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Mac Heads

Netflix iPad App is Real; Hulu in the Works – CE Pro

How many times can Netflix (r)evolutionize movie watching? We thought the rent-by-mail with no late fees was cool. So was being able to stream to your Blu-ray player and gaming console.

Now it appears you’ll be able to marry you’re brand spanking new iPad with Netflix for a movie-viewing love fest on the portable device’s 9.7-inch screen.

The free Netflix iPad app was released on April 1 and doesn’t appear to be an April Fool’s joke.

It appears to have some pretty nifty features to basically mimic your experience of the Watch Instantly for your PC, like being able to browse and manage your queue and even pick up on the iPad where you may have left off watching in the living room.

Here’s how the Application Description reads:

Get Netflix on your iPad. Just download this free app and you can instantly watch TV shows & movies streaming from Netflix.
-Watch as often as you want
-It’s part of your Netflix unlimited membership
-Resume watching where you left off on your TV or computer
-Browse movies and manage your Queue right from your iPad

And the app is rated 12+, obviously, because we’re not all watching Disney cartoons.

So is this the so-called killer app? Thousands of movies and TV shows in the palm of your hands, on a much nicer screen than what an iPhone/iPod touch can offer?

According to Slashfilm.com, ABC also has an app so you can watch the broadcast network’s streaming episodes, and The New York Times reports Hulu is also planning on unleashing an iPad app. That certainly would be huge, but apparently might also be tied into Hulu’s testing the paid subscription waters. Still, we’re guessing plenty of people would throw in a few bucks a month to access Hulu, especially if they’re able to right from their iPad.

Categories
Mac Heads

Apple’s Oscar iPad Commerical

I didn’t watch the Oscars last night…was too busy watching “1000 Ways to Die” on Spike TV and “The Wedding Crashers” for the third time on Comedy Central. But as soon as I heard Stevie-J (AKA; Steve Jobs) bought some air time during the Oscars to put out an iPad commercial, I made sure I posted it for you guys.

Remember, iPad preorders via apple.com start first thing this Friday!

Categories
Mac Heads

Use your iPhone to pay for Starbucks orders

One of my first articles as a blogger was called “Mobile Tagging”. The article was mainly about being able to create and scan “barcodes” (one type of code is called QR code) in order to share such things like contact info and web links using your web-enabled smart phone.

I knew this technology was cool (which was why I wrote about it…a brotha loves cool!) and sooner or later SOMEBODY would put it to good use. Well that somebody just happened to be the largest coffee house in the world.

Starbucks has available an iPhone app called “Starbucks Card Mobile App” (the name is GENIUS…/sarcasm) that enables your typical Starbucks junkie to carry around their Starbucks card on their iPhone (or IPod Touch). With the app, you can find out your card balance, add monies to your card, and register for free card rewards.

…bla, bla, bla.

The coolest feature of the app is that you can create your favorite coffee order by creating a barcode that when scanned automatically SUBMITS AND PAYS for your order – provided you do in fact have a balance on your virtual card!

So imagine being able to walk into a Starbucks, walk up to the counter, hold your phone up to the cashier Java Specialist, submit, pay, and pick up your order without having to say anything!

Not having to talk to anybody is my kind of communication!

Right now, the latter feature of the app is currently being tested in Seattle area stores (of course) and a few other Cali locations, but I am pretty sure before long, the feature will be available everywhere.

For more information and to download the FREE app, visit Starbucks Card Mobile App…OR scan this pic with your code reader app on your phone: