One of my favorite things to do while traveling is sampling the local cuisine. There are times when dining at a familiar chain is comforting, but more often than not I prefer to find an establishment native to the city that I’m visiting. When it comes to finding these local favorites, there are a few apps one can employ such as Yelp or Urbanspoon. For me, though, I stick to one app in particular: Ness.
In November 2011 I reviewed Ness, which I called a “sure fire winner.” Recently, Ness received a major revamp, including a new method for finding recommendations, list creation and more. Find out after the jump if the revamp is an improvement or hindrance to an already fantastic app. (more…)
Photoshop is a tool I use almost daily, and have since 2007. While I’m nowhere as good a lot of other professionals, I’m more than competent when at using Photoshop for photo editing and design work. So, when Adobe Photoshop Touch for Phone (the app’s actual name) was released in late February, my curiosity was instantly piqued.
With Photoshop being such a power desktop application, I asked myself if it was possible for Adobe to develop an adequate version for a phone. After spending time with Photoshop Touch, though, I came away with a definitive answer to my previous question. (more…)
If you were to ask multiple Android Jellybean users what their favorite Android feature is, the smart bet is that most would say Google Now. As a non-Android user, I’ve had little hands-on experience with the feature, but it’s not from a lack of want. I’m a die hard iOS user, but I’m also a very emphatic user of Google’s services (Gmail, search, Google Docs, Chrome).
So imagine my surprise (hint, it was very) this past Tuesday morning when I learned Google Now had arrived on iOS by way of the Google Search app. Having lived with this much touted service for a handful of days now, getting to chance to experience what it really has to offer, it’s time to determine if Google Now has lived up to the hype. (more…)
Since it’s release in June 2012, TodoMovies has been a choice app for managing a queue of movies you want to watch. The app didn’t feature many bells and whistles, but instead focused on performing one task well. Originally, I enjoyed the concept and execution of TodoMovies, but at the time was maintaining a list of movies in the IMDb app. I decided to stick with IMDb instead of making a permanent switch, since I already used the app for so many things.
However, with the recent release of TodoMovies 2.0, which includes an impressive list of updates, it may be time to seriously reconsider making the switch after all. Join me after the jump as I detail these new features, and ultimately decide if TodoMovies lands itself a permanent spot on my iPhone. (more…)
When it comes to email, you’re typically in one of two camps. For some, it’s infrequently used to communicate with a few people and doesn’t play much of a role in their lives. On the flipside, you have people whose lives are consumed by emails, mostly because of work. If you’re in the latter camp, finding the right email app for your iPhone is an extremely important undertaking.
Taskbox is a third-party email app that’s designed to “help you clear your inbox and prioritize your follow up list in under 60 seconds,” as stated in the app’s description in the App Store. If you’re buried underneath a figurative mountain of emails, join us after the jump to see if Taskbox can live up to such a bold statement. (more…)
Last June, Apple released a standalone podcasts management app with the rather simple moniker, Podcasts. To say the app was met with little fanfare is putting it quite mildly. In my original review of Podcasts, I too found the app to be underwhelming, with a list of issues and very few features for power users.
Recently, Apple released version 1.2 of Podcasts, bringing with it an all-new Now Playing view, custom stations, and a host of supposed syncing and stability improvements. Aftering putting Podcasts through its paces, I’m ready to give each and everyone of you fine readers the inside scoop on what these updates have to offer. (more…)
There are multiple theories on how to best track spending. Many people employ budgeting, while others choose to use alternative methods such as the envelope system. Personally, I’ve always found it best to simply keep track of my spending by using a checkbook app (I’m currently using Moni). But the main problem with most of these methods, especially my preferred method, is that most people simply don’t know what they’re using their money to buy.
Sure, I know in the immediate present that I purchased a tank of gas for $45, but how much am I spending on gas a month? Every once in awhile, I’ll break down my spending habits to get a bigger picture, and I’m always amazed on where I can cut costs. The problem is, it’s an extremely tedious task that I wish were a lot more simple. Developers noidentity hope to make big picture expense tracking very simple with their new app, Next. (more…)
For many people, the calendar is the most important productivity tool on their iPhone. No matter how busy you may be, it’s important to keep track of your schedule so that you’re prepared for what lies ahead. Between multiple work trips and planning for a wedding, there are number of appointments and events I need to keep straight, and I rely on my calendar to do so.
I’ve never cared much for the first-party Calendars app, and have jumped from a number of third-party apps such as Agenda, Fatastical and Calendars+ (a few of which I’ve reviewed on AppStorm). But since its release in February, I’ve been using Sunrise Calendar as my go-to schedule maintenance tool, which I’ve found to be an interestingly new take on how a iOS calendar app functions. (more…)
When Apple introduced the App Store in 2008, retailers and restaurants soon released apps as a means to make their business more accessible to customers. The thing is, though, most of the ones they released were not very good. Some apps, in fact, were embarrassingly bad, and still continue to be bad to this day.
It seems only logical that big name businesses would be able to hire great developers to create amazing apps, but for the majority of retail and restaurant apps this is simply not the case. However, in the several dozen retail and restaurant apps available today, there are 15 apps that are quite good. Some even great. (more…)
Its seems like every other week I learn about a hot new weather app that’s just launched in the App Store, and for some reason I’m always excited. But when I look at the list of weather apps I’ve purchased, I find myself asking why I even bought them. The Weather Channel — an app I review in June 2012 — provides a lot of information, but often more than I need on a daily basis. Dark Sky is an app I’ll use for its unique radar map, but only during times of inclement weather. Solar is a beautiful app and I love the hourly report feature, but unlike The Weather Channel it offers too little information.
The hot new weather app right now is Haze, which, according to the App Store description, is built on the premise of providing a “radiantly crafted forecast at a glance.” So of course I had to buy it immediately and take it for a spin, so to speak. After spending a few days using it as my No. 1 source for weather information, I’m ready to share my thoughts. (more…)
