The SLINGSHOT is a Kickstarter project that claims to: Stabilizes smartphone video . . . and more! The testimonials would have you believe this thing works magic and is priced at merely $14. And, to their credit, this product is actually shipping. The PR firm working with the developer asked if I would like to review one. So, I’ve been playing with it for about two weeks. But, I’m still not convinced it works (despite testimonials on its Kickstarter page that indicates I’m wrong). Will play with it another week or so before writing my conclusion.
Author: todd
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In the MobileViews review queue: Slingshot phone camera stabilizer (a Kickstarter project)
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Smule/Khursh Songify for Android released: Android audio latency solved? Not so fast… (Podcast 55)
GigaOm reported on the first music app from iPhone music creation app pioneer Smule.Music app maker Smule finally gives Android some love
It references an interview discussion I had with Smule CTO Ge Wang last year (December 2011) in which he said that Smule had not released Android apps because of the platform’s audio latency problems. However, as GigaOm’s article rightly notes: Smule started with Songify because the app doesn’t have the realtime audio needs that other Smule apps do. But she said that Smule has come up with a work-around for Android’s latency problem that will be deployed in Magic Piano.
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In the MobileViews review queue: Energizer USB Chargers
OK. I admit it. I am woefully behind in reviewing a bunch of mobile accessories and hardware. It is embarrassing and, unfortunately, rude to the nice PR people who provided these items. So, the least I can do is let people who stumble upon this blog know what is in my review queue.
First up? Two products from Energizers new USB Chargers series. The first is the Energizer Dual Wall Universal USB Charger with an unusual list price of $28.56 but available for less than $12 from Amazon. The second is the Energizer 10 Watt USB Wall Charger and Cable with a list price of $24.99 but available from Amazon for less than $18. Both models have folding prongs making them potentially useful travel chargers. More later on this pair of gadget chargers.
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Apps updated for my iPhone or iPad in the past week: 39
Thirty-nine (39) apps for my iPhone or iPad were updated in the past week. Here’s a summary of the updates that I found interesting.
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A dissenting opinion: Google+ 2.0 for iPhone is awful
Everyone seems to think the recent Google+ 2.0.0 for iPhone update is the best thing since the sliced bread. I, however, have a very different opinion of the updated app: It is terrible in general and provides an especially awful experience on an iPad.
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Windows Phone app update weirdness
I have a SIM-less HTC Surround that is used to try out Windows Phone apps. It works like you would expect for a WiFi-only device for the most part. The one exception is that the Windows Market app does not update software for it as expected. In fact, until last week, no app had been updated in a couple of months. Even going to the product page in the Market app does not force updates to appear. So, imagine my surprise when I saw not just one but 23 apps ready for update recently. I haven’t seen any other updates since then even though several apps for my HD7 (which has a SIM) have been updated in the past few days. Even the HD7 does not get updates when expected, however. It sometimes gets updates a week or more after an app was reported as updated by others.