Skype Bringing Group Video Calling to mobile!

Did you know that Skype free video calling is 10 years old? But… but how can the future be so old? Weren’t we just dreaming about video phone calls? Weren’t we just watching a Jetsons epsiode about that? Are we that old?

 

Yes. Yes we are. But there’s good news too! To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of said video calling, Skype has announced that they are bringing group video calling capabilities to mobile devices!! For free! WHAT.

 

Yump, coming soon to an iPhone near you – all your friends faces!! Who’s up for a group Skype to celebrate? Wherever you are, go to the fanciest place you know and let’s internet party! Long Distance Party Time! (LDPT for short, obviously).

 

We’ll have to pick a time and date in a little bit, because Skype is rolling out the feature over the next couple of weeks. If you want early access (you do) you can register here with your email address and Skype user name.

 

Watch the announcement below!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

App Store Booming

The 2015 Holiday season was good for Apple in a few ways, one of them being that it was the biggest ever for the App Store. How big is big, you ask? Well, big happens to be $1.1 billion spent on Apps and in-app purchases over a 2 week period ending January 3rd.

 

That’s big.

 

On New Years day alone, customers spent over $144 million dollars.

 

From the Sauce,  Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller;

 

“The App Store had a holiday season for the record books. We are excited that our customers downloaded and enjoyed so many incredible apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV, spending over $20 billion on the App Store last year alone.

 

We’re grateful to all the developers who have created the most innovative and exciting apps in the world for our customers. We can’t wait for what’s to come in 2016.”

 

Apple said it has now created over 1.4 million jobs attributable to app development and non-IT jobs supported by the app ecosystem.

 

Apps, huh. Who knew?

 

 

 

AT&T stopping 2 year contracts

Starting tomorrow January 8, 2016, AT&T will introduce a “pricing simplification effort”. What does that mean? That means the end of device subsidies, friends. It also means the end of two-year contracts.

 

Dun Dun Duuuun. After the 8th, both new and existing AT&T customers will only be able to purchase a smartphone at full price or with an AT&T Next payment plan.

 

It seems like some corporate users will be able to continue making two-year contract purchases.

 

From the Sauce, in a statement given to Re/code:

 

“With $0 down for well-qualified customers, the ability to upgrade early and down-payment options available with even lower monthly installments, our customers are overwhelmingly choosing AT&T Next,” AT&T told Re/code. “Starting January 8, AT&T Next will be the primary way to get a new smartphone at AT&T.”

 

Check out AT&T Next here.

 

 

Netflix is taking over the world!

 

After reaching 60 countries at the end of last year, and with many doubting their ability to get to all countries by the end of 2016, Netflix has surprised many with the recent launch of Netflix in no less than 130 countries.

 

Reed Hastings, Netflix CEO has just announced this past Wednesday that the company has officially launched its website in India, Vietnam, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Indonesia and dozens of other countries.

 

Welcome to losing your days to binge watching, other countries.

 

To give you an idea about how fast Netflix is growing, and how much potential it has for even further growth, in the fourth quarter of 2014, Netflix users watched 1/4 billion hours. In the fourth quarter of 2015, that number jumped to 12 billion hours.

 

Now that’s some binge watching.

 

 

 

 

Do you want super rad bonus money? Happy New Year Coupon inside!

 

 

 

2016 is almost one week old!! WHAT! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

 

Well, it’s a cause for celebration here at iPhone Antidote, for no other reason than we really like to celebrate! AND GUESS WHAT? We’re giving all our loyal Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and blog followers a free $10 bonus coupon code!

 

 

Until the 20th on January, 2016 sell your used, broken or water damaged iPhone to us, use coupon code NEWYEARS10 and you’ll automatically receive an extra $10 on your quote!

 

Boom! Ten Dollar Boom!

 

 

 

 

 

Get a free Uber ride from Facebook Messenger!!

You can now book an Uber through Facebook Messenger! In promoting this new feature, Uber and Facebook are offering existing and new users a free Uber ride up to $20!

 

From the sauce:

 

“With the ability to request, track and pay for a ride in Messenger, we’re making transportation as simple as sending a message.”

 

 

 

Uber is the first of many transport services to be added to Messenger, but currently the feature is only in testing phase – available to select users in select locations – so you might not have access to it yet. If you do, simply download the latest version of Facebook Messenger and check out the instructions below.

 

To claim your free ride, link your existing Uber account or set up a new account within Messenger and request a ride! Simple as pie!

 

 

 

 

Cards against Humanity Black friday!

How was your Black Friday? Did you get lots of amazing deals? Hella good bargains? Yeah? Did you give a company $5 for nothing in return?

 

You may scoff at that last sentence, but this is what some people actually did on Black Friday. Lots and lots of people gave the board game company Cards Against Humanity $5. For nothing in return.

 

 

 

See?  You’ll notice if you look carefully the box that you must tick saying that you understand that you are paying Cards Against Humanity $5 and receiving nothing in return…

 

 

They also note this in the FAQ:

 

If I give you $5, what are you going to do with the money?

 

That’s for us to know and you to find out. We’ll make the announcement soon.

