There are surprisingly few football games for  iOS. There are even fewer that are worth downloading. One game that is challenging all the sports game developers to step up their game is Game Time with Mike Vick; and the best part it is free. If you are a football fan and don’t already have this game on your iDevice you should head to the app store now. Here's why:

The gameplay itself is incredibly easy and fun. The tutorial takes about thirty seconds to complete and then you can jump right into actual games. The games are set up in a tournament with you competing in three brackets for the top spot. There are eight tournaments ranging from rookie to legend, with the level of difficulty increasing significantly each time. In the beginning there are only a few plays available to run through, but there are many more you can purchase from the money you earn from winning games.

What I really enjoy about the game play is that you get to play all of the fun parts of offense without bothering with other portions of the game. If you are looking to play defense you are out of luck with this game. But there is a fair amount of team management for a free game. There is a bench where you can add and remove players and a free agency where you can sign up more talented players. As you progress in the game more talented players become available, including Mike Vick himself. You can have fun naming your team and purchasing new uniforms for them. If you decide you no longer like your team, you can ditch them for a younger, better-looking team.  

As in most iOS games, you are able to share your achievements on your favorite social networking sites, and you can even post replays of your best plays. There are lot of achievements to unlock, but they are pretty basic and have no bearing on the game. What is more exciting is comparing your position on the worldwide leader board to that of your friends. The game is still pretty new, so it is not fully developed, and there is a promise of daily challenges and game day challenges that will help you to earn more money so you can get better players. 

It may not be the most perfect football game ever created, but it is one of the best for the iOS. Overall the game play went smoothly with few glitches. The game crashed and had to be restarted a few times, which was annoying, but I am sure it will be fixed in the next update. If you are a fan of football I suggest you give this game a try.

Last week I posted some basic tips for iOS 7. In this post I want to share some useful but not obvious features.

For those of you who find iOS 7 harder to see, in addition to selecting a darker wallpaper, as I explained in my previous post, you can make the new slimmer system font bold so that app names are more visible. Do this by going to Settings>General>Accessibility, and turning on Bold. In addition, you can increase the font size by going to Settings>General>Larger Type, and adjusting the slider. This doesn't appear to affect fonts on the Home screen but does increase the size of fonts in those apps that take advantage of this feature, including most of Apple's apps such as Mail.

I also really like a new gesture that lets you swipe from the left margin to go back to the previous page instead of using the Back icon. In Safari you can also swipe from the right margin to go forward.

There's a hidden feature in the newly designed Compass app. It now includes a level that functions just like a bubble level. To access the level, simply swipe to the side in the Compass app to see the level.

Siri also has some new features. For one thing, you're no longer limited to a female voice in the US. (The UK has always, from what I've read, had a male voice because of cultural differences.) Simply go to Settings>General>Siri>Voice Gender and select Male. Also new with iOS 7 is the ability to use Siri to change a greater range of settings. Read more about this on Macworld. The article also describes the new resources that Siri gives access to, such as Wikipedia. Siri can also now be used to search for images. Simply say, "Show me a picture of the Eiffel Tower," and Siri will return photos of it.

I like the appearance of the folders much better in iOS 7 than in iOS 6. I've long used them to organize my apps. New with iOS 7 is the ability to have as many apps as you want in a folder. You can also now create more pages for apps WITHIN a folder. You do that by dragging an app to the right until it moves onto a new page.

In my post on basic tips, I explained how to close running apps: by double pressing the home button, and then dragging the image of the open app to the top of the screen. I've since learned that you can close two apps at a time by dragging them upward simultaneously.

It's fun learning new features of iOS 7, and obviously there's much more to learn. 

For the first time since the original iPhone came out, I did NOT get the latest model on opening day. It was not for lack of trying, but it's complicated. As a developer, I can justify grabbing the latest gear, because I have to make sure my apps work on the new devices, and take advantage of any new features. But I've been using iOS 7 for several weeks on my iPhone 5 and was satisfied that they would work fine. The 64-bit CPU is important for data-intensive apps, but not necessarily my apps. Apple hasn't opened up the fingerprint reader to developers, so there wasn't an overwhelming need to upgrade.

So I convinced myself I would wait to upgrade... but I woke up around 5 a.m. Eastern, so I checked online.  I could've ordered an iPhone 5s from the Apple Store, but I wanted a gold one, and availability said "October"! That could be up to five weeks from now! So when stores opened, I called a few BestBuys and RadioShacks and was told that even the Apple Store only got five of the gold ones. Hmmm... weren't there five golden tickets in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? I wasn't going to be a bratty kid so I resigned to either waiting patiently or getting a different color.

I went to BestBuy, and they had some Space Gray ones in stock. I was close to pulling the trigger. But I convinced myself that if I was going to upgrade, given the minor enhancements, I should do it for a gold phone. It would be distinctive, and help me distinguish it from the three other iPhones in our household. And, as a developer, it would be nice for demos, if nothing other than a conversation starter. If I am going to pay $299 or $399 for a 32GB or 64GB model, and use it thoroughly as part of my job, and keep it for a year or longer, it might as well be the color I want.

I went to the AT&T store, where they were also out of stock, but they had a display model. So I literally got my hands on one (okay, my thumb) and played with the Touch ID fingerprint sensor. It's a welcome addition, and I suspect any Android phone that comes next has to find a way to match it. Of course, without NFC (Near Field Communication) Apple has their own work to do. I would love to be able to identify myself with the fingerprint reader and swipe my phone to pay at thousands of checkout counters. But we're not there yet. Still, the iPhone 5s is pretty slick.

So I ended up reserving one. There's no guarantee it will arrive before Halloween, so I'm not planning to dress up as Goldfinger, or Willy Wonka for that matter!  But if it does come before October 31st, that might change!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory images: Paramount Pictures

On Friday, Sept. 20, record numbers of people lined up all over the world to get their hands on the new iPhone 5s and 5c. According to Tech Crunch the line at Apple’s flagship NYC store was 83 percent longer at 8 a.m. on Friday morning than it was at the same time during the iPhone 5 launch. Similar scenes played out in all the major cities. Fortune posted a roundup of YouTube videos documenting the impressive crowds:

The result of all these long lines? According to a press release Apple put out this morning, sales of the iPhone 5s and 5c have reached 9 million, far outselling the company's previous record of 5 million sold during the first weekend after the release of the iPhone 5. Not coincidentally Apple shares were up six percent when the stock market opened this morning.

Althought the 5c is still available, the 5s sold out in stores very quickly and and waiting times for online orders are stretching far into October, especially for the gold iPhone.

iPhone fan Evan Poe, tweeting as @the_cooler, got lucky when he decided to check online at Best Buy for an iPhone for his brother while standing in line for his own phone at the Apple Store in West Des Moines, Iowa. A serendipitous glitch on the Best Buy website allowed him to preorder a 5s to be picked up the same day rather than having to wait for weeks as others are having to do. 

