The Fearless Blogger

Better Latte Than Never!

In case I haven’t mentioned it, I’ve been known to be a bit of a caffeine junky.

And having fond memories of my near decade in the Emerald City, Starbucks holds a very special place in my heart – a place reserved for those who concoct elixirs comprised of my three favorite food groups: caffeine, sugar and dairy (and occasionally the fourth: chocolate).

That said, Starbucks had left me feeling a bit let down at their lack of collaboration with one of my other true loves – Apple.  In particular my iPhone.

Until today.

From the Starbucks blog:

Today we launched two iPhone / iPod touch applications, myStarbucks and Starbucks Card Mobile.   These are great (and free!) and will let you have a fun and useful Starbucks Experience wherever you are.   You can design your own beverage, view your balance and load your Starbucks Card, look up nutritional information on our beverages and food, and learn about our different whole bean coffees.  No, you can’t place an order using the app (not yet anyway), but we’re just starting out.

It’s not exactly the ability to tweet a latte to a buddy, but give the relationship time to mature – I have hope it will blossom.

For more details, check out the video below or visit the Starbucks Ideas in Action Blog. You can find the app here.

Earlier this year, I wrote about GiantCrayon’s newest iPhone game, ShiveringKittens.  The Tetris-like game challenges you to rescue cute little kittens by breaking them free from blocks of ice.

A couple of things have happened since writing the review, the first of which prompted this post:

GiantCrayon Games today announced it will partner with the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) to raise money for animals through a first-of-its-kind promotion during March and April 2009. This is the first time an iPhone game has been used as lynchpin of a fundraising campaign. read more

iBetaTest.com is a recently-launched site created to connect iPhone developers with beta testers for their apps.

iBetaTest.com is an iPhone beta tester community and an Application Store, with an idea to bridge the gap between developers and beta testers, help those stranded developers and apps denied by Apple in their own App Store by giving them ability to sell their apps on iBetaTest.com.

The process to become a tester is straightforward. Register you user name at the site, fill out out optional profile details and register your iPhone or iPod touch’s device UDID and you’re ready to beta test.

Developers registering a new beta specify supported devices, number of testers, an application description and testing instructions. Developers also have the option to offer incentives for tester participation (e.g., gift certificates or a free product license). read more

I love technology.  Especially everything Apple.

I also love cats.  Especially kittens.

And I hate the cold.

So when my buddies at Giant Crayon Games told me their latest release is an iPhone game centered around saving shivering kittens from blocks of ice, there was no holding me back.   read more

The 2009 Macworld Expo is this week. No, I’m not there. Yes, I’m a little bummed. But instead of wallowing in self pity and sorrow, I thought I’d sponsor my own little Macworld.

Below I’ve gathered some of the various videos and comics which poke fun at what makes this blogger’s heart grow warm: everything and anything Apple.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome you to the 2009 Macworld Expo – Fearless Blogger Style! read more