ProCollage (US$1.99) is a very nicely done app for creating photo collages on any iOS device. After you grant access to your camera roll, PhotoCollage lets you select multiple images and use pre-defined templates. Don't care for those templates? No problem, it lets you use a free-form approach as well.

Images can be moved within a frame, resized or rotated. Frame colors are almost unlimited, and there is a selection of multiple backgrounds for your images. Happily, the app doesn't make you purchase anything else to make it all work.

This latest version adds the ability to apply text to a collage, and there are 14 different styles. Putting the app to a test today, I found it easy to create a variety of nice looking sets of images. There is help built in, but I really didn't need it.

One thing lacking is that the app does not work in landscape view. If it did, some wide-aspect-ratio images would be larger on screen, allowing for more precise placement.

ProCollage is not alone in the iOS world. I've also used, and praised Diptic, which is still excellent. I've also enjoyed using GoodTimes for Mac OS, which makes some very striking collages.

ProCollage seemed well behaved under the iOS 7 beta, and currently requires iOS 5 or greater. It has been optimized for the iPhone 5.

Gallery: ProCollage

ProCollage is an easy and powerful photo utility for iOS originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Thinking of buying new headphones for listening to music on your iPhone or iPod touch? You might want to try the Dirac HD Player or the Lite version instead to see if it can improve the sound from the headphones that came with your iOS music player.

Dirac is a Swedish company that does all kinds of high-end electronic equalization for the auto and electronics industry. You can hear their work in BMW, Rolls-Royce or Bentley autos, not that I get into too many Bentleys or other high-end cars...

Dirac has applied its sonic expertise to fixing some of the audio issues with Apple's headsets. The app is not designed for any other headset, as the EQ is quite specific to Apple's original iPhone and iPod touch headphones or EarPods.

The Lite version is free, and doesn't allow you to create or modify playlists, but the audio quality for the free and paid version (US$2.99) is the same.

I gave the app a listen on a variety of rock, jazz and classical tunes I had on my iPhone, and overall I would say the sound improved. My tests were with the Apple EarPods that came with my iPhone 5. The midrange seemed to be boosted, the edge was taken off strings and there was a bit more distinctness to the bass lines. Sometimes I felt the sound was different, not necessarily better, but in most cases I liked the improvement. There are no adjustments to make, other than to decide if you are listening on Apple headphones or EarPods.

A couple of caveats. You can only listen to music from your iTunes library. It won't work on other audio sources, like streaming radio. iTunes Match and iTunes in the Cloud aren't supported yet either, but they are coming.

If you are interested, I would suggest trying the free version to see if you like the sound improvement. If so, you might want to spring for the paid version for the extra flexibility.

I've listened to some other audio enhancers like the SRS iWow app and hardware solution. The results are more dramatic than the Dirac app, but the SRS app requires a hardware clip-on. However, it does work with any headphones and has many more adjustments.

The Dirac HD Players are optimized for the iPhone 5, and require iOS 5.1 or better.

Gallery: Dirac HD Player

Dirac HD Player can improve the Apple headphone and EarPod experience originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

CrimeReports is a free universal app for iOS that collects crime reports from your local police and sex offender locations from a federal data base, and then superimposes that information on a map. If your local police agency is participating, you can also get email alerts about local crime.

The app determines your location via GPS, and you can look elsewhere using any address in your contacts list. You can also just type in any address or location. Crime reports can be viewed from the last couple of days, or a more extended period. If you don't like the presets, you can type in your own range of dates.

Crime reports can appear on a map, or in a list. National sex offender data also appears alongside your local crime reports.

I found the app worked fine when testing it against several cities around the country. You have to zoom into neighborhoods before most of the data appears. When you click on an icon, you get the date of the crime, the location, and the address. In some areas, I only saw sex offender locations. This is because not all police departments submit crime data promptly or at all. The app has a request form to let your local police know you want to see this information. Usually, the sex offender info has a mug shot, and a specific address. I was a bit surprised how many people appeared in every area I checked.

Gallery: Crime Reports

CrimeReports is a handy, but sobering app, especially if you think you may live in a crime free area. You may find there is more going on in your neighborhood than you think. If you aren't seeing much information, it may be that your local police aren't sharing that data.

Other apps with similar features include CrimeMapping.com and Crime Watcher. Both apps are free. Crime Watcher seemed pretty buggy and had less information that CrimeReports.

CrimeReports requires iOS 3 or later, so it will run on a wide range of hardware.

How safe is your neighborhood? CrimeReports can tell you originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 16 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Camera apps seem to get most of the attention from iPhone users, probably because there are a lot more people taking stills than video. The iPhone does have very capable video features, and some third parties seem to have outdone Apple when it comes to creating and editing videos you will want to share.

Videon is a perfect example. This US$2.99 app lets you shoot video as well as edit out those bits that should be left on the virtual cutting room floor. Videon's feature set is complete, with a nice-looking digital zoom, multiple resolutions and aspect ratios, adjustable frame rates for slow motion, independent focus and exposure points, and the ability to take a photo while you are recording a video.

Once you have captured your clips, Videon is an excellent video editor. It provides effects like saturation, filters, black and white conversion, and even the ability to straighten (or tilt) an image that isn't oriented the way you want. Clips can be merged into longer videos and re-ordered, as well as trimmed.

I gave Videon a spin and found it both reliable and intuitive. I thought the digital zoom was of very good quality, but it is no substitute for a real zoom lens, something Apple doesn't supply (Editor's note: although the company has added a digital zoom to the iOS 7 beta). Still, the zoom Videon provides is of the best quality I have seen on an iOS app. Stabilization was also quite good, but if you don't have steady hands understand that your frames will be cropped in order for the feature to work. Stills can be grabbed from videos after they are taken, and the final video saved to your camera roll.

Gallery: Videon

Videon is an impressive app, and goes far beyond what Apple builds into the iPhone. I would consider Videon to be among the top consumer-oriented video apps on the platform. Those with a more professional bent should take a look at FiLMiC Pro for $4.99. which is aimed more at pros using the iPhone camera. The ultimate app for video appears to be Vizzywig, a camera and editing app that even includes titles, music and the ability to share video with others running the app in real time. I'll try to get my hands on it to give it a test. User reviews are very positive, and Vizzywig is $19.99.

There's a YouTube video online if you want to get a good overview of the Videon features.

Videon is optimized for the iPhone 5 and requires iOS 6 or later.

Videon for iPhone is a full-featured and well thought out app originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I liked Triposo (free) when I reviewed it earlier this year. It's a detailed worldwide travel and vacation planning guide.

Triposo has just been updated with many new and welcome features, making it an even more useful travel companion. The original version had a definite bias for big-city destinations, but now the app has added more than 22,000 towns with practical information such as locations of pharmacies and public transportation. There are an additional 400,000 points of interest, with museums, historical markers and natural landmarks. More than 50,000 new attractions have been added as well, and they are the more out-of-the-way places that many travelers will love, such as waterfalls, castles and more obscure, but worthwhile places to see away from the big cities.

