A second look (and listen) to Evi voice recognition for iPhone

Evi is the sort-of Siri clone. The $0.99 iPhone app is aimed mainly at people who don't have an iPhone 4S and want a Siri-like voice control experience.

When I tried Evi some weeks ago it was a complete disaster. In a week of testing I could not connect once because of server issues. The developers said they were adding server capacity, and it seems they have. In extensive tests of the app this week, I only had one time when Evi was busy and couldn't respond. That is a great improvement.

I found a lot to like now that the app is working, and some things that Evi excels at. When I asked Evi who the Chancellor of Germany was, I got the correct information, as well as pictures. Siri also got the question right, but no pictures. I thought the Evi experience was a bit better.

When I asked for the best hamburger in Omaha, I got referred to a web site about Omaha Hamburger Joints from Urban Spoon. Siri rated the best ones based on reviews from Yelp. I thought Siri was more helpful, but Evi does include a web browser so you can stay in the app. Sometimes Evi does figure out the best local favorites without sending you to the web, but it seems hit and miss.

For current weather Evi is second rate. When I asked for the weather in Phoenix it suggested the National Weather Service Web Page. Siri answered me directly and brought up the iPhone weather app.

Where Evi really shines is if you ask a question with rather complicated syntax. Asking "Who is older, Barack Obama or Michelle Obama", Evi parses it all and gets it right answering the question directly. Siri gets you a Wolfram Alpha page with information, and you can scroll down to see the relative ages yourself (the President is 50, while FLOTUS turned 48 last month). Evi wins that round on presentation.

Both apps use Nuance speech recognition, and it is excellent on both Evi and Siri. Evi still has a lot of negative reviews on the App Store because it simply didn't work for weeks. Now that it's pretty much up and running, reviews are getting more positive.

If you have an older iPhone that can run iOS4 or greater, Evi is now a worthwhile investment. It can't interact with your calendar, use reminders, or wake you up, but it is very good at answering questions. If you have an iPhone 4S, Evi is probably worth the $0.99 because it does do some things better than Siri.

Of course both apps are early in their development. Siri is still called a beta by Apple, and Siri has also had some server issues rendering it unusable at times. I'm glad I took a second look at Evi, and suggest you do the same. Check the galleries for some direct Evi-Siri comparisons.

Gallery: Evi take 2

A second look (and listen) to Evi voice recognition for iPhone originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A second look (and listen) to Evi voice recognition for iPhone originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Where To? for iPhone updated with more reviews, pictures, and now videos

One of my favorite navigation apps for the iPhone, Where To?, has been updated to include more pictures, more reviews, and some videos of selected destinations.

Reviews and media are sourced from users and Google. The app features 700 categories of destinations, and more than 2,400 brands (e.g. In-N-Out Burger or Trader Joe's). The app features augmented reality as a US$0.99 option, which uses the camera to superimpose directions over local scenery. The app has added direct links to GPS navigation systems Sygic, Waze, Navmii, Navfree and NAVIGON Urban (German App Store only). The app also supports TomTom, Navigon, MotionX and of course, Google Maps.

This latest version has added support for state National Parks in the US, Canada and Australia. The app itself operates in 10 languages, so it's going to be helpful for users around the globe. I did a drive-around test and found it worked reliably and smoothly. I sent a couple of destinations to my Navigon app, and that worked flawlessly. I think the app is useful in your home town, but really comes into its own when traveling and looking for that special restaurant, hotel, or even the nearest pharmacy or hardware store.

Where To? version 4.1 is a free update for anyone who has version 2 or higher. Owners of version 1.0 will have to buy this latest version if they want the upgrade. The app is $2.99 and the augmented reality feature is another $0.99. Where To? 4.1 requires iOS 4.0 or greater. I've included some screen shots of Where To? in action.

Gallery: Where To? destination finder for iOS

Where To? for iPhone updated with more reviews, pictures, and now videos originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Where To? for iPhone updated with more reviews, pictures, and now videos originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Siri probably isn’t the bandwidth hog the WaPo warned you about

"How Siri is ruining your cellphone service." That's the searing headline from the Washington Post in an article by Paul Farhi. Farhi claims that "Siri's dirty little secret is that she's a bandwidth guzzler, the digital equivalent of a 10-miles-per-gallon Hummer H1."

