When I first reviewed it, I was concerned that the TYPO Keyboard Case, backed by Ryan Seacrest, was too similar to BlackBerry's keyboard design, and sure enough, a judge has agreed.
The TYPO could certainly be redesigned to use different iconography for the letters and other keys, but in the meantime, sales of the case are on hold. While you wait to find out what happens next, check out this exclusive iPhone Life interview with the founders of TYPO.
When I was asked to review Avokiddo's new game ABC Ride ($2.99), I jumped at the chance. I personally own Avokkido’s first two forays into mobile games and I think they are simply fantastic. But I was also a little apprehensive. The parent in me couldn’t wait to see my four year old’s reaction, but the hypercritical writer in me thought there was no way Avokiddo could strike gold three times in a row.
The parent in me won out and I am happy to say that this may be Avokiddo’s best game yet. They manage to pack so much learning into just a few seconds of game play. It's astonishing the amount of teaching that they cram in to each mini game. The main focus of the game, as the title suggests, is to teach kids their ABCs. The game does an amazing job of that and tackles learning letters from multiple sides in each mini game. As if Alphabet teaching was not enough they have also managed to pack other rudimentary learning into the game like matching and zoology.
The game works by picking one of Avokiddo’s signature characters, Beck and Bo, and placing them on the provided bicycle. Once on the bike you move the bike forward through Avokiddo’s interesting paper-like environments. Your character then comes upon a “station” that is like a mini game. The gameplay is incredibly diverse and no game is the same, but they are all pretty easy to figure out. My 4 year old only had to ask me for help once throughout the whole game. Each game consists of the actual mini game which are all engaging and fun, as well as a spelling game at the end. I am a big fan of the spelling game because even though it is just matching letters it seems like the perfect introduction to both letters and spelling.
The game is full of fun and soothing sounds as users have become accustomed to from Avokiddo. They mix environmental learning sounds with a soothing motherly voice that helps kids to focus and learn. Even the background music is fun and upbeat, making even the smallest parts of this game enjoyable.
You would think that an app that already offered so much would not have any more to offer, but you’d be wrong. On the home page is an area for parents to control even more fun. In the parents menu you are able to control whether the letters are displayed as upper or lower case and whether letters are called by name or phonics when the words are being spelled. You can also control the background music, narration, and how the letters are presented for the spelling game.
It is becoming quite obvious that the people at Avokiddo know exactly what they are doing when it comes to fun learning games. I love them because they are teaching my kids something and my kids love them because of the great environments, engaging gameplay, and fun sounds. I would not only recommend that you get ABC Ride today, but all of Avokiddo’s catalog.
SmartWatches are all the rage, even if Apple hasn't jumped in to the pool, yet. I've owned SmartWatches from Pebble, Martian Watches, i'mWatch, and more, and so far, none has met all of my requirements. One watch might have good battery life while another has a better screen or more apps, etc. So I'm happy to see more options.
Phosphor is the latest to join the fray, with a promising watch dubbed the Touch Time. That's an appropriate name, because there are no buttons, just a touchscreen e-ink display. Unlike i'mWatch and other LCD displays, the $159 Touch Time works best in direct light, but the tradeoff is it's not so good in the dark. There is a backlight which is activated by double-tapping the touch-sensitive spot below the screen.
The lack of buttons makes interaction dependent upon gestures, like swiping left to right. There's a tiny manual in the box. It's too small for my liking, but they have the information on the web at PhosphorWatches.com.
Where the Touch Time excels is the year long battery life. Even the best of the current batch of SmartWatches lasts about a week. Phosphor uses a coin-size watch battery; so instead of recharging weekly or even nightly, you replace it once a year. Set it and forget it. That also helps to make the watch waterproof.
Now on to the features of the Touch Time. Built-in apps include:
Some of the apps are cool, like the lunar display and world time and the different watch faces. I don't think I'll be using the calculator or reminder apps, since my iPhone is always near and does a better job. Swiping can be a bit cumbersome as a form of data entry.
