After being removed from Apple’s online store, fans of the classy white iPhone 4 feared that it might never become a part of their lives, until now. Recent promotional materials have surfaced indicating that the elusive white iPhone will be available to the general public in Spring 2011.

A specific release date of the phone has not yet been verified, although if Apple keeps up with their trend of product releases, the white iPhone 4 should come out sometime around March.

Apple’s initial intentions were to release both the black and white iPhone 4 at the same time, however problems with production caused the company to delay it’s release. Reports of contrasting colors between painted glass and the plastic home button, along with problems of excessive light leaking into camera sensors and complications with white glass back panels have contributed to white iPhone 4′s withdrawal from sales.

There have been a number of white iPhone 4 gadgets spotted around the U.S., indicating Apple is actually producing the device and not just blowing smoke up the consumer’s nether regions. Meanwhile, there are several solutions available online that will make a person’s iPhone look white. The most common strategy is to simply buy a white case. Some sites will even take the phone and paint it any color one desires.

Even if the rumors are true about it’s release, launch of the next generation iPhone will be just around the corner in summer 2011. Hopefully Apple will have worked out the bugs from the iPhone 4, as well as expand on its availability of wireless networks. However, the real question still remains: will the consumer snatch up the white iPhone 4 when comes out, or will they simply cut their losses and hold out for the iPhone 5?

December 6, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

It has been foretold that one day two entities will join forces to end the tyranny and wrong doings that mankind has brought to this Earth. Until that happens we have to be content with two social game publishers buddying up. Zynga, makers of the Facebook sensation Farmville, recently purchased Newtoy, creators of addictive hits like Words With Friends and Chess With Friends.

The acquisition signifies Zynga’s desire to expand its success from the PC to mobile.

“Zynga is committed to providing the best of breed mobile game experience and we expect The Zynga With Friends Studio to deepen our bench of seasoned veterans and broaden our scope of mobile game development,” said David Ko, SVP of mobile at Zynga. “The mobile industry is still in its infancy and we’re excited about the opportunity ahead of us.”

Five months ago Zynga launched Farmville on iPhone and saw great success with over seven million downloads of the app.

Newtoy, based in Texas, focused their efforts toward developing social games for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Fans of their developmental genius need not worry about their new owner because Newtoy will still be developing and releasing games. The only change to be made is the Newtoy name which will now read: “The Zynga With Friends Studio.”

Zynga’s reach in the gaming industry seems to endlessly span the world wide web. The company has already launched games on Yahoo, partnered up with AMEX, and is making plans to release its first Android game, Zynga Poker.

There are currently 215 million people playing Zynga’s free games each month. Newtoy’s Word’s With Friends sensation has been downloaded over 12 million times.

December 2, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

Reputable sources around the interwebs have confirmed rumors of a Verizon iPhone set to debut in early 2011, but there are still many questions left unanswered including whether or not the Verizon iPhone will run on Verizon’s 3G network, or if it will be the first 4G iPhone on the market.  For Verizon to even have an iPhone, Apple must first build the phone for the CDMA network, which requires different tooling than an AT&T enabled iPhone.  All rumors have pointed to the fact that Apple has been testing a CDMA enabled iPhone in Boston and Manhattan, where Verizon Wireless is headquartered, but nothing (until recently) has helped to answer the 3G vs 4G debate.

On December 5th, Verizon will begin to roll out their 4G network to 70% of their 38 4G enabled cities.  This leaves many avid iPhone fans hoping that the new Verizon iPhone will, in fact, run on this faster 4G network.

Should Verizon launch the iPhone on a 3G network, it might not go over as smoothly as loyal Verizon customers are anticipating.  This is because Verizon’s 3G network is not as fast as AT&T’s.  Much of the lag on AT&T’s 3G network comes from their mass influx of customers who want the iPhone now.  When the Verizon iPhone comes to fruition, there will be a small exodus from AT&T (to be followed by a possible mass exodus once contracts are up), which will reduce the bog on AT&T’s 3G network, likely improving performance for AT&T iPhone customers.

Verizon, on the other hand, might feel the same network pressure that AT&T felt when it first started selling iPhones like hot cakes.  This could seriously impair Verizon’s 3G network, causing their service to suddenly be shotty for the first time, leaving customers actually forced to say “Can you hear me now?” but it won’t be followed by a humble “Good.”

