ZOMM Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Apple’

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

Tech Toys for Today’s Modern Tot… with a Traditional Twist

New technology is constantly changing and evolving the way we live. This new technology is perhaps most profoundly affecting younger generations born into this new tech world. Dolls now come with USB ports and toddlers can operate iPads better, faster, and more effectively than their adult counterparts.

Here we’re taking a special look at toys for today’s tech-driven tots with a traditional twist. These toys aim to familiarize children with the thought process behind technology without bombarding kids with the technology itself.

Photo courtesy of technabob.com

“Laurie Ipsum” is a children’s book written by Carlos Bueno, a Facebook engineer. It does not attempt to teach children any specific technical skills, but rather, how to think like a computer programmer. The main character, Laurie Ipsum, is lost in Userland and she must use logic and reason to overcome challenges and find her way home. Naturally, Laurie Ipsum is available in digital form for Nook, Kindle, and iBook, as well as in paperback.
The wooden iPhone is the modern mother’s answer to the pacifier. It’s the perfect size to chewed on but not ingested—and best of all, it’s not actually the expensive technological device. The techy baby can slobber all over his/her stylish smartphone without worry that Mom might be upset.
Russian dolls take a turn for the techy with this set that teaches children the sequencing from a terabyte down to a bit. The exact same form and function of a traditional set, the 6-piece tech Russian Doll set will help lay a foundation for children to think in technological scale.

What tech-inspired toy would you have liked as a child?

Friday, May 11th, 2012

5 Apps for the Hearing Impaired in Honor of “Better Hearing & Speech Month”

Impaired hearing affects 14.9% of children, according to the Center for Hearing and Speech, and can dramatically impair language development. Only so much can be done medically for those who suffer, but there are ways to treat and cope. And now, there are smartphone apps to help.

In honor of May’s designation as “Better Hearing & Speech Month,” we’ve compiled a list of great mobile apps, primarily for iPhone and iPad, to help diagnose and treat the hearing and speech impaired.

A list of five great apps for the hearing and speech-impaired.

Photo courtesy of freedomscope.com

Siemens Hearing Test—Do you suspect you may be hearing impaired? This free app tests your ability to recognize words from background noise and compares your accuracy to the average score of normal listeners. Recognizing you have a problem is the first step to treating it. This test can tell you whether or not you should seek further medical attention.
Hearing Loss Simulator—Living with someone who is hearing impaired can be a trying experience at times. This app costs $1.99 and can help family and friends better understand that loved one. The app even adjusts the simulation to the degree of their hearing impairment.
Speech Trainer 3D—This $7.99 app animates how the tongue, lips and mouth properly move during speech. The 3D demonstration helps the speech impaired practice certain sounds, consonants, and vowels in the English language. A recent update allows you to use iPad and iPhone cameras to film yourself speaking and do a side-by-side comparison to the animation.
Eye Contact – Toybox—Previously featured on “60 Minutes” This $2.99 app rewards children for focusing on the human faces displayed on the screen. Maintaining eye contact can be a difficult skill for children to learn and is especially important for hearing impaired individuals.
EarTrumpet—Best when used with a headset, the EarTrumpet offers hearing enhancement tools. The $3.99 app was developed by a medical student and applies scientific inquiry and analysis to help the hearing-impaired better understand the world around them.

These apps demonstrate how modern technology is addressing real human problems. Likewise, the ZOMM Wireless Leash and the myZOMM app could be a great service to a hearing and speech-impaired individual in a moment of panic. The center button can be programmed to call either 911 or a number of the ZOMM owner’s choice when it’s held for a period of time.

How are you observing “Better Hearing & Speech Month”?

Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

5 Productivity-Inducing iPhone Apps

Life is hectic. Sometimes, in all the chaos, it’s hard to actually get anything done. However, like all things in the world, there’s even an app (or several) for the productivity-challenged. Today we rounded up five iPhone apps that are sure to get you back on the productivity train.

A list of our top 5 iPhone apps for increasing productivity.

Photo Cred: BusinessInsider.com1. Clear
Keep yourself organized (and therefore more productive) with this list-keeping app. The simple, intuitive interface makes it easy to put things on a list…and check them off when you’re finished.

2. eWallet
These days, life involves a lot of passwords. Nothing slows you down (and frustrates you) more than not being able to login to your accounts because you can’t remember the password. eWallet uses 256-bit AES encryption to securely store your passwords, account information and card numbers.

3. Bump Pay
After a dinner with friends, who wants to take the time to count out (or actually has) the cash to split the bill? With Bump Pay you can easily transfer money from your PayPal account to a friend’s—with a fist pound.

4. Quick Office
Ever wish you could edit documents during the train ride to work? Maybe you need to have access to Word or Excel documents while away from your desk. That’s what Quick Office allows—create, view and edit Microsoft Office files from your iPhone.