Physically, the Touch Time is almost exactly the same size as my original Pebble, but the Touch Time uses solid metal instead of plastic. You could say this makes it heavier but it's also more substantive; it has some nice heft to it. The Pebble was also crowd funded, like Phosphor's Touch Time, but the Pebble has an ecosystem for third party apps. The Touch Time really is more of a standalone watch with some smart features. It doesn't have Bluetooth or other connectivity features. The Touch Time is a watch that is smart as opposed to an overhyped SmartWatch.
Competition is good. So is battery life. With Phosphor's Touch Time, we get both!
The other day, I was about to head out on the trails for my annual attempt at completing a couch-to-5K program, when I realized that my iPhone battery was almost out of juice. I didn't want to risk having my phone die while I was out on the relatively deserted trails (what if I got attacked by angry squirrels and needed to call for help?) And I needed to leave the house soon or I wouldn't be able to complete the workout before sunset.
Fortunately, there is a way to charge your iPhone more quickly: Just swipe up from the bottom of your homescreen to bring up Control Center and turn on Airplane Mode before you plug your phone in. With your iPhone's wireless radios and GPS turned off, the battery will charge faster.
In Airplane Mode I was able to charge my battery enough to get me through my workout with power to spare, and quickly enough that I was out of the woods before the sun went down.
My grandmother lives in a retirement community, and several times a week she heads up to the social center and plays cards and other games with her friends. For the rest of us, most of our gaming entertainment comes from an interactive screen. Our iDevices provide that entertainment and Game Center ties it all together.
Game Center comes automatically loaded onto your iPhone, iPad, or iPod. Basically, Game Center is a social network for gaming.
Here's how it works:
When you first open Game Center you will need to create an account. A username will have to be entered and can't be changed unless you create an entirely new account, so make sure it's one you like. This username is what will be seen by others that you play games with as well as on the leaderboards that show the games' highest scores.
As you're creating an account you will have the option of making your profile public or private. If you choose to go public, others will be able to view your real name and profile. Sometimes this can be a good thing so your friends will have an easier time finding you to play a game.
You can further personalize Game Center with a photo by tapping Add Photo. You'll have the option to use a picture in your Photo Album or take a new picture right on the spot.
In addition to a photo you can also enter a status just like you would on Facebook or Twitter. "I'm the boss!!!" Of course if you go on a losing streak you can always change your status. "I hate this game!"
You can create game matchups with strangers or with your friends. To add friends, tap on the blue friends circle. Here it will take you to your settings where you can upload your entire contacts list or your Facebook friends. You can also send an email invitation to a friend by tapping the + in the upper right corner of the screen.
Once you have a bunch of friends in Game Center (or even just one), you can see all of their gaming achievements and see where they are ranked in the leaderboards compared to you.
If a certain friend becomes too competitive and you don't want to play anymore, you can remove them by going to their profile and choose Unfriend. If it's something more serious and rude, you can tap Report a Problem to keep them from bothering you further.
Whether you play games with friends you know or continue to find new ones, Game Center can be your social center even while you're just sitting home alone.
And even grandmas can play. I just wish she wouldn't beat me at Words With Friends so much.
Titan: Olympus War lures gamers with the promise of an intriguing mashup: card battling meets strategy. The risk of such genre fusion is that it can be a simple gimmick, but Titan: Olympus War seems to have avoided that. The developers have put the time and effort in to create not just a different take on two genres, but a game that might birth its very own genre.
The card battling aspect of Titan is embodied by the heroes who defend the player’s cities. Players can control up to 190 territories, and among these, 10 capital cities. Each city has its own patron defender—a god or goddess, a hero, or an archon (a sort of philosopher king). These defenders come from the cards players acquire (there are over three hundred!), and can be developed individually via skill upgrades and the like. Like many other card battlers, each card has an elemental aspect (fire, water, earth, air, light, or dark) as well as a representative character. By developing their heroes according to their preferred strategies, players can tailor the game play to their own desired style of play.
