Daily Bits

Mobile

Mobile Location-Sharing Service Foursquare Goes Global

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Screen shot 2010-01-06 at 5.11.02 AMI’ve been reading some coverages about mobile location-sharing service Foursquare for quite some time now and was really curious about  it. But unfortunately, the service was used to be restricted North American and European cities, until now.

Foursquare has just gone global, lifting its geographical limitation. So, if you’re located anywhere outside the U.S. and Europe, you can now join in the fun and start using Foursquare. In case you’re wondering how, Foursquare has various applications for iPhone, Palm Pre and Google Android. For Blackberry uses, a native app is currently under development.

As the international version is currently in test mode, Foursquare is relying on users to build its local directory. So, Foursquare as it is for non-US and European country won’t be much of good use if it will not gain grounds in the local scene.

And if you don’t know what I am talking about, here’s a brief overview of what Foursquare does.

First, you need to get the Foursquare app running on your mobile phone. Then you need to “check-in”, which in other words is just registering your whereabouts on Foursquare. Foursquare will use this information to tell your friends who are also using Foursquare so that they can recommend places to go and things to do near where you are located right now. The process goes on and on and lets you learn about the places that your friends frequently visit hereby letting you discover new places to visit as well.

In addition, you can also create badges representing the places you’ve visited, and the number of checkins you’ve made. And the more you use Foursquare, time will come when you can become the “mayor” of most visited site. You can retain that position, until someone comes along to steal it away from you.

Sounds fun? Go check out Foursquare and see whether it fits your needs.

iPhone, iPod Market Distribution – Japan is Catching Up Fast!

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Admob iPhone users

With 78 million units reportedly shipped by Apple, have you ever wondered where those iPhones and iPods are located right now? Mobile advertising company knows their geographic distribution and they just released a report showing this.

According to the report, obviously most of the iPhones and iPods shipped by Apple are with U.S. consumers, 50% of the 78 million in fact. Now for the rest of the other 50% of the 78 million units shipped, majority of those are Japan, France, Australia and Canada.  These countries are showing tremendous growth in terms of iPhone and iPod units being shipped and sold to consumers.

Interestingly, according to the AdMob data from Jan-Nov 2009, iPhone and iPod userbase growth in Japan surged to more than 300%.  It looks like our friends in Japan are starting to love the iPhone and iPod music players this year.

Other highlights of the AdMob study are the following:

  • 23 countries got more than 100,000 unique Apple visitors
  • unique Apple users  located outside of the U.S. increased to 50% from 39% in January
  • 71% of unique Apple users in November were for iPhone while 29% were for iPod

With reports that the Motorola Droid is catching up with iPhone sales, AdMob’s data just prove one thing – the Droid is still has a long way to go before it reaches the iPhone’s status.

Great! Kindle for iPhone Goes International, Now Give Us Kindle for Mac

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kindleforiphoneIn case you haven’t figured out yet how to download Kindle for iPhone even though it was only available at the U.S. iTunes Store, well don’t bother doing the trick anymore. Kindle for iPhone is now available internationally.

Meaning, no matter where you are, for as long as you are covered by the 60 countries as mentioned bv the official  announcement,  you can now download the free app on your iPhone or iPod Touch.

Kindle for iPhone features Amazon’s Whispersync which allows you to save and synchronize your bookmarks across all your Kindle devices – Kindle ereader, Kindle for PC or Kindle for iPhone and iPod Touch.  I’m telling you, this is one reason alone to download this app. The synchonization features is definitely one of the high end of this iPhone app.

Of course, Amazon is promoting this iPhone app as a companion to  its Kindle and Kindle DX ereaders. But many who don’t own the Kindle yet can do away with it and use Kindle for iPhone as a primary ebook reader.

Features of the app include:

  • Purchase, download and read hundreds of thousands of books available in the Kindle Store.
  • Read the beginning of books for free before they buy.
  • Add and automatically synchronize bookmarks and last page read.
  • Access their library of previously purchased Kindle books stored on Amazon’s servers for free.
  • Choose from six different font sizes and adjust words per line.
  • Add and view notes and highlights marked on Kindle and Kindle DX.
  • Read books in full color including children’s books, cookbooks, travel books, textbooks and graphic novels.

Ok now Amazon, please give us Kindle for Mac, next.

Ready to download the app? Here’s the iTunes Link.

Via Business Wire

Playboy Has an App for That Too!

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playboyappicon_thumbHold your horses fellas! Before you start grabbing the Playboy iPhone which just got approved, let me tell you as early as now that Apple is not supporting mobile pornography. The Playboy app was approved for resale at the iTunes Store because of the merits of the magazine’s articles. Yeah, right!

And for technology’s sake we are covering the release of Playboy’s iPhone app here in DB. In fact, I’m about to tell you its features. So please read on first before you start installing the Playboy iPhone app.

So, what does this iPhone app has to offer for $1.99? It’s basically a “stripped” down version of Playboy magazine. You’ll get to read most of the magazine’s article columns such as Playboy Interview, Playbor Advisor, 20 Questions, Party Jokes, Fashion and more.

And most importantly Playboy iPhone app also got the magazine’s bread and butter – Playmate of the Month but the Playmates are not going to be in their full nude poses. Bleh! You didn’t really expect Apple to go lax with their Anti-Nudity policy, right? So, what you will see as part of the Playmate of the Month feature are the playmates’ bios, data sheet, preview picture and behind the scenes video.

Still interested with this iPhone app even without the nudity aspect? I’m sure you’re still are.  Now is the time to get the Playboy iPhone App. Have Fun folksies!

Via Krapps

Apple Reminisces with iTunes Rewind 2009

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Screen shot 2009-12-09 at 4.59.52 AM‘Twas a successful year for one of Apple’s bread and butter – the iTunes store. And to reminisce on what has happened this year, here comes an early treat from Apple – iTunes Rewind 2009.

iTunes Rewind 2009 lists down the bestselling iTunes content – be it apps, music, movies, podcasts and other mobile content available at the iTunes store. Music and movies are ranked according to sales and downloads, while apps are categorized into games and apps.

So, if you’ve been an avid iTunes user the whole year, iTunes Rewind 2009 is definitely a list worth checking out for you.

On with the list – best games of 2009 at the iTunes Store include the likes of Spider, Real Racing, Zenonia and Ravensworld, while top selling games of 2009 include SIMS 3, Oregon Trail, Need for Speed Undercover, and Madden NFL 10. The last two games are definitely a must have for every iPhone gamer.

For Best Apps of 2009, Reel Director, Magellan Roadmate and I Am T-Pain are some of who made it into the list, while top selling apps include the likes of Mobile Navigator America, MLB.com and Textfree Unlimited.

Boom Boom Pow by Black Eyed Peas is the top selling single for 2009 at the iTunes Music Store while Michael Jackson of course was the Artist of the Year. Album of the Year goes out to Kings of Leon’s “Only by the Night.”

Top selling movies at the iTunes Store for 2009 include the likes of “Twilight”, “Star Trek” and “Up”.

Check out iTunes Rewind 2009 here.