Social Networking
There are lots of Apps that let you make calls from your iDevices. For example, with the Skype App you can make Skype-to-Skype calls for FREE and even call regular numbers (landline and cell) by using low cost Skype credits. However, this is the first time I've seen an App that lets you call any number in the US or Canada for FREE! Zip, zilch, completely free. The folks over at MagicJack that make the low cost accessory that lets you make very inexpensive calls all year long for a low flat price of $19.95-$29.95/year (depending on how many months/years you buy at once). The accessory requires you to use it with your computer and optionally a regular telephone. However, with the MagicJack App all you need is your iPad, iPod touch or iPhone and you can make all the calls you want for FREE. You of course will need either a WiFi or 3G connection to make/receive calls, but this means that it's not restricted to iPhones. You can just as easily make/receive calls using your WiFi enabled iPad or iPod touch.
How does it work?
Once you have the App installed and you setup/log in to your "optional" Free account you're ready to either direct dial any US/Canada number or dial any of your contacts. The call quality is surprisingly good. Making calls is easy! However, receiving calls is a little more challenging. In order to receive calls you do need the Free account and they will assign you a Free MagicJack phone number. This is where it's a little more challenging as your MagicJack number is not a standard phone number it's a number that looks like this: *0123456789* including the "*" on both ends. This is the number that identifies you on the MagicJack system and you can call another MagicJack user using their special number. If you want someone to call you from any other phone then they will need to first dial an access number like this one: 1-305-848-8255. Once they dial the access number they'll be prompted to enter the MagicJack number that you want to reach. I tested this by calling the access number/my MagicJack number from my iPhone and my iPad rang. Cool!
While the App works fine on iPad, it's not a universal App and therefore you'll see it in the standard iPhone size. Not sure if that's really a big deal since in most cases you're just using a keypad. However, I do have to give a it a slight ding for not being a universal App.
The Bottom Line
It's hard to go wrong with FREE! Not sure how long this will last, but it's definitely an App worth installing if you're on any kind of limited minute plan or you want to make calls from a non-iPhone iDevice. You could perhaps use MagicJack for your personal calls instead of your 'business iPhone line". Do us a favor though and use a headset to keep the call private 
You can get the MagicJack App for Free here from the 
Truth to be told, I haven’t been a very active IM user on my iPhone or iPad. This is partly because the apps have been rather ugly and that it drains battery life a lot and fast. Plus, it just hasn’t been that useful. A while ago I found Verbs, an application that is just gorgeous and since I’m a sucker for beautiful apps, I downloaded it.
The interface is as said really beautiful. It takes the iOS style and uses it all the way but with a different color scheme which looks slick, modern and clean all around. There is really not much more to say about the Verbs UI design. Well done designers.
Functionality-wise, it supports a few types of IM networks, specifically Google Talk, AIM, MobileMe (now iCloud) and Facebook. If you are an MSN user or wants it to support Skype chat, you are out of luck. However, using either of the above networks, you get a nice app. You can easily select contacts from your buddy list, see their status and chat with them. Switching between multiple windows can be done by going to a window overview mode, or by simply swiping back and forth between the screens.
If you get the $0.99 version there are a few things that you will not get. These are available through an in-app purchase and enables Push Notifications, persistent connections (keeping you logged in for 7 days) and also saves battery life by routing accounts through one internet connection. If you use IM a lot, you definitely want to consider getting the Pro version for an additional $4.99, which I still think is an excellent value. Even with just the $0.99 version, you get an app which functions well and is gorgeous.
It's pretty easy to find Twitter and Facebook integration just about everywhere. iOS 5 even has Twitter integration built-in and I don't think there's a social media friendly App out there that can't post to both of these main stream social networks. However, there's a fairly big new kid on the block called Google+. Google+ started out as kind of a private/public beta. You could only get in if someone that was already in invited you. Now it's open to the public and its numbers are rising. I have almost as many Google+ followers (over 13,000) as I have Twitter followers and that's pretty impressive since the site has only been open to the public for a short time. With so many people now on Google+ I want to be able to post status updates to all 3 networks. Sadly there are very few options for going straight to Google+
iStatus+ does all three
There is an App that can post status updates to all three social networks at the same time. iStatus+ has a simple interface that allows you to log in to all three networks (and stay logged in). Once you log in you can pick and choose which of the networks to post to or do all three at once. It has native Google+ support in that it even brings up your Circles to choose from before you post.
