Free app will enable cheque deposit via iPhone camera

Smart banking is moving beyond garden-variety apps that let you check bank balances and transfer money. Soon to be launched is a free iPhone app that will let members of the U.S. military and veterans, deposit checks via their iPhone camera. Read on ...

It wasn't long ago that bank customers judged the quality of their local financial institutions by the sturdiness of their columns and vault doors. That idea is a throwback to an era when money was physical, and so was security.

Now, money is just data. And banks -- especially small banks -- are evolving rapidly to reflect that new reality.

No, I'm not talking about garden-variety mobile banking applications. Simple apps that let you check bank balances, transfer money and find branch locations already feel old and stale. I'm talking about trends that free you from ever having to visit bank branch offices again -- and trends that make you want to visit.
Breaking the branch habit

The only remaining reason for many of us to visit bank branch offices, wait in line and interact with a teller is to deposit checks. That's about to change.

The United Services Automobile Association, a financial services company for members of the U.S. military and veterans, plans to launch a free iPhone app that lets you deposit checks via your iPhone camera. The service will be called USAA Deposit@Mobile. To make a deposit, you use the app to log onto your account, enter the amount of the check, snap a picture of the front and back of the check, then touch the "Send" button. The bank sends a confirmation. Here's a video demo. This is such a compelling service that I'm thinking about joining the Army to qualify.

Of course, you can always find an ATM and deposit your checks in there. But that can give you a creepy feeling. How do you know the bank won't later tell you they never got your check?

Bank of America has installed about 12,800 new ATMs that print receipts that show scans of the checks you deposit. This is nice, because it gives customers proof that checks were in fact deposited.

[via IT Business]

Get a Free iPhone 3GS! Yes, that is correct! Stay away from the trouble of earning enough to pay for it for you can get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Free! Interested? Then find out how to get a Free iPhone 3GS!

Free app will enable cheque deposit via iPhone camera

Smart banking is moving beyond garden-variety apps that let you check bank balances and transfer money. Soon to be launched is a free iPhone app that will let members of the U.S. military and veterans, deposit checks via their iPhone camera. Read on ...

It wasn't long ago that bank customers judged the quality of their local financial institutions by the sturdiness of their columns and vault doors. That idea is a throwback to an era when money was physical, and so was security.

Now, money is just data. And banks -- especially small banks -- are evolving rapidly to reflect that new reality.

No, I'm not talking about garden-variety mobile banking applications. Simple apps that let you check bank balances, transfer money and find branch locations already feel old and stale. I'm talking about trends that free you from ever having to visit bank branch offices again -- and trends that make you want to visit.
Breaking the branch habit

The only remaining reason for many of us to visit bank branch offices, wait in line and interact with a teller is to deposit checks. That's about to change.

The United Services Automobile Association, a financial services company for members of the U.S. military and veterans, plans to launch a free iPhone app that lets you deposit checks via your iPhone camera. The service will be called USAA Deposit@Mobile. To make a deposit, you use the app to log onto your account, enter the amount of the check, snap a picture of the front and back of the check, then touch the "Send" button. The bank sends a confirmation. Here's a video demo. This is such a compelling service that I'm thinking about joining the Army to qualify.

Of course, you can always find an ATM and deposit your checks in there. But that can give you a creepy feeling. How do you know the bank won't later tell you they never got your check?

Bank of America has installed about 12,800 new ATMs that print receipts that show scans of the checks you deposit. This is nice, because it gives customers proof that checks were in fact deposited.

[via IT Business]

Get a Free iPhone 3GS! Yes, that is correct! Stay away from the trouble of earning enough to pay for it for you can get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Free! Interested? Then find out how to get a Free iPhone 3GS!

22 Ways to Make Your iPhone a Better Camera

The iPhone's biggest weakness is its 2-megapixel camera. Not to worry, though—we've put together a whopping 22 tips and apps to help you get the most out of Apple's underpowered shooter.

One of the few disappointments in the Apple iPhone is its camera. It's just 2 megapixels, has no video capability, and performs poorly in low light and with moving subjects. Add to the list of missing features zoom, burst mode, timer, and white balance. You could argue that the camera's very simplicity is a virtue, but we here at PCMag always want more from our technology products, not less. Luckily, there are apps that address most of these issues, and some picture-taking techniques that also can help you mitigate the iPhone camera's shortcomings.

Even if you are waiting for an iPhone that has a 3.2 or 5MP camera, the tips and apps that follow will come in handy for improving your image collection on Apple's handheld marvel. As always, click the links below to get to the full reviews of the apps. Note that this is in no way intended to be an exhaustive list of all the photography-related iPhone apps. There are many more out there, and we're going to keep reviewing them. Did we miss your favorite? Got an awful one you want to warn iPhone photogs about? Let us know in the discussion for this article.