"The banner on the page displayed only 5c, which I thought was odd, so I searched for 5s. Results came up." The site allowed Poe to place the order and schedule a pick up. "I got to the store and went to the mobile section. They asked why I came and told them I ordered online. They asked my name and immediately knew my last name. The manager or greeter said, 'Well you slipped through a glitch. Someone at corporate flipped the wrong switch and probably is getting fired for the mistake. However we are honoring your order.' ... 45 minutes later I had my brother's phone activated."

iPhone Life blogger Todd Bernhard was not as lucky. He tried to get a gold iPhone 5s at several locations in his area and was told that even his local Apple store had only stocked five iPhones in that color. Todd ended up ordering one online and is hopeful that he'll get his gold iPhone before the end of October.

I am not a huge fan of in-app-purchase (IAP) driven games, though that seems to be the way that even the big developers are going these days. A little over a year ago Big Blue Bubble released one called My Singing Monsters (Free), and despite my disdain for the freemium model I decided to give it a shot anyway. It’s one of the few such games that remain on my device to this day. I don’t spend hours a day with it simply because I don’t want to fall into the trap of dishing out more dough through IAP than I would if I went and bought a console game, for example, but I still enjoy pulling it up every once in a while and seeing how my monsters are doing. Besides, how could you not enjoy a group of fun-loving, goofy creatures that like to sing? It worked for the Muppets, after all…

You start with a barren island, and your job is to turn it into a thriving utopia of joyously singing creatures. To do this you must keep the creatures happy—whether that means giving them a place to stay, feeding them so they level up and provide more income, or putting them next to decorations or other creatures that they enjoy. There will also be several tasks for you to complete at any given moment that will earn you things like XP, coins, gems, or food. XP raises your level, which unlocks new things for you to play around with. Food is used to raise the creatures’ level so that they produce more money per minute and have a higher max for the money they can earn before you need to collect it from them.  ems are used to buy new creatures, and coins buy most everything else. Gems, coins, and food are all available for purchase via IAP, and you can actually swap gems for coins if you’d like, though no other resource conversions are available.

Everything is tap and menu driven, though the menus are picture oriented so you needn’t fear that this looks like some sort of business application. At any time you can tap on an object that has been placed on your island and manipulate it in one of several ways—including flipping its direction, resizing it, and moving it when applicable. Another option is to look at the bio and likes screen when you have a creature selected, which can be useful when you decide where you want to place each creature and each decoration for maximum effectiveness. You even have the option of selling anything that you decide you don’t want any more, but don’t expect a return on investment for the creatures since you use gems to buy them and get back coins instead. As a whole it’s pretty easy to get around, but if you have a lot of items clumped together and you aren’t zoomed in enough it can be hard to select just the item you want to manipulate.

The game requires an internet connection to play, so you at least have to have WiFi available. Game Center and Facebook are used for inviting friends, and once you have friends that are actually playing the game you can visit their islands and vote for them (and vice versa). It would be nice if there were more social interaction, like maybe trading monsters or even having the ability to design and “sell” custom decorations to your friends. I’m not normally much into that sort of thing, but this game feels like it could use it. At least there are 17 different Game Center achievements you can work on, some of which will take some persistence to complete.

The visuals are great, but first I want to talk about the sound, since this is called My Singing Monsters. Music in games is always important to me anyway, but the way this game utilizes it is probably what keeps me coming back all the time. Each creature contributes to the overall makeup of the song for that island, and you can mute or adjust the volume of any creature as you see fit. Not only that, but as you scroll around an island you’ll notice that the monsters’ voices fade in and out based on their location. Finally, the same monster will make different sounds on different islands. To some of you this all might not seem like a big deal, but I’m quite impressed with how they’ve made it all fit together so smoothly. The visuals do a wonderful job creating an inviting atmosphere. The characters are extremely well designed and delightfully animated, and the whole thing looks great whether you’re zoomed in to the max or zoomed out so you can see the whole island at once.

Like most free-to-play games, you get out of this basically what you put into it. The truth is, though, that you can actually accomplish quite a bit before having to spend any money on the game. The main problem is that you’ll eventually run out of gems, which is the currency you need to get new monsters. While it would be nice to have some way to earn diamonds more steadily, even if it was at a really slow pace, it does seem like My Singing Monsters gives you more for nothing than your average F2P game. Besides, it’s just so much fun listening to the monsters, and the song just gets better with each new type of creature that you add.

Overall Score: 8/10

Humans use only 10 percent of their brains. Actually, that's a myth, but it's probably not a myth that many of us utilize only about 10 percent of our iPhone's capabilities. In this weekly column I share tips and tricks for beginners, or anyone who wants to make use of the other 90 percent of their iPhone's abilities.

You've likely heard and seen the big changes to the new operating system for the iPhone and iPad. This week I'm going to give some tips on features for iOS 7.

1. Little Blue Dot

Have you noticed a little blue dot next to one of your apps on your home screen? It takes the place of the "New" title over the app that informs you the app hasn't been opened yet.

2. Set reminders

I use the reminders feature on my iPhone almost everyday (I have a horrible memory). I tried to make myself a quick reminder to send a Thank You card to someone and found the + button had disappeared from Reminders. I wasn't in a place where I could access Siri to make the reminder for me, so I emailed myself to remember the thank you note. Later, when I had more time, I looked into how to add a reminder without using Siri. It was simple—just tap on the line underneath the last reminder and you can add another. 

3. iTunes Music and Videos

After I updated my iPhone, I was going to play some music before I saw that every single song I had in my iTunes library on my computer was now showing in my Music app. The same thing happened with my videos. I prefer only seeing what I've downloaded onto my phone and not the hundreds of songs that I own. Maybe you do too. To change it, go into Settings, scroll down to Music then turn off Show All Music. You can do the same thing with Videos if you don't want to see everything in your iTunes Library. 

4. App folders

Last week I showed you how to make folders on your home screen by dragging one app onto another. Before iOS 7, though, you could only fill a folder with up to 12 apps on your iPhone and there was a 16 app limit per folder on the iPad. Now, you can fill a folder with as many apps as you want. Be aware though that you can only see nine apps at a time so you'll still have to swipe to see the others.

I have used Microsoft Office desktop programs along side many alternatives over the years. I have benefited hugely from the various mobile editors out there, and am always on the lookout for new or updated options. The oldest example of this is the mobile editing suite called Documents to Go from Data Viz ($9.99). I use MS Office more than anything else, but often do minor edits on the go, and since I was evaluating a new DTG version, I figured it couldn't hurt to do another shootout. This time Documents to Go will go head to head with newly acquired and rebrandedGoogle QuickOffice (Free). Both are good editing options, but read on to see who will emerge the victor! I'll also roundup some other editing apps you may not have been aware of....

Call this Doc Editor Shootout 2 (see my previous here), where I compare and contrast more doc editing apps and re-examine some previously mentioned ones. But mainly I'll focus on two primary mobile office programs I have used over the years. I also wrote this with iPad in mind, since I often use it for second screen or mobile editing, and figure that is the more common case. I know it is also occasionally important to work on docs on the iPhone, so I will swing back in the future and round-up that experience as well. 

Cloud-Enabled Editing

You can create a slide package from a range of shapes and insert images from your camera roll as well. This excellent package is also completely free, and though there is some grumbling since Google snatched up QuickOffice (particularly from previous paid users of other now non-supported cloud services), it is one of the best I have used thus far. There were a few minor issues like wonky keyboard behavior (which could have been my keyboard as indicated above), and much of the spreadsheet cell formatting from the desktop Excel file versions was lost in QuickOffice.