Should Verizon launch the iPhone on their 4G network, on the other hand, they will have a better chance of remaining competitive.  If the 4G network gets bogged down, what’s the worst it can do… move as slow as 3G?

The fact that Verizon is pushing out their long awaited 3G network over the remainder of the year, suggests that Verizon is aware of this risk, and will likely launch a 4G enabled Verizon iPhone.  Of course, there will probably be hiccups in the 4G roll out, with much testing to be done.  That said, it’s possible the Verizon iPhone will be delayed until the 4G network is fool proof.  So now a new question arises: Would you rather have a spotty 3G Verizon iPhone now, or wait a few extra months for a faster 4G Verizon iPhone?

November 30, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

Stella McCartney: her signature style is clean, modern, and simply chic. Images of supermodels and couture runway just dance in the head when picturing her work (and for the unfamiliar, supermodels on the brain is not a bad way to go). Dressing up and dressing down some of the hottest celebrities from the Material Girl herself, Madonna to Eat, Pray, Love Julia Roberts, and every hot bod in between, McCartney sharply tailors designs to exude a feminine and sexy look. Proving that she’s not just a one-note designer, her luxury line of women’s ready-to-wear clothes, accessories, and lingerie, has expanded to a women’s performance line with Adidas. She has also recently moved into designing kids wear for Gap Kids. With stores in London, NY, LA, Tokyo, Paris, Milan, Hong Kong and soon to open location in Las Vegas, the fashion house has found a way to become accessible to just about everyone.

Marrying fashion and technology once again, McCartney has relaunched her US ecommerce site in the UK and will be available in eight European countries by Spring 2011. The site is designed to ooze the fashion aesthetic that McCartney is so well known for. Users of her site will get a chance to take a look into “Stella’s World,” a website feature that includes a comprehensive view into the brand through photos, flicks, and quotes. McCartney also shares her personal opinion on trends, updates on her brands, and stories from special interest subjects and interviews.

The designer is also know for her stance to not use fur or leather in her designs, she says “I find it astounding, because fashion is supposed to be about change – I mean, we’re supposed to be about cutting edge!” The site will also feature a section of McCartney’s eco tips, green initiatives, and her favorite charities.

Bringing it all together, the site is about fashion, so yes, there will be shopping. Replicating in-store retail services, the site allows users to buy from her collections or use the “shop by look’’ feature – a personalized concierge-style shopping service. Users can even reserve items on the site and then pick them up at their nearest store, just to get that in-store fix. StellaMccartney.com sophisticatedly integrates social networking throughout the site using Facebook and Twitter, and a “like” option that allows visitors to tag their favorites and share their McCartney picks. In addition to the site, a Stella McCartney iPad app will be available within the next few months to further her fashion influence around the world.

November 26, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

It’s game time people, tick tick tick go the seconds left to the biggest shopping days of the year Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and all the days leading up to gift giving holidays. People are working on their game plans since, come this weekend, hitting up the stores will require true strategy in order to take advantage of the best deals in town. A shopper needs to have their head in the game and be equipped with the best shopping devices for quick decisions and quick buys.

“Say hello to my little friend….” No really, say hello to myShopanion, the iPhone and iPad application that acts as the ultimate shopping companion (hence its catchy name). Social shopping start-up, Zappli, has produced and recently updated the myShopanion app just in time to use for the holiday shopping season. The app integrates into multiple social networks (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) where users can post their purchases (or potential) and interesting products to their accounts to get real-time advice and feedback from friends and family. myShopanion acts as a handy one-stop ‘phone-a-friend’ where a quick ‘yay or ney’ will shave minutes off time spent at one store. The app is unique from other mobile shopping apps for its ability to support a shopper’s natural tendency to rely on instant feedback, essentially eliminating indecision through its many useful features. Users will find a shopping feed where they can secretly stalk their friends and family to see what items they like or want.  Sounds pretty useful for finding the perfect gift right? Consumers can also use the app to scan a product’s barcode, take a picture of it or just type in the product name to find the best deals online. The app is built to access millions of expert reviews and check prices from thousands of retailers to ensure efficient shopping and to save a trip to another store. Once a user finds the best deal, they can complete the purchase right from the app or decide to save the product to purchase at a later date.