Continue reading @ PC Magazine

Get a Free iPhone! Yes, that is correct! Stay away from the trouble of earning enough to pay for it for you can get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Free! Interested? Then find out how to get a Free iPhone!

22 Ways to Make Your iPhone a Better Camera

The iPhone's biggest weakness is its 2-megapixel camera. Not to worry, though—we've put together a whopping 22 tips and apps to help you get the most out of Apple's underpowered shooter.

One of the few disappointments in the Apple iPhone is its camera. It's just 2 megapixels, has no video capability, and performs poorly in low light and with moving subjects. Add to the list of missing features zoom, burst mode, timer, and white balance. You could argue that the camera's very simplicity is a virtue, but we here at PCMag always want more from our technology products, not less. Luckily, there are apps that address most of these issues, and some picture-taking techniques that also can help you mitigate the iPhone camera's shortcomings.

Even if you are waiting for an iPhone that has a 3.2 or 5MP camera, the tips and apps that follow will come in handy for improving your image collection on Apple's handheld marvel. As always, click the links below to get to the full reviews of the apps. Note that this is in no way intended to be an exhaustive list of all the photography-related iPhone apps. There are many more out there, and we're going to keep reviewing them. Did we miss your favorite? Got an awful one you want to warn iPhone photogs about? Let us know in the discussion for this article.

Continue reading @ PC Magazine

Get a Free iPhone! Yes, that is correct! Stay away from the trouble of earning enough to pay for it for you can get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Free! Interested? Then find out how to get a Free iPhone!

View Live Video on JVC Video Surveillance Systems with iPhone/iPod touch

JVC demonstrated instant integration with a key iPhone/iPod touch mobile video application developer and the versatile convenience of its video surveillance products at the Milestone Integration Platform Symposium (MIPS 2009) held earlier this month in Las Vegas. JVC crowned its presence at the symposium by capturing the prestigious MIPS Manufacturer of the Year award for their line of embedded network video recorders (NVRs), the VR-N1600U and VR-N900U, and complete line of IP network cameras.

Milestone MIPS is the annual forum for open architecture IP video surveillance advocates to evaluate the state of the IP video surveillance industry and demonstrate plug and play applications. JVC is a founding partner in the MIPS forum having participated in every one since inception four years ago.

Together with Lextech Labs, developer of the mobile video surveillance application iRa Pro for iPhone and iPod touch, JVC demonstrated that seamless integration with their widely popular 16-channel VR-N1600U and 9-channel VR-N900U Network Video Recorders is easily achieved through the open architecture API.

In a demonstration on the MIPS show floor, JVC allowed Lextech Labs to log in to one of its VR-N1600U recorders by simply entering a URL into its iRa Pro application on an iPhone. Using the familiar touch interface, the iPhone immediately accessed the video and the group watched as the surveillance cameras located on the opposite coast were controlled remotely. The Lextech software indicates whether the camera is PTZ or static and allows direct control of camera positioning with exceptional video quality and minimal lag.

Read the whole article @ JVC

Get a Free iPhone! Yes, that is correct! Stay away from the hassles of earning enough to pay for it for you can get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Free! Interested? Then find out how to get a Free iPhone!

View Live Video on JVC Video Surveillance Systems with iPhone/iPod touch

JVC demonstrated instant integration with a key iPhone/iPod touch mobile video application developer and the versatile convenience of its video surveillance products at the Milestone Integration Platform Symposium (MIPS 2009) held earlier this month in Las Vegas. JVC crowned its presence at the symposium by capturing the prestigious MIPS Manufacturer of the Year award for their line of embedded network video recorders (NVRs), the VR-N1600U and VR-N900U, and complete line of IP network cameras.

Milestone MIPS is the annual forum for open architecture IP video surveillance advocates to evaluate the state of the IP video surveillance industry and demonstrate plug and play applications. JVC is a founding partner in the MIPS forum having participated in every one since inception four years ago.

Together with Lextech Labs, developer of the mobile video surveillance application iRa Pro for iPhone and iPod touch, JVC demonstrated that seamless integration with their widely popular 16-channel VR-N1600U and 9-channel VR-N900U Network Video Recorders is easily achieved through the open architecture API.

In a demonstration on the MIPS show floor, JVC allowed Lextech Labs to log in to one of its VR-N1600U recorders by simply entering a URL into its iRa Pro application on an iPhone. Using the familiar touch interface, the iPhone immediately accessed the video and the group watched as the surveillance cameras located on the opposite coast were controlled remotely. The Lextech software indicates whether the camera is PTZ or static and allows direct control of camera positioning with exceptional video quality and minimal lag.

Read the whole article @ JVC

Get a Free iPhone! Yes, that is correct! Stay away from the hassles of earning enough to pay for it for you can get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Free! Interested? Then find out how to get a Free iPhone!