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 weeks featured items are:

1. Targus SafePORT iPhone 5 Case: Retail Price $39.99

The SafePORT Rugged Max Pro Case for iPhone is one of the best in smartphone security. Specifically designed to offer protection for the harshest environments, this case fits perfectly to absorb shock and other potential damage.

2. LifeCharge iPhone 5/5s Battery Case: Retail Price $79.99

LifeCHARGE Battery Case's sleek, streamlined design naturally fits to the form of your phone, allowing portability of your iPhone 5/5s. Never run out of power again with the built-in 2300mAh lithium-Polymer battery. It offers up to eight hours of added time on a 3G network, 10 hours of Internet use on Wi-Fi, 40 hours of Audio playback time, or 10 hours of video playback time. Eye-catching LED indicators inform you what energy level you're currently operating under.

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 July 28!

Siri was the reason I upgraded to an iPhone 4s. Having the ability to talk to my phone and have it respond was amazing to me. I talk to Siri everyday and still don't tap her capabilities much. She is more capable than I even imagined. I thought it would be helpful to share some of her best talents in a series of posts, so lets start with making a phone call.

I drive a fair amount and still want to use my phone. Siri helps me stay safe and stay in touch while driving.

If I want to make a call, I can either have Siri call a particular number by holding down the home button and say, "Dial (802) 555-1212," or say, "Call Bob Jones, mobile," provided Bob is in my contacts. You'll notice I added "mobile" which tells Siri which of Bob's numbers to call. If I don't include that instruction, she will come back and ask "which phone number for Bob Jones?"....to which I would respond "mobile." It's as easy as that. All the while my hands stay on the steering wheel except for the few seconds it takes me to press the home button, and since my phone is dash mounted, I never have to look away from the road.

Now if you want to save even more time, go through the contact cards of your family members and add a field that indicates their relationship to you—such as mom, dad, son, daughter, brother, wife, husband, etc. Or add the information using Siri. From then on you can ask Siri to call your wife, or dad without having to say their name. In my experiences, Siri understands that instruction much better because it narrows the search and there is less chance for her to confuse names.

Give Siri a try, she really is waiting to help.

Apple loves rounded rectangles so much, they patented the shape. I was rearranging some of the Apple gear in my living room and it occurred to me to create a "PyraMac"—a pyramid of smaller and smaller rounded rectangles, almost like a Mayan temple (Macan Temple?) of aluminum, black, and white plastic. First, there was a recent Mac mini, then an AirPort Extreme (the size of the original Mac mini), then an Apple SuperDrive. On top of that, I placed the current Apple TV and then the previous generation iPod nano. All of these use the rounded rectangle design Apple has popularized.

Sure, the latest Mac Pro is a cylinder, but the rounded rectangle is Apple's modus operandi. It got me to thinking about what the next Apple TV might look like. The theory is that instead of shipping an actual TV, with all the problems associated with that, Apple might opt to ship a cable TV box that replaces the clunky DVR we're used to. There's certainly room for improvement in the user interface of such boxes, and Apple could combine their design expertise, Siri, and AirPlay to create a welcome addition to the living room.

While a merger between Time Warner and Comcast could put such a move on the back burner, the acquisition of Beats by Dre is expected to help kickstart these efforts. Apple is no fan of Blu-Ray, or DVDs for that matter, so it's likely that any such device would be solid state only (i.e. no moving parts.) This would keep costs down, and help minimize failures, which cable companies would appreciate. Apple is also expected to take a hint from Amazon's Fire TV and make the next Apple TV work with controllers, like an Xbox or PlayStation.

Imagine if Apple can ship a device—delivered and subsidized by cable companies so there's no upfront cost—that gets iOS into living rooms, and offers a more natural interface for TV viewing, recording, and searching? I just hope it fits nicely with my PyraMac!

Apple is expected to release products with Sapphire screens. But how it's not clear (no pun intended) if those screens will be in the iPhone 6 or an iWatch (or both.) Some clues as to how Apple could be making those screens have popped up on Gizmodo.

There's always a tradeoff when choosing technology. Sapphire is hard—just a tad below diamond—so it should prevent scratches. But it can also be brittle. And Apple's biggest problem has been cracks due to drops. They've done well up to now with Corning's Gorilla Glass when it comes to scratches, so they may be using a hybrid system with Sapphire coating on glass screens. For a good technical discussion as to how this could be possible, check out this article from the MIT Technology Review.

