Guide to Phone Apps - March 2013

U.S. $9.99March 2013 • Display until 04/16/13

Beckett Entertainment

www.beckett.com

http://www.beckett.com

1

42Ultimate AppBuyer’s GuideHAPPY NEW YEAR! 5 Health and Fitness

in 20138 Manage Time &

Organize Your Life11 4 Steps to Keep

Your Devices Sanitary14 Organize Your

Smartphone16 5 Ways to Use

the iCloud19 Safely Back Up Your

Phone’s Data22 Get Your Brainpower On25 New Year, New You28 Get Control of Your

Financial Planning

TECH GUIDE32 Do You Need a Phablet?34 Tablet Showdown38 iPhone 5 Q&A68 Getting Grandpa on

the Grid74 Xbox SmartGlass

Shines85 How to Move to a New

Smartphone

APPS FOR EVERYONE72 The Top 5 Survival Apps76 7 Apps for Car Enthusiasts 79 The 10 Best Apps for

Home Repair82 The 10 Best Apps for

Babysitters88 The Hottest New Game Apps91 The Best Spring

Gardening Apps94 Top 8 Apps to Rock Your

Spring Break96 App Laughs

HAPPY

I’m sure most of you have thought about how fast 2012flew by and what you did (and didn’t) accomplish. Obviously,now is the time when we all start planning and resolving todo better in 2013. To lend a hand—because that’s what wedo—we’ve got an entire section of apps geared toward help-ing you meet your 2013 goals. Fitness, health, time manage-ment, organization … it’s all in here. Good luck! We know youcan do it!

Many of you have the goal of spending more time with thefamily. (Well, I guess that depends on your family, doesn’t it?)Not surprisingly, there are apps for that. In this issue, we intro-duce a new series that I’m very excited about: the Senior TechSeries. It’s designed to help you get your favorite senior citi-zens—or, as I like to call them, “Silver Surfers”—comfortablewith the latest smartphone and tablet technology. Granted, it’sa daunting task, but we’ll make it much easier for you and forthem. We promise. Soon they’ll be rocking out to internet radioand video chatting like pros. They might even teach YOU athing or two!

And finally, I’d like to present you with our magazine’s newlook for the New Year. It’s mean, clean and streamlined, and wehope you like it as much as we do. I’ve really enjoyed seeingthe growth and change in the app market over the past year,and the growth and change of our magazine as well. I look for-ward to a fun-filled 2013 with you!

Margaret KavanaghEditor

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps

Beckett’s Guide to P 2

TA

BL

E

OF

C

ON

TE

NT

S

•

TA

BL

E

OF

C

ON

TE

NT

S

•

TA

BL

E

OF

C

ON

TE

NT

S

42 Our 2013 Ultimate App Buyer’s Guide300+ apps to kick off your year

APPY NEW YEAR! 5 Health and Fitness in 2013

Make it happen!

8 Apps to Manage Your Time and Organize Your LifeGet more done in the New Year

11 Germ Warfare – You Won’t Believe What’s on Your Phone4 steps to keep your devices sanitary

14 Get Your Apps in OrderEffective ways to organize your smartphone

16 Five Innovative Ways to Use the iCloudThere’s so much more than synching your iTunes

19 Backup Guide for Android, BlackBerry and Windows PhonesSafely back up your phone’s data

22 Get Your Brainpower OnFun ways to sharpen your mind

25 New Year, New YouTime for a change

28 Get Control of Your Financial PlanningTake charge of your money management

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S


MARCH 2013

EDITORIAL Erin Lang Masercola - Editorial DirectorMargaret Kavanagh - Editor William Bonin, Andy Broome, Becky Ermer Buczek, SeanCooper, Simon Hill, Kara Hiltz, Bob Hulsy, Sean Kavanagh,Garrett Kim, Robert Kim, Torrey Kim, Carolyn Koh,Suzanne Leder, Sarah Terry - Contributing WritersPaul Graff - Art DirectorEric Knagg - Cover Design

ADVERTISINGGabe Frimmel - Advertising [email protected] (714) 200-1930Eric Gomez - Ad Traffic CoordinatorJohn Cabral -Creative Graphic Designer

OPERATIONSGus Alonzo - Newsstand Sales ManagerAmit Sharma- Newsstand & Production AnalystCelia Merriday - Newsstand AnalystAlberto Chavez - Senior Logistics & Facilities Manager

EDITORIAL, PRODUCTION & SALES OFFICE22840 Savi Ranch Parkway # 200Yorba Linda, CA 92887Ph: (800) 332-3330

Beckett Guide to Phone Apps (ISSN 2158-608X) is a pub-lished quarterly, 4 times a year by Beckett Media, LLC,22840 Savi Ranch Parkway, #200, Yorba Linda, CA 92887.POSTMASTER, send address changes to Beckett Media,5430 LBJ Freeway, Ste 1200, Dallas, TX 75240. © 2013 byBeckett Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction ofany material from this issue in whole or in part is strictlyprohibited.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES$14.95/1 year, $21.95/2 years; foreign $24.95/1 year,$41.95/2 years payable in US funds. Single copy price is$9.99. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for new subscriptions tobegin.

CUSTOMER SERVICEBeckett Media, LLC4635 McEwen RoadDallas, TX 75244Ph: (800) 764-6278

Subscriptions, Address Changes, Renewals,Missing or Damaged Copies - 800 764-6278239 653-0225 Foreign [email protected]@beckett.com

Back Issues www.store.beckett.com

Books, Merchandise, Reprints239 280-2380

Dealer Sales239 [email protected]

Letters the Editor, New Products or to Contribute a Story or Photo:[email protected]

Beckett Media, LLC

Nick Singh, SVP Newsstand & OperationsBridgett G. Hurley, VP Editorial & [email protected] Masercola, Business Unit Editorial DirectorJen Kahn, Circulation Director

This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the understanding thatinformation presented is from various sources from which there canbe no warranty or responsibility by Beckett Media, LLC as to thelegality, completeness or technical accuracy.All characters and artwork shown in Beckett Guide to Phone Appsare trademark and copyright of their respective owners. This publica-tion is not sponsored, endorsed by or otherwise affiliated with any ofthe featured companies.

Cover images courtesy of Apple, Android and Thinkstock

TA

BL

E

OF

C

ON

TE

NT

S

•

TA

BL

E

OF

C

ON

TE

NT

S

•

TA

BL

E

OF

C

ON

TE

NT

S

3

TECH GUIDE32 Do You Need a Phablet?

Whether they’re worth your time and money

34 Tablet ShowdownA look at the latest ful l-sized and mini tablets

38 iPhone 5 Q&AMore masterful tips from our Apple guru

68 Getting Grandpa on the GridSeniors and smartphones and tablets, oh my!

74 Xbox SmartGlass ShinesMicrosoft’s mobile maneuver

85 How to Move Your Old Data to a Shiny New SmartphoneJust upgrading or switching teams altogether?

APPS FOR EVERYONE72 The Top 5 Survival Apps

Don’t leave home without them!

76 7 Apps that Car Enthusiasts Can’t Live WithoutAuto buffs have new tech tools to fuel their fun

79 The 10 Best Apps for Home RepairWho knew your smartphone could hold a toolbox?

82 The 10 Best Apps for BabysittersKeep kids safe, secure and sleeping tight

88 The Hottest New Game AppsEnjoy the best new games and new twists on old favorites

91 The Best Spring Gardening AppsNo matter where you l ive or what you love to grow

94 Top 8 Apps to Rock Your Spring BreakMust-have apps for your ultimate vacation

96 App LaughsEnjoy a few giggles from Andy Broome

mailto:[email protected]



http://www.store.beckett.com




Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps4

APPY

AP

PY

NE

W Y

EA

R

• A

PP

Y N

EW

YE

AR

•

AP

PY

NE

W Y

EA

R

• A

PP

Y N

EW

YE

AR

•

AP

PY

NE

W Y

EA

R

Make & Keep Your Resolutions with Apps

The parties are over, it’s a brand new year, and

you start thinking about al l those things you

want to accomplish over the next 365 days.

This year, you real ly ARE going to lose weight

and get healthy! And you’re going to start saving

money for retirement and clean out your closets.

Real ly! You’re even going to raise your IQ and

raise your own vegetables. Real ly! And we’re

going to help you.

We’ve got pages and pages of apps to help

you help yourself make and keep your resolu-

tions this year.

Real ly!

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 5

HE

AL

TH

A

ND

F

IT

NE

SS

I

N

20

13

•

H

EA

LT

H

AN

D

FI

TN

ES

S

IN

2

01

3

H E A L T H A N D F I T N E S S I N 2 0 1 3 • H E A L T H A N D F I T N E S S I N 2 0 1 3

IN 2013

AND

Make It Happen!By Becky Ermer Buczek

Daily Yoga (All-in-One)Free, IMOBLIFE Co. Ltd��

Discover your inner yogi thisyear with the Dai ly Yoga (Al l-in-One) app. Through video and

voice instruction, this app guides you through variousdurations and difficulty levels of 36 yoga sessions andover 300 poses. Relaxing yet effective, this app pro-vides you with al l you need to keep up weight loss,body toning and the therapeutic benefits that comefrom practicing yoga.

It’s the New Year and while we all make promises to ourselves to make some changes eachtime one of these rolls around, why not make this the year to make it happen? After all, there isno time like the present and with so many great tools out there to help, it looks like 2013 could bethe year to set and reach those health and fitness goals that can only make you feel better.

Daily Ab WorkoutFree, Daniel Mil ler��

Strengthen and tone your abs in just 5 minutesa day! Does that sound too good to be true? Why

not test it out with the Dai ly Ab Workout? This app offers 5- to 1 0-minute abdominal routines for men and women that step youthrough 1 0 of the best ab-sculpting exercises out there. A certifiedpersonal trainer demonstrates the exercises to help you achieve thatsix-pack in no time. BlackBerry users try: e b byNickelBuddy LLC, $2.99.


HE

AL

TH

A

ND

F

IT

NE

SS

I

N

20

13

•

H

EA

LT

H

AN

D

FI

TN

ES

S

IN

2

01

3


Glucose Buddy: Diabetes LogFree, Azumio, Inc.��

If you could use a l ittle help managing yourdiabetes, then check out Glucose Buddy:

Diabetes Log. This app is a data storage uti l ity for people with dia-betes that al lows users to log their blood glucose, carbs, medica-tion, activities, A1 C, blood pressure and weight. It also providesgreat visuals such as graphs and calendars, as well as convenient reminders so you won’t forget to test. This tool is agreat way to take control of your diabetes and move on to better health. BlackBerry users try: G by MobiDala,$3.99.

Instant Heart RateFree, Azumio Inc.��

Use this app to turn your phoneinto a heart rate monitor. By placing

the tip of your index finger on the phone’s camera, yourphone quickly and accurately registers your heart rateand a real-time chart shows your every heartbeat. Use itfor optimizing your exercise, tracking progress and man-aging your stress levels.. . the fitter you get, the loweryour heart rate wil l be.

Couch-to-5K$1 .99, The Active Network, Inc.��

If you are feel ing l ike a couch potato and want toget up and get moving, try the Couch-to-5K app. This

beginner program starts slow and lets you chal lenge yourself as youprogress. You choose your own interactive coach who wil l motivate you andkeep you on track. This training plan gives you al l you need to get motivat-ed and inspired, get connected with others and track your progress. It’s theperfect app for anyone looking to get into shape.

Vision TestFree, 3 Sided Cube Design Ltd��

Sometimes you might find your-self pul l ing that paper a l ittle closeror squinting to read a road sign, but

you just haven’t made it to the eye doctor for whateverreason. If you are one of those people who haven’t hadyour eyes tested in a couple of years, this app could helpyou keep things in check. It contains a number of eye tests and questions to evaluate your eyes for a variety ofthings including visual acuity, astigmatism, and color tests. While it isn’t a replacement for an eye doctor visit, itcertainly can be a good place to start.


HE

AL

TH

A

ND

F

IT

NE

SS

I

N

20

13

•

H

EA

LT

H

AN

D

FI

TN

ES

S

IN

2

01

3


FitocracyFree, Fitocracy Inc.��

If you are looking for a way to make exercise fun, thenlook no further. By uti l izing the addicting level ing systemof games and combining it with your workouts, Fitocracy

motivates and empowers you to succeed at fitness. Track your workouts, earnpoints, unlock achievements, beat quests, and slay the lazy dragon al l whi legetting fit and healthy. An on-l ine community also offers the opportunity to get dai ly inspiration and join in onconversations with fel low users. The creators of this app had a mission to make exercise and fitness more addictiveand accessible for everyone and they have succeeded!

FooducateFree, Fooducate Ltd.��

Want to learn more about what is goinginto your body and how to make better choic-

es? This is an app that can do that for you. Fooducate grades yourgroceries on nutrition from an A to D, explains what’s real ly insideeach product, and then suggests healthier alternatives. Use thebarcode scanner to learn about a particular product, search forproducts from the l ibrary, or submit a new product for analysis. Fooducate is l ike a nutritionist at your fingertipsand by uti l izing this helpful information, you can lose weight, eat real food, and get healthy.

Calorie Counter & Diet TrackerFree, MyFitnessPal. LLC��

Burn more calories than you takein… losing weight real ly comes down to that

simple fact. The Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker helps with this taskby making it fast and easy to obtain nutritional information forover 2 mil l ion foods in its database. This app al lows for easy andfast food entry, it remembers your favorites, and it al lows you toadd foods and even save entire meals. In addition to tracking calories, you can also track exercise and customizeyour own goals. Overal l , it’s a great app to help you keep things on track, and it’s avai lable for most phones andtablets.

LIVESTRONG MyQuitCoach –Dare to Quit SmokingFree, Demand Media, Inc.��

LIVESTRONG MyQuitCoach is there to helpyou drop the smoking habit. This physician-approved, interactiveand easy-to-use app creates a personal ized plan to help you quitsmoking. Evaluate your current status, set attainable goals, and adjust preferences according to your needs. Youhave the option to choose to quit smoking right away or gradual ly decrease your nicotine intake— tracking thetimes you smoke and have nicotine cravings along the way. With the help of motivational tips, progress charts, andachievement badges, this app can help you reach your goal of being smoke free. BlackBerry users try: QSm r by Vimukti Technologies, $1 .99.


A P P S T O M A N A G E Y O U R T I M E A N D O R G A N I Z E Y O U R L I F E

AP

PS

T

O

MA

NA

GE

Y

OU

R

TI

ME

A

ND

O

RG

AN

IZ

E

YO

UR

L

IF

E

YOUR LIFE

APPS TO MANAGE YOUR

Get more done in the New Yearwith these powerful appsBy Sarah Terry

If your New Year’s resolution is to get more organized or improve your time management,you’re not alone. And with the busy nature of the modern hustle-and-bustle lifestyle, stayingon-task and getting everything done is a huge challenge. Although it may seem like an extrafew hours added into the day is the only solution, you might be surprised at how these apps canenhance your organizational skills and help you accomplish more in your daily grind.

Things$9.99, Cultured Code��

Considered one of the toptask-management apps, this appis easy-to-use and effective at

helping you manage your time and stay organized.Sort your tasks between your Today list and otherdates, and then check them off as you complete the tasks. You can organize your tasks by various categories, including Projects and Areas ofResponsibility, as well as by tags to assign prioritiesand personal workflow. Add to-do items quickly andeasily, and then store all your to-dos in the ThingsCloud. The app is made for the iPhone, iPad and Mac, so you can use it on all your Apple devices.

AND


9

AP

PS

T

O

MA

NA

GE

Y

OU

R

TI

ME

A

ND

O

RG

AN

IZ

E

YO

UR

L

IF

E

reQallFree, reQall Inc.��

Capture and organize all your tasks and to-do items in one place, compiling tasks and ideas from voice recordings and notes with integrated

data from your Outlook or Google Calendar. Get reminders and alerts based on location and time.This app automatically organizes your to-do tasks by date, time, location and keywords. You caneven make your own categories and tags in the app.

Toodledo$2.99, Toodledo��

Toodledo is a mobile to-do list on steroids. The app filters and prioritizesyour most important tasks, creating an automatic smart list, analyzes yourtasks to configure the best use of your time, and generates “alarms” for

tasks that are due soon. Customize the many features of the app to match your productivity style,and sort your lists using various different fields like “Due Date,” “Goal,” or alphabetically. You can even upload and attach files to your tasks, create subtasks and share your tasks for collaborative projects or family tasks. More than 50 third-party tools make Toodledo compatiblewith Android, BlackBerry and other platforms (visit the Toodledo website for more info).

Cozi Family Calendar & ListsFree, Cozi��

If there was ever an app that could make you into aSuper Mom, this is the one. With the 2012 Appy Awardfor best family/parenting app, Cozi can whip your family

organization into shape! Organize your calendar, grocery list and to-do lists,and much more in a shared format that the whole family can access and modify. The shared calendar, shopping lists, to-do lists and family journalsyncs with all family members and generates timely reminders via text oremail messages. You’ll never forget the toilet paper or a soccer practice again.

Family Organizer: Shared To-Do+Calendar+Grocery ListsFree, YadaHome.com LLC��

This three-in-one app incorporates your grocery lists, to-do lists and calendar in one handy, shareable space. Create

multiple grocery and to-do lists, get email reminders of pending tasks and calendaritems, and even sync your lists with your calendar with pop-up reminders. Accessyour Family Organizer account from your computer or mobile device any time.Share lists and calendars with your family members, friends or roommates. The app even has a shared message boardand offline back-up functions.


AP

PS

T

O

MA

NA

GE

Y

OU

R

TI

ME

A

ND

O

RG

AN

IZ

E

YO

UR

L

IF

E



WunderlistFree, 6Wunderkinder��

Organize your daily life with simple to-do lists and basic task-manage-ment. You can add a task manually or directly from your email, collaboratewith others to share your lists via email or social media, and synchronize

your tasks on both your computer and mobile device. Drag and drop tasks to rearrange theirorder in a list or move them to a different list. Click on the star icon to track your most importanttasks. Set reminders, add notes to your tasks, and enjoy high-level data protection and security.

Remember The MilkFree, Remember The Milk Inc.��

One of the most popular task-management apps, RememberThe Milk allows you to track, prioritize and check off tasks quicklyand easily. You can set time estimates, deadlines, tags and a whole

lot more. Back up your tasks and notes by synching with Remember The Milk online, andset up reminders via text, email or instant message. You won’t forget a thing—includingthe milk—ever again.

eWallet$9.99, Ilium Software��

Employing high-level data security, eWallet is a one-stop app to organize and remember all your various passwords. Protect all your passwords—from online banking to personal identification (PIN) numbers

to email passwords. This password manager helps you to remember all your passwords whilekeeping them safe and secure. Using eWallet, you can create stronger passwords, instead ofresorting to easy-to-remember weak ones. The app even has a built-in password generator tohelp you create super strong passwords. Android and iOS users who don’t want to pay for thistype of app can try the free c B x app by GEE! Technologies.

OmniFocus$19.99, The Omni Group��

This fairly pricey but multifunctional app can make you into a time-management and organizational superstar, even when nothing else seemsto work. One of the many great features is the ability to organize your

tasks by different contexts, such as by goal instead of calendar date. You can plan out yourerrands using a map mode to save time. Break up large tasks or projects into smaller steps thatyou can track and check off individually. You can attach pictures, audio and notes to your tasksas well, so you can capture your thoughts and turn them into actionable to-do items. For iPhone,iPad and Mac.


G E R M W A R F A R E : 4 S T E P S T O K E E P Y O U R D E V I C E S S A N I T A R Y

1. Wash Your Hands!Most germs on your device’s surfaces come from

your own hands. In fact, a 2009 study published in theAnnals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials foundthat about 30% of the bacteria on smartphones endsup on your hands. Another study published in theJournal of Applied Microbiology discovered that up to30% of viruses can transfer from your fingertips to atouchscreen surface.

You can prevent germs from getting onto yoursmartphone or tablet by washing your hands often,especially after using the bathroom. Wash your handsthoroughly with hot water and antibacterial soap, anduse alcohol-based hand sanitizer whenever possible.

2. Keep It CloseYour smartphone doesn’t pick up germs from only

your hands—every time you set your device down on asurface, it’s picking up any bacteria or viruses that areon that surface. Keep your smartphone in your pocket,bag or purse when you’re not using it. And whateveryou do, don’t set your phone down on any surface in apublic restroom.

You won’t believe what’s on your phone—but we’ll tell you how to get it off.By Sarah Terry

4STEPS TO KEEPYOUR DEVICESSANITARY

Your touchscreen could have more germs on it than a toilet seat. So the next time you’re down-and-outwith a nasty stomach bug or home from work for a week with the flu, you can blame your illness on yoursmartphone or tablet.

A 2010 Stanford University study published in the Journal of Microbiology found that a smartphone cancarry more germs than a toilet in a subway bathroom. In fact, screens on mobile devices like smartphonesand tablets are so great at harboring and spreading germs that sharing the device is tantamount to sneezingin someone’s face, the study revealed.

Why are these devices so particularly adept at harboring germs? Because they’re warm (microbes lovewarmth) and they come into contact with lots of surfaces—especially hands. Here are the best ways you canprevent your mobile devices from becoming hotbeds of germs:

E. coli - Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergyand Infectious Diseases

GE

RM

W

AR

FA

RE

4

S

TE

PS

T

O

KE

EP

Y

OU

R

DE

VI

CE

S

SA

NI

TA

RY



GE

RM

W

AR

FA

RE

4

S

TE

PS

T

O

KE

EP

Y

OU

R

DE

VI

CE

S

SA

NI

TA

RY

Sharing your smartphone or tablet is also asking fortrouble. If you want to show your friends a photo on yourdevice, hold it yourself instead of handing it over.

3. Clean ItEffectively cleaning smartphones and tablets is like a

high-wire balancing act—you need to kill as many germs aspossible (preferably 100%), but at the same time you don’twant to damage your touchscreen or other device compo-nents. Although highly effective, alcohol isn’t an ideal cleanerfor touchscreen devices and can seriously damage yourscreen over time. Apple warns against using alcohol, ammo-nia and other solvent-natured chemicals on touchscreens.

HML Labs in Muncie, Indiana tested eight randomly cho-sen smartphones for how well general and coliform bacteriastood up to various cleaning methods. Swabbing with iso-propyl alcohol was by far the most germ-destroyingmethod, with 99.9% to 100% killing power. Windex killed upto 98.9% of germs, while Nice ‘N Clean Electronic CleaningWipes killed only 96% of germs at most. A wipe-down withwater killed only 20%.

Despite the multitude of smartphone and tabletcleaning products, very few actually provide any disin-fecting power. But there are a few products on themarket that may offer a comparable germ-killing powerto alcohol:

What Exactly is on Your Mobile Device?Although most of the germs on your smartphone or tablet are relatively harmless and not extremely

likely to cause illness, there are a specific few that are especially scary. In fact, the most dangerous bacte-ria are those that typically come from fecal matter.

And according to a recent study by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicineand Queen Mary, University of London, there’s a lot of poop on your phone. The researchers discoveredthat of the swab samples from 390 smartphones, about 1 in 6 contained bacteria associated with fecalmatter—specifically, E. coli. Here are some of the most prevalent types of germs found on mobile devices:

• E. coli – This infectious bacterium is frighteningly common because it naturally lives in the intestinaltract of humans and animals. Certain types of E. coli are especially harmful and can be fatal.

• Campylobacter – This bacterium causes the infectious disease called campylobacteriosis, which isamong the most common diarrheal illnesses in the U.S.

• Salmonella –Infants, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems can become hospi-talized or even die from the infection caused by this bacterium.

• Viruses – Numerous types of viruses can live on your touchscreen, including those that cause the fluand other illnesses. Novovirus is among the most common virus in the U.S. and most people who believethey have the “stomach flu” or “food poisoning” actually have this virus.

• Staphylococcus aureus – About one-quarter of phones contained this bacterium, which commonlylives on the skin peacefully until it enters the bloodstream, where it can cause illness.