You can also download free travel packs for your area, which contains detailed maps that don't require a data connection. That's a real benefit, especially if you visit some of those small towns.

I gave the app a spin on my iPhone, and saw many more points of interest around me than I saw in the older version. The app has a new layout which is very intuitive, and it was clear there are a lot of new and more arcane points of interest when I tested from my location in Arizona.

Gallery: Triposo

The only negative is the app can find places to visit but has no links to Apple or Google Maps to get directions. It seems a significant oversight in a travel guide.

If you are planning a big summer trip, or even want to explore closer to home, Triposo is worth a spot in your travel apps folder. I'd like to see the app continue to add enhancements and add better mapping.

Triposo gets major update just in time for summer travel originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I asked, "Siri: Is it safe to be driving and talking to you?" Siri conducted a web search and probably won't be pleased with the results. In a recent AAA study, researchers found that letting drivers text and send email with voice commands is actually more distracting just simply talking on a cellphone.

"Compared to other activities studied, we found that interacting with the speech-to-text system was the most cognitively distracting," wrote the researchers. "This clearly suggests that the adoption of voice-based systems in the vehicle may have unintended consequences that adversely affect traffic safety."

The research is sure to have criticism. A study (PDF download) by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that hand-held phone use was less safe than hands-free, but that study didn't measure text-to-speech features.

Not surprisingly, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers was skeptical. "We are extremely concerned that it could send a misleading message, since it suggests that hand-held and hands-free devices are equally risky," the association said in a statement.

The AAA study, sponsored by the American Automobile Association's Foundation for Traffic Safety, was published today in a report titles "Measuring Cognitive Distraction in the Automobile." The AAA has been a longtime advocate for a complete ban on texting while driving, and discourages drivers from talking on the phone, whether hand-held or hands-free.

Apple has been promoting its Siri Eyes Free technology and what it calls iOS in the car. Several automakers, including BMW, (BMW supports Eyes Free, but not iOS in the Car) Mercedes, Honda and GM are getting on board.

Study: voice-controlled interfaces unsafe for driving originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We all know that the camera is one of the most popular features on the iPhone, and Apple has poured some new ideas into the camera app that should add to the joy of photography in iOS 7.

At WWDC today, Apple announced that the camera app has had a completely revamped GUI. I didn't see a lot of new features, but different shooting modes can be selected by swiping. You can move from a standard photo, to video, to panorama mode, and to a square 4 x 3 aspect ratio.

The are big changes are in the iOS 7 photo app, too. For the first time, Apple is letting you apply filters directly. Apple has also enhanced finding photos with a concept called moments, so photos you have taken will be intelligently grouped by time and location.

Apple has also enhanced Photo Stream with an improved GUI and the ability for others to drop photos into your stream. Videos are now supported as well.

Those are just the highlights, and we will learn more in the days to come. It's pretty clear that Apple has taken the best mobile photo system and improved it in several aspects.

Camera and Photo apps updated in iOS 7 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Mac Pro is getting a long-overdue update, and it looks like it is going to be worth the wait. The Mac Pro, available "later this year," is downright small compared to the current tower, but the specs are amazing.

The Mac Pro will have Dual Workstation CPU FirePro processors, up to two times faster than the current Mac Pro. There is built-in support for up to three 4K displays, HDMI out, GB Ethernet and internal storage with 1.25 GBps reads and 1 GBps writes. The new Mac Pro features Thunderbolt 2, and it's backwards-compatible with the current-generation Thunderbolt accessories.

The announcement also got some applause when Apple said the new Mac Pro will be assembled in the US. No pricing yet, but the new Mac Pro is sure to generate a lot of excitement.

Apple offers a sneak peek at new Mac Pro during WWDC 2013 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 10 Jun 2013 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Maps in OS X was expected, but is very welcome. After a rough beginning on iOS, Apple Maps has been progressing, and now with Maps running on OS X, we'll see some powerful integration between the Mac and iOS. Maps on a Mac looks smooth and impressive in 3D.

Even better, there's a big effort to integrate maps with Calendar, and sync mapping data between all your Apple devices. If you set up an appointment, you'll get the ability to map it, and when scheduling your day, the travel time and traffic will be taken into account. Also, Apple says you can send directions from your iPhone to your desktop, or back the other way. Sent directions will show up as notifications, so it is easy to start on your journey without a lot of fiddling around.

These new features will come on OS X Mavericks, and will be a part of the upcoming iOS 7.

Apple brings Maps to OS X in Mavericks originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 10 Jun 2013 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple has run out of cat names for its new OS, so it's gone to a California theme. The next OS X will be... ta da... OS X Mavericks.

Apple claims the new release, OS X 10.9, will have deep improvements in battery life and finder tabs. Apple is also adding tagging, which will enhance search greatly and will be welcomed by power users.

In an on-stage demo by VP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi, you could see the power of tabs and tagging. Tags can appear in the finder sidebar, making this a very useful addition to OS X.

Multiple displays also got a lot of applause from the crowd. Spaces can be shown on any display, and an AirPlay-connected TV can act as a fully independent display. In a demo of the new feature, you could see the ease of moving assets around the screens, and it was impressive seeing an HDTV added as an extra display via an Apple TV.

Apple has also put a lot of thought into battery life and other advanced technologies. Mavericks is claimed to "intelligently align" interrupts, so CPUs can get up to a 72 percent boost in performance. Apple has also highlighted "Compressed Memory," a method of improving memory use on the fly.

That's just a bit of what is coming in OS X Mavericks. It looks to be a big leap over the current offerings, and seems focused on ease of use and performance. A beta version of OS X Mavericks will be available today for developers, while the final version will debut this fall. You can read more about OS X Mavericks on Apple's website.

Apple introduces OS X Mavericks at WWDC 2013 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The iPad has had a big impact on aviation. iPads are holding charts and other vital information for professional pilots eliminating thousands of printed pages that used to be pushed into heavy black flight bags.

Now, a pilot has written an app called the Aviation Pilot Duty and Performance Calculator to assist pilots operating under Part 135 (commuter and on-demand flight operations) that does a lot of the calculations that are laborious and time consuming. The app helps pilots compute things like Departure Gradients, Climb Performance, Approach Planning, keeping track of flight time and more.

Pilots operating under FAA part 91 (general aviation) and Part 121 (commercial pilots) will also find many of the features built into the app helpful.

The Aviation Pilot Duty and Performance Calculator is a reasonable US $4.99 and is a universal app that is optimized for the iPhone 5 and requires iOS 6.1 or later.

This app is not for the casual flyer, but if you make a living in the air it is an invaluable time saving tool.

Gallery: AviationPilot Duty and Performance Calculator

Aviation Pilot Duty and Performance Calculator app is for serious flyers originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 09 Jun 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Fun with Chess is an iOS app that is a nice match for kids wanting to learn how to play one of the world's greatest games. It is not a typical chess experience, because it adds in factors of luck which limits your piece's moves with a roll of the dice.

