NumberWiz updated to v2.0

Hi App lovers.
The NumberWiz App for iPhone/iPod touch/iPad has been updated. The new version is v2.0.
The graphics is new and a feature has been added. 
In NumberWiz there are 20 cards with small numbers and 4 cards with big numbers: 1,1,2,2,3,3, ...,10,10 and the big numbers 25,50,75,100. 
The new feature allows you to choose the big numbers freely from the 10 - 100 range. This means you may end up playing with, say 2,4,18,44,67,98 and a result of 456.

Smartphones take the IT evolution further

I'd like to continue on the smartphone capability theme.

All the functionality I mentioned has caused lots of changes in society, but of course the smartphone wasn't the first device to cause them. The changes are foremost an IT phenomenon, but the smartphone takes them further. Why? Because of its versatility and superb mobility.

Consider the functions camera, camcorder, alarm clock, dictaphone, navigator, pedometer. These don't make sense on a laptop PC, but they are great to have on a smartphone. Others are well established on laptops, but to have them on a smartphone makes them even better: notepad, dictionary, newspaper, phone, games, radio, weatherman, post office, etc. Size is key to the smartphone concept and is also a key distinguisher generally in IT.

Size is also the key difference between the desktop PC, the laptop PC, the pad, and the smartphone. They are all general purpose computers, they can all do "anything", but they have different areas of application. You can use a laptop to navigate, but it's not optimal. You can write documents with a smartphone, but it's not optimal. None of the devices are going to kill off the other, becaue they all excel in some area. But what they all have done quite well is transform they way we do things.

The smartphone puts the power of IT into more hands. That enhances the networking effect of all things IT, which further speeds up IT development.

What my Smartphone can do

I sat down today to go through my smartphone and list what functions it has. The functions had to be listed in words that my grandfathers would have understood. The functions are either through web services like Picasaweb or through an app. Here's what I found:
Notepad
Dictionary
Dialer
Phone
Newspaper
Game platform
Filmplayer
Musicplayer
Camera
Film camera
FM-Radio
World radio
Weatherman
Banker
Alarm clock
Scientific graphing calculator
Watch
Dictaphone
Calendar
Photo album
Map
Navigator
Video phone
Music store
Addressbook
Mailbox
Post office
School book
TV
TV program guide
Private library
Public library
Encyclopedia
Shop
Randomizer
Guitar teacher
Chess board
Chess teacher, trainer, opponent
TV broadcaster
Pedometer
Diary
Multinational text-TV
Safe-deposit box
Music instruments
Binder


And that's just my smartphone. BTW, I've probably missed some functions. You readers may have much more on your devices.

Next app is a utility

Hi app enthusiasts!


Don't waste a milli-second thinking we're not releasing another app soon. It's likely going to happen within the next 2 - 2.5 weeks. This time is going to be different, because the new app will be in the Utility category. Not exactly glamorous, certainly not dull, but hopefully a popular app.
The main theme of the app will be speed. Speed in a utility app? Yes indeed, speed!
We are particularly happy about the icon this time. The help-files in five languages are being written. The graphics is about to receive the final shine. The last stages are the most exciting.
Happy days are here again.

$120 to go back in time

Here's a really funny article about a phone called John's Anti Smart Phone: 
http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/08/17/johns-anti-smart-phone/
Ok, it's not actually time travel, but it's an IT equivalent.
The article features two pictures of it. It's fairly good-looking. So let's look at the top features:
- Quad band
- A ringtone and three volume levels
- A one-line b/w display
- 10 speed-dials
- Hardcopy notebook with accompanying pen stored neatly behind a transparent door
- Excellent battery life with three weeks stand-by time


This phone is not for techies like me, but it would put anyone at the center of attention anywhere. Let's take a look at the features and try to remember when they became commonplace.

- Quad band, in 2001

- A ringtone and three volume levels, in 1989

- A one-line b/w display, in 1989

- 10 speed-dials, in 1992

The one below are distinguishing features, hardly anywhere to be found, at least the first one:

- Hardcopy notebook with accompanying pen stored neatly behind a transparent door

- Excellent battery life with three weeks stand-by time

Should I buy a laptop or an iPad?

