There is a great article over in the Atlantic which really puts to rest about Android being a stolen OS. It goes over where Android was when the iPhone was first announced - and it was at that time not even a touch OS. It was running on a pretty ugly rip off of a blackberry with a physical keyboard. And the article goes over how when Apple intro'd the iPhone in Jan 2007 at Mac World - that Google knew they had to start over. Or as one of the Google people said quote What we had -- suddenly looked just so nineties unquote. Or as Andy Rubin said to one of the other Google people when he first saw the iPhone quote “Holy crap, I guess we’re not going to ship that phone. unquote That phone referring to what was going to be the first Android phone.
over-spying/ncG2k/
I was going to do this one last week - but we had so many articles slamming Android - I thought it might have been overkill. So I bumped it to this episode. And this is an article over on Clark Howard dot com talking about the FTC for slamming an Android App called Flashlight - that was capturing info on you and sharing that info with advertisers - even when users choose the option to not share their info. The devs of the app settled with the FTC over spying on its users. I love that it was still able to collect data after you said not to. Nice. Clearly that was just one app that figured its way around Androids great privacy features right - right - ummm no - per this next one.
Which is another one I wanted to talk about on Ep 291 - but again felt like I was harping on Android a bit too much - plus it goes with the last story so well. As this is one about Google removing a vital Privacy feature from Android - claiming its original release was accidental and it was just in the one version of Android. Want to guess what that feature was - Yup - it was allowing users to install apps while preventing the app from collecting sensitive data like the users location or address book.
I don't know what is more disturbing for Android users - that Google removed that security feature - claiming it was experimental or that all the Android devices out there for the most part as in over 99% - don't have the protection where an app like the flashlight app can steal their address book info with no way for the user to stop it. YIKES YIKES YIKES. No real need for virus software for Android - when the core OS is that insecure. Just Sayin.
Per the EFF whom I respect immensely - quote
we would have to advise you not to accept the update to 4.4.2. But this is also a catastrophic situation, because the update to Android 4.4.2 contains fixes to security and denial-of-service bugs. So, for the time being, users will need to chose between either privacy or security on the Android devices, but not both. unquote.
Seems Android does not like AND - but rather they like OR. Nuts or Bolts - Boogie or Bacall - Privacy or Security. That is the Android way. Actually most Android users will not even get the option to choose anyway as the vast majority of Android devices can't upgrade to 4.4.x anyway. So the choices really are not between AND and OR - but between OR and NOR.
PLAY VOICEMAIL - STEVE_AZ_STORY
Hi Rob,
What app do you suggest to Enjoy others podcasts if they do not have their own individual app?
Kind regards
Mike
Hi Mike - I personally use the Podcasts App from Apple. I also like the stitcher app. I know Downcast and Shifty Jelly's PocketCast are also widely recommended - and at libsyn we also see good numbers from Podkicker and PodkickerPro. But per my own tastes - again I use Apples Podcasts App for those shows that don't have their own apps. But if they have their own app - then I use that - like for Mac OS Ken or WTF with Marc Maron for example.
Hey Rob, I too am at that decision point on whether to get an air or a mini.
I really like the portability of the mini, but now I have second thoughts after hearing you talk about eyesight and finger size. But then I am thinking that I can maneuver and use an I phone just fine with my chubby fingers and aging eyesight, so shouldn't I do fine with a mini? Wouldn't everything be even larger on the Mini that an iPhone?
Regards,
john
John the iPhone 5S has 326 pixels per inch. The iPad Mini Retina also has 326 pixels per inch, and the iPad air, 4th and 3rd gens all have 264 pixels per inch - just to put them all into perspective. I guess it just seemed to me that Apps laid out for the iPad on the mini retina were a little tougher to hit targets on than the iPad Air - which they are - but as mentioned - it is not any different than that of the iPhone 5S.
Today In iOS,
I would like to ask you what you think is the biggest reason for why so many apps are becoming free with in-app purchases/advertising?
Regards,
Ryan S
Taste testing is easier when the core of the App is free - but select features are locked down. So you get to see how the app basically works - and if designed well it lets you do enough to get hooked on it - and then you need to pay some money to unlock more features or in the case of Candy Crush so you can move forward even quicker. That said - I still see many many apps that are for sale in the iTunes store. But I could not tell you how the %'s of changed recently. Something to look at for a feature segment.