This is GREAT, but there is one major thing missing. While it's great to be able to post to all three at the same time, I'd also like to be able to post the same photo to all three at once. iStatus+ currently only does text. There's no photo posting to any of the networks from this App. Granted it would be a little more challenging to post photos to Facebook and Google+ because you'd have to have Album support, but it can't be impossible. The only other thing I'd like to see is the ability to post a status update to a Facebook Page. Currently the App can only post to your Wall. It would also be great to have a native iPad version.
Other than that it works as advertised and is the first App that I've seen that can do all three networks.
You can get iStatus+ for $0.99 here from the
It is here. After a long time coming, Facebook has finally released their native iPad app which comes as a universal bundle. If you are not familiar with the terms, this means that the current iPhone app is now updated to allow support for iPad. Just check for updates in iTunes and version 4.0 will include the iPad app and the updated iPhone app in one. Although there is a lot that has changed in the iPhone app, I’m focusing on the iPad app today.
Interface
While using a browser and the normal Facebook version has been OK, the interface of the new iPad app far exceeds what you previously have been able to get using any official or third-party solution. They have clearly spent a considerable amount of thinking when designing the interface because it looks gorgeous and functions really well. Facebook has always put out great interfaces on their mobile apps at launch but then been far to slow to update the app afterwards. Glad to see they are not disappointing when it comes to the interface. We’ll just have to wait and see about the updates, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
It Lacks Features…
First thing’s first. There are some good things. It has become very easy to access your different pages and groups from a nice navigation menu that slides out when you swipe your finger across the screen. Additionally, accessing photos as well as games has become very easy, something Facebook themselves are touting with this app. Unfortunately, the app clearly lacks features! As an example there is no sharing from the iPad app, only commenting and liking. There are other small features here and there that makes the iPad app (and the iPhone app too since it looks and functions the same) just a dumbed down version (albeit good-looking) of the website. It is unfortunate that they have decided to leave just a little bit out, instead of adding it too. After all, we are talking features that Facebook are highlighting well on the main site.
Conclusion
Facebook has come out with a great app and there is no reason not to get it and play with it. It far exceeds any other option in terms of looks and apart from opening the Facebook site in your browser, it beats the other options in functionality. It would be great if they tried to match the features found in the iPad app and on the site, especially given how many use the iPad as their “main Facebooking device”.
When I last year penned the review for Gowalla 3.0 I really liked the changes and the considerable update to the interface. Back then, it felt like it was a major upgrade to the whole platform. Well, this time around they are going further at Gowalla, releasing both the 4.0 version of the app and their website itself and there are a lot of news.
Interface Update
This is an update that once again features a re-design of the entire app interface. With the shift that Gowalla is making to become more of an experience network, helping you to see and find new things in new cities, this was certainly necessary. As much as the interface is stylish and visually beautiful, they are making it much harder for me to just check in somewhere and use Gowalla as I have always used it: Sharing where I am if it is important across my social networks.
Guides
Gowalla has introduced city guides for a lot of cities in the world (don’t just think New York and San Francisco, yours is probably there). These guides basically contain a list of spots that they suggest that you go to. My guess is that this list is based, apart from the featured spots, on frequent check-ins by Gowalla users. The next time I go to visit a new city on vacation or have a few hours to spare when somewhere on business, I am sure to give Gowalla a chance to see how well it works to experience something new based on the spots that they suggest in the city guide and the already present lists.
Conclusion
I am torn. Part of me really likes the new Gowalla while the other part of me just don’t get it. I have a hard time with the fact that they have made it harder for me to check in to a spot, add a comment and share with friends on Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare. Instead, the focus on their new stories, while good for the site in general, just takes too much away from me personally. It’s a free update and you should update regardless of what I (or you) think about it since it also contains bug fixes and general improvements as all updates do. If you don’t like the new version, there is always the option of switching to Foursquare instead.
Facebook already has an iOS App called "Facebook". When I saw that they had come out with a separate Facebook Messenger app dedicated to sending messages to other Facebook users, I like many of you thought – why didn't they just build these new features into their existing App? That question remains unanswered, so let's take a look at the "new" Facebook Messenger App and what it does offer…
What's it for?
