Are you a victim of your own success as a photographer? Are your grandchildren, children, girlfriend/boyfriend too darned cute not to photograph every day? Did you go on a trip and take 1000+ great photos? Perhaps you’ve taken movies with your iPhone or still or digital camera and they’re still in your device. Read More…
Leave a Comment | Posted under MacLearn
This post was written by jomats on February 24, 2010
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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:
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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This post was written by Moon Doggy on February 15, 2010
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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This post was written by Moon Doggy on February 14, 2010
You might be wondering if you should buy that cool, new iPad released yesterday by Apple. Sure, it looks beautiful, and you really would love one, but you already have an iPhone or iPod Touch so, do you really NEED one?
Let’s look at the iPad features you already have with iPhone: Safari, Mail, Video, Photos, YouTube, iPod, iTunes, App Store, Maps, Notes, Calendar, Contacts, Home Screen, Spotlight Search. Wow, seems pretty complete already doesn’t it?!
But, let me help you “upgrade” your current device to be just as fancy as the iPad, and all for under $50!
* E-reader Capability:
one of the biggest new features of the iPad is the ability to read books on your device, called “iBook”. Well, “Classics” app (free right now, usually .99 cents) has been around for a while for iPhone/iPod Touch and gives you the same kind of look/feel as the $500 iPad but on your smaller screen. Great app, get it now while it’s on sale!
* Excel, Powerpoint, Word Document Viewing and Editing:
iWorks on the iPad looks great, but costs $9/each and are “coming soon”. “Documents to Go” ($14.99)
– is available in the iTunes app store now, and waiting for you to give it a try. (I personally haven’t used it, so you’re on your own to review it.)
* Large 9.7″ screen:
OK, that’s kind of tricky to fix, but check out this accessory from Amazon — for only $29 you can now view your iPod Touch/iPhone with so much magnification it will be IN YOUR FACE without limiting your multi-touch ability! (Great for Grandma and Grandpa too!)
So you see, for under $50, your “yesterday’s” device is new again! 
Leave a Comment | Posted under Humor, Opinion
This post was written by markmcmahon on January 28, 2010
If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, you probably know there are tons of great apps you can download from iTunes. Many of them fill your own heart with glee, but did you know that there are many that can fill your young son or daughter’s heart with joy too?
You may be wondering if allowing your $300 device in the hands of a three-year old is the wisest of moves. And, this I often wonder myself, as I watch my son shaking my iPhone rather violently to get the iGlowStick to light up — a definite fear of seeing your phone sail across the room removes some of the thrills for the parents. However, for the kids, they love it!
Here are some really fun apps for kids that build on an original post I wrote some time back: “Kid-friendly iPhone and iPod Touch“. I added “EV” for “Education Value” (how educational it is) and “PV” for Play Value (how interactive and fun it is). As any parent with active kids will tell you, getting 10 minute breaks that keep your son or daughter entertained, can make a huge difference. It’s wonderful if the app is educational too, but at least it has to have good, clean fun.
Educational:
Tickle Tap Apps have a series of very gentle learning apps for your toddler. CountCaddy ($1.99)
is a cat that helps kids with counting, while Field Flier ($1.99) is more free-form; allowing your child to help the birdy explore his surroundings while learning verbs. Both are well done, calming, and good for younger children (under 4). (Good support from the company also.) EV= high, PV = good
EliasABC and EliasZoo (was free, now $1.99 each) — simple, clean graphic and easy movement to help toddlers learn either ABCs or animal sounds. EV = high, PV = good
FeedMe (free) — Living in Hawaii, you know how important other languages are. Feedme is available in different languages, including Japanese. Interactive and educational, my son really enjoyed playing it with his mom. EV = good, PV = good
Read More…
1 Comment | Posted under Reviews
This post was written by markmcmahon on January 26, 2010
| January 23, 2010 | ||
| 10:00 am | to | 12:00 pm |
Marie Albu, a graphics arts student in SF, presents a slew of ways to connect to your computers and mobile devices using MobileMe. It’s not just for Macs either! Bring your iPhone, iPod, laptop and your MobileMe login information or download and install a free trial before you come. She’ll help you get started then show you a bunch of cool things you can do with it! ING Direct Cafe Orange Interactive room. 10-12 noon. Free! No registration necessary.
Click here for presentation details.
Parking info at http://www.hmaus.org/meetings-workshops/maclearn/
Leave a Comment | Posted under Events Calendar
This post was written by jomats on January 13, 2010
This free MacLearn workshop provides an overview of MobileMe, including many advantages of this service and how it works with several Mac applications that you already have to keep you up-to-date seamlessly.
It syncs with both Mac and Windows machines.
Learn how to find your missing iPhone, create a web photo gallery, share and access large files securely the world over, create email accounts, publish your own website and much more.…Mobilize Me!
1 Comment | Posted under MacLearn
This post was written by jomats on January 12, 2010
A review by Frank Petrie
Product: Goaaal!
Author: Skyworks Interactive, Inc. <www.skyworks.com>
Requirements: iPhone, iPod Touch
Price: $1.99
Test Rig: iPhone 3G/16GB
Once again I’m writing a review of a Skyworks game. But this time it’s not an arcade game. It’s a soccer shoot out.
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This post was written by Moon Doggy on June 17, 2009
Man, I like this product! Evernote is like Yojimbo with tentacles, “Tako Yojimbo”. Let me explain. Evernote is like a journal that you can type in, paste in, add screen shots, even drop files into, and it will sync those across multiple platforms. Evernote is available for Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Windows Mobile. Plus you can log into their site and add/edit/delete notes there. Or, send an email to your Evernote account and that will get synced.
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This post was written by markmcmahon on March 25, 2009
Spring is here…and something is about to be hatched!
Get your calendars out and pencil this in — May 16th and May 23rd 2009 — One of these dates, to be confirmed shortly, will be the next HMAUS Mac SpringFest.
It will be staged at JAIMS ( Japan-America Institute of Management Science ) in Hawaii Kai. The facilities provide numerous spacious classrooms plus a large main hall — perfect for our day-long event. Admission is free…and so is the parking.
Some of the tentative features of this year’s Fest are:
Stay tuned as we update the program and confirm the date.
If you would like to see something on the program that is of particular interest to you, let us know what it is and we’ll try to incorporate it into the schedule.
And…since our events are always more fun to operate with lots of people, If you’d like to be on our volunteer list for SpringFest, send your contact info to < president at hmaus dot org >
Mahalo!
Terrence Young
HMAUS…User Friendly
Comments Off | Posted under Desktop News
This post was written by T Young on March 21, 2009
