Glasses Off says their iPhone app can help reduce eye age by up to 20%

It’s scientifically proven… at some point or another, whether we like it or not, we’ll all have that dreaded day when we realize we’re holding the newspaper an arm’s length away to read it.

Presbyopia – the inability to see near objects clearly – is usually first noticed in the ages between 40 and 50, and try as we might it’s not something we can avoid. The good news is that the market is awash with reading glasses and multifocal contact lenses to ease the problem. The even better news is that recently, an app has emerged claiming the ability to reduce the condition’s effects and reduce our ‘eye age’ by as much as 20%.

Innovation, it seems, was clearly focused on the product itself rather than clever naming, as developers ‘Ucansi’ (did someone say cheesy?) prepare to launch their app-child ‘GlassesOff’.

How does it work?

The technology relies on training the eyes to see patterns known as Gabor Patches, which in plain terms are blurry lines produced through exploiting a grey background. Development has been lengthy, and it is reported that a large majority of subjects were able to see as much as two lines further down on an eye test after undergoing the procedure.

How much will it cost?

So that’s the good news. The bad news is that the app looks like it’s going to set you back around £60 ($96). Added to this is the fact that due to the need for a top notch display for the software to work, it will initially be limited solely to new versions of the iPhone – costing somewhere in the region of £500 ($802).

And the wallet assault doesn’t end there. £60 ($96) buys you the initial app and three months worth of training, however Ucansi have indicated that in order to receive further training after this period, a monthly fee will apply.

That said though, rumours are spreading fast that the company may well be looking into converting their software onto a Windows supported platform. As well as this, with the prices of corrective laser surgery stretching comfortably into the thousands, this might suddenly sound like a much more persuasive deal after all.

The future?

Certainly this is a very intriguing app and one that’s worth keeping an eye on to see how things develop. What I find most exciting though is that this could well be a step toward aiding other eyesight problems without invasive surgery… perhaps we’ll see an iCure for problems like myopia in the near future?

Robin blogs for DirectSight.co.uk about technology and eyewear

StL Baseball

StL Baseball is a terrific way to stay abreast of all of that up to the minute action and statistics that you need to make your educated commentaries. Cardinals’ fans may not appreciate the analogy but their team to this outsider is like the New York Yankees of the National League, if somewhat geographically removed, meaning that they can usually be relied upon to win their division. They are often the team to beat. StL Baseball rocks because it has the juiciest blogs, the latest scores and all that jazz that keeps the Redbirds tweeting.

Milwaukee Baseball

Milwaukee Baseball has got the job of being a fan down to a science. No stone is left unturned to include the fan in on all of the fun. The app has the priorities properly in perspective as well. The tailgating parties are given their place in the sun. Fans can shine their instant karmas with comments to their constituency. Ever since they put that tawdry little Sausage Race incident behind them there has been no stopping the Brew Crew. They will have a thing or two to say about St. Louis’ traditional dominance in the standings. The denizens of Miller Park are expecting big things from this years’ roster and early indications are that they won’t be disappointed.

Cincinnati.com

Cincinnati.com encapsulates the best content from a wealth of sources to bring all of the game results and the in depth analysis that you crave. This is the thinking man’s/woman’s Reds’ app. The first official professional baseball team in history has come a long way since the days when they would send a horse rider into town with all of the latest scores and info. All that is required today is this app to push the newest dope onto your iPhones’ screen. Now all can be seen in digital splendor on the fly. Though there may be those that bewail the loss of a job for some unfortunate equestrian, it is probably for the best that that horse has long been put out to pasture so that you may remain in yours and yet receive all the exciting goings on from the Reds clubhouse.

Pittsburg Baseball Live

Pittsburg Baseball Live is the go to app for long suffering Pirates fans. It is true that it should be more about how the game is played anyway. It’s always fun to watch good sportsmanship and perhaps the Pirates are due for a baseball miracle. In this brand new season anything can happen. That’s why Pirates fans and even non-Pirates fans should get this app. If they can outperform their stat sheets then it will be a baseball story that you won’t want to miss. Instant Twitter messages can be sent direct to your iPhone, nice touch.