One of the things that stand out about Titan is how dynamic it is. Not only are players able to develop multiple heroes per deck, greatly reducing the linear feel CCGs are prone to, but the expansion of their empire is very organic. The game doesn’t force you down a certain path; on the contrary, how and when you expand is really up to you.
Of course, what’s a battler without battles? Players can battle one another, and in fact are encouraged to. A daily reward system is in place to grant prizes and cards to those who take home five player versus player victories daily. It’s not only an awesome incentive for players who want to make their empires stronger, it also helps motivate players to log in daily—and the more active a battling community is, the better for everyone, so it’s a nice touch.
The artwork is also impressive. Too many new games enter the market without putting sufficient work into the visual appeal. A tightly designed game mechanic is, of course, of utmost importance, but who doesn’t want some eye candy? It’s especially important for a CCG to reward players with cards that look great, and Titan gets the job done. The mythological theme is carried throughout the game, and the anime-style illustrations add a touch of whimsy.
You can download Titan: Olympus War now in the iTunes App Store. It’s compatible with most iOS devices. And, best of all—it’s only $0.99 to get started.
It's springtime and folks are gearing up for travel and vacations. With that in mind, I'll be taking a look over these next months at some of the gadgets and gear that can make your adventurers more convenient, more fun, and more tech friendly.
If you’re traveling in the near future, and especially if you're traveling with family, this new hard drive/Wi-Fi hotspot from LaCie might just be the indispensable travel companion you've been waiting for.
I first got turned on to the LaCie Fuel($199.99) at this year’s CES. I was instantly blown away. In a nutshell, the Fuel allows you to store a full terrabyte (that's 1,000 gigabytes!) of data on it, and stream its data over its own ad hoc wireless network to up to five different devices. In other words, whether you are on a car trip driving down the highway, camping in the forests far off grid, hiking the Appalachian Trail (with a good solar panel for charging purposes), or chartering a yacht with the family in the Caribbean, you will have access to a vast library of songs, videos, and photos.
LaCie has a convenient iOS app that makes accessing your data as easy as pie. All I had to do was plug both the Fuel and my dedicated Time Machine back up drive (also by LaCie) into my MacBook via USB, and then it was a simple matter of drag and drop from my backup to the Fuel. It really couldn't have been easier.
From there I only had to download the free LaCie app (well, Seagate’s app, technically speaking) to be able to gain access to all of the thousands of albums and movies on the Fuel. Navigating the Fuel’s library is a very iOS-friendly affair. You can browse your files, and as an extra bonus LaCie includes a great selection of short HD videos on the Fuel to give you a little sample and extra variety, featuring videos of everything from extreme sports, to amazing scenes of international culture and beautiful nature videos.
We take the RV out camping as much as we can, and we always make sure we have the Fuel; it makes for an awesome experience in the woods, lakes, canyons and plains of the high desert of Northern Arizona. Surrounded by the wonders of nature, we set up our temporary home, and use the Fuel to enjoy as much media as we want to, or can handle. My daughter and her boyfriend stay out under the stars in a tent (but within range of the Fuel's 30-foot transmission zone), my wife, the baby, and I stay in the RV. Between us we have three iPads and four iPhones. At any point, when one (or all) of us want to jump onto the LaCie hard drive’s Wi-Fi, the process is as smooth as silk, with none of the buffering issues that so often plague the likes of Netflix, HBO GO, or Amazon Prime when attempting to use those services in remote locations away from any strong signals. This is camping in style; off-grid, with the luxury of HD streaming media wirelessly from the Fuel. Pretty neat!
Cons:
The LaCie Fuel is an awesome luxury to have when on your travel adventures. Having access to such a vast amount of wirelessly streaming media while on the road is a great modern convenience, and can make getting away a much more comfortable experience, especially for families with kids. I give the LaCie Fuel4.5 out of 5 Stars.
Remember when you could get rid of unwanted books, CDs, and DVDs by giving them away or selling them? Or if you really hated them, hurling them into a trash can? The digital age has made purging much more complicated.
You can delete an app you don't use or a song you don't like from your iDevice, but it will still be hanging around in the iCloud, wasting space, hoping you'll re-download it. Fortunately there is a way to permanently delete content through iTunes, even if it lacks the satisfaction that comes with defenestration.
