It’s Christmas time again and Santa will be starting his global voyage any moment now. Did you know that you and the kids can track Santa’s progress around the globe with your iPhone or iPad? Here are a couple apps that help you do it.

By far the best way is to use Google Earth. To view the Santa tracker in Google Earth, just hit the menu tab at the bottom of the screen and select the Santa tracker to follow Santa around the earth.

Vito Technologies has also released an update to Star Walk that lets you track Santa in an augmented reality sort of way. Hold your device up to the sky to track where around the earth Santa is.

To all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from 148Apps!

FREE!

Google Earth

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2008-10-27 :: Category: Travel

$2.99

Star Walk™ HD - 5 Stars Astronomy Guide

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2010-04-01 :: Category: Education

Educators who use new technology in the classroom are awesome. I remember one of my journalism professors regularly using his iPad as a tool in his lectures. I thought doing so was an innovative and creative way of utilizing the at-the-time new device.

Vito Technology dropped us a line this week to let us know that its own apps are increasingly being used by educators and students in the pursuit of learning. The studio’s three apps, Star Walk, Solar Walk, and >Geo Walk, are being called excellent educational tools. News of the apps being popular educational tools, though, doesn’t come too surprising. I had played around with Solar Walk in particular and was quite impressed.

In particular, it seems the two astronomy apps have been the most useful according to feedback from educators.

Star Walk uses the iPhone and augmented reality technology to give users a new way at looking at the solar system – from the perspective here on Earth. Additionally, the app contains an amazing amount of astrology information, including information on stars and constellations.

“Students at Hawaii Preparatory Academy are among the many who are working with Star Walk. Seeing and learning about the night sky and the star systems in a highly interactive way creates immediate learning to many in a way that has never been possible. Through the time machine and search function, students can discover constellations in a way that was never possible before. Interactive education is a great way for students to learn, and this app delivers a truly interactive star system. Many educators are now introducing apps such as Star Walk into the classroom to enhance the education experience, and to keep students engaged and interested,” said Dave V of TopEducationalApps.com.

Solar Walk, meanwhile, gives users an up-close look at the planets of our solar system, along with other details of the galaxy, including satellites orbiating the planet, moons, solar systems and other phenomenon.

“Solar Walk gives your students a realistic look at the Solar System. The time machine feature is excellent and will help students visualize the changes in the Solar System over time. Let your students take a virtual field trip to the planet of their choice to explore and report back to the class about. Students can become astronauts and take a virtual “rocket” ride, flying to the planet of choice, getting an in-depth look at the planet, and exploring each of the planets moons,” said Smartlearning Teacher of Science at Priority Community School Weston Super Mare.

It’s exciting to see how the iPhone and apps like these are shaping the way students are learning today.

$2.99

Star Walk™ - 5 Stars Astronomy Guide

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2008-11-05 :: Category: Education

$2.99

Solar Walk™ - 3D Solar System model

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-04-01 :: Category: Education

$2.99

Geo Walk HD - 3D World Fact Book

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-07-06 :: Category: Education

As the year winds down and we look ahead to the next decade it’s time for all those wonderful end-of-year lists we all get so excited about. Today we have some exciting news, as Apple has detailed all the top paid and free apps for the iPhone and iPad, as well as the top grossing apps on each platform. Here’s the full rundown, for your edification.

Top 10 Paid iPhone Apps

1. Angry Birds
2. Doodle Jump
3. Skee-Ball
4. Bejeweled 2 + Blitz
5. Fruit Ninja
6. Cut the Rope
7. ALL-IN-1 GAMEBOX
8. The Moron Test
9. Plants vs. Zombies
10. Pocket God

Top 10 Free iPhone Apps

1. Facebook
2. Angry Birds Lite
3. Words With Friends Free
4. Skype
5. Tap Tap Revenge 3
6. The Weather Channel®
7. Paper Toss
8. Bing
9. ROCK BAND FREE
10. Talking Tom Cat

Top 10 Grossing iPhone Apps

1. MLB.com At Bat 2010
2. Angry Birds
3. Call of Duty: Zombies
4. Bejeweled 2 + Blitz
5. FriendCaller 3 Pro
6. Zombie Farm
7. TomTom U.S.A.
8. TETRIS®
9. Plants vs. Zombies
10. Doodle Jump

REad even MORE lists after the jump.

Continue reading Apple Lists 2010 Top Apps »

VITO Technology‘s award-winning astronomy application for iPad and iPhone turned two years old yesterday, and to mark its birthday there’s a major update revision on the line as well as a promotional code giveaway right here.

Star Walk, which holds the title of official Apple Design Award (iPad Developer Showcase) 2010 Winner, remains the top-paid application in the Education section of the App Store, based on its ability to show the true workings of the Heavens above through the iPhone and iPad’s in-built GPS in an easy to use interface. View constellations, stars and planets in new ways by holding your device up to the sky. It’s a very impressive application – awarded 4.5 stars by 148Apps – and was marked by Apple in the Best of 2009 Applications.

Version 5 of the application, available soon, offers four new major features and a plethora of updates, including compass calibration and a new “general catalogue” that adds even more deep sky objects, galaxies and nebulae. Augmented Reality becomes a reality in version 5 of Star Walk for the new iPod Touch, as does a new “big screen” feature which allows you to connect your iPad to a second display through VGA, just in case the iPad’s 9.5″ screen wasn’t big enough. In addition, over 150 satellites including the International Space Station can be tracked in live time. Finally, a new feature called Telrad can “help you measure angular distance between nearby stars” in order to gauge the true extent of deceivingly small distances in the universe.

There’s more birthday celebrations, too. Prices for VITO Technology’s entire “Walk” series (Solar Walk, Star Walk and Geo Walk) have been dropped for 24 hours, and some lucky commenters today will receive free promotional codes that allow you to redeem these applications for free. In order to be in for a chance, just make a comment below. We have six codes available – 2 for Star Walk on iPad, 2 for Star Walk on iPhone and 2 for Star Walk (universal, iPhone and iPad compatable natively).

So happy birthday Star Walk!

$2.99

Star Walk™ - 5 Stars Astronomy Guide

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2008-11-05 :: Category: Education