Article by Martin Monroe, tech author at idaconcpts specalizing in smartphone app reviews such as these Android baseball apps.

1. Vouchercloud

Vouchercloud is available as an app where you can receive your vouchers through text message or as a voucher code directly on your phone. This voucher is then presented to the cashier upon paying to enjoy valuable savings. The vouchers available are on a wide range of items from leisure and entertainment, from Alton Towers vouchers to eating out, to travel and many more.

The Vouchercloud app is now available on all smartphone platforms including Windows phones, iPhones, Android and Google. This enables the buyer to enjoy money saving discounts while on the go.

Another handy feature in this app is that it’ll helpfully provide you with a map of your local area, marking local participating businesses so that you can be sure that you’re always getting the best deal in town!

2. Hot Deals UK

Hot Deals UK has a wide selection of deals, vouchers, sale items and freebies available with a great app that is available for both iOS and Android based mobile devices. Get the information through push notifications, newsletters or just do a basic search in your area and see the great deals available to you. Hot Deals UK is a community run app where consumers share information and voucher codes with other consumers, so you can always count on someone to be keeping the database fresh!

3. Red Laser

Red Laser is one of the top iPhone, Windows and Android phone apps for those that want to pay the best price when you walk into any store and see a must have item. It’s so easy to use; you scan the item you’re interested in and the app will do the rest. You’ll be presented with buying options, product information, directions to retailers and more at the tap of a button.

If someone in the family has food allergies, this app is a definite must have. Scan the barcode of any food item and a list of the allergens will be available for you to check and determine whether the food is safe to take home with you.

4. Pricecheckah

Pricecheckah is a money saving tool available for the iPhone. It enables you to save money when you have the urge for an impulse buy or see something you really want. All you do is scan in the barcode or type in the name and Pricecheckah will find you the cheapest prices even from places such as eBay and Amazon, where you can order it straight away and have it delivered.

5. Spendometer

Spendometer is ideal for anyone who is trying to save money or buy on a budget. This free app lets you set daily, weekly or even monthly budgets and you just pop in your spending as you go. It will soon advise you if you are saving or overspending. Perfect for students who are living on a very tight budget and need to ensure they don’t overspend.

Whatever phone you have whether it’s Android, iPhone, Windows mobile or Blackberry, you can enjoy great shopping and discount code apps if you are trying to save money. Everyone these days is trying to save every penny possible and walking into a store and buying any item often isn’t an option. Being able to easily compare prices, receive discount codes and find the latest deals near you, is the great way to enjoy what you love but still save money wherever possible.

The team at Broadband Choices love to help you save money. Compare broadband plan prices at BroadbandChoices.co.uk.

Through voice dictation, you simply tell Siri a demand, such as to send an email, or you can ask a question, such as information about the weather, and Siri will either perform the task or find your answers. Siri doesn’t need to be installed and it doesn’t need to be taught what to do. Through the use of WiFi, 3G and Apple technology, it is able to recognize your requests and provide answers. If Siri doesn’t understand or needs more information, it will ask you questions to get a better grasp on what you’re looking for.

Some iPhone 4S users haven’t yet used Siri or don’t use it for all of its possibilities. If you own an iPhone 4S, you need to use Siri for the following.

1. Listen and respond to text messages and emails.

Rather than fumble with your phone to read emails or text message, you can instruct Siri to read them aloud. This is great when you’re incapable of handling your phone to read these notifications, such as while driving or working out. Along with reading them aloud, you can also instruct Siri to respond for you. Simply tell Siri what to say, and it will do all the work. And there’s no limitations, so you can have an entire conversation via text message without ever typing a single thing.

Siri can also transcribe anything for you, not just emails and text messages. If you want to write a note to yourself, you can speak it instead of typing it. This is great if you don’t have time to sit and type something out or if you’re just not that great of a typist to begin with.

2. Manage your schedule.

Siri can help you become more organized by staying on top of your schedule. Since it is capable of reading your calendar and your address book, it can tell you what your schedule looks like for the day as well as where certain appointments may be located. You can also tell Siri to add events to your calendar, and you can even tell it to remind you about certain upcoming events.

