Finally Google Search for iOS Updated with Google Now

Google Now is the hot button topic in the world of Google’s famous searching function. This new and innovative update to the way we search the web has taken on a new light and allows the user access to the most relevant information before they can even ask for it. Google Now has been on the edge of being allowed into the Apple App store for a few weeks with both companies going back and forth over who the log jam was, but now it’s all in the past and Google Now is available in the app store.

Google Now allows access to things such as weather, traffic conditions, and general searches through panels called “cards” These cards float on the screen and act as a window into various searches you might want steadily there for access. Imagine a well executed use of the Windows 8 idea with those little boxes on the home screen and you’ll have the basic idea.

Voice integration is another big step up with this app. Now you can simply speak your wildest searches or questions into your phone and have Google go fetch the answers for you. You can even get the answers spoken back to you since, let’s face it, if you don’t have the time or a way to type your question in, there’s a good chance you don’t have the ability to read the answer either.

This search alternative to using a browser is a great way to search and faster for sure. Google Now is the most innovative searching app from the most powerhouse representative of the online searching world. The user interface of the two leaders Google and Apple have come together harmoniously and there’s no reason to not have this on your iOS device.

Source: Google Search App for iPhone

[Image Credit: Apple iTunes Store]

GoComics: On the Go laughs and Humor for Windows Phone 8

Over here at TechnoBB we haven’t covered an exclusively Windows Phone app in a while so here’s your day Windows Phone users. GoComics is a great app for your daily dose of laughter and chuckles. In a world where our phones are becoming more and more a way to work and get useful things done, it is a nice treat to have access to humor on the go. GoComics is a funny app that allows you to find solace in something funny whenever you want in the palm of your hand.

GoComics is the most diverse and largest collections of mobile comics available on any platform. There is literally something for everyone within this catalog. Whatever it is from adult and edgy humor to straight forward good puns you’ll find a joke in here that will either make you chuckle or puff a little blast of air out of your nose in admiration.

For Spanish speakers this app is especially relevant since you can single out comics that are available in Spanish and allow you to follow along with humor in that language. This app also comes linked to a blog where you can keep up to date on when new ones will come out by your favorite authors, nad talk and meet other people who are into the same things you are.

And of course, as any funny app does, the ability to share your favorites on social media, or send them through email is fully supported as well. Don’t let the day get you down. Go download GoComics for Windows Phone and add a little bit of smiling to your daily schedule.

Source: GoComics for Windows Phone

[Image Credit: Windows Phone Store]

Why Does Everyone Hate Facebook Home?

When Mark Zuckerberg announced Facebook home a few weeks ago there was nothing but good intentions and happy faces swarming the room. This long awaited announcement was supposed to show everyone how incredibly innovative Facebook could still be and that it was indeed in a standby while producing something new and incredible in secret. Well, the public waited and last week finally met Facebook Home. The reception has been shockingly negative. So, the question must be asked, why so much hatred for Facebook Home? After all, it is a Facebook product and everything Facebook touches seems to turn to gold in some sort of technology related Midas touch. Let’s get the breakdown of what went wrong.

The first thing to notice when looking at Facebook Home is the download page on the Google Play Store. This is the hub of activity for the app to every user that has it. Notably, the download number is quite high for only having been out a short period of time, and on a limited number of devices at over 500,000 installs. This shows promise, but when you look at how much app has been rated any promises quickly go to the wayside. It has an average user rating of between 1 and 2 stars. This is a shockingly low average for such a large scale advertisement backed app, by such a massive developer.

So what happened? Facebook is kind of not getting the point. To be innovative they need to change up what they are doing and what they can offer. If a peanut company just keeps repackaging their peanuts into different boxes and packets it doesn’t make the peanuts any better. This is essentially what Facebook does with their timeline reconfigurations and now with Facebook Home. It doesn’t change the same Facebook content and format that we’ve had and are growing bored of after years now. Just as the peanut company invents peanut butter cups, peanut brittle and flavored peanuts, Facebook needs to delve into it’s own new endeavors with NEW areas of content and new offerings to the public that we will actually like. Allowing paid messages to people and gifts to people means nothing in saving Facebook’s reputation.

