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| 11/16/2011 7:19:20 PM |
| iPhone 4S Doesn't Have an App for Battery Drain Woes |
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Despite setting astounding launch sales records, iPhone 4S owners are plagued by battery drain that even Apple engineers are having difficulty solving.
Like the antenna issue experienced with the initial launch of the iPhone 4, the millions of iPhone 4S owners have been plagued by battery drain that Apple engineers have been working around the clock to solve. The Guardian reported on the issue saying that Apple engineers have been contacting users who have complained about battery drain that is not resolvable with normal means, such as turning off location-based services and terminating passive apps when away from the phone for long periods of time. Apparently, Apple has been requesting that these customers install diagnostic software onto their iPhone so that the battery drain issue can be resolved more efficiently.
Tech Crunch editor Erick Schonfeld spoke his mind on an opinion piece: 'Dear Apple, Please Make My iPhone 4S Battery Life Suck Less.' In it, Schonfeld claims that his iPhone 4S battery died within eight hours after a full charge with normal Internet usage, talk time, and standby. Quite contradictory to the official tech specs from Apple's website:
- Talk time: Up to 8 hours on 3G, up to 14 hours on 2G (GSM)
- Standby time: Up to 200 hours
- Internet use: Up to 6 hours on 3G, up to 9 hours on Wi-Fi
- Video playback: Up to 10 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 40 hours
Many sites and news outlets have, as always, posted tips on how to preserve battery life. Cellphone Accents always carries ever-ready Apple iPhone accessories and cell phone chargers for those needing backup juice. Otherwise, there are options and settings you can configure within the iPhone to optimize its life and minimize battery drain.
Start off by lowering your screen brightness, locking your phone when you do not plan to use it, and disabling location-based services when not needed. Be sure to terminate apps after use as well -- unlike Windows or Mac OS X where you can click an 'X' to terminate a program, you will have to press the home button twice to reveal a list of all active apps on your iPhone. Press and hold any open app for a moment to reveal red minus (-) sign, allowing you to terminate apps to save your phone from inevitable battery drain.
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| 11/9/2011 6:24:57 PM |
| Supermarket Apps For Smarter Shoppers |
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Supermarket apps are making use of the power of mobile technology to give shoppers a 'smarter' experience, offering discounts and other benefits with each visit. Having a smartphones in hand, shoppers can now engage in a mobile experience with their favorite foods and products as a result of supermarkets' push for more customers.
Modiv Media and Ahold teamed up as marketing company and supermarket chain to test a pilot program in Massachusetts allowing customers to scan bar codes into their iPhones. The supermarket app is linked to the rewards card system allowing targeted offers when shopping around.
The pilot program was geared towards supermarket apps and their viability with customers and the supermarket itself. Using smartphone apps cuts costs for the supermarket as customers almost always walk in with their trusted phone. Customers get direct access to ongoing sales on items they continue to purchase directly from supermarket apps while the company can focus on other budget concerns.
Another upside is that many shoppers with smartphones are well accustomed to using barcode scanner apps to shop around for the right prices. Reviews, in addition to prices at various locations are available on barcode scanning apps, which could prove to be quite popular on supermarket apps as well.
The tactics employed by grocery stores could help to improve the overall shopping experience, with more informative buys, faster purchases, and possibly more a interactive experience with the supermarket itself. The advent of new payment options, available through services such as Google Wallet and PayPal, coupled with the supermarket apps experience should prove to be less of a headache for what is a chore to many.
Mobiledia's insight with smart shopping includes developments 'on the forefront of easing the shopping experience. GPS programs to help people locate items in stores are in development, and in the UK and South Korea, apps allow people to point a smartphone at a picture of a product and instantly order it to be shipped to home or office.'
Keep an eye out for when your supermarket makes their app available. For the mean time, check out these 18 apps to help with grocery shopping. While you're out and about, pair your supermarket apps with extra cell phone batteries and a cell phone holster to be an always-ready smart shopper.
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