3. Find out information.

With a smartphone, you have the Internet at your fingertips, but sometimes you’re not sure where to look for specific information, or you don’t feel like searching through websites to find the one piece of information you need. Instead, you can have Siri do this. If you’re lost, Siri can tell you where you are and how to get home. If you want to know what the weather will be like on your business trip, Siri will tell you. If you want to know where to get a hamburger at 3 o’clock in the morning, Siri will let you know.

Siri is a great addition to the iPhone 4S, and since it’s capable of so many functions, it’s a great personal assistant to have. If you have yet to use Siri, you need to use it for these three functions. It will make your life easier, and you’ll soon wonder how you ever lived without it.

Andreas Svensson is a swedish-born IT specialist and Apple fanatic who loves to write about his interests. To ensure his work is clear and free of grammatical errors he uses a grammar checker before letting anyone read it. Grammar rules can be tough to learn when English is your second language so he is glad for the extra help.

Today the subject is Big Apple apps—and not just apps for Apple devices, we’ll hit some Android apps that will make your trip to New York City way easier and a whole lot more fun. Everything happens faster in NYC, hence the phrase “New York minute,” so having great local information ready to go on your smartphone is a major plus. Let’s get started.

Apps to navigate New York City

NYSubView Pro

Unless you’re coming from Tokyo, there’s a good chance the public transit system in your home doesn’t quite measure up to the size and complexity of the NYC public transportation system. For visitors looking to minimize transportation costs, the subway is the way to go. This free iOS app gives you a map with all the lines and stations. It also includes bus maps. If you want more bells and whistles, iTrans NYC Subway is available for iPhones and iPads at $3.99.

Cab Sense NYC

We’ve probably all seen a movie when heroine gets stuck in Manhattan, it’s raining and she can’t get a cab to pull over. Obviously she didn’t have this iOS and Android app. This app uses data from a variety of sources to find the best corners to hail an open cab. It’s sensitive to the time of day, the day of the week and your current location. There’s even a “time slider” you can use if you want to plan ahead.

Leave the 5 lb. guide book at home

The Best of New York by Baffled By Travel

With great apps like this one, we’ll never need to waste space in our carry-ons with another guide book again. This good looking app covers sights, attractions, arts and entertainment, shopping, and hotels in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx. Along with excellent articles there are lots of photos and videos. You can sort by price, location, and even distance from your current location. Free iOS app.

GuidePal: New York City Guide

GuidePal offers guides to cities all around the world. They feature recommendations from locals who give you the skinny on the hidden gems, the must-sees, favorite local hotspots and quirky venues. This free app is available for both Android and iOS devices.

New York: Condé Nast Traveller City Guide

If you can spare 99 cents and prefer a name that has been long established in the travel industry, this iOS app fits the ticket. Shopping, hotels, nightlife, and what to see and do while in NYC are covered in great depth. Offline maps will help keep your data usage under control. There are also excellent audio tours of the editors’ favorite places.

Shop ’til you drop

VanDam NYC ShopSmart

This app uses advanced interactive mapping technology to fly you through the streets of New York City and put you up close and personal to more than 600 stories, from the city’s trendy boutiques to the Meat Market in Manhattan. The maps work with or without a wi-fi signal. This one is a $2.99 iOS app.

Eat your way through NYC

OpenTable

Even if you aren’t traveling to the Big Apple, you’ll want to have this free app on your smartphone or tablet. You can quickly find nearby restaurants on an interactive map, read reviews, get a feel for prices, scan menus and make reservations.

Real Pizza of New York

WARNING: Chicagoans stop reading here. There, now we can talk. NYC’s thin crust pizza is arguably the best in the world. With this iOS app you can get find the top local pizza joints as recommended by the people who know: the locals. You can even use this app to build your own pizza tour or New York City. $3.99 in the iTunes app store.

These tips brought to you by Metropolitan Walks, offering ground zero and wall street walking tours.

And while a purpose-built GPS unit can handle the weather, your iPhone is neither rugged nor water resistant off the shelf. So if you plan on having your iPhone with you for any serious amount of hiking, get a water resistant case that can take a beating. We like the Lifeproof ($80) case though we’re eagerly awaiting the debut of the solar powered Snow Lizard case (price and release date unknown but they are taking preorders for a $100 deposit).

