Guide to Phone Apps - September 2013

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U.S. $9.99September 2013 • Display until 9/24/13

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Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 3

PeoplePOWER TO THE

As the fall season ramps up, so do our schedules. We get ready for the newschool year, leaf watching, Halloween, and all the other cool-weather funthe autumn season brings. And through it all, our smartphones are at ourside—the ever trusty sidekick.

As always, we have loads of apps for you this issue. And these apps areguaranteed to take you into autumn and make it much more enjoyableand productive. If you have kids going to school (or you’re going yourself )you’ll appreciate the bargain finders we uncovered. Everything from thelatest sales on back-to-school clothes to great deals at the nearest collegehot spot.

If you’re “suffering” from empty-nest syndrome, take a trip with us on atrain ride to a friendly bed and breakfast. You’ll find out where the best fallfoliage is and where you can locate the nearest flea market for those hid-den treasures.

On the more serious side, September is National Preparedness Month, andwe have apps to keep you prepared and safe, no matter what disasterheads your way—natural or man-made. Get alerts, make a plan, and getready to go at a moment’s notice.

But wait, all of these apps keep your trusty sidekick—your smartphone—running and sucking up power. Luckily we’ve reviewed plenty of batterypacks and rechargers to give your phones and tablets an extra boost whenthey’re running low. Plus, we have some great power-saving tips andpower-friendly accessories to help cut down on that power consumptionin the first place.

Enjoy the season, and stay powered up,

Margaret KavanaghEditor

46 September 2013 App Buyer’s Guide

SPECIAL POWER ISSUE!

33 Don’t Let that Battery Die

36 Eco-Friendly Accessories

40 Charge! Batteries for Everyone

AWESOME AUTUMN APPS

6 Fall App Round Up

10 8 Apps for School Supply Savings

14 41 Grade-A College Student Apps

18 10 Spooky Halloween Apps

TECH GUIDE

21 Wireless Emergency Alert FAQs

23 Social Media in Emergencies

44 Review: SuperTooth HD

78 5 Senior-Savvy Smartphones

86 SwiftKey—Best Android Keyboard

APPS FOR EVERYONE

24 Free Lifesaving Apps

28 $hopping Apps that Pay!

30 TV + Smartphone = Fun

82 War Against Texting and Driving

89 Lights! Camera! Apps!

92 Take Control of Your Social Media

96 Top 5 Real Estate Apps

98 App Laughs

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Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps4

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

SPECIAL POWER ISSUE!33 Don’t Let that Battery Die

How to squeeze extra juice out of your phone’s battery

36 Eco-Friendly AccessoriesGreat gadgets for environmentally concerned users

40 Charge! Batteries for EveryoneThe latest on-the-go battery packs reviewed

AWESOME AUTUMN APPS6 Fall App Round Up

Leaf peeping, romantic B&Bs, flea markets and harvest moons

10 Stock Up on School Supplies with These 8 AppsApps to save on everything you need

14 41 Grade-A Apps for the College StudentFree and cheap resources to make your life easier

18 10 Spooky Halloween AppsGet your fright on with intriguing apps!

46 September 2013App Buyer’s Guide499 Can’t-miss apps to make yoursmartphone smile

APPS_1309-TOC 6/17/13 12:45 AM Page 4

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps

September 2013 • Issue 15

EDITORIAL Erin Lang Masercola - Editorial DirectorMargaret Kavanagh - Editor William Bonin, Andy Broome, Sean Cooper, Simon Hill,Sean Kavanagh, Torrey Kim, Carolyn Koh, Suzanne Leder,Jan Milliman - Contributing WritersAlicia Natale - Art DirectorGabby Oh - Cover Design

ADVERTISINGGabe Frimmel - Advertising [email protected] (714) 200-1930Bob Hulsy - Account Executive(714) 200-1940Eric Gomez - Ad Traffic CoordinatorJohn Cabral - Creative Graphic Designer

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

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Beckett Guide to Phone Apps (ISSN 2158-608X) is published 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, 5430LBJ 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.

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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’s Guide to Phone Apps are trademark and copyright of their respective owners. This publication is not sponsored, endorsed by or otherwise affiliated with any of the featured companies.

Cover images courtesy of Apple, Android and Thinkstock

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TECH GUIDE21 Wireless Emergency Alert FAQs

When it comes to safety warnings, your phone delivers

23 Social Media in Emergency SituationsKeeping you connected in today’s world

44 Review: SuperTooth HD BluetoothSpeakerphoneLook, Ma! No hands!

78 Senior Tech Series: 5 Senior-SavvySmartphonesClever device designs for the mature mobile user

86 SwiftKey—the Best Keyboard You’ll Ever UseYou may switch to Android just to use it

APPS FOR EVERYONE24 Free Apps that Will Save Your Life

Get prepared, then let these apps stay vigilant for you

28 $hopping Apps that Pay—Really!Get rewarded with points, gifts and even cash

30 TV + Smartphone = Twice the FunMake your smartphone interact with your favorite TV shows

82 Wage War Against Texting While DrivingWe need YOU and you need these apps

89 Lights! Camera! Apps!Create bite-sized video masterpieces

92 Take Control of Your Social MediaApps to organize status updates, tweets, pins, posts and more

96 Top 5 Real Estate AppsGet smart about buying a home

98 App LaughsHigh-tech giggles from Andy Broome

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FALL APPRound-up

Leaf Peeping, Romantic B&Bs, Flea Markets and Harvest MoonsBy Carolyn KohThe days are turning cooler and as the crisp days of autumn bring a nip to the air, our minds turn to the weekend getaway to watch theincredible landscape as it changes around us. In our parents’ time, it wasword of mouth and checking tourist bureaus for best fall foliage routes.These days, we turn to the internet and apps on our smartphones forpeak viewing days and all the other activities around them. Here are afew of our favorite apps.

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If you’re planning a trip or a hike in an area of fantasticfoliage, then a park and/or trail finder will help.

Where can you find the best fall leaf color when it’s at itspeak? Foliage Leaf Peepr allows you to make foliagereports by posting comments and uploading photos of thelocations you visit. You can also check for the best reportedfoliage in previous years to help plan your trip.

Oh Ranger! Park Finder is an app with search filters to help you find parks that suit your needs. If you prefer, have a slow drive for your leaf watching instead of hiking—just select that category, plug in your preferred zip code or use your location to pull up the nearbyparks. Many tourism boards and state parks also have their own apps for activities, so don’t ignore those—they might give you morein-depth information for your local area.

Windows Phone users try: National Parks by National Geographic, free.

All Trails provides guides to hiking and biking trails with maps,photographs and reviews. The trails include urban as well assuburban and wilderness trails, with difficulty measures andnotes as to whether they are dog friendly. Log in to use thecommunity settings and post your own reviews.

Foliage Leaf PeeprFree, Yankee Publishing, Inc.HHHHH

Oh Ranger!Park FinderFree, American ParkNetworkHHHHH

AllTrailsFree, AllTrails, Inc.HHHHH

FunTrainRidesFree, Invictus MobileMediaHHHHH

What about something different? Check out autumn foliagefrom a different perspective, perhaps aboard an old steam oreven a coal fired locomotive? Fun Train Rides finds historictrain rides and train museums around the country.Descriptions of trains, rides and museum are all in the app,with links to each website.



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Of course you can find a motel in a nearby town for your weekend jaunt, but you may want to find accommodationsoff the beaten path. To help you find that super quaint Bed and Breakfast, there’s InnTouch Bed and BreakfastLocator which also provides recipes from many of the inns and the growing phenomenon of AirBnB—a communitymarketplace that gives you the ability to meet a local and rent a room from someone with the space in their home.The community-rated TripAdvisor is a great choice for an all-around travel app which rates almost everything:attractions, hotels, guides—they’re all in there. (Blackberry users try: Poynt by Multiplied Media Corp., free.)

Thoughts of autumn also turn to harvest time boun-ties. Luckily, Farmers Markets abound across ournation. Fresh Food Finder uses data from the U.S.Department of Agriculture and your location to deliverall the nearby Farmers Markets on a list or map.Tapping the market name or map pin gives you thename, address and information for the market, includ-ing types of products and payments accepted, as wellas links to the market’s website, if available.

InnTouch Bed andBreakfast LocatorFree, American Historic InnsHHHHH

AirBnBFree, AirBnB Inc.HHHHH

TripAdvisorFree, TripAdvisor LLCHHHHH

Fresh Food FinderFree, Andrew Trice

HHHHH




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Those who enjoy browsing flea markets for unusual finds andantiques will find Flea Market Finder useful on theirAutumnal jaunts. Enter a location or turn on location servicesand it pulls up a list of flea markets with name and address,and search links on Google and locations on Maps.

Flea Market FinderFree - $1.99, Zach Levengood

HHHHH

Finally, what about those gorgeous harvest moons and spectacular fall sunsets? Find themeasily with sunrise/sunset and moon phase apps. There are multiple free and paid apps withall the bells and whistles, including location save, calendars and alerts as well.

HelioStat &MoonCal$4.99, Two Roads

Lunafaqt sunand moon infoFree, Ron NijsennHHHHH

MoonriseFree - $0.99, AVIAHHHHH

Moon 3DFreeFree, Jappi-Soft

Sundroid Free SunriseSunsetFree, Visalia Mobile LtdHHHHH

PhotoMoon $2.99, Rivolu Pte LtdHHHHH


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STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES • STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES • STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Amazon StudentFree, AMZN Mobile LLCHHHHH

Students probably get a lot of mileage outof the mega-site Amazon.com, but you canmaximize the benefits of Amazon with thisapp, which has student-specific features

that will save—and earn—you money. Save cash by scanning the bar-code of an item you’d like to buy, and the app tells you how muchthat item is on Amazon, letting you know if you can save money bypurchasing through the site. Earn Amazon bucks by selling yourbooks, games, electronics, DVDs, and other items through the app,which can list your used items, sell them, and allow you to ship themabsolutely free of charge.


From clothes to pencils to calculators andbeyond, apps to save on everything you needBy Torrey Kim

School supply lists have gone from the old “one box of pencils and a lunchbox” requirement towhat’s now a laundry list of items that includes everything from paper towels to dry erasemarkers. If the thought of tackling your back-to-school shopping list is a bit overwhelming,check out these eight apps that can make easy work of it.

8Apps

STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES

WITH THESE

APPS_1309-SCHOOL 6/17/13 12:56 AM Page 10

School Supplies $0.99, Engineered Stuff EducationHHHHH

Making lists doesn’t get any easier than this. The app comes pre-loadedwith scores of possible school supply options. You can add, rearrange,or remove items from your list with a tap of the screen. You can evenmake several lists for different kids in your family, then grab your

phone and head to the store, where you can check items off of the list as you buy them so youcan easily keep track of what you’ve purchased and what you still need.



Campus SpecialFree, Campus Special, LLCHHHHH

College students shopping for bargains should look no further thanthis comprehensive app, which locates your college and then showsyou bargains nearby. Whether you need an oil change, a quick bite toeat or some clothes to look sharp for that internship you snagged, the

app will show you all of the local bargains for college students in your town. Plus, you can orderthe discounted food directly from your phone.

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TargetFree, Target Brands, Inc.HHHHH

If your back-to-school shopping spree involves a trip to Target—oreven if it doesn’t—you can derive benefit from this free app. Itallows you to make lists, find the closest Target store, and perusethe weekly ad for deals. But my favorite part is when you tap

“Browse,” then “School and Office Supplies.” You can then nail down exactly which productsyou want, and the items that are on clearance or on sale are at the top of the list. Either addthe item to your list or directly to a shopping cart to buy it straight from your phone.

Scientific CalculatorFree, Augenth, Inc.HHHHH

The first time your child tells you that she needs a scientific calculatorfor school, your mouth will probably fall open when you see the stickerprices. Typically costing upwards of $100, these essential tools are notonly pricey, but they can get lost very easily. Instead, try out this handy

app, which won’t get lost as long as your child has her phone. It works quickly and accurately—theonly downside is that it probably can’t be used during standardized testing because phones areforbidden in that environment.

For more calculator options, check out our article, “41 Grade-A Apps for the College Student” on page14 of this issue.


ShopularFree, AirCrunch, Inc.HHHHH

If you avoid the mall for back-to-school clothes shopping,it’s probably because you’re afraid of dropping too muchcash since the stores there are often pricier than big-boxretailers. Shopular culls all of the available coupons and

deals for mall-based stores and funnels them into this simple-to-use app, which willtell you when you can save 25% at Aeropostale, show you a $10 mobile coupon forMacy’s, and alert you to half-price jeans at Hollister, among other great offers.


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Michael’sFree, Michael’s StoresHHHHH

Michael’s not only has some of the best bargains on school sup-plies, but the retailer also knows just how to ensure you’ll stayorganized. On the app, tap “Products,” followed by “Art Supplies”and then “Back to School,” and you’ll find an incredibly compre-

hensive list of shopping options. You can add the items to your list and then check them offas you shop. My favorite part of the app is that you can tap “Coupons” and that week’smobile coupon will pop up on your phone—nothing to print or email to yourself. Just present your phone in the store and they’ll scan the coupon right from your phone.

Wal-MartFree, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.HHHHH

As most shoppers know, Wal-Mart can be a great one-stop-shop for back to school items, letting you buyclothes, socks, paper towels, notebook paper, pencils,and everything else you need before heading to the

classroom. When you launch the app, tap “Shop by Dept” at the top, followed by“Office” and then “School Supplies” to see a comprehensive list of items that thecompany offers. You can add each item to a list, or directly to your cart for in-apppurchase. My favorite part is that when I find an item I need, I can tap “Check localstore availability” so the app will tell me if my location has that item in stock. Veryhelpful when I need a product quickly.


iHome is a registered trademark of SDI Technologies, Inc. Lightning is a trademark of Apple Inc. iPhone and iPod are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners.

i am a multi-tasking charging machine.

Stay fully charged with the iPL10. This dual charging Stereo FM clock radio audio system with the new Lightning Dock

let’s you dock the latest iPhone and iPod. Plus, with its USB port, you can charge and play earlier generations too.

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GRADE-A

Free and cheap resources to make your lifeeasier—in and out of the classroomBy Carolyn KohSummer is over, and it’s time for young adults to pack up and make the trip to the hallowedhalls of higher learning institutions. As many college students are of the “starving student”variety, we’ve gathered the best free and low-priced apps for the return to campus.

GETTING SITUATEDYou’ve finally arrived. New town, new friends, new surroundings. Now what? Howdo you find your way around? What’s hot and happening? We have apps that tellyou that! In fact, handy free apps are available to help you get around and famil-iarize yourself with your new surroundings. Some schools have their own mobileapps or you can check to see if your school participates in OneSchool, whichprovides campus maps, news, faculty, student registers and course directories.

Local uses your location to help you find the nearest bank, restaurant, pub andso on, and then map it and share it. So if you’re done studying late on a Saturdaynight, fire it up to find a late night coffee house (via voice command even) andtweet the location to your new roomies to meet you there.

41COLLEGESTUDENT

Apps for the

Local.comFree, Local.comHHHHH

UrbanSpoonFree, UrbanSpoonHHHHH

OneSchoolFree, OneSchool, Inc.HHHHH

For students that plan in advance, try shoppingwith special deal or coupon services. There areseveral options in mobile apps and sometimes it’sadvantageous to have more than one, as somecompanies have offers others don’t. Here aresome of the more popular services:

The Coupons AppFree, The Coupons AppHHHHH

Living SocialFree, Living SocialHHHHH

Amazon LocalFree, Amazon Mobile LLCHHHHH

GrouponFree, GrouponHHHHH

What about the best deals and cheap eats? UrbanSpoondoesn’t just do reviews of restaurants, its mobile app lets you dial in the type of food you’re craving and yourbudget, or you can lock in your budget and spin for suggestions at nearby restaurants. Then there’s Yelp, which also reviews businesses. Both apps use your location and map the restaurants for you with links tobring up reviews and restaurant details.

YelpFree, YelpHHHHH

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EDUCATIONWikipedia may be the bane of professors everywhere, but it is a font of research resources—the perfect starting point for anyone seeking knowledge. There are a number of mobile appsto access this popular internet resource. The Wikipanion boasts fast direct connections to theWikipedia servers, a slick interface and the paid version offers offline browsing and customWikis. Android users can try Wikidroid which has voice search. Of course if you’re familiar withthe original website and enjoy the featured article of the day and Wikinews, there’s the recent-ly released official Wikipedia Mobile app available for most mobile platforms. Free, of course.

WikipanionFree - $4.99, Robert ChinHHHHH

WikidroidFree - $1.99, SiriusApplications, LtdHHHHH

Wikipedia MobileFree, Wikimedia FoundationHHHHH

Ahh… Spark Notes, generations of students have used them. Now, they’re available as a mobileapplication known as… what else? SparkNotes. The free app comes with 50 pre-installed studyguides, Facebook integration and the ability to form study groups with other nearby users.

SparkNotesFree, SparkNotes LLCHHHHH

Calc Made EasyFree - $1.99, Lalit PatilHHHHH

CourseSmart eTextbooksFree, CourseSmartHHHHH

BIGWORDS.comFree, BIGWORDS.comHHHHH

CampusBooksFree, CampusBooksHHHHH

Amazon StudentFree, Amazon Mobile LLCHHHHH

RealCalcFree - $3.49, Quartic SoftwareHHHHH

Kno TextbooksFree, Kno Inc.HHHHH

TEDFree, TEDHHHHH

Checking prices of textbooks for the best deal? Buy, sell and/or rent textbooks with these apps.

One does not gain knowledge from textbooks alone and the wise students looks farther afield.TED started out as a conference bringing together the brightest people from the worlds ofTechnology, Entertainment, Design, and TED talks have gained great renown. Check them outon the free official app. You may also want to familiarize yourself withWolfram Alpha—thecomputational knowledge engine. Originally a website, it’s a bottomless well of knowledgeand has been compared to the fictional know-everything computer on Star Trek.

College textbooks are big, heavy and expensive. E-Textbooks eliminate the weight and spacerequirements, but not the expense. Kno Textbooks and CourseSmart are two services withextensive textbook catalogs. Kno Textbooks is not simply an e-reader, it also provides interactivefeatures to help students study and better understand the subject matter, whereas withCourseSmart, students can rent books. Textbook publishers such as Pearson Education andHoughton Mifflin Hartcourt also have their own mobile textbook reader apps for free download.

For many students, a scientific calculator is an invaluable tool. Check out RealCalc ScientificCalculator on Android or Calc Made Easy on iOS. Both have free versions with paid versionsoffering enhanced features.

Wolfram Alpha$2.99, Wolfram Alpha LLCHHHHH



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PRODUCTIVITY AND ORGANIZATIONKeeping your life organized is no easy task when you’re in college, but several apps will help youout. For taking notes, Evernote has to be one of the best apps available on the market, and it’sfree. Take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists and record voice reminders. It can be syncedacross devices and the notes are searchable. Need to keep a budget or keep track of yourfinances? Mint.com has a free mobile app to help with that.

There’s so much to be found on the internet and so little time to read it. How better to accessinformation than grabbing pages to read later? Save some data usage time and access theinformation offline. Several apps are available for that and they are all quite elegant. You’llhave to use your personal preference as each does a great job.

Instapaper$2.99, MobeliuxHHHHH

PocketFree, Read it later, Inc.HHHHH

ReadabilityFree, Readability, Inc.HHHHH

EvernoteFree, Evernote CorpHHHHH

Mint.comFree, Mint.comHHHHH

iStudiez (Lite & Pro)Free - $2.99, iStudiez TeamHHHHH

inClassFree, inClass, Inc.HHHHH

Astrid Tasks &To Do ListsFree, Todoroo Inc.HHHHH

StudiousFree, Braden YoungHHHHH

Schedules can be kept as simply as a calendar, or organized on a planner with projects, notes anddeadlines. Here are some of our favorites to help keep track of all your classes, tasks, importantdates and to-do lists. Some even allow information sharing with friends.

Keeping everything together and synched can be a challenge, but there’s always the cloud tohelp. SugarSync, DropBox and Google Drive all have PC and Mac compatibility as well as appsto help you out here, and as long as you aren’t planning on storing mega-gigs of content inthe cloud, it’s all free. You can even set it up so synching is automatic. Which is the latest copyof that paper you’re working on? If you set it up right, you’ll always have the latest copy on allyour devices.

SugarSyncFree, SugarSync, Inc.HHHHH

DropBoxFree, DropBox, Inc.HHHHH

Google DriveFree, Google, Inc.HHHHH




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Finally, the most important app of all. The one that wakes you up and gets you out of bed toget to your classes. The alarm clock app that works even if your phone is silenced.

Do you prefer a gentle awakening or a loud, rude one? Or even a custom alarm—like yourfather’s voice proclaiming he’s not paying the next term fees if you fail another class! For someoptions, like the custom alarm, you may have to buy an app, but effective free ones that havevolume ramp ups, limited snoozes, etc. are available in all platforms. We think the best of thesefor Android is Alarm Clock Xtreme—it actually has a “solve math to disable alarm” feature.

