Dragon Dictation comes to the iPhone. Wow.

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, iPhone, App Review

Put this into the 'I didn't think they could ever get this to work on an iPhone' category.

I'm talking about Dragon Dictation [iTunes link] from Nuance, the developers of the very popular Dragon Naturally Speaking for the PC. Nuance also provides the speech recognition engine for MacSpeech Dictate on the Mac platform.

To dictate on the iPhone you just launch the app, press the record button, and start talking. Your dictation can be a brief sentence, or a much longer treatise. Once the text has been created from your speech, it's possible to email it, send it as a text message, or put the result in your clipboard. After recording your message, you can edit the resulting text before you send it off for others to read.

It's pretty slick! When you record your message, it is quickly transmitted to Nuance servers where a speech recognition algorithm is run against your data. The resulting text is returned to your iPhone very quickly; my informal benchmarks showed that it took about a second for text to be processed on a Wi-Fi network, and less than 5 seconds over 3G. You'll need a data connection for the app to work, but having this speech-to-text capability is going to be very important to a lot of people, who will find all sorts of uses for it.

I tested the app for about a week and found the accuracy to be very good. Accuracy diminishes if you are in a very noisy environment, as I found when I tried some dictation while being driven down the interstate. There were a few errors, but they were easy to correct. To add punctuation to your text, you can say 'period', 'question mark', or 'new paragraph,' and Dragon Dictation adds the appropriate punctuation.

Continue reading Dragon Dictation comes to the iPhone. Wow.

Dragon Dictation comes to the iPhone. Wow. originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dragon Dictation comes to the iPhone. Wow. originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Notes from Apple’s iPhone Tech Talk World Tour

TiPb had a chance to talk to some developers who attended Apple’s recent iPhone Tech Talk World Tour (San Jose, Seattle, New York, Toronto, Paris, London, Hamburg, Bejing, and Tokyo), where they promised expert advice at cities near developers. So how has it gone? The T-Shirt’s given away say it all they “came, saw, and coded”.

There were different tracks for developers to choose from, and one of the complaints we heard was that the devs wished it had been longer so they could have attended them all. Still, we have some notes they were willing to share, after the break!

(And if you think this is just for geeks… well it is, but it explains some of why the iPhone does what it does, and what developers could do to ease some of our frustrations).

WebKit

• One dev who was new to Apple technologies found WebKit and their specific CSS (-webkit-gradient, -webkit-mask, webkit-box-reflect) to be “astoundingly powerful”. (If you run WebKit or Safari, check out the http://westciv.tools.gradients demo.
• Apple stressed the advantages of using WebKit and embedded WebView. The AppStore app is an example of a native app with a WebKit UI made by Apple.
• A button made in CSS is much lighter than an image file and also scales elegantly (resolution independent).
• Even a JPG that’s only 50k in size will take up 10 times more memory when it’s decompressed and rendered in a UI.
• WebKit interfaces can be updated outside of the App Store approval process, so no resubmission just to change UI elements.
• Client-side database storage API in HTML 5 saves state locally and reloads the next time you view the page. (Again, http://webkit.org/demos/sticky-notes/ demo.)

App Performance

• Apple believes every developer should be obsessed about performance.
• For the end user experience, every fraction of a second is important. They want to load and go, not invest time in waiting for an app to load.
• iPhone uses 12MB for graphics, 32MB for kernel, 12MB for daemons, 4MB for phone, so for iPhone 2G and 3G, half the memory is gone before any 3rd party app even loads.
• There’s no swap file, so the size of binaries matter since they’ll be loaded into memory.
• When a low-memory situation occurs, there’s a warning. On second warning, background apps are killed, on third warning (95%), front-facing app is killed. (Think Safari disappearing and getting dumped back onto the home screen).
• Apple stressed that developers need to handle these warnings elegantly and free up memory as/when appropriate.
• A user should never be warned about memory or asked what to do (hello AnDROID!).
• Where a developer stores cache is important. If a developer stores cache in a location that iTunes backs up, it creates slow iTunes backups for users. They should cache in temporary areas instead.
• The iPhone uses a single core processor, but can handle multiple threads. In the future these devices may be multi-core so starting now and building them for that future is a good idea.
• Apple believes that great apps come from developers who pay attention to details beyond just what’s necessary to get the job done.

