App of the Week: ‘Caspar Babypants Music Time’ is a must-have for young kids (and their parents)

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Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. Our new App of the Week might just make the day more fun with your child (or children), at least those of a certain age. It’s called Caspar Babypants Music Time, and if you’re a parent of a younger kid, you probably don’t need an explanation… Read More…

Microsoft Office debuts on iOS — for iPhone, not iPad

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After months and even years of speculation, Microsoft this morning finally released a version of its core Office productivity programs — Word, Excel and PowerPoint — for Apple’s iOS mobile operating system. But it’s designed specifically for iPhone, and the company is still refraining from releasing a native version for the iPad. Office Mobile for… Read More…

Meet TuTu: This super cute stuffed animal toy comes to life through an iPhone app

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When I was growing up, the height of technological innovation in toys was the Furby. That fuzzy monster-thing had it all: light sensors, motion sensors, even a strategically-placed button so you could “tickle” it. Now, a new Taiwan-based company led by a former Microsoft employee is trying to kickstart the next evolution of merging electronics… Read More…

What to expect from Apple’s WWDC keynote

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The banners are hung, and people are eagerly anticipating what Apple CEO Tim Cook has to say when he takes the stage in San Francisco for Tim Cook’s keynote address at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference. As always, speculation and rumor are running rampant about what the even will hold, and unfortunately, not all rumors are… Read More…

iPhone sales stay hot as shipments of smartphones set to pass feature phones in 2013

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Smartphones are taking over the world. Well, not really. But the latest estimates from the International Data Corporation indicate that 2013 will be the first time worldwide smartphone shipments exceed those of feature phones. The IDC said today that it expects 2013 smartphone shipments to grow by an astounding 32.7 percent from last year to 958.8… Read More…

Android vs. iOS: Why do iPhone users spend 26 more minutes on their phones?

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If the smartphone wars get decided by time spent using the phone, Apple is winning handily. According to a new report from Experian Marketing Services, iPhone users spend an average of 1 hour and 15 minutes on their phones daily, as opposed to 49 minutes for Android users. According to the report, the average American… Read More…

Study: Android still rules, but Windows Phone makes gains thanks to the kids

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The latest numbers from Kantar show Windows continuing steady sales and, somewhat surprisingly, growing at a faster rate than those of Android. Windows Phone has seen its market share grow from 3.8 percent in February, March and April of 2012 to 5.6 percent during the same three month-period in 2013. That’s a 47 percent year-over-year growth… Read More…

New Photowerks app for iPhone and iPad makes it easier to find your own pics

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Like many people nowadays, Seattle-based indie software developer Stephen Orth uses his smartphone as his primary camera. He has more than 4,000 images on his iPhone, and prefers to keep them on the device to reminisce while waiting in line or riding the bus. But with that many images, finding a specific picture can be a… Read More…

Location-sharing startup Glympse looks to expand its reach with first public SDK

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Seattle startup Glympse has made its mark with time-based location sharing technology, letting people share their spot on the map with others in real time, for a limited period of time. Increasingly the company has also been working with partners — including BMW, Ford and many others — to incorporate the technology into their own… Read More…

T-Mobile bumps iPhone initial payment to $150, up from $100

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All good things must come to an end, apparently — even if we didn’t know they were only temporary. Bellevue-based T-Mobile USA is increasing the cost of the initial down payment for the iPhone 5, and boosting the total price of the smartphone in the process. As first reported by TmoNews, T-Mobile is increasing the down payment for the… Read More…

Nokia touts Lumia 928 camera against competition with roller coaster video

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Nokia has yet to officially announce its newest flagship Lumia 928 smartphone, but that isn’t stopping the manufacturer from touting the device’s features against industry competition. In a new promo video on the landing page for the phone, Nokia shows video footage from the Lumia 928, iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3 — interestingly not the Galaxy… Read More…

Amazon Cloud Player enables iOS update, allows music streaming in Ford vehicles

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Good news for Ford and iPhone owners wanting to blast their tunes with Amazon’s Cloud Player: Amazon’s streaming music service updated its iOS app today to allow iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad devices to play music in Ford Sync AppLink-enabled vehicles. Last February, Amazon is brought its Cloud Player music service to vehicles equipped with Ford Sync AppLink, including new Mustangs,… Read More…

New devices? Apple seeks patents on curved and irregular battery shapes

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Newly surfaced patent applications from Apple hint at plans for new types of devices — or at least new shapes of devices — by outlining the company’s vision for curved and non-rectangular lithium battery cells. “In some embodiments, the curve is formed to facilitate efficient use of space inside a portable electronic device,” says one… Read More…

Google strikes back with ‘Now’ for iPhone and iPad

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Which online service will be the primary hub on your phone? Google this morning released its “Google Now” service for iPhone and iPad as a new feature of its existing Google app for Apple devices. It’s available by downloading or updating the Google app for iOS. The service, previously available for Android, features a series… Read More…

IDC: Smartphones now more popular than feature phones

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These days, it’s almost surprising to see someone using an old-school flip phone, and now some numbers from the IDC prove that a majority of people are using smartphones for the first time ever. Shipments of smartphones took over those of feature phones in the first quarter, as more than half of cellphone shipments (418.6 million) were… Read More…

Apple beats earnings expections, will return $100 billion to shareholders

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Will this be enough to fend off the Apple skeptics? The company topped Wall Street’s earnings expectations this afternoon with rising iPhone and iPad sales, and announced plans to return $100 billion to shareholders by the end of 2015 through share buybacks and dividends. The company reported revenue of $43.6 billlion, and earnings of $10.09… Read More…

T-Mobile tries to lure Android fans with special monthly Galaxy S4 pricing

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T-Mobile announced pricing plans today for Samsung’s new Galaxy S4 phone. Starting April 24 on T-Mobile.com, you can order Samsung’s flagship smartphone for $149 up front and pay $20 per month for 24 months thereafter. It’s part of T-Mobile’s new Simple Choice Plan, which separates the cost of wireless service from the purchase of a phone… Read More…

T-Mobile customers wait in line, swap Androids for iPhone 5

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University of Washington student and T-Mobile customer Mustafa Ahmed got up earlier than normal Friday morning, giving himself enough time to pick up his iPhone 5 and still make it to campus for his 9:30 a.m. lecture. But he was a little surprised when he arrived at the Wallingford T-Mobile store just before 9 a.m…. Read More…

GeekWire Radio: This startup founder wants to help you find a better babysitter

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[Editor's note:  Be sure to join us in person this Thursday, April 11 for the GeekWire Radio Show, live on stage for the first time. Click here for tickets.] Our topic this week: Your kids, and how to take a break from them. Yes, it’s the eternal challenge for many people with young children — how do… Read More…