The game keeps score, so you can play another person and decide a winner at any time. You can play the computer, another person face-to-face or remotely. There is a built-in chess tutorial, and a linked video with more information.

To make Fun with Chess more appealing to beginners, games are limited to six pieces and six applicable rules. I suppose one could complain that this is a chess variant, rather than a standard game, but I think it is less intimidating to someone just starting out, and a good way to learn the rules.

Gallery: Fun with Chess

I played the game against the computer a few times, and while it is not playing at grand master level, it gave me a pretty good run. I did not try remote play.

Fun with Chess is free for a limited time, so grab it if you are interested before that changes. There are separate iPhone and iPad versions. I tested the iPad app.

Another option for beginning chess players is Chess Prime HD which is also free. It shows legal moves and has other support for novices. It is a more traditional chess game, and allows play against the computer and a human opponent.

Fun with Chess should appeal to kids and other chess beginners originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Forbes has an interesting take on on Apple vs. the US Government in the current antitrust case that stems from deals Apple made as it entered the e-book business. Forbes speculates whether the case could head to the Supreme Court and how Apple might do in that venue.

Writer Roger Parloff believes this case is not a typical antitrust case saying, "Far from being a dominant player in the book industry, Apple was a new entrant. Far from instigating the scheme, it was -- even on the government's view of the evidence -- an opportunistic late-comer who exploited a pre-existing situation." Apple was trying to enter a field dominated by Amazon, and Amazon was selling books below cost to stimulate Kindle e-reader sales. Apple's position is it was trying to overthrow a monopoly held by Amazon, rather than trying to create a new one.

The other defendants in the case, the e-book publishers, have all signed consent decrees admitting no wrong-doing. Apple will argue it was not part of any price-fixing scheme and entered the e-book business after the publishers were already allegedly colluding.

It isn't known if the case will ever go before the Supreme Court, but Parloff and some other legal experts have weighed in with a belief that the Supreme Court is quite pro-business now, and Apple might have an advantage.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department argues Apple has used its considerable weight to help the publishers in a pricing conspiracy. "Apple knew that ... the [higher] retail price would sharpen [publishers'] incentives to follow through on raising prices across all retailers."

It's clearly not an open-and-shut case, and new laws or regulations could come out if it. Apple has been standing pat, and the outcome will certainly be very interesting.

If Apple vs. US goes to the Supreme Court originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 05 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you've been around the medical profession, you have probably seen an explosion of iPads. Doctors I've talked to say they are easy to carry around, and the iPad mini in particular seems a great fit for pockets. Meanwhile, companies that write software for medical uses are quickly creating apps that are iPad-friendly.

Meanwhile, Forbes writer Dan Munro has an interesting piece telling the story of a hospital that deployed iPads and saw a return on investment in nine days. The numbers were based on time and motion studies and how clinical workflow impacted labor costs. That pretty much makes an iPad a no-brainer. With healthcare costs soaring and hospitals looking to cut costs, the iPad is making a difference. To have case-management information or drug-interaction data within a few inches of a medical professional moving around a facility is a quiet revolution. The Forbes article isn't specific about the hospital or the uses the iPads were put to, but a lot of iPads are in use in the medical field.

The hospital in question is rolling out more iPads, anxious to see more savings. Apple itself has featured medical facilities and companies using iPads and the business case can be compelling.

Apple was lucky to see this trend early and take advantage of it. Meanwhile, Microsoft is struggling with tablets that have been slow to catch on.

Hospital calculates return on iPad investment at nine days originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 03 Jun 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPad owners seeking a powerful map solution have been a bit deprived lately because so far, Google Maps for iOS is native only for the iPhone and iPod touch. There is no Google Maps app for the iPad at native resolution.

WildPalm Ltd. has taken the Google data and packaged it in a Retina display-supported app called Maps Pro - Google Maps Edition that has the features of Google Maps, and they have extended it to add some features not native to the Google version.

The app, which is on sale for $1.99 for a short time, allows you to annotate maps by drawing directly on them, and you can add comments and ratings to your bookmarks. Your annotated map can be shared via email, messaging, Facebook and Twitter. StreetView is supported, and you can drag an icon to any place on the map to view street level photos if Google has photographed that area.

People were reporting crashes on the app, but I did not see any in this latest version released last week. I did see some issues with searches. When I searched for Pizza Hut, it topped the list with a Pizza Hut in Nicaragua (!), and the rest of the list did not reflect my Arizona location. That's certainly not what happens when I type the same search into Google Maps for iOS. You can see a screenshot of this issue in the gallery. Other functions like StreetView, 3D Maps, and directions all worked fine. So did searching for locations, but business searches didn't seem to work well at all. For many users, that will be a fatal problem.

Gallery: Maps Pro for Google Maps

On my iPad, I like Apple Maps just fine, although I know many others have not had as positive an experience. Apple Maps is particularly weak outside the U.S., so I can understand people wanting a solid alternative.

Some other iPad apps that are worth a look and have good reviews are iMaps+ for Google Maps ($1.99), and My Maps ($1.99)

If Maps Pro gets the search issue straightened out it will be fully competitive. The additions the developer has added are worthwhile. Of course it would be nice if Google just poured on the effort and released a free iPad version of Google Maps. Google has said it is coming, perhaps as early as this summer, but if you can't wait, these other apps provide an alternative.

Maps Pro - Google Maps Edition for iPad is a mixed bag originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 01 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Engadget reports Google's Play Music All Access app will appear on iOS in the next few weeks. Google's Sundar Pichai, speaking with Walt Mossberg today said the goal is to make the service "universally accessible" across all platforms.

Google Play All Access was exclusive to Android mobile devices until now, although there was a browser version. With All Access you can get unlimited listening to millions of songs, create custom radio stations and skip as much as you want. You can try the service free for 30 days, and currently Google is offering an introductory price of US $7.99 a month. The ad-free service can also make recommendations based on your musical tastes, and allows you to store up to 20,000 songs in a cloud-based locker.

Like the iTunes Store, Google sells music through Google Play. The Google Play All Access music service was announced earlier this month at Google's I/O Conference in San Francisco.

Google Play Music All Access coming to iOS in weeks originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 30 May 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mount Everest 3D is a free universal iOS app that brings you up close to the highest mountain in the world using 3D data gathered from satellites to give you the ability to explore the mountain with a touch interface. You can zoom, rotate and follow the most popular routes up to the summit of Mount Everest. The app also shows weather in the area, details for hardy tourists and a 2D view.

The app also has the inevitable in-app purchase, which lets you download maps and info for use without an internet connection, but I think most people can get along without it. The on-board maps are US$5.99.

Gallery: Mount Everest 3D

Using the app was educational, and i enjoyed exploring some of the routes up to the top of Mount Everest. A few things were a bit flaky. Webcam images did not appear, but I'm not sure how reliable those cameras are up there. Same for local weather on the mountain, which provided me with an error message. Still, everything else worked well, and the app certainly makes you want to visit. Even better, your iPhone might work while you're visiting Mount Everest, as we reported a couple of years ago that there is 3G service on the mountain.