Online Editing Apps

The free version of Documents Unlimited that I tested was not as responsive as CloudOn, and included ads that pop-up full screen at times and also appear during slide present mode. The laggy performance and tiny buttons and menu items make it hard to justify the $4.99 for the full version that cancels out the ads. The full version also unlocks access to cloud accounts, but you can save documents to your iPad in the free one and sync with your computer over WiFi or USB. It is possible the experience is greatly improved in the newer full version, as it appears that it was expressly addressed in the developer update notes.

SkyDrive Web Viewer/Editor

The Verdict

I like Docs to Go for quick reviewing of docs, or taking notes that I may need to sync back to both my computer and a cloud service like Dropbox. It is fine for basic review and update of files on the go (like the name suggests). I highly recommend QuickOffice, and in fact wrote this review using the Doc editor (though I wrote different parts with each tool), and even glommed in screenshots to an accompanyingslide set. Cloud On remains the best online option for a full featured Office experience, one which also supports other storage services, but a quick pop-in to Sky Drive, is equally effective alternative.

Top Choices:

QuickOffice. Great features for free (with 15GB of free space), and non-Google users can always get a free account if they want to sync up to the cloud.

CloudOn. Free online editing that is fast and reliable, not to mention flexible. Internet required, however.

SkyDrive Live. Skip the app altogether; the website lets you manage, access, and edit all your cloud data. It also requires constant internet presence (and requires signing up for MS Sky Drive, which provides 25G of space for free.)

Thanks to everyone who entered iPhone Life's Biweekly Weekend Giveaway! We received entries from 381 people in 23 different countries this week! WOW! And are giving away 3 amazing accessories!

And the winners are... (drum roll please): Tom Grubbs, Barry Butcher, and John Lucas Jr. 

If you see your name but didn't receive an email, please check your spam folder.

Didn't Win This Week? No worries! Visit iphonelife.com/giveaways for the chance to win in the next giveaway round.

This weeks featured items are:

1. The Lifesaver by Mio (Pink) and The Lifesaver by Mio (Blue):

Emergency battery pack:

• Compact backup battery for smartphones and most USB powered devices
• Fast charging 2.1 amp output
• 2600 mAh battery
• 5V lithium ion battery
• Portable, lightweight, and convenient
• LED charge indicator
• Includes a USB micro connector
• Great for traveling, power outages, and emergencies
• Compatible with: Smartphones, iPhones®, iPods®, PSP®, Nintendo DS®, DXi®, eReaders, and other USB powered devices

2. Blue Piston by Logiix (Purple) and  Blue Piston by Logiix (Gunmetal): Retail Price $49.95

Looking for a powerful yet small Bluetooth speaker? Take your music anywhere with the Blue Piston Wireless Bluetooth Speaker from Logiix! This portable bluetooth speaker has a brushed aluminum military grade shell and built-in low frequency resonance system for a clearer sound. Not only can you listen to your favorite music, but you can also answer phone calls and make voice commands hands free! 

What's included: a carry case, auxiliary cable, micro USB charging cable, and an anti-slip pad attached to the bottom of the speaker.
Dimensions: Height - 2.05" Width - 2.44" Depth - 2.44"

3. Slim Laser iPhone 5 Case by Targus: Retail Price $14.99

Snap-on protection and improved grip. Cover and protect your phone inside the Slim Laser case with the easy snap-on design and laser cut finish to improve your grip on your phone.

Questions or comments? Email Brian@iphonelife.com. Good luck and remember to visit iphonelife.com/giveaways to enter! Also check out our other contests at iphonelife.com/contests. The next contest drawing is Oct. 7th!

Whether you’re a fan of fiction, or you can’t get enough of the latest autobiography, the world of books is a wonderful one to dive into. If you can’t quite find it in your heart to give up your paperbacks, you can still experiment with enjoying books in a more hi-tech way by downloading a few great apps onto your iPhone. From audiobooks to more unusual and quirky literary apps, we’ve rounded up the best four to help you keep up with your reading on the go.

Nook (free)

If you’re interested in sampling the world of the e-reader, but don’t want to commit to a new piece of technology, why not try the superb Nook app from Barnes and Noble? With access to over 2.5 million book titles, newspapers, magazines and comics, personalised recommendations, and 1 million completely free titles to read, Nook offers an incredibe array of reading choices. Handy tools such as adjustable font sizes, line spacing, and screen brightness all make for more comfortable reading, while the ability to add notes and highlight parts of the text make it the ideal app to use as a study companion.

Audiobooks — 2,947 Classics for Free

Brought to you by Classicly, this wonderful app gives you almost 3,000 classic works of literature recorded in audiobook formats. Although you won’t find contemporary books, you will find everything else; from the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin to world famous literary works such as The Art of War and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.Audiobooks by Classicly (free) will make your journey to work far more entertaining than a copy of the latest gossip magazine.

Goodreads (free)

If you’ve ever been in the bookstore or library trying desperately to remember whether you’ve read a particular novel before, then the Goodreads app is for you. Possibly the best app for people who love to read, Goodreads gives you the ability to easily keep track of both what you’ve already read and books you might like to try. With over 20 million members, this handy app also helps you to see what other people are reading and check out their reviews, and even read one of 2,000 public domain e-books.

Book Club Mobile (free)

Anyone who’s a member of a bookclub will know that sometimes, no matter how incredible the book was, generating a thorough discussion can be tricky. The Book Club Mobile app for the iPhone is perfect for giving you a helping hand to get your meetings off to a flying start; it works by suggesting topics based on characters in the book, any possible themes, and cultural aspects for around 200 different book titles.

If you’re looking for something a little larger with greater resonance than a mini speaker, you may want to consider the new Braven 850 Bluetooth wireless speaker. It makes a great desktop or bookshelf speaker. It could also function as an auxiliary speaker for your TV sound system. It would also be good for sporting events, camping or boating trips, or in the garden.

Because it has a built in microphone, it can also work as a hands-free communication device in conjunction with your Smartphone. With the advent of an incoming call, the program running on the speaker pauses and is resumed when the call has terminated.

The speaker measures 9.5 x 2.75 x 4 inches and weighs about 3.5 pounds. Its 8800mAh battery gives about 20 hours of playback time, which is one of the best I’ve reviewed so far.

The Braven 850 is the latest speaker in an evolution from smaller units. This robust model pumps out room-filling fidelity of the finest quality. For an even better stereophonic effect it is possible to daisy chain speakers together for a great upper register with a powerful midrange and an excellent overall dynamic range. The SRS feature can cause a slight buzzing under certain conditions. But without the SRS feature turned on, the sound quality can sound a little flat in comparison. The difference is quite amazing.

All the control buttons are easily accessible on the left side of the unit, and the charging and input ports are located on the back. The sleek case is made of polished aluminum with black plastic sides. Overall, it’s a handsome presentation that is an asset to its surroundings.

It can be connected to any Bluetooth device as an input source. It works seamlessly with all iOS devices but has no connector other than a 3.5 mm jack for audio input and a USB port. The wireless range is about 30 feet, which is typical of most Bluetooth speakers.

