The Extraordinaries

How nonprofits are using the iPhone: Countdown to the Decision

Featured Today: Countdown to the Decision
With roughly 135 days left until the International Olympic Committee makes their city of choice announcement for the 2016 Olympics, candidate city of Chicago and all it's die-hard fans can download the iPhone app: Countdown to the Decision to show their support. Each day gives you a new fact about Chicago 2016 preparations, the city, and the history of Olympic and Paralympic games. For more information on iPhone apps that support non-profit organization, click the 'NonProfits & iPhone' category.

Who?
Chicago 2016

Where to find it?
http://www.chicago2016.org/

What is it?
"On October 2, 2009, the International Olympic Committee will decide which Iternational city will host the 2016 Games. Help show your support and make Chicago's dream a reality by downloading "Countdown to the Decision". "Countdown to the Decision" is a daily countdown to the International Olympic Committee decision. It also includes a daily Chicago image and Olympic Games fun fact. Flick left to view previous Countown images and facts."

Cost: Free

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How nonprofits are using the iPhone: AMBER Alert

Featured Today: AMBER Alert
Gone are the days to look out for missing children on milk cartons and junk mail flyers. Keeping up with the times, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) has created an iPhone application that not only holds a repository of all missing children in the U.S., but allows the user to filter missing children by state. Kind of a chilling way to start the day, but nonetheless a great way to increase public awareness and public response. One thing I would like to see in the app are statistics and studies to how and why kids go missing in the first place, especially 2 year olds. For more posts on how nonprofits are using the iPhone, click the "Nonprofits & iPhone" category.

Who?
Amber Alert

Where to find it?
http://www.zdziarski.com/projects/amberalert/

What is it?
"This application from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is designed to help in the search and safe recovery of missing children.

It includes:

-A real-time feed of active AMBER Alerts including information about the vicitm, the abductor, and other details like the kind of vehicle they may be traveling in or the area where they may be located. -A listing of missing children from NCMEC including photos and any known details about the circumstances of their disappearence.-A listing of missing children from NCMEC organized by the states from where they are missing.

If a user has information about a case or has seen one of the missing children, they can press a button and automatically call NCMEC's toll free 24-hour hotline, or send a resport that inclues their current GPS coordinates and their phone number in case more details are needed."

Cost: Free

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Apple rejects Twitter feeds in iPhone apps

This could be big trouble - 

Apple has rejected several apps because they have Twitter feeds in them - on the basis that the Twitter feeds might contain objectionable langauge. Commentary from Engadget:

"Apple's just reached a whole new level of stupidity in App Store approval shenanigans: the Tweetie 1.3 update was just rejected for displaying "offensive language" in its Twitter trend search view. Right, not for offensive language in the app itself, but for offensive language on Twitter -- an insanely strict new standard that could conceivably be used to reject each and every iPhone Twitter client out there. (And if you haven't noticed, there are quite a few iPhone Twitter clients.) Hell, Apple might as well reject the next versions of Safari and Mail, since they can display dirty words too -- and let's not forget the awful things people are doing with Notes and the camera. Better lock it down."

Right. This is a big problem. 

How nonprofits are using the iPhone: SJ Museum Guide

Featured Today: San Jose Museum Guide

Treading uncharted waters, San Jose Museum of Art is the first art institution to offer interactive audio and video content via the iPhone and iPod Touch. Some of the in-house content includes videos of exhibition tours and interviews of art insiders, gallery owners, and curators. Currently not available as an iPhone app, (at least not yet ;-) ) but rather they designed a web page specifically for use off the iPhone or iPod Touch Safari browser. They also provide a podcast series available at the iTunes store. Click the "Nonprofits & iPhone" category to see all features.

Who?
San Jose Museum of Art

Where to find it?
www.sjma.mobi

What is it?
"The San Jose Museum of Art is excited to be one of the first museums in the country, and world, to be utilizing Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch to deliver interactive audio and video guides. This guide focuses on exhibitions at the museum and allows our visitors to delve deeper into the artist and the artwork. Audio and video commentary are provided by artists, curators and gallery owners, among others.

You can experience the guide on your own device by pointing your Safari Mobile Browser on your iPhone or iPod Touch to www.sjma.mobi. If you do not have your own device, the museum offers iPod Touch units for check out in the galleries. With a Drivers License, state issued ID card, or a passport each visitor can checkout up to two iPods."

Cost: Free

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How nonprofits are using the iPhone: DV Awareness

Featured Today: DV Awareness

People Against a Violent Environment, a non-profit organization in Wisconsin, commissioned the development of three social good iPhone apps: DV Awareness, Sexual Assault Awareness, and Child Abuse Awareness. These apps are used to bring awareness on various facts regarding each issue of violence with the goal of raising funds and and increasing social awareness.

