The Kindle 2. 'Nuff said.

I’ve been using my Kindle 2 for the past 2 months (thanks to my wife for giving me one as a Christmas gift!) and being a bookworm and a gadget freak, it has now become an essential part of my daily gadget usage. I used to bring books whenever I travel, and having all my books in one nifty device indeed makes a huge difference. Though I know that the Kindle 2 has probably been reviewed a thousand times on the web, please allow me to share my personal experiences with you and outline the things that I love most about the device.

1. The Crisp e-Ink screen. I’ve read eBooks from the “now-defunct” Palm OS device, to Pocket PCs, to PSPs and Nintendo DS (yes you can!) and I must admit, nothing beats reading from an e-Ink screen! The screen is so crisp and light to the eyes that after a few seconds, you tend to forget that you’re reading a book on an electronic device. The “experience” was akin to reading on an actual book!

2. Long battery life. My Kindle 2 lasted for 2 weeks and 5 days without charging and with the wireless signal turned off. The last electronic device I had that lasted that long was my Gameboy Advance running on 4 AA batteries. It is clear that Amazon did a great job on integrating that e-Ink screen with the rest of the hardware.

3. Solid and sturdy shell. I have great admiration for companies who spend a lot on quality and Amazon recently made it to my top list (together with Apple and Nintendo) because of the Kindle 2′s solid design and sturdy construction. The device is so slim, at about 1/3 of an inch and lightweight–at approximately 10 ounces. I still suggest getting the Amazon leather case to protect the soft e-Ink screen though.

4. Adjustable fontsize. Ever bought a physical book only to find out that the fontsize is too small and hard to read? The built-in Kindle software allows you to tweak any book’s fontsize on the fly, which is especially great for older people (like me).

5. Over-the-air eBook delivery. Nothing beats having access to thousands of books (over 420,000 as Amazon claims) anywhere you go and anytime you want it! I haven’t been to our local bookstore since I got my Kindle and I don’t see myself going to local bookstores anymore. Amazon’s Whispernet does a great job of allowing Kindle users to browse the Kindle store straight from the device and download eBooks on the fly without the need for a computer.

6. Out of the box experience. As you may have guessed it, the Kindle 2 works as soon as you remove it from its box. The user-friendly on-screen instructions make sure that nothing goes wrong, from charging the device, to reading your first Kindle book. Amazon did a good job guiding Kindle customers through the setup process and made sure that registering an account is a breeze.

7. Internet on-the-go. The Kindle 2 actually has its own built-in browser and allows you to surf your favorite websites at no cost, yes you got it right–no monthly fees! I had to pay roughly US$25 per month to have unlimited internet access from my mobile phone and I get that FREE with my Kindle! My only issue with the device is that there are still some deadspots from where I live. I think it’ll take some time for Amazon to completely roll-out across Asia.

8. Huge memory for eBooks. The Kindle 2′s 2GB internal memory allows the user to store up to 1,500 digital books and bring it anywhere. If it supported external memory cards, that would be a huge plus but 1,500 books is already too much for me. I’ve also been saving a lot of space on my shelf since I got my Kindle 2.

9. Text-to-speech. Some eBooks purchased from the Kindle store allows you to have the device actually read the book out loud to you. Connect a surround speaker or a pair of noise-cancelling earphones and you’re good to go!

10. Free book samples. Remember when you used to visit your local bookstore and scan a few pages of a book before you actually purchase it? You can do that on the Kindle via Whispernet too. Whispernet is Amazon’s global wireless service. It allows you to download a sample of a book from their Kindle Store and read the first chapter before making a purchase.

11. Native PDF support. Yes, the Kindle can display PDF documents natively. If you have a couple of Acrobat documents (who doesn’t?) that you want to bring anywhere, there’s no stopping you.

Overall, I was immensely satisfied with the Kindle 2. It suits its purpose very well and does it brilliantly! Of course, no electronic device is perfect–even the Kindle 2 has its own set of drawbacks and limitations but I’ll write about that in another article. For now, if you are a book lover and enjoy reading so much, I highly recommend getting one! The price maybe steep at first but you’ll soon realize after weeks of using it that the investment is definitely worth it.
Oh, and I didn’t bother taking pictures because you can literally find tons from Google. Happy reading!

Image borrowed from Apple's campaign "AppStore turns 1"

DISCLAIMER: Before I begin, I’d like to point out that I haven’t had a bestselling app (on iTunes) yet and like many of the developers out there, I’m still working on my first hit (that’s the spirit!). I only have two iPhone/iPod games to date (please check ‘em out at Kuyi Mobile!) and I’m hoping to release my third before my first fiscal year on this new venture ends.