What About Those Rejections?

• The most common reason for a rejection, according to Apple, was when an app crashed on launch.
• Developers tended to know that if an API was private, they shouldn’t try to make an app that depended on it since it would likely get rejected.
• No specific rejections were brought up or addressed.
• One dev we spoke to liked the App Store and Apple as “gatekeeper” because it created greater end-user trust — people were more likely to trust that App Store apps would work and not mess up their phone or do anything criminal.
• Another dev, when asked about iPhone development vs. another platform, liked that Apple handled all the transactions and getting all the apps in front of all the users, which would be a huge chore and expense otherwise.
• Yet another dev just thought the size and reach of the App Store made it the best place to develop at the moment.

All in all it sounds like developers enjoyed the free event, and the free coffee, pastry, and t-shirts. Hopefully Apple will continue to provide them next year, and going forward.

If you attended an iPhone Tech Talk World Tour session and have any additional notes for us, please send them our way!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Notes from Apple’s iPhone Tech Talk World Tour

Review: Air hockey games for iPhone

We pit a trio of mobile air hockey games against one another in a head-to-head-to-head challenge. In the end, the realistic puck movements in Acceleroto's Air Hockey put it over the top.

The Wars, AT&T Mark the Spot, Cribbage Lite, Doodle Jump, Airport Express — TiPb Picks of the Week!

Every week a few of us from team TiPb, bloggers and forum crew alike, will bring you our current favorite, funnest, most useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they’re iPhone (or iPod touch) related, they’re fair game.

So who’s on deck this week and what are our picks? Find out after the break!

Chris’ Pick: The Wars

I don’t know what it is about this game. It’s not complex, the graphic aren’t that great, I just find it very addicting! Always have to try to beat the next level. I am up to level eight, but I have stalled out. Give it a try – you may have as hard a time putting it down as I am!. [$0.99 - iTunes link]

James’ Pick: AT&T Mark the Spot

AT&T coverage in my condo is not good. I have to keep my iPhone in certain spots and if I move it, the call will most likely be dropped. AT&T have released an app to help iPhone users pin point dropped calls, no coverage areas and slow data downloads. Mark the Spot uses GPS to send your location and the type of service issue you had to AT&T. The real question is whether or not AT&T acts on the data they receive… [Free - iTunes link]

Georgia’s Pick: Cribbage Lite

It’s and easy, fun game that you can pick up and put down in a moment. It allows you to mug points and though I suspect the AI cheats slightly (not that I can prove it — yet!), it’s challenging, especially when you’re stuck, unable to move, lest your sleeping baby wake up and start crying again. And yeah, I know it’s not a trendy FPS, but I played it with my parents when I was a kid, and it still relaxes me, — and it’s FREE! — so no making fun! [Free - iTunes link]

Matt’s Pick: Doodle Jump

Doodle Jump is one of the most simplistic, yet addicting games I have ever come across! The developers constantly update the app adding features or “hidden” themes within the app. There are number of maneuvers & objects to interact with that make this game much more interesting than just “jumping up platforms,” so you will not get bored of the same ‘ol movement. [$0.99 - iTunes link]

Rene’s Pick: Airport Express

32 smartphones, 7 editors, 1 weekend, and everyone needs wireless connectivity NOW! So what was Dieter to do? Bust out Apple’s Airport Express, connect it up to the hotel ethernet, and then crack the whip and set the 3rd annual Smartphone Experts Round Robin in motion. A tiny, rounded rectangular box in iPod white, the Airport Express also packs a speaker jack for Airtunes, so you can play your iTunes music on remote speakers, and a USB port so you can plug in a printer and use it from any computer on the same network. Awesome power, itty-bitty box. I bought one. And I bought one for my father for Xmas. [$99.00 - Apple Online Store link]

Your Pick?

You’re part of team TiPb too, so what’s your pick? What app was your absolute fav last week? Let us — and everyone — know in the comments!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

The Wars, AT&T Mark the Spot, Cribbage Lite, Doodle Jump, Airport Express — TiPb Picks of the Week!