Hey Rob,
I wanted to touch on the subject that I've been hearing for many weeks now on the show. A lot of people, including myself, have had many issues getting the touch ID to work consistently. I have erased my saved fingerprints and re-added them many times in the last month or so. I stumbled on something by accident that seems to have fixed this problem. Turn off the animations and reduce motion by going to Settings>General> Accessibility>Reduce Motion, and turn it on. For whatever reason with this on, my touch ID works 100% of the time. I am so blown away by this! I used to get failures every single time I tried to use touch ID. I thought maybe it was cold weather or something like that. This seems to have solved it, at least for me. I hope this helps other people with this problem. I love the show!
Oshkosh Josh
Hi Rob,
I have about 150 small pdf files I'd like to get onto my iPad.
Then I'd like an app where I can go to an "index" document or page with the list of all of those documents and click on a link which will immediately open the associated pdf file.
Do you, or does any of your listeners know a best way to do this? What I've done so far is uploaded all of the pdfs to a personal web site and made an index page with the links as an html file, but I am concerned if the internet access goes down or is too slow at the time of the presentation.
The ipad will be connected via HDMI to a large screen TV. (I'm all set with how to do that)
Thanks,
Gil
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/853175871/
/
Which is about Candy Crush and the developers being worried they are a one hit wonder. Ummm Yeah - why worry - you are. I mean the chances of making a couple of hit apps that are unrelated are slim. Even Rovio and Angry Birds - all the different apps that they have that do well - are just variations of the same them - RIO Angry Birds, Star Wars Angry Birds - one and two. But either you are throwing Fowl at swine or swine at fowl or putting a bow on said swine. For Candy Crush - I am guessing they will try to follow a similar theme - where they change out Candy for Hobbits, orgs or elves or some other sell out big media property. Trying to recreate a second runaway hit is like trying to capture lightening in a bottle. Which hey maybe that is the next runaway hit.
Oh I should mention Angry Birds Starwars two was free. Might still be free when you hear this. Thanks to all that sent in emails about that being free.
Hi Rob
I Love my Pebble. Attached is an audio file with a quick review.
Something I didn't share but it's worth mentioning since you're prolly going to be a Pebbler soon - be careful with the indie watchface app makers. Most are buggy and the servers they tend to use are "iffy" at best.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Best Regards
PaulG in Lawrenceville.
PLAY FEEDBACK - Paul_fdbk_pebblecomment
Hi Rob – regarding the Pebble smart watch, I backed this product on Kickstarter and received it I believe in March 2013. At that time I reported to you on this show that the software wasn’t ready, in my opinion, for release. Well since then they have really improved things and I now find it perfectly integrated with iOS. To squeeze the most out of the battery, I have settled for a basic watch face called Revolution, which is just large numbers showing the time and date. The beauty of the watch is getting all of my phone notifications on my wrist. I hear an email, text or app notification come in on my iPhone and all I have to do is check my Pebble to see if it’s important. I have used some nice apps like, SmartStatus, which shows the time, weather, battery level of the iPhone and the next upcoming item on your calendar on the face of the Pebble. Bottom line, I wear it every day and love it.
Regards,
Darrin
PLAY VOICEMAIL - PEBBLE_DAVID_KICKSTARTER
Hi, Rob.
Since you are anticipating receiving a pebble watch for Christmas, I thought you might be interested in the recently announced website from Pebble (see below).
New Pebble apps will have a more comprehensive and convenient distribution avenue, once the site is fully functional.
As for me and my Pebble, I bought it prior to manufacture when it was a Kickstarter project, and it has been in my possession for almost a year.
I listen to a lot of podcasts via a Motorola Bluetooth earpiece and with my iPhone 5 stashed in my pocket. When I am approaching a store cashier or a neighbor steps into the yard to chat, I am delighted that, instead of fishing out the phone or turning off my earpiece, I can pause the podcast (or the TII app) by just pressing a button on the watch.
When phone calls come in, a glance at my Pebble tells me who is calling, and with a touch of a button I can either answer or send the call to voicemail. And similarly, push notifications appear on my wrist announcing texts, breaking news headlines, or any announcements I have authorized.
The variety of watch faces is fun, particularly those that fill you in regarding the weather forecast. Some games are available, but I have not been drawn to them after playing once or twice. But more apps are coming, and the Pebble team has been excellent in updating software to meet new needs.
I have always worn a watch, but this one is so super cool that I imagine when it wears out, or the technology advances far enough, I will buy the next generation Pebble to work with my phone. I hope you enjoy the one Santa leaves you beneath the tree.
