Want to Take that App for a Test Drive?

Recently Amazon’s Android Appstore launched a new free trial service where consumers can download an app they would like to try onto their computer. The Program simulates how the app would work on their phone.  With no cost involved and no added data to your phone this seems like a good way to try before you buy.

"Test Drive is a cool new Amazon Appstore feature that lets customers try apps before buying them directly in their Internet browser," Anya Waring, Amazon public relations manager, told the E-Commerce Times. "It's not a video -- customers use the actual app directly in their Web browser, while the app runs on a simulator on Amazon's servers. Customers control the app through their computer using a mouse." Want to give it a try? Here’s the link  

Amazon Appstore for Android

Get a great paid app for free every day

 http://www.amazon.com/mobile-apps/b?ie=UTF8&node=2350149011

u•sha•hi•di [oo-shah-hee-dee] - A Swahili word which means "testimony".

Have you ever heard this name, USHAHIDI?  I had not, but while I was reading about the devastation caused by the earth quake and tsunami in Japan I came across information on the wonderful job they are doing to help in a time of crisis. 

A Web-reporting platform called Ushahidi has helped human rights workers and others document and make sense of fast-moving crises. The platform allows reports from cell phones and Web-connected devices to be collected and displayed on Web-based maps.

Within two hours of the Japanese earthquake, a version of Ushahidi, Web software had been created by Japanese volunteers working with the Fletcher School at Tufts University. Ushahidi consists of a Web server and other software that lets anyone send in information—via a cell phone and the Web—that is then displayed on a map. The site dedicated to Japan, sinsai.info/ushahidi, is being used to pinpoint locations where people may be trapped, dangerous areas that should be avoided, and supplies of food and clean water.

Here is the link to their site to find out more about their good work and how technology continues to help in times od crisis. . http://www.ushahidi.com/

Live aid: The Ushahidi software is being used to track the location of survivors and resources such as food and water.
Credit: Ushahidi

http://www.technologyreview.com/communications/35097/?mod=related

Can all Apps Be Trusted ? Apparently Not

Many of us love to download those new apps, a fun game to pass the time, a new challenge to pursue, a new high score. But can we be sure those apps we are downloading are safe and are not damaging our phone or hijacking our information. Well if we buy it and download it from a reputable source such as Apple, Amazon, Google or the Android Market it must be safe right?  Read on:

In early March it was discovered that more than 50 apps, all free, in the official Android Market had a rogue piece of software called DroidDream.  This is a Trojan that can steal your phone’s sensitive data and download malicious code to the phone from remote servers, researchers at the security firm Kaspersky Lab reported.

The long list of dangerous apps includes Spider Man, Super Guitar Solo, Basketball Shot Now, Falling Down, Bowling Time and Super History Eraser, according to Symantec. Google removed the dangerous Android apps within four days from the Android market, but researchers say that as many as 200,000 downloads occurred before they could be taken out.

For a complete list of infected apps check out :

http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/dangerous-droiddream-trojan-is-android-nightmare-0573/

Survey says Apps and Small Businesses Happy Together

On the go business professionals rely heavily on their Smart Phone devices to conduct business throughout the day in and out of the work place. I found this survey very interesting and informative and the results were what I would expect to find.

Todd Wasserman, Mashable's business and marketing editor shares results from a Small Business Technology Poll from AT&T which looked at the use of mobile apps in small businesses, 2-50 employees.

“The AT&T Small Business Technology Poll, based on a December 2010 online survey of 2,246 small business owners and/or employees responsible for IT, found that 38 per cent of such businesses couldn't go without mobile apps. Nearly three-fourths (72 per cent) indicate they use mobile apps in their businesses. GPS/navigation and mapping mobile apps are by far the most popular; 49 per cent of respondents say they use them for their small businesses. The main reasons the companies say they use such apps is to save time, increase productivity and cut costs.”

300,000 and Counting, Apps that is.

If you can dream it, there probably is or will be an App for it. Finding the App you want is getting easier and easier. The word is out that a new “business model” has taken hold. The top competitors such as Apple (AAPL), Amazon.com (AMZN) and Google (GOOG) have put together a central location. It is a one-stop shop in their App store where apps can easily be found and downloaded.

It is not easy keeping track of all those apps and which ones will work on which device. Maybe someone will develop an app to keep track of other apps…….more to come I am sure…

Best Golf GPS Apps for the BlackBerry

As an avid golfer, I am always looking for ways to improve my game. With the golf season rapidly approaching I have thought about purchasing a golf app for my phone to help me navigate the courses.  Since I have a Blackberry I have begun to research some golf apps and have found there are 49, yes, 49 apps that Blackberry offers.  How will I ever choose?

After reading reviews, I found that the three apps I have listed below seem to come up as leaders on most Blackberry forums and GPS golf sites.  So if the weather ever clears and my work and school schedule permit I will download a free trial of nRange Golf GPS and give it a shot.....  Any other golfers out there that can offer a suggestion? 

Young workers Seek Jobs in Technology

As graduation nears, I am sure many of us are wondering, what type of job do I want, what company is a good fit for me? Is a job in Computer Science and Information Technology in my future?  Here is some interesting data to consider:

Tech companies make a strong showing in a study released March 22, 2011 on the firms young professionals most want to work with. Google topped the list of most-desired employers, according to the survey  (see all survey results) by employer-branding company Universum found. Apple and Walt Disney Co. were next in line. Amazon.com was the fifth-most-desirable employer. Microsoft came in seventh place, according to the survey which polled 10,000 college graduates with one to eight years of professional experience.  Interestingly in a similar survey in the United Kingdom similar results were found.  Apple scored as number one, Google as number two and Microsoft as number seven.

