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Showing posts with label iphone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iphone. Show all posts

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Meet Reece Kenney, Creator of Present Finder

Reece Kenney is a software engineer from England and the creator of an iPhone app called Present Finder. The app helps you find the perfect gift for anyone by asking you a series of questions about your intended gift recipient. Reece operates a technology company called Cyber Shark Technology which specializes in websites, software, and logo design.

1. What gave you the idea for Present Finder?

Well, the inspiration for this app came from the fact that I'm awful at picking out gifts for people. No really, I am absolutely hopeless! Unless the recipient shares similar interests to me, you probably wouldn't be overly impressed with the gift I pick out! I would spend ages scrolling for the "gifts for him/her" pages of various websites, and 90% of the gifts I saw were either not relevant or not interesting... I wanted a list of gifts that were specific to the person I was buying for e.g. a 19 year old male student who likes sci-fi, doesn't drive, and doesn't care for sports. And so, Present Finder was born! 



2. How did you come up with the questions to help find the perfect gift?

It mostly came down to how the items were categorized. I wanted to cover as many areas as I could in as little questions as possible so that the user could get through them quickly. In order to keep the number of questions to a minimum, but still provide accurate suggestions, the algorithm has to make some assumptions based on answers given. For example, would a person who said that they dislike sports be interested in a desktop football game? It's not a sport, but it is a game based on a sport. Or would someone who said they dislike cars be interested in a remote control car toy? So I just thought of all the questions that would allow me to cover a large amount of categories. I am planning on introducing an "advanced" mode where the user will see more questions. This means the app will be able to provide even more accurate suggestions!



3. What are some examples of the gifts that the app suggests?

Oh there are tons of gifts in our database! We have everything from Bluetooth speakers, to emoji pillows, to funny novelty items. Our most popular item based on the number of clicks and favorites is actually an item called "Nothing." It is literally an empty box for people that when asked what they want for their birthday, responded with "oh, nothing."



4. What was your process like in building the app?

It was pretty tough, honestly. It actually ended up taking the best part of a year because I took a break halfway through. I started working on it during my final year of university as I had finished my class work early and had some free time. I was finding it difficult to create the algorithm and eventually put the project on hold once my next classes started. A couple of months later I revisited the project and figured out a way to get it all to work. Many months of programming later, the app was ready for release! 



5. In your own experience giving and receiving gifts, what do you think separates a great gift from a mediocre one?

If you had asked me this question when I was a child, I probably would have told you the larger the gift size the better! But now I find that it's not so much the size or price of the gift that makes a gift great, but if you can see that the person genuinely purchased it with you in mind (as opposed to just buying a generic gift for a 22 year old male, for example), that's what makes it great. Oh, unusual gifts are cool, too!

Thanks, Reece!

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Introducing YouQuest, An App for Self-Discovery

I always like hearing about brand-new apps, and here's one that's just been released. It's called YouQuest, and it was created by a company called 500 BC. In fact, when I clicked on the 500 BC site, I was greeted by a line which read, "Update your life, not your status," and I have to admit that this caught my interest!

The idea of the YouQuest app is that it is a game of self-discovery. As you use the app, you explore history and imagine your own ancient past. The app incorporates timeless wisdom from ancestors like Buddha. The app gives you a two-fold journey: discovering the past, and discovering yourself.

When we think about smartphones, the first thing we think of isn't generally inner wisdom or self-discovery, is it? YouQuest wants you to start using your phone for different purposes, rather than always skimming the surface of our usual activities of instant messaging, looking at viral videos, and so on.

YouQuest utilizes an algorithm and starts by guiding the user, over time, through a series of quizzes and offering targeted wisdom based on the user's responses.

The app was inspired by 500 BC's founder, Carol Phelan-Marsh, reflecting on her daughter's experience surviving cancer. She said, "My daughter survived bone cancer, and had to dig deep to do it (we all did). We used every tool, ancient and modern, to help her successfully battle osteosarcoma. I swore if she came through this that I'd launch a product to help others find their inner warriors."

