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Posts Tagged ‘iPod Touch’

Amazon’s iPad Application Debuts

Posted in Ecommerce, General News / Technology, Online Shopping, tagged , , , , , , , on May 14, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Looking to get in on the action that has resulted from the iPad’s enormous boost in popularity and sales, Amazon (AMZN) has rolled out its highly-anticipated mobile application for the newest toy from Apple (AAPL) with much fanfare.

Optimized for the unique visual and tactile experience that the iPad provides, the new app gives users the chance to search and research a full range of products offered by Amazon and their retail partners.  It includes all of the popular features that Amazon’s customers have come to expect, including bestselling book information, daily deals, product information, recommendations and customer reviews.

Soft-launched at the end of April, the application also lets users manage product wish lists, preview songs and movie trailers, and browse new releases across several different product categories.  Online shoppers especially will look to take advantage of the 1-Click and Amazon Prime tools, which make purchases quick and painless, as well as the application’s package tracking feature that gives users total control over orders.

“Following the launch of the Amazon App for iPhone and iPod touch, we’ve used our customers’ feedback to help us build a fun and intuitive shopping destination on the iPad,” said Sam Hall, director of Amazon Mobile.  “This application offers customers a unique, interactive experience that takes full advantage of the visual and tactile nature of the iPad.”

Amazon’s app debuts just weeks after the iPad exploded onto the market.  Apple’s own internal figures estimate that it sold more than one million units of the tablet computer in the first four weeks of its availability.  The iPad’s popularity has already forced many Apple competitors to scramble to come up with their own devices and has developers rolling out iPad-compatible applications en masse.

The new application joins a family of Amazon mobile applications already available for iPhone and iPod Touch, as well as the Kindle for iPad and IMDb for iPad.

To preview the new application click here or visit the iPad App Store to download it for free.

In the meantime, we’re anxious to hear from iPad users who have tried out the new Amazon application. What are your thoughts on it?   Leave us a comment below!

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Sortprice Rolls Out Valentines Day Gift Guide and Top Ten Romantic Gifts

Posted in Ecommerce, Online Shopping, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 9, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Valentines Day

Consumers are considering both traditional favorites as well as several new ideas for Valentines Day gift-giving as they shop for the holiday this year, according to data released today by shopping search engine Sortprice.com listing the most frequently searched-for gifts on its site thus far.

“Not only are shoppers taking advantage of the many post-holiday deals offered up by many retailers right now,” said Doron Simovitch, Sortprice’s co-founder and CEO. “It appears that many of them are thinking outside the box this year to supplement, or even completely replace, traditional Valentines gifts like candy, fragrances and lingerie.”

Sortprice, which regularly tracks user visits and searches during major holiday shopping periods to gauge consumer trends, compiled a top ten list of the most popular products being viewed on the site. The data was collected starting in late January through February 8th.

TOP TEN

Canon Power Shot SD970 IS

Ugg Classic Short Boot

iPod Touch

Kama Sutra Bath Gels and Oils

Guess Handbags

Bulova Diamond Women’s Watches

Weleda Body Oils

Betsey Johnson Necklaces

Philips Norelco Men’s Razors and Grooming Kits

Armani Acqua di Gio Men’s Fragrance

Sortprice added a Valentine’s shopping guide with helpful suggestions for a wide range of gifts for him and her, including a list of recommend top retailers.  Learn more at: http://www.sortprice.com/valentines.html

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Introducing the iPad…Now What?

Posted in Ecommerce, Online Shopping, tagged , , , , , on January 28, 2010 | 8 Comments »

Apples new ipad

Apples new ipad

With much hype and fanfare, Steve Jobs unveiled the newest addition the Apple line yesterday – the highly anticipated iPad tablet.  Though the iPad won’t be widely available until March, many in the media and blogosphere are buzzing about it already, but not all the early returns are positive. Many are questioning where it fits in the realm of personal computers and smartphones, with still others wondering if the iPad really will become as useful as Apple’s other latest innovations or just a gratuitous toy for those that can afford it.

The angle that we want to cover today with regards to the iPad is how it will stack up with your existing laptop and whether it’s a worthwhile investment for the casual user.  So let’s do a rundown of the device itself first.

On aesthetics alone, you can’t help but marvel at the iPad.  It’s half an inch thick and weighs less than two pounds, making it extremely portable.  The 9.7 inch glass touch screen will offer an unparalleled viewing experience for videos, books, and general web browsing.

Apple says that the device will be able to run the 140,000-plus applications already developed for the iPhone and Touch, and expects an influx of iPad-specific programs as well in the near future. One of the most noteworthy apps is Apple’s own iBooks e-reading program which will connect to the company’s new online e-book store and compete directly with the popular Kindle from Amazon. Jobs announced during the event that Apple has already struck e-reading deals with five major publishers and expects to add a few more.

Finally, with a price range between $499 and $829, it’s not all that bad in comparison to industry averages for non-Mac laptops, notebooks and netbooks.

However, there are some notably absent features that regular laptop users are accustomed to which also make calling the iPad a larger version of the iPod Touch misleading.  For one, there is no camera capability.   Additionally, Flash, which handles the bulk of video and animation on the Web, does not work on the iPad.  And like its iPhone predecessor, the iPad will only work on the AT&T data network (for now).  Users can add 3G capability for an additional monthly fee, but again, only through AT&T.