Open iTunes and find that annoying Yoga for the Face app that never worked or that book you don't want anyone to know you read. Right click on it and choose Delete. Follow up by deleting the app from your iDevice and then syncing your iDevice.
Credible rumors indicate that Siri's voice may be getting a celebrity update, with the voices of your favorite movie, television, and musical stars soon to be available as in-app purchases. Sources say that Christopher Walken, Ellen DeGeneres, Gilbert Gottfried, Liam Neeson, James Earl Jones, Sean Connery, Morgan Freeman, Beyonce, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu, and Mila Kunis have all signed on.
On the Kickstarter side of things, a new product aims to capitalize on the burgeoning popularity of iOS exercise apps. They're called VR Shoes and they'll let wearers trick their fitness apps into marking down more time spent exercising and less time watching Mythbusters. The campaign ends tonight at midnight. The company hopes to have the first units ready to ship by the end of January 2015.
A serious bug has been discovered in Apple CarPlay. Unless drivers log out of GameCenter before connecting their iPhone to their vehicle, car accidents that happen while using CarPlay will be counted by GameCenter as a “High Score” and the driver will be ranked against other players in Grand Theft Auto. The American Automobile Association expressed concern, worrying this could lead to more car accidents.
That's all the news for today, April 1.
Sennheiser has made quite the name for themselves when it comes to premium headphones. It’s almost common knowledge that their wired headphones are like the Porsches of the headphone world. That’s all well and good, but what about their Bluetooth headphones; how do they rank against other high quality Bluetooth headphones currently available? I got to spend some time with the Sennheiser MM 550-X over-ear Bluetooth travel headphones($499.00), which are Sennheiser’s top-of-the-line pair of Bluetooth headphones. Read on to find out how they performed and how they stack up in an ever more competitive Bluetooth headphone category.
I expected a lot out of the Sennheiser MX 550-X headphones, and perhaps, as is often the case when it comes to expectations, my expectations outweighed the reality of the situation. That’s not to say that the MM 550-X isn’t an amazing sounding pair of over-ear headphones. The truth of the matter is that the MM 550-X headphones are indeed an exceptional pair of Bluetooth headphones, some of the best your money can buy. However, I don’t think that they are worth the almost $500 price tag that they carry. The good news though, is that I managed to find the Sennheiser MM 550-X headphones on sale at Amazon.com for as low as $319, which is a much more reasonable price point for this particular product.
Don't get me wrong, the Sennheiser MX 550-X headset is an awesome pair of cans, no doubt about that. And the fact that you can pick a pair up for around $319.00 is a huge plus. But there are other really high quality Bluetooth headphones that will cost you less money for comparable, if not better quality. With the MM 550-X headset, you are paying for the name brand as well as for the quality. So really it comes down to how the quality of these headphones compare to other headphones in the $300 price range. And my answer to that is that they stack up quite well indeed.
The MM 550-X headphones have inbuilt noise-canceling technology which reduces up to 90 percent of ambient noise. They also sport a dynamic acoustic range amplifier and Sennheiser's patented SRS WOW technology, which enhances the bass and expands the soundscape to deliver a much more expansive, richer, and more spacious 3-dimensional acoustic experience. The ear cups house precision-tuned 40mm drivers which are able to capture the crisp and pristine sound of the original recording (or live music) with amazing accuracy and clarity. You'll get 8 to 10 hours of playback and 20 hours of talk time from a single charge of the MM 550-X’s Li-ion battery.
The MM 550-X headphones are super comfortable. They are lightweight enough that wearing them for extended listening sessions isn’t a challenge at all. The over-ear design allows for just enough space that your ears don’t feel crowded; but the overall ear cup size is kept to a minimum, thereby increasing the MM 550-X’s portability. The headphones have a great head fit to them as well, with a wide headband that is extremely comfortable and well-padded with memory foam covered with premium leather. The ear cushions are likewise padded with the same luxurious materials. The headphones also have ear cups that swivel enough to always have a super comfortable fit on your head and to lie flat when being worn around your neck. They fold down to a very manageable size for convenient transportation and they come with a nice carrying case. At less than seven ounces these headphones won't weigh you down when you're on the go.