Like Al Pacino in Scarface, his ‘little friend’ did some serious damage  (although his little friend happened to be an M16 assault riffle but that is neither here nor there….okay worst analogy ever) but beside the point, shoppers all around will be doing some damage to their bank accounts this season and will be in need of some extra shopping advice and help. So why not go all ‘Tony Montana’ on holiday shopping and obliterate the stress of it all with myShopanion (your little friend)?

November 17, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

The flexibility of smartphone operating systems and the ability of independent programmers to design apps to do just about anything has opened amazing new doors in terms of what these phones can do. Google’s new Gingerbread update for the Android OS seems to be poised to take their line of smartphones in a new direction: mcommerce. The Gingerbread OS upgrade will contain enhanced NFC support that will allow the phones to be used in place of credit cards in point-of-sale transactions. The new features added to the Gingerbread upgrade will allow users to “tap and pay,” using NFC receivers and the linked credit card information in their accounts.

This upgrade (and its added mcommerce capabilities) is extremely timely, with the approaching holiday season and the knowledge that younger consumers already rely on their phones to gather information and find deals for real-life transactions. The ability to pay using a phone has also alread proven itself a reliable revenue stream for businesses. The fact that account information stored on a cellphone using NFC technology could be safer and more secure than their plastic predeccesors just makes this move look even better.

Using cellphones/smartphones (and associated account information) to drive point-of-sale transactions is nothing new. Groupon’s smartphone app allows users to bring up their account with the deals that they have paid for and present a unique code to the cashier, who then processes the deal. The NFC functionality included with Gingerbread would allow mcommerce users to expand these kind of interactions. Starbucks has also rolled out a larger test market for its “Starbucks Card Mobile,” which links the user’s Starbucks Card (a rewards/credit storage program) to a mobile account. The user pays for drinks by accessing their account on the phone, which then displays a barcode that the user holds up to a special scanner.

The new NFC powers granted to Android devices with the Gingerbread OS upgrade would preclude the need for a special scanner and would allow smartphones to interact with NFC credit card scanning systems of the kind already in place in many stores. Google CEO Eric Schmidt demonstrated the functionality at the Web 2.0 summit using an “unnanounced device.” But location-based smartphone apps have many more applications than just buying things or accessing special deals. Applications already exist that track a user’s movements and suggest deals or allow them to accrue rewards points. Possible extensions of NFC functionality into this kind of “deal-pointing,” represent great unexplored avenues for both consumers and retailers wanting to take advantage of the mcommerce boom. What else will Gingerbread bring?

November 16, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

Apple iTunes is without a doubt one of the biggest venues for mobile commerce in the United States, and the announcement coming later this morning could be a sign of things to come. Rumors began stirring yesterday as to what the big iTunes announcement will be, after Apple changed their home page to a teaser promotion hyping up the news coming out later this morning. The home page has minimal information, stating that “Tomorrow is another day. That you’ll never forget. Check back here tomorrow for an exciting announcement from iTunes.” Outside of that, the only other information on the Apple home page about the iTunes announcement are four different clock icons, indicating that the news will break at 7am on the West Coast, 10am on the East Coast, 3pm in London, and midnight in Tokyo. Tomorrow is now today, and with the announcement only a couple hours away, everyone is scrambling to figure out what is new for iTunes.

The most logical announcement from Apple would be that the new iOS 4.2 operating system is going to debut, but that seems too easy, and has less to do with iTunes and more to do with the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Some news sources have questioned whether the iTunes announcement will have anything to do with the debut of a Verizon iPhone, which has been a hot topic for years, as many iPhone owners are not too happy being tied to AT&T, but again, this has little, if anything to do with iTunes. Many of the other predictions as to what the iTunes announcement will be seem too insignificant, as Apple typically does not cause a big stir unless they have something worthwhile to debut.

