Author: jacapps

As a Michigan based company, we are excited to see our neighbors in Detroit take advantage of the mobile space that will help residents in a big way.

Detroit Mayor, Mike Duggan, has recently launched the Improve Detroit app for Android and iPhone. This new app gives Detroit residents the ability to report problems that need to be fixed.  In this first version of the application, residents will be able to select from various different service issues, which include:

• Water Main Breaks
• Potholes
• Illegal Dumping
• Street Light Pole Down
• Running water in an abandoned home or building
• Abandoned Vehicles
• Dangerous Trees (on city property)
• Missing or defective manhole cover
• Broken fire hydrants
• Clogged drain

With the Improve Detroit app, reporting your problem is made easy with a 3 step process.  You can select your issue, provide a description, and enter the location. The app also allows you to upload a photo or video so city employees can better understand the issue(s) at hand. You can then view when an issue has been reported, if city workers have acknowledged it, and when the issue is resolved.

Sources: www.detroitmi.gov & www.detroit.curbed.com

We all know what is like to have your phone run out of battery life. That in its self is frustrating, but then you have to wait for what feels like an eternity for your mobile device to charge back up again.

Alas, this problem can soon be behind us. Scientists are now experimenting with a potential new type of battery that can charge your phone in one minute. You read correctly… One minute!

Developed by Stanford University researchers, an aluminum battery is an alternative to what we currently use (lithium ion batteries). According to CNBC, researchers are claiming that this new battery will not be combustible and won’t damage the environment. Sounds like a win, win to me!

More work still needs to be done before the battery is released, but it sounds like this could be a huge step in the world of mobile and technology, a game changer.

One of our custom applications, Food Tripping, was featured in a great article by Health.com entitled “10 Healthy Eating Apps This Nutritionist Loves”. From the brilliant minds at SHFT, their goal is to lead a more sustainable lifestyle through film, design, art, and food. This app is designed to help those in search of healthier food options nearby, integrating farmers markets as well as vegetarian and vegan restaurants. The author of the article, Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, is a big advocate of the app, saying “I even found some new spots in my own neighborhood I hadn’t heard about yet, and I can suggest my own favorites that are missing. Love, love, love.”

IMAGE: US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Recently, Apple has acquired a slew of new patents that could eventually make its way onto the iPhone. According to Mashable, the U.S. Patent and Trademark office has approved the “Track My Friends” feature. This new feature would let users monitor others’ locations in real time. It will also work hand-in-hand with Apple’s existing “Find My Friends” tool.

What is really neat about this potential feature is that you can open a maps app on your device, and share the path you are travelling with a friend who might want to take the same route. This would be extremely convenient for those who are travelling together in multiple vehicles.

Apple was also approved for a patent related to a new phone camera. This would be for a three-sensor, light splitting camera. These types of cameras would result in a higher resolution, especially when it comes to video capabilities.

We are still unsure if Apple will actually use these technologies, but it was a smart choice to act on it quickly before someone else catches on to these interesting ideas.

IMAGE: US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Recently, Apple has acquired a slew of new patents that could eventually make its way onto the iPhone. According to Mashable, the U.S. Patent and Trademark office has approved the “Track My Friends” feature. This new feature would let users monitor others’ locations in real time. It will also work hand-in-hand with Apple’s existing “Find My Friends” tool.

What is really neat about this potential feature is that you can open a maps app on your device, and share the path you are travelling with a friend who might want to take the same route. This would be extremely convenient for those who are travelling together in multiple vehicles.

Apple was also approved for a patent related to a new phone camera. This would be for a three-sensor, light splitting camera. These types of cameras would result in a higher resolution, especially when it comes to video capabilities.

We are still unsure if Apple will actually use these technologies, but it was a smart choice to act on it quickly before someone else catches on to these interesting ideas.

Radio apps have grown substantially since our friend, James Cridland, developed the world’s first streaming mobile app for a radio station back in 2005.  Back in the time where there were no app stores, no wifi for mobile, and data was extremely expensive. That time is long gone, and after 10 years, the mobile space has quickly evolved. We have learned so much about radio applications, and how people use them.

Click here to read James’ article about what we have learned after 10 years of radio apps.