Campylobacter - AgriculturalResearch Service, U.S.Department of Agriculture

Samonella - Rocky MountainLaboratories, National Instituteof Allergy and InfectiousDiseases

Staphylococcus aureus - U.S.Centers for Disease Control andPrevention

H1N1 Influenza - U.S. Centers forDisease Control and Prevention


GE

RM

W

AR

FA

RE

4

S

TE

PS

T

O

KE

EP

Y

OU

R

DE

VI

CE

S

SA

NI

TA

RY


Monster CleanTouchMade by Sony and

retailing for $19.99,Monster CleanTouchcomes with a bottle ofCleanTouch cleaningsolution and amicrofiber Clean Cloth.The product is madeespecially to clean anddisinfect touchscreens.Sony boasts that thiskit will remove finger-prints, smudges, dirt,grime and grease with-out harming the deli-cate screen. Also, themicrofiber Clean Clothpurportedly eradicatesbacteria, germs andother microbes using“antimicrobial AEGIS™technology.”

ZAGGfoam Gadget Cleaning Kit

Retailing for $9.99,this cleaning kit killsbacteria and othermicroorganisms oncontact and is safe fortouchscreens. The kitcomes with a foamcanister and amicrofiber cleaningcloth.

Fellowes Touch ScreenCleaning Sachets

Interestingly, thisparticular product con-sists of antibacterialwet and dry cleaningsachets that do containalcohol. But the prod-uct has just 1% alcoholcontent, yet still claimsto kill 99.9% of germsand bacteria.

4. Best Bet: Case ItProtective cases are one of the best ways to protect

your device’s delicate screen and other surfaces while stillallowing total sanitation. Cases allow you to completelydisinfect your device with more effective cleaners, suchas alcohol or bleach-based solutions, which can eradicateall bacteria and viruses.

OtterBoxOtterBox makes

cases for nearly everybrand and model ofsmartphone, as well asmost tablets. You canalso choose from arange of differenttypes of cases, such asthe “Defender,”“Reflex” and“Commuter” Series.OtterBox makes casesfor most types oftablets and e-readers,such as iPads, Kindles,Nooks and others.

Case-MateCase-Mate makes

protective cases foriPhone 5, iPad Mini andSamsung Galaxy S III.The cases come in awide range of colors,patterns and styles.You can even go onCase-Mate’s websiteto “Match-a-Case,”allowing you to con-nect your Facebookprofile to find casesthat match with yourpersonal style or evenyour favorite outfit.

PexagonPexagon makes

custom cases forsmartphones, tabletsand other mobiledevices. Specifically,you can find cases forthe iPhone, iPod andiPad, as well as casesfor BlackBerry, HTCand Samsung smart-phones. Pexagon evenhas custom cases forthe Amazon Kindle.


G E T Y O U R A P P S I N O R D E R • G E T Y O U R A P P S I N O R D E R

GE

T

YO

UR

A

PP

S

IN

O

RD

ER

•

G

ET

Y

OU

R

AP

PS

I

N

OR

DE

R GET YOUR APPS IN

Simple and effective ways to organize your smartphone screensBy Kara Hiltz

When a new year begins, many people get motivated to organize their lives. In fact, you mayhave already de-cluttered your home and cleaned out your car. Maybe you’ve even organizedthose thousands of pictures on your computer. But don’t overlook the area of your daily lifethat you probably touch on even more than your home, your car, and your computer—yoursmartphone. Here are a few tips for organizing your smartphone apps so that you can workfaster and smarter.

Become One with Your PhoneBefore you begin the task of organizing your smart-

phone, take a few minutes to think about which apps youuse at least two or three times a day. Those apps are theones that you’ll want to access quicklyand easily without too much swipingor tapping. How you choose to keepthese apps accessible depends onwhat kind of phone you have and theapp’s functionality.

d remember thatwidgets are a good way to view appdata without having to launch an app.Keep widgets in mind as an option forfrequently used apps. They won’twork for every app, but they minimizeclutter while keeping apps at your fin-gertips. Shortcuts are another goodway for Android users to organizetheir screens. Shortcuts are morespecific than apps and can really get tothe heart of what you do most fre-quently. For instance, you can add ashortcut to a specific person fromyour contacts or a bookmark fromyour browser.

o e s you might wantto keep frequently used apps in the

dock at the bottom of your screen. These apps display nomatter what home screen you’re viewing, so they’realways available. Another option is to simply place theseapps outside of a folder on your main home screen.

Apps organized by category Apps organized by action

15

Please Select a CategoryThe most common way to organ-

ize your phone’s apps is to groupthem by category. Depending onwhat kind of phone you have, thesegroups may be folders or homescreens that you can scroll through.The key is that you’re lumpingtogether apps with similar content.Your groups may include i ,P d c i i , Fi , S i lN i , etc.

For iPhone users, this process issimplified by each app’s genre.Basically, apps already have a “group”assigned to them. You can choose touse Apple’s groups or you can defineyour own. The easiest way to get abird’s-eye look at all of your apps andtheir pre-assigned genres is to plugyour iPhone into your computer anddo some organizing through iTunes.Not only can you see every app you’ve downloaded (eventhose you’ve deleted), but you can also sort them.

Viewing apps by genre can give you a head start onorganizing your apps, and it can also show you what cate-gories to scrap if they don’t make sense to you. Forinstance, I wouldn’t know what to put in a folder labeled

i . You’ll also see which categories to break downfurther. (You can only have 12 apps in a folder.) For instance,you may need two folders for games. You might use morespecific game categories, like W rd and R iG Or you might organize them by who uses them, likeKid’ G and .

To view apps by genre, select App in the left sidebar iniTunes, and then click at the top. This view tells you

exactly how many apps of each genreyou own. You can also select youriPhone device in iTunes and click at the top to go to your organizationscreen. Sort your list of apps by cate-gory (the same as genre) to view spe-cific apps.

Put the ‘Act’ Back in ‘Action’Categories are great, but another

organization method may make moresense to some smartphone users. Thismethod is based on the actions youtake with your smartphone. What isyour thought process when you selectan app to open? You want an endresult: You want to read the news, playmusic, connect with friends, or shop forgifts. These verbs might make bettergroups than categories do.

Whether you’re sorting apps byfolder or by screen, try grouping them

based on what they can accomplish foryou. For instance, a folder may

include your music apps and audiobooks. Whereas sorting bycategory lumps audiobooks with other books and readingmaterial, grouping apps by action puts them in the folder. And when you’re going out for your jog, you’ll haveevery option for listening in the same location.

Organizing apps by action may not work for everyone,but it’s a second option for those who get frustrated by cat-egories that seem to have some gray area.

There’s an App for ThatYou’re probably shocked to learn that there are apps that

can help streamline your smartphone’s organization. Androidusers should check out P , P r p, and

m B , all of which can give you more home screen inter-face options. BlackBerry users may want to think aboutusing S c 2 to consolidate several social network-ing apps and save screen space.

Organizing your smartphone is half science and half art.It’s extremely personal because everyone’s mind works alittle differently. We’ve given you the tools to get started,but you should organize based on your own habits andworkflow. Need some inspiration? Check out firstand20.comfor a collection of iPhone and iPad screens from designers,developers, and tech writers.

GE

T

YO

UR

A

PP

S

IN

O

RD

ER

•

G

ET

Y

OU

R

AP

PS

I

N

OR

DE

R

Viewing apps in iTunes

Sorting apps by category in iTunes

Essentials OnlyWhile you’re sorting apps, don’t be afraid to clean

house at the same time. If you haven’t launched an appin two months, odds are that you don’t need it on yourphone. In cases where you want to keep an app aroundeven if you don’t use it often, it might be a good idea tokeep these “in case” apps in a separate folder or onyour last home screen. In short, tuck these apps away.



5 I N N O V A T I V E W A Y S T O U S E T H E I C L O U D

5 I

NN

OV

AT

IVE

WA

YS

TO

US

E T

HE

IC

LO

UD

•

5 I

NN

OV

AT

IVE

WA

YS

TO

US

E T

HE

IC

LO

UD

1. GarageBand ($4.99, Apple Inc.)

You may see yourself as a budding Jay-Z or Ne-Yo, mixing and editing music unti lyou’ve added al l of the sounds in your arsenal to create something original. Wonderingwhat others might think of your creation? GarageBand al lows you to do just that.

As many longtime Mac users know, GarageBand gives you the abi l ity to record yourown music and mix it with your bandmates’ sounds to create a sol id digital recording.However, because most people mix their GarageBand music directly on a desktop or lap-top computer, it can be tough to share those tunes with friends.

That’s where the iCloud comes in. When you create a song on your computer, you canupload it to the iCloud. Then when you run into a friend— or better yet, you happen to come across a music produc-er in a restaurant— you can access your account through your mobile device such as an iPod or iPhone, and play itout loud for them.

Keep in mind that l ike al l music, your ownGarageBand songs take up space on your iCloudaccount, which you typical ly pay for based on howmuch storage you’re using. So be sure to delete songsif you export them to a different format or you nolonger need to access them on the iCloud account.

5You may know by now that Apple’s

iCloud storage system can back up yourfiles and store your music, but it has myriadother uses as well, many of which integrateseamlessly with your favorite apps.

Check out our five inventive techniquesto maximize the potential of your iCloud—you’ll be over the moon with all the possibilities.

There’s so much more than synching your iTunesBy Garrett Kim

INNOVATIVE WAYSTO USE THE

HOT TIP: Forgot a friend’s mailingaddress but don’t have your phonehandy? Use your computer to sign intothe iCloud at www.iCloud.com, and viewall your contacts online. Super handy!

http://www.iCloud.com

4. ToDo ($4.99, Appigo)

You’ve got a to-do l ist, but you aren’t sure how to share the items on it with your familymembers, friends, and other people in your group. If you’re using the ToDo app, you canmanage your l ists and share them using the iCloud.

Once you’re in the app, you’l l add tasks to your l ist or check off tasks you’ve completed,and then sync with the iCloud. That way, if other people who share the account go into theapp, they’l l see which tasks you’ve revised. In addition, you’l l always have a backup of yourrunning l ist in case anything should happen to your mobile device.


17

5 IN

NO

VA

TIV

E W

AY

S T

O U

SE

TH

E IC

LO

UD

• 5 IN

NO

VA

TIV

E W

AY

S T

O U

SE

TH

E IC

LO

UD

2. Scanner Pro ($6.99, Readdle Inc.)

You’re in the store trying to return a broken blender thatyou just bought the day before, but the clerk refuses toaccept it without a receipt— and you don’t have it in yourwallet. If you had scanned the receipt with Scanner Pro,you’d have access to it from iCloud.

Scanner Pro al lows you to scan documents by takingscreenshots with your iPhone or iPad, then upload them tothe iCloud and access them from your other devices. For

instance, you can bring up your scanned documents using your iPad, even if youscanned them on your phone.

The concept isn’t exclusively for receipts. I ’ve used it to make copies of documentson my iPhone and bring them up later via the iCloud on my desktop at home.

HOT TIP: You can make the most of your iCloud storageaccount by ensuring that you’re file sharing with family memberswhen applicable, and accessing the iCloud every time you need it.


3. Find My iPhone(Free, Apple Inc.)

You may already be aware of the benefits of this amazingapp, which al lows you to pinpoint the exact location of youriPhone, iPod or iPad by accessing an app on a differentdevice. What many people don’t real ize, however, is that ifyou don’t have two devices (one that’s lost and another witha “Find My iPhone” app), you can sti l l locate your phoneusing iCloud.

To do so, just log into your account via the internetat www.icloud.com/#find and the site does the work for you. You’l l see the locationsof al l of your partner devices, marked by name. You can also tel l the iCloud to play asound on your lost device so you can locate it via sound if it’s nearby.

The only caveat is that you must have location services turned to the “on”position on your devices, or the iCloud won’t be able to locate them. To do this, go toSe t C oud, then toggle d My iP one to O .

http://www.icloud.com/#find

5 I

NN

OV

AT

IVE

WA

YS

TO

US

E T

HE

IC

LO

UD

•

5 I

NN

OV

AT

IVE

WA

YS

TO

US

E T

HE

IC

LO

UD



5. Accounts 2 Checkbook($1 .99, SVT Software)

Forget about col lecting receipts from your family members a few times a week and man-ual ly entering them into the paper checkbook. Now each family member can update thecheckbook in real-time using this app, and you can access each other’s data using theiCloud.

You can see everything your fel low account users deposited into your account, what theyspent, and updates to your balance. To use the feature, go to your app settings and selectthe iCloud Sync option. Interestingly, with the iCloud option you can also access al l of your

old data. That way, you can figure out what you spent at each location— useful at tax time or if you’re creating abudget.

What IS the iCloud, Exactly?Way back when, many iTunes users got a default iCloud account for free and

then forgot about it.However, the accounts that offered 20 GB of free storage expired in October 2012, and

users had to either upgrade to the paid version or down-grade to the free option. In other words, pay an annualfee or keep it to under 5 GB for free.

But the benefit of iCloud goes beyond iPod backups.You can share documents with everyone who sharesyour iCloud account, and you can upload documents tothe service that you don’t want on your device but youwant to access later. Plus, thanks to iCloud’s storagecapability, many people have been able to backup,restore, and re-access their documents after a crash.

Basically, iCloud is a wireless data storage AND syn-chronization system that’s built into your Apple devices,and iTunes. Everything goes there, gets synchronized,and then gets shot back out to your devices. So, email,calendars, and contacts are synched across devices. Tocontrol what else is synched on your device, go toSettings > iCloud and togglethe listed items On or Off.

Tip: Your backed up docu-ments, data, mail and so ontake up space in the iCloud,but stuff you purchase fromthe iTunes store doesn’t—it’sstreamed to your otherdevices when needed.


B A C K U P G U I D E F O R A N D R O I D , B L A C K B E R R Y A N D W I N D O W S P H O N E S

Windows Phone 7/8Users of Windows Phone 7 (WP7) have long complained of the

inadequacy of the built-in backup features. Backing up your WP7 islike a trip back to the dark ages of smartphones: you connect yourphone to your home PC running Zune software (or a Mac runningWindows 7 Phone Connector) and sync your data. Zune does allowfor wireless sync, but only to your home PC via your home’s wire-less network; no cloud-based backup functionality is included.

Let’s face it: hooking up your phone to your PC is a drag.Something seems to go wrong half the time—the phone never stopssaying “Do Not Disconnect” or the required syncing software crash-es, your computer fails to ‘recognize’ your device—the list goes onand on. Even if you go through the process of connecting to your PConce a week to sync all your data, that still leaves at least six days ofmaterial on your phone that you could lose at any time.

However, with the recently released Windows Phone 8, youfinally have the kind of full-featured and automated cloud-basedbackup options that you’ve come to expect from other smart-phones. With WP8, you’ll be able to automatically sync all yourdevice settings, apps, photos, videos and even text messages tothe cloud. By integrating SkyDrive into the Windows Phone 8, userscan now safely back up all sorts of data directly to the cloud. Nomore synching with your PC required!

You don’t need an iPhone to safely back up your phone’s dataBy William Bonin

Vowing to back up your data on a regular basis is the second most frequently brokenNew Year’s Resolution, only edged out by pledges to lose weight. But backing up yoursmartphone’s data is a lot easier than losing weight, so there’s no reason for you to breakthat resolution this year.

When it comes to automatic backup, Apple certainly spoiled its users with iCloud’s easybackup of settings, contacts, photos, messages and more. But what if you don’t use aniPhone? Worry not: options are available to you. We’re here to help you learn exactly howto safely back up your phone’s information so you’re always protected.

BA

CK

UP

G

UI

DE

F

OR

A

ND

RO

ID

B

LA

CK

BE

RR

Y

AN

D

WI

ND

OW

S

PH

ON

ES

FOR ANDROID,BLACKBERRY ANDWINDOWS PHONES



BA

CK

UP

G

UI

DE

F

OR

A

ND

RO

ID

B

LA

CK

BE

RR

Y

AN

D

WI

ND

OW

S

PH

ON

ES

BlackBerryFor fans of the

BlackBerry, docking thephone to a PC is the mostcommon backup method. Ifyou are using a BlackBerry incorporate surroundings witha BlackBerry EnterpriseServer, wireless backup isalso an available option.(Whether your system administrator is willing to enable the fea-ture is a different story.) But with Research in Motion’s release ofBlackBerry Protect, with cloud-based storage and “find myphone” features like that of Apple’s iCloud, backing up yourBlackBerry is about to get a whole lot easier. Schedule your auto-matic backup of contacts, calendars and text messages to beperformed daily or weekly. ‘Monthly’ is also an option but we didvow to start backing up regularly didn’t we?

If you’ve misplaced your phone, go to the cportal and remotely lock your phone. That will prevent snoopsfrom looking at your phone’s contents. If you think your phone isnearby, you can force it to ring loudly. If you suspect it may havebeen left in a bar or a taxi, you can use the BlackBerry Protectmap tracking page to see your phone’s location. Should you sadlycome to the conclusion that your BlackBerry has run away fromhome and is never coming back, you do have the ability to invokea remote data wipe. The BlackBerry Protect portal also allowsyou to access your data backups via the internet. BlackBerryProtect is available for free on BlackBerry App World.

AndroidThe Android doesn’t include much in the way of

backup services. You can sync your device settings,WiFi passwords and app data to your Google account,but that leaves a lot of data exposed to danger. Not to


BA

CK

UP

G

UI

DE

F

OR

A

ND

RO

ID

B

LA

CK

BE

RR

Y

AN

D

WI

ND

OW

S

PH

ON

ES


…And One for Everybodyc is similar to Sprite Mobile in that it is a complete cloud-

based backup and restore app. What makes MyBackup Pro so impressive isthat it is available on all three platforms: Android, Blackberry and WindowsPhone. As a result, you can back data up from one device to the cloud andthen restore it to a device running on a different platform. Let’s say you’vehad enough of Windows Phone and have decided to take the plunge andpurchase an Android Phone. Back your data up from your Windows Phoneusing MyBackup Pro and then restore all your data back down to your newlypurchased Android device. Pretty slick!

m e g e h check out our article

“How to Move Your Old Data to a ShinyNewSmartphone”on page 85 inthis issue.

Sprite Backup$4.95, Sprite Mobile��

Automatic backup to Box.net orDropBox. Touted as the mostpopular mobile backup solution.

SMS Backup+Free, Jan Berkel��

Back up your text messagesto your Gmail account withthis free app.

MyBackup Pro$4.99, RerWare, LLC��

This highly praised app backs up*all* your data in one cloud-basedlocation. Access all of your backedup data via MyBackup Pro’s webportal. Available on multiplesmartphone platforms, this $5.00app is the ultimate “set it and for-get it” solution.

mention that enabling the fea-ture requires a trip to the menutitled d e .Reset? That’s a menu I thinkmost people steer clear ofwhen they’re not sure whatthey’re looking for. But whatabout your photos, video andtext messages? For that youhave to look at third-partyapps. S c is a freeapp that syncs your text mes-sages up to your Gmailaccount. Your archived textmessages will appear in yourGmail account with the labelSMS.

If you’re looking at an“everything” solution, take alook at e c p fromSprite Mobile. At $4.95, SpriteBackup syncs everything onyour phone—call logs, ring-tones, photos, video, etc. andincludes 2GB of storage spaceon Box.net or Dropbox.Naturally, automatic schedulingoptions are included.


G E T Y O U R B R A I N P O W E R O N • G E T Y O U R B R A I N P O W E R O N

GE

T

YO

UR

B

RA

IN

P

OW

ER

O

N

•

G

ET

Y

OU

R

BR

AI

N

PO

WE

R

ON

Math WorkoutFree, Brain Training��

Math Workout makes math fun and sharpens your brain all at once. This app is aset of daily brain training exercises and math drills designed to enhance mentalarithmetic. Once you’ve mastered certain skills, you can unlock the next level so

you really begin to see the improvement of your math capabilities. Fun and challenging for anyone whowould like to build up mathskills. BlackBerry users try:

by PhoneFunda, $0.99.

POWER ON

GET YOUR

Fun ways to sharpen your mind in the New YearBy Becky Ermer Buczek

You walk into a room and forget what you went in there for, you’re introduced to someoneand moments later you forget her name…all signs that the noggin might need to be sharpenedup a bit. In this age of technology and gadgets that do everything for us, our brains have moreopportunities to get a little lazy. Add the fact that the years are creeping up on us and itbecomes downright necessary to figure out how to exercise our brains. Make this year the oneto get that brain back in fighting shape and who knows, you may even find yourself calculatingthat tip with a plain old pencil and paper.


23

GE

T

YO

UR

B

RA

IN

P

OW

ER

O

N

•

G

ET

Y

OU

R

BR

AI

N

PO

WE

R

ON

Jigsaw PuzzlesFree, Critical Hit Software, LLC��

No need to stay at home with all those puzzle piecesspread out on your dining room table. With this app you canbring them with you and work on them anytime you want.

Use one of the 60 preloaded puzzles or turn one of your own photos into a jigsawpuzzle to solve. Puzzles can have up to 100 pieces that you can move and rotate inyour quest to complete your project. Once you do complete it, you even have theoption to share your handiwork with friends. Android users try: z G 2 byJeegSoft, Free.

Memory FunFree, Karmic Apps��

Memory Fun is a challenging and addictivegame to train your memory capacity, focusand concentration. With an easy to use inter-

face, multiple levels of difficulty, and a wide selection of cardimages, this app will keep you entertained and having fun whileexercising your visual memory. Choose between the training, easy, or brainiac levels and stay attentive as concentrationis key in this game.

CogsFree-$2.99, Chillingo/Lazy 8 Studios��

For a different type of puzzle chal-lenge, try Cogs. Build increasingly com-plex machines using sliding tiles and 2D

and 3D environments. Begin in Inventor mode where you’re introduced to the widgets usedto build machines such as gears, pipes, and wheels, etc. Once a puzzle is finished there, youcan advance to the more difficult Time Challenge Mode and Move Challenge Mode. Cogs isgame that will really get those gears working.

70 Logic Games – Time KillersFree, Andrea Sabbatini��

Exercise your brain with these 70logic games and you will be relaxed and challenged at thesame time. Whether you choose to plant trees in a park,help campers with their tents, or try your hand at a mazeof bricks, each of the games included is sure to get yourbrain working to figure out the correct solution. We’ve heard a few complaints about glitches in one or two games, butoverall, the majority of the free 70 games are highly rated and enjoyable.


GE

T

YO

UR

B

RA

IN

P

OW

ER

O

N

•

G

ET

Y

OU

R

BR

AI

N

PO

WE

R

ON



Word Search +Free, Sarah Pierce, Megafauna software��

If you like traditional word searches, this app gives youthat experience with a twist. This app provides you with 16categories of words to search for and in addition, each word

list is clickable so that you can learn more about the words. Learn about thingssuch as food and wine all the way to science, sports, and geography. It’s the per-fect way to learn some trivia while sharpening your word search skills.BlackBerry users try: by Spice, Free.

Words with FriendsFree, Zynga Mobile/Nokia Corp.��

If you are looking to expand your vocabulary and besocial at the same time, then Words with Friends is a greatchoice. Based on a familiar format, Words with Friends

starts with one player creating a word, then players take turns forming wordshorizontally or vertically sharing at least one tile with an existing word on theboard. With this app you can play with friends or match-make instantly with arandom opponent and the turn based design lets you play up to 20 gamessimultaneously. So get ready to start using that brain (and dictionary) to scoresome points! BlackBerry users try: x i by RJ Softwares, Free.

Unblock Me FreeFree, Kiragames Co., Ltd.��

Fun for the whole family, Unblock Me is agame with the simple objective of gettingthe red block out of the board by sliding the

other blocks out of the way. With four difficulty levels rangingfrom Beginner to Expert, there are a total of 4,200 puzzles toreally keep your mind working. Depending on your mood, you canchoose between Relax Mode or Challenge Mode to start moving those blocks while sharpening your mind.