Where's he coming up with this? Apparently, the "Siri eats bandwidth" claim is based on a study by Arieso that reports that iPhone 4S owners consume twice as much cellular data as iPhone 4 users and 3 times as much as iPhone 3G users. Recent Android phones are also chewing up twice as much data as the iPhone 3G, while 3G and 4G mobile hotspots are by far the biggest download hogs (26x the baseline).

At least in the press release summary of the study, however, there's no mention of Siri at all; just the increased usage for the 4S, which just happens to support a faster download standard on AT&T's network. Our sister site Engadget helped put that study in perspective by pointing out that Arieso has a vested interest in the results of the research. We've asked for a full copy of the report to see what, if any, linkage there is between Siri and data volume.

If we take the study at face value, though, why more data on the 4S? The likely answer hasn't much to do with Siri and a lot more to do with the profile of the iPhone 4S buyer.

The people who buy the latest phone are also the power users who take the most advantage of their devices. We've seen that happen before with new technology, and once people stop amazing themselves and their friends, the consumption of bandwidth drops off. I haven't seen any convincing data that says the iPhone 4S inherently uses more data than an iPhone 4, and iOS 5 iCloud features, also available on the iPhone 4 and 3GS, probably play a role in increased bandwidth use.

As for Siri, most of the heavy lifting goes on at the Apple servers, where your query is translated into data and then sent back to your phone in a quick burst. Streaming radio, Netflix and a host of other apps can use way more bandwidth, and they are utilizing the network for minutes or hours at a time, not seconds.

Of course Siri is on every iPhone 4S, so it is getting used more than some 3rd-party apps, but it's hard to believe that the average user doing perhaps 2-3 queries a day is destroying our cellular infrastructure. GigaOm this morning also poured cold water on the Post story, and there will probably be more to come.

One thing is for sure. Smartphones, and the iPhone in particular, are using more data than the dumb phones of old. Compare that to the internet connections in our homes, where Netflix has been identified as the biggest user of bandwidth in the U.S. It's up the internet providers, both wired and wireless, to keep growing their networks so they can continue to charge those premium rates; it's also up to Washington regulators and cellular carriers to make efficient use of bandwidth and future spectrum technologies.

Readers, are you heavy Siri users, and are you destroying our cellular networks?

Siri probably isn't the bandwidth hog the WaPo warned you about originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Siri probably isn't the bandwidth hog the WaPo warned you about originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily iPhone app: Pocket Universe now lets you talk to it and it talks back too

Pocket Universe has been one of my favorite astronomy apps for the iPhone. Take it outside to easily identify what's up using the charts and the built-in augmented reality features.

With an update that hit the app store yesterday, you can now talk to Pocket Universe, using Siri speech recognition by tapping on the microphone icon on the built-in keyboard. You can say things like "Where is Jupiter?" or "What is the phase of the moon?" and so forth.

I tried several queries like, "What time does Mars rise?" and "Find M42 in Orion." It all worked very well, and certainly beats typing in a dark backyard. If the app needs to talk back to you, it does so in a synthesized voice. The voice quality is a little rough, but it's slated to be improved.

Author John Kennedy says he hopes to add voice-driven weather forecasts and other astronomical tidbits soon. Without the new voice commands, the app has a lot of features, including a 10,000 star catalog, as well as lots of deep sky objects. You can track the International Space Station and contains updated news sections and links to topics via Wikipedia.

If you have the app, you'll get a free update with the voice functionality. If not, the app is US$2.99 and well worth it. Pocket Universe requires iOS4.2 or later and is a 43 MB download.

Gallery: Pocket Universe

Daily iPhone app: Pocket Universe now lets you talk to it and it talks back too originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Daily iPhone app: Pocket Universe now lets you talk to it and it talks back too originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Siri clone Evi is off to a very bad start

Siri has been a big hit for Apple, but as we all know, it runs only on an iPhone 4S. I've been expecting some Siri knock-offs to appear, and now one has that can be used on any iPhone and even the iPad if you don't mind not seeing it full screen.