We covered this thermal imaging camera accessory (a Best of CES 2014 award winner) early this year, and now it's finally available for pre-order ($349, ships in August).

If you wonder what in the world you might need an infrared camera on your iPhone for, besides maybe tracking a bigfoot, consider this: FLIR ONE can detect thermal gradients and hot spots around your home, helping you to pinpoint leaks. FLIR ONE can also reveal an intruder lurking in a dark corner of a parking garage or alley. It's extremely cool but practical and all packed into a lightweight 3.9 ounces you will hardly notice. Learn more or snag a pre-order at the links above!

Thanks to everyone who entered the July 28 iPhone Life Biweekly Giveaway! Every other week we give away three amazing prizes, so if you didn't win this time, make sure you enter the August 11 giveaway and tell your friends to enter too!

And the winners are... (drum roll please):

Brennan Benkert, Dale Miller, and Carl Todasco. 

Didn't Win This Week? No worries! Visit iphonelife.com/giveaways for the chance to win in the next giveaway round. If you see your name but didn't receive an email, please check your spam folder.

This weeks featured items are:

1. Bandshell iP5 iPhone 5/5s Case: Retail Price $29.99

The Bandshell case is ultra-slim and durable, and improves your iPhone listening and viewing experience. This dual-purpose case amplifies the volume and sound quality of your music, videos, podcasts, movies, and programs without the need for extra speakers or cords. The Bandshell kickstand allows the phone to stand up on its side, making it easier to watch movies and videos without having to hold the phone or lean it against something. Enjoy using your smart phone to listen to music, watch videos, host a conference call, or make a live recording. 

2. Targus SafePort Case Rugged Max Pro for iPad mini: $59.99 Retail Price

The SafePort Case Rugged for iPad has it all, from function to style. Specifically designed to give everyday protection for the 3rd and 4th Generation iPad and to protect your device from everyday impact.

3. LifeCharge iPhone 5/5s Battery Case: Retail Price $79.99

LifeCHARGE Battery Case's sleek, streamlined design naturally fits to the form of your phone, allowing portability of your iPhone 5/5s. Never run out of power again with the built-in 2300mAh lithium-Polymer battery. It offers up to eight hours of added time on a 3G network, 10 hours of Internet use on Wi-Fi, 40 hours of Audio playback time, or 10 hours of video playback time. Eye-catching LED indicators inform you what energy level you're currently operating under.

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 August 11!

Autocorrect is awesome at turning your garbled typing into coherent messages, notes, and more.

Except when it's not. 

Here's how to make the awesomeness of autocorrect work for you:

Override autocorrect's suggestions by tapping the suggestion bubble that appears above the word autocorrect thinks you have misspelled. autocorrect will then learn your preferred spelling.

Type a space, punctuation, or Enter to accept the suggestion. 

If you accidentally accept an autocorrect suggestion, tap delete and retype the last letter of your word and the suggestion will go away. Sometimes autocorrect offers additional suggestions. If you accept too many erroneous corrections,autocorrect may start correcting words you don't want changed. If this happens you can reset autocorrect by going to Settings>General>Reset>Reset Keyboard Dictionary.

Add to Contacts. If the name of a person or company is in your contacts, autocorrect will no longer try to change the correct spelling of that name and will even catch it if you mistype the name.

Use the Word in the Safari search field. Once you search the word in Safari, autocorrect will learn the correct spelling.

Create a shortcut. Create a new shortcut for the word that autocorrect does not recognize by going to Settings>General>Keyboard>Add New Shortcut. Type the word you want in the Phrase field but leave the Shortcut field blank. autocorrect will no longer think the word is misspelled. If you commonly misspell a word that autocorrect doesn't catch, use the misspelling as the shortcut for the correctly spelled word.

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Have you ever gotten lost in an unfamiliar city? Public transit systems can be difficult to navigate if you don’t know your way around, but a few apps can help you find your way in major urban areas across the nation.

Here are some of the best apps to guide you as you navigate a new area and help get you on your way.

1. HopStop (Free)

The concept is simple, type in your current location and your destination, and select your mode of transportation—subway, bus, train, walking, bicycle, or taxi. The app presents you with a number of route options in almost every major American city and region, as well as a few overseas locations.

On top of finding your way to your destination, there’s a social media component to the app; HopStop enables you to view train and bus schedules and partake in live feeds on which users discuss delays and other aspects of public transportation systems in real time.

