You’ve heard conspiracy theories time and time again about Big Brother always watching. Never did you imagine that Big Brother is sitting right there in your pocket. This seems a bit terrifying. I can’t, by any stretch of my imagination, come up with a justifiable reason for a cellular phone to record your every move; especially without permission.

According to The Guardian, the file that saves your every location contains latitude and longitude on your iPhone with a timestamp which means that where you are, have been and frequent can all be accessed at any given time with a mere sync. Anyone who opens the file that backs up your sync can scroll through and see your entire location history. Let’s just hope that you’re not on the run or have a stalker pending because in that case you’re as good as caught.

It is unclear how far back the stored data dates at this point but it appears that there could be almost a years’ worth of data stored since this “feature” appears to have started with Apple’s iOS 4 updates back in June 2010.

According to Alasdair Allan, a data scientist who discovered the file and Pete Warden, another researcher who looked for similar tracking codes in [Google's] Android phones and couldn’t find any, “we haven’t come across any instances of other phone manufacturers doing this.”

I agree wholeheartedly with Simon Davies, director of Privacy International who went on to state “This is a worrying discovery. Location is one of the most sensitive elements in anyone’s life – just think where people go in the evening. The existence of that data creates a real threat to privacy. The absence of notice to users or any control option can only stem from an ignorance about privacy at the design stage.”

It is a pending theory that Apple may have implemented this tracking because it’s required for a new feature that they may be developing. Riggghht—of course that’s why! (please sense my sarcasm). If this were the case, why not notify users before hand? Why allow this intrusive file to be stumbled upon instead of broadcasted publically with the option of turning this ability off in personal iPhones?

This ordeal has just made the iPhone a lot less appealing. If privacy is the price that must be paid for a few cool applications then you can certainly count me out. The moment I hear that BlackBerry is using a file of this sort to track my every move, the last recorded location of mine will be near a garbage—hmph.

April 21, 2011

Here’s how it works: You type in words and the free app translates those words between any of 50 different languages. Apparently you can also speak to the app in 15 languages where your words are in turn recognized, transcribed and displayed as text. Press another button and the now displayed text is spoken back to you in 23 languages.

The new Google translation app also allows users to view dictionary results for single words and visit starred translations and history without being online.  My first notion was to shake my head in envy with the thought that iPhone had done it yet again but then I came to the sweet realization that iPhone didn’t do much at all (in fact, they’re a day late and a dollar short with this one). Google did it! This means Android had it first and in my opinion that’s a bit of a silent triumph. Note: I do not own an Android so this bias is solely a result of Google fandom.

Yes, the Google translation app for iPhone is pretty cool. Yes, this app will be an extremely helpful tool for those who have craved multi-language interaction for quite some time now (much like myself) but haven’t had the time to actually sit and learn the language. Yes, this app could potentially break down language barriers and unite us in a way that we’ve never experienced before. Yes, iPhone, this is true. But the point is, you didn’t have it first! HA! Not only did you NOT have it first but it seems to me that if you did wait this long to acquire an app as cool as Google Translation you would’ve at least saw to it that your app was greater than or at least equivalent to the same translation app on the Droid. Highly unlikely that Google would’ve let this happen, of course, but it may’ve been worth a shot to ask. In case you didn’t catch wind of this info, Apple, the Android’s version on the Google Translate app has SMS translation and experimental Conversation Mode which should allow users to talk with a nearby person in another language. Now, how revolutionary is that?! iPhone, keep up.

I’m proud of the iPhone, really I am. I’m glad they are looking past Angry Birds to apps that are actually useful in today’s diverse society. I guess my disappointment (with a hint of excitement) is that iPhone has been leading for so long that it’s kind of painful to see them following. Maybe that’s smart, though. Seeing as how Google’s Android zoomed past iPhone last quarter as the most popular smartphone platform in the US, maybe it is very smart to see what they’re doing and try to get a piece for yourself. Besides, the old saying is true: if you can’t beat them, join them.

February 9, 2011

Just when we thought that the iPhone was capable of doing it all it goes and does just a little bit more. Now, it hears you. Well, not you exactly, but your television (if that makes it any more comprehensible). Here’s the scoop: You’re probably familiar with Shazam (the iPhone app that enables music lovers to identify tunes anywhere using their mobile phone) well picture much of the same concept but with television. Enters IntoNow. IntoNow is an application that listens to what you’re watching on the television or the internet and in about 4 to 12 seconds can identify the exact episode you’re watching whether the program is airing live or if it’s a rebroadcast on the original network or a syndicate.

IntoNow is slightly different from the iPhone’s Shazam in that instead of simply looking to identify the name of the show or title episode, IntoNow looks to unite fans of shows in a social forum where they can discuss their favorite shows via Facebook, Twitter and other social networks. Not only does the IntoNow application share what you’re watching for discussion purposes, it also collects the data that of what your IntoNow friends are watching so that you may join in their discussion as well.

