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You know when you want to show someone a picture on your iPhone and you forget that the photo you are looking for is not actually on your iPhone, but on Facebook? So, you try to search for it on Facebook, and realize that you haven’t uploaded it there yet and it’s still on your computer at home. Well, now there is an app that keeps all of your photos in spot. What is this fantastical app you ask? Why, it’s Everpix, a comprehensive new photo platform that allows you to view, send and share photos from your photo collection within seconds.
Ready for the photo party? (more…)
Right now, there are two huge trends in app development: Weather apps and email apps. I get more emails about weather and email apps than I know what to do with. I’m not complaining; these developers are often making really impressive solutions, but apart from great user interfaces, I fail to see what they’re really putting their tech-savvy skills to use with. Interfaces are great, but they could be outdone anytime Apple decides to update their own versions. Sometimes, these apps are short on features.
Cloze is the exact opposite. Cloze is a free universal app for the iPhone and iPad that combines email and social media updates into one centralized feed. What really excites me is that Cloze doesn’t think the problem lies within communication’s interfaces, but rather within the interface’s management of communication. Combining email and social feeds has been tried before by a few other developers, but I’ve never felt it’s been executed well. Let’s face it, making an app like this is tough. Does Cloze have the technical knowhow and design skills to make their app user-friendly and feature-filled? (more…)
There’s an innate struggle when you’re a collector of anything to not appear like a crazy person. I know a gentleman who collects bicycles. He has eighteen in his garage at last count. I collect films and am slowly getting into the world of book collection. That being said, it’s difficult to explain to somebody that I purchased somewhere north of 200 Blu-rays in 2010 without getting funny glances (I have slowed down considerably, so I appear normal now).
Beyond the societal implications of our neuroses as collectors, cataloguing our possessions becomes something of a hobby. One friend and fellow film collector keeps four Excel spreadsheets of what he owns, each documenting different aspects of his collection. That’s a level of precision I think most collectors aspire to be; a certain craziness that few people other than those with the itch want to scratch. For movie collectors, there are a lot of apps that offer this functionality on iPhone, and few do it well. Book collectors have many options, but the only real choice they have is The Bookcase. (more…)
TomTom U.K. & Ireland declares itself to be “world-class car navigation.” If you want to get from point A to point B, surely a map is better? Couldn’t you just ask a friend for directions, or just follow your nose? Anyways, aren’t satellite navigation systems notoriously unreliable and slow?
I would like to take you on a little tour of a new place — a place where satellite navigation works, and works very well. A place that shows you where your friends have been recently, key points of interest and where highly rated and liked places are nearby. And we will get there in the quickest time, on the best routes and if there are problems on the way — traffic jams and slowdowns — we will simply glide right past them on an alternative route.
Does all this sound too good to be true? I have lived with and tested the latest version of TomTom U.K. & Ireland for the last two months, and I can say that I am very, very impressed. Read on to find out why. (more…)
New year’s resolutions about improving your health are very popular, but most fall flat. People will start off strong by attending the gym and eating right, but unfortunately, it is easy to fall back into the same bad habits after just a few weeks. I did not want to become a statistic of giving up on being more healthy this new year, so I stared to look into how to track healthy habits.
Activity trackers have become more popular within recent months and definitely peaked my interest. Previously, the Jawbone Up band was released and failed. In fact, Jawbone allowed users to receive a full refund for the band, which is something unheard of in the technology market. Recently, Jawbone released a new version of their Up band with some app updates. They claim to have fixed the numerous problems and bricking that users were experiencing. Can the new Jawbone Up band stand up to the competition? Let’s dive in and find out. (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…)
In recent months, Google has shown an increasingly intense focus on iOS. In addition to last year’s acqui-hiring of the popular Sparrow and Snapseed teams, they have released new apps for Chrome and Maps, and overhauled existing YouTube and Gmail offerings. However, larger waves are being made under the surface; the uniform design language being rolled out across their entire catalogue may not be entirely innocent. Does Google have a subversive agenda on iOS? Well, if YouTube Capture is anything to go by, nothing is off the table.
On the surface, Capture appears to be just another simple video recording app offering only minor improvements over the stock iOS option. However, its simplicity should not be underestimated; it may just be its most threatening attribute. How does Capture fit into Google’s iOS plans? Can it replace the default Camera app? Let’s check it out. (more…)
The social photo-sharing landscape is vast (and often overwhelming!). Rising from the ranks, a relative newcomer is offering a twist for social photo-sharing enthusiasts: the ability to collaborate on photos. Focusing on the “social” aspect of social photo-sharing, Pixplit has created the ability for individual users to add their own element or fragment of a photo to help create a whole image. Basically, combining images is now all I’m going to be doing on my morning commute.
Interested? (more…)
Getting into shape and my physical improving fitness is something I take a great interest in. I’ve tried a wide variety of training methods to get fitter and stronger; from powerlifting to HST (hyperbolic strength training), interval training, and currently, bodyweight training. The great thing about keeping in shape this way is that it’s virtually cost free, however, there isn’t necessarily an obvious way to start.
Adrian James Six Pack Abs Workout is an app that features a wide variety of exercises to work and develop your core strength. I hadn’t heard of the app until recently, when I stumbled across it gaining traction in the App Store’s Top Charts, with a lot of 5 star ratings and a reasonable price. This made me curious as to finding out what made this app so special for what appears to be a simple function. Let’s find out if it offers anything unique. (more…)
Artfinder is a magazine jam-packed with feature stories, exclusive interviews and beautiful collections; a wish list where you can save your favorite works of art and make purchases with just a few taps; and the art of the day, which will hopefully inspire you and teach you a little something about the creativity in the world around you.
Click “more” to see for yourself. (more…)
