Banjo Tames Social Networking on Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, etc.

Is social networking reaching a tipping point? With Facebook’s recent slump in North American growth, one is lead to believe that we as a society might be overwhelmed with the amount of options within the space. Think about it. Between Twitter, Foursquare, Facebook, Gowalla, etc. nobody has time to truly connect with everyone, all the time and on all sites. It’s a social mess.

What if there was an app to rule them all?

Enter, Damien Patton, veteran of Desert Storm, former professional racecar driver and now CEO of Banjo, the new social discovery service. Of course, like most useful inventions, Banjo was born out of necessity. A missed connection with a friend that happened to be at the same airport, in the same terminal and at the same time, but Patton didn’t find that out until he got home.

With the ever-growing amount of social clutter, the next big trend isn’t a new social network, but rather a way to make sense of the chaos. I liken Banjo to Google in that Google tames web content into an easy to use search engine. Banjo uses this same idea to ensure you’re in the know about your social network in the convenience of one app.

“Every day, people use mobile phones to access social networks to connect with the world around them. With so much activity, it’s hard to connect the dots between all the information being shared. Banjo was created with this in mind.” remarked Patton.

Now, as of today, the app allows you to send tweets straight from the app, but only view your friends’ updates from Facebook, Foursquare and Gowalla. The company plans to integrate two-way communication with the other social sites as they continue to grow.

Banjo is truly epic in that it can be used to interact with your friends around you or with anybody, anywhere. The social discovery app allows you to zoom in and out of different places such as Apple in Cupertino. I was poking around for the latest gossip, but was only able to find some guy working out at the Apple Fitness Center. Maybe he left the iPhone 5 behind.

“Banjo provides a layer of intelligence on top of existing networks so people can easily discover friends and new people or places around them, regardless of what social network they are on,” said Patton.

Think of the marketing possibilities Banjo could have. Say your client is offering a discount in a certain store in a certain city. Dial into that city and connect directly with people in real time in that area. Genius.

“Banjo is poised to take social discovery well beyond the technology currently available. We are so impressed with Banjo’s innovation and the quality of user-experience, and look forward to supporting their continued growth as they take social exploration to the next level,” said John Malloy, partner at BlueRun Ventures, initial investors in Banjo.

The user interface is simple, yet very robust. Once you open the app, you’re shown the closet 16 people based on latest status updates. You can easily customize who you see (show all, friends or favorites) in the settings tab. You don’t even need to sign into any of your social networks. You can just let your curious eyes wonder. However, I recommend signing into the various social networks under the social tab to see what your friends are up to.

Click on the map for a quick view of who is doing what in your area. Zoom out and find other areas that might be fun to check out, i.e. Paris, Hong Kong, etc. If you like what you see, simply tap the places tab in the upper left and then add favorite place to drop a pin and name your location for easy revisiting. You can also set your nearby notification parameters such as miles and recency of activity within this tab.

Banjo’s ability to bring calm to the social networking chaos that seems to be taking over our daily lives just might be the next big thing.

app category: An App For That, Breaking News, Social Networking

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Panoramic City Views USA is Google Earth for XIX Century

Historical Society eat your heart out, the Panoramic City Views USA iPad app is by far one of the most interesting ways to travel back in time to yesteryear and experience America as it was over a 100 years ago. With up to 400 megapixels of historical detail for intense zooming, the iPad app is the equivalent to Google Earth back in the XIX century complete with street view because of the amount of detail.

I remember being at the top of the formerly named Sears Tower and found the incredible views very interesting not just for the sky line, but also to see how the city was laid out in a grid pattern. It spoke to the history of how the city was planned. Looking through the telescope also allowed me to check out the city streets from a birds-eye view and try to picture how it used to look, which I feel is where the Panoramic City Views USA app becomes very handy.

Also, I’ve done a lot of travel in my time and always find interesting tours to take such as the Seattle Underground Tour, Portland Underground Walk and even the Architectural Kayaking Tour in Chicago. The tours are the true way to learn a city’s history. Well, that and having older relatives from those areas. But the drawback is that while you hear about the history you only see the present, which is tomorrow’s yesterday, but I digress.

