Amazon is introducing an updated version of the Kindle app, which is supposed to be optimized for the new iPad. The app has been a huge success, with Amazon claiming it is the #5 best-selling free app of all time. Users can expect new features and a better look.

The main appeal for the new app is that it was designed with the new iPad’s high-resolution display in mind. Amazon claims that fonts and images will look better and clearer.

The redesigned interface will also give users the options to read “in the cloud”, so they can easily switch between devices with the Kindle app installed and have their books stay in sync. This feature was previously only available for platforms other than the iPad.

The Amazon Kindle store has also been redesigned for the Safari web browser on devices running iOS. Users who wish to buy books on their iPad will still need to access the Kindle store through Safari.

FREE!

Kindle – Read Books, eBooks, Magazines, Newspapers & Textbooks

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2009-03-04 :: Category: Books

Spinning Meals in an app that’s meant to take the guess work out of planning meals for a week. By mapping out meals, acting as a recipe database, and keeping tracking of necessary ingredients, the app intends to be a one-stop shop for people who are in change of organizing meals for the week.

The app handles planning all 3 meals for as little as 1 day and for as many as 7 days. The settings of the app allow users to specify certain meals to spin for or not spin for.

Meals consist of multiple recipes and are the main focus of the app. Currently, there aren’t many recipes in the app, but users have the option to add their own recipes, complete with ingredients, instructions, and notes. The recipes have an estimated preparation and cook time associated with them, which allows the app to plan shorter meals on specified days.

The app automatically creates a nicely formatted shopping list with all the ingredients needed for the planned meals. The groceries are organized according to type and tapping an ingredient indicates in what recipe it will be used.

Spinning meals combines the various tasks of planning and making meals. The app will definitely appeal to people who hate deciding what to eat. Hopefully in the future more recipes will be bundled with the app or the ability to download recipes from websites will be added.

$2.99

Spinning Meals Smart Meal Planner

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-03-14 :: Category:

The latest version of Angry Birds will be displayed to public for the first time at the South by South West Interactive conference being held in Austin, Texas. Even before the first demo, details about the upcoming game have been released.

The newest Angry Birds game will be titled Angry Birds Space, and as the name implies, the game is space themed. The biggest space themed addition will be zero gravity levels that should add an interesting twist to the game play.

Rovio, the developers behind the popular franchise, has even partnered with NASA. Don Pettit, who is an astronaut aboard the international space station, will introduce the game. Pettit has already made a video talking about some of the physics in the game. NASA hopes that the game will encourage children to learn more about physics and inspire them to pursue careers in technology and science fields.

The app will be released on March 22 for the iPhone, iPad, Android platform, PC, and Mac. Other platforms will be receiving the app too, but at an undisclosed later time. At the South by South West Interactive conference the game will be demoed on a Samsung Galaxy Note, since Rovio has a partnership with Samsung. The launch of the app will occur in tandem with the launch a slew of Angry Birds Space themed merchandise.

Angry Birds Space will have 60 levels at launch, with more levels available later for free or as in-app purchases. The game will also include 6 new birds and super-powers. The app will be launched with an unprecedented amount of other Angry Birds themed merchandise, such as toys, books, and candy. Rovio is even working with National Geographic to publish an Angry Birds Space book. According to Rovio, it has licensed their characters for more than 20,00 products and has sold over 25 million Angry Birds toys.

The Travel Channel and Anthony Bourdain have just released a new iPad app meant to help travelers plan their trips. The app includes a ton a features and has a very high production value. Anyone traveling to one of the cities included in the app should definitely download it.

The main theme of the app is creating “layovers”, which are itineraries of locations to visit. The app includes suggested layovers and users can create their own by selecting from the locations and restaurants in the app’s database. The app will also estimate the amount of time it takes to visit a location and the amount of time it takes to travel from place to place. Currently, the cities in included in the app are Amsterdam, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Montreal, New York, Rome, San Francisco and Singapore.

Every city has a bunch of locations to choose from, ranging from restaurants, bars, and sightseeing destinations. Each location has plenty of pictures and information about it, such as the hours of operation. The list of locations can even be filtered to only show certain types of places, like bars or restaurants.

Every city begins with a video introduction in which Anthony Bourdain talks about why he loves the city and some of his favorite things to do in it. The production value of the videos rivals the television show. The quality of the photos is also first-rate. In addition to the introductory video, each location has a list of Dos and Don’ts, notes of what “inspires” Bourdain about the city, and information on traveling to the city.

The app definitely has a focus on food, which is no surprise given that Anthony Bourdain got his start a chef. The biggest category of locations is bars and restaurants and Bourdain usually talks about the food in the introduction videos.

For users who are actually in the city, there is an interactive map that displays locations with information, suggested layovers, and the user’s layovers. The app integrates with a lot of social networks, like Facebook and Twitter, and allows people to check-in on Foursquare.

FREE!

Travel Channel Layover Guide

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-03-06 :: Category: Travel