Your iPhone can even help you capture great scenic pictures when you get to the top!

6 Hiking Apps We Like For the iPhone

The apps that are intended for outdoor use, like the excellent iHikeGPS, will still display a map even when the cell phone signal drops out. They do recommend carrying a paper map and compass as a backup though. iHikeGPS can show you the elevation profile of a route you’ve just hiked or want to try, collect information on speed and progress, and give you an expected arrival time just like the GPS in a car. It’s good for planning days out as well as using on the hills, and you can also share routes with friends.

Having first aid information at your fingertips can be very useful in the backwoods, and there is no shortage of good apps that will let you find what you need fast. GotoAID is one option (there is a free lite version) or there is the entirely free St John Ambulance app, which covers all kinds of minor injuries and includes information on outdoor hypothermia, heatstroke, and drowning.

The Flashlight app is another helpful freebie. It’s not intended to replace a regular torch or headtorch- another item that should be in every backpack- but it can come in very handy around the campsite.

In fact, Gary (the editor of this site) likes to tell the story of using his old iPod Nano as a flashlight as he got lost on a trail while camping and it was the only light source he had – don’t ask me why he left his flashlight at the campsite but that’s what he did. In a pinch, an iPhone flashlight can be a real life saver when the other option is no light at all and the camera’s LED flash is actually pretty bright.

As ever hiker knows, it’s not just about going the distance but about having a good time and seeing the sights along the way. For anyone who has ever stood on a high lookout and tried to figure out which mountains they could see in the distance, there’s Point de Vue. The format will familiar to users of astronomy apps- point the phone at the horizon and it’ll display the names of the peaks in front of you.

Tap a mountain and you’ll see the height and distance from your current location. There is also an option to click through to a Google map. The downside is that the peak view information does have to be downloaded in advance so do this before you leave the house.

Apps can also help you learn more about the environment you’re passing through. Take birds for example. Audubon Birds can help you figure out what an unfamiliar bird is and will also let you record your sightings. There are plenty of others that will do the same (and for less than $19.95) but what really sets this app apart is the eBirds system, which is designed to help users find rare birds that have been seen in recently in their area.

One more note of caution to finish: just make sure you don’t use up all your battery having fun with Audubon Birds and Point de Vue. Leave enough that you’ll be able to make an emergency call if necessary, even towards the end of your hike unless you plan on taking one of those creepy iPhone chargers you breathe into with you.

Jess Spate is a long-distance hiker and a rock climber. She writes for Appalachian Outdoors, a Pennsylvania-based online outdoor store.

I recently had a friend turn her back on her iPhone (which she loved) because the $100 a month she had to shell out was straining her budget.  She ultimately went back to a standard cell phone (the kind with just a number pad) and with her eschewing such fantastic technology, I think she secretly wants to be Amish (kidding… sort of).

So I’m on a mission today – if you have a smartphone, I’d like to help you keep it.  If you don’t have one yet, hopefully I can help you justify the purchase of a new one.

Today I’ll show you all of the legitimate ways that a smartphone, whether it be an Android phone or the Jesus Phone iPhone, can truly help you save money.

1) You Don’t Have To Buy So Many Gadgets

While you may not have ever been a Star Trek fan, you’ve certainly seen or heard of the tricoder used on the show.  It’s pretty much a “do everything” gadget.  With recent advances in smartphones, it’s getting closer to becoming a reality and the Life Sciences Prize Group just commissioned an “X Prize” and a $10 million reward for the team that can build one.

While today’s smartphone still can’t operate as a medical scanner, there are several legitimate gadgets you no longer need to buy:

GPS Navigation Device

Before I got my smartphone, I had three GPS devices, two handhelds and an automotive GPS.  Since I bought my Droid in November of 2009, they’ve been sitting in a drawer collecting dust.  I haven’t found any need to use any other GPS device and with Android you get the pretty darn good Google Maps Navigation Beta.  Sure, Navigon Mobile Navigator is better, but you probably don’t need it.   If you have an iPhone you may want to spend the $50 or so on it, but it still saves you from spending $150-$300 on a dedicated unit you’ll only use once in a while.