The app is called Evi by True Knowledge. It's US$0.99 and runs on any iDevice with iOS 4.0 or greater. "Run" is a bit of a misnomer. Evi's speech recognition is powered by Nuance, just like Siri, and the recognition part is first rate. But that's where the good news ends.

Evi has not successfully responded to a single spoken query I've made since yesterday afternoon. Generally the app sits there for awhile, then reports that it is "Thinking about it," followed by "Let me see'" and then, inevitably, "I'm having trouble getting a response from my servers. You might want to try again in a minute." Actually, I don't ever want to try again. Ever.

Reviews at the app store are ugly, with the majority being negative and outright hostile. You would think an app maker would have some degree of preparation for what is sure to be a popular offering. I can understand some failures, even Siri fails on a semi-regular basis, but Siri was labelled beta when it came out. Evi is supposed to be ready to go.

This is an app that Apple should quickly pull, not because it competes with Siri (hardly), but because it is simply a complete and utter failure. In frustration I asked Evi if I can get my $0.99 back. Evi replied, "Bear with me" followed by "hang on," "I'm on it" and finally the server failure warning. I guess that would be a "no." Remember, you can't spell 'evil' without Evi.

Check the gallery for some screen grabs of Evi not answering any of my questions.

Gallery: Evi for iPhone

Siri clone Evi is off to a very bad start originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Siri clone Evi is off to a very bad start originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forthcoming TomTom iPhone app to feature enhanced social integration

Just when you thought navigation apps pretty much had all the features you thought you needed, TomTom has thrown some fresh ideas into the mix.

The company is at CES demonstrating an updated navigation app that uses social networks as a source for turn-by-turn directions.

"According to recent studies, the vast majority of iPhone users use Facebook on their iPhone," Corinne Vigreux, Managing Director Consumer at TomTom said. "By integrating Facebook features into our TomTom App we make navigating to places, events and seeing friends even easier."

The app, which will be delivered this quarter, uses Facebook places, events and friends as a source for destinations, and allows drivers to share their destinations and arrival time on Twitter, Facebook, email and SMS text.

The update will be free for current owners of the TomTom iPhone app. Some example screens are below:

Gallery: TomTom v1.10 screen shots

Forthcoming TomTom iPhone app to feature enhanced social integration originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Forthcoming TomTom iPhone app to feature enhanced social integration originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HipGeo for iPhone keeps track of your when and where

HipGeo is a free app that can create a sort of travel blog on the fly with as much or as little user input as you like.

It tracks your location, allows you to add comments and photos, and can even playback an animated map of your travels.

You can keep your travel info to yourself as sort of a diary, or share your adventures via Facebook, Twitter or email. Alternatively, publish your info to the world through a web page or using the app itself.

HipGeo also shows posts from people nearby who've elected to make their locations public. I didn't see a lot of activity near me, but I did see some public posts from the bigger nearby cities, and a lot of activity at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The app works well, and gives you granular control of your privacy ranging from 'keep my travels to myself' or 'let the whole world know where I am and what I am doing.' The app has some safeguards to protect your battery life, because it runs in the background when you activate it. One setting (places) saves your battery by only uploading a new location, while another setting (places and routes) tracks you from moment to moment. It's better to use the latter setting selectively or only if you're plugged in.

HipGeo is an interesting take on location broadcasting, blogging, navigation and social integration. It seems to work as advertised, and is a really effortless way to create a blog of a vacation, or even your daily activities. I think users should take care about publishing photos and locations to the whole world, but if you limit your followers I find HipGeo to be worthwhile for travelers with a preference for sharing.

HipGeo requires iOS 4.0 or greater. It is a 6 MB download. You can see some screenshots in the gallery below.

Gallery: HipGeo travel blog app

HipGeo for iPhone keeps track of your when and where originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

HipGeo for iPhone keeps track of your when and where originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reports suggest 4th quarter iPhone sales very good

iPhone sales are almost always good, and when Apple reports 1st quarter sales on January 24th, all the signs point to some really excellent numbers.