How does this work, you wonder? Well, that’s a great question and the bulk of the answer seems to be top secret but here is the little that I know. Soundprint, a current technology, monitors 130 channels of live cable and network TV which converts the “soundprint” of a given episode into ones and zeros. The software then matches the audio to a soundbit captured by your iPhone/iPad and the television program is detected. A new episode may take longer to detect (about 12 seconds) as IntoNow may be indexing it on the apps back end and this can take it longer to show up on the front end. Reruns can also be identified through the apps back catalogue.

This sounds cool, but how well does this work, you’re wondering? According to MG Siegler at TechCrunch the technology is amazing and almost flawless. “I put on one show, hit the button on the IntoNow app, boom: 4 seconds later, it got it. I flipped the channel, same result. I tried it with a show I had DVR’d. Worked like a charm” states Siegler.

My take? I’m admittedly impressed. If you’re an avid tweeter, like myself, you may engage in the most entertaining raves and rants about your favorite shows with your followers while you watch these shows live. This social commentary and interaction definitely adds to the overall viewing experience. IntoNow is making the interaction even more interesting by connecting users with like interest who may otherwise remain disconnected. I’d love to chat about the latest episode of The Office, if you’re up for it. Grey’s Anatomy your thing? I’m your girl! “IntoNow me,” if you will. Not even sure if that’s the lingo but you get my drift. For television lovers who sit with their laptops open, logged into social networks while watching their favorite shows, this is the app for us; I standby eager to chat with you. So tell me, what are you watching?

February 7, 2011

Free Applications

If you’re anything like me, you hate to pay for an app, unless it’s really good.  Here’s a few of the top free apps:

1.       Cut the Rope Lite: A puzzle game involving physics and a cute little candy eater.  Simply cut the ropes by swiping your finger to give the creature Om Nom the candy he craves.  However, it’s not as easy as it sounds.  Avoid enemies and collect 3 stars per level to get the highest score.

2.       Real Trophy Hunter: This app allows you to hunt bear, elk, big horn sheep and others right from your phone.

3.       Etch a Sketch: Draw with your finger or use the knobs to create images on your iPhone Etch a Sketch.  You can even shake it to erase images, just like the original.

4.       GodFinger All Stars: Based on the original GodFinger app, the update adds the capability to turn your followers into stars, bounce your followers off clouds in the new Jump Game mode and mold your world.

5.       Rat on a Scooter: Rat on a Scooter is just what it sounds like – a rat driving a scooter through abandoned suburbs.

6.       CamScanner Free

7.       Glow Backgrounds

8.       Trainyard Express

9.       Modern Conflict

10.   Checker Wars

11.   The Idiot Test 3

12.   Ringtone Maker

13.   i-Gun Ultimate Lite

14.   Texas Poker

15.   Sudoku 2

16.   Scoops – Ice Cream Fun for Everyone

17.   The Moron Test: Section 1

18.   Stranded: Mysteries of Time

19.   Facebook

20.   Netflix

21.   iLlumination

22.   Talking Tom Cat

23.   LivingSocial

24.   Flick Fishing FREE

25.   iJewels

Paid Apps

Paid apps have more functionality, more levels, more graphics and just more stuff than free apps.  I mean, they better – you pay for them!  Here are a few apps making the top of the paid list this week.

1.       Cut the Rope: Just like the free app, except it offers more levels and additional features tha free app. $0.99

2.       Trainyard: A puzzle game that involves getting each train to its corresponding train yard – red to red, blue to blue, etc. $0.99

3.       Angry Birds:  A destroy-the-castle game that resulted after some hostile pigs stole eggs from the birds involved, making them angry.  $0.99

4.       Family Feud: Lets you play one of the most popular game shows ever from anywhere as the leader of a family. $0.99

5.       Bejeweled 2 + Blitz:  A puzzle game involving rearranging jewels to get 3 to 5 in a row.  $0.99

6.       Fruit Ninja $0.99

7.       Ringtone Maker Pro: $0.99

8.       Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus: $6.99

9.       Knight’s Rush: $0.99

10.   Doodle Jump: $0.99

11.   Robot Unicorn: $0.99

12.   Words With Friends: $2.99

13.   The Moron Test: $0.99

14.   PREDATORS: $0.99

15.   CNN app for iPhone: $1.99

16.   Stick Stunt Biker: $0.99

17.   Glee Karaoke: $0.99

18.   Barcode Scanner: $0.99

19.   Fatbooth: $0.99

20.   Plants vs. Zombies: $2.99

21.   Bookworm: $0.99

22.   Hipstamatic: $1.99

23.   2K Sports NHL 2K11: $0.99

24.   Talking Larry the Bird: $0.99

25.   Chuzzle: $0.99

November 4, 2010