Given the number of apps on iTunes AppStore right now, the greatest hurdle for any developer is getting to the top 100 and even harder is sustaining a sweet spot for an app. Developers have probably tried everything to get their apps noticed–from “peggling” to giving it away for FREE for a day but only a handful have become successful. To be honest, its awfully hard to find the trend on the AppStore nowadays. As someone who have been closely observing the AppStore for the past year, I now believe that almost any kind of app can be a bestseller regardless if Apple features you or not (although it helps if they do). If you look at the top 100 bestselling apps, you’ll find a combination of short 3-5 minute apps and high profile titles which range from $0.99 to $9.99. What I’ve noticed however, is that apps can “possibly” be categorized into 2 major types: (1) those that amuse and entertain for a short period of time, hilarious and something that one can show off to friends and can easily be spread by word of mouth (whew! what a run-on sentence!); AND (2) apps that will stay on the user’s device for a long time like productivity enhancements, utilities, and games with high replayability. The first type can go up and down the charts rapidly and has less chance of sustaining a spot within the bestselling list while the latter slowly goes up the charts and eventually stabilizes at a given spot within the top 100. Question now is, how do you achieve this? I’ve narrowed down a couple of common denominators which I will definitely follow on my upcoming release and I hope will also aid you on your next app project.

1. Unique twist or idea. This one should always be at the top of your priority list. Instead of copying an app and creating another version, expand on it and find ways to make a better variant. Incorporate your own ideas and plan well.

2. Well polished app. No matter if its a parody, a quick game or a hilarious gimmick, always ensure quality. Quality on presentation, implementation and execution. This also gives you a huge chance of getting featured by Apple.

3. Lasting impression. Whether its an app or a game, include features that will stick and appeal to your end-users. Wow your customers the first time your app is run. Design your app in such a way that users will remember the “experience”.

4. Catchy app icons. Notice how you can easily identify how any of the bestselling apps work just by looking at its icon?

5. User-friendliness. Users hate complicated apps. Just like websites, the first few minutes (or even seconds) of running your app is critical and will determine if its worth the purchase or not.

6. Staying power. Staying power on the user’s device and staying power on the charts. Be prepared with a plan prior to release. Updating the app regularly seemed to work for most developers while others choose to work on their apps for months and focus on a feature-packed and solid release.

7. Talk to your end-users. Be appreciative of feedbacks whether positive or negative. Be on the look-out for great suggestions and continuously improve your product. Build a community around your app or your business.

8. Check out these apps and use them as reference. Doodle Jump, Zombieville, Fieldrunners, iBeer (yes!), Koi Pond, Solitaire, Skee-ball, The Moron Test, Paper Toss, Tweetie 2, Bejeweled 2 and Canabalt. I’m pretty sure there are more but these are the ones I can remember off the top of my head. Download a couple of these apps and see why each one is on the top of their game.

There you go! I’d be glad to hear any suggestions or ideas you can add! And if any of the points above aid you in a way, please don’t forget to give me a copy of your bestseller.

Image above borrowed from Apple.

Let’s face it folks, releasing an app on Apple’s AppStore is like dropping a needle in a haystack. There are well over 100,000 apps available and our chances of getting noticed gets smaller by the day. I was lucky enough to have my first game (Card Drop) featured by Apple under iTunes’ New and Noteworthy section. Sales soared for a week but gradually slowed down weeks after the feature. My second game (SOW), although much more unique than the first wasn’t that lucky. It went down the new releases list with the rest of the pack and didn’t get the attention I was rooting for. So what now? I’m here to tell (and convince) you that there’s light at the end of the tunnel…if you’re willing to work on it (stay positive guys!). Well, my sales aren’t what you can call successful yet but at least I don’t get a day with ZERO sales anymore (I used to!). Below are some tips and tricks I learned the hard way and wanted to share it with you.

Work on your website and product pages. Your app or company website will be your first chance to make a sales pitch (and a huge impression) so be sure that its interesting, concise, userfriendly, and catchy. Don’t let your readers think, serve them what they need to know, get to the point, give them access to BUY and TRY buttons, screenshots, videos, etc.

Start with the small review sites. Dropped Toucharcade a note and you were ignored? Work your way up by starting with the small fishes. Game review sites like Toucharcade, Appgamer.net and Pocketgamer.co.uk only feature groundbreaking titles that set the bar high or push the device to its limits. If you don’t have such a game, your chances are low so its best to go to several small review sites instead.

Know your app’s crowd. Know your niche market. And go there. For example, my second game (SOW) involved planting and business simulation so I joined several forums about simulation, planting, green revolution and let them know about my app and how it “may” benefit them. iPhone and iPod users are everywhere!