For iOS users, there’s Wake N Shake Alarm Clock which requires you to shake the phone untilthe meter fills up. No snooze button here, not without filling that meter up, plus gamification tocompete with your friends to become the wake king or queen of the week.

Those with a tendency to slide back into bed after silencing an alarm might want to try Sleep ifU Can, which requires you to take photographs of household objects to silence the very, veryannoying alarm. Register something in a place far away from the bedroom to make this alarmmore effective.

LIFESTYLE AND ENTERTAINMENTYou know what they say about all work and no play. Students also need entertainment. Somebrain-candy, if you will, and a social life. So what’s playing at the nearest Cineplex? Flixster onyour smartphone will tell you. Check out reviews, watch trailers and even stream and downloadmovies with this app. And don’t forget the old standards Netflix or Hulu Plus, both which havemobile apps. The apps are free, but purchases or subscriptions are required for some content.

FlixsterFree, Flixster, Inc.HHHHH

NetflixFree, Netflix, Inc.HHHHH

First time cooks, check out CookWizMe which has step-by-step photo instructions to helpeliminate the Fail! condition. RecipeSearch comes with voice controls. Say the ingredients youhave and it pulls up the recipes for you. For both apps, logging/ creating an account opens upmore options including favorites, downloading new recipes and uploading your own.

CookWizMeFree, Farminers, LtdHHHHH

Recipe Search /Allthecooks.comFree, Allthecooks.comHHHHH

Alarm ClockXtremeFree - $1.99, Angle LabsHHHHH

Wake N ShakeAlarm Clock$1.99, Andres Canella HHHHH

Sleep if U Can$1.99, Delight RoomHHHHH

Hulu PlusFree, HuluHHHHH


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Pumpkin Carver Free, Benoit RenaudHHHHH

How many of us have spent thetime and elbow grease to carvea pumpkin, only to create a lop-sided jack-o-lantern that looks

downright depressing on the front porch? With this app,you can make as many virtual pumpkin carvings as you’dlike. Not only is this a good way to express your creativeside—it can also give you ideas and practice for designsyou want to test out when you’re finally ready to try outcarving your real pumpkin from the patch. Android userstry: Pumpkin Carver Pro HD by Simplify Now, LLC, $1.99.


Urban LegendsFree, Avid AppsHHHHH

Who hasn’t stood in front of thebathroom mirror and said“Bloody Mary” three times in arow to summon the ghost her-

self? Halloween is the best time of year to test this urbanmyth and find out if Mary is going to make an appearancein your home. Or, you could launch this app to learn aboutother urban legends that will give you the fright of yourlife. This is perfect for sitting around telling scary stories onHalloween, surrounded by your creepiest decorations andyour most terror-filled friends. iPhone users try: UrbanLegends HD by PiquantGames.com, free.

Get your fright on with innovative andintriguing Halloween appsBy Torrey KimThe sights and sounds of Halloween can range from the cute to the terrifying—but youdon’t need to trick or treat just yet to prepare for the season’s spookiest holiday. Rev upyour Halloween spirit with 10 apps that will get you ready to scare and be scared.

1SpookyHALLOWEEN APPS

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Free Halloween Sounds ProFree, Dream Injector, LLCHHHHH

From croaking frogs to a chainsaw to a witch’s cackle and more, thesounds of Halloween can definitely get you into the holiday spirit.This app is so simple to use that even a child can launch it—andpotentially scare the living daylights out of you. Once you open the

app, click on the sound you’d like to hear. You can delay its sound by up to two minutes if youwant to scare someone. Set it to go off at the allotted time, leave your phone where you knowthe unsuspecting victim will be walking, and voilà—fright night! If you’d rather stick to a con-tinuous stream of scary sounds, tap “Spooky Soundtrack” and the app plays a background ofcreepy noises for you. Windows Phone users try: Halloween Sounds by Bang Your Head, LLC, free.

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ZombieBoothFree, MotionPortrait, Inc.HHHHH

Even the most innocent among us deserves to get a bit zombie-fied on Halloween. Snap a picture of yourself or yourloved ones this Halloween, then fiddle with the in-app extrasto give your photo a zombie mouth, red eyes, gray skin, or

open, bleeding sores. Tap OK and the zombie actually comes to life, moving around andmaking terrifying sounds. The first time you see yourself animated in motion as a zombieis kind of freaky—but very fun.

Popcorn HorrorFree, Popcorn HorrorsHHHHH

Everyone has a favorite scary movie, but some of us get tiredof watching the exact same plot over and over again. PopcornHorror allows you to mix up your fright sources by delivering anew short horror film every week for you to view. You can also

join the app’s community and discuss your favorite scary flicks, or head to the Quotespage to peruse some of the most legendary horror quotes of film history.

Halloween Coloring Book!Free, Peep Software GamesHHHHH

For a free app, this packs in quite a few hours of entertainment,thanks to over a dozen different pictures that kids can color. Youdon’t have to print out any pages or gather a set of crayons—thekids color the pictures using the touch screen. Simply tap on any

color and then use your finger to fill in the lines on the picture. More into making your owncreative Halloween picture? No problem. You can tap the icon of the blank piece of paper andwork on your own masterpiece with the in-app colors.



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Halloween Photo Editor for Blackberry $1.99, Elena VinkurovaHHHHH

Forget about having to fiddle with the intricacies of PhotoShop to get yourfavorite picture spooki-fied. Instead, load this simple app onto yourBlackBerry, snap a photo, and choose your embellishments. You can make aspider dip down onto your child’s head, have a witch fancifully fly over your

dog’s head, or superimpose a jack-o-lantern’s face over your own. Add one of the 16 photo frames andyou’ve got a Halloween-themed piece of art. My favorite? The “blood” effect that gives your pictures aparticularly spooky hue.

Scary Scream Machine FreeFree, AEONHHHHH

Want to really freak out everyone in your house? Record your own voice onthis app, add a scary sound effect to it with the built-in enhancements, andprogram it to go off at a certain time of day. Sit in the next room and watchas “your” voice screams for help from the phone and your family members

scramble to find you. It may seem cruel, but it’s all in good Halloween fun! Up for another trick? Ask someone to take the in-app “eye test.” Halfway through, a terrifying picture will pop up and theunsuspecting eye tester will be screaming in terror!

Halloween MakeUpFree, Libii Tech Limited GamesHHHHH

Keep the kids occupied while you’re prepping your house for trick-or-treaters with this creative app that allows you to take a glamorous modeland spookify her completely. Kids can customize her hair, eye makeup,headgear, clothing, and even how much blood is dripping from the fangs

you’ve given her. The app has countless numbers of combinations to keep kids busy—and it mighteven give them a costume idea or two. Android users try: Halloween makeup by Giuseppe Tilli, free.

Scary CameraFree, ObjectGraph, LLCHHHHH

When you look into this app, you’ll instantly jump—not only will you seeyour face with bloody handprints around it, but ghostly faces and figureswill be floating past you. It’s a bit off-putting at first when you combine itwith the terrifying ghostly sounds playing in the background. But it’s also

addictive to add filters and try and determine which is more scary than the next. My favorite feature?Every time a face in a hockey mask floats past me, I jump. Android users try: Horror Camera by Soda,Inc., free.



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5 Wireless Emergency Alert Q&AsBy Suzanne LederTurning on the news today reminds us of the constant threat of danger—whether it’s acts of ter-rorism, weather events, disasters, or kidnapped children. With all the danger out there, it’s goodnews to hear that your smartphone or mobile device can actually be a lifesaver, thanks to WEAs.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are wireless notifications—similar to text messages—deliv-ered to your mobile device as part of a new, national public safety system. They’re designed toinform you of imminent threats to your safety or about missing person alerts in your area.

Pre-authorized national, state or local governments may send WEAs regarding public safety emer-gencies, such as evacuation orders or shelter-in-place orders due to severe weather, a terroristthreat or chemical spill.

Delivers

S A F E T Y W A R N I N G S • S A F E T Y W A R N I N G S • S A F E T Y W A R N I N G S • S A F E T Y W A R N I N G S

How Do WEAs Work?In April 2012, the wireless industry joined the FederalCommunications Commission (FCC) and FederalEmergency Management Agency (FEMA) to offer U.S.citizens a dependable and wide-reaching wirelessemergency alert system.

WEA works with the existing Emergency Alert System(EAS), which is implemented by the FCC and FEMA atthe federal level through broadcasters and other mediaservice providers. WEA and the EAS are part of FEMA’sIntegrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).

Alerts from authenticated public safety officials are sentthrough FEMA’s IPAWS to participating wireless carriers.These wireless carriers push the alerts from cell towersto mobile devices in the affected area. WEAs use a spe-cific technology that ensures they make it to yourphone immediately without getting stuck in normalcellular traffic.

Will I Get WEA Messages?If you have a smartphone or feature phone, chancesare you’ll receive the WEAs that affect your area. Mostwireless providers—nearly 97% of subscribers’providers—are participating in the program.

Suppose you’re in New York City on a business trip, butyou live in Chicago. If there’s an emergency in NewYork while you’re there, your WEA-capable phone willreceive the WEA, even though your phone is roamingor visiting from another state. However, if there’s anemergency in Chicago while you’re gone, you won’tget that WEA.

Important: If you DO receive a WEA, it means thatyou’re within the geographic location that’s affected bythe emergency. You should review the information inthe alert carefully and proceed as directed. Checkother sources, too, like the radio and television formore information.

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Will I Be Charged for TheseMessages? You will not be charged for receiving WEAs. They are free and you are automatically enrolled to receive them if your phone is capable. And you don’t need GPS in your phone to receive WEAs, either, so don’t worry about having your GPS disabled and missing out.

What Sort of Alerts Will I Receive?WEAs can be up to 90 characters and may be one ofthree types:

• Presidential Alerts – issued by the President or adesignee.

• Imminent Threat Alerts – about severe disasters, suchas hurricanes or terrorist incidents when an “imminentthreat to life or property exists.”

• AMBER Alerts – that help law enforcement agencieslocate abducted children.

You can opt-out of all alerts except for Presidential Alerts, but rest assured, WEAs won’t be sent without serious consideration, so it’s worth staying connected and opted-in.

WEA alerts will be accompanied by a unique attentionsignal and vibration, which is particularly helpful to people with hearing or vision-related disabilities.

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5Will I Receive the Alert If I’m on the Phone?WEAs won’t interrupt your voice or data sessions. They will be re-broadcast at specific intervals in thetargeted geographic locations, in order to reach asmany devices as possible. However, after that intervalis over, or the alert has been overridden by another,the original alert will no longer be sent.

WEAs are also known as Commercial Mobile AlertSystem (CMAS) or Personal Localized Alerting Network(PLAN). The appearance of the messages will varydepending on your device, carrier and the sender.

For more information on Emergency

Preparedness, look for our article,“Free Apps That WillSave Your Life” on page 24 in this issue.

Do You Have a WEA Enabled Device?

To receive WEAs, you must have a capable deviceand be located in an area targeted by authorized

senders to receive the alert.

Before you run out to purchase a new device, checkwith your carrier. You might need to only upgrade

your device’s software.

Telltale sign: If your device has the CTIA WirelessEmergency Alerts logo, it’s WEA-capable.

For more information, visit FEMAhttp://www.fema.gov/wireless-emergency-alerts

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps

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http://www.fema.gov/wireless-emergency-alerts


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Social media can help keep you connected during an emergencyBy Torrey Kim

If you were in Boston during the Marathon bombing in April 2013, chances are strong that yourloved ones were eager for word that you were okay, and it was impractical to phone each of themone-by-one. That’s why social media can play such an important role after a disaster—one statusupdate and everyone knows exactly what happened, where you were, and whether you’re safeand sound.

The same can be said about staying secure after the immediate threat passes. Many citizens mayhave been unharmed from the initial blast, but the perpetrators were still on the loose, whichmade Boston residents heighten their senses and stay inside to remain safe. Social media cameinto play once again, allowing people in the surrounding areas to track the latest news about thebombers and law enforcement’s efforts to find them. And with cell phone service spotty after the emergency because so many people were jamming the lines, tapping into social media wasinfinitely faster than making phone calls.

Social Media Now A Top News SourceA Pew Research Center report indicated that 56% of Americans aged 18 to 29 got their Boston bombing-related newsthrough social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Not only were these sites used to track the latest news on thecriminals and the status of bombing victims, but they also allowed medical and emergency personnel to share informationdirectly with the public without having to go through a middle party such as the evening news.

For example, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Association used Twitter to advise locals that they should shareconcern via text rather than by placing phone calls, because texts used less bandwidth (which could be preserved for lawenforcement and tip tracking).

When Boston authorities needed to ask locals to “shelter in place,” it was Twitter where they posted the information, and thepolice department’s subsequent tweet “Captured! The hunt is over. The search is done. The terror is over. And justice haswon.” was shared over 143,000 times via retweets.

Hopefully, you will never be the victim of a terrorist attack like theBoston bombing. But the odds are pretty good that you’ll somedayfind that your power is out from a storm or that roads will beimpassable due to a flood, and you’ll want to be tuned into social media sites to ensure that you’re up on the latest news. As a precautionary measure, it’s a good idea to Follow (via Twitter)your local police departments and news outlets and to Like (viaFacebook) the same organizations so you’ll always have access totheir news dissemination.

In addition, local news outlets may offer their own apps that cankeep you updated on the latest information, and you may want todownload those so you are never far from the most recent factsconcerning your area. Facebook and Twitter apps are free for iOS,Android, Windows Phone and Blackberry.

your phone is on high alert—even when you aren’t

apps_1309-Boston 6/20/13 2:26 aM page 23

FREE APPS THAT W

ILL SAVE YOUR LIFE • FREE APPS THAT W

ILL SAVE YOUR LIFE • FREE APPS THAT W

ILL SAVE YOUR LIFE

F R E E A P P S T H AT W I L L S AV E YO U R L I F E • F R E E A P P S T H AT W I L L S AV E YO U R L I F E


FREEAppsTHAT WILL SAVEYOUR LIFE

Get prepared—then let these apps stay vigilant for youBy Margaret Kavanagh

Weather disasters are on the rise in recent years—or that may just be our perception. (The 1880s actually had more hurricanes on record than any otherdecade in U.S. history so far, and the 1970s, the least.) But either way, it’s clear thatpreparation is essential when dealing with Mother Nature. No matter where youlive, you’re likely to encounter some type of danger in your lifetime—earthquakes,floods, hurricane, tornadoes, wildfires—no one is immune.

Since 2004, National Preparedness Month (NPM) is observed in the U.S. everySeptember. To help you get ready, we’ve put together the best FREE apps to notonly keep you aware of what’s coming, but help you make a plan so you’re ready to react before it’s too late.

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F R E E A P P S T H A T W I L L S A V E Y O U R L I F E • F R E E A P P S T H A T W I L L S A V E Y O U R L I F E


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The Red Cross to the RescueThe American Red Cross responds to about 70,000 natural and man-madedisasters in the U.S. every year, helping individuals and entire communities.The Red Cross was chartered by Congress to “carry on a system of nationaland international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigatingthe sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other greatnational calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same.”

As part of those prevention measures, the Red Cross offers a set of mobileapps that educate and aid users in smart preparation techniques. The appsintegrate with one another and provide invaluable information that every-one should follow in an effort to stay safe and be ready.

While checking these apps out, I found them eye-opening. I assumed thatseveral of the apps wouldn’t apply to me in northwestern NY—I thought,“the worst we get is a lot of snow.” I had the preconception that I wouldn’tfind use in the Tornado, Wildfire or Hurricane apps. But, I learned that we’vehad 12 hurricanes, 1 wildfire, 3 earthquakes and 61(!) tornadoes in therecent past. I had no plan for evacuating my own home and no “offsite” con-tact to inform we were safe. I didn’t know that in case of an earthquake (ourlast one was just weeks ago) you should drop, cover and hold on, ratherthan stand in the nearest doorway. Let’s just say that I didn’t know what Ididn’t know.

Each of these apps feature:

• Explanations of how each emergency or condition occurs

• The history of past disasters in your area

• Interactive quizzes about proper preparedness for each weather condition

• A set of tools, including a Flashlight, Strobe Light, and Alarm

• Incredibly thorough checklists of things to do before, during and after,split into sub-lists with headings like “If you do nothing else…”

• Links to other resources relevant to the situation

• A one-touch “I’m Safe” message button to let others know you’re okay

So while the American Red Cross is there to help in times of need, you’d doyourself a huge favor by preparing to handle an emergency properly so youdon’t need help afterwards. Take advantage of all the information theseapps provide and prepare an emergency plan and kit. You’ll feel safer andbe ready to act, rather than react.

The WeatherChannel FEMA App

Other Free Preparedness Apps



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Tornado Warning & Alert App

When the NOAA (National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration) issues a tornado warning for your monitored area,you’ll know it with this app—even if you don’t have it open. Lesssevere alerts are silent, while a tornado warning is accompaniedby a siren so you’re sure not to miss it.

Let GPS find your location and plug in other towns and cities to monitor the con-ditions there, as well. Learn about the different types of tornado-related alerts,how to spot danger signs, and what to do before, during and after a tornado hits.

Hurricane App

The Hurricane App is the best way to protectyourself from encroaching danger from hurri-canes and other rough weather. Warnings,watches, tropical storms and floods are allmonitored for you in the locations you decide.The app shows you which storms it’s actively

tracking that might affect your area later on.

Learn how to stay safe, and access the information even if there’sno cellular service available. Take quizzes to learn about stormhistory in your area, and access links for even more help whenservice is restored.

Earthquake Notification App

Surprisingly, 45 states and territories in the U.S. are at moderateto very high risk of earthquakes, and they’re all over the coun-try. While you may have never been near a tornado or hurri-cane, chances are you reside in an earthquake risk state—thisapp will help you prepare if one should happen to hit.

The settings on this warning app are more customizable than in the othersbecause earthquakes are so prevalent. You can set the magnitude level (up to10.0) and the radius from your location, up to 500 miles. Learn about what caus-es earthquakes and how to stay safe during the initial incident and any after-shocks with in-app information. Notifications are generated by the United StatesGeological Survey (USGS).




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Wildfire App

Wildfires can happen anywhere if the conditions are right. Dry landscape,a heat source and oxygen are the only requirements and if you’ve gotthose, you should also have this app. (In the spirit of prevention, youshould have this app before you have those conditions.) A nationwide mappinpoints the current and recent fires with red flags, while yellow flagsindicate areas in danger.

As with the other prevention apps, you can monitor the locations you choose, so you’rewatching not only your current position but also any areas where you may have friends orfamily. Since wildfires are often undetected at the beginning, and move so quickly, everysecond counts and warning is essential. The Wildfire App will even walk you through whatto do if you’ve been ordered to evacuate your area—what utilities to turn off in your home,what to wear, how to secure your home and what travel routes to use.

Shelter Finder App

When disaster does strike and you need to make your wayto the nearest shelter, use this app to find out where thatis. The app uses information about open shelters from theAmerican Red Cross National Shelter System (NSS), whichcontains data about 60,000 potential facilities. Shelterinformation is updated every 30 minutes and when shel-

ters are open, their populations are updated several times a day. So far,the app is available for Apple only, but others can view the map online athttp://app.redccross.org/nss.app/.

First Aid App

This app provides a wealth of information about how to deal withalmost every first aid scenario you can imagine, with emergencypreparation information to boot. Lots of videos, animations andinteractive quizzes make learning a fun process and preloaded infomeans data is available even if your connection to your cell service

isn’t. If you do need to contact EMS, 911 call buttons are integrated into the app inmany locations so you aren’t searching for the phone app.

The preparation portion has 20 different emergency categories you can browse(drought, fire, pet preparedness, and more) that lead to instructions on getting pre-pared, as well as handling and getting past each incident.


http://app.redccross.org/nss.app/

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S H O P P I N G A P P S T H AT PAY • S H O P P I N G A P P S T H AT PAY • S H O P P I N G A P P S T H AT PAY

CheckPointsFree, inMarket, LLCHHHHH

Collect Points around town by scanning specificitems at your local stores, and then cash them in forvaluable items, including everything from Amazongift cards to an iPad. Don’t want to head to the store,

but you still want to collect points? No worries. The app allows you to collectpoints right from your armchair by watching videos, downloading apps andmusic, and playing instant win games directly on the app. The only downside?Trying to set it down—the call of staying on the app to reach each new rewardthreshold is addictive!


Shop with these apps and get rewarded with points, gifts and even cashBy Torrey KimIt’s always exciting to find a free app that’s fun to use—and even better when you’re reward-ed to use it. We’ve found some great free apps that give you gift cards, discounts, and evencold hard cash just to use them.

Really$HOPPING APPSTHAT PAY–

ibottaFree, ibotta, Inc.HHHHH

Forget about spending 30 minutes trying toprocess a rebate and then waiting monthsfor your rebate check to arrive in the mail.Thanks to ibotta, you can select the partici-

pating products that you’ve purchased, snap a photo of your receipt,upload it to the app, and get reward cash deposited into your PayPalaccount. You can even collect these cash-back offers if you’ve com-bined coupons and sales in the store, which means that sometimes theapp will allow you to get products completely free after your ibottareward kicks in.