 

Why would anyone just give you $5?

 

Because the greatest Black Friday gift of all is buying nothing. We’re offering that for the rock-bottom price of $5. How can you afford NOT to seize this incredible opportunity?

 

Since the end of Black Friday, the company has revealed that more than $70,000 was given by eager customers, and that although they are known to be a super charitable company, the money has gone here:

 

There’s been a lot of speculation about how we would spend the money from Black Friday, and we’re happy to announce that this time, we kept it all. Here’s what we bought.

– Max, Ben, Josh, Eli, David, Daniel, and David

 

 

 

 

The Ultimate Tech Christmas Gift Guide!

 

Happy Holidays! It’s so good to see you guys here! Whats up? Christmas and stuff? Wants to see some amazing tech gifts that’ll make you the effing star this year under the tree? WE GOT YOU!

 

Go put your Christmas sweater on, play some mother effing Jingle Bells and enjoy! (Don’t forget the eggnog over 21ers try this one).

 

*Speaking of eggnog, try this out  – the battery powered Messless hot chocolate drinking cup from Hammacher Schlemmer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Got a Hairy McHairster in your life? Get them the Shavetech USB rechargeable travel razor. Sexy and functional, just like you. $22.59 from Amazon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Wanna go a little crazy? Check this out, scooter. Celebrity robotic avatar. BAM. enough said. Only $345,000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Get someone the gift of looking really cool and nerdy at the same time as driving! The Navdy is a magical futuristic transparent Head-Up Display that projects information onto your windshield as you’re driving. $319.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Do you want to get your loved one the gift of being a really good photographer without taking a class or learning anything at all? Get them a smartphone lens kit, dummy! With a fisheye lens, a wide angle lens, and a macro lens you can make anything look good! Try this kit from Mpow for $13.51, or this one from Olloclip for $79.99 (pictured).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*This is a gift just for you, guy. Yeah, you. Get the Misteltoe drone and make that work Christmas party really jolly.$69.95

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Got a cyclist in the fam? Get them this super swank bike lock. Skylock is a keyless, theft preventing, crash detecting bluetooth connecting answer to any cyclist’s prayers. Pre-order it now for $159 – 35% off the regular price.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Amazon Echo is on Oprah’s Favorite things list!! So you know you gotta get one. Echo is kind of like Siri, but in your living room, acting as a smart hub for your home. It can play music, create lists, answer questions, get weather and news, search Yelp, and control smart devices and lights.

Echo is now available in over 3000 retail stores for $179.99.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Monorover R2 $499. These are booming at the moment. Kind of like Segways, these things are illegal in NYC, so if you live there, you’re SOL, bud. But for everyone else, whoever you get this for will be happy. ‘Nuff said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Get your lover the hottest new Apple product! The iPad Pro y’all! Or, if they’re lucky enough to already have one, get them one of those fancy pants Apple Pencils, $99. Because they look rad AF. Complete the set with a Smart keyboard. $169.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Speaking of Apple fancypantsiness… Is there someone in your life whose eyes linger when they walk past the Apple Store? Someone who gets that look in their eyes when they see an Apple Watch Ad? Or someone wearing one? GET THEM AN APPLE WATCH SILLY! They will love you forever. Or until the next fancy Apple product comes out. They’ll LOVE you until then, though. Starting at $349

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* You know what’s cool? Giving the gift of the future. We’re talking virtual reality! There’s a bunch of ways to experience the latest in VR right now – the cheapest of which is using a smart phone and Google Cardboard. You’re looking at about $15 or slightly above. Or, one of the hottest new VR sets at the moment is the Samsung Gear VR – $99.99 at Best Buy or Amazon. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Is it right to encourage narcissism? Sure! Get that girl or guy a Selfies Photo Album, $10.47, free shipping with Prime, on Amazon. It’s ironic, yo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*$149.99  The Only RC Dogfighting Drones. Know someone who’s into Drones? What about fighting drones? Huh? You should probably get some of these. Because… fighting drones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*It’s hard living in the now when all these young folk talk in a whole different language! Don’t worry, just buy Grandad this! How to Speak Emoji Book $18 from Asos. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Get that special someone a bioluminescent dinosaur. Why the heck not? What says ‘I Love You’ better than that? It’s a desktop aquarium filled with living single-celled plankton that glow with bioluminescent light at night. So… not  much. $59.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*You know what people need more of? Tasting stuff. Taste enhancing forks emit aromas that enhance the flavors of food or create crazy flavor combinations. Crazy, right?  Crazy intriguing…  $29.95 from Hammacher Schlemmer. Those guys think of everything!

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Kano Computer Kit $149.99 from Amazon. is really, really cool. We read today that you’re not supposed to use the word really, because it’s dumb and you can say things more creatively and effectively using alternate words, but, really, this is just really, really cool. Take that article we read.