Regards,
Lawrence M
PLAY FEEDBACK - CALLER_PART1_Pebble
PLAY FEEDBACK - CALLER_PART2_Pebble
Hi Rob,
A guy called in with a tip about closing out apps and using 2 or 3 fingers and said he wished there was a way to kill all, well an idea for any Devs that listen to your show, an awesome jailbreak feature would be to slide the first screen up when you go to multi tasking and since that's your home screen, the phone then force quits all apps, just an idea. Wish I was smart enough to make a program like that!
Regards,
Jason H
Jason - I believe there are apps like that already on the jailbreak side - not sure if they still work for iOS 7 - but I am sure they will work with iOS 7 shortly. Hopefully by the time I get around to jailbreaking in Mid Jan that is.
PLAY MUSIC from Misfit toys
We have a USell back this week as a sponsor - and that is Usell spelled U S E L L - who is an aggregator of buyers of mobile devices. You know you have some old mobile devices - be it iPhones, iPads, or dare we say it Android devices laying around that are collecting dust. Don't be your own little island of misfit mobile toys - sell them off to someone that will love them and use them and touch them all over. You remember how happy that The Charlie in the box was and the spotted elephant was when they found new owners - well that mobile device you have collecting dust or stuck in a draw can feel the same way. And when you go to today in iOS dot com slash usell - you can put a smile on your face too by getting cold hard cash. For example an iPhone 5 64 gb Verizon version right now will get you a top offer of $305 - that is $15 more than the same device would get you at that company that has the name of cheetah food.
Again go to today in iOS dot com slash Usell that is slash U S E L L - to get a bid and sell your old no longer being used mobile devices.
Hi Rob,I have had blue screen of death problems, since I upgraded to 7.0.4. One time, I actually got locked in the loop where it would give me the blue screen, reboot, and then back to the blue screen. The only thing that broke it out of it was to use the cable and open iTunes.
I've tried a number of fixes, including turning off iCloud synchronization for the iWork apps, which seems to have been an earlier problem. However, the only thing that seems like it is decreasing the number of times I get the blue screen, is to force quit all my apps a number of times during the day.
My suspicion is that some apps are not playing well with the 64-bit processor, since this problem seems to be reported on the 5s, and not the 5C.
I went to the Genius Bar, and they offered to replace my phone. But on some user forms, people have reported a reoccurrence of the problem even with the new phone.
If anyone knows what is going on, and if there is a way to fix it, please let me know.
Regards,
Bruce
Hi Bruce -
If you have not done so already - make sure every app on your iOS device is updated via the App store App on your iOS device.
Next force quit your open apps - then go to settings - general - reset - reset network settings.
Once it reboots - rejoin your network - and then open an app you know to cause an issue and see what happens.
If you still see the blue screen of death - then your next step would be to do a complete restore from factory settings. But first on iTunes on your computer - make sure all apps are updated there as well.
Let me know if any of that works for you.
If anyone else has any suggestions - please let us know. 206-666-6364 - that's 206-moon-dog or send an email to today in iOS at gmail dot com.
Hey Rob,
I recently bought an iphone 5s and an ipad mini retina for my girlfreind . Then, I setup everything for her on both devices.
MY COMMENTARY - WOW NICE SIGNIFICANT OTHER ARE YOU - OK BACK TO THE EMAIL - -
When it came to the contacts part I setup her gmail account enabling mail,contacts, calendars and notes. I did the same for my iphone and it was a seamless gmail sync with iphone (as I understand is the case with ios7).
But for her iphone the contacts arent being displayed. Ipad however is showing the contacts correctly. She is shifting from an old blackberry so my idea was to use the bb desktop manager and export all her phone contacts in a csv file and import into her gmail contacts. Then with gmail contacts enabled on iphone there should be no issue. But it ain't happening. I am really frustrated. I have tried carDAV as well (doesnt work) but as I understand with ios7 its a seamless 2 way sync. Please help.
Regards Srajan,
Srajan - Have you checked your cellular data settings - make sure that you enabled cellular data for your contact syncing. In iOS 7 go to settings app - then Cellular - then scroll down to see what you have selected for use Cellular Data for - maybe you have it turned off for something - but really I did not see anything that would make sense in my settings. If anyone has any suggest for Srajan - please give us a call or send us an email.
