HMAUS Signal 30 years of helping people with technology

Review by Frank Petrie

Product: Zagat ToGo
Author: Handmark, Inc. <mobile.zagat.com/iphone.htm>
Requirements: iPhone?, iPod Touch
App Price: $9.99
Test Rig: iPhone 3Gs

Food, food, glorious food. From the finest dining experience to the most satisfying of burgers, we all crave one type or another. And when that craving hits – where to go? What type? Chinese, Italian, Mediterranean? I don’t want to spend time debating the issue – I WANT TO EAT! How about just the local pub? I don’t care – I JUST WANT TO EAT!

“The most trusted guide to restaurants comes to the iPhone and WiFi iPod Touch with over 45 Guides of Restaurant Reviews and Ratings for *less than the price of 1 guide!*

Whether a cheap bite or a posh dinner, Zagat has shown the way for 30 years! Our Nightlife, Hotel and Shopping coverage also included where available.”

A getaway weekend all planned in seconds with only your fingertips? Let’s see.

THE JUICE

Zagat is a restaurant, travel and night life review guide started in 1979  by Tim and Nina Zagat as a way to collect and correlate the ratings of restaurants by diners. For their first guide, covering New York City, the Zagats surveyed their friends. Today, Zagats covers over 70 major metropolitan areas, but also has a very good handle on burbs like my South Jersey area.

You can choose from restaurants, nightlife and hotels (plus, occasionally shopping). After your experience at any of the listed establishments, you are asked to review your experience and rate such items as service, decor, promptness, etc. These reviews are then added to others of the establishment to give them an aggregate rating. Plus you can add any additional observations to your experience.

Additional functions are:

• You can use Zagat ToGo offline after syncing via Wi-Fi
• GPS: Find nearby restaurants automatically
• Recommendations: Our digital concierge tells you where to take Dates, Clients, Friends & more
• Advanced Search: Mix and Match by any criteria
• Top Rated Lists: “Best of” in your city like Best Buys, Best Burgers, Most Romantic & more.
• Reservations: Reserve tables instantly
• Sort: Filter by Food, Décor, Service or Cost!
• Email Reviews, Add To Contacts, & Full Photos
• 100% Complete: Every Zagat-Rated restaurant
• 100% Up To Date: New restaurants added M-F

THE PULP

As I had mentioned earlier, I put Zagat ToGo through its paces in my sleepy little hamlet. And I have to say that all of the reviews were spot on! Places were I had bad experiences were brought back to mind after reading of patrons suffering the very same nightmares, or conversely, any pleasantries that I had. I found the various ratings of decor and such to also to be extremely accurate.

I did find a few restaurants that no longer exist, but when you think of the sheer number of establishments that are covered in this app, that’s more than understandable.

THE RIND

Nada.

SUMMARY

If you’re just a couple looking for a good weekend out in a major city or just trying to pick from your local haunts, Zagat ToGo is worth every single penny. Doesn’t even rate a second thought. This is the kind of app that makes the iPhone indispensable.

In fact, it is too good in one way. It is not diet friendly.

RATING : 10 of 10

©2010 Frank Petrie

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Review by Frank Petrie

Product: Speedback
Author: Skyworks Interactive, Inc. <www.skyworks.com/iphone/>
Requirements: iPhone, iPod Touch
Price: $0.99 (Limited Time Sale Price)
Test Rig: iPhone 3G/16GB

The Super Bowl has come and gone. I do have baseball beginning — my favorite sport. But what if I crave a little pigskin from time to time?

“Think YOU have what it takes to make first-string? Are you Pro-material? Could you be a Hall of Fame running back? Then suit up and hit the gridiron with SPEEDBACK.”

You know from past reviews how much I like Skyworks products. Will the string stay intact?

THE JUICE

You are the running back. But you have no blockers or front line to punch a hole for you. You have to find daylight by yourself. To accomplish it, you have three tools at your disposal.

First, you can pick from five different directions to run in. Of course, you change direction whenever you choose to avoid being tackled. Second, you can stiff arm your opponent. And finally, and probably the most fun, you can spin out of a tackle.