You can download the app via iTunes and Google Play.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

A Kickstarter for a Cool New iPhone Case

You know I love an interesting crowdfunding campaign, so here's a Kickstarter for a product called CasePlug. It's an iPhone case which has built-in mounting, charging, syncing, and a kickstand, all in one. It's a compact and easy to use product.

As someone who is apt to lose things like plugs, adapters, and so on, I like the convenience of having everything in one case. It has great appeal for minimalists who want something that looks sleek and is highly functional. In short, it's a "plug & play" replacement for all the accessories you need for your phone. It works by having an integrated USB plug that you can plug into an outlet, car radio, or laptop computer. It has wireless capability as well. And it allows you to use your phone to control the device you're connecting to.

Through the Kickstarter, you can buy CasePlug for $25, which is the introductory price. Check out the Kickstarter link for more info. Today (July 31, 2014) marks the official launch of the Kickstarter campaign, which is cool if you're someone who likes to be one of the first to sign up for a new product!

Friday, February 14, 2014

Introducing SmartMobilePhones.net, a Source for Phones and Accessories

Personally, I find choosing a mobile phone to be one of the bigger shopping challenges of modern life. How do you know which phone is best for your personal needs? Where can you easily compare the prices and features of different phones? I'm appreciative for sites like Smart Mobile Phones which put all the popular phones and accessories into one easy-to-browse place.

The owners of Smart Mobile Phones created their site to offer a "customer-friendly" experience for people looking for smart phones, specifically iPhones and Android phones. You can contact the site owners if you have questions, comments, etc. This is a newer site, and I get the impression that the owners are going to be responsive to customer feedback as they continue to grow the site, so if you have input, let them know!

The site gives you a lot of good prices on smart phones, and you can compare prices and features to find the deal that works best for you. When it comes to iPhones especially, prices can vary depending on the cell service provider, so it's useful to see the different options brought together on a single page. And with Android phones, different manufacturers have created phones that offer a variety of looks, capabilities, and more. It really does help when a site like this presents your options all together.

Smart Mobile Phones is seamlessly integrated with Amazon to offer easy ordering as well as access to additional information like customer reviews. It's a smooth and simple way to shop for phones and phone accessories!

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Introducing MyPowerPebble, a Portable Phone Charger

MyPowerPebble is a useful and nice-looking phone charger that fits easily into a pocket, purse, briefcase, schoolbag, glove compartment, or any other small space. It's round, smooth, and shaped like (you guessed it!) a pebble, and it gives you three to five hours of talk time or up to twenty additional hours of music. If your phone is about to die, and you're in the middle of an important conversation, you can simply plug your phone into MyPowerPebble and continue your conversation.

There are other backup power supply products for phones, but MyPowerPebble distinguishes itself by its sleek and customizable look. There are a variety of packs of skins you can buy to make the case look just the way you want.

This product has already been molded, created, and tested. It's in production now, and the company is ordering the very first shipments to arrive in the United States. If you're interested in trying it for yourself, there's a unique way to support this innovative product and be among the first people to own and share MyPowerPebble with others. The company has launched an IndieGoGo campaign to raise funds in order to take the handy device to the next level with distinctive packaging made for big chain retail stores. Supporters of the campaign can receive MyPowerPebble and various skins--there is even an option to receive custom-branded products so that you can distribute MyPowerPebble as an innovative way to promote your own brand.

It's great to see a new product which is not only useful but also has a fun and classy look!

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Meet Fun Panda, A Creative and Eco-Friendly Company

Fun Panda is a company that makes iPhone cases that are both fun and eco-friendly. Their most popular products are custom iPhone cases where customers can upload an image of their choice and it will be laser engraved onto the case.

The people at Fun Panda also donate a portion of their proceeds to worthy causes like The Beautiful Dream Society.