Mount Everest 3D takes you to the world's highest mountain originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 29 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Instacast for Mac OS X has come out of beta and is available today as a trial or a US$14.99 purchase. The app is a versatile podcast manager and player that syncs with the iOS version of Instacast 3 ($4.99).

The Mac app mirrors the iOS version, allowing you to manage, delete, play and find audio or video podcasts of interest. The Mac app supports AirPlay, and podcasts can be shared via social networks or email. The Instacast system allows you to keep your podcasts in sync across all devices that have Instacast installed, and has some impressive search capabilities to help you if you don't know the name of the podcast you are looking for.

I tried the free demo version and found that it worked as expected. If you are a big podcast fan, this app and the related iOS system will be of value to you. If you are a more casual user, you can likely get by with Apple's solutions (iTunes for Mac and Podcasts for iOS), although they are more primitive than what Instacast offers. You might also want to look at Podsnatcher ($0.99) for Mac OS. It's not as full-featured as Instacast, but has some happy users writing reviews in the App Store.

Instacast is available direct from Vemedio for $5 off of the regular $19.99 price. The app requires OS X 10.8 or greater.

Instacast for Mac now available originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 28 May 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

PureShot, a US$1.99 universal app, takes a very shooting-oriented approach to photography on iOS. You don't process your images here, or add filters. Instead, you just use the tools provided to take the very best picture you can, then process it on your iOS device, or get it onto your Mac or PC and use a dedicated image editor.

I like that approach, because most do-it-all apps aren't strong in every feature. PureShot is dedicated to taking good pictures, and I think it succeeds at that goal.

The app features 2 quality levels for JPEG images, and even something called dRAW TIFF output, which is a TIFF file with no processing by the app or JPEG compression applied. There is spot metering and tap-to-focus, as well as focus and exposure locks. The app supports three-shot burst shooting, and three-shot bracketed exposures. The screen is loaded with information, including the current position provided by your iOS GPS chip, but you can clean up the screen with a tap of a button.

There is even a one-second exposure option, which provides good results in dark places if you can hold the iPhone steady or get it on a tripod using something like the Glif. Aspect ratio can be selected, but 4 x 3 gives you the full resolution of the iPhone's imaging chip.

Gallery: PureShot

In use, PureShot was generally intuitive and responsive without perceptible lag. There is extensive help built into the app, so anything that isn't clear should be easy to locate. The one-second exposure mode worked really well, letting me get some photos with the iPhone that I would not have been able to take otherwise.

I think PureShot gets about as much out of my iPhone camera as an app can get. It's easily more feature rich than the popular Camera +, but that app includes editing features.

If you plan to do some serious photography over the holiday weekend, PureShot is worth a purchase. It is not a do-it-all app, but it excels at getting good pictures, and it far outperforms the built-in Apple camera functions.

PureShot is a universal app, and is optimized for the iPhone 5. It requires iOS 5.1 or greater.

PureShot is a full featured iOS camera app originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 24 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We looked at the original Halftone app for iOS a couple of years ago and were impressed. The app has been completely rewritten and is more touch-oriented, supporting vector graphics for smooth insertion of picture elements.

Halftone 2, which is iPad-only and was released today, lets you import pictures and create a real comic book look by adding bubbles, banners and other bold graphic elements to your photos. The app also embeds an image editor, so your photos can be filtered to have a more graphic look. There are also tools for fixing blemishes, and the usual contrast, saturation and brightness sliders. Halftone 2 also adds the ability to work with multiple picture frames, rather than just one image.

I didn't get too fancy with my image creation, but I could see the possibilities. Banners, balloons and text are very nicely rendered. The image editor is robust and there is built-in video help. I found I could explore the app and get things done without the tutorial.

Gallery: Halftone 2

Halftone 2 is free, but as a free app, it is limited. It seems at every turn, I was offered a chance to buy more graphic elements. If you buy the essentials pack, it totals US$6.99. I would like to have seen more in the free app, and I think $6.99 is a bit too high for the complete add-on. Most other free photo apps give more features up front.

That's not to say you can't make some very presentable comics with the free version, and in fact I did so. The app is responsive, and the output looks very good. You can share your creations by mail and the usual social services. The app also supports Dropbox and you can print your comics using AirPrint with a compatible printer.

There are other similar apps around. One very well-reviewed app is ComicBook!, which as it happens is free today only. It also has a lot of in-app purchase options, so free will only get you so far.

I like Halftone 2. It works well. I just would like to see the in-app toll lowered so more people could enjoy it. Halftone 2 requires iOS 6 or later.

Turn your photos into a comic book with Halftone 2 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 23 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With Google Reader fading into the sunset in July, more and more users are looking to replace its functionality. Zite for iOS (free) has some solutions that should please many news hounds. The app was originally born out of a desire to replace Google Reader with something that learned your interests and had a more compelling display. In a new release, available today, Zite is trying to go further to embrace what's good in Google Reader and add some bells and whistles.

First, Zite has increased the prominence of sources. Those sources now appear in a topic drawer after you mark an article that you like. Another welcome feature is that articles grey out ofter you read them. One of the best additions is the ability to highlight sources that are obscure. Google Reader always had a bit of a signal to noise problem because the volume of feeds could overwhelm some of the smaller sources. Zite fixes that and will aggressively display more obscure content that you like.

Zite has also made setting up the app easier for new users. There are on-screen guides and built-in tips that explains how Zite works and what you can expect.

Gallery: Zite update

There are some subtle interface changes as well this time around, and some new sponsored sources have been added.

I've found Zite a frequent and preferred stop for my news browsing on iOS. What I'd really like to see is a Mac app that gets me the same content so I'm covered on my desktop and laptop. I'm told this is under consideration and I hope to see it sooner rather than later.

Zite is a universal app and requires iOS 6 or later.

Zite update is aimed at Google Reader orphans originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 22 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Beethoven's 9th Symphony (free plus in-app purchases) is an epic iPad app that lets you explore one of the greatest symphonies ever written in a unique, compelling way. Classical music lovers will definitely want to check it out.

Beethoven's 9th Symphony uses every trick in the multimedia tool box. For starters, you can listen to four different performances of the work, taken from the well-known DGG catalog. As you listen, follow along with the the score in real time. The original manuscript displays each page as the music plays, but with modern notation.

An interesting feature called the "BeatMap" offers an overhead view of the orchestra, complete with symbols of the various instruments that glow as they are played.

The app also features several interviews, both contemporary and historic, with notable people like Leonard Bernstein and Gustavo Dudamel.

The four included performances date from 1962, with the most recent from 1992 played with period instruments. The Leonard Bernstein 1979 recording contains video of the performance, that you can watch in full-screen mode. It's interesting to compare the four concerts, and you can instantly switch between them, hearing how recording technology has advanced, and how performances differ. Having the four concerts in sync for comparison is unique and valuable.