2. Transit (Free)

Offered in several U.S. cities, Transit offers train and bus schedule updates as well as maps to track your train or bus in real time. With this app, you can also compile your preferred travel routes for the future, navigate without an Internet connection and determine the most convenient routes for you.

3. vTransit ($0.99)

vTransit enables you to type in your starting and ending points and then shows you the possible routes you could take. You can also preview a step-by-step guide of your trip before you embark. vTransit, developed by the company Voyager Apps, uses Google maps to create its routes.

Holy Toledo, this is one of the coolest dang tech ideas to come round since, well, since cool tech things started coming 'round. But anyway, The Power Company has hit the Indiegogo funding goal for the amazing SMART CARD. (Although if you hurry, you can still grab a Smart Card perk pack for $39. Other pack deals include two Smart Cards and a free "Smartie" Tracker.) 

What does the Smart Card do, you ask? Easier to say what it doesn't do, which isn't much. It charges (1600mAh capacity) anything, it stores data, tracks, has a flashlight, has built in cables, and will allow you to rappel like the Batman down a 300-foot vertical drop off (OK, no, that last bit I made up). This is the tech accessory stocking stuffer of the century! You can go to the links above to learn more, make a donation, and claim some of the pre-order stock. The campaign closes August 14 and should ship by October, 2014. (In case you were pre-planning that rappelling mission with Batman). Hurry, the pre-order period is ending soon!

The wildly popular and award-winning Horizon app has just gotten better and bolder. The app development studio, Evil Window Dog has just announced Horizon 2.0, a free update that not only expands on the app's capabilities but truly transforms the app into a true powerhouse.


The update builds upon what made Horizon a success; the capability to record horizontal video and take horizontal pictures flawlessly regardless of the position of your iDevice. Horizon 2.0 now offers three leveling modes: the Flex mode that allows frame adjusting for maximum viewing, the Rotate mode which lets the frame stay fixed and a Locked mode for those who do not want automatic leveling. The biggest eye-catching improvement lies in now being able to record video and take photos with 2K resolution. This is in addition to already being able to record in 1080p and 720p depending on your device. Horizon 2.0 has also incorporated improvements to the ability to record
video in slow motion. You are now able to not only record in 60 AND 120 FPS, there's an extra feature during playback that allows you to slow down recorded footage just by tapping and holding down your finger.

Another interesting addition to the app's menu is the ability to switch on AirPlay mirroring while recording footage. To top it off, the interface and menu design is revamped with a better fast-switch selection process and a whimsical touch as far as iconography for certain functions. All of these improvements are the result of Evil Window Dog's commitment to pushing the envelope on what they wanted Horizon 2.0 to do this go-round and a good dose of user feedback from the app's initial launch. Horizon 2.0 looks to be set to further impress a public enthralled with all of the possibilities the app offers everyone from the casual user to professional consumers looking for great ways to get pristine video and photo. Horizon 2.0 is still reasonably priced at $1.99 in the iTunes Store and available for free for those who already have the app.

Just when you think that social network town-building sims have run out of new ideas, someone comes along to prove you wrong. Master of Craft (free) is a new SNRPG (social network RPG) from IdeaBoxGames, and it’s turning convention on its head in the cutest possible ways.  This fantasy town building sim lets players dabble in the world of role playing by incorporating dungeon quests. And yes, you actually get to see and participate in combat; it’s not purely text based! But the meat of the game is building a perfect, quaint, fantasy town on the monster-threatened frontier, which the player accomplishes by starting a weapon-smithing monopoly to generate gold. Of course, responsibilities and opportunities to expand continually arise from there.

The interface is inline with other touch screen town sims, so veterans of this genre will have no trouble catching on. For those who haven’t cut their teeth on social network/simulated city games, there’s a great tutorial that explains every nuance in a pleasantly concise and straightforward manner. The player will be hard at work creating swords and shields and running the production mills in no time. Basic materials are merely a matter of turning one resource into another in the mills, but epic materials will be needed as the player’s skill in crafting weapons advances. These special materials can be obtained from dungeon quests. The combat required is almost entirely automated, but players will need to hit spell cool downs at the appropriate time, which offers a nice balance for those who aren’t into action RPGs and those who don’t want to feel entirely divorced from the action.

The game’s best feature is its surprisingly fast and pace. The addition of action-based dungeon quests is enormously gratifying and helps to break up the typical time-gated grind of a social sim. While it’s possible to buy your way through the game more quickly using in-app purchases, it’s hardly a necessity because there’s so much to juggle at once.  So far I haven’t run out of potential player actions and I haven't bought a single gem. Hopefully this means that Master of Craft will keep the in-app store options to items that are purely for convenience or vanity. It’s gratifying to watch the little village grow into a bustling town.

