Posts Tagged ‘iOS’

Mobile Monday – A Marketer’s Introduction to Passbook

Monday, December 10th, 2012

Since iOS 6 was announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June, most buzz about the new mobile operating system has been about Apple Maps, followed by features like the panoramic camera, Facebook integration, and  new phone call features like ‘Do Not Disturb,’ ‘Remind Me Later,’ and ‘Reply with Message.’

Since iOS became publicly available in September, I’ve continually been surprised at the lack of attention being paid to Passbook. Sure, big companies like Target, American Airlines, and Starbucks are using them. But even those Passes seem basic and I’ve heard several stories about them not working with mobile apps the way they should.

For now, I agree with The Next Web’s Lauren Hockenson, believing that the problem with Passbook as it is lies in the integration (or lack thereof) into other mobile marketing efforts, such as apps.

As far as I’m aware, there still relatively few marketers using Passbook, considering how easy it can be to create passes. So I figured a guide on the blog would be appropriate. Let’s get started…

What is Passbook?

Passbook is a pre-installed app on iPhones and iPod Touch devices with iOS 6. If you are updating a device to iOS 6 instead of buying a new device, the app will be there when the upgrade is complete. It’s a native app, meaning along with apps like the calendar, calculator, and contacts, it can’t be deleted.

It is a digital wallet of sorts, but instead of holding credit card information, it holds Passes.

Passes are a file type that works on iOS 6 devices as well as OS X 10.8.2. This means that if customers are running the proper version of OS X, they can use iCloud to add Passes to your Passbook from your desktop or laptop. Passes can also be saved to your Passbook through links sent through email, SMS, or a mobile app.

(more…)

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Apple’s iOS 6 – What To Expect

Tuesday, June 12th, 2012

Apple launched its 23rd Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) yesterday with a revealing keynote that started with a witty Siri.

“How many developers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

“None – That’s a hardware problem……  ba dum ching”

A sophisticated Siri was just one of the new features presented for iOS 6. Apple’s new operating system has a recurring theme – tighter app integration and enhanced iCloud synchronization.

Sophisticated Siri

The former Siri was ideal for entertaining and retrieving quick data. Siri has been promoted to your executive assistant. She launches apps for you, updates your Facebook Status and sends a Tweet on request. She can look for a restaurant via Yelp and make reservations through OpenTable. Dinner and a movie? No problem, she has you covered with Fandango. She’ll let you in on the recent reviews from Rotten Tomatoes. If you miss the game, she can present you with sports stats and scores without picking up the phone.  Siri can increase your efficiency even in the car. The “Eyes Free” feature will be built into the steering wheel in certain BMW, Toyota, Mercedes Benz, General Motors, Honda and Audi models.

Maps. 

Apple’s navigation application flew right over Google Maps and didn’t look back. Maps is exquisite, offering convenience and productivity. It highlights turn by turn navigation; local searches, real-time traffic updates, 3D perspectives and the “flyover” feature which views a location as if you were in an aircraft.

 Not the Perfect Time for a Phone Call?  The iOS 6 update gives you options.

  • Ignore the call, but reply to the incoming call with a quick text message.
  • Ignore the call, but set a reminder about the call later.
  • In class, a meeting or movie? Set the “Do Not Disturb” option. It will block incoming calls but receive texts and alerts.

 

Passbook.

Keep electronic versions of admission tickets, boarding passes, reward cards and coupons in one location. Live data updates alert you when there is a flight delay or rain date. Radar lets you know your favorite store is nearby. Pretty handy, right?

Email.

Finally, you can instantly add photos to your email. You can also have multiple email signatures and use the VIP option to receive alerts when emails arrive from select contacts (ie: Your Boss!).

 

Other Noteworthy Changes:

  • Facebook has a closer harmonization in iOS 6. Facebook pictures, calendars, events and birthdays will be synced seamlessly. You’ll even be able to “Like” an app or song in the App Store.
  • WiFi is no longer a mandatory element for FaceTime – it is now 3G capable.
  • Safari: iCloud synchronization enables you to save tabs, cache pages and access an offline reading list without web connection.  You’ll also be able to use Safari in landscape mode.
  • Updated language support for 15 countries, now including Canadian French, Italian, Korean, Mandrin and Cantonese.
  • Restructured App Store lets you save your browsing where you left off and access your history.
  • There is much, much more to come. Approximately 200 features all together.

