iPhone Savior

The Best Shopping Apps For iPhone 2011

We've taken some of the heavy lifting out of your holiday shopping by compiling our Top 5 Best Shopping Apps for iPhone to help you uncover amazing deals on Black Friday, Cyber Monday and beyond. With thousands of apps to choose from we hand picked five favorite freebies that are dressed to impress. Our picks are also ready to download in the Android Market as well.

TGI Black Friday (Free) - Instantly search over 10,000 Black Friday deals across stores and categories. The deals are sorted by stores, popular, newest and by product category. You can view deals, create lists, and be alerted of sale ads before they hit newspapers or shop online for items that may be available before Black Friday. [iTunes link]

TGI Cyber Monday (Free) - Scan through over 5,000 of the top Cyber Monday deals, sales, and offers from over 50 of the top retailers. This app also identifies when deals are valid and if it's an online only offer plus the "Shop Now" feature let's you get a jump on killer deals. Products are sorted by category and your customizable shopping list can be quickly emailed. Cyber Monday officially begins on November 28th. [iTunes link]

Shopkick (Free) - This app uses the GPS technology on your iPhone to pinpoint your exact location and then automatically "kicks" reward points to your phone the instant you walk into the store. Those reward points can later be redeemed for gift cards. We instantly grabbed a 15% off coupon from Macy's using Shopkick. Major retailers and restaurants are sorted based upon where you, then just click and save on the deals you want. [iTunes link]

RedLaser Barcode Scanner (Free) - Is an app that does one thing really well, it scans product barcodes and gives you a price comparison across the web. Red Laser is ideal for a comprehensive product search before you buy, as long as you get familiar with using your camera to scan products. The app lets you organize all your products to create shopping lists, wish lists or gift lists as well as accessing history for items you've already scanned. It's a must-have app for any time of year. [iTunes link]

Coupon Sherpa (Free) - Get coupons at home or while you wait in line to check out. Simply search the app for any coupons and the cashier will scan the coupon's barcode directly from your phone. Dozens of categories are listed for deals including grocery, department stores, pet stores and sporting goods to name a few. Coupon Sherpa lets you get coupons on your phone and use them right there. [iTunes link]

Several large retailers have their own iPhone apps including; WalMart, Target and Best Buy. Although these store specific apps come with their own benefits and daily deals, the Apple Store app gets an honorable mention because it has an "EasyPay" feature which lets you purchase select accessories in the store by scanning the barcode with your device and then completing your transaction right inside the app. It's an epic time saver that makes this app a must-have for Apple shoppers.

You must have an iTunes store account set up to download apps to your device. If you don't already have an account, now is the perfect time to sign up. Please suggest any shopping apps you love in comments. Good luck snatching up those deals like an iPhone pro this year.

Even Lenny Kravitz Rocks A Retro POP Phone

 

When I ran a post a few days back pimping the Moshi Moshi POP Phone designed by Native Union, I had no clue that Lenny Kravitz would become the poster child of this cult-classic handset virtually overnight.

Since its release last year, Native Union, a Hong Kong-based manufacturer, has shipped approximately 30,000 to 40,000 of the retro handsets per week. The company cites that the U.S. has quickly become its largest market, surpassing sales in China, South Korea and Hong Kong.

"When we first started, we didn't expect the kind of phenomenon," John Brunner of Native Union told USA Today. "It's picked up a cult following."

The USA Today post speculates that the spike in sales is "Driven by the soaring number of people who have canceled their landline phones and gone wireless-only, the ergonomic awkwardness of holding a notepad-shape device to the ear and concern over cellphone radiation."

Although I'm not ready to entirely agree with that summation, I will admit that the soft touch and classic design of the Moshi Moshi handset is definitely more comfortable to hold for longer iPhone calls and while talking on-the-go.

The Pop Phone has a button on the inside center for picking up calls and hanging up directly from the handset. The 3.5mm jack connects to any iDevice right out of the box. Expect to pay $29 dollars for a rainbow of color options including basic black.

While Lenny Kravitz may have lent some unplanned cool-factor to the Moshi Moshi iPhone handset, Native Union confirmed it doesn't pay Kravitz for an endorsement. Not yet at least.

[Photo credit Bauer-Griffin]

The MirrorBook Air Makes Anyone Look Like A Beauty Queen

Everyone should own a portable make-up mirror this advanced. Now everyone can. Say hello to the MirrorBook Air. It's one gift your sassy beauty queen won't return this year.

The MirrorBook Air is an adorable miniature made to resemble the lightweight design of an authentic MacBook Air without the price tag. Expect to pay $12 for the smallest MacBook on planet earth from the folks at Gizmine. Even the packaging is Mac-tastic.

Why didn't Apple think of this one? Priceless!