Flow FreeFree, Big Duck Games LLC��

Sometimes the simplest gamesare the most fun and addicting andFlow Free fits into this category. The

basic premise of the game is to simply connect matchingcolors with pipe to create a flow. The challenge comes inwhen pipes cross or overlap, causing them to break.Whether you choose a simple and relaxed level or a fran-tic time trial mode, this game is sure to keep your brain engaged while you try to keep the flow going.

NE

W

YE

AR

N

EW

Y

OU

•

N

EW

Y

EA

R

NE

W

YO

U

•

NE

W

YE

AR

N

EW

Y

OU


N E W Y E A R , N E W Y O U • N E W Y E A R , N E W Y O U • N E W Y E A R , N E W Y O U

We all like the sense of things being “new” and each January we get a chance toreflect on our lives and try to find things that we can do to improve in the year tocome. Whether it’s our looks, our health, our homes, or our attitude, there’s usuallysomething we can do to take things up a notch and the following apps can help to getthings started.

NEW YEAR,

Time for a ChangeBy Becky Ermer Buczek

Mary Kay Virtual MakeoverFree, Mary Kay, Inc.��

If you want to try a new look, check out this app. Withit, you can download your own photo or choose from a variety of models to tryall different combinations of eye makeup, lip colors, hairstyles, hair colors,accessories and more. For a quicker and easier option, try the one-clickmakeovers for season-specific and special occasion makeovers. Once you’vefound a look that you like, you can shop on-line for the products and you caneven share your new look with friends on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, SMS,or email. Windows Phone users try: MagicMirror by Touch Multimedia, $2.49.



NE

W

YE

AR

N

EW

Y

OU

•

N

EW

Y

EA

R

NE

W

YO

U

•

NE

W

YE

AR

N

EW

Y

OU Stylish Girl –

Fashion ClosetFree, DDN Media Inc.��

Have you ever wished for an easy way tokeep up with the clothes you have in your clos-et? Stylish Girl – Fashion Closet can help withthat. This app allows you to photograph eachpiece of clothing that you own and catalogthem so that your entire wardrobe becomesvirtualized. You can then use the app to mix andmatch your own clothes into different outfits without ever having to try anything on. In addition, you can shop online atShopstyle.com to see how something new might fit into your current collection. With the option to access celebrityfashion styles, selected blogs and magazines, you will not only be organized but you’ll have new sources of inspiration totry something new.

Fashion KaleidoscopeFree, Inporia Inc��

If you would like a new look, this app canhelp you find it. You’ll see the latest fashion outfits from aroundthe world through images from street style, fashion blogs,celebrities, fashion editors and runways. You can browse out-fits, save your favorites, and then click on the image to seesimilar items, where to buy them, and even find items that areon sale and which stores offer the cheapest options. With hun-dreds of fashion ideas for clothing, shoes, accessories, andhandbags, this app is sure to inspire your inner fashionista.

Houzz InteriorDesign IdeasFree, Houzz Inc.��

If you are looking for interior or exteriordesign ideas, look no further than HouzzInterior Design Ideas. It has the largest data-base of home design ideas on the internet andhas a database of over 700,000 photos. Youcan browse photos by style, room and locationand save them to your virtual idea book, whichyou can then save and search. The app alsohelps you find local designers, contractors, and architects to help with your project and they can browse your idea bookto see your ideas and how they can be implemented. Whether building a house, remodeling or just looking to redecorate,this app is a must have! Android users, take heart, there’s an app coming! Windows Phone users try: z bybyteNine, Free.


NE

W

YE

AR

N

EW

Y

OU

•

N

EW

Y

EA

R

NE

W

YO

U

•

NE

W

YE

AR

N

EW

Y

OU


101 Relationship TipsFree, Pazacta��

Whether we know it or not, everyonecould probably use a little boost in the area of relationships.Married or dating, relationships can be hard and in order to keepthings on the right path, there needs to be patience, communi-cation and a commitment to make things work. The 101Relationship Tips app is a nice way to read about ideas to build,strengthen, and improve your relationship. While some mayseem simple and easy, they will cause you to stop and reflect onhow you might do things differently to help overcome obstaclesand enhance your connection with your partner. Little stepstaken every day can add up to big success.

Secrets of Success$0.99, Dale Carnegie &Associates, Inc.��

Learn valuable tips from the top businessmotivation pros with this app that helps remindyou why you started the job in the first place.Leadership tips right at your fingertips with 90video clips to demonstrate the principles. Get aDaily Dose of Confidence from this “coach inyour pocket” that can even help you work through departmental conflicts. Dale Carnegie & Assoc. puts its 100 years ofexperience behind Secrets of Success to help you work out those “people issues” that are bound to crop up from time totime. Available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic.

Inspirational QuotesFree, AppFlute��

Start your day off on the right foot with theInspirational Quotes app. The thought-pro-voking quotes in this app can help you to keepmoving forward, make an overdue change, orsimply help you to live life to the fullest.Inspirational Quotes also offers the capabilityto share via Facebook, SMS or email so youcan share with other people who may needencouragement, motivation, and inspiration. This app may just give you a new outlook on everyday things. BlackBerryusers try: In pi Y ur by MetroFX, Free.


G E T C O N T R O L O F Y O U R F I N A N C I A L P L A N N I N G

GE

T C

ON

TR

OL

OF

YO

UR

FIN

AN

CIA

L P

LA

NN

ING

•

GE

T C

ON

TR

OL

OF

YO

UR

FIN

AN

CIA

L P

LA

NN

ING

GET CONTROL OF YOUR

Life is busy—we get it. Between driving the kids to soccer practice, working overtime andspending quality time with your spouse, managing your finances is probably the last thing onyour mind. But don’t worry, we’ve got a host of investing, banking and retirement apps thatmake financial planning fun and easy (well maybe just the latter).

PLANNINGTake charge of your money management with these appsBy Sean Cooper

StockTwitsFree, StockTwits Inc.��

It seems like everyone, including your greataunt Florence, has a Facebook account thesedays.

Companies have taken notice, creating Facebook and Twitteraccounts of their own. Twitter may limit Tweet length to 140 charac-ters, but it’s become a hot place for business news, and StockTwits isthe place to connect.

Find out which stocks are being tweeted about the most andtrending worldwide. Connect with traders and join in the conversation.

Tracking your top stocks is quick and painless—search for stocksby stock symbol and receive real-time stock prices.



GE

T C

ON

TR

OL

OF

YO

UR

FIN

AN

CIA

L P

LA

NN

ING

• GE

T C

ON

TR

OL

OF

YO

UR

FIN

AN

CIA

L P

LA

NN

ING

RetirePlanFree, Katherine Philip��

Retirement planningcan be a real bore, but itdoesn’t have to be! In justseconds, enter your

financial data and assumptions, and be dazzledas your financial plan instantly appears beforeyour very own eyes! This isn’t your average set of bank calculators with so many fields to complete you give up out of sheerfrustration. Enter as much or as little information as you like and receive answers to your retirement questions. If you’re noton the right track, no worries—find out how much more money you’ll need to sock away to meet your retirement goal.

Easy Money Planner FreeFree, In A Day Development��

Not a financial whiz? Noproblem. Easy Money is called“easy” for a good reason.

Receive easy-to-understand answers to your financialquestions, free from financial mumbo-jumbo. Do theterms “rate of return” and “amortization” cause a fullblown panic attack? Not with this app. It spells out yourfinancial plan every step of the way. Choose from 12handy planners: calculate how much to save for retire-ment, your investment rate of return, and your loanpayment amount instantly. Paid version available.

Mortgage CalculatorFree, Adonis Apps��

Mortgage Calculator is yourone-stop shop for mortgage andloan repayment calculations!Looking to upsize to your dream

house with a nice big garage and a white picket fence?Looking to drive away in style in your dream ride?Mortgage Calculator makes those dreams a reality!Finding out when your mortgage will be paid off is simple,just enter your property value, down payment, mortgageamount and loan terms to see useful amortization tablesand charts. Get your financial priorities in order—find outwhich loan is most beneficial to pay off first. There’s also apaid version out there.

GE

T C

ON

TR

OL

OF

YO

UR

FIN

AN

CIA

L P

LA

NN

ING

•

GE

T C

ON

TR

OL

OF

YO

UR

FIN

AN

CIA

L P

LA

NN

ING



VanguardFree, The Vanguard Group, Inc.��

Vanguard is a must-have app for serioustraders. Not only is it a cinch to keep track ofyour investments portfolio, instantly receiveyour latest account activity and market news

so you’ll be the first to know! This isn’t just an excellent informationsource. You can trade investments, review your 401(k), and researchstocks all from your smartphone. Viewing your investment perform-ance is a snap thanks to the app’s easy-to-use interactive charts andgraphs. Are you a financial advisor? Be sure to download Vanguard,Advisors, it’s an app specifically designed for you.

iTrade - Stock MarketSimulatorFree, Neon Surge��

If you’re tired of playing pennystocks or you’re eager to find out ifyou have what it takes to make it rich

in the stock market but lack the funds to invest, read on.iTrade is a great way to increase your knowledge of thestock market without the fear of failing since you’re notactually risking “real” money. Manage your own virtual stockportfolio. Trade with real-time quotes and research stocks ina jiffy. Keen to find out how you match up against the com-petition? Rank up against traders worldwide or create yourown private leaderboard exclusively for family and friends—it’s completely up to you!

Android users try: S r e byMobileVirtualGames, Free.

CNBC Real-TimeFree, NBC Universal, Inc.��

CNBC: First in Business Worldwide.Enough said. Instantly receive real-time quotes before, during and after

market hours straight from the horse’s mouth—the NYSE andNASDAQ. Never miss a breaking news story again, receive thebusiness news that matter most to you first. This is your all-in-one stock market app that tracks major U.S. and Worldindexes, commodities, and currencies, all from the comfort ofyour smartphone. Tracking your favorite stocks is made easywith the “My Stocks” feature.

GE

T C

ON

TR

OL

OF

YO

UR

FIN

AN

CIA

L P

LA

NN

ING

• GE

T C

ON

TR

OL

OF

YO

UR

FIN

AN

CIA

L P

LA

NN

ING



Pageonce - Money & BillsFree, Pageonce��

Never miss a bill payment or paycostly overdraft fees again. Pay bills,manage and track your cash, credit

cards, bills and investment portfolio all in one app. Overviewprovides a bird’s-eye view of your personal finances, and youcan click on each category to drill down deeper. Paying bills isquick and easy. For $0.30 (less than the price of a stamp), payyour bills in real-time. Get control of your finances, managingyour debt and budgeting has never been so simple. Big bankslike Bank of America, Capital One and Chase Bank are some ofthe many who support this great app.

Chase Mobile BankingFree, JPMorgan Chase��

If you haven’t signed up for aChase account yet, now’s a greattime. Chase isn’t your averagemobile banking app. It has two

handy features to make your banking life a lot easier. Payanyone with an email address instantly with ChaseQuickPay (and they don’t even have to be a Chase cus-tomer). Tired of depositing checks the old-fashionedway? Snap a photo of your check and have it instantlydeposited into your account with Chase QuickDeposit.Plus, you’ll find all the great features you’d expect—man-age your account, make deposits, find the closest ATMand more.

SmartMoney Retirement PlannerFree, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.��

The sad truth for some people isthat their retirement plan consists of

hoping to win it big in the lottery. For the rest of us, this appis the perfect financial planning tool for our golden years. Ifyou worry about not having a large enough nest egg toretire, this handy retirement planner app helps puts yourworries at ease and makes financial planning a breeze. Findout your Social Security entitlement, the effect inflation willhave on your savings and how large your portfolio will growto be.


D O Y O U N E E D A P H A B L E T ? • D O Y O U N E E D A P H A B L E T ?

DO

YO

U N

EE

D A

PH

AB

LE

T?

•

DO

YO

U N

EE

D A

PH

AB

LE

T?

•

DO

YO

U N

EE

D A

PH

AB

LE

T?

•

W hat is a “phablet”? It’s a device that falls some-where in the no man’s land between a tabletand a smartphone. The general trend in smart-

phones has been larger displays while tablets are gettingsmaller. Phablets give you some of the benefits of atablet, but they also function as phones. The idea is thatyou get the best of both worlds.

Generally, phablet displays are around the five-inchmark, sometimes a little bigger, but the range is five toseven inches. They come with contracts for mobile dataand cellular service, just like smartphones.

Why Buy One?The latest phablets are like super-sized smartphones

in every respect. They aren’t just physically bigger; theyalso have the latest cutting-edge hardware inside and afeature-set that surpasses most smartphones.

That large screen is the biggest temptation. You’ve gotplenty of real estate for movies and games. The displaysare also big enough to make reading more comfortable,whether you’re surfing the web or immersed in a book.

Phablets also tend to have stylus accessories andspecial apps that make them ideal for note taking andsketching on the go.

If you find normal smartphones difficult to type on thenyou’ll also enjoy a much bigger touchscreen keyboard.

Why Do Without?If you plan to use your phablet for calls then you might

feel a bit silly. They are awkward to handle and they dolook strange as phones.

You can also forget about one-handed operationunless you happen to be a basketball player. Phabletsare simply too big for most people to use without

DO YOU NEED A

What they are, the pros and cons, and whether they’re worth your time and money.By Simon Hill

There’s a new wave of mobile devices hitting the market—the phablets! We investigate theirpros and cons, and pick out the best on the market just in case you decide you have to haveone. (Once you find out what they are, that is.)

requiring both hands.Since phablets are so big you may find they won’t fit

into your designer purse or slide into a jeans pocket com-fortably like a smartphone would.

When it comes to pricing, phablets are significantlymore expensive than your average smartphone—butthen they do deliver a lot more for your money.

Fabulous Phablets to ConsiderThe phone-tablet hybrid is still a relative newcomer on

the scene, but some notable Android manufacturers havedesigned and released some delectable phablets. Checkout the current cream of the crop:

• Samsung Galaxy Note 2The original Galaxy Note was a surprise hit for

Samsung and the follow up, the Galaxy Note 2, is availableon all the major U.S. carriers. It has a crisp 5.5-inch displayand offers lightning fast performance courtesy of a 1.6GHz quad-core processor. It runs Android 4.1, also knownas Jelly Bean, which is a highly polished version ofGoogle’s mobile platform. It boasts all the latest featuresand connectivity, including support for 4G LTE and NFC.

It also sports Samsung’s S-Pen which has a number ofclever control features and a host of special apps to takefull advantage of that huge display. Samsung has done agreat job with this phablet so you’ll want to consider it.It’s around $300 for a two-year contract.

• LG IntuitionIt doesn’t look quite as stylish as the Galaxy Note 2

with those squared edges, but the LG Intuition is a decentphablet option. You’ll find it on Verizon and it sports a 5-inch display and a 1.5-GHz dual-core processor. It runs

the slightly older Android 4.0, or Ice Cream Sandwich. It also supportsthe latest 4G LTE network and boasts NFC functionality.

Just like the Galaxy Note 2, the Intuition comes with a stylus andsome dedicated apps for taking notes. It’s a solid device, but it does-n’t hit the high standards of Samsung’s offering and that’s reflectedin the price tag. You can pick up the LG Intuition for $150 on a two-year contract.

• Other OptionsIf you aren’t quite sure you want to dish out so much money, then

you might consider trying out the older G at aprice discount, now that there is a next-generation replacement.

We also expect that by the time you are reading this there will bea new phablet from HTC on the market. In fact the C ,sporting a stunning 5-inch display, has already been released inJapan. The Taiwanese manufacturer is well known for producing highquality products, so when it releases one in the U.S. it will definitely beworth a look.

There are strong indications that Sony will be releasing a phabletdevice in the near future and it’s liable to be a real contender as well.

As the market grows, and demand for this form factor is confirmed,we’ll likely see a number of manufacturers climbing aboard with newreleases, so watch this space.

D O Y O U N E E D A P H A B L E T ? • D O Y O U N E E D A P H A B L E T ?


DO

YO

U N

EE

D A

PH

AB

LE

T?

• DO

YO

U N

EE

D A

PH

AB

LE

T?

• DO

YO

U N

EE

D A

PH

AB

LE

T?

•

SamsungGalaxy Note 2

LG Intuition

HTC Butterfly


T A B L E T S H O W D O W N • T A B L E T S H O W D O W N • T A B L E T S H O W D O W N

TA

BL

ET

S

HO

WD

OW

N

•

TA

BL

ET

S

HO

WD

OW

N

•

TA

BL

ET

S

HO

WD

OW

N

A look at the latest full-sized and mini tabletsBy Sean Cooper

The race is on. The tablet market caught fire and over 60 million were sold worldwide in 2011according to reports from Gartner, Inc. and Strategy Analytics. With so many great tablets tochoose from, what’s a consumer to do? Never fear! Here’s our showdown of the latest tabletsworth adding to your collection.

Google Nexus 10

Google’s contender in thefull-sized tablet market pro-vides a worthy tablet alterna-tive to iPad. If Samsung GalaxyS3 recently topping iPhone asthe world’s top-selling smart-phone is any indication, GoogleNexus 10 is sure to be smash-ing success. Nexus 10 is barnone the best 10-inch Androidtablet to date. Its sleek,smooth design is ideal forresting comfortably in thepalm of your hands. At 10.1inches, the screen is slightlylarger than the 9.7-inch displayof iPad 4, and its high-resolu-tion screen is just as impressive as the iPad 4’s retina display. With a screen resolution of 2560 x1600 and 300-pixels per inch, Nexus 10’s screen is actually better than iPad 4’s. A dual-coreprocessor is perfect for enjoying videos, surfing the web and playing games. While 700,000 appsare an impressive offering, only a select few have been optimized for Nexus 10, leaving somethingto be desired. Prices start at $399.


35

TA

BL

ET

S

HO

WD

OW

N

•

TA

BL

ET

S

HO

WD

OW

N

•

TA

BL

ET

S

HO

WD

OW

N

iPad MiniApple officially entered the pocket-sized

tablet market with the release of the iPadMini. Apple’s first foray into the 7-inch tabletdomain is worth a serious look. It’s a perfectess-expensive tablet for your kids to enjoy.

The design is compact and sleek (as you’dexpect from Apple). It’s half the size of theoriginal iPad and boasts the same 7.9-inchscreen as the iPad 2 (plus, better internaltechnology to boot). “Mini” doesn’t meanless—it offers almost the same experience

as its bigger brother. One-hand use, typing in landscape mode and gaming are surprisingly made alot easier. Although watching movies with your friends can be a challenge, daily tasks like emailing,web surfing and social media are a breeze. First-gen iPad owners receive an added bonus becausethe software is backwards-compatible. The price is the device’s only sticking point: $329 is a steepprice to pay compared to Amazon and Google’s mini tablet offerings ($199).

MicrosoftSurface withWindows RT

Surface isn’t your typical run-of-the-mill tablet. If you’re look-ng for a family tablet with plenty

of apps, stick with iPad 4 orNexus 10. Designed as a laptopeplacement, Microsoft’s firstablet is ideal for improving pro-

ductivity while you’re on the go.The line between tablet and lap-op is blurred (perhaps we should

coin a new phrase “lapblet”), as itcomes equipped with a touch

keyboard and built-in mouse pad. Although the touchscreen works great, mouse support isa nice touch. It comes bundled with all your favorite Microsoft Office programs—Word, Exceland PowerPoint—and Desktop Mode to manage your files just like your office PC. Surface’smajor drawback is its steep price. At $519 for the 32 GB version, it’s $20 more expensivethan the 16 GB iPad 4. That’s a high price to pay for a device offering less than the new iPad.If Windows software compatibility is important to you, it’s worth a serious look, although itmight just be worth your while to wait for the Surface Pro (or simply go with your trustylaptop instead).


TA

BL

ET

S

HO

WD

OW

N

•

TA

BL

ET

S

HO

WD

OW

N

•

TA

BL

ET

S

HO

WD

OW

N



Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

At first glance, Samsung’s latest full-sized tablet looks like any other Androidtablet, but with one major exception—astylus. But can a stylus really make thatmuch of a difference? Resoundingly, yes!Samsung’s S Pen offers a tablet experi-ence like no other. It is, without a doubt,the best integrated stylus out there. Itoffers the fluidity and the precision theiPad stylus sorely lacks. Surf the web, takenotes and check email simultaneouslywith relative ease. Its handwriting-recog-nition software makes writing a breeze(although it’s far from perfect—editing canbe a real headache). There are some per-formance hiccups to note: the tablet occa-sionally lags when switching between apps and settings can be confusing. However, once you getused to the stylus it’s a decent tablet, just don’t expect it to be iPad 4. Priced at around $450 andup.

Kindle Fire HDCan’t get enough of the Amazon’s popular Kindle Fire?

Then you’ll want to get your paws on Amazon’s newesttablet, the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD. Amazon’s latest versionfeatures a beautiful display with 254 pixels per inch(impressive for a tablet) and a screen resolution of 1920 x1200 (a huge improvement over the 7-inch version’s dis-play of 1280 x 800). Amazon’s goal was to create “the besttablet at any price” and they made a pretty good go atbeing “the Godfather” of tablets. The larger Fire HD sells for$299 (while the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD is $199). It’s a bargaincompared to the iPad at $499. With Amazon’s online con-tent at your fingertips—movies, TV shows, music andbooks—Kindle Fire HD might just be an offer you can’trefuse.

i am a beauty that sounds like a beast.Turn up the volume of your living space with the iHome iD3. Dock your iPad, iPhone or iPod and hear the room come to life. With 50 watts of power and groundbreaking Bongiovi Acoustics DPS technology and a stylish design, the iD3 will let you get in touch with your more expressive side.

www.ihomeaudio.com

iHome is a registered trademark of SDI Technologies, Inc. iPad, iPhone and iPod are trademarks of Apple, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Bongiovi Acoustics™, Digital Power Station™ and the DPS symbol are trademarks or registered trademarks of Bongiovi Acoustics, LLC. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners.

ihome ihome Apple Online Store

http://www.ihomeaudio.com


I P H O N E 5 Q & A • I P H O N E 5 Q & A • I P H O N E 5 Q & A • I P H O N E 5 Q & A •

IP

HO

NE

5

Q

&A

•

I

PH

ON

E

5

Q&

IP

HO

NE

5

Q

&A

•

I

PH

ON

E

5

Q&

A

More masterful tips, troubleshooting and workarounds from our AppleguruBy William Bonin

Were you one of those people waiting in line in the rain to buy the new iPhone 5? And have youfound that it’s everything you could ever want in a phone or, like others, have you discoveredthat Apple’s latest offering has a few quirks?

Read on for advice on overcoming these obstacles and a few tips to help you get the most outof your new phone.

5Q & A

Q: What happened to Google Maps?A: For my money, GPS-enabled mapping software is one of the best features ever

included in smartphones. No longer do you need a big GPS device mounted onyour windshield or to worry about whether it’s actual ly up to date— just enter

your destination in your phone and you’re off! But with the release of the iPhone 5,the old M app has instead been replaced with “ p ,” Apple’s own navi-

gation software. I ’ l l let you decide how wise a decision that was,but you can figure that al l is not well when Apple CEO Tim Cook says

“We blew it with Maps” and fires the head of the Apple Maps division. Maps is pretty terrible, with reports of missing landmarks and business

and just plain round-Robin-Hood’s-barn directions. Choices are: wait forto improve, or look for alternatives. One possibi l ity is the onl ine ver-

sion of Google Maps through the iPhone’s browser. While this is a workablesolution, you also lose some of thegreat features of the app versionof Google Maps— like the integra-tion of your contacts when enter-ing a destination. M X is

a good choice to el iminate your directional woes.Priced at $0.99 (with a $9 annual fee if you wouldl ike turn-by-turn voice navigation), it comes withal l the functional ity you’ve become accustomed towith Google Maps. In fact, the latest releaseincludes many features never included in GoogleMaps, such as lane assist (to help you navigatethrough complex and confusing interchanges) andspeed l imit warnings that wil l gently inform youwhen you’re putting too much pedal to the metal.

?