Earlier this week, Verizon CFO Fran Shammo reported 4.2 million iPhone sales, which doubled the company's 3rd quarter numbers. Some analysts estimate AT&T sold about 7 million iPhones, while estimates for Sprint are over 2 million phones. That's more than 13 million phones in the US alone, and of course the iPhone is selling in much of Europe and Asia.

There are probably several factors contributing to robust sales. Extremely high customer satisfaction makes current owners evangelists for Apple products. The iPhone 4S with Siri created a lot of positive buzz, and there were very low prices on the older iPhone 3Gs.

All these projections are higher than those of the previous quarter and the numbers from 2010. Of course they are only projections, and we'll know for sure when Apple lifts the curtain on the real numbers later this month.

[via All Things Digital]

Reports suggest 4th quarter iPhone sales very good originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Reports suggest 4th quarter iPhone sales very good originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily iPhone app: iRelay!

iRelay! (US$0.99) is an interesting photo sharing app that provides some features that aren't native to the iPhone.

Using the app, pictures on your phone can be grouped by collection, activity or person. A link can be posted to the galleries, and that link can be shared over email, text messages, Facebook, Tumblr or Twitter.

Photos are sent at full resolution, and you can see the galleries of friends who are also using iRelay. You can send multiple photos at a time, but only via email.

iRelay! solves these issues neatly. Storage uses your iCloud allotment, and links expire in 14 days.

One thing I've noticed, and I think it is an issue. When I email a link to a gallery it can't be opened on a Mac using Safari or Chrome directly. Instead, the browsers download the link, which can then be double clicked on. That seems a bit of a nuisance. Even right-clicking on the link doesn't do the trick. On an iOS device the link works perfectly, and the gallery appears with an expiration date.

iRelay! is a pretty nice solution to getting your pictures out to friends and family in a straightforward way. Not everything is intuitive about using the app, but comprehensive help is built-in and easy to understand. The app is iPhone only and requires iOS5 or greater.

Check the gallery for some screen shots.

Gallery: iRelay! Screenshots

Daily iPhone app: iRelay! originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Daily iPhone app: iRelay! originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon announces then kills extra $2 fee to pay bill by phone or online

Good news for iPhone owners on the Verizon network. A day after announcing a plan to charge customers a $2.00 fee for telephone and online bill payments the plan has vanished without a trace.

Could it be the announcement today from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission today saying it was going to look into the fees on behalf of Verizon customers?

Verizon said it was dumping the fees after the company was met with a storm of criticism, including an online petition signed by 95,000 people.

Whatever the reason, the fee has evaporated as quickly as it appeared. Many outraged customers threatened to dump the company and take their business elsewhere.

There is no official announcement of the change on the Verizon website. It is being widely reported in major news outlets.

The reversal on the fees follows the widely reported Bank of America debacle in September where the company tried and failed to implement a $5 fee for customers to use their debit cards. Other companies have quickly changed policies after an online outcry, often quickly spread via Reddit, Twitter and Facebook.

[via Reuters]

Verizon announces then kills extra $2 fee to pay bill by phone or online originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Verizon announces then kills extra $2 fee to pay bill by phone or online originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily iPhone app: Lock Screen Weather

Getting current weather on your iPhone lock screen seems like a really good idea. That's what the US$0.99 Lock Screen Weather app does. Tap a button on your iPhone and you'll get the current weather at your location, plus an extended 5 day forecast.

There have been other attempts to do this, like the Weather Lock Screen, app but the weather is not live and has to be updated every day. By comparison, Lock Screen Weather works pretty well. Give it your location (or any city you want weather for), run the app, and you're set.

The app also gives you an option for background sounds, like the ocean or a lake. However, those sounds run all the time, and I can't think of many people who would want their iPhone constantly making noise. Thankfully, that feature can be turned off.

There are some downsides. I've seen a few crashes, which makes it so the app doesn't run and you see your normal lock screen instead. I've also seen some issues where the app seems to interfere with the iPhone's sleep function.

Other than that, Lock Screen Weather does what it advertises. The weather does update, and that's what you want out of the app. I expect the crashes that sometimes happen can be fixed in an update, and then the app would get my highest recommendation.

Check below for a couple of screen shots that show what you can expect.