So why do people hate Facebook Home? Pretty much because it is nothing new. It offers no new experience to Facebook other than having your entire home screen which could be filled with apps and widgets that you need with a constant stream of Facebook’s updates which you could just as easily get through an app.

Will Facebook Home recover from this awful start, not in my eyes, but only time will tell. If you can, go check out Facebook Home today and see what you think of this newest venture.

Google Play Store: Facebook Home App

ReachFeast: Contacts Search, Free for a Limited Time

Everyone with an iPhone knows that one of the fatal flaws of the otherwise amazing interface is the long scroll. There’s no worse time to suffer this issue when looking to get to a contact as fast as possible. The current scrolling uses specifically placed tapping which can be uncontrolled and filled with error. ReachFast Contacts is an app that has been formulated to directly combat this issue. In honor of its initial release, you can snag it up for FREE!

ReachFast aims to simplify and speed up calling, searching and adding contacts. It is an all around saving grace to the burdensome area. The way in which it differs from the traditional iPhone scrolling is in the tap traded for a pull. This allows the search to be done with a varying grade of a pull instead of a guess and check of a location tap. This not only makes it more accurate, but allows for an increased speed at which scrolling is even possible.

The other area in which it has been simplified is that with ReachFast, you can just tap the contact once to call and swipe right to send a message. This harkens to the shortcuts found on Android devices.

Although this may sound like a non issue with iPhone users I can almost personally guarantee that this will make your contacts and searching/calling part of your life faster and better. With the app being of great quality and free, go snag your ups today.

Source: ReachFast App for iPhone

[Image Credit: Apple iTunes Store]

Gameloft released the Iron Man 3 – The Official Game for Android and iOS

If you’re a fan of the metal clad Avenger hero, Iron Man, then surely the newest release of the third installment of the Hollywood film has your excitement brimming. Year after year without fail these Marvel superheroes have been breaking records and stealing hearts of the world with their action and excitement all while breaking box office records in the process. Now is your chance to get a taste of this new Iron Man 3 movie in the form of a game which has been released for users of both iOS and Android. There’s no excuse, unless you’re a Windows Phone user, to not go grab this game and have a blast.

Following suit with the immense success of running games in the past few months such as Temple Run 2, Iron Man 3 is going with the endless running scheme, but it does it in a very exciting way. The game doesn’t feel overdone or boring and allows the player to truly get immersed in an Iron Man world to chamber the pangs the angst for the third movie.

The game itself was actually so impressive I was nothing short of shocked and profoundly impressed by not only the graphics and gameplay, but the amount of interesting and edge of the seat gameplay involved. For a linear game based on constant progression it does what other games constantly fail to and stay good.

When a game is released for a movie it usually is just a rip off of another big title game repackaged into something that makes it easily forgettable and just another cog in the hype machine for the studio. This Iron Man 3 game is not only a stand alone good game, but does the great job of actually getting downloads due to the gameplay itself for the building anticipation of the movie.

Source: Iron Man 3 for Android | Iron Man 3 for iPhone

[Image Credit: Google Play Store | Apple iTunes Store]

Personal Assistant Indigo Now Available in Windows Phone Store

If you’ve never heard of Indigo you probably actually have, but may have just heard of it under another name. It is essentially the exact same thing as a Siri for iPhone. It is a digital personal assistant that is so smart it can do all of your tasks for you at every whim just from you saying what to do. It is a great app, but up until this point it hasn’t been available to Windows Phone users. Now they can rejoice in knowing that it is finally here, and they can have their own witty, personal assistant to do their biddings.

Although it has been released it is still technically in beta which means it is being heavily tested for flaws and inevitable glitches which may arise. Either way it is a great app and any of the falters it has along the way won’t be nearly as important as the help Indigo provides.

This is also a free download as of now since it just a beta. There’s no better time to get your hands on this app and upgrade the function and efficiency of your Windows Phone today. All at the command of your voice, Indigo is waiting to update your statuses, any social media, tell you jokes, check the weather, all of those things you can do, but would rather have someone like Indigo do automatically for you.

Source: Indigo App for Windows Phone

[Image Credit: Windows Phone Store]