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Volume I, Issue 5
Fall 2009
Greetings!
Thank you for your purchasing our software and for opening our newsletter. In this issue, we introduce our new Michigan applications, highlight the new features in Congress in Your Pocket 4.0, announce a partnership with The Cook Political Report, and share some great news stories from our recent selection as an Apple Staff Favorite.
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Michigan in Your Pocket
Birth-state of the automobile industry now available
We are excited to announce the submission of
Michigan in Your Pocket Plus and Pro to the Apple App Store. It should be available next week in iTunes and is available right now from us for your BlackBerry. We would like to thank Lisa McGraw and her associate Brooke for their hard work and perseverance in completing the research for the application. If you would like a version of your state, please visit our
map to see if we're already working on it. If not, please send us an
email and we'll begin working with you to get it in the App Store. Currently, several states are in-progress including New York, Maine, and Louisiana. |
What's in the Free Update
Here is how to use the best new features
We've promised them over the past few months and now we can happily report that we've delivered. All of our Congress applications have been updated to (at least) 4.0 -- meaning, that they can do a lot more for you, free of charge.
The Database Bug is Squished
The first, and most important thing the new version does is when it's installed for the first time on your device, it checks our servers to make sure you have the most up-to-date information available. The next time you open the application, boom, the new information is there. If you are still having trouble, reply to this email and we'll squash the database bug for you.
Top New Features
- Full database search: Want to know if someone went to your school? Type "University of [your school] in the search bar and you'll get a list. If you broaden it to, for example, Florida, you'll get a list of members from that state as well as anyone who has it listed in their bio. Plus and Pro users can now search for any staffer name, any committee or subcommittee. It's all broken down by field name so you can get to what you want quickly.
- Share off-application links: See something interesting in a member's financial report you'd like to share online? Now, you can post it to your Facebook or Twitter account (with your own commentary). The information inside your application is still private but anything we link to is now available for you to share.
- YouTube links: If a member of Congress has one, you can now see what videos he or she is posting to YouTube. Tap on the video and it opens the YouTube application on your device. You can also share these links with anyone you'd like.
- Nifty upgrades: No longer do you have to leave the application to see where your member of Congress's office is on a Google Map. You can also email staff members (Plus and Pro only) and stay within the application. Also, astute users like yourself will notice that each weblink page now has a bottom toolbar so you can go forward and back to links in pages, just like in Safari.
Thank you very much for all of your suggestions on how to improve the applications. These features are now available in the Congress versions and will be rolled out to Apple for review over the next two weeks.
Coming up soon, we will be adding a way to type in your zip code or tap a button to access your GPS to get a list of your members of Congress. For Pro users, we are working on a secured way to keep meeting notes and other information within the application and share them with your colleagues.
Please reply to this email if you would like to test out the new functionality before it is released. We are beginning a Beta Testing program and we would like you to join us!
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The Cook Political Report
Premier campaign analysis to be featured
Charlie's Political A-Team is now on its way to your pocket. Mr. Cook is widely regarded as one of the nation's leading authorities on U.S. elections and political trends. The New York Times once called him one of the "one of the best political handicappers in the nation" and the Wall Street Journal's Al Hunt once referred to Cook as "the Picasso of election analysis."
Available in version 4.10, The Cook Political Report's analysis page will be available in every "Info" view for each member of Congress (not for delegates, unfortunately). You will get the campaign rating for each active race in both chambers and the Partisan Voting Index for House Races. This is how it will look like this on your iPhone or iPod Touch:
 
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Congress+ is an Apple Staff Favorite
Featured for the second time in the App Store; now 22,500 users
One last bit of great news: Apple featured Congress+ as a "Staff Favorite in late September and early October. We didn't think we'd get a second bite at the Apple (sorry for the pun) so to speak. Congress+ has received rave reviews and was also featured earlier this year in February as "New and Noteworthy" in the App Store.
While we appreciate the support from Apple, it doesn't happen without you. We now have over 22,500 users of our congressional, presidential, and state applications. You've made incredibly valuable suggestions, helped us to fix horribly persistent bugs, and have referred your applications to colleagues, family and friends. You have also kindly tipped us off to updates at congressional offices. We appreciate all you do to support us.
Here are some additional news stories about our applications that you might find interesting to read or refer to your network:
National Journal
Politico Click
Oh, My Gov!
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Free Promo Codes
Thinking of upgrading to Plus or Pro? Would you like to try out one of our other applications? Email us at promo@congressinyourpocket.com with the app name and we will send a free four-week trial. Feel free to pass it along to a friend or colleague!
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Thanks again for reading this newsletter and supporting our applications. As always, I'm here if you have any questions, comments, or feedback on any of our applications. We answer every single email and appreciate your business very much.
Sincerely,
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Michael D. Cohen, Ph.D.
Congress In Your Pocket
Founder & CEO
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