 

Arriving this fall, the iOS 6 updates pertain to specific Apple devices:

  • iPod Touch 4th generation
  • iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4s
  • iPad 2 and iPad 3

 

The annual Worldwide Developer’s Conference is June 11th – 15th. Stay tuned for more updates!

Do you own an Apple device?  What do you think of the new iOS 6 software update?

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Mac OS X Mountain Lion: What You Need to Know

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Almost all of the Trending Topics on Twitter right now are related to Apple, and it doesn’t even have anything to do with the highly anticipated iPad 3. Today, the developer preview of a new operating system went live and people are loving it.

The operating system is Mac OS X version 10.8, aka Mountain Lion, and will be released in Summer 2012. I personally thought the last update, Mac OS X Lion, introduced some big changes, but they are nothing compared to what Mountain Lion will bring. If I had to describe the update with one word (aside from the word awesome), it would be this: iOS.

Apple’s website describes Mountain Lion as “Inspired by iPad. Re-imagined for Mac.” Given the wild success of the iPad, and the way mobile devices have changed our technology experiences, it makes perfect sense. This update will strengthen the relationship between Mac OS and iOS, and Apple device users will have a much more unified experience.

Here are some of the features we can look forward to with OS X Mountain Lion:

  • iChat will be replaced by Messages – The new chat system will be more like iMessage than Mac’s old iChat. You can send unlimited messages to anyone on a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. You can also continue your conversations on any of your iOS devices. But don’t worry, you can still instant message. Messages will also support IM services such as AIM, Jabber, Google Talk, and Yahoo! Messenger. Want to try it? You can actually download the Beta version of Messages now.
  • Reminders – The list-making tool Reminders will be making its debut on Mac OS, minus the GPS support. Make as many lists as you want on your computer, add due dates and receive alerts as those dates approach. If you need to leave your computer, don’t worry because with iCloud it will all sync to your other iCloud-enabled devices.
  • Notes- Jotting down notes will be a lot easier with this new hybrid between the old Stickies app and the Notes feature within the Mail app. You’ll be able to add photos and attachments to them, share them via Mail or Messages, and pin important notes to your desktop. Notes also syncs with your other devices with iCloud.
  • Notification Center – Yes! You will be able to receive notifications via the Notification Center instead of annoying bouncing icons in the dock. You can customize which app notifications you want to receive, and they appear as unobtrusive banners that quickly disappear. Swipe to the left and view an ordered list of your recent notifications.
  • Game Center – Macs will finally have Game Center! Sign-in with your Apple ID and start playing against users on other Macs as well as iOS devices.
  • Sharing – Similar to how Twitter is integrated into iOS 5, you can tweet from any standard OS X app such as Photo Booth, iPhoto, or Safari with the new Tweet Sheet. Twitter notifications will even show up in the Notification Center! Other Share Sheets will allow you to share from more apps to more places, such as Flickr or Vimeo.
  • AirPlay Mirroring – If you have an Apple TV, AirPlay Mirroring streams what’s on your Mac to an HDTV.
  • Gatekeeper – Gatekeeper is a new security feature that can prevent you from downloading potentially dangerous software. You can change settings so that you can only download software from the Mac App Store, or from developers with Apple Developer IDs.

Learn out more about Mountain Lion and see it in action in Apple’s sneak peek video or Mashable’s photo gallery. Are you as excited as I am about the update? If you plan on downloading Mountain Lion when it comes out, what are you most looking forward to?

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Let’s Talk iPhone–A Quick Recap

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

Today was Apple’s “Let’s Talk iPhone” event at their Cupertino campus, where they announced new versions of the iPod Nano and iPod Touch, announced the release date of iOS5 and iCloud, and unveiled the highly-anticipated new iPhone, the iPhone 4S. Here is everything you need to know!