1. What are some of the benefits of working with bamboo?

Well, bamboo is a highly renewable resource and very eco-friendly and can be made into all types of things, even clothes. To be honest I'm surprised bamboo is not more popular that it already it is.

2. What are some of the options available for people who want to customize their cases?

If you're interested in customizing your case, all you need to do is upload your image to our website and you'll get to see a preview of what it's going to look like. You can use any type of image you want. We've seen a lot of interesting things come through here, and it's cool to see people's creativity.

3. Do you sell locally or only online?

Both and we've also had some interest from people wanting to sell our products on their site or to get custom cases done to sell in their store. In that case, those designs are exclusive to that store and we wouldn't sell them on our website.

4. Could you tell us a little bit about the charitable organizations your company supports?

Currently we are mainly focused on the Beautiful Dream Society, which is a great organization dedicated ending human trafficking both in Oklahoma and Uganda. Human trafficking is a worldwide problem and they need all the help they can get.

The two other charities we like are much more well-known, and they are The Nature Conservancy and St. Judes. We alternate donations every so often and give at least 5% of our proceeds to them. More info can be found at http://www.funpanda.com/charities-we-support.

5. Are you envisioning additional creative products for the future?

We will be adding iPad cases in the near future and possibly the iPod Touch. We've also been planning a design contest to help add more designs to our collection. The details aren't in stone just yet, but it's something we're really excited about doing. As I said before, I really love seeing other people's creativity and the things they can come up with.

Thanks, Fun Panda!

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Meet Kenneth Liao of Trade In Happy

Our interview below is with Kenneth Liao, founder of Trade In Happy, a company which allows you to sell your iPhone or other smartphone for cash. The company prides itself on its reputation as a reputable buyer for used phones, offering top dollar for trade ins.

Kenneth provided the following description of the company: "We, at Trade In Happy Inc., are devoted to providing innovative solutions for electronics recycling and to make our world greener and cleaner. We believe that by making recycling easier and more rewarding for everyone we can involve more people and get more used electronics recycled. We look forward to your participation in making our dreams come true."

1. Why did you decide to start a business to allow people to sell their used phones?

Recycling used phones and other electronics is going to help our environment by saving those old electronics from going to the landfill, and also reduce the demands to manufacture more new devices that will cause pollution for our environment. Recycling some of the high end smart phones can also be financially rewarding. Under the currently depressed job market, an extra $100-$300 cash is a nice supplementary income for everybody.

2. You are based in Ohio and have walk-in service there, but is most of your service via mail-in?

Yes, it is more convenient to just mail it in. The customer can save time and gasoline, and we will give them a free INSURED shipping label. All they need to do is go to our website: www.tradeinhappy.com, follow the on-screen instructions to choose their device and preferred payment method (check or PayPal), we will generate a free INSURED shipping label with their order. After they mail it in through FedEx, we will inspect the device and send out the payment. Instead of coming to our office and spending an hour or so on the road, a lot of our local customers would even like to mail their devices to us.

3. What happens to the phones that are recycled through Trade In Happy?

We believe reselling them to somebody that can use them is the best way to recycle old electronics because it will not only extend the life of the existing devices but also reduce the demands for manufacturing new devices that will consume more resources and energy and cause more environmental pollution.

4. What happens to phones that aren't recycled, and what are the environmental costs of not recycling phones?

A lot of them are dumped into landfills and even shipped overseas to other countries where they are scrapped into components and metals. Most of these devices contain contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, or brominated flame retardants. Even in developed countries, recycling and disposal of e-waste may involve significant risk to workers and communities, and great care must be taken to avoid unsafe exposure in recycling operations and leaching of material such as heavy metals from landfills and incinerator ashes.

5. Could you share an example or two of the feedback you've been receiving from your customers?

Sure. Here are two recent examples of feedback we received.

Tom from Miami, FL said: "TradeInHappy had the highest payout for my iPhone 5. Shipping and customer service was excellent. I would rate them A+."