39

IP

HO

NE

5

Q

&A

•

I

PH

ON

E

5

Q&

A

•

IP

HO

NE

5

Q

&A

•

I

PH

ON

E

5

Q&

A

Q: What’s with this adapter?A: Over the summer, I had a new stereo instal led in my car that provided

an auxi l iary input so I could l isten to my iPhone and iPods in the car. Theinstal lation technician asked if I wanted the Apple connector instal led or just a

headphone jack. In a rare bit of good judgment, I went with the headphone adapter because I

knew some day Apple would change the connection. Well , the future came sooner that I thought when the iPhone 5 was released with a

l ittle surprise: the 30-pin adapter that has been in use on every iPhone, iPod and iPad?Gone! Replaced with “Lightning”— a far smaller connection essential to meeting Apple’sgoal of a thinner and sl immer phone.

Yes, Apple wil l sel l you an adapter for $30 so that you can connect your new iPhone toyour old accessories— a Bose SoundDock system or your car stereo, for example— butquantities are currently in short supply. One frustrated customer reported that if he hadto buy a new adapter for every Apple product accessory that he owns, it would cost him

over $1 ,300! And many have found the adapter to be lacking. As a result of Apple’s tinkering, the “iPod Out”

functional ity is lost— meaning that if you used aBose SoundDock that had iPod controls, thosefeatures no longer work. If you want to skip asong, you wil l have to pick up the iPod itselfand go to the next song since the Bose remotewould no longer work.

Unless you want to replace old accessorieswith new Lightning adapter versions (And gothrough the whole process again a few yearsfrom now?), that might be something iPhone5 users are going to have to l ive with. Whileconnectors should be cheaper in the future asmore third-party manufacturers ramp up pro-duction, the lost functional ity wil l remain lost.

A little tip: i f you’re just looking for a con-nector to charge your iPhone, there’s Apple’sLightning-to-USB cord which sel ls for $1 9.Plug it in to your computer or your existingcar charger if it has a USB input and relaxknowing that you at least won a small victoryfor aggrieved consumers everywhere.

?


??????

IP

HO

NE

5

Q

&A

•

I

PH

ON

E

5

Q&

A

•

IP

HO

NE

5

Q

&A

•

I

PH

ON

E

5

Q&

A



Q: Who left the lights on?A: Numerous reports have surfaced, particularly from white iPhone 5

users, of a l ight leak around the top of their phones. As a result, if you’re ina darkened area, it looks as if l ight is coming out of the phone. This problem

plagued earl ier iPhone releases and now seems to have resurfaced. Complainants report that Apple has replaced their phones, only to discover

that the same problem appears on the replacement. If you decide to make the tripto the Genius Bar for a replacement, be sure to examine the new phone before you

leave the store!

Q: What’s the deal with this battery life?A: The iPhone 5 touts improved battery l ife, but many users are finding that their mileage varies, often signifi-

cantly. Before you become alarmed about your battery pl ight, ask yourself if you’re just using the device morethan in the past. It’s new and shiny and you’re using it a lot, right? Perhaps that’s why your battery l ife isn’t toyour l iking? If you’ve ruled out that possibi l ity, considerthese tips and troubleshooting steps.

For starters, turn off the apps you aren’t using. This iswidely unknown by iPhone users, but just because youstop using an app doesn’t mean the app stops runningand continuing to drain the battery. To turn off apps thatare running but aren’t in use, double-press the Homebutton to enter “multi-tasking mode.” Al l running appswil l appear at the bottom of your screen in a l ist that canscrol l though. When you see an app running that you’renot using (and you’l l be surprised how many there are),press and hold the icon unti l it appears “jumpy” and then

press the redbutton thatappears. Thisdoesn’t deletethe app from your phone; it only shuts the app down.

If you’re sti l l finding that battery l ife isn’t what you expected, consid-er the free C app avai lable on the iTunes store from AMP Lab. Instal lCarat and it wil l begin monitoring how your phone consumes batterypower. Carat reports back to its server, and then compiles a report foryou outl ining which apps are just plain battery hogs and which appsmight contain bugs that contribute to battery drain. It also tel ls you howyour iPhone is performing compared to others. The best part is that theCarat app uses almost no battery itself, so you can rest assured that thecure isn’t worse than the disease!

??????

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

41

IP

HO

NE

5

Q

&A

•

I

PH

ON

E

5

Q&

A

•

IP

HO

NE

5

Q

&A

•

I

PH

ON

E

5

Q&

A


And Now the Good News!The iPhone 5 is by no means all bad; it’s slimmer, lighter and faster. In fact,

thanks to its new iOS 6, it also includes some great new features that you mightnot be aware of.

Do Not Disturb: Do you have friends who don’t seem to understand that you’re asleep at 11:00PMand don’t want to receive text messages and phone calls? The new “Do Not Disturb” feature thatcomes with iOS 6 will silence all notifications during the hours you set. Create a manual blackout periodor schedule a recurring period. You can also set an exception for that certain someone you alwayswant to talk to. Please note that the “Do Not Disturb” feature does not silence your alarm clock in themorning!

Take Dictation Please: Typing on the iPhone’s keypad can be a bit of a challenge for the ham-hand-ed so instead, just dictate to your iPhone and let it do the typing. When composing a text or email, justclick on the microphone that appears on the keyboard and begin dictation. It’s a bit like a telegramthough—you’ll have to speak the punctuation you want used, as in “I will see you next week period.”

Emoji-cons: “Emoji” is the new set of emoticons that you can use in both text and email messages.You can enable Emoji by going to G yboa d boa d. Select mo andthen when you’re typing a message, press the Globe that appears on the keyboard. You switch to theset of emoticons (and there are many). When you’re done, press the Globe again to go back to the reg-ular keyboard.

Passbook: Passbook stores shopper loyalty cards, coupons, tickets and even boarding passes inone app, providing much needed relief to your overstuffed wallet and cluttered key ring. WithPassbook, the next time you go to a concert or sporting event, you’ll no longer have to print your con-cert tickets—just present your phone at the gate and your ticket will be scanned. There are currentlyover 2,600 locations that accept Passbook tickets. Retail merchants such as Walgreens and Target willsend coupons to your phone which can then be scanned at checkout. No more carrying the coupon

binder!



Action GamesDoodle Jump$0.99, GameHouse��

Guide a jumping green creature equipped with springs,jet packs and other gear.

Jetpack JoyrideFree, Halfbrick Studios��

Strap on a jetpack and navigate through countless fun-fi l led lev-els. Avoid obstacles l ike electricity fields, lasers and missiles,completing missions and collecting coins along the way.

Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim$1 .99, HeroCraft LTD��

In Majesty: The Final Kingdom Sim, you rule your own fairytalekingdom, defeating enemies and conquering new lands in thisnew, exciting real-time strategy role playing game.

NinjumpFree, Backfl ip Studios��You’re a strong and proud ninja.

PAC-MAN$3.99, Namco Networks��

Bring the original video game hero to your smartphone today.

Plants vs. Zombies$2.99, Electronic Arts��

Use a variety of weapons, including plants, to protect your homefrom the Zombie hoard.

Snail Mail$0.99, Sandlot Games��Race Turbo Snai l on an intergalactic runway pickingup packages for him to del iver.

Stickman GolfFree, Noodlecake Studios��

You’l l be testing your golf ski l l levels by hitting the bal l overmountains, bodies of water, down slopes, through trees and somuch more.

APPBUYER’S GUIDE

2 0 1 3 U L T I M A T E A P P B U Y E R ’ S G U I D E • 2 0 1 3 U L T I M A T E A P P B U Y E R ’ S G U I D E •

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


Tap Tap Revenge 4Free, Tapulous��

Tap Tap Revenge 4 is an addictive music game— fol low the on-screen arrows, as you l isten to your favorite artists and bandsl ike Katy Perry, Linkin Park and Lady Gaga.

Traffic Rush$0.99, Donut Games��

Your goal is to get as many vehicles safely through the intersec-tion without a col l ision as possible.

When Balls Drop$1 .99, Joseph Neuman��

A mellow game that wil l keep you busy and glued to the screenas you try to get the bouncing bal l in one of five different pointslots.

Preschool Educational GamesBug Games by Busy Bee Studios$0.99, Busy Bee Studios��

With four different games, your chi ldren wil l learn and practicephonics, numbers, pattern matching, and musical melodies.

Find Them All: Dinosaurs$1 .99, Knbmedia��

Features dinosaur-related activities and games that teach kidsabout dinosaurs and their habitats.

First Words Animals KidsFree, AZB Soft��

A simple and fun game that wil l appeal to your preschoolers asthey learn to spel l the names of famil iar animals.

Monster Hunt – The Memory GameFree, Innovative Mobile Apps��

Featuring bright l ittle monsters that you search for, kids have somuch fun they won’t even real ize that they are sharpening theirminds at the same time.

Grandma’s Garden$0.99-$1 .99, Fairlady Media, Noodlecake Studios Inc��

Kids wil l enjoy helping Grandma in the garden as they match,color, and count vegetables.

Green Eggs and Ham - Dr. Seuss$3.99, Oceanhouse Media��

Children learn picture and word association as animated wordsare spoken when your chi ld touches each picture of this classicDr. Seuss tale.

Kids Numbers and Math$2.99, intel l i joy��

Keep your kids excited while learning about numbers.

Preschool and Kindergarten Learning GamesFree, Kevin Bradford��

Your chi ld wil l learn letters, spel l ing, shapes and colors, additionand subtraction, figure out puzzles and play memory games.

TallyTots$1 .99, Spinl ight Studio��

Your kids wil l practice counting, receive positive verbal reinforce-ment, and encounter fun surprises along the way as they learn tocount to 20.

Word Wagon - by Duck Duck Moose$1 .99, Duck Duck Moose��

Spells words by placing the letters for each object shown in thecorrect order and earn stars to bui ld animal-shaped constel la-tions.

Zoo Train$1 .99, Busy Bee Studios��

Word bui lding meets city bui lding in this fun app.

2 0 1 3 U L T I M A T E A P P B U Y E R ’ S G U I D E • 2 0 1 3 U L T I M A T E A P P B U Y E R ’ S G U I D E •

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


Puzzle GamesDrop7$2.99, Zynga��

A highly addictive game where you drop discs numbered 1through 7 into a grid, forming a chain to nab bonuses and stayal ive.

Angry BirdsFree, Rovio Mobile��

Hurl birds and pigs through the air.

Angry Birds SpaceFree, Rovio Mobile��

In this edition of Angry Birds, developer Rovio takes the classic pig bashing gameplay, mixing it with zero grav-ity action, new birds and new superpowers to del iver its best so far.

Quell$0.99, Fal lenTreeGames��

This has to be one of the most soothing games you’l l ever play.

Jigsaw Mansion 2$0.99, SGN��

Multi-touch controls, 360-degree piece rotation and more than20 new, original paintings carved into chal lenging puzzles.

Relix$0.99, Mark Mengelt��

Tapping and sl iding pieces to match ti les, with chal lenging fea-tures to make each of the 50 levels increasingly difficult.

Sprinkle$1 .99, Mediocre��

Use your crane-mounted water cannon to put out fires, activatetraps, and move boulders and ice blocks.

Draw Something FreeFree, OMGPOP��

Puts your artistic ski l ls to the real test. Draw something and yourfriend (or a random user from around the world) must guesswhat it is.

Cash Cow$0.99-$3.95, Plasmaworks LLC��

Touch a bunch of coins that equals five, 1 0 or 25 cents and thencount up that bunch into a dol lar.

Domino RunFree, Shiny Egg Studios��

Stack dominos and topple them over in 70 fun-fi l led levels—replay levels and try to beat your time.

Where’s My Water?$0.99, Disney��

Swampy the Al l igator wants to take a shower— too bad the otheral l igators have blocked his water!

GearedFree, PlayfulArt��

The object of this game is to l ine up four different sizes of gearsand connect them to one another.

Word GamesBird's the WordFree-$0.99, SGN��

Create words from random letters while birds swoop in and tryto hinder your progress.

Bookworm$2.99, PopCap��

Search for words in a grid of letters.

War of WordsFree, Wolf Studios LLC��

Crossword puzzle-style game with bombs.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


Wheel of Fortune$4.99, Sony Pictures Television��

Transports you into the world of the famous game show.

Word Genius$0.99, Catnip Media��

Find as many words as you can in a letter scramble.

Word SeekFree, Ideal ix Inc��

A race against the clock as you find words on a four by fourgrid of letters.

Hangman FreeFree, Optime Software LLC��

With such a wide variety of choices, the whole family wil l belearning while having fun playing this classic game.

Word Trick FreeFree, Outplay Entertainment LTD��

Crossword style game with trick ti les to increase your score.

WordfeudFree, Bertheussen IT��Play up to 30 games simultaneously, against

eight mil l ion of your closest opponents.

wurdle$1 .99, Semi Secret Software LLC��A fast-paced word game perfect for trips in the

car or anytime your kids need a l ittle mind-stimulatingentertainment.

EDUCATION APPLICATIONSEducational Tools

Blackboard Mobile Free, Blackboard INC��

This app al lows students and teachers to view course l istings,grades, discussion forums, post announcements, and so on.

Britannica Kids$4.99, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc��

With a wide range of subjects avai lable Britannica Kids isbrought to you with the outstanding qual ity that EncyclopaediaBritannica is known for.

Flashcards+Free, Connor Zwick��

When you’re getting ready for that important exam, you canmake your own flashcards and study them while you’re on thego, thanks to this flashcard app.

Free Graphing CalculatorFree, Wil l iam Jockusch��

With over 1 00 math functions, the graphing calculator is a cloneof the TI-83 that lets you input data and make graphs and matri-ces to your heart’s content.

Math Pack FlashcardsFree, Tititaa��

Flashcards cover beginning ski l ls l ike addition, subtraction, mul-tipl ication, and division al l the way to more difficult ski l ls l ikegeometry and algebra.

Math Ref $0.99, Happy Maau Studios LLC��

This app functions as a math and physics formula study guidewith figures, tips, graphs, and examples.

MiniMod Reading for Details$8.99, E Ski l ls Learning LLC��

Read a passage of text based on three different reading levelsand answer questions to test your comprehension.


MoleculesFree, Sunset Lake Software��

This app al lows you to view and manipulate three-dimensionalmodels of different molecules.

myHomeworkFree, Rodrigo Neri/instin LLC��

Track your classes and assignments with a calendar display andset up homework reminders.

NASA AppFree, NASA��

Great for kids to explore al l things space related.

Rocket Math$0.99, Dan Russel l-Pinson��

Kids wil l have a blast while learning math with Rocket Math asthey bui ld their own rockets and fly them to the stars whilelearning and practicing math ski l ls.

Solar System Explorer$1 .99, Nei l Burlock��

Solar System Explorer al lows you to take an interactive 3D tripthrough the Solar System.

SparkNotesFree, SparkNotes LLC��

SparkNotes l inks you to the most popular study guides for l itera-ture, Shakespeare, poetry, phi losophy, drama, and short stories.

Spelling Bee$0.99, Socratica LLC��

Spell ing Bee al lows you to study a word, read the definition,hear it pronounced using text to speech and take a Spel l ing BeeQuiz to test your knowledge.

Star Walk$2.99, Vito Technology INC��

This astral telescope adapts its view to wherever you’re pointingand highl ights both constel lations and planets.

Tic Tac Math $1 .99, IPMG Publ ishing��

Combines the fun and famil iar strategy game of Tic-Tac-Toe withsolving math equations.

Today in History$1 .99, Down-Shift INC��

Teaches kids al l kinds of interesting facts by showing al l of themajor events that happened in history on that date.

College Research AppsAll College Application Essays$4.99, Al l Col lege Essays��

Select one of the 600 col leges l isted and you’l l find out the appl i-cation essay topic requirements, due date, and word length—updated with each appl ication season.

Peterson’s College GuideFree, Peterson’s��

Jump directly to the col leges you want more information about,or enter your search criteria and let the app suggest schools foryou.

College ConfidentialFree, Hobsons Inc.��

Get the truth about a col lege by tapping in to this app’s 430,000member community.

SAT Vocab Challenge by The PrincetonReview$4.99, Modal ity Inc.��

This app can help you with the vocab you need to know— anduses quick tips to help you remember what the words mean.

College Score MatcherFree, Rolzer��

Matches your student’s SAT scores with schools to which theyqual ify and saves you from checking each col lege’s site forrequirements.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


SAT Math$4.99, honeHead��

From flash cards to practice tests, SAT Math helps you thorough-ly prepare.

GradeWizard$1 .99, Jarcas Software��

Calculate your own GPA by entering your grades into theGradeWizard app.

iCollege Guide$0.99, Dorm Mom LLC��

From the top col leges offering merit-based aid to those with themost students l iving on campus, this app is loaded with datafrom the U.S. Department of Education.

Quick CalendarFree, J im Blackler��

Between col lege visits, essay deadl ines, SAT testing, and senior year homework, a must-have for staying on top of your deadl ines.

My MajorsFree, Moblico��

Enter your criteria and take the app’s quizzes to discover whichschools meet your needs.

MEDIA APPLICATIONSMusic Apps

BandNamer$0.99, Handy Little Apps��

Select your band’s genre (Garage Rock, Emo, Hip-Hop,Metal/Hardcore, and Electro-Pop) and Band Name does the rest.

Bloom$3.99, Opal Limited��From ambient music legend Brian Eno, an app that

lets you create your own soundscapes based on any of the 1 2different avai lable moods by tapping on different areas of thecolored screen.

Chordbot$4.99, Lars Carel iusson��

Musical accompaniment app that al lows you to create and playchord progressions.

Concert VaultFree, Wolfgang's Vault��

Wolfgang's Vault is home to legendary concert promoter Bi l lGraham's massive col lection of l ive recordings and now offers afree app that al lows you to l isten to a wide range of streamingconcerts.

MicDroidFree, intervigi l��

MicDroid offers automatic pitch correction and on-the-fly pitchcorrection— simply hit “record,” sing into your phone and theapp wil l correct the pitch.

Mobile MetronomeFree, Gabriel Simões��

An excel lent free metronome for musicians of al l levels.

PandoraFree, Pandora��

Create and l isten to personal ized radio stations.

ShazamFree, Shazam Entertainment��

Music identification service— recognizes songs via your smart-phone’s bui lt-in microphone.

SpotifyFree, Spotify��

Streaming radio with a l ibrary of over 1 5 mil l ion songs.

xPianoFree, cyandroid��

This basic, free piano app gives you a basic, 4-octave piano key-board on your touchscreen Android phone.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


News & Magazine AppsFlipboardFree, Fl ipboard Inc.��

Turn personal ized digital "pages" of your favorite publ icationsand social media sites.

PressReaderFree, NewspaperDirect��

Access to 2,1 00 newspapers from 95 countries in 54 languages.

The WeekFree, The Week Publ ications, Inc.��

Commentary and analysis onl ine from the popular print magazine.

US NewspapersFree, Baris Efe��

Read major US newspapers and news sites onl ine.

eReader AppsAudibleFree, Audible, Inc.��

Allows you to l isten to your latest book-great for commuters.

Audiobooks - 2,947 classics for freeFree, Spreadsong, Inc.��

Thousands of publ ic content classics for free with narrationincluded.

GoodreadsFree, Goodreads��

Goodreads connects you to your friends to see what they’rereading and what they recommend.

Google Play BooksFree, Google Inc.��

This is another eReader app that al lows you access to your cur-rent titles while on the go.

iScrollFree, Appsessions LLC��

Perfect for students of any age, use this app to have narrationsynchronized with your text.

KindleFree, Amazon Mobile LLC��

Kindle is the crème de la crème of al l eReading apps.

KoboFree, Kobo Inc.��

Kobo goes the extra mile in adding social networking features toyour eReading experience.

NookFree, Barnes and Noble��

Barnes & Noble’s eReader with a more vibrant interface than oth-ers offer.

Overdrive Media Console – Library eBooks and AudiobooksFree, OverDrive, Inc.��

On-the-go access to eBooks and audiobooks from your locall ibrary.

WattpadFree, Wattpad.com��

Discover an unl imited amount of FREE stories from new writersthat you won’t find on Kindle or Nook.

Interactive Storybook AppsPBS Super WHY$2.99, PBS Kids and Out of the Blue Enterprises LLC��

Kids can play using each of the four main characters from the tel-evision program as they journey through a story l ine that kidscontrol.

Finding Nemo - My Puzzle Book$0.99, Disney��

Improve your chi ld’s problem-solving ski l ls by completing inter-active puzzles while fol lowing the adorable Nemo through hisundersea adventure.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


The Lorax - Dr. Seuss$1 .99, Oceanhouse Media��

Start with an “Auto-Play” option that plays l ike a movie foryounger kids, and progress to a read-it-aloud option that al lowskids to record their own voices for playback.

My Little Pony- Twilight Sparkle,Teacher for a Day$3.99, Ruckus Media Group��

Whether your chi ld is a “brony” or a female My Little Pony fan,this interactive app wil l keep them occupied for hours.

Wheels on the Bus$0.99, Duck Duck Moose Design��

You can read and sing along to the popular “Wheels on the Bus”song in five languages and even record you and your chi ldsinging so you can play it back later.

Sports Media AppsESPN RadioFree, ESPN Inc.��

Instantly l isten l ive to over 1 7 ESPN radio stations nationwideand 40 exclusive podcasts.

ESPN ScorecenterFree, ESPN Inc.��

Scores and news from TV’s leading sports network.

MLS MatchDayFree, MLS��

MatchDay brings the excitement of Major League Soccer (MLS)to your smartphone.

NHL GameCenterFree, NHL Interactive Cyberenterprises��

The ultimate hockey fan’s dream app – watch l ive games andvideo highl ights so you never miss a moment of the hard-hittingaction.

WatchESPNFree, ESPN Inc. ��

Live sports programming from ESPN on your mobile device.A cable subscription with ESPN included is required.

WNBA Center CourtFree, National Basketbal l Association��

WNBA Center Court offers a host of fantastic features: watchl ive streaming games, view the latest scores, and check sta-tistics, news and photos of your favorite team.

TV, Video & Movie AppsABC PlayerFree, ABC Digital��

Watch your favorite ABC shows.

B-MoviesFree, Bubble Pop Software��

B-Movies connects you to the Internet Archive, the home offree content on the World Wide Web, including such classicsas The 39 Steps, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, Plan 9 fromOuter Space and Night of the Living Dead.

CNN MobilezFree, CNN��

Never miss breaking news again with the CNN Mobile appwhich offers breaking news notifications as well as CNNRadio.

Fandango MoviesFree, Fandango ��

Pay a small fee to reserve movie theater tickets.

GetGlueFree, AdaptiveBlue��

This social network for movies, TV, music, and books al lowsyou to see what your friends l ike and recommend, whileadding in your own ratings.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


HBO GoFree, Home Box Office, Inc.��

Watch HBO’s acclaimed series when you’re away from thehouse— so long as your satel l ite or cable network gives youaccess to this brand new app.

Hulu Plus by HuluFree, Hulu��

Watch thousands of classic and current TV shows on yoursmartphone— Hulu Plus subscription required.

IMDBFree, IMDB��

Exhaustive col lection of movie and TV information. Alsoincludes theater times and trai lers.

Justin.TV$299-$4.99, Justin.TV��

The Justin.TV app al lows you to view l ive video streams cre-ated by other users.

Movies by FlixsterFree, Fl ixster��

Find theater times, watch trai lers, and check out reviewsfrom the critics and viewers.

NBCFree, NBC Universal, Inc.��

Watch your favorite NBC shows.

NetflixFree, Netfl ix, Inc.��

Search for movies, update your queue and watching stream-ing video on your smartphone with this free app.

RedboxFree, Redbox Automated Retai l LLC��

Reserve tonight’s movie from your phone and pick it up atyour local Redbox kiosk.

Run PeeFree, polyGeek��

Run Pee wil l tel l you when it’s safe to make a dash to thebathroom— as in, a “boring part” is coming up.

SPB TVFree, SPB TV AG��

Watch over 1 50 l ive TV channels from over 20 countriesaround the world, including news and sports.