Cons:
Verdict:
The Sennheiser name carries a lot of respect (and the high price tag that goes with a top name brand) and these Bluetooth headphones are a high-quality addition to the Sennheiser catalog. I expected a lot from the MM 550-X headset and while it is on the more expensive side, it is nonetheless, a superior pair of Bluetooth cans. That said, I'd suggest purchasing the MM 550-X headphones from a retailer such as Amazon or B&H Photo for as much as $150–$200 less than Sennheiser sells them. These are a great pair of headphones for any Sennheiser fan or audiophile on the go. Overall, when it comes to performance, comfort, and design, I give the MM 550-X Bluetooth Travel headphones a very respectable 4 out of 5 Stars.
Whether you're creating memes, capturing memories, or just in the mood to have a little fun, adding text to pictures isn't just for the pros anymore. Why would you want to add text to your images? Here are some ideas:
These are my favorite apps for adding words to images:
1. Photofy (free)
Add premade quotes, custom text, stickers, phrases, borders, or frames to your images with the tap of a finger. Photofy is my favorite editing app right now because their app has the most options I've seen (10,000, actually). Add images from your photo album, their large bank of images, or pull them in from your favorite social media networks or file sharing apps. Quickly add filters, stickers, and text and you're done in an instant. This app provides quality fonts and elements so you can share quality memories.
2. Word Swag ($2.99)
The folks at Word Swag get bonus points for fun sounds and a fast-paced, modern app interface. Create quotes, document meals or travel, or even create graphics for social media or blogs. A fun feature of Word Swag is the dice icon on the bottom right of the screen—tap it when you're not feeling creative and they'll make the font choices for you.
3. Vintique ($0.99)
Do you prefer the creative washed-out look of vintage photos? If so, Vintique is for you. Vintique gives you plenty of ways to personalize your photos, including almost 16 free filters and almost 100 total vintage filters when you upgrade with the in-app purchase. You can easily add textures, vignetting elements, and seasonal filters such as rain and snow to your images. Share to Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter right from the app.
So, what are you waiting for?
My oldest daughter grew up on Knowledge Adventure's PC games, so I was excited to see their mobile offerings. The same daughter loved How To Train Your Dragon, so when Knowledge Adventure released an iPad app based on that movie, I was all over it!
School for Dragons is an official Dreamworks-sanctioned game for the iPad (sorry iPhone owners) that is visually true to the movie and educational at the same time.
The game is massive, and that's a good and sometimes frustrating thing. When you first launch it, there is a registration and customization process; but if you pay attention, you can skip it and play as a guest. That could be made more obvious, but now you know! The app also downloads a ton of updates, but that should be a rare occurrence. Still, most gamers and kids tend to be impatient and want to play a game as soon as they download it, so this is an area to work on.
Finally, because School of a Dragons is such a big app, they recommend quitting other apps that might be running in the background. Apple's iOS still doesn't have the true multitasking, swapping, and paging capabilities of Mac OS X, so programmers sometimes have to overcome this.
Once the initial setup is taken care of, you can begin training your dragon. Actually, that's a bit misleading, as the real focus is on training humans (Vikings!) to work with dragons. And that's how Knowledge Adventure uses to make this both a game and educational app... Clever!
The other day I was changing my Yahoo password and the site didn't like my chosen password because it included letters from my name and a number from my birthday. I wasn't intentionally using my birthday and it's pretty hard not to use at least one letter from my name, since my name is long and includes 11 letters out of the 24-letter alphabet. Fortunately, I had my iPhone right next to me and I was able to quickly generate a secure password using Siri. Here's how:
Siri is able to randomly generate strong passwords with the help of Wolfram Alpha.
To generate an eight-character password containing a mix of numbers and lower and uppercase letters, say, "Wolfram password." Siri will offer seven random passwords for you to choose from.