Panoramic City Views USA allows you to go past the facade of the current city and experience how cities like Seattle, San Jose, Dallas, Atlanta and Chicago looked liked at the turn of the XIX century.

Once you launch the app, simply select a city and the map is loaded almost instantaneously. Sure you can go to the Library of Congress to check these out, but for only $2.99, pinching and zooming is a bit more realistic than packing and traveling.

The maps have a large amount of high-resolution details and can easily be zoomed in and out via the pinch and zoom motion gestures, which should only get better with the new iOS 5 release this fall. Information such as year is in the upper right corner and you can find the name of the city and date the map was drawn under the info button.

Traveling to a city and exploring their current infrastructure unveils a lot of history of where the city evolved from, who it was built for and why it still exists. However, the Panoramic City Views USA historical map app is the only way to easily access all 50 maps in one location and truly experience the old time America that you’ve most likely only heard about from your great grandparents.

app category: Editor's Picks, Lifestyle, Travel

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

iOS 5 Cuts Cord, adds Location-Based Reminders and Notification Center

TigerMe Club is Much More than Just How-To Dating App for Guys

TigerMe Club recently went on sale from $9.99 to $.99 and so my curiosity got the best of me. While I’m a happily to-be husband and father, I was very interested to check out the content and see if this “for men only” swagger app was worth the $9.99 regular price tag.

So for this review I’m going to be resurrecting my bachelor days and pulling from the days where I needed a bit of help finding the right girl. Who knows, maybe if I had this app back in the day I would have bypassed a few stepping stones. Maybe.

Let’s first define what TigerMe Club is not. It is not a simple app full of a bunch of cheesy one-liners to pick up a bunch of one night stands.

The TigerMe Club app is better described as not only an icebreaker app, but a toolset of insider knowledge to help better position you for opening up a conversation with the girl that just passed by you on the sidewalk or who is sitting alone at the local coffee shop.

It’s a dating life tips book that holds the key to unlocking your potential. Seriously, it is. I mean, not every time do most guys feel comfortable talking to the hot chick in the room for fear of rejection and a lot of the times they don’t want to ask their buddies how they approach the situation for fear of embarrassment. That’s why magazines like Men’s Fitness, GQ, etc. exist. It’s a way to get information to prep yourself to be the best person you can be. The articles are usually first-hand experiences and this TigerMe Club is no different. It’s a combination of tops that have been tested countless times from their panel of users.

They describe it as the ultimate social and dating advisor for single men who are looking for a girlfriend or just want to date around first. It is a very comprehensive “chick guide” if you will that doesn’t just tell you to buy the lady a few drinks and your set. Rather, it starts with the basics and actually walks you through several areas of how you can improve and prepare before hitting the dating scene.

For instance, the Basics of Success chapter that points out that dreaming is a good thing, but that you need to break down those dreams into several attainable objectives to achieve long-term success. It goes over how to document, track and create a 3-month plan that will consist of short-term goals and work towards achieving your dream.

TigerMe Club then brings you into your plan further with Goal Setting and Motivation, which outlines the steps to setting goals and talks about the seven habits of highly effective people such as proactiveness, visualizing the prize, etc. and details each item.

The app then goes into self-discipline, effective learning, knowing yourself and identity and mindset and that’s just one portion of the app called Recipe for Success.

The amount of information in the TigerMe Club really is quite useful, especially the bit on communication and meeting people. The app truly gives you a foundation to succeed in not only meeting new ladies, but presenting your best self. It’s almost like a self-help book, but better. The app gets even more useful with the chapters on dating, networking and relationships, which is worth the $9.99 itself.

All of the knowledge base gets you ready for the Meeting, Advisor and Coach tabs, which give you scenarios for possible meet cutes as well as advises on different scenerios such as what to do before you go out, text, call, etc. The coaching portion is like your high school football coach, only better as metaphorically speaking he’s trying to get you to the end zone, but without all of the wind sprints. Although, a bit of exercise will go a long way in building your confidence.

For those who want to master all aspects of the dating scene, there is a special Club tab that if you use the TigerMe Club app enough will eventually be unlocked and allow you to checkout the secret chamber. Apparently, there is some great advice within the chamber, but I’ll never know.