This Steve Jobs Bobblehead Case Has No Bobble

 

Calling this iPhone case a bobble-headed Steve Jobs when it has no bobble whatsoever is completely insane. It must be made in China... right? Whoomp there it is!

The same team that designed the highly sought after Steve Jobs figurine last year have come up with another cool limited edition design for Apple to shut down with a cease and desist order. But before they do, you can grab one of your own for $24 dollars USD.

This universal plastic iPhone 4S case is smooth to the touch with original art featuring "a cartoony, bobblehead Steve Jobs with his soul-piercing stare", according to the M.I.C. Gadget team.

Maybe next year these guys will actually make a real El Jobso bobblehead doll. Until then, just shake the case while holding it up really close to your face. That's about all the bobble you're gonna get.

One More Thing... it's noted that the thin plastic provides almost no protection from impact, so try to avoid dropping it. D'oh!

[via  M.I.C. Gadget]

Apple's New iPad 2 Commercial Tunes Into Those Things We Love

Apple began airing a new iPad 2 commercial that turns a tender spotlight onto the things we love. It's about childlike wonder and the immeasurable joy that comes from building a blanket fort in your room or even playing in The Partridge Family band.

These are real people and real actors playing the role of real people in totally real situations. It really doesn't get any more real than this. Seeing dinosaur toys and a little homemade tee pee in a perfectly low lit bedroom instantly filled my eyes with sappy man-tears as I wept openly. Now I'm a complete mess.

Thanks for helping me feel the love Apple. I guess that's why you called this iPad commercial "Love". Seriously... you guys are so good at this stuff.

[via Apple]

Facebook Phone Is Real and Her Name Is Buffy

 

AllThingsD is reporting that the long rumored Facebook phone is "finally real" and its code name is "Buffy", taken from the wildly popular television vampire slayer.

"Facebook has tapped Taiwanese cellphone maker HTC to build a smartphone that has the social network integrated at the core of its being," AllThingsD reported.

"The phone is planned to run on a modified version of Android that Facebook has tweaked heavily to deeply integrate its services, as well as to support HTML5 as a platform for applications, according to sources familiar with the project."

Buffy the iPhone slayer is still some 12 to 18 months away from hitting the market, according to the report. Facebook chose HTC as a hardware partner only recently after looking at Korea’s Samsung as another possible collaborator on the handset.

Rumors of Facebook secretly developing a mobile phone last surfaced in a report by Business Insider back in September of 2010. That rumor came to a crashing halt when Facebook spokesperson Jaime Schopflin released an official statement to Mashable, publicly denying the report.

"Buffy has been an ongoing area of concern at the social networking giant for the past two years," AllThingsD wrote, "These days, the project is led by Facebook CTO Bret Taylor, several sources said."

Does planet Earth really need a Facebook phone? Probably as much as we need a smartphone spawned by Amazon. Since the iPhone launched in 2007, it has totally flipped the mobile industry upside down, inspiring a long list of copycats while proving to be a game changer for both mobile hardware and software.

Since Google entered into the mobile phone business, it has been busy rewriting some of the rules itself with its Android operating system. It's now becoming more apparent that Amazon and Facebook intend to challenge the status quo with their own competitive offerings designed to attract a fiercely loyal customer base that's already intact.

Will little "Buffy" grow up to become a true iPhone slayer or just suck critical market share away from other Android devices? It appears Facebook may be ready to answer that question by finally putting their formidable stake in the game. Obvious pun intended.

[via AllThingsD]

Pakistan's Dirty Texting Ban Deferred By Telecoms

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority was so concerned about Pakistanis texting dirty words to eachother, they handed down a ban on over 1,600 words and phrases it has deemed as obscene.

On November 21, Pakistan's mobile operators deferred implementing the imposed ban on the so called “obscene” words from text messages‚ claiming they were seeking further clarification from the telecom authority.

Mobile carriers were issued a specific list of banned words and phrases on November 14 along with a letter giving them seven days to block the naughty words on their networks, or face legal action.

The absurd list included many common obscenities in addition to other words and phrases on the list like "floggin the dolphin", "ass clown", "boobies', "clam digger", "love pistol" and even the classic "bunghole" made popular by Beavis and Butthead in the early 1990's. Unfortunately for MTV, "butthead" also made the PTA's list of banned words.

PTA spokesperson Mohammad Younis Khan told Newsweek Pakistan that He acknowledged the “reservations” of telecoms companies and said the PTA was “ready to sort that out through mutual discussions.” That public statement came only after the ban was met with widespread scorn from telecoms operators along with their own threat of legal action.

“Obviously there are concerns and we have some reservations‚” said Omar Manzur‚ spokesman for Mobilink‚ the country’s leading telecoms operator. “This regulation will be implemented only after mutual agreement between the PTA and us. We should wait until the end of this discussion‚” Manzur told Newsweek.

