Email to Steve Jobs Puts Lucky Developer on Front Page of The App Store

BuzzVoice 3.0 on the front page of The App StoreWe’ve all seen the flurry of news stories about Steve Jobs responding directly to emails from regular people and developers. It’s become an Internet meme, with reputable sources like The New York Times, Wired , TechCrunch and others attesting to the authenticity of the emails.

Perhaps the most controversial [alleged] response from Jobs is the recent thread between Jobs and an irate iPhone 4 owner about the iPhone 4 antenna issue – an issue so hot that Apple is holding a press conference to address it [Read the thread on the iPhone 4 reception issues on The Boy Genius Report].

Since Jobs seems to read his own email and has expressed a passion for reinventing the news experience on Apple devices during his keynotes, we decided to take a chance and shoot him an email.

In our email titled “Pandora for news,” we explained how 26% of Americans now read news on mobile devices, and that for a nation of commuters, fitness fanatics and multitaskers, reading news on tiny screens is not only a bad user experience, but also a dangerous one. We added that 28 states have enacted distracted driving laws as counter measures. Then, we went on to explain how we used the iPhone SDK to create BuzzVoice, a “magical” new way to consume news on iPhones, iPads and iPod touch devices.

Steve Jobs on BuzzVoice 3.0We included a link to a fun video showing how our cloud-based streaming audio service lets people *listen* to over 1,600 of the web’s top news and blogs – making getting news on the go, easier, safer and more fun, and added a link to the new BuzzVoice 3.0 app On The App Store. Lastly, we asked him to feature BuzzVoice 3.0 on The App Store so that Apple device owners could benefit from using it in the car, train, gym, or wherever they happen to be.

We didn’t expect a response. In fact we haven’t received a direct response yet, however, we just noticed that BuzzVoice 3.0 is now featured on the front page of The App Store.

Thanks for listening Steve – we’re pinching ourselves.

PS: The screenshot we included about him being the “smartest CEO” may have done the trick.

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johnatkinson, July 16th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Mashable Asks: Can Robots Run the News? BuzzVoice Video Response

Can Robots Run the NewsTonight, while checking flights on my computer, I had my iPhone on my desk, streaming my favorite blogs on the new BuzzVoice 3.0 app. After listening to a story from The iPhone Blog, I was about to close BuzzVoice and head up to bed.

However, before I could hit the home button on my iPhone, a story by Mashable, titled “Can Robots Run the News?,” started playing. Given the way I was consuming this news – by sitting back and letting BuzzVoice do all the work – the title struck me as ironic.

I listened to the story twice, then picked up my other iPhone to film my response to Mashable writer Sarah Kessler’s question. Given that I co-created BuzzVoice, my answer might surprise you. Check out the short video. What do you think? Can Robots Run the News? [Good Night - John]

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johnatkinson, July 10th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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The All-New BuzzVoice 3.0 Hits The App Store (Yes, It Runs On iPhone 4)

BuzzVoice 3.0 Is Here!>Click Here To Get it On The App Store

If you’re not familiar with BuzzVoice yet, it’s a magical real-time service that lets you *listen* to the web’s top news and blogs everywhere. It’s sort of like “Pandora for news and blogs.”

To date, people have streamed over 2 million breaking stories from 1,600+ popular news sources on BuzzVoice in cars, trains, gyms and everywhere else. Now, after months of feedback from users and publishers, we’ve reinvented BuzzVoice for the iPhone, iPod touch & iPad, and we’re excited to say…

The All-New BuzzVoice 3.0 Is Here!

BuzzVoice 3.0 is packed with 6 Major New Features. And, it’s over 60% faster with our own “In-App Multitasking.” It’s never been easier, or more fun, to keep up with  your favorite topics, while boosting productivity.

>Launch Sale: Get BuzzVoice 3.0 Now for 50% Off [Get It On The App Store]

Watch The Fun Video (updated) – Can You Find The 6th “Hidden” Feature?

BuzzVoice 3.0 Features Include:

1) Playlist Manager: Choose from 1,600+ sources & personalize it with 20 of your favorites
2) Custom Streaming Player: Listen to breaking stories, while viewing text, images & video
3) Hands-free Continuous Listening: New BuzzRadio features, plus ”Auto-Stream” for PRO users
4) Saved Searches: Track your favorite topics, whether it’s “Lady Gaga, bacon, or astrophysics”
5) Trending Topics: Hear what’s trending right now on the web’s top sources
6) Batch Select: Build custom playlists of all the stories you care about on-the-fly

Get BuzzVoice 3.0 On The App Store and stream TechCrunch, Mashable, or Huffington Post in the car. Hear Gizmodo, Wired, or Perez Hilton at the gym.  Listen to Boing Boing, New York Times and over 1,600 other great sources, anytime, anywhere.

We would love to hear what you think of the all new BuzzVoice 3.0 at Feedback@BuzzVoice.com – or in the comments below.

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johnatkinson, June 29th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Pre-launch Preview: The All New BuzzVoice 3.0 for iPhone

BuzzVoice 3.0's Streaming PlayerThe number of Americans accessing news and blogs on mobile devices has exploded recently, thanks in part to “the smartphone revolution”. A recent report by Pew Internet estimates a full 26% of us now get news on-the-go.

Unfortunately, many sites aren’t optimized for the on-the-go news experience, requiring users to search, sift and read on tiny mobile screens. Couple that with the fact that roaming users often need their hands or eyes for other things, like driving, working out, or watching for that UPS truck while crossing the street, and the task can be downright dangerous.

If you’re a BuzzVoice user, you know that our magical service lets you listen to your favorite news & blogs everywhere. And, after months’ of feedback from users and publishers, we’re excited to say…

The All New BuzzVoice 3.0 Is Coming Soon

BuzzVoice 3.0 sports 6 revolutionary new features for on-the-go news consumers and will run on the original iPhone, iPhone 3G & 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod touch, and iPad. It’s never been easier to keep up with your favorite topics, while increasing productivity. And, if you know how to use Pandora, or an iPod, you already know how to use it.

Look for a chance to win a free copy of BuzzVoice 3.0 on some of the web’s top blogs soon. Once Apple has approved the new app, we’ll post more details, and a download link here. In the meantime, we would love to hear your thoughts at feedback@BuzzVoice.com.

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johnatkinson, June 20th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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iPad Pre-Launch Preview: See BuzzVoice on Apple’s iPad Now

BuzzVoice on The iPadThe iPad press frenzy is heating up as the new device’s upcoming ship date draws nearer.

This week, as we were putting the finishing touches on the first version of BuzzVoice for iPad, we captured some unpolished video to give you a glimpse of what’s coming.

If you’re familiar with our iPhone App [iTunes link], you’ll notice the iPad version includes the same rich functionality. Plus, exclusively for the iPad, we’ve added a powerful new “Playlist Management” feature that lets you browse our curated list of over 1,500 sources to discover new content to add to your BuzzVoice playlist.

Checkout the brief demo of BuzzVoice for iPad below and let us know what you think [email iPad@BuzzVoice.com ]. With a little luck on our part, you’ll see BuzzVoice in the grand opening of The iPad App Store when you unbox your new “Jesus tablet.” Once we get our hands on an actual iPad, we’ll roll out more features that take advantage of the iPad’s unique platform.

Of course, you don’t have to have an iPad to use BuzzVoice – You can Get BuzzVoice on The App Store now for your iPhone or iPod touch, or sign up on your computer on the BuzzVoice full site to use it on a regular iPod, or any MP3 player.

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johnatkinson, March 25th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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