Total Score: 26
The folks at Misfit Wearables have created an app, Misfitopia, that will both inspire and amuse you. This app is designed to provide you with some interesting content while connecting you to the Misfit community.
Total Score: 30
Your Newsstand app comes with your iDevice and is one of the handiest around. It is actually more of a folder, than an app. You can find magazines to support any interest, but, for me, it’s a perfect fit for fitness. You can read success stories, see videos of exercises and discover great recipes. I’ll share a couple of my favorite subscriptions and talk about why I’ve switched from print to digital. Continue reading
Total Score: 30
Orchestra by Touch Press is an impressive view of what is possible on an iPad. On the other hand, maybe it is even beyond what I could have imagined as possible. It is part theatrical performance, part text, part commentary with music, part musical score and part visual aid showing how musicians combine their talents to play classics. Most of all it is impressive. Continue reading
Total Score: 30
War Horse delivers on so many levels. If you love history, you will find a WWI timeline, historical photos, artifacts, letters and films. You’ll also see insights from various experts on WWI including ones from Flanders Field Museum, the National Army Museum (London), The National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial (Kansas City), the grandson of General Jack Seely, and from the Chief Executive of the Brooke (an international charity for the welfare of working equines). If you love performance, you will find heart-wrenching performances of poems like The Charge of The Light Brigade or Dulce et Decorum Est. The most standout performance is the author performing an edited version of the story with musicians John Tams and Barry Coope. In addition, but certainly the cornerstone of the app, you can read the illustrated novel or listen to Michael Morpurgo’s reading. It is almost hard to imagine all of this in one app. Continue reading
Total Score: 29.5
There is nothing I enjoy more than having someone read to me. I love audio books and now can enjoy a similar experience with articles I’ve selected from the internet or news aggregators like Zite or Flipboard. You get all of that with Lisgo Text to Speech Voice Reader for Web News. Continue reading
Total Score: 29.5
Egyptian pyramids have fascinated us since Howard Carter discovered the treasurers of King Tut’s tomb in 1922. We have enjoyed movies about them, TV shows and an amazing number of books. Now, Touch Press brings us an app that allows us to walk through the Pyramids, not only as if we were there, but better than that! Some of the views you have in this app are in protected areas and even if you were there, you couldn’t see them. Not only that, Dr. Zahi Hawass adds his extensive knowledge of the area to the project. Pyramids 3D is a treasure. Continue reading
Total Score: 29.5
People learn in different ways. Some need to see what they are learning. Some need to hear someone explain what they need to learn and some need to touch, or experience the new information. Happily, Spanish – Speak and Learn Pro does all three. I took Spanish in college but am far from fluent. This app combines the fun of a game with repetitive learning. I actually look forward to my language lessons. I think you will too. I didn’t test the Spanish – Speak and Learn for Kids. If your intention is to help your children learn Spanish you might want to start with that version. Continue reading
Total Score: 29
When I was preparing to go to a bluegrass festival called “The MACC” earlier this month, I asked myself – Is there an app for that? It turns out there was. The MACC app is a festival goer’s dream come true. It offers a totally green element – no need to worry about a printed schedule. All of the information you need (and a lot more) is available in the app. Even though the event is in the past, this app is filled with great music and videos and worth a download while you wait for the 2013 info to be added. Continue reading
Total Score: 30
I’ve been playing solitaire since I was a child. It has a Zen like effect on me. I am soothed by the dealing and playing of cards. Solitaire was one of the first games (and actually one of the few) that I downloaded on my iPhone and iPad. So, I’ve been happily playing for years and why switch to a new app? I’ll have to say that this particular version of Solitaire is appealing because it is graphically rich, has plenty of options to make games easier or harder and, perhaps most of all, while it does have ads they don’t interfere with the game. Continue reading
Total Score: 29.5
The Sonnets by William Shakespeare is another jewel from the crew at Touch Press. They created the popular apps for iPad – Leonardo da Vinci: Anatomy, The Elements, Jewels and Gems and X is for X-Ray. To call this app a success barely covers the achievement. I will let the key features speak for themselves. There are 154 performances of the sonnets synchronized to the text. Included with the app is the 1609 Quarto, the first published edition of the sonnets. You will also have access to the Arden Shakespeare’s complete notes, new commentary by Don Paterson and videos of expert perspectives. It is visually rich and fun to explore. Continue reading
Total Score: 30
For anyone who has seen the majesty of the Golden Gate Bridge, or wants to, this book app, GG Bridge, is a must have. The actual title of the book, not used on iTunes, is “A Wild Flight of the Imagination.” The app includes photos, architectural drawings, maps, music, historical recordings, a short film and more. The bridge opened for pedestrians on May 27, 1937 and for vehicular traffic on May 28, 1937. Happy Anniversary Golden Gate Bridge! Continue reading
Total Score: 28.5
As I have mentioned before there is an app for every interest and hobby. One of my interests is World War II history. My father and his two brothers were at Normandy and my father-in-law was in the Philippines on Pearl Harbor Day and was later captured by the Japanese. For both my fathers the outcome was a long, happy life, but this was a defining time for their generation and one that I completely admire. It was with great anticipation that I started reviewing this app. After watching the intro by Robert MacNeil all I could say was wow! Timeline WW2 is packed with information and features and has been a joy to explore. Continue reading
Total Score: 30
I am dazzled by Leonard da Vinci: Anatomy, and it’s hard to pick out just what feature is the most impressive. There are 268 of da Vinci’s drawings. You can pinch and zoom in to see amazing detail. In addition, there are eleven (short) chapters of information corresponding to each drawing, including background of what was the conventional thinking at the time and how Leonardo understood the truth and occasionally how he was influenced by his contemporaries. There are interviews by the curator of the drawings and historians and scientists. You can interact with the 3-D images that correspond with the drawings. This book works as a history book, an art book, a study of anatomy and most certainly, as a spectacular iPad book. Continue reading
Total Score: 29
We all need a little inspiration from time to time. Sometimes reading a phrase or seeing a picture lifts our spirits and helps us get through difficult times or just brightens our mood. That is the sole purpose of the InspireU app. There aren’t any fancy bells and whistles, just a little on-screen encouragement. Continue reading
Total Score: 28
As a newly hatched (pun intended) birder, I do not have any preconceived notions about how to collect sightings. From the research I have done, I can tell you that I find the Birdwatcher’s Diary for iPhone or iPad app easy to use and frankly fun. I cannot even imagine doing this on paper. On the other hand, more appropriately, can see the advantages of an electronic version. They say the best camera is the one you have with you. I would think we could easily make the case that the best bird journal is the one you have with you – and since my iPhone is a constant companion, it inspires me to collect. There was a major update in August 2012 which added a lot of new functionality. Continue reading