TV.comFree, CBS Interactive, Inc.��

Your favorite shows wherever you go.

Photography AppsLifePics Free, LifePics Photo App��

LifePics app al lows users to upload photos and order printsfrom more than 1 3,000 specialty camera and photographystores.

Pocketbooth$0.99 - $1 .99, Project Box��

Several apps try to re-create the feel of an old-fashionedphoto booth, but Pocketbooth is the only one worth payingfor.

PostalPixFree, Postal Pix��

When it comes to ordering standard or square prints onyour iPhone, you can’t do much better than Postal Pix.

SnapfishFree, Hewlett Packard��

Upload photos to the website in a snap (heh), give access toothers to view your onl ine albums, and view friends’ albumson your phone.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


OUTDOOR LIVING APPLICATIONSWeather Apps

AccuWeatherFree, AccuWeather.com��

This app provides detai led hourly and 1 5-day forecasts. TheWeather Alarms™ warn you of any potential snow, ice, rain, windspeed/gusts in your area.

Living Earth$0.99, Radiantlabs LLC��

Observe l ive sunrise and sunset borders around the world,observe the changing seasons throughout the year, view snowand ice coverage as well as other seasonal changes around theglobe.

Outside - Visual Weather Forecast$2.99, Robocat��

When you just need to know the basics, this app’s weather con-ditions are color coded, giving you a quick read of what’s hap-pening outside. Manual updates are avai lable simply by shakingyour phone.

Radar Now!Free, USNaviguide LLC��

The most current National Weather Service (NWS) enhancedradar base images along with current weather conditions andstorm indicators

The Weather ChannelFree, The Weather Channel��

This hearty weather app has everything you need to stay stepsahead of the weather.

WeatherBug/WeatherBug EliteFree-$1 .99, Earth Networks��

Now you can access real-time weather info from around theworld using this app’s l inks to 1 0,000 weather stations in NorthAmerica and thousands of other worldwide locations.

WeatherEyeFree, The Weather Network��

WeatherEye provides detai led weather conditions, and short-term, hourly and long-term forecasts as well as severe weatheralerts.

Camping & Hiking AppsBackpacking Planner Checklist$0.99, Little Apps��

This backpacking checkl ist/planner app comes pre-loaded with250+ backpacking trip related items.

Cabela's Recon Hunt$4.99, Trimble Navigation��

For the serious hunter, this app contains topographical maps,waypoint marking, and journal ing.

Knot Guide$1 .99, Winkpass Creations Inc.��

Hitch, lash and cinch your way through every rope-related taskwith clear photos in this easy-to-navigate reference of 90+ knots.Knot Guide tel ls you which knot is useful when.

LeafsnapFree, Columbia University��

Identify tree species from photographs of their leaves.

My Fishing AdvisorFree, MyFishingAdvisor.com��

Plug in a few detai ls about your fishing trip and this app pres-ents you with the strategy you need to land the big one.

MyNature Animal Tracks$4.99, MyNature Inc.��

For both hunters and animal lovers, this standalone referenceguide identifies what's lurking in your neck of the woods.

Oh, Ranger! ParkFinderFree, American Park Network��

Enter your location and planned activities and instantly learnabout every park nearby.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


Tiny Flashlight + LEDFree, Nikolay Ananiev��

Light up your l ife by using your phone's screen or its LED l ight.Bui lt-in controls let you change brightness, color, and even dis-play warning- and pol ice-style l ights.

Cycling AppsBike Gears$1 .99, Bootstrap Apps��

This app gets down and dirty with bike gear ratios, gain ratios,sprockets, fixing skid patches, and more l ingo for those in theknow.

Bike Repair$3.99, Atomic Softwares��

Fix a flat, bleed your brakes, or un-chink a chain with this invalu-able app.

Cyclemeter GPS Cycling Computer$1 .99 - $4.99, Abvio Inc.��

Customizable audio feedback during your cycle trip fi l ls you inon your stats, and tel ls you where your competition is whenyou're in a racing frame of mind.

EveryTrailFree, GlobalMotion Media��

Find new biking trai ls right around the corner.

MapMyRide GPS Cycling RidingFree, MapMyFitness Inc.��

Set your workout goals and watch your progress as you selectpreplanned rides, or map your own.

Ride the City$1 .99 - $2.99, Ride the City��

Maps the safest bike route while avoiding highways, busystreets, steep hi l ls, and other dangers.

SOCIALIZING APPLICATIONSSocial Networking Apps

FacebookFree, Facebook��

Keep in touch with al l your Facebook friends with this free app.

Hoot SuiteFree, HootSuite��

Manage multiple social media sites from one convenient app.

TwitterFree, Twitter INC��

Keep up with al l the latest with this free app from the microblogging service.

Dating AppsCall FakerFree, Rob Franz��

Escape a bad date with this app— set your time for your phone toreceive a fake cal l and then you can say, “I’m so sorry, but I real lyhave to go. My roommate is locked out of the apartment.”

Conversation StartersFree, SusaSoftX��

You’l l have al l sorts of intriguing conversation starters that wil lturn any dud of a date into something great.

Dating Ideas$0.99, Creative Glance��

Never struggle with romantic date ideas: input your zip code,and you get ideas involving cultural, outdoors, adventurous,romantic, and novel categories.

FlirtMapsFree, Neo Network��

With this free app you can find al l avai lable singles in your areadisplayed on a map.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


Match.comFree, Match.com LLC��

This free appl ication al lows you to search for your match withrelative ease.

PickUp LinesFree, Swiss Codemonkeys��

This app displays pick-up l ines, including the “Al l-Time Top”based on user votes.

PlentyOfFishFree, PlentyOfFish��

Join over 25-mil l ion users looking for their soul mate with thispopular dating app.

Phone Call Blocking AppsBad Decision Blocker$0.99, John Genest��

Prevents you from making outgoing cal ls that you might laterregret.

BlackListFree, AntTek Inc.��

Create a blackl ist to block unwanted cal ls and text messages.

Call BlockerFree, embware��

Block unwanted cal ls and text messages.

Extreme Call Blocker$5.99, GreyThinker��

Hangs up an unwanted cal l , sends it straight to voicemail ormutes the cal l so it wil l ring as normal for the cal ler and thengoes to voicemail .

Hide a Caller$0.99, Smash Software LLC��

Hide numbers that you don't want seen in your iPhone

Info-Sharing AppsBlurb MobileFree, Blurb��

This free app lets you arrange photos, videos and audio intosmall stories that you can share with others.

BurstFree, Burst.it LLC��

This free app captures, stores, and organizes videos for you andlets share videos selectively— you even get to decide who can re-share a video.

PathFree, Path Inc.��

Path has photo- and video-sharing capabi l ities but Path l imitsyou to 1 50 social connections making it a more intimate net-work.

NextCallFree, Nazori��

You decide how often you want to cal l someone and NextCal lsets up a schedule and reminders.

Red Stamp CardsFree - $1 .99, Red Stamp Cards LLC��

The go-to app for sending e-cards with 400 card designs withcustomizable features.

Find My FriendsFree, Apple Inc.��

Send a request to a friend or relative and once they accept therequest, you can track their location and view it on a map.

Holiday Card Tracker$2.99, Hamburgers and Toast��

Track when you send and receive cards from people in yourphone's Contacts l ist, and view your card mail ing history frompast years.

Touchnote Postcards$1 .49/printed postcard, Touchnote LTD��

Touchnote Postcards takes your digital image and turns it into acustom printed postcard that the app wil l send anywhere.


Postagram$0.99/printed postcard, Sincerely Inc.��

Postagram is similar to Touchnote Postcards in that you can cre-ate a printed postcard from images on your phone but eachpostcard is sl ightly less expensive.

Cards$2.99 - $4.99/printed postcard, Apple Inc.��

For those special occasions when qual ity matters, this app wil lcreate and mail letterpress greeting cards (not just postcards).

Text Messaging AppsGO SMS ProFree, GO Dev Team��

Not only does it make texting more fun through the use ofemoticons, GO SMS Pro can be ful ly integrated with social net-working websites l ike Facebook, letting you chat instantly withfriends through Facebook chat.

Handcent SMSFree, Handcent��

Handcent offers Android users enhanced text messaging thatlets you send and receive SMS and MMS in style.

TangoFree, Tango��

Offers free text messaging, phone cal ls, and video chat betweenother Tango members.

Email AppsGmailFree, Google Inc.��

Gmail ’s convenience and robust design for the smartphone.

iPriorityMailFree, Ahlquist Software��

Manage your incoming mail and social networking messages al lfrom one convenient smartphone app.

K-9 MailFree, K-9 Dog Walkers��

K-9 Mail is the kingpin of Android email and has al l the featuresyou’d ever want in an email .

MailDroidFree, Fl ipdog Solutions LLC��

Spellchecking, custom signatures, and a powerful search engineto quickly locate important email .

Yahoo! MailFree, Yahoo! Inc.��

Your Yahoo! Address Book, your phone contacts, and Yahoo!Messenger in one convenient app.

SHOPPING APPLICATIONSDigital Wallet Apps

PayPal MobileFree, PayPal��

Make onl ine purchases, instantly transfer money and locatenearby businesses that accept PayPal.

Google WalletFree, Google��

Keep al l your credit cards, debit cards, offers, and rewards cardsat your fingertips.

Pay with SquareFree, Square��

Enter al l your credit card information and you’re ready to goshopping.

LevelUpFree, SCVNGR��

Converts your credit card information to QR codes, which mer-chants scan with their own smartphones to accept payment.

LemonFree, Lemon��

A different kind of digital wal let— not only does it keep track ofthe contents of your wal let, it also tracks your spending.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


CardStarFree, CardStar��

This app al lows you to store your reward card numbers and have cashiers scan your bar codes directly from yourphone’s screen.

Fashion & Clothing AppseBay Fashion Free, eBay Inc.��

Peruse designer trends and then tap an item to find similarl istings on eBay.

Feather Report$0.99, MEDL Mobile��

Short for Fashion + Weather— use your location’s weatherreport to offer randomized outfit suggestions complete withl inks to buy.

Fashion Sense$1 .99, Eighteen Twenty Consulting��

Recommends particular looks based on your body type, andtel ls you when you shouldn’t waste your cash on an outfit thatwon’t flatter you.

MagicMirror Hair Styler$2.99 - $3.24, Touch Multimedia��

This app gives you the opportunity to find out how you’d lookin a particular hairstyle before you plunk down your money.

shopkick Free, shopkick A very handy app for sale-savvy shoppers, shop-

kick lets you get exclusive deals at your favorite stores.

ShopStyle Free, Sugar Inc.��

One-stop shopping for clothing, home decor, and kids & babycategories from over 300 of retai lers.

Yoox.comFree, Yoox.com��

An app to help you find and buy fashions for every family member.

ZapposFree, Zappos.com��

Zappos sel ls clothing, bags, beauty products and, of course,shoes.

FastMallFree, MindSmack LLC��

The app can help you find your way around the shopping malland even find parking.

Product & Gift Research AppsESRB Rating Search AppFree, Entertainment Software Rating Board��

Feel safe when giving video game gifts to chi ldren— snap aphoto of the game package or enter the game title into the app,and ESRB Rating Search wil l give you the rating summaries youneed.

GoodGuideFree, GoodGuide��

If you have eco-conscious people in your l ife, the GoodGuidemobile app wil l make gift-giving simpler by identifying, ratingand reviewing products for eco-friendl iness.

Grocery IQFree, Coupons.com ��

Make grocery l ists by keyboard, voice or barcode scans. Appinstantly organizes your l ist into aisles.

ShopSavvyFree, ShopSavvy Inc.��

Scans barcodes, providing reviews and price comparisons among20,000 different retai lers as well as real-time pricing and avai l-abi l ity among thousands of onl ine merchants.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


SnapTell Free, SnapTell Inc.��

Take a picture of the cover of a CD, DVD, book or video game,and the app wil l give you the product’s ratings, reviews and pric-ing.

GiftGenFree, BornToThink��

The app al lows you to select a price range, age range, genderand other detai ls to search a huge database— gift ideas rangefrom free to pricey, but always personal ized and appropriate.

Gift Ideas$0.99, Rosu Gabriel��

With a constantly growing database of gift ideas, this app offersyou personal ized presents for every occasion.

El Gifto - Gift Ideas GuruFree, IBKR Analytics LLC��

Enter the gift recipient's personal ity type, their relationship toyou and other detai ls to get creative, appropriate gift ideas fromthis app.

GiftmeisterFree, Iron Horse Interactive��

Input the giftee’s age, gender, “l ifestyle” and other demographicinformation, and Giftmeister suggests technology gifts based onthe detai ls you provided.

FOOD & PARTY APPLICATIONSFood & Drink Apps

AG Wine $0.99, Approach Guides LLC��

Your complete wine store companion.

Beer Match: Beer, Food and CheesePairings$0.99, StoneRaven LLC��

Beer Match pairs 31 beer styles with over 500 foods to help youselect a beer that always complements your food.

BeerCloud Free, INsReady Inc.��

BeerCloud is the essential app for beer lovers.

Cor.kz$2.99, Appl ied Ambiguities LLC��

A smartphone sommelier.

Drinkspiration By AbsolutFree, The Absolut Company��

Drinkspiration provides drink recommendations using classifica-tions such as weather, location, time and the type of bar.

Harvest - Select the Best Produce$1 .99, Sean Murphy��

Harvest contains extensive guidel ines to help you select the bestproduce avai lable.

How to Cook Everything $9.99, Cul inate Inc.��

Contains over 2,000 recipes, menu ideas and how-to i l lustrationswith bui lt-in timers included in the recipe steps to guide you asyou go.

Mise En Place$2.99, Derrick Schneider��

Plan your dinner party prepping and cooking tasks to the minuteso you can make sure that your 6:00 p.m. dinner doesn't end upmore l ike a 7:00 p.m. dinner.

Mixology™ Drink Recipes $0.99, Digital Outcrop��

The Mixology app claims it’s the “ultimate drink recipe and bar-tending guide” and with almost 8,000 drinks recipes and over1 ,300 ingredients included, it’s hard to disagree.

Pair It$4.99, Bandar Interactive��

Comprehensive food and wine pairing guide.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


SushipediaFree, Tokiolabs LLC��

Sushipedia contains an encyclopedia with over 200 sushientries, including ful l color photographs and detai led descrip-tions.

Allrecipes.com Dinner SpinnerFree, Al lrecipes.com��

Click on what type of meal you’re making (dessert, main dish,etc.), the ingredients you have, and how much time you wantto spend cooking, and the app wil l show you the matchingrecipes.

Camp Recipes!$1 .99, The App Sack��

Whatever you can think of to cook on a campfire, CampRecipes! has 1 0 ways to cook it.

Party Planning AppsEviteFree, Evite��

This popular website brings its invitation finesse to yoursmartphone so you can manage guest l ists on the go.

Phrase Party! (Catch It)$1 .99, iParty Mobile��

Split your guests into two teams and play a game of hot pota-to. The team who has the phone when the time runs out loses.

SeatingPlanner+$4.99, Gobee Labs��

SeatingPlanner+ al lows you to virtual ly plan your big party'stable seating so that everyone has a place to park and thosemortal enemies won't have to glare at each other from acrossthe table.

Party Planning List$0.99, J imbl��

The Party Planning List is pre-loaded with tasks that apply tovirtual ly al l types of parties, so you don’t have to type outevery single task.

Party Planner$0.99, PartyPlannerApp.com��

Enter basic information about the type of party, and the app tel lsyou how much to purchase of each supply item— from ice andcups to garnishes.

Event Planning Tools 2.0$0.99, Party Aficionado��

Packed with loads of useful functions, this app keeps your budg-et in check while planning your party’s design.

Bar & Restaurant AppsCitysearchFree, Citysearch Mobile��

Citysearch has local l istings and reviews of restaurants, bars, andjust about any other business you can think of.

Drink OwlFree, Great Owl Technologies��

DrinkOwl currently offers drink specials for 75 cities (and count-ing).

LocalEats$0.99, Magellan Press Inc.��

Points you to the best local restaurants in over 50 major UScities, as well as other local favorites in smaller cities and towns.Over 1 5,000 restaurants included.

GobyFree, Goby Technologies��

With more than 350 categories of things to do, and more than 6mil l ion events across the U.S., the Goby goldfish wil l simply notal low you to be bored.

Happy Houred Free, Appsolute Media��

The search interface lets you look for nearby drink deals orsearch by picking your poison, whether it’s wine, beer, cocktai ls,or “pubs with grub.”

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


Karaoke LoopFree, Entourage Entertainment��

Find Karaoke shows in your area.

ThrillistFree, Thri l l ist��

Thri l l ist brings you hand-picked local restaurants, bars, clubs,and stores in 1 4 US cities.

UrbanDaddyFree, UrbanDaddy��

A self-bi l led concierge app that lets users select which area ofthe city they prefer, the companion (cl ients, mistress), personal i-ty type (old and stodgy, from out of town) and the desiredatmosphere (next to a fireplace, around hipsters).

UrbanspoonFree, Urbanspoon��

Urbanspoon is fantastic for folks who can’t make up their mindswhere to eat and the slot machine-style Shake feature is perfectfor selecting restaurants at random.

Yelp Free, Yelp��

The granddaddy of plan-making apps with super-detai ledsearch and sorting categories and a massive reviewer network.

TRAVEL & NAVIGATIONAPPLICATIONSAutomobile Apps

Car Locator$3.99, Edward Kim��

Photograph the location of your car when you park and whenyou return, look at a satel l ite image that shows your currentlocation and your car’s location.

DriveSafe.lyFree, iSpeech Inc.��

Uses text-to-speech functional ity so your incoming text mes-sages and emails are read to you aloud while you drive.

GasBuddyFree, GasBuddy Organization Inc.��

Find the cheapest gas prices wherever you happen to be.Beloved by cab drivers.

INRIX TrafficFree, INRIX Inc.��

INRIX Traffic gives you real time traffic conditions, complete withinformation on wrecks, construction and other delays.

iWrecked - Auto Accident AssistantFree, Vurgood Appl ications��

Record al l crash information and add photos to create an acci-dent report.

PhantomALERTFree + $29.99 for 1 Year Subscription,PhantomALERT Inc.��

With the use of driver generated databases, this app alerts youto red l ight cameras, speed traps and DUI checkpoints.

RepairPal: Auto Repair ExpertFree, RepairPal��

Helps you get accurate repair estimates based on your locationand includes customer reviews of repair shops in the area.

SpeedbumpFree ($9.99 monthly subscription required),WirelessESP��

Monitor your teen’s driving habits and location and you’l l receivean email or text notification if the speed l imits you set areexceeded.

Navigation AppsBeat the TrafficFree, Triangle Software LLC��

View traffic maps and cl ick on roads to see speeds and any inci-dents. Up to two hours of traffic predictions, weather informa-tion, and even traffic camera images in over 34 cities.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


Garmin StreetPilot$0.99, Garmin��

Turn-by-turn directions spoken aloud and offl ine maps— you’l lalso find 3D landscapes to help you orient yourself.

Magellan RoadMate North America$59.99, Magellan��

The same turn-by-turn guidance as other navigation apps, butyou’l l have three voice options, in-app music control, and con-nectivity to Yelp!

MotionX GPS Drive$0.99, MotionX ��

Simplified menu interface. You can also purchase a “Live VoiceGuidance with real-time navigation” package for $9.99 (regular-ly $24.99).

Navigon North America$59.99, Garmin��

Precise spoken announcements, l ive traffic updates, and laneassistance— plus quarterly map updates for at least two years.

TeleNav GPS NavigatorFree, TeleNav INC��

How to get to your destination with vibrant maps, audio alerts,and even some bonuses such as Facebook check-ins, cheap gassearches, local restaurant locations and so on.

TomTom US & Mexico$59.99, TomTom��

Unique to TomTom is the IQ Routes technology, which takes intoaccount rush hour, traffic l ights, and even shopping crowds.

Maverick: GPS NavigationFree, Code Sector��

Use Google, Bing and Open Street Maps to track where you'regoing and where you've been.

Travel AppsGate GuruFree, Mobil ity Apps LLC��

Whether you’re looking for a hot meal, a memorable souvenir orthe closest restroom, Gate Guru has you covered.

FlightViewFree, Fl ightView��

Instant updates to your mobile device when there’s a fl ightdelay, including a national map with up-to-date weather.

Airport LifeFree, Airport Life LLC��

Developed by a seasoned pi lot. Terminal maps provide direc-tions to gates, services, shopping and restaurants in over 1 00 air-ports.

AirportZoomFree, Conducive Technology��

Receive fl ight alerts directly to your mobile device— updatedfl ight cancel lations, delays, confirmations and arrivals pusheddirectly to your smartphone.

Airport Guide–iFlyFree, Red Cirrus LLC��

Information on over 700 airports worldwide with interactivemaps, Wi-Fi access locations and ATMs.

Airport Transit Guide$4.99, Salk International LLC��

Plan your travel to and from airports effortlessly— providesrates, schedules and pickup locations.

My TSAFree, Transportation Security��

It’s easy to keep track of different airport security requirementsand exactly what you can bring on a fl ight.

AllSubway $0.99, carmat��

Instead of standing in front of maps in the busy corridors l ike anobvious tourist, study the multi-colored l ines ahead of time.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


FlightTrack$4.99, Mobiata��

FlightTrack can not only show you— offl ine— the fl ight path toyour destination but how much longer you have to go.

Globetipping$0.99, Ivan Karpan & Evgeniy Lebed��

Before you pay too much or too l ittle, turn to this helpful app.

KayakFree, Kayak.com��

Compare fl ight, hotel, and car rentals from multiple sites in oneapp.

Packing Pro$2.99, Quinn Genzel��

You’l l never forget anything again with Packing Pro.

SitOrSquatFree, P&G Productions��

A traveler’s bathroom finder— SitOrSquat l ists toi lets by locationand gives them user ratings.

Trip Journal$2.99, iQapps��

Document your vacation experiences and share them withfriends and family.

TripAdvisorFree, TripAdvisor��

Reviews of hotels, restaurants, and attractions from real travel-ers.

TripItFree, TripIt��

This app stores your itineraries and gives you the option of dial-ing numbers straight from these itineraries on your phone.

HEALTH & FITNESS APPLICATIONSMedical Apps

Cures A-Z Free, Plum Amazing��

Medical conditions are presented in an easy-to-navigate A to Zformat and include both natural and prescriptive remedies.

DoximityFree, Doximity��

Doximity’s free social networking software gives you the abi l ityto connect with other medical professionals and col leagues.

iChemoDiary Free, Merck & Co��

With iChemoDiary, you can keep track of your treatment sched-ule and record your symptoms and side effects.

iHealthTrax$4.99, Winkpass Creations INC��

Give your doctor complete and accurate information with thiscalendar based iPhone appl ication that stores your medical his-tory.

iManage Migraine Free, Merck & Co��

Tracking and analysis features al low migraine sufferers to createjournal entries documenting when their migraine occurred, thelocation of the pain, the severity of the pain as well as the type ofpain.

MedicalRadioFree, ReachMD��

MedicalRadio del ivers top-fl ight streaming content throughtheir exclusive XM-Radio satel l ite channel as well as access toover 5,000 podcasts. Pandora Radio for Doctors!

Prognosis: Your Diagnosis Free, Medical Joyworks��

This free app presents cl inical cases in an interactive format thatyou investigate and diagnose. 2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E

•

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE


The Merck Manual - Home Edition$9.99, Agi le Partners��

Learn about medical conditions and procedures, medical terms,and how to handle emergency situations.

Total Baby$4.99, ANDESigned��

Designed to document multiple aspects of your chi ld’s care anddevelopment.

Track Your Weight$0.99, Concrete Software��

A simple and fun way to chart your weight loss goals andprogress.

WebMD MobileFree, WebMD LLC��

The famous WebMD website is now avai lable for smartphones.

Fitness Apps

Endomondo Sports TrackerFree, Endomondo.com��

Track times and GPS distances for running, cycl ing, swimming,hiking and even fitness walking.