If the Apple iTunes announcement is all about the new iOS 4.2 operating system, then it could have an impact on mobile commerce, based upon the reported changes that are set to debut. The biggest improvement in iOS 4.2 will be the ability to multitask on the iPad, which could allow more users to partake in mobile commerce activities. This is because you can now have a more realistic online shopping experience on the iPad, by being able to easily browse multiple online stores, and compare prices on the fly. If iOS 4.2 does debut today, you can most likely expect to see more iPad owners utilizing the device to take care of some of their 2010 holiday shopping.

Another rumor spreading across the Internet yesterday pointed to The Beatles finally coming to iTunes, but it seems a bit much for Apple to do an entire event just for something like this. However The Beatles being absent from iTunes has been a much discussed topic for the last year, and fans have been anxious to see the band make their debut in digital form.

The only other significant rumor related to today’s iTunes announcement is the possibility of an iTunes streaming service, that of which could rival Spotify. Spotify is an extremely popular music streaming service in Europe, that has not been able to debut in the United States as of yet. Some rumors indicate that maybe Apple will buy Spotify and roll it into iTunes, but based on Apple’s history, it is more likely that they will launch their own streaming music service.[yd_list_posts]

November 15, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

Near the end of October, it was announced that Apple would release an update to their iOS in early November, but recent reports state that the iOS 4.2 release will be delayed, and everyone wants to know why.

The much anticipated iOS 4.2 has a number of features that many Apple fanatics are excited about, and only a few features that have gotten negative reviews (the uproar over changes to the lock switch still hasn’t stopped).  Still, of all the possible reasons for the delay, the negative reviews don’t seem to be the likely culprit.  Instead, many are wondering if the delay has anything to do with the rumored Verizon iPhone, said to be released in early 2011.

Rumors of a Verizon iPhone aren’t old, in fact they’ve been coming and going since the iPhone first took the world by storm in June of 2007.  That said, now reputable sources are jumping into the rumor mill and assuring excited consumers that Verizon will provide a CDMA iPhone with a happy home in just a few short months.  This, in combination with Verizon capable iPads, has consumers counting the minutes to 2011 and packing their heavy AT&T bags to move on to greener pastures, but one thing is missing: an announcement from Apple itself.

This much anticipated announcement is what many are hoping for on the day of the iOS 4.2 launch.  As such, many are wondering, and hoping, if the iOS 4.2 delay is simply because Apple is preparing to announce the phone that everyone is talking about.

Still, others have claimed that Apple delayed the release after the discovery of a bug in the iOS 4.2 Gold Master version, which was released for Apple developers in early November. “Even if the iPad manages to successfully connect to a local network, the connection is lost after a few minutes, with some iPads said to be struggling to connect to the Internet at all,” wrote MacStories.

Of course, Apple is already accepting iOS 4.2 compatible apps, so are the bugs as problematic as some are saying?  Over the course of the next two weeks, the iOS 4.2 will definitely be unveiled, but with hopes of a Verizon iPhone, will one big announcement make this new operating system available to a much larger audience?[yd_list_posts]

November 11, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

When something cool comes down the pipe on the internet, everyone knows it, and they find out fast. Like kids in study hall hearing that something funny is scrawled on a bathroom wall, consumers rush to get in on the newest trends as they break on TechCrunch or Mashable. Kik Messenger is showing all the signs of the kind of consumer craziness that accompanies a great idea: 450,000 downloads in ten days with an estimated 1.5 million users worldwide.

What is Kik Messenger? Kik Messenger is a cross-platform, real-time, chat/text service, almost exactly like Blackberry’s “Blackberry Messenger” (BBM) service. Pausing for a moment, it’s almost a shock that this is actually news, or more appropriately, that this has taken so long to come about. The length of the average phone call is dropping, the number of texts per person per day is rising, and people are using their phones more and more often for all sorts of stuff besides actually talking. But whereas text messages take valuable relay time and slow conversations down, Kik Messenger’s asynchronous delivery system keeps the back-and-forth crisp and social. It also uses your phone’s existing contacts to find other Kik users and put you all in touch.

Kik Messenger’s similarities to BBM (or Google’s Google Talk “GTalk” system) should come as no surprise. Creator Ted Livingston worked strategy for RIM’s BBM division before leaving two years ago to start work on Kik Messenger, which seems to have paid off. Its main strength over BBM is cross-platform capability. Like BBM, it shows when the other user has read your text and when they are typing a response, keeping the conversation lively. Livingston highlights these elements as fundamental differences between Kik Messenger and GTalk: you don’t know how your friend is using GTalk – could be desktop or mobile. He or she might not even be available at the moment and won’t get back to you for a while. Kik Messenger is optimized for mobile, and mobile users are flocking to it. Says Livingston:

“I think [the download rate] shows there’s a fundamental need for this.”

