When it comes to 2012, it’s hard to know what to think. Some people are certain that the world is due to end by the end of the year. Others think is a load of bull. Then there are a few folks who just seem to be caught in the middle, unsure of what to make of the whole thing. I don’t claim to know who’s right in all this, but at least now there’s an app that can appease anyone who wants to know more.

2012 Doomsday is an app specifically designed to inform. It’s got info on what’s theorized to happen on the big day, lots of videos about 2012, details about the Mayans, what kinds of supplies to stock up on and other general survival tips. Depending on an individual’s take on this business it could be their go-to guide or simply something to consider a fascinating “what if” scenario.

2012 Doomsday is currently available for everyone, skeptic or not, on the App Store for $0.99. I’m not claiming that it’ll make a difference in the grand scheme of things, but I suppose there’s nothing wrong with being prepared. Just in case.

$0.99

2012 Doomsday

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-02-06 :: Category: Education

There are people out there in the world that are absolutely mental for cars. I actually roomed with a couple of them in college. The amount of stuff those guys knew about automobiles bordered on ridiculous. The reason I bring this up is because I know there are people out there who are just as into bicycles as they were into cars. And Cyclepedia is just the app for them.

Hueristic Media has chronicled 100 different bikes throughout history. Some of which have had a profound impact on the way we get around on two wheels and others that… well, that are just plain weird. Each model’s image can be rotated a full 360-degrees and zoomed in up to 20 times via finger movements (naturally). The added touch of being able to fold-up the folding bikes via swiping is also pretty cool.

In addition to all the images and descriptions, the app includes well over 300 additional photographs (courtesy of Bernhard Angerer), more than 200 pages of brochures and manuals, and even archival video clips. There’s a ton of historical information within these virtual pages. More than enough to make bike fans happy, anyway. And said bike fans can check out Cyclepedia for their iPads right now for $9.99.

$9.99

Cyclepedia - Iconic Bicycle Designs

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2011-12-15 :: Category: Lifestyle

We all know and have used the Encyclopaedia Britannica at some point. It’s a fantastic resource of information with an absolutely huge amount of knowledge contained within. What some people may not realise is that it’s over 200 years with the first edition having been released between 1768 and 1771 in Scotland.

Technology moves on however and while the Encyclopaedia Britannica is still available in book form (in its 15th edition), iPad fans will be thrilled to see that the app version of Encyclopaedia Britannica is just as useful for anyone with a great thirst for knowledge.

Providing over 80,000 carefully fact checked articles, all manners of different subjects are catered for. There’s everything from information on famous landmarks to statistics about skateboarding. Encyclopaedia Britannica ensures that its knowledge is always accurate thanks to an extensive list of contributors that include over 100 Nobel Laureates plus numerous subject gurus such as Bill Clinton, Desmond Tutu and skateboarding legend Tony Hawk.

Information is provided through interesting mediums and not just via text with photographs, diagrams and charts plentiful. A LinkMap means that users can explore articles that are connected to each other through a dynamic view interface. There’s also a neat way of checking out what happened on the revelant day of the year at a glance which is the ideal way to set the brain racing off in a quest to gain more knowledge.

While Encyclopaedia Britannica is a free to download app, users who wish to gain the full benefits of the app will need to pay a pretty reasonable $1.99 a month subscription fee. For those not keen on paying, they do at least gain 100 free articles plus the first 100 words of each article as part of a taster of what’s available. Considering the web version of the Encyclopaedia Britannica is a lot more than this, that’s pretty good value for money for a huge wealth of knowledge.

Encyclopaedia Britannica is available now for the iPad.

FREE!

Encyclopædia Britannica

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-10-14 :: Category: Reference

One of my favorite things about the iPad offers is how visually stunning so many apps can look by utilizing the extra screen space that the device offers. This is particularly prominant when it comes to Pearltrees.

Originally solely a website, Pearltrees, is an app that allows users to organize, discover and share everything they like on the web. Its developers hope that it’ll help users cultivate their interests by allowing them to store websites for future reference and to share with others. It’s different for a number of reasons. Holding all the information within Pearltrees means that users can retrieve their information from any PC or iPad device, this also enables users to share amongst a community of more than 200,000 people. There’s also the visually stunning side of things that quickly captivates its audience.