Ellen from Philadelphia, PA also wrote us this: "You (TradeInHappy) are hands down the best trade experience I could have ever imagined. You have a customer for life."

Thanks, Kenneth!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Meet Daphne and Diane, Creators of Tell a Fortune

Tell a Fortune is a fun, intuitive app based on principles of astrology and cardomancy, and meant to give "answers, inspiration, and hope." Inspired by the Tell a Fortune board game, the app is available on iPhone and iPad and soon to be available for Android.

Daphne Weld-Nichols is a renowned psychic, intuitive, healer, astrologer, fortune teller, reiki master, numerologist, tarot card reader, and feng shui practitioner. Daphne had her first psychic awareness experience at age seven. Since then she has devoted over 30 years to researching the mysteries of various healing frequencies of sound, color, music, crystals, gemstones, far infrared light, flower essences, flower energy, aromatherapy, power animals, feng shui balancing, and crystal energy healings.

Diane Dalpe is an intuitive counselor, card reader, psychic, palmist, reiki master, and life coach. From her earliest years, she possessed a unique ability to predict events prior to them happening. These unusual gifts motivated her to learn as much as possible about the paranormal and psychic awareness. She developed an understanding of how to use her natural psychic ability to help others through the use of their own tarot cards, palmistry crystal energy, and reiki healings. She draws upon all of these special gifts to guide her clients in her life coach practice.

The interview below is with Diane.

1. What was your process for taking your knowledge of card readings and fortune telling and making it available in the format of a mobile app?

Well, it's been nearly three decades since the release of our Tell a Fortune board game, which offers answers to people's questions via cards and an astrological wheel. We created the company in 1977, long before people had cell phones of course! Our mission has always been to provide high quality psychic guidance and tarot readings to all areas of one's life, including but not limited to relationships, career, finances, and health issues.

The process started when Daphne was a young girl and she used to rely on her gut or "personal guidance system" (the letters GPS rearranged). To help interpret her own feelings, she marked up an ordinary deck of playing cards, assigning meanings to numbers and suits. For example, the ten of diamonds meant big money, success and advancement, while the ace of spades was a major change, challenge, or decision. When faced with a choice, Daphne would read the cards. Friends called her so often asking what cards meant that she finally designed a deck everyone could use, enlisting a graphic artist to illustrate each card. The cards could be placed on a circular zodiac chart, which came with the deck. The whole set was dubbed Tell a Fortune.

Now everyone is carrying around smart devices, so we felt that it would be good to have the cards be mobile! They have a whole new modern life to them now! And with so many negative things in the environment, it's a challenge to stay positive every day; that's why ultimately why we wanted to make the app: It's renewal every day at your fingertips.

2. What can users do with the Tell a Fortune app?

Imagine being able at any time to ask questions and receive instant answers about any of life's important decisions or concerns. People can play by themselves, or with friends and family! The Tell a Fortune App is fun, accurate and insightful! Users are just a click away from receiving a Tell a Fortune card containing messages and answers to their questions along with daily affirmations. Users will download this app to receive amazingly accurate answers and future predictions to their questions about love, money, or any general category. The Tell a Fortune app will appeal to anyone interested in card reading, horoscopes, and the Zodiac; this includes beginners and experienced card readers.

Tell a Fortune is a fun, intuitive psychic oracle game that users will want to play again and again. They can ask as many questions a day as many times a day as they want. In the "Ask a Question" section, users can choose between three categories of questions: Love, Money, or General Questions. Users will receive straightforward answers and positive affirmations. They will also be able to play the "Zodiac Game of Life" which consists of 12 astrological houses representing 12 aspects of one's life including; Money, Relationships, Career, Health, and Goals. It can be played individually or with family and friends. A "Tell a Fortune" card will appear with insightful messages for each house. When playing with others you can take turns being the reader and interpreter of the other player’s cards.