Hi all you tech lovers!
In the beginning of modern computing there was the Desktop PC. It was expensive, but cheaper than previous alternatives. Then came the laptop PC. It was expensive until about five years ago, when prices dropped by about 50% in a few months. Now there's the pads i.e. the iPad and the Androids. The iPad2 can do more than the first iPad, but costs less. That is likely to mean pads can go lower.
Desktop PCs are now about 1/3 of the market in the EU and USA. The desktop has its advantages: it can have a large screen, its screen, keyboard, mouse, graphics card, CPU, and all the rest is easily replaced, it doesn't have legs, it's not attractive.
All the advantages of the desktop PC are the disadvantages of the laptop. The laptop usually stays the way you bought it. You are not going to replace anything, except maybe add some memory. Contrary to the desktop, the laptop has legs and it's sometimes attractive. You may lose it or smash it against the floor. And what do you replace it with? That question is becoming increasingly difficult to answer. Will you pick a pad? 
Well, when iOS5 arrives, the iPad will no longer need to have a PC companion. You will be able to own one without owning a PC. Cheap laptops are often being sold as "the perfect notebook for email, browsing and Facebook". This is a segment where the pads are likely to outsell laptops soon. The portability of laptops is nothing compared to the portability of the pad and the capacity, in any sense, is certainly good enough. This is only the beginning of course. Pads are going to equal laptops in just about every way soon. I'd buy a pad if I needed such a computer. 
A couple of years from now, many laptops may be replaced by pads in docking stations. That means you have a work area with a pad-stand (docking station), which is connected to a keyboard and a mouse. When you're there you place the pad into the pad-stand. When you leave the work area, you leave everything behind except the pad. Of course this is the way it looks in many offices already, but the computer is a laptop. In the home I think most people will not feel they need a pad-stand, but many office workers will prefer a pad in their docking station. The pad is lighter and tougher. 
To conclude I'd say the laptop is here to stay, because it is a strong concept, which many people will continue to favor over pads. However, soon I expect more pads to be sold than laptops.

NumberWiz sum 564: solution

Hi dear NumberWizards,


Here's a solution to the question of how to add, subtract, multiply and divide 1 2 5 25 50 100 to get 564.


In the comments I tipped that (100 - 2) would be part of the solution, and here's the one I had in mind: 564 = (100 - 2) * 5 + 50 + 25 - 1

NumberWiz sum 564

Hi again NumberWizards. Here's another problem for you:


How do you add, subtract, multiply and divide 1 2 5 25 50 100 to get 564 ?
A solution in the comments below would be appreciated. At any rate I'll be back tomorrow.




The NumberWiz app for iPhone/iPad is for sale in the App Store. You can read more about it here.

Elephant Memory Challenge - Free version

Hi you lucky iPhone or iPod touch owners!
A free version of the "Elephant Super Memory Challenge - Remember This!" has arrived in the App Store. It is called "Elephant Memory Challenge - Free".
In this free version, the colors and smiley screens have both been removed. It's still a superb game though. The app name in the localized App Stores is as follows:

• German: "Elefanten Gedächtnis Herausforderung - Frei"
• French: "Challenge Elephant Memory - Gratuit"
• Dutch: "Olifant geheugen — Gratis versie"
• Swedish: "Elefantminne — Gratis version"

This version will not be updated like the paid version will.

Elephant Super Memory Challenge updated again

The Elephant Super Memory Challenge app has been updated again. This time it's a change to the Colors screen, and improved graphics. The new version number is 1.3 and it should be available for download already.
It is now possible to have a smaller collection of colors to remember, which makes memorization easier. You can now select to have only 8 colors instead of always having 14. The selection is done with a switch, which is just barely visible on the first picture in the lower right corner.

This picture shows the Colors screen with the new smaller keyboard.

This picture shows the Colors screen with the original bigger keyboard.












The app name varies as follows in the localized App Stores:
English: Elephant Super Memory Challenge: Recall This!
French: Challenge Elephant Super Memory: Rappel Ce!
German: Elefanten Gedächtnis Herausforderung
Swedish: Elefantminne: Memorera detta!
Dutch: Olifant geheugen: Dit memoriseren! 

We intend to keep updating this app. We plan to introduce a 4th screen, probably rather soon.