This app is a great experience for adults and young musicians. I can't think of a better way to share this musical treasure in such depth.

Gallery: Beethoven's 9th Symphony

On to some negatives. The app does not directly support AirPlay, which is a mistake. You can certainly listen on headphones, but one should be able to hear this on a nice sound system. You can force AirPlay output with video mirroring by double-clicking the Home button and using the icon bar AirPlay tool, but the sound output stutters at times, and the video struggles to remain in sync.

Beethoven's 9th Symphony is not cheap. While you can download the app for free, you only get two minutes of each movement. A $13.99 in-app purchase unlocks the complete works. While the app is relatively expensive, it's less than the price of the four performances on separate CDs, and you wouldn't get the videos, the interviews or the full scores. Even if you opt for the free version, you download everything, and this is a large app at 1.53 GB. I had to do some housecleaning before I could run it.

I previously took a look at the first offering in this series, called The Orchestra. It was also excellent, but the Beethoven app is superior because it goes into great depth on a single work.

If you're interested in classical music, I think this is an app you will return to again and again. There's a lot of information, as well as the visual and sonic joys.

I'd also suggest you take a look at some parallel and less expensive apps if Beethoven appeals to you. Beethoven Symphonies ($1.99) has some nice selctions and performances. I also liked the free, ad-supported Beethoven Symphony Collection which also includes the scores to view.

Beethoven's 9th Symphony requires an iPad and iOS 6.

Just about everything you'll want to know about Beethoven's 9th on your iPad originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 21 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

View Magazine is a nicely put-together coffee table ebook for the iPad or iPhone that contains photos that are interesting and certainly not run-of-the-mill sunsets and flowers. A variety of photographers have combined to submit some of their favorite work, and they offer some commentary about the images.

There are shots of urban landscapes, people, and nature images, but none are what I would call the standard 'pretty pictures'. That said, the images are striking, and the thoughts behind the images are often illuminating. You won't like everything you see, but there is plenty to choose from.

VIEW Magazine used to require a paid subscription, but it has just gone free, and you can manually download an issue or set it up for automatic downloading to Apple's Newsstand app.

I found the content stimulating and interesting. Any image can be shared to Facebook or via email. You scroll horizontally to move form article to article, and scroll vertically to explore the content within an article. Bookmarks are available if you find something you want to refer to again.

Gallery: VIEW Magazine for iOS

VIEW Magazine is a pretty hefty download; the current issue is about 250 megabytes. The app allows you to save or discard issues, so if you start filling your iOS device you can always dump past issues. VIEW Magazine is universal, but really isn't as effective on an iPhone as it is on the iPad. The newest version supports the Retina display on newer iPads, and the app requires iOS 5 or later.

VIEW Magazine is a worthy download, and I think you may find it enjoyable and thought provoking.

Free VIEW Magazine is filled with intriguing photography originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 20 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's clearly not the best time to be looking for a MacBook Air -- 13-inch versions are in especially short supply. The reason for the shortage will be obvious to those who follow Apple closely: it's almost time for the Apple World Wide Developer Conference starting June 10, and Apple is likely going to refresh the popular laptops with the next-generation Intel Haswell Processor.

Apple Insider reports that the only reseller with any significant inventory of the best selling model -- outfitted with a 1.8 GHz processor and 256 GB solid state drive -- is Best Buy. Typically, a constrained supply means new products are in the pipeline. The 11-inch MacBook Air is showing up as available at resellers.

Supply chain rumors have stated a new MacBook Air is on the way with the new Intel processors, with availability predicted for next month. The new chips from Intel promise to generate less heat, consume less power and allow longer battery life. The chips also have a new integrated graphics processor, claiming a 50 percent hike in performance.

Steve Jobs introduced the first MacBook Air in 2008, and promoted at the time as the world's thinnest notebook. Since then Apple has added new models, increased performance and battery life, and added new features such as USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt support.

MacBook Air supply dwindling as WWDC approaches originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 17 May 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

My last visit to Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah was in pre-iPhone days. My, how things have changed. I went to Bryce on a landscape shoot this week with my usual semi-pro equipment: Canon 5D, Manfrotto tripod and the usual gaggle of batteries, timers and other esoterica.

I was especially interested in seeing if people were toting different equipment in the age of the smartphone. I expected to see Android and iPhones snapping away, while the pros and semi-pros were hanging on to their expensive DSLRs.

It wasn't quite what I expected. I saw a lot of iPhones in the crowds of people gathered at the rim of Bryce Canyon waiting for the sunset. I saw a couple of Android phones, but there could have been more. I walked up to a large group of young girls from Tennessee and asked how many were using iPhones? Every hand went up. I asked them if they were still using their old point-and-shoot cameras, and everyone had dropped them for an iPhone. The main reason? Instagram and other photo-sharing services. No one mentioned Apple's Photo Stream. You just can't get photos to friends with a point-and-shoot. None of those girls were into editing photos, it was mostly shoot and send.

I asked about the iPhone HDR feature. The most frequent answer was "huh?" More marketing needed by Cupertino. I showed some of the people up there how easy it was to activate HDR, and let them compare the results. Sunset at Bryce Canyon is the perfect place for HDR. All were amazed, so I helped create some new converts.

The biggest surprise were the pro and semi-pro shooters. Many had iPhones, which they would take out of a pocket for a moment, usually to shoot a panorama. One woman with a big Nikon said she loved her camera, but there was nothing like capturing a quick panorama with the iPhone. Easy to do, plenty of megapixels, and easy to send. A guy from Georgia with all kinds of pro equipment told me the same thing.

Gallery: iPhones at Bryce Canyon

So here I was at one of the most beautiful scenery spots in the world and iPhones were everywhere. Young, old, novice, semi-pro and some pros.

It's amazing that a company trying to make a better cellular phone has had such an impact on photography. Planning or accident? How about you? Have you dropped your point-and-shoot for an iPhone? And those of you with DSLRs, are you tempted to haul your iPhone out at times too? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

iPhone cameras are everywhere at one of America's best scenic spots originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We were just talking about how Amazon is competing with Apple and other cloud services by offering 5 GB of storage for free. Now, that turns out to be old news, because today Google announced that free storage spanning several Google services like Gmail, Google+ and Google Drive is now going to come in the extra-large economy size -- a whopping 15 GB.

Google says the changes will be rolling out over the next several weeks to all customers. All that space is shared, so if you are just using Google Drive Photo (for example), that 15 GB is shared with any other Google services that require storage. Still, 15 GB is a very competitive number since Apple and Amazon give you 5 GB with iCloud and Amazon Cloud Drive, respectively, and Dropbox provides a measly 2 GB free. A similar service from MediaFire offers 10 GB of free storage, but the free tier includes ads. All the services allow you to get more storage for an additional fee. It will be interesting to see if Apple and other services respond to Google's challenge or stand pat.

With this move, Google has unified its storage system, a similar concept to the Apple pool of iCloud storage, although at this point Apple does not count image storage in Photo Stream against your 5 GB allotment. Google has a free iOS app so you can access this storage space, and it can also be managed through a web browser on any computer.