It only comes with a silver case, costs $299, and can be purchased from the manufacturer’s website here.

I must admit, when I first learned of SnapVerse (free), based on the name, I was worried that it was another anonymous texting app in the vein of SnapChat, and I had no need for that.

But I was wrong. SnapVerse is more like Vine plus GarageBand, as it lets you take videos up to 20 seconds and mash in your favorite music and sound effects. Videos can be full size or square, as with Vine.

More importantly, the videos that are produced might actually have more artistic appeal than those created with other social video tools, thanks to the music component. Videos, called 'snaps' can be saved to your camera roll, and shared via Twitter, Facebook, email, and using SnapVerse's own social network.

There are some areas for improvement. More users and more 'snaps' need to be part of the network to make it more interesting and useful. SnapVerse is currently only an iPhone only app. Support for the iPad would be appreciated, and for other platforms, particularly Android if more users are to come on board. Until then, it's up to us iPhone users to start snapping and sharing!

I've already covered basic tips and useful hidden features in iOS 7. Now I'd like to cover a few new features that seem important for everyone to be aware of. 

Airdrop:

If you've accessed the new Control Panel by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, you may have noticed an icon labeled AirDrop. You can use this feature to share videos, photos, notes, map locations, contacts, and more with other nearby iOS users. Your device automatically sees other AirDrop-enabled devices in the vicinity and uses WiFi for fast transfer of files. The devices use a technology called WiFi Direct, meaning that the they set up a direct network connection between them. There's no need for a wireless router. To enable AirDrop, turn it on in the Control Center by tapping it. You'll be given two options: Contacts Only or Everyone. If you select Contacts Only, AirDrop will only show nearby iOS users if that person is in your contacts. (And apparently uses Bluetooth, not Wifi, to scan for nearby users.) Note that AirDrop only works with the iPhone 5 and later, fourth-generation iPad and iPad mini, and fifth-generation iPad touch. Once you've enabled it, then when you tap the Share icon in an app, you'll see the AirDrop option at the top of the sharing options, and a listing of nearby AirDrop users. You can read a more detailed how-to, with screenshots, on CNET. 

Near Me:

Another interesting nearby feature can be found in the App Store app. At the bottom of the screen, it says Near Me. Tap that, and the App Store will show you apps related to your current location, such as an app for a nearby museum or a transit-related app.

Call Blocking:

You can now block unwanted communications from specific people, including calls, text messages, iMessages, and FaceTime calls. You can turn it on for calls and messaging by going to Settings>Messages>Blocked and adding the contact or contacts you wish to block. For FaceTime calls, go to Settings>FaceTime>Blocked.

Stream Your Videos from the Cloud:

If you've purchased movies or TV shows from the iTunes Store, you can now watch those videos by streaming them from the cloud rather than having to download them to your device. You'll see that all your purchased videos are there when you open the Videos app. You simply select a video and then tap the Play button to start it streaming. If you or a friend has an Apple TV, you can stream videos via that device, too, if you install the latest version of the Apple TV software (6.0). On Apple TV, simply go into Settings>AirPlay and select AirPlay from the Cloud. Now when you stream a video via AirPlay, it streams from the cloud rather than your device. It's neat that you can use this feature to watch your videos on a friend's TV if he or she has an Apple TV.

Parallax:

Okay, so this isn't very useful, but it's cool. (Though I have to admit I hadn't noticed the use of parallax in iOS 7 until I read about it.) In the home screen, simply tilt your device slowly back and forth or side to side, and you'll nice that the icons appear to be floating above a static background and to move as you tilt your device. You'll need a fairly finely grained wallpaper in the background in order to notice this effect. You can select a different wallpaper by going to Settings>Wallpaper & Brightness. The effect shows up well against the star-filled sky that I had selected. I like these little touches that Apple adds.

The new iPhones 5S and 5C are already seeing record-breaking sales and rave reviews. But it isn't so much the tiny flat rectangle that is the iPhone that is most significant, it's what you can do with it that matters.

As far as I'm concerned, iOS 7 has stolen the show this year and is Apple’s greatest innovation since they introduced the iPad mini a year ago. 

While I'll be the first to agree that the newly released iPhones 5S and 5C are masterfully crafted iterative upgrades and likewise, that the forthcoming new iPads will be nothing short of refined excellence; it is iOS 7 that will redefine our experience within the iOS ecosystem. And a redefined experience of the iOS ecosystem will go a long way to redefining our relationships with our iDevices in general.

All of Apple’s products that can run iOS 7, both new and old, will be elevated and invigorated by this great and understated mobile operating system. And "understated" is the truth, as we are learning that there are far more amazing attributes to iOS 7 than Apple could ever convey in a one-hour iPhone press conference.

Within three days iOS 7 was running on almost as many iDevices as iOS 6 making it the fastest software upgrade in history. That's pretty darn impressive considering how many hundreds of millions of iDevices are out there. This mass migration from iOS 6 to iOS 7 serves as a blunt reminder to anyone paying close attention that Apple is still quite masterful at getting the world at large super excited about its product innovation.

So much of what iOS 7 is all about is intuitive ease and simplicity. Not that iOS 6 wasn’t intuitive, or easy and simple to grasp, but iOS 7 has taken it to the next level. And while it's hard not to notice that with iOS 7 Apple has created software that bears more similarities to Android than some die-hard Apple fans would like, Apple has in many ways far surpassed the competition when it comes to cutting-edge, modern operating systems. Indeed, Tim Cook has put his stamp of approval on a most excellent product, one that will redefine Apple’s future for years to come.

Multi-path TCP

Multi-path TCP is a very significant addition to the iOS engine, and one that trumps every other phone on the market at this time—even though you wouldn't know it since Apple has barely mentioned this advanced new feature. In a nutshell, this pioneering technology makes your iDevice a smarter and more efficient tool when it comes to detecting and utilizing the strongest signal, be it 3G, LTE, or Wi-Fi. So if you are sending a message or email via LTE and your signal is weak or fluctuating, your iDevice will automatically and seamlessly switch to the next strongest signal available. Or let's say you are watching a movie on Netflix and you leave the range of your Wi-Fi, with Multi-path TCP under the hood, you may not even notice a lag in performance or extra buffering occuring as your iDevice switches signals. With Multi-path TCP, your iDevice is constantly searching for the best signal as opposed to staying latched on to a signal that may be weak, fluctuating, or unreliable for whatever reason.

Motion Sickness? Battery Life Issues? Try these Tricks:

Under Settings > General > Accessibility you'll find the ability to reduce motion, which will not only extended your battery life, but may also help ease the nausea, motion sickness and vertigo issues that have apparently been triggered by the new effects. Also under Settings > General, you will find the ability to customize which (if any) apps continually refresh themselves in the background, another source of battery depletion. AirDrop also drains the battery and that feature can be activated and deactivated with a simple upward swipe from the bottom of the screen to display the Control Center screen where AirDrop is accessed. As was the case with iOS 6, location services (Settings > Privacy), Bluetooth (Upward swipe to Control Center), and Push email (Settings > Mail) are all other common sources of battery drain.