5. myZOMM for iPhone
It’s hard to be productive if you can’t find your keys or don’t remember where you parked your car. Pair your iPhone with a ZOMM Wireless Leash Plus and the myZOMM app to get instant alerts if you walk away from your keys. Tag items, such as a parking spot or business, and get instant directions to that location when you’re ready to return.

Feeling more productive yet?

What’s your favorite productivity app?

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

Let’s Talk iPhone

In the months leading up to Apple’s event, there have been thousands upon thousands of rumors, varying from predictable to beyond belief. Tuesday, October 4, was the day that we finally found out the truth—straight from Tim Cook and friends.

Now that the wait is almost over (iPhone 4S preorders started Friday and deliver this Friday), we have a look at some of the coolest things announced last week:

No iPhone 5, only an iPhone 4S.

Many early rumors said that there would be two phones announced Tuesday, an iPhone 4S and an iPhone 5. The 4S would be intended as a more budget-friendly iPhone option, while the 5 was said to offer a complete redesign with a ton of internal improvements. Instead, Apple announced the iPhone 4S, which will be 2x faster than the iPhone 4 and offer an A5 chip and dual-core processing, among other features. According to sources like PC Mag, iPhone 4S preorders sold out in just 24 hours!

Siri, the voice-recognition feature that does… well, everything.

Siri may be the most notable of the new features coming with the iPhone 4. It’s capable of understanding natural human language, rather than simple commands. Siri can read and respond to text messages, search Wikipedia, schedule calendar appointments, set work reminders, search Google Maps—and much, much more.

Improved camera: the point and shoot killer.
The new and improved iPhone camera will have an 8 megapixel sensor and an improved image resolution of 3264 x 2448. That’s a 60% improvement over the iPhone 4 camera! It will also have an improved IR filter (to help with more accurate colors) and a 30% sharper lens.

The most important details: carriers, price, and release date!
For the first time, the iPhone will be offered on three carriers: Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint. Preorders will start this Friday, October 7th, with an expected ship date of October 14th. It will be offered at a two-year contract price of $199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB, and a new offering of 64GB coming in at $399.

These are the most notable iPhone-related facts to come out of today’s announcement. They also shared some interesting statistics about the Apple brand and recapped a bit about iCloud and iOS 5 (both will be available October 12th.)

With all of that information, we have to ask: Did you preorder the iPhone 4S? What features are you most excited about? Leave us a comment below!

Friday, October 7th, 2011

Remembering Steve Jobs: His Top 5 Innovations

Through his products and innovations, Steve Jobs touched the lives of millions of people around the world. His passion for and view of technology inspired us at ZOMM to create sleek, easy-to-use devices that solve everyday needs.

Steve Jobs’ inventions were true to his own words when he said, “A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show them.” And show us, he did. Here are our Top 5 Steve Jobs Innovations:

Apple
In 1976, along with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer, Inc. The company, based in Cupertino, California, started with their line of Macintosh computers.

iPod
The way we listen to music changed dramatically in October of 2001. Since the first iPod was released, we’ve seen a slew of upgrades, updates and enhancements to the digital music player.

iTunes
Along with iPods, iTunes reinvented how we buy, share and listen to music. What started as a music store with 200,000 songs in 2003, reached 10 billion downloads in 2010.

iPad
Is it a smartphone or a personal computer? The answer is neither and both. Jobs’ 2010 release was the first Mac/iPhone hybrid that landed right in the middle of the two based on size and weight. Currently there are two versions available and over 28 million have been sold worldwide.

iPhone
The first iPhone came in 2007, and mobile phones have not been the same since. Literally putting a computer in the palm of your hand, the iPhone combines all your gadgets (camera, phone, mp3 player, and gaming console) into one. There have been several upgrades (iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4), with the most recent being the iPhone 4S that is available for pre-order on AT&T, Verizon and Sprint, starting today.

We’re thankful for everything Steve did for the technology world and will miss him greatly. We found no better way to sign off, than with a quote from Steve himself:

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

What’s your favorite Steve Jobs innovation?

Monday, January 24th, 2011

ZOMM Wireless Leash Featured in Global Technology Store

Do you know which technology company resides at 1 Infinite Loop in Cupertino, California?

If you guessed Apple, then you’re exactly right!

Inside the HQ of Apple, there’s a little place called the “Apple Company Store” (Also known as the “Mothership”). Though it was originally the Apple Employee store, it is now open to the public.

Why are we telling you this? Because this past weekend, a friend of ZOMM spotted our Wireless Leash on the shelves in the Apple Company Store! Even though ZOMM is compatible with all smartphones—and any phone with Bluetooth capability—it’s great to see it positioned with the iPhone!

We’re honored (and feel a little bit cooler) to know that we’re on shelves of one of the biggest global technology companies in the world. Below are a few photos:

Have you seen ZOMM while out and about? Send us your photos—we love to feature them on our blog!

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

Apple iOS versus Android – Which Operating System is on Top?