There are two modes of play, Classic Game and 2 Minute Drill. And you can either keep your scores to yourself or challenge others around the globe.

THE PULP

I have to be honest with you and say that when I launched Speedback for review, I wasn’t all that excited or interested.

But somehow, as with all their other games, Skyworks somehow managed to sink its hooks into me. I also found myself saying, “You can do much better than that!” with each play. And so the addiction began.

THE RIND

Nada.

SUMMARY

In the future, it would be neat if they could set up the game so that you could play against a friend who operates the defensive player. I’ve come to believe the secret in Skyworks’ games is that they lock you into playing against your own scores. You become your own opponent.

And even though this isn’t my favorite game of theirs (still can’t beat Arcade Hoops), I find myself going back to it. At this special price there is no reason that Speedback shouldn’t be in your gaming arsenal.

If I only could combine the spin with a stiff arm, I know that I could be a contender!

RATING : 7 of 10

©2010 Frank Petrie

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The first Image Makers Workshop of the year will be about how to make the best photographs of products to sell  on for-sale and auction web sites.

Outstanding pictures will really help you get the best price for your items. They’ll sell faster because your buyers will see what they need to see.

Our guest expert, Terry Takaki, will conduct a hands-on workshop on how to make images of products using a table-top lightbox, lighting and backgrounds. You will learn how to use light to bring out the best features of your product. You will also receive instructions on how to make your very own lightbox from inexpensive materials.

Bring your camera and bring your for-sale items to the workshop and you will take your money-making images home that day.

This class will be limited to 12 participants. Camera, memory card and any other suitable equipment will be helpful, but not needed. There is no fee to attend this workshop, but registration is needed so we will be able to provide sufficient class material.

Date: Saturday, January 23
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: ING Direct Waikiki

More information and registration here.

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Here are three programs from CNBC which will get your geek up: Welcome to Macintosh, MacHEADS and Inside the Mind of Google. Show times are today at 4:30 p.m. and tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Oceanic Cable broadcasts CNBC on channels 116 and 1116.

Welcome to Macintosh
A look back at the inventors, engineering and design that came together to produce the world renowned Mac computers.

Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, two friends united by their interest in technology and dissatisfied with personal computers made by others, set out to make what they called the world’s first good personal computer. The first Apple computer became the cornerstone of a company that would change the world. In 1984, Apple introduced Macintosh and thrust the industry forward into a new era. The style and ease of a Mac led to an inspired revolution in the computer industry. Whether you know it or not, these events have changed your life.

MacHEADS
Explores the world of Mac, a cultural phenomena that created a cult fan base, made Steve Jobs a modern day hero and generated a multi-million dollar business.

The Mac community is filled with adoring fans. There’s worldwide excitement and anticipation for “all things Apple.” You’ll meet adoring Apple fans with unwavering loyalty for the company and it’s products. What makes Mac computers, the iPhone and iPods so popular?

Inside the Mind of Google
Takes viewers Inside The Mind of Google for a rare look at the world’s most powerful technology company and its crown jewel, the Google Internet search engine. This is the fascinating story of how two grad students, in barely a decade, took a one-time research project and turned it into a global technology powerhouse…changing the way we interact with information, the Internet, and each other. See how Google came to dominate the search industry and turn it into a profit machine… and see where it’s taking its next step… and how the company plans to address arguably the biggest controversy in today’s digital age: privacy.

Show Times

Monday, January 4, 2010
4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Welcome to Macintosh (2008)
Airing on CNBC Oceanic Cable channels 116 and 1116

Tuesday, January 5, 2010
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Inside the Mind of Google
Airing on CNBC Oceanic Cable channels 116 and 1116

Tuesday, January 5, 2010
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
MacHEADS (2010)
Airing on CNBC Oceanic Cable channels 116 and 1116
Repeats: Thursday, 1/7 at 9pm and 12am; Saturday, 1/9 at 7pm; Sunday, 1/10 at 10pm

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