APPS_1309-REWARD 6/17/13 1:13 AM Page 28

BellyFree, Belly, Inc.HHHHH

You’ve grown accustomed to presenting your loyalty reward card at vari-ous retailers, but you can now present your phone—and have a retailerscan your personalized QR code to give you Belly points every time youwalk into a participating store. You can then cash in the points you earn

at those same shops. I went into one restaurant three days in a row, and by the third day I hadearned a free coffee. You don’t have to buy anything to earn the points—you just have to scan yourphone. The only downside is that there aren’t as many participating shops in smaller towns as inbig cities, but Belly’s network is growing quickly.

S H O P P I N G A P P S T H AT PAY • S H O P P I N G A P P S T H AT PAY • S H O P P I N G A P P S T H AT PAY


iPollFree, iPoll.comHHHHH

Put your opinion to good use, and collect rewards while you do it.iPoll allows you to earn cash by completing polls, but not just genericones. You’ll be asked to perform “missions” at retailers like your bankor movie theater, where you’ll answer questions about your experi-

ence and collect cash. The reward amounts vary by the amount of time it will take you to com-plete them, but typically range from $0.10 to $5.00. You can then cash in your rewards withPayPal or by earning gift cards and other items.

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ShopkickFree, Shopkick, Inc.HHHHH

Collect rewards, or “kicks,” just by walking into a participating storeas long as you have this app open on your phone. Then you cangather even more kicks by scanning participating items and bypaying with a linked credit card. Keep an eye on the app daily,

since some days you might earn 35 kicks for walking into a store such as Target, whereas onother days you may get a bonus 500 kicks—enough to earn you a $2.00 Target gift card.Keep earning for more valuable rewards, all the way up to a Vespa scooter.

EndorseFree, EndorseHHHHH

Similar to ibotta, Endorse pays you for purchasing productsyou need from your favorite stores after you upload an imageof your receipt. You simply browse the offers, decide what youwant to buy, and then follow through. Endorse partners with

DonorsChoose.org to fund local schools. In fact, they’ll give you points for every receiptyou upload, even if you haven’t purchased one of the listed offers. Save money and sup-port charities—what’s not to love about this shopping app?

APPS_1309-REWARD 6/17/13 1:13 AM Page 29

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T V + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN • TV + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN • TV + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN

NetflixFree, Netflix, Inc.HHHHH

If you have a Netflix subscription ($7.99/mo.)then you definitely want to grab this app.Not only can you stream Netflix content toyour smartphone or tablet, you can also use

the app as a remote control for the service on your PlayStation 3 orGoogle TV. This means you can browse content while you watch. Theapp will also sync across platforms, so you can start watching some-thing on the TV and finish watching it on your smartphone elsewhere.If you don’t have a PS3 then don’t worry because Netflix plans to addmore device support in the near future.


Apps that make your smartphone interact with your favorite TV showsBy Simon HillMore and more of us are watching TV with a second screen in our hands or on our laps.According to recent research, over 80 percent of us use smartphones, tablets, or laptopswhile watching TV, and around half of us have engaged in related online activity. It mightbe as simple as looking up the name of a familiar face on IMDB, or tweeting our thoughtsabout the latest winner of The Voice, but it’s a trend that’s starting to take hold.

There are tons of apps to help you find the latest information about your favorite show,engage in live voting and competitions, and share your opinions on the TV you love orhate. We’ve brought you a few of our favorites.

2xfunTV + SMARTPHONE =

APPS_1309-TV 6/17/13 1:16 AM Page 30

IntoNowFree, Yahoo! Inc.HHHHH

With Yahoo behind it you might expect something special from theIntoNow app and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Load up the app andwith the tap of a button, it will identify whatever you are watching andoffer up some related content that you might be interested in. You can

also use the app to see what other people are saying and share your own thoughts. The nice thingabout IntoNow is that it works for recorded content as well, so there’s no need to be watching live.The “Capit” feature is like a real-time meme generator which you can use to capture a screenshotand add your own text for sharing via social media.

T V + S MA R T P H O N E = 2 X F U N • T V + S MA R T P H O N E = 2 X F U N • T V + S MA R T P H O N E = 2 X F U N


ShazamFree; Shazam Entertainment LtdHHHHH

You know that feeling when you hear a tune you simplymust have, but you don’t know what it is? Shazam startedout as an app that could identify any song simply by listening to a few seconds of it. The app returned the

name, artist, streaming lyrics, and even a link to buy it or view it on YouTube. Since its inception, the developers have added the ability to identify TV shows andcommercials. Supported shows display a Shazam prompt and you can use the app to accessbonus content while you watch. You can also tag and share the TV content you love with ease.

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Viggle Free, Viggle Inc.HHHHH

Who says watching TV is a waste of your time? With the Viggle appyou can check in to the shows you love and earn points which canbe redeemed for rewards from brands like Starbucks and Barnes &Noble. You’ll also find chat functionality, including Facebook and

Twitter integration, so you can share gossip about shows. Each show profile has a wide rangeof useful links to related information. There’s even a quiz feature to test your TV knowledge,and a fantasy sports game that you can play while you watch sports.

Xbox SmartGlassFree, Microsoft CorporationHHHHH

Anyone using an Xbox 360 as an entertainment hub needs toget their hands on Xbox SmartGlass. This second screen appacts as a remote control for your console. You can use it tobrowse or play content, or to surf the web. Participating

shows, movies and games offer extra content, including detailed information, interactiveguides, behind-the-scenes commentary, and links to buy whole series in the Xbox cata-log. The potential for games is even more exciting with extended interactive features,such as a map for the game you’re playing.

APPS_1309-TV 6/17/13 1:16 AM Page 31

ConnecTVFree, ConnecTVHHHHH

ConnecTV, another social platform, offers thechance to engage in huge online chats withother fans, and even, sometimes, the stars ofthe shows you are watching. You’ll also find

the usual mix of news, polls, celebrity biographies and tweets. The appautomatically recognizes what you’re watching and you can log in viayour Facebook or Twitter account. It serves up relevant advertisingalongside your info and chat, targeted in much the same way thatGoogle ads are—to cater to your needs. Extra content for ads includesthings like the ability to buy a ticket for the movie trailer you just saw,direct from the app.


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GetGlueFree, AdaptiveBlue, Inc.HHHHH

By checking in to your favorite shows and movies with GetGlueyou’re joining a huge social network focused on entertainment.It’s all about sharing the buzz with friends and the communityat large, discovering new shows and movies that suit your

tastes, and earning stickers and rewards. Customize your feed with your favorite shows,add your friends, and you’ll get a stream of the latest news and chatter. GetGlue coverssports as well, and it includes a comprehensive TV guide and the ability to see what’strending in real time at a glance.

zeeboxFree, zeeboxHHHHH

The zeebox app is designed to enhance your TVviewing experience by providing a televisionguide, additional information on what you’rewatching, and even interactive fun with polls,

competitions, and games. Participating shows and advertisers use “zeetags”to highlight live information about what’s on your screen and provide linksto buy products. There’s a substantial social side to it too, with Facebookand Twitter integration, and a discovery tool that lists TV shows your friendsand others (including celebrities) are enjoying right now, or getting excitedabout. You can also set reminders for your favorite shows and even use zee-box as a remote if you have an XFINITY set-top box.

APPS_1309-TV 6/20/13 2:35 AM Page 32

don’t let thatbattery


DON’T LET THAT BATTERY DIE! •

DON’T LET THAT BATTERY DIE! •

DON’T LET THAT BATTERY DIE!

How to squeeze extra juice out ofyour smartphone’s batteryBy Simon Hill

Frustrated by your smartphone’s limited battery life? You’re not the only one.

Poor battery life consistently takes the top spot in consumer polls onour biggest complaints about mobile technology. As we pack morefeatures into our devices, we tend to use them more and the drain onpower increases. Combine that with the trend towards larger screensand it’s no surprise that our smartphones are often dead before theday is done.

Battery technology is dated and there’s no sign of a power revolutionanytime soon, but you can take steps to prolong your smartphone’sbattery. Let’s run through some general tips that will work for anysmartphone, and then we’ll take a look at advanced tips, and a fewapps that could help.

Die!DON’T LET THAT BATTERY DIE! • DON’T LET THAT BATTERY DIE! • DON’T LET THAT BATTERY DIE!

BASIC BATTERY-SAVING TIPS or “TURN IT OFF!”Obviously, the #1 battery-saving tip for your smartphone is to just turn it off.

If you’re in a dead zone, or you need to conserve some battery for later, then just press that power button.All of the basic battery-saving tips you’ll ever see for smartphones are related to this idea.

But, if you can’t, or don’t want to turn the device off, you should at least turn off some of the functions.

The basics: don’t keep WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, or anything else on, when you aren’t using it. Don’t allowpush notifications for email updates. Don’t connect to a 4G LTE network when 3G will do. Turn down yourscreen brightness and volume. Turn vibrations off. Don’t use widgets or animated wallpapers. Whateveryou do, don’t play games or watch video.

Of course, no one really wants to hear this.

We remember having (dumb) mobile phones that handled calls and texts and nothing else. The batterylife was amazing, comparatively speaking, but who wants to shell out hundreds of dollars for a phone thatdoes just calls and texts?

What’s the point in having a smartphone if you can’t enjoy the features? What makes sense for you?

aPPS_1309-SaVePoWer 6/17/13 1:20 aM Page 33


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MANAGING YOUR SCREEN As smartphone screens get bigger, the display is responsible for eating moreand more of the battery life.

On Android go to Settings > Battery, or Settings > About phone > Batteryuse and see exactly what ate your battery. Invariably, your phone’s screen will betop of the list.

We’ve already mentioned reducing the brightness level, but you can alsodecrease the screen’s timeout—that is, how long your phone stays operationalbefore it dims and locks itself. You’ll find it in Settings > Display or somethingsimilar, depending on your phone’s operating system. Set it for as short a timeas you can before you find it terribly frustrating that your screen keeps turningitself off.

On iOS (iPhones) you’ll find it in Settings > General > Auto-Lock. On WindowsPhones you’ll find the option in Settings > Lock & Wallpaper > Screen TimeOut. On BB10 it’s Settings > Display > Screen Lock Timeout.

If you have an AMOLED screen, save battery power by using a dark background.The technology actually turns off pixels when they’re black, so if you have predominantly black wallpaper, you’ll save a lot of juice.

CHANGE THE STATUS QUOIt’s actually easy to rack up battery savings without missing out on the featuresyou love.

For instance, a lot of us never switch from our phone’s defaults, even if they’reannoying, but we really should. Turn off vibration and sound feedback for typingfor instant savings.

You may also find that you don’t really need to know every time a vagueacquaintance posts something on Facebook or in a Google+ group.

Many apps turn push notifications on by default and they eat a huge amount ofbattery juice. They also distract you constantly with a stream of inconsequentialnonsense.

Location tracking is often left on, even though you may not be using it. Watchout for apps that want to know your location. If you’re not actually using thesmartphone for navigation right now, there’s little benefit to leaving it on.

Shutting off unneeded features isn’t a major chore.

Many smartphones come with quick settings menus that allow you to turn themoff with a tap when you don’t need them. If yours doesn’t, then you’ll be able tofind an app that offers this functionality. (Windows Phone has a built-in batterysaver feature which you’ll find in Settings.)

ROOTING ON ANDROIDAndroid users may want to consider “rooting” (or attaining privileged control of the phone’soperating system). It definitely falls under the advanced category, but you can underclock(run at a lower rate) your CPU and freeze annoying bloatware apps. Both reduce batteryconsumption.

APPS_1309-SAVEPOWER 6/17/13 1:20 AM Page 34


DON’ T LE T THAT BAT TERY DIE! • DON’ T LE T THAT BAT TERY DIE! • DON’ T LE T THAT BAT TERY DIE!

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BATTERY-SAVING APPSYou’ll find various battery-saving apps on all the major phone platforms.

Some of the best options can help you identify what’s usingyour battery and allow you to save juice without having to diginto individual features and do a lot of manual tweaking.

The most popular option for Android is Juice Defender byLetdroid. It’s completely free and you can choose preset profiles, so there’s no need to get your hands dirty, unless you want to.

Android gives apps more power to influence your batterydrain than other platforms, but you can still use apps on other platforms to gain an insight and find more tips.

On iOS the free Battery Doctor app (Beijing Kingsoft InternetSecurity software Co.Ltd) provides useful insights andreminders. For Windows Phone 8, there’s a free, popular appcalled Battery by Enless Soft Ltd., which displays how muchbattery life you have left and gives you access to quick set-tings. Battery Lover by TP Soft (free) is a very similar app forBlackBerry 10.

ADVANCED POWER-SAVING TIPSFirst things first: Keep your apps up to date.

Developers often release updates for apps and gamesthat improve optimization and this can have a big impacton battery life. If you discover a battery hog, considerremoving it. Don’t use task-killer apps—these are a lastresort, not a solution.

Keep your smartphone’s physical temperature as cool aspossible. Sitting in direct sunlight on the dashboard ofyour car will actually drain the battery faster.

Different batteries respond to different charging sched-ules, but they all eventually degrade. And leaving yourphone plugged in after it is fully charged makes itdegrade even faster.

If you’re going to charge your phone overnight, use acharger that shuts off once the battery is full. Don’t letyour battery fully discharge too often, once a month ishandy to ensure that calibration is correct (so your phonecan tell you accurately how much battery life is left). Butin general, charge it before it drops too low.

Juice Defender Battery Doctor

Battery Battery Lover

APPS_1309-SAVEPOWER 6/17/13 1:20 AM Page 35

ECO-FRIENDLY A

CCESSORIES • ECO-FRIENDLY A

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E CO -FR IENDLY ACCESSOR IES • ECO -FR IENDLY ACCESSOR IES • ECO -FR IENDLY ACCESSOR IES


Great gadgets for environmentally concerned smartphone users By Simon HillBy buying an eco-friendly gadget, you reduce your negative impact and help drivefurther development of environmentally conscious products. Take a look at thesegreat green smartphone accessories, from biodegradable cases to a solar-poweredstereo system. You’ll find something for everyone.

ECO-FRIENDLYSmartphone

There’s no need to plug into the grid when you’ve gotyour own source of juice in the form of the SunVoltPortable Solar Power Station from Gomadic. It’s alightweight solar panel in a water-resistant carryingcase with a handle and strap. Flip it open, prop thepanel up facing the sun, and you can plug in twomobile devices at once and let those rays chargethem up.

Your standard USB charging cable plugs into theSunVolt and the device ships with a lifetime warranty.For best results consider getting an additional SolarCache High Capacity Battery Pack ($39.95) so you canstore the solar power while you’re out and about andthen charge up your smartphone when you return.

$99.95 from Gomadic(gomadic.com)

ACCESSORIES

APPS_1309-ECOFRIEND 6/17/13 1:28 AM Page 36

E C O - F R I E N D LY A C C E S S O R I E S • E C O - F R I E N D LY A C C E S S O R I E S • E C O - F R I E N D LY A C C E S S O R I E S


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Leaving your smartphone plugged in once it’s fullycharged is not only a waste of power, it can actuallydamage your battery. Bracketron addresses the issuewith the Mushroom GreenZero Wall Travel Charger.This simple, portable device has fold out plug pins and acircular design for easy cable storage. It has a standardUSB port, so it works with any smartphone.

It is essentially a one-click charger that automaticallyshuts off when your device is fully charged. Plug it in, hitthe big green button and it cuts off the power whenyour smartphone’s battery is full.

You’ll never be caught without power again if you invest in an SOSCharger. It’s aself-powered battery pack with a built-in generator. Simply pop out the handle andwind it to generate some juice. Between three and five minutes of winding shouldgive you enough power for at least five minutes of call time on your mobile.

It’s an attractive pocket-sized device and it has a standard USB port so you can charge any smartphone or tablet. The USB-to-micro-USB cable is included and you also have the option of fully charging the 1,500mAh battery before you go on a trip and then using the winding function to keep it topped up.

If you like to have your favorite tunes, no matter whereyou are, then the Rukus Solar is the perfect companion.This wireless sound system streams music from anysmartphone via Bluetooth. There’s a solar panel in the topto soak up the power of the sun and when the internalbattery is fully charged it can go for eight hours.

The excellent design includes an e-ink display which isreadable even in direct sunlight, a carrying handle, and aUSB port so it doubles as a way to charge your smart-phone. Portable stereo sound and a charging system, allpowered by the sun—a simply irresistible proposition.Available in black, white, and of course, green.

$149.99 from Eton(etoncorp.com)

$44 from SOSCharger(soscharger.com)

$27.95 from Bracketron(bracketron.com)



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It’s time to get on your bike with the ECOXPOWERPedal Powered Headlight & Mobile Device Charger.You’re probably familiar with dynamos which harnessyour pedaling power to bring a headlight to life. Well,the ECOXPOWER goes one step further and allows youto juice up your smartphone as well. It has a headlightat the front, flashing safety light at the back, and a universal fit, water-resistant handle bar case for yoursmartphone.

You can still operate your phone when it’s in the case, sothis is ideal for GPS navigation. In fact it uses a standardUSB cable so any smartphone, or even a GPS unit, willwork with this gadget. Fire up your GPS navigation app,charge your smartphone as you go and you’ll never getlost again.

At first glance Papernomad’s Gadget Sleevesmay notlook like the ideal protection for your smartphone ortablet. They resemble ordinary padded paperenvelopes—but look a little closer and the quality andcraftsmanship shines through. Papernomad replaces tra-ditional case materials with paper—the company iscommitted to sustainable solutions.

The sleeve range is stitched and combines paper withother organic materials to create a protective case foryour phone or tablet. The iPhone 5 sleeve also has amagnetic lock, so your device goes to sleep when it’sslipped inside. Each one is fully customizable, so you cancreate a unique look by sketching, writing or coloring onthe outside, and they’re tear and water resistant, too.

Reducing the amount of power you use is a great way toreduce your impact on the planet. The iBamboo Speakercan help. With precision cuts in a piece of sustainablebamboo, you can harness the natural beauty of nature toenhance your iPhone music. It gently amplifies the soundand it works with the iPhone 4, 4S and 5.

Not only is the iBamboo an eco-friendly product, but it isalso very efficient to manufacture with little waste. Theycome in black or original and each iBamboo speaker isunique.

Starts at $99.99 from Grace Digital (ecoxgear.com)

$25 from iBamboo (ibamboospeaker.com)

Starts at $34 from Papernomad(papernomad.com)




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How about an acoustic amplifier carved from a single piece ofbeautiful, solid wood? The Original Koostik, seen here in AfricanMakore wood, is available in a range of sustainable wood, includingmaple and cherry. It has been designed to cradle your iPhone (itworks with all versions) and amplify the speaker to offer betweentwo and four times the standard volume without needing anypower at all.

These products aren’t just eco-friendly, they’re also astoundingly attractive. If you want an aesthetically pleasing alternative to plastics then you’ll love the Koostik range. The one pictured is $95, but there are smaller, single chamber docks which are more affordable.

You’ll enjoy the standard dual-protection of agreat smartphone case with the Innovez LifeSeries cases, but you’ll also be pleased to knowthat they are crafted from environmentally friend-ly plastic called EcoPure. There’s a hard outer shelland a soft, shock absorbing interior to protectyour smartphone when it falls.

EcoPure is made from organic material blendedwith plastic. The clever part is that it is durableand long lasting, but when placed in the rightenvironment, such as a landfill, it is fullybiodegradable. The cases are offered in a range oftwo-tone color designs and you can mix andmatch the interior and exterior parts to create thecombination you want.

The Bioplastic Covers from Bioserie are made from plants.The company aims to produce everything from renewablematerials, to minimize carbon emissions during production,and to ensure no pollution when the product is eventuallydiscarded. The result is an impressively durable and colorfulset of cases for your smartphone.

A minimal form factor and a range of colors and styles allowyou to be environmentally conscious without having toscrimp on your choice of smartphone case. They are theworld’s first USDA-certified biobased smartphone cases.

Starts at $60 from Koostik (koostik.com)

$29.95 from Bioserie(bioserie.com)

$24.95 from Innovez(innovezproducts.com)


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C H A R G E ! B A T T E R I E S F O R E V E R Y O N E • C H A R G E ! B A T T E R I E S F O R E V E R Y O N E


The latest on-the-go battery packsreviewedBy Margaret KavanaghRegardless of the phone or tablet you use, it drains power any time it’s on. And themore actively you use it, the more power it eats up. Many of us have taken to turningoff all the bells and whistles, following every power-saving tip we can find, and actuallylimiting our phone time in an attempt to make our energy last until the end of the day.And while it’s ecologically sound to conserve power when possible, it’s also importantto be able to use your phone for its intended purpose when you need it.

Phone manufacturers are constantly working on ways to increase battery life, butadvances aren’t coming quickly enough to satisfy the demand of the current phones,especially when loaded with additional features and apps. Luckily, a new accessory has filled the gap: the external battery. It comes in several different forms and there’s aversion that’s convenient for almost every occasion. Here are a few models that we hada chance to check out.