The Facebook Messenger App is designed to give Facebook users the ability to send messages to other Facebook users. Doesn't the Facebook App already do this? Yes, but the new Messenger App does a few things that the regular Facebook App doesn't. First of all and probably most important to me is that you can send pictures via this App to other Facebook users and they will see the photos whether they are using this App or simply logged into Facebook on their computers. Also with Messenger can not only send messages to other FB users, but any of your other contacts cell phones. This easily lets you skirt around any SMS limits you may have on your current cellphone plan. With messenger you can include your current location as well. This is especially helpful when trying to meet up with friends. Messenger does push notifications to let you know when you've received an incoming message.
What's missing?
While Messenger does what it does well, it has a couple of glaring omissions. The biggest one is that you can't see who is online right now and who isn't. The second one that I find really odd is that while the App does support landscape view, you can only compose new messages in portrait view. This will be a pain for two thumb messengers. Lastly and probably the most glaring omission is that like the existing Facebook App there is no native iPad version.
The Bottom Line
While I didn't really need a separate messaging App for Facebook, I will keep this one because it does things that the regular Facebook App doesn't do. I'm also fine with having a separate specialized App that's lean and fast, but i really don't see why these features couldn't have been added to the existing App and for God's sake please get the iPad versions out!
You can get Facebook Messenger for Free here from the
Bruce's antlers are actually being dynamically displayed with the software that came with his Logitech webcam.
FaceTime is great, but Skype is more prevalent. I would use FaceTime more if it worked over 3G. This is why I'm glad to see a native Skype App come to iPad. Skype calls are not just limited to iOS Devices. The call you see taking place above is between me and my buddy Bruce Mandel. I'm on my iPad 2 and he's on his desktop PC in his office. That's the real beauty of a solution like this. It's more universal!
How well does it work?
I downloaded the App, logged in with my existing Skype ID and my contacts came up. I was able to see who was online and who wasn't. I was able to initiate free Skype-to-Skype video calls with the tap of a finger. I could also use my Skype credits to call regular phone numbers. Again, this will be extremely more useful to me than FaceTime especially when traveling abroad. The call quality for both voice and video was good. Bruce said that I had about a 2 second lag in my video to my voice. His was perfectly in sync. I would probably attribute that to my slower upload speed where I am. Although there was a lag, the overall experience was very good. I placed a phone call to a regular landline and the call quality was excellent!
The only other minor issue was that when I initiated the video call with the iPad in landscape orientation the person I was calling said that my video was sideways. Rotating the iPad up and back again fixed it. This happened with two different callers.
If you don't have a front facing camera on your iOS device you can still receive Skype video from the other caller.
You can get Skype for iPad for Free here from the
The one thing I keep hearing the most about Google's NEW Google+ Social Networking site is that it's a nice cross between Facebook and Twitter. It would be as if you sat down and looked at both Facebook & Twitter and then cherry picked some of the best features of each in an attempt to create the next big thing. I've been dabbling with Google+ for a about a week now and I'm startting to know my way around it. Of course no social networking site will be successful without embracing all the popular mobile platforms out there. Google is not stupid. Although they make a competing mobile operating system (Android), they know that in order for Google+ to be a success that they must also support iOS.
Google+ for iPhone offers the basics that you would expect
With the Google+ iPhone App I can post status updates, check ins, pictures and see the streams of my friends/circles. It also offers the quick messaging feature of Google+ called "huddles". Like Google+ itself the interface of the Google+ for iPhone app is clean and to the point. You can tap one of the 5 buttons on the home screen and get to just about anywhere in Google+. I can't think of really too many things I'd want them to add to the App. However, that's only because the App currently is limited by what you can and can't do on Google+ itself. With that said, there are a few things I'd like to see added to Google+ itself and of course I'd like to see the App evolve as the service does.
There is one thing that leaves me scratching my head
The only issue I ran into is that for some reason the App would not show up to install on my iPad. I knew that it wasn't a native iPad App, however most non-phone related Apps run just fine on the iPad. After doing some digging I found that this is not just an iPad problem. Currently the App doesn't work on the iPod touch either??????!!!!! Huh? That's right! Google+ for iPhone only works on the iPhone. I can't think of a single reason for this restriction. I'm hoping to see this little (OK, freakin' big) problem solved soon. Otherwise if you're iPhone user you can start playing today.