Hi Rob
You were asking whether we listened to podcasts on set top boxes.
1. Normally, I always listen to my podcasts at work on an iPod Classic; I listen to your show always, along with MacBreak Weekly, iPad Today, and IMore. (Hate when Leo ends his show by saying "now get back to work" when I am at work.)
2. Lately, over Apple TV, I have been watching MacBreak and iPad Today. They're as good as any talk show I suppose. I've even listened to Today in IOS in the background over Apple TV -- that trend may continue depending on how much listening I get done at work.
Regards,
Keith
Rob,
Sometimes like now, I have you podcast air-playing to my AppleTV while I am working on cleaning up my house for the Christmas.
I do this when I have things to do around the house, I have in the past listen directly on the AppleTV.
Thomas
Tuscaloosa AL
PLAY VOICEMAIL - AARon_fdbk_set_topbox
Hi Rob:
In Episode #291, you had requested feedback regarding podcast consumption
on the AppleTV. I have two AirPlay devices: (1) AppleTV 2nd Gen in the Living Room and
(2) a Pioneer VSX-60 audio receiver (audio AirPlay only) located in the basement/theater room.
While I do not consume the podcast directly via the set top box, I do very frequently AirPlay
podcasts from the iPhone (both downloaded and streamed episodes) or MacBook PRO to the
AirPlay receivers.
I realize your stats would not show this usage, but I personally prefer to listen to the podcasts
via the better listening avenues when I plan to be in one of those areas for awhile.
Merry Christmas
Regards,
Mike Price
Attleboro, MA.
I did do some checking on my stats of the over 10.5 Million downloads for Tii to date - less than 2,500 have been via a set top box directly. Which is only 0.02% or 2 - 100th of a percent.
For anyone who is a podcaster AND you are hosting with Libsyn - I wanted to let you know for the New Media Expo - if you have a small poster 11 x 14 or smaller or some biz cards 4 x 6 or smaller and you would like them shown off at the Libsyn Booth - email me rob at libsyn dot com. If you are not going - you can snail mail them to me - if you are going - Just let me know and we can set up a time to meet at the show.
And If you are not going to the new media expo and are interested in getting into podcasting or blogging - this is the show for you - if you are already blogging or podcasting - this is the show to go to to connect with other podcasters and bloggers and learn how to better your craft. I have been to everyone and can not recommend going strong enough. This next one is <2 weeks away - Saturday Jan 4th - the 5th and the 6th. So when it ends you can stay a little longer and go to CES. Which is what I am doing. Which starts on the 7th. I hope to see some of you at NMX or CES in Jan - but definitely NMX as I will be speaking there and Libsyn will have a booth. Again even if you are not going and a libsyn customer email me rob@libsyn dot com to get me your cards or info to show off at the show.
SCHEDULE - NEXT EP Mid Jan - Maybe Mini Eps from Vegas.
Thanks again to our sponsor Squaretrade. Remember for your iPad warranty - just $89 for a two year warranty - you save $35 by going to square trade dot com slash t i i 2 - that is slash t i i and the number 2. the iPad Mini 2 with Retina is so light and easy to take with you it is truly a mobile tablet you will want to take everywhere - and that means the potential for accidents. Squaretrade dot com / tii 2 for your $89 iPad Mini and iPad Air warranty.
I also want to thank our other sponsor Usell - go to today in iOS dot com slash Usell that is the letters U s e l l - to get a bid and sell your old no longer being used mobile devices.
If you want to know when new episodes go up - look at the Tii app - not just the best way to consume the show - but also a great way to get a push message when a new episode goes live or there is other iOS breaking news. Just $2.99 in the app store - it helps you get the most out of the show and it helps support the show at the same time - plus it makes it really easy to email or call the show with your feedback. Again just search for Tii in the iTunes app store.
And Before we go today I want to remind you to send in your feedback to the show - 206-666-6364 - that 206-moon-dog - or record your feedback and email it to the show at today in iOS at gmail dot com - The feedback can be a question or comment per something someone said on this episode or it can be a question or rant you have about something else. An App or product review - good or bad - as long as it is iOS related - it is welcomed. I am always looking for new Artwork to feature that you created on an iOS device - just put some Tii branding on it and send it in. And of course we are always looking for more music created on an iOS device to play on the show. This is your show and your feedback is greatly desired. And don't forget to check out our new Moderated Google Plus community by going to todayinios dot com slash community.
And that folks is going to do it for us today.