RunKeeper - GPS Track Run WalkFree, FitnessKeeper Inc.��

Keep track of your runs and share with friends.

Stress Relief AppsPocket Yoga$2.99, Rainfrog LLC��

Pocket Yoga has detai led instructions for each yoga pose, includ-ing both audio and visual descriptions.

Stress CheckFree, Azumio��

This high-tech app measures your heart rate through your smart-phone’s camera and l ight features to determine your level ofphysical and mental stress.

Relax and SleepFree, Mizu Software Solutions��

The app offers over 30 relaxing sounds that can help you getyour beauty sleep and includes an alarm feature to ensure thatyou’re awake right on time.

Stress TrackerFree, AboveStress ��

Created by leading cl inical psychologists and researchers, thisapp uses cognitive behavioral therapy and Mindfulness princi-ples to help you identify and manage your stress.

StressPile$0.99, StressPile��

Rate your anxiety levels and add stressors to customizable cate-gories and receive dai ly, weekly, monthly and yearly reports onyour stress.

iStress$0.99, PSI Apps ��

iStress teaches you stress-management ski l ls using humor andpositive thinking to reduce stress and promote a relaxedl ifestyle.

Anti-Stress ExerciseFree, QUO?TE Developers��

Guides you through breathing exercises to reduce your stresslevels.

SECURITY APPLICATIONSHome Security Apps

Alarm.comFree, Alarm.com Inc.��

Arm and disarm your system, adjust your home’s temperature,and see l ive video feed from your home security cameras.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


Life360 Family LocatorFree, Life360��

Use GPS to locate family members and includes a panic buttonthat sends your location and a cry for help to everyone on yourcontact l ist.

Sex Offenders Search$3.99, LogSat Software LLC��

Updates every day with a l ist of names, addresses, and picturesof registered sex offenders nearby.

IP Cam ViewerFree - $3.99, Robert Chou��

View any camera for which you have the IP address, includingDVRs and web cams.

Guardian WatchFree, Guardian Watch LLC��

Report an emergency quickly or stream video and audio to pub-l ic officials using your smartphone to assist them with responseefforts.

SpotCrime LiteFree, Popvox LLC��

Real-time information about crimes based on your location,including the type of crime, where it occurred, and when it hap-pened.

K9 Web Protection BrowserFree, Blue Coat Systems INC��

A free iPhone or iPad browser that blocks inappropriate content,including material related to pornography, hate/violence, gam-bling, and drugs.

OnCall Defender – Advanced Mobile ProtectionFree (with paid subscription plan), AMP LLC��

Sends an emergency cal l to local publ ic authorities on yourbehalf that provides critical information to first responders.

ME911$2.99/mo., ME91 1��

One-stop access to your family’s medical and emergency contactinformation, including al lergies, insurance information, andmedications.

Smartphone Security AppseyeD® Biometric Password Manager$1 7.99, Winkpass Creations Inc.��

Uses iris scanning based on a picture that you take of your eye tocreate an unbreakable password.

KryptosFree ($1 0/month subscription required), KryptosCommunications��

Encrypts al l of your phone cal ls with mil itary-grade encryptionto prevent unwanted eavesdropping.

NQ Mobile SecurityFree, NQ Mobile ��

NetQin Mobile Security is a complete security solution with theabi l ity to remotely locate, lock or erase a lost phone as well asreal-time virus protection and scanning.

TouchDown for SmartphonesFree, $1 9.99 l icense purchase required, NitroDesk ��

TouchDown provides a ful l-featured email experience with al l of the functional ity you are accustomed to when using email on a PC.

BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTAPPLICATIONSWriters’ Apps

DropboxFree, Dropbox Inc.��

The al l-in-one fi le sharing app you’ve been looking for! Neverworry about losing your fi les again.

FastPencilFree, FastPenci l .com��

FastPenci l helps make reading, writing and working on books alot easier wherever you are.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


iA Writer$0.99, Information Architects Inc.��

Let the ideas flow freely onto the virtual pages with iA Writerwithout distractions: no spel lchecking, auto-correction, tool-bars… only concentrate on what matters, writing.

Merriam-Webster DictionaryFree, Merriam-Webster Inc.��

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary app thousands of words anddefinitions at your fingertips and you can conveniently look upwords with voice search.

Productivity AppsDragon DictationFree, Nuance Communications��

Turn talk into type— from short text messages to longer emailmessages

EvernoteFree, Evernote��

Archive text, photo, webpage and voice notes. Search for them later.

ProducteevFree, Producteev��

To-do-l ist app that lets you mark priorities, set deadl ines, andreceive email reminders. With paid upgrade, this app becomes aproject management system.

Tax Preparation AppsH&R Block Mobile AppFree, H&R Block��

An income tax encyclopedia from H&R Block.

IRS2GoFree, IRS��

Track the status of your income tax return.

TaxACT CentralFree, 2nd Story Software��

Tax preparation, fi l ing, and return status tracking in one app.

TaxCaster by TurboTaxFree, Intuit Inc.��

Enter some basic personal information and watch as your taxrefund is instantly calculated.

TurboTax SnapTaxFree to try ($1 9.99 to fi le), Intuit Inc.��

Tax prep app from the leader in tax prep software.

HOME & LIFESTYLE APPLICATIONSPets Apps

All Pets RadioFree, Quick Bridge Solutions��

This app streams an Internet radio station devoted completely topets of al l kinds and includes pet news, pet care tips, pet stories,and more.

ASPCA ActionFree, BlueToad��

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(ASPCA) free quarterly magazine, ASPCA Action, on your iPhone.

HungryPetFree, OhmzTech��HungryPet offers a database of "people" food and

detai ls on whether these foods are safe for your dog or cat toeat.

Pet First Aid$1 .99 - $2.99, J ive Media Inc.��

Pet First Aid offers instructional videos and how-to's with i l lus-trations for a variety of cat and dog first aid needs.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


Pet Master$4.99, GF Media Apps��

Pet Master helps you keep track of al l the maintenance that goesinto your pets.

PetcentricFree, Purina��

Petcentric wil l find pet-friendly establ ishments for your animals,such as hotels, restaurants, and parks.

Petfinder.com: Adopt PetsFree, Phunware��

Petfinder.com has a mobile app that can put their expansive petadoption database at your fingertips.

PetRescuersFree, HomeAgain PetRescuers��

PetRescuer lets mobile users search for local missing animalsand wil l alert you when a pet has gone missing in your area soyou can remain vigi lant in helping to find the animal.

Lifestyle AppsBeauty Product ReviewsFree, Total Beauty Media��

Beauty Product Reviews app shows you actual user feedback onvarious products, from anti-aging lotions to hair gel to bath salts.

Chore Pad$1 .99, Nannek��

Set chores so they come up automatical ly every time they needsomeone to do them.

Clorox myStainFree, Clorox��

Look it up on myStain to find both on-the-go and at-home stain-l ifting solutions.

Hair CastFree, Studio One��

This app wil l ease your hairstyl ing tension by tel l ing you thetemperature, level of humidity, chance of rain, and projectedwind speed for your area.

MakeoverFree, ModiFace��

Take a photo of yourself, and then use this app to see how youwould look with a different hair style, a change in my makeup, tan,anti-aging procedures, plastic surgery.

Natural Beauty RecipeFree, Kiumiu Soft��

Shares beauty techniques using ingredients you have around thehouse.

Stylebook $3.99, left brain/right brain��

Log the clothes you have in your closet, and then create differentlooks in the outfit editor to test them out.

Trendstop.com Fashion TrendtrackerFree, Amoja LTD��

Watch sl ideshows of the work from specific designers, view runwayvideos sorted by col lection, or look through a series of hip streetfashions.

TriMirror Fashion ClosetsFree, Quakeup Media Production INC��

Post outfits to your social network for comments.

Home Décor Apps3D Room Design Udesignit$4.99, HB Conception Virtuel le Inc.��

This app gives you a 3D animated image of layout you customize—from the room’s size, paint and wallpaper, down to the materialsand area rugs.

Budget Shopping Locator$2.99, MapMuse��

With this bargain locator, unearth consignment shops, flea mar-kets, swap meets and thrift stores nearby, anywhere in the country.

Christie’sFree, Christie’s Inc.��

Participate in an auction to bid on an antique luxury armchair, 20thcentury chandel ier, mahogany armoire or other extravagant fur-nishings— without stepping foot outside.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


DécOrganizer$2.99, Aisl ing Apps��

Now you can get organized by keeping track of furniture to pur-chase, favorite stores and websites, contacts, notes, prices, pho-tos and a wish l ist— all in easy-to-fi le folders categorized by room.

Dream Home$0.99, Apalon��

Leaf through hundreds of home décor photos, arranged by roomtype, color, style or what’s popular. They’re easy to upload, rateand share.

FabFree, Fab.com��

The app version of Fab.com, the website that sel ls urban design-er goods and art at an on-sale price tag.

iHandy LevelFree, iHandySoft Inc.��

No need to purchase a leveling tool when you have this free app.

iQila Interior Design CommunityFree, Pyronyx LTD��

Are you searching for the perfect coffee table? Post pics orbrowse in a virtual interior design community that gives youfeedback.

Mark On Call$1 .99, M.O.C. Interior Designer LLC��

“Mark,” named after interior designer Mark Lewison, is your per-sonal design assistant and shopping guide in the palm of yourhand.

paintingWalls Pro$2.99, Enginy Studios��

Upload a photo and start finger-painting the walls (on your screen) so you can visual ize what a color would look l ike in your house.

PalettesFree, Rick Maddy��

Just take a picture, highl ight a shade and you’ve got a wholecolor palette on your hands for endless design fun.

Photo Measures$4.99, Big Blue Pixel��

Photo Measures easi ly stores your room’s measurements in anorderly fashion.

Remodelista$2.99, Remodelista LLC��

Explore the interiors of homes across the globe, while snuggledcomfortable in yours.

StylizimoFree, Styl izimo��

This app wil l give you tons of ways to innovatively display itemson an inexpensive budget with handy DIY projects.

Spiritual AppsAtheist Pocket Debater$2.99, JAY-ROC Investments��

An app to assist you the next time you enter a rel igious debate.

BibleFree, LifeChurch.tv��

This bible app includes over 1 00 versions, including the KingJames Version, the New American Bible, The Message, and more.

Book of Shadows$3.99, Shadowink Designs Technology��

Book of Shadows is a personal spel l recipe book of sorts forpagans and features rituals, rites, spel ls, traditions, hol idays andmuch more.

Daily Buddhist Prayers$1 .99, Buddhist Apps��

For the practicing or just-learning Buddhist, the app providesinspirational dai ly prayers.

eVotionsFree, Little i Apps LLC��

Bil led as a series of digital devotions for modern Cathol ics" andincludes images, videos, prayers and writings, plus pushreminders for praying novenas.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


LDS Gospel LibraryFree, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints��

The Mormon Church’s Gospel Library al lows users to access les-son manuals, general conference addresses and scriptures fromjust about any phone platform.

Prayer Time PROFree, NextWorldMobile��

An app to calculate the correct prayer times and proper direc-tion to face for Musl im worshippers.

Crafts AppsBlockfab Free, Mary Kay Podlecki��

Ever found fabric that you just know would make a beautifulqui lt but you have no idea how much to buy? This app wil l helpyou with that task.

CraftgawkerFree, gawkerverse��

A photo gal lery that al lows you to visual ly search and discoverhandmade arts and crafts to inspire your own projects.

Crafty Gemini Free, Vanessa Wilson��

This app helps users learn about cooking, sewing, crafting andmore through blog posts and video tutorials

Easy Stitch $2.99, Technical Made Easy LLC��

Tutorials with step-by- step instructions and pictures to get youstarted knitting, crocheting, or embroidering.

Knit Counter LiteFree, Cordless Dog��

Store stitch counters and project information for multiple knit-ting projects

QuiltingCalcFree, Robert Kaufman Fabrics��

Numerous qui lting calculations-- how much fabric is needed forbacking, batting and borders, and many more.

Tip Junkie Free, Mitchel l Appl ications��

Tutorials on how to make homemade gifts, hol iday crafts, homedécor, parties, del icious recipes and more.

Gardening AppsBotany Buddy$9.99, AVAI Ventures��

Use advanced search fi lters to describe unknown tree and plantappearances, and within seconds, l ikely candidates appear.

Bugs in the Garden$0.99, Justin Davidson��

This app l ists many of the most common North American gardenbugs— both detrimental and beneficial— with great pictures andeasy-to-understand information.

ColdSnap! Frost Alarm$1 .58, Antony Cook��

This set-it-and-forget-it app does one thing and one thing only—warns you when the temperature is forecasted to fal l below thetemperature you set.

Garden Buddy$2.99, Island Apps��

A "garden math" app that calculates your supply needs for you:compute cubic yards of gravel, how much ferti l izer you need, orselect materials for the perfect pond size.

iVeggieGarden$9.99, Moorit Software��

iVeggieGarden includes everything you'l l need to plan, track,and troubleshoot your vegetable patch (or farm) from pre-seed-ing to post-harvest.

Landscaper's Companion$4.99, Stevenson Software��

Great photos and an extensive search tool that lets you look forplanting characteristics (l ike sun/shade) and ensure you'l l findwhat you're looking for.

20

13

U

LT

IM

AT

E

AP

P

BU

YE

RS

G

UI

DE

•

2

01

3

UL

TI

MA

TE

A

PP

B

UY

ER

S

GU

ID

E


WHAT DO OURICONS MEAN?

ICON THIS APP IS FOR…

iPhones, iPads, iPod Touch devices

Android smartphones

BlackBerry smartphones

Windows smartphones

Kindle Fire tablets (They use the Android OS)

Nokia Symbian smartphones

Palm OS devices


G E T T I N G G R A N D P A O N T H E G R I D • G E T T I N G G R A N D P A O N T H E G R I D

GE

TT

IN

G

GR

AN

DP

A

ON

T

HE

G

RI

D

•

GE

TT

IN

G

GR

AN

DP

A

ON

T

HE

G

RI

D

So the family got together and bought grandma and grandpa a matching pair of smartphonesfor Christmas. First the excited grandkids confuse them with all the games. Next, you dutifullytransfer all the phone numbers from their old cellphones and set up their security, but nowwhat? How do you get them comfortable with the new phones?

The latest mobile devices can be a convenience and a com-fort when paired with the right apps and gadgets. However,new technology can be intimidating to those born many yearsbefore today’s digital natives (i.e., anyone under 30).

The trick to getting grandpa on the grid is picking and intro-ducing the right accessories and apps to him—apps he willactually use without getting overwhelmed. Stick to the oldacronym “K.I.S.S.” and keep it simple. Get seniors familiar withthe basics by introducing a few apps at a time until they arecomfortable with using the mobile device. Here are our tricksand tips to help you get those silver surfers on their way.

69

GETTING

Seniors and smartphones and tablets, oh my!By Carolyn Koh

ON THE GRID

GE

TT

IN

G

GR

AN

DP

A

ON

T

HE

G

RI

D

•

GE

TT

IN

G

GR

AN

DP

A

ON

T

HE

G

RI

D


iHome IC3

iHome ID7

AARP Bulletin App & Magazine AppFree, AARP

Speaking of reading, the beauty of eReader apps is the abilityto adjust font sizes and change background lighting for better vis-ibility. Forget your glasses? No problem! Just make the print larger.A real plus for aging eyes.

iB comes with the Apple operating system, but installing a universal eReader app such as B i for iOS andldi for Android can let you read books in many different formats. Show your folks how they can download books

from linked databases such as P j n and they’ll never have to read a two-year-old copy of People Magazineat the dentist’s office again. Pair the apps up with an eBook management program like C ib for the Mac and PC and youcan set up your own library and lending system for the whole family.

GE

TT

IN

G

GR

AN

DP

A

ON

T

HE

G

RI

D

•

GE

TT

IN

G

GR

AN

DP

A

ON

T

HE

G

RI

D



Read into itFirst things first—you need to get your senior interested in

using the device on her own. And one of the easiest ways is toload apps she can explore on her own time. Reading books andmagazines on an electronic device is the perfect way to bridgethe gap.

Most newspapers and print magazines have mobile editionsthat subscribers can access through their apps. Start by load-ing apps for your senior’s favorite magazines. For instance, theAARP has several different apps available. Not only can seniorsread the AARP The Magazine, but also subscribe to health bul-letins and watch video clips from their library.

Dance the day awayYou’ll also want to introduce the golden ager in your life to internet radio. There are hundreds of stations on the web

and they can be found with tools like R . By plugging in just one song title or artist and letting the logarithmfind other similar songs, your senior creates a personalized radio station. Or try R which remembers yourfavorite stations and songs. These two apps are not just for the smartphone either, but can be installed on some eBookreaders as well.

Bluefire ReaderFree, BluefireProductions

Aldiko BookReaderFree, Aldiko

CalibreFreewww.calibre-ebook.com

TuneIn RadioFree- $0.99, TuneIn

N o c d o (N R) has not been slow in releasing an app for their news nor their music. There areapps for both and if dad or grandma enjoys the NPR station on their radio, they can tune in on their smartphonesas well. The news app also allows users to search their web archives.

NPR News & NPR MusicFree, NPR

Pandora RadioFree, Pandora

Project GutenbergFreewww.gutenberg.org

http://www.calibre-ebook.com

http://www.gutenberg.org

FringFree, Fringland

SkypeFree, SkypeCommunicationsS.a.r.l.

FaceTimeFree-$0.99


GE

TT

IN

G

GR

AN

DP

A

ON

T

HE

G

RI

D

•

GE

TT

IN

G

GR

AN

DP

A

ON

T

HE

G

RI

D


Recharge your batteriesEvery smartphone or tablet needs recharging, so it’s a great way to end the day and make sure the phone is in a

secure location. Make it a nightly ritual with a bedside charger that doubles as an alarm clock, as shown on page 69.The sleek modern design of the for Android phone has a small footprint that will fit on the smallest bedside

table and is surprisingly affordable ($39.99 from iHomeaudio.com). The ID will accommodate and hold any of youri-devices (iPhone, iPad). This sleek device boasts four speakers for great sounding audio and is portable as well ($79.99from iHomeaudio.com). Pair these with iHome’s sleep apps and you’ve got the perfect do-it-all nightstand companion. Or,try these alternative apps:

Calling all generationsDon’t forget that the smartphone is actually a phone! Many seniors are tickled pink by the ability to do video calls. And

honestly, who among us isn’t? It’s so futuristic! It’s also a great way for you to share quality time between you, your kidsand your parents when you can’t all be together.

Many newer tablets and all smartphones have cameras which allow users to use video call apps. c comes withthe iOS operating system, so it’s on most iPhones and iPads. Each person creates an account with an email address—enterthat email addresses into the app and voilà, Grandma has instant video phone.

If the family has a mix of Apple and Android users, you might want to download and install or . Both are free,but g boasts the ability to handle conference calls, a feature which neither k e nor ce e support.

A final noteGetting the folks to help themselves isn’t a bad idea, especially if you aren’t going to be available 24/7. Mobile devices

come with web browsers. Bookmark a few favorites like the Help and Support sections of their favorite apps and thelibrary’s eBook lending section for them. Make sure you show your favorite senior exactly how to access that help, prob-ably more than once.

But, be ready for that call, anyway.

Alarm Clock PlusFree- $0.99, Binary Tactics, LLC

Easy to use, pleasant to look atand all the features you’d everneed in an alarm clock, including

the weather, you can even set it to give you a mathe-matical puzzle when you dismiss an alarm, to make sureyou are awake!

Nightstand CentralFree-$1.99, ThomasHuntington

Easily one of the bestlooking alarm clocks around,

this award winning app has built in auto-locationweather and all the functionality you might want inan alarm clock including setting snooze length andmultiple alarms.


T O P 5 S U R V I V A L A P P S • T O P 5 S U R V I V A L A P P S • T O P 5 S U R V I V A L A P P S

TO

P

5

SU

RV

IV

AL

A

PP

S

•

TO

P

5

SU

RV

IV

AL

A

PP

S

•

TO

P

5

SU

RV

IV

AL

A

PP

S

AllTrails Hiking and Biking Free, AllTrails, Inc.��

A common misconception is that you shouldn’t bother with smart-phone apps for wooded trails, since most phones lose their signalsonce you’re out in the wilderness. But with this app, “no signal” is no

problem, since you can save a trail to your phone ahead of time and make your way safelythrough it even if your phone is in offline mode.

Not only do you see all the features of the trails nearest you, you can also see photo-graphs that other users have snapped so you know what to expect ahead of time. AllTrailsshows you the nearest body of water for hydration, and you can check out user photos forfood source locations along the way. Whether you’re hiking, biking, snowshoeing, or fishing,this app has everything you need.

Windows Phone users try: ck by SWM-Soft, $4.99

Army Survival $1.99, Double Dog Studios��

Where can you find better survival tips than from the U.S. Army?You get all the tips from the U.S. Army Field Manual 21-76, includinghow to find water, make a shelter, survive in the heat, follow a com-

pass, signal for help, and perform first aid.In addition, the app offers photographs with step-by-step instructions on such tasks as

how to make your own fire and how to purify water. Hungry? The app helps you identifywhich insects, animals, and plants are safe to eat, and which you should avoid.

BlackBerry users try: u by USBMIS, $4.99

THE TOP 5

Don’t leave home without them!By Torrey Kim

Whether you’re a survivalist or a camping fan, you’ll want to download theseessential apps that could make the difference between having a warm and safe shel-ter and getting lost in a freezing cold forest.

APPS

The American Survivalist Free, Failsafe Productions��

Anyone new to the survivalist lifestyle will tell you that it canbe overwhelming to determine how much food and water you

need, what to pack in a bug-out bag, and how to get the latest news on which areasmight be targeted by terrorists. This app packs all of that information neatly into onego-to guide.

Featuring the latest survivalist news, from terrorist attacks to homeland securityalerts, as well as step-by-step instructions on how to pack a survival bag, you’ll get allof the information you need to become a survivalist. Plus, convenient photos andvideos will show you how to fish, hunt, and secure your weapons to keep you safe andconfident that you are operating according to a set plan.

Disaster Readiness $1.99, Phoneflips��

Maybe you know exactly what you would do if an earthquakehits your home, and you have a complete plan in place for that

possibility. But have you considered other disasters? Fortunately, this app does thatwork for you by anticipating various events and showing you what you should do ifthey head your way.

You’ll first want to check out the app’s Emergency Checklist so you know that you’llbe prepared for anything. Plus, the app guides you on how to shelter in place if youcan’t leave your house, and evacuation procedure guidelines if you can. Want to knowwhat to do in a landslide, wildfire, or blizzard? It’s all in here, with the knowledge of asurvival encyclopedia right at your fingertips.

SAS Survival Guide$3.99, Trellisys��

The SAS Survival Guide has long been perceived as the goldstandard when it comes to staying alive in any situation, and now

you can lighten your load by getting all of the guide’s information in one simple app. Based on the teachings of the Special Air Service (SAS), part of the UK’s Special

Forces, this guide will show you how to survive on land, at sea, in the desert, or in thearctic. With how-to videos, several handy checklists, information on how to signalusing Morse code, and a compass that can guide you using the sun as a benchmark,you’ll stay alive and find your way home with this essential app.

T O P 5 S U R V I V A L A P P S • T O P 5 S U R V I V A L A P P S • T O P 5 S U R V I V A L A P P S


TO

P

5

SU

RV

IV

AL

A

PP

S

•

TO

P

5

SU

RV

IV

AL

A

PP

S

•

TO

P

5

SU

RV

IV

AL

A

PP

S


X B O X S M A R T G L A S S S H I N E S • X B O X S M A R T G L A S S S H I N E S

XB

OX

S

MA

RT

GL

AS

S

SH

IN

ES

•

X

BO

X

SM

AR

TG

LA

SS

S

HI

NE

S XBOX

Microsoft’s mobile maneuver to become your living room media hub.By Sean Kavanagh

SHINESYou may not think much about it, but chances are that when you sit down to relax with the

TV, you’ve also got a mobile device within reach—and you’re using it. Smartphones and tabletsmake it easy to search for an elusive actor name during a TV show, check sports scores duringa time-out, or find walkthroughs to overcome tricky segments in video games.