Music Player / iPod

I still have a 2^nd generation iPod… in a drawer… somewhere.   While I think my iPod is a superior music player than my Droid, I haven’t used it in the past six months – it’s so much easier to just take my phone with me and it does the job just fine.    And with apps like Double Twist for Android that will sync your iTunes playlists and music, there’s really no need to keep an iPod handy.  And since the iPhone is an iPod, there’s no excuse there unless you really want a little music player to strap to your arm while you’re working out (personally, I just make sure I wear a pair of shorts with pockets).

Digital Camera

Yes, a modern smartphone can replace a digital camera, but with a couple caveats.  First, if you’re used to a digital SLR, then I lied – you can’t.  However, if you typically use a pocket digital camera for pictures, high end smartphones like the iPhone, HTC Inspire 4G, HTC MyTouch Slide 4G, and Samsung Galaxy S 4G all have really good digital cameras built in and with onboard editing,  easy uploading to photo sharing sites like Facebook and Flickr, their ease of use easily compensates for the slightly (emphasis on slightly) higher quality you can get out of a digital camera.   I’m not going to include a video camera in this list yet since handheld video cameras can still outperform a smartphone video camera by a significant margin but the day is coming when your phone will be a perfectly good camcorder as well… give it a year or two.

And there are professional photographers who have shown that you really can take professional quality photography using an iPhone and a good eye for the right shot.

Alarm Clock

Okay, so most phones have a built in alarm clock, but apps like Gentle alarm are a whole lot nicer than that incessant buzzing your standard cell phone alarm or regular alarm clock is going to give you.  My alarm clock plays music, starting quietly and slowly getting louder over the course of 10 minutes to make waking up easier and more pleasant.   I don’t like alarm clocks in the first place and don’t really see the need to ever buy a new one.

Voice Recorder

I know that a lot of people don’t carry a voice recorder with them… but I used to.  However, my phone has made that thing obsolete as my phone has a large storage capacity and it’s even easier to transfer those files to my computer than ever before.

Stop Watch

Okay, so a stop watch doesn’t cost much to begin with and they last forever once you have one, but if you put a stop watch app on your phone, you’ll always have it with you and they really do work just as well as the real thing.

Nintendo 3DS / Sony PSP

If you like having games with you when you’re on a road trip, sitting in the airport, or riding the bus to work, you have to really be into games to bother buying a handheld gaming device like the 3DS or PSP when the iPhone has thousands of fantastic games that are a lot cheaper (most games cost between $.99 and $4.99)   Heck, on Android, you can even get a Playstation Certified smartphone (the Xperia Play) that has a real playstation controller built in – just slide up the screen and your controller is revealed.    If you like gaming on a portable device, get a smartphone.

Calculator / Graphing Calculator

I remember that in college I needed two calculators – a graphing calculator ($120) and a scientific calculator ($20).  My roommate needed a specialized finance calculator ($30).   There are free or very cheap apps that’ll run on your phone that can replace every kind

Cargo Pants

Now that you don’t need to carry all this junk around, you don’t need a pair of pants with a ton of pockets anymore, either.

2) Never Buy Another Ringtone

Ringtones are a racket and there’s really no good reason to buy one anymore when smartphone apps will allow you to turn any song into a ringtone… for free!  And you can completely customize the ringtone to be just what you like all on the phone – you don’t need to do any editing on your computer first.  On Android I use RingDroid – for the iPhone I recommend Ringtone Designer.

3) Stop Paying ATM Fees

It’s a fact of life that most banks are going to charge you to use their ATM if you’re not one of their customers and there are plenty of times where you just don’t know where the closest ATM for your bank is.  However, your smartphone can save you from getting fleeced for $2-$5 at the ATM by locating the closest one.  If you do business with a large bank, they probably already have an app out for your phone.  If you bank with a smaller bank, just bookmark their ATM locator page on your phone.

There are also apps likes ATM Hunter and Allpoint which can help you find ATMs in the area that are surcharge free (there are 37,000 free ones in Allpoint’s database).

