Visa New App to Help Prevent Fraud

Look forward to the release of a new app, Visa Mobile Location Confirmation for your phone if you use a Visa credit card.  The app is designed to help prevent fraud. The software company where it is being developed in Finsphere.  CNET has an article with the details.

In short, it is designed to verify your location using GPS on the phone - where you are making the transaction.  The idea is that if you are purchasing something with the Visa card, you will have your phone with you.  The app is an opt-in service.

You can read more with the CNET news article at http://www.cnet.com/news/visa-says-new-app-will-cut-credit-card-travel-troubles/

Outlook App Finally Available

I read in the New York Times today that the Outlook app was released last week.  It is available for iPhones, Android phones, and the iPad.  The app is free.  I was using OWA as an Outlook app, but it did not have the robust features of Outlook.  If you use Outlook, try out the app. 

To learn more, go to http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/outlook/to-go

iPharmacy Pill Reminder App for iOS and Android Devices

There is a pill reminder app, iPharmacy, available for iOS and Android devices.

The information about the iOS app is at http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=906065
The information about the Android app is at http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=674849

View the video below to learn more.

New Gmail App for iPhone and iPad

A Google blog posted yesterday discussed a new Gmail app for the iPhone and iPad. Yes, an app! I had not even considered using an app for mail as gmail is one of my email accounts set up using Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars.  The screen shots of the Gmail app looked very nice, so I downloaded the app to the iPad.  The Gmail app provides a very nice simple and colorful view of email, which is very different from the regular email app.  You may find it worth exploring, too.To read more and see some of the screenshots, go to
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-gmail-app-for-iphone-and-ipad.html

Dictation on the New iPad

I was reading about Mountain Lion operating system (OS) when I discovered another feature that I have overlooked. The New iPad allows for dictation (as well as the 4th generation iPhone)! Check Settings > Keyboards > Dication > On to verify that it is turned on. Afterwards open an app such as Notes or Pages. Click on the microphone key on the iPad keyboard and talk. Click the microphone key once again when you are finished. Afterwards, the New iPad Dictation app iterprets what was said and types it out. You may be surprised to note the great accuracy!! This feature is a great work around for quick data entry without typing. Remember that dictation is only available on the New iPad, not the 1st or 2nd generations. Enjoy!

A demo of the feature is shown in the CNET YouTube video below (yes, dictation is misspelled) .

Augmented Reality

I am fascinated by the potential of augmented reality (AR).  A couple of weeks ago I attended a presentation where the presenter started showing an iPad/iPhone app using augmented reality. It is more entertaining than pedagogical, but that is okay!  I showed it to some students today and they were amazed! It will be fun to use the app in class as an icebreaker or wake-up strategy.  a video of on the AR figures is shown below.

The app is free - search for String AR and then go to http://www.poweredbystring.com/showcase http://www.poweredbystring.com/showcase for the print targets.  You will need at least a 4generation iPhone or iPad2.  Open the app and then point the camera on the device at one of the four target pictures (either printed out or on the website.  You don't have to be very close to the picture.  The AR figure in the video below is my favorite, followed by the dragon.  You can change the color of the shoe, but only spin it around.  Take a mental break and try out the FUN AR app!

ZocDoc for scheduling appointments

Martha sent me a link to a new app, ZocDoc.  It is available in the iTunes store and it is free.  What the app does is to allow you to search for a provider and see available appointment times. Thc concept is awesome!  That said, if we are having difficulty getting providers to use technology.... you get the idea.

Check out the link at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zocdoc-doctor-appointments/id391062219?mt=8&ls=1