You can get Google+ for iPhone for Free here from the
You can add me to your Google+ Circles here.
Last week one of my friends asked me if there was a way to stream her friend's Facebook photos to her TV. The first thing that came to mind was Apple TV. However, I quickly realized that Apple TV is limited to Flickr and MobileMe. When I thought about it, it was actually quite shocking to think that Apple TV doesn't natively support Facebook. If you think about it, Facebook is the number one way people (non-photographers) now share their photos with others online. My first search was to find a way to get Facebook photos over to Flickr automatically. There were no seamless options for this. Then I stumbled upon the fbTV App.
Stream your Facebook photos or your friend's Facebook photos to your Apple TV
fbTV is a Universal iOS App that allows you to take advantage of AirPlay in the Apple TV (2nd generation) and stream your Facebook photos to it (your TV) via your wireless network. All you have to do is download the (currently FREE) App, use it to sign in to Facebook and you will see all of your Albums as well as all of your Friend's albums (privacy settings withstanding). Pick any album you want and start streaming the photos to your Apple TV. You can either manually swipe to go from pic to pic or you can even choose to run a slideshow with music from your iOS device. When I first tried the slideshow with music I was disappointed to hear the music start playing through the iPad. Then I thought, "I wonder if…" as soon as I looked down I saw the AirPlay icon and I was able to stream the music to my stereo (a Zeppelin Air AirPlay Speaker). So Cool!
Room for improvement
While the App did work OK and as advertised there are a couple of things keeping me from rating it higher. The first thing is that there is no search feature for your Friends list. If you only have a few Facebook friends, this is not a big deal. But if you have hundreds or thousands of friends you'll be doing a lot of scrolling to get to the friends you want to see. On that same note it would be nice to have the App maintain either a "Favorites" list of Friends/Albums or even a "Recent" history list. While I'm looking at a friend's photo it would be nice to be able to download that photo to my Camera Roll or even assign it to a contact. Granted that's not the purpose of the App, but since I'm there looking at the photo, why not make it easy for me to download it instead of having to go to the website or another App to do so? The App did drop the connection to my Apple TV once, but I'm not sure if that was the fault of the App or my network. Also the App seems to crash when returning to it via fast App switching.
This App is Fun and provides you with a way to enjoy your photos or your friend's photos on the big screen! Looking forward to more updates and I'm happy that this App exists.
You can get fbTV (for Free – Limited Time) here from the
I use Twitter, but I wouldn't call myself a Twitter junkie. Therefore the official and Free Twitter App was all I really needed. I liked the user interface and it did what I wanted. However, Twitter started messing with a good thing. The first round of attacks was the NEW Trending Bar. Everyone hated it, but I really didn't care. What I cared about and saw no reason for was dropping support for bit.ly URL shortening in favor of their own. People use bit.ly for statistic tracking. Also I'm a bit.ly pro user and therefore have my own shortening domain name. That was kinda the last straw.
Moving on to Echofon Pro
If I'm going to switch clients I want to switch across the board. Therefore I want the same client for both iPhone and iPad and if it's Universal as opposed to making me pay twice it's going to score points. Also most of these clients, Echofon included, offer a free version. Although I could probably get by with another free app I'd rather not have any limitations. Echofon has the features I need right off the bat. Multiple account support, location support, bit.ly support as well as a nice layout. It has one feature that I'm quickly falling in love with and that's an "Auto Refresh". As long as you have the App open and you're on a wifi network, new tweets will automatically come in. Very cool! If you use Echofon on the desktop there's even automatic sync of unread tweets.
While Echofon gives me back the things that the Twitter App took away, there is one major thing missing and it's keeping me from giving this app a 5 star rating. There doesn't seem to be a list of recently used hash tags. Nor does there seem to be a fast way of entering them. You have to manually use the # sign buried in the regular keyboard (someone please tell me I'm missing something here). With everything else this app has I'm actually quite shocked that there isn't a native hash tag feature or if there is, it's not obvious to me. Otherwise I'm happy with the move to Echofon Pro on my iPhone and iPad.
You can follow me on Twitter here.
You can get Echofon Pro for $4.99 here from the
You can get the free version of Echofon here from the
