InboxFever Brings Apps Inside Your Email

InboxFever is a simple idea that can be very useful and powerful. Email is everywhere! It does not matter if you are on a desktop with Windows or Mac, using IE, Chrome, or Firefox, or enjoy being mobile with iOS, Android, or Symbian; you will always have email.

With InboxFever you can tap in to many resources just by using your email. It is the same principle as Google Talk Guru, but with much more usefulness. It could also be used as a safe way to gain information when you are behind a firewall or VPN at work. Below are the email apps available today.

• yelp - yelp@inboxfever.com - Get search results from Yelp by emailing "Location, Search Term" in the subject line

• Google Maps - maps@inboxfever.com - Get directions and maps in your email by putting the locations in your subject line. Use "Boston to Palo Alto" to get directions or just "Boston" to receive a map.

• Get URL - geturl@inboxfever.com - Receive copy of the URL you indicate in the subject line with images, links, etc.

• Mocavo Genealogy Search - search@mocavo.com - Search billions of names for free with Mocavo Genealogy Search. Type the name you are searching or include location for better results, like "Boston, Samuel Adams".

• Stock Quotes - stocks@inboxfever.com - Get stock quotes by sending the ticker symbol in the subject

• To PDF - pdf@inboxfever.com - Convert a Word or Power Point documents to PDF by forwarding the attachment

• InboxFever Apps - apps@inboxfever.com - Search for apps on InboxFever. "All" emails you a full list, or you can search by specific term.

You can sign-up for an account for better statistics and control, but I tried using the service from another email account just by emailing the indicated addresses and it worked. They are working on more apps as well as an API which will allow developers to tap in to the service. I look forward to seeing what else can be done with some news apps. You can follow InboxFever on Twitter and Facebook.

Optimum App for iPad Gives You a Full Cable Television Experience (PR)

Cablevision's Optimum iPad App

Cablevision's new Optimum App brings cable TV to the iPad.

BETHPAGE, N.Y., April 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) today announced the launch of the Optimum App for iPad, which allows its cable television customers to experience iO TV digital cable – including access to hundreds of channels and video on demand (VOD) – on an iPad in the home. The application delivers the full cable television experience to the tablet device, and allows the iPad to function as a television. Like all additional outlets, it is free to existing Optimum cable television customers. 

In addition to approximately 300 live channels and access to VOD, the Optimum App for iPad integrates enhanced guide information that makes it easier than ever before for customers to find the content they already receive as part of their cable television subscription. Programming is fully searchable, including by genre, and the application includes the ability to schedule DVR recordings and manage previously-recorded content. 

"This application allows the iPad to function as a television, delivering the full richness and diversity of our cable television service to a display device in the home," said Tom Rutledge, Cablevision's chief operating officer. "It gives our customers the additional flexibility and convenience of watching television throughout the home, in places where set-top boxes might not be ideal or even practical, like the kitchen, bathroom or work room. This is the future of Advanced Digital Cable televisions served with virtual set-top boxes, and just one of many digital displays we are going to be serving through a variety of applications," Mr. Rutledge concluded. 

Cablevision uses its secure and proprietary Advanced Digital Cable television network to deliver cable programming to customers for viewing on the Optimum App for iPad, and content is not delivered over the Internet. The application turns the iPad into an additional television, enabling Cablevision customers to view the same live programming and VOD content already being delivered to other TVs in the home as part of the service they have paid for. Cablevision has the right to distribute programming over its cable system to iPads configured in this way under its existing distribution agreements with programming providers. Cablevision has been serving customers with switched digital cable for more than five years. Advanced Digital Cable allows the company to switch in multiple digital formats, as its customers continue to buy the latest display devices. Customers do not need to have Internet access to use the Optimum App for iPad. 

Cablevision plans to deploy additional applications that deliver the same experience to other tablets and display devices, functioning as televisions. The company plans to integrate remote control functionality into the Optimum App for iPad this summer.

Epistle for Android makes taking notes easy

Today Epistle launched from kookLab. The app automatically synchronizes your notes with your Dropbox account. For me this is the lightest weight solution out there (253k) to make notes or send myself links. More robust applications are on the market, such as Evernote, that have every single option known to man. Sometimes you just need a easy text editor to save your thoughts; Epistle will do that. I hope the app is kept light. If more options are added I would suggest they make a second app called "Epistle Extra"; I stopped using other services because the footprint and interface just became to much. Epistle was a breath of fresh air when I came across it today.

7 Must Have Chrome Apps and Extensions

Below are what I consider the essential base of apps and extensions for the Chrome browser in no particular order. Depending on what you do and like there are many more that will improve your experience and efficiency; but, start with these.

Embedly - If you live on Twitter.com you can not live without this. Even though Twitter has been integrating more services that allow you to preview content this will take you to the next level.  Videos, audio, photos, posts, etc.; you will see it on without leaving the site.

WOT or Web of Trust - It is a simple extension that assists in keeping you away from harmful websites. Not 100% accurate, but it has saved me a couple times. I recommend to change the searching options to not display on search engines and other sites. It reduces its foot print and lets it do one simple task of warning and stopping you if you are on your way to a bad site.

Cloud Save - An excellent extension that allows you to right click on almost anything and save it to one of many cloud based services (full review). If you are on Chrome OS this is a must have.

Google Sidewiki - This was intended to be a social tool to let you leave comments on webpages for others to see. In my opinion it has failed in that regard, although it does have some use. What I use it for is my browsing history. If you install this and activate it all your browsing history will be sent  and saved to your Google account. Some may be scared of that, but I love it and have referred to it many times.

Secbrowsing - Ensures your browser plugins are up-to-date. Easy to use and out of the way when everything is good on your system.

Scratchpad - Write notes and reminders. The best part is that it will synchronize and save your notes on Google's servers so that you can access them from all your Chrome browsers.

TweetDeck - A social platform that brings in Twitter, Facebook, Buzz, and Foursquare. The interface and functionality are top notch.