The quaint character design extends beyond the cute townspeople—even the baddies in the dungeons are adorable. For players who enjoy using sims to escape into a sweet, fun, friendly world, Master of Craft delivers beautifully while still bringing some excitement and action into the mix. There are plenty of sound effects, animations, and playful background tunes to make the world immersive without overdoing it. Anyone that’s dying to be addicted to yet another social networking game must check out Master of Craft; it’s quite possibly the best in the genre right now.

Home button or Sleep/Wake button not working properly? (Maybe you had some kind of iPhone misfortune involving water or a drop?) You're probably planning to take your phone in to get fixed; but in the mean time,  Assistive Touch is a great work around to this problem:

To turn on Assistive Touch go to Settings>General>Accessibility>Assistive Touch and toggle Assistive Touch on.

A virtual Home button will now appear on your screen at all times. Press this button and you will bring up a screen like this:

Tapping Favorites will allow you to create your own custom gestures. 

Tap Siri to use your phone's digital assistant.

Tap Home to return to the Homescreen.

And tap Device to bring up a whole new menu of options that allow yout to lock the screen orientation, rotate the screen, adjust the volume, mute or unmute your ringer:

Tapping More will bring up another menu that let you shake to undo, take a screenshot, bring up the multitasking bar, or use gestures.

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We reviewed the original Battle Fleet naval warfare strategy game back in 2012, and gave it high marks for its authentic details and realistic gameplay aspects. Now you can experience the even more immersiveBattle Fleet 2 ($4.99) with 3D graphics, a new combat system and campaign modes. Get a taste with the embedded trailer or head over to the Battle Fleet home page. More details on the new version follow the break...

Capital j Media released the new version on July 17, 2014, for iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac (with cross-platform support for all). The turn-based aspect of driving the fleet elements remains the same (I would have liked a real-time battle mode too, but you can't have everything). The upgraded combat mechanics are well done, adding the ability to track shell height and hit  location. This allows you to shoot over terrain or potentially target individual components of an enemy ship.

Under the hood, the developers added improved options for outfitting your ships. Other improvements include the ability to place individual commanders, varied multiplayer options, and an entirely new graphics engine. Battle Fleet 2 looks better and plays better, but remains true to the form that made the original title a best-selling strategy app. Grab it at the links above!

As much as Apple fans would love to see an iPhone 6 with a sapphire screen, an iWatch (also with a Sapphire screen), an Apple TV, and Touch ID in new iPad Airs and iPad minis, we may not get everything we wish for. While there has been a lot of buzz regarding those sapphire screens, which should prove harder to scratch, they may not be ready for a September announcement.

The latest rumors show that those screens may not be ready until later in the year. It's always hard to create a new product that depends on new technologies, and Apple typically waits until the product is ready. In fact, Steve Jobs cried when he learned the original iMac would have to ship with a caddy-based CD-ROM instead of a sleek slot-loading drive as he envisioned.  

However, the annual lifecycle of smartphones dictates that Apple can't delay a September announcement. Wall Street expects an announcement, and users who bought the iPhone 5 two years ago are coming off contract. When I worked at Sun Microsystems, we had this concept of a train leaving the station. We shipped whatever features were ready by the time the train was going to leave, and the other features would get in the next release, six months later. It made it easier for businesses, and developers, to plan for.

So, if Apple's sapphire screens aren't ready for September, when the rumored 4.6-inch iPhone 6 should come out, then maybe the 5.5-inch version will get the new screen. And since the rumored iWatch isn't replacing anything in Apple's product line, they can wait until it's ready.

School is almost back in session and that means many kids will be looking for back-to-school help. Here are some apps and iDevice tips to help make this school year easier on you and your student. 

gFlashPro ($4.99)

Do you remember the days of making flashcards to study? Those were tedious, right? The gFlashPro app takes flashcards to a new level. The flash-card app uses Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel to create the cards, but it doesn't stop there. You are able to add sound clips, videos, pictures, and graphics to your flashcards, too. If you're not up for making your own flashcards, you can download pre-made cards. Another bonus? You can share your cards and study virtually with a friend. 