CHARGE!Everyone

BATTERIES FOR

APPS_1309-BATTERIES 6/17/13 1:33 AM Page 40



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Powerocks Magic Cube www.powerocksusa.com$75-$110This small block of power will help you in a pinch. It’s a simple, colorful little box that packs a punch.Pop off one end, and plug in your phone or table to recharge. It comes with one micro-USB cablebuilt in, and one USB port for you to plug in your own cable. (It’s strong enough to charge a USB andmicro-USB device at the same time.) Lights on the other end of the device let you know how muchstored power the Magic Cube has left. It claims to last for up to 500 charges (many more than otherbatteries we tested) and we were able to charge our iPhone 4S several times from less than 24%before we needed to charge the unit again. We were even able to use our phone while charging it,without any noticeable lag. The battery is about as big as your hand, and depending on the model,it’s between 5-10 ounces. It comes with a carrying bag and is easy to tuck into a bag or briefcase.

To recharge, use the built-in USB cord and either plug it into a computer or wall charger adapter. Itdoes take a while to recharge, so plan on giving it at least overnight.

One note: You’ll need your iPhone’s cable, so don’t forget it if you’re on the road.

What do the numbers mean?Don’t let the figures confuse you. Basically it breaks down like this.

Capacity: The higher the better. So while a 2500mAh charger will give you a boost,12000mAh will give you many more boosts. However, it will also take a lot longer to rechargebecause it has to store more energy.

Input: Most batteries are about 5V/1 or 2A. That is standard for the rate of energy coming into the battery pack while it’s recharging. If the second number is higher—2A versus 1A, thatmeans the battery will recharge faster.

Output: Again, it’s the second number that counts, as in 5V/2.1A versus 5V/0.5A. The 2.1Aport will put out more energy, faster. But beware—some devices will need power at a certainrate. Check your device’s manual for the correct numbers before using a battery pack.

Color Options: Pink, Blue, Black, SilverBattery Capacity: 6,000/9,000/12,000 mAhInput: 5.0V/2AOutput: 5.0±0.25V/2.1A


http://www.powerocksusa.com


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iWalk Chameleon/Chameleon Easywww.iwalkusa.com$59.99-$64.99Rather than a battery block that you plug into to recharge, this accessory doubles as an actual case foriPhone 4/4S and Samsung Galaxy S3 models. It’s a form-fitting battery pack that stays with your phoneand nearly doubles its battery life. You’ll need to recharge it regularly, like you do your phone, but you don’t need to remove it to do so. The included cable lets you transfer data and recharge while the case stays on. The name Chameleon comes from the case’s colorful, interchangeable faceplates. 5 come with the product, so you can easily select one to match your mood: green, red, white, black or yellow.

Although the front plate feels a bit brittle, we have yet to encounter any breakage, even though we snap it on and off at will. The entire case is fairly lightweight (just 78g) compared to other battery cases we’ve reviewed, and its slim fit and bright colors make it an attractive choice.

One downside: if you like to use your iPhone with a dock accessory (like a bedside clock), you will have to remove the case.

Tip: pair this with a battery block, and you’re set for travel.

iWalk Link 2500mwww.iwalkusa.com$54.99Perhaps the most portable of the bunch is the Linkseries of batteries. They are small enough to fit in yourpocket and go anywhere with you. The Link 2500mholds just 2500 mAh, not a lot compared to the bigger models, but more than enough to rescue youwhen your phone is failing. The micro USB adapterallows this mini helper to plug right into your phone,unobtrusively. It worked like a charm for us, allowingus to continue using our phone while it charged.

It’s a bit pricey for the capacity, but you’re really pay-ing for convenience. Charging is easy via a computerand cable, and it’s quick, since it’s lower capacity.

A snag: The cover hinge actually snapped the firsttime we opened it because it was a bit awkward. Notgreat, but it doesn’t change the functionality.

Color Options: Black, WhiteBattery Capacity: 2,500 mAhOther models with lower capacity are available.

Battery Capacity: 2,000/2,800 mAh Input: 5.0V/1.0A

Output: 5.0V/0.5A


http://www.iwalkusa.com




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New Trent iCarrierwww.newtrent.com$69.95Another high-capacity battery (12,000 mAh) that charges two devices at once. This lit-tle gem is a great buy, holding a lot of power for a low price. But it does come with afew little differences that could be upgraded to make it even better. First, it’s one ofthe only devices that can’t be recharged using a USB port on a computer. Instead, youhave to use the included adapter and a standard power outlet. Additionally, the bat-tery has an on/off button, rather than just charging a device as soon as it’s plugged in. The power block is about four-inches square and only about 10 ounces. It takes about11 hours to charge but can charge most devices fully between four and six times. It’srumored to work through 500 charging cycles.

iWalk Extreme 10,000 Duowww.iwalkusa.com$99.99This battery block, like the others, comes in handy when you’re on the go and need to giveyour phone that extra battery boost. Its long, slim profile means it slips right into anycarry-on. It’s slightly heavier (close to one pound) than the Magic Cube but it packs morepunch and its design is modern and substantial. The Extreme includes two bright redcharging cables—a micro USB and an Apple 30-pin adapter—very convenient so younever have to worry about bringing your phone’s cables. This battery has the ability tocharge two devices: one USB port charges at 2.1A (rapid charging) while the other runs at1.0A. Why not two rapid charging ports? Because some devices need to charge at a loweramperage.

Color Options: Black, WhiteBattery Capacity: 10,000 mAhInput: 5.0V/1.0AOutput: 5.0V/2.1A, 5.0V/1.0A

Recharging happens in the normal way.You can plug it into the USB port on yourcomputer or into a wall adapter. Thischarger takes quite a while to recharge, soplan ahead if you’re going to need it.

Bonus(?): The charger also includes anLED flashlight, accessible by holding downthe power button for a few seconds.

Battery Capacity: 12,000 mAhInput: AC wall/100~240V

Output: 5.0V/2.1A, 5.0V/1.0A


http://www.newtrent.com



CHARGE! BATTERIES FOR EVERYONE • CHARGE! BATTERIES FOR EVERYONE • CHARGE! BATTERIES FOR EVERYONE


iBattz: BattStation 12000usa.ibattz.com$29.90-$49.90The BattStation is a rugged box with a nice exterior rubber case that protects it from bumps and drops. It also adds a nice design element thatgives it a gothic feel. However, strip off the rubber case, and it’s much likethe other battery packs. It comes with a nice set of cables and adapters—more than most, including a 30-pin for the iPhone and an adapter for theSamsung Galaxy Tab. It even includes a Carabineer clip so you can snap itonto your belt, backpack, or what have you.

It has a bit of heft to it, but not more than expected for a battery pack(300g). All in all, it’s a solid performer, and takes just about 8 hours tocharge using a wall outlet and adapter.

The BattStation also shuts itself off when devices are done charging. AGREAT feature that more battery packs should employ.

Caveat: There’s no word on how many times you can cycle this batterypack, but guesses are the lifetime is probably about equal to other similarproducts.

Battery Capacity: 7,200/8,400/12,000 mAhInput: 5.0V/1AOutput: 5.0V/2.1A, 5.0V/1A (5.0V/1A, 5.0V/0.5Afor 7,200 mAh and 8,400 mAh models)

LOOK, MA! REVIEW: Both hands on the wheel with the SuperTooth HDBy John BoschThe SuperTooth HD Bluetooth Speakerphone works quite well. The sound quality is above average and the battery life seemsto handle a real life and work schedule. I was able to do a full days’ travel with many sales calls via the hands-free device, aswell as communicate with friends and family late into the night with plenty of battery left.

The voice commands worked very well the majority of the time and the automatic phonebook transfer worked perfectly.

This device will stream your music, give voice navigation via your smart phone, and works with 6 languages—thankfullyEnglish was one of them. It can also be paired with up to 8 devices (2 phones max).

The noise cancelling worked well and the sound quality wasexcellent. I do recommend this hands-free device for anyoneneeding to conduct calls while driving. But make sure you’relegally allowed to do so in your region.

The SuperTooth also has an option for a hands-free assistant(but I did not set that up or use it). This option allows you tocompose and send SMS, emails and much more, all via voicecommand. In the war against texting while driving, thisaccessory is an ally.

No Hands


APPS_1309_45 6/14/13 4:57 AM Page 45

Bad Piggies $0.99, Rovio Mobile Ltd.HHHHH

A fresh take on the Angry Bird franchise, but still an addictingexperience!

Angry Birds Star Wars$0.99, Rovio Mobile Ltd.HHHHH

Star Wars fans will have a blast as the Angry Birds travel to agalaxy far, far away.

Angry BirdsFree, Rovio MobileHHHHH

Hurl birds and pigs through the air.

Angry Birds SpceFree, Rovio MobileHHHHH

In this edition of Angry Birds, developer Rovio takes the classicpig bashing gameplay, mixing it with zero gravity action, newbirds and new superpowers to deliver its best so far.

Rayman Jungle Run$2.99, UbisoftHHHHH

Explore new words, unlock new powers and battle new enemieson your way to victory.

Punch QuestFree, Rocketcat GamesHHHHH

Simple, yet addictive gameplay has players going toe-to-toe withskeletons, zombies, cyclops and riding dinosaurs.

Prince of Persia Classic$0.99 - $2.99, UbisoftHHHHH

Relive the adventures of a young Persian hero, who traverses cas-tles and battles swordsmen in search of the young princess.

Wreck-it Ralph$0.99, DisneyHHHHH

Three challenging arcade games to enjoy based on the hit Disneymovie.

Nutty Fluffies Rollercoaster$0.99, UbisoftHHHHH

Your goal is simple—safely deliver a bunch of stuffed animalsfrom the beginning to the end of a wild rollercoaster ride.

GAME APPLICATIONS


APPUltimate

BUYER’S GUIDE

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Action Games

APPS_1309_BUYERSGUIDE 6/17/13 1:40 AM Page 46

Preschool Educational Games

225 Kid Outdoor Games$0.99, PaidotriboHHHHH

Search for fun games to play based on the materials you have on-hand and the amount of time you want to spend playing.

Bug Games by Busy Bee Studios$0.99, Busy Bee StudiosHHHHH

With four different games, your children will learn and practicephonics, numbers, pattern matching, and musical melodies.

Find Them All: Dinosaurs$1.99, KnbmediaHHHHH

Dinosaur-related activities and games that teach kids aboutdinosaurs and their habitats.

First Words Animals KidsFree, AZB SoftHHHHH

A simple and fun game that will appeal to your preschoolers asthey learn to spell the names of familiar animals.

Monster Hunt – The Memory GameFree, Innovative Mobile AppsHHHHH

Featuring bright little monsters that you search for, kids have somuch fun they won’t even realize they’re learning.

Grandma’s Garden$0.99 - $1.99, Fairlady Media/Noodlecake Studios Inc.HHHHH

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

Traffic Rush$0.99, Donut GamesHHHHH

Your goal is to get as many vehicles as possible safely throughthe intersection without a collision.

When Balls Drop$1.99, Joseph NeumanHHHHH

A mellow game that will keep you glued to the screen as you tryto get the bouncing ball in one of five different point slots.

Doodle Jump$0.99, GameHouseHHHHH

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

Jetpack JoyrideFree, Halfbrick StudiosHHHHH

Strap on a jetpack and navigate through countless fun-filled lev-els. Avoid obstacles like electricity fields, lasers and missiles, com-pleting missions and collecting coins along the way.

Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim$1.99, HeroCraft LTDHHHHH

Rule your own fairytale kingdom, defeating enemies and conquer-ing new lands in this exciting real-time strategy roleplaying game.

NinjumpFree, Backflip StudiosHHHHH

You’re a strong and proud ninja.

PAC-MAN$1.99, Namco NetworksHHHHH

Bring the original video game hero to your smartphone.

Plants vs. Zombies$0.99, Electronic ArtsHHHHH

Use a variety of weapon-laden plants to protect your home fromthe Zombie hoard.

Snail Mail$0.99, Sandlot GamesHHHHH

Race Turbo Snail on an intergalactic runway picking up packagesfor him to deliver.

Stickman GolfFree - $0.99, Noodlecake StudiosHHHHH

Test your golf skills by hitting the ball over mountains, bodies ofwater, down slopes, through trees and so much more.

Tap Tap Revenge 4Free - $2.99, TapulousHHHHH

An addictive music game—follow the on-screen arrows, as youlisten to your favorite artists and bands like Katy Perry, LinkinPark and Lady Gaga.


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Memory FunFree, Karmic AppsHHHHHAndroid, BlackBerry, Windows PhoneA challenging and addictive game to train your

memory capacity, focus and concentration with an easy to useinterface, multiple levels of difficulty, and a wide selection of card images.

CogsFree - $2.99, Chillingo/Lazy 8 StudiosHHHHH

Build increasingly complex machines with gears, pipes, and wheels.

Flow FreeFree, Big Duck Games LLCHHHHH

Connect matching colors with pipe to create a flow, but the chal-lenge comes when pipes cross or overlap, causing them to break.

Drop7$2.99, ZyngaHHHHH

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

Quell$1.99, FallenTreeGamesHHHHH

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

Jigsaw Mansion 2 Gold$0.99, SGNHHHHH

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

RelixFree, Mark MengeltHHHHH

Tapping and sliding pieces to match tiles, with challenging features to make each of the 50 levels increasingly difficult.

Sprinkle FreeFree, MediocreHHHHH

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

Draw Something FreeFree, OMGPOPHHHHH

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

Puzzle Games77 Logic Games – Time KillersFree, Andrea SabbatiniHHHHH

Exercise your brain with 70 logic games and be relaxed and challenged at the same time.

Jigsaw PuzzleFree, Critical Hit Software, LLCHHHHH

Use one of the 60 preloaded puzzles or turn one of your ownphotos into a jigsaw puzzle to solve.

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

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

Kids Numbers and Math$2.99, intellijoyHHHHH

Keeps your kids entertained and excited while learning aboutnumbers.

Preschool and Kindergarten LearningGamesFree, Kevin BradfordHHHHH

Your child will learn letters, spelling, shapes and colors, additionand subtraction, figure out puzzles and play memory games.

TallyTots$0.99, Spinlight StudioHHHHH

Your kids will practice counting, receive positive verbal reinforcement, and encounter fun surprises along the way asthey learn to count to 20.

Word Wagon - by Duck Duck Moose$1.99, Duck Duck MooseHHHHH

Spells words by placing the letters for each object shown in thecorrect order and earn stars to build animal-shaped constellations.

Zoo Train$1.99, Busy Bee StudiosHHHHH

Word building meets city building in this fun app.

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Word Genius LiteFree, Catnip MediaHHHHH

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

Word SeekFree, Idealix Inc.HHHHH

Race against the clock as you find words on a 4x4 letter grid.

Hangman FreeFree, Optime Software LLCHHHHH

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

Word Trick FreeFree, Outplay Entertainment LTDHHHHH

A crossword-style game with trick tiles to increase your score.

WordfeudFree, Bertheussen ITHHHHH

Play up to 30 games simultaneously, against 8 million of yourclosest opponents.

wurdle$1.99, Semi Secret Software LLCHHHHH

A fast-paced word game perfect for trips in the car or any timeyour kids need a little mind-stimulating entertainment.

Word GamesWord Search +Free, Sarah Pierce/Megafauna softwareHHHHH

This app provides you with word 16 categories. Each word listteaches you more about subjects such as food and wine, science,sports, and geography.

Bird's the WordFree - $0.99, SGNHHHHH

Create words from random letters while birds swoop in and hin-der your progress.

Bookworm$1.99, PopCapHHHHH

Search for words in a grid of letters.

War of WordsFree, Wolf Studios LLC5 stars

Crossword puzzle-style game with bombs.

Wheel of Fortune$2.99, Sony Pictures TelevisionHHHHH

Transports you into the world of the famous game show.

Cash Cow$0.99 - $3.95, Plasmaworks LLCHHHHH

Touch a bunch of coins that equal 5, 10 or 25 cents and then addup that bunch into a dollar.

Domino RunFree, Shiny Egg StudiosHHHHH

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

Where’s My Water?$0.99, DisneyHHHHH

Swampy the Alligator wants to take a shower—too bad the otheralligators have blocked his water!

GearedFree - $2.99, PlayfulArt/Bryan Mitchell GamesHHHHH

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

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Tabletop GamesBattleshipFree - $2.99, Electronic ArtsHHHHH

Destroy the enemy fleet before they destroy you!

Clue$0.99 - 3.99, Electronic ArtsHHHHH

The classic detective game on your phone and tablet.

LIFE $0.99 - $6.99, Electronic ArtsHHHHH

Navigate through life in this classic board game.


Flashcards+Free, Connor ZwickHHHHH

When you’re getting ready for that important exam, you canmake your own flashcards and study them while you’re on the go.

Free Graphing CalculatorFree, William JockuschHHHHH

With over 100 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 - $0.99, TititaaHHHHH

Flashcards cover beginning skills like addition, subtraction, multi-plication, and division all the way to more difficult skills likegeometry and algebra.

Math Ref $0.99 - $1.99, Happy Maau Studios LLCHHHHH

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

MiniMod Reading for Details$8.99, E Skills Learning LLCHHHHH

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

MoleculesFree, Sunset Lake SoftwareHHHHH

This app allows you to view and manipulate 3D models of differ-ent molecules.

myHomework Student PlannerFree, Rodrigo Neri/instin LLCHHHHH

Track your classes and assignments with a calendar and set uphomework reminders.

NASA AppFree, NASAHHHHH

Great for kids to explore all things space related.

Mathmateer$0.99, Dan Russell-PinsonHHHHH

Kids will have a blast learning math as they build their own rock-ets and fly them to the stars.

EDUCATION APPLICATIONSEducational Tools

Quick Homework HelpFree, BrightstormHHHHH

Select a subject and the app shows tips, videos, and sampleproblems to help lead students on their way to success.

Math WorkoutFree, Brain Training/Workout GamesHHHHH

Daily brain training exercises and math drills designed toenhance mental arithmetic.

Blackboard Mobile Free, Blackboard Inc.HHHHH

This app allows students and teachers to view course listings,grades, discussion forums, post announcements, and so on.

Britannica Kids$4.99, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.HHHHH

With a wide range of subjects available, Britannica Kids isbrought to you with the outstanding quality that EncyclopaediaBritannica is known for.

Jenga$0.99 - $2.99, NaturalMotionHHHHH

Build a virtual structure with wooden blocks.

Monopoly$0.99 - $9.99, Electronic ArtsHHHHH

The fast-dealing property trading game in smartphone format.

Risk$2.99 - 6.99, Electronic ArtsHHHHH

Try your hand at world domination.

Stratego$6.99, Keesing Games BVHHHHH

Capture your opponent’s flag with strategic moves.

Trivial Pursuit $0.99 - 3.99, Electronic ArtsHHHHH

Test your knowledge of all things trivial.


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College ConfidentialFree, Hobsons Inc.HHHHH

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

SAT Vocab Challenge by The PrincetonReview$4.99, Modality Inc.HHHHH

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, RolzerHHHHH

Matches your student’s SAT scores with schools to which theyqualify.

SAT Math$4.99, honeHeadHHHHH

From flash cards to practice tests, SAT Math helps you thoroughlyprepare.

GradeWizard$1.99, Jarcas SoftwareHHHHHAndroidCalculate your own GPA by entering your grades into

the GradeWizard app.

iCollege Guide$0.99, Dorm Mom LLCHHHHH

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

Quick CalendarFree, Jim BlacklerHHHHH

Between college visits, essay deadlines, SAT testing, and senioryear homework, a must-have for staying on top of your dead-lines.

MyMajorsFree, MoblicoHHHHH

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

College Research AppsAll College Application Essays$4.99, All College EssaysHHHHH

Select one of the 600 colleges listed and you’ll find out the appli-cation essay topic requirements, due date, and word length—updated with each application season.

Peterson’s College GuideFree, Peterson’sHHHHH

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

Solar System Explorer$1.99, Neil BurlockHHHHH

Take an interactive 3D trip through the Solar System.

SparkNotesFree, SparkNotes LLCHHHHH

Link to the most popular study guides for literature, Shakespeare,poetry, philosophy, drama, short stories and more.

Spelling Bee$0.99, Socratica LLCHHHHH

Study a word, read the definition, hear it pronounced using text-to-speech and take a quiz to test your knowledge.

Star Walk$2.99, Vito Technology Inc.HHHHH

This astral telescope adapts its view to wherever you’re pointingand highlights both constellations and planets.

Tic Tac Math $1.99, IPMG PublishingHHHHH

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

Today in History$1.99, Down-Shift Inc.HHHHH

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


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News & Magazine AppsFlipboardFree, Flipboard Inc.HHHHH

Turn personalized digital "pages" of your favorite publicationsand social media sites.

PressReaderFree, NewspaperDirectHHHHH

Access to 2,100 newspapers from 95 countries in 54 languages.

The WeekFree, The Week Publications, Inc.HHHHH

Commentary and analysis online from the popular print magazine.

US NewspapersFree, Baris EfeHHHHH

Read major US newspapers and news sites online.

eReader Apps

AudibleFree, Audible, Inc.HHHHH

Allows you to listen to your latest book—great for commuters.

