Name That App: Rdio

By Matt Kapko | 06.17.10, 3:06 PM | (0)

**As published at digiday:DAILY**

Publisher: Rdio Price: $9.99 for unlimited web and mobile, $4.99 for unlimited web
Platform: iOS and BlackBerry
Advertising: None
Functionality: B+
Fun Factor: B
Overall: B+

Music has turned out to be a rather tough proposition on mobile. While apps like Pandora have soared in both popularity and revenue-generation capabilities, other apps like RealNetworks’ Rhapsody have garnered less favorable reviews and market penetration.

Still, there are a growing number of free and subscription-based streaming services to choose from, which makes the “music on mobile” market all the more compelling to participate in. Case in point: The Rdio app. Read more

Nokia downgrades outlook as developers flee

By Matt Kapko | 06.16.10, 3:01 PM | (0)

**As published at RCR Wireless News**

Nokia Corp. continues to buckle under the increasing might and will of its competitors in the smartphone space.

In a note to investors , the company downgraded the financial outlook for its devices and services division for the second (current) quarter and full year of 2010. The company said “multiple factors are negatively impacting Nokia’s business to a greater extent than previously expected.” While that may be true, it would be difficult to conclude that most of these “factors” have come as a surprise to the world’s largest manufacturer of cellphones. Read more

Twitter expands sphere of mobile influence with places

By Matt Kapko | 06.15.10, 2:59 PM | (0)

**As published at RCR Wireless News**

Twitter Inc. just did the inevitable. Twice.

First it launched a geolocation-based service called Places. Then a few hours later, the entire service crashed and stayed down into the late hours of Monday night out on the West Coast.

The fourth day of matches at the World Cup was still hours away when the infamous fail whale appeared, so it would be hard to blame the world’s most unifying event for Twitter’s downtime. It’s also worth noting that Apple Inc. could take some of the blame since the impending onslaught of iPhone 4 pre-orders was due to begin any minute (or hour) when the site’s servers overloaded. Read more

Name That App: StoryCorps

By Matt Kapko | 06.8.10, 2:57 PM | (0)

**As published at digiday:DAILY**

Publisher: StoryCorps; developed by Bottle Rocket Apps Price: Free Platform: iPhone
Advertising: None
Functionality: B-
Fun Factor: C
Overall: B-

With a mission that’s as large and as simple as recording America’s stories, it didn’t take much to convince me to give the StoryCorps app a go-round. I absolutely love StoryCorps’ premise — recording people’s stories, and getting them archived in the Library of Congress — but I wish the app provided a better window into the tens of thousands of interviews the non-profit group has already recorded.

This app does a great job of introducing the user to StoryCorps with a limited selection of clips from about 35 interviews, but the true value of StoryCorps lies in its rich vault of far more stories. While the website offers a full selection of stories, it would be great if the app could do the same. Read more

@WWDC: Apple holds firm to leader status with iPhone 4

By Matt Kapko | 06.7.10, 2:54 PM | (0)

**As published in RCR Wireless News**

SAN FRANCISCO – Although millions of fanboys and industry watchers have already seen what turned out to be the new iPhone 4 today, Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs still had a few surprises up his sleeve to share during his keynote at the company’s annual developer gathering.

If there is any less excitement or anticipation for Apple’s game-changing mobile device, that sure wasn’t apparent this morning. Lines began forming around the building at 6 a.m. this morning and when the gates to the main hall were finally raised for Jobs’ keynote there was a mad dash for seats (press included). The whole experience felt very rock concert in typical Apple fashion. Read more

Name That App: Bitbop

By Matt Kapko | 06.1.10, 2:51 PM | (0)

**As published in digiday:DAILY**

Publisher: Fox Mobile Distribution, LLC Price: Free (with future pricing plans for movie rentals) Platform: BlackBerry
Advertising: None so far
Functionality: A-
Fun Factor: B+
Overall: B+

I’ve covered all the major networks’ efforts in mobile TV over the past five years, and yet I’ve never understood why they all haven’t done more to control the future of their content pipelines. With an entirely new distribution model at the ready — mobile video — it makes perfect sense for these big media companies to protect their property, maintain their relationships with viewers, and possible even create new fans in the process.

Think Hulu, but for mobile. And yet, there’s still no mobile app for Hulu, despite constant rumors of an imminent launch. Read more

Name That App: Tripit

By Matt Kapko | 05.26.10, 2:47 PM | (0)

**As published at digiday:DAILY**

Publisher: TripIt, Inc. Price: Free Platform: BlackBerry OS, iPhone and Android
Advertising: None
Functionality: B+
Fun Factor: B
Overall: B+

I travel frequently for business, so finding the right digital tools for keeping track of all my itineraries has become a necessity. But it’s been a bit of an ongoing journey, simply because there are almost too many options. The one solution that has grabbed the bulk of my travel interest — at least since the beginning of the year — is TripIt.

Like any good app these days, TripIt has all the makings of Web 2.0: Users can connect with other users, share details about upcoming trips and then expand that reach to various social media outlets. Personally, I’m not interested in sharing my travel plans (work or personal) with much of anyone, but for those that are, this is a must-have feature. Read more

Name That App: SocialScope

By Matt Kapko | 05.18.10, 4:00 PM | (0)

**As published at digiday:DAILY**

Publisher: SocialScope, Inc  Price: Free  Platform: BlackBerry OS, iPhone and limited Android devices Advertising: None

Functionality: A+
Fun Factor: A
Overall: A+

Just when I think I’ve found my all-time favorite client for Twitter on my BlackBerry, an alternative jumps into my radar and I begin the evaluation process anew once more.

I can’t remember how long it’s been since I requested an invite to check out the beta for SocialScope, but I finally got a code via e-mail last week and was downloading the app on my BlackBerry minutes later. The company has seemingly made an early commitment to developing for the BlackBerry, as it lists a number of compatible RIM devices on its site; there’s also support for the Android-based G1 and the iPhone. Read more

@ The Cable Show: Mobile is little more than an after-thought

By Matt Kapko | 05.14.10, 2:01 PM | (0)

**As published in RCR Wireless News**

LOS ANGELES – After spending the last three days up close and personal with the cable industry at its big annual affair, I’m disappointed to report that mobile was hard to find. The wireless innovations and news I’d hoped to see were simply not there.

I’m not sure lobbying will do the trick, but the entire mobile industry should do everything it can to bring wireless out from the distant horizon it sits in now and into clear view for most business in this space who don’t yet see the light. Read more

@ The Cable Show: Bringing TV and content up to the modern era

By Matt Kapko | 05.14.10, 2:00 PM | (0)

**As published in RCR Wireless News**

LOS ANGELES – Kicking off the final day of the cable industry’s big soiree, Federal Communications Commission Chair Julius Genachowski tried to dampen obvious concerns in the room over his latest regulatory plans. After duly applauding the cable industry for the massive investment it put into building broadband infrastructure, even going so far as to call it a “great American success story,” he pointed out how badly the country is lagging on rate of innovative change.

Whether or not those in the audience shared his sentiment, Genachowski said his core goal is to drive faster connections and reap the rewards that will flow from greater broadband deployments and innovation. He believes broadband capacity, penetration and the nation’s access to the Internet as a whole will be one of, if not the, largest driving factor in job growth and social change for the country at large. Read more