Let them experience your app. Capture a video of your game and showcase the best features. Post it on YouTube and send it along with your press release. Another way to allow users to experience your app is to create a “Lite” or “Free” version for players to download and try. The “Free” version may not have the same features as the full version but it can be enough to entice the player to purchase a copy.

Join communities on the web. Toucharcade’s forums is one of the busiest so why not mention your new app there? It wouldn’t hurt to post a small blurb about your app, a few screenshots and allow other people to post comments and feedback about it. Forums are a great way to start building a community around your app or company or any product in general.

Create a small promotion. Does your app earn you a little more than $10 per week? If so, start a small gimmick–say, give a $10 iTunes Gift Card every week to your fans and subscribers. That’s what I did for Kuyi Mobile and from a twitter following of 50+, my followers went up to around 600+ after a few weeks and still growing. It allowed me to spread the word about my games, the company and it also gave me a chance to give back to the iPhone gaming community and talk to people who have enjoyed and played my games.

Harness the power of social networking. Embrace Twitter. Embrace Facebook. These may sound odd but don’t underestimate the power of inbound marketing. Handle your support via Twitter and let others listen to what you have to say! Start discussions on Facebook and get enough fans who can help you spread the word about your apps!

Get professional help. If you can generate enough funds to afford someone who can market your game and create your press release or allow you to post ads on popular websites, don’t be afraid to go that route. After all, you gotta spend money in order to make money, right? But, always remember to back it up by having enough reviews or testimonials about your app.

There you go. The tips above are based on my personal experiences and of course, assumes that you have a quality app that’s ready for the big league. The AppStore is not a goldmine(as I learned the hard way) but it could work for you given the right cards. Don’t waste your cards, use them wisely and you’ll be on your way to achieving your goals. Good luck!

Apple will unveil their latest creationg on January 27--watch out for it!

As a Mac/iPhone developer for almost a year now, I’ve not only become accustomed to the technical aspects involved, but the “business side” of the industry as well. The iPhone market has grown from a mere hundred thousand users to over 20 million (or probably more if you include iPod Touch users) and over 100,000 apps are being sold in iTunes converting to about 2 billion downloads to date. However, being in the business of “selling” (and not just “creating”) games, small developers like me do my own marketing and muscle my way to get the word out about my new products–which is not a walk in the park. Apple has provided several tools to aid small developers in this aspect but like any other platform, it also has its own fair share of issues and shortcomings. Now that Apple is getting ready to announce yet another breakthrough this coming January 27, I hope they also take time to sit down and consider some of the points below.

1. Promo codes should work anywhere in the world. As a newbie in the industry, promo codes are my aces in order for me to get the word out about my new apps. I hand out these codes to reviewers and let them write articles about my products. However, these promo codes can only be used on the US AppStore. How about the iPhone and iPod Touch users in other regions like Asia?

2. Promo codes for in-app items. Since Apple introduced the ability for apps to sell items w/in their interface, more and more apps are getting released for FREE but rely mostly on in-app item selling. In-app items are a great way to monetize apps but it will be hard to get an app reviewed because there are NO promo codes for in-app items. Reviewers are either forced to purchase in-app items themselves in order to finish their articles OR developers are forced to provide reviewers the funds to purchase in-app items for their own games.

3. Gift apps. Notice how you can purchase a track or movie from iTunes and give it as a gift to someone else? I hope Apple allows apps to be purchased and given away as gifts too. This’ll definitely increase app sales and provide a viral means for developers to spread the word about their products. After all, players who loved my app will most probably be willing to give a another copy to a family member or a close friend.

4. Faster approval process. I have to give it to Apple–last December, I submitted my 2nd game (SOW) and it was approved in 5 days! I’m not sure if its just the Holiday season but I hope Apple continues to improve and streamline their approval process. A lot of developers have been complaining about this matter and Apple seems to be inconsistent with their approval dates.

5. Reduce monthly sales quota. For small developers like me who sell roughly about several hundred dollars worth of games per month, it would be great if Apple will lower their monthly sales quota for sending royalties. I must admit that their current quota is a little higher and will be hard to reach given the tough competition in the AppStore right now. C’mon Apple, be more lenient!

6. Open competition. While I haven’t experienced this yet, I’ve heard a couple of horror stories from developers about their apps being pulled out of the AppStore without even a single word why. Here’s another story I found over at Gear Diary which will explain this issue better. Open competition is always healthy and more beneficial to end-users.

Meet my virtual secretary!

Having used the BlackBerry for my everyday work and personal needs, I’ve come acquainted with several apps which I constantly use and go back to. I’m not a corporate user nor someone you can say a “hardcore” user but I would like to share with you some of the FREE apps that made my life (and work) a lot easier for the past several months I’ve been using my BlackBerry. Read on.