Originally funded on Kickstarter, this is a computer and coding kit for all ages, all over the world. The kit contains: Raspberry Pi 2 Model B, ARM 900MHz Quad-Core CPU and 1GB RAM, 8GB micro-SD Card preloaded with the latest Kano OS full of projects and games, Kano books, illustrated and intuitive, Wireless Kano Keyboard and mouse (USB RF & Bluetooth), DIY speaker, Custom case, stencils and stickers!, HDMI cable, Wifi dongle and Mini-USB power supply.

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Interested in Robotics? Did you get a really big bonus this year? Why not get the International research robot?  This little guy is CRAZY y’all. A 2′-tall robot that responds to over 500 voice commands across 19 languages, he’s the product of eight years of development from a global, open-source community of programmers.

 

He can pick up and hold objects with its hands, walk across multiple floor surfaces, and scratch his head when puzzled. Two built-in camera sensors learn to identify items, obstacles, and faces, while the directional microphones recognize human speech and allow it to respond from an internal speaker. Surface-mounted tactile sensors respond to touches like a pat on the head, while infrared emitters turn on appliances remotely at its owner’s command. Wot. $7900.

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Is someone you love interested in new technologies and start-ups?  Why not make them a gift voucher for Kickstarter? Or Indiegogo? Alternatively check out Amazon’s Launchpad, which has  a bunch of crowd funded items available.

 

 

 

 

 

* CreoPop 3D Pen. We’re going to do it – we’re going to use the word really again. This shizz is really cool. Sculpt 3D models by hand with this cordless 3D pen that utilizes built-in LEDs to harden the ink as you draw, while keeping the pen cool to the touch. Exchange ink colors while you work to create vibrant multicolor models. The world is a crazy place. It’s currently on sale at Best Buy for $99.

 

 

 

 

 

*How crazy is the world? really effing crazy. Prove it to your family by buying them a 360fly panoramic 360° HD video camera. DUH! It features Wi-Fi, a Bluetooth LE interface and the included 360fly app, so you can easily shoot, edit, replay and share recorded video footage using a compatible iOS or Android smartphone. Included action camera adaptor lets you use your 360fly camera with your existing 3-prong mounts. $399.99 From Best Buy. 

 

 

 

 

 

*GoPro Hero 4 is Amazing. Just. Take. Our. Word. $499.96 from Amazon, or Adorama currently have it on sale for $329.00. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*The  Coolest Cooler in Classic Orange is a little on the pricey side, but it’s going to pay off in no time. This is not your average cooler. Icluded is a built-in ice-crushing blender with rechargeable battery, bluetooth, splash-proof, outdoor speaker, built-in USB charger, LED lid light, bottle opener, bungee tie down and double-wide wheels. $499 from Amazon.

 

 

 

 

 

*Get the writer in the fam a virtual keyboard. This one pairs with Bluetooth phones, laptops, or tablets, and can be used with Apple and Android devices. And it looks like it’s from a movie. $89.99 from Brookstone. 

 

 

 

 

 

*Do you have a motorbike in the family? Do you also have someone who rides a motorbike in the family? The Skully AR-1 is the best motorbike helmut ever. A ‘smart helmet’ that features a powerful on board computer. You can have rear view projected onto the corner of your visor,  connect with your smartphone via Bluetooth so that you can make hands-free calls and stream music, and comes with built in mapping navigation.

$1500.

 

 

 

 

 

There you have it. Now you just gotta choose which homey or homiette deserves which present this year. May we suggest that your iPhone recycling company iPhone Antidote deserves an International research robot? No? What about some stinky phones? Yes please! We’d love some stinky old iPhones for Christmas! And we’ll give you Cash! Merry Christmas indeed.

 

If you know of any other products you think peeps need to know about for their Christmas list, let us know!!

 

30 days and counting… Be nice everyone! Santa’s watching! (So are your family & friends…)

 

 

 

 

 

App of the Day – San Francisco edition

 

 

This is really cool. If you’re a Bay Arean commuter or a SFer, thanks to good ‘ol Silicon Valley you have a multitude of fancy ride-share options for getting in and around town. Now, there’s another app covering your transport butts.

 

Can you guess what it is?

 

Muni! It’s Muni! Muni has an app you guys!

 

Helped along the way by PayPal and Braintree, MuniMobile lets you securely purchase and use fares and passes on your smart phone. Just download the free app, register your debit/credit card or PayPal account, and BAM! FUTURE Muni riding!

 

 

Get it at the App store now! 

Future App & Accessory of the…night…

 

 

Someone was always going to do it. No, we don’t mean make the vibration feature on phones into a vibration feature for ladies… we mean, make it so it isn’t kind of gross.

 

This is the app AND a phone case. The ‘and the phone case’ bit is important.

 

It’s the IZVIBE. A long 100% medical-grade, hypoallergenic and phthalate-free silicone handle, which acts as a vibrator when activated by your phone’s vibrations. These vibrations are controlled by the app, which features seven different levels of intensity.

 

Other people can also control it. Other people you know, obviously, not that guy watching you from that apartment across the way. Unless that’s what you want. It’s a free world, mang.

 

Although the IZVIBE launched last week, you can’t buy it just yet, and we’re looking at a possible mid-2016 release date. So until then, remember to wipe down your phone after use!!

 

 

 

Check it out here!