Quick, cross-platform communication is just the tip of the digital iceberg for Kik Messenger. The same technology that allows Kik to use its servers to facilitate instant mobile conversations can also allow it to move other types of data over the same system: pictures, audio, and video. Kik could find itself in a power position as the “iPhone/Android/Blackberry uniter,” (and maybe Windows 7 phone too, eventually?) allowing friends and coworkers on all three operating systems to trade information (both vital and not…) in real time.[yd_list_posts]

November 10, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

The Trio of Windows 7 phones have finally hit the American shelves and online stores, and are selling at incredible rates.  The HTC DH7, carried by T-mobile and one of the first smartphones featuring the Windows Phone 7 OS, has already sold out the day after its release. The HTC Surround and Samsung Focus, carried by AT&T, may soon be following suit.  What exactly does this mean for the iPhone and Android?

Let’s see what the Windows 7 phones have to offer:

No smart phone would be complete without a set of apps, and Microsoft hasn’t lost sight of their importance.  The phones will open up with a little over 1,600 available apps in their arsenal.  Compare this to iPhone’s 300,000 apps or Android’s 100,000 apps and there’s really no way for the Windows 7 phones to compete.  But all is not lost.  Microsoft has plans of beefing up their apps by making the app submissions open to any developer who has registered to publish apps on the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace.

Although, according to O’Reilly Research, Windows 7 apps are considerably more expensive than their iPhone counter part.  The average price of a Windows app is $6.16 while the mean app price for an iPhone app is $3.43.  This can bee looked at as good news for the developers, but customers probably won’t be as ecstatic about it.

Microsoft has also announced plans to release new Xbox Live-enabled mobile games each week with games ranging in price from $2.99 to $9.99.

Apps and games aside, how does the Windows 7 phone OS stack up the titans of iPhone and Android?  According to PCWorld’s Ginny Miles, Microsoft has done an excellent job when it comes to the basic user interface, performance and functionality.  However, it looks as if there are a few key components the Windows OS is missing.  Functions like copy/paste, third-party multitasking and Flash support seem to be absent from the Windows 7 phone.  Since the iPhone and Android have already addressed theses issues with their phones (with the exception of Flash for the iPhone), it may be difficult for Windows to live down the truancy of such basic functions.

Aesthetically, the phone is quite pleasing.  It resembles the simplicity and user friendliness of the iPhone, while offering the power and configurability of the Android, stated Computer World’s Dan Rosenbaum.

All in all, the Windows 7 phone and its OS have a lot of potential for success.  Like any new device to debut, there are sure to be a few bugs to work out of the system.  Nothing is ever produced perfectly on its first go around, especially when it’s competing against powerhouses like the iPhone and Android.  But if they’re diligent and act quickly on their flaw, Microsoft can definitely become a competitor in the smart phone industry.

November 8, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

Apple is set to release the latest operating system update to the iPad, iPod Touch, and iPhone, which is expected to secure their dominance in the mobile marketplace and ereader space.  iOS 4.2 will be available for download shortly, and Apple fans are already starting to simmer and stir about the 100+ new features and innovations promised to them.  Of the anticipated features, the most notable include multitasking, folders (that can hold up to 20 apps), printing, wireless streaming, and improved functionality for already existing apps and tools.  But the question remains, will these new features actually be a game changer for ereaders, mobile commerce, and more?

To answer this question, consider the impact of the following feature changes:

1. Multitasking – The ability to multitask takes the iPad to an entirely new playing field by making it more like a laptop than ever.  With iOS 4.2, users will be able to browse the Internet while taking notes in notepad and more.  Consider how this will impact mobile commerce alone.  A user can visit an online store to find a product they are interested in, open up the Save Benjis app to compare prices at both local and online stores, calculate the totals, all while writing up a shopping list using their notepad app.  While it’s true that all of this can also be done using a computer, more and more people are turning to the convenience of a light-weight mobile device that doesn’t take eons to boot up.  Because of this, multitasking can kick mobile commerce up a notch, so ecommerce merchants should be prepared and start setting up their online stores for easy use on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, sooner rather than later.

