Today, Samsung unveiled its new mobile purchase and coupon app called “Samsung Wallet.” What makes this app so important is not so much the features it offers, but the obvious similarities it shares with Apple’s “Passbook” mobile wallet.
Rovio Entertainment has a fairy tale princess story if there ever was one. An independent company made a single casual puzzle game that became the number one hit for mobile devices for years. Since its launch, Angry Birds has seen spin-off games, merchandise branding, books, and a rumored upcoming full-length feature film. Yesterday, the company announced that a new animated series called, “Angry Birds Toons” will hit the Web on March 16.
Following reports about human rights and labor violations in its supplier factories, Apple joined the Fair Labor Association in an effort to demonstrate its commitment to the well being of the workers in its supply factories. Apple also has a strict code of conduct, which suppliers must adhere to in order to work with Apple.
This code is monitored by Apple, and the company also maintains a yearly progress report. The 2013 report showed that Apple had increased audits by 72 percent throughout 2012, with a total of 393 audits conducted. Despite this effort by Apple, Hong-Kong based labor watchdog group Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior, or SACOM says that the Cupertino-based company still isn’t doing enough to monitor the labor practices of its suppliers.
You don’t have to be a mechanical engineer or a design professional to come up with clever accessories for your iPad. Most do-it-yourself projects can be made from materials you’d find around the house. We love to repurpose things here at PadGadget. That’s why we spotlight DIY-ers. Last week, we showed you a project for an adorable oilcloth iPad case that is perfect for the coming spring.
Today, we are spotlighting a clever fix for tech addicts who like using their iPads and iPhones at the same time. Don’t try to deny it. You know you do it too.
When I reviewed Faces iMake last summer, I was impressed by the app’s ability to turn digital images of everyday objects (food, office supplies, etc.) into artful, colorful collages. The app’s developer, iMagine Machine, has recently released Faces iMake ABC, which takes young users through the alphabet, emphasizing phonics. Faces iMake shares the exuberance of its predecessor, and reminds me of the clever, animated shorts that Sesame Street runs for each letter of the alphabet.
Eyal Dessou Tzafrir, iMagine Machine’s co-founder, was kind enough to share his thoughts about “slow apps,” the perils of multi-tasking, and the essential contribution of artist Hanoch Piven (author of What Presidents Are Made Of) to the Faces iMake series.
Last summer, Amazon launched their Cloud Player app for iPhone and iPod touch. The app allows users to stream music from their Cloud Player account directly to their device, or download the songs for offline listening. In January, Amazon announced AutoRip, which is a service that automatically sends an MP3 copy of any album you’ve purchased on CD dating back to 1998.
Today, the company has updated their Cloud Player app to be compatible with the iPad. Finally, I can listen to that Sarah McLachlan album I forgot that I bought for my best friend’s mom on my iPad.
The U.S. Defense Department announced that it would be opening its communications networks to phones and tablets from Apple, along with devices using the Google’s Android operating system. Earlier this month, CACI International reported that it was modifying iPads for use in government agencies, which are presumably the tablets that will be allowed on the newly opened networks.
Currently, employees at the Pentagon use BlackBerry devices. There are approximately 450,000 BlackBerry phones in use, so a switch to Android and iOS could significantly hurt BlackBerry’s dominance in government agencies. While employees do currently use 41,000 Apple products and 8,700 Android devices, the products aren’t connected to Defense Department networks, except when used for testing.
Multiple big name companies, like Intel, Facebook, Zynga, and Apple, will urge the U.S. Supreme Court to legalize same-sex marriage across the nation, saying that the same-sex marriage bans in 41 different states damage workplace morale and undermine recruiting. Only nine states currently permit same-sex marriage.
The group of companies plans to petition the court at some point this week, because the court will be evaluating California’s Proposition 8, a state constitutional amendment that passed in 2008, in March.
Welcome to another edition of Wacky App Wednesday, where I share some of the craziest, wackiest, and most awesome apps in the App Store. Last week I shared super fun kick-the-kitty app Hackycat, and this week I have another fun app for you guys, which allows you to create your very own monsters.
The Daily Monster Monster Maker is an app that comes to you from DailyMonster.com, which is a site run by Stefan G. Bucher.
Bucher is an artist who creates unique monster drawings from ink blots by putting a blob of ink on a piece of paper and then blowing on it to create different shapes each time. The Daily Monster app replicates that process in a fun way.
Accessory maker MiniSuit recently sent images of a purported fifth-generation iPad case to BusinessInsider with claims that the new model tablet is expected to be on store shelves in June. A representative for MiniSuit says the company has already begun manufacturing the redesigned cases based on a strong belief that their sources are correct.