4) Carry Your Coupons With You

Now as a guy I’m the first to admit I don’t clip coupons… ever!  I’m not going to spend any time with a flyer I got in the mail with a pair of scissors clipping coupons and putting them in my wallet.  However,  if coupons are easy to put on my phone, I’m okay with using them since they don’t take much time to find, access, and use.  For the iPhone, the best coupon app is probably Coupon Sherpa – for Android go with The Coupons.    There are plenty of store specific apps but to be honest, I’m too lazy to use those – if you’re a little more motivated, you could certainly save a bunch of money every month.

5) Compare Prices – Avoid Buying Crappy Products

A few months ago I was in Sears with a friend of mine and we saw a product that looked really interesting but the claims seemed a little “too good to be true.”  So since I had my smartphone with me, I just scanned the barcode and we were able to pull up several reviews of the product indicating that it didn’t work and it’d be a waste of money.    Saved us from wasting $15.

You can also use the barcode scanner on your phone (it scans by using your phone’s camera in case you’re not familiar with them) to compare prices.   While I wouldn’t bother on low priced items like groceries, I’d certainly be willing to use it to compare prices of power tools or electronics.

6) Store Discount / Loyalty Cards

I can’t even tell you how many discount or loyalty cards I’ve lost over the years.  There are a lot of stores I go to that give them out that I only shop at a few times a year and when I do go back, I’ve either forgotten the card in my desk drawer or it’s lost or been through the wash a few times.

However, your phone can help you manage all those cards to make your life easier.  Just download the app CardStar (they have an Android, iPhone, and Blackberry app) and you can store all of your discount cards on your phone.

Now it’s no sweat to keep all of those cards with me when I’m out shopping.

For shopping for groceries, there is an app called Grocery IQ that is really cool.  First of all, whenever you run out of something or you’re getting low, just scan the barcode at home and it’ll put the item on a list so you actually remember to buy it when you to got the grocery store.  That feature alone makes it worth it to me since it often takes me two or three trips to the store to remember to buy items that I’ve run out of.   It also stores you’re the discount cards to the grocery stores you go to and keeps you up to date on sales and coupons.

And while we’re saving money, let’s not forget about gas.  If you live in a city, even a small city, there are probably several choices of gas stations that are all convenient for you to visit.  However, since gas prices literally fluctuate daily, knowing which station has the cheapest gas that day is a pain unless you’re going to drive by all of them… and you’re not going to do that because that’d waste more money than you could ever save.  So just download the app GasBuddy and it’ll help you find which gas station has the cheapest gas that day.

7) Unlimited Calling… Without An Unlimited Plan

I know I know – phone calls are so last century… but I know a lot of people do spend quite a bit of time on the phone and will burn through their anytime minutes quickly.

However, there is a workaround you can use to hack your Android phone and make unlimited phone calls as much as you want.  The only thing you need to make sure you get is a cell phone plan that has a friends and family option.  You really only need one number to make this work so get the cheapest plan.

Then you just need to make sure you have a Google Voice account setup and then you need to download an app called Google Voice Callback.

Next, setup one of your “friends and family” numbers to be your Google Voice number.  Remember that Google Voice makes long distance calls to anyone in the United States for free.

When you use Google Voice Callback, you end up using your cell phone to call your Google Voice number, then the app uses Google Voice to place the long distance call.    The end result is unlimited long distance even on a much cheaper plan.

You can also use Skype to make phone calls so if you don’t want to setup the system I just mentioned, then just use Skype to make calls.

Either way you slice it, the only time you should be using anytime minutes is when you’re receiving phone calls… all your outgoing calls can be placed without using any of your minutes.

8 ) Tethering / Mobile Hotspot Without An Additional Charge

I remember a few years ago getting a mobile broadband card for my laptop.  I traveled a lot and needed to be able to get on the Internet in more places than just airports and coffee shops so I paid the $60/month it cost.

These days the cell phone companies are happy to let your share the Internet connection from your smartphone supply an internet connection to your laptop or any other mobile device… for a fee – usually $30/month.

That’s still ridiculous especially if you have an unlimited data plan considering you can do it without paying an extra dime.

Disclaimer: The following information isn’t exactly approved by the cell phone carriers – in fact they’re very much against this so remember you could be violating the terms of your contract if you follow any of the advice below.  The consequences of following my advice are unknown but could result in your service being terminated, or additional charges being added to your bill, or you might be placed in a burlap sack and beaten with reeds – I really don’t know.