BlackBerry App World – the mother of all apps. This is where I usually get (and update) all my FREE apps. No BlackBerry device is complete without it so grab a copy! The only drawback with this is that its not available in some countries including mine (the Philippines). I had to install the app manually (yes you can!) by googling a download link.

QuickPull Free – Since I live in a country where deadspots are everywhere and my BlackBerry constantly looks for a signal (thus draining battery), its great to have a software that lets me reboot my device without having to manually remove the battery out. QuickPull conveniently simulates a “battery pull” which frees up memory, refreshes the device and improves performance.

DriveSafe.ly – One of the best apps there is! Imagine having someone read your SMS and emails while you’re driving even if you’re alone in your car! Spooky? Not really. DriveSafe.ly reads out loud any new SMS or email your device receives. The Free version will read only the first 25 words of the email body but hey, it beats asking your wife to read for you everytime you get an email or SMS while driving!

UberTwitter – I tweet whenever I find or encounter something interesting and having a Twitter client on my mobile phone always comes handy! What’s great with UberTwitter is that it allows me to maintain multiple Twitter accounts, unlike Twitterberry. Though UberTwitter is still on Beta (Beta 6 coming out soon!), its a stable, robust app and fully customizable, from how it displays data on the screen to how you would like to be notified! Grab a copy now and while you’re at it, why not follow me on Twitter?

myBoxTone Insight – Living in a country where “unlimited data plans” are not that affordable yet, I always have to watch my data usage and this app lets me do that. Furthermore, it even allows me to set a daily or monthly usage limit allowing me to control my costs. myBoxTone Insight (weird name!) is still on beta but it works great and lives up to its claims.

Facebook – What good is a mobile device which won’t let you do social networking on the go? Whether someone adds you as a friend, drops you a note, tags you on a photo or posts on your Facebook wall, you get instant notification on Facebook for BlackBerry. The recent version is much more stable and snappy.

Dictionary.com – I’m a bookworm and I maintain several blogs, thus having access to a dictionary is essential for me and this app is the best (personal opinion here!) among dictionary apps I’ve found. Dictionary.com also provides Thesaurus and “voice over” pronunciations if say, you’re having a hard time reading a certain word.

Movies – I’m also a movie buff and having access to reviews and info on the latest movies is great, especially if I’m able to do that right on the small screen! Movies used to be called Flixster (when I first saw it on the iPod) but still has the same nifty features like user reviews, summaries, movie posters (yeah!) and even news on upcoming movies that go as far as 2011!

There you go! If you have nice suggestions for FREE BlackBerry apps, please feel free to share them here!

Happy holidays everyone! May your yuletide season be prosperous and joyful!

Help is always accessible via the blue backlit LCD display if you run into conflicts.

In today’s fast changing world, simplifying our lives has always been one of our a lifelong goals. And what better way to simplify your everyday life than to systematically control all your appliances with a…remote. A universal remote that is. Who ever invented the TV remote started the couch potato revolution and with a universal remote, it goes beyond the couch because you can basically control everything with but the kitchen sink (or do they have these already?)! Because my wife loves watching the news, scanning channels for nice TV shows and watching DVD every now and then, I recently got ourselves a Logitech Harmony 525. I got the Harmony 525 from a bargain bin at a relatively cheap price of 50% off but its retail price seems to be US$99.00 based from Logitech’s website. What’s great about the Harmony 525 is that it lives up to its name–it lets you turn on several appliances on a single click of a button! You can assign profiles like “Watch DVD” such that when you click on this button, it automatically turns on your TV, sets it to video input, turns on your DVD player and plays the current DVD! That’s harmony, right? Furthermore, you can control up to 10 different devices with it and supports up to 225,000 different devices and brands across the globe.

The Harmony 525 sports some sort of matte plastic which makes it easy to grip and sturdy.

The Logitech Harmony 525 feels solid and sturdy despite its plastic casing. It fits the hand snuggly and it has infra red transmitters on top, bottom and at the back of the remote which enables you to control your appliances at any angle you point the remote at. The blue backlit LCD provides immediate Help in case you run into conflicts or troubles. The only drawback with the Harmony 525 is that you need to connect it to your PC via USB, in order to download the codes for each of your appliances. It includes a software that connects to Logitech’s website and downloads the necessary codes for every appliance you wish to control with the remote. It runs on 4 AAA batteries which lasts for months even on everyday use. Overall, we’ve been using the device for more than two months now and we’re happy with the Harmony 525. I can’t wait until they come up with a version where I can also control my dog and my car!