Folders & Files

If you're a heavy iDevice user like I am, you're really going to appreciate the redesigned folders in iOS 7. Now instead of only being able to add a maximum number of apps to folders, the cap has been lifted and you can add an unlimited number of apps to any given folder. So if like me you have hundreds of apps on your iDevice, you can now achieve a minimalistic, logically organized file system. I went from having three pages of folders that were filled to the brim with apps, to having two pages with four folders each. Now my background is clearly and beautifully displayed and my apps are organized exactly as I want them. Clutter-free at last!

Functionality & Time Savers

In iOS 7 everything just seems to flow better and have a greater level of intuitive sensibility. With increased attention to practical detail and functionality iOS 7 is proving to be a time saver in many ways. For example, the swipe up to Control Center is such a useful tool! No longer do we have to tap and search for such things as Airplane mode, screen orientation lock, or Bluetooth and brightness controls. And I can't express how great it is to have a quick access to the oh-so-handy flashlight and camera in Control Center! Thank you Apple, you continue to think of ways to make my own life easier and more efficient.

I'm also a big fan of the new enhanced security features that have been built into iOS 7. Most notably, now if you want to disable the Find My iPhone feature, you need your Apple ID and password, and likewise, if you wipe the iPhone clean and try to restore an iDevice to factory settings, you also need an Apple ID and password. All of this serves as an excellent deterrent against theft.

Made for iPhone Game Controllers

If you are an iOS gaming fan, one of the most exciting iOS features that Apple has introduced is the ability for manufacturers to build iDevice specific and Apple-certified game controllers. This should have a significant effect on both how iOS video games are designed as well as how we eventually get to interact with them. I've had some experience trying out various game controllers in the past, prior to iOS 7, but I always felt like they were limited in which games they could play and lacking the seamless integration that Apple-certified game controllers will surely deliver. I can't wait to see the options for iDevice game controllers that are available to us this holiday season.

With the new mobile operating system there is so much to explore! Stay tuned to iPhone Life for more coverage of the new iPhones and further examination of the new iOS.

As an avid Apple follower, I've seen and heard it all lately. Many respected technology sites are praising the iPhone 5s for its new camera, fingerprint scanner, and faster chip. They are saying that the phone is so much better than its younger sibling, the 5c, that it puts the poor phone to shame. 

These experts, analysts, and Apple watchers are wrong. So wrong that it offends me.

I am a high school senior. My generation was the first to adopt Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr. We have used computers all our lives. Many of us have had a cellphone since elementary school. We tend to have a big influence on what is popular, and still no one asks us what we think. Therefore, I want to share three reasons why I believe the 5c will be a huge hit.

1. The iPhone comes in pink. 

I feel genuinely sorry for the parents of girls between the ages of about 8-16. Not only are children and teens persuasive and demanding, they also tend to get what they want if they ask for it enough. Apple is very aware of this and a pink iPhone will be a huge hit with the young crowd. For only $99 with a contract, the device is not a deal-breaker for Christmas; yet it can do all the things a regular smartphone can do, and so much more. Expect to hear something similar to this around the holiday season: "But Daddy, all my friends have one."

2. The phone is cheap.

It is really hard to jump on an Apple-following site and not see someone complaining that the iPhone 5c is too expensive. As a 17-year-old kid without a job, $200 is quite the expense. Cut that in half, however, and it's pretty manageable. Fall is rolling around, and raking leaves is something that many teens my age can do to make some money. After a few sessions, the $100 can be pocketed and taken to the Apple Store for a new phone (with an upgrade or new contract).

3. The 5c is running iOS 7. 

Here is a task for you, dear reader. Log into Twitter if you have an account and search iOS 7. Go back about six days and then see what people think. What you will find are teens with extremely long, interesting handles (most of which are about Justin Bieber or One Direction) going on and on about how excited they are about iOS 7. The majority of young people I have spoken with really enjoy the new software. In fact, the fondness actually contradicts the complaints that it's too flat or colorful. The new design is trending and Apple has done right to change it.

In all reality, Apple knows what it's doing with the 5c. The tech giant is definitely targeting the younger demographic, and it is getting the response it wants. Over the next few months, I think sales of the 5c will surprise all the doubters and become a huge success.

Every time a new update comes out, I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. It’s quite distracting, and I find myself daydreaming about all the goodies in store for me. Some updates are more awesome than others, but I’m glad to say that the iOS 7 did not disappoint me, iPhone Life-ers! It certainly is the biggest change in five years. Sure there are things that I would change if I were boss of the world, but there’s lots that I like. Instead of going feature by feature, let’s focus on the visual user interface (UI) differences. As the husband of a graphic designer and a person who has overseen the design and development of many iPhone apps in his day, the look and feel is really important to me.

One of the first things you notice after upgrading is how much bigger the screen seems to be. With steadily increasing screen sizes available from competitors, Apple knows that screen real estate is very precious stuff, and they worked hard to strip clutter and unnecessary “chrome” from the UI. Just looking at the lock screen can show you how dramatic this effect can be: those black bars at the top and bottom are completely gone. It can be disconcerting, but you do get used to it; and when compared side to side iOS6, it looks like you’re peering through a porthole. The goal of reducing chrome and clutter is replicated throughout the UI.

Once you unlock the phone (by swiping anywhere, not just on the slider anymore), the home screen really lets you know you’re in something new. The first thing most people notice is that the app icons seem to float above the background wallpaper. Apple calls this the parallax effect (shifting the position of the background image according to inputs from the accelerometers), and it really creates an illusion of looking INTO the phone as opposed to AT it.

The icons themselves have been toned down a bit. Gone are the “fake Photoshop 3D” icons with shadows and specular highlights providing a look of being rounded and a sense of depth. The old style icons looked more like buttons, which made them more familiar. Now they have been flattened which, when combined with parallax, yields a much more realistic 3D sensation of a plane of icons floating in space. Skeumorphism is taking design elements from old things and adding them to new. Think of the way previous operating systems represented the newsstand as a wood-paneled bookshelf with magazines. I can assure you there’s no wood in an iPhone! The new bookshelf is now a lot more symbolic, cartoon-like, and rough. Icons now use gradients to provide texture, instead of light source and shading.

Another big change is the color palette. The rich, earthy, darker tones are gone, replaced by bright and bold primary colors. As with the icons, gradients have replaced textures, and white space is in abundance. I think this plays into the common impression that the UI is “lighter,” not just in tones, but in feel as well.

One complaint I’ve heard regularly enough that I think it has some legitimacy is that text is harder to read right after updating, especially for people with eyesight issues. Apple rolled out a new font for this update, Helvetica Neue typeface, and I’m a huge fan—everything looks ultra-crisp and modern, with thin, clean lines! But I think that is part of the problem, because the font is not a very “heavy” font. Couple that with the lighter palette and you have a potential for decreased readability.

The great thing about this “problem” is that it is easily rectified in settings. I found that going into the Accessibility section and turning on “Bold Text” made a huge difference, giving the font a little more heft. The second option I enabled is to “Increase Contrast” which also helped. Frankly I don’t see any downsides to enabling these two options, though the bolding does seem to increase character spacing slightly (it’s hard to tell because it requires a reboot).

