Redbox DVD Rental Integrates with Convenient Mobile Solution

Did you know that the Redbox $1 DVD rental kiosks in front of your Grocery Store (You know, the one next to the other Green Coinstar kiosk) is actually owned by Coinstar?  Did you also know that Redbox DVD rental service has evolved to a point where you can identify the location of a movie in a nearby Redbox and even reserve them online so that you can pick it up on your way home or to the Grocery store?

What is even more impressive is its mobile-app integration allowing customers to find a title by location and reserve and pay for it via mobile on the go.  Redbox App is now available on Android devices and iPhone giving customers access to real-time inventory to over 26,000+ Redbox locations.  The company took a basic kiosk-based solution and have taken it to new heights with a very strong internet/mobile integration.  It makes total sense and just seems like the smart thing to do.  Kudos to Coinstar!

PS. Last bit of fact, Did you know Redbox DVD rental takes coupons? You can sometimes find them on coupon sites for a free rental code.

Google Shopper App

I played around with Google's newly released Shopper App on my NEXUS One today and have to say that Google is serioius when they say they are going after the product search/mobile shopping arena. The visual search is super fast, simply hover it over any CD, DVD or Book cover (even with a shaky hand) and it will retrieve the info of said item within 2 seconds. I took the opportunity to play with the voice search and was very pleased with how accurate the search query was translated and resultsa re displayed. Overall, the app itself doesn't do things that existing UPC or image scan apps already can do and I was a little disappointed that Google didn't roll out the ability to scan product images and search (safe bet to assume it will due in time); I'm putting money on that Google has big plans for this app as it will soon tie it up with all of its existing sevices to make product search tie to your Gmail, Calendar, YouTube accounts and more.

The mere fact that Google engineers know how to produce a high quality application isn't so shocking. The underlying significance here is that Google has been leveraging its Android OS Marketplace to attract mobile app ideas (developers flocked to Android because they resent Apple's way of running their app store); but as Google sits back and identifies an area for growth, it will enter the game and become a player with an unfair advantage against those app developers who came up with the idea in the first place. Given the way they've entered the hardware handset game (NEXUS One), the pattern is now clear.

eBay goes hardcore with mobile initiatives

eBay, not satisfied with its $500M sales via its iPhone app and mCommerce website, is now going to launch a second application for deal hunters. eBay Deals, is a vertical app that is customizable by users to find the best deals from eBay up to 8 categories. According to Internet Retailer, most advanced mCommerce players are launching a second "vertical" apps to help drive sales or special promotion but often will end the 2nd app once the promotion is over. eBay Deals is going to be a permanent solution which tells me two things: 1). eBay's mobile commerce effort to date has been lucrative, profitable and they see huge potential and 2). eBay has got a full team of mobile experts lined up to help maintain its increased intiative. Source: Internet Retailer

Google Mobile Team Keeps on Rolling

Once in a while, when I remember, I'll stop by the official Google Mobile blog for a much needed update on what is the latest feature(s) Google is putting out for the mobile space. Lo and behold, each and every time visit the blog, I find a grip load of new features making smartphones smarter. Here are some recent recaps:

• A Crazy-ass setup of Moto Droid farm powering Voice Search at Time Square
• Movie Trailers in addition to show times and theater locations
• New and improved Google Web Apps (Gmail, Latitude, News, etc...)
• Google Maps w/ Voice Guided Navi for Android 1.6 OS (plus amazing Map overlays)
  
• A Bad-ass Google Earth iPhone Application Makeover

and lots more...

Hilton Creates Unique Mobile Experience for Travelers

After seeing a surge in mobile bookings, the Hilton Hotel chains have decided to step up it's mobile initiative via iPhone and iPod Touch apps. The new app will give users added flexibility to add/modify/cancel reservations, order a room service, e checkin, lookup hotels
redeem/check points and lots more...

I love it when different industries think outside the box and utilizes mobile platform to connect with it's customers. I will be looking forward to my next stay at one of the seven Hilton Hotels
participating in the initial app launch. (Conrad, Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites and Hampton Inn.)

Written from my iPhone

OpenTable Seats 1 Million Mobile Reservations!

Wow, the folks at OpenTable must have hit it off big with their mobile initiative. I've been told that they've been able to seat 1 million mobile reservations through mobile web, iPhone/Palm/BlackBerry/Android applications. Based on an average check of $50 per meal, we can back that number into $50M for the 11,000 restaurants who participate in the OpenTable network. Impressive!

Concertimatic app for the Music Fanatics!

I don't usually unless they serve a very good purpose (enhancing one's mobile experience). Concertimatic caught my "ears" because it is pretty darn cool. This iPhone/iPod Touch app (app store link $0.99) can scan your iTunes library and tell you when the upcoming events for your favorite musician will be based on your location (or designated zip code). There is something about taking a static information and pull up live/real time information to enrich your mobile lifestyle. I think this app is pretty creative and should not be left home without for all music lovers!

Palm OS Apps 50% Off

Those of you still using the classic Palm OS on your Treos, Handmark has a little treat for you. Take 50% off on Palm OS applications and games when you use promo code palm50 at checkout. You can buy your apps with this 50% off offer at Handmark.com or PocketExpress.com.