iPod Nano

  • Inspired by the Nano accessories that let you wear your Nano like a watch around your wrist, Apple has added a number of clock interfaces
  • Larger screen icons for easier navigating
  • Built-in accelerometer to make tracking fitness easier
  • Comes in 7 colors, available now
  • Price: $129 for 8GB, $149 for 16GB

iPod Touch

  • Will be available in black or white
  • Runs on iOS 5, meaning it will have Game Center and iMessage (free text messaging, anyone?)
  • Supports iCloud
  • Price: $199 for 8GB, $299 for 32GB, $399 for 64GB
  • Available: October 12

iOS 5

  • Improved notification system
  • Location-based reminders
  • iMessage, a device-to-device messaging system
  • Twitter integration
  • Improved Camera app
  • New greeting card app
  • Price: free to download!
  • Available: October 12

iCloud

  • Find My Friends app for location sharing
  • Find My iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch/Mac–locate your missing Apple device by signing in to icloud.com
  • Available: October 12

iPhone 4S

  • Looks just like the iPhone 4
  • Much better camera than the iPhone 4
  • Uses Apple’s A5 chip, increasing speeds
  • HD video recording
  • Airplay: wirelessly stream content from your phone to your HDTV
  • Coming to Sprint
  • Siri voice assistant
  • Comes in black and white
  • Available: for pre-order on October 7, for purchase on October 14 at 8 a.m.
  • Price (with 2 year contract): $199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB, $399 for 64GB

Are you going to be buying an iPhone 4S? Which of Apple’s many announcements are you most excited about?

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Apple iPad 2: New Improvements

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011

The moment we’ve all been waiting for has arrived – March 2, 2011. The unveiling of the iPad 2 was this morning in San Fransisco and now it’s time to hear if the predictions came true.

The new iPad 2 still has a 9.7-inch screen, but is 33 percent slimmer (thinner than the iPhone 4) and weighs 0.2 pounds less than the original.

With a slightly updated operating system, iOS 4.3, and an upgrade from Apple’s A4 CPU (currently used in the iPhone, iPad, and iTouch) to A5 CPU, the hand-held device has nine-times the graphic power and double the overall performance with a remaining ten-hour battery life. Users will be given the option to choose between AT&T and Verizon Wireless carriers.

The iPad 2 comes equipped with the hugely anticipated, front- and rear- facing cameras that will allow for FaceTime video calling. Photo Booth, a new app designed for the iPad, offers images to be capture in 720-pixel resolution. Apple will also offer an updated version of iMovie for video editing.

What we didn’t expect to see is that you can now enjoy your iPad 2 in either a black or white model. The price was expected to decrease, but the conference today confirmed that the starting price will remain at $499.

Now that you’ve just shelled out the money for the latest technology, you need to protect it. But don’t worry because Apple created a custom case that can be folded into a stand or magnetically attached to the display. A polyurethane version can be purchased for $39 and the leather case goes for $69. Removing the case wakes up the iPad and closing it instantly puts it to sleep.

Can’t wait to get your hands on the new iPad 2 and all of its improvements? Luckily, the wait is short as it goes on the market March 11, 2011.

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Apple’s iOS 4.2: iPad Redefined

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

The moment Apple users have been waiting for—the highly anticipated iOS 4.2 mobile software upgrade finally hit the iPad Monday. Some are calling it a ‘milestone update for iPads and iPhones’. This roll out addresses most of the hang ups iPad users have faced since inception, now offering:

  • Multitasking– ability to switch between multiple apps, while preserving iPad’s battery life
  • Folders– capable of organizing apps by drag-and-drop
  • Unified Inbox– fast inbox switching and a threaded message view
  • Game Center- play friends or be matched with new opponents, showcase scores and achievements, and discover new games their friends are playing
  • AirPlay- new feature for streaming music, video and photos wirelessly from iPad, iPhone and iPod touch to Apply TV. Also will be able to use AirPort Express and AirPlay to stream wirelessly to any stereo or powered speakers, or directly to AirPlay- (speakers coming to market in upcoming months).
  • AirPrint– Wi-Fi print that simplifies printing by completely eliminating printer drivers. The first to support printing direct from iOS devices include: HP Photosmart, HP LaserJet Pro and HP Officejet

The Find My iPad (or iPhone) feature, once only available for $99-a-year fee–is now free to use without a MobileMe subscription. The Find My iPhone app can be downloaded free at the App Store, letting users locate a missing device on a map and have it display a message or play a sound. Users can remotely lock or wipe data from a lost device to protect privacy.

“iOS 4.2 makes the iPad a completely new product, just in time for the holiday season,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Once again, the iPad with iOS 4.2 will define the target that other tablets will aspire to, but very few, if any, will ever be able to hit.”

Although a few kinks still need to be worked out, I think we can chalk this up as a W for Apple, giving web browsing a convenient look and feel with even more options. Companies such as Apple are changing how people communicate every day–bending technology trends and transplanting advertising budgets to the Web, solidifying the internet as the place to interact and be seen.

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