Finally, even if those two tweaks still leave you squinting and trying to focus on the screen, there is a slider to increase the size of the text itself. I prefer to sacrifice a little scrolling in return for a quicker glance, so I bumped it up a notch, and now I’m perfectly happy with the readability.

I think the dynamic wallpaper, with its seven different color choices and subtle animations for the home and lock screens, is attractive and fun to interact with; but it might be a suck on battery power, so I’m choosing not to use it.

The revamped Notification Center and Control Center exist on top of the wallpaper level and inherit the wallpaper’s color so that when you change your wallpaper everything else changes with it. Control Center looks different depending on the wallpaper, and the numeric keypad gains outlines based on the wallpaper color as well.

The new photo UI is perhaps one of my favorite improvements. The design is clean and clear, making it much easier and even more fun to use with the swipe interface.  t’s a completely different look and experience.

I read that some people are so impressed by how this (free) update has made their phone feel brand new, that they’re considering holding off on upgrading. For someone like me that sounds like blasphemy, but it just goes to show how powerful an iOS update can be!

Do you have an idea for an app but lack the programming knowledge to begin building it? In this weekly blog series, I will take you, the non-programmer, step by step through the process of creating apps for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Join me each week on this adventure, and you will experience how much fun turning your ideas into reality can be! This is Part 24 of the series. If you are just getting started, check out the beginning of the series here.

In my previous column, I talked about some of the great new changes in Xcode 5, Apple's tool for creating iOS apps. In this post, I am going to move the iAppsReview project to Xcode 5 and iOS 7 and we'll talk about some of the challenges you will encounter as you move your apps forward. 

You can get the latest version of the iAppsReview project from this link. I recommend trying to follow the steps in this post on your own, but if you run into trouble, you can get the completed app at this link.

Opening the Project in Xcode

Let's open the iAppsReview project in Xcode 5 to see how the upgrade process works.

1. Before opening any project in a new version of Xcode. I recommend making a backup of your project. This is as easy as opening a Finder window, selecting the project root folder (iAppsReview in this case), and pressing Command+D to make a duplicate of the folder and its contents.

2. Next, launch Xcode 5 and open the iAppsReview project. After opening the project, Xcode automatically builds the project and you should see in the Activity Viewer at the top of the Xcode window that the build has succeeded (Figure 1).

Figure 1 - The Activity Viewer should show Succeeded.

3. If the Storyboard file is NOT automatically selected when you open the project, go to the Project Navigator and click on the MainStoryboard file to select it. In either case, this displays the dialog shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 - Xcode asks if you would like to uprade the storyboard.

This dialog asks if you want to upgrade the storyboard to Xcode 5. Once you upgrade a storyboard to Xcode 5, you can no longer edit it in Xcode 4. Since you already made a backup of the project in step 1, you can upgrade the storyboard knowing that you can always open the backup version in Xcode 4 if necessary.

4. Click the Upgrade button to upgrade the storyboard to Xcode 5. When you do this, you can see a visible change in the storyboard scenes as they are upgraded to Xcode 5 and iOS 7.

Building the Project

Now that the storyboard is upgraded to Xcode 5, let's build the project.

1. Press Command+B to build the project.

2. In the Activity Indicator at the top of the Xcode window, you should again see that the build succeeded.

Setting Up the iOS 7 Previewer

It's a good idea to examine all of the scenes in your app after upgrading to a new version of Xcode. When looking at each scene, I find it helpful to use Xcode 5's new iOS Previewer so I can see what the scene looks like under iOS 6 and iOS 7. To launch the iOS Previewer:

1. Display the Assistant Editor by clicking the center button in the Editor button group in the Xcode toolbar.

2. It's easiest to view the scenes side by side, so go to the Xcode menu and select View > Assistant Editor > Assistant Editors on Right as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 - Displaying Assistant Editors on the right

3. Click the first segment in the Assistant Editor's jump bar (usually labeled Automatic or Manual) and select Preview (1) > MainStoryboard.storyboard (Preview) from the popup menu (Figure 4).

Figure 4 - Launching the iOS Previewer

4. Next, in the bottom-right corner of the iOS Previewer, select iOS 6.1 and Earlier from the toolbar. You should see the iOS 7 version of the scene on the left and the iOS 6 version of the scene on the right as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5 - The iOS Previewer

Now let's take a closer look at the different scenes in the iAppsReview project.

Examining the iAppsReview Scene

As you can see in Figure 5, there are some distinct differences between the iOS 6 and iOS 7 versions of the scene.

1. The color scheme is different—the iOS 7 navigation bar is light gray with a black battery icon and black text while the iOS 6 navigation bar is dark gray with a white battery icon and white text.

2. The iOS 7 table view background is a solid, light gray, and the iOS 6 table view background is darker gray with vertical stripes.

3. The iOS 7 table view section labels are uppercased, and the iOS 6 table view section labels are mixed case.

4. The iOS 7 table view cells extend the full width of the screen, and the iOS 6 table view cells extend most of the width. The full width iOS 7 cells are part of Apple's initiative to provide more room for the app's content.

There are no adjustments we need to make, so this scene is good to go!

Examining the Write Review Scene

Now let's take a look at the Write Review scene. In the storyboard, scroll to the Write Review scene and then click on the status bar at the top of the scene.

Figure 6 - The Write Review scene is shown in the iOS Previewer.

As you can see in Figure 6, in addition to the color scheme, there are some distinct differences between the iOS 6 and iOS 7 scenes.

1. On the left side of the screen, the Share button in the navigation toolbar has the new iOS 7 look.

2. The iOS 7 table view is partially hidden beneath the navigation bar.

3. The iOS 7 buttons no longer have a border.

This is one of those situations where we shouldn't leave the iOS 7 scene "as is". We should tweak it so that it looks great in iOS 7.

Redesigning the Write Review Scene

When you move a scene to iOS 7, it's best to take a look at some of Apple's built-in apps so you can create a similar look and feel in your own app. For example, the buttons at the bottom of the Write Review scene are definitely not visually appealing. So let's check one of the built-in apps to see how Apple is presenting these new buttons.

Figure 7 shows the Twitter app. Towards the bottom of the screen you can see the text Sign In and Create New Account. Although at first glance these may look like table view rows, but they are actually buttons. Notice the buttons have a white background and fill the full width of the screen. 

Figure 7 - Buttons in the Twitter app

As shown in Figure 6, the Write Review scene has two buttons—Photo Album and Post. We could change both of these buttons to look like the buttons in the Twitter app, but that would take up a lot of screen real estate. Here's what we can do instead:

1. Remove the Photo Album button.

2. Change the image view at the bottom of the screen to display text that says Add Image. Users could then directly tap the image view to add a new image. We can also move the image view to the right of the five-star review control to make the best use of space.

3. Change the Post button to a full-width iOS 7-style button.

When we finish with these steps, the scene will look like Figure 8.

Figure 8 - The completed Write Review scene.

Updating the Write Review Scene

So let's begin! We'll start at the bottom of the scene.

1. First, let's delete the Photo Album button. To do this, click on the button in the design surface to select it, and then press the Delete key.

