Here’s How You Can Save Videos Sent Through Snapchat and Facebook Poke

Snapchat and its clone Facebook Poke are apps that let users send temporary messages in the form of photos and videos, which get deleted seconds after they get viewed. The idea of spontaneous, temporary, visual messages appealed to a lot of smartphone owners, who collectively put the apps on the top charts of the App Store.

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iPhone 5-friendly version of video player AVPlayer -- review and tips & tricks

I've been asked by several of my readers to post a detailed review of, along with It's Playing and GoodPlayer, the best generic iOS media player, AVPlayer(HD).  Below, I provide you with a video / audio / subtitle / container type-dependent list of pros and cons so that you can see whether the player does fulfill your needs or not. While AVPlayer is truly an amazing player, there are some things it's entirely incapable of or where some of the alternatives are considerably better. It's based on this list that you will want to decide whether the player is for you or not, at least when it comes playing back some specific multimedia formats. For example, if you want to play back HTTP / MMS network streams like WMV TV streams or local direct DVB recordings (as TS files), you'll want to prefer GoodPlayer; if you need multiple embedded subtitles displayed at the same time, nPlayer; if you need niceties like DSP's, It's Playing etc.

Let's start with some tips you need to know, independent of the multimedia format you're trying to play back.

1. Essential tips and tricks

1.1 If you have a Retina-screen device (iPhone 4+ / iPod touch 4+)...

You'll want to enable the “Retina Display” option in Settings. It's annotated at the top of the following screenshot:

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Trick to Get Verizon Unlimited Data Plan For Your iPhone

Verizon followed AT&T's footsteps and killed their unlimited data plans for their smartphone (including iPhone) customers on July 7th, 2011.

But looks like some Verizon customers have figured out a way to trick the system to get the unlimited data plan. Surprisingly, it seems to also work for customers who purchased the iPhone after Verizon had stopped offering the unlimited data plans.

Folks at Slick Deals has posted a step-by-step guide to switch to the unlimited data plan, which according to the forum thread seems to have worked for some Verizon customers.

1. Dial *611 from your Verizon phone, or 1-800-922-0204 from any phone.
2. Wait for computer CSR to go through the main menu. You will need your Verizon phone # and account PIN or last 4 of SSN.
3. Hit option 4.
4. When it asks you what you would like to do today say “Add a feature.”
5. If you have a 3G device (which includes all iPhones): Say you would like to add the $20 2GB 3G Mobile Hotspot FEATURE to your phone If you have a 4G device: Say you would like to add the $30 Unlimited 4G Mobile Hotspot FEATURE to your phone. According to http://stopthecap.com/2011/07/12/…r-account/ , they may be able to locate this feature via referencing feature code #76153.
6. Your data plan will now be the $29.99 unlimited data plan, and you’ll have either the 2GB or unlimited Mobile Hotspot feature on top of that.
7. {OPTIONAL – if you don’t want the Mobile Hotspot feature} Log into My Verizon and remove the Mobile Hotspot FEATURE from your account. Many people recommend waiting a few days (at a minimum) to remove the feature. The $29.99 unlimited data plan should remain on your account.
8. If they say they can’t add that feature to your plan, or that you must bundle your data + mobile hotspot service together as a single data plan, tell them thank you, hang up, and repeat the steps above.

It goes without saying that Verizon could always switch you back to a tiered plan.

Please don't forget to let us know how it works in the comments if you plan to give it a shot.

[source App Advice]

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Wolfram Alpha Now Allows iPhone 4S Users To Search Best Buy With Siri

iPhone 4S users will now be able to search for more than 35,000 appliances and consumer electronics products available in Best Buy using Siri - Apple's voice activated personal assistant feature.

Wolfram Alpha - one of the third-party services that is integrated with Siri made an announcement of the feature in a blog post.

Just in time for the holidays, we’re introducing a new functionality that provides consumers with a unique approach to shopping. By leveraging data from Best Buy’s public APIs, Wolfram|Alpha users will now be able to browse more than 35,000 appliances and consumer electronics products. Wolfram|Alpha’s intuitive natural-language interface helps you hone in on the precise products you need, while its powerful data visualization capabilities give you an innovative overview of any shopping category.

So iPhone 4S users can now say "Wolfram, tablet computers", "Wolfram, LG washing machines" or "Wolfram iPhone 4S" to get comprehensive shopping results from Best Buy.

Combining our natural-language interface with data from Best Buy’s public APIs also allows users to do more intuitive searches. Renovating your kitchen and need a dishwasher that fits specific dimensions? Enter “dishwashers narrower than 25 inches” into Wolfram|Alpha to get a list of dishwashers that meet your needs. Building a new entertainment center and need to find a narrow Blu-Ray player within a specific budget? Try asking Wolfram|Alpha for the “narrowest Blu-Ray player under $100.” For bargain-hunting photographers out there, it is even possible to ask Wolfram|Alpha to find “the lightest digital camera under $100 with a pixel resolution greater than 12MP.”

 

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