Noteworthy Apps
Airmail by Chillingo
There are several basic features that I look for when deciding whether or not an app meets my expectations. Does it immediately communicate its intended purpose? Are the graphics well designed? Is the UI effective and easy to navigate? Does the price match the product? I answer is yes to all of the above. Airrmail is a joy to play with and it's easy to get totally immersed in the experience. Taking the position of a young flyer in training, you fly a plane across exotic lands delivering packages to various locations. The plane is controlled by touch or by tilting. The graphics are stunning and the three dimensional effects are visually stunning. Kids will enjoy this, and if you are an adult, the app will bring out the kid in you. Note: Airmail ceased development in 2012.
iGenApps by XPous LLC
If you want to create a mobile app in a quick and easy way, iGen Apps is the way to go. The Positives. The app is $1.99 in the App Store and you can set up a mobile app in minutes, if you already have your content together. Right now, there is no charge for hosting the app. The Negatives: The process for setting up the app is incredibly buggy. It will quit on you constantly as you are adding content. In some cases, you will not be able to log back on. For the price, a little patience is in order. First, rather than pull you hair out, delete the app and re-download the app to your phone. This will prompt you to log in and you can resume work on your app. You may have to do this a few times, if the app quits on you. I also recommend that you publish the app even if you're not finished, in order to avoid the risk of losing your content. Yes, it's a headache, but don't forget that this is an absolute deal and the product will only get better, so enjoy it! Visit their website to learn more.
I created an app for My Apple Podcast, so you can see a sample of how it works. Try it out for yourself!
I created an app for My Apple Podcast, so you can see a sample of how it works. Try it out for yourself!
TouchDraw by Elevenworks LLC
As an artist and museum educator, I have a special attachment to art apps. TouchDraw is an app specially designed for creating 2D vector drawings (shapes, lines, gradations), with text and photo integration. The U.I. is intuitive and easy to use; you won't need to read the instructions. The inspector allows you to make a range of adjustments to each object and you can create layers, although each object can be edited independently without interfering with other objects. You also have the option to export to other iPad applications like Sketchbook Pro. TouchDraw is $8.99 in the App Store.
PicPlayPost by Flambe Studios LLC
This app is very exciting! If you are familiar with Dyptic and similar apps that allow you to organize your photos using multiples frames, then you will love this app. The big difference? Video. You can insert video clips in any framed segment, combining live footage with still photos. PicPlayPost is made for the iPhone and iPad and is $1.99 in the App Store.
Photoshop Touch by Adobe
Photoshop Touch is a beautiful photo editing application with tons of functionality. The tool bar includes, cropping, lasso, selection, brush, stamp, erase and blur tools. With the brush tool, you can brush on effects in select areas of your photographs. It's easy to add layers, apply effects, add text, add gradient, fades, and warping effects. Best of all, there are tons of tutorials available within the app. It's $9.99 in the App Store.
Paper by Fifty-Three
Paper is a notebook and sketchpad application that has a wonderful UI that gives each tool its own special magic. While there are many applications out there that struggle with lag time between the hand and the time marks appear on the screen, Paper, in contrast offers a seamless experience - It really does feel like you are drawing and writing on paper. The app is free but each tool is $1.99.
Sparrow Email Client
Sparrow is email client for the Mac and now for the iPhone. Sparrow enables you to set up multiple accounts, including Facebook integration. Like Mail, you can also see all email accounts in one setting. The user interface resembles the Twitter, with swipe and scroll features for easy navigation. Sparrow is not a bad alternative to Mail, but right now it does not support POP or Push notifications. Sparrow is $2.99 in the App Store.
Readability by Readability, LLC
At first glance, one can recognize the similarity to Instapaper, the application that saves your articles in text/reader friendly formats. So, if we already have Instapaper, why by Readability? Foe one, Instapaper's famous moniker is "read it later." And while Readability offers the same feature, it also encourage you to "read it now" as well as "later." Essentially, Readability has taken Instapaper out of the background and moved it a little closer to the foreground. It went from being an app that is a great supplement or compliment to other apps to an app that is more independent and self-sufficient. Readability is free in the App Store.
Snackr by Snackr, Inc
Snackr delivers you personalized audio news. This great application borrows from the success of applications like Quiki, Voice Brief, and News Anchor for the Mac, yet combines these services with a personalized touch that has become a signature mark of Siri for the iPhone. When you launch the app, you will be greeted with "How are today Timothy. Don't forget you have two friends who have birthdays today" (pulling from Facebook). You can scroll and swipe through various different categories or click on the settings tab to add a new channel. The app is a great compliment to your smartphone and is FREE in the App Store.
GifBoom: Animated Gif Camera by TapMojo, LLC
This app definitely fills a void in terms all the things you can possibly do on the iphone. Gifboom enables you to create animated gifs, share them online or save to your camera roll. What's great is that the gifs integrate quite well with Tumblr, whch then links to all of your other sites. Free in the App Store.
NPR Music
NPR Music builds on the success of the NPR news app (arguable one of the best news apps available). The app offers access to multiple music genres, live music streams, an artists directory, customizable playlists and much more. Check out for FREE in the App Store.