2. As soon as you delete the button an error icon appears to the right of the Write Review scene in the Document Outline panel as shown in Figure 9. If you don't see the Document Outline panel, you can click the rounded rectangle button at the bottom-left corner of the Interface Builder, or select Editor > Show Document Outline from the Xcode menu.

Figure 9 - Warnings in the Document Outline panel

If you expand the View > Constraints node in the Document Outline, you can see there are quite a few constraints. These constraints were carried over when Xcode converted the storyboard to Xcode 5.

3. In the Document Outline pane, click on the red circle to the right of the Write Review scene. This displays the detailed constraint error information shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10 - Constraint error detail

4. At this point, we could fix this error, but since we have a lot of rearranging to do in the scene, it's best if we simply delete all constraints in the scene and then we can put the necessary constraints back into the scene later on.

To delete all constraints, click the Resolve Auto Layout Issues button at the bottom-right corner of Interface Builder (highlighted in red in Figure 11.) From the popup menu, select the Clear All Constraints in App Category View Controller (Note: you may need to select a user interface control in the scene before selecting this option due to a bug in Xcode.)

Figure 11 - Clear all constraints.

After clearing all constraints, the Document Outline panel displays the text No Auto Layout Issues.

It's important to note that when you create a new scene in Xcode 5, constraints are not automatically generated as they were in Xcode 4. This makes it much easier to lay out the user interface. Later on, you can apply constraints to the scene once the dust has settled on your UI design.

5. Next, drag the image view away from the bottom of the scene and temporarily place it to the right of the white rectangle that represents the five-star review control as shown in Figure 12.

Figure 12 - Move the image view.

6. Now we're going to make the Post button span the full width of the scene. To do this, drag the Post button to the bottom-left corner of the scene until the horizontal and vertical guidelines appear as shown in Figure 13 (you need to move the button all the way to the left of the scene.)

Figure 13 - Move the Post button.

7. Grab the resizing handle on the right side of the Post button and drag it all the way over to the right edge of the view as shown in Figure 14.

Figure 14 - Stretch the Post button.

8. Now let's change the background of the button to white. The new iOS 7 buttons don't have a background color, but they do have a Background image property we can set. 

With the Post button still selected, go the Attributes Inspector (third button from the right in the Inspector toolbar) and set the Background property to white.png as shown in Figure 15 (I have added this image file to the project specifically for this purpose.)

Figure 15 - Set the Background color to white.png.

If you click anywhere else in the design surface you can see that the background of the Post button is now off-white because the button is disabled. When the button is enabled at run time, the background will be white.

11. Next, position the five-star control above the text field and near the left edge of the scene until you see the guide lines appear (Figure 16) and then release your mouse button.

Figure 16 - Position the five star control.

12. Next, center the image view control horizontally to the five-star control and the right of the scene until the guide lines appear as shown in Figure 17 and then release your mouse button.

Figure 17 - Position the image view.

13. Next, let's change the default image that is displayed in the image view. Click on the image view in the design surface to select it, and then go to the Attributes Inspector (the third button from the right in the Inspector toolbar.) Change the Image attribute to AddImage.png. When you do this, the image shown in Figure 18 is displayed in the image view.

Figure 18 - The new image view image.

15. For our final change, we need to trigger the accessPhotoLibrary method when a user taps the image view. By default, image views are not interactive, so we first need to change that setting. 

Go to the Attributes Inspector and select the User Interaction Enabled check box (Figure 19).

Figure 19 - Select User Interaction Enabled.

16. Image views don't have an event that gets fired when you click on them. Here is where gesture recognizers come to the rescue.

Drag a Tap Gesture Recognizer from the Object Library and drop it on the image view as shown in Figure 20.

Figure 20 - Add a gesture recognizer to the image view.

This adds a second gesture recognizer to the dock below the Write Review scene. Click on the gesture recognizer on the right to select it, and then go to the Connections Inspector (the first button on the right in the Inspectors toolbar.)

In the Sent Actions section, click the connection well to the right of the selector action and drag down to the view controller icon in the scene dock as shown in Figure 21.

Figure 21 - Connecting the gesture recognizer to a view controller method.

Release the mouse button and you will see a popup containing a list of methods to which you can connect. Choose the accessPhotoLibrary method from the list (Figure 22).

Figure 22 - Select the accessPhotoLibrary method.

Now you're ready to test your changes!

Testing the Write Review Scene

Let's run the app in the Simulator to see how it works at run time.

1. In the Scheme control located on the left side of the Xcode toolbar, make sure you have iPhone Retina (3.5-inch) simulator selected.

2. Click Xcode's Run button, and when the app appears in the Simulator, select the Write a Review option.

3. Try adding and posting a new review. Click the image view to make sure the Photos scene appears, even if you don't select an image.

Changing Device Orientation

Before leaving the Simulator, let's rotate it to landscape mode to see how the scene looks. From the Simulator menu, select Hardware > Rotate Left and the scene should look like Figure 23.

Figure 23 - The Write Review scene in landscape orientation

What happened? Earlier in this post, we removed all constraints from the Write Review scene, so there are no instructions that tell the scene how to lay out the views in landscape mode.

New Autolayout to the Rescue!

Fortunately, Apple has made vast improvements to the Auto Layout system in Xcode 5 and iOS 7. It still takes some forethought and a bit of head scratching to get more difficult layouts exactly right, but it is much easier with these updated technologies.

Conclusion

When moving your apps to iOS 7 and Xcode 5, you should stop and take a good look at your user interfaces to make sure they look great in the context of the new iOS look and feel. In my next post we'll take a close look at the new Xcode 5 Auto Layout and learn how to handle a variety of common user interface layout challenges such as the one we experienced in this post.

The Touch ID fingerprint sensor on the new iPhone 5s has been well received. Apple says that half of smartphone owners don't use any security at all, so Touch ID should provide greater security just by making it easier for people to restrict access without having to go through the step of a passcode. But fingerprint sensors have been shown in the past to be vulnerable, and the day after the iPhone 5s was released, a group of hackers in Germany claimed to have defeated Touch ID security. (See the video below.) But it's not easy, and it's unlikely that most bad guys would go to this much trouble. 

Here's how they describe the steps necessary to perform this hack:

First, the fingerprint of the enrolled user is photographed with 2400 dpi resolution. The resulting image is then cleaned up, inverted and laser printed with 1200 dpi onto transparent sheet with a thick toner setting. Finally, pink latex milk or white woodglue is smeared into the pattern created by the toner onto the transparent sheet. After it cures, the thin latex sheet is lifted from the sheet, breathed on to make it a tiny bit moist and then placed onto the sensor to unlock the phone. This process has been used with minor refinements and variations against the vast majority of fingerprint sensors on the market.

This description doesn't make clear that the hacker puts the latex sheet on his finger, then touches the sensor, as the video shows.

The video first shows the unauthorized person touching the home button and nothing happening. Then it shows him applying the prepared latex film to his finger, which then unlocks the device. This successful hacking also shows that in order to break in, a real finger is needed. The sensor can actually tell if what it's seeing is an image of a finger or a real finger. But in this case, it's a real finger that has the image of the authorized person's fingerprint superimposed upon it. Of course, one can't be sure the video isn't faked, but since this is a known hack that has been used in other instances to defeat this type of security, it's believable.