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

Thousands of public-content classics for free with narrationincluded.

GoodreadsFree, GoodreadsHHHHH

Goodreads connects you to your friends to see what they’re read-ing and what they recommend.

SpotifyFree, SpotifyHHHHH

Streaming radio with a library of over 15 million songs.

xPianoFree, cyandroidHHHHH

A basic, 4-octave piano keyboard on your touchscreen Androidphone.

MEDIA APPLICATIONSMusic Apps

BandNamer$0.99, Handy Little AppsHHHHH

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 LimitedHHHHH

From music legend Brian Eno, create your own soundscapesbased on 12 different available moods by tapping on areas of thecolored screen.

Chordbot$4.99, Lars CareliussonHHHHH

Musical accompaniment app that allows you to create and playchord progressions.

Concert VaultFree, Wolfgang's VaultHHHHH

Home to legendary concert promoter Bill Graham's massive collection of live recordings. Listen to a wide range of streamingconcerts.

MicDroidFree, intervigilHHHHH

Automatic pitch correction and on-the-fly pitch correction—simply hit “record,” sing into your phone and the app corrects thepitch.

Mobile MetronomeFree, Gabriel SimõesHHHHH

An excellent free metronome for musicians of all levels.

PandoraFree, PandoraHHHHH

Create and listen to personalized radio stations.

ShazamFree, Shazam EntertainmentHHHHH

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


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Finding Nemo - My Puzzle Book$0.99, DisneyHHHHH

Improve your child’s problem-solving skills by completing inter-active puzzles while following the adorable Nemo through hisundersea adventure.

The Lorax - Dr. Seuss$4.99, Oceanhouse MediaHHHHH

Start with an auto-play option that plays like a movie for youngerkids, and progress to a read-it-aloud option that allows kids torecord their own voices for playback.

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

Whether your child is a “brony” or a female My Little Pony fan,this interactive app will keep them occupied for hours.

Wheels on the Bus$0.99, Duck Duck Moose DesignHHHHH

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

Sports Media AppsESPN RadioFree, ESPN Inc.HHHHH

Instantly listen live to over 17 ESPN radio stations nationwide and40 exclusive podcasts.

ESPN ScorecenterFree, ESPN Inc.HHHHH

Scores and news from TV’s leading sports network.

MLS MatchDayFree, MLSHHHHH

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

NHL GameCenterFree, NHL Interactive CyberenterprisesHHHHH

The ultimate hockey fan’s dream app—watch live games andvideo highlights so you never miss a moment of the hard-hittingaction.

Google Play BooksFree, Google Inc.HHHHH

An eReader app that allows you access to your current titleswhile on the go.

iScrollFree, Appsessions LLCHHHHH

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

KindleFree, Amazon Mobile LLCHHHHH

Kindle is the crème de la crème of all eReading apps.

KoboFree, Kobo Inc.HHHHH

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

NookFree, Barnes and NobleHHHHH

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

Overdrive Media Console – LibraryeBooks and AudiobooksFree, OverDrive, Inc.HHHHH

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

WattpadFree, Wattpad.comHHHHH

Discover an unlimited amount of free stories from new writersthat you won’t find on Kindle or Nook.


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

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


WatchESPNFree, ESPN Inc. HHHHH

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

WNBA Center CourtFree, National Basketball AssociationHHHHH

Watch live streaming games, view the latest scores, and checkstatistics, news and photos of your favorite team.

TV, Video & Movie AppsABC PlayerFree, ABC DigitalHHHHH

Watch your favorite ABC shows.

B-MoviesFree, Bubble Pop SoftwareHHHHH

Connects you to the Internet Archive, home of free contentincluding such classics as The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, Plan 9from Outer Space and Night of the Living Dead.

CNN MobileFree, CNNHHHHH

Never miss breaking news again—breaking news notifications aswell as CNN Radio.

Fandango MoviesFree, Fandango HHHHH

Pay a small fee to reserve movie theater tickets.

GetGlueFree, AdaptiveBlueHHHHH

This social network for movies, TV, music, and books allows youto see what your friends like and recommend, while you addyour own ratings.

HBO GoFree, Home Box Office, Inc.HHHHH

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

Hulu Plus by HuluFree, HuluHHHHH

Watch thousands of classic and current TV shows and movies onyour smartphone—Hulu Plus subscription required.

IMDBFree, IMDBHHHHH

Exhaustive collection of movie and TV information. Also includestheater times and trailers.

Justin.TV$2.99 - $4.99, Justin.TVHHHHH

The Justin.TV app allows you to view live video streams createdby other users.

NBCFree, NBC Universal, Inc.HHHHH

Watch your favorite NBC shows.

RedboxFree, Redbox Automated Retail LLCHHHHH

Reserve tonight’s movie from your phone and pick it up at yourlocal Redbox kiosk.

RunPee$0.99, polyGeekHHHHH

Run Pee will tell you when it’s safe to make a dash to the bath-room—as in, a “boring part” is coming up.

SPB TVFree, SPB TV AGHHHHH

Watch over 150 live TV channels from over 20 countries aroundthe world, including news and sports.

TV.comFree, CBS Interactive, Inc.HHHHH

Your favorite shows from CBS wherever you go.


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OUTDOOR LIVING APPLICATIONSWeather Apps

SurflineFree, Surfline/Wavetrak, Inc.HHHHH

Surfline will keep you up-to-date on the weather forecast andsurf reports for thousands of the best surf spots worldwide.

Ski & Snow ReportFree, SkiReport.comHHHHH

Find all the ski areas in your location and the slopes with the bestsnowfall.

AccuWeatherFree, AccuWeather.comHHHHH

This app provides detailed hourly and 15-day forecasts. TheWeather Alarms™ warn you of any potential snow, ice, rain, windspeed/gusts in your area.

Photography AppsLifePics Free, LifePics Photo AppHHHHH

LifePics app allows users to upload photos and order prints frommore than 13,000 specialty camera and photography stores.

PostalPix Photo PrintsFree, Postal PixHHHHH

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

SnapfishFree, Hewlett PackardHHHHH

Upload photos to the website in a snap (heh), give access to oth-ers to view your online albums, and view friends’ albums on yourphone.

mymosaic$0.99, MindTrip StudiosHHHHH

Instantly transforms your photos into stunning mosaics.

PicsArtFree, PicsArtHHHHH

A brilliant photo-editing app that’s proof you don’t need to pay adime for quality apps.

Pocketbooth$1.99, Project BoxHHHHH

Project Box brings the photo booth experience to your smartphone.

Pixlr-o-maticFree, Autodesk Inc.HHHHH

Finish your photos in style— over 100 effects, 280 overlays and200 different borders.

Photo Editor by AviaryFree, AviaryHHHHH

A simple way to let your photos shine—edit photos in a fewquick, easy steps.

ComicBook!$1.99, 3DTOPO Inc.HHHHH

Now you can transform your average, every day photos into acomic book superhero or villain.

PhotosynthFree, Microsoft Corp.HHHHH

The only app that lets you capture the world in 360 degrees.

Adobe Photoshop ExpressFree, Adobe SystemsHHHHH

Bring the powerful photo-editing PC software to your smart-phone.

Photo Editor UltimateFree, Ice Cold AppsHHHHH

Easily edit your photos in seconds and share them with yourloved ones.

PicSayFree, ShinycoreHHHHH

You’ll have a laugh personalizing your photos by adding text anddecorating them with hair, beards and other goofy stickers.


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Living Earth – Clock & Weather$1.99, Radiantlabs LLCHHHHH

Observe live sunrise and sunset borders around the world, viewsnow and ice coverage as well as other seasonal changes aroundthe globe.

Outside – Visual Weather Forecast$2.99, RobocatHHHHH

Weather conditions are color-coded, giving you a quick read ofwhat’s happening outside. Manual updates are available simplyby shaking your phone.

Radar Now!Free, USNaviguide LLCHHHHH

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

The Weather ChannelFree, The Weather ChannelHHHHH

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

WeatherBug/WeatherBug EliteFree - $1.99, Earth NetworksHHHHH

Now you can access real-time weather info from around theworld using this app’s links to 10,000 weather stations in NorthAmerica and thousands of others worldwide.

WeatherEyeFree, The Weather NetworkHHHHH

WeatherEye provides detailed weather conditions, and short-term,hourly and long-term forecasts as well as severe weather alerts.

EPA’s SunWise UV IndexFree, U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyHHHHH

Provides hourly forecasts of ultraviolet radiation intensity as wellas precautions.

Suntan Watcher$0.99, David TessitoreHHHHH

Alerts you when you need to turn over, reapply lotion and checkon your loved ones.

Allergy AlertFree, Pollen.comHHHHH

Track the air quality and allergen levels for your exact locationand plan ahead with the app’s forecasts.

Allergy TrackFree, PLB Melody/StallergenesHHHHH

Allergy Track helps you measure your allergy symptoms and theirintensity.

State of the AirFree, American Lung AssociationHHHHH

Get a real-time and forecasted EPA Air Quality Index for your loca-tion, including both ozone and particulate pollution counts.

OSHA Heat Safety ToolFree, OSHAHHHHH

Calculate the heat index for your location and provides protec-tive measures you can take to prevent heat-related illness.

Heat Index & Relative Humidity$0.99, Verosocial StudioHHHHH

Useful when you’re planning to exercise or work outdoors, thisapp measures air temperature and relative humidity to calculatethe heat index.

Camping & Hiking Apps

AllTrails Hiking and Biking Free, AllTrails, Inc.HHHHH

While most phones lose their signals once you’re out in thewilderness, “no signal” is no problem since you can save a trail toyour phone ahead of time.

Backpacking Planner Checklist$0.99, Little AppsHHHHH

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

Trimble GPS Hunt Pro$4.99, Trimble NavigationHHHHH

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

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56 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps


LeafsnapFree, Columbia UniversityHHHHH

Identify tree species from photographs of their leaves.

My Fishing AdvisorFree, MyFishingAdvisor.com/Pishtech LLCHHHHH

Plug in a few details about your fishing trip and this app presentsyou with the strategy you need to land the big one.

MyNature Animal Tracks$4.99 - $6.99, MyNature Inc.HHHHH

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

Tiny Flashlight + LEDFree, Nikolay AnanievHHHHH

Light up your life by using your phone's screen or its LED light.Built-in controls let you change brightness, color, and even dis-play warning- and police-style lights.

Camp Checklist$0.99, JimblHHHHH

If you’re a list maker then this is a must-have—a preloadedcamping checklist with a huge array of items.

Woodall’s RV & Camping CopilotFree, Waterfield TechnologiesHHHHH

Contains 12,000 campgrounds and RV parks across NorthAmerica to help find just the spot you’re looking for.

US Army Survival GuideFree, MilodroidHHHHH

Based on the US Army Survival Manual, this guide can help youdo anything from identifying a venomous snake to sending asmoke signal.

ViewRanger Outdoors GPSFree, AugmentraHHHHH

Turn your phone into a complete outdoor navigation toolwhether you’re camping, hiking or cycling.

Take Ten to the Greater OutdoorsFree, Columbia Sportswear CompanyHHHHH

Columbia Sportswear developed this app to introduce users tothe Ten Essential Groups—including medical, navigation, sunprotection, tools and fire

Camp Recipes!$1.99, The App SackHHHHH

A compilation of over 700 recipes from campers all over the country.

How to Tie KnotsFree, Sergey BurlakovHHHHH

Offers animated step-by-step instructions to walk you throughhow to tie over 40 different knots.

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Cycling AppsBike Gears$1.99, Bootstrap AppsHHHHH

This app gets down and dirty with bike gear ratios, gain ratios,sprockets, fixing skid patches, and more lingo for those in the know.

Bike Repair$3.99, Atomic SoftwaresHHHHH

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

Cyclemeter GPS Cycling Computer$1.99 - $4.99, Abvio Inc.HHHHH

Customizable audio feedback during your cycle trip fills you in onyour stats, and tells you where your competition is when you'rein a racing frame of mind.

EveryTrailFree, GlobalMotion MediaHHHHH

Find new biking trails right around the corner.

MapMyRide GPS Cycling RidingFree, MapMyFitness Inc.HHHHH

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 CityHHHHH

Maps the safest bike route while avoiding highways, busy streets,steep hills, and other dangers.


SOCIALIZING APPLICATIONSSocial Networking Apps

FacebookFree, FacebookHHHHH

Keep in touch with all your Facebook friends with this free app.

Hoot SuiteFree, HootSuiteHHHHH

Manage multiple social media sites from one convenient app.

TwitterFree, Twitter Inc.HHHHH

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

Dating Apps101 Relationship TipsFree, PazactaHHHHH

A nice way to read about ideas to build, strengthen, and improveyour relationship.

Call FakerFree, Rob FranzHHHHH

Escape a bad date with this app—set a time to receive a fake calland then you can say, “I’m so sorry, but I really have to go. Myroommate is locked out of the apartment.”

Conversation StartersFree, SusaSoftXHHHHH

You’ll have all sorts of intriguing conversation starters that willturn any dud of a date into something great.

Dating Ideas$0.99, Creative GlanceHHHHH

Romantic date ideas: input your zip code, and you get ideasinvolving cultural, outdoor, adventurous, romantic, and novelcategories.

FlirtMapsFree, Neo NetworkHHHHH

With this free app you can find all available singles in your areadisplayed on a map.

Match.comFree, Match.com LLCHHHHH

This free application allows you to search for your love matchwith relative ease.

PickUp LinesFree, Swiss CodemonkeysHHHHH

This app displays pick-up lines, including the “All-Time Top” basedon user votes.

PlentyOfFishFree, PlentyOfFishHHHHH

Join over 25-million users looking for their soul mate with thispopular dating app.

Phone Call Blocking AppsBad Decision Blocker$0.99, John GenestHHHHH

Prevents you from making outgoing calls that you might laterregret.

BlackListFree, AntTek Inc.HHHHH

Create a blacklist to block unwanted calls and text messages.

Call BlockerFree, embwareHHHHH

Block unwanted calls and text messages.

Extreme Call Blocker$5.99, GreyThinkerHHHHH

Hangs up an unwanted call, sends it straight to voicemail, ormutes the call so it rings as normal for the caller and then goes tovoicemail.

Hide a Caller$0.99, Smash Software LLCHHHHH

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


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

For those special occasions when quality matters, this app creates and mails folded greeting cards (not just postcards).

Text Messaging AppsGO SMS ProFree, GO Dev TeamHHHHH

Makes texting more fun with emoticons, and fully integrated withsocial networking websites like Facebook—chat instantlythrough Facebook chat.

Handcent SMSFree, HandcentHHHHH

Ehanced text messaging that lets you send and receive SMS andMMS in style.

TangoFree, TangoHHHHH

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

Email AppsGmailFree, Google Inc.HHHHH

Gmail’s convenience and robust design for the smartphone.

iPriorityMailFree, Ahlquist SoftwareHHHHH

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

K-9 MailFree, K-9 Dog WalkersHHHHH

K-9 Mail is the kingpin of Android email and has all the featuresyou’d ever want.

MailDroidFree, Flipdog Solutions LLCHHHHH

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

Info-Sharing AppsBurstFree, Burst.it LLCHHHHH

Captures, stores, and organizes videos and lets you share videosselectively—you even get to decide who can re-share.

PathFree, Path Inc.HHHHH

Photo- and video-sharing capabilities but limited to 150 socialconnections making it a more intimate network.

NextCallFree, NazoriHHHHH

You decide how often you want to call someone and NextCallsets up a schedule and reminders.

Red Stamp CardsFree, Red Stamp Cards LLCHHHHH

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

Find My FriendsFree, Apple Inc.HHHHH

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, christine reindlHHHHH

Track when you send and receive cards from people in yourphone's Contacts list, and view your card mailing history frompast years.

Touchnote Postcards$1.49/printed postcard, Touchnote LTDHHHHH

Takes your digital image, turns it into a custom printed postcardand sends it anywhere.

Postagram$0.99/printed postcard, Sincerely Inc.HHHHH

Create and send a printed postcard from images on your phone.


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SHOPPING APPLICATIONSDigital Wallet Apps

eWallet$9.99, Ilium SoftwareHHHHH

A one-stop app to organize and remember all of your passwords—from online banking to personal identification (PIN) numbers to email passwords.

PayPal MobileFree, PayPalHHHHH

Make online purchases, instantly transfer money and locate near-by businesses that accept PayPal.

Google WalletFree, GoogleHHHHH

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

Square WalletFree, SquareHHHHH

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

LevelUpFree, SCVNGRHHHHH

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

Lemon WalletFree, LemonHHHHH

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

CardStarFree, CardStarHHHHH

This app allows you to store your reward card numbers and havecashiers scan your bar codes directly from your phone’s screen.

Fashion & Clothing AppseBay Fashion Free, eBay Inc.HHHHH

Peruse designer trends and then tap an item to find similar listings on eBay.

Feather Report$0.99, MEDL MobileHHHHH

Short for Fashion + Weather—use your location’s weather reportto offer randomized outfit suggestions complete with links tobuy.

Fashion Sense$1.99, Eighteen Twenty ConsultingHHHHH

Recommends particular looks based on your body type, and tellsyou when you shouldn’t waste your cash on an outfit that won’tflatter you.

MagicMirror Hair Styler$2.99 - $3.24, Touch MultimediaHHHHH

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

POPSUGAR ShoppingFree, POPSUGAR Inc.HHHHH

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

Yoox.comFree, Yoox.comHHHHH

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

ZapposFree, Zappos.comHHHHH

Zappos sells clothing, bags, beauty products and, of course, shoes.

FastMallFree, MindSmack LLCHHHHH

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

Yahoo! MailFree, Yahoo! Inc.HHHHH

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


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FOOD & PARTY APPLICATIONSFood & Drink Apps

AG Wine Guide$2.99, Approach Guides LLCHHHHH

Your complete wine store companion.

Beer Match: Beer, Food and CheesePairings$0.99, StoneRaven LLCHHHHH

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

BeerCloud Free, INsReady Inc.HHHHH

BeerCloud is the essential app for beer lovers.

Cor.kz Wine Info$1.99, Applied Ambiguities LLCHHHHH

A smartphone sommelier.

Drinkspiration By AbsolutFree, The Absolut CompanyHHHHH

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 MurphyHHHHH

Harvest contains extensive guidelines to help you select the bestproduce available.

How to Cook Everything $9.99, Culinate Inc.HHHHH

Contains over 2,000 recipes, menu ideas and how-to illustrationswith built-in timers included in the recipe to guide you.

Mise En Place$2.99, Derrick SchneiderHHHHH

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 like a 7:00 p.m. dinner.

Mixology™ Drink Recipes Free, Digital OutcropHHHHH

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

Pair It$4.99, Bandar InteractiveHHHHH

Comprehensive food and wine pairing guide.

Product & Gift Research AppsESRB Rating Search AppFree, Entertainment Software Rating BoardHHHHH

Feel safe when giving video game gifts to children—snap aphoto of the game package or enter the game title, and you getthe rating summaries you need.

GoodGuideFree, GoodGuideHHHHH

If you have eco-conscious people in your life, the GoodGuidemobile app will make gift-giving simpler by identifying, ratingand reviewing products for eco-friendliness.

Grocery IQFree, Coupons.com HHHHH

Make grocery lists by text entry, voice or barcode scans. Appinstantly organizes your list into aisles.

ShopSavvyFree, ShopSavvy Inc.HHHHH

Scans barcodes, providing reviews and price comparisonsamong 20,000 different retailers as well as real-time pricing andavailability among thousands of online merchants.

Gift IdeasFree, Rosu GabrielHHHHH

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

El Gifto - Gift Ideas GuruFree, IBKR Analytics LLCHHHHH

Enter the gift recipient's personality type, their relationship toyou and other details to get creative, appropriate gift ideas fromthis app.


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SeatingPlanner+$4.99, Gobee LabsHHHHH

Virtually plan your big party's table seating so that everyone hasa place to park and those mortal enemies won't have to glare ateach other from across the table.

Party Planning List$0.99, JimblHHHHH

Pre-loaded with tasks that apply to virtually all types of parties,so you don’t have to type out every single task.

Party Planner$0.99, PartyPlannerApp.comHHHHH

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

Event Planning Tools 2.0$0.99, Party AficionadoHHHHH

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

Bar & Restaurant AppsHappy Hour FinderFree, Happy Hour Finder, IncHHHHH

A great app for finding all the details on happy hours happeningclose to your current location.

CitysearchFree, Citysearch MobileHHHHH

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

DrinkOwlFree, Great Owl TechnologiesHHHHH

DrinkOwl currently offers drink specials for 75 cities (and counting).

LocalEats$0.99, Magellan Press Inc.HHHHH

Points you to the best local restaurants in over 50 major US cities,as well as other local favorites in smaller cities and towns. Over15,000 restaurants included.

SushipediaFree, Tokiolabs LLCHHHHH

Sushipedia contains an encyclopedia with over 200 sushi entries,including full color photographs and detailed descriptions.