Apple Sells an Estimated 60,000 iPhones in South Korean on Launch Day

Apple has sold an estimated 60,000 iPhones on launch day in South Korea and can be considered a success, especially if compared to the dismal sales in China.

In the 3rd quarter of 2009, the 60,000 iPhones sold equal 15% of the 400,000 total smartphones sold within the country. Not too shabby for for a single day of sales.

“In spite of the fact that the Korean market offers one of the most advanced set of mobile products and services in the world, smartphones only represent about 1% of the total mobile market, Executives at KT believe that the introduction of the iPhone could be a turning point for smartphones in Korea.”

With smartphones representing a total of only 1% of the total market, mainly due to handset manufacturers such as LG and Samsung who have long been king in this particular market, it seems like Apple has their work cut out for them.

[Via AppleInsider]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Apple Sells an Estimated 60,000 iPhones in South Korean on Launch Day

Google Goggles brings visual search to Android; Favorite Places brings QR codes to restaurant reviews

Looks like Google's been busy on the camera tip lately -- not only is it launching a new QR code-based Favorite Places mobile search product today, it's also demoing Google Goggles, a visual search app that generates local results from analyzing mobile phone images. Favorite Places isn't super-complicated, but it sounds like it'll be pretty useful: Google's sent QR code window decals to the 100,000 most researched local businesses on Google and Google Maps, and scanning the code with your phone will bring up reviews, coupons, and offer the ability to star the location for later. (It's not implemented yet, but you'll be able to leave your own reviews in the future.) Google hasn't built this into the Google Mobile app yet, so you'll need something to read QR codes with -- Android devices can use the free Barcode Scanner, and Google and QuickMark are offering 40,000 free downloads of QuickMark for the iPhone today. We just tried it out using QuickMark and it works pretty well -- although we'll wait to see how many QR codes we see in the wild before we call this one totally useful.

Google Goggles is a little more interesting from a technology standpoint: it's an Android app that takes photos, tries to recognize what in them, and then generates search results about them. Goggles can recognize landmarks, books, contact info, artwork, places, wine, and logos at the moment, and Google says it's working on adding other types of objects, like plants. Pretty neat stuff -- but how about linking these two services together at some point, guys? Check some videos after the break.

Continue reading Google Goggles brings visual search to Android; Favorite Places brings QR codes to restaurant reviews

Google Goggles brings visual search to Android; Favorite Places brings QR codes to restaurant reviews originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BetaBeat: .app/ads enters public beta, gives iPhone devs advertising flexibility

Filed under: iPod Family, Beta Beat, iPhone, App Store

With all the existing iPhone-targeted advertising services out there like AdMob, Adwhirl, and more, is there room for yet another advertising aggregator? The people behind the new .app/ads web site think so. Offering a host of innovative features and control options, this new service provides ways to customize the campaigns that run in the ad space you offer in your iPhone applications.

The .app/ads service is just entering a public beta. Developers can sign up at their website, which is currently up and running. Their Open Ad Integration SDK is available now with pre-compiled libraries and will include the open-source code within the next two weeks. They plan to launch publicly in Q1 2010.

Read on to learn more about this service and why it stands out from the existing pack...

Continue reading BetaBeat: .app/ads enters public beta, gives iPhone devs advertising flexibility

BetaBeat: .app/ads enters public beta, gives iPhone devs advertising flexibility originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

BetaBeat: .app/ads enters public beta, gives iPhone devs advertising flexibility originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: LogMeIn Ignition for iPhone

If you depend on having reliable remote access capabilities no matter where you are without lugging around a notebook computer, then LogMeIn's app for one-click control over Macs and PCs is a must-have.

The Competition: HTC HD2 Hands-on

Our buddy Phil Nickinson over at sibling site WMExperts finally got his HTC HD2 on this weekend and has video’d up an amazing hands-on with what he swears is a 3-foot screen! Ahem. Anyway, I had a chance to try it out as well, but you’ll have to wait on my thoughts for a bit still…

Meanwhile, check out Phil’s video and let us know what you think!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

The Competition: HTC HD2 Hands-on

iPhone finally set to launch in Israel

After what seems like 40 years in the desert, the iPhone will launch in Israel this week.

