Why a longtime iPhone user ‘completely regrets’ switching to Android

Switching from one mobile platform to another can make for a jarring transition but oftentimes users can find something to like in their new mobile OS. Such was not the case with Business Insider's Matt Johnston, who last fall switched from the iPhone 5 to the Galaxy Note 3 and started regretting his decision after about two months. In the end, Johnston believes his choice to go to Android has been a "disaster."

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Posted in 2015 at 03:33PM, April 07

'Citymapper' and 'Transit App' Offer In-Depth Looks at Transit Experiences on Apple Watch

As a few popular iPhone apps begin rolling out updates for their built-in Apple Watch apps ahead of the April 24 launch, a pair of transit-focused services have posted on Medium to share detailed looks into exactly what kind of experience users can expect from Citymapper and Transit App on the Apple Watch next month.



Sifting through the data gathered from its iPhone app, Citymapper learned that its users frequently turned their phone on and off throughout one trip, unlocking to reorient themselves and quickly locking the device again to save battery. That's where its upcoming Apple Watch app comes in, Citymapper promising an experience tailor-made for the wrist-worn device.

This is the nature of transit information when you move across the city. You need snippets of information. Different things at different times, depending on where you are along the way.



Transit info works well on a device that focuses attention on one thing at a time. And where the transaction cost (ie hassle) of getting additional information is low (raise your wrist and swipe). Using a wearable app may also be safer. City dwellers are generally walking too fast, crossing streets, using stairs, jostling through crowds.

Citymapper has a few cool things planned for its Watch app, with Glances showcasing "how messed up your city is", pointing out stalled bus and train schedules around a user's location. The app will even notify a user, with the much-touted wrist-tap feature, when to get off of a current bus or train route to continue along their way.



Citymapper on the Apple Watch will be available in every city Citymapper has already established itself, including places like New York City and Rome, and support English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, with more cities and languages "coming soon."



Transit's Apple Watch app appears to be providing less of a notification-heavy experience and more of a straight-forward curated list of departure times and easy-to-follow directions, with a static "Take Me Home" button always on hand for when users get lost. The company aims to shave off as many precious seconds as possible with its wrist-worn experience.

It’s not every day that developers get the chance to build something for a completely new platform. And we think that the Apple Watch might just be the ideal platform for us. Sure, it’s not so difficult to pull your phone out of your pocket. But it’s while we’re in transit that those seconds matter most.



With Transit App for Apple Watch, all of that friction is gone. No matter where you are, you will have instant access to departure times for nearby routes — on hand at all times. Sprinting for the bus? Need to know which route is leaving soonest? Don’t want to interrupt your game of Candy Crush? We’ve got your back.

Both Citymapper [Direct Link] and Transit App [Direct Link] promise to be available on day one of the Apple Watch's April 24 launch.

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Posted in 2015 at 03:33PM, March 27

Parallels Desktop 10 Update Brings Windows 10 Technical Preview to Macs [Mac Blog]

Parallels today announced an update to Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac, the company's software for running non-Apple operating systems safely on a Mac. The new update brings "experimental support" for Windows 10 and Office Preview for Windows 10 - including the expected Word, Excel, and PowerPoint programs - into Apple's OS X Yosemite ecosystem.





With the update available as a download within the Parallels Desktop app for existing users/a>, the company promises the Mac-based Windows 10 experience will provide users with "everything Windows 10 has to offer." This includes everything from the new Start menu, Photos, Maps app, and Cortana, to the Windows Store beta which offers Office Preview for Windows 10, all available without having to erase the existing functioning operating system.

“Parallels Desktop enjoys very strong support among software developers and IT pros. We are happy to deliver all the tools they need to quickly and safely test or run the latest OS and applications, now including the Windows 10 Technical Preview,” said Parallels president Jack Zubarev.

Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac is available to download for $79.99, with a Student Edition coming in at $39.99. Similarly, users upgrading from existing Parallels Desktop versions, like 8 or 9, can get a discount for version 10, with upgrade pricing set at $49.99. A two-week free trial is available to anyone who wants to try out the program's features, including the new technical preview of Windows 10, for a limited time frame.

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Posted in 2015 at 03:33PM, February 11

CES 2015: SleepPhones Announces Soft Wireless Headband Headphones With Induction Charging [iOS Blog]

AcousticSheep has brought its soft, elastic SleepPhones headphones that are thin and comfortable enough to be worn while sleeping to CES 2015. The company aims for the headphones to provide music or ambient noise to users who need soothing sounds close by as they fall asleep.





Created by a doctor who has trouble falling asleep herself due to frequent patient phone calls late at night, SleepPhones allow users high-quality music options without disturbing anyone trying to sleep nearby. The headphones also provide a decent amount of ambient noise blocking, and offer 10-12 hours of use on a single charge.



SleepPhones are available in multiple models of varying colors, including the original wired Classic model for $39.99, a Bluetooth Wireless version for $99.99, and multiple bundle packages that vary from a three-pack to packed-in ambient noise CDs. New to CES, however, is the unveiling of a new Bluetooth version of the headset that will provide induction charging for an even easier way to keep the device ready for every-night use. The new induction charging model will launch in April for $149.






The SleepPhones and all of their bundle options can be purchased directly from the company's official website.

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Posted in 2015 at 03:33PM, January 05