The term pearl, in this context, comes from the fact that an individual pearl holds anything the user finds interesting while a pearltree is a collection of web pages as a form of folder system. It’s so much more beautiful than a folder structure though. Take a look at the screenshots below. It’s very minimalist in looks but while offering a huge wealth of information if the user so wishes. It also lends itself perfectly to the touch based interface of the iPad making it the ideal app to browse and relax with.

Social functions come in the form of being able to team up with others on their pearltrees and thus invite people to join in. The ‘Visual Discovery’ feature enables people to find new interests related to their favorite topics through a similar method.

Pearltrees is just the glorious kind of app that lends itself to simply relaxing on the sofa one evening and taking in the many, many delights that the internet can offer. Amazing what a change of perspective can do to something we all take for granted!

FREE!

Pearltrees

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-10-12 :: Category: Productivity

With a huge amount of news to take in on a daily basis, it can get pretty overwhelming to keep track of everything. This is precisely where news aggregation systems such as Evri help immensely.

Previously solely a website, Evri is now bundled as an iPad app offering personalized news reading services for anyone interested at the grand price of nothing. Offering a different approach to many other services, Evri tackles things via the topics offered. When an user identifies a topic they’re interested in, Evri scours 15,000 web sources, including social networks, in order to deliver interesting stories connected to the topic.

This approach makes for a fascinating exploration of all kinds of interesting subjects. Topics can be extremely varied, from the latest political goings on in congress to the latest celebrity gossip or movie news. One section might offer stories on the battle for gay rights, while another might explain the latest football scores. Ultimately, it’s down to the user to make Evri their ideal news app.

There’s plenty of functionality ensuring that users can inform the app of their favorite channels for easy consultation. Integration within Facebook and Twitter adds a further personalized twist to matters. Collecting up all the links that Facebook and Twitter friends are talking about, it’s an ideal way of diving into what the user’s friends are talking about at any one time without having to rely on scouring the timeline feed to see what stories have been linked to.

Throughout, the information is provided in an interesting manner. Looking a little like a pinboard, photos and a caption are offered on each of the main stories with a quick swipe moving users onto another screen if nothing takes their interest initially. Once a story is selected, related topics and featured articles connected provide further context.

All this put together makes for an enticing proposition for news fans making Evri an ideal app to give a shot.

FREE!

Evri for iPad

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2011-09-26 :: Category: News

Knowledge is power so they say. Excluding huge wealth, I suspect the elusive ‘they’ are right. Quora won’t provide great financial fortunes (probably) but it will provide plenty of knowledge.

Providing a neat combination of social networking and knowledge, Quora allows users to ask people questions as well as answer other people’s queries. Over 60,000 topics are covered enabling users to search through thousands of different location based topics as well as anything else that may grip them.

Kind of like Wikipedia, it opens up a huge breadth of knowledge on everything from current affair issues to simply asking people what it’s like to be in their chosen career field. Users could even use it for relationship advice or tourism information for a specific area. It’s a fascinating insight into just how much knowledge each and every person may have. An instant reminder that everyone is knowledgeable about something, even if they don’t yet realise it.

Quora is a free app so why not give it a shot today? It makes an entertaining change from the likes of Wikipedia.

FREE!

Quora

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-09-29 :: Category: Reference

Videos, games, photos, GPS functionality and more. The iPhone can do a heck of a lot, especially considering the fact that it’s a phone and not a PC. One thing it’s not quite adept at is integrating a lot of that into the actual “phone” part. Enter MetaSwitch and their clever little app, Thrutu.

Thrutu makes true on-the-phone multitasking possible. Users can take and share photos, contact information, their current location and more with a tap or two. The mileage one gets out of this largely depends on how they tend to interact with people over the phone, but certain aspects of its usefulness are pretty obvious. Sharing location info makes random, and even planned, meet-ups much simpler than “I’m standing over by the big duck.” Getting a friend’s opinion remotely on a new outfit can be done instantly. It even cuts down the time needed for those “Let me get you the number” situations.

It’s important to note that Thrutu does require some initial setup. Users have to register their phone number in order to use the service, and it can only work when both ends of the conversation have the app installed. Fortunately, it’s also set up to sort through contact lists for Thrutu users (with default contact lists still available), and there’s a handy Invite button for anyone without it.