Barnes and Noble Free eReader + 6 eBooks

Its totally free, an eReader and 6 eBooks just for signing up an account for your iPhone. BlackBerry (4 free books), Mac (sorry no free ebooks) or PC (6 free ebooks).
Taken from BN.com:

The B&N eReader comes with two free Classics: * The Last of the Mohicans * Sense and Sensibility Sign in or create a B&N.com account and you'll also get these FREE titles waiting for you in your Online Library: * Dracula * Pride and Prejudice * Little Women * Merriam-Webster's Pocket Dictionary

Book: Android Wireless Application Development

Couple weeks ago, I made a bold statement to which I believe Google's Android will ultimately win out the mobile OS war; I still believe that statement which is why I think this book will help anyone who agrees with me to get a head start. Android Wireless Application Development is dubbed as "the start-to-finish guide to Android development–from concept to market!" Sounds like just the book to help anyone to get their hands wrapped around the hottest new mobile apps marketplace. The book is to be released tomorrow (8/27/2009) and retails for $45 ($30 shipped on Amazon).

The excerpt from Publisher:

Android Wireless Application Development combines all the reliable information, sample code, and best practices you need to build, distribute, and market successful Android mobile applications. Drawing on their extensive experience with mobile and wireless development, Shane Conder and Lauren Darcey cover everything you need to execute a successful Android project: from concept and design through coding, testing, packaging, and delivery.

Conder and Darcey explain how mobile development differs from conventional development, how Android differs from other mobile platforms, and how to take full advantage of Android’s unique features and capabilities. They present detailed, code-rich coverage of Android’s most important APIs, expert techniques for organizing development teams and managing Android projects, and dozens of time-saving tricks and pitfalls to avoid.

Free NYC Subway Map iPhone / iPod Touch Apps

When the iPhone app store first arrived on the scene, I remember spending $2.99 for an Official NYC Subway Transit map application on my wife's iPhone. This is a necessity because as soon as you go below ground level, you'd lose all cell phone signal so you need a map that is already loaded on your handset. I was too stingy to pay it twice for my iPhone so I had been searching for some work around solution. For smartphones that support saving PDF files or image files w/o supressing its quality this is a no brainer. To make a long story short, I failed to find an iPhone work around w/o exhaustive effort; for the most part, iPhone's default ability to supress image quality pretty much ruins every detailed map I created. The only work around requires this clever "album" where each image becomes tiles of the five borough.

Recently, my buddy Dan introduced two applications which worked great, and both are FREE of charge!

The applications are: NYC Subway Map (by Gotham Wave Games) and NYC Subway Map KICKMAP (by KICK Design). In my opinion, both applications features a more intuitive map than the NY Transit maps which can help tourists understand the difference between local and express stops better. While other paid maps may offer fancy things such as service advisory or a time table, these two maps serves the basic purpose of showing you the stops. I am quite pleased with these two applications. While I find the map load time during scrolling (going from blurry state to clear) a bit slow, it sure beats not having a map on my iPhone. I wish they would draw up a NYC bus map that overlays the subway map so I have the option to review the closest bus stop for connecting a commute.

Overall, these apps are fabulous and they simply worked as well as provided a solution of not having access to data network underground. It sure beats having to make my way over inside a subway cart and ask people to move out of the way to read the small map hanging on the wall.

Mobile Web+iPhone+BlackBerry+Android=AMAZON Rocks!

Mobile Website + iPhone App + BlackBerry App + Android App = Amazon is probably the best eCommerce/mCommerce player in the world. I've personally placed several orders off of my iPhone Amazon App and I am just that impressed with their effort in rolling out an almost complete mobile shopping experience. I am willing to bet they are working on a Palm Pre app right now and maybe, just maybe, the Symbian and WM folks might just have a shot, until then, there is always the Mobile Web!

Review: Google Voice

There has been quite a bit of buzz lately about Google’s latest communication product, dubbed Google Voice. This handy little web application is obviously stirring up some emotions between Google, Apple and AT&T. It even got the attention of FCC to muddle the water. So what is Google Voice? For one, it is the evolution of a product once called Google Grand Central. I vaguely remember signing up to Google Grand Central account couple of years ago and shortly after it was closed to the public. After polishing Grand Central for some time, Google re-released it as Google Voice; again it’s limited to few beta invitees and legacy Grand Central enrollees only.

Google Voice’s main function is to be the hub of all your telephony needs. By assigning one new phone number to you, you can use Google Voice to manage all aspects of your communication needs (screening calls, block calls, call-forwarding, voicemail, SMS, visual voicemail, text transcript voicemail, cheap long distance dialing, conference calls and lots more). By creating a “Gmail” like UI, Google Voice opens up another dimension to the good ole’ phone number and allows you to be in full control of your calls with your keyboard and mouse. If you already have a well-organized Gmail account, the contacts/address book plugs in nicely as well.