Google Drive triples free storage to 15 GB originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Amazon today released a new app called Cloud Drive Photos. The free app allows you to upload all your iPhone or iPod touch photos to the cloud. The images can be accessed from your iOS device, from your Mac, or from any web browser. You can also upload photos from a laptop or desktop computer with a free Amazon app for OS X, and see or download them to your iPhone or other iOS device. Photos can also be shared via Facebook, Twitter or email.

Amazon requires you have an Amazon account, and will provide 5 GB of free storage, about enough room for 2000 photos. Amazon also provides both Mac and Windows apps to handle file transfers and display the photos. Additional storage space costs US$10.00 a year for 20 gigabytes, or 100 gigabytes of storage for $50.00.

When you first open the app, Amazon asks for access to your camera roll. Then the app will start uploading as long as the app is open. If you're on a limited data plan, you can set the app to only upload when you are on WiFi.

This service competes with Apple's Photo Stream service, and of course there are services like Flickr and Dropbox that provide similar functionality. You can choose to back up specific photos or your entire camera roll. Amazon offers more free storage than Apple, and Apple will only store up to 1000 of your photos per stream for 30 days compared to about 2000 photos with no expiration from Amazon. With Apple, after 30 days you must sync to your main computer. It should also be noted that Photo Stream storage does not count against your Apple allocated 5 gigabytes of iCloud storage. I see the Amazon service as a nice extra backup to what Apple offers.

Gallery: Amazon Cloud Drive Photo

Apple is being challenged in several areas by competitors offering equal or better solutions. Of course Google has Google Maps, and even Yahoo has a free weather app that for many people is a better solution than the rather stale Apple iOS weather app. Amazon has also offered Cloud Drive File Sync for OS X, which gives users a free 5 gigabytes of storage, more than double the free storage offered by Dropbox. Of course only Apple can deeply integrate its apps into iOS, so the company has that advantage. Whether that integration overcomes some of the advantages of these new services will be up to you when considering what cloud solution to use. Also, be aware that if you are already using other Amazon Cloud services the free storage you get is 5 gigabytes total, not 5 for music, 5 for photos, 5 for files etc..

Amazon releases Amazon Cloud Drive Photos to compete with Apple Photo Stream originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 23:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In 1953, Vancouver was aglow with nearly 19,000 neon lights. Today, only a few dozen of those historic signs remain. Those interested in the city's glowing, buzzing past should check out The Visible City, an iPhone app from the Museum of Vancouver.

This free app offers informative, colorful walking tours (available in English and French) through parts of the Canadian city, making clever use of narration and augmented reality to highlight what once was.

There are two tours on the app, and each one is approximately 30 minutes in length. The first explores Granville Street, the city's long-time entertainment district. It's 1.4 km in length and features eight signs. To get started, stand at the designated starting point, which is The Yale Hotel at 1300 Granville St. (the app provides directions if you need them). Then, simply tap I've Arrived At Start to launch the narration and augmented reality. Note that the app warns users not to explore the Granville area alone, due to current crime rates.

Gallery: The Visible City

The second tour explores Chinatown and Hastings Street. It's 1.0 km long and features eight signs. You can mark certain locations as favorites during your tour and even check in within the app, so others can see that you've been there. The app also features more than 40 audio and video stories with memories of the Vancouver that is no more.

The augmented reality feature looks like fun (I'm not in Vancouver and was unable to test it). To use it, hold your iPhone aloft during a tour, and you'll see historical images from the 1950s through the 1970s superimposed over the real-time, present day.

If you can't take the tours, The Visible City still has plenty for you. Each sign has its own screen complete with photos and a full history. You can also listen to the narration that accompanies the tours while you sit at home, but that's a little weird. The app also lets users to upload their own stories and even vote on their favorite signs and places.

The Visible City's implementation of augmented reality isn't a gimmick, but a feature that contributes to the walking tour experience. It puts a fun, educational museum experience in your pocket. The Visible City requires iOS 5.0 or greater and is optimized for the iPhone 5.

Daily iPhone app: The Visible City celebrates Vancouver's neon past originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

That's the word from Bloomberg News today. Apple has asked a US magistrate judge to force Google to turn over the Android source code. It's part of Apple's case against Samsung, and Apple continues to believe its intellectual property has been stolen.

Not surprisingly, Google, who owns the Android source code, isn't eager to comply. Complaining Apple is casting too wide a net, Google attorneys say Apple's request is too broad. The legal arguments stem from a case Apple filed last year that covers technology in newer smartphones like the iPhone 5. Apple wants to make sure newer smartphones from Samsung, like the Galaxy S III, don't infringe Apple intellectual property.

Google has not been named a defendant in any of the litigation, as Apple has preferred to go after handset manufacturers who are using the Google source code.

Even though Apple received a billion-dollar verdict in its first case against Samsung, it has received no money yet as appeals and requests for a retrial wind their way through the court system.

Apple requests Android source code in Samsung lawsuit originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 08 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

View Seeker Location Scout is a handy US$0.99 photo app that can help you find the best locations for landscape photography. You can get all the best locations around you with a click, which the app does by sourcing images from Panoramio and Flickr.

Once you find a spot you like it appears on a map, and then provides driving or walking directions via a link to Apple Maps. The app also provides sunrise/sunset times, and allows you to save locations you like. You can select any place in the world as your "target" if you are planning a trip, and call up the location information later when you get to your destination.

The app worked as expected when I tested it here in southern Arizona, and some other favorite out-of-state places. I found the Panoramio images generally looked better, but usually there were more images from Flickr.

Other than a few spelling errors in locations, the app is pretty clean. I wish View Seeker Location Scout allowed me to query Panoramio and Flickr at the same time. As it is, you have to set one or the other in preferences, but you can easily change back and forth. It's better to give the user the option of both.

Gallery: View Seeker Location Scout

The app has some similarities to Stuck On Earth, which is iPad-only. Stuck On Earth displays photos taken at chosen locations, provides a map, and lets you save your finds. It's a great app, but better for planning than using in the field simply because View Seeker fits in my pocket.

View Seeker is a worthwhile app for photographers looking for that perfect or out of the way spot to take a striking photo. It's a bargain for a buck. The non-universal app is optimized for the iPhone 5 and requires iOS 5.0 or greater.

Daily iPhone App: View Seeker Location Scout: a handy tool for iPhone photographers originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 07 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Air Microphone is a US$0.99 app that uses AirPlay to connect your iPhone to an Apple TV or AirPlay-equipped amplifier to give you a wireless microphone.

The app is not hard to use. After launch, go to the multitasking bar on the iPhone and select any AirPlay device and start talking. In my tests, the app worked pretty well on an AppleTV with a few caveats. There are options for three EQ settings. "Normal" was just fine. "Less Bass" made me sound like a parrot, and "More Bass" made me sound like a giant Cyclops. Way too thundering, if you get my drift. The app also lets you select a photo to display on the Apple TV during your talk, but the image is proportioned like the iPhone screen in portrait mode, so I don't think it adds too much. Better to leave that feature turned off. The app has an "On Air" slide switch which turns the microphone on and off, but I could not find an elegant way to exit the app. Quitting leaves it running with a bar at the top of the screen. I finally just quit in the task manager.