Apptizr and AppButler try to help you find good apps

Apptizr and AppButler provide users with a way of sorting through the vast offerings in the iPhone App Store.

Apple’s Purchase Price for Lala: $80 Million? [Update: $17 Million?]

Media Memo reports that multiple sources are saying that Apple paid approximately $80 million in its acquisition of streaming music service Lala Media late last week.

Apple ended up paying around $80 million for the company, according...

Apple’s Purchase Price for Lala: $80 Million?

Media Memo reports that multiple sources are saying that Apple paid approximately $80 million in its acquisition of streaming music service Lala Media late last week.

Apple ended up paying around $80 million for the company, according...

The first iPhone development reality show?

Filed under: Multimedia, Developer, iPhone, App Store, SDK

We've heard stories of rapidly-developed iPhone applications before, but we've never seen the process play out live before our eyes (well, some of us haven't). That's exactly what the guys at Command Guru are doing: Developing an iPhone app from scratch with an international team and streaming the whole thing live over the course of 7 days.

Command Guru's founder and CEO, Alessio Zito Rossi, told prmac, "There are over 100,000 Apps and millions of users who do not have any idea of how they are developed. The stork doesn't deliver iPhone Apps! We will show the world how they are really born -- live and streaming!"

It started on December 6th and will continue through the 12th. The final product, described as "A sexy social networking app," will be available for free, as well as the source code. I've been watching a bit here and there and it's fun. They take questions from Twitter and literally go about their work as you watch. Witness coding sessions, meetings and more. In fact, the project timeline is laid out on the site.

Granted, this will appeal to a limited audience, but those in the audience should really enjoy it.

The first iPhone development reality show? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The first iPhone development reality show? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 3GS emulates N64, blows minds in the process

Continue reading iPhone 3GS emulates N64, blows minds in the process

iPhone 3GS emulates N64, blows minds in the process originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone winning over some corporate security skeptics

Apple's iPhone is slowly but surely winning over some enterprise security skeptics, Network World reports.

Tethering officially comes to the iPhone in Australia

Great news if you're waiting for iPhone tethering, presuming that you live in the land down under.

AT&T offers app so you can report crappy service. Huh?

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, iPhone

In one of life's supreme ironies, AT&T today posted an iPhone app that allows you to report substandard service. That's right folks. Got a dropped call? No reception? AT&T Marks the Spot [iTunes link] is designed to get that info to your favorite cell company so they can act on it.

Let's see... I don't have any reception, so I pull out my new AT&T app to notify them of the problem. Doh! No reception to do that. And the app even nicely brings up a GPS map showing where I am. The GPS signal is much more reliable of course.

Look, I know AT&T means well, but the app is a tacit admission that all is not well on the AT&T network. I know you could travel to someplace with good reception, and send the data to them, but I think this app will rub salt in an already sensitive wound.

This reminds me of when I worked at a PBS station many years ago in Ohio. We had pretty weak reception, and the Station Manager decided to do an hour long program to tell people how to adjust their antennas if they couldn't receive us. I tried, and failed, to convince him that the very people we were trying to reach couldn't see the program. My pleas fell on deaf ears, so we did the program and great hilarity ensued as the local press chewed us up for our stupidity.

AT&T says they will acknowledge the report with an SMS (and I assume not charge for it) and I truly hope that they use the information they get to improve the network, because if it is just a PR stunt it is likely to backfire. There are already reports of people sending reports and not getting any acknowledgment. Oh well.

AT&T offers app so you can report crappy service. Huh? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AT&T offers app so you can report crappy service. Huh? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPod Touch Seen as Building Base of Future iPhone Users

Mobile analytics firm Flurry yesterday released a report promoting an interesting take on Apple's iPod touch market, one that sees its strong performance among young consumers as building a base that will naturally migrate to the iPhone as they matur...

iPhone Hints: Take contacts farther afield

Want to add some information to a contact on your iPhone but feel like you're putting a