For those single guys wanting to improve their self image, self confidence and work towards dating quality women, TigerMe Club is just for you. I even recommend it for men who are just trying to better themselves too. But make sure to not let your significant other see it or they might think something is up.

TigerMe Club YouTube Tutorial

app category: An App For That, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Social Networking

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Race to Glory in HD With GT Racing: Motor Academy

When it comes to the expanding lineup of games on the iPad, GT Racing: Motor Academy HD proves once again that the racing genre outshines the rest.

GT Racing: Motor Academy is another excellent option and should especially appeal to automotive purists. This game requires one go through the steps of earning a license, buying a car, gaining sponsorships and improving performance over time. The details about the kinds of cars, making upgrades and crawling up through the racing circuit mean patience and will not be for those who want the quick, time-killing game that many iOS games are. But those who are willing to invest the time in it will be rewarded with a deep, true racing experience. 

The racing events are separated into four categories. The performances determine the kind of money and car prizes that can be won. Begin one of the circuits to race toward glory, with additional wins providing cash for better cars and upgrades.

GT Racing: Motor Acadamy HD is a racer’s game. Players who have a sizable amount of knowledge about car brands and their particular strengths will enjoy upgrading to a BMW, Porsche or choosing from other higher-end cars. In fact, there are 25 manufacturers and 111 licensed cars in all. Of course, doing so requires finding success in the different racing circuits.

The game begins with earning a Class “C” license, which is done by passing a series of driving tests. The player must brake within the proper amount of time or pass other racers to demonstrate racing prowess. The challenges when going for the higher-level licenses can get quite challenging.

Like other racing games, GT Racing: Motor Academy is controlled by tilting the iPad like a steering wheel. A gas pedal and brake pad are on-screen to control those functions of the car. Driving feels really smooth and brings the game to life. If for some reason the default calibration settings don’t feel right, they can be tweaked through the menu.

Those who want to challenge others can play GT Racing: Motor Academy over a network or compete online. A growing number of iOS games are adding multiplayer capabilities, and this is a solid implementation. Players can log in or create an account to Gameloft’s network to get started.

While there is definitely a learning curve, GT Racing: Motor Academy HD is a worthy entry to the racing genre for the iPad. Users who invest the time will be glad they did.

app category: Editor's Picks, Games, Racing Games

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Google Mobile Redesigned for the iPhone

Google unveiled an iPhone friendly version of the search engine. The new page gives you an easier access to the search box and the search results are easier to use. A navigation bar has also been added at the top of the page, and it has direct links to Gmail, Calendar, Reader and More (Docs, SMS, GOOG-411, News, Photos, Blogger and Notebook).


It looks like Google is jumping on the iPhone bandwagon big time. I can't wait to see if they are going to use the Apple SDK, and design applications for the iPhone?

Seriously though, an iPhone optimized Google search engine will make the iPhone browser even more attractive than it is already. Google's recent move could be called win-win-win situation: Google will get more traffic from a mobile device, the iPhone will become even more user-friendly, and the end user will benefit from all this. Cool!

Only thing missing? A Google bookmark on the home page.

Apple slapped with iPhone patent suit

A company that holds patents relating to a 'visual voicemail' system is suing Apple and a host of telecoms companies for hundreds of millions of dollars.

The lawsuit was filed by Klausner Technologies in the US Court for the Eastern District of Texas, and asks for $360m from Apple and AT&T.

The suit also names Skype, Comcast and Cablevision Systems as having breached US Patents 5,572,576 and 5,283,818 and asks for $300m in damages from each company.

New York-based Klausner Technologies claims that the patent infringements concern internet voicemail services.

"The iPhone violates Klausner's intellectual property rights by allowing the user to selectively retrieve voice messages via the iPhone's inbox display," said the company in an official statement.

Klausner Technologies sued AOL for $200m in 2005 over its voice platform technology, eventually settling the case and licensing it to AOL.

Vonage settled a similar case in October this year over its Voicemail Plus, when Klausner granted Vonage a patent license for an undisclosed sum.

"We have litigated this patent successfully on two prior occasions," said Greg Dovel, counsel for Klausner Technologies at law firm Dovel & Luner.

"With the signing of each new licensee, we continue to receive further confirmation of the strength of our visual voicemail patents."