Air Microphone is a very good idea, but it still seems a bit rough to me. I tried using an external Bluetooth microphone paired to my iPhone, but I could not get it to be output by the app. That step would make this app all the more useful.

Gallery: Air Microphone

Air Microphone is a very clever idea for an app, especially for those who do presentations. AirPlay is turning up on all sorts of non-Apple products, so there should be more and more options to use it in the venue of your choice. It works just fine on the normal settings with my AppleTV. I don't have any other AirPlay-ready devices to test it on. I'd really like to see this app advance in functionality. It has a lot of promise.

Air Microphone is optimized for the iPhone 5 and requires iOS 6.1 or later.

Update: Several users are reporting that they can't get the app to work with AirPlay based speakers. As noted in my review I was not able to test the app on anything but an AppleTV. I did request clarification from the developer in Europe but have not heard anything back. At this point, don't assume the app works with anything other than AppleTV.

Air Microphone turns your iPhone into a wireless PA system originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 06 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I'm always on the lookout for free photo apps that do a good job, and Gradients for the iPad or iPhone (free, universal) fits the bill. The app lets you add gradients to existing photos with almost infinite variations and control. I often create gradients in Photoshop, especially to tone down the sky in landscapes. It's nice to have a lightweight utility to handle that simple task.

There are 46 filter styles available, and each one is customizable in parameters like opacity and tilt. You can turn photos into black-and-white images. You can even create a custom gradient and save it for future use. Unlike so many photo apps, Gradients doesn't throw in-app purchases at you. Everything is included. When your editing is done, you can save your photo, or share it via Twitter or Facebook.

Gallery: Gradients

Editing is easy, and as you make changes on the Gradients control panel you can see a thumbnail of your image. The only thing I found lacking is any kind of undo feature. You can tap on a new filter and the old one will go away, but there is no way to return to your starting point without reloading the image.

Gradients is a universal app and optimized for the iPhone 5. It requires iOS 6 or later.

Daily iPad App: Gradients is a free iOS photo editor that is worth a look originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 02 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Magellan has announced the nationwide availability of its new SmartGPS device. The hardware GPS for cars mates with an iPhone or Android app to provide the in-car solution with several advantages, including content from Yelp and Foursquare that's based on the user location and planned route. Live content includes fuel prices, traffic, local weather and traffic camera alerts.

Rather than draining your cellphone data plan, the SmartGPS (which looks remarkably like a tiny iPad) is designed to cache the "heavy" content -- the reviews, photos and other data from Foursquare and Yelp -- via WiFi. The unit detects the wireless networks you've set up and will automatically connect when you're within range of your home or office WiFi. Downloaded content is kept up to date for your immediate area and the destinations/routes you program into the unit; you can also sync content via USB and a browser helper app on your Mac or PC.

The hardware is initially available at Best Buy for US$249. The iOS app that provides the network links is free -- although it's not yet available in the US store, it should show up under Magellan's heading in the next week or so. You can find information for a destination on the Magellan app, then send it via Bluetooth to the GPS hardware in the car.

The idea behind the SmartGPS is to blend the best parts of the smartphone experience with dedicated hardware. This approach will succeed or fail depending on whether people find the navigation solutions on their smartphones inadequate without dedicated hardware. Multitasking for music, phone calls or other activities while using your phone as a primary GPS unit can be annoying or dangerous, so there's something still to be said for an independent, but connected dashboard navigation unit.

The Magellan SmartGPS has a 5-inch touchscreen, free lifetime map updates, traffic alerts, WiFI and Bluetooth radios and an AV input for connection to media devices and wireless back-up cameras. You can insert a microSD card for other media or data use.

Consumers can upgrade to Premium SmartGPS apps for iOS, featuring turn-by-turn directions with voice navigation, for $49 with US maps / $59 with US and Canada maps. The iOS companion app will be available this month. iOS premium navigation upgrades are scheduled to be available in summer 2013.

We've got a review unit of the Magellan device in-house now, and you'll see our full review soon.

Magellan linking GPS hardware to smartphones with SmartGPS originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 02 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

My experience as an adventure game player goes way back to the text-only Colossal Cave game, which then morphed into the classic Zork text games from Infocom (which, by the way, you can play even now on iOS with the Lost Treasures of Infocom app).

Now, with speed and graphic power, games are a lot more immersive and fun to play. Tipping Point Adventure, is a recent iPad-only release that is rich in puzzles and high quality graphics. The game is currently on sale for U.S. $1.99 in the app store. You begin the game sitting in your virtual home watching TV, when a strange message sets you off on an epic adventure. At first, I was stabbing around the screen looking for things to interact with, but soon I saw a logic to the way the game was constructed. I liked a lot of the subtle things the author has done, like picking up the TV remote and selecting stations has old movies actually playing on the TV. The game has built-in hints available but there is no in-app purchase required to get them, so unlike some other games, you don't have to buy them. I still needed one or two of the built-in hints. One hint told me I had to go to a particular TV channel for a message, and with hundreds of channels available, I don't think I would have figured that one out for myself.

Gallery: Tipping Point Adventure screen shots

There's a sizable story line, lots of puzzles and challenges to play with, an original music score, and quite a few surprises to find.

Tipping Point is a great, reasonably priced diversion that offers up a nice throwback experience to those old text-only adventure games of old. The game is a hefty 255 MB download, and requires iOS 4.3 or later.

Daily iPad App: Tipping Point Adventure for iPad is clever and engaging originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 01 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The popular Nest Thermostat has updated its internal software to version 3.5, and pushed out a new iOS app to control it. Most people should have had their thermostats updated automatically at some point yesterday. The software is being billed as summer enhancements to the thermostat aimed at better handling of high temperatures.

Gallery: Nest updates iOS app

The new software allows the thermostat to make sure that sun shining on the hardware does not create false indoor temperature readings. The thermostat also has enhanced fan controls. The auto-away function has also been retooled, so it can better predict when you are coming home and have the house precisely at the temperature you want.

The new iOS app supports these new hardware features by allowing you to control them remotely, and now feature notifications on when a filter change is due for your HVAC system. The app also displays seasonal savings and energy history.

Apple and other retailers are selling the Nest Thermostat, which was designed by former iPod designer Tony Fadell. The app requires iOS 5 and is optimized for the iPhone 5. It's universal so it displays at full resolution on the iPad.

Nest updates iOS app and adds notifications originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Osito is a free iPhone app that tries to do what Google Now has done for Android phones (and now the iPhone), which is provide a time- and location-aware app that supports your daily schedule with weather, traffic, travel news and more. [The previously launched Tempo calendar is another approach to solving the same problem. -Ed.]