Gallery: Lock Screen Weather

Daily iPhone app: Lock Screen Weather originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Daily iPhone app: Lock Screen Weather originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iOS vs. Android: comparing Christmas activation numbers

It depends on how you count the numbers (doesn't it always?) but it looks like iOS won Christmas day activations by a hefty 1.6 million units.

The info comes from Flurry Analytics, who reports that iOS and Android together added 6.9 million devices on Christmas Day, a 353 percent increase from Christmas 2010. The data is also based on tweets from Google's Andy Rubin.

The increased iOS activations are probably due to the iPad and iPod touch. Of course, all these numbers are educated guesswork, and the numbers don't include Amazon's Kindle Fire.

The study also noted app downloads for both iOS and Android doubled during Christmas Day, as all those new smartphones loaded up on new software.

Expect to see some hard numbers from Apple when it reports on its first fiscal quarter next month.

[via Fortune Tech]

iOS vs. Android: comparing Christmas activation numbers originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iOS vs. Android: comparing Christmas activation numbers originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New iPhone? Try these must-have free apps

If you have that new iPhone you received for the holidays, you're probably looking to load it up with some apps that will enhance your mobile experience. Let me suggest some of the best of the free apps. Of course, everyone will have their own list, but here are my 5 favorites that I think most new iPhone users will love to use and to show off their new iPhone.

If you're a news junkie, by all means get Zite, newly released for the iPhone. It sets you up with news categories of interest to you, then learns what you like by keeping track of stories you click on. Over time, it gets smarter and smarter, so in essence it creates a personalized magazine for you. Their are other news readers and aggregators, but the presentation of stories in Zite and its ability to learn make it my first choice.

Glypmse is one of my very favorite apps, the kind of app I would pay for if it wasn't free. While some of the location-tracking functionality it offers is covered by Apple's iOS 5-only Find my Friends feature, Glympse is more flexible and cross-platform to boot.

With Glympse you send a message (email or SMS) to someone with information on your location; the link is set to expire when you want it to, so your friends can't track you indefinitely as they can with FmF. Let's say you are meeting someone for lunch. When they get your message, they click on the included link, and Glympse loads a map showing a moving pin (that's you) along with your ETA. The person you are meeting doesn't need an iPhone, just any web-capable device, including laptops. It's a great service, and in practice I've found it to be super reliable.

Tango does what Apple's FaceTime won't do, which is to allow you to video conference with another cellphone using 3G (FaceTime requires WiFi). Tango has added clients for Android and Windows Phone, so it's a great way to visually keep in touch with friends. I even tried it with a friend touring China and it worked. An update last week allows you to leave video mail for your Tango buddies.

For more intellectual pursuits, try the recently released TED app. It's a collection of great talks from people in the arts, literature and the sciences. The app has been updated to work with Airplay, so you can stream the audio to another device like an Apple TV 2. I try to watch a TED talk at least once a week, and it's always a treat.

Finally, for pure fun, try Action Movie FX. From the creators of the new Mission: Impossible movie, you can add rather impressive special effects to your own movies. With the free version you can add a missile strike or a car crash to your own video. It looks great, and the price is exactly right. Reviews are glowing. There are some other modules you can buy, like a tornado or helicopter crash, but I was fine with the free effects. It's more fun than you should be allowed to have for free.

Enjoy that new iPhone. These free apps should help get you started. I'll add one bonus free app to the mix. Don't forget the free TUAW iPhone app to help you keep up with the latest and greatest Apple news. Happy Holidays!

New iPhone? Try these must-have free apps originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

New iPhone? Try these must-have free apps originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gannett Co. reportedly buying iPhones, iPads for journalists

A leaked memo from media giant Gannett Company reveals plans to buy thousands of iPhones, iPads and other accessories to use in news gathering.

The memo, from Gannett Newspaper President Bob Dickey says that the new devices "will help our journalists meet the demands of the new news cycle, one that requires agility in real-time reporting, social media and greater emphasis on video storytelling, further increasing our competitive advantage." Does that mean there's an app for all of that?

The equipment, in part, will add to 'digital workstations' at company locations around the country. The equipment is due to arrive next month, and will be followed by extensive training.