Back to School Tip: Don't purchase a graphing calculator for your child until you check out the one on their iDevice. Don't see it? Turn your iDevice on its side (make sure the portrait lock isn't on) and you'll see it:

Click here for more tips about the iDevice built-in calculator.

MyHomework (free)

This free homework planner is great for kids and parents! It is difficult to keep up with homework sometimes, and even crazier if you have multiple kids. This homework planning app organizes and keeps track of class schedules, upcoming assignments, and test dates. Parents can color-code each entry per child and per due date, keeping the most important reminders at your fingertips.

Back to School Tip: Use the built-in reminder app for important deadlines. Add a reminder, then click the i button to set the reminder for a certain date. You can even set the reminder to repeat or remind you at a certain location. Here is more information about the built-in Reminders app. 

Evernote (free)

There isn't much this app doesn't do. Create separate notebooks for taking notes in each class, capture images of handouts and experiments, and record the teacher's instructions to play back at a later time. You can also set reminders and make lists! This app will be your (and your student's) new best friend. 

Good luck with your new school year! 

Apple has made some moves recently that could point to more affordable, higher capacity iPhones. First, they dropped the price delta for doubling the storage of iPod touch models. Before the move, customers had to pay $100 to go from 16GB to 32GB or from 32GB to 64GB. Now, that price difference is $50. This change was appreciated, but overdue. Considering that storage capacity prices have dropped since 2007, when the iPhone was first introduced, that $100 surcharge was out of date.

Additionally, Android users can usually add storage capacity using low-cost microSD cards. Apple isn't likely to offer expandable storage, as they've gone in the opposite direction. MacBook Airs and even newer MacBook Pros cannot expand their memory. 

Speaking of the MacBook Pro, Apple also made 16GB the base configuration for the 15-inch model. I recently traded in my 8GB MacBook Pro with Retina display, using SellYourMac.com, and purchased a 16GB MacBook Pro with Retina display. If that original model had been expandable, I could have added low-cost memory, possibly from a third party.

These changes show Apple is being more sensible about storage capacity requirements and pricing. Is it possible the iPhone 6 will have $50 price tiers, for doubling the storage capability, with basic models starting at 32GB and going all the way up to 128GB?

If you've ever received a photo on your iPhone via text or email that you wanted to save or share, you'll be glad to know saving the image to your camera roll or copying and pasting it into a new email is quick and easy.

To save a photo from a text message:

1. Open Messages and tap on the conversation with the image.
2. Tap on the photo.
3. Tap on the Action button in the upper right-hand side of the screen (it looks like a box with an arrow coming out of it).
4. Tap on Save Image. Your image will be saved in your iPhone's Camera Roll.



  
To save a photo from an email:

1. In Mail, open the email with the photo.
2. Tap and hold on the photo.
3. Tap on Save Image to save it to your device's Camera Roll.

To copy and paste the image directly from one email into a new email:

1. Tap and hold on the image, and then tap on Copy.
2. Next, create a new email, tap and hold in the body of the email, and select Paste when it appears.

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Top image credit: Javier Brosch/Shutterstock.com.

You would think a company as large as Apple could acquire a business of about 500 people for $3 billion and manage to find jobs for all of them, but alas, it isn't so. 9to5mac is reporting that as many as 200 of the employees from Beats have been let go or are being asked to stick around only until January 2015.

Consolidation was to be expected, especially in areas of overlap like marketing and human resources. And Apple does things their own way, so it's not automatic that every Beats employee would make the transition. At least Apple is said to be offering severance packages to those affected. Still, it must be quite a roller coaster ride to learn Apple is acquiring your company, but not you.

Apple will, however, be keeping the Santa Monica offices of Beats open, and Beats Music will continue to be based there. Apple plans to retain many of the engineers from Beats, with the hardware folks transitioning to Cupertino. High profile Beats executives like Jimmy Iovine, Dr. Dre, and Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails) will have new roles at Apple.

I guess the moral of the story is, either be an engineer or a famous musician!

With school about to be back in session, I've been keeping my eye open for great last-minute gear for the returning student. If you (or someone you know) are the type of student who tends to be rough on things, or a student who just needs something durable and reliable that can stand up to the general abuse and heavy lifting that the school year can bring, then the Pelican S105 might be just what you're looking for.

This lightweight but extremely durable pack comes to us from the makers of some of the toughest protective gear on the planet. The Pelican S105($88.17) is part of Pelican's rugged and durable ProGear line of products, and combines practicality and functionality in a stylish pack designed for years of active use.