The Xbox SmartGlass app transforms such activities by integrating mobile devices and theXbox 360 game console to let you interact with games, media, and web content in a seamlessmultiscreen environment. Part remote control, part gaming peripheral, and part reference com-panion, the app is an elegant extension of the Xbox platform.

The real beauty is that Xbox SmartGlass leverages the touchscreen devices you alreadyhave. Simply download the free app for your tablet or smartphone, log in with an Xbox Liveaccount, and you’re good to go without having to buy new hardware or a dedicated controller.Plus, multiple devices can be wirelessly connected to an Xbox at once.

Music and VideoSmartGlass integration with Microsoft’s Bing

search engine streamlines finding content on thegame console along with matches in the XboxLive Arcade store and supported media providersl ike Xbox Music, Netfl ix, Hulu, Amazon, andmore. A quick tap is al l it takes to launch therelated content or service.

As songs stream through the Xbox Music serv-ice, the SmartGlass app displays supportinginformation in real time through the Xbox MusicExperience feature. When songs change, theappropriate song detai ls, artist photo and per-former bio pops up. You can also discover andplay similar artists using the app’s suggestion l ist.

The app’s Video Guide feature offers comparablefunctional ity for Xbox Video streaming content, show-ing actor and movie detai ls on mobile devices l inked toa console. Although Amazon stole a bit of Microsoft’sthunder with Kindle Fire’s similar X-Ray for Movies fea-ture, SmartGlass has the advantage of letting youbrowse the related information without requiring youto pause what you’re watching. Plus, the Video Guideinformation updates in sync with what you’re watching.As people enter and leave scenes, ti les appear with the

actor and character information, letting you dri l l downto more detai ls.

In addition to Xbox Video, content providers includ-ing ESPN and HBO are incorporating SmartGlass func-tional ity in unique ways. For instance, HBO’s sprawlingand complex series Game of Thrones wil l useSmartGlass to display a dynamic map and interactivefamily tree that viewers can reference as they watch theshow. SmartGlass is even being used to complementl ive events streamed over the Xbox 360, ranging fromelection night coverage to the Miss Teen USA pageant.

X B O X S M A R T G L A S S S H I N E S • X B O X S M A R T G L A S S S H I N E S

XB

OX

S

MA

RT

GL

AS

S

SH

IN

ES

•

X

BO

X

SM

AR

TG

LA

SS

S

HI

NE

S

VideoGames

Microsoft’s ultimateXbox goal may be toshape how you con-sume media in the l iv-ing room, but first andforemost the console isa game system. WhileSmartGlass initial lyseemed l ike a potentialcompetitor to the WiiU’s touchpad control ler,it’s better suited forserving companioncontent to the coregame action takingplace on the TV.

For instance, racinggame Forza Horizon turns your device into a virtual GPS,Halo 4 lets you browse stats on your phone, and theupcoming Ascend: New Gods turns your tablet into adungeon map. Using a second screen gives gamers keyinformation without disrupting the gameplay withannoying pauses and menu digging. Likewise, DanceCentral 3 and Microsoft’s in-development karaoke gameuse SmartGlass to let players queue up songs while theirfriends are performing— a perfect way to keep the partygoing without missing a beat.

Xbox SmartGlass also replaces Microsoft’s XboxCompanion app, absorbing its features. Players canmanage their avatars, exchange messages with theirXbox Live friends, and check game achievements usingany mobile device l inked to the Xbox Live account.

Remote ControlSmartGlass offers simple media playback controls

and is also fine for navigating menus or the Xbox 360dashboard. The touchscreen is actual ly a natural fit, asthe “Metro” interface introduced in late 201 1 was clearlymeant as an early indoctrination to Windows 8’s newtablet-friendly style. However, many users may find theapp’s behavior counterintuitive at first.

When switching between SmartGlass app screens ona mobile device, everything works as expected— to seethe page to the right of the current page, swipe right-to-

left. The opposite is true when you activate the app’s vir-tual control ler and try to change dashboard screens onyour TV. Instead, you must drag toward the right side ofyour device screen, mimicking how you’d press a gamecontrol ler’s thumbstick. I initial ly found switchingbetween app and control ler activities in quick succes-sion cumbersome, but eventual ly got to the point whereI could switch gears without stumbling.

Despite the occasional ly kludgey controls,SmartGlass shines with its touchscreen keyboard thatpops up when a user encounters text fields. Anyonewho’s gone through the pain of entering informationusing a game control ler wil l especial ly appreciate beingable to fi l l in forms or write messages as if texting.Sometimes it’s impossible to access the keyboard at con-venient times, such as when I placed an Xbox Live Pointsorder during a paused game. It’s also annoying that itisn’t compatible with the YouTube and Netfl ix consoleapps, but for the most part it’s a great enhancement.

Web Browsing The usabi l ity and control benefits that a touchscreen

provide are especial ly evident when using SmartGlass tocontrol Internet Explorer on the Xbox 360. Microsoftmay be late to the party, as Sony and Nintendo haveoffered console web browsing for years, but SmartGlassintegration unquestionably provides the best TV webbrowsing experience. Famil iar gesture controls l ikeswipe scrol l ing and pinch-zooming, combined with thepreviously mentioned keyboard, make browsing feell ike a natural activity instead of an irritating novelty.

SmartGlass SmudgesAs you might expect, Windows 8/RT users enjoy the

richest SmartGlass experience. For instance, web pagescan be sent back and forth between an Xbox andWindows tablet l ike the Surface. However, iPad users canonly receive web pages. Likewise, only Windows userscan swap video and music playback between devices.

Xbox SmartGlassFree, Microsoft Studios



77 A P P S C A R E N T H U S I A S T S C A N ’ T L I V E W I T H O U T

7 A

PP

S C

AR

EN

TH

US

IAS

TS

CA

NT

LIV

E W

ITH

OU

T •

7 A

PP

S C

AR

EN

TH

US

IAS

TS

CA

NT

LIV

E W

ITH

OU

T

Rev $39.99, DevToaster, LLC��

If your “check engine” light is on, Rev cangive you the information you need beforeyou see that greedy mechanic. The app

monitors real-time vehicle data and can tell you vital details abouthow your car is operating, including your engine temperature andyour actual speed and RPMs, revealing any inaccuracies in yourinstruments

The app operates with a wireless or Bluetooth ODBII reader. Allcars sold in the U.S. after 1996 are required to have the ODBII port,which allows you to plug in an ODBII reader to tell you how yourengine vital functions are running. In most cases, your car’s computeruses Diagnostic Trouble Codes, which can be translated by apps likeRev. (A wide range of ODBII readers are available, and some aredesigned for specific smart phones, costing anywhere from $15 toseveral hundreds of dollars.) Although the Rev app is incredibly useful,it’s also pricey, so consider downloading the Lite version for free, andif you like it, purchase the full version.

APPS THAT

CAN’T LIVE WITHOUTAuto buffs have new tech tools to fuel their funBy Robert Kim

True automotive fans who like to keep their engines at peak performance and their car fin-ishes pristine usually go beyond the standard car apps like turn-by-turn direction guides orgas finders. Fortunately, there are apps for every type of car buff—but the following optionsare for the real hardcore car lovers.

Greatest DriveFree, SocialNav, LLC��

There’s nothing auto enthusiasts enjoy more than takinga scenic drive in their favorite car, and this app will help youdo just that. Based on your location, it offers advice and rec-

ommendations from other Greatest Drive users, such as “Motorcyclists shouldn’t missthis mountain loop.”

If you don’t like the route that Greatest Drive suggests, the app will ask for yourreview. This gives you plenty of user reviews to read, making certain that the routeyou pick is the best trek for the kind of driving you hope to do. The developers haveincluded maps from the U.S., Canada, and 50+ other countries at no additional charge.

Harry’s Lap Timer $8.99, Harald Schlangmann��

Ideal for the automotive enthusiast who enjoys partici-pating in autocross or track events, this app will give yougreat information on its own, including data on where youdrove fastest, where you slowed down, and how quickly

you completed your fastest lap. In addition, the app can be paired with an ODBII reader,which can give you even more information about your engine’s performance. Harry’sLap Timer will also give you the option of recording the data you capture, either in aspreadsheet or in a video of your drive.

EZCare Free, MobileAppWerx��

If you’ve ever regretted missing the routine maintenanceon your car, then you need EZCare. This handy app tells youwhen the recommended service intervals are for your spe-cific make and model, including when to change your oil,

when your brake pads should be evaluated, and how often you should have your air fil-ters replaced. EZCare will also show you on a map where local service providers arelocated. The developers included phone numbers that you can call with a click toschedule your appointment.



7 A

PP

S C

AR

EN

TH

US

IAS

TS

CA

NT

LIV

E W

ITH

OU

T • 7

AP

PS

CA

R E

NT

HU

SIA

ST

S C

AN

T L

IVE

WIT

HO

UT


7 A

PP

S C

AR

EN

TH

US

IAS

TS

CA

NT

LIV

E W

ITH

OU

T •

7 A

PP

S C

AR

EN

TH

US

IAS

TS

CA

NT

LIV

E W

ITH

OU

T


AutoGeek Free, Autogeek.net��

You may be the type of person who runs your car throughthe carwash once a month, or you may be the person whoperforms a hardcore detailing every weekend. Although use-

ful for both types of car buffs, this app is absolutely essential for the latter. Autogeek isknown for providing expert advice on its website (www.autogeek.net) about detailingyour car inside and out, as well as the best products to use on your car’s paint, leatherseats, wheels, and windows. The app takes it a step further, giving you the informationyou need to maintain your car’s finish, even when you’re on the go.

Using this app, you can even sign up for classes where an enthusiast can teach youthe proper way to use buffers, microfibers, cleaners and polishes. There are many vari-eties of cleaners and equipment that give you the best results, and AutoGeek takes theguesswork out of how to use them.

WazeFree, Waze, Inc.��

Waze is an improved variation on the standard GPS app. Thedevelopers have created an online community for people whowant to know the best route, but also want to know where there

are delays or road hazards along the way. In addition, Waze users are identified on yourscreen, and you can see where they are as you travel. Want to meet fellow travelers? Join agroup that follows the same routes that you use, in case you want to communicate or setup a carpool.

Customize routing on Waze to fit your personal preferences. Choose routes that elimi-nate the use of dirt roads if you’re worried about damaging your car’s finish. Link yourWaze account to Facebook or Twitter so you can easily find your friends. If you need a gasstation along your route, Waze can find it.

Particularly helpful: Use voice commands to tell the app what you want to do so you canuse it without tying up your hands.

CarBuzz Free, Wapit, Ltd.��

Any car enthusiast will tell you that they hear unsubstantiat-ed rumors about the introduction of a new car model or newsabout a potential car recall—but it’s frustrating when you have noway to verify the information. That’s where CarBuzz comes into

play. Download this app and you’ll get nonstop news about the latest in the automotivefield.

With previews of potential new models, a steady stream of news, photos of upcomingintroductions, and technical specifications of various car styles, this app is quite addictive.But your time will be well-spent on CarBuzz, since it’s a one-stop-shop for all the informa-tion you’re seeking.

http://www.autogeek.net


iHandy Carpenter $1.99, iHandy, Inc.��

You may not have room for a toolbox in your pocket,but you probably have enough space for your smart-phone—and that’s all you’ll need to measure any con-

struction area, thanks to this handy app. With five great tools on board,including a plumb bob, a surface level, a steel protractor, a steel ruler, and myfavorite—a bubble level bar—you can calibrate your measurements quickly and easily.

I used this app to measure several angles in a room with a dormer so I could calculate the appropriateamount of wallpaper I’d need, and it worked like a charm. No more need to lug various tools around myhouse with me.

BlackBerry users try: S e by Mobigloo, LLC, $4.99

THE 10 BEST APPS FOR

Who knew your smartphone could hold a toolbox, ahandyman, and a paint store?By Torrey Kim

As you enter the New Year, it’s a good time to tackle those home improvement projectsthat you’ve repeatedly put on the back burner. If you need a little help with your amateurplumbing, cabinet making, or flooring installation, these apps can help you immeasurably,making you a home improvement specialist with just a few screen swipes.

Handyman DIY$1.99, Wowzer Software��

If you’ve ever found yourself in the home improvement storetrying fruitlessly to remember your room’s measurements so youcan buy paint, trim, or moulding, this app is for you. Input your

room details, and the app stores that info for later. At the home store, tell the app howmuch a can of paint costs, and it will tell you exactly how much you’ll expect to spend.

The video tutorials are great, because they give you instructions on home improve-ment projects and see what materials you need before you get started. You can evenstart a “honey-do” list on the app and check off items as you complete them.

BlackBerry users try: Y r e by Project Management Services, $0.99

TH

E 1

0 B

ES

T A

PP

S F

OR

HO

ME

RE

PA

IR

• T

HE

10

BE

ST

AP

PS

FO

R H

OM

E R

EP

AI

R

T H E 1 0 B E S T A P P S F O R H O M E R E P A I R • T H E 1 0 B E S T A P P S F O R H O M E R E P A I R



TH

E 1

0 B

ES

T A

PP

S F

OR

HO

ME

RE

PA

IR

•

T

HE

10

BE

ST

AP

PS

FO

R H

OM

E R

EP

AI

R Carpenter’s Helper Lite Free, My Pie��

Unless you’re a mathmetician, you’ve no doubt been stymied by the measure-ments for various home improvement projects, which often test the mettle of even the most con-fident word problem masters. Thanks to Carpenter’s Helper, you can calculate simple solutions likea room’s area, as well as tougher measurements such as roof pitch and stair rise.

The app also keeps your measurements stored for later use, in case you ever need to decoratethe same spot that you’ve already measured, saving time down the road.

Windows Phone users try: p o by M Millenia, Free

Benjamin Moore Color CaptureFree, Benjamin Moore & Co.��

We’ve all been there. You visit a friend’s house and you fall in love with thepaint color on her wall. You’re already planning to paint your living room the same color, but thefriend can’t remember whether it’s periwinkle or violet-blue. Thanks to this app, you’ll knowstraight away. Just snap a photo of a particular paint color, and the app will tell you the color itmatches in the company’s 3,300-plus paint spectrum. The app worked well on most of my colors,but it was off in matching one of them, so be sure to take your photos in natural light that isn’t toobright and isn’t too dim. That will give you the most accurate reading.

BlackBerry users try: by Sherwin-Williams, Free

Smart Tools$2.50, Smart Tools Co.��

You can’t buy 15 individual tools—including a metal detector—for $2.50 at yourlocal home improvement store, but you can with this app. Smart Tools’ ruler allows you to calculatelength, angle, slope, level, and thread. Then its measurement tools give you a way to measure dis-tance, height, width, and area.

The Smart Compass feature offers a compass, metal detector, and GPS, which would be worthwell over $2.50 alone. I found that the metal detector was accurate in helping me find studs in thewall so I could hang a picture. The app also has a Sound Meter capability, allowing you to measurevibrations and sound level, as well as a flashlight and magnifier in its Smart Light category. You won’t want to executeyour next home improvement project without this fantastic buy.

The Home Depot Free, The Home Depot, Inc.��

Yes, this app can show you where your nearest Home Depot is and how to getthere, but it has a whole lot of other features that make it invaluable to the handyman. You can lookup a product that you’re interested in buying, then find out which store has it and whether it’s avail-able in the store inventory, saving you from making unnecessary trips.

In addition, scan a barcode directly from your phone to find out more information or to readreviews from other users. Want to buy an item directly from the app? No problem. You can evenpurchase and deliver gift cards to your friends and family, straight from the app.


TH

E 1

0 B

ES

T A

PP

S F

OR

HO

ME

RE

PA

IR

• T

HE

10

BE

ST

AP

PS

FO

R H

OM

E R

EP

AI

R


Eden Garden Designer $1.99, Herbaceous Software, Inc.��

Those of us with a not-so-green thumb may need a bit of help inthe landscaping department, and this app delivers. If you’re new to the gardening scene,you may want to click on the app’s pre-created gardens, to find exactly which plantsare in it, how and when to sow the seeds, and where the plants are best acclimated to the weather.

More advanced landscapers may want to browse through the app’s design solutions that go beyond flowers, allowingyou to see different layouts of ponds, stones, and bushes. My only complaint was that the app crashed on me the firstfew times I used it, but after upgrading my iOS, it worked like a charm.

HomeSavvy Free, Service Magic��

Homeowners, it can be daunting to keep up with the maintenance scheduleand know when to service the furnace, replace the A/C filters, or clean the chimney. TheHomeSavvy app allows you to keep track of your maintenance needs, and even alerts you ifyou’re overdue.

The pre-screened directory of vendors is a great feature on this app. I wanted to get my lawnaerated but wasn’t sure who to call, so the HomeSavvy app led me in the right direction based onmy zip code, and I was very happy with the pro who ended up doing the work for me.

HGTV To Go Free, Scripps Networks, LLC��

Our favorite HGTV programs are inspiring, but the experts often move soquickly through a project that it’s hard to remember the products they used and

the tips they offered. This app eliminates that issue, letting you recall your favorite episodes rightfrom your phone.

In addition to watching the full shows, you can also access photo galleries that offer tips andideas for re-creating a design theme in your house. The app also shows you photo essays of sim-ple ways to decorate that can help everyone from beginners to interior designers.

Handy Construction Calculators $7.99, Sidetop Software��

This app goes to calculators—and beyond. The average home improvementbuff may only need to measure the area of a room, but the expert handyman will need to calculateeverything from amps, watts, and volts to excavation and backfill. This app can perform all ofthose measurements, even helping you calculate rebar weight and volume.

One of the things I love about it is an unadvertised feature. When I was redoing my attic, I hadto calculate how much insulation I’d need, and the app quickly led the way. However, I wasn’t sureif I’d have room in my car for everything I’d need, and thanks to the app I was able to figure out thesize of each roll and the number of rolls I required, letting me know that I had just the space in mycar to get it home.

BlackBerry users try: C ver U C cu o r c o by ConstructionKnowledge.net, $2.99

Babysitting Guide$0.99, Phoneflips��

For new sitters, it’s the littlethings that can throw you off, andthis app not only addresses thoseissues, but helps you overcome

them. The app offers advice on what to do if a child getsupset when his mom leavesthe house, how to swaddle ababy, what to expect duringdiaper changes, and muchmore.

Would-be sitters getinsight into how to find ababysitting job, how muchmoney to charge, and whento call the parents home fromtheir night out. You’ll findsimple first aid tips andentertainment suggestionson how to keep the kidshappy all evening long.


101 0 B E S T A P P S F O R B A B Y S I T T E R S • 1 0 B E S T A P P S F O R B A B Y S I T T E R S

10 B

ES

T A

PP

S F

OR

BA

BY

SIT

TE

RS

•

10

BE

ST

AP

PS

FO

R B

AB

YS

ITT

ER

S

• 1

0 B

ES

T A

PP

S F

OR

BA

BY

SIT

TE

RS

iSitter Free, Dorada Software��

You may have a video babymonitor set up in your child’sroom, but what if baby falls

asleep in his stroller orelsewhere? You can headto the kitchen to makelunch without worryingabout whether he’s stillasleep when you set upiSitter, a handy substitutefor the baby monitor. Justplace your iPad, iPhone,or iPod Touch near thebaby, and then use a sec-ond device on your endso you can check on thechild. Although theacoustics seemed to

work fine on my iPod Touch, you’ll benefit from a speakerdock if you want better sound quality.

BEST APPS FOR

Keep kids safe, secure and sleeping tight.By Garrett Kim

When you're taking care of young children, you shouldn't be spending much time on yourmobile device, unless it's to use these helpful apps, which can make babysitting a breeze.If you’re a parent, you’ll want your sitter to have access to these essential guidance tools,and if you’re a babysitter, you won’t want to go a day without them either.

THE

First Aid Free, American Red Cross��

Nothing is scarier to ababysitter than having the

child fall ill or get injured.This First Aid app isamong the very best,leading you through anytype of problem with simple, easy-to-followinstructions on how totreat everything from aburn to a seizure.

Because the app hasbuilt-in features thataren’t location-dependent, you won’t belost without a phone signal. Tip: Scroll through

this app in your free time so you’ll be prepared for anyemergency, before it happens.

225 Kid Outdoor Games $1.99, Paidotribo��

Sometimes, entertaining a childinside the house just isn’t enough towear off the incredible amount ofenergy that kids have. That’s wherethis app comes in, allowing you tosearch based on the materials youhave on-hand and the time youwant to spend playing.

I used this app to entertain 15kindergarteners at the YMCA andwe were able to find severalgames that entertained everyone.I’d highly recommend allowing thekids to pick the game’s country oforigin—letting the children to callout the country name makes itmore fun, and gives them anopportunity to discover games

from other cultures.



10 B

ES

T A

PP

S F

OR

BA

BY

SIT

TE

RS

• 10 B

ES

T A

PP

S F

OR

BA

BY

SIT

TE

RS

• 10 B

ES

T A

PP

S F

OR

BA

BY

SIT

TE

RS

Relax Melodies $2.99, Ipnos Software��

This app may not be madeespecially for kids, but it surecan help get them into nap

mode. Simply selectone of the 46 includ-ed sounds and you’llhave an instantsoundtrack to relaxand calm yourcharges so they’reprepped and readyfor sleep time.

It also features atimer, so you can playit for a short period oftime until the childfalls asleep, and thenthe phone automati-cally stops playing.This saves your

phone’s battery life and keeps you from having to sneakinto the room—potentially waking a sleeping child—toretrieve it.

Baby Connect $4.99, Seacloud Software��

Baby Connect is as helpful forthe parent as it is for thebabysitter, giving it dual-

purpose that benefitseveryone. The old days ofwriting in a child’s activityjournal are over—nowyou can log everythingthe child does in this simple app, which theparents can access inreal-time anywhere,keeping close tabs ontheir child while thebabysitter records it.

The sitter can alsoupload photos of baby’sfirst tooth or first steps

so parents can see the images immediately. Plus, it actsas a baby book, recording milestones, height, weight,and other important facts.


10 B

ES

T A

PP

S F

OR

BA

BY

SIT

TE

RS

•

10

BE

ST

AP

PS

FO

R B

AB

YS

ITT

ER

S

• 1

0 B

ES

T A

PP

S F

OR

BA

BY

SIT

TE

RS


Baby Food Diary $1.99, Evan L.��

When a baby starts solidfoods, it can be daunting for aparent—so it’s understand-

able that the babysitterhas trepidation. It’s toughto figure out what’sacceptable, what thebaby has already tried,and what didn’t workwell—but this app simpli-fies the process.

You can track when ababy ate a certain food, ifit caused a reaction, andhow much of the food thebaby wanted. That canhelp with future mealplanning, and the “forbid-

den foods” list can be a real lifesaver.

NearMe Free, Yeerp, Inc.��

Another app that may not havespecifically had babysitters in mind,NearMe definitely comes through for

babysitters. You might need tofind a grocery store to buysome emergency baby food, orjust check out the local fastfood joint to find a play place.This app can do all of that inminutes and even lead youthere with directions.

Hidden bonus: Locate scoresof places with restrooms forthose last-minute potty breaksthat kids (and sometimes sit-ters) seem to often have.

Quick HomeworkHelp Free, Brightstorm��

You may struggle with help-ing kids with their home-work, but this app does-n’t have any trouble at all.Bring up almost any sub-ject and the app showstips, videos, and sampleproblems to help leadstudents on their way tosuccess. I found the tuto-rials very easy to followand the app is incrediblyhandy.

The only downside isthat although the app isfree, it requires aBrightstorm membership,which can cost over $20per month. Many parents

feel this is well worth it, much less expensive than atutor, and more convenient. I’d recommend the free,three-day trial to help you decide whether you want topay for the membership.