Keep in mind that, because Thrutu is designed to send various amounts of digital information, it also requires a 3G or wi-fi connection. There are bound to be some areas where it’s largely ineffective (like when on a camping trip or on the subway) and some contacts who just won’t be able to make proper use of it. Then again, if these people have a smart phone chances are they have access to at least one of the two.

Thrutu certainly shows enormous potential, both as a personal use app and one for more business-oriented users. There are a few small hoops to jump through in order to get it going, but once everything is set up it’s smooth sailing. The real trick is to get everyone using it. I guess that means I’ve just done my part.

FREE!

Thrutu

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-07-20 :: Category: Utilities

Being able to protect data is an increasingly important issue for iOS device owners. With a device that encourages its users to store photos, contact details and other useful notes, it’s just as important to be able to hide them away from unwanted eyes. While a passcode will protect the device on the whole, it’s useful to have an extra layer of protection. Something that MyLocker from Inspike can provide.

It’s an app that works much like a safe, requiring three number combinations to unlock the information within it. Users can store various contact details behind this lock, as well as photos and notes such as credit card information or anything else that’s considered important to the user.

MyLocker is a simple app to get to grips with and only takes a matter of seconds to set up. Multiple users can also be set up for devices used by more than one person. It’s just as easy to log into as well to retrieve the information.

MyLocker is a free app, although an in-app purchase of $0.99 is needed in order to be able to store photos behind the virtual safe.

It’s available now for all iOS devices.

FREE!

MyLocker by Inspike

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-06-21 :: Category: Utilities

As a huge newshound, the kind of person who can’t last a day without tracking down some world news from somewhere, Trove looks like a pretty cool idea to me. It’s an app that offers personalized news and information with some great customization options.

Trove is able to retrieve articles from more than 10,000 sources encompassing pretty much every news and information source you could possibly think of. Interested in technology? There’s a plethora of sources on offer and the same is the case with every political, sports, entertainment, gaming and financial story you can think of. And that’s just the ones that immediately spring to mind. There’s no limit here really. In testing, I found Trove would find news stories for everything from the latest video game release, Brink, to a local surburb near my hometown.

Upon immediately opening the app, users can consult the editor’s pick section to see what’s of interest at the moment. Right now Libya and Osama Bin Laden are providing much of the focus but this adapts depending on the big stories of the time. Users can adapt the app to their needs by adding entries to the Your Channels section for quick consultation. Many categories can be selected at once and added to this side of the app so users can check in at a glance for stories of interest. Plus the user can then save an article to consult later or keep for reference.

The only catch is that a Facebook account is required in order to use Trove. It’s a slightly odd choice as there doesn’t seem to be any real connectivity here other than the usual sharing features and it might be a bit offputting for some.

Despite this though, Trove looks set to be a great resource for quickly retrieving the latest news on so many subjects. The ability to view serious current affair news alongside gaming updates and the latest gossip about a favorite celebrity ensures that Trove should be a hit with information enthusiasts of all types.

Trove is a free app for all iOS devices and is available now.

FREE!

Trove

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-04-20 :: Category: News

Last year I watched a video of a startup called Qwiki that was presented at TechCrunch Disrupt. They won the $50,000 price. Three months ago, Qwiki released it’s public alpha at Qwiki.com (give it a try). And recently, Qwiki released it’s iPad app.

Qwiki is an information gathering app. It takes researching a topic from just text to a visual, audio, and text experience. Don’t know what to look up? Qwiki updates “featured Qwikis” on it’s home page and iPad app. Qwiki scours the internet for the information needed and presents it with a robotic female voice, text, videos, and pictures.

After the presentation, the ability to improve the Qwiki becomes available where it’s possible to suggest more pictures, videos, or critique the voice (pronunciation or speed). Related Qwikis show up at the bottom and links to more information on sites like Wikipedia and YouTube pop up as well. The option to share the Qwiki on various sites also becomes available (Facebook, Twitter, email, or embed on a website). Watch their presentation at TechCrunch Disrupt below or just visit the site and try it out!

FREE!

Qwiki

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2011-04-19 :: Category: Reference