Kibbles & Bytes Blog

Lately, my husband and I have been taking a lot of road trips. Navigation has become a lot more interactive since we have gotten our iPhones, and we are constantly trying out new apps to use when we travel.

AllStay’s “iExit”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fapp%252Fiexit%252Fid349052631%253Fmt%253D8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 (link opens iTunes) is one of those apps that renders others redundant. On my iPhone, I have a page reserved for apps that are helpful for when I travel–trip planner-slash-flight tracker, Metro line info (used this yesterday), restaurant finder, etc. While I do keep a couple of specialized apps on that page (such as the Starbucks finder), for the most part, I like for an app to be sophisticated enough to do several things.

*iExit (a steal at $2.99)* does just that, by combining food finders with gas station info and so on, but I find that the organization by exit makes so much sense. It takes advantage of the GPS features of our phones, and it has proved to be an excellent tool when we’re on the road. We’re usually the kind of travelers who appreciate very short on/off pit stops, so a huge benefit for us is when an app quickly and accurately lets us know not only what’s available off that exit, but __how far it is.__ All locations off of an exit feature mile distance and directional data in a list or a map view. (We like to pick places under .5 miles!)

The image icons are crisp and clear, and the layout makes the information very easy to manage. Perhaps more importantly, though, the main reason this app is so nice is that along with being extremely fast, it lays information out in such a way that you can view all upcoming exits and the businesses off of them in a list. When a highway splits, you will see the directional options listed inline as well. For example, I was traveling on I-89S in Vermont, and about 30 minutes prior to the White River Junction split of 89/91, I could continue viewing my trip with exits available on I-91S.

However, there are some features that iExit is missing. Notably, there is no way to star or ‘favorite’ a particular exit. It’s great to be able to remember an exit for future use–you know, that the ramp was an easy on/off and that it had three of your favorite places in one location. Plus, a notes section would be nice to use for when you want to remember why it was so nice. Maybe the bathrooms were especially nice or that it’s the best way to take a scenic shortcut.

I brought these suggestions to the attention of the developer in an email I sent, and to my surprise, he responded back to me within five minutes… not with a canned response, but with a thoughtful, comprehensive email thanking me for my input and adding some insight to the development he’s currently working on. (Yes, those features are already in progress!) I was very impressed that this was not a huge developer that may or may not ever ‘hear’ me or even update the app consistently.

It’s a work in progress, and so far, even with about 85% rating of usefulness in my mind, it was worth ditching three separate apps in favor of iExit. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some travel plans to get back to…

“Read more, check out the screenshots or buy iExit here.”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fapp%252Fiexit%252Fid349052631%253Fmt%253D8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30

If you use different audio input devices with your Mac, (such as the “Blue Microphones Snowball”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/42648/blue-microphones-snowball-bundle-with-usb-microphone-and-tripod) you’ve probably had to go to System Preferences to change your selected input device. If you’re using Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard, however, all you have to do is hold down the Option key as you click on the volume control in the menu bar at the top of your Mac’s screen. If you have audio input devices such as microphones, USB input boxes, etc, these will show up in the drop-down list.

Time to get a microphone and kick off your karaoke career!

Dear Friends,

I have just returned from Washington, DC where the annual Apple Specialist Marketing Cooperative conference was being held. As with most events like this, while the presentations were great, it was the networking, private meetings and late night informal conversations that meant the most.

The Apple Specialist community is very open and supportive of each other and we share ideas on operations, marketing and community. The ASMC had scheduled some social events and I was able to catch the performance of the Capitol Steps and laugh a lot.

There is a vendor fair at the ASMC conference and unlike places like Macworld or CES, this is a small and very intimate gathering of decision makers from Apple Specialists and vendors where deals are made, products are introduced and relationships are built.

Kali, Ed and Matt joined me at the event this year and I think all of us made new friends, gained valuable insight and reestablished old relationships. Personal relationships are so important in business–they are everything. We look at the relationships we build with our fellow Apple Specialists and the vendors as an integral part of our “people” commitment in the way we measure our success–people, planet and profit. How you treat others is always reflected in how you get treated yourself.

An old friend of mine works for Apple, Ted Moorman. There is a funny story about Ted and I. About ten years ago there was a meeting where Steve Jobs came to speak to the Apple Specialists and other resellers. There was a long line for checking in to enter the room and as I was picking up my badge, this tall guy says “Don? Of Don and Pat?” I looked up in surprise because not many people know that my wife Grace changed her name from Patricia about 40 years ago.

Now, I have to admit that I did not recognize Ted but he remembered me and reminded me that we went to the University of Illinois together and then the light went off and we began to talk about old times. He even updated me on mutual friends that I had not seen for 40 years. When I got home, Grace, who seems to have a much better memory of old times and friends than I, filled me in on even more details. It is very interesting that we both ended up in the Apple world. Ted’s a Kibbles & Bytes reader so here’s a shout out to you, Ted!