Throughout journalism, print and broadcast reporters are increasingly using consumer cameras and phones to gather and create content. Gannett has been very aggressive in digital media. Its iOS versions of USA Today have been very popular, and it's interesting to see that the company is turning to Apple not only for distribution, but also for the hardware and technology to collect stories and media as well.

Gannett Co. reportedly buying iPhones, iPads for journalists originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gannett Co. reportedly buying iPhones, iPads for journalists originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Got a question? Try the Onion Magic Answer Ball

Are you the kind of person who is constantly asking for advice? Do you need a little reinforcement before that big decision? The wonderful satirists at The Onion have just the app for you. It's called the Magic Answer Ball. I'd call it a parody of the old round balls you'd find at the gag store that you shake and an answer to your question pops up floating in the liquid goo that is inside.

This US$0.99 app dispenses with the gooey liquid and uses your iPhone instead. Ask your question (no voice recognition here), shake your iPhone and a highly irrelevant answer will come up.

Just like Siri. Sometimes.

You can share it all on Facebook. If you're so indecisive that you can't think of a question, the app generates some new ones every day, like "Should I buy a riverboat?" and "Do my victims ever think about me?"

The app is fun, and might be good to break out at a company holiday party when things are going slow, as is often the case at those things.

I did ask the app if I should spend money on it. The answer: "Not if we have anything to say about it." So there you are.

Gallery: The Onion Magic Answer Ball

Got a question? Try the Onion Magic Answer Ball originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Got a question? Try the Onion Magic Answer Ball originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Visit the famed San Diego Zoo with your iPhone

The San Diego Zoo is arguably among the very best zoos in the world. With more than 4,000 animals and 800-plus species, it's a national treasure. My visits are fondly remembered, and starting today you can visit some of the best of the zoo from the comfort of your iPhone.

The free SanDiegoZoo app is chock full of pictures, maps, visitor info and live cams showing pandas and polar bears, among other features.

There are hundreds of still images of zoo residents, and all are sharable and can be saved locally. There are also guides to the many restaurants at the zoo, but no menus. There is also a detailed zoom-able map, but I'd prefer GPS integration so that people who are actually at the zoo could see where they are and easily find their way around the huge facility.

This official, zoo-sponsored app has a lot to offer for animal lovers and fans of the San Diego Zoo. The app could use a bit more detailed information in certain areas.

The app is an 18 MB download and is for iPhone and iPod touch only, although armchair travelers would probably appreciate an iPad version of the app. SanDiegoZoo is a good app, and with a few changes could be great. Even if you never get to visit the zoo, this app is a great introduction and offers some good information and striking images.

Check the gallery for some sample screens.

Gallery: San Diego Zoo

Visit the famed San Diego Zoo with your iPhone originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Visit the famed San Diego Zoo with your iPhone originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix and Gmail apps updated with bug fixes and UI improvements

Two popular iOS apps recently got significant updates, so fire up your iPhones/iPads/iPod touches and download your goodies.

First, Netflix has redone the user interface for the app. It's a lot better to look at, shows more movies per page, and has a nice graphical representation of movies you have started but haven't finished, and how far along you are. The app also has some bug fixes and adds access for Latin America. Still no support for AirPlay, which is a bit of a downer.

Meanwhile, Google has updated its official Gmail app. The new version supports nested label improvements, custom sounds (iOS 5 only) and what Google calls "numerous bug fixes" and UI improvements.

The Gmail app is universal, while Netflix has separate apps for the iPhone and iPad.

Netflix and Gmail apps updated with bug fixes and UI improvements originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Netflix and Gmail apps updated with bug fixes and UI improvements originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zite personalized news now comes to the iPhone

Zite is probably the most-used app on my iPad. I love the way it crawls hundreds of thousands of news sites for the stories I am going to find interesting. It's a bit like Pandora for news, and I can give any story a thumbs up or thumbs down while the app constantly tunes the news choices it brings to me.

iPhone owners, your day has come. Zite is now a universal app, and it is terrific. If you signed up for a Zite account on your iPad, your preferred topics will appear on the iPhone version when you log in. If you're a new user, Zite will ask for for subjects you're interested in, and you're good to go.