ScanAvert $1.99, ScanAvert, Inc.��

If you’re sitting for a childwith food allergies, any

potential snack couldresult in an emer-gency. ScanAvert is aliteral lifesaving tool,with the ability to pre-program a child’sdietary requirements,then scan the barcodeof a food product todetermine if theingredients containanything harmful.

In addition, if youscan a product and it’slater recalled, the applets you know imme-diately with an alert. Ifthe child you’re

watching has any dietary restrictions, you won’t wantto go without this app. Although it includes a monthlycharge, you’ll find it’s well worth it to keep children safe.

HO

W

TO

M

OV

E

YO

UR

O

LD

D

AT

A

TO

A

S

HI

NY

N

EW

S

MA

RT

PH

ON

E


H O W T O M O V E Y O U R O L D D A T A T O A S H I N Y N E W S M A R T P H O N E

HOW TO MOVE YOUR

TO A SHINY

You’ve got your hands on a brand new smartphone—but now yourealize, “Oh no. Now I have to move everything from my old phone to my new one.” Thankfully, technology has taken this issue intoaccount. Check out our tips and we’ll help you get it done in just a few minutes.

Scenario 1: From iPhone to iPhone Fortunately, Apple makes this process relatively painless. You can easily

transfer saved messages, email accounts, photos, notes, and other personalsettings to your brand new iPhone following a few simple steps.

Using iCloud: If both your iPhones have iOS 5 or later and you have aniCloud account, then go to S n o B ck . Switch C o

p to O . iCloud backs up your device once a day. If your device needs to be backed up

before migrating, tap B ck Up in S C S e k toview the status of your backup. Watch out: Don’t start the migration before youfinish the backup to ensure you’ve got all your data saved.

When the backup of your old device is finished, turn on your new device andcomplete the setup assistant. You’ll select your language and country, and thenchoose whether to enable Location Services. When prompted, choose your WiFinetwork. When prompted to set up, choose o C B c p, tap

x , and enter your Apple ID and Password.Select the backup of your old device and tap o . Wait until the device

has finished restoring from the backup. When the restore process is complete,your device will restart. Now you’re ready to use your new iPhone!

Using iTunes: If your devices use an iOS earlier than iOS 5 or if you don’t havean iCloud account, you will use iTunes to transfer information from your oldphone.

First of all, make sure you have the latest iTunes version and your iOS is as up todate as possible. Transfer your data from your device to your computer, usingiTunes.

Turn on your new iPhone. Complete the Setup Assistant by selecting your lan-guage and country. When prompted, choose your WiFi network. Note: If you don’thave a WiFi connection, you can also activate by tapping nn c .

By Suzanne Leder

HO

W

TO

M

OV

E

YO

UR

O

LD

D

AT

A

TO

A

S

HI

NY

N

EW

S

MA

RT

PH

ON

E


When prompted to set up your device, select m c . Connect your new

device to iTunes (on the same computer you used toback up your current iPhone). iTunes will ask whetheryou want to restore from backup or set up as new.Select the backup of your old device and choose

.

Watch out: During the process of restoring your oldbackup to a new iPhone, you may see the iTunesprogress bar pause. If this occurs, be sure to allow foradditional time for the restore to complete, and don’tturn off your iPhone.

When the restore process is complete, your devicewill restart. Your new iPhone is ready to use!

Scenario 2: From Android to AndroidWhen you have an Android phone, you’re required

to have a Google Account, which is separate from yourold phone and ready for your new one. This meanstransferring information from one phone to another iseasy to accomplish.

Google Store: Just log onto your Google account onyour new phone, and you’re ready to continue whereyou left off. Just go to the Google Market, and grabeverything you’ve already purchased, only this time,download it on your new phone.

SD card: Much of your data (music, pictures, and soon) are stored on your existing phone's SD card, whichis easy to switch out.

Copy data to a backup: If you want to copy dataover to your new Android phone, the easiest andsafest way is probably to use b x (Free byDropbox, Inc.) to make backups. Once you have yournew phone, retrieve data from the backup by installingDropbox (or whichever backup app you used) on yournew phone and using it to restore your information.

n m ron Check out our article “Backup Guide for Android,

BlackBerry and Windows Phones” on page19 of thisissue.

HOT TIP: Before you start your transfer to a new phone, ensure that your device is connected to

WiFi and connected to a power source. Remember, the time required to back up andrestore from a backup depends on the data amount and your Internet connection speed.


HO

W

TO

M

OV

E

YO

UR

O

LD

D

AT

A

TO

A

S

HI

NY

N

EW

S

MA

RT

PH

ON

E


HOT TIP: If your device uses a SIM

card, Use the SIM-extrac-tor tool or a paper clip toremove the SIM from yourold device and insert it intoyour new one. If your carri-er provided you with a newSIM card, use that instead.

Before You Switch to a New PhoneThe last thing you want to do is add a lot of unnecessary junk to from your old phone

to your new one, so now’s the time to clean up your apps. If you have a few you usedonce or twice and never used again, then delete them. De-clutter all the things you don’tneed, because that means setting up your new phone will be a lot faster.

Also, do you have pictures or music you are afraid of accidentally deleting? Connectyour phone to your computer or pop the micro SD card into an adapter. Then, copy yourmusic, downloads, and whatever else you want over to the computer.

Scenario 3: From One Camp to AnotherSuppose you’ve been an iPhone or Android user for years, and

now you’re making the switch to see how the other half lives. Howdo you transfer all your information?

Data: When moving from Android to iPhone, be sure to haveyour Android data synched with your Google account, and thensimply add the Gmail account to your iPhone. Select S

C c C l d c o G l. Then, simplyenter your Gmail information. Once you access Gmail on youriPhone, you can import your contacts or just use them throughGmail. Same goes for your Google calendar.

When moving from iPhone to Android, the trick is to sync youriPhone account with your Google account using iTunes on yourcomputer first, and then move it to your Android.

Media: For media file transfer, the simplest method is to useiTunes. You can do that manually by connecting to your computer.

Apps: If you’vealready paid for anapp on one operatingsystem, then you cancall customer serviceand explain you’vealready paid for thisapp once. Tell them,you don’t want tostop the using the appjust because of a fewdollars. If you arepolite, then you maybe in luck.



T H E H O T T E S T N E W G A M E A P P S • T H E H O T T E S T N E W G A M E A P P S

TH

E

HO

TT

ES

T

NE

W

GA

ME

A

PP

S

•

TH

E

HO

TT

ES

T

NE

W

GA

ME

A

PP

S

Bad Piggies$0.99, Rovio Mobile Ltd.��

Poor little piggies. What did the ill-fatedgreen pigs ever do to deserve the abuse by

the Angry Birds? Now it’s time for the pigs to shine. Bad Piggies offers a fresh take on the Angry Bird franchise,

while still delivering an addicting experience. Each puzzle is inno-vative and brilliant. You’ll rack your brains trying to solve over 87fun-filled levels.

The Bad Piggies are after their beloved eggs and need yourhelp. Launch the pigs airborne, roll, spin or crash them, as long asthey get their precious eggs. A great puzzler everyone canenjoy. Windows Phone version coming soon.

THE HOTTEST NEW

Enjoy the best new games and new twists on old favoritesBy Sean Cooper

APPSA new year brings a host of fantastic games to enjoy. Whether you’re a casual gamer looking

for five minutes of enjoyment or a hardcore gamer ready to settle in for hours of gaming, there’ssomething for everyone. Here are our picks for the best new games on the market, as well assome great installments to older game favorites like the beloved Angry Birds series.


89

TH

E

HO

TT

ES

T

NE

W

GA

ME

A

PP

S

•

TH

E

HO

TT

ES

T

NE

W

GA

ME

A

PP

S

Rayman Jungle$2.99, Ubisoft��

“Welcome to the jungle we've got fun and games.” GunsN’ Roses couldn’t have said it any better. Rayman makes

his long-awaited app debut in stunning fashion. Enjoy classic platforming actionwith some of the best looking graphics seen in any smartphone game. Raymanis fun for beginners, while offering plenty for longtime fans to enjoy. Explorenew words, unlock new powers and battle new enemies on your way to victory.The smooth touch-based controls make gameplay a breeze. There’s plenty ofreplay value—unlock the Land of the Livid Dead levels and test your skills.BlackBerry users enjoy: o by Centurion Games LLC, $2.99.

Punch QuestFree, Rocketcat Games��

Fans of classic beat ‘em up games are sure to have ablast in Punch Quest. This free app game is popular for a

good reason: its simple, yet addictive gameplay has players going toe-to-toewith skeletons, zombies, cyclops and riding dinosaurs—yikes! RPG fans willfeel at home. Upgrade attacks with in-game currency and by successfullyaccomplishing specific goals. The controls are easy to learn, but hard to mas-ter. Uppercut, jab and punch your way through many challenging dungeons.Customize your character and show it off to your friends on leaderboards.

Angry Birds Star Wars$0.99, Rovio Mobile Ltd.��

Star Wars fans will have a blast as the Angry Birds travelto a galaxy far, far away. Join the red birds and battle alongside the Force withLuke Skywalker. Or give in to the Dark Side and join the Galactic Empire besideDarth Vader.

Have a hoot reliving your favorite moments from the iconic sci-fi series AngryBird-style. There are over 80 challenges, packed with everything you’d expectfrom Star Wars—epic lightsaber battles, Pig Troopers and the Pig Star. Can youbecome a Jedi master and stop Darth Vader before it’s too late?


TH

E

HO

TT

ES

T

NE

W

GA

ME

A

PP

S

•

TH

E

HO

TT

ES

T

NE

W

GA

ME

A

PP

S



Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II$6.99, SEGA of America��

Sonic spins back into action and he’s not alone. Episode I was a greatgame, but it was empty without Sonic’s trusty sidekick, Tails. Tailsmakes his welcomed return this time and the gameplay is a major

improvement. The controls are tighter, the zones are longer and more detailed, and the newco-op mode adds to replay value. Team with a friend as Sonic and Tails, and you’ll go toe-to-toe with Dr. Eggman and Metal Sonic. As an added bonus, downloading both episodes unlocksa very special scenario featuring Metal Sonic. Windows Phone users enjoy: S

by SEGA, $4.99.

Wreck-it Ralph$0.99, Disney��

Three games for the price of one, what a bargain! Basedon the hit Disney movie, Wreck-it Ralph offers playersthree challenging arcade games to enjoy. In Fix-it Felix Jr.,

play as Felix and fix the destruction of Ralph. Achieve your highest score withyour trusty magic hammer in hand. In Hero’s Duty, as Sergeant Calhoun youmust grab various weapons to clear the cy-bugs in each level. In the third game,Sweet Climber, it’s Ralph’s time to shine. Reach new heights with his trusty jet-pack and scale candy stalks, while avoiding weak branches. BlackBerry usersenjoy: E i R b by BlackMoon Design, $0.99.

Nutty Fluffies$0.99, Ubisoft��

Don’t let its cutesy graphics fool you. Nutty Fluffies is one tough puz-zler! Your goal is simple—safely deliver a bunch of stuffed animals fromthe beginning to the end of a wild rollercoaster ride. This is especially

challenging when you’re going at high speed around loops and down sudden drops. Strategy iskey. Swipe the coaster to speed it up and collect hearts along the way. There are 26 coastersto ride, each with its own unique powers. Windows Phone users enjoy: S ung

r d by Simon Johnson, Free.

Prince of Persia Classic$0.99-$2.99, Ubisoft��

The classic 1980’s sidescroller has been given a facelift and looksspectacular on your mobile device. Relive the adventures of a youngPersian hero, who traverses castles and battles swordsmen, in search of

the young princess. The controls are tight and easy to learn. Explore 14 levels of action andmazes. Combat is similar to the Legend of Zelda—action buttons appear in battle—attack,block and counter enemies. BlackBerry version by Gameloft Inc. Windows Phone users try:

o by Cosmos Interactive Inc., $1.99.


T H E B E S T S P R I N G G A R D E N I N G A P P S • T H E B E S T S P R I N G G A R D E N I N G A P P S

THE BEST SPRING

Landscaper’s Companion$4.99-$5.99, AgileTrack/Stevenson Software LLC ��

This is the kind of app that covers all of yourbases. It includes a plant database specific to

North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. You’ll find over25,000 kinds of plants—everything from house plants to cacti to orna-mental grasses and more—and the Landscaper’s Companion providesplant care information, pictures, cultivation information, and even com-mon problems that gardeners experience. Mark your favorite plants,search for plants based on several criteria (USDA zone, water require-ments, height, width, deer resistance, etc.), and even email your list offavorite plants to friends and family. For an extra fee, youcan upgrade to the Proversion and add your ownplants, pictures, andnotes. BlackBerry userstry: G g

r c by DanielChukwuma Anyamene,$0.99.

APPSThe snow is piled high and your back is sore from shoveling. The kids just tracked mud

on your clean floors. The car won’t start in the freezing cold temperatures. What betterway to get through a dreary, gray winter than to start planning your spring garden?Imagine all of those beautiful spring flowers and yummy vegetables! It’s a surefire way tobeat your winter blues.

We’ve rounded up the best apps for planning your spring garden. As soon as that snowmelts, you’ll be armed with a plan for your garden.

No matter where you live or what you love to grow,there’s a gardening app for youBy Kara Hiltz

TH

E

BE

ST

S

PR

IN

G

GA

RD

EN

IN

G

AP

PS

•

T

HE

B

ES

T

SP

RI

NG

G

AR

DE

NI

NG

A

PP

S



TH

E

BE

ST

S

PR

IN

G

GA

RD

EN

IN

G

AP

PS

•

T

HE

B

ES

T

SP

RI

NG

G

AR

DE

NI

NG

A

PP

S

Home Outside Palette$1.99, Advanced Data Design, Inc.��

Gardening is often about aesthetics, a refuge,an escape from our hectic, plugged-in lives. Home

Outside Palette offers you a blank canvas that you can use to buildyour dream landscape. The app includes 280 hand-drawn color ele-ments that you can rearrange to create a blueprint for your spring-time haven. Beyond trees and plants, the app also lets you design with hammocks, patios, driveways, sheds, and otheroutdoor elements so that you can truly create your outdoor area based on your existing landscaping. After you’ve cre-ated the perfect garden and landscape, share your dream with others through Twitter.

Gardenate$1.99, Hutchinson Software Pty Ltd.��

If you’re into eating what yougrow, this app is for you. It gives you all of the informa-tion you need to plant and harvest your own vegetable garden. Choose the mostpopular plants for your area (covers North America, the United Kingdom, Australia,New Zealand, and South Africa). The app offers detailed planting and care informa-tion for over 90 vegetables, herbs, and soft fruits. A planting calendar helps you getthe most from your garden so you can sow and reap at the correct times. Gardenate also allows you to keep your ownnotes so that you can learn from your mistakes or just jot down your favorite plant varieties.

Grow Your OwnFree, The Royal Horticultural Society��

If you would rather save your money for buyingseeds rather than smartphone apps, this app

might be a good option. It’s free and provides planting informationfor 20 popular fruits and vegetables. Besides just providing detailedinformation for its plants, Grow Your Own recommends plants basedon your expertise level, and your available time and space. And while the app has a planting calendar based on your loca-tion, its alerts set it apart from other plant calendars. If you find the basic version helpful but want to expand your data-base, check out in-app content. For a few bucks you can add about 80 more plants, including some common herbs.

MyGardenAppFree, Trendsco bvba��

Who says that gardening is a solo hobby?MyGarden.org allows gardeners to connect with

one another and share their failures and successes. Once you sign upfor a free membership, this sister app offers a personalized plantingcalendar function, gardening social communities, and an encyclope-dia of gardening and plant information. MyGardenApp is the mobilecomplement to the website. Members can use the app to send messages to other members, manage their personal gardens, look up plant information, search for other members, and customize their gardening to-do lists.


TH

E

BE

ST

S

PR

IN

G

GA

RD

EN

IN

G

AP

PS

•

T

HE

B

ES

T

SP

RI

NG

G

AR

DE

NI

NG

A

PP

S


Garden 360$2.49, ATU Software��

Keeping your garden organized is a great wayto learn from your gardening experiences. Garden 360 allows you torecord and organize information about your plants. You can updateyour garden journal with both text and pictures. Find out more aboutthe plants you’ve put in your garden using the app’s PlantInformation Log. Finally, once you harvest your garden plants, record a rating in Garden 360 that will help you decidewhether to plant the crop again in future years.

Herbs+$2.99, Daniel Wall��

Not everyone has the space to plant intricategardens, and when space is at a premium, herbs are the solution. Ifherbs are your specialty, this app will make your day. This referenceapp provides pictures and information about 40 common herbs andspices. In addition to planting tips, this database also includes culi-nary ideas and medicinal uses for the herbs, along with a link to each herb’s Wikipedia website. An “Herb Garden” sectionoffers everything you need to know about starting and maintaining an herb garden. As you expand your herb gardeningprowess, take notes right in the app.

The Gardeners Calendar$1.60, Deraign Solutions��

This comprehensive app gives vegetable gar-deners of any expertise level valuable information. Not only will youfind a database of plant information, but the app also provides usefulgardening guides on composting, gardening techniques, fertilizer,crop rotation, and soil composition. What really sets it apart fromother gardening apps is its Moon Planting Guide, which is updateddaily. Moon planting techniques are said to help you time your sowing, planting, and harvesting to the best advantage.

When to Plant$1.99, Growing Interactive Limited��

Knowing when to plant is almost as importantas knowing what to plant. Mother Earth News created an app appro-priately called When to Plant that helps you set up a planting sched-ule based on your location and the plants that you want to cultivate.The app’s information is based on Zip code instead of USDA zones,which Mother Earth News claims is more accurate. When to Plant has a modest database of about 120 fruits, vegetables,herbs, flowers, and other plants. But you can sort plants by sowing month, which is helpful. You can also get advice on soiland sun requirements for your plants, troubleshooting tips, and cultivation and harvesting information.


A P P S T O R O C K Y O U R S P R I N G B R E A K

AP

PS

T

O

RO

CK

Y

OU

R

SP

RI

NG

B

RE

AK

•

A

PP

S

TO

R

OC

K

YO

UR

S

PR

IN

G

BR

EA

K

Happy Hour FinderFree, Noel Churchill��

You can rack up some serious beverage expenses during Spring Break, so whynot get the inside scoop on the best drink deals wherever you are? Happy Hour Finder is a greatapp for finding all the details on happy hours happening close to your current location. Save yourfavorites, and get addresses and phone numbers of happy hour locations. You can even plan outyour bar-hopping excursion with the interactive map feature.

TOP

Must-have apps for your ultimate vacationBy Sarah Terry

Ah, Spring Break—the quintessential rite of passage for college kids everywhere. Whether you’reamong the legions of collegiate partiers or enjoying Spring Break festivities at any age, you canlive it up with the right tools at your fingertips. Planning to hit the beach, the ski slopes and/orthe city nightlife? Here are the best apps to maximize your Spring Break fun and budget.

8APPS TOROCK YOUR

Trip Splitter$1.99, DC Software Arts��

Are you traveling with friends for Spring Break? Expertly split all types ofexpenses for the trip—from the hotel room, gas or airfare, and even tips. You can add an unlimitednumber of participants, create even or uneven splits for each bill, categorize expenses, and evenconvert to different currencies if you’re traveling out of country. Also, track your daily and totalexpenses, as well as individual payments towards IOUs. Want to see IOUs instantly? Simply tilt youriPhone or iPad sideways! Android users try: Ex by Superwheel Software, Free.

BlackBook City GuidesFree, BlackBook Media Corp.��

While you’re on Spring Break, you’re likely visiting a city that you’re not alto-gether familiar with. Covering all the major cities within the U.S. and abroad, this app helps you locatethe best venues and hottest spots in your location. Search for listings by a wide range of search cri-teria and read acclaimed reviews on venues. Bookmark your favorite spots, and unlock “perks” andspecial offers. You can even check in via Foursquare without exiting the BlackBook app.

A P P S T O R O C K Y O U R S P R I N G B R E A K

95

AP

PS

T

O

RO

CK

Y

OU

R

SP

RI

NG

B

RE

AK

•

A

PP

S

TO

R

OC

K

YO

UR

S

PR

IN

G

BR

EA

K

Taxi MagicFree, RideCharge, Inc.��

Responsible Spring Break partying usually involves lots of designated drivers and taxi cabs. Butif you really don’t want to slur your way through a phone conversation with the taxi dispatcher, trythis app. You can literally do everything from your smartphone—from finding and booking a taxi tocharging the ride to your credit card. If you’re anxious to ditch a lame party and get to the next hotone, you can track your taxi’s arrival via a map and dispatch updates. The app even offers you ane-receipt, just in case you’re expensing your excursion as a business trip.

GasBuddyFree, GasBuddy Organization, Inc.��

If your Spring Break involves a road trip, your best bet at saving a lot of dough is to keep yourgas expenses in check. Find the cheapest gas prices in any given location along your route and saveup to $0.20 or more on the gallon. You can also submit lower gas prices if you find them, earningpoints and awards. To top it all off, you’ll have a chance at winning $250 each week.

Spring Break Live$1.99, EarthCam, Inc.��

From Miami to Maui to Cancun, check out what’s going on in all the Spring Break hot spots vialive web cams. Watch all the festivities and beach bathing at the best venues and areas. Also checkout this app developer’s Times Square cams, Mardi Gras cam and St. Patrick’s Day cams. Androidusers can try e for $0.99 (also a free version), which gives you a peek at a whole host ofhot locations—from New Orleans to the Thanksgiving Day Parade to many famous city streets.

SurflineFree, Surfline/Wavetrak, Inc.��

If you’re planning to spend your Spring Break riding the waves, Surfline will keep you up-to-dateon the weather forecast and surf reports for thousands of the best surf spots worldwide. The appalso boasts more than 100 live streaming HD cams at the most popular breaks across the U.S.,including Hawaii. Save your favorite spots for instant weather and surf info, and get 5-day fore-casts in one touch.

Ski & Snow ReportFree, OnTheSnow��

Planning to hit the slopes for Spring Break? Keep up with the snow reports and skiing andsnowboarding stats, including 5-day forecasts and “Powder Points.” Find all the ski areas in yourlocation and the slopes with the best snowfall. This app includes live ski cams and reports fromskiers and snowboarders on the slopes. It covers more than 2,000 ski resorts worldwide.BlackBerry users try: o h c n R po by The North Face, Free.



APP LAUGHS

“Alright, who played ‘Words withFriends’ with a Sharpie?”

“How much to send a text?”

“What’s this Twitter post about you wanting to breakup?”

By Andy Broome

*Allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of first issue. Outside US, add $8 postage per year and prepay in US funds only.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY & SAVE 62%

CALL 800-764-6278 OR VISIT US ON-LINE AT

WWW.BECKETTMEDIA.COMDON’T FORGET TO MENTION PROMO CODE AN24U011

In Every Issue You Will Find…• The Latests on Apps

for Smartphones, From Iphone to Droid to Blackberry

• Smartphone Tips and Tricks to Make Your Life Easier

• Hot Free Games and Apps

• Product Reviews, Contests and Much More!

$1495*

for 4 issues

JUST

Beckett

i am a musical launch pad.Set your music free with the iHome iW3 AirPlay wireless audio system. Wirelessly stream your music from your iPod, iPhone, iPad or computer to anywhere you’ve got Wi-Fi. Just lift it off its rechargeable base with built-in lithium battery and you’re free to roam from room to room without music interruption. And with SRS Labs’ digital sound processing and Apple AirPlay technology, the iW3 delivers incredible audio to every room in your house (backyard included), no strings attached.

iHome is a registered trademark of SDI Technologies, Inc. AirPlay®, the AirPlay logo, iPad, iPhone and iPod are trademarks of Apple, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. TruBass, SRS and the symbol are trademarks of SRS Labs, Inc. Wi-Fi® and the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo are registered trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners.

Apple Online Storewww.ihomeaudio.com ihome ihome

APPS_1302_C4 12/6/12 9:51 PM Page C4

http://www.ihomeaudio.com

Documents

Guide to Phone Apps - March 2013