Allrecipes.com Dinner SpinnerFree, Allrecipes.comHHHHH

Click on what type of meal you’re making (dessert, main dish,etc.), the ingredients you have, and how much time you want tospend cooking, and the app will show you the matching recipes.

GrillTime $1.99, WeagleHHHHH

GrillTime calculates recommended grilling times to give you perfect timing from flip to finish.

Weber’s On The Grill$4.99, Weber-Stephen ProductsHHHHH

Gives you instant access to over 250 of Weber’s tried-and-truerecipes, from appetizers to desserts with lots of marinades, rubs,and main courses in between.

Omaha Steaks Steak Time Free, Omaha Steaks InternationalHHHHH

Get access to over 100 recipes organized by cut, and boost yourgrilling know-how with the “Steak 101” instructional video series.

Grill-it! $0.99, SluiceHHHHH

This offering from the folks at the online magazine GrillingCompanion offers step-by-step instructions for producing a slewof grilled delicacies.

Party Planning AppsEviteFree, EviteHHHHH

This popular website brings its invitation finesse to your smart-phone so you can manage guest lists on the go.

Phrase Party! (Catch It)$1.99, iParty MobileHHHHH

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


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Travel & Navigation ApplicationsAutomobile Apps

Rev$39.99, DevToaster, LLCHHHHH

Monitors real-time vehicle data and can tell you vital detailsabout how your car is operating, including engine temperatureand actual speed and RPMs, revealing any inaccuracies in yourinstruments.

GobyFree, Goby TechnologiesHHHHH

With more than 350 categories of things to do, and more than 6million events across the U.S., the Goby goldfish will simply notallow you to be bored.

Happy Houred Free, Appsolute MediaHHHHH

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

Karaoke LoopFree, Entourage EntertainmentHHHHH

Find Karaoke shows in your area.

ThrillistFree, ThrillistHHHHH

Thrillist brings you hand-picked local restaurants, bars, clubs, andstores in 14 US cities.

UrbanDaddyFree, UrbanDaddyHHHHH

Select which area of the city you prefer, your companion (clients,mistress), personality type (old and stodgy, from out of town)and desired atmosphere (next to a fireplace, around hipsters).

UrbanspoonFree, UrbanspoonHHHHH

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.

Harry’s Lap Timer$8.99, Harald SchlangmannHHHHH

Ideal for the automotive enthusiast who enjoys participating inautocross or track events, this app will give you great information,including data on where you drove fastest, where you sloweddown, and how quickly you completed your fastest lap.

EZ CareFree, MobileAppWerxHHHHH

Tells you when the recommended service intervals are for your spe-cific make and model, including when to change your oil, whenyour brake pads should be evaluated, and how often you shouldhave your air filters replaced.

AutoGeekOnlineFree, Autogeek.netHHHHH

Expert advice about detailing your car inside and out, as well as thebest products to use on your car’s paint, leather seats, wheels andwindows.

CarBuzz Free, Wapit, Ltd.HHHHH

Nonstop news about the latest in the automotive field with pre-views of new models, photos of upcoming introductions and tech-nical specifications of various car styles.

Car Locator$3.99, Edward KimHHHHH

Photograph the location of your car when you park and later youcan look at a satellite image that shows your location and your car’slocation.

DriveSafe.lyFree, iSpeech Inc.HHHHH

Uses text-to-speech functionality so your incoming text messagesand emails are read to you aloud while you drive.

GasBuddyFree, GasBuddy Organization Inc.HHHHH

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

INRIX TrafficFree, INRIX Inc.HHHHH

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


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iWrecked - Auto Accident AssistantFree, Vurgood ApplicationsHHHHH

Record all crash information and add photos to create an accident report.

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

With the use of driver generated databases, this app alerts you tored light cameras, speed traps and DUI checkpoints.

RepairPal: Auto Repair ExpertFree, RepairPalHHHHH

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),WirelessESPHHHHH

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

Navigation AppsBeat the TrafficFree, Triangle Software LLCHHHHH

View traffic maps and click 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.

Magellan RoadMate North America$59.99, MagellanHHHHH

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

MotionX GPS Drive$0.99, MotionX HHHHH

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

Navigon North America$59.99, GarminHHHHH

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

TeleNav GPS NavigatorFree, TeleNav Inc.HHHHH

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 more.

TomTom US & Mexico$59.99 - $65.99, TomTomHHHHH

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

WazeFree, WazeHHHHH

When you’re on the go and don’t need directions, this social appallows you to see what other drivers are encountering—such astraffic, accidents, and police sightings.

Maverick: GPS NavigationFree, Code SectorHHHHH

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

Travel AppsBlackBook City GuidesFree, BlackBook Media Corp.HHHHH

Covering all the major cities within the U.S. and abroad, this app helps you locate the best venues and hottest spots in yourlocation.

Taxi MagicFree, RideCharge, Inc.HHHHH

You can do everything from your smartphone—from finding andbooking a taxi to charging the ride to your credit card.

Spring Break Live$1.99, EarthCam, Inc.HHHHH

From Miami to Maui to Cancun, check out what’s going on in allthe Spring Break hot spots via live web cams.

Trip Splitter$1.99, DC Software ArtsHHHHH

Expertly split all types of expenses—add an unlimited number ofparticipants and create even or uneven splits for each bill.


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KayakFree, Kayak.comHHHHH

Compare flight, hotel, and car rentals from multiple sites in one app.

Packing Pro$2.99, Quinn GenzelHHHHH

You’ll never forget anything again with Packing Pro.

SitOrSquatFree, P&G ProductionsHHHHH

A traveler’s bathroom finder—SitOrSquat lists toilets by locationand gives them user ratings.

Trip Journal$2.99, iQappsHHHHH

Document your vacation experiences and share them withfriends and family.

TripAdvisorFree, TripAdvisorHHHHH

Reviews of hotels, restaurants, and attractions from real travelers.

TripItFree, TripItHHHHH

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

Disney Mobile MagicFree, DisneyHHHHH

GPS maps for the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios,Animal Kingdom, Downtown Disney, with official wait times.

Walt Disney World Park Hours$0.99, MinnewareHHHHH

You’ll find opening and closing times for all Disney Parks as wellas “Magic Hours” for guests staying on Disney property.

Disney World Wait TimesFree, Phunware, Inc./UndercoverTourist.comHHHHH

Check this app to find user-generated wait times that will helpyou make your choice.

GateGuruFree, Mobility Apps LLCHHHHH

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

FlightViewFree, FlightViewHHHHH

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

Airport LifeFree, Airport Life LLCHHHHH

Developed by a seasoned pilot. Terminal maps provide direc-tions to gates, services, shopping and restaurants in over 100airports.

Airport Guide - iFlyFree, Red Cirrus LLCHHHHH

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

Airport Transit Guide$4.99, Salk International LLCHHHHH

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

My TSAFree, Transportation SecurityHHHHH

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

AllSubway $0.99, carmatHHHHH

Instead of standing in front of maps in the busy corridors likean obvious tourist, study the multi-colored lines ahead of time.

FlightTrack$4.99, MobiataHHHHH

FlightTrack can not only show you—offline—the flight path toyour destination but how much longer you have to go.

Globetipping$0.99, Ivan Karpan & Evgeniy LebedHHHHH

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


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HEALTH & FITNESS APPLICATIONSMedical Apps

Vision TestFree, 3 Sided Cube Design LtdHHHHH

This app contains a number of eye tests and questions to evalu-ate your eyes for a variety of conditions including visual acuity,astigmatism, and color tests.

Cures A-Z Free, Plum AmazingHHHHH

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

DoximityFree, DoximityHHHHH

Doximity’s free social networking software gives you the abilityto connect with other medical professionals and colleagues.

S.O.S. by American Red CrossFree, Sharecare Inc.HHHHH

Step-by-step instructions to deal with a wide range of emergen-cies, from choking to allergic reactions to broken bones.

Pocket First Aid & CPR$1.99, Jive Media Inc.HHHHH

Get rapid, concise instructions on how to perform CPR andrespond during an emergency.

iHealthTrax$4.99, Winkpass Creations Inc.HHHHH

Give your doctor complete and accurate information with this calendar based iPhone application that stores your medicalhistory.

MedicalRadioFree, ReachMDHHHHH

MedicalRadio delivers top-flight streaming content through theirexclusive XM-Radio satellite channel as well as access to over5,000 podcasts. Pandora Radio for Doctors!

Prognosis: Your Diagnosis Free, Medical JoyworksHHHHH

This free app presents clinical cases in an interactive format thatyou investigate and diagnose.

The Merck Manual - Home Edition$9.99, Agile PartnersHHHHH

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

Total Baby$4.99, ANDESignedHHHHH

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

WebMDFree, WebMD LLCHHHHH

The famous WebMD website is now available for smartphones.

Fitness AppsDaily Ab WorkoutFree, Daniel MillerHHHHH

This app offers 5- to 10-minute abdominal routines for men andwomen that step you through 10 of the best ab-sculpting exer-cises out there.

Instant Heart RateFree, Azumio Inc.HHHHH

By placing the tip of your index finger on the phone’s camera,your phone quickly and accurately registers your heart rate and areal-time chart shows your every heartbeat.

Couch-to-5K $1.99 - $2.99, The Active Network, Inc.HHHHH

If you are feeling like a couch potato and want to get up and getmoving, try the Couch-to-5K app.

FitocracyFree, Fitocracy Inc.HHHHH

By utilizing the addicting leveling system of games and combin-ing it with your workouts, Fitocracy motivates and empowers youto succeed at fitness.

Walt Disney World Notescast $3.99, TimeStream SoftwareHHHHH

Access to 300 pages of information, trivia and hints for thosenotorious “hidden Mickeys.”


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SECURITY APPLICATIONSHome Security Apps

Alarm.comFree, Alarm.com Inc.HHHHH

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

Sex Offenders Search$1.99, LogSat Software LLCHHHHH

Updates every day with a list of names, addresses, and pictures ofregistered sex offenders nearby.

IP Cam ViewerFree - $4.99, Robert ChouHHHHH

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

Guardian WatchFree, Guardian Watch LLCHHHHH

Report an emergency quickly or stream video and audio to public officials using your smartphone to assist them withresponse efforts.

FooducateFree, Fooducate Ltd.HHHHH

Fooducate grades your groceries on nutrition from an A to D,explains what’s really inside each product, and then suggestshealthier alternatives.

LIVESTRONG MyQuitCoach – Dare toQuit SmokingFree, Demand Media, Inc.HHHHH

This physician-approved, interactive and easy-to-use app createsa personalized plan to help you quit smoking—evaluate yourcurrent status and set attainable goals.

Endomondo Sports TrackerFree, Endomondo.comHHHHH

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

RunKeeper - GPS Track Run WalkFree, FitnessKeeper Inc.HHHHH

Keep track of your runs and share with friends.

Stress Relief AppsDaily Yoga (All-in-One)Free, IMOBLIFE Co. LtdHHHHH

Through video and voice instruction, this app guides youthrough difficulty levels of 36 yoga sessions and over 300 poses.

Relax Melodies $2.99, Ipnos SoftwareHHHHH

Select one of the 46 included sounds and you’ll have an instantrelaxing and calming soundtrack to get you ready for sleep time.

Pocket Yoga$2.99, Rainfrog LLCHHHHH

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

Stress Check by AzumioFree, AzumioHHHHH

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

Relax and SleepFree, Mizu Software SolutionsHHHHH

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 HHHHH

Created by leading clinical psychologists and researchers, thisapp uses cognitive behavioral therapy and Mindfulness principlesto help you identify and manage your stress.

iStress$0.99, PSI Apps HHHHH

iStress teaches you stress-management skills using humor andpositive thinking to reduce stress and promote a relaxed lifestyle.

Anti-Stress ExerciseFree, QUO?TE DevelopersHHHHH

Guides you through breathing exercises to reduce your stress levels.


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SpotCrime LiteFree, Popvox LLCHHHHH

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

K9 Web Protection BrowserFree, Blue Coat Systems Inc.HHHHH

A free browser that blocks inappropriate content, includingmaterial related to pornography, hate/violence, gambling, anddrugs.

OnCall Defender – Advanced MobileProtectionFree (with paid subscription plan), AMP LLCHHHHH

Sends an emergency call to local public authorities on yourbehalf that provides critical information to first responders.

ME911Free, ME911HHHHH

One-stop access to your family’s medical and emergency contactinformation, including allergies, insurance information, and med-ications.

Smartphone Security AppsSprite Backup$4.95, Sprite MobileHHHHH

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

SMS Backup+Free, Jan BerkelHHHHH

Back up your text messages to your Gmail account with this freeapp.

MyBackup Pro$4.99, RerWare, LLCHHHHH

This highly praised app backs up all your data in one cloud-based location via MyBackup Pro’s web portal.

eyeD® Biometric Password Manager$17.99, Winkpass Creations Inc.HHHHH

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

KryptosFree ($10/month subscription required), KryptosCommunicationsHHHHH

Encrypts all of your phone calls with military-grade encryption toprevent unwanted eavesdropping.

NQ Mobile SecurityFree, NQ Mobile HHHHH

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

TouchDown for SmartphonesFree, $19.99 license purchase required, NitroDesk HHHHH

TouchDown provides a full-featured email experience with all of the functionality you are accustomed to when using email on a PC.

avast! Mobile SecurityFree, AVAST SoftwareHHHHH

One of the most comprehensive security apps on the Androidplatform with no hidden costs.

Lookout Security & AntivirusFree - $2.99/month, Lookout Mobile SecurityHHHHH

A great app for anyone with security concerns—scans your appsfor viruses and spyware and includes anti-theft tools.

mSecure - Password Manager $9.99, mSeven Software LLCHHHHH

Remember one password as your password list is encrypted andavailable for sync to other mSecure enabled devices.

Webroot Security & AntivirusFree - $19.99/year, Webroot Inc.HHHHH

Webroot’s free version of this app scans for viruses and malware,scans web links and URLs to thwart phishing attempts.

Kaspersky Mobile Security$14.95/year, Kaspersky LabHHHHH

Kaspersky’s full mobile security suite with anti-virus, anti-theftand anti-phishing capabilities.


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Merriam-Webster DictionaryFree, Merriam-Webster Inc.HHHHH

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

Productivity AppsreQallFree, reQall Inc.HHHHH

Capture and organize all your tasks and to-do items in one place.

Things$9.99, Cultured CodeHHHHH

Considered one of the top task-management apps, Things iseasy-to-use and effective at helping you stay organized and managing your time.

Toodledo$2.99, ToodledoHHHHH

Filters and prioritizes your most important tasks, creating anautomatic smart list, configuring the best use of your time, andgenerating “alarms” for tasks due soon.

Cozi Family Organizer: SharedCalendar & ListsFree, CoziHHHHH

Organize your calendar, grocery list and to-do lists, and muchmore in a shared format that the whole family can access andmodify.

WunderlistFree, 6WunderkinderHHHHH

Organize your daily life with simple to-do lists and basic task-management.

Remember The MilkFree, Remember The Milk Inc.HHHHH

One of the most popular task-management apps, Remember TheMilk allows you to track, prioritize and check off tasks quickly andeasily.

BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTAPPLICATIONSWriters’ Apps

FastPencilFree, FastPencil.comHHHHH

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

iA Writer$0.99, Information Architects Inc.HHHHH

Let the ideas flow freely onto the virtual pages with iA Writerwithout distractions: no spellchecking, auto-correction, toolbars—only concentrate on what matters, writing.

Child Safety AppsMobiflock$29.95/year, MobiflockHHHHH

Block apps, numbers, camera use, contacts and websites on yourchild’s phone from your phone or a remote computer.

MamaBear Child TrackerFree, geoWaggle, LLCHHHHH

Find out where your children are, with whom they're spendingtime, and also monitor texting and social media usage.

Family TrackerFree, LogSat Software LLCHHHHH

Use it to track as many devices as you wish, and see where thosedevices are at any time.

Life360 Family LocatorFree, Life360HHHHH

Features include a private family map with check-ins allowingyou to quickly let your family know you've made it to yourappointment, the airport, or a friend's house.

SMS TrackerStarts at $2/month, GIZMOQUIPHHHHH

SMS Tracker has everything needed to monitor your child'sdevice usage.


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Line2Free, Toktumi, Inc.HHHHH

Adds a second phone line to your mobile device so you can separate those business and personal calls.

Vonage MobileFree, VonageHHHHH

Vonage Mobile lets you make local and international calls—allyou need is WiFi and 3G or 4G.

HeyTellFree, Voxilate, Inc.HHHHH

Save a bundle in phone minutes: send voice messages as anemail rather than making multiple calls.

TruphoneFree, TruphoneHHHHH

Make and receive calls instantly over the Internet with Truphone.

Finance AppsRetirePlanFree, Katherine PhilipHHHHH

Enter your financial data and assumptions, and be dazzled asyour financial plan instantly appears before your very own eyes.

Easy Money Planner FreeFree, In A Day DevelopmentHHHHH

Choose from 12 handy planners: calculate how much to save forretirement, your investment rate of return, and your loan pay-ment amount instantly.

VanguardFree, The Vanguard Group, Inc.HHHHH

Keep track of your investments portfolio, research stock, instantlyreceive your latest account activity and trade stocks from yoursmartphone.

iTrade - Stock Market SimulatorFree, Neon SurgeHHHHH

iTrade lets manage your own virtual stock portfolio.

Dragon DictationFree, Nuance CommunicationsHHHHH

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

ProducteevFree, ProducteevHHHHH

To-do-list app that lets you mark priorities, set deadlines, andreceive email reminders. With paid upgrade, this app becomes aproject management system.

Data-Saving & Minute-Saving Apps3G WatchdogFree, Richard GruetHHHHH

Monitor your data usage daily, weekly, monthly or by billing period.

Onavo ExtendHHHHH

Uses data compression to allow you to receive more data thannormal—up to five times more!

Traffic MonitorFree, RadioOpt GmbHHHHHH

Your all-in-one smartphone usage monitor: track WiFi and cellu-lar traffic, monitor calls, roaming charges and text messages.

BundlerFree, NexusPCHHHHH

Bundler is your no-frills data monitoring app for Windows Phoneusers.

My Data ManagerFree, Mobidia TechnologyHHHHH

Control your data and reduce your phone bill as you manageyour data with up-to-the-minute usage statistics.

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HOME & LIFESTYLE APPLICATIONSPets Apps

All Pets Radio PlayerFree, Quick Bridge SolutionsHHHHH

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

ASPCA ActionFree, BlueToadHHHHH

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

HungryPetFree, OhmzTechHHHHH

HungryPet offers a database of "people" food and details onwhether these foods are safe for your dog or cat to eat.

Pet First Aid$2.99 - $3.99, Jive Media Inc.HHHHH

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

Pet Master Pro$4.99, GF Media AppsHHHHH

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

PetcentricFree, PurinaHHHHH

Petcentric will find pet-friendly establishments for your animals,such as hotels, restaurants, and parks.

Petoxins$2.99, Treviso Media GroupHHHHH

Prevent your pet from eating poisonous and toxic plants withthis searchable database.

PetRescuersFree, HomeAgain PetRescuersHHHHH

Search for local missing animals and get alerts when a pet hasgone missing in your area so you can remain vigilant in helpingto find the animal.

CNBC Real-TimeFree, NBC Universal, Inc.HHHHH

Instantly receive real-time quotes before, during and after market hours.

StockTwitsFree, StockTwits Inc.HHHHH

Find out which stocks are being tweeted about the most andtrending worldwide.

Pageonce - Money & BillsFree, PageonceHHHHH

Pay bills, manage and track your cash, credit cards, bills andinvestment portfolio all in one app.

Chase Mobile BankingFree, JPMorgan ChaseHHHHH

Pay anyone with an email address instantly with Chase QuickPayand make deposits by taking a photo of your check.

Tax Preparation AppsH&R BlockFree, H&R BlockHHHHH

An income tax encyclopedia from H&R Block.

IRS2GoFree, IRSHHHHH

Track the status of your income tax return.

TaxACT CentralFree, 2nd Story SoftwareHHHHH

Tax preparation, filing, and return status tracking in one app.

TaxCaster by TurboTaxFree, Intuit Inc.HHHHH

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

TurboTax SnapTaxFree to try ($19.99 to file), Intuit Inc.HHHHH

Tax prep app from the leader in tax prep software.


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Babysitting AppsiSitterFree, Dorada SoftwareHHHHH

A handy substitute for a baby monitor that works on the iPad,iPhone, or iPod Touch.

Babysitting Guide$0.99, PhoneflipsHHHHH

Babysitting advice, including what to do if a child gets upsetwhen his mom leaves, how to swaddle a baby, what to expectduring diaper changes, and much more.

Baby Connect $4.99, Seacloud SoftwareHHHHH

The old days of writing in a child’s activity journal are over—nowyou can log everything the child does in this simple app.

Baby Food Diary$1.99, Evan L.HHHHH

When a baby starts solid foods, this app simplifies the process bytracking when a baby ate a certain food, if it caused a reaction,and how much of the food the baby wanted.

ScanAvert$1.99, ScanAvert, Inc.HHHHH

ScanAvert allows you to pre-program a child’s dietary requirements, and then scan the barcode of a food product todetermine if the ingredients contain anything harmful.