The ranking below reveals how attractive an employer is among professionals in the US and indicates a company’s position in relation to its competitors in the recruitment market.

Number of participants: 10,000 respondents   Top 10 Companies

Company	Ranking 2010
Google	1
Apple	2
The Walt Disney Company	3
U.S. Department of State	4
Amazon	5
FBI	6
Microsoft	7
Central Intelligence Agency	8
NASA	9
Teach for America	10

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20045822-17.html#ixzz1HfNI6lHT March 22, 2011 

Smartphone App Surges After Senators Complain It Helps Drivers Avoid DUI Checkpoints

Drinking and driving don’t mix; driving and texting, not so smart, driving while accessing DUI check point Apps ridiculous. Although there is the ability for companies to create such an App, why would they???  Sometimes moral responsibility must be the priority!   Read on...

A group of senators unintentionally sent sales through the roof for the maker of a smartphone app that alerts drivers to DUI checkpoints, after they called on Apple and other manufacturers to ban the product. Joe Scott, CEO of PhantomALERT, told FoxNews.com on Wednesday that downloads are up by 5,000 percent and sales are up by 3,000 percent. All due to the fact that four senators voiced concern about the product being a guide to avoid law enforcement, prompting a surge of media coverage.

Makers of the application have a difference of opinion, here are their comments, “Our obvious and strong hope is that we would not encourage people to drive drunk," Tenereillo said, describing Trapster as a "deterrent." He noted the application gives users a prompt to "find a taxi" if such a checkpoint pops up.  "If (the senators) actually found out what PhantomALERT is all about and how we help drivers they'd actually support us," he said. "It's just a knee-jerk reaction. ... We help drivers avoid traffic tickets by helping them obey traffic laws."

 So what are they saying, if someone sees a checkpoint then they will decide to call a cab or obey laws, here is where I must say this App is unnecessary and ridiculous!! Let good judgment and moral responsibility prevail.

The senators called on Apple, Google and Blackberry maker Research in Motion (RIM) to ban applications that alert users to drunk-driving checkpoints, or at least remove that function from them.  RIM has complied.

Shown here are screens showing the Trapster application, left, and PhantomALERT, right.

Girl Scouts Now Accepting Credit Cards

So now you have found those OHHHH so delicious Girl Scout cookies, but you are out of cash, not to worry.   Girl Scouts sell cookies with Smartphones: You can pay for those Thin Mints with a credit card…

 This March 21, 2011 photo shows a GoPayment machine attached to a smartphone used by the members of Girl Scout Troop 70024 as a way to accept credit card payments for cookie sales at Parkside Elementary School in Solon, Ohio. Girl Scout leaders hope that allowing customers to pay with plastic will drive up cookie sales.  

Girl Scout Cookie App

Whatever happened to the good old days when a friendly, smiling little girl rang the front door and asked you to please buy some cookies?  Well now there is an app for that…….. There goes the diet….

Get the Official Girl Scouts of the USA Cookie Finder for your iPhone or iPod Touch. Support Girl Scouts by using this free app will help to navigate your way to Thin Mints, Lemonades, Tagalongs, Shout Outs, Samoas, and all the other Girl Scout in your area and around the nation. You next box of Thin Mints is just a touch away!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cookie-finder/id423842630?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2#

Smart phones not replacing other media for news access -- at least yet:

Ohio - In a first-of-its-kind study, scientists observed that mobile media technologies such as smart phones aren't taking people away from relying on traditional media sources such as newspapers or television.

John Dimmick professor of communication at Ohio State University conducted the study This study involved 166 participants age 19-68 who agreed to keep a time-space diary of their media use over the course of a day, They recorded where and when they accessed a variety of media technologies, including mobile media technologies such as smart phones, as well as television, newspaper, desktop and laptop computers, radio and others. The participants recorded whenever they accessed news, sports or weather content, on any technology at any place and time.

Of the 1843 media sessions recorded, mobile media accounted for only about 7 percent of all media sessions, Dimmick said. Computers were the most popular method for accessing news, with about 24 percent on desktops and 15 percent on laptops. Television accounted for about 29 percent and newspapers and radio each accounted for about 9 percent of sessions.

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-03-smart-media-news-access-.html

Vivid By Varigence

Varigence Corp.  was founded as a privately held company in 2008 with headquarters in Greenville, SC and offices in Seattle, WA. Varigence was founded by Scott Currie a former C++ developer from Microsoft Corporation.  Varigence employs a mix of deep experience in developer tools, business intelligence, and consumer software products.  On a side note, founder Scott Curie is my cousin.

I recently spent a few hours with him as he explained to me the how Vivid can enhance Microsoft Excel functions.  Check out the web site to see if Vivid can work for you.  http://www.varigence.com/

Transform Excel® into a self-service business intelligence tool

Microsoft Excel© just got better—a lot better—with Vivid. This powerful Office add-in extends Excel with new features that empower your organization to collaborate more effectively, while at the same time, greatly simplifying the process of building insightful reports—even against the most unwieldy cubes (see Overview Screenshot    for a larger picture). Once you’ve experienced Vivid, you will never again want to use Excel without it.

An Excel report using Vivid features.

Vivid provides the following features:

·         One-click browsing and publishing of Excel reports to the Vivid server—all from the ribbon

·         Threaded rich-text comments with attachments, which allows extensive, multi-level collaboration within the Excel report

·         Smart filter technology, which enables the pivot table editor to display only the attributes and measures that are currently applicable

·         Fast key word searching, which makes even the largest cubes navigable

·         Vivid calculations and named sets that act just like SQL Server’s calculations, but reside in the report

·         Multidimensional Expressions (MDX) visualization, which presents a view of the actual query that the pivot table is using

·         RSS/Atom feed for up-to-the-second notifications of new reports or updates