I've been using an advance build of Zite for a few days and I can say the GUI for the iPhone version uses screen space very well. Stories scale nicely to the iPhone screen, and navigation is obvious from the get-go.

There is one feature that has yet to be added that I think is important. I can't control the order of the topic list, it's just alphabetical. I'd like to re-order that list in a way that makes sense to me, based on my interest in a given category. For an app that is so highly personal, it seems like a big omission.

Beyond that, I think Zite is a must have for news followers. Flipboard is also an app I like, and it has just appeared this week in an iPhone incarnation, Still, the on screen presentation and ease of use of Zite makes it my favorite news discovery app. It's free, and I suggest you download it and see if you agree.

Gallery: Zite for iPhone screenshots

Zite personalized news now comes to the iPhone originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Zite personalized news now comes to the iPhone originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If a car purchase is looming, check the Edmunds iPhone app

Many people will buy a new or used car at some point, and that process has been enhanced immensely by the latest version of the free iPhone app from Edmunds.

The app, simply called "Edmunds," offers new and used car pricing and appraisals, plus the thorough reviews that Edmunds is famous for.

The app draws from the vast Edmunds archive of about 24,000 cars and trucks, and contains about a quarter of a million photos. The app also contains owner reviews, which can be just as enlightening as the pro reviews.

Edmunds for iPhone was recently updated to include NHTSA and IIHS crash test results and safety ratings, as well as predicted price trends for new vehicles. You can get the same information from the regular Edmunds website, but the iPhone app is easier to use.

The app also includes links to your nearest dealers, and of course, complete features, specs and estimated pricing of add-ons. You will see ads, but they're largely unobtrusive.

There isn't much to dislike about this app, but I have a few small complaints. First, you must scroll down a long list of names to find a make of car. A search field would speed up that process.

Also, the 'share' button scrolls off the screen. It'd be more useful if it stayed put. For example, if you're in the middle of a long review and want to send it to yourself of someone else, you must scroll back to the top to find the share button.

Wrapping up my complaints, I'll note that the app description says it includes videos, but I couldn't find a single one. The developer says that this is likely due to a tagging issue which will be fixed with an update. Finally, Edmunds for iPhone app is not universal, so it will run on an iPad but not at the proper resolution.

Those issues aside, I think this app represents the very best way to research a new or used car purchase. Edmunds has an enviable reputation for objectivity and opinions untainted by car manufacturers. This latest update adds welcome new information, in particular the crash tests results. If you are looking for a new or used car, this app should be your first stop, and it probably will be the only stop many people need. It gets a very high recommendation. Check the gallery for some screen shots.

Gallery: Edmunds car buying guide

If a car purchase is looming, check the Edmunds iPhone app originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If a car purchase is looming, check the Edmunds iPhone app originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T withdrawing merger application with the FCC while pursuing win with the Justice Department

AT&T apparently believes its idea to merge with T-Mobile is headed for trouble, and today the telecommunication giant announced it has withdrawn its joint application for FCC approval ahead of what was going to be a US
$39 billion dollar deal. The two companies say they are going to focus efforts on getting approval from the Justice Department for the merger, but that seems a stretch since last August the Department of Justice sued AT&T claiming the merger was anti-competitive and in violation of antitrust laws.

AT&T said it plans to book a $4 billion dollar charge in the 4th quarter in preparation for the deal failing and it having to make a large payment of up to $6 billion dollars to T-Mobile which was guaranteed to the German owned company as a break-up fee.

It's likely that AT&T auditors are wanting AT&T to take the financial hit now, and the action that AT&T announced today is a sign the company has low confidence it can convince the FCC or the Justice Department that the deal is good for consumers. AT&T claimed the merger would create many new US jobs, while the US government claims the merger would result in a massive job loss and higher prices for cellular service.

AT&T was the first company to offer the Apple Phone. T-Mobile is now the only US carrier that does not sell it. Earlier this year both Verizon and Sprint have been able to offer the popular smartphone.

AT&T withdrawing merger application with the FCC while pursuing win with the Justice Department originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AT&T withdrawing merger application with the FCC while pursuing win with the Justice Department originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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