You can also specify length and type of password. To generate a longer password, say, "Wolfram password 16 characters." To generate a password with special characters, say,"Wolfram password special characters." You will see a whole list of possible password types that you can generate at the bottom of the password generation screen.
Now all you have to do is remember all your passwords!
Apple TV has long been a "hobby" for Apple, with perennial rumors of something bigger. However, Google, Roku, and now Amazon have been putting out attractive competitors without waiting for Apple to get serious. The $35 Chromecast from Google brought smart TV features to the masses. Now the $99 Amazon Fire TV offers higher-end features, comparable and even superior to the Apple product.
There's a remote control that certainly looks like the Apple version, but it offers a Siri-inspired twist. Speak into the wireless (line of site NOT required) remote to access the voice search, and request the name of a movie. Leverage the Amazon-owned IMDB (Internet Movie Database) for what Amazon calls "X-Ray" capability. This displays information about the actors and movies you're watching!
Action-based console-style games can be played, using the remote, or with supported traditional controllers. Naturally, movies from Amazon Prime can be viewed for Prime members. Netflix, while an Amazon Prime competitor, is the gold standard and support is included and even gets top billing with the fireTV. Hulu Plus is also supported.
Apple has AirPlay which lets users stream content from an iPad or iPhone and the Amazon Fire TV has a similar feature, for Kindle Fire tablets. Of course Google's Chromecast works similarly. Indeed, the Chromecast requires a smartphone or tablet to generate content which is displayed on the TV. The devices from Apple and Amazon work with smart devices but also operate independently with just a remote.
While Apple users have waited for a smart TV solution with Siri-based voice control and third party apps for console-style gaming, Amazon has gone ahead and delivered. Even if Apple announces a similar Apple TV product, it may be seen as an also-ran. Still, Amazon's device works best with a Kindle Fire tablet and Apple TV works best with an iPad or iPhone, so Amazon's first mover advantage may not have much impact on Apple. Plus, Apple is presumably working on integrating cable TV content which could be a real game changer. If users could have an Apple-designed TV and DVR interface, with Siri voice control, and possibly a la carte channel pricing options, that would be something else!
I'm finally back at the helm after attending last week's Macworld / iWorld 2014 conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco! My company had a booth at Macworld again this year, selling books in my iOS App Development for Non-Programmers series, and it was the best conference for us to date! There was a lot of positive energy at the conference and we met lots of great people who are interested in getting into iOS app development.
Here are some of the highlights of Macworld / iWorld 2014.
I didn’t get to see many sessions at Macworld since I was at our booth most of the time, but I did catch some of the Macworld Editor panel on the last day of the conference. One of the attendees asked the panel a great question: “How can I get my app reviewed by the editorial staff at Macworld?” One of the editors stated that he currently has over eight thousand requests for reviews sitting in his in box, so it’s extremely difficult to sift through all the requests even if he reviews two or three apps each day. He offered the suggestion that app developers provide a bulleted list at the beginning of their email stating clearly what the app does, what its special features are, and how it’s different from other apps in the App Store.
One of the senior editors generated some laughs when he stated that he has a filter on his in box that deletes any email containing the phrases “game-changing,” “innovative,” or “groundbreaking”.
There was a lot of excitement at the SCOTTEVEST booth which offered a vest ($145) with 42 pockets, including two pockets large enough to hold an iPad. The vest also includes a pocket lined with RFID-blocking material that helps protect your credit cards and passports from theft by RFID skimmers. When I first heard about the vest, I thought it would look bulky and be obvious to the rest of the world that you were carrying lots of gear. However, one of the workers at our booth bought one and I was surprised at how light and trim it is.
If you watched the Big Bang Theory episode where Sheldon Cooper creates a virtual presence robot for himself and you wondered where you could get your hands on one for yourself, you're in luck. Double Robotics sells a $2,499 remote-controlled, mobile teleconferencing robot that allows you to be "present" in a remote location.