2. Find text on web pages – This is such a simple addition to the iOS, that some may not believe it has an impact, but it could mean more than you think.  When browsing the web on an iPhone or iPad, one of the most frustrating things for a user could be the inability to utilize the find function available on a computer browser.  The find function lets you type in the word or phrase you are looking for and then navigate to it immediately, thus getting you through a web page faster.  While this change is great for the average person browsing the web or reading an article, it could have a negative impact on website owners.  This is because the find function allows a user to get through a site at twice the speed and keeps them from possibly discovering something new and unexpected on that site.  With a change like this, you can expect time on site to go down slightly for any visits from an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, and your bounce rate will increase as well.

3. The iPad screen lock switch changing to a volume switch – While Apple didn’t announce this as one of their big changes, those who have beta tested the new iOS 4.2 have found this to be one of the most frustrating new features.  The iPhone and iPad both have a switch on the side which, until iOS 4.2, have done two very different things.  On the iPhone, this switch takes the ring volume from mute/vibrate to 100% volume.  For a phone, this is a very convenient function, as you can quickly put your phone on silent without taking a lot of time.  On the iPad, this switch has worked as a screen lock, which keeps the screen from changing views if you move the iPad around.  This simple lock has been something that avid readers have really enjoyed on the iPad, as it lets them use the iPad as an ereader without having to worry about the words suddenly jumping from horizontal to vertical from a simple shift in balance.  While users will still be able to lock the screen on an iPad, they will no longer be able to do so with the switch on the side, because the new iOS 4.2 will turn that switch into a volume control just like an iPhone.  Going forward, users with the iOS 4.2 upgrade will need to navigate to a screen lock button in the multitask panel.  This small change has sent a lot of users into upheaval, as it takes away from the convenience of the iPad and has some questioning whether Apple is moving the iPad away from the ereader audience that many had hoped it would focus on.

4. AirPlay – One of the most exciting additions coming from the iOS 4.2 update is the iPad’s ability to wirelessly stream videos, music, and photos from the iPad to the new Apple TV or AirPlay speakers and AirPort Express.  This sets the iPad apart in many ways, as it is so much more than a tablet, it is an entertainment center.  This type of shift will likely increase iTunes purchases and help the Apple TV compete with the Boxee Box and Netflix.

5. AirPrint – While the iOS 4.2 update will take away the ease of screen lock, Apple is including the ability to print anything from the web, an ebook, and more.  This convenient addition to the iPad will let many avid readers take their ebook from screen to print, which excites traditionalists who have adopted an ereader out of necessity rather than actual want.  It is unlikely that this change will impact the iPad’s standing as an ereader too much, but it could tip the scales for some who are trying to choose between a Kindle vs. the iPad.

November 5, 2010
By the ZippyCart Content Team

“Nearly two thirds (66%) of consumers surveyed considered it important to very important to be able to conveniently determine in-stock availability before visiting a store.” Sterling Commerce Report

Amidst the holiday shopper’s list of enemies from long lines, traffic, high prices, screaming children, lies the most feared one of all, ‘temporarily out of stock’. There is no greater blow to the shopper’s ego and sanity then ‘temporarily out of stock’. Thinking of what it takes to get to the mall in the first place is blood, sweat, tears, oh, and of course gasoline a holiday shopper will experience stress, hunger, emotional highs and lows that cause fatigue and a short drop in sanity, the shopper can become an unpredictable force. Say, little Kimmy wanted a Hannah Montana doll for Christmas. Mom or Dad make the trek and reache a shelf full of ‘temporarily out of stock’ signs, time is ticking toward the last hours before the holiday starts. Mom or dad panics, has a short drop in sanity and gets little Kimmy a Malibu Barbie. Now little Kimmy is traumatized, she did not want that Barbie, Christmas has been ruined, and the rest of her future is compromised. End scene.