A Twitter backlash broke out against the ban under hashtag #PTABannedList with a number of tweets including many of the banned words posted in direct defiance of the PTA's list. One woman, @candaceshaw summed up the fiasco perfectly with her own Tweet on Monday;

"The #PTAbannedlist is full of terms that even my perverse & irreligious imagination hadn't conceived. What a delightful, richly dirty list!"

Going forward, the PTA has plans to require mobile operators to submit a monthly report on their implementation of the ban. We intend to follow this international situation comedy as it evolves.

[Newsweek Pakistan]

I Wish Everyone Dressed Up Their iPhones In Ugly Christmas Sweaters

I can finally dress up my iPhone in a coordinated outfit for this year's Ugly Christmas Sweater party. This awfully wonderful idea is the kind of pure genius that could set off a new must-have iPhone fashion for the Holiday season. I just wish every iPhone had an ugly Christmas sweater to wear.

Expect to pay $13 for a little hand knit sweater embroidered with an essential Christmas tree motif made especially for iPhone by designer TickledPink Sheep. There are several other perfectly fugly designs to choose from including a sad Santa Sack, the lovely Lady In Red and a whimsical Candy Cane Cozy for serious iPhone fashionistas. Tender feelings of comfort and joy come free upon delivery.

   

[TickledPink Sheep via Etsy]

The Best Thanksgiving Recipes In The App Store

Our team of app nerds spent some quality time searching for the best Thanksgiving recipe apps for iPhone and iPad so you don't have to. Weather you want to brine a turkey, make a killer green bean casserole, try some new thanksgiving appetizers or find the perfect recipe for sweet potatoes, we found two apps that are simply terrific. You can be thankful for that.

Chow Thanksgiving Dinner Coach (free) is a highly rated app for both iPhone and iPad. The step-by-step recipes are easy to understand with each step contained on a separate page. Simply swipe forward or back to follow along. I prefer this intuitive reading method rather than having to scroll.

The bonus with Chow's app is the handy shopping list that makes the cooking process fool proof. You can also access Chow's website from inside the app for more recipes and excellent videos on carving your turkey or even discover tips on how to fix an undercooked turkey. The website offers a huge number of additional recipes that will help you fill in for any the app leaves out.

Thanksgiving ($.99) is the second app our team found to be an exceptional cooking resource but it's only formatted for iPad. The big win here is the amazing step-by-step videos organized by course including the printed recipes to follow along with. You can quickly download the videos direct to your iPad if you choose not to stream them. You will not find a cleaner or more well thought out iPad recipe app for a buck. Two of our favorites recipes are the no-bake Pumpkin Cheesecake and the Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese.

While Thanksgiving Recipe (Free) from FriendsEAT.com deserves an honorable mention, it's the lack of photos that makes this freebie difficult for the cooking novice to utilize. We suggest you don't download Gourmet Live either for your Thanksgiving recipes. Even though you'll find a few how-to treats like their Pear and Cranberry Cobbler, this app is more of a slick holiday magazine looking to upsell viewers with fees for the good stuff.

As you can tell, it's hard to find more than a few quality Thanksgiving recipe apps in the App Store. If there are any you would recommend please tell us why in comments. Good luck on carving that turkey, it's my favorite part of any Thanksgiving dinner other than the planned over eating session.

The Prop Is Coming To A Toasty MacBook Near You

Nicholas Pajerski and Justin Brouillette have just raised the necessary funding to deliver their ingenious laptop stand to the masses here on planet earth. This dynamic duo recently surpassed their Kickstarter goal of $18,000 dollars to take "The Prop" into production.

The Prop is a two-piece portable laptop stand made from biodegradable recycled plastic. It's designed to give proper air flow to 13 to 17-inch laptops by providing a slight lift while adding the ideal ergonomic angle for power-typing.

"We were looking for an affordable product, but we couldn't find one that was on the market and portable," Pajerski said. "You fold it up, and then you just pull it out. It's that simple. There's nothing else to it," explained Brouliette.

The goal of these two University of Nebraska Lincoln architecture students was to create something durable and portable without having to spend a lot of money like the bulky laptop stands already on the market. With the help of 549 backers on Kickstarter.com, The Prop is now ready for prime time having drawn in $19,878 with 21 hours left on fund raising efforts.

You can still jump in and grab your own Prop now for just $18 U.S. and join hundreds of other early adopters on this product. Delivery is expected sometime in December. I bought myself a Prop in order to add ventilation to my first-generation Macbook Air that's always running hotter than Olivia Munn.

Although The Prop would make great salad tongs or even a makeshift back scratcher, this portable laptop legend is poised to become "the next big thing" for MacBook users around the globe. The design is simply brilliant!

[MakeCollab The Prop]