The unit is equipped with an iPad that is used to display a streaming video of your face, allowing others to see you as you talk to them. It's also equipped with a set of wheels that you can move forward, backward or rotate with the Double app running on an iOS device. I found Double easy to operate and responsive to the touch interface, not to mention a lot of fun to use. Since the unit only weighs 15 pounds, you don't have to worry about wreaking havoc with your Double when you bump into objects at a remote location.
Double Robotics bills the unit as "the ultimate tool for telecommuting" and lists companies such as Google, Coca Cola, ebay, and Twitter as their customers.
One of the products I was impressed with,simplicam ($149.99) from Closeli, won a Macworld Best in Show award. For those of us who travel frequently and wonder if the cat is plotting our demise or the dogs are really playing poker while we're gone, simplicam allows you to see and hear what happens in your home on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
One of its most impressive features is face detection, which can tell the difference between your pet's movements and the presence of a human face. Facial recognition (who the face belongs to) is an upcoming feature. Note that facial detection is only available when you subscribe to Closeli's recording services.
Another company offering a similar product, but more specifically targeted at monitoring your pets while you're gone, is Petcube ($199). It has the added feature of a laser pointer on a movable platform that you can control from their mobile app so you can play with your cat when you're not home.
If you have kids, you know it can be a real struggle to get them to do their chores without constantly reminding them. Enter the Chore-inator app.
This app also won the Macworld 2014 Best In Show award, and for good reason. Chore-inator is an iPhone / iPad app that uses positive reinforcement (rewards) to get kids motivated to do their chores. It's an image-centric app, so it's easy to use for kids of all ages. Parents can set up a set of chores and assign them to one or more child. It has an easy interface for setting up the day and frequency of a particular chore, and even allows you to create "floating" chores that can be performed any time during the week.
I personally like the feature that allows a child to take a picture of a completed chore to be reviewed by a parent (a child's opinion of "my room is clean" is often very different than a parent's opinion).
We all have our share of shaky videos that we have taken on our iPhones and iPads. The Emulsio app by Creaceed does an incredible job of taking the jitters out of your shaky iOS videos. You can import iOS videos or any other videos taken by an H.264 camera.
One of the features I like best is the fact that Emulsio takes advantage of the 64-bit architecture of the iPhone 5s and iPad Air to double the performance of the app on these devices.
The app is free for editing videos that are up to 30 seconds in length. For longer videos, you can purchase the Pro Pack (just $2).
Without a doubt, the Macworld conference is much smaller than it was in it's heyday, but it's still a lot of fun to attend the conference and meet lots of great Apple enthusiasts as well as see new and up-and-coming Apple products first hand.
I use my MacBook Pro to develop apps, so I'm constantly taking it with me when I visit clients and colleagues, and even to Starbucks, which means frequently unplugging it and plugging it in. So I decided to get a docking and charging station in order to simplify my life. I was looking at the Thunderbolt docks from Belkin and Matrox, but at upwards of $300, it's hard to accept that price just for the convenience of using a single cable to connect all of my devices. A great compromise is the simpleDock ($119.95) from Kanex.
The Kanex simpleDock is an elegant, Apple-inspired hub that integrates Gigabit Ethernet in addition to three USB 3.0 ports and another dedicated 2.1 Amp charging port for an iPad or other device. Unlike the Belkin and Matrox devices, the simpleDock doesn't try to connect video or Thunderbolt devices, which brings the cost and complexity down.
I have switched to USB 3.0 as much as possible for my backup drives, and even my card reader, so this was a welcome feature. The integrated Ethernet port is also appreciated, as Ethernet cables can be the trickiest to plug and unplug, with each attempt putting more stress on the connector. This allows me to have high performance connectivity when docked, and wireless when on the go, with one USB connector to plug and unplug.
Kanex has made a name for themselves offering high quality Apple accessories and the simpleDock continues that trend. There is a "well" where an iPhone can be placed while charging or syncing, and the charging cable can be routed internally for a streamlined look. The heft of the simpleDock ensures it will stay put and the aluminum exterior would make the simpleDock right at home in the Apple store or on Jony Ive's desk. And at under $120, it's a lot easier to justify than a $300 Thunderbolt dock.