3. Does the app have social features as well, to allow users to connect with each other?

"The Social Zodiac Game of Life" can be played with up to 12 players from all parts of world. This divination consists of a live, ongoing chat room in which the players can discuss their messages and other players' readings. This is a great way to develop your own intuition by giving suggestions, interpretations, and even guidance to others in your game. There is also a permanent chat room for use outside of the social game.

4. How can people benefit from daily affirmations, and could you describe the role of affirmations within Tell a Fortune?

Affirmations on the Tell a Fortune app are positive little bits to help a person's mind to start thinking positive. A lot of research has been done over the last two decades about happy, successful people. Time and again research shows that successful people aren't happy so much as happy people are successful. They found happiness comes first and then success follows, not the other way around like our culture would have us believe. Our affirmations help users be grateful for who they are right now and to cultivate an attitude of gratitude that is receptive to good things happening. The Tell a Fortune app doesn't have downers; there are no predictions of doom or gloom. The messages and the cards are designed to be direct and inspirational. The affirmations are not included as a bonus but as a very real tool in helping users create the life they want live.

5. In your experience, how does an openness to asking questions have an effect on people's lives?

Because people make their own reality, the answer is more effective if you believe it will be. However, there are skeptics and science-oriented people who became believers after getting unexpectedly accurate cards. One of these was me! I began marketing Daphne's cards after leaving a career as one of the first female executives at Gillette. I swore I'd never read them myself--until I started doing it by accident. As I demonstrated how the cards worked to prospective buyers, they would exclaim I was spot-on and ask how I could possibly know these things! I became a believer! I love how these cards show people they have options, and we love putting people in touch with instincts they may have ignored until now.

Thanks, Diane!

Friday, November 30, 2012

Meet Clayton Crooks, Author

Clayton Crooks is an American author, computer consultant, and software developer. He is best known for his books on topics including game development and mobile devices. Clayton began his writing career working for various magazines such as Dr. Dobbs Journal, Code Magazine, and Web Techniques. He authored his first book on Visual Basic in 2001 and began writing about various tools and languages afterward. Along with his writing career, Clayton has had games published on various platforms including "3D Air Hockey" and "3D Duck Hunting" for PC's, and a number of mobile games and apps.

His book, iPhone Game Development for Teens, is a step-by-step guide for beginners who want to create games made specifically for the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.

1. When and why did you begin writing?

I'm a computer consultant by trade. The writing actually came somewhat by accident. I was helping some people in an online forum many years ago. Someone noticed a post that I had written about how to fix an issue with a server or something. They asked if I might be interested in writing about technology related topics for their newsletter, and everything just took off from there. Before I knew what was happening, I was writing for five or ten magazines, and had an offer to do my first book.

2. How long does it take you to write a book?

It really depends greatly on the subject at hand. For most of the books that I've done, it takes an average of about three to six months. I've had a few take much longer, and some that were a little less. Much of the time, it depends on how much time I can devote to writing, as my consulting business keeps me quite busy.

3. Where do you get ideas for your books?

When I was first starting out, I had to think a little more about what to write about, but as time has gone on, I have publishers reach out to me about topics they have interest in. They'll usually contact me and ask if I'd be interested in doing something on a particular topic. With the basic idea in hand, we work out the details on content, audience, and direction.

4. How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?

I’m not sure of the exact number, but probably somewhere around 20. I guess it depends on if you include 2nd and 3rd editions of books as well. My favorite book was a programming book called Learning Visual Basic.net Through Applications. There are a number of reasons why, but well before tablets had become mainstream, I wrote a couple of example applications related to development for the Tablet PC. I had such great feedback from other developers. There are even a few examples on Microsoft's Developer Network that utilize things from the book.

5. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I love being outdoors and any type of sports related activities. My wife and son are huge sports fans as well, so it's something we do as a family. I'm sure it's not surprising, but I also love all types of gadgets: mobile devices, game consoles, tablets, phones, and computers.

Thanks, Clayton!