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I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and you and your family is well this holiday season.  I’m back today & so is the Cheat Sheet.

Review of Google Maps app vs. Apple maps:

Prior to my vacation I shared the initial review of the Google Map app from a few experts who had reviewed the newly released app & to a person declared the Google Map app as the best available.  On vacation Ashley and I took a road trip totaling more than 1200 miles.  On the trip we tested out both apps extensively.  Here was my finding:

  • Both apps are flawed and occasionally provide incorrect information (this mostly applied to the voice direction function of both maps)
  • The Google map options generally were more plentiful (where there were several options) & it’s mapping was generally superior in written form
  • The Apple voice direction system (using Siri) was clearly superior than the voice directions by the Google Map app

Conclusion:  Neither app provided perfect information the entire trip.  The non verbal map options provided by Google were superior in many cases to the options provided by Apple.  Where Google fell short was with the verbal directions.  Google’s verbal directions provide all possible name and number combinations when instructing you.  This can be extremely long and possibly confusing when making multiple turns in a short time frame.  Siri’s directions were concise and easy to understand.  My recommendation is as follows…

If you are mapping for a direct route and don’t want the verbal directions use the Google Maps app.  If you do want verbal directions, Apple’s map app is the better option.  With both you still need to pay attention to where you are going.  While they will get you from point A to point B most of the time, they aren’t 100%, so paying attention to road signs and exit numbers is still important.  Use them as the guide rather than the gospel.

 

Housing industry has 2-4 more years of above average growth left:

Bottom Line:  You know what a bull on housing I’ve been this year.  I also view housing as the best option for your money in 2013 as well.  It’s not just me pounding the table on the housing recovery anymore.

Moody’s economist, Mark Zandi, is suggesting a housing recovery that will continue for 2-4 more years.  He believes that property values will rise mid-to upper single digits nationally over that period of time.  Our local South Florida housing market generally outperforms most housing markets when prices are rising therefore you could anticipate exceeding the national pace over that period of time.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100335040

 

Holiday shopping season looks to have been a bust – economic implications:

Bottom Line:  Now for the bad news…  Before the holiday shopping season I warned of a weak holiday shopping season based on low levels of wage growth, fear of debt accumulation & fear of issues pertaining to the fiscal cliff – I was expecting a number at 2% growth or lower.  The National Retail Federation and Wall-Street analysts suggested sales would be the best in years coming in at over 4%.  So what’s the actual number?

.7% growth.  That’s it - .7% growth.  So why does this matter so much?  Consumer spending generally accounts for 70% of all US economic growth.  If 70% of the US economy grows at less than 1% heading into 2013 we’re at imminent risk of recession. 

If we were to see 4% GDP growth in the 4th quarter we could likely avoid recession short term if we did go over the fiscal cliff (by my estimates the Fiscal Cliff would result in negative 2-3% growth in the 1st quarter next year).  If the economy is only at 1% growth or so, recession is a near certainty if we go over the cliff as is increasingly likely.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100339138

 

Mobile Devices on planes?: 

Have you ever wondered if it really mattered if you used a mobile device on an air-plane?  You aren’t alone.  The FCC has petitioned the FAA to review current mobile device technology and make recommendations about what mobile devices could be safely used during air travel.  They didn’t include a request regarding on-flight calls so that is highly unlikely in the near future from your cell phone but perhaps you won’t have to put your devices on “air plane mode” when you board a plane. 

http://www.shellypalmer.com/2012/12/using-phones-on-planes/

 

Educational Apps not so great yet:

Bottom Line:  I’m a huge advocate of e-learning - The use of Tablets and e-readers in the classroom in lieu of traditional textbooks and assignments.  As schools are beginning the process of classroom integration there is diligence required on your part with regard to “educational apps” that are available.  A study recently conducted of educational apps pertaining to literacy education revealed that most apps aren’t useful for educational purposes. 

Of 137 apps studied in the Android and Apple apps stores that were identified as educational tools to aid in literacy only 20% were actually deemed to be effective.  If your purpose is e-education, you need to perform diligence on which apps are actually effective for your objective because most are a waste. 

For more information regarding the study click the link below.

http://www.joanganzcooneycenter.org/publication/pioneering-literacy/

 

FDA & Health Apps:

Bottom Line:  Staying with app info, lets look at healthcare and app technology.  Since the beginning of the internet age we’ve been inclined to self diagnose and treat if we feel it’s possible to do for what ails us.  With the increase in healthcare costs and perpetuation of mobile devices with a myriad of health apps to help us diagnose and treat ailments – it’s led to a boom in people opting for apps over doctors.  All told about 30% of use who have mobile devices will use them to help our healthcare situation often in lieu of traditional medical care.

Within the last two years the FDA began regulating apps that doctors could use to aid in treatment in the traditional medical practice.  Now the FDA is looking into regulating apps that we may use on our own to ensure we’re using credible options.  This is a bit of a slippery slope…  I could see a future that includes doctors “prescribing” apps that we could use after proper diagnosis.

http://gigaom.com/2012/12/24/mobile-health-in-2013-from-the-gym-to-the-doctors-office/