hands, so no cramps, but still offers a big enough challenge to keep you going and perhaps challenging your friends.

The app is free, so go check it out and enjoy the becoming the rockstar you always wanted!

Mobile Access to your Desktop

Luis Sandoval — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:39:12 +0000

LogMeIn Logo

There’s just some apps that take the concept of mobile apps to a whole other level. It was not long ago that I reviewed an iPhone application that started your car from afar, making the use of a key useless.

Most recently a new app was brought to my attention thanks to a colleague of mine. As a heavy mobile user and constantly on the go, it’s not always easy for me to access my files. I use apps like Dropbox, and Zumodrive, but sometimes I don’t place the files I need in those apps. In those cases LogMeIn Ignition has saved the day.

The mobile app allows direct access to your desktop, both Windows machines and Macs. With a simple one password click you can access all of your work and personal computers/laptops. As of now I’ve not seem a limitation on the number of systems (I have five on mine). The access window that opens up is a direct replica of your desktop, if not tinier. Your background, your apps, your folders, all accessible with a flawless user interface.

The catch is that your computers must be turned on and connected to an active internet connection. When you login thru the portal, you can see which computers are on and which are off. You can type native emails on your device and attach files from your desktop hundreds of miles away.

The possibilities of this little device make the functionality priceless. It’s a sure win for those of us that are mobile warriors, and even in times when you don’t have the capability to set up your laptop to do quick work, the iPhone can be your link to all that you do.

Junaio: Augmented Reality Social Network for iPhone and Android

Steven Finch — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:19:55 +0000

Metaio is a very interesting company that has started to develop some great augmented reality iPhone applications.

Metaio has just announced a new social network called Junaio which is based around augmented reality.

The newest version of the mobile augmented reality platform includes new and improved features such as:

1) Enhanced live overlay and local search: powered using Google Local Search, now you can visually search for points of interest like restaurants, cafes, or anything in your location

2) New social features: Ability to rate, comment on others scenes, publish your own augmented reality to social networks like Facebook and Twitter

3) Improved user interface and enhancements: greater usability and fast download speed

To me this seems to be a very weird yet interesting mix between the real world and social networking online.

Regator Tracks Blogosphere Social Mentions

Luis Sandoval — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:47:42 +0000

Tracking mentions online is a huge market that has yet to turn any profit. Still, there are a lot of sites out there that track mentions on Twitter, Facebook, various social sites, and a few blog sites as well. Knowing what trending topics are hot and when your name or brand is mentioned is important and becomes a focal point of tracking your web presence.

Regator is both a web app and a mobile app that allows you to keep up with what is happening in the blogosphere without missing a beat. The unique addition of the mobile app ensures that you never miss a mention. They pay app ($1.99) is a functional addition to any mobile media person’s toolbox.

Regator does little to stop you from jumping right in. Search for keywords, browse the web from within Regator, search real time trends, and even set up a blog monitor for specific names and keywords for daily reports when those words are mentioned.

I also found the ability to favorite posts, entire blogs, and/or topics to be useful for when I needed to come back and read up more in depth later.

Regator definitely explores millions of posts thousands of the best sites out there. I found it an interesting tool for media, business, writing, and news professionals. But just about anyone can find a great use to keep up on their specific keyword choices or trending topics.

iPhone App for the Nuclear Apocalypse

Luis Sandoval — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:44:27 +0000

Nuclear apocalypse is inevitable, right? Okay, maybe not, but if it were true, wouldn’t it be beneficial to have an iPhone app that could detail your personal radiation exposure. Thanks to a concerned radiologist out of Canada, Dr Mark Baerlocher, and Tidal Pool Software, the reality of such an iPhone app is real.

The application taps into normal exposures to radiation to give you a detailed report of where you stand. Are you glowing green in the dark or have you not been radiated enough? The iPhone application takes measurements from X-rays and CT scans for example. With the simple input of personal information based on your own situation, the application will let you know where you stand and if you are at risk. While not free, this $3.00 application might be worth your money if you’re prone to getting medical tests and are exposed to high levels of radiation.

A bonus to this application is the graph it will create to inform you if you are at risk of cancer based on the amount of radiation you’ve been exposed to. So is this worth it? Entirely up to you. Suffice to say that if you’re consistently going in for procedures or exposed to radiation for any period of time, it would be wise to get the facts, and perhaps check with a doctor.

Virtual Radio: Internet Radio On Your Cell Phone

Dean Sherwin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:08:15 +0000

Even listened to the radio on your phone while you’re on the bus or just relaxing in the park – sometime it can get a bit boring. Especially for us geeky types who love to know what going on all over the world in the tech biz.

Well I found a cool app for your cell phone that may fix the problem.

Virtual Radio is a cool Java app for you Java enabled cell phone that allows you to listen to Internet radio stations in crisp high quality sound. The have lowered the frequency to 32kbps for the Java version so your GPRS connection can keep up with the content.

There are loads of different channels to choose from depending on where you’re located. You can also reprogram the tuner to play your favourite channels or simply find new ones.

The best this is that it’s completely free to download and use. One piece of advice that I’ll give you is to watch out for the GPRS costs. However, nowadays most network have deals on GPRS internet such 99c per day for unlimited usage or a set fee every month.

Download Virtual Radio here.

Review: Fire Eagle Pinpoints Your Location with Precision

Luis Sandoval — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:45:19 +0000

Fire Eagle, a Yahoo property, has opened up its doors from beta to public use. After spending some lengthy time in development and beta, Fire Eagle looks to answer the question…Where Are You?

For starters do not mistake Fire Eagle for another social network, it is not. Fire Eagle works in conjunction with a variety of other social networks with new additions being worked on daily. This enhancement allows users of specific networks to know where you are, provided you update. Fire Eagle takes the address, location, or name of the place you are at and creates a map that others can see.

I have attached Fire Eagle to work with BrightKite and so far it’s been amazing. I’ve set up alerts to notify me when my friends are nearby, and I can always look at maps to see where my friends are worldwide, a very nice effect. Of course this app is made even more useful by allowing you input your location from your mobile device.

It’s great to set up impromptu meetings, a quick happy hour with friends in the neighborhood, or finding directions to where your friend is waiting for you.

Fire Eagle works with the following applications:

BrightKite
Dash
Dipity
Dopplr
eKit
Fire Widget
J2ME mobile updater
Lightpole
Loki
Map My Tracks
Metosphere
Movable Type
Navizon
Outalot
Outside.in
Plazes
Pownce
Rummble
Spot
Wikinear
Zkout
Zonetag