Nothing is more annoying then having your iPhone or iPad screen's orientation flip back and forth between portrait and landscape mode when you don't want it too.
Here's how to lock your iPhone or iPad screen orientation. Keep in mind that not all apps are designed to rotate.
You can lock the screen orientation on your iPhone quickly and easily in Control Center. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen to open Control Center and tap on the Portrait Orientation Lock icon. Your phone's orientation will now stay locked in portrait mode until you turn Portrait Orientation Lock off. There is no option for locking your iPhone screen in landscape mode.
You can set the side switch to lock and unlock your iPad's screen orientation. Go to Settings>General and select Lock Rotation under Use Side Switch To. You can now use the side switch to lock your iPad in portrait or landscape mode.
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference always sells out, and lately in less than an hour. So today, when Apple announced the even will be held June 2 through June 6, instead of selling tickets immediately, potential attendees have to register for a lottery ticket. A limited number of developers will win the right to pay $1599 to attend the event.
I've attended a couple of WWDC events, when Steve Jobs was the big draw, and getting to see him in person was a thrill. Of course, Apple often uses the venue to announce new products or at least new versions of their operating systems. It's natural to expect one or more of the following at the show:
As new iOS apps flood the App Store every day—recently topping 1,000,000—we know it’s tough to tell which ones are worth their salt. But thanks to our Weekly Scoop, you can have the best for free! Here you’ll find a weekly roundup of the coolest apps free or at a discount for a limited-time only. Each week features the best and brightest from websites like Free App Report, AppsGoneFree, appsfire, and more.
Hurry! Get 'em while they’re hot!
1.Office Harmony (Free from $1.99)
Stressed at work? Who isn’t? Get yourself some office harmony with Office Harmony! This app has four popular stress management tools: yoga, meditation, a stress test and weekly stress busting tips. Enjoy brief office yoga videos or guided meditation exercises, take a test to help you gauge your current stress level and get helpful tips on managing stress. And, don’t worry. Once your co-workers see how chill you’ve become, nobody’s gonna judge you for doing downward dog pose at your desk. Nobody.
2.ErgoMinder (Free from $0.99)
Sitting down all day is as dangerous to your health as smoking! Get ErgoMinder and receive prompts to stretch and exercise. Your neck, wrists, back and eyes will all get a little break from being frozen in one position for an extended period of time. Once you’ve taken a little break to stretch, you’ll find it easier to focus when you get back!
3.FitDeck + Bodyweight($6.99 from $9.99)
$6.99 may seem steep for an app, but when you compare it to the cost of seeing a trainer, it’s no big deal! This app was featured on Shark Tank, one of my favorite shows EVER, so you know it’s got to be good. Get the most effective bodyweight only exercises all in the same app that's great for both men and women!
Don't forget to enter this weekend's Giveaway Contest!
Here's how it works: Every other weekend we raffle off tons of great apps and accessories for FREE then announce the winners through iphonelife.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. To enter, go to iPhoneLife.com/giveaways. If you win an app, we will email you the promo code. If you win an accessory, we will ask you for your mailing address.
This precision pre-cut screen shield applies directly to your device; providing the best, most durable protection you will find that covers the maximum amount of the device surface. Transparent and ultra thin, this screen shield provides unbeatable device scratch protection.
The driSuit guardian for the iPhone 5 is the perfect choice for all outdoor activities. Never again be caught in a situation where your iPhone investment is at risk. All-weather protection from rain, snow, mud, dust, and sand; from the soccer fields to the city streets and even to the infamous toilet drops—for once and for all, you and your investment are covered and protected with driSuit.
Proprietary integrated audio jack, easy to use dual latch system, waterproof through 5 meters (16.5 feet), internally cushioned for shock protection, lanyard for easy carrying.
A spot of color with a lot of refinement. Corsa is a genuine leather iPhone pouch with a signature stripe design with rich pebble-grain texture. Offered in an array of colors that make a statement while protecting your phone. Its pull strap makes for easy removal.
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 April 7th!