In 2005, when Steve Jobs released the iPhone, people were blown-away by the innovativeness of the device. Every electronic device we ever wanted was packed into one small, black, touch-screen phone…

…Or so we thought.

Today, the iPhone is on its fourth generation, and it just keeps getting better with age. However, many other smartphones have entered the market. The most notable being the Android.

Yesterday, Nielsen released a report stating that Android had tied the Apple iOS for the title of “Most Desired Operating System.” Here are some of Nielsen’s findings:

35 % of users who already had a smartphone and were planning to get a new device leaned towards an Apple iPhone
28% of both smartphone and featurephone users planning to upgrade indicated they wanted an Android
Women planning to get a smartphone are more likely to want an iPhone, whereas men prefer Android devices

So what is it exactly that Droid does (pun intended) that has inspired this rapid growth in popularity?

While we can’t give you an answer to that question, we can promise you that regardless of which smartphone you choose, ZOMM will be there to help.

Are you an Apple or an Android? Why? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

Making the Switch to a Smartphone

Ready to make the switch…to a smartphone? Seems like everyone these days is making the switch. In fact, Nielson estimates that there will be 150 million smartphone users by mid 2011. That means people are saying sayonara to traditional mobile phones and adopting smartphones with open arms.

There are a lot of mobile smartphones on the market—and it can be hard to decide which is right for you. We’ve come up with a few recommendations (with the help of Brighthand.com), categorized by price. We hope our guide will help you choose the right smartphone for you!

Under $100:

Samsung Moment

This smartphone from Samsung features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a 3.2 megapixel camera with a flash. In addition, it has 3G, WiFi and AMOLED touchscreen.

Blackberry Curve 8530

Available on all of the major networks, this is the latest in the Curve line of Blackberrys. Along with a QWERTY keyboard, the Curve 8530 has access to WiFi and 3G as well as the Blackberry App world.

$100 – $300

Motorola Droid

The first smartphone to be released exclusively on the Verizon network, the Droid offers tons of great features, including 16 GB of removable storage and a 5 MPx camera (with flash).

HTC Droid Incredible

The massive size of this wireless smartphone’s touchscreen makes it perfect for utilizing the 30,000 apps available from the Android Market. The 8-megapixel camera makes it more like a camera that happens to also be a phone.

Over $300

Apple iPhone 4

If you haven’t heard of this 3G smartphone, you literally must be living under a rock. Even with the controversy around “Antenna-gate,” this phone is still as popular as ever. The new face-time feature and multi-tasking capabilites of iOS4 make this one of the smartest smartphones around.

Nokia N900

For $550 you can pick up the Nokia N900 – featuring 32 GB of storage, 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth®. The sliding keyboard makes texting a breeze and the extra-large WVGA touchscreen offers a great view of media.

If you’re going to be dishing out the big bucks for one of these mobile smartphones, shouldn’t you want to protect it? Eliminate the risk of losing or forgetting your newest investment by investing in a ZOMM. Our Bluetooth Wireless Leash™ is compatible with all of the smartphones listed here—and will make certain you never lose your phone again.

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Apple iPhone users: Who are they?

In light of the new iPhone coming out next weekend, here at ZOMM we’ve been doing a little thinking. Since the Apple iPhone was first introduced in 2007, it has become a pop-culture phenomenon. These days you see everyone from high-power business executives to movie stars and even soccer moms (and grandmas) checking e-mail, surfing the web and in general, being completely engrossed in their iPhones.

So, what do we know about iPhone users? The Nielson Company conducted several surveys to answer that very question.

In general, the number of smartphone users is increasing.According to Nielson’s research, 23% of mobile consumers now have a smartphone, up from just 16% last year. While this statistic may not tell us who iPhone users are, it does tell us that there are a lot of them out there.
iPhone users run the age gamut.Only 47% of iPhone users are under the age of 34. This means that the older generations are taking to the Apple Smartphone more so than the young, 20-something crowd. However, the male-female split is right at 50/50.
iPhone users are loyal and happy consumers.80% of Apple iPhone users want their next device to be an iPhone as well. A majority of them would recommend it (like an iPhone 3GS) to their friends.
iPhone users love to watch videos.Bringing the power of video to our fingertips—and on our mobile phones—is a huge accomplishment for Apple. And apparently, it was the right decision. 37% of iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS users watch video on their phone. (Speaking of, why not watch a few videos right now?)
Okay, iPhone users just love to use their iPhones.98% of iPhone users utilize the data features of their phone, 88% surf the Internet and 75% download the all-too-well known iPhone apps (heck there’s probably an app for finding out these very statistics).

Now, we didn’t find statistics about how many of these iPhone-loving folks have ever left their precious phones behind (or lost them completely) but we’re sure it’s happened. So as you head out to buy your first iPhone or upgrade to the iPhone 4, you should probably make a stop at the ZOMM online store an item on your to-do list.

Because if you don’t want to lose it, you better put a (wireless) leash on it.

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