Lifestyle AppsThe American SurvivalistFree, Failsafe ProductionsHHHHH

The latest survivalist news, from terrorist attacks to homelandsecurity alerts, step-by-step instructions on how to pack a survival bag, all of the info you need to become a survivalist.

Disaster Readiness $1.99, PhoneflipsHHHHH

This app helps you prepare for a variety of disaster events andshows you what you should do if they head your way.

Mary Kay Virtual MakeoverFree, Mary Kay, Inc.HHHHH

Download your own photo or choose a model to try differentcombinations of eye makeup, lip colors, hairstyles, hair colors,accessories and more.

Stylish Girl – Fashion ClosetFree, DDN Media Inc.HHHHH

Photograph each piece of clothing to create a virtualizedwardrobe and then mix and match into different outfits withoutever having to try anything on.

Fashion KaleidoscopeFree, Inporia Inc.HHHHH

With hundreds of fashion ideas for clothing, shoes, accessories,and handbags, this app is sure to inspire your inner fashionista.

Beauty Product ReviewsFree, Total Beauty MediaHHHHH

Actual user feedback on various products, from anti-aging lotionsto hair gel to bath beads.

Chore Pad$2.99, NannekHHHHH

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

Clorox myStainFree, CloroxHHHHH

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

Hair CastFree, Studio OneHHHHH

This app will ease your hairstyling tension by telling you the temperature, level of humidity, chance of rain, and projectedwind speed for your area.

MakeoverFree, ModiFaceHHHHH

Take a photo of yourself, and then use this app to see how youwould look with a different hairstyle, a change in makeup, tan,anti-aging procedures, plastic surgery.2

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Natural Beauty RecipeFree, Kiumiu SoftHHHHH

Shares beauty techniques using ingredients you have around thehouse.

Stylebook $3.99, left brain/right brainHHHHH

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 LTDHHHHH

Watch slideshows of the work from specific designers, view runway videos sorted by collection, or look through a series ofhip street fashions.

TriMirror Fashion ClosetsFree, Quakeup Media Production Inc.HHHHH

Post outfits to your social network for comments.

Wedding AppsweddinggawkerFree, gawkerverseHHHHH

Get ideas and inspiration for your own event by viewing wedding photographs submitted by wedding bloggers throughout the world.

Wedding CountdownFree, Sevenlogics, Inc.HHHHH

A fun and fully customizable way to count down the days andhours until your wedding day.

The Knot Ultimate Wedding PlannerFree, TheKnotHHHHH

The Knot offers a variety of tools for organizing the big day,whether it’s your to-do list, budget, guest list, dress ideas, andmore.

Wedding SnapFree, Minglle LLCHHHHH

Encourage guests to upload photos so you can see your wedding from their perspective and check out what you missed!

Wedding Registry$1.00, iListAppsHHHHH

Rather than register at multiple stores, this app’s barcode scannerlets you add an item to your registry from any store in town!

Our Wedding PlannerFree, WepalaHHHHH

To-do lists, budget planning, seating plans, guest lists (includingpending and received options) and more to assist you witheverything you need to plan your wedding.

Honeymoon Planner$0.99, JimblHHHHH

Includes more than 275 honeymoon and travel-related checklistitems, such as “women sundries,” “medication,” ”documents” andmore.

Fun Wedding$0.99, Intelligence, Inc.HHHHH

Create a music playlist for your reception by searching throughmillions of songs—including gems from the 1950s through pres-ent time.

Maid of Honor Complete Guide$0.99, KoolAppzHHHHH

From giving the all-important toast to holding the bride’s handthroughout the gown-selection process, you are the go-to gal forall the tears, laughter and hair-pulling that goes into planning awedding.

The Maid of Honor Speeches$0.99, AppWarriorHHHHH

With this app, you can choose from 10 complete Maid ofHonor/Bridesmaid speeches that you can personalize, or select atemplate to use and fill in the blanks.

Bachelorette Scavenger Hunt$0.99, KMT Marketing DesignsHHHHH

A scavenger hunt is among the bachelorette party favorites, planand organize one without the need for pen and paper.

Dare Devil Bachelorette$1.99, Forte DevelopmentHHHHH

If you really want to make the bachelorette party interesting, thisapp offers an edgier version of the classic game “Truth or Dare.”No matter your party location, you can play more than 100 differ-ent truths or dares, in either competitive or playful mode.

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Group Guess – Bridal Shower Game$2.99, LuPalm WondersHHHHH

Similar to the group game Taboo, this app takes the headacheout of planning the bridal shower games with this app.

Home Décor AppsiHandy Carpenter$1.99, iHandy, Inc.HHHHH

With five great tools on board, including a plumb bob, a surfacelevel, a steel protractor, a steel ruler, and a bubble level bar youcan calibrate your measurements quickly and easily.

Carpenter’s Helper LiteFree, My PieHHHHH

Thanks to Carpenter’s Helper, you can calculate simple solutionslike a room’s area, as well as tougher measurements such as roofpitch and stair rise.

Benjamin Moore Color CaptureFree, Benjamin Moore & Co.HHHHH

Just snap a photo of a particular paint color, and the app will tell you the color it matches in the company’s 3,300-plus paintspectrum.

Smart Tools$2.50, Smart Tools Co.HHHHH

You can’t buy 15 individual tools—including a metal detector—for $2.50 at your local home improvement store, but you canwith this app.

The Home DepotFree, The Home Depot, Inc.HHHHH

Look up a product that you’re interested in buying, then find outwhich store has it and whether it’s available in the store invento-ry, saving you from making unnecessary trips.

HomeSavvyFree, Service MagicHHHHH

The HomeSavvy app allows you to keep track of your homemaintenance needs, and even alerts you if you’re overdue.

HGTV To GoFree, Scripps Networks, LLCHHHHH

In addition to watching the full episodes of HGTV shows, you canalso access photo galleries that offer tips and ideas for re-creat-ing a design theme in your house.

Handy Construction Calculators$7.99, Sidetop SoftwareHHHHH

An app that calculates everything from amps, watts, and volts toexcavation and backfill.

Houzz Interior Design IdeasFree, Houzz Inc.HHHHH

The largest database of home design ideas on the internet andover 700,000 photos—browse by style, room and location andsave them to your virtual idea book.

3D Room Design Udesignit$4.99, HB Conception Virtuelle Inc.HHHHH

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

Budget Shopping Locator$2.99, MapMuseHHHHH

With this bargain locator, unearth consignment shops, flea markets, swap meets and thrift stores nearby, anywhere in thecountry.

Christie’sFree, Christie’s Inc.HHHHH

Participate in an auction to bid on an antique luxury armchair,20th century chandelier, mahogany armoire or other extravagantfurnishings—without stepping foot outside.

DécOrganizer$2.99, Aisling AppsHHHHH

Track furniture to purchase, favorite stores and websites, con-tacts, notes, prices, photos and a wish list—all in easy-to-file fold-ers categorized by room.

Dream Home$0.99, ApalonHHHHH

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.comHHHHH

The app version of Fab.com, the website that sells urban designergoods and art at an on-sale price tag.

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iHandy LevelFree, iHandySoft Inc.HHHHH

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

iQila Interior Design CommunityFree, Pyronyx LTDHHHHH

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 LLCHHHHH

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

PalettesFree, Rick MaddyHHHHH

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

Photo Measures$4.99, Big Blue PixelHHHHH

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

Remodelista$2.99, Remodelista LLCHHHHH

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

Spiritual Apps101 Success Tips Free, PazactaHHHHH

This app contains success and self-development tips to developstrategies to counter your weak points.

Inspirational QuotesFree, AppFluteHHHHH

The thought-provoking quotes in this app can help you to keepmoving forward, make an overdue change, or simply help you tolive life to the fullest.

Atheist Pocket Debater$2.99, JAY-ROC InvestmentsHHHHH

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

BibleFree, LifeChurch.tvHHHHH

This bible app includes over 100 versions, including the KingJames Version, the New American Bible, The Message, and more.

Book of Shadows$3.99, Shadowink Designs TechnologyHHHHH

Book of Shadows is a personal spell recipe book of sorts forpagans and features rituals, rites, spells, traditions, holidays andmuch more.

Daily Buddhist Prayers$1.99, Buddhist AppsHHHHH

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

eVotionsFree, Little i Apps LLCHHHHH

Billed as a series of "digital devotions for modern Catholics" andincludes images, videos, prayers and writings, plus pushreminders for praying novenas.

LDS Gospel LibraryFree, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsHHHHHAndroid, iOS, BlackBerry, Windows PhoneThe Mormon Church’s Gospel Library allows users to

access lesson manuals, general conference addresses and scrip-tures from just about any phone platform.

Prayer Time PROFree, NextWorldMobileHHHHH

An app to calculate the correct prayer times and proper directionto face for Muslim worshippers.

Crafts AppsBlockfab Free, Mary Kay PodleckiHHHHH

Ever found fabric that you just know would make a beautiful quiltbut you have no idea how much to buy? This app will help youwith that task.


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CraftgawkerFree, gawkerverseHHHHH

A photo gallery that allows you to visually search and discoverhandmade arts and crafts to inspire your own projects.

Crafty Gemini Free, Vanessa WilsonHHHHH

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

Easy Stitch $2.99, Technical Made Easy LLCHHHHH

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

Knit Counter LiteFree, Cordless DogHHHHH

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

QuiltingCalcFree, Robert Kaufman FabricsHHHHH

Numerous quilting calculations—how much fabric is needed forbacking, batting and borders, and many more.

Tip Junkie Free, Mitchell ApplicationsHHHHH

Tutorials on how to make homemade gifts, holiday crafts, homedécor, parties, delicious recipes and more.

Gardening AppsHome Outside Palette$1.99, Advanced Data Design, Inc.HHHHH

Beyond just trees and plants, this app includes 280 hand-drawncolor elements that lets you design with hammocks, patios,driveways, sheds, and other outdoor elements.

Gardenate$1.99, Hutchinson Software Pty Ltd.HHHHHAndroid, iOS, NokiaThis app gives you all of the information you need to

plant and harvest your own vegetable garden.

Grow Your OwnFree, The Royal Horticultural SocietyHHHHH

Grow Your Own provides planting information for 20 popularfruits and vegetables and recommends plants based on yourexpertise level, and your available time and space.

MyGardenFree, Trendsco bvbaHHHHH

MyGarden.org allows gardeners to connect with one another andshare their failures and successes.

Garden 360$2.49, ATU SoftwareHHHHH

Garden 360 allows you to record and organize information about your plants—update your garden journal with both textand pictures.

Herbs+$2.99, Daniel WallHHHHH

This reference app provides pictures and information about 40common herbs and spices and includes planting tips, culinaryideas and medicinal uses.

The Gardeners Calendar$1.60, Deraign SolutionsHHHHH

This comprehensive app gives vegetable gardeners useful gardening guides on composting, gardening techniques, fertilizer, crop rotation, and soil composition.

When to Plant$1.99, Growing Interactive LimitedHHHHH

When to Plant helps you set up a planting schedule based onyour location and the plants that you want to cultivate.

Bugs in the Garden$0.99, Justin DavidsonHHHHH

This app lists 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 CookHHHHH

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



Eden Garden Designer$1.99, Herbaceous SoftwareHHHHH

Take a photo of your empty garden (or use a provided image)and plant photorealistic pics of the flora and fauna you plan touse.

Garden Buddy$2.99, Island AppsHHHHH

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

iVeggieGarden$9.99, Moorit SoftwareHHHHH

Includes everything you'll need to plan, track, and troubleshootyour vegetable patch (or farm) from pre-seeding to post-harvest.

Landscaper's Companion$4.99, Stevenson SoftwareHHHHH

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

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WHAT DO OURICONS MEAN?

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


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5SmartphonesSENIOR-SAVVY

Clever device designs for the maturemobile user By Simon HillOne in eight Americans is now over the age of 65, and like the younger crowd, seniorsdeserve the latest technology. However, it might not be quite as accessible for them as itis for the generation who grew up with it. The natural process of aging can bring abouthearing, eyesight and coordination challenges. But, alert manufacturers, realizing theneeds of this growing demographic, have designed and developed smartphones with themore mature user in mind.

APPS_1309-SENIOR 6/17/13 1:45 AM Page 78


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Fujitsu Stylistic S01Here’s an Android smartphone with a great blend of features for any technophobes out there. There’s a nice big4-inch display, solid specs (including a 1.4GHz single-coreprocessor and an 8MP camera), and it is both dustproof andwater-resistant. It’s comfortable to hold, the buttons are bigand clear, and the interface that has been built on top ofAndroid includes large, clearly marked features and a helpbutton on each page to explain everything. It also has abuilt-in personal alarm in case of emergency.

The phone asks you your age during setup and it eventweaks the frequency of sounds for older ears incapable ofregistering higher frequencies. There’s also a feature thatallows you to slow down the speech of the caller on theother end. The interface tweaks extend to a web portal freeof ads and a simplified set of camera controls.


Jitterbug TouchYou’ll find a 3.2-inch touchscreen that slidesaside to reveal a full, physical QWERTY keyboardon the Jitterbug Touch. The keys are well spacedand easy to press and the basic interface is simple and accessible. However, the 320x240-pixel resolution is a real letdown and theJitterbug user interface is running on top of avery old version of Android. Overall, it doesn’toffer the best user experience.

On the plus side it does have good battery life,the interface options are clear, and there arebuilt-in apps and services for the elderly, such as the 5Star™ Urgent Response app and aLiveNurse service. It is relatively inexpensive and it won’t tie you into a long-term contractwith cancellation fees, but in terms of hardwareand performance, it’s tough to recommendunreservedly.



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Doro PhoneEasy 740This Android smartphone is a sliderdesign—the touchscreen slides up to reveala physical dialing pad with large, clearlymarked keys. The interface, called the DoroExperience, is unrecognizable as Android. It’sa simple list that scrolls vertically and eachselection is large and descriptively labeled.

Functionality is deliberately basic, there’s a 5MP camera, and the 3.2-inch display isfairly low resolution at 320x480 pixels. It hasplenty of handy extras, like an extremelyloud speaker, and a magnifying glass app to enlarge text. There are also built-in emergency functions which tie in to the GPS functionality to identify your location.




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Pantech FlexIt simplifies Android, reducing it down to one, easily accessible home screen, but the Pantech Flex doesn’tscrimp on hardware or features. It has a 4.3-inch display, with good 540x960-pixel resolution, an 8MP camera,and it supports the fastest networks with 4G LTE. All of the interface options are large and clear, the setupprocess has been simplified, and the audio quality is enhanced.

This is a solid device, and it represents a thoughtful attempt to make a senior friendly phone. It doesn’t cut corners or dumb things down and the end result offers real value for money. There are lots of pre-installedapps, from Pulse news, to a pill reminder. It is also possible to choose between the “Easy” experience and“Standard” so if the owner grows more tech savvy, or the phone changes hands, its appeal isn’t limited.

Samsung Galaxy Note IIAlthough Samsung didn’t design the Galaxy Note IIspecifically for seniors, there are some compellingreasons that make it a great choice. It has a huge,5.5-inch display and it comes with a stylus, whichmany elderly people prefer over classic touchscreengestures. Select Easy mode when you set the NoteII up and it provides a simplified home screen withhandy widgets pre-loaded. It’s also easy to increasethe font size on the Note II for those who need larger print.

Since it’s a top-of-the-range device, the Note II is absolutely packed with features. It basically combines the best of a tablet and a smartphone in one device. The Galaxy Note II has the latesttechnology in spades packaged in a senior-friendlysetup.


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W A R A G A I N S T T E X T I N G • W A R A G A I N S T T E X T I N G • W A R A G A I N S T T E X T I N G


We need YOU and you need these appsBy Sean CooperYou probably wouldn’t consider drinking and driving, but even though you don’t want to admit it, you’ve probably texted behind the wheel at least once. By doing so, you’re six times more dangerous than a drunk driver, accordingto the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

There are ways to keep in touch while on the road, if you really have to. Apps can help you manage your texts, emails and calls while keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.

But first, get the facts about why we need YOU to join the war efforts against texting while driving.

War AgainstWAGE

TEXTING WHILE DRIVING

APPS_1309-TEXTWAR 6/17/13 1:47 AM Page 82



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MAINSTREAM MESSAGINGTexting has exploded in popularity over the last decade.

In 2007 texting outnumbered actual calls for the first time. It’snot hard to see the allure of texting versus calling—texting isusually a lot quicker and easier.

In 2012 a whopping 9.8 trillion SMS messages were sent in theU.S., up from 7.8 trillion in 2011. In fact, the average personsends 357 texts per month.

While drinking and driving has been considered taboo for manyyears, drivers are just starting to get the message about thedangers of driving while texting.

DEADLY DRIVERSHow dangerous is driving while texting, really?Incredibly.

Each time you send or receive a text, you take youreyes away from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds,according to NHTSA. While it may not seem like a lot, at aspeed of 55 mph, that’s the same as driving the lengthof a football field—blindfolded.

It makes you 23 times more likely to be involved in acrash when you’re texting behind the wheel and 6 timesmore likely than drunk driving. It’s as dangerous asdriving after 4 beers.

Texting while driving has deadly consequences.

Each year there are over 3,000 deaths and 330,000injuries related to texting while driving, according to aHarvard Center for Risk Analysis study.

Texting is most popular among teenagers, and unfortunately, teenagers are also most likely to obtaintheir driver’s license at this age.

Here’s another scary fact: Texting while driving is the number one cause of accidents and deaths of teen drivers.

MESSAGE NOT RECEIVEDUnfortunately, the warnings aren’t sinking infor drivers.

Just how widespread is the problem? According torecent AT&T Commuter surveys, despite the fact thatmore than 95% of drivers admitting knowing that texting while driving is dangerous, 49% of commuterssurveyed admitted to doing so—and 43% of teens surveyed did, as well.

Adults are setting a bad example. 77% of teens saidadults tell them not to text and drive, but then do it themselves “all the time.” In fact, 40% referred to it as a habit.

Most disconcerting is the lack of perceived dangeramong teenagers.

High numbers of surveyed teens—77%—are very confident or somewhat confident that they can drivesafely while texting. Amazingly, 55% claim it’s “easy” totext while driving.

And it seems that texting while driving isn’t just a problem for teenage drivers, but also for their passengers. 40% of teens admitted to riding in a carwhen the driver was texting while driving in a way thatput people in danger, according to the Pew ResearchCenter.


AT&T DriveModeFree, SkypeHHHHH

AT&T has taken a tough stance on driving while texting,going as far as creating its own app for text-addicted drivers.This app looks to stop this deadly habit by allowing you totemporarily limit the features on your phone. This keeps

you focused on the road ahead, instead of the screen below. There’s even a featurethat turns on auto-replies to texts, emails and calls. However, we experienced someannoying instances when the app turns itself on, even when we weren’t driving.


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tXtBlocker$6.99/month, tXtBlockerHHHHH

Similar to AT&T’s app, tXtBlocker blocks incoming texting, as well as calls, whileyour vehicle is on the road. If your friends or family try to contact you, they’llreceive an automatic message that you’re driving and you’ll reply later.

tXtBlocker isn’t just for driving—it comes in handy when you forget to turn off yourmobile phone, including at work, school and the movies. It’s important to note thatemergency 911 calls are always permitted.

Starting at $6.99 for a single user and $9.99 for a family plan, this app may bepricey, but it does a fantastic job.

WHAT YOU CAN DOWe all know the key to driving safely is to avoid distractions and keep our eyes on the road.

By texting while driving, not only are you putting yourself indanger, but you’re putting a long list of innocent people inharm’s way: your passengers, other drivers, their passengers,and even people on the street.

The next time you’re tempted to text while driving, thinktwice about all those you’re putting in danger.

Is your text more important than someone else’s life? Or your own?

Instead, pull off to the side to attend to that text. Better yet, check out our apps for managing texts while you’re onthe road.

THE LEGAL FIGHTIn the U.S., there’s currently a massive campaign against texting while driving. Government agencies like the U.S.Department of Transportation and the FCC (FederalCommunications Commission) have created websites towarn against its many dangers.

Even cell phone service providers like AT&T have jumped onboard and created their own websites. These websites havehard-hitting statistics, articles and videos about thedangers of texting at the wheel and the devastatingresults it can have.

Texting while driving has been a hot-button issue withCongress.

U.S. lawmakers have been busy passing texting while drivingbans in over 39 states. However, there isn’t yet a federal lawagainst it.

The main challenge of the law is enforcing it. That means that drivers themselves must change their habits,otherwise stopping texting while driving is an uphill battle.

Check out our review of the SuperTooth HD on page44 of this issue. It’s a hands-free accessory that pairswith your smartphone for safer driving.



Cellcontrol$89, CellcontrolHHHHH

This app works with a small device that plugs intoyour car—it detects motion and stops you from texting and talking. Cellcontrol is the most widelycompatible app of its kind. It works on both

smartphone and standard mobile phones and it’s extremely accurate. While alot of the other apps block your phone when you’re a passenger, Cellcontrol,using its DriveID technology, will be able to detect whether you’re actuallybehind the wheel (due in late 2013). You can fully customize the app to determine exactly what you can and can’t do while driving.