Who?
People Against a Violent Environment

Where to find it?
http://www.peopleagainstaviolentenvironment.com/

What is it?
"This program was written for People Against a Violent Environment, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Wisconsin that provides direct victime service, as well as prevention education related to domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. Each time you touch the screen, a new fact about domestic violence will pop up. There are 31 facts in all, one for each day of October (Domestic Violence Awareness Month)."

Get it on the App Store Here:

Cost: Free

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DV Awarness

   

Sexual Assault Awareness                            Child Abuse Awareness

  

   

How nonprofits are using the iPhone: US Supreme Court - 47 Landmark Cases

Featured today: US Supreme Court - 47 Landmark Cases
This iPhone app is a great educational resource for U.S. history buffs, law students, social activists, and those simply interested in learning about landmark cases of the U.S. Supreme Court. These cases helped set precedence on some of the most defining political, economic, and social moments in our history, including Bush v. Gore (2000), Brown v. Board of Education (1954), and Roe v. Wade (1973). Click the "Nonprofits & iPhone" category to see all other features. Problem: it's expensive! 15 bucks! Also, again, this is not a nonprofit, but we're having a hellova hard time finding nonprofit iPhone apps!

Who?

CHS Systems, LLC

Where to find it?

http://www.chssystems.com/

What is it?

"We have consolidated into one eBook volume 47 United States Supreme Court landmark cases which have greatly influenced the lives of all Americans. In one place, you have access to all of the most famous cases. A landmark decision is the outcome of a legal case (often thus reffered to as a landmark case) that establishes a precedent that either substantially changes the interpretation of the law or that simply establishes new case law on a particular issue.

Features? Internal links, in both directions, between footnotes and citations within the rulings themselves. Remembers where, in the last case, you were last reading. Does not require internet access. Has ability to tele-read at a settable pace so as to avoid screen gestures."

Get it on the App Store Here:

Cost: $14.99

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How nonprofits are using the iPhone: 3rdWhaleMobile

Here's the third in a series of posts about how nonprofits use iPhone app technology (or, in the case of how an iPhone app is benefiting non-profits / green businesses). Click the "Nonprofits & iPhone" category to see all features. Featured today: 3rdWhaleMobile

Who?
3rdWhale Media Inc.

Where to find it?
http://3rdwhale.com/mobile

What is it?
"3rdWhale's mobile application for the Apple iPhone lets you power up your green lifestyle. Find the nearest vegetarian restaurant, fair trade store, yoga center or bicycle shop. You can also use 3rdWhale Mobile to plan your next trip. Feel good that your purchases will match your values.

Features? Six Categories: Food, Retail, Eco-Travel, Healing & Wellness, Transportation, and Services. 25,000+ green businesses in most major markets in North America. User ratings and reviews of your favorite green business. Turn by turn directions to your green destination from your current location. Filter green businesses within walking, biking and driving distance."

Get it on the App Store Here:

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How nonprofits are using the iPhone: Pet Earth

Another in a series of posts about how nonprofits are using the iPhone (or, in this case, how an iPhone app is benefitting a nonprofit). Click the "Nonprofits & iPhone" category to see all features. Featured today: Pet Earth

Who?
GoPlanit.com

Where to find it?
http://www.goplanit.com/petearth

What is it?
"Pet Earth is your own virtual pet. Take good care of your pet by fixing disasters and finding polluters. Buy or earn trees and plant them on Pet Earth to keep it healthy and happy. Trees make a world of difference for Pet Earth and mother Earth. So we'll donate a portion of the retail price and ad revenue to help plant trees worldwide. If you purchase the ad-free version, you will receive a certificate that shows your generous donation.

Features? Mini games to fix disasters. Find polluters by answering trivia questions. Plant trees to keep your pet happy. Buy trees from the Earth store."

Get it on the App Store Here:

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How nonprofits are using the iPhone: Seafood Watch

This is the first in a series of posts about how nonprofits are using the iPhone. First to be featured: Seafood Watch

Who?
Monterey Bay Aquarium. 

Where to find it? 
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/SeafoodWatch/web/sfw_iphone.aspx

What is it?

"Our new iPhone application brings the latest Seafood Watch recommendations directly to your iPhone or iPod touch. Now you can make sustainable seafood choices quickly and easily—whether you’re eating at your favorite restaurant or shopping for dinner. And at a time when the world’s oceans are severely overfished, your seafood choices make a big difference.

Features?
Free, up-to-date recommendations at your fingertips
Sushi guide lists fish by Japanese name as well as common market name
Regional guides highlight the seafood that’s best in each area of the country
New! Search to find seafood quickly and easily within regions."

Get it on the App Store Here:

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iPhone App Downloads hit 800 Million in less than 8 Months

Seriously. We're not kidding.

"According to Greg Joswiak, VP of iPhone marketing, users have now downloaded more than 800 million applications from the store — a 60% increase in two months." (http://Fortune.CNN.com)

Not only are download numbers breaking all records, the speed at which Apple is hitting these download milestones is like nothing we've ever seen.

Photos courtesy: http://fortune.cnn.com