What I do know is that I’m already paying the cell phone company over $100/month to begin with, I’m not going to lose a wink of sleep over not giving them even more money every month, but ultimately the decision is up to you and if you feel it’s morally wrong or you can’t handle the potential consequences (known or unknown), then don’t do it – nobody’s twisting your arm.  The information below is for informational purposes only – you take full responsibility for any consequences that come from putting it into practice. [/disclaimer]

AT&T and Verizon have been cracking down on unauthorized tethering apps like PDAnet and Tether lately since they only want you to use their apps that they’ll charge you an arm and a leg for.

While you can still find those apps, the easiest way to future proof your phone is to root it if you’re an Android user or Jailbreak it if you’re an iPhone user.

Just Google it for directions (try “root + your phone’s model” or “jailbreak iphone”).  The process is different for every phone and changes frequently for may phones which means that how to do it is well beyond the scope of this already lengthy article and would require yet another lengthy disclaimer.

Once you’re rooted or Jailbroken, you’ll able to download apps like Wireless Tether for Android (free) and MyWi 4.0 for the iPhone ($19.99 on Cydia or Intelliborn.com).

Then you can use your phone as a Wifi hotspot for no additional charge and power your iPad, Android tablet, laptop or whatever the heck you want.

Conclusion

So there you have it – several ways to justify the additional cost of a smartphone.  Have any other ways you can use a smartphone to save money?  Just post in the comments – we’re always looking for more cool tips.

1. Aha – Aha is a downright brilliant app designed for people stuck in traffic. The coolest thing about Aha isn’t the fact that it provides real-time traffic info, can help you locate bathrooms, coffee stops or diners – it’s that through Aha you can talk to other users on the network. You can chat with other drivers, play karaoke with them, or scream and rant about your frustrations through Aha. The only problem is that if there’s no one else on the network nearby, well then you’ll be ranting to yourself. Learn more about Aha at http://ahamobile.com/.

2. Zipcar – For people who do not own cars, Zipcar is an incredibly nifty service. Zipcar is a car sharing service where for an annual fee, you can rent one of their many cars parked throughout several major cities. With the Zipcar app, you can find available Zipcars on a map, browse through car types, make and cancel Zipcar reservations, open your Zipcar with the iPhone and honk your Zipcar’s horn with your iPhone so you can find it in a sea of cars. Get more info about Zipcar at http://www.zipcar.com/iphone/.

3. iTransitBuddy – If renting a car is not for you, then check out the world of mass transit through iTransitBuddy. iTransitBuddy is currently designed only for trains and has access to schedules for more than 20 transit agencies through the country. What’s really nifty about iTransitBuddy is that it actually loads the schedules onto your phone, which means if you’re trapped in an underground station with no WiFi, you can still search through the train schedules! Learn more about iTransitBuddy here at http://iphone.itransitbuddy.com/.

4. Transit Maps – Similar to iTransitBuddy, the Transit Maps app lets you download and save things to your iPhone in case you don’t have WiFi access. Like the name suggests, Transit Maps lets you download, save and view large format maps. You can zoom in and out of the maps, drag them in any direction and scroll through locations. Find out more about this incredibly helpful app at http://www.felttip.com/maps/.

5. Bike Your Drive – Available from REI, this is an app designed for all those bike commuters out there. With Bike Your Drive, you can use the built in iPhone GPS to calculate your distance. It also allows you to calculate how many calories you have burned by biking and how much gas and money you have saved by biking instead of driving or using public transportation. Check it out at http://www.rei.com/bikeyourdrive.

Ryan Embly writes for the cheap car rental website http://www.carrentalexpress.com.

Chirping for the Masses

The famous Nextel walkie-talkie phones soon became the IM replacement of the cellphone world, and became very popular with many people outside the business sector. The act of talking to someone using the walkie-talkie method quickly took the name, “chirping.” How many products in the world officially had slang terms created for their products? Not many, that is for sure, but now the exclusivity is gone because HeyTell distributes an Android and Apple application for smartphones that recreates the chirping act of communication.