Like a ghost from Christmas’ past, to tell this tale of warning, knowing product availability is key to a successful shopping season and has become the single most important shopping function a consumer wants to see on their mobile devices. The ability to check whether a product is in stock or when it will be in stock, using the convenience of a mobile app allows a shopper, in any location, to save time and money by doing their research first before stepping foot into a mall, a shopper’s GPS if you will. An increase of smartphone users means the consumer is relying more on their phones for price comparisons, reviews, retail information, specials and promotions, which inevitably leads to a purchase. With multichannel integration, retailers must be ready to offer an app and mobile ready shopping to assist the needs of the 2010 consumer; otherwise, they may see a decrease in web traffic and sales. Ecommerce sales continue to grow and is furthered by the demand in retail mobility. With this economy, holiday shoppers will be more careful of their spending and will do more research online to better prepare for the challenges that the current economy poses. Consumers simply want accessibility and convenience, eliminating the days where driving store to store all night only to be upset by an ‘out of stock’ product is happily replaced with the ease of retail mobility.

November 5, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

Since the iPhone debuted, consumers have had one major issue that has still not been resolved by Apple, and that is the ability to view Flash videos on the iPhone. Apple has overcome lots of other complaints from the original iPhone, and added video, multitasking, video chat, retina display, and an LED flash for the camera. However viewing Flash videos on the iPhone has continued to be ignored (or avoided) by Apple, but a recent mobile web browser added to iTunes may be the saving grace. It was only up for a short time, but Skyfire for iPhone quickly became the top grossing app in iTunes in about 5 hours. This mobile web browser uses their own servers to convert Flash videos into the iOS accepted HTML5, and allows users to then play the videos on their iPhones. Additional Skyfire compresses the videos by roughly 75%, so that they do not bog down their servers. As a result of Skyfire’s instant popularity, this high demand was too much for the company to continue to keep their mobile web browser functioning for consumers. Therefore they had to pull Skyfire from the iTunes stores before most iPhone users had a chance to even find out about the new app.

Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, has stated that he does not have a serious interest in making the iPhone compatible with Flash videos, but this $2.99 mobile web browsing app may solve the issue, if Skyfire can figure out a way to keep up with consumer demand. As of now, Skyfire is still absent from the iTunes store, but the company is working on addressing the server issues so that they can get the app back in the store as soon as possible. Until then, iPhone owners who missed the opportunity to purchase Skyfire will have to wait a bit longer to watch Flash videos from the palm of their hand.

November 4, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

What’s in a phone, that which we call an iPhone 4 by any other name would work so sweetly?

The iPhone 4 has become the Holy Grail of phones in some parts of the world. In China, supplies range from “limited” to “depleted” due to the high population and even higher demand. Spain has seen stores sell out entirely within hours.

The elusive White iPhone 4, which has been surrounded by rumors since Steve Jobs allegedly emailed that it would be released in time for Christmas 2010, has now become a modern day unicorn. Apple’s latest announcement has pushed the white model’s release date to Spring 2011. To rabid Apple fanatics, this is an impossible amount of time to wait to get a hold of an iPhone 4 of any type.

Apple conveniently failed to mention, after launching such a coveted phone, to get to it is like having to navigate a pit of alligators in full chainmail, slay a dragon, and leap through a ring of fire, only to be defeated by a 3 week back order wait.

Okay, it may not be that dramatic but the wait, yes, ’tis true. This has been the reality for many as the iPhone 4 has generated great momentum all over the world. Demands are high, supplies are low. Remember the lines of people, hardcore enough to wait in the wee hours, and by wee, I mean by the time you set your alarm to wake up early to wait in line, people have set up their tents and lawn chairs in front of an Apple store to one up you? Those people are the chasm for the “wait felt around the world.” However, don’t hang your head low quite yet. Over the past months, the shipping wait has decreased from weeks, to 5-7 days, and improving to an estimated 1-3 days. It looks as if the both the online and retail Apple Store have now caught up to allow the iPhone 4 to be shipped within 24 hours from the time of purchase in the U.S.; however, other parts of the world may just have to wait a little bit longer.

The shipping improvement comes just in time for the big holiday season. Accessibility is key for such a popular product. For the select few who have yet to jump on the smartphone band wagon, while the rest of us wonder how you stay connected to well, almost everything, this may be just your time to climb aboard.