Features:

There are several outstanding features in this mid-sized pack which set it apart from a crowded field of well-built backpacks.

• Ease of use: The Pelican S105 has plenty of pockets and internal storage capacity. All of the pockets allow easy access to your gear, and the entire layout of the bag is very ergonomically designed.

• Security: With this backpack you can safely rest assured that your school supplies are secure and well protected. In addition to a padded laptop compartment, the Pelican also has a dedicated tablet sleeve that is shielded by a tough, rigid polypropylene shell that will protect your iPad from serious impact and blunt forces. All of the stitching and seams of this pack are solidly reinforced and it's safe to say that this bag can reliably carry a good deal of weight on a regular basis, as the school year often requires.

• Style: The Pelican S105 has a sophisticated style that works well for a wide range of students and ages. I've spotted this pack in the wild on kids in junior high, and also on young men and women on the local college campus. It’s a handsome bag that fits the outdoorsy or athletic type extremely well, but is also equally at home in an office or boardroom environment.

Pros:

• Rigid frame surrounding the perimeter of the backpack's laptop compartment, keeping it safe from crushes or drops.
• Armored tablet pocket.
• Dense, ergonomic, and breathable foam padding where it rests against your back, to help absorb the pressure and stress of heavy loads.
• Lots of storage space, with 19.5L of internal volume, and lightweight, at only 3.68 lbs.
• Tough tear-resistant and water-resistant nylon material.

Cons:

• I would have liked to see a water bottle holder/pocket built in to the exterior of this backpack.
• It would be nice if the S105 had a few more clip-on points for carabiners. This seems like the type of pack that would attract the carabiner-toting crowd after all.

Verdict:

The Pelican ProGear S105 is an exceptionally well-built backpack that is designed to provide years of dedicated service and considering you can purchase it for under $90.00 (or less), it's well worth the price. The S105 backpack is designed to go on many adventures with you, while keeping your gear dry and safe on your travels.

iPhone Life rating:

5 out of 5 stars

It’s safe to say that we live in an Instagram-obsessed society, where capturing the perfect shot is of utmost importance. From finding the perfect filter to adding text and awesome doodles, taking great photos is no longer as simple as pointing and shooting. With so many photo-enhancing apps on the market, it’s downright impossible to keep up with them all. But don't worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are four fun photo-editing apps for those instances when an Instagram filter simply won't do. 

1. XTRAPOP (Free)

Consider XTRAPOP as a photo booth for your iPhone. Start by snapping or uploading an image and then let the fun begin. Although XTRAPOP comes with a generous selection of built-in stickers (think props like crazy top hats and shades), frames, and filters to jazz up your photos, there are additional add-in packs that can be downloaded upon purchase. This highly colorful and intuitive app fills a unique niche in the photo editing spectrum. From cute and quirky to downright comical, the result is sure to make a statement on your preferred social media feed.

2. A Beautiful Mess ($0.99)

A Beautiful Mess is a flawless app created with the most blog and Instagram-savvy in mind. Followers of the lifestyle blog A Beautiful Mess will be instant fans of this app. You can start from scratch with one of the app’s preset backgrounds, upload a photo, or create a collage. Rest assured, A Beautiful Mess comes with all the bells and whistles—namely zany borders, cute doodles, and witty phrases (like “ooh la la!” or “Perfection”).  And just in case you had something else in mind, you can also add your own text or use one of the filters to further alter your image. Although the app includes several additional packs that must be purchased, I found it to be well-equipped as is. Simply put, A Beautiful Mess is a streamlined app that churns out some ultra-pretty imagery.

3. Over ($1.99)

If you’re going to add text to your photos, then Over is the app to do it with. While apps like Quotable and Phonto get the job done, I have yet to find an app that is as aesthetically pleasing and intuitive as Over. With a library of standard and custom-made fonts to choose from (some of which must be purchased), overlaying text on your favorite photos is a breeze. Another feature that sets Over apart from similar apps is the amount of flexibility you have in manipulating and moving your text. A minimalist app that encourages creativity and good design practices, Over has you covered.  

4. Waterlogue ($2.99)

Thanks to Waterlogue, you can channel your inner artist and turn your favorite subjects into watercolor paintings without ever picking up a paint brush. While the price may seem a bit steep, the quality of each watercolor rendering won’t disappoint. Like your traditional photo-editing app, you can select from a series of 12 different filters (or rather styles like Luminous and Travelogue) so you can achieve exactly the effect you desire.