Yes, that’s right, now we have walkie-talkie for the smartphones, and it is just cool. Now the company is going over the top with the recent addition of group chirping. HeyTell was not one of the “winners” at the SXSW conference in early 2011, but could upset the race. Group messaging systems like GroupMe and KiK took the show at the media and technology conference. Social networking is looking to be the next big move in mobile. HeyTell, with the addition of group messaging to its direct-connect app, makes it potentially a killer group messaging app.

The service is not perfect, as it has a bit of a lag, depending on the message length, and is because the system uses an IP voicemail transfer system. You push a button to talk, the system records your voice, digitizes it, and then sends it over the Internet to the target phone where it is played back, which make s a small delay, especially if you talk a lot, but it is still very, very cool. By incorporating the concept of group messaging and the walkie-talkie, users can create groups from Facebook contacts.

Who is HeyTell?

HeyTell is an application released by Voxitale, but beyond this, very little information exists on the company home page and what you see is what you get, as this is all that is currently known about the app’s creators. The basic app is free to download and use, while revenue is generated with the addition of other app extensions such as broadcasting to multiple contacts. The Facebook interconnect is built into the basic app.

We can only imagine that the capabilities of this platform are going to increase dramatically. One reason is that the company has recently scored millions in funding. The reviews are rave across the board, both customers and the media are filled with glowing statements about how cool it is, how easy to use. The addiction will begin. This company could easily extend the functionality of the app and grow is user base at the same time. The company is already expanding its capacity to 100 million users, and has over 4 million registered users now; by the end of the year, HeyTell might just grow to outpace all the other group-messaging systems. It could add geo-location and video; can you imagine a video walkie-talkie? It could be as big as Facebook itself, as the very idea of walkie-talkie smartphones is enough to ensure this start up has a major shot at the future.

About the Author:

Jon T. Norwood is a managing partner at High Speed Internet, a site dedicated to providing information on Mobile Broadband News. Jon can be reached at jon@velocityguide.com.

If you have an iPhone and you’re having a hard time managing your money, or maybe you just want an application that can get you back on your feet.  If you feel as if you’re falling into that never ending money pit, maybe a few of these iPhone applications can help!  Trust me, I’ve been in a bad money situation before and I was willing to do anything to get myself back to the positive side, rather than in the red.

I wanted to point out a few, cool applications that you can download on your iPhone if you’re looking for ways to not only manage your money, but save at the same time.

#1 Mint – I love Mint and not only because you can use it online, but you can use it on your phone.  If you’re unfamiliar with this service, you really should get to know it!  It’s a fantastic way to budget your finances on a monthly basis.  You will give Mint your banking information, credit card info and more.  In a secure way, it will pull your data and show you exactly what you’re spending your money on.

#2 Billminder – We all get bills when we get on our own.  This is just a way of life!  This app makes life easier as it’s going to remind you when a bill is coming up.  Yes, I’m sure you forgot about that water bill coming up, but with this application, it’s going to remind you a few days ahead of time before that bill comes.

#3 Paypal – Most of us have Paypal nowadays and it’s a great way to send money to just about anyone within seconds.  If you have a Paypal account, you can not only access your account information on your phone, you can also send your money to a friend, neighbor or any relative that has an account.  In fact, you can also bump your phones together to send money instantly!  Throw in a Paypal debit card and you can use that money right away.

#4 Banking Applications – This is a generic one but check with your bank to see if they have an iPhone application.  Most of your bigger named banks such as Bank of America, Chase and more all have applications that you can use for free.  With the app, you can check your balance, transfer funds, pay bills and with some, you can even deposit your checks.  This is a great way to avoid going to the bank if you’re finding that it’s a pain to go to.

#5 Loan Calculator Pro – There are a few of these applications out there but I like the PRO version because it enables you to know what you’re going to pay over the life of a loan.  For example, if you want to get a car loan at 5%, you can see exactly what’s going to go to interest and what’s going to go to principal.  This is a great application to kick you in the butt to pay your loan off rather fast.

#6 CostCutter – This is a cool application that allows you to cut expenses on a monthly basis.  You will input your monthly expenses, you tell it what you want to save, and it will give recommendations.  It’s a really cool way to cut corners on your budget to help you save!