The biggest convenience to Google Voice probably having one web-based application (for remote access) for all of your communications needs. Having a voicemail emailed via text to you can be really handy (for now, transcribing is English only, when I tested Spanish, Chinese and Japanese, it just made out some funny English terms). Having a screen to capture your voicemail and SMS is also handy. Setting up the account wasn’t difficult but it did take some time to make sense of it all. Once you have the account configured, things work pretty flawlessly. I tested some of its features like placing a call, VM, and SMS which all worked as promised.

Google Voice for Mobile
While Google Voice application for iPhone was mysteriously rejected by ___ (insert: AT&T or Apple), they have made a good effort in delivering a solid mobile experience to users. For starters, if you own an Android phone or BlackBerry, the good news is you have a native application to use which includes cool VOIP dialer functionality. For the rest of us (WM, Pre, iPhone folks), we can still access a mobile website at Google.com/voice/m and get majority of the functions. Stay tuned for followup blog entries on Google Voice for Android and BlackBerry phones.

OpenTable.com Mobile Experience

OpenTable.com, the popular web-based restaurant reservation service is totally mobile ready. In addition to already having a mobile optimized website (http://m.opentable.com)and a free iPhone application, they are launching an app for your shiny new Palm Pre. This new Palm Pre app can be downloded over air (which is a welcome addition to the currently meager catalog) will also feature GPS/Location based service to tell you the nearest table sourround you. Next time you are hungry, simply pull up your smartphone and give OpenTable.com a shot. For the Android and WinMo guys, stay tuned here to be notified if they will ever release a native mobile app for you!

Palm Pre 3rd Party Apps Folks Staying Busy!

Palm Pre has been out and about for less than 2 months and there are already two ways you can download and install 3rd party applications right onto your device (hint: unsanctioned by Palm). Method 1 is more traditional which requires you to download an application to your PC, Mac or Linux desktop for a drag and drop install onto your Pre; method 2 goes as far as a straight download and install right from your handset. This reminds me of the days when jailbroken 3rd party apps were the hottness on the iPhone community. More info here.

Source: Engadget

Torrents and Mobile Experience

I came across an application called ScanTorrent from AndroidandMe.com, this nifty little application resides on Android-based phones and allows you to search for any torrents (via text search, barcode scan, etc...) and remotely activate the download on the go.

Mobile Experience and the Sport of Golf

Lately, I've been bitten by the Golf bug again. I was really into this sport years back when I lived in the Golden State. This time around, I am surprised to find how this sport has advanced with technology, especially with the gadget market. The biggest gadget for this market must be the GPS-based rangefinders. Lots of hardware makers offer a dedicated GPS units with preloaded course maps to help you determine the distance between your ball and the flag. Big GPS players such as Garmin even has a serious go at this market as well.

I was more interested in the mobile applications for Golf enthuaists since most new smartphones now come with GPS already. So I took a look around the Apple App store and was able to quickly find a handful of Golf Range applications. The price range went from FREE to $34.99. Most of them will offer some form of course map (using Google Maps or else) and provide your distance to the flag. This is very cool for two reasons: 1). You can't beat the price, even for the most expensive application, its still a fraction of what you'd pay for a dedicated device and 2). You'd already have your iPhone 3G with you and you can avoid having to carry another dedicated GPS device.

For those interested, log on to the App store and search for "Golf GPS" and start to enjoy your game.

Affiliates and Coupon Sites Invade Mobile Experience

Recently, I shared a story where I placed an order via mobile using Amazon.com app and what a great mobile experience that was. With mobile users in mind, the folks at FreeShipping.org, a popular affiliate marketing publisher has decided launch an iPhone app to provide free shipping and discount coupons to all popular online retailers. As an online marketer by trade, it was nice to see my 8-5 job's affiliate marketing codes on the "FreeShipping" app. Whether an online retailer is ready or not, the mobile commerce is happening and cool apps like "FreeShipping" will take the eCommerce eco-system to mobile.

The "FreeShipping" iPhone app is the second app this company has produced. Their first app launched is called "Coupon Sherpa" (couponsherpa.com) which is catered towards accessing printed coupons for brick and mortar stores. Already an iTunes staff favorite, "Coupon Sherpa" is also providing great mobile experience for users. I can't think of how many times when I walk into a brick and mortar store wanting to buy something only wishing I had printed out the 30% off friends and family coupons that I saw on my favorite affiliate marketing websites. With this app, you can easily retrieve the coupon on your iPhone and show it to the store clerk.

Both apps are great compliments to each other and as for me, it becomes another great mobile experience addition!

Mobile App: Toilet Paper Edition

Okay, normally I'd chuck this over to my pal at KRAPPS.com but this one is just too interesting to pass up. Greenpeace has put its popular toilet paper guideline onto iPhone and Android mobile apps. In short, they have 3 criteria which makes selected toilet papers "green" with recycled content that are non-toxic to the environment. Read on to find out how you can take a crap next time and be more green to the environment at the same time.

[Read] [Press Release]

Jailbroken iPhone NES Emulator: RAD!

I feel adventourous tonight. Trying new things left and right. Check out what I've been playing all night: NES Emulator of my favorite NES game of all times: Battle City!