DriveSafe.lyFree, iSpeech.orgHHHHH

Instead of totally disabling communication while driv-ing, this unique app actually reads text messages andemail aloud in real time. It also lets you use your voiceto respond to texts and calls without ever taking your

hands off the wheels. Not only does this offer a safer solution, it allows you to beproductive even while you’re driving. The app is fully customizable, right downto the gender of the voice of the sender (with the Pro version, $9.99). The freeversion limits each message read to the first 25 words.

OtterFree, Otter LLCHHHHH

Otter is so much more than a standard texting-while-driving solution. Not only does it keep youreyes on the road (where they belong), it allows youto quickly manage your texts wherever you are.

Whether you’re at home, work, or driving on the highway, Otter’s by your side.The app’s unique GPS Mode with auto-reply feature kicks in as soon as yourvehicle travels faster than 10 mph, muting those distracting chimes from textsand ring tones. Best of all you can switch between auto and manual mode, soyou can quickly respond to urgent texts with a preset message.


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Online Resources for More InformationTexting & Driving… It Can Wait: itcanwait.com

Official US Government Website for Distracted Driving: Distraction.gov

Don’t Text and Drive: www.textinganddrivingsafety.com

Federal Communications commission: www.fcc.gov/guides/texting-while-driving


http://www.textinganddrivingsafety.com

http://www.fcc.gov/guides/texting-while-driving

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Watch out iPhone diehards—this may convince you to switch to AndroidBy William Bonin

Let’s be honest: for many of us, typing on our smartphone’s keyboard is a pain. The lettersare small and our fingers are big so hitting the precise letter is often difficult.

We’d all like to be able to enter text on our smartphones quicker and with greater accura-cy. Unless the keypad gets bigger in the future—and what’s the likelihood of that hap-pening—some other way will have to be invented to improve the speed and accuracy ofsmartphone text entry.

INTELLIGENCE IS THE KEY(BOARD)What if a smartphone could learn from your typing, which words and phrases you most often use, and when youuse them? What if your smartphone offered up the words it thinks you’re typing, and not just after you’ve typed thefirst seven letters of an eight-letter word?

Well, with the arrival of SwiftKey 4, an Android keyboard replacement app that will make even the most diehardiPhone freaks jealous, you’ll be amazed at how much faster your keyboard is and just how much smarter your smart-phone will be.

SwiftKey 4 uses what it calls intelligent natural language technology to suggest words it thinks you’re trying totype. SwiftKey’s Prediction Engine not only recognizes the words you’re typing but also understands how wordsare grouped together.

With SwiftKey installed, a row above the keyboard appears with 3 suggestions, or predictions. For example, if youtype “I like” SwiftKey displays words you’re most likely to use, such as “you.” If the word is correct, press the spacebarto select the word.

Best Keyboardis the

you’ll ever use

APPs_1309-sWiFtKey 6/17/13 1:50 AM Page 86

SWIFTKEY IS THE BEST KEYBOARD YOU’LL EVER USE • SWIFTKEY IS THE BEST KEYBOARD YOU’LL EVER USE


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SwiftKey and MeSwiftKey rapidly learned how to work with my typing habits by checking out messages I created.

For example: when I compose a text message or email using SwitfKey, two of the choices I’m offered are “Hey”and “I.” I realized that when I start an online conversation, I almost always start with “hey” rather than “hello.” Andwhen I respond to someone’s emails or text messages, I usually start with “I.” SwiftKey learned from my writinghabits to offer custom predictions.

When I was exchanging text messages with a friend who gave me a book recommendation I intended to write,“Always on the lookout for a good book.” I started to write “always” and at “alw” I was shown “always.” Great, that’smy word, so I hit the space key to autocomplete.

“On” was the next word offered and that’s my next word, so space again, and once again when “the” is offered.That’s 6 keystrokes on my part to enter 14 characters. So far, so good.

When I typed “lo” I was offered “lookout”—amazing! And then the next two words predicted were “for” and “a.”That means that SwiftKey quickly sorted out what I was intending to write because it understands how thephrase “on the lookout” is most commonly used.

< The SwiftKey suggestionsappear above the regularkeyboard while you type.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?So it knows that “you” is a word that commonly appearsafter “like.” So what? What’s the big deal?

“Predictive typing?” you ask. “Isn’t that just a rehash of thelame autocorrect feature that I already have on my smart-phone that picks the wrong words at the worst times?”

Nope. Far from it. Autocorrect works by checking words asyou type and comparing them to its dictionary. If no matchis found, it offers the closest possibility. But the problem ofcontext is troublesome.

If you typed “unicfrom” did you actually mean “uniform” ordid you mean “unicorn”? This is when autocorrect leads tomirth and merriment or horrific red-faced embarrassment.

LEARNING YOUR WAYSSwiftKey learns about your personal writing habits by look-ing at your text messages, email, Facebook postings andTwitter feed. This is done only with your permission, ofcourse, as part of the Personalization Service. The more ofyour writing style that SwiftKey can examine, the sooner itcan start offering user-specific predictions.

SwiftKey also looks at your typing style and identifies whereyou most often make mistakes. If you are prone to hittingthe A key when you meant to hit the S key, SwiftKey learrnsthat and takes it into consideration in the future.

You’ll also find that many times you can let SwiftKey do allthe writing for you, even if it’s not exactly what youplanned. If you intended to text “I am leaving now” butinstead decide to just follow where SwiftKey leads you, youend up with “I am on the way to your house.” Same meaningand certainly less typing, correct?

APPS_1309-SWIFTKEY 6/17/13 1:50 AM Page 87


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SWIFTKEY IS THE BEST KEYBOARD YOU’LL EVER USE • SWIFTKEY IS THE BEST KEYBOARD YOU’LL EVER USE

GO WITH THE FLOWAnother feature new to SwiftKey—that’s been available for a while in other products—is the concept of Flow. Flow gives you the ability to drag your finger around the keyboard from letter toletter to type words.

If you’ve never used flow-style keyboard entry, often referred to as swiping, you’re probably goingto find it rather strange at first. Rather than type each character in a word individually (as in f,then l, then o, then w), you drag your finger over the letters in succession without lifting it fromthe screen.

You’ll not only be amazed at how fast you can enter words using Flow but at how forgivingSwiftKey is when it comes to interpreting your swipes.

With Flow, you can forget about using the spacebar between words—SwiftKey figures out whereone word ends and the next starts. Swipe style typing is so fun and natural that I often find whenI’m using an iPad or an iPhone I immediately start trying to flow around the keyboard!

Caveat: SwiftKey’s addition of Flow seems a bit superfluous since it’s harder to select a suggestedword when you’re swiping, and the prediction engine is so good that the Flow feature almostseems unnecessary. After all, when your next word is shown as a suggestion before you eventype a letter, who needs swiping? Nevertheless, it’s a nice to have and I find that I still use it quitefrequently.

A NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENTSwiftKey continually notifies you of how much it’s improving your typing experience. SwiftKeyStats tracks your efficiency (36% more efficient in my case), keystrokes saved (14,398!), typos corrected (4,074) and my favorite of all, distance flowed—a measure of how far your finger hastravelled when using Flow (66 meters).

SwiftKey 4 typically sells for $3.99 (www.swiftkey.net). While you may balk at paying for a keyboard—after all, a free keyboard came with the phone—ask yourself this: Will your free keyboard ever learn all about your verbal and stylistic idiosyncrasies? And will it actually improve your texting?

When using the Flow feature, you drag your finger

from letter to letter withoutlifting it from the screen.>

APPS_1309-SWIFTKEY 6/17/13 1:50 AM Page 88

http://www.swiftkey.net


VineFree, Vine Labs, Inc.HHHHH

If you have trouble getting through a YouTube video without jumpingahead on its timeline, Vine is the perfect video platform for you as all itsvideos are six seconds or less. That may not sound like much time to getcreative, but explore the network’s “Vines” and you’ll find everything from

laugh-out-loud time-wasters to elaborate multi-shot scripted clips. Shooting a Vine is a breeze.Simply press and hold on a device’s touchscreen to capture video. Finished clips play in loops similarto an animated GIF, which can then be shared with Facebook, Twitter, and Vine’s own social platform,which bears more than a passing resemblance to Instagram. One gripe: uploads can’t be queued,which prevents shooting multiple videos when a connection is unavailable. Vine wasn’t the firstplayer in the micro-video app niche, but it’s the current leader thanks in large part to being ownedby Twitter.

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Create bite-sized video masterpieces andbecome a short-attention span SpielbergBy Sean Kavanagh

Andy Warhol declared that everyone would be famous for 15 minutes, but even he mightbe impressed at how social media and smartphone apps provide a platform that barelyneeds 15 seconds to propel people to stardom. These micro video apps demonstrate howrestrictions, like short time limits, can inspire creativity and communication.

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CinemagramFree, Cinemagram Inc.HHHHH

Capture the world around you on video and transform your clipsinto “cines” that are surreal and sublime. This app sets itself apart byletting users freeze an image and selectively animate portions of it.A host of special effect options lets users manipulate the laws of

time and space in clips. Users can change playback speed and alter the video direction. Butthe most impressive effect comes courtesy of the Mask options, which lets users selectivelyfreeze portions of the screen while allowing other parts of the video to continue playing. Forexample, reflections or shadows can move independently of a person or leaves can fall in slowmotion while jumping children appear frozen in time. Cinemagram also lets you apply graphicfilters to the continuously looping 4-second recordings. It can take a while to get the hang ofthe effect options, but the results are worth the effort. Once again, the iOS version’s featuresand interface are superior to Android’s.


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ViddyFree, Viddy, Inc.HHHHH

If you think of Vine as the “Twitter of YouTube” then Viddy is itsInstagram. Viddy helps users put a personal stamp on their creationsusing stylized filters, much like the popular snapshot app. It also letsusers tweak frame rates and includes a library of music snippets to

enhance a clip’s mood with a soundtrack. Compared to Vines, Viddy’s seem like sprawling epicsthanks to a generous 30-second cap (recently upped from 15 seconds). In addition to capturingvideo, Viddy lets users upload existing clips. Video can be trimmed after recording, which is espe-cially helpful given the “Did it start?” lag that often plagues phone video. Viddy began life as aniOS app, and that platform has a slight edge in terms of feature and interface polish. Blackberryusers try: Snipper by Serramedia BV, free.

SnapchatFree, Snapchat, Inc.HHHHH

You won’t have to worry about files cluttering your friend’s phonestorage with this video-sharing app. All the photos and video youtake with Snapchat are set to self-destruct after the time limit youspecify. Just shoot the subject, choose the number of seconds the

clip or photo can be viewed, and send it off to a contact in your Friends list. As soon as afriend clicks on the notification message for your masterpiece, the countdown starts. Whenit hits zero… POOF! It’s gone. Snapchat has gained a certain amount of notoriety for beinglinked to sexting due to the disposable nature of the content. The most disturbing accountsrevolve around teens, but the truth is that most are probably just goofing off and sharingfunny moments with friends. If you are entertaining thoughts that veer into Snapchat’sseedier side, heed this warning—even though your message may disappear, recipients havethe ability to grab a screenshot during playback. The app will try to let you know when thisoccurs, but by that point you may be on your way to being famous for the wrong reasons.



Facebook PokeFree, Facebook, Inc.HHHHH

What do you get when you marry Snapchat with one ofFacebook’s most ridiculed features? Facebook Poke. This applets users send disposable video, photos, text messages, andnostalgic “poke” notifications to Facebook friends. Although it

integrates with users’ Friends lists, recipients can only view the messages using the phoneapp. As with Snapchat, remember that recipients can take screenshots of content beforeit expires, so think twice before sending anything racy or potentially incriminating.Facebook Poke’s biggest advantage over its inspiration may simply be that it isn’tSnapchat, sidestepping that app’s image perception problems and potentially making itless creepy when you ask if a friend is using it. The one downside: it’s limited to the iOSplatform.


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CineBeatFree, SmuleHHHHH

Think you’ve got what it takes to be a singing sensation? Youmight be well on your way to living out your superstar fantasieswhen you showcase your talents with this fun music video creator. Simply record up to 15 seconds of singing or speaking

and CineBeat adds a soundtrack and auto-tunes your vocals to pop perfection. Afterapplying visual filters to your video, post it to your social networks and wait for the talentagents to start calling. Just don’t forget who your friends are when you make it big. Thefree version of CineBeat comes with just a few visual and sound effects, but once you get ataste you’ll be tempted to purchase more filters or expanded clip time within the app.

VycloneFree, Vyclone Inc.HHHHH

Social sharing is a key component of video apps, but usually it justinvolves making completed projects public on social networks.Vyclone integrates social features right into the content creationprocess by giving multiple users a way to collaborate and combine

their individual videos of the same event. It offers a unique way to preserve an event from different views, perfect for gatherings like weddings, graduations, concerts, and sporting events.Only clips from the same location and time can be synced and users can see the number of otherusers who are logged-in nearby when shooting footage. Although the app doesn’t allow clipdeletion, it does let users control what’s public. Users who are more enamored with editing thanbeing behind the camera can also remix other people’s projects, making Vyclone a truly socialplatform. In addition to the app’s functionality, the Vyclone.com website provides online editingtools where users can fine tune their masterpieces.


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Apps to organize status updates, tweets,pins, posts and moreBy Sean CooperIf you’re feeling overwhelmed by your online social activities, you’re not alone. BetweenFacebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google+ and so on, it’s challenging to keep up with all the latest happenings. A social media management app might just be what the doctorordered. We found several apps that make following and creating the latest social buzz a snap.

OF YOUR

Janetter for TwitterFree, Jane, Inc.HHHHH

Twitter is a great way to follow your favorite celebrities and news feeds, but it’s morechallenging the more feeds you follow. Janetter for Twitter will save you from Twitter

overload. It’s a simple way to get the most out of Twitter. The interface works like a dream—finger-swipe to updatebookmarks in an instant. The ability to view thumbnails of photo tweets is a great feature, especially if your phonehas a smaller screen. You can even filter tweets by keyword, so you only see the tweets you want to see.

ControlTAKESOCIAL MEDIA

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Tweetings for Twitter$1.99, RBD Solutions LimitedHHHHH

Tweetings for Twitter was designed with Twitter-aholics (is thateven a word?) in mind. Although it looks fine on phablets andstandard smartphones, the app really shines on large-screensmartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S4. WiFi support means

tweets are up to the second. And never forget to send an important tweet again; thisapp lets you schedule tweets for a future date and time. It also takes the pain out of the140 character limit by splicing tweets.


HootSuite for Twitter & FacebookFree, HootSuiteHHHHH

HootSuite is your one-stop shop social media managementapp. Monitor and manage Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn fromone powerful app. Similar to Tweetings for Twitter, you canschedule tweets and Facebook status updates for later. That’s

not all. You can upload and share photos, receive notifications, and monitor keywords ofyour choosing. HootSuite’s simple yet powerful interface makes managing your onlinesocial life easy. The app is fully integrated with the HootSuite website’s features—seamlessly import an existing account to get started. HootSuite is a great way to build a following and share with the world wherever you are.Windows Mobile users try: Rowi Lite by Hidden Pineapple, LLC, Free

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UberSocialFree, UberMedia Inc.HHHHH

This is the jack-of-all trades social media management appyou’ve been waiting for. UberSocial is fully loaded with features that put the official Twitter app to shame. You won’tmiss Tweets from your best friends with Inner Circle. Are

you tired of hearing the latest celebrity scandal? Mute allows you to block individualhashtags and users for as long as you like. You can manage all your social mediaaccounts and schedule tweets for later. Although it’s a great app, it would be nice to have more features for Facebook other than cross-posting, liking and viewing status updates.



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BufferFree, BufferHHHHH

Social media is all aboutsharing. Buffer makes iteasier to share on Twitter,Facebook, LinkedIn, and

App.net. Similar to news apps like Flipboard andFeedly, Buffer goes the extra mile by offering Twitteranalytics and Facebook insights with the ability toclick, retweet, comment and like. Sharing is madeeasy—when you find something you like, simply add it to your Buffer queue. Schedule your content to go live when the time is right. Social media ismuch easier thanks to Buffer.

TweetCaster forTwitterFree, OneLouder AppsHHHHH

With so many wonderfulTwitter apps to choose from,what’s a smartphone user to

do? TweetCaster is the highest rated Twitter app forgood reason. Its easy-to-use, attractive interface makesnavigating Twitter a snap. Not only is this app reliable,it’s ultra-fast and there are a host of amazing features atyour disposal. For instance, Search Party lets you searchyour own timeline, and Photo Effects enhances yourimages with cool effects before you upload them forthe world to admire.



TweeterLightFree, PilchieHHHHH

Finding a decent Twitterapp for Windows Phone islike finding a needle in ahaystack, but the search is

finally over. TweeterLight is an enhanced version ofthe official Twitter app. It includes a slew of amazingfeatures, including themes, twitpic uploads, andgeolocation. All your latest feeds are automaticallyupdated on startup, so there’s no need to constantlyrefresh, and new tweets are highlighted for easy reading. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of some of the other apps we’ve mentioned, but itdoes the job for Windows users.



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ScopeFree, ScopeHHHHH

With Scope, you’ll be thetalk of the town. It’s yoursocial hub and an easyway to manage your

social life. Manage accounts from all your favoritewebsites including Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare,Instagram, Tumblr and Reddit. The app takes themagic of Flipboard and uses it to enhance socialmedia. One-click sharing makes communicatingwith your friends a breeze. All your favorite featuressuch as liking, commenting and more are here. Theonly downsides are that the app sometimes suffersfrom slow connections and you can’t register multiple accounts.


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Get smart about buying a home with these smartphone appsBy Sean CooperHouse hunting used to be tedious and time consuming, but no longer. There are plenty ofnew apps that make the search for your dream home a lot easier. Don’t waste your timewalking through house after house when these apps can steer you directly to homes thatmeet your criteria. You’re sure to find the one that’s perfect for you.

Redfin Real EstateFree, RedfinHHHHH

Bring this powerful web-based home search tool with you while you’re on

the go. Redfin is the only app that lets you view listingsdirectly from the MLS (multiple listing service). Whilesome aggregating apps suffer from stale data, Redfinisn’t one of them; current listings are always available.You won’t be left in the dark as Redfin offers the insidescoop with exclusive information usually available onlyto agents. The interface is easy to use and push alertsmake you the first to know when a home in yourdesired neighborhood comes up for sale.

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APPS5Real Estate

Homesnap RealEstateFree, SawbuckHHHHH

Homesnap gives the old adage“a picture is worth a thousandwords” new meaning. Snap a

photo of a house for sale and instantly find out usefulinformation, including list price, lot size and property tax.Since buying a home is a family decision, you can shareyour photo stream with family and friends. Plus,Homesnap constantly delivers fresh MLS data to yoursmartphone. Homesnap is a revolutionary app and there’sno other like it.

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Zillow Real EstateFree, ZillowHHHHH

Zillow instantly delivers the newest home listings to yourmobile device. If you’re looking to score a deal, be sure tobrowse the foreclosures and for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) listings. Receive only notifications for the properties that

matter to you by using Zillow’s filters to customize your search based on price, neighborhood and your chosen keywords. Push notifications ensure you’re always in the know. Find out when new listings are available or when houses drop in price. And little beats the convenience of being able to book an appointment to view a housewithout picking up the phone.


realtor.com real estate - homesFree, Move, Inc.HHHHH

If your home buying is ultra-competitive, get a leg up on thecompetition with the app that realtors are using. Quicklysearch for houses by browsing individual listings or zoom in onyour desired neighborhood with the handy map. Search for

homes by school district—a must-have for parents. Property listings include everythingyou’ll need, including property tax, price history and number of bedrooms. Area Scout isa unique feature to this app and it lets you view property results and track average homevalues in different neighborhoods.

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Real Estate & Homes by TruliaFree, TruliaHHHHH

Trulia is a simple, yet powerful real estate app certain to helpyou find your next house. Using GPS, the app determines your location and shows you houses for sale in your vicinity.Properties come to life through high-resolution photo

galleries. Trulia is a great app for bargain hunters. A tap on the screen lets you instantlyknow properties that have had their prices recently slashed. This app has the same greatpush alerts you’d expect from other real estate apps, including the latest new listings.

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APP LAUGHS

“ These aren’t the ‘droids youare looking for. ”

By Andy Broome

“ Fine. We will try your Google maps. ”

“ I have to have the biggest phone sopeople know how important I am.”

APPS_1309-APPLAUGHS 6/17/13 1:55 AM Page 98

Guide to Phone Apps & moreis now available on iTunes and Google Play

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Download the FREE Guide to Phone Apps & More app to purchase each issue for only $3.99 today!For questions on downloading this app contact 800- 764-6278

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The iBT16 model is available in multiple colors and in a rubberized fi nish.

iHome is a registered trademark of SDI Technologies, Inc. Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners.Proudly Designed and Engineered in the USA

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Documents

Guide to Phone Apps - September 2013