The Race for Cross-Platform Mobile Messaging [SQUAD CHAT]

As all my friends switched from blackberry to iPhones and androids, it became apparent that a messaging service similar to BBM would eventually replace text messaging. After testing six different messaging apps over the past 3 months, we discovered what makes a good messaging app and how this will effect app competition.

Though having a data based messaging app would make talking to all my friends easier, this was not our first focus. We wanted to create a "squad chat." A squad chat is a mobile, cross-platform, group chat that encompasses all our closest friends into one never ending group conversation world wide. We tested six messaging apps (whatsapp, pmessenger, kik messenger, cnect'd, PingChat, crunchSMS) in order to find a cross-platform group messenger.

After testing all the apps, two stood out as the best:

Kik messenger (best cross-platform messenger) does not have group chat, but it has the nicest interface on all three platforms and is quite consistent and reliable. This is currently the inter-squad one-on-one messenger.

Download Kik Messenger

Cnectd (best "squad chat") has the most reliable squad chat, but it's poor stylistic interfaces on blackberry and older android systems makes more of a practical app then a must have app.

Blackberry Download

Android Download

iPhone Download

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The truth is that once Kik has group chats, it will most likely take over as the cross platform messenger of choice. This week alone Kik has been the number 1 and number 3 top downloaded free blackberry app, competing with with Blackberry Messenger as the messenger app of choice. There is not question that the "Kik nation" has started.

Why You Should Invest in Apple...

1. Silicon Alley Insider predicts that the Apple stock will jump from $300 to $1000 by 2015

This estimate is based on increased 2011 iPad sales by UBS, lowered PC sales with increased 2011 tablet sales by Barclays Capital, ramped up iPad production numbers, and Apples "increasing efforts to drive greater penetration into enterprise and SMB accounts," say Deutsche Bank. [Source]

2. The iPhone moves to Verizon 4G

For Verizon's new 4G systems, launching in early 2011, the iPhone 4G will be their launch product for the new network, combining the reliability of the Verizon wireless service with the speed and dominance of Apple's iPhone. [Source]

3. Soon Apps will overtake Music on iTunes Downloads

This means that the Apple App market is growing rapidly, as the new iPad's, iPhones, and iPods all allow for app downloads. Competition with the Android market will also mean better Apple created consumer incentives to download iTunes apps. [Source]

Why I love Plex and How It Just Got Better

I found out about Plex on April 28th, 2010 and have been using it daily since then. Those of you who know me personally, I have made you download the application. Plex allows you to not only download and watch apps such as Netflix, CNN, Youtube, MLB, NatGeo, and many others, it allows you to watch all your personal movie files as well, including your .mkv files.

There are other apps that allowed you to do this as well, but most of those froze when trying to play an 11.1gb 1080p .mkv file of Dark Night. Plex allowed me not only play, pause, fast forward and rewind movies of this size, but it also allowed me to do it using my iMac and apple remote, turning my computer into a full entertainment system.

Plex also lets you access other programs on your computer as well, such as the dvd player, or hulu desktop. From across the room, using only the five button apple remote I am able to access pretty much any tv show, movie, or movie file I want.

FREE DOWNLOAD HERE

The new iPhone / iPod / iPad app now allows you to control Plex from your mac device. So you iPod has now become a multi media controller. Also, the new version of Plex, for mac, has a better interface and more apps so you can watch Comedy Central, MTV, NBC, Netflix, plus a lot more.

Plex version 9 has recently come out and is available for free download now at www.plexapp.com. If you have a mac and like watching movies, I advise you download this app immediately.


Sources: [CrunchGear] [TechCrunch] [Plex]

iPhone + Paypal: The Death of Cash and Checks

Remember in The 6th Day when Arnold Swarchenegger uses his thumb print to pay for his cab ride? Well this technology is a little far off, but the general concept is that cash and checks will be replaced by digital money. Paypal and apple are teaming up to help kill hard currency.

From the NY Times:

People have predicted the death of cash and checks for a long time. But there are certain transactions — like paying a friend back for dinner or buying vegetables at the farmers’ market — for which they remain essential.

PayPal’s new iPhone application could finally change that. It promises to let you quickly divide a restaurant bill and send a friend the portion you owe just by bumping your iPhones together.

The application is free to download from the App Store. Users log in with their PayPal credentials or with their cellphone number and a numeric PIN, and they can send or request money and manage their account on the phone.

To send money, users choose a recipient from their cellphone contacts or bump two phones together. For that, the app uses technology from Bump Technologies, which developed it to swap contact information between two phones. The money is transferred immediately.

Sources: [Silicon Valley Insider]

This Week In Consumer Confidence

Overall Consumer Confidence vs. The iPad Hype

Most people I talk to say they are not going to get an iPad because they have no use for it, but if there is no use for it, why is there so much buzz about a useless product. As the chart [above] shows, people are some what likely to buy an iPad, but who are these people? In the iPad keynote address, Steve Jobs comments that the iPad is for the older generation that are unfamiliar with the daily use of computers. If we look at the day the iPad was officially announced, January 27th, and then look at consumer confidence in January, we may get some answers to our questions on the full extent of who is actually excited about the product.

Though it may seem like the iPad and consumer confidence have little to do with each other, but the announcement of the iPad was broadcasted world wide, and can be considered the peak of consumer goods or the good that everyone is talking about. Clearly other things affect over all consumer confidence, specifically the Toyota Total Recall, but the information below is still relevant.

Though the younger audience, consumers under 35, have the most consumer confidence, they are most likely not the group the most interested in the iPad. Consumer confidence of those 35-54 seems to peak just as the iPad was announced, while younger consumers confidence had experienced a peak a few weeks before.

Sources: [Gizmodo] [Business Insider]

Spy Gear: Take DSLR Pics from a Distance

Pixel Enterprise LV-W1 Wireless Live View Remote Control

The product also works with iPhones, in case you ever need to take incriminating pictures of someone from across the street, while sitting in the room next to them... James Bond would love this product.


Sources: [Crunch Gear] [Pixel Enterprise Co.]

How Many Jaffa Oranges Does It Take to Power an iPhone?

I'll give you a hint, they spent over $1600 on oranges. 

Sources: [Engadget] [Imperial Leisure]

TV on your iPhone

TOP Ways to Watch TV on your iPhone


1. Sling iPhone Application

The major problem with the Sling iPhone app is that you need to also purchase a Sling box and have it hooked up to a cable box that no one else is using. If this is something that you would not mind, then the Sling iPhone application is perfect for you.

2. Mophie TV Pack

The FLO TV Mophie iPhone, application and encasing allows you to watch HD basic TV from your iPhone while on the go. The encasing makes the iPhone 2mm thicker and much heavier, but still lets you watch broadcast TV.


Source: Engadget, Sling Media, and FLO TV