You can read more about it in the blog of the hacker group, called Chaos Computer Club.

Welcome to my most recent iPhoneography workflow in which I'll show you how I creates this photo in only three steps and what apps I used.

Since winter will be here before we know it, I thought this would be a nice photo workflow to share this week. I always suggest getting up early and being on location approximately 15–20 minutes before the sun rises. This is when the magical colors of the earth awake, and they don't stay long, so be ready. 

I headed off to my favorite little lake to catch this sunrise. That is when I saw this bare, very beautiful looking tree. I aligned it with the sunrise, and started my shoot.

Step 1. I started off in Camera+ (1.99). After taking multiple shots and choosing my favorite, I started the editing.

Step 2. Still in Camera+, I used the Darken option. This brings out all the magic lights and lets them pop. After that I went to the Effects features, and used the Red Scale option. I adjusted the red scale to about 25 percent and saved to camera roll.

Step 3. I went to the Photogene ($0.99) app to sharpen the photo. I adjusted the sharpen to about 25 percent. Sharpening your photos will make them crisp, so they look as if they were taken by a pro. While in Photogene, I also used the De-noise feature and adjusted to about 60 percent to clean up the photo and get rid of any fuzziness, then I saved to camera roll.

That's it. I always watermark my photos to show ownership with iWatermark (free). I recommend you do the same. 

I've never used a keyboard with an iPad before (really). That's why I was super excited to be able to review the Logitech Keyboard Folio Mini for the iPad Mini ($89.99).

What better way to try it out, I thought, than to use it to type this article?

I used the Notes app on my iPad mini. Except for a few missed keys because the keyboard is smaller than on my MacBook Pro, I loved it. It didn't take me long before I got used to the smaller spaces between the keys and my fingers made the adjustments.

For those, like me, who have never used an iPad keyboard, you still use the touchscreen on the iPad. When I went back to edit the article, I touched the screen where I wanted to change or add a word and then started typing again from that point. Just like using a mouse cursor.

The keyboard connects to the iPad mini through Bluetooth. It was simple to pair them. There is an on/off switch on the keyboard to save the battery when you're not using it. A charger is included.

The folio case folds flat, so when I'm not using the keyboard I can turn my iPad vertically and playWords With Friends ($4.99).

And a shortcut list is provided so I am able to use all the keyboard shortcuts I use on my Mac.

I wish I'd had this when I was working as a newspaper reporter. It would have been so nice to tuck in my purse for school board meetings. Plus, with the voice memo on the iPad, I could have recorded interviews. Sigh.

Remind me what you do with a notebook and pen again?

Unless there's a program I absolutely need to use on my MacBook Pro, I've decided I will use my iPad mini with the Logitech Keyboard when I need to do any writing away from home. It's nice to use for emails too.

Bluetooth speakers continue to arrive fast and furiously. And they come in all shapes and sizes, designed for use on the desk, in the shower, or tucked up under an old stereo system breathing new life into old components.

This round-up features four different solutions, ranging from the diminutive Cobra AirWave to the SoundFreaq Spot, along with the Bravern 710 and the Boom Swimmer.

Let me start with the Cobra AirWave ($39.95) since it’s not really a speaker, but more of a bridge to speakers or to sound systems. Turn it on, press the little button on top to pair, and then plug it in to anything from a pair of computer speakers to a stereo component system, and immediately start streaming audio. Mine is now firmly attached to my home stereo system. It just replaced a very old MP3 player, and easily picks up streams from other rooms so you don’t need leave your iPad or iPhone connected to your old stereo. The AirWave also works in cars with an auxiliary input, providing Bluetooth streaming to older models.

If you want to listen to music near the water, consider the Boom Swimmer ($59.99), a waterproof Bluetooth speaker with decent enough sound. The Swimmer isn’t differentiated by its sound, but by its body, which looks a little bit like a bell, or a sperm, depending on how you configure its rather talented tail. The Swimmer is IPX7 rated, which means it take can take a splash, or even a dunk, as long as that tail is tightly affixed. In dryer environments with flat surfaces, the tail can be unscrewed and a suction cup attached, which, when combined with a solid surface, enhances base output. If you are looking for fun with plenty of utility, this is a speaker to consider.

Next up is the aesthetically pleasing Sound Spot ($69.99) from Soundfreaq. This little speaker would fit well in an office with Don Draper, sitting coyly next to a heavy glass ashtray and an empty tumbler with just the faintest hint of lipstick on its rim. And the Sound Spot sounds pretty good too! The Sound Spot runs several hours without a charge; can trickle charge many USB devices, like phones; and includes an Aux in and Aux Out (for connecting more than one speaker.) The Sound Spot also includes its own equalizer-like settings to treat incoming audio flat (as received) to warm it or brighten it up. My only complaint about the Sound Spot is that its wood grain isn’t real.

Finally the Braven 710 ($169.99), which ships on November 4. This is the most complete single speaker solution I have seen to date. Not only is this a compact and portable Bluetooth speaker, it is also an NFC speaker, an auxiliary input speaker, a speakerphone, and a portable device charger. It’s also water resistant.

The Braven 710 features custom HD audio drivers and an omnidirectional passive bass radiator for big, booming bass. The unit also includes a noise-canceling speakerphone for hands-free talk. And if you’re looking for a speaker than looks cool and can also take a splash of water now and then (or even a bit of drizzle) the Braven 710 comes with an IPX5 water-resistant rating.

And back to looks. The 710 is made of a single piece of aircraft grade aluminum, and hides all of its features in the ends, with the exception of the microphone and the LED. One end features power, pairing, volume up or down, skip tracks, and accept and end call buttons. On the other end, under a rubber seal, are a micro-USB charging port, a built-in portable power bank that charges other devices, auxiliary in, battery status lights and a reset button. Interestingly, the 710 can also function as a Bluetooth receiver, much like the Cobra AirWave, via its audio-out function. It can be set so that the 710 plays along with the other system, or the 710 can be silenced (by holding down the +/- volume button simultaneously). If you own two Braven 710s, they can be connected via synchronized Bluetooth, and when paired, act as right and left channel stereo speakers. NFC enabled phones (sorry Apple people) can pair through proximity rather than Bluetooth settings (a feature I could not adequately test).

All of these speakers offer more battery life than I was able to test, or that you will likely use except in the most extreme cases. Plug in to recharge when not in use and you will never face a low battery with normal use.

The Braven 710 is the most expensive, but also the most functional of the speakers listed here. If readers are looking for “THE” speaker from among this group, then the Braven 710 clearly wins out if price becomes a moot point. If you are looking for a flexible travel speaker that can hook or hang on anything, then the Boom Simmer is ideal. There is nothing else like it on the market. If your are looking for a less expensive mobile speaker, and want that early 60s vibe, pick up a SoundFreaq Sound Spot. If you only need to stream to an existing system, the Cobra AirWave will fit your needs and just about any space you can imagine.

At some of these price points and widely divergent use cases, you may want to consider more than one speaker to meet your own very diverse needs for sound. Any and all of these speakers make great gifts for the audiophile on the holiday shopping list.