It would be unfair to declare the iPad a hit or a failure now or even attempt to give it a comprehensive review considering no one but Apple’s own people have touched and used the device yet.  Those determinations will come later.  But based on what we’ve read and seen in just a day, we can make a few honest and broad assessments of this item.

For one, it’s hard to see Kindle readers giving up their current devices for this one.   The Kindle is lighter and already has a better base of material from which users can draw from.  Secondly, it’s equally hard to envision consumers who are in the market for a new laptop computer choosing the iPad unless they’re in it strictly for entertainment purposes.  Those who use their notebooks for work will be hard pressed to justify using an iPad that doesn’t appear to meet their needs for traditional  business and office software.  Finally, if you already have an iPhone (and thus, are paying extra to AT&T for their 3G coverage), you’re not going to get any breaks by upgrading to the iPad.  You’ll still pay the additional surcharge to run 3G.

Apple claims that the iPad, like all of its other devices, is not geared only for tech enthusiasts, but is designed for everyone.  While that may be true in theory, we just outlined three groups that will probably avoid the device altogether.

So where does that leave the iPad? Quite simply, the jury is still out.  We won’t know how big a dent it will make on the market until it is actually on the market in a few weeks.  There is no denying that the iPad will be a great tool for web browsing and videos,  but is that enough to carry it to the same levels of success enjoyed by the iPhone and iPod Touch?

Time will tell.

Leave us a comment with your thoughts!

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Electronics Dominate Holiday Shopper Wish Lists

Posted in Ecommerce, Online Shopping, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 7, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Comparison shopping website Sortprice.com gave us some inside information on which products on their site were the most frequently searched for during the 2009 holiday shopping season and as expected, electronics dominated.

Surprisingly, traditional toys were a bit more scarce in terms of popularity this year, with video games and consoles overtaking them and compiling a heavy chunk of the list.  GPS systems, MP3 players and digital cameras also reinforced their overall popularity with consumers as well, while Ugg Boots were the only fashion items to crack the top ten list.

Sortprice tracked user visits and searches on its site starting around Cyber Monday this year through the Christmas holiday to compile this list.

Sortprice’s Top Ten Items for the Holiday Shopping Season

1. Playstation 3 Console

2. Ipod Touch

3. Zhu Zhu Pets

4. Garmen Nuvi 255w GPS

5. Nintendo Wii Console

6. Canon EOS Rebel Tli Digital Camera

7. Lego Star Wars Series

8. UGG Classic Short Women’s Boots

9. Beatles Rock Band Video Game

10. Transformers Action Figures

We want to hear from you! Were you on the receiving end of any of these popular items?   Or did you gift one or more of these to someone else on your shopping list this year? Leave us a comment and let us know!

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Holiday Shopping 2009 – Music and Entertainment

Posted in Online Shopping, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

Now that we’ve sufficiently covered the things you need to stuff some stockings (see previous posts), it’s time to move on and discuss gift ideas that go under the tree.   And what better place to start than electronics, which is consistently the most popular product category every holiday shopping season.  We’ve combed the ‘net to compile a list of the hottest video games, music and home entertainment toys for 2009.

Music

Does someone on your list STILL not have an iPod?  This might be the year to rectify that since most iPods are at their lowest prices ever.  For the MP3 player novice, we recommend the Nano. After all, you don’t want to overwhelm someone who’s new to the whole digital music thing.  The iPod Touch is the way to go for someone who wants more than just music.  The Touch gives you gaming and entertainment capability in addition to plenty of music potential.

Everyone’s gaga over Lady Gaga’s debut album, so pick that up, or John Mayer’s latest record, and your special someone will instantly have some new music to add to their new iPod.

Believe it or not, vinyl is making a comeback! Many artists are releasing their new albums on vinyl records now, so if you want the purest audio sound possible, pick up a new turntable and get those records spinnin’!  Finally, for the ultimate home music experience, check out the Bose SoundDock , which delivers crystal-clear and room-filling sound from your iPod or MP3 player without bulky speakers. These are so cool, you might just have to get one for yourself.

Video Games
Got a gamer on your list?  There’s no shortage of choices this holiday shopping season. Sony has lowered the price of the Playstation 3 console down to about $300, and this baby does it all, from gaming to blu-ray movies to web browsing.  You can upgrade to the 120 GB version for a little bit more as well.  Nintendo’s Wii is also a popular choice, especially the Wii Fit Bundle packages  which help you exercise to while you play.

As for games themselves, Assassin’s Creed , the new
Grand Theft Auto installment, and DJ Hero will probably be the top sellers this year. But we’d also recommend the brand new Avatar the Game, which brings all the magic of James Cameron’s latest movie to your Wii console.

Home Entertainment
The holiday shopping season presents a great opportunity to pick up a new television at a great price. While we usually recommend going in-store to make such a purchase, you’ll also find some good deals online. At the very least, visit your local electronics retailer to research what kind of TV you want—there are distinct differences between plasmas and LED/LCDs—and then search the web for the best price on the make and model that you crave.

Compliment a new or existing hi-definition television with a Blu Ray player, which deliver unparalleled sound and picture, or a new Bose Home Theater surround sound system, which can turn your living room into a movie theater for as low as $400.   Portable DVD players
are also available at bargain prices right now and make a fantastic gift.

For the movie fan on your shopping list, there are some amazing new releases out just in time for the holidays, including Terminator Salvation,  Angels and Demons,  and the newest Night at The Museum.

As always, leave us a comment or suggestion if you think we left something off this list! Happy shopping!

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