Osito finds information about your location, and what is on your calendar, in your emails and your daily routine. For example, if it finds a meeting in your calendar, Osito will check traffic and give you relevant advice on when to leave. Of course, the address of your meeting needs to be in the calendar for Osito to figure that out. Weather forecasts are based on location. Some of Osito's functions require a Gmail account.

The app's developers say it takes a few days for Osito to learn your schedule, and I can confirm that. Mainly I have been getting a morning weather forecast. It's not been terribly responsive to catching my meetings, and others who have used Osito are seeing the same thing.

Gallery: Osito

Osito was the kernel of a good idea for iOS users who were deprived of Google Now, but earlier this morning Google updated the Google Search app with almost every feature Google Now has on Android. That's going to put Osito in the weeds unless it comes up with more and better features, and Google is a tough competitor. If you want to stay out of the Google ecosystem, Osito has some promise, but even Osito has to work with Gmail to give you all its features.

My colleague Steve Sande has the details on the Google iPhone app enhancements in a post today. That app looks strong and is likely to even give Apple's Siri some heartburn.

Osito is optimized for the iPhone 5 and requires iOS 6.

Osito wants to be Google Now for iOS, a bit too late originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I've been a fan of GateGuru since I first tried it in 2010. It's a travel app for the iPhone that provides a plethora of information of flights, airlines and airports. It's great having all of that in your pocket. Version 4.0 fixes some problems and makes GateGuru even better.

Version 3 was nice, but had nagging problems. For example, it required me to enter flight details, even when that's not the information I was after. For example, sometimes I simply want to review the amenities that are available at a certain airport. GateGuru 3 needed flight info before sharing that data.

With version 4, released today, all is forgiven. The free app now allows you to browse airport information with no restrictions. The entire app has been redesigned and it looks very modern. Plus, the amount of tapping has been reduced when you navigate, and all your travel information is on one screen.

GateGuru excels at travel info, including airport weather, terminal and gate arrival and departure info, and real-time flight information with optional push alerts for flight status. The app also provides estimated TSA waiting times, and reviews of airport food, location of ATMs and rental car information with some discounted rates for GateGuru users.

Gallery: GateGuru 4

I have one mild complaint. GateGuru caters to the traveler, and not the person who's simply doing the pickup. Yes, you can get the information on arrival times, but it's not really the purpose of the app. I prefer Flight+ which is a bit more agnostic on whether you are the traveler or the transportation. I'd like to see GateGuru add travel times to the airport based on local real-time traffic info, and travel / traffic time to a particular address like a hotel or convention center.

Still, GateGuru is an absolutely indispensable app for those traveling by air, especially since so much of air travel involves sitting at airports. This new version is one of the most improved apps I've seen this year. If you travel, I heartily recommend adding it to your iPhone's travel folder.

GateGuru for iPhone has been updated and greatly improved originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The iOS Calendar app is pretty basic, but for a lot of people, it gets the job done. If you're left wanting more, take a look at Horizon Calendar, which is US$1.99 in the App Store. We've taken a look at an earlier version of the app before, and this next generation, released today, adds more features and improves the GUI.

Horizon Calendar is part calendar, part weather app. It pulls your current calendar info from your iOS device and stays synced to the cloud. The app arranges your info into a very nice set of screens that is easy on the eyes and well-organized.

Weather is the other big feature of Horizon Calendar, so as you plan an event occurring within the next two weeks, you'll see a weather forecast. That's pretty handy, especially as better weather starts to roll in. If the event is in another location, you'll get the forecast for that area instead.

The app also features natural language event creation. If I say "Set up a 2PM meeting Friday in Chicago with James" the app adds the event details without my having to fill in fields. Even better, when I look at the event, I see a weather forecast for Chicago for this Friday. That goes a bit beyond what Siri can do when creating events.

Also new to this latest version is intelligent lookup. If I have a lunch meeting at the Olive Garden restaurant, for example, the app will assume that I mean the closest Olive Garden just as I start typing 'Oli..'. and fill in the location. It would be nice to use that info as a link to my favorite navigation program, although the app currently doesn't have that capability.

Gallery: Horizon Calendar for iOS

Horizon Calendar is impressive, and I'll have no trouble replacing my iOS Calendar with Horizon Calendar. If you are in a business environment based on Microsoft Exchange, you can't create or accept meetings, so be aware of that limitation.

Horizon Calendar is optimized for the iPhone 5 and requires iOS 6 or later.

Horizon Calendar for iOS keeps improving with unique features originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Fotopedia Reporter is a unique, free iPad app that I would describe as a socially aware, digital coffee table book that lets you see and share photos that tell stories. The stories can be travel photos, landscapes, a restaurant visit or a dive trip. Anything that would be of interest to others that you know or don't know.

To help you get started, the app provides some attractive designs. Your creation can be shared on Facebook or Twitter, or you can email a web link and it can be viewed in a browser. You can view others' projects and leave comments. Of course, you don't have to be a contributor, you can just browse the many stories and photos submitted.

One question I had to the developers was the issue of rights. The answer is that people who publish photos choose their license type (all rights reserved, creative commons or public domain) and the poster retains the rights. The terms of use allows Fotopedia to advertise on its own properties, and partner properties, and the images you submit can be used to promote Fotopedia.

Gallery: Fotopedia Reporter

Why submit your stories? Mostly to get an audience. Fotopedia products get millions of views across its 14 apps and websites. Don't think of Fotopedia as simply a slide show. It's the stories behind the images that are just as important. Tell your stories, share them publicly or privately, get some feedback and create a community of people you'll enjoy knowing.

It's a bit hard to fully describe what this app offers, but it's worth a look. For those interested in communicating visually, it's a very well-thought-out tool. If you want to see what the app can do, Fotopedia Reporter is available on the web. It's fully functional, but I like it best on the iPad Retina display.

Fotopedia Reporter requires internet connectivity to work, and needs iOS 5.0 or later on your iPad.

Fotopedia Reporter for iPad lets you create and share your photo stories originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

WebStart is a US$0.99 utility in the Mac App Store that lets you customize a browser home page with frequently used links, like search engines, news or weather. Yes, you can just use standard bookmarks as you are already doing, but this simple app presents your preferred links on one page.

When you open the app for the first time you'll get a brief tutorial. Basically you create topics and add relevant URLs. You can customize the fonts by color, style and size and choose the fill and background colors.

To further customize the look of your home page, drag and drop headings and topics into an order that works for you. When you are done, save it all, and the app will provide the link for your browser. You can paste it into the location where your browser sets the home page and you're ready to go. You can get a better idea how WebStart works in this YouTube video.

WebStart is handy, especially for the novice user who doesn't want to try this themselves using HTML.

Gallery: WebStart

I'll stick with Google News as my start page, but I could be tempted to try the app again with some additional features and a more striking graphical look. As it is, WebStart is not over-priced at under a dollar.

WebStart requires OS X 